Feedback Wanted for Concept Sketch

[Ali]

This isn't game related, so I hope it's okay to post it here. I'd really like some feedback on this sketch. It's supposed to be quite loose and I know it's pretty sloppy. What I'd most appreciate would be people's thoughts on how the image strikes them in terms of environment/period and character.

[ildu]

I absolutely love it ! I mostly love the contrast between the grey areas in the foreground and the red areas in the background. Awesome design and linework, although the lines look a bit burned, which may or may not be a positive thing. The mirror idea is great, and I'm in love with those balls of thread. The technique is great as well. Also, if I'm seeing correctly, the image has a cross  for composition, which kinda makes it more regal .

And now for some cons. These are humble observations by a mere bystander, so don't get offended or anything :

- I think the woman's dress should be slightly a different color. Or maybe not completely another color hue, but maybe more saturated. She just doesn't come out of the pic as strongly as I'd like. That is, if that isn't your intention.

- The candle in the foreground took me a long time to really make out. First I thought it was some container tube or something. Maybe you could add some kind of candleholder on the bottom.

- I don't really see what the things are on the right on the foreground. Looks like a book and...something. If it's really a book, you should probably make it a little darker to indicate that it's closer than the other objects.

- The white ceiling kinda distracts from the subject, but I'd leave it, because it brings a lot of light into the room.

- The window could have been a little larger in my taste, and maybe more transparent. It would bring a certain addition to the depth of the image.

- Is the mirror supposed to show her face ? Reminds me of that famous painting of a woman lying on a sofa looking through the mirror into the camera. I'm pretty sure they use that same painting for teaching in every art school in the world .

- I think you might achieve a lot more depth still with making the highlights brighter and the shadows darker.

Otherwise, awesome .

[Elric]

Looks great, really well done.

Other than Ildu's pointers, there is something else you need to think off.
As noted, the color scheme of the female figure is almost right, but not quite.
GIven that she has blonde hair and a red dress, your color scheme is located between these two colors. The figure is indeed blending with the background, but in a confusing way, resulting in a plethora of focal points, like the wider area of the background. I would suggest an orangish dress, with a bit of green in the shadows, just for the sake of contrasting and bringing the figure a bit forward. But there's a problem with the positioning of the mirror for that to work. You see, as the mirror is a reflective surface, your higher values/chroma ( which are almost always the best way to draw the eye to a place ) is duplicated in the reflection, thus providing a second focal point. The thing is, by the use of your lines, especially the wall corners, you create 3 arrows, pointing to the mirror, taking over the focal priority set by the figure's center-piece positioning. I would cheat the mirror towards the left, away from the viewer, letting him "imagine" there's a reflection but showing just the mirror outline.

Once more, fantastic concept art, atmosphere-wise

[Kweepa]

It's supposed to be quite loose and I know it's pretty sloppy.

It's fabulously effortless looking, which immediately appeals to me immensely.

What I'd most appreciate would be people's thoughts on how the image strikes them in terms of environment/period and character.

I'd say the room and foreground are pre-industial revolution, perhaps 17th or 18th century. But there's an element of the fantastic (or perhaps art deco again?) in the mirror and the diamond on the wall.

The character strikes me at first glance as a Cinderella character in the age and clothing. But I see a more resigned sadness in her face, as if her prince never came. Perhaps I've read too much into three brush strokes.

[MashPotato]

Ali, I love your style ^_^

The time period struck me more as an early 20th century, as it seems a little art-deco-ish to me with her streamlined layered dress with a low waist, as well as the style of the mirror.  I guess her hair doesn't suit the period exactly, but since she seems to be not well-off, maybe her hair is a bit behind the times ^_^.  Either that, or late 19th century.

She strikes me as someone who has fallen on hard times from a rich background, but is still trying to maintain her dignity and social appearance as best she can.  Or perhaps, like Steve, I am reading too much into this ^_^

2 things to mention:
1) I'm not sure if her reflection would look like that from that angle... I'm horrible at doing reflections so I can't say for sure, but since her head is down slightly, I think the reflection should show more of the top of her head.  Her arms also don't seem to match what's in the mirror
2) Assuming that the light hitting the wall is from an unseen window roughly behind the woman, I think she should be casting a shadow.  The light might also change shape as it goes from the floor to the wall.  But I'm really terrible with that kind of lighting stuff, so it is an uninformed opinion ^_^

Great job so far, I hope you'll post the finished piece ^_^

[gypsysnail]

Ali, I LOVE that sketch! Sloppy?? Not at all, its very stylish and loose, just what a real artist often would do. Well not all artists but a lot do, I love it! The only thing I would comment on is the colour of the dress - it should stand out more, orange and greens as Elric suggested, and maybe with some stronger reds in between. Beautiful work Ali, keep it up! And cant wait to see the finished piece.
Cheers

[Ali]

Thanks for the feedback guys, it's been very useful. I hoped that the image would look like the early 20th century with hints of a fairy tale environment. From your responses this may be more a fairy tale world with hints of the early 20th century, but I'm reasonably happy.

ildu: I hadn't noticed that the woman blended in, in fact it was my express intention to have her stand out from her surroundings. Thanks for pointing that out to me! I'll also try to make the book in the foreground a little more blue-gray.

Elric: Many thanks for your suggestions, but I want to keep the colours I use to a minimum - so green's not an option. Instead I'll up the saturation and contrast on the figure and lower that of the walls. I'll also tint the walls a little more blue to dim them a little. The values on the mirror-girl actually are lower, but I may make them a little lower still. I'm not sure whether I mind my focus darting between the girl and her reflection.

Steve McCrea:Thanks for noticing the art deco touch. I actually had art nouveau in mind to begin with, but it went a lot more geometric and angular. I didn't mean her to look so sad though! Perhaps some firm eyebrows would make her look a little less of a victim.

MashPotato:
1) Ach! I know, it's a total cheat and completely wrong. I haven't yet decided whether I mind too much, but I probably should show a little more of her hair.

2) Ach! I know! I was hoping to get away with it, because I couldn't be bothered to get it right. Shamed am I, I'll see what I can do. This is what I meant by 'sloppy'.

gypsysnail: I'm afraid there won't be a finished piece as such, but there may be more rough sketches like this. Hopefully that will satisfy you!

[gypsysnail]

That would be even better Ali!!! The more pictures from you with that style, the better! And even better to watch you develop through your style, you got talent there.