Need help with tree!!! *UPDATED WITH NEW PICTURE*

[Mouth for war]

This picture is very incomplete I know, but I need help with the tree in the foreground...I'm quite satisfied with the shape of the tree BUT I need some help with doing leaves...I have no idea how to do it and I would be very very happy if someone could give me a "push" in the right direction. You don't have to do the entire tree of course but maybe one or two branches with leaves to get me started...so I don't do anything wrong...thanks in advance

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/treehelp.PNG

[cobra79]

The easiest way would be to to work on a different layer using a leaf brush and then refine it later.
I also would say you should not go on texturing the grass. It does not look convincing. Some lines in a darker green tone would fit better with your cartoon style.
I also think the backward layers should be lighter not darker.

A rough sketch, just to give you an idea.

[pslim]

That paintover looks just fab, cobra.

This is the beginning of a fine background, Mouth for war.

I would suggest, for the grass, using a yellow-green color (like the lightest color on cobra's leaves, for instance) for the grass, perhaps with a few brown bits as well. The main thing, I think, is not to go crazy with it and overtexture the grass areas. Just put in a few sprigs here and there to trick the eye into thinking it's all over.

[Mouth for war]

thanks for the tips guys...but don't you think it would look strange if the tree has lots of details on the trunk etc and the grass stays in one or two colors? just asking..and if i for example want to do a birdnest on the ground it would be many different colors to make it look like small twigs and so on...just want everything to fit well. That's why i textured the grass so much...oh well...try, try and try again

[cobra79]

I don't think that it would look strange. You only have to give the viewer some more things to look at and he will barely notice the grass, which is good because grass is boring.
If you look at your picture, my eyes are drawn right into the middle, but there is nothing and the tree and the mushroom are the only foreground objects which could be of interest.
A rough sketch again, just to show that the objects are more important than the grass.

"http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/35xi-u.png"

Edit: You have to make an "u" out of the "you" to see the picture. It gets converted automatically.

[Mouth for war]

Thanks the fence there looks great! I actually started doing the tree on my own. I might have it done by tonight so I will upload it then.

[Hudders]

What's the white thing? Is it a headless sheep? 

[cobra79]

NO!
It is a giant moth.



Looks like I have too much time...but seriously sheep are a good idea.

[Mouth for war]

What's the white thing? Is it a headless sheep? 

No hehe it's a bush i just hadn't colored it when i uploaded the picture

[Ghost]

thanks for the tips guys...but don't you think it would look strange if the tree has lots of details on the trunk etc and the grass stays in one or two colors?

In fact it is helpful when some of your prominent objects have high detail while the general background is more simple. It drags the eye towards some points of the location while it also give some "resting spots".

Imagine a picture where you draw all the markings of the bark, all the tiny cobbles, all the grass leaves- it would be overkill, and the picture would look messy. Game art is bastard art- it should look good but also be "playable". I think a nice example is the "cliff" location in the first apprentice- it has a cliff with grass and a large tree (from which a snake dangles). The grass is done in two or three shades of green, nothing more- it is a flat "wallpaper", only defined by a few lines and jagged strokes. The tree is pretty much tone in tone too, but centered and full of small, interesting little angles and leave-details.

So, first of all, your location is visually pleasing, and also, from a more "player-orientated" point of view, well designed. Thumbs up!

[Mouth for war]

So...I have focused on the tree right now and this is what i've accomplished so far...tell me if you like it and if you think I'm going in the right direction
(shadows etc will be done later)

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/tree12.PNG

[InCreator]

So... why did you ignore cobra's advice? He definetly made you nicest example how to draw a tree.

[Mouth for war]

because i want to do it on my own...i just asked for some advice...

[ThreeOhFour]

My advice would be to make the leaves have much more volume. Cobra's edit is excellent. The leaves have plenty of body there.

Looking at your latest version I hardly see any leaves. Look at a tree from a distance and it is very hard to make out individual leaves - this is why Cobra's version works so well.

Oh, and giant moths are excellent.