My newest background. Anything I can improve?

[fovmester]

Hi. I want to show you my newest background just to see if there's anything you can see that I can do better with it. I'm not sure about the angle of the "tent's" shadow. Is it right as it is?

[ghostface]

No. For a second there I thought I was going to say something but no. I actually can't degrade your art. Wow, fov...that's something. But you should post your game instead of your amazing art! Agreed? How's it coming?

[Sam.]

two things that struck me. the third mountian is very pointy and not very realistic. also, the table top needs some kind of texture aas it looks like a slab of mdf atm. other than that, great work

[Chicky]

I really dont think that mountain looks bad and as for the table it looks very nice as it is. This does'nt need any crit imo, great work.

[strazer]

It's great. I like the mountain too.

If it's an active dig site, you may want to add some dirt and tools.

[Darth Mandarb]

I would tone down the dark green outlines on the dig holes.Ã,  They really catch the eye IMO.  Also, as Strazer suggested, adding some dirt mounds (and tools) might add to the image as well.

The 'pointy' mountain doesn't really bother me but I think all the mountains should look more faded out (to convey distance).Ã,  The only reason I say that is because the taller trees on the very right of the image look a little washed out ... so the clarity of the mountains kind of throws my eyes off a little (though just a little)

Having said that I think the image is really good!  I dig the style.

[Ozwalled]

Just a thought for a detail -- I think that archeological dig sites like these often have a grid system in place, sectionning off smaller parts of the excavation (for easier catalogging of bits that are found, I'm guessing) with wire or string or something of the sort.

I have a feeling that something like that would probably muck up your pic, though. Still, having the individual dig areas vaguely "roped" off with stakes and string or something may be worth considering.

Beautiful stuff, though.

[Kweepa]

Yes, very nice.
- the vines wrapped around the tree on the right look a bit fat to me - and where do they go?
- the roots of that tree look a bit like the central leg of a table, the way they fatten out
- the grey green trees stand out a bit oddly
- what's with the breast hill on the right in the background?
- the mountains have points going off at odd angles - I don't like them
- the tent looks a bit ungrounded - the poles go straight into the grass with no blend, there are no guy ropes
- also, the tent material looks a bit unlit - the top is almost the same colour as the back
All very minor though.
I do like
- the skeleton
- the grass texture
- the polished feel of the image

[Pelican]

Just a thought for a detail -- I think that archeological dig sites like these often have a grid system in place, sectionning off smaller parts of the excavation (for easier catalogging of bits that are found, I'm guessing) with wire or string or something of the sort.

I'm studying Archaeology at uni, so I may just offer my two cents.

I was working on a dig over the summer, and while the trenches were marked out with stakes and string to begin with, they're taken away after the topsoil is dug out (otherwise you keep tripping over the darn thing!). So probably best not to bother. We do use grids for drawing detailed plans, but these are just 1x1m frames.

Additionally, the spoil heap (the dirt you've just dug out) is usually fairly close to the trench so it's easy to fill in later, so you might want to add that.

If it's not meant to be terribly accurate, then never mind me, and my showing off!

[Raider]

Um just one thing.
- The roots of the bigish tree on the left have no shading and look off a bit. There is grass in between them. maybe put a shadow in there.

- Raider

[fovmester]

Thanks all of you. You've made some really good points! A special thanks to Pelican for his special expert tip. The heap is something I really will consider adding. As well as some tools (thanks strazer). About the mountains: I've actually seen mountains with even stranger peaks than these! So they're not THAT unrealistic.

- what's with the breast hill on the right in the background?

Well, you'll just have to wait and see. But I can tell you that it's NOT a gigantic breast.

But you should post your game instead of your amazing art! Agreed? How's it coming?

It's coming. Not too much left to do. Give me another two-three months or so.

[Sam.]

eating my words as i type

[Andail]

There is something called "colour perspective", which means that you create depth by having a higher contrast (stronger colours) in the foreground, and lower contrast (softer colours) in the background.

Now you have done more or less the opposite.

It's already a great background, with lots of nifty details, but give the colour perspective a shot

PS:

special thanks to Pelican for his special expert tip

Pelican is a girl, mind you!

PS2:
I had some spare time, so here's a suggestion:

The contrasting is a bit clumsy, but it's just to give you an idea.
I see now that the green is a bit too bright; you could try just darkening the foreground to achieve a similar result

[fovmester]

Oops! Sorry Pelican. Prejudice, you know. I was just too lazy to check out your profile.

Here's a new version:

[Darth Mandarb]

What Andail suggested (and editted) was exactly what I was referring to!Ã,  It makes it feel like a more vast area!

Your edit is better too!Ã,  Though I would suggest maybe upping the contrast on the foreground elements (similar to what Andail did) though maybe not quite that much (as he also said!)

Good improvements!Ã,  Keep it up!

[Evil]

Yes, but keep in mind that that tree closest to us shouldnt have any 'haze'.

[Pelican]

No problem! Looking good. I have to say it looks a lot tidier than our dig was! But then we had cows trampling over it every time we turned our backs.Ã,  :

[Kweepa]

The spoil heap looks like a dinosaur poo.
I'd think (from watching Time Team, etc) that it would look more like a flattened Toblerone, right next to the hole.
http://www.bewarethecheese.com/12toblorone.htm
Pelican?

[Pelican]

Not likely! It's never really that neat. You wouldn't believe the amount of trowelling and brushing (yes brushing!) we have to do in the actual trench before they take photos.

As for the spoil heap, its fine, though for the size of trench it'd probably be a bit bigger. It's not meant to be pretty; it's just somewhere to put the soil until you put it back in. Time Team are just a bunch of ponces. 

[Al_Ninio]

That's quite a neat background, nicely done.
The only thing I could suggest is to get rid of the hard lines on the mountains in the back, and using only soft shading on them, which would add to the illusion of depth.
Just my two cents.