I was just looking at my gallery as a whole a second ago, and I realized that it's basically just a ton of blue, orange, and pink. What the hell! Looks like it's time for me to change things up a bit. I think from now on I'll paint flowers and stuff, lots of pastel colors. It'll be like Easter, but all the time.
In all seriousness, though, I really need to step outside my blue-orange box. I also need to tone down the saturation. Why so much colour bruva! Maybe that's part of what people like about my work, but I think it's time to go for a more mature palette, and be really selective about my color.
I don't know, what do you guys think? What about my paintings do you think needs some work and I should focus on more? I'm already working on my color, and definitely anatomy. Lord knows I got enough comments on my Asian chick, rofl.
Hit me with your suggestions!
Also, what have all of you been up to in the new year? Anything fancy?
Take care friendos!
Try some reds, or maybe do something with a range of blue tones, just as an experiment. It's like music (I make music or at least rhythmic noise) when I realize I've been doing the same thing for a while, I'll do something crazy different and it might not turn out well, but it will help me get out of that confort zone and it will improve my abilities in the long run.
Experiment! But never forget that having a signature style is often a very Good Thing (tm) that many people never seem to get the knack of.
I would say do some more 'mature' palettes if that's what you feel is right for the piece or if you want to explore other ideas. There is nothing wrong with experimentation since it's how you grow as an artist. When it comes down to it you should do what feels right for you!! Personally, I like the work you have done as individual pieces and I have never thought that your work looks all the same or too in your face colour-wise.
I do know how you feel though because I have felt the same ... thinking that I choose colours that are way too saturated. Every time I try something more muted I always think it looks too dull and end up changing it as part of the natural working process.
Just as an extra on the anatomy, I found that Burne Hogarth books are great for helping to analyse the way you compose a body. Not to be followed to the letter of course, but they provide some great tips that you could incorporate into your own style. Real anatomy books are always great too. I've found that it is always best to start with the body and then draw the limbs after, it helps to create a strong base for your pose because everything falls in line with it. Anyway, that's my two cents ...
I totally get you on the whole idea that his work may be a little too stylised. Admittedly, that's partly what drew me to his stuff at first but I liked it more for the ideas behind it. I knew not to absorb any of the style. It's whatever floats your boat I suppose. I looked at him in an earlier phase. The anatomy/medical books are the best for learning the basics and how the muscles are supposed to look underneath I know. It all depends on the approach you want and your interests. I recently read some stuff on chiaroscuro which helped me to focus on the form and surface of the skin rather than the lines surrounding it. That's a pretty good technique. Just trying to think of something that may lead you in the direction you want. Any suggestions you could chuck back at me since you know of better books?
To be honest I've noticed the saturation and too much contrast, but I hesitated in telling you so since I'm still a beginner =/
Have you heard about mathias verhasselt ? He's got a really nice color palette imo.
What you could easily do though, is try the ' variation ' function, have you tried it ? it can be pretty useful to quickly change a whole color scheme.
He's also the guy that helped me motivate myself to do concept art.
That's true ! but imo I think it gives a very quick idea of what the overall composition looks like without have to change all the colors.
So if you try it out and see a green palette fits it, then you use the color balance feature