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Lolz, I drew this twice on paper yesterday at school before re-doing it on my tablet. XP
Out of all the literature there is in the world, four stories come out as my favorite stories in existence. One of them is a novel (Watership Down), but the other three are all web-based stories. There's the massive The Great Round Robin Experiment, there's my top favorite fan-fic A New Beginning, and then there's my favorite short story, A Centaur's Tale of Lost Love. I haven't read it since two years ago, though, and a few days ago I decided to run through it again. I haven't finished it this time around yet, but it stuck in my mind so powerfully when I last read it that I can recount every single event and throw in a few details too. This story is so touching, and yet so tragic, I start daydreaming whenever I think about it. <3
And it means so much to me spiritually and emotionally, I decided to make an extra-special picture in honor of it. This is a picture of the scene that I could best envision in my mind: the part of where the centaur boy becomes friends with his tutor's niece, Amy. The three of them sit outside on an August afternoon, Amy too afraid to talk to the boy, the boy too afraid to talk to the girl (he was home-schooled and had never met somebody his age before). Amy then decides to do something and hops into the boy's aunt's rope swing (I haven't a clue what one is; apparently you go in it, but to save time I just drew what I always pictured as being a rope swing). She swings a little, but can't seem to go fast at all because the rope is so long. The boy watches for a while, remembering his failed attempt at swinging that led to a head injury, and gradually begins to challenge his fear of the swing. Slowly he approaches Amy, and on her request begins pushing her so she'd go faster. Every time she comes back he pushes harder, faster, and soon they are having great fun until his tutor decides Amy is going high enough. It is then that they become the best of friends. By high school, they are secretly in a romantic relationship. <3 I won't spoil the ending, though...
I tried making use of my need to make this picture by experimenting with different traditional brushes on Photoshop Elements (Photoshop CS4 can be annoying sometimes). I shaded the centaur boy with one of the pastel brushes, as well as Amy's skin. But then I decided the brush was too frustrating, so I used a watercolor brush (that was fun to say) for the rest of Amy. The background is all natural watercolor brush. Amy originally had the tree shadow over her, but I didn't like how it killed the nice colors so I got rid of it.
Actually, the picture in my mind is the mirror version of this. o.O Which more background, of course, and with living people crossed with Miyazaki-style cartoon people instead of my style people. XP And it's more like a video than this artistic version. You get the drift.
I completely forgot the boy's shirt until I finished him.
The story never mentioned his clothes in that part, though, so I suppose I got away with it...
Oh, and she's coming back toward him.
Critique, please! D8
Characters, story (c) Somebody going by the name of Chiron
You can find the story here: [link]
Out of all the literature there is in the world, four stories come out as my favorite stories in existence. One of them is a novel (Watership Down), but the other three are all web-based stories. There's the massive The Great Round Robin Experiment, there's my top favorite fan-fic A New Beginning, and then there's my favorite short story, A Centaur's Tale of Lost Love. I haven't read it since two years ago, though, and a few days ago I decided to run through it again. I haven't finished it this time around yet, but it stuck in my mind so powerfully when I last read it that I can recount every single event and throw in a few details too. This story is so touching, and yet so tragic, I start daydreaming whenever I think about it. <3
And it means so much to me spiritually and emotionally, I decided to make an extra-special picture in honor of it. This is a picture of the scene that I could best envision in my mind: the part of where the centaur boy becomes friends with his tutor's niece, Amy. The three of them sit outside on an August afternoon, Amy too afraid to talk to the boy, the boy too afraid to talk to the girl (he was home-schooled and had never met somebody his age before). Amy then decides to do something and hops into the boy's aunt's rope swing (I haven't a clue what one is; apparently you go in it, but to save time I just drew what I always pictured as being a rope swing). She swings a little, but can't seem to go fast at all because the rope is so long. The boy watches for a while, remembering his failed attempt at swinging that led to a head injury, and gradually begins to challenge his fear of the swing. Slowly he approaches Amy, and on her request begins pushing her so she'd go faster. Every time she comes back he pushes harder, faster, and soon they are having great fun until his tutor decides Amy is going high enough. It is then that they become the best of friends. By high school, they are secretly in a romantic relationship. <3 I won't spoil the ending, though...
I tried making use of my need to make this picture by experimenting with different traditional brushes on Photoshop Elements (Photoshop CS4 can be annoying sometimes). I shaded the centaur boy with one of the pastel brushes, as well as Amy's skin. But then I decided the brush was too frustrating, so I used a watercolor brush (that was fun to say) for the rest of Amy. The background is all natural watercolor brush. Amy originally had the tree shadow over her, but I didn't like how it killed the nice colors so I got rid of it.
Actually, the picture in my mind is the mirror version of this. o.O Which more background, of course, and with living people crossed with Miyazaki-style cartoon people instead of my style people. XP And it's more like a video than this artistic version. You get the drift.
I completely forgot the boy's shirt until I finished him.
The story never mentioned his clothes in that part, though, so I suppose I got away with it...Oh, and she's coming back toward him.
Critique, please! D8
Characters, story (c) Somebody going by the name of Chiron
You can find the story here: [link]
Image size
988x730px 759.72 KB
© 2009 - 2024 Dreyfus2006
Comments10
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Overall Vision Originality Technique ImpactOK, let me get started. The overall aspect of the art is great, and I think the characters are drawn really well. The mood is also depicted well.
Now, although I like the blurred background, the green and brown part (which I think represents trees and foliage) does not work so well. It looks as though it's just been 'slapped on', so this could be rectified by blending it in better with the background, so that there is a smoother transition. I also feel that the colours are too vibrant for a background. To rectify this, these should be milder or lighter. It's just so that it is easier to distinguish between foreground and background.
Also, I think that you have presented the characters well as the main focus of the art. But, there is a slight problem with the character further back (I don't know his name). His legs blend in with the background, so these should be made more prominent, either by using a lighter colour or outlining them using a lighter colour.
I'm not so sure on the shapes of the eyes. They look like arches. This is OK if you're just starting out, but really, eyes should be almond-shaped. If you feel this doesn't fit in with your art style, then try removing the flat bit at the bottom of the eyes. No eyes are flat at the bottom!
I do like the expressions on the characters, and that adds to an overall happy and reminiscent mood to the piece. Although I feel that the hair of the front character may be going in the wrong direction. If he is swinging forwards, then the hair should be blowing behind, unless you have decided that the wind is blowing his hair that way.
Just one last point. The background is really well done, even with a few minor niggles. If the gallery category was hidden from view, I would have thought it was painted with traditional media! The techniques used are brilliant.
All in all, this is a fantastic piece of work, and I look forward to admiring some more of this. A great piece, Drey! <img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/s/s…" width="15" height="15" alt="
" title=" (Smile)" />Summary
<img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/b/b…" width="10" height="10" alt="
" title="Bullet; Purple" /> Well thought-out and well designed.<img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/b/b…" width="10" height="10" alt="
" title="Bullet; Purple" /> Background techniques look like traditional painting media.<img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/b/b…" width="10" height="10" alt="
" title="Bullet; Purple" /> Characters' expressions suit the mood of the piece.<img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/b/b…" width="10" height="10" alt="
" title="Bullet; Red" /> Part of the background looks like it's been 'slapped on'.<img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/b/b…" width="10" height="10" alt="
" title="Bullet; Red" /> The shape of the characters' eyes doesn't look quite right.Oh yeah, this is my first proper critique, just to let you know.