My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
Wysiwyg | 12/11/2004 @901 | edit post

This is a momentous occasion as I am posting the beginnings of my first digital painting in about a year. It's also the first painting done with a Wacom, and will be done in Painter 8 (I'm a photoshop junkie). So before I get to far I figured I would at least post the intial sketch to get some crit. Backstory: My wife and I a few years ago lacking some imagination went as contract killers to a Halloween party. Complete with mysterious gutair case and black (matrix-esque) clothes. We were a hit (no pun intended) I figured I had never drawn her before and I know she would appreciate this over some blah portrait. I had some of my fellow soldiers (I'm in Iraq right now) do some poses, so yeah there's a photo reference, which I will post later. My main point is that the reference does not depict the clothes, ethnicity, hair style or most importantly my wife. *IMPORTANT* There will be a whole scene involved with her pressed against a wall with SWAT type guys coming around the corner....she's wounded because it was a setup, it was supposed to be her last job, she's hurting, on her last leg with many questions about her situation, but most of all she's worried if the baby inside her is ok. (My wife is actually pregnant in real life). Sarahsketch

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
lfhelix136 | 12/12/2004 @058 | edit post

The sketch looks awesome! Your far beyond me in artistic ability so my critique might not be all to helpful but i do see two things that i would change. The line on her upper lip is thicker than all the others in that area, so it looks a bit like a moustache. I wouldnt show a picture of any girl i know with a moustache to them, especially not if they had a gun.lol Secondly, the gun position seems a little unnerving, would you point your gun directly at your face? Not that any well trained hitw-oman would accidently shoot herself in the face but out of instinct i just dont think they would hold a gun that way. Thats just my two cents, its an awesome sketch so far keep up the good work, i hope some day i'll be able to acheive that.

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
Wysiwyg | 12/12/2004 @277 | edit post

mustache *LOL* Yeah I see what you mean.... I'll just defend myself with the ol' "It's just a sketch" line. As far as the hand positioning goes, good point. But remember she is the recipient of a setup/ambush, so in the final piece she will have more of a worn down look....clothes torn, hair more tussled, bullet wound, and probably be biting down on her upper lip from pain. So with all that going on I can pass off her sloppy technique as a result of fatigue!!! Yay, problem solved. Seriously, yeah I have ALOT of detailing and defining to go. Like I mentioned, this sketch is one element of an entire scene. I hope to post the scene (rough again) within the next 48 hours. I'm really itchin' to get into coloring this. Thanks for the compliments man! That means alot as I think my artwork is about the area I have the least confidence in (don't all artists? ) [Message edited on 12/12 @281]

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
lfhelix136 | 12/12/2004 @947 | edit post

Fatigue's a good way to go, the sketch is great and i wouldnt mess with it much either, just trying to be as critical as possible. Im really looking forward to seeing the rest of your scenes, im just about to start something similar with a lot of scenes involved, of course my characters will be much simpler. Do you have any plans as far as coloring goes yet?

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
CityRose | 12/12/2004 @994 | edit post

Cool! She looks like she means business. Very interesting so far- I'm looking forward to the completed piece! I didn't notice that about the 'moustache', but a funny observation on  lfhelix136's part anyway. I now how much things get changed from the initial sketch, so I wouldn't worry too much about the line art at this point. The only thing I could see that might carry on into the finished piece is her hips. Picture where her pelvis has to go (and remember that women's are wider than men's). At the moment it hasn't got much room to breathe. It looks a little like her legs are coming straight off her torso section. That's an easy fix though- you just need to bulge her jacket out in the appropriate places and alter the crotch area. Hope that helps! Give me a yell when you got the next WIP up- I wanna seeeeeeee!! And thank you for your critique on my pic also! Chocolate cake for you. Later!

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
kykyuen | 12/13/2004 @091 | edit post

I haven't really read the comments above, so there maybe some repeated elements, sorry! From your description, your wife is pressed against a wall....so i would assume that her arms will also be pressed against the wall. Hence the gun should be pointing near vertical or slightly vertical but pointing inwards to the wall. Also, i've actually tried the position, and imagining holding a gun in my hands. I've find that the index finger should be moved to the right a bit, coz it not comfortable holding the gun like that. You can try it yourself.....you'll feel that your index finger is kinda stretched, and kinda hurts haha. (Hence again, the gun should be pointing near vertical). And where did she suffer from bullet wounds? I hope that it's not the area her right hand is covering, coz that's the home of the baby!!! And from the sketch, she is extremely fit, so if you don't mind me asking, how long have she been pregnant for? (or what were you intending to depict in the sketch?) Other than that, i really like this WIP. I can imagine the scene your wife is going through already. Cool.

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
Wysiwyg | 12/13/2004 @691 | edit post

***********LAYOUT VOTE************** Ok, I made some minor adjustments... -Repositioned her pistol (more vertical) -Fleshed out the sketch of her a lttle more. -I just figured out how to fix the hip issue CR mentioned, I'll do that after this post. My next big step is how am I going to frame this? Below are 4 versions with different crops, I'll give 24 hours for members to vote which one to use. I myself, am partial to 2 and 3. The two SWAT-looking guys aren't fleshed out much, and I plan for them to be coming from the shadows, so not too much detail will go into them. Right now I'm deciding from goggles, riot shield mask (visor) and gas masks....right now I just sketched the visor over their faces... Anything else you wish to comment on let me know!!! LET THE VOTING BEGIN!!!!

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
jfrancis | 12/13/2004 @716 | edit post

3

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
emarts | 12/13/2004 @833 | edit post

3 is the one I would use. But you gotta work out the perspective. I'm not sure she is standing on the same plane as the lowest SWAT guy stepping off the last step. It might be right, but you should check it anyway.

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
greyfin | 12/13/2004 @833 | edit post

1 or 4 The view on her belly is imortant - I would actually make her pregnance be "seen" by rendering with light, leading the eye to the the important parts of the picture, telling a story - could be comic style... It would bring more suspense into the pic if your wives' head and that of the swat guy weren't on the same level .. just put her a bit lower... [Message edited on 12/13 @854]

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
greyfin | 12/13/2004 @855 | edit post

supplement: does your wife even KNOW about this? (xmas-surprise??? )

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
Wysiwyg | 12/13/2004 @859 | edit post

HOLY CRAP Daniela!! This may seem like a poser statement, but you set the lighting EXACTLY as I pictured. I know, I know, that's easy to say...but seriously you did. You really did a great job understanding the mood I was trying to set. You even almost got my underpainting color pegged. You just keep finding ways to impress me emarts~the perspective was KILLING me at first...I'm really dreading doing those stairs. But I will definitely check on what you said, (my wife mailed me my perspective book about 2 weeks ago, should be here any day) and what Daniela said about moving her down a little.. Thank you everyone for your comments. You have no idea how much it means to have art literate comments on my work after so long. I hope this lives up to everyone's expectations as much as mine. So let the voting continue, and when I start painting, maybe I can even put a smile on arenhaus's face

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
Wysiwyg | 12/13/2004 @861 | edit post

About the surprise, I'm a big dork...I'm terrible at hiding these things sometimes. Her opinion is valuable and I could only hold out for 2 days before I gave her the link to this WIP page. Ugh... But she likes that I am painting her as a "Sexy Bitch"

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
emarts | 12/13/2004 @883 | edit post

If you do find out the perspective is wrong, I think you could just extend the stairs more so the SWAT guy isn't on the last step. Greyfin's suggestion is tops, BTW. I forgot you mentioned she was pregnant.

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
ThruMyEyez | 12/13/2004 @893 | edit post

Not being someone who draws or paints I'm only working on my sense of composition. I like #1 with the stairs higher and some leg showing.

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
greyfin | 12/13/2004 @902 | edit post

A smile on arenhaus' face? Always aiming for the impossible, eh?

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
jfrancis | 12/13/2004 @932 | edit post

I'm changing mine to 1 based on what Gary said. I like the leg holster. I'm also going to throw in some comments for what they're worth: 1) I think the drapery could be put to better use in describing the roundness of the limbs the folds encircle. Don't skimp on effort in rendering specific folds. Don't just fake them in vaguely 2) I think the face might be too large for the head. Eyes should be about halfway down the head, not 1/3 from the top of the head, as it looks to me now. 3) The sterno-cleido-mastoid -- everyone's favorite neck tendon -- goes from the pit of the neck to the mastoid process (the bumps under the skull behind the ear) Yours starts on the bottom too far rotated past the center line of her body -- it really shouldn't be crossing the center line at all. 4) Where the base of the skull meets the top of the back of the neck? That should line up with the bottom of the nose. I think the ear placement might be off [Message edited on 12/14 @132]

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
CityRose | 12/14/2004 @320 | edit post

At first I was gonna say 3, because zooming things in close makes me think more of tension. Buuuuut, after seeing Greyfin's post, I think she's right. ^_^ Zooming out a bit puts more focus on the important things, and lets you see some of her holster (so we know she's not just some chic who found a pistol in a desk drawer). I also like the idea for the lighting- that's not really something I can picture just from words. I might mention the stairs (though I'm sure you'll be working on it). The perspective of the stairs to the floor looks different to me, and I think the width of the stairs is a little ambiguous. I mean, they look too narrow to fit the whole foot on them, but then I'm guessing it's just the view we're looking at it from? I hope you get what I mean- I'm typing in a mad rush here. Got a vote 4 from me!

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
arenhaus | 12/14/2004 @401 | edit post

Come on, people, I am blunt (tm), not grumpy. Before you're too deep in painting, I think I detect something fishy in the arm holding the gun. Standalone, it was OK, looked sort of like she was holding the gun slightly behind her shoulder. But with the wall behind her, it doesn't click anymore: I can't shake the feeling that the gun goes through the wall. I think you should make the position of the arm and gun more vertical and more flat, to bring it in concordance with the wall's plane. At the very least, change the angle of the hand: it looks like she's trying to rest the barrel on her shoulder, not holding it ready. The shoulders are somewhat different width; was it your intention? Moving the figure a little further from the wall's edge would improve the composition a little, I believe. Good luck. [Message edited on 12/14 @402]

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
Kyena | 12/14/2004 @453 | edit post

Uff - glad I read Arenhaus' post. I was going to mention the same thing (position of her and the gun/arm). Other then that that is a great sketch Brett. You will be able to flesh this out in colors beautifully. I totally dying to see what it will turn into And I think I tend to number 1myself. But again - she seems a bit too close to the corner.. [Message edited on 12/14 @455]

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
Wysiwyg | 12/14/2004 @508 | edit post

Whoa!! First off thank you everyone who just happened to stop by and comment, and to those who answered my PM's. It's always helpful to have another set of eyes check this kind of stuff out. -The perspective of those accursed stairs will be checked into. I'm not going to punk out and draw some ambiguious debris instead -I was pretty partial to the leg holster too...so it will stay. -The folds of her coat was something I really didn't put much effort into as of yet b/c I was more concerned with the overall composition. But they will be paid more attention to. -Ugh!  jfrancis your killing me!! Your anatomical notes were left unchallenged by the other posters, even by Loomis's fanclub's president. So I definitely check into it. Thanks! -Let's see...mmm...more stairs postings....zooming..more stairs.... ok,  arenhaus, I spotted the gun abnormality when I initially straightened her wrist from the first post. Didn't notice the shoulder issue, so I guess it wasn't intentional I play around with it. I never thought you were grumpy - Kyena you agreed with  arenhaus on moving her away to the corner..ok. Again...I'll play around and see. My next post will be the final composition (providing the stairs are correct ) Again I appreciate all the feedback. I don't care if it takes a week or a month before I start coloring this right, I don't want to rush it and begin with a mess up foundation. Plus it just gives me more time to train with the Wacom I don't know how I survived without it. Oh, so far the standings are as follows: #1- 3 votes *note* this is the original composition...funny how that works #2- 0 votes #3- 1 votes #4- 2 votes I wasn't really clear on choices of  arenhaus and  Kyena. Since you guys gave some alternative layout choices as well, I'll just create a #5 w/2 votes. EDIT: I worked most of the issues, I'll try to have a new post in the next 12 hours. [Message edited on 12/15 @223]

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
gridlock | 12/15/2004 @667 | edit post

Drat - I'm late again! OK - well - here's my $0.02, although whatever has to be said almost has been said.  greyfin has pointed out the possible light shading effect which I agree with, though I would perhaps go with a more "side-on" gradient than an inclined gradient pattern. A few folks have pointed out the anatomical proportions. Her right thigh appears to be a little too well developed IMHO. Her upper right arm could perhaps we just a tad more well developed (think volume) - but only a touch. On choosing the panels, I would also go with #1. Take care in Iraq, my friend - be safe!

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
Wysiwyg | 12/17/2004 @758 | edit post

Ok I finally made some progress... This first one is to show the progress made in some of the edits I did of the central character. I reworked alot taking into account several comments that were made by  arenhaus,  jfrancis, and the others... Straightened the pistol's orientation Fixed her face (size) and ear placement Neck muscles Reworked the folds of her jacket I thinned out her right (your left) thigh and repositioned her left (your right) arm to even out the shoulders and keep the shoulder/hip ratio correct. EDIT: I DIDN'T RESIZE THIS FOR POSTING CORRECTLY SO IT LOOKS SQUISHED VERTICALLY!!! I think only after I start filling in the light and color to give this some depth will some of the things kinda irking me will be fleshed out. I want to rework her lips perhaps having her biting down on her bottom lip, something to give her some sort of stressed expression. As far as the composition is concerned I: -Made her lower than the guys on the right -Moved her away from the corner -Moved the SWAT guys up the stairs further -I got rid of the floor all together trying to backdoor the perspective issue, extending the stairs beyond the bottom of the canvas...tell if you think this was wise. [Message edited on 12/18 @807]

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
Jane | 12/17/2004 @778 | edit post

Aaw come on... I wanted the floor...

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
ThruMyEyez | 12/17/2004 @914 | edit post

I thought the floor being there added some depth.

Re: My Wife the Assassin (catchy eh?)
UmbraTheory | 12/18/2004 @598 | edit post

You just had to ask me, didn't you...lol Ok...here goes (again because I lost all my "words of wisdom" once...darn dialup crap) Anyway, my votes are for 1 and 4. I like the holster showing and the floor adds depth. I like her being closer to the corner. It tells me that she is confident in her ability to take this guys down in order to protect her baby. That coming from a mother that is fiercely protected of her child. Now, I need to know if you are planning on using the drawing as part of the final work or are you just going to paint over it? If you are planning to use the drawing (example: http://www.sofos.com/adi/tutorial.htm) then I can see some places where you might have problems later. Like her forearms seem a little thin, esecially the one holding the gun. Working those folds more might help out there. The guys on the stairs look great. Shadow play is going to be your best friend here. How many light sources? If you have one behind the bad guys then you will need the floor to give her something to judge by. I think by just giving her a light source would cast a shadow for them to see where she is. Personally, I think 2 light sources, one coming from behind the guys and one to the left of her. You have an awesome start here and my coffee has grown cold. Can't wait to see what YOU decide to do with it. Thats my input and I am sticking to it. Have a great day!