Graphics Critique Group

[ashes999]

Salams all,

So we've been discussing (@thulfiqaar @AhmadSA @kreax especially) on starting a critique group. So let's do it. The main benefit is to get stronger in your artistic technical skill, for whatever ends. (I hope you made a good intention so that you can get rewarded for all that time you spend -- I'm doing it for Deen Games, personally.)

Anyway, the main question is: do we do it here, on the forums, or on DeviantArt? I personally think forums will make it easier to police (keeping it Islamic, plus making sure people give proper crituques) -- but dA opens up possibilities to get more eyeballs and more advice from people who are better.

I also suggest an "SOF" format; you mention:
- Strengths (strong-points, things you liked)
- Opportunities (possibilities to improve it and make it uber)
- Fixes (things that are just wrong and need to be fixed).

Using my latest fish example (viewtopic.php?f=55&t=857&start=15#p10063), a sample crituque I'd give myself is:

Strengths:
- fish gradient was awesome
- blurred background was good (kelp too)
- the helmet visor colouring/shading turned out nice
- general composition of the piece was good!

Opportunities:
- Fish scales would have looked awesome
- Needs a weapon, maybe even a small sword hilt sticking up somewhere?
- Bubbles! Where are the bubbles?
- Could have used other (blurred/undetailed) fish/creatures in the background

Fixes:
- Some of the colour bleeds out of the lines
- The ground line is just uneven
- The lighting is pretty confused

Let's do this ....

[AhmadSA]

I personally prefer MG. But you're right about having more viewers.
Also, you think gengis can allow people to post anonymously? So more people can give feedback without having to be polite.

About that fish, i'm not a pro I don't even know what gradient means; I had to google it. And I still don't know what it means.
S: the fish.

O:You could've added more life to the drawing. More fish at the background.AND the bubbles.
Also, Personally, I don't like the blur effect.

F:The ones you pointed out.

[gengis]

obviously my vote is MG but im biased

In regards to anonymous posting I can allow it in specific forums. So i can enable it on the graphics forum for example.

Deviant art will have more a day then the forums get a month so if you want feedback from people that is probably better. Though from what i can tell, most people just go to deviant art to steal pictures they need and then never comment or say thanks

[ashes999]

@gengis really (about stealing art?) Wow, that's really lame.

@ahmadsa gradiant is when two colours blend together (eg. black to white goes through grey shades).

But I disagree about anonymous feedback. We should be able to trust each other. If gengis tells me my bird looks like a rabbit, I should take it like a man, and thank him for his honest brutality. I'd prefer that over "yeah I didn't like the rabbit thing."

BTW @AhmadSA it takes practice to get good at critiquing. Just think for a while and go with details.

I'm still not sure about MG vs. dA for this. Let's wait for @Kreax or @Thulfiqaar.

[ashes999]

So there are critique groups on dA, that should be sufficient inshaAllah, plus a critiquable feature. But sadly, it's a premium (paid) feature. So maybe we can stick with MG forums? Or make our own group.

[gengis]

btw i was joking about the rabbit thing, it was pretty clear it was a seagull

[Kreax]

I don't mind either way.

My only gripe with this idea is that making the forum anonymous will be pointless. There are so few of us that the only people that won't figure out who is who are newbies to the forum.

If it's under the premise of critique, and we stick to SOF, then I have no problem with posting pictures. I just don't want people to go off on a picture (good or bad). We are all able to hold an intelligent conversation comparing multiple opinions/perspectives to come to an understanding.

Fair forewarning, if it becomes a gif battle, I'm out.

That being said.

+ Excellent idea and execution
+ as you said, nice gradient
+ will add to that, nice RGB/CMYK values on the blue
+ nice uneven goldish brown for the sand, feels grainy, just how sand normally feels

o More kelp in the foreground would help with the dimensional balance, the blur would make more visual sense
o other fish and bubbles would have added more life

- Not entirely clear that the thing on the face is a helmet, or how it is attached (fish kebob anyone?)
- Is that a sharkfin? where are the other fins? Creative, yes, but how does the fish swim?
- You intention is unclear, so it's hard to give a preper critique. I don't know what you are trying to achieve and how I can help you get there.

[thulfiqaar]

I'm cool with it eitherway. as for the feedback let me get home and I will spend time posting and replying to all the posts and let you know.

[ashes999]

@Kreax can you explain more what you mean by intention?

I think we should stick to MG forums. Since we're all already here

[Kreax]

Sometimes people just draw for fun. Sometimes they draw to challenge themselves. Sometimes they draw to explore and test different techniques. Sometimes they draw to get their imagination on paper.

All of these intentions will have an effect on your end-result. If we know what you want to achieve, we can tailor our SOF's to that, giving you more valuable feedback.

[ashes999]

@Kreax okay, I see. InshaAllah I will mention that next time

BTW, what's your vote -- dA, or MG forums? ...maybe we should have a poll...

[thulfiqaar]

@ashes999 I have tried my new bamboo pen tablet and man it's really doesn't replace the pen and paper. I found it really hard to look at the screen in front of my whilst i am drawing on the table. It's just not the same, it makes it so much harder.

I have looked at other drawing tablets and it appears some of them have a screen that you can draw on but they are like thousands of pounds worth of equipment lol.

I just would like to know, is this something that you have train yourself with and then you get used to it or will it always feel a bit awkward?

[ashes999]

@thulfiqaar I'm a n00b too. I assume this is something you get better at over time: drawing while looking at the screen. It does NOT replace pen and paper, but it's not as bad as drawing by mouse, either. But if you can't draw, don't expect the tablet to help you there

It will inshaAllah improve. Personally, I sit with one hand holding the pen and one hand poised over "ctrl-Z" to undo any bad lines. But as I get more confident, I expect to just draw, then erase with the tablet and redraw (instead of undoing all my work).

Wallahu a'lam.

[thulfiqaar]

Thanks, I guess I will just have to practice then. thanks for the info

[Kreax]

Made this for work a few weeks ago. 100% done on illustrator.