Do these poses look okay to you? Feedback

[garrenn]

It's obviously just a sketch and not what the end product will look like at all, but I'm having trouble with the poses in this panel and I'm hoping I could get some feedback on it!

In this scene, Felix (younger) is playing his banjo in a park and a ghost is sitting next to him (hence the eye). Also he's left handed so he's holding the banjo correctly.

[JessJackdaw]

Here's a quick sketch example. Really it's mostly that the poses feel too stiff. When a character interacts with a static object it causes a major shift in weight, so really try to show that with the ghost girl leaning on the bench or the boy musician leaning his arm around the banjo. Rarely are there any horizontal straight lines in human poses, so watch what your shoulders and hips are doing at all times! : >

Also to create a little more movement in your shot, try to pump up those angles of perspective on the bench. Straight horizontal lines in the middle of the frame doesn't create as much interest as a diagonal line would. It's a strange quirk of the human eye artists like to take advantage of, so push the perspective some!

So, I would totally get some gesture drawing practice with poses too just so you get a bit more familiar with relaxed poses. Live/photo reference is your friend. : >

(Oh, and I just drew ghost girl with swirl legs since I wasn't sure if she had any. XD And I realized too late banjo boy had short sleeves. Oh well.)

[garrenn]

Thanks! That looks great and I can totally see what you mean.

[Devika]

Great feedback already!

I'd add that it's a bit strangely cropped: Why is half of the ghost missing? It feels like she should be an important part of the shot, yet why is only the boy fully visible? Don't be afraid to zoom out!

[garrenn]

Also I'm gonna give you a shoutout in the coimc once that pages is posted for your help.

[garrenn]

Mainly because of the box size. There was originally going to be a different picture there, but I was unsatisfied. Either I'll make the box bigger and adjust the others, or I'll zoom the picture enough to see it clearly.

[JessJackdaw]

No worries, man! Happy to help! : >

There was originally going to be a different picture there, but I was unsatisfied. Either I'll make the box bigger and adjust the others, or I'll zoom the picture enough to see it clearly.

I would vote to just push the characters closer and tilt the angle of the bench more, unless you necessarily need that blank space for text.

An angle like this would make it easy to have both characters in a tiny frame without a lot of zooming out. But if it's an important moment in the comic definitely give that panel more real estate.

[garrenn]

Well it's not a hugely important scene. it's a flashback next to other flashback pictures. since those other flashback pictures aren't majorly important though, I could get away with widening out that frame, especially since it's in the middle of the page and underneath is just a close up of his feet walking.

I would probably need help with that angle if I were to go with that one instead XD

[garrenn]

Improved!

[JessJackdaw]

Nice! It looks much better! : >

[garrenn]

Thanks! hopefully the page will be posted today and I will link it here for everyone to see. Going back and fixing some lineart took up some time though so if it's not today it'll be posted tomorrow.

[garrenn]

Dreamwalker Felix has been updated! Better late than never As promised, I gave you a shoutout for helping with the pose so I'd love if you'd check it out!