I need help on a panel

marygold 2017-10-09 22:56:03 UTC #1

I get the impression that edge of whatever is in the foreground is too clean. Even with my sketchiness on the edges I feel like there is a jarring difference between the subject and the white background, which is weird because I don't get that same feeling when I see other people's characters on white backgrounds.

Granted that the photo I'm judging is the HQ version and not a downsized version like the one uploaded here, is there anything I should be doing to fix this? Is my edge actually fine and I'm over thinking it?

Thanks!

Zpreader 2017-10-10 00:28:08 UTC #2

I can't really see a problem with the edge. To be honest, I'm not sure what could be done to the edge to fix the issue you're having. It looks okay to me...

If you're feeling wary about it, then it might be a good idea to enlarge him and move him to the right (enough to eliminate the white space on the right side of the panel). That might make the composition a bit stronger, so I reckon it's at least worth a look.

Maybe adding some wrinkles and shadow on the clothes would help a bit as well? Making the shadows toward the middle of his body a bit darker may help to emphasize that eye even more too.

I'm not sure if this helps. Maybe if I throw a few things at the wall we can figure out what exactly is bothering you about this panel.

thekinginthesun 2017-10-10 01:14:34 UTC #3

I think you need more contrast. Making darker shadows and whiter lights on the face might help!

SleepingPoppy 2017-10-10 01:16:21 UTC #4

I think some of it is just your own aesthetics. My personal take is that since the sketchiness is just on the face, its incongruous with the rest of the image.I would either use a smoother shading on the face, or make the sketchy/skratchy shadows part of the over all design- which is kind of what @Zpreader is saying with adding wrinkles and such to the clothes ((and hair)).

It may work better when it's part of an over all page, though. Sometimes one isolated panel looks weird, but works as a larger picture. I don't think what you have here is wrong. I would just go about it differently.

Hope that helps! Do what feels right to you!

thekinginthesun 2017-10-10 01:19:56 UTC #5

Maybe adding some little particles? Dunno, I'm also throwing things at the wall here

heraclus 2017-10-10 06:55:27 UTC #6

I think what everyone said about it is really acurate but i'm wondering what kind of expression is this?
is he scared? cause he doesn't seems scared to me , is he just looking back? did he notice something?

marygold 2017-10-10 13:30:33 UTC #7

@heraclus Noticed something

I think his expression would be easier to decipher in context, but Is the ambiguity something I should work on?