Curse of the Cursed dagger -in color

[sketchy]

Hey guys
Thanks for everyone's help with the pencils on this one. Here is the finished version with color. More like fingerpaints since it was done with photoshop and the mouse pad. Anyway, please critique if the spirit moves you. Thanks! (BTW the title is just for fun)



EDIT: You're right, the title is lame. Here is a better version.

[sketchy]

A friend suggested taking out the black lines from the background parts for 'atmospheric perspective'. Here is the result (he kindly did it for me). I think it works...

[Toddoss]

I think the color hold was a good idea but there are more important thing to worry about in this piece. Obviously you have taken some thought into the lightsource which is consistent so kudos on that and the skull and dagger are very strong comparatively in the peice. Here are a few things to think about:

Is the dagger something that is searched out for by the egyptian or stumbled across? The sand trail suggests that he not only search for it but from the pyramid knew right where it was which is kind of boring.
here are a few quick ideas to liven it up a little:

I took your same basic idea but tried to use some composition to focus the lookers attention to what you want. Also making it more of a stumble across find trying to get some more mystery also using the tree that you have which isnt really accomplishing much and using it to force the effect of the cursed dagger with dead trees near the dagger and healthy in the mid and backround

Also I wouldnt put the glow on the skull eye cause if its the dagger thats cursed I would make the jewel in the hilt the glow so you direct even more attention to the dagger.

just some ideas hope you dont mind.

[Toddoss]

btw the right sketch is a dagger in a camel like skeleton behind some rocks. sorry its not to readable but I had to do this quick before work. oh and i used sand dunes to help the atmospheric perspective.

[VicM]

toddoss good feedback. I like that second thumbnail.

[sketchy]

Toddoss: Thanks for the very thoughtful and helpful comments! I really appreciate your thoughts on the drawing, and I also like your take on the discovery of the dagger. (You are right, it is supposed to be a came-across by accident type of thing.) I like the sand dunes too and the camelid skeleton.
VIM22: Second that.

[Toddoss]

Well it looked like the piece you had was definitely finished and I know that when I finish a piece I'm done with it and on to bigger and hopefully better stuff so I guess this was just some food for thought for your next bigger and better drawing that I look forward to seeing.

[sketchy]

Too kind. Next up: The Search for the SOB Who Killed My Camel

[Toddoss]

now thats something I'd read!!