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Art Critics - Please check this out?

I'm on a Mac for laptop and Windows Vista for desktop. I'm sure I could get Illustrator on the Mac, but I'm only doing the rough drafts on the Mac. Once I'm okay with the rough lines and shape, I'll switch over to the desktop so I can use a mouse and PaintShop Pro 7, which is what I'm more comfortable on.

Never used Illustrator. Is it similar to Photoshop?
 
I think it's a great line drawing!

Things can change so much from this stage to the final, I say just go for it!! I think that shading/ definition makes the drawing. It's up to you what you want to do. I actually didn't even really notice the proportion problem until other people were talking about it.
In art, especially with subject matter that isn't real, what's "passable" works better than what is completely factual.

Maybe level the hoove out a little, and try to add a little dimension to it. It looks like there's some kind of split, or darker section. Are you going to add any kind of ground into the picture?

Also, just a little suggestion from me (and my ideas), I think it would be cool if there was a gradual transition of fur from her stomach to the horse.. not just a clean "woman stops, horse starts" line. I think it would be awesome if she kind of had a mane, or if there was a little ridge of hair along her back that transitioned into the horse. Just something I envisioned!

I'm interested in seeing the stages and final project! Do you have a deviant art or something so those of us who wish can see the "full drawing"?
 
pridecity said:
I'm on a Mac for laptop and Windows Vista for desktop. I'm sure I could get Illustrator on the Mac, but I'm only doing the rough drafts on the Mac. Once I'm okay with the rough lines and shape, I'll switch over to the desktop so I can use a mouse and PaintShop Pro 7, which is what I'm more comfortable on.

Never used Illustrator. Is it similar to Photoshop?
Click to expand...

It has some similarities but for this type of work you are doing it is better than photoshop. There are options for people who draw their own work to import it into illustrator and use the live trace and live paint to convert it to digital art and add tons of effects to bring it to life.
 
if oyu did that on your laptop with a track pad or synaptics pad or whatever they are called... thats really good.
 
pridecity said:
I might try a different horse. I have a few Arabians that might fit better. I've never really drawn human/animal figures except a mermaid and now I'm starting to question the quality of that.
Click to expand...

Look up Gypsy Vanners. Not too many centaurs are done with a draft horse for a base, so that might be something interesting and different to try.
 
Yes, with a track pad after being on my feet for hours at work. Lol. I did come up with a few more, just really quick ones to try out different bodies. I didn't really pay attention to proportion so some of them may be way out of whack. Lol

I don't think this one will work. i think the side view isn't right:
pg_female_centaur_draft_c_d.png


This one might be too "action-y" for the girl's stance:
pg_female_centaur_draft_c_c.png


This one may be the best one:
pg_female_centaur_draft_c_b.png


Or maybe this one:
pg_female_centaur_draft_c_a.png
 
Several of those will work, IMO. Just remember that if you use one with some motion on the horse part, you need to show some movement in the girl's hair. If the tail hair blows with the breeze, so will the head hair.
 
I honestly think the worst problem you are having is the fact that you are traceing. The lineart looks very flat and things are off because of the fact that photos are very flat and also sometimes in art you can make adjustments to make the art to the eye more pleasing. I also agree that drawing the woman's hair to match the flow of the tail. Her hands too...seem...akward. And I know this seems weird...but it's so true. Don't draw the nostrils of the girl. It always makes people look pig faced. I know you can see them in real life and in the photo...but I promise that if you draw them..they will stick out and make her look like a pig. Take a look at disney art for example...no nostrils. And if you want to go realistic in the end...the using a photo won't work well anyway.
But honestly ...just sketch it out yourself. It will add "life" to the art.
 
As mentioned in a previous post, I only drew her face because I wanted it to give an idea of her expression. After I've gotten the basic design correct, I'll be doing a ton more and most of it will be done in colors and shadows. The lines will only be a guide to tell me where to stop color. I'm hoping it will turn out similar to 3d art. I only trace the hooves because I'm terrible at feet. Also, I traced the face because I knew I wouldn't be using it.

Once I'm done with the basic template, I'll be redoing the lines on my other computer to straighten them out and then zooming in to pixels and adding color pixel by pixel, layer by layer. It should eliminate the "flat life" look of her. I'm determined to use her face and body as a reference, but maybe I can change the arms and hands. I was hoping that once I got the template correct, the coloration and shadowing would reduce the awkwardness of her position.

I think the main problem is that I don't know what I want her to be doing yet. I'm trying to get her into a kit-ready position. I know that probably won't mean much to anyone so let me explain. While I want to do a graphic, I need the graphic to be a template for a possible monster kit. I'm trying to come up with ideas for my boyfriend's company. We designed a rough draft of a mermaid and now have someone designing it in kit/statue form. I'm hoping to sell this idea to him as well.

The problem is meshing graphic art and kit template. Having just a horse-woman standing there won't make a good kit. It could make great art. We've thought about turning her into a warrior, but are worrying about it turning into too much of a "Pan" art, if that means anything. In the final two drafts, one will have her wearing clothes (suitable for this site) and the other will have her nude (suitable for kit). Another problem is that it has to be completely original and can't look like Harry Potter or something because of copyright. It's just like we cannot produce Avatar creatures because of licensing and we don't want to get a C&D (cease and desist) or even sued.

Maybe I just need to step back and decide on what I want her to be doing first. I hate doing that. Lol.
 
I like the middle two except her hands and arms need to be doing what she'd be doing if she was running or trotting. And the whole belly button above the chest of the horse deal still bothers me.
 
The second-from-the-bottom is the best mesh of the human figure and the equine, as far as angles go...although I think perhaps her torso is sitting too far back. I think it should be a smoother mesh from the equine chest to the human torso (right now, it seems to be sitting back a bit)

But that's the best fit angle-wise, as they're both facing the same direction. (I liked the first image in the thread, but the angle on the human was wrong...you'd need to image her slightly from above instead of direct-on because the horse body was bent over so you had almost 3/4 from the top rather than a straight profile)

I like the idea...I'm very bad at meshing humans with animals in art ;)
 
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