The Lonely Soldier - Despair

[washka]

Update for the old folk, I'm quite satisfied with the scene now I've got to block onto the chara, some more work with the dog, and colors/lightning/details...
Comments are always appreciated, I'm still wondering wich fellow I'll choose for my fireman...

[M_Cederstrom]

go with the monkey, that last one looks great.

[noundo]

i like all of them, cool)))))

[washka]

Thanks a lot noundo and M_Cederstrom for the comments, I really needed some, I really appreciated.
Mr_C, you'll be a bet disapointed because I had already chosen the "fellow" of the lonely one (I'll try add some monkey in my next work).
Here is some update, I've got some fixes to work on, especially with the lightning part onto the face and shadows of the snake, maybe a few more details if I've got some times but still got old folk to finish and to add the final touch to the cartoon work. Two entries...
Critical comments are still welcome in the next 11 hours, because after that, it'll be posted as final, but they still welcome you know , comments are always welcome here, even big negatives ones.
Keep da good mood for your final work guys, don't rush too much, keep calm, and try your best, good luck for you all for the final submission! This comp had a lot of good work, judging part will be hard!
A merry chrismas and an happy new year!

[washka]

Here are my final subs and wips, special thanks to M_Cederstrom and to chris_solo for their support during the comp. Maybe I'll rework a bit more the old guy later, there is still some work there...
So the question is: where is the monkey?

[chris_solo]

hey washka!
you took the time to my picture so I did the same for yours
I like the first although I find the yellow too far, too saturated and covers three of quarters of the picture ... the fire is too white, some orange would have been appreciated to warm the image, the head of character has good ideas on the design but lacks much details as the rest of the body.
I love the character's hands are really well done and the composition and framing are good. The background lack of clarity but creates some interest.
Your second image is shifted and really interesting, I think we liked the simplicity in style and composition ... I'm pretty split on it, I don't know if I really like it but I find it, original!
good work, bravo for being up to the end and good luck!!!

[washka]

Thanks a lot chris_solo, and I completly agree with your comments, it shows you've got a sharp and experienced eye.
I added too much yellow because the image was really dark.
The outline of the character wasn't clear enough (especially on the back) and I didn't wanted to use a big backlight there.
The fire was attracting too much the eye, you're right about the orange on it, but I wanted it with white, next time I'll try to add more orange.
So was my solution atm was the yellow aura/gas, to get some more balance with the fire, but there is too much now, next time I'll try to find others solutions.
The head has got a lack of detail, and I forgot some projected shadows there too. I could explain it saying "It's because I want people to look at the hands!!!", but it would be half-false, I should have spent more time there and work more onto the head's concept with more sketches.
About the background, you're right too, lack of clarity, but with the armageddon theme, it's some liberty I've taken, I'm not a really good background painter, and I still need to improve my perspective drawing skills. Some more details, work and time would have been good there. I should more rely on multiple startsketch than shifting my compositions during my work, it's a bad habit. And I also think composition could have been better, can't really feel the depth...
The second image, the problem is the colors, lightning, and still need to detail more... So let's say it's not finished
Thanks a lot for constructive/critical comments, it helps me a lot, that's how I can improve, I need more comments like yours, I really appreciate!
Maybe sometimes I'll rework "Winterfire" with some corrections.