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PolymerWantACracker — No Rays to Catch
#afternoon #amy #amyrose #amyrosethehedgehog #archiesonic #beach #bikini #blue #book #chair #evening #friends #friendship #game #introvert #introverted #lake #lateafternoon #lifeguard #mightythearmadillo #milestailsprower #net #nicole #ocean #parasol #quiet #raytheflyingsquirrel #relax #relaxation #relic #sand #sandy #shade #soft #softshading #solitary #sonic #sonic_the_hedgehog #sonicteam #sonicthehedgehog #spike #sports #sun #sunny #swim #swimming #swimsuit #swimtrunks #tail #tails #tan #tattered #tide #umbrella #volley #volleyball #yellow #archiesonicthehedgehog #nicolethelynx #mighty_the_armadillo #ray_the_flying_squirrel #relicthepika #nicolethehololynx
Published: 2016-08-26 00:52:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 8569; Favourites: 147; Downloads: 19
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Description
Indecision about whether to break your comfort zone of introversion and join in the fun: a feel I know all too well...So, this is my entry for 's August 2016 contest, with Ray as the character of the month. I thought "didn't I just draw Ray?" but then I guess it has been a while since that one of him and Mighty hitchhiking. I thought I'd take the opportunity to experiment with soft shading again, since I think my stuff's gotten a little too cartoony lately.
Here's hoping Ray eventually mensches up and helps the team rebound Amy's deadly spikes!
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Comments: 48
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Hello there, I’m from ProjectComment .
The perspective on this is great, I really mean it. I like how we’re up and close with that sad guy right there, the one with the upside down smile, and off to the back we have a group of friends playing a good ol’ game of volleyball. Very well done. The shadows also help give us this perspective look, as you’ve got them stretched out in the distance where they are playing, and that helps keep them within the scope of the drawing. Another aspect that I think you’ve mastered is the lighting. The lighting in this drawing is top notch- the sun is behind the umbrella, but we can tell it’s very bright out because the shadows are hard and they’re long- maybe late afternoon I’m guessing. I like how in the far distance we can see some more people playing in the water. This overall helps and adds to the perspective, and since they’re far away there’s no need to add in detail.
The only thing that looks a bit off is the net. Nets and fences are hard to draw at times, I believe so myself. The nets and links are difficult to pull off realistically unless you’re up close, but you’ve seem to have gone the comic book art way of doing them- selecting small patches and filling in with cross hatches here or there. That helps if it’s far away, but seeing as it’s not that far away, I think a little more effort on the net would have helped pop it out a bit more. It looks great as is, but detail like that shouldn’t be rushed. The only other thing that I see is off is the sand. IT looks a bit plane to me, which could use a little bit of detail. Maybe use a light texture of shorts when coloring sand in, that way it has some details in it so we know its sand. Or add in more hills and arcs in it, as sand tends have footprints in it. Another detail that could be added but it’s time consuming- I’d go for the texture as it’s quicker, but I’ll leave that all up to you.
The expressions and emotions you’ve accomplished in this are well done. I almost feel like going to tears from just seeing Ray there, sitting alone. Oh how I know the feeling too much. Everyone’s excitement and focus on the game seems spot on, and you’ve even managed to blurr the ball just a bit to help show it is in motion. Overall nice shot, perspective, and shading, amazing work PolymerWantACracker! Keep it up! 
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why are there four of you project comment people here
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Hello from ProjectComment !
I like the way you used shading in this piece, and I think it emphasizes the point nicely. I also like the slanted angle that the drawing is set at. I think that the general composition of it is good, since everything works pretty well at directing the viewer's attention to the character in the corner. (He really shouldn't put that book down on the sand like that...he'll get grit in between all the pages if he's not careful 
Personally, I think that using this type of soft shading generally looks "off" in this style, but it's definitely something that can be pulled off with practice. I'm afraid I don't have any great examples of cartoon/soft shading right now, but I know I've seen it. 
As far as the line art goes, I think making the lines a little smoother would be nice, but overall it's good. I notice that you have the volleyball blurred from motion, and that's a nice touch! I would suggest having the lines be more solid around the "front," so that you can use the direction of the blur to better tell which way the ball is coming from, if that makes sense.
I hope this is helpful!
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Thank you! I think this is the first time anyone's commented on it.
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Really? XD Strange
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Ray's expression looks cute, tho.
Red: I know that feel, Raymond.
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(On behalf of )
As always, you do a pretty good job here in your work. First off, I really like the angle of the shot that you put here. It brings out a lot more emotion and emphasizes both the yellow cat looking sad, as well as the others having fun. I also love the colors that you put here, as they look incredibly gorgeous. I also love the line art and ESPECIALLY the shading as well. Now, one thing I'd have to criticize, and I might be picky here, the the poles for the volleyball net doesn't really have line art in them. It wouldn't be a problem, except the sky is almost as bright as the poles. Almost as if the net is floating by itself somehow. I apologize if I'm being too picky with that one criticism, though.
Regardless, this is pretty good. Keep up the good work.
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The poles do have lines on both sides, but I may have added too much glare to mask that, heh. Thanks!
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First off. I like how there feels like a story in it. I am not familiar with characters from Sonic save for a few so I will assume that Ray is the yellow guy. He seems like he wants to join but is either being left out due to the number of people, or chose to be left out but secretly wants to join. The posing on the characters is cool and works well with the scene. The ball has some motion blur in it, showing that the ball is indeed moving in a certain direction.
Now things to improve on. Firstly, line weight. The closer the object to the viewer, the thicker the lines, and vice versa. The variation in line weight not only gives more information to the viewer, but also make the it more interesting. I can see that the lines on the characters playing volleyball is VERY slightly thinner than Ray's lines, but could have made them thinner. I can also see that you blurred the characters in the far background, which is good. If the lines are thinner there, even better. Another point I need to point out is the colour for shading. The look like they are the same hue made darker by adding black. I suggest you read up on colour theory about shading but basically “warm light, cool shadows, cool light, warm shadows”. I make this mistake sometimes so I become more aware of this.
The main thing that I like about this picture is the composition. The horizon line kinda slants a bit, making the picture more dynamic. The perspective is well placed, with the camera from the bottom up. This gives the scene all the more depressing. Also Ray being under the umbrella, makes him darker than the background, creating a contrast in mood. The mood is further enhanced by the expressions on the characters, with Ray being sad, while the others happily playing. There is also the fact that the sun is right above Ray’s head, and creates another sort of contrast that draws the viewer’s eyes into that general area, making Ray’s expression the focus.
Overall this is picture is expressive and tells a story very well, that can be improved more to bring out the mood even more. It has a lot of elements that draws attention towards a certain point, and the whole scene very well composed. Well done mate!
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You're definitely right about the lineart; I accidentally set the resolution of this too low when drawing, so the lines came out too big in general. As for shading, though, I used a dark blue color as I usually do for outdoor scenes during the day (except when it's cloudy out, in which case I opt for black) - should my color be even bluer and lighter?
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Do you use multiply layer for shadows and stuff? Try other colours like purple or something. I haven been using layer types lately. I just paint on normal layers, to train myself on coloring. I only use layer types on effects or some adjustments.
For myself, if a base colour is yellow I may go towards brown, with slight tint of blue due to color of the sky, although I sometimes dont follow my own advice XD so just take it as a grain of salt. Though I do recommend looking up colour theory
fav.me/d31xj5t
Read through this. Extremely helpful.
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I've seen that one before. It was alright, but I didn't really get the theory behind it, which is important for me to be able to use techniques for real, and that artist didn't even seem that confident in their conclusions.
Anyway, what's the difference between multiply layers and regular layers? I've never worked with different "layer types"; for shadows I just set a new layer and color using somewhere between dark blue and black depending on the type of light (or even different dark colors if the light itself is of an unusual color), then color in where I want the shadows to be and adjust the opacity of the layer. For multiple darknesses of shadows, I either use different-opacity brushes on the same shading layer or create separate shading layers.
I've looked up color theory, but mainly used it for color schemes of the entire drawing; I've never had cause to think much about the colors of my shadows before since a friend who knows about this stuff says that's a particular area where I've greatly improved (though he could be missing something, of course).
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Every artist seems that way because theres no definitive way and it's up to preference. Theres a general way to do things and then adding personal preference. Tutorials are usually the artist's way of doing this, so you have to look at a few by different artists.
If you want sort of a textbook then Color and Light by James Gurney is one. I have it, and still read it from time to time.
Layer types are settings for each layer to give certain effects, like a Multiply later will darken colours, or Overlay will make the colours brighter and more saturated, some will even change the color completely such as Difference. Most digital artists will at least make use of them at some point in their works. Basically you put a layer on top of say your artwork layer, splash a bit of color on said layer, then change layer types and see what effects you can get.
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Is Nicole the referee or just being a lazy teammate not bothering to raise her arms?
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Lazy teammate - or just doesn't think she can rebound it.
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I myself would't really have any interest in joining, since I've never been a sports person.
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Neither am I, but I'd probably try to join in just because they're my buds. I used to play Madden on the GameCube with my brother and I barely even understand football.
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I was a big Gamecube guy myself. Heck, I still own one.
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I still hold Battle for Bikini Bottom up as one of the greatest 3D platformers ever made.
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Right? That was one of th games I played a lot (and still do every now and then). Yeah, the graphics in that game are quite swell for it's 2003 era.
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too introverted
also i wouldnt like to get a tan XD
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Well, they probably don't through their fur, I'd guess.
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well if i was in his place
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you are welcome
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I relate to this image too well. With the added bonus that I really don't like volleyball. Good work over all and best of luck with the contest!
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I thought it was pretty fun during gym class back in high school, but I also kinda blew at it. Tennis and badminton I was better at.
And thanks; I think the highest place I've come in in one of these is third or so, but this time there aren't that many submissions (yet), so maybe it'll be my lucky strike!
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I was horrible at volleyball. Then again I was bad at PE in general.
Well I hope you at least get third! Have a nice day!
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I didn't intend it to be that his friends are excluding him; he's just not sure if he should overcome his shyness and play with them instead.
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I have the feeling him and Mighty will appear as a cameo in Sonic Mania.
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And hopefully not on a "missing" poster this time!
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Hey Ray...I see that you are lonely....want to talk about that book you were reading?
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