July 2016 Challenge : Sinamzuu Takyrwadi

[Ilanthar]

OK, I probably won't have the time to run this properly this month... But who cares ? For fun and practice, I finally decided for the second choice :

So here's my first attempt to try a new thing, a kinda perspective dragonsight view (more high than a birdsight, I guess). REALLY not sure of what I'm doing, so I took a long view at a mars photo for a good basis.
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[Abu Lafia]

Hey Ilanthar, great to see you joining in! That's a fine start, the shading of the riverbed looks really cool. I'm just wondering about the mountain outlines. They look like they're sideview, while the riverbed is top down...

[ThomasR]

Already awesome !

[Josiah VE]

Whoah! That looks... weird right now. Looking forward to seeing it develop.

[Ilanthar]

Thanks guys!

By Abu Lafia
I'm just wondering about the mountain outlines. They look like they're sideview, while the riverbed is top down...

Aaarghhh ! Yeah, I know the mountains are probably incorrect... But the riverbed is supposed to be slightly in pespective, not top-down (at least the mars picture I took for reference isn't...).
I hope to arrange this with more details... I added some mountains in the background, and hope it's a bit better.

@Josiah : weird good or weird bad?
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[Abu Lafia]

Ok, now it's more clear! So, the bottom part of the canvas is kinda top down and then "bends" to a side view in the upper half? Then there is only the small mountain/hill south west to the center of the map, that is still more "isometric, although it should be top down!? Haha, sorry my friend i'm a noob with perspective drawing myself, keep strong, you'll make this as awesome as all the things you put your hands (and mind) on!

[J.Edward]

I like how this has started Ilanthar.
I might be the size of the shadows to the back edge of some of the raised river beds that may make it appear more top down.
That said, I think it's looking good.

[Ilanthar]

@Abu Lafia : no problem, I'm actually hoping for critics and advices ! I fully agree about the mountain and removed it... Maybe a canyon instead, don't know yet.

@J. Edward : thanks ! Could you precise which shadows are bad? I could only learn from a master and sadly, I surely won't see those mistakes by myself.
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[Ilanthar]

A small update. Still not sure about a lot of things... I lowered a bit the shadows & lights.
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And I'm wondering if it's worse or better in a more brighter version? Not so desertic, maybe.

[Abu Lafia]

The toning down of the shadows works very well, and i really like the mountain the wadi springs from. I think the brighter version is too bright, as the nice warm brown of the shadows is missing somehow. Maybe light up the originial version just a bit?