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Out of the Shadows & Ashes
Fics
This is prettily composed, and the background is gorgeous. I can appreciate a minimal approach in constructing the figure, but I wish the Artist had done a better job of erasing the construction lines. That just makes it a doodle on top of a nice background, not a finished piece.
I’m going to think about this one a bit longer before giving it a rank.
I’m going to think about this one a bit longer before giving it a rank.
An absolute masterful job at the cloud effect. Visually, I have no doubt in my faith to say that this is done by an artist with experience.
However, what exactly does the piece say about the prompt? To me, it's a pony viewing the distance with absolutely no indication as to what they're looking at. Maybe they're in a dream as to what gives off the visual appearance? Maybe they're off in the middle of a plains and they're using the starry skies to navigate home? Maybe the pony was simply drawn in after the background was done just to show off the fancy visual effects?
I don't know, and with that, I don't see how this could be used as inspiration for writers. If it is, I think it would be used irresponsibly or without putting too much emphasis into the context of the drawing.
However, what exactly does the piece say about the prompt? To me, it's a pony viewing the distance with absolutely no indication as to what they're looking at. Maybe they're in a dream as to what gives off the visual appearance? Maybe they're off in the middle of a plains and they're using the starry skies to navigate home? Maybe the pony was simply drawn in after the background was done just to show off the fancy visual effects?
I don't know, and with that, I don't see how this could be used as inspiration for writers. If it is, I think it would be used irresponsibly or without putting too much emphasis into the context of the drawing.
I'd love to see this as a high-concept piece, but the execution just seems a bit too loose for me to really be sold on it.
If the outline was a little more purposeful and less sketchy, I could go off on some rabbit trail about the aborigine Australians negative space constellations and star symbolism and stuff like that, but as is, I can't see this as anything more than a rough sketch slapped over a touched-up photo. Maybe that's unfair to you, Artist, but this just isn't cohesive enough for me to pick out the thought you were putting in, or feel like there's enough intentional purpose behind the choices that have been made here.
You obviously have a command over shape and perspective that I can only admire, so it's not like I'm going to bottom-slate this or anything. I just wish this looked a little less like a rough draft, I guess.
If the outline was a little more purposeful and less sketchy, I could go off on some rabbit trail about the aborigine Australians negative space constellations and star symbolism and stuff like that, but as is, I can't see this as anything more than a rough sketch slapped over a touched-up photo. Maybe that's unfair to you, Artist, but this just isn't cohesive enough for me to pick out the thought you were putting in, or feel like there's enough intentional purpose behind the choices that have been made here.
You obviously have a command over shape and perspective that I can only admire, so it's not like I'm going to bottom-slate this or anything. I just wish this looked a little less like a rough draft, I guess.
I think I have to disagree with >>Kritten's comparison between this piece and Rise of a Soldier. On that piece, the smoke and sketch lines come together to create a great image. On this one, it seems like you just sketched some lines on top of a smoky picture. That picture does look great, but I don't think the sketch lines add as much to it as in Rise.
I do agree that this one seems to have less of a connection to the prompt and will probably be harder to write about.
I do agree that this one seems to have less of a connection to the prompt and will probably be harder to write about.
>>The_Letter_J
If you ask me, it looks like ashes coming together to form a pony. I like this one. It could inspire something really cool. I'm not so fond of Rise of a Soldier. That one looks messy and overbearing to me.
If you ask me, it looks like ashes coming together to form a pony. I like this one. It could inspire something really cool. I'm not so fond of Rise of a Soldier. That one looks messy and overbearing to me.
I just gotta say this one is beautiful. It's pretty clearly done by the same person who did Totally Not Thunderlane, but the execution is all the more sublime for the more muted colors and clearer focus on the pone and the atmosphere around them.
So basically, the opposite of >>The_Letter_J :-p
So basically, the opposite of >>The_Letter_J :-p
The colors are gorgeous here, and I like how it seems as though the pony shape is born out of the cloudy shadows at the edges and bottom, and moves into the woodland landscape. I don't know if I'm a fan of the scraggly style the pony is drawn in though: It works for the low contrast parts like its legs, but where the contrast increases, especially around its head, I think a cleaner style would've improved the impression of the pony transitioning from the ethereal to the physical.
>>GroaningGreyAgony
Since the art contest is over, I'll be replying to reviews on my art. (I didn't know about the Anonymous setting, but this and you could guess my other one are mine.)
I was actually attempting a new style make my two pieces. I became fond of the ‘messy’ style for a while now. Though I am capable of a cleaner style, I just got back into doing art after 3 months of nothing, so it’s probably due my lack of energy of cleaning it up I assume. I think I did pretty well for being rusty, though I appreciated your review regardless.
Since the art contest is over, I'll be replying to reviews on my art. (I didn't know about the Anonymous setting, but this and you could guess my other one are mine.)
I was actually attempting a new style make my two pieces. I became fond of the ‘messy’ style for a while now. Though I am capable of a cleaner style, I just got back into doing art after 3 months of nothing, so it’s probably due my lack of energy of cleaning it up I assume. I think I did pretty well for being rusty, though I appreciated your review regardless.
>>Kritten
Thank you! I really do enjoy coloring pieces like this.
I think my goal for this is more for the writer’s interpretation, so I tried to give them the freedom to choose how they would see it. Yes, it’s rather a loose excuse, but I didn’t want to be too specific to constrict the writer. This is actually my first prompt sort of image thing as well, so that might’ve contributed to the lack of define concept. I would probably try to be more focus on a topic in the future if I do something like this again (most likely).
Also, might as well include my reply to your Rise review too. For both Shadows & Ashes and Rise, I was experimenting with cloud effect sort of style since I recently discovered it and decided to actually use it with these pieces (I actually made 3 different pieces in this style but randomly picked 2 to submit). You're probably right about me overusing this. Like I said, I was trying the style and see how it came out, at same time, I wasn't really motivated as I could’ve been so it isn't my best work.
Anyways, thanks again for the reviews, they were more thoughtful than what I usually get. I definitely appreciate your feedback on both pieces. :)
Thank you! I really do enjoy coloring pieces like this.
I think my goal for this is more for the writer’s interpretation, so I tried to give them the freedom to choose how they would see it. Yes, it’s rather a loose excuse, but I didn’t want to be too specific to constrict the writer. This is actually my first prompt sort of image thing as well, so that might’ve contributed to the lack of define concept. I would probably try to be more focus on a topic in the future if I do something like this again (most likely).
Also, might as well include my reply to your Rise review too. For both Shadows & Ashes and Rise, I was experimenting with cloud effect sort of style since I recently discovered it and decided to actually use it with these pieces (I actually made 3 different pieces in this style but randomly picked 2 to submit). You're probably right about me overusing this. Like I said, I was trying the style and see how it came out, at same time, I wasn't really motivated as I could’ve been so it isn't my best work.
Anyways, thanks again for the reviews, they were more thoughtful than what I usually get. I definitely appreciate your feedback on both pieces. :)
>>Not_A_Hat
Like I said to >>Kritten, I may have been too loose with this piece. Also same as my reply to >>GroaningGreyAgony‘s comment, I recently got back into art because a friend, who is a writer here, asked me to join. Which led me to think I could try and get back into the groove of things by doing the art portion of the contest. I wouldn’t say it’s my best piece nor was Rise considering my minimal spark of inspiration, thus my rough draft sort of art.
Thank you for the feedback. I value every one I get.
Like I said to >>Kritten, I may have been too loose with this piece. Also same as my reply to >>GroaningGreyAgony‘s comment, I recently got back into art because a friend, who is a writer here, asked me to join. Which led me to think I could try and get back into the groove of things by doing the art portion of the contest. I wouldn’t say it’s my best piece nor was Rise considering my minimal spark of inspiration, thus my rough draft sort of art.
Thank you for the feedback. I value every one I get.
>>The_Letter_J
I appreciate the sentiment. ^^ And same as I had said to GroaningGreyAgony, I wanted to try out this style for a while now and hadn’t had any opportunities lately so I’ve decided to experimenting after months of no art and then this came out as a result. Read my reply to Kritten and Not_A_Hat for my reason for the loose connection of the prompt.
I appreciate the sentiment. ^^ And same as I had said to GroaningGreyAgony, I wanted to try out this style for a while now and hadn’t had any opportunities lately so I’ve decided to experimenting after months of no art and then this came out as a result. Read my reply to Kritten and Not_A_Hat for my reason for the loose connection of the prompt.
>>CoffeeMinion
Awww, thank you for the compliment! I will tell you I really did three pieces in this style, but chose to enter this and 'Totally Not Thunderlane' in the end. This was more of me experimenting with this style of art, so it’s not my usual style I would’ve done. I guess I was going for an misty aesthetic sort of approach.
Awww, thank you for the compliment! I will tell you I really did three pieces in this style, but chose to enter this and 'Totally Not Thunderlane' in the end. This was more of me experimenting with this style of art, so it’s not my usual style I would’ve done. I guess I was going for an misty aesthetic sort of approach.
>>FairyRave
You're very welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I didn't know of your block, but it makes me even happier that this might have helped with breaking free from it. I've also found these contests a great way of breaking inactivity streaks: the high-quality feedback is great motivation to participate, and the short deadlines eliminate all possibility for procrastination.
I don't know how regular rounds with art will be, and there is no feature (yet?) to just be notified of art rounds, so if you want, I can let you know when the next one is. Although, if you want to improve your writing, and add MLP and/or original fiction to the HP and Sherlock fanfics, you might just as well get all the e-mail notifications and wait for a prompt to spark your creativity ;-)
You're very welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I didn't know of your block, but it makes me even happier that this might have helped with breaking free from it. I've also found these contests a great way of breaking inactivity streaks: the high-quality feedback is great motivation to participate, and the short deadlines eliminate all possibility for procrastination.
I don't know how regular rounds with art will be, and there is no feature (yet?) to just be notified of art rounds, so if you want, I can let you know when the next one is. Although, if you want to improve your writing, and add MLP and/or original fiction to the HP and Sherlock fanfics, you might just as well get all the e-mail notifications and wait for a prompt to spark your creativity ;-)
>>wYvern
Unless someone procrastinates till the last moment. :P
I think I'll like that. I sort of wanted a way to make art without me sitting around till something just happen to pop in my head. And as for my writing, we'll see. I am horrid at forming words in a way that makes sense when there are time constraints and mediocre at best without them.
Unless someone procrastinates till the last moment. :P
I think I'll like that. I sort of wanted a way to make art without me sitting around till something just happen to pop in my head. And as for my writing, we'll see. I am horrid at forming words in a way that makes sense when there are time constraints and mediocre at best without them.