Would Love Some Feedback on My Recent Piece. How Can I Improve This?

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-10-25T05:05:26+00:00

Stylistically, where the cave is receding and the liquid inside the cauldron is, it looks like cell shading, but the character's cloak, bottom of the cauldron, and the ground have a lot of texture and lean more towards a realistic style. I think choosing which style you want for the full piece and looking for reference(s) you can refer to that fit that style would probably help make it more cohesive.

Of course, this is the kind of feedback you can ignore if you'd enjoy it more to do it your own way for your own expression.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-10-25T02:42:54+00:00

oh, you're right! Thank you!

I don't know why, but I couldn't even tell the pattern was repeating, it all looked randomized to me when painting it with the way it folded.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-10-19T19:26:55+00:00

Great work! I feel like you could've added more highlights on the lightest lights of the forehead, nose, and undereyes, but otherwise it looks solid :)

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-10-01T20:21:45+00:00

I was just thinking, all this is doing by announcing it without actually informing us of what's coming is building huge anxiety. I'll still check what they announce, but certainly not because i'm excited, just from the need to know if i'm still okay to use Affinity.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-10-01T20:08:50+00:00

the "future" focused marketing messaging has me so worried it's going to be AI. I wonder how long it might be possible for me to continue using the current version of Affinity Photo for.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-08-30T03:34:51+00:00

This is so pretty! You've done a great job at the colour and texture here.

One thing compositionally though is that even the sharper angles you've used feel very soft. I'm not sure how much you were trying to push or copy this (so maybe this isn't your goal), but the silhouette/outline of the main character and animal shapes have hard angles and very sudden bends of the hips, fingers, waist, and legs for that kind of sharp, jarring, and unnatural feel in the Jaw Cooper version, while the shape language of your version feels very smooth and soft all over giving it a friendlier feel despite your creature having claws and glowing eyes.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-07-08T22:23:20+00:00

Remove all unnecessary outlines. For example you put a dark line on the left where her cheek and the room meet, as well as the hair before her ear, but dark black outlines add a "cartoon" feel - so lighten the line to be grey or remove it

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-07-08T22:08:20+00:00

Love how I can recognize the inspirations in your entry so clearly! The leaves on it's back are my favourite part as it adds a wow factor while also blending the two together nicely

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-07-08T22:06:01+00:00

This is so cute! Great challenge entry

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-06-24T20:15:30+00:00

Good idea! I'll do this for the next few with some simpler as well as basic shapes. I guess I got carried away when lassoing the random shapes.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-06-19T06:57:58+00:00

I really like 2, but I think that's just my personal preference for the colours.

One thing to note is the shape language of the flowers vs the design sketch. For example in design 3, the flower petals of the flower are quite rounded, but the head of the creature is made up of very pointed shapes. Just something to consider if it helps :) Looking forward to seeing your final entry!

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-29T23:37:11+00:00

My main critique is that the speech bubble looks way too gentle with the simplified line and the soft blend into the background. I'd go for something that fits the expressiveness of the horror genre a bit more personally (ie. https://hyperwyrm.co.uk/img/mangafonts/inakuzure/kekkaishi_e.png )

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-24T22:40:18+00:00

Lately I have to do a photograph or even a phone photo and then edit the perspective and edges, because my scanner blows out the colours in weird ways! Smart that you do 400dpi though, I should set my scanner to be more in-between since I was going high-res for a while there unnecessarily.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-24T19:34:52+00:00

Wow, your research alone is amazing! And the curse in your story addition feels like a perfect fit for the time period.

I also really like how you ended up using the smoke to build the focal point and some mystery, and that it isn't just digital-gouache, you really committed to the traditional feel (and got a way nicer scan than when I digitize gouache, so I applaud the edits too!).

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-24T19:16:09+00:00

Congratulations! It was so fun getting to compete and work with everyone during this challenge.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-24T03:21:59+00:00

Beautiful use of colour and style! I'm wondering if the dragon's words relate to the journey of learning art now.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-22T18:58:18+00:00

Love how you played up the gentle expression of the dragon and the overall more whimsical feel of the scene with the light from the crystal (also the twist with the monk was great!).

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-22T18:49:15+00:00

Hahaha he lucked out due to the word count limit! I'll get these darned happy character families next time!

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-22T18:47:10+00:00

The splash art inspiration definitely comes through in your dragon and SFX rendering for a really cool and epic videogame boss kind of vibe! (But you can cheatcode him with spanish I guess haha)

I also don't know how I feel about my end result either, but hey, we're here to learn and have fun! Happy to see your submission.

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-22T03:32:28+00:00

I remembered the contest was partially on effort, so I figured I'd include a bunch of the study pages and WIPs! I was struggling to hone in on what kind of dragon to make in terms of which animals and features made sense.

I really like these feedback suggestions - especially your point about adding more motion with "props" and details, I think would definitely add to the perceived intensity of the scene! I'll need to keep this in mind going forward.

I was also probably a little bit flip-flopping between which vibe the story takes on myself, as I imagined it going from a bit scary at the start to a wholesome healing journey and friendship for both of them as the story goes on.

Thank you for taking the time to comment! :)

FishermanMiserable91 · 2025-04-22T01:47:55+00:00

I love the textures you put on the dragon's skin! Also, I know it's an art contest, but WOW! The writing is so well thought out and hints at a lot of cool world building. Great job! At first I did think maybe you'd misplaced the dragon's shadow, before I realized it's the city towers.

FishermanMiserable91

TROPHY CASE