minotaurus - critique very welcome

[kokoro]

i made this minotaurus for the luvr contest "mythical creatures", the subject were greek creatures and chimerae, and failed totally. i did not expect of course that i would win, but at least i thought i could range somewhere in the middle.
now i am wondering whats wrong. thats why i like to know from you what you think and how the image could have been improved. please, be cruelly honest - be sure it will be appreciated.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/uploaded_from_zbc/200303/user_image-1048757256rqe.jpg

[+Lazarus+]

Wow. The pose and composition of this image are very good indeed :)

Keep it up

[Frenchy Pilou]

Hi Kokoro
Take the link, it's more easy for navigate :)
Contest of 3Dluvr (http://contest.3dluvr.com/archive.php) Great site 257 Artists :cool: 35 Contests previous (not Login for seeing)!
You are 50 amongst 74 ! It's no so bad !
The essential is participate :)
I think your work is more like a "painting" (Picasso here) ;)
The contests prefer more "real" or "movie style" !
For the cruel comment :D
The leg on the right seems dislocated (Picasso reminiscence)!
Maybe eyes missing have lost some points !
Pilou

[drjjwow]

so far i really like it.. its very creative,... however you asked us to be honest,.. so here goes.. i would add a different texture to the body,.. more detail for the rock.. using a modified rock material.. a little more detail in the head and the sand.. i hope i wasnt too rough on this image.. i would love to see a update real soon.. youve got a roll on this image..

[+Lazarus+]

Ok, sorry, I failed to actually read this first time around

Okay, here goes. If there is anything missing, I would say, from a 3D development community perspective, that the models used could do with some materials. The whole thing currently looks like it belongs in a kiddy animation like Huxley Pig or ****le Shell Bay. I also feel that the left foot is not very realistically proportioned and feel that the head could use some eyes and fur.

But I still like it :)

[pr0jectZ]

thats realy good, nice work :tu:

[jibberish]

well, i think this picture is really good, and the other pieces must have been incredible for you not to even get middle. i really like the whole look of this pic, and i just wanted to say that it is very well done. i think it was a great idea, executed very well with Zbrush.

i agree with some above posts that the picture could use more materials and more detailed textures. you also might want to add small detailes such as a few plants, bugs or lizards, maybe some veins in his arms. if you're going for a more desolate look, though, you might think about darkening the picture or editing its colors in Render Adjustments. maybe blend the head and body together with some hair around the neck-stuff like that...anyway, i hope i've been helpful and not too descouraging.

great image, i really like it.
josh

[Flycatcher]

I agree with all of the above - including the stiffness of the opposition if this didn't really get near the rankings.

Additional suggestions:

(a) Along with the general points re textures and details, I think a little more fibre-brush work on the chest hair would be good, and where have his nipples gone?

(b) The ears need more work (shape wrong and a bit too "sticky-outy"), and I would be inclined to make the horns a bit more threatening - slightly longer, more pointed and a more naturally "horny" colour, if that makes sense?

(c) I would make the stone and maybe even the ground, a bit rougher in texture and outline - I think this would be more in keeping with the pile of skulls and bones, that indicate he isn't an altogether cuddly creature(!). At present the overall softness of contours in the image seems a bit at odds with the remains of the carnage he has wreaked. On the other hand, you may have been trying to portray a more sympathetic side to his character... so, just my opinion.

[DeeVee]

Nice start!! I concur with all the statements given above.

[kokoro]

wow - first let me thank you all for the time you have taken to help me. i am sure i learn a lot from your suggestions, and plan to redo the whole image.

Frenchy Pilou - well yes, it is 50 among 74, but i have got only 3 points, which means at most 3 people thought it is worth a point. but you are right, participating is the main thing. thank you for the encouraging words. - hehe i would never never dare to compare my style with picasso , i take this as a very big compliment - i am not in for cruel things, so i knew that this would be a handicap for my image. - the missing eyes : i intended to present a sleeping minotaurus, taking a nap after his big lunch. so his eyes are closed, which, as i understand now, is not readable.

dr.jjwow - do not worry, you were not too rough. your suggestions are much appreciated. and i will do an update.

+Lazarus+ - yes i will try the fur, for the eyes, they are closed as minotaurus is sleeping.

jibberish - thank you to say so, this was my feeling also, when i saw the result. - i like the idea with the lizard, will try that or the bugs. - for the mood : i was not in to show a desolate look, although there were lying around the skulls. and may be if you are looking at the image with a mac, it is lighter than the original and looks slightly fainted now, since i adjusted the gamma for that pc users can see the details on the dark head. - i also like the idea with the hair. and no - you were not discouraging, contrary, you gave me new ideas. thank you

Flycatcher - whoops i really have forgotten the nipples. - the ears, yes i will remodel these, but the horns i like the way they are. could try a different color though. - yes, i tried to show off that even a minotaurus could have some sympathetic side although he is a cruel maneater. but maybe i could try to go more in the direction you pointed. i will experiment on that.

[kokoro]

ok here is the update. i myself like it much better. should have asked you earlier. ;)

what do you think ?

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/uploaded_from_zbc/200303/user_image-1049089561isu.jpg

[+Lazarus+]

Hey, coming on in leaps and bounds...

Still needs a little tweaking on the materials though, and those feet still need reshaping, but I'm saying that only because you asked us to be harsh. If it was mine, I'd leave it and call it finished!

[Fets]

I like where this pic is going.
In my humble opinion I think you can add a bit more "story" and "personality" to the image by giving the bullshead some expression or emotion. It will lose that "poser" sterility. I t isn't easy but can be done.
Keep up the good work

[kokoro]

hey thanks for the comments. hmm, yes the materials, still need to learn more on those. they are very difficult for me. but i think i call this now the final. ;)

[+Lazarus+]

Very honourable. That is something I always fail to be able to do :D

[Frenchy Pilou]

Hi Kokoro
Undoubtedly you will win some points with this !
Pilou

[jibberish]

hey, great job. that edit is awesome. i really like what you did to the head and rock. they look so much more realistic. great work. all the bugs and crud on the ground really adds to the picture i think. those shackles looks good too. you are coming along really quickly. can't wait to see your next piece.
terrific job!!!! :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:
josh

[Flycatcher]

Vast improvement Kokoro - I bet if they ran the competition over you'd do much better with this version! I would agree with Fets comment about the expression if applied to the first version, but for me that rather soulless, baleful stare is expression enough in this final rendering. :tu: :tu:

[kokoro]

i am glad you like it. your comments are good for my feeling, after the "desaster" with the first image. thank you all for your help and encouragement.

[Rafael Hernandez]

Looking good kokoro. The head is particulary good.