Hello all, my first post here, critique's welcomed ;)







Thanks.

---

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” - Albert Einstein

hi and welcome Steve, i really like this image, although at first i couldn't make out what was going on in the foreground, then i realised i needed to scroll to see all the image, it might be an idea to post a smaller image.

the palette really appeals to me, nice work.

---

Yes, welcome to the forums Steve.

I really like bold art and this is strong and clear. Very nice.

What is the object in the midground? The thing with the red light coming out of it?

Thanks for the response guys, The thing in the water is basically my version of a kraken, I didn't want to produce something obvious that had tenticles and the
typical shape of a squid or octopus. Instead I was goign for soemthing subtle and robotic.

---

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” - Albert Einstein

Interesting idea, although it is very difficult to tell what is going on with that design. Even though it would probably make a lot of sense to you since you designed it, it makes no sens to anyone who didn't know what the thing is. Clarity is the most important issue to an illustration, so I suggest you come up with a new design that clearly illustrates the idea that some kind of sea monster is about to surface.

---

Yian 2012

Its not much of a secret weapon if I expose too much of the design :P nah I see where you're coming from, I suppose I didn't like the idea of it being too in your face,
the idea was to leave you asking questions. A little bit like how people will stare at gallery pieces they do not understand more then they would if it were clear and obvious.
 appreciate the feedback though and shall take it in for the next piece thank you.

---

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” - Albert Einstein

What Yian is saying is very true and very important. An illustrator is a communicator. The first job of people like us (you, I and all the others) is to get our ideas over to the viewer and sometimes we can mistake mystery for lack of good exposition.

If an object is recognisable then even if it is hidden or obscured, it is mysterious. But if it is simply an unexplained shape that could be any number of things then it's just bad exposition.

Treat it like you would any story. Suspense and mystery are created, not by witholding key information from the reader (or viewer), but by revealing almost all the information except that tiny bit that keeps them interested. "What is that thing about to do? Whose side is it on?" etc etc. At the moment, it isn't anything. It could be a rock, a piece of burning hulk, captain Nemo's submarine, anything!

It's not that this painting is bad. It's ace and well handled, it's the story telling ellement that needs to be worked up a bit.

Thanks very much for explaining in detail a little more. Can I ask what you would do differently? I was going to do arms with cannons attached and other such things.
I guess the story behind it would be based on people's knowledge of the name "victory" a.k.a HMS Victory. I purposely left the shipped pretty much untouched to give
the suggestion it was destroying its opponents without effort.. and it was the mysterious thing in the water doign the work, I guess if that doesn't come across then I must be doing 
something wrong haha. Thanks again!

---

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” - Albert Einstein

I might try to make the object more recognisable as something. Give it an eye or reveal a tenticle or two. That red light could easliy be made into a glowing eye. Alternatively, I might make the object much larger and shadowy, seen through the water as something that looks like a huge Kraken, but we're not quite sure. That sort of thing.

It might be cool to have a crew member being nabbed by a tenticle while no-one is looking! Or A few crew members could be calling out to others' while pointing towards the object, indicating that they see something dangerous. That will draw some attention to it too as a major story element. There are quite a few tricks that could be tried.

Give it a little thought and see what you reckon. Like I said, the image is really well done and looks solid and bold.

Taken your words fully into account, will definitely benefit how the next piece is made, when I get back to this piece I shall have a go with your idea's and see what comes from it. thanks very much

---

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” - Albert Einstein

I misread the title as Victoria's Secret Weapon and was expecting ladies in skimpy lingerie :)

---