Wip moment before feedback on ideas

[Chip Valecek]

@marine As far as the shadows go, i would watch your occlusion shadows. For example the carrot toy and the boot almost seem to float since they are lacking the occlusion shadow. Is the light coming from outside the door or is there a light source above that is on? I ask because the shadows seem to be coming from the light source of the door but the actual lighting looks to be coming from above. I would also remove the shadows from the water on the ground.

I would not be happy to come home and see my dog trashed the house.

[Coreyartus]

I wonder, @marine , what the lighting would look like if it had more contrast? If the shadows were deeper, it might make the light from the door stand out a bit more. Right now, because the walls are generally a solid high key, the light source gets lost as @Chip-Valecek mentions. I wonder if having a strongly pronounced light source might be really important for the story in this image.

Creating a multiply or color burn layer with a vignette effect around the edges might be a simple step toward helping make the light from the door seem stronger, perhaps, but I wouldn't rely on that alone. Your value studies imply that the wall is as dark as the floor (if not darker), creating a much more rigid pool of light from the door that has an incredible impact on the suspense in the image. I'd lean into that--it feels (to me) that was a good instinct.

Just my 2¢. It's a great idea!!! Your perspective lines really direct the attention of the viewer toward the door--well done!! All it needs is a bit of tweaking--the foundation is really really strong!!!

[MOO]

I like the dog waiting for his master but I would change the angle a bit so it's not smack in the center and maybe the horizon line should not be straight across.

[marine]

Thank you @Chip-Valecek and @Coreyartus, you're right the light source looks confusing.
In my thumbnail the light source is coming from the door so I should definitely darken the wall and extend the shadows. I will experiment and try to make the reflection on the floor more obvious too.
That was the first time really doing value studies and I didn't think much while doing them but it made sense. I think I got lost doing the decor of the interior and choosing colours and furnitures

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen thanks, but at that point I won't change the comp

Thanks again for your feedbacks, helps a lot!

[Whitney Simms]

Just catching up on the treads for this month. Soooo glad you went with the dog. And I went back and read where you missed the leash. I was thinking about that. I really liked the drama created with the area not in the direct light from the door pretty dark. Like most of the messy was out of eye sight as soon as the owner came home. That she would see the dog and then see the mess.

Overall, I think it’s coming along nicely!

[marine]

Hello,

Following @Chip-Valecek and @Coreyartus feedbacks, I've worked on my light and shadows. I wasn't sure how to do it though, do you think that's enough?

Thanks in advance!

[Chip Valecek]

@marine looks awesome! It reads so much better now with the shadows.

[Coreyartus]

Wow--great work!! There's so much more atmosphere there--it really helps with the suspense. Good job!!!

[MOO]

@marine I like it a lot! I need to learn shadow and light yet. Quite an accomplishment.

[marine]

Thank you so much! @Chip-Valecek @Coreyartus @Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen

[sigross]

@marine This is a good angle as it creates tension. But you have made the owner invisible with her shadow. The light has to get past the owner to enter the room. So there would be a silhouette through the door pane.

[marine]

@sigross You're right! Thanks! I'll try to add the owner's shadow, hopefully it won't break the tension created by the shape of dog against the bright floor...

[marine]

I've added the shadow of the owner on the floor, I tried to not make it too strong. But does it feel right with the perspective? I feel like the top of her body should be larger but then there won't be much light left on the floor...

[Jason Bowen]

Hey I think your painting is great. You might find this quick paint over helpful. I brought your character out of the shadow and I warmed your light up a bit with curves. also I toned down the shadows on the things on the floor. Its just a thought might help you

[sigross]

@marine Being realistic with light does throw up hurdles to a composition! Another option is to create another light source to light up your character. Or use catch light on his ears and outline. The outside light would still spill onto the dogs face and body. Use a bit of artistic license.

[sigross]

That light coming through the glass would spill onto stuff as light doesn't just stay in that box of the door pane. Here's a still from Spielberg movie Lincoln as he loves to play with light.

[A Former User]

Really like how you've changed the lighting, I'm wondering whether the dog should be bigger seeing as though he's in the foreground? Maybe like this...

[marine]

Wow! Thank you so much guys for taking the time to give me feedback and draw over!! @Jason-Bowen @sigross @hannahmccaffery

So I tried to replicate and follow your advices :

I've added rim light and try to do a "haze" of light, not really sure about how to do this last one though... But I liked the idea, it brings warmth.
Also I've enlarged the dog.
@Jason-Bowen you recommended to bring the dog out of the shadow but if the light source is coming from the door, dog should be in the dark?

[Jason Bowen]

@marine I like what you've done . One thing I've learnt is you can bend lights and change them to whatever you want to tell your story