New artist here looking for critiques

[csmithart]

I've been working as an artist for the past several years primarily on children's books, video game covers and the like and now I'm trying to break into comics. I'm a graduate of the Joe Kubert School and comics have always been my first love.

These X-Men pages are the first sequential pages I've done in about 5 years, and any and all criticisms are welcome.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q7lbrt7ZoZc/S9XjT0yuzPI/AAAAAAAAAHY/VhZAMfyrhP0/s1600/xmenpg1.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q7lbrt7ZoZc/S9XjPP3dqdI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/-nZI25t5nes/s1600/xmenpg2.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q7lbrt7ZoZc/S9XjISMV_hI/AAAAAAAAAHI/KvTTDS9Dl58/s1600/xmenpg3.jpg

Thanks for looking!

http://csmithart.blogspot.com/

[IDIOTHEAD]

I think your arms, shading and background filling is very strong! However, I think when it comes to midsections, (Magneto, bottom panel page two and Cyclops, bottom panel last page) look kinda stiff. Maybe work on them a bit and give em more oomph. loosen them up and show a bit more of the muscles bulging there. Give it that DYNAMIC feel. Thats just my initial reaction to it.

Good work!

T

[Arion]

I think those pages look very professional. It could have been a preview of an upcoming issue. I can follow the story very easily just by looking at the pages and I think that's very important. Whatever problems that are there are very minor . I would love to see those pages fully inked.

[McGill]

I get a very Immonen feel from some of the characters

[Arion]

I'm not sure about Beast's face on the last panel ...

[nickellis]

Hi C,

Really like the shading/rendering. This is something I struggle with, you really seem to have a nice handle on it. The storytelling's great too, I didn't have any trouble telling what's happening.

The comment about the mid-sections has merit, but I think the real issue might actually be perspective - there are a couple of times where characters, Magneto in particular, look a little flat, especially when viewed from below. Sort of like it's a cardboard cut out, rather than a three dimensional person.

That said, you've got some great stuff there, as far as I can see. And there's no reason you couldn't fix the perspective stuff.

Good work,

N

[David Pentecost]

I really like the pages...my favorite panel is the second to last on the very last page...love the emotion in the faces. I agree your rendering is nice.

The only "stiff" mid section I see is Cyclops on page 2, panel 3. Everything else seems to work for me.

My only real crit is this ...and maybe it's just the way I saw it at first...I thought Magneato was a giant in the last panel of page one. I now realize that it's just the perspective and he is floating and is in between the viewer and the xmen in the fore ground and background. Maybe giving a little more establishment in the first panel would help since it's an upshot of magneato which lead me to believe he really was "super sized"?

This is my first post on this board, I hope I am not offending by offering feedback on my first post.

David

[Arion]

Welcome to the board David !

[Jason Reeves]

I agree with macvenom, very Immonen/Leonard Kirk. Good stuff!

[ChrisMcJunkin]

I'm new here (this is actually my first post!) but I wanted to let you know that I really like your work. The first page especially flows brilliantly.

I do agree with Idiothead's observations about your midsections. As well, I think you could make the first panels of pages 2 and 3 look stronger. Page 3 panel 1 would actually work great if there were a number of word balloons being used but in the current format I think it could be more dynamic.

My only other quip would be the evil grin Magento is sporting in every shot where you can see his mouth. It makes him come off as more of an insane enemy than the thoughtful, calculating character that he is.

Other than that, great line work, some really nice background elements and some awesome storytelling going on! I hope to see more of your work soon!

[Arion]

I'm new here (this is actually my first post!) but I wanted to let you know that I really like your work. The first page especially flows brilliantly.

I do agree with Idiothead's observations about your midsections. As well, I think you could make the first panels of pages 2 and 3 look stronger. Page 3 panel 1 would actually work great if there were a number of word balloons being used but in the current format I think it could be more dynamic.

My only other quip would be the evil grin Magento is sporting in every shot where you can see his mouth. It makes him come off as more of an insane enemy than the thoughtful, calculating character that he is.

Other than that, great line work, some really nice background elements and some awesome storytelling going on! I hope to see more of your work soon!

Welcome. Hope you have fun here.

[JasonConrad]

Very solid

[Steven Black]

Looking really professional. I dig it.

[Arion]

I consider myself a beginner when it comes to drawing. I wish I could draw like this.

[WriterSStone]

Looks really cool. I love the X-Men and you did them really well. There is a touch of anime in there but not too mcuh. It's a cool blend of classic and new style. I like the Cyclops, people always seem to do the visor funny - wither too thin or too large but you got it spot on I reckon.

[danakindocchipi]

Hey! Cool. I sorta went to my own little Joe Kubert school too. As for critique. I'd say that it looks even beyond great how anyone would do out of my school and you really caught the comic feel of it with lots of different angles and nice shading and rendering (meaning buildings in perspective).

I could only tell you about the critique of shading from Figure drawings trip, but it's too hard to tell as you figured out a way to give the figures all a sense of depth. The foreshortening and hands look really good. Remember. Medium light medium dark and reflected and remember the cast shadows well. I'd like to see more clothing on your figures in it to show another artists skills touch that can be learned in figure drawing in a way.

hope that helps.8-)

[Arion]

Now I'm ready to see more pages. Bring them on .

[Andy Taylor]

I'm a former Kubie as well. What class were you?
I really dig your pages, my favorite bit is probably Scott's CU on page three. I just especially dig that for some reason.

[AaronKuder]

Nice work yo.. everyone is already hitting up the main points to critique. Mid-section stuff, wonky anatomy, etc.. the one thing I'll add (and sorry if it's already something someone else brought up), you could use some line weight variation.. particularly around your characters.. help them to stand out a bit more.

anywho.. nice stuff :)

[Arion]

I'm a former Kubie as well. What class were you?
I really dig your pages, my favorite bit is probably Scott's CU on page three. I just especially dig that for some reason.

Let's celebrate your first post with a glass of wine.