Beltane Fae

Okay – this is my first ever critique, so here goes…..
First of all I have to say that it’s quite rare for me to favourite an image with that DA copyright insignia running through it – personally I find them quite distracting. I make exceptions sometimes – either because I like the piece and the copyright has been applied without overwhelming the image, or because I think I can learn something from the artist’s work. Or sometimes because I think the piece is outstanding. So why did I make an exception for this one
First of all, let’s get that copyright insignia out of the way. You hardly notice it and that can be quite difficult. But it’s there, hardly visible, nonetheless stamping the artist’s ownership on the image. If you can’t do that, you should learn how. You can learn how by studying this one.

Secondly, did I learn anything from the image? Enough for me to maybe want to go back and refer to it from time to time? I have to work incredibly hard to get backgrounds looking right – I either overdo them and they monopolise the picture, or I underdo them and as a result the overall image loses some of its impact. The background in this image is just right – it adds detail to the image – it turns the picture into a story, something believable, but it doesn’t overwhelm the real subject which is the incredibly sexy young lady draped very provocatively over the tree in the foreground. It’s a simple but imaginative background – it combines a 2d image with some very good 3d props and it does it seamlessly – the same tones on all elements – you can’t tell unless you know, which are the 3d elements and which are part of the 2d image. Very clever. The frame is perfect, something I hardly ever think to do, but having seen it, I can’t imagine this image without one. So, yep. I've learnt some stuff.
And do I think it’s an outstanding image? I’m scrolling my little laptop screen up and down as I draft this on paper, looking for flaws. I can’t see any. I have to say the provocative pose is dead on. I don’t know if Fade made this pose herself or if it’s an off the shelf one that came with the tree and frankly I don’t care. Even the best off the shelf poses need tweaking and the V4 is notorious for horrible creases in the joints if you overstretch the pose. There isn’t one crease that I can see in this figure, the textures are spot on and it’s perfectly lit. Again, even off the shelf poses are incredibly difficult to ground expertly, especially when the figure is draped around an organic prop, but this one is perfectly grounded – the legs, the hands, even the left arm nestling over the branch are spot on. So yes, from a technical perspective I think it’s an outstanding image.
And artistically? It’s exciting. It’s sexy. It’s imaginative and in an other worldly way it’s wholly believable. It could grace the pages of any elves and faeries story or reference book. Without the copyright insignia, of course <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/s/s…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Smile)"/>