Vector Criticism?

[Aster Azul]

Hail, forumites! So, I've been working on my vector skills since last year. As well as simple and goofy comics, I've done some character studies and stuff.



I'm trying to break out of that zone where vector art looks like cheap advertisemnt... I'm hoping these last couple pieces succeed at that.



The first one, I'm looking for some advice on getting the colors a little better. My palette is extremely limited by my weak program. The turquise in the background, I can't really change the shades anymore. The non-white shirt stripes, though, and the pants, I can't decide whether they should be green or blue or whatever. The figure is supposed to sort of jump out at you, and the colors clash just enough to support that sticking out effect.

The second one, I don't know, general criticism.

So, I'm basically using an incredibly low-tech program right now, I've got this StarDraw application on my EEE PC. The interface is actually really nice, it's just like Claris/Appleworks draw. But it's weak. Really weak. And so is my computer. What do you guys recommend for a better program? I'm considering buying a desktop computer if I can make one somewhat cheap, and tricking it out to be a drawing machine. And a tablet, ooooh, a tablet. But the nice ones I keep seeing demoed cost $1000.

[Lisket]

I guess I would suggest trying yellow instead of yellow-green on the stripes, and something more blue for the pants. I think it really sometimes takes just playing around with it a lot and trying pretty much everything.

As for the second, the thing that bothers me most about it is the black outlines on the person. She'll stand out just fine without it, just make the pants either lighter or darker so they'll stand out against the gray. I'm also somewhat bothered by the yellow and orange shapes on the left. I think I wish they had curves on them, instead of staight lines trying to make curves, and I dislike that shade of orange.

[Aster Azul]

Thanks for the advice! Right now, I'm most concerned with the first one. I'm printing it tomorrow as a present for my host family in China. I think I'm gonna change the skin color, and I added pupils to the face. I'd like to do even more work on it, but to improve it, I'd basically have to start over, and I don't have the time and inclination.

Here's what I've got so far... I'm going to change the skin color, probably to some kind of blue or possibly a natural skin (my skin tones are severely limited) and touch it up tomorrow. I printed it today and there isn't enough contrast between the complementary shades.

[half an hour later]

OK, now I'm having even more problems. I changed the skin up a bit, but it just seems to have thrown everything off. This is what always happens when you mess with something you did a few days ago! Any more suggestions on the colors here? I gotta print this tomorrow! I can print at most two, three if I'm really split, to see which one comes out right.

http://rosstin.livejournal.com/44675.html

Ee, help me out here! I really want this to turn out good.

[Lisket]

I like the blue skin best. But the red in that one is no good. Doesn't go with the pink. Maybe try out some oranges? or purples?

Also, gray girl down there needs an eyebrow.

[edit]
Actually, that last one's not too bad. But you've got to lose that yellow-green. It's killing me with how blue-green the background is. Try a blue there for the stripes. Or just yellow might work.

I'm also not convinced the pupils really added anything to any of them.

[Aster Azul]

Hee hee, thanks so much!! I'll try to take your advice when I print tomorrow! I'll try to touch them up and see if I can't cut them into something good.

Ee, an eyebrow! I knew I forgot something!!!

[Aster Azul]

I tried the yellow, but I couldn't make it work... the pupils I debated over, but I decided it humanizes the figure. I tried to make them fit a lil better.

I think this one I finally decided one.



It's not as loud or jarring as I wanted, but I think the family will like it. I still gotta pick an extra one to print, for myself.

[Lisket]

Yeah, that one works. All I've got to say is that the pants are the same value as the green behind them. So be careful of that.

[Aster Azul]

ACK~!

Well, I printed two versions. If something is horribly terribly wrong with one, I've got a backup. I'm picking them up this morning then immediately boarding a train, so I'll let you know in a few days.