A client told me my digital paintings looked like they were made of plastic

I was showing off a fantasy portrait last week, and the client said, 'Her skin looks like a new action figure.' I was using a default soft brush for everything. The next day, I spent three hours just testing different textured brushes for skin and fabric. It made the whole piece feel way more alive and less shiny. Has anyone else gotten a weird critique that actually helped?

2 comments

2 Comments

diana15519d ago

Oh man, that's the best kind of feedback... the one that stings for a second but then totally opens your eyes. It reminds me of how so many things in life get polished until they feel fake, like new shoes or a too-clean kitchen. We smooth out all the interesting bits by accident. That client gave you a gift, even if it felt weird. They pointed straight at the thing your gut probably knew was off... the lack of a human touch.

park.riley19d ago

Ugh, you're so right, @diana155. It's like we buff out every single fingerprint and then wonder why the thing feels like it belongs in a museum. My first reaction to that kind of note is always a full-body cringe, but then I'm staring at the work and I'm like... oh. Yeah. I accidentally made it for robots.