Firstly, you might want to check out the
pixel art thread.
secondly, here's a quick edit, though it's mostly a re-do at similar dimensions. I've presented it at x2 pixel scale because honestly any bigger and your shading starts to break down pretty quickly.
Thoughts that crossed my mind while doing this:
- what is the box made out of
- how is the box made
- what might it be used for
This helps with:
- knowing how to render your materials. Wood isn't just flat, in this case.
- making sure it makes sense - nails holding it together might help, and you're unlikely to cut a perfect square out of a big board of timber (like your outer frame), much more likely to build a frame out of planks like the rest of the box.
- considering that it might need a way to be opened without destroying it. IIRC some boxes are made to be pried open with crowbars but I liked the look of the cloth lining in the reference below and decided something more fragile that might want a lining might also want to be accessed more easily.
I grabbed some quick
box reference that tickled my fancy - reference is important and will help you draw something that looks like something, not like what you think something might look like. That's very valuable to a new artist.
I ended up removing the crossbar thing because there weren't many boxes I could see outside of game art that really used them. I get that the idea is reinforcement and maybe having a less regular structure, but I didn't get much out of it and actually preferred the more regular structure.
I added some visual priority to the frame and lid - they're the most prominent parts of the box. the inner planks are shaded darker to make it look like they are receding and make it clear they're of less structural importance.
I also added planks on the bottom rather than implying more internal planks there, as you might want a smoother surface to contact with the floor to prevent the frame taking too much damage when moving it around. Also gives the box a little more directionality, and perhaps personality too.
Other misc tips:
- hue shift your colour ramps (google is your friend, but basically dont just change the brightness, change the colour too)
- more contrast! took me a bit to realise you had two different dark browny-pinks there.
- don't use pure black unless there's a reason to do so
earnestly hope this helps.
Developer
