MaartenC's art Reviews on Newgrounds

[Octopus Alien Thing]

I think it's pretty pleasing to look at

[Tree at Dawn]

Beautiful in its own simplicity

I must admit first, I'm a huge fan of using the color green in art, especially when it's in nature and thus am a bit biased, but nonetheless, almost nothing but praise. I really dig how the tree's almost a direct opposite of the lush and green grass, as if it's telling that it's going to pass away, together with the setting sun, while the rest of the world (grass) carries on.

That is, at least, what I'm seeing in this.

Now for the technical aspect, I must say that for ArtRage, it's pretty well done. I don't like the software much myself, but it is indeed hard to get good software.
Everything is great in the simpleness, but it also feels kind of empty, which is also a pro on the other hand.

Anyway, I'm satisfied and the 8/10 is well-deserved. Keep it up!

SamZee responds:

I'm honoured to receive such praise from you!
Actually, I didn't think much of it, it was just practice and it turned out to be a tree. But ssshh, I like your idea more :P.
Ow, you're familiar with the program? I don't really like the program either, but I'm planning to learn how to work around with Photoshop, and I've heard and seen quite some postiveness from that.
It is indeed a bit empty, maybe I could add more nature... Lets just put that in the 2.0 of this, I think I will continue this one ^^.
And thanks for the review!

[T.A.R.D.I.S. - sketch-ish]

And again, the coloring is excellent. You should do this more often! The S also fits the Call Box surprisingly well... I also like the background a lot... Maybe a good idea to make the darker parts of "that previous upload on a painting for a friend of mine" It might look very good :3

Anyway, keep this up. The 10/10 is well deserved. I expect much more in the future, too!

SamZee responds:

Thank you, I'm glad you like it! I'm certainly gonna make more paintings to become better and better, so you'll definitely get to see more of this. Although I hope the quality will be as good as this, if not better, because right now that's still just guessing.
Ow, that's good, actually in the sketch I made the S first and then drew the Tardis around it, so that might explain why it fits so well :P..
That painting? Hmm, interesting suggestion.. I will look into it and see what I can do.. *feeel the tension*

[Regular Show - Cereal Colored]

Oh? This is... really good. I mean REALLY good.

Not really a review here, but I had to give the average score here something solid. Well done mate.

JKSSN responds:

Thanks, man! And I still appreciate the review! :3

[Avatar Aang]

Psst! The letter 'V' is also an arrow!

Anyway, this also has proved to be an interesting work. It's kinda... like a 'light' version of a Picasso painting.

Let me say first, that the background worked out just fine. It looks pretty realistic, and the fact that not all the bricks are the same, makes it not just a lot more interesting to look at.

Then the eye. The eye... what to say, what to say. I think you already know, so let's move on to the mouth.
It's kinda hard for me to picture the current emotion, though it seems like the mouth would've worked a lot better if you used different kinds of pencil hardness (hard to describe; if you've drawn it by hand, apply less pressure at some parts, if you've used some sort of software, set the hardness a lot lower).

Also, the clothes, the arrow, and the right eye did work out excellently, so no problems at that. Well done.

Then the eyebrows and the ear could use a little more detail, but they are also good enough... ah! The collarbones! The same counts as with the mouth, use less pressure.

Otherwise, it's a pretty good piece of art, though it's in no way as good as e.g. "Don't Go In, It's A Trap!", at least in my humble opinion.

Anyway, good work again, keep it up, though I expect quality from you! 6/10

SamZee responds:

Ow..
Never really thought about a 'V' xD. But yeah, now you say it..
Anyway, yeah, let's forget about the eye.
I know, the mouth, in the spoken scene he stood like that and I couldn't remember what kind of scene that was, so I just drew it like that. I would have tried different pressure-points if I only were able to. I seriously can't manage to do that with fineliners >.<
The ear has always been simple, but I think you're right about those pressure and stuff.
Glad you like it apart from that :P.

[The Magician Approaches..]

Also well done!

Nice drawing, also with nice editing, though it IS very obvious that an editor has been working on this. I like how the glowing's done, and how the mantle is practically floating around him. Also a good thing is, that the eyes cannot be seen, making the whole thing a tad more *mysterious*.

What I didn't really find great was how the magician was holding his sword. I understand that it's incredibly hard to draw hands correctly, but it's still... awkward, just like his smile, actually.

Other than that, I can only say: keep improving. Good job; keep it up!

SamZee responds:

Thanks for the review ^^.
Yeah, got that remark about the mouth already. Seems I drawed it a bit too shaky, it had to look between grinning and mocking in.
Actually I wanted to have his sword floating into his hand, but then I had to draw some weird forcefield around it I guess. Or action lines, of course..
*mumblemumble*

[A Knife in the Dark]

Hehe, zoomed in, you can -indeed- see it's been edited... Let's count dem pixels :P

Anyway, great stuff again. It's a shame though, that I can't invite you to the grand portal, since my scout's scout's scout's (etc, though it's probably less) got unscouted like a boss. Sorry bro, but maybe another time, you deserve it.

I gotta say, perhaps I should 'hire' you for some artwork on my novel. I'll mail you with further details.

SamZee responds:

Aww, well, I'm glad you say I deserve it. That's like +1000 self-confidence boost.
And as I said before, I'm glad to draw sth out of that. I've got some pretty good ideas already xd.

[SBC For President]

*whistles* wow.

Gotta love the drawing style where the edges are drawn 'fat'.
It looks rough, it looks detailed, it's all in one... I am impressed.

[X-Heroes Chapter 2 Title Page]

Still checking out your site so now and then. I was worried that you weren't going to continue the series. Please keep working, it has major potential, though take your time :P

Anyway, love the art, as usual.

[The Queen of Spades]

Now I wanna know who came up with the name.

Very beautiful, sir Samsatus. The overall picture looks good, but when you start paying attention to details, you'll see that this is truly great.

First of all, her expression really gets me. It's like she's looking slightly (playful) to her left, while keeping her graceful pose. Not bad. Not bad at all. I'm not sure whether you planned that, but it looks great.

Then, The dress is indeed a great thing too, it's worked out well, with all the folds too. Her anatomy also fits, the bosom too.
The hair isn't something I really like, but it's the style, not the art itself, so no minus points on that too :D
And other than that, the background is truly amazing.

I find this enjoyable, faved, 5/5. Keep making more, and I'll welcome you to the portal.

SamZee responds:

Glad to hear you like it that much :D.
Hmm, I don't think I planned it that way, but she had to look playful/nice yet graceful to me.
O yeah, the folds. Great you noticed that, the folds in the dress actually went per accident. I always first make the body (in stickfigure-format) and then the clothing. So those two folds in the underpart of the dress were her legs ^^.
M, and I personally didn't think the hairstyle was that bad. Well, I guess it could be a little shorter since she has those knots in.
Anyway, I sure will keep making more :P, have enough free time.