My digital portrait got slammed for being 'over-edited' - where do you draw the line?

I mean, I just shared a portrait I worked on for ages, and I went heavy on the glow and blur effects to give it a dreamy vibe. Idk, maybe it's just me but I felt it added to the mood. Some folks in the showcase said it's too much and hides the actual art skills. But others shot back that digital tools are there to use, so why not go all out? I'm stuck because I like both clean lines and wild effects, and now I'm second-guessing my style. What do you think - should we keep edits minimal or embrace the full digital toolbox?

4 comments

4 Comments

bennett.harper1mo ago

My friend max went through the same thing last month, and @irisowens has a good point about checking the base art.

sean85420d ago

Honestly, the fancy lights on a wobbly table leg thing is too real. I spent like three hours on smoke effects once because the hand I drew looked like a bunch of bananas taped together. The raw sketch was a crime scene, but the final piece? Top tier mystery vapor. Flipping back to it was a real humbling experience, like catching your reflection in a dark window.

irisowens1mo ago

That's rough, getting critique on something you put so much time into. I've been there lol. The glow and blur can look amazing for a dreamy feel, but sometimes it helps to zoom out and check if the base drawing still holds up on its own. Honestly, the line is different for everyone, but if you like both styles, maybe mix them? Do some pieces cleaner to flex the skills, and go all out on others for the mood.

-1

charlie_jones351mo ago

Yeah and sometimes I wonder if we add all that glow because we're nervous about the plain drawing underneath. Like putting on fancy lights to hide a wobbly table leg. Not saying that's what's happening here, but I've caught myself doing it. The real test is flipping between the raw sketch and the finished piece to see if the magic's in the foundation or just the fairy dust on top.