186 replies to this topic

[Orthodoxia]

I've started a while ago to draw the PCs from all the games, BG2, NWN, SoU/HotU, NWN2... -or at least, from all the games I've played- because I wanted to see my characters and not just imagine them. That and I wanted to actually finish a drawing for a change.

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Colored works:

-The Bhaalspawn-


-The Hero of Undertide/Waterdeep-



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Edit: Moved the drawings to their proper place. No more loosing it in the vastness of cyberspace.

Edited by Orthodoxia, 09 November 2008 - 10:19 AM.

[Galsic]

I'm not sure how I feel about the general style you used here, but you've got some great designs goin' on with these (the shadows, in particular, look pretty wicked)! You're obviously pretty talented .

[Orthodoxia]

Lazy is what I am but still thanks.

What's wrong with the style?

[Menelanna]

absolutely nothing is wrong with your style! I think they look great. I wish I could do colors. All I can do is pencil sketches and shadings.

[SConrad]

Very nice work! I personally like the style a lot.

[Orthodoxia]

I was wandering because I never got critique - not in a way necessary to help improve - so being told that there is something that should/could be improved is something that I would love to hear. And those two colored ones are the only ones actually finished - everything else are just pencil sketches. I'm just too darn lazy.

[Galsic]

Lazy is what I am but still thanks.

Lazy? Don't know 'bout that...looks like you put more effort in those than I do in a lot of my own drawings .

As for the style, well, Menelanna already said it, ain't nothin' wrong with it at all. When it comes to art, I just gots my own sensibilities, preferences, likes/dislikes, whatevah, etc. etc. etc., so you need not take my comment as criticism .

[Ilmatar]

I was wandering because I never got critique - not in a way necessary to help improve - so being told that there is something that should/could be improved is something that I would love to hear. And those two colored ones are the only ones actually finished - everything else are just pencil sketches. I'm just too darn lazy.

Never got critique? Okay then, here goes. *critique rant mode on*

Taking a quick first glance tells me that you have your own original style, and of this I am *very* delighted. The style, coloring and expressions remind me of Cartoon Network western (not japanese that is) cartoons, and that is definately a compliment because I generally love their style. You have a good general knowledge of anatomy which of course supports your own style well. I see and understand that you like the "long limbs" style - and I can't blame you, I like it myself. You might have taken it a bit too far, though. Somehow especially Uniel looks like the picture has been streched vertically. Her upper body and face are still in proportion, but her wings and legs look streched.

Taking a closer look at Narra, then.. Even though I'm generally pleased about this piece, something still bugs me in the back of my head. Her hair is one thing. Is it hair? Is it partly a helmet? Her wide bangs and the lack of texture in the rest of her hair make it look a bit solid, like plastic or something. Of course this style doesn't support details very much, but if you could add the same texturing that is in the bangs to the rest of her hair... that would look better. Also the bangs are really wide and really high, so it looks a bit weird. But then again, it is stylished, so it's hard to say yay or nay.

The folds and wrinkles of her top are not in the most natural places - study clothing and how they fold. Take a photo of someone, adjust its contrast so that the shadows and highlights come out better and sharper, and you will easily see how the folds and wrinkles go in their clothing. The logic is quick to learn, and your style saves you from some trouble too. You needn't that much details with this style. The pants, however, look very good to me, and so do her feet. Here is a very good tutorial that explains the clothing folds very well: Polykarbon's folding tutorial.

Narra's proportions are excellent, but the wings look like they begin quite low, like from the small of her back. Usually wings begin in your upper back, from your shoulder blades. Her pose is natural, but it reminds me of a manga clishe pose when her hands are behind her head like that. Nothing wrong with it, but we've just seen it way too many times, and it feels a little artificial.

Most of this critiquing has been nitpicking - small details, nothing big or horrible. Overall the color are fantastic, the simplistic style works very well, proportions, the expression, the pose are all flawless in anatomy.

Then let's take a look at Uniel, shall we? Or Uni'El? At first glance I like this character immediately. The pose and the expression say she's sassy, strong and maybe mischievous. A fun character! I also love the warm, bright colors, and they all go together oh-so-well. Uniel's pose isn't as artificial as Narra's, and the clothing folding looks a lot better. Still, to make it look natural, study folding just like I told you before. The details in Uniel's outfit and wings make her interesting. The yellow stripes, the design of her greaves and shirt, the belts, the little pouch.. Love 'em.

I already pointed out the anatomy errors in this one - the legs and wings look somewhat streched. If the legs would be shorter and the wings maybe wider, it would look more natural. What caught my eye was her right (from us) shoes heel. The heel is too long, somehow, or the shape just doesn't look natural. I believe I know what you were going for, but the shape just doesn't come through very well. Now that I look at her feet and legs, her legs are a little too thin. You could say it's your style, but when she has metallic greaves and everything, the legs should be a little wider.

The wings have the same issue as Narra's wings - they look like they begin from the small of her back. Otherwise the wings' design if fantastic.

Okay. That's it for nitpicking them. Over all you have an excellent, original style, and a great eye for color and design. You could think about adding drop shadows, but they're not necessary for character poses like these, I think. I doodled up a small picture about the shadowing though. In your drawings here the light and the shadow are where they should be, but you could try out reflective light, to make them look more 3d, so to speak.

I hope I didn't sound too harsh - I went on nitpicky critique mode. I really really really love your style and the design of these characters, and I would *love* to see more of your art! I hope this rantage was of some use to you. Great work, Orthodoxia, absolutely awesome.

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Edited by Ilmatar, 19 April 2007 - 03:13 PM.

[Orthodoxia]

Ilmatar, THANK YOU!! I needed that critique rant so very much!

Strange how you say it reminds of Cartoon Network when I've never in my life had an access to it so I really don't know how 'western' style is supposed to look like, and as for anime, I've lost access to that to long ago - internet being my only source of information now.

Narra - Yes, I was aware of the folds but I have this flaw that the more I work on the picture the more patience I loose right until I say "to hell with it". Not professional (and sad) but so very true. I know that the wings appear to be low but they aren't really (can't be seen from the front though), I just like to draw them more flexible then they ought to be - here in a more 'laid back/relaxed/no monsters around' manner - therefore lower to the ground. And I find it really funny that you say this pose looks artificial when it was the very first time I tried to doodle something different. You see, Uni'el's pose, as you might have noticed on Jaheira's picture, is the only one I know to draw without using any reference which is why I use it far too much, while Narra's appeared on the paper while I was on the phone.

Uni'el - Long limbs I've noticed that one only after I've colored it. I usually don't know when to stop when I start elongating things/body limbs. Same thing with the wings - I like them flexible so I draw them flexible, but I am yet to learn how to properly show this on the paper.

Again, thank you. This critique was just what I needed and it wasn't harsh at all (it wasn't even harsh enough) and thank you for the reference and tutorials

[Ilmatar]

I'm really glad to hear my rant was of some use to you. The cartoons actually reminded me of Marvel and DC comics and stuff like that. I've meant to do this myself, but haven't got to it yet, but this might be of use to you, too. Check out those superhero comics, like Batman, Fantastic Five, and maybe Star Wars comics. When I started taking drawing seriously as a kid, I had Mara Jade comics as references and I drew after them. I learned a lot about anatomy from them, but I haven't done this in ages. I've meant to check out some of those comics again and see how those experienced artists draw. You could get ideas and learn something new from them, really. The comic-y style supports your own style, too, so I recommend you take a look if you haven't already.

[Orthodoxia]

Decided to bring this thread back from the dead in between the hassle that is Real Life

All of this is older work but opinions are welcome none the less.

Black & White Art
-Darth Revan
-Hero of Underdark
-Naga Boy
-Ruin -My best friend's hedonistic vampire
-Maneater -Ruin in all her hedonistic glory. Inspired by the song 'Maneater'

I did this two-page comic in anticipation of NWN2 Expansion. Actually, I did it long before it was announced but it seemed that my assumptions were on the mark.
-CbnB 01
-CbnB 02

[WeeRLegion]

*Envies the extra-orthodox 1337 drawings*

[Dave Greenblade]

Great work! I especially like the very first one. I dunno why I like it so much. It's got something... Icy, mysterious about it. Really beautyful.

[RedTyga]

Decided to bring this thread back from the dead in between the hassle that is Real Life

All of this is older work but opinions are welcome none the less.

Black & White Art
-Darth Revan
-Hero of Underdark
-Naga Boy
-Ruin -My best friend's hedonistic vampire
-Maneater -Ruin in all her hedonistic glory. Inspired by the song 'Maneater'

I did this two-page comic in anticipation of NWN2 Expansion. Actually, I did it long before it was announced but it seemed that my assumptions were on the mark.
-CbnB 01
-CbnB 02

The last two links don't work for me, moved the drawings perhaps?

As for the rest of your work, I totally dig the black and white art. I think it's because I'm partial to that style of coloring ... (value-ing? ) where there's extreme contrasts. If you've got more, lay it on us! I'd love to see it

[Orthodoxia]

Thanks people

And those are moved, yeah...They are spoiler-ish for the future stories and had to go down.

And yeah, I've got more, plenty more, but I'm too lazy to scan them

[Sarac]

Those are great Orthodoxia,cool style and great design...really nice...

[Orthodoxia]

Thanks. I like to think I've improved since then

[Rumpleteasza]

Decided to bring this thread back from the dead in between the hassle that is Real Life

All of this is older work but opinions are welcome none the less.

Black & White Art
-Darth Revan
-Hero of Underdark
-Naga Boy
-Ruin -My best friend's hedonistic vampire
-Maneater -Ruin in all her hedonistic glory. Inspired by the song 'Maneater'

I love how stylised these pictures are. I think the monochrome is very effective; it makes the mood dark - and yet, because of the style, it makes them feel quirky and original too. Really enjoyed looking at these!

And wow at Ilmatar's rant. That kind of information is truly invaluable.

Edited by Rumpleteasza, 24 February 2008 - 09:12 AM.

[Orthodoxia]

I thought I'd resurrect this thread a bit. For a short while at least. Now, you can take my obsessive drawing of my bhaalspawn two ways, either I adore her more than it's healthy or she's just a perfect lab rat for practicing.

First, the cover for "Buried Deep Under", the story I plan to finish some day. Yes, I do and I will.



Second, a new style of coloring.



Third, a cover for my story "Hungry Dreams", which is on FF.net.

[Solar's Harper]

Lovely as ever Orthodoxia.
Just a bit of an issue with the 2nd one you posted just now, and that's if I'm looking correctly. The left thigh (our right) seems a bit wider than it should be, even at close range.

Of course it might just be 4am tricking my eyesight, either rate these look great as ever - this entire thread makes it hard to choose a favourite even.