Curse

Nian · Jun 16, 2011, 11:25 AM // 11:25

Shala looks frikken amazing.

Btw, it's always interesting to read the things you say about your illustration class and how you do things at school. Like drawing several thumbnails before doing the final render. Never had actual illustration classes since somehow I never had the priority/chance to go to an illust class even though I wanted to. Fail.

<--animation major(?)

Can't go ingame nao but found some sausages in my photobucket: (Sarala)

Friend's sausage and a donut: (Djarom)

Ravenhawk · Jun 16, 2011, 03:09 PM // 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Dayman

@Raven: Don't worry Mina, I certainly haven't forgotten Ran. THIS THREAD NEEDS MOAR TESTOSTERONE.

Indeed! Especially because of the fact that no one wants to do the hunk series

Aeronwen · Jun 16, 2011, 03:10 PM // 15:10

Charlie it occurs to me you didn't see my rit with hair - so I am gonna post too

Unlucky Slayer · Jun 16, 2011, 03:19 PM // 15:19

Ill post pics of my rit when I get home. Didnt see the call till today.

Verene · Jun 16, 2011, 03:24 PM // 15:24

We've all got some sexy rits <3

frostkisses · Jun 16, 2011, 04:34 PM // 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Dayman

@Frost: I'd like to draw both your and my ele, Dixun. Nice opposites of ice and fire.

ooo that would be neat

Invertation · Jun 16, 2011, 05:22 PM // 17:22

I don't suppose you've held onto the references I sent you around... last year?
...
No?

Well then, more references.

Be it you're still interested, of course.

Unlucky Slayer · Jun 16, 2011, 09:11 PM // 21:11

Without further ado.

Summer Newmentz

Thistle Xandra · Jun 16, 2011, 11:50 PM // 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenhawk

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Dayman
@Raven: Don't worry Mina, I certainly haven't forgotten Ran. THIS THREAD NEEDS MOAR TESTOSTERONE.

Indeed! Especially because of the fact that no one wants to do the hunk series

haha, totally! Where are the hunks?!

I like both your versions of Shala although the latest one does look more playful/fun

btw, I *really* like the color & armor combo of Invertation's second screenie. Now I need to go shamelessly copy that on my rit D:

Charlie Dayman · Jun 16, 2011, 11:57 PM // 23:57

Lots of good looking Rits in here, thanks for posting everyone. Gonna' keep the slot open for maybe another day or two before I decide which one of you to draw.

Moar progress.

I tried angling her right leg back a bit more on account of V's and all the other ladies advice. However, what I forgot to mention is that when I created the pose, it was based more on Shala's personality rather than realism.

One of the things I learned in my class is not to let reality get in the way of how you design your characters. That was the biggest problem I had when I first starting - trying to abide by the laws of realism while still creating interesting characters. When I tried that, my first poses always came out looking like garbage or extremely weak. It wasn't until I just said "F-it", stopped shooting for realism in my poses and went for more personality that I started getting far more visually interesting designs.

I mean look at this:

http://i.cubeupload.com/EY0R8e.jpg

Seriously. What the hell.

Shala's pose would of course be hard to pull off in RL with heels like that on. But that's what makes character design so great, you don't always have to follow the rules of reality. You can create characters based on their traits and adjust/exaggerate their poses to properly match their personality. The pose I made for Shala is supposed to portray her confidence and sexuality - exaggerated S-Curve, gestured hands, tilted neck, strong vertical posture, etc.

But you see with the edited picture, that simple little change in her leg really took a lot away from that stability in her legs, and really changed how Shala comes off in this picture.

So this is just a little insight for some of you guys. Realism is always good, but don't bog yourself down with it when designing characters and poses. You might end up creating an amazingly dynamic pose, but end up changing it to fit those realistic requirements. Don't settle for less: most people would rather see an interesting design with lots of personality than a pose that follows the rules, but lacks any emotion.

Verene · Jun 17, 2011, 02:02 AM // 02:02

I see your point, but I can't help at look at art that ignores realism and flail a bit

Personality is important, yes, but if something looks off to my eye it's going to bug me; it looking realistic is just too important to me (which is probably a big part of why I'm never happy with my art).

Charlie Dayman · Jun 17, 2011, 02:36 AM // 02:36

That's understandable. But I think it gets to a certain point where you just need to start moving away from "complete" realism and start to interpret things the way you see them. I know some people cringe at Picasso's work, but he's a perfect example of this. He made a lot of great life drawings, but eventually branched out into something entirely different.

People certainly don't have to venture as far as someone like Picasso, but it is all right for them to simply "let-go". As artists, we sometimes over-think our ideas too much and that ends up compromising the end product.

Here's another example from what I mentioned in my previous post:

The picture on the left was when I was still thinking in terms of realism. So when Aubrey, my teacher, kept telling me to "push your poses further", it felt like a constant head-meet-wall moment. The figure on the right is where I started drawing Dorothy based more on her personality rather than a "life model" pose.

That's not really a strut or pose you see in daily life, yet it gives far more information about Dorothy's character than the version on the left. She's also far more simplified in terms of shapes, making her the more visually interesting one.

That is arguably one of the biggest lessons I took from that class:

Simplify and don't be afraid to exaggerate.

Verene · Jun 17, 2011, 05:28 PM // 17:28

I guess what it comes down to is that I'm not confident enough in my art to really try and push myself like that, when I have enough trouble just getting basic poses right. Maybe I just need to branch out, try new stuff, and try and not worry so much about getting everything perfect.

Charlie Dayman · Jun 17, 2011, 11:05 PM // 23:05

I think in that case, it's all about practice until you do feel comfortable enough with drawing anatomy freehand. It's certainly not something that should overlooked or ignored, regardless of a certain style you're trying to achieve.

I've met and spoken to a few students who like drawing stylized figures, but don't bother learning how to draw proper anatomy on account that it's not their style, and therefore not important. And that lack of basic understanding can really show in their end product.

Anyways, just stay loose when you're fleshing out your poses and try not to get too frustrated when things don't work out. If things aren't working, don't be afraid of restarting and analyzing what it is you did wrong with the previous work.

Aeronwen · Jun 18, 2011, 12:13 PM // 12:13

What you have told us about pses is very interesting Charlie. I can really see that the right Dorothy is a much better pose than the left Dorothy (though 'wrong' in all sorts of ways). Of course both Dorothy's are really good.

Drelias Melaku · Jun 18, 2011, 06:10 PM // 18:10

O my, I'm probably too late for the call for rits, eh? I'll try my luck anyway. Here's The Sacred Silence.
Elite Imperial Headwrap
Obsidian Raiment
Elite Imperial Bangles
Elite Luxon Leggings
Ancient Shoes
Deldrimor Scepter + Straw Effigy

As for 'simplify and don't be afraid to exaggerate' - this is a problem I have when drawing, and might be why I have such a hard time ever finishing anything. I want to make everything as realistic as possible, but I don't have the skill for it yet, so I just get frustrated and give up. I know I need to learn proper anatomy and such and aim for better poses, but I suppose it couldn't hurt to stylize it a bit once in awhile. Most of my drawings look pretty stiff because I'm afraid to branch out into more complicated poses that I'll inevitably botch.
I'll keep all this in mind when I attempt to draw a couple of Gattsu's characters.

Gattsu05 · Jun 18, 2011, 06:27 PM // 18:27

Here's my Rit. My main character. Sin found herself retired once I started playing him.

Dread Mask
Obi Top
Obi Gloves
Elite Kurz Leggings
Elite Imperial Top

A take at trying to be unique in a game of limited options. Did still end up dying him all black but it does tie everything together quite nicely. Would like to note the minor glitch on the gloves where the "obsidian" is actually dyed a shiny black instead of purple, as it is on the rest of the armor. Really annoying it is.

Charlie Dayman · Jun 19, 2011, 03:12 AM // 03:12

Whelp, after reviewing all the pictures everyone has posted, I've settled on who I'll be drawing in between Shala: Sacred Silence

Congrats Drel, you win a free SoS Rit drawing.

Unlucky Slayer · Jun 19, 2011, 03:48 AM // 03:48

So sad.

Guess I'm just not good enough. *sulks* Naw we all got great rits and its good to see one done. Grats Drel.

Charlie Dayman · Jun 19, 2011, 05:04 AM // 05:04

Yeah, I spent a good while trying to decide which out of the whole lot to pick. Still, thanks to everyone for posting their chars