Curse

subarucar · Aug 26, 2009, 05:02 AM // 05:02

Part 1

I am seeking a few suggestions relating to my artistic endeavours.
Currently the majority of my artworks are concept sketches of buildings. I have also pained (not very well) landscapes.

I am interested in attempting some GW related drawings, and would prefer to begin this by sketching structures or landscapes within a screenshot. I have had a look through over two thousand of my screenshots (took quite some time) and only a few really grabbed me and said "I must draw this".

So this is where you come in. If you have a screenshot of an area in GW that you think would be relatively simple to draw please post it or link to it here. I would rather start with something simple first (no Kaineng City or Realm of Torment yet please).

Unfortunatley as I draw by hand and have no scanner you will not be able to see the results of any sketches I produce.

This is the first scene I have chosen to sketch. I love the bold blue glass contrasting with the barren brown landscape.

Part 2

I am looking to buy a tablet so I can combine hand drawings (Stupid mouses) with touch ups, rendering etc, etc from Photoshop and other applications.
I have looked at Wacom as they are the big boys in the buisiness. The Intous range are out of my price range. The 6x9 Bamboo tablets seem good quality, decent size and at a good price. Would this be a good tablet to go for? Or are there other better options out there?

Qing Guang · Aug 26, 2009, 05:24 AM // 05:24

Hmm, okay:

1) Here are a few of my scenic shots that I don't think are too complicated:
First, a tree. It's not too exciting, but I like the loneliness and strength of that one barren tree standing alone against that gorgeous sky.

Second, the head of the Warrior statue in the Crystal Desert (you know, the one that is standing until you come close, when it is suddenly in pieces). Fairly simple if you can draw faces well, and the sheer desolation of it is beautiful in a strange way.

Last, and probably most difficult, one of the dragon lighthouses that dot the Canthan coast. I encountered this particular one on Shing Jea, and while the sky could use some spicing up, I think the view with the jetty and the ship is quite nice.

2) Okay, about tablets. My mother just got a Bamboo Fun, and she likes it a lot, but I'm not sure it's a good idea for drawing. First, the Bamboo series seems to be aimed more at graphic designers, photo editors, and e-scrapbookers than digital artists, from what she's told me. Second, and perhaps more importantly, she's complained that the pressure sensitivity is almost nil, and she has to push quite hard for it to register anything. If I were you, I'd save my pennies and just wait to get an Intuos. I use an Intuos 3 and I absolutely adore it. But if you can find one by another company that gets good reviews, or if the other Bamboo tablet(s?) are any good for drawing, go ahead and get that.

subarucar · Aug 26, 2009, 06:10 AM // 06:10

The Intous ones do look very nice, I know someone who owns the medium size Intous4 , and have tried it and it is excellent. I would not mind paying for something if I was going to get a large amount of use out of it, e.g. if I was a graphic designer or spent hours of my time drawing, but I dont. Im after something that better suits someone more casual, thats why I though the Bamboo may have been the one to go for.

I quite like the one of the tree. I feel I would have to some up with something to make the sky more interesting.

I am pretty terrible at drawing any animals or humans, especially faces. I used to draw Manga stuff a while ago, but anything realisticly styled ends up looking bad. Thats why I started drawing structures and landscapes.

Where is the dragon lighthouse? I wouldn't mind getting it from a different angle so it can become the centerpiece and I can see more details.

Qing Guang · Aug 26, 2009, 06:50 AM // 06:50

About the tree: maybe move the cloud formation left, so it balances the rocks on the right? That'd also keep it from being a flat pattern across the entire sky.

The dragon lighthouse is on Panjiang Peninsula, visible from Captain Quimang's camp. I believe the correct term for the area is Port Kaimu? The lighthouse is located on the good-sized island to the west; it's visible on the map. Anyway, just clear out all the Crimson Skull there and you're free to get all kinds of shots.

Espadon · Aug 26, 2009, 07:00 AM // 07:00

If you want to do block painting, the bamboo would be adequate. If you want to color scanned or vectored linework, the bamboo would be fine. If you're looking to sketch and be expressive with lines, save up for an intuos.

I use an 6x8 Intuos3 and have worked on my friend's Bamboo 6x9 and the main difference is the feel; the intuos definitely feels loaded-brush slick while the bamboo feels like a ballpoint pen. There is pressure control, but you just need to be more heavy-handed for it to show itself compared to the intuos.

subarucar · Aug 26, 2009, 08:57 AM // 08:57

I would love to have an Intous, they are just a little out of what im willing to pay for a tablet.
Are there any other brands that make decent tablets, or is Wacom the brand to go for?

After what Espadon has said, I think Babmoo should work nicely, currently alot of the work I do in photoshop is vector based.
Im not sure how heavy handed one would need to be, but in comparison to others, I find I tend to place reasonable pressure on the pencil, I sometimes find it difficult to erase.
When I draw I tend to just draw a line, rather than the more "painty" style of line work. (This is due to the fact I take graphics at school).

Espadon · Aug 26, 2009, 12:55 PM // 12:55

Bamboo would definitely be fine then. My friend with the Bamboo also does the same thing as you [vector/hard lines] and he's totally satisfied with using it.

subarucar · Aug 26, 2009, 08:10 PM // 20:10

Ok thanks for the tablet advice, I think that that part of the thread can be finished.

If anyone has any suggestions for any other simple landscapes in GW, please post them.

BlueXIV · Aug 26, 2009, 08:17 PM // 20:17

Landscapes are fun. I suggest the uhm. Echovald forest. Huge gothic trees are fun

Can't get on gw right now, so can't take a screeny.

Qing Guang · Aug 27, 2009, 12:02 AM // 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueXIV

Landscapes are fun. I suggest the uhm. Echovald forest. Huge gothic trees are fun

Can't get on gw right now, so can't take a screeny.

Luckily, I happen to have one right here

It may be a bit tricky, though. I'd be scared to attempt it, but then I suck at environments. And it's missing the branches... but the windows are impressive.

And have a Vabbian palace for good measure.