Kitty's Merfolk: Finished

[makl]

First of all (as I haven't written almost anything down this forum) I would just like to say great job kitty (and TSI, LB, ...) on the portraits, they are really marvelous.

Back to topic:
1) in my opinion the Triton should look a way more powerful (weapon, musculature, (armor)) -- as LB noted this seems to be a mere Warrior
2) I am not convinced of his facial expression (is he blinking or even sleeping?), I always imagined some more forceful (dunno if this is the right word, hope you understand) expression

Naturally you don't have to mind my opinions, you are the Artist, I just thought I could write some lines.

However, I will always be a fan of your Wesnoth artwork, keep drawing

Best of inspiration
makl

[zookeeper]

One way to make the triton seem tougher and more powerful would probably be to give him a more visible and massive tail. The lower body and tail are pretty much what makes a merman a merman, so it's hard to make one seem tough and strong if you can't see their tail - a bit like how it would be hard to make a knight look tougher than a horseman if you'd see much less of the knight's horse than the horseman's.

[kitty]

Beefed him up a bit, changed his armour, plume and wheapon and widened his tail. He's mighty enough now for my taste, will start shading later today.

[Gauteamus]

This may be only my myopic eyesight, and nothing to care about in an otherwise great portrait, but I have a feeling that his left arm is somewhat smaller than the other, even after counting in foreshortening and perspective. I dont know enough about the portrait process to say if this is a small fix or a total paintover, and I guess the effect is small anyway, but I though I'd mention it.
Maybe his underdeveloped leftie comes from alot of handwrestling making his right more muscular, or maybe merfolk regrow lost limbs, like crabs and starfish?

[kitty]

Preliminary finished shading on the Trition (Probably the armour will need even more contrast). But still open for suggestions, as always... I'm so tired of painting blue skin and golden armour! Argh! I'm so glad that the next milestone includes gobbos and outlaws again!


Gauteamus: Which side are you talking about? The Tritons right our our point of view? If you are making comments on something on a specific side please include that info in order to be helpful...

[thespaceinvader]

The only issue I have is that the reds in the fins and tail spines have gotten really washed out by the water overlay - i liked that contrast, it would be nice to keep it.

[Gauteamus]

Sorry, I meant his left arm, our right (when we sit infront of the computer). Probably nothing to worry about.
EDIT: I also think it is much less noticeable in the last version.

[kitty]

Fin version. Yay - second WSAS milestone done!

[thespaceinvader]

Committed.

[kitty]

And here is a start for the merman hunter...

[doofus-01]

Looks good. One question: Those fish tails are supposed to be on the outer edge of his shoulders? If so, the one on his left may be sliding too far forward. I don't think we'd be able to see that much rear plate/shell (the material under the tails) peeking over the tail.

[kitty]

A bit more progress on the Hunter, still a lot to do, especially on the tail...

And thanks, doofus, for the catch about the pauldron!

[thespaceinvader]

The design of the javelins looks a little stranget to me - do you have a source for those?

I think perhaps something more like a fishing spear http://www.nma.gov.au/cook/images/colle ... il/224.jpg would be more appropriate?

[kitty]

The javelins are modeled after hawaiian spears, i think their shark tooth deisgn will go well with the whalebone clubs the advancements will get.

[thespaceinvader]

Perhaps making the tips somewhat longer and pointier would be good them - currently they feel more like studded clubs than spears to me.

The base of his big spear doesn't look perpendicular to the handle, either - it looks like it could be an attempt to bring it out of the block, but the angle of it disagrees with the angle of the handle.