Portrait sketches

[thespaceinvader]

I prefer to have the arms bare, partly to make it clear that there is only bone there and partly because drawing the leather rumpling and hanging off the bone would be difficult to do properly. I'll fix up some tatters of chainmail off the breast plate though.

[Girgistian]

As you wish, though then I suggest figuring out how come the armor doesn't just slip off the arms Straps?

[thespaceinvader]

Straps and magics. I'd assume that the same stuff that holds the skeleton together stops the armour dropping off completely.

[Girgistian]

Or maybe you could have a couple of screws go through the bones and to the armor ?

No really, I'm half-serious

[Turuk]

Straps and screws would make sense, as the skeleton is no longer freshly animated from the grave, and so has the time/experience/knowledge to acquire heavier armor (hence the term Death Knight). So chances are he probably figured out how to attach them to himself in such a manner that they would not slide off. Magic is a good explanation to mix in too, so there are not 40 straps dangling all over his body to hold each piece on to his frame.

[Skizzaltix]

Very cool--I love that axe head.
Though, is it just my imagination, or is his ribcage facing in a different direction than his breast plate?
Anyway, good job! Keep it up

[Girgistian]

Though, is it just my imagination, or is his ribcage facing in a different direction than his breast plate?

I see it as well, but I wouldn't be bothered by it. It adds an impression of looseness to the armor, he's a skeleton after all.

[kitty]

just dropping some encouragement - looking good

imho the horns on the helmet are too prominent, since the sprite has none.

[thespaceinvader]

I thought that might be the case - they're easy enough to take off and replace with a plume. And i did think about screws to hold the armour on. But old bones are quite brittle, and it might not hold too well...

[Girgistian]

...which is where the magic comes in!

[LordBob]

Dropping by to say I really like the idea of skeleton warriors holding together thanks to straps, nails and screws ! I'd even go further by suggesting that upper level skeletons have their bones themselves repaired : while the magic that animates them goes stronger, the "mechanics" remain what they are : fragile old bones that require maintenance.

Comment about the picture itself : whereas the upper body perfectly shows the skeleton, the legs fail to convey the idea that there's only bone beneath the armour. Two suggestions :
- lower the leg armour pieces so that the reader understands that they rest on the bone itself.
- tighten the leg straps as much as possible and have the trouser cloth hanging loosely where it's not held up by the straps.

[thespaceinvader]

When someone does get around to doing the Ghoul, this might be of use as reference: http://wildforge.deviantart.com/art/Troll-bust-88565718

EDIT: Updated. I added some embellishments, switched the horns for a plume inspired by those of the Horse Guards, moved the leg plates down to make the legs look thinner, and added some bolts to the arm plates.

The remaining detailing (more armour damage, bone cracks around the screws, rust etc etc) will be added at shading. The big arrow is the light source, obviously.

Possibly more tonight or tomorrow.

[kitty]

some quick crits:
really follow LordBob's advise about the straps around the femurs - make them much tighter! and i wonder how the belt stays up, perhaps let it hang more aslope over the pelvis. and the new plume is much truer to the sprite but it doesn't look used enough right now. one last question: what are this parts of the helmet in front of the eye sockets good for?

i look forward to seeing some shading on this guy!

[Skizzaltix]

I had assumed that the bits of metal in front of his eyes were the remains of a smashed-in beaver, but I could be wrong...

Anyway, looking good! Though I do agree with kitty about the belt and straps etc.

[kitty]

Skizzaltix: - a smashed-in beaver?! are you sure?