Portrait attempt: Master at Arms

[Geirroed]

Since this is my first post here "Hello Forum!"

I have recently discovered the joy that is wesnoth and since i had some antique version CorelDraw on my Computer i thought i might just give it a try to create a portrait for the Master of Arms/Fencer. When reading the unit descriptions, i had quite immediately an image of a (a little vain) coxcomb (is this the appropriate word?) in my mind.

Too be honest i think this might have lead me to interpreting the sprite too loosely. Especially the hat (which has additionally some issues on how it wraps around the head), but i think i should better await your comments and critique, if it's even worth the effort of changing On the other hand those noble's kids are probably the least uniformed unit line in the loyalists army anyway *cough*

[db0]

Very well done sir. For a first try you are rivaling Kitty

I am not certain the hat and frilly sleeves are in the correct age but it generally looks very well made

How did you come to discover Wesnoth btw?

[thespaceinvader]

Welcome to the forums =)

Great work. Don't worry too much about the interpretation of the sprite - as long as the unit looks about right, and doesn't have any equipment not used by the unit, you're pretty much OK. The coat looks really nice. You're right that the hat needs work, but i'm not quite certain how to fix it myself.

The only thing i would change about it is the eyes - the colour's a bit too vivid, particularly given the pastel colours used throughout the rest of t he piece.

This is excellent work. I look forward to seeing more.

[gotrek860]

isn't the like more like a musketeer's?
http://www.bearn-gaves.com/spip/IMG/bmp ... etaire.bmp

[thespaceinvader]

Looks more like a tricorn to me. And looking at the reference, i think your mistake is in trying to make the bit that fits around the head the same shape as the brim, when in fact it's the same shape as the head - the bit that goes around the head should be roughly circular/oval, instead of having a point at the front.

As for the costume, i think it works - it looks like the MaA's costume, for one thing, and it fits the slightly-foppish-noble image i've always had of that line.

[Federalist marshal]

I agree with spaceinvader that his eyes are a bit too blue and his outift a bit out of the right era, but generally, I think we have a really good start here.
He does look reasonably like the sprite, and, as spaceinvader said, there's no need to fret over making him look exactly like the sprite. I think his facial expression should be changed, though. I think he needs a little more confidence in his face.

[Thumper]

Too be honest i think this might have lead me to interpreting the sprite too loosely

The sprite borrows heavily from the Hollywood swashbuckling tradition. You've got the foppish aspect perfect. As you've already identified the only stylistic issue, please ignore anything other than anatomical advice from the peanut gallery.

I agree with spaceinvader that his eyes are a bit too blue and his outift a bit out of the right era, but generally, I think we have a really good start here.
He does look reasonably like the sprite, and, as spaceinvader said, there's no need to fret over making him look exactly like the sprite. I think his facial expression should be changed, though. I think he needs a little more confidence in his face.

A perfect example of non-constructive criticism, a la the "doing multiplication tables" nonsense which led to Johann's quitting.

- Chris

[Federalist marshal]

I agree with spaceinvader that his eyes are a bit too blue and his outift a bit out of the right era, but generally, I think we have a really good start here.
He does look reasonably like the sprite, and, as spaceinvader said, there's no need to fret over making him look exactly like the sprite. I think his facial expression should be changed, though. I think he needs a little more confidence in his face.

A perfect example of non-constructive criticism, a la the "doing multiplication tables" nonsense which led to Johann's quitting.

I don't see how it's non-constructive; as far as I can tell, the facial expression is supposed to help reflect the general character of the unit. So how am I wrong?

[anakayub]

It's exactly the style and emotion that he wanted to convey. Unless they are obviously contradictory (bulky MaA's, evil-looking elvish shamans), the only thing left is major anatomical issues for polish. Not all units have to look charismatic, tough, etc. Each artist should be able to freely express his art as long as it fits the general Wesnothian style, unless an Art Dev says so.

[Thrawn]

It's exactly the style and emotion that he wanted to convey. Unless they are obviously contradictory (bulky MaA's, evil-looking elvish shamans), the only thing left is major anatomical issues for polish. Not all units have to look charismatic, tough, etc. Each artist should be able to freely express his art as long as it fits the general Wesnothian style, unless an Art Dev says so.

exactly... TruePurple, unless the artist is asking up front whether the audience thinks he captured the spirit of the sprite, try not to make comments on how you personally think he should be portrayed

[irrevenant]

You may be interested in this thread where Wayfarer has just started a workshop to coach people through portrait development. (We covered sprites already though we may do more).

[Geirroed]

Thank you, db0, thespaceinvader, Federalist Marshal, Thumper and anakayub (i'm taking that i expressed what i wanted to convey as a compliment ) for your encouragement.

The only thing i would change about it is the eyes - the colour's a bit too vivid, particularly given the pastel colours used throughout the rest of t he piece.

Very good point. Thanks a lot.

Looks more like a tricorn to me.

Exactly! On completely unrelated note it's much easier to find decent references if you actually now what these are called... thanks!

I am not certain the hat and frilly sleeves are in the correct age...

Personally i think the whole fencer line is a bit out of its age

So anyways. Next try. Edited the hat (still tricorn - ok that's hopefully obvious), the colour of his eyes (toned down enough?) and made his hair, covering the eye, react slightly more to gravity. I'm looking forward to further ideas/suggestions

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@ this constructive/unconstructive critique topic:
I wasn't bothered by any of the comments here Though i think anakayub, Thumper and Thrawn are generally right. Emotional expression is surely of relevance, but saying "in my imagination the motif is more like that than what you did" is a little bit like saying "you should have drawn another motif". This may be true in some cases, but it is sheer impossible to satisfy all personal opinions of what the motif should be. One work-around is probably only to satisfy the artist himself and the main art officials, which also ensures that it's not too far off. As far as i understand (lurking around in this forums) this is the way it's done here.
Also probably doesn't help to recite allready mentioned problems (if every problem is just stated once it's not necessary to emphasize anything IMHO), but for some artists it might even be a personal annoyance (it's just not comfortable to be remembered of the same mistake several times ). Also it clogs the thread so it is probably wise to avoid it.


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How did you come to discover Wesnoth btw?

Someone dropped it's name in a heroes of might an magic forum and the fact it was an open source strategy title. This combination interested me. Don't ask why

By the way: What's a "MaA"? EDIT: *Cough* Yeah that should have been obvious... Mixed up the prepositions.

[Boucman]

MaA : Master at Arms

[anakayub]

MaA - Master at arms.

I was just lazy.

Edit: Boucman beat me to it, proving my point.

[zookeeper]

There was something bugging me about the portrait that I couldn't really identify earlier, but I think it's due to the shading being too light. In other portraits shading/shadows on clothing, skin and hair seem to generally be somewhat darker than yours (the mid-level shadows in them are about as dark as your darkest shadows).