Loyalist Portrait Series

[Cloud]

I agree and disagree with you Corvvs, my first reaction was that it looked wrong, but I think it's the front that's a little weird, and that may be the lack of shading. My only point is that the hind leg visible looks a little too thin at the top.

(Or at least compared to this picture which is roughly at the same angle.)

That small point aside, very nice work, I'm looking forward to seeing them coloured (and how you texture the horse hair LB), the knight I especially like

[Sgt. Groovy]

I think the cavalier portrait angle is OK, but the perspective is a bit problematic, as it emphasises the horse on the rider's expense. If the portrait is shown with current framing, the rider will appear much smaller than the characters usually do. If much of the horse is cropped off, the perspective may no longer be apparent, and the rider may appear very small in comparison to his horse (and it would be shame to exclude the horse anyway). I would suggest keeping the current angle, but moving the viewer back a bit, changing the perspective toward isometric.

[LordBob]

You point a valid problem, but properly changing the perspective means starting over - something I'd prefer to avoid.

If Kitty's okay with this unusual perspective, I'll keep it. If not, then back to the drawing board. I'll work on the knight until I've had her word.

[kitty]

the sketch for the knight is great, the side view works well - and womble helmets are cool! perhaps his tigh is a bit long?

but i fear i have a problem with the cavalier (albeit i like the man-shaped visor idea very much). it seems to mix up a couple of perspectives - the rider is seen straight from ahead, the head of the horse slightly from above and the body and rear leg of the horse from slightly below... but more important it looks like a portrait of the horse not of the cavalier. having the horse as a important part of the portrait is fine (and encouraged) but the cavalier has to be the focus. i understand that it is hard to come up with horse poses for so many rider portraits - perhaps keep simlilar horses and just change the rider?

[LordBob]

Ah, shame on me . I built that picture after actual reference, but on a second look I think the camera is close to the subject and this distorts the perspective.

Also, thanks for proposing but I'd prefer not to use the same horse twice. I dread the final pictures would involve very little variation between two riders.

[Sangel]

Also, thanks for proposing but I'd prefer not to use the same horse twice. I dread the final pictures would involve very little variation between two riders.

I admire your diligence. If finding new poses does cause a problem, though, I think the dramatic differences in horse colour and barding between the different mounted units should provide enough distinction to keep the horses from looking too similar, even if they're in similar poses.

[LordBob]

Completed the knight lineart.
The horseman will likely be next.

I plan to do the entire horsemen/cavs lineart before I start shading them, so it ought to be some time before you see colour again in this thread

[thespaceinvader]

Don't worry, there's no rush.

The lines look great =)

[Turuk]

Agreed, it's nice to see all of the mounted units get their portraits on a horse and not just their upper body, keep up the good work.

I can't wait to see all of their shiny armor.

[Sgt. Groovy]

The head of the knight's horse is too small. It may fall within the possible variation of horse anatomy, but to my mind it brings the image of a pony, not the Great Horse knights used to gallop around on. The muzzle should longer and less pointy:

[Cloud]

Actually with another reference picture in the right position it doesn't seem too off. If you imagine the horse in just a standing position then it would be a little uncomfortable, but it's used in dressage for all kinds of things (which is where the ref pic came from).

My only point it that there doesn't seem to be (or at least if there is it's not obvious at this stage - colouring might help with that) any stirrups attached to the saddle. Though on reflection that could be the purpose of the line next to his leg.

Onto the good stuff: it look very good, and I love how you've given the horse as much personality as the rider, as is only proper. Can't wait to see colour in this thread, but I'll happily wait patiently for it

Edit: I'm also looking forward to seeing what coat colours you give your horses, wikipedia has some good articles on it if you need

[Sgt. Groovy]

Actually with another reference picture in the right position it doesn't seem too off.

The shape doesn't, but the size most definitely is. In your reference photo the height of the head of the horse (from behind the ears to the end of the muzzle) is three times the height of the rider's head, while in LordBob's image it's two times.

[Max]

Here's another reference - what i've read is that this might have been the kind of horse that was used to carry knights with their full gear.

[Boucman]

indeed, the horses in most fantasy art are the kind of sport horses that we see in jumping or race competitions

historically, the knight's armor were so heavy that the warhorses were huge like the percheron on your reference picture

[Sgt. Groovy]

Like I said, they sure were no ponies.