Portrait sketches

[thespaceinvader]

You're talking about a unit whose idle animation involves scratching his head with his poisoned throwing knives =P

[Girgistian]

Ah-thank-ya-very-much, if there are no real issues with the parts falling inside the crop I'll start with the colouring (which shouldn't keep anyone from trying to do so themself).

And true, there are some stumpy features about, but he's already got a somewhat thin body (when it comes to orcs, anyways) and practically no armor at all. He doesn't have to perform a full split to express agility

You're talking about a unit whose idle animation involves scratching his head with his poisoned throwing knives =P

Yeah, and that too. Some parts of the posture do counter the overall nimbleness (i.e left hand and arm), but they work so I'm not changing it until further oppressed.

I just hope he's not chewing the poisoned dagger =P

Did you see his pupils?

[Neoskel]

I just hope he's not chewing the poisoned dagger =P

What are you talking about? That's him applying the poison. Have you seen how nasty orc teeth can get?

I like him. The pose kinda says 'hmm... wonder who i should kill next...' Well at least it does to me.

[thespaceinvader]

Thinking about it, one thing i'm not sure about is the tassled edge on his cloak. It looks significantly higher in quality than i'd expect from an orc, and has an air of lampshade about it...

[Girgistian]

Thinking about it, one thing i'm not sure about is the tassled edge on his cloak. It looks significantly higher in quality than i'd expect from an orc, and has an air of lampshade about it...

Truth be told I knew someone's going to bring that up while drawing it, but it would have looked awfully bland without it... The whole cloak could stand to be generally pretty ripped up and dirty, for a looted expression. Then again I could also just get rid of the little decs, to make it look more like it's of orcish origin. Opinions, anyone?

[Girgistian]

Well I haven't got a camera handy at the moment, so I won't argue about the pose. And it's okay to take breaks every now and then, very few members of the community work for it constantly. I've started and halted a lot more projects than I'd like to admit. I could even try to redesign the arms myself if you're feeling stuck.

Dunno about the baron-look, the scarf's gonna end up pretty non-noble if I'm going to be the one to colour it. Here's some preliminary shading and colours. I've got a strange feeling about the clothes - something tells me the scarf should be red, but that's both a 'rich' and a team colour - and the shadow cast by the arm is still in the making. If anyone's got any advice on that, please post it, as I'm currently very unsure if it's supposed to look like that or not.

EDIT: tsi's amnesia-symptoms are spreading. I forgot to attach the file again

[Sleepwalker]

I agree that he doesn't look very nimble or agile while looking at the picture as a whole. But when I put a hand over his chunky legs that impression fades away somewhat so it might work from that angle.

About the arm shadow; I'm not sure, but I think you should move the lower part of it away a little from his upper arm (where it hits his cloak) over onto his armpit.

I'm neutral about him biting his dagger though. Looking good.

[thespaceinvader]

It looks really kinda dark at present, even without the forum darkening. Brighter base colours would help.

[Turuk]

I think the issue people are having with him not looking very deadly or agile as an assassin is that he looks to me, at least with the full image and not the crop, like a distracted child. Bemused by some passing thought, he in idle contemplation is just chewing on the object in his hand between his teeth with a somewhat lost expression.

Yes, I know it is a knife and he has more in his other hand and on his person, but he's holding them as if he has little concern or knowledge that they are there, and as if he is not completely capable of inflicting bodily harm with them.

Perhaps a more alert expression, or one with more intelligence in the pondering, or even a slightly more tense pose to the body would do the trick, but those are just thoughts.

[Dragonchampion]

I can't wait for the rest of the wolf rider. I agree with Kitty, It's so cute- I may never kill another again! LOL

[Girgistian]

We'z back!

Concerning Skizzaltix's work here, fair job so far, although I share thespaceinvader's view about the crop, it could stand to be a lot lower. There's also a weird curve in the middle of his chest, right below the armpit. It might also enhance the nimble look of the unit to put most of the body's thickness in his torso or where the tail meets the ground - currently it's around where a human being's stomach would be, so it kinda gives a feeling of fatness and clumsiness. Just thoughts.

As for me, I've been trying to finish something I've started... sort of. After a few hours my wrist refused to work and I couldn't get the leather look the way it should. So I'm going to have a little break now and post what's been done so far.

[scienceguy8]

I really get the impression that the two work well together, that they know what each other are thinking. Excellent job. I still remember your first and second attempts at this unit portrait, and this beats the pants off both of them.

[Girgistian]

I really get the impression that the two work well together, that they know what each other are thinking. Excellent job. I still remember your first and second attempts at this unit portrait, and this beats the pants off both of them.

You do ? I actually checked them a while back. I had quite a few mental facepalms browsing through the ancient thread
Really hoped people would have forgotten them by now...

Thanks too, I had some trouble with the wolf's positioning and didn't know if it works at all that way.

[Turuk]

I have to agree with the above, and the oddly match bits of torn clothing and the random touches like the leather strap on the blade are a nice touch. It's certainly a very promising start on this go-around compared to the others, it will be nice to see how you develop this one.

The wolf's position works well because the rider is clearly the dominant role, but the wolf being right behind him and the wolf's expression shows that the wolf is not to be taken lightly either. It's a nice pairing.

[Girgistian]

Yay, approvals.

Update!