Dead Water artwork (mainline)

[Zerovirus]

Progress!

[Turuk]

I keep trying to figure out what looks funny about the bottom of the armor, and then it hit me. The bits of armor hanging down which normally protect the legs while providing mobility look funny as there are no legs. Not really a big deal at all, but you could probably put in your own interpretation on what they would wear there. As with some of the current mainline mermen, usually it is all just hanging straps or the armor just tends to end in a line across.

[JustinOperable]

Here's some more linework. I've begun on the painting but it looks too awful at the moment to be showed. I think the face looks much more feminine now, I removed the mark on the chin although I disagree that it looked like a beard and I really liked it. I have friends who have their chins tattooed in much more symmetrical ways and they still look feminine. But I removed it. I didn't intend for the Oar idea to mean the merfolk just live as scavengers, but it was nautical themed and in the case of wood, no I don't think they would get it any other way, or at least that is the easiest and most likely way they would get it. I'll make it something other than wood perhaps if people don't like it but I thought it could have inlay, and a big pearl set into it with like kelp and/or a barnacle on it.

[Turuk]

I didn't intend for the Oar idea to mean the merfolk just live as scavengers, but it was nautical themed and in the case of wood, no I don't think they would get it any other way, or at least that is the easiest and most likely way they would get it. I'll make it something other than wood perhaps if people don't like it but I thought it could have inlay, and a big pearl set into it with like kelp and/or a barnacle on it.

It wasn't so much that, it's easy to see that any wood they get will be scrap wood, but I think the general reaction is that if she was scavenging for a suitable staff from among a shipwreck, why would she take an oar? A spar or a piece of railing or any other bit might have fit her better.

[Sangel]

Here's some more linework. I've begun on the painting but it looks too awful at the moment to be showed. I think the face looks much more feminine now, I removed the mark on the chin although I disagree that it looked like a beard and I really liked it. I have friends who have their chins tattooed in much more symmetrical ways and they still look feminine.

I agree, it's quite possible to have tattoos on the chin without looking masculine. But her jaw currently is very square; this is probably contributing to the masculine look. Perhaps if it were more rounded/triangular? See attached (rough) hack.

[melinath]

Is there something wrong with a female portrait that doesn't conform precisely to our expectations for female beauty? I really like this portrait because its jawline alone makes it stand out as a unique character. Please don't make it rounded!

As an alternate suggestion, perhaps try to approximate this version's facial structure, which had the cool jaw and looked more feminine. Also, in this version, the tattoo on the chin works well and is very clearly not a beard.

[MrTristan]

Not to be a sexual deviant or anything, (This is constructive) her breasts could be a little bit bigger, it would just make her look a bit more feminine. Also, a thinner neck and more eye lashes. That is just my opinion though.

Good luck.

[Sangel]

Not to be a sexual deviant or anything, (This is constructive) her breasts could be a little bit bigger, it would just make her look a bit more feminine. Also, a thinner neck and more eye lashes. That is just my opinion though.

Good luck.

Ugh...

You know what? Forget I said anything. As Melianth points out, your earlier sketch is quite feminine enough without changing the jawline. It does get lost in the linework, but so long as that detail comes through in the finished product, that's fine.

"Going stereotypical" is one way to indicate sex, but I'd rather see a little more variety in our portraits. (Kitty can no doubt help on this; she's particularly good at showcasing a broad range of personalities and physiques in her portraits).

[JustinOperable]

I appreciate the comments. I agree my original sketches it looked more like an androgynous boy than a girl. But I am going from reference of a girl who is a friend, and she is exceedingly feminine and lovely and her jaw appears wide from that angle. So I'm gonna stay with it as is. I also have already give her eyelashes, and I don't think drawing bigger boobs would increase the quality in any meaningful way. I think she looks like a girl, so on that note, I'm moving on. Here's some really ugly base painting stuff. It's awful so be gentle, but it's moving forward.

Edit: holy crap I just realized she has no gills. She will drown in this campaign hah. Noone critique that, I'm on it!

Second Edit: Added a less awful version, still sans gills.

[Jetrel]

I appreciate the comments. I agree my original sketches it looked more like an androgynous boy than a girl. But I am going from reference of a girl who is a friend, and she is exceedingly feminine and lovely and her jaw appears wide from that angle. So I'm gonna stay with it as is. I also have already give her eyelashes, and I don't think drawing bigger boobs would increase the quality in any meaningful way. I think she looks like a girl, so on that note, I'm moving on. Here's some really ugly base painting stuff. It's awful so be gentle, but it's moving forward.

Not to mention, I think you've nicely settled it with the latest version, which looks quite effeminate.

@Community: Let's not hear any more complaints about it, m'kay?

[beetlenaut]

Awesome! I really like it. I see a problem with her left forearm though. It's longer than the other one, and should be at least a little foreshortened at that angle. It also looks like it bends before her wrist.

[thespaceinvader]

Also, the left upper arm, where the biceps enters near the elbow - the shadows feel a little too strong around there. I'd lighten them up a little, if i were you. I'd also significantly darken the lineart throughout, but particularly around the shell parts.

[Thrawn]

Excellent work, and glad to see you back! My only concern is that as of now, everything looks like it's the same material, in terms of how it's shaded (with the exception of the hair, which is looking very nice, by the way). I'm sure that will all be changed as you finish it up, just pointing it out

[kitty]

She's shaping up nicely! And to me the face is absolutely adorable, she's a really cute girl!

But the longer I stare at here the more I think that there is something wrong with her arm.
I tried to act the pose out and there seems to be a problem with her shoulder as well as with the hand's angle. The shoulder needs to be a little bit more out (and some differentiation to the trapezius area) and I simply can't hold my hand with a pole in it in that position. I need to angle my hand a tad forward. The result would be something like this:

file.png (65.76 KiB) Viewed 3249 times

And when you add gilss don't forget about a bit webbing between her fingers as well.

[kitty]

And since a friend loaned me her wacom to substitute my broken-down one I wanted to join the dead water fun, too

So here are lines and some blocked in colours for the citizen/brawler. I'm still contemplating if I'll show some of his tail...