Starting on a portrait?

[brendan_scott]

Hi
I would like to try my hand at drawing a Wesnoth portrait - possibly for the A New Order campaign UMC.
Is there anything Wesnoth specific I need to know before I start?
I have read
http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=24555

Is there a style guide anywhere?

Thanks

[LordBob]

Hello and welcome,

Depending on your current level of art knowledge, you can:
- refer to this tutorial by Kitty
- check the art development wiki for additional guidance
- and of course the community will help and provide feedback as we see your work progress. Do not hesitate to post often and give overviews even of the early sketching phase.

[brendan_scott]

Ok, here's some initial lineart

Initial lineart for wesnoth portrait - female

Reference: http://mjranum-stock.deviantart.com/art ... -135907682

[Dunno]

I really like the head, although the lower part of the body looks a bit stiff and unnatural... perhaps make her left hand (our right) placed on her hip? Also, as far as I know, Wesnoth uses mostly portraits from waist or knee level.

[Piko555]

This sketch is pretty good, but I'm not sure didn't the center line of body moved a bit to right. But it still looks cool.

[brendan_scott]

Thanks for the feedback.
I plan to rotate the right hand and stick a cutlass or rapier in it pointing across her body and thinking of giving her long hair.

[brendan_scott]

Work in progress

WIP at 11 April 2013

[Piko555]

Really, try to refer to the Kitty's tutorial. It'll look far more Wesnothish.

[brendan_scott]

Hmmmmm...
What style violations are in this mockup:

ooops, sorry about the bad alpha there....

[doofus-01]

Hmmmmm...
What style violations are in this mockup:

Not sure if it is a "violation", but you are using a soft-edge or gradient or airbrush to do your shading. Instead, use a semi-transparent hard-edge brush. Also, the lines should be thinner near lit edges, thicker near shadowed edges (away from the light-source). If you did those two things, it would be more similar in style (and look better, in my opinion).

Nice start though.

[homunculus]

i think this is the best explanation i have seen: http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php ... 25#p541251

[brendan_scott]

Does this qualify as Wesnoth style?

The hair, obviously, needs a lot of work...

[thespaceinvader]

The main, key thing you need to do there is make sure all the facial features are level with one another. Currently the midline of her face is slightly crescent shaped, and the mouth is tilets ~15 degrees off the angle of her eyes.

[brendan_scott]

Thanks for your feedback. What do you suggest?
I have not inked on a computer before. I tend to work in graphite.
The lips have always bugged me, but their location is a very close match for the photo reference I used (as are the eyes) In outlining the lips I have made them too broad. I will thin them. I figured her smile was a little odd, but added enigma.
The reference shows more highlight further across the left side of the drawing (right side of her face), so this may be affecting the overall look?

[Dunno]

I think I see what you did there. She looks like her lips and eyes are a little tilted, but her head and nose aren't. Also her breasts look like two white balls separate from her body, you need to smoothen the transition a bit and work on the shadow.
Nevertheless, it's a very good progress, imo