Loyalist Portrait Series

[Lord_Aether]

I like the most recent chainmail... A lot

[Neoskel]

while this version of the chainmail may be more realistic, the effect reminds me too much of beads and I prefer the previous version. still, it's very nice even though I don't prefer it.

Heh heh, at first i misread that as saying it 'reminded me too much of beards' and i imagined a chainmail beard.

[Sgt. Groovy]

The second chainmail is much better in terms of structure and thickness, and I think it could be improved by increasing contrast a bit, especially increasing the speculars (the top layer) in some spots, and them fading out in others.

[kitty]

Hmm, I'm not convinced by this chainmail method, it looks like loosely knitted wool to me. But in the end it's your decision, of course - both versions are more than good enough anyways. If you'll use the newer version I suggest adding some brighter more metal-y highlights.
And the head is still huge...

The rest of him looks pretty perfect, the detail and dirt you added to the tunic are really nice!

[Simons Mith]

[LB] This new method could work better than your previous approach, but you would have to be much more careful about placing the links. It does look a bit like a chainmail rasta at the moment In chainmail, each link is joined to four others around it in a diamond pattern*; your 'chains' work fine in the vertical direction but need to be linked horizontally just as precisely as you've linked them in the vertical direction.

Funny thing, I don't think you can't make chainmail absolutely precise because that gives a perfect grid of links and it ends up looking a bit like the slightly chickenwire-ish effect you had before, but the links do need to cross-join better than you've done here.


* In the simplest possible chainmail pattern. Six- and eight-link chainmail patterns are also possible.

[Edit: I've made chainmail in the past. The precise details won't generally be visible at portrait size, but if someone really wants a chainmail-making tutorial drop me a line, I guess.]

[LordBob]

As I said, I feel I'm still not there with the chainmail. I've tried a third approach here and there'll likely be a fourth.
Simons, if your knowledge of chain mail extends to a few close pictures of mail patterns (either real or drawn), you're most welcome.

Kitty : head size problem duly noted, though I'll wait till I'm done with the mail before I scale him

[Sgt. Groovy]

it looks like loosely knitted wool to me.

Chainmail does look much like knitted wool. Both consist of interlocking loops, in knitted wool the loops just don't close in on themselves but turn the other way around to form the next loop, but this all happens on the backside.

[LordBob]

I've looked for more reference : in the end, both the 'knitted wool' and 'wire mesh' are valid methods, as both looks can be found in actual mail. But both have to be refined.

The problem with my knitted-wool mail is as Simons pointed: it relies on vertical lines whereas chainmail patterns result in horizontal lines.
The problem with my wire mesh mail is the lack of pattern variation: I applied everywhere a pattern that should only been seen from a certain angle.

Anyways, I have more mail planned in the future so I'll work on both methods before I finish this portrait. In the end I will likely keep the lighter mail pattern for him, as he is only a low-rank unit who doesn't have much to do with close quarters. Heavier-looking mail will go to the longbowman and master bowman

[LordBob]

Finished the woodsman and the bowman. The chainmail part was quite a struggle, but at long last I have something I'm content with.

Woodsman:
- Changed his arm and shoulders according to Grrovy's reference
- Switched his recurve-like bow for a more raw-looking one
- Scaled down his head for better body proportions
- Adjusted the skintone of his hands so that it matches the face

Bowman:
- Finished his mail headpiece, Yo!
- Scaled down his head for better body proportions

EDIT: the Woodsman is good to go, but after a second look the bowman isn't over yet. He still needs a shorter bow, and there's something that bothers me about his hips.

[LordBob]

Additionnaly, I'm posting a very dirty raw of the longbowman's revised pose, with longer arrows and a longbow of decent length.

[thespaceinvader]

Do you consider these to be finished now?

They look really good =)

I like the longbowman's rough - an unusual and unique pose.

[Simons Mith]

[Chainmail] You've certainly nailed it now!

[Girgistian]

Awesome work with the chainmail I've got to learn to draw that stuff myself. The skin colour of the face looks a bit odd, his left side seems to be different colour from the right one. I'm no expert on this matter though, so it might as well be good as it is. Generally it looks great, especially the texture on the shoulder pads.

As for the longbowman sketch, the costuming looks already excellent - the loose sleeves and the more body-fit brigandine fit really well.

[TheJM]

Woah, I love the new chainmail. It really looks good now.

[Sgt. Groovy]

Another tumbs up for the latest chainmail. The only thing that still bugs me with the bowman is the high-saturated cyan backlight spot. Backlight is ok, but the colour doesn't look natural in origin to me, but rather like neonlight.

As for the woodsman, the pose is much better now, but the shirt would look better if the folds would point toward the higher shoulder. Even a moderate shoulder lifting will stretch the shirt and affect the folding (this is also evident in my reference photo).