Thajocoth
2010-02-22, 01:38 PM
I'm trying to make myself an avatar. I'm not really much of an artist... But I get impatient and eventually say "screw it, I'll do it myself".
My original request was:
Gender: Male
Holding: Avalanche Modenkrad (A Mordenkrad is a big spiked hammer held in both hands. Avalanche is it's magic [just adds to charge damage]) Unfortunately, no pics exist of the Mordenkrad. It's bigger than a warhammer (not the game, obviously), and generally described as spikey.
On Head: Horned Helm (adds damage to charge attacks)
Scale color: Dark orange-red (rust?)
Race: Dragonborn
Class: Barbarian
Pose: Charging to the right, with his mouth open like he's screaming "GRAAAAH!" (but no text bubble), head tilted so the horned helm can deal it's damage to the target of the charge, and the Mordenkrad either ready to be swung, or mid-swing.
If it helps: The character this is of is also wearing hide armor, a badge and boots, all of which are magic (that enhance his charge in some way), none of which are necessary in the image.
So there are a few things about this image that are impossible to find reference art for. There are no Mordenkrads in any art anywhere, and there are no OotS style dragonborn. Also, charge attacks are rare, but I was able to find a few references.
My first attempt:
http://www.gamecheetz.com/dragonborn.png
As a non-artist I realize my input may not be the most helpful, but it seems the most wrong to me because A. heads don't bend down that far like that, and generally when one puts their head down to charge they extend their neck down and forward, so as to put it at level more with their shoulders and to have it extended as well. If that makes sens.
Thanks a lot, and that was quite helpful. My new version is less crappy. I wouldn't've thought to add a neck. for OotS style art... I'm thinking of making him green just to simplify things, if that makes sense.
http://www.gamecheetz.com/Dragonborn2.png
Then I tried going with an overhead swing and switching to green scales.
http://www.gamecheetz.com/Dragonborn3.png
It still looks very wrong to me, and I'm having a lot of trouble seeing why. I have Inkscape files saved at both the 2nd and 3rd images, so I can continue from either pose.
It's not a matter of difficulty with the tool, but of not knowing why I think it looks wrong. If I was an artist, this would likely be easier.
The one problem I can identify is that it doesn't look so much to me like he's screaming. I've opened the mouth more, but that didn't do it. I'm not sure, without a text box, how to better convey that. I know there are other problems with it though.
So... Any advice?
-----
References used:
Charging - (All Roy)
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0216.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0102.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0106.html
Kobold Mouth - http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0571.html
Dragon head - http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0640.html
My original request was:
Gender: Male
Holding: Avalanche Modenkrad (A Mordenkrad is a big spiked hammer held in both hands. Avalanche is it's magic [just adds to charge damage]) Unfortunately, no pics exist of the Mordenkrad. It's bigger than a warhammer (not the game, obviously), and generally described as spikey.
On Head: Horned Helm (adds damage to charge attacks)
Scale color: Dark orange-red (rust?)
Race: Dragonborn
Class: Barbarian
Pose: Charging to the right, with his mouth open like he's screaming "GRAAAAH!" (but no text bubble), head tilted so the horned helm can deal it's damage to the target of the charge, and the Mordenkrad either ready to be swung, or mid-swing.
If it helps: The character this is of is also wearing hide armor, a badge and boots, all of which are magic (that enhance his charge in some way), none of which are necessary in the image.
So there are a few things about this image that are impossible to find reference art for. There are no Mordenkrads in any art anywhere, and there are no OotS style dragonborn. Also, charge attacks are rare, but I was able to find a few references.
My first attempt:
http://www.gamecheetz.com/dragonborn.png
As a non-artist I realize my input may not be the most helpful, but it seems the most wrong to me because A. heads don't bend down that far like that, and generally when one puts their head down to charge they extend their neck down and forward, so as to put it at level more with their shoulders and to have it extended as well. If that makes sens.
Thanks a lot, and that was quite helpful. My new version is less crappy. I wouldn't've thought to add a neck. for OotS style art... I'm thinking of making him green just to simplify things, if that makes sense.
http://www.gamecheetz.com/Dragonborn2.png
Then I tried going with an overhead swing and switching to green scales.
http://www.gamecheetz.com/Dragonborn3.png
It still looks very wrong to me, and I'm having a lot of trouble seeing why. I have Inkscape files saved at both the 2nd and 3rd images, so I can continue from either pose.
It's not a matter of difficulty with the tool, but of not knowing why I think it looks wrong. If I was an artist, this would likely be easier.
The one problem I can identify is that it doesn't look so much to me like he's screaming. I've opened the mouth more, but that didn't do it. I'm not sure, without a text box, how to better convey that. I know there are other problems with it though.
So... Any advice?
-----
References used:
Charging - (All Roy)
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0216.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0102.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0106.html
Kobold Mouth - http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0571.html
Dragon head - http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0640.html