Thanqol Learns 2 Draw: Every Step Is The First

[Thanqol]

Hi, my name is Thanqol, and sometimes I'm a jerk.

One year ago I decided, out of the blue, that I was going to learn how to draw. The rule was simple - one picture every day, no excuses. I succeeded (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200108). I made it an entire year without missing an update. There's a youtube video of my progress here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9pFnX01Bjo&feature=youtu.be).

This is the second year of my challenge, and I'm going to continue it. Same rule. Picture every day, rain or shine.

I'm taking a bit more of a structured approach to this year's progress. I've made some good things, but I'm still deficient in a lot of the basics. I find one of the better ways for me to learn is theme weeks or months where I commit myself to topics and don't stray from them until the understanding has seeped in. To help me in this, I'm adopting a topic box where the current area I'm working on will be kept.

The current topic is:




Monster Manual Challenge


Pictures I especially like will go in on my DeviantArt account (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/).

I am still a beginner, and still incredibly deficient in a lot of areas. I absolutely love advice, comments, feedback and suggestions.

I use a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet and Paint Tool SAI.

Every day I have a music plug. Normally it's good stuff that I recommend you listen to. There (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE1920AA3C2FBC62F&feature=mh_lolz)are playlists (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA0162EF0516770C0&feature=mh_lolz)of all (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr4faIn_juK2xZM9KwYxbI76WCVHqVcnA)t he music I've listened to on this project.


I take requests. The more interesting your request, the more likely I am to do it and put more effort into it. Do not be shy about asking, I don't bite.

Here's to year two.

[flyingchicken]

Here's a request for: a low angle shot of two Tyrannosauruses fighting!

[the_druid_droid]

Bravo. Year one was a heck of a ride, and you even managed to bring some folks along for the ride. SiuiS is gonna get a hug when I meet him this summer for being one half the dirty duo that got me considering that I could maybe draw, and if I'm ever in Australia, I'm hunting you down for one too!

[Silviya]

*Applause*

Congratulations on doing this for an entire year! And that video you made of your progress is pretty neat. :smallsmile:

The topic thing seems like a good idea. When you say body shapes, are you talking about general anatomy/poses/proportions/etc., or are you going to be working primarily on learning what the shapes of the body are, like the shape of the head and the torso and the hands etc.?

I'm not sure if I've suggested this before or not (actually, you might even be doing this already), but as far as learning anatomy in general goes, I would advise doing at least ten minutes of gesture drawings a day if you can, even if you're not specifically working on learning anatomy at the moment. Those ten minutes every day will really add up, and before long anatomy will become much easier.


And I really need to start taking my own advice and make a thread like this for myself. Maybe once the kittens are older and after I finish all the stuff that I have to do this summer . . .

[Kasanip]

Congratulations for a good year of art! I hope it is another good year of drawing for you! :smallredface:

[Story Time]

...all that I can think of to say is, "Pope Gregory would be thrilled." :smallredface: :smalltongue:

You know...the Gregorian Calendar with Leap Year on it? :smallbiggrin:


Your art is influential, Thanqol. Be happy with it, but also take care. Make the world a better place with what you have to offer. :smallsmile:

[Elemental]

Congratulations on keeping to your goal.
That in itself is an achievement worthy of recognition.

I can't even get around to drawing something once a week, as much as I promised myself.

Therefore, stylised cookies for you. (::)(::)(::)

[Lix Lorn]

Here's a request for: a low angle shot of two Tyrannosauruses fighting!
This is a good request. You should do it. :smalltongue:

[Thanqol]

Bravo. Year one was a heck of a ride, and you even managed to bring some folks along for the ride. SiuiS is gonna get a hug when I meet him this summer for being one half the dirty duo that got me considering that I could maybe draw, and if I'm ever in Australia, I'm hunting you down for one too!

Thank you. Watch out for the dragodiles.


*Applause*

Congratulations on doing this for an entire year! And that video you made of your progress is pretty neat. :smallsmile:

The topic thing seems like a good idea. When you say body shapes, are you talking about general anatomy/poses/proportions/etc., or are you going to be working primarily on learning what the shapes of the body are, like the shape of the head and the torso and the hands etc.?

General proportions work and an effective skeletoning/fleshing technique to help me achieve unique poses without reference.


I'm not sure if I've suggested this before or not (actually, you might even be doing this already), but as far as learning anatomy in general goes, I would advise doing at least ten minutes of gesture drawings a day if you can, even if you're not specifically working on learning anatomy at the moment. Those ten minutes every day will really add up, and before long anatomy will become much easier.

I shall endeavour to make it so.


And I really need to start taking my own advice and make a thread like this for myself. Maybe once the kittens are older and after I finish all the stuff that I have to do this summer . . .

You will never find a day better than today.


Congratulations for a good year of art! I hope it is another good year of drawing for you! :smallredface:

Thank you!


...all that I can think of to say is, "Pope Gregory would be thrilled." :smallredface: :smalltongue:

You know...the Gregorian Calendar with Leap Year on it? :smallbiggrin:


Your art is influential, Thanqol. Be happy with it, but also take care. Make the world a better place with what you have to offer. :smallsmile:

Thank you ^^ I haven't forgotten your grapes, I'm just looking for a day with enough time to do it right.


Congratulations on keeping to your goal.
That in itself is an achievement worthy of recognition.

I can't even get around to drawing something once a week, as much as I promised myself.

Therefore, stylised cookies for you. (::)(::)(::)

I'll put these with the rest.

Honestly, try for even a five minute scribble a day. It's like a promise to yourself to do better tomorrow.


Here's a request for: a low angle shot of two Tyrannosauruses fighting!


This is a good request. You should do it. :smalltongue:

Fine (http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/7161/day367a.jpg). (Quick lineweight experiment sketch)

Day 367: Busted Right On Down

And it begins. As expected, it's hard and I don't wanna do it but it's useful and improvement-y. I've got basic brush control and a good handle on settings, functions and what makes a good sketch so I've got no excuses, these technical things are what I need to learn next.

This was made using an application of the boxing techniques I've picked up from tutorials a while back, but it's about time to revisit them and start trying to apply it without the training wheels. Not only do I want to be able to structure bodies like this, I want to be able to understand the fundamentals well enough to start stylising.

Links (http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8172/day367.jpg)

Time: 45 minutes
Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaQpC4HuJ5M): Metropolis

[Hawkflight]

Can't go wrong with dinosaurs. :3

So, I was thinking ... would you be willing to draw a short multi-panel actiony comic as a request? I think it could be interesting to see how you structure such a thing with the characters from one panel to the next.

[Thanqol]

Can't go wrong with dinosaurs. :3

So, I was thinking ... would you be willing to draw a short multi-panel actiony comic as a request? I think it could be interesting to see how you structure such a thing with the characters from one panel to the next.

Maybe. Comics are a lot of work. Throw me your pitch, though, can't hurt.

Day 368: Consider This My Gift To You

Speedsketched a bunch of poses from Fate: Zero (watch it) as part of a larger bid to get the hang of posing and proportion at the stick figure/skeletoning level. I feel like progress was made, though I feel like I need to look at more disrobed figures. Might go back to spandexed superheroes, they're wearing virtually nothing after all.

Links (http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/108/day368.jpg)

Time: ~1 hour
Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhVsX8HFDLk&feature=g-u-u): Na Na Nothing

[Hawkflight]

Okay. The character is ... well, a typical anime girl. You get the sense that she could be a cool surfer chick if life had been more kind to her. As it is, she's an alley cat, a thief, skulks in the shadows and hides from everyone to avoid persecution. It makes her somewhat moe in a way, really.

Oh, she's also a copper dragonborn.

I'll leave the number of panels and structuring up to you, but it's basically a scene from Fist of the North Star. She's surround by an unruly mob, and she quickly jabs at each of them. Then she says, "I'm really, really sorry. But you're all already dead." Then a large panel of the entire mob exploding, Fist of the North Star style.
So what do you think? Can you do it?

[Thanqol]

Okay. The character is ... well, a typical anime girl. You get the sense that she could be a cool surfer chick if life had been more kind to her. As it is, she's an alley cat, a thief, skulks in the shadows and hides from everyone to avoid persecution. It makes her somewhat moe in a way, really.

Oh, she's also a copper dragonborn.

I'll leave the number of panels and structuring up to you, but it's basically a scene from Fist of the North Star. She's surround by an unruly mob, and she quickly jabs at each of them. Then she says, "I'm really, really sorry. But you're all already dead." Then a large panel of the entire mob exploding, Fist of the North Star style.
So what do you think? Can you do it?

Okay you want a multi-panel comic involving an attractive girl, a fight scene, dynamic poses, and dozens of background extras.

http://img.ponibooru.org/_images/ad94c4e5d3894f49d05182eadb88d2ff/325%20-%20macro%20twilight_sparkle.jpg

Would you also like me to do it left handed?

(More seriously, I'll give it a try, but I seriously possess none of the competencies to make that reliably happen so you stand a serious chance of getting something extremely sketchy/delayed)

[Hawkflight]

Left-handedness is optional, though good practice in case you ever hurt your right hand. :smalltongue:
pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure
Hey, no pressure. I thought it would be good for both of us. I get a nice comic, and you get plenty of practice drawing characters, conveying a story, and understanding how characters relate to each other not only in the same scene, but between panels as well. Really, I'm thinking of you here. You're welcome. :smallwink:

[Thanqol]

Left-handedness is optional, though good practice in case you ever hurt your right hand. :smalltongue:
pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure
Hey, no pressure. I thought it would be good for both of us. I get a nice comic, and you get plenty of practice drawing characters, conveying a story, and understanding how characters relate to each other not only in the same scene, but between panels as well. Really, I'm thinking of you here. You're welcome. :smallwink:

Are you antagonising me in my own drawthread?

That's awfully brave of you. :smallwink:

Day 369: Pony Wears The Cape

Urgh, this was the opposite of efficiency. Completely messed up that cape design, I should probably try it on a less moving object first. Other body type practise. Wrestlers are great models, they never wear shirts.

Otherwise a bit of a bust. Oh well. Sometimes it doesn't work out like it is in your head.

Links (http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9207/day369.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4TFTCj_X6_w): The Approach

[smuchmuch]

congrat on thread 2.



Fine (http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/7161/day367a.jpg). (Quick lineweight experiment sketch)

(Pretty good but not exactly a 'low angle' is it ?)


Day 367: Busted Right On Down

Links (http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8172/day367.jpg)
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9207/day369.jpg


The two proportion squetches look good (left arm on the dude look a bit strange, though.)

Out of curiosity, where do you find your models ?

[Hawkflight]

Are you antagonising me in my own drawthread?

That's awfully brave of you. :smallwink:

Yyyyeah, I should probably stop hanging around GLaDOS so much. :smallwink:

[Thanqol]

congrat on thread 2.


(Pretty good but not exactly a 'low angle' is it ?)

I couldn't figure out how to fit them both into the frame from a low angle.


The two proportion squetches look good (left arm on the dude look a bit strange, though.)

Out of curiosity, where do you find your models ?

Google Image Search.


Yyyyeah, I should probably stop hanging around GLaDOS so much. :smallwink:

The first step is to get me chronically reliant on you in some way. Then comes the abuse.

If you lead with the abuse then I can just troll you by, say, photoshopping a girl's face over Neo's for a few frames of Burly Brawl.

[Hawkflight]

The first step is to get me chronically reliant on you in some way. Then comes the abuse.

If you lead with the abuse then I can just troll you by, say, photoshopping a girl's face over Neo's for a few frames of Burly Brawl.

True, but then what would you learn about friendship art?

[Halyat]

Congratulations on sticking it out for an entire year! I think that dedication will really pay off.

Working on a single aspect for an extended time is a really good idea, body shape especially. You should seriously consider doing a series of life drawings from people in everyday situations- people on the bus, your classmates, joggers in the park, whatever. Action poses and superhero kinds of stuff (as most of your non-pony drawings seem to be) are cool, but developing a sense of how people move their bodies in reality will really take your figure drawing to the next level.

[Thanqol]

True, but then what would you learn about friendship art?

That it can be used to troll uppity robots.


Congratulations on sticking it out for an entire year! I think that dedication will really pay off.

Working on a single aspect for an extended time is a really good idea, body shape especially. You should seriously consider doing a series of life drawings from people in everyday situations- people on the bus, your classmates, joggers in the park, whatever. Action poses and superhero kinds of stuff (as most of your non-pony drawings seem to be) are cool, but developing a sense of how people move their bodies in reality will really take your figure drawing to the next level.

Thank you! And yeah, life drawings seem like such a good idea in theory but I've found myself without the real time and setting to make that happen. I've started carrying my sketchpad with me more often in the hopes it'll improve my casual sketching.

Day 370: Along The Way

Long day, so not enormously drawtastic. Still, I feel pretty good about my progress today. My new sketching technique is so much better for proportioning stuff. I feel like I'm making real progress; sticking with a single topic like this has been a good idea.

I'm thinking expressions for next week. Been wanting to try them Lackadaisy tutorials properly.

Links (http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9982/day370.jpg)

Time: 45 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/o5KPAeu5k9E): I Know Humans Exist

[Thanqol]

Day 371: Pony Break

Real practise hard, have a pony instead.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-371-303844621)

Time: 2 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/XF2mB4wa8-I): Gilda's Theme

[Sean Mirrsen]

Day 371: Pony Break

Real practise hard, have a pony instead.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-371-303844621)

Time: 2 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/XF2mB4wa8-I): Gilda's ThemePretty hair, pretty eyes, very pretty glows, but needs some legwork (i.e. the legs need work, they're a little rough and the right hind leg seems to disappear behind the left fore leg when it shouldn't, given the size of the others), and something swallowed up the other ear, which should be visible from this angle, and the hairdo doesn't seem to be able to cover it. The back is also a little too flat. That's about all for critique. Pretty nice overall.

[Thanqol]

Pretty hair, pretty eyes, very pretty glows, but needs some legwork (i.e. the legs need work, they're a little rough and the right hind leg seems to disappear behind the left fore leg when it shouldn't, given the size of the others), and something swallowed up the other ear, which should be visible from this angle, and the hairdo doesn't seem to be able to cover it. The back is also a little too flat. That's about all for critique. Pretty nice overall.

Good advice, made a few quick tweaks to fix. Thanks!

[Thanqol]

Day 372: Conflictsters

Back to the practise. Applying my systems, tutorials and lessons and feeling like it's paying off; I was able to structure these complex poses a lot better with a system than without.

Links (http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8070/day372.jpg)

Time: 35 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/6zkMwEDLBks): Cemeteries of London

[SiuiS]

wow, I noticed that you are approaching a year in your endeavor. now is the time to reflect and compare. Take a look at your day 1 drawing and then look at your latest. See the improvments? you have come a long way.

what's changed? is it an improvement? where do you think you still should work on? is there any habit that has been established?

your lines straighter? your curves smoother? how about time? Do you remember how long it use to take?


where to go from here? if you choose to continue.

I must say I am sorry I haven't been keeping track so I don't have much advice. However, here is one thing I think you should try next.

* * * Line composition - increase the thickness and width of the lines at certain points, it makes your curves fuller and addes some depth and texture to your line drawings. One of the things in some comics and cartoons is to use thicker lines on the outer edge of a line drawing. makes it pop out from the paper.
* *Have your line end at sharp points and rounded ends, depending on the drawing.

How? How does one change how lines end? I've never figured it out.


Day 365: Betrayal

Once, there was a pony who learned to trust.

Big mistake.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-365-302623105)

Time: 45 minutes
Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZaJv3-BV3A): This Is How It Goes

Hmm. I quoted this to call bull, then you explained it.
Cheater.


...sad things...are sad. *:smallmad: *I should really rant about how art is a philosophical tool to share feelings and meaning with others and how, "With great power comes great responsibility."

On top of all that is the question, "Is such a negative subject really the best choice for Day Three Hundred Sixty Five of drawing?" *:smallmad:.

Yes. I can't place it, exactly, but it fits. There is a ... Shift? And every new beginning is some other beginning's end.


You'd think that pony, of all ponies, would have known better than to trust an actor. And therein's the rub, isn't it? Trust Invites Betrayal, and the gods are capricious and only want to be entertained.

Darn it, Thanqol. Now I see the world through an Arcadian lens, and we are the Gentry to the characters we create.

it's a sight better than your head playing gentry to you, though. Trust.


Bravo. Year one was a heck of a ride, and you even managed to bring some folks along for the ride. SiuiS is gonna get a hug when I meet him this summer for being one half the dirty duo that got me considering that I could maybe draw, and if I'm ever in Australia, I'm hunting you down for one too!

Aw shucks, this made me get all misty eyed. I really need to find where I put that stoicism...



And I really need to start taking my own advice and make a thread like this for myself. *Maybe once the kittens are older and after I finish all the stuff that I have to do this summer . . .

Now, friend. Try now. There's always a tomorrow, always a one more thing, but Now is fleeting.

I would do it myself, but I currently physically lack the ability. But there really is no time like the present.


This is a good request. You should do it. :smalltongue:

It is!
Thanqol; imagine standing between and say, four yards to the side of said tyrannosaurs. Now look up.


Maybe. Comics are a lot of work. Throw me your pitch, though, can't hurt.

They are actually not. You need
- a character you're willing to draw a billion times over
- a story
-maybe some camera angles

That's it. Let go of perfecting each panel; just do it. And this is like, the third or fourth comic request you've had to turn down. You're not hiding your lackings, are you ol' Hoss? :smallwink:


Day 368: Consider This My Gift To You

Speedsketched a bunch of poses from Fate: Zero (watch it) as part of a larger bid to get the hang of posing and proportion at the stick figure/skeletoning level. I feel like progress was made, though I feel like I need to look at more disrobed figures. Might go back to spandexed superheroes, they're wearing virtually nothing after all.

Links (http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/108/day368.jpg)

Time: ~1 hour
Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhVsX8HFDLk&feature=g-u-u): Na Na Nothing

Try looking for artistic nudes.
It may also help you with your everyone has double Ds "problem".

(note: not everyone considers this a problem)

Is that a Stephanie pony?


Are you antagonising me in my own drawthread?

That's awfully brave of you. :smallwink:

Day 369: Pony Wears The Cape

Urgh, this was the opposite of efficiency. Completely messed up that cape design, I should probably try it on a less moving object first. Other body type practise. Wrestlers are great models, they never wear shirts.

Otherwise a bit of a bust. Oh well. Sometimes it doesn't work out like it is in your head.

Links (http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9207/day369.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4TFTCj_X6_w): The Approach

I like the figure on the right, but can't tell if it's a girl or a very oddly built man; what could be breasts in a sports bra could also be big burly muscles.

-

I'm thinking. Thinking...
My end goal would not be the same as yours. I would need a routine that would help me with my end goals. A daily draw thread would not do that, but it would be something...

[Thanqol]

It is!
Thanqol; imagine standing between and say, four yards to the side of said tyrannosaurs. Now look up.

All I imagine is the screaming.


They are actually not. You need
- a character you're willing to draw a billion times over
- a story
-maybe some camera angles

That's it. Let go of perfecting each panel; just do it. And this is like, the third or fourth comic request you've had to turn down. You're not hiding your lackings, are you ol' Hoss? :smallwink:

I like to think I'm quite open with my lackings.

The problem I have encountered in the past with comics is that I have to make the character look consistent between panels. Moreover, I have historically been bad at judging sizes and tend to make characters too tall or short relative to each other. It looks messy. Part of what I've been working on with the current topic is getting a lot of figures about the same size.


Try looking for artistic nudes.
It may also help you with your everyone has double Ds "problem".

(note: not everyone considers this a problem)

Hmm~mm, I've considered it but I have odd mental blocks against looking at naked people. Drawings of naked people are fine, but there's some trigger in my head that turns me away from looking at undressed real people. I'll see about finding a workaround.


Is that a Stephanie pony?

No. Been playing around with her design, but haven't settled on it or her colours.


I'm thinking. Thinking...
My end goal would not be the same as yours. I would need a routine that would help me with my end goals. A daily draw thread would not do that, but it would be something...

The drawthread is a vehicle to ensure that you make constant progress towards your goals, whatever they are. All goals are supported by daily practise.

[SiuiS]

All I imagine is the screaming.


Right, right. You aren't assured of your own power and immortality.
Pretend they're like, herbivorous. I dunno, maybe the fight is a mating dance.



I like to think I'm quite open with my lackings.

The problem I have encountered in the past with comics is that I have to make the character look consistent between panels. Moreover, I have historically been bad at judging sizes and tend to make characters too tall or short relative to each other. It looks messy. Part of what I've been working on with the current topic is getting a lot of figures about the same size.


True. And despite all the flak, comics aren't a problem. They're a different art form. There is some overlap but really, it's like saying you're a bad writer because you can't direct a movie.



Hmm~mm, I've considered it but I have odd mental blocks against looking at naked people. Drawings of naked people are fine, but there's some trigger in my head that turns me away from looking at undressed real people. I'll see about finding a workaround.


That doesn't surprise me at all actually. It entirely fits what I know of your character. It will require some extra work though. Good luck.

No. Been playing around with her design, but haven't settled on it or her colours.



The drawthread is a vehicle to ensure that you make constant progress towards your goals, whatever they are. All goals are supported by daily practise.

Indeed. But for me thinking and integration are important parts of learning, which means if I want to improve, daily drawing may actually interfere with it. Or having something I'm okay posting every day? Irrelevant though. Think I've slipped from explanation to excuses.
I will have to get over my pride though. That will be the hardest part.

[Thanqol]

Right, right. You aren't assured of your own power and immortality.

As far as you know.


True. And despite all the flak, comics aren't a problem. They're a different art form. There is some overlap but really, it's like saying you're a bad writer because you can't direct a movie.

Again, it's something I've been consciously working towards in a lot of ways. But it's still a bit of an end boss challenge.

I divide days into "Experimentation" and "Application" days. The experimentation days all add up when it comes time for an Application.


Indeed. But for me thinking and integration are important parts of learning, which means if I want to improve, daily drawing may actually interfere with it. Or having something I'm okay posting every day? Irrelevant though. Think I've slipped from explanation to excuses.
I will have to get over my pride though. That will be the hardest part.

I feel like the majority of this is nonsense. The process of typing up a post to explain what you learned each day forces you to reflect on what you've just done.

Day 373: With Poise; With Anger

A basic exercise - a bunch of characters of differing heights at alternately foreground/background positions. I feel like it was a significant success.

This has been a great experiment and a great week for learning. I wouldn't want to continue it much further without a break, but even though the majority of these pictures have been extremely sketchy and not great to look at they're going to help me a lot when it comes time for Application later.

Links (http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5946/day373.jpg)

Time: 35 Minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/bTbHtioKRXI): Nightfall

[Silviya]

You will never find a day better than today.



Now, friend. Try now. There's always a tomorrow, always a one more thing, but Now is fleeting.

I would do it myself, but I currently physically lack the ability. But there really is no time like the present.

You two both make convincing and also true arguments. Hmm. I've got a four week long pre-college art program thing in the summer, in which I will be doing art but I probably won't have any means to post any of it, so I'd
probably have to put the thread on hold for about a month, which is the main thing holding me back.

Honestly, though, this sort of thing would be really good for me. What got me to make real writing progress was the "700 words a day or shame list" that my writing group did a while back, in which everyone who participated had to report writing at least 700 words each day or be on that day's List of Shame. I was the only one to never be on the List of Shame, and I've never been more productive. So doing something similar with art is really what I need to stop being lazy and actually do art. The idea of making a thread like this terrifies me, because I hate all my art with a passion and hate showing it to people, because I'm always convinced that everyone will think I'm a terrible artist, but that's a fear that I need to face and get over, so that's another way that a thread like this would help. Anyway, I'll stop blabbing about myself.



Hmm~mm, I've considered it but I have odd mental blocks against looking at naked people. Drawings of naked people are fine, but there's some trigger in my head that turns me away from looking at undressed real people. I'll see about finding a workaround.

Hmm, yeah, that could make things a bit trickier. There might be drawing sites that have models wearing tight yoga clothing and such? I haven't really looked, but I'd think there'd be something like that somewhere.



The practice pictures are looking good. One thing that I'd advise though, if you aren't already doing it, is trying to find where the subject is placing most of their weight. Most people stand with more weight on one foot or the other, or have their center of gravity off-center in some other way, and learning how to draw that can really help with making poses look less stiff, I've found.

Also, I think I've already posted this (http://foervraengd.deviantart.com/art/UNDERSTANDING-ANATOMY-part-I-220251993?q=boost%3Apopular%20Anatomy&qo=25) series of tutorials? If I haven't for whatever reason, here it is.


Working on expressions next sounds like a good idea. You may need to devote more than a week to it, though, or maybe do something like the thing I suggested with the anatomy practice, and just quickly sketch one face every day.

I'll probably have more tips for expressions for when you actually start working on them, but here's one that I found very helpful when I heard it: Draw heads, not faces. Yes, it takes longer, and you have to deal with getting the head shape right as well as the expression, which might seem like a pointless bother when you're working on expressions, but it really does help. You might end up making the face and the expression flat if you don't have a head to put it on, and if you draw too many headless faces, you'll learn how to do those well but when it comes to drawing a real head, it might end up looking really weird, like the face was just plastered on rather than being part of the head.


Edit, because Thanqol is a ninja: I really like that most recent drawing. Experimenting with different heights and body types is always good. And yes, even though these pictures are sketchy and such, they're great practice.

[Thanqol]

You two both make convincing and also true arguments. Hmm. I've got a four week long pre-college art program thing in the summer, in which I will be doing art but I probably won't have any means to post any of it, so I'd
probably have to put the thread on hold for about a month, which is the main thing holding me back.

Honestly, though, this sort of thing would be really good for me. What got me to make real writing progress was the "700 words a day or shame list" that my writing group did a while back, in which everyone who participated had to report writing at least 700 words each day or be on that day's List of Shame. I was the only one to never be on the List of Shame, and I've never been more productive. So doing something similar with art is really what I need to stop being lazy and actually do art. The idea of making a thread like this terrifies me, because I hate all my art with a passion and hate showing it to people, because I'm always convinced that everyone will think I'm a terrible artist, but that's a fear that I need to face and get over, so that's another way that a thread like this would help. Anyway, I'll stop blabbing about myself.

Yeah, there are days - like today - when I'd almost prefer not to do a picture at all instead of the barely cogent rubbish I can produce with the time and brainpower reserves available.

But if I do a bad picture, the guilt of it will make me spend the entire next day thinking about what I can do to be better. And that's super motivation to do better. If you have to keep moving no matter what the mind starts to focus on how to do well rather than if it wants to do it at all. It's a great psychological trick.

Good luck, though, whatever you decide to do :smallsmile:


Hmm, yeah, that could make things a bit trickier. There might be drawing sites that have models wearing tight yoga clothing and such? I haven't really looked, but I'd think there'd be something like that somewhere.

Yeah, I've been making do primarily by looking at people who don't wear much clothing as part of their profession; martial artists, athletes, surfers, wrestlers, that kinda thing. I could model off drawings but we all know why that's sub-optimal.


The practice pictures are looking good. One thing that I'd advise though, if you aren't already doing it, is trying to find where the subject is placing most of their weight. Most people stand with more weight on one foot or the other, or have their center of gravity off-center in some other way, and learning how to draw that can really help with making poses look less stiff, I've found.

Oh, great point, and a basic one I've completely forgotten.


Also, I think I've already posted this (http://foervraengd.deviantart.com/art/UNDERSTANDING-ANATOMY-part-I-220251993?q=boost%3Apopular%20Anatomy&qo=25) series of tutorials? If I haven't for whatever reason, here it is.

Thanks! It's always good to go back to tutorials even if you've looked at them once before.


Working on expressions next sounds like a good idea. You may need to devote more than a week to it, though, or maybe do something like the thing I suggested with the anatomy practice, and just quickly sketch one face every day.

Oh absolutely needs more than a week, especially a super busy week like next one - we're hitting finals time which is why everything recently has been so rubbish. But a week is a good start.


I'll probably have more tips for expressions for when you actually start working on them, but here's one that I found very helpful when I heard it: Draw heads, not faces. Yes, it takes longer, and you have to deal with getting the head shape right as well as the expression, which might seem like a pointless bother when you're working on expressions, but it really does help. You might end up making the face and the expression flat if you don't have a head to put it on, and if you draw too many headless faces, you'll learn how to do those well but when it comes to drawing a real head, it might end up looking really weird, like the face was just plastered on rather than being part of the head.

Will do!


Edit, because Thanqol is a ninja: I really like that most recent drawing. Experimenting with different heights and body types is always good. And yes, even though these pictures are sketchy and such, they're great practice.

Thanks! :smallsmile:

Day 374: Goldfish'd

Not good at all but I completely failed my time management for the day. Feeling the pressure right now, but I should be out of the worst of it by the end of the week. Maybe something more later if I finish this essay in time.

Links (http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2384/day374q.jpg)

Time: 15 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/KSRF3slguhI): Men In Black

[SiuiS]

Again, it's something I've been consciously working towards in a lot of ways. But it's still a bit of an end boss challenge.

I divide days into "Experimentation" and "Application" days. The experimentation days all add up when it comes time for an Application.

Makes sense.


I feel like the majority of this is nonsense. The process of typing up a post to explain what you learned each day forces you to reflect on what you've just done.

I know from experience that I'd learn how to reformat thoughts into words you understand, but I assure you a daily thread would be more about my in articulate English skill than the art. Almost.

Let you in on a secret though. Tomorrow, I'd I can get my arse up, I'm finding my old tablet, and skimming Thanqolthread 1 for tutorials and advice. Because diving in is worth a shot.

I'm probably going to hate you so bad.


Day 373: With Poise; With Anger

A basic exercise - a bunch of characters of differing heights at alternately foreground/background positions. I feel like it was a significant success.

This has been a great experiment and a great week for learning. I wouldn't want to continue it much further without a break, but even though the majority of these pictures have been extremely sketchy and not great to look at they're going to help me a lot when it comes time for Application later.

Links (http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5946/day373.jpg)

Time: 35 Minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/bTbHtioKRXI): Nightfall

Marked improvement! Gent on the far right has no support though.


Yeah, there are days - like today - when I'd almost prefer not to do a picture at all instead of the barely cogent rubbish I can produce with the time and brainpower reserves available.

But if I do a bad picture, the guilt of it will make me spend the entire next day thinking about what I can do to be better. And that's super motivation to do better. If you have to keep moving no matter what the mind starts to focus on how to do well rather than if it wants to do it at all. It's a great psychological trick.

Good luck, though, whatever you decide to do :smallsmile:


*jots down*

[/quote]
Yeah, I've been making do primarily by looking at people who don't wear much clothing as part of their profession; martial artists, athletes, surfers, wrestlers, that kinda thing. I could model off drawings but we all know why that's sub-optimal.[/quote]

Yoga, Pilates and Alternate Spirituality magazines. Magazines are a good source, as are catalogues. Just try not to feel dirty, sketching women in lingerie :smallwink:



Day 374: Goldfish'd

Not good at all but I completely failed my time management for the day. Feeling the pressure right now, but I should be out of the worst of it by the end of the week. Maybe something more later if I finish this essay in time.

Links (http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2384/day374q.jpg)

Time: 15 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/KSRF3slguhI): Men In Black

Interesting. I finally get what you're doing with those panels. It's not quite what I would have thought; very organic looking.

[Thanqol]

I know from experience that I'd learn how to reformat thoughts into words you understand, but I assure you a daily thread would be more about my in articulate English skill than the art. Almost.

Let you in on a secret though. Tomorrow, I'd I can get my arse up, I'm finding my old tablet, and skimming Thanqolthread 1 for tutorials and advice. Because diving in is worth a shot.

I'm probably going to hate you so bad.

You are. But then there are those days - like today - where the picture I draw is the highlight of the entire day.


Marked improvement! Gent on the far right has no support though.

Reference image had him leaning on his spear which I chose not to sketch in.


Yoga, Pilates and Alternate Spirituality magazines. Magazines are a good source, as are catalogues. Just try not to feel dirty, sketching women in lingerie :smallwink:

Will do.


Interesting. I finally get what you're doing with those panels. It's not quite what I would have thought; very organic looking.

All part of dem tutorials.

Day 375: Grapes Of Mild Bemusement

For Story Time. I'm a man of my worrrrrrrd.

In some ways I resent painting because of how fun it is, making everything else seem like work in comparison.

A touch clumsy, but I cut myself off before precision work to keep big picture focus.

Links (http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/1134/day375.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/YbMNjEX6tKM): The Walk

[Sean Mirrsen]

Day 375: Grapes Of Mild Bemusement

For Story Time. I'm a man of my worrrrrrrd.

In some ways I resent painting because of how fun it is, making everything else seem like work in comparison.

A touch clumsy, but I cut myself off before precision work to keep big picture focus.

Links (http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/1134/day375.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/YbMNjEX6tKM): The WalkLots of nicely shaded... balls. :smallamused:

Like a custom protein molecule gone haywire.

Though besides looking only moderately like actual grapes, the pic looks good. The grapes stand out, both through color and the sort of depth-of-field effect you got there, so it's pretty nice, and just pretty. :smallsmile:

[Story Time]

Day 375: Grapes Of Mild Bemusement

...they really do look like grapes. There is a consistent light source and a generally consistent shading based on that light source. That was part of the reason for the exercise. But the piece itself, as art, is very nice. I appreciate it. Thank you, Thanqol.

[Thanqol]

Lots of nicely shaded... balls. :smallamused:

Like a custom protein molecule gone haywire.

That's what she... said?


Though besides looking only moderately like actual grapes, the pic looks good. The grapes stand out, both through color and the sort of depth-of-field effect you got there, so it's pretty nice, and just pretty. :smallsmile:

Good good. Good-good-good.


...they really do look like grapes. There is a consistent light source and a generally consistent shading based on that light source. That was part of the reason for the exercise. But the piece itself, as art, is very nice. I appreciate it. Thank you, Thanqol.

Always welcome :smallsmile:

Day 376: I can hardly express...

Ah thank goodness, today I learned the most valuable thing you can possibly learn for drawing three dimensional heads. Indicated in the picture.

And starting on expressions! Hmmm~ this is going to be a tough one, I can tell that from the outset. One of those things that only long, long practise and study can get consistent. I'm looking forwards to it, though, because I'm tired of slack-jawed generic expressions and the Determined Stare as being the only two moves in my repertoire. What makes the really fun artists, in my eyes, is having lots of very vibrantly expressive characters. It's an essential part of character design, which is still my overall top goal.

I think I'm going to change up a few things for my sketching process in the days ahead and as I move out of finals. Firstly, one unique expression and one body sketch are going to be permanent additions to the schedule. Secondly, I'm thinking I might start looking at the Team Fortress 2 characters as special case studies that I'll go through in detail. They all have enormously expressive faces and body shapes, and I think if I can get the nine of them down then I'll have a pretty good conceptual base to do other characters.

Finally, this sketching is really hard to do in long sustained bursts like I have been doing because it's just kind of tedious. Instead, I'm going to endeavour to have SAI open all the time and doodle in between other things rather than having sit down and grind sessions while I'm on sketchy conceptual stuff like this.

If anyone has anything to help me with expressions, I'd love to hear it. The Lackadaisy tutorial has been an astoundingly useful place to start, got any more?

Links (http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1445/day376.jpg)

Time: 35 minutes
Music (http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1445/day376.jpg): Run Boy Run (seriously, watch this)

[the_druid_droid]

If anyone has anything to help me with expressions, I'd love to hear it. The Lackadaisy tutorial has been an astoundingly useful place to start, got any more?

Links (http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1445/day376.jpg)

Time: 35 minutes
Music (http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1445/day376.jpg): Run Boy Run (seriously, watch this)

If you haven't yet, I'd suggest following the link on the last page for the dA anatomy tutorial. There's a set of links at the bottom of that page labelled "Manga to Realistic" which is mostly concerned with drawing realistic faces, assuming a cartoon-style starting point for most incoming artists. Although I don't really draw much in a manga style, the tips are pretty generically useful, and one of the later tutorials goes specifically into how the face moves in different facial expressions. There was also a neat section on thinking about how to draw different ethnicities, to break out of the Caucasian/Asian box lots of people can get stuck in.

I would link the page directly, but I'm at work and can't go link-hopping just yet >.>

Oh, also the grammar is a bit dodgy, but I think that's because the artist is ESL; the pictures tell most of the story anyway. Thought I should warn you, since I didn't know if that would trigger any of your writer buttons.

[Silviya]

Firstly, one unique expression and one body sketch are going to be permanent additions to the schedule.

This is a good idea.


Finally, this sketching is really hard to do in long sustained bursts like I have been doing because it's just kind of tedious. Instead, I'm going to endeavour to have SAI open all the time and doodle in between other things rather than having sit down and grind sessions while I'm on sketchy conceptual stuff like this.

This also sounds like a good idea. Keeping art fun and not so much of a chore is important.


If anyone has anything to help me with expressions, I'd love to hear it. The Lackadaisy tutorial has been an astoundingly useful place to start, got any more?

Hmm, tutorials. I think I've got some expression related tutorials somewhere, but I can't seem to find them at the moment. I'll keep looking and post them when I find them.

Some general advice that I have: I recently started doing some Babylon 5 fanart for practice, working from screenshots. I've found that this is a great way to practice expressions, as it forces me to really look at what makes an expression, and I end up drawing much more complicated and realistic expressions than just plain happiness or anger or sadness etc., and I've learned a lot about how to combine different emotions without them clashing with each other.
I'd advise picking a live action TV show that you watch, finding some screen shots of some of the characters' faces (preferably more expressive ones), and draw those. You can just sketch them, or you can go into full detail. Sketching has the advantage of being a lot quicker, but you'll learn more from doing detailed drawings.



If you haven't yet, I'd suggest following the link on the last page for the dA anatomy tutorial. There's a set of links at the bottom of that page labelled "Manga to Realistic" which is mostly concerned with drawing realistic faces, assuming a cartoon-style starting point for most incoming artists. Although I don't really draw much in a manga style, the tips are pretty generically useful, and one of the later tutorials goes specifically into how the face moves in different facial expressions. There was also a neat section on thinking about how to draw different ethnicities, to break out of the Caucasian/Asian box lots of people can get stuck in.

I would link the page directly, but I'm at work and can't go link-hopping just yet >.>

Oh, also the grammar is a bit dodgy, but I think that's because the artist is ESL; the pictures tell most of the story anyway. Thought I should warn you, since I didn't know if that would trigger any of your writer buttons.

Here. (http://foervraengd.deviantart.com/art/MANGA-to-REALISTIC-PART-ONE-215317699) I haven't read it because I don't do manga (though maybe I should read it, given what The Druid Droid said about it), but I assume this is the tutorial you're talking about?

[TheAmishPirate]

*swoops in through a window*

Is this the right one? I swear, if I got another warehouse full of thugs-oh, wait, there's art over there. Confirmed art, we've got the right thread.

To those of you who don't frequent the ponythread, I recently won a Theme Week from Thanqol. Basically, I pick a theme, he has to use that theme in his art for a week. So after mulling over ideas, I decided that, while interesting philosophical musings would no doubt turn out some interesting pictures, it just lacked that element of me-ness. Like, I wanted a bit more of myself in whatever theme I picked,

So! I decided on a different theme: Your theme is to draw my character from the year-long campaign I just finished.

Basic Information
Name: Ssalik Thurach
Sex: Male
Race: Kobold
Alignment: CN
Class: Sorceror/Shadowcaster

Visual Description
Ssalik is short and wiry, even by Kobold standards, coming up to a whopping two feet in height. His scales are a mix of orange and rusty red-brown. On his chest is a branding of Draconic script, a brand he makes no active effort to hide. Several more burn marks sloppily connect points on the letters, in an attempt to make a fancy-looking design. To protect against the sunlight, he constantly wears a pair of Sundark Goggles; two blackened pieces of glass attached to a headband to make a crude set of sunglasses. In addition to giving him a nice charisma bonus, he's never seen without his cloak.

Ssalik came into possession of an artifact that he uses as his main weapon, and always has on his person. It is capable of opening doors, portals, even houses cleanly split and open up. Not to mention it can generate a portal between two locations. It even functions as a sword and a ranged weapon, shooting out beams of light at enemies. And, because my DM is a silly, silly lady, it happens to look like a key. So, basically, it's a Keyblade.

You're welcome to change its design, or you can try to get a design that fits the setting, or you may even decide to run with the silliness. I just supply the theme here, after all. Also, I don't expect you to write in Draconic on his chest, especially seeing how that language hasn't actually ever had a defined script.

Backstory
Ssalik was born and raised a true Kobold. In his tribe, he was the trader between them and the nearby desert city. He took great pleasure in weaseling out great deals and scamming hapless stooges from the other races. When he showed talent for sorcery, his life was set. He’d grow to become a powerful sorcerer (one of the best, obviously), and bring his tribe to new heights of glory. He jumped at the chance to volunteer for a special Kobold ritual, one that would help a sorcerer get in touch with their draconic blood and improve their magics. Only, once he completed the ritual, instead of improving his arcane abilities, he gained a shadow magic spell. To say this did not go over well with the elders of the tribe was an understatement. Sorcery was their birthright, handed down to them from the dragons themselves, and this new magic was nothing short of blasphemy. Ssalik tried to argue that perhaps this magic could be used to help the tribe, but they would hear none of it. They branded him with the draconic words “Not of the dragon” and banished him in disgrace.

Now, to Ssalik, this was clearly a mistake. A temporary setback. He could fix this. But if this mark on his chest stayed, then other Kobolds might get the wrong idea. And he couldn’t have that. So, one night, when he had a good, hot campfire going, he took his pickaxe and added a few marks of his own. The next day, he was back on the road, heading out to find answers, and correct his tribe’s error.

Character Description
Ssalik is a two-foot tall Kobold with an eight-foot tall ego. Difficulties are only minor setbacks, mistakes are things he hasn’t yet fixed, and he doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind. Though, being an excellent strategist (with a bit of a trickster streak), expert mage, and having an impeccable sense of style, a little insufferability is a small price to pay. He holds a near-fanatical devotion for his Kobold upbringing. He generally dislikes and distrusts other races, often refusing their aid and assistance. Those he’s forced to work with he has little patience for, often considering them bungling idiots until proven otherwise. Dragons are held in near-defic regard. The best way to get him to shut up is stick a dragon in a room; he’ll be too busy licking their boots to say much. And even in exile, he performs his tribe’s morning rituals without fail. The one thing he wants in the world is to be re-accepted by his tribe.

Further character musings
Denial defines Ssalik. It’s his response to almost anything. He’s shown kindness? It’s not genuine, it’s all just a ploy. His plans fail? Just a minor setback, he’ll fix it. He never manages to get past that stage of emotion, no matter how bad things get. And, as corny as it sounds, deep down he just wants to be accepted. He wants his tribe to think he’s great, so he believes and acts like he’s great. He wants his tribe to see him as a good Kobold, so he makes sure to do Kobold-y things. Because he fears rejection, he pushes others away and puts on airs. But by pushing them away and always putting on acts, he never gets the acceptance he truly wants. An interesting little paradox.

The best way to get him to do something important is to have somebody else try to do it. When he sees them messing it up, he'll smack them out of the way and take the helm himself to do it "properly". His tolerance for failure is incredibly low.

And, for further material, I've typed up a bunch of stories from the campaign, as well as a description of the campaign world. They aren't my best writing, but they get the job done.

Story Time! (https://docs.google.com/document/d/13zexFXILq3rj2OWLykn_Pho6kOs_XMCjPnjBdcdH70M/edit)

Hopefully, I aimed my boon precisely enough. We went through a lot of crazy stuff over the past year, he and I, so if you need more examples of certain traits, or if I just wasn't clear on something, let me know, there's probably a story for that. I just hope I made the character clear, I could write and re-write stuff for a week on this guy.

[Thanqol]

If you haven't yet, I'd suggest following the link on the last page for the dA anatomy tutorial. There's a set of links at the bottom of that page labelled "Manga to Realistic" which is mostly concerned with drawing realistic faces, assuming a cartoon-style starting point for most incoming artists. Although I don't really draw much in a manga style, the tips are pretty generically useful, and one of the later tutorials goes specifically into how the face moves in different facial expressions. There was also a neat section on thinking about how to draw different ethnicities, to break out of the Caucasian/Asian box lots of people can get stuck in.

I would link the page directly, but I'm at work and can't go link-hopping just yet >.>

Oh, also the grammar is a bit dodgy, but I think that's because the artist is ESL; the pictures tell most of the story anyway. Thought I should warn you, since I didn't know if that would trigger any of your writer buttons.

Cool-cool, will give it a look.


Hmm, tutorials. I think I've got some expression related tutorials somewhere, but I can't seem to find them at the moment. I'll keep looking and post them when I find them.

Some general advice that I have: I recently started doing some Babylon 5 fanart for practice, working from screenshots. I've found that this is a great way to practice expressions, as it forces me to really look at what makes an expression, and I end up drawing much more complicated and realistic expressions than just plain happiness or anger or sadness etc., and I've learned a lot about how to combine different emotions without them clashing with each other.
I'd advise picking a live action TV show that you watch, finding some screen shots of some of the characters' faces (preferably more expressive ones), and draw those. You can just sketch them, or you can go into full detail. Sketching has the advantage of being a lot quicker, but you'll learn more from doing detailed drawings.

Screenshots! A great idea! I had a bit of a tough time today trying to sketch from life because people move around a lot. I had a lot of success in the food court, though.


Here. (http://foervraengd.deviantart.com/art/MANGA-to-REALISTIC-PART-ONE-215317699) I haven't read it because I don't do manga (though maybe I should read it, given what The Druid Droid said about it), but I assume this is the tutorial you're talking about?

Cool, thanks!


*swoops in through a window*

Is this the right one? I swear, if I got another warehouse full of thugs-oh, wait, there's art over there. Confirmed art, we've got the right thread.

To those of you who don't frequent the ponythread, I recently won a Theme Week from Thanqol. Basically, I pick a theme, he has to use that theme in his art for a week. So after mulling over ideas, I decided that, while interesting philosophical musings would no doubt turn out some interesting pictures, it just lacked that element of me-ness. Like, I wanted a bit more of myself in whatever theme I picked,

So! I decided on a different theme: Your theme is to draw my character from the year-long campaign I just finished.

Since I have just started expressions, I'll get to this at the start of next week most likely :smallsmile:

Day 377: NotBoat

God, I love Mage. It's the best thing ever.

Also Jayden has a new least favourite Arcanum. It is Fate. It makes no sense and is dumb. She also almost accidentally Awakened the entire city this session. And by Awakened the entire city of LA, she means threw the entire city into the Abyss in the idea that some of the people would have hit the other side.

The legit only reason she stopped was because she got a nosebleed. True story.

Also that's not a boat. It's only almost a boat.

Links (http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3734/img0002ov.jpg)

Time: 1 hour?
Music (http://youtu.be/kDPOu0Tmlv4): Selling the News

[the_druid_droid]

Here. (http://foervraengd.deviantart.com/art/MANGA-to-REALISTIC-PART-ONE-215317699) I haven't read it because I don't do manga (though maybe I should read it, given what The Druid Droid said about it), but I assume this is the tutorial you're talking about?

Yep, that's the one, and I considered skipping it too because I don't really draw manga either. But I got bored, and started leafing through it; turns out, the manga stuff comes in mostly incidentally and you can get 99% of the benefit of it even if you completely ignore that.

[TheAmishPirate]

Since I have just started expressions, I'll get to this at the start of next week most likely :smallsmile:

No worries. Sadly, it seems you already found the Lackadaisy expressions tutorial, so there goes the sum of my knowledge on the matter.


Also that's not a boat. It's only almost a boat.

Links (http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3734/img0002ov.jpg)

Time: 1 hour?
Music (http://youtu.be/kDPOu0Tmlv4): Selling the News

I...see? I think? Maybe I should say I almost see?

I'm not entirely sure if I should be saying anything about this, seeing how it's supposed to be almost a boat, and the features may simple be inherent to an almost-boat.

[Thanqol]

Day 378: This Is Your Fault

Okay, okay, I'm finally watching Babylon 5. It cut into my drawtime this evening so you get sketches.

Links (http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/1149/img0002qg.jpg)

Time: Periodic sketching
Music (http://youtu.be/DqiRsxLZkbc): Da Magics

[Silviya]

Day 378: This Is Your Fault

Okay, okay, I'm finally watching Babylon 5. It cut into my drawtime this evening so you get sketches.

Links (http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/1149/img0002qg.jpg)

Time: Periodic sketching
Music (http://youtu.be/DqiRsxLZkbc): Da Magics

Yes, Babylon 5! Prepare for laughtears (the official word for how one reacts to B5, according to Tumblr). Also, nice sketches.


On the topic of learning expressions from screenshots, here (http://www.jumpnow.de/p/index.php) is an archive of B5 screenshots, if you're interested, sorted by episode so that you can avoid spoilers. I've found drawing Londo in particular to be really good for practicing complex expressions, particularly in some of the later seasons, since he tends to have at least three different expressions at once.

Also, the way I've found to capture the expressions the best is to paint them, not draw them, using the technique that you call pure paints. I find it a lot more fun than trying to get the face right with just lines, and it makes you think more about the structure and shape of the face, rather than just what lines are in it. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9762/londo1jpg.jpg

Ignore his outfit, I never really bothered to finish it.

I generally take 2-3 hours on these, over the course of a couple of days, so you probably won't be able to go into a ton of detail, but I do think that it could be good for you to try out.

[Thanqol]

Yes, Babylon 5! Prepare for laughtears (the official word for how one reacts to B5, according to Tumblr). Also, nice sketches.


On the topic of learning expressions from screenshots, here (http://www.jumpnow.de/p/index.php) is an archive of B5 screenshots, if you're interested, sorted by episode so that you can avoid spoilers. I've found drawing Londo in particular to be really good for practicing complex expressions, particularly in some of the later seasons, since he tends to have at least three different expressions at once.

Ha! Thanks, I'll make good use of this.

So far the series isn't half bad, even if the special effects look like they screencapped a game of Galactic Civilisations.


Also, the way I've found to capture the expressions the best is to paint them, not draw them, using the technique that you call pure paints. I find it a lot more fun than trying to get the face right with just lines, and it makes you think more about the structure and shape of the face, rather than just what lines are in it. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9762/londo1jpg.jpg

Ignore his outfit, I never really bothered to finish it.

I generally take 2-3 hours on these, over the course of a couple of days, so you probably won't be able to go into a ton of detail, but I do think that it could be good for you to try out.

I'll try one right now!

Day 379: Art Not Guaranteed

Quite like how this turned out.

Okay, a total dodge of the expressions thing but it had to be done. I've always loved facelessness. When I was a kid, Soundwave and Optimus Prime were best transformers because they didn't have mouths, they just had visor things. Interesting to reflect back on how that has rung true for me throughout my life. That, plus the fact that this guy has the coolest voice, makes him best character.

Anyways, back to the schedule tomorrow. Tonight, more B5!

Links (http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/306/day379.jpg)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/jgKHimdfNrY): A Change of Seasons

[Silviya]

So far the series isn't half bad, even if the special effects look like they screencapped a game of Galactic Civilisations.

Season one is decent, but it's the later seasons where it really becomes amazing (mid season two did it for me. Mainly the episode "The Coming of Shadows"). It also starts to pick up a little over halfway through season one, with the 13th episode, "Signs and Portents." You may have heard this about a hundred times before, because it's what basically every B5 fan tells newcomers to the show.

And yeah, the special effects are pretty bad, though by the end of the series I didn't mind them at all. It was a combination of them getting better and me getting used to them, I think.



Day 379: Art Not Guaranteed

Quite like how this turned out.

Okay, a total dodge of the expressions thing but it had to be done. I've always loved facelessness. When I was a kid, Soundwave and Optimus Prime were best transformers because they didn't have mouths, they just had visor things. Interesting to reflect back on how that has rung true for me throughout my life. That, plus the fact that this guy has the coolest voice, makes him best character.

Anyways, back to the schedule tomorrow. Tonight, more B5!

Links (http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/306/day379.jpg)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/jgKHimdfNrY): A Change of Seasons

Nice. The shading worked out really well in this one. Even if it doesn't help with expressions, it does help with colors and lighting and textures and such. And I like how you did the background, particularly the subtle texture on the walls.
And Kosh is awesome. I really hadn't expected him to get any character development or be anything other than a typical Vorlon, but I was very wrong. I think that Kosh and Londo were my two favorite characters. But I also love G'kar and Vir and Ivanova and Delenn. There are a lot of awesome characters in that show.

[Thanqol]

Season one is decent, but it's the later seasons where it really becomes amazing (mid season two did it for me. Mainly the episode "The Coming of Shadows"). It also starts to pick up a little over halfway through season one, with the 13th episode, "Signs and Portents." You may have heard this about a hundred times before, because it's what basically every B5 fan tells newcomers to the show.

I have. I think I got told to start in season 2 and watch S1 last, which I disregarded. I feel like the show should be able to stand on it's own merits. So far it mostly has.


And yeah, the special effects are pretty bad, though by the end of the series I didn't mind them at all. It was a combination of them getting better and me getting used to them, I think.

I've been spoiled by Battlestar Galactica.



Nice. The shading worked out really well in this one. Even if it doesn't help with expressions, it does help with colors and lighting and textures and such. And I like how you did the background, particularly the subtle texture on the walls.

I'm finding in general, though notably with this picture, that single coloured paintings look wrong and flat. It's worth splashing down a variety of random colours across a painting and blurring it until it's just a hint purely for the little edge of texture it gives you.


And Kosh is awesome. I really hadn't expected him to get any character development or be anything other than a typical Vorlon, but I was very wrong. I think that Kosh and Londo were my two favorite characters. But I also love G'kar and Vir and Ivanova and Delenn. There are a lot of awesome characters in that show.

Lookin' forwards to it!

Day 380: Sketch.jpg

Observing a bit of an art funk occurring. Heh, interestingly the times when I feel the least encouraged about drawing are the times when I do the least drawing. Still, break has started so hopefully I'll break the mood soon.

It's like my thoughts are all flowing upstream. Need to absorb, reflect, process.

Links (http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4272/img0002ym.jpg)

Time: Prolonged sketching
Music (http://youtu.be/x05BUoXCXjM): Deep Forest

[PrinceAquilaDei]

Music (http://youtu.be/x05BUoXCXjM): Deep Forest

Pardon me for focusing on entirely the wrong things, but do you seriously listen to Deep Forest? How long has this been happening? :D

[Thanqol]

Pardon me for focusing on entirely the wrong things, but do you seriously listen to Deep Forest? How long has this been happening? :D

Like, 11 years?

[Thanqol]

Day 381: Protector

Some angels beat you to death with a 2x4.

Phoe's character for Changeling. Going to colour this tomorrow!

Links (http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9535/day381.jpg)

Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/P9M5Zhtw2wc): Dream

[Silviya]

I have. I think I got told to start in season 2 and watch S1 last, which I disregarded. I feel like the show should be able to stand on it's own merits. So far it mostly has.

I'm very glad that you disregarded that advice. I know that some people think that that's the best way to watch it, but I enjoyed season one, it just isn't as awesome as the rest of the series. I personally think that it's absolutely necessary to watch season one, and I know that I would have enjoyed the later seasons less without having seen it.



I'm finding in general, though notably with this picture, that single coloured paintings look wrong and flat. It's worth splashing down a variety of random colours across a painting and blurring it until it's just a hint purely for the little edge of texture it gives you.

This is a very important thing to learn if you want to make your art realistic. This is why I try to never use the dodge and burn tools, since they just darken or lighten the colors, when more realistic highlights and shadows change around the saturation and the tone of the colors, not just how light or dark a color is. One of the big rules of art is that if you're going to darken a color, don't just do it by adding black, and if you're going to lighten a color, don't just add white.

That kind of strayed off of what the original point was, though. Which is that yes, art looks flat and boring and unrealistic if it's all one color, just at different values. Something that you should be aware of for more detailed art pieces is that light reflects off of objects onto their surroundings, which changes the color of the surroundings. If you put a bright red box into a blue room, there'd be a bit of red on the walls of the room. Similarly, if you had a character wearing a green scarf, a little bit of green would reflect off of the scarf onto the edge of their chin, if the light was going in the right direction. This is easy to overdue, and you probably won't want to do this for quicker, simpler color jobs, but just a little hint of the surrounding color can add a lot to the realism of a piece.



Day 381: Protector

Some angels beat you to death with a 2x4.

Phoe's character for Changeling. Going to colour this tomorrow!

Links (http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9535/day381.jpg)

Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/P9M5Zhtw2wc): Dream

This looks really cool. I like her expression and attitude, and her hair looks nice. The only things that jump out at me as wrong is her left shoulder, which shouldn't stick out that much given the angle that she's turned at, and her right forearm, which looks a bit too long. Other than that, looks good. I'm looking forward to seeing this colored.

[Thanqol]

I'm very glad that you disregarded that advice. I know that some people think that that's the best way to watch it, but I enjoyed season one, it just isn't as awesome as the rest of the series. I personally think that it's absolutely necessary to watch season one, and I know that I would have enjoyed the later seasons less without having seen it.

*Nod* I find that most advice to watch shows out of order are poorly thought through. Often a lot of concepts introduced early are important later, even if the show only 'got good' later, thus leaving a new entrant lost.



This is a very important thing to learn if you want to make your art realistic. This is why I try to never use the dodge and burn tools, since they just darken or lighten the colors, when more realistic highlights and shadows change around the saturation and the tone of the colors, not just how light or dark a color is. One of the big rules of art is that if you're going to darken a color, don't just do it by adding black, and if you're going to lighten a color, don't just add white.

That kind of strayed off of what the original point was, though. Which is that yes, art looks flat and boring and unrealistic if it's all one color, just at different values. Something that you should be aware of for more detailed art pieces is that light reflects off of objects onto their surroundings, which changes the color of the surroundings. If you put a bright red box into a blue room, there'd be a bit of red on the walls of the room. Similarly, if you had a character wearing a green scarf, a little bit of green would reflect off of the scarf onto the edge of their chin, if the light was going in the right direction. This is easy to overdue, and you probably won't want to do this for quicker, simpler color jobs, but just a little hint of the surrounding color can add a lot to the realism of a piece.

This was super double helpful for making that concept click. and I'm really glad you took the time to say it. Thank you. :smallsmile:


This looks really cool. I like her expression and attitude, and her hair looks nice. The only things that jump out at me as wrong is her left shoulder, which shouldn't stick out that much given the angle that she's turned at, and her right forearm, which looks a bit too long. Other than that, looks good. I'm looking forward to seeing this colored.

Ah, that left shoulder! I had it right the first time and then meddled with it. Thanks for pointing that out. Will colour it tomorrow, had a Day.

Day 382: It's A-Me

Did you know I fought in the Console Wars? Diehard Nintendo fanboy. It's so inherent to my being I automatically dismiss any title on any other console out of hand. The scars run deep and Sony will never be forgiven.

Also interestingly, I never actually meaningfully played a Mario game. The Zelda series was sublime, the Metroid Prime arc a masterpiece, but I never actually touched on the flagship product.

Maybe it's because the man is terrifying.

Links (http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/3431/day382.jpg)

Time: 20 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/zbzYgAGFqJo): Love Is In Bloom (JayB's Alicorn Trance Remix)

[Thanqol]

Day 383: A Cache of Memories

Step off the schedule because today was poorly scheduled (but on the plus side, I should finally be caught up with everything - damn you Day9), and because I found a trove of wonderful photographs I took last Christmas. Some of those just have amazing composition and demand to be drawn.

And I think I might go out with the camera to get more pictures like this, because finding something cool and unique like this just lying around for me to model off would be super cool.

Model (http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6928/img0028np.jpg)
Sketch (http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5851/day383.jpg)

Time: 25 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/BTrhy30hPDM): No Retreating

EDIT: Handy explain guide thing (http://swaetshrit.tumblr.com/post/24394100398/mini-sai-guide-blending-color-blending-dilution)I found just now!

[Thanqol]

HA HA! Figured out custom SAI brushes! AHAHAHAHAH! It's all functional! This is gonna be great!

Find here (http://swaetshrit.tumblr.com/faq).

[Zorg]

Yay for Darling Harbour! :smallbiggrin:

Perspective is a bit off on the water feature, and thus the footpath (note the distance between the top of the feature and the far pedestrian) and the short side of the pillar. The line of the back retaining walls don't square up with each other either.

All your figures (here and earlier) are coming together, though often seem stiff in their poses - could just be lack of shading + construction lines making them seem flat rather than the pose itself though.
Most of the issues are fairly minor. For instance the girl with the staff (previous thread? long blonde hair) - her right-hand thumb is curled right over in a wide grip, but that would be really uncomfortable with something of that diametre. The thumb only really curls like that when gripping something narrow, like when in a fist.
Also with her movement her hair would have a different line as in its current incarnation it doesn't seem to interact with her backpack and (if she's spinning around) curve around her body or (if she's just whipping her head) either not be visible or just the tip.
Still a great pic and good to see your work improving :smallsmile:

[Thanqol]

"As for worrying about whether something is 'your style', the answer to that one is easy. It only counts as your style if you have the skill to do it any way you want, but chose this way." - Anonymous


Yay for Darling Harbour! :smallbiggrin:

Good catch ^^


Perspective is a bit off on the water feature, and thus the footpath (note the distance between the top of the feature and the far pedestrian) and the short side of the pillar. The line of the back retaining walls don't square up with each other either.

*Nod nod*


All your figures (here and earlier) are coming together, though often seem stiff in their poses - could just be lack of shading + construction lines making them seem flat rather than the pose itself though.
Most of the issues are fairly minor. For instance the girl with the staff (previous thread? long blonde hair) - her right-hand thumb is curled right over in a wide grip, but that would be really uncomfortable with something of that diametre. The thumb only really curls like that when gripping something narrow, like when in a fist.
Also with her movement her hair would have a different line as in its current incarnation it doesn't seem to interact with her backpack and (if she's spinning around) curve around her body or (if she's just whipping her head) either not be visible or just the tip.
Still a great pic and good to see your work improving :smallsmile:

Thanks for the advice, that's helpful to know ^^

Day 384: Weapons Test Mrk. 2

I took the time today to try out all those custom brushes I acquired and get a feel for what my toolset looks like here. I'll do more sketching at tonight's game, but between this and all the art-related reading I've done over the last day or two I'm feeling pretty enthused!

Links (http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7739/day384.jpg) - Brushes
Links 2 (http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5050/day384a.jpg) Textures + Combinations

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://balloonparty.bandcamp.com/): Balloon Party

EDIT: Did about an hour of P&P sketching after this tonight, not bad - much more consistent than I'm used to - but not worth the bother of uploading. Be content that it happened.

[Thanqol]

Day 385: The Truth No Matter What

Transmetropolitan is sublime and Spider Jerusalem is an endless source of awesome expressions.

Trying out my new sketch brush, actually kind of like it.

Links (http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/2383/day385.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8vmaj75xzE): Aenema

[Thanqol]

Day 386: The World Needs More Bronies

Tryin' my new brushes. Discord tiem

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-368-306848111)

Time: 2 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/Z7tEQLH25wA): F' You (language)

[Thanqol]

Day 387: five dots in okkult

hey guys this i got told stephanie wasnt goth enoguh so did a redeskiugn.

the shadosw are powerd by blud

Links (http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/636/day387.jpg)

Time: 35 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/CdhqVtpR2ts): Going Under

DISCLAIMER: I am out from 9 to midnight tomorrow, so while I will get my sketch in at some point it's possible it won't be uploaded in time.

[Colonel Fedora]

Day 387: five dots in okkult

hey guys this i got told stephanie wasnt goff enoguh so did a redeskiugn.

the shadosw are powerd by blud



Fixed that for you. :smallwink:

By the way, I like your recent work with expressions, they really add life to your drawings.

[Thanqol]

Day 388: Morning

So sick. You're lucky you get this much. I can barely type. This is what willpower looks like.

Some morning Stephanie. Do not get that girl up before 4pm.

Links (http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/2177/day388.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/qhc1zToQonM): Super Biyatch

[Thanqol]

Day 389: Dragon Puppies

And we start on Amish's theme week. Starting off with a basic design sketch as well as a lot of reference study to get the hang of kobold anatomy. Amish, anything further to request or push towards or should I use this as the base?

Links (http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1448/day389.jpg)

Time: 40 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/gaWMFBFonQ4): Lost in the Everfree

EDIT: BABYLON 5 UPDATE

I'd been shipping TaliaXIvanova since S1 and I just hit the point in S3 where it became canon.

I feel inordinately happy about that.

[TheAmishPirate]

Day 389: Dragon Puppies

And we start on Amish's theme week. Starting off with a basic design sketch as well as a lot of reference study to get the hang of kobold anatomy. Amish, anything further to request or push towards or should I use this as the base?

Links (http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1448/day389.jpg)

Time: 40 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/gaWMFBFonQ4): Lost in the Everfree

Well, you've certainly got the posture down pat with the constantly bent knees. I don't see a tail, but I think it's just hidden behind him. Kobold tails can be on the short side. And you also made him good and cantankerous-looking, your work on expressions is really paying off. I can almost smell the disdain from here.

Two things though, one that's completely on me; he's actually a fairly young Kobold. I think it's a combination of the sketchiness and the scale-brows, but he looks really old here. That can be intentional on your part, and may in fact be hilarious to see fully realized, but I just wanted to make sure you were aware of that. The second is the shape of the snout/mouth. I've been trying to find a Kobold reference to match what I see in my head, and, admittedly, each picture has had a drastically different head shape. So take any and all advice I'm about to give with a grain of salt. Right now, it looks a bit more like a crocodile head than a draconic one. What you might try doing is narrowing the head the closer you get to the mouth. Shape that part of the head more like a sideways pyramid instead of a rectangular prism. You also might consider trying to add a sort-of overbite, like what you see on the dragon here (http://images.wikia.com/mlp/images/9/9d/Fluttershy_Confronting_Dragon_S1E07.png).

Also, the one with the head from the front looks a heck of a lot like Discord in his teenage years. Just sayin'.

[Silviya]

New brushes are always fun to play with. I remember when I discovered that I could download new brushes into Photoshop. My favorite is a sort of . . . elongated slanted rectangle-shaped brush (Kind of shaped like this symbol /. I'm sure there are better ways to describe it and I'm just too tired to think of them right now). If you find something like that for the program you're using (SAI, right?), definitely try it out. I know where to get it for Photoshop, but that doesn't really help for SAI.

Also . . .



EDIT: BABYLON 5 UPDATE

I'd been shipping TaliaXIvanova since S1 and I just hit the point in S3 where it became canon.

I feel inordinately happy about that.

Oh man, I remember how happy that made me. TaliaXIvanova is my favorite pairing in Babylon 5 and I really wanted them to get together, and I was SO HAPPY when they did.

[Thanqol]

New brushes are always fun to play with. I remember when I discovered that I could download new brushes into Photoshop. My favorite is a sort of . . . elongated slanted rectangle-shaped brush (Kind of shaped like this symbol /. I'm sure there are better ways to describe it and I'm just too tired to think of them right now). If you find something like that for the program you're using (SAI, right?), definitely try it out. I know where to get it for Photoshop, but that doesn't really help for SAI.

Also . . .

I'm currently using a square brush for paint-flatsing, which is actually doing quite well by me. I'm sure there's that shape there somewhere, will give it a try.



Oh man, I remember how happy that made me. TaliaXIvanova is my favorite pairing in Babylon 5 and I really wanted them to get together, and I was SO HAPPY when they did.

I love that kind of incidental romance that doesn't force itself on the story, but feels a natural part of it.


Well, you've certainly got the posture down pat with the constantly bent knees. I don't see a tail, but I think it's just hidden behind him. Kobold tails can be on the short side. And you also made him good and cantankerous-looking, your work on expressions is really paying off. I can almost smell the disdain from here.

Two things though, one that's completely on me; he's actually a fairly young Kobold. I think it's a combination of the sketchiness and the scale-brows, but he looks really old here. That can be intentional on your part, and may in fact be hilarious to see fully realized, but I just wanted to make sure you were aware of that. The second is the shape of the snout/mouth. I've been trying to find a Kobold reference to match what I see in my head, and, admittedly, each picture has had a drastically different head shape. So take any and all advice I'm about to give with a grain of salt. Right now, it looks a bit more like a crocodile head than a draconic one. What you might try doing is narrowing the head the closer you get to the mouth. Shape that part of the head more like a sideways pyramid instead of a rectangular prism. You also might consider trying to add a sort-of overbite, like what you see on the dragon here (http://images.wikia.com/mlp/images/9/9d/Fluttershy_Confronting_Dragon_S1E07.png).

Also, the one with the head from the front looks a heck of a lot like Discord in his teenage years. Just sayin'.

All very useful feedback, thank you.

Day 390: Fourbolding

Here's some variations to look over. Feel free to mix and match features from any of the sketches. Any of these more what you had in mind?

A: Aviator. Swept-back design, focused, triangles and curves
B: Hunter. Hooked and reptilian, lean and hungry. Hooks and jagged edges.
C: Dragon Tales. Adorable.
D: General. Long, poised and sleek. By far the most draconic.

Links (http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2106/day390.jpg)

Time: 45 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/aHjpOzsQ9YI): Crystallise

[TheAmishPirate]

All very useful feedback, thank you.

Day 390: Fourbolding

Here's some variations to look over. Feel free to mix and match features from any of the sketches. Any of these more what you had in mind?

A: Aviator. Swept-back design, focused, triangles and curves
B: Hunter. Hooked and reptilian, lean and hungry. Hooks and jagged edges.
C: Dragon Tales. Adorable.
D: General. Long, poised and sleek. By far the most draconic.

Links (http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2106/day390.jpg)

Time: 45 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/aHjpOzsQ9YI): Crystallise

Alright, going with my gut reactions on this one:

A is the absolute perfect head shape. While B and D certainly have the draconic look down, they fall more into the look of Kobolds that have bird-like shapes to their heads. A seems more like the dragon mutts that they are; primarily lizard-like, with enough draconic features to see the resemblance. That, and there's an intensity to that design that just screams Ssalik.

B has the best look for the "hair", a sort of rocky, jagged stubble. I never really saw Ssalik with something resembling hair like A's (though I bet my party would get a kick out of the mental image of a Kobold with long, flowing hair), and D's is a little too physically imposing. Ssalik's presence comes from his own force of personality, not his physical form.

C is adorable, and I will stop at nothing until I am giving that little dragon pup a hug.

[Thanqol]

Alright, going with my gut reactions on this one:

A is the absolute perfect head shape. While B and D certainly have the draconic look down, they fall more into the look of Kobolds that have bird-like shapes to their heads. A seems more like the dragon mutts that they are; primarily lizard-like, with enough draconic features to see the resemblance. That, and there's an intensity to that design that just screams Ssalik.

B has the best look for the "hair", a sort of rocky, jagged stubble. I never really saw Ssalik with something resembling hair like A's (though I bet my party would get a kick out of the mental image of a Kobold with long, flowing hair), and D's is a little too physically imposing. Ssalik's presence comes from his own force of personality, not his physical form.

C is adorable, and I will stop at nothing until I am giving that little dragon pup a hug.

Noted, filed, and now for something completely different:

Day 391: PonyDragonBold Tiem

Still avoiding colour because it's crunch time.

Links (http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/1023/day391.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/xPU8OAjjS4k): Kryptonite

[TheAmishPirate]

Noted, filed, and now for something completely different:

Day 391: PonyDragonBold Tiem

Still avoiding colour because it's crunch time.

Links (http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/1023/day391.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/xPU8OAjjS4k): Kryptonite

"Spike, you're the new Rainbow Dash."
"Awesome! I cast Magic Missile at the darkness!"
"What."
"It crits!"

I love it. :smallbiggrin:

But more to useful critiques: That left arm is just a little bit too long. The tail also seems to be going in odd direction, with respect to the cape fwoosh. The rest I can attribute to sketchiness, but those are the standouts. Judging by your theme last week, you're still putting your focus into expressions. And I can say that it's continuing to pay off. What we have here is an expression of pure anger, with all remnants of self-control long since obliterated. Something has been getting under his scales long enough, and the reckoning is here. This kobold will have blood tonight.

[Thanqol]

"Spike, you're the new Rainbow Dash."
"Awesome! I cast Magic Missile at the darkness!"
"What."
"It crits!"

I love it. :smallbiggrin:

But more to useful critiques: That left arm is just a little bit too long. The tail also seems to be going in odd direction, with respect to the cape fwoosh. The rest I can attribute to sketchiness, but those are the standouts. Judging by your theme last week, you're still putting your focus into expressions. And I can say that it's continuing to pay off. What we have here is an expression of pure anger, with all remnants of self-control long since obliterated. Something has been getting under his scales long enough, and the reckoning is here. This kobold will have blood tonight.

Yeah, that's stuff that's obvious when you point out but I completely lost track of. Easy fixes. Unfortunately...

Day 392: Intermission

I've got a test tomorrow.

Links (http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/4223/day392.jpg)

Time: 15 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/HZHZ7YTp0ZA): Battle for Canterlot

[TheAmishPirate]

Yeah, that's stuff that's obvious when you point out but I completely lost track of. Easy fixes. Unfortunately...

Day 392: Intermission

I've got a test tomorrow.

Links (http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/4223/day392.jpg)

Time: 15 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/HZHZ7YTp0ZA): Battle for Canterlot

Well, you seem to have regressed your progress on head shape, and it looks like you just gave up on the claws this time. I know I gave you free creative reign over the keyblade, but honestly? I don't think you're trying anymore on that front. That, or Australia has some messed-up keys. Also, I didn't think I would need to tell you what glasses were, but a top hat is most certainly not-

Waaaaaaaaaaaitaminute...

[Thanqol]

Well, you seem to have regressed your progress on head shape, and it looks like you just gave up on the claws this time. I know I gave you free creative reign over the keyblade, but honestly? I don't think you're trying anymore on that front. That, or Australia has some messed-up keys. Also, I didn't think I would need to tell you what glasses were, but a top hat is most certainly not-

Waaaaaaaaaaaitaminute...

trollface.jpg

Day 393: Intermission 2

Test went well! Proper schedule resumes tomorrow. Sorry for the blur.

Links (http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7968/img0004hr.jpg)
Links (http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/3964/img0007mg.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/AlAQ8fdqoFA): Hell Damned

[Thanqol]

Day 394: Misty

Wanted to get this in for a while now. Tote's sorry, schedule will resume for reals soon.

Links (http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8762/day394.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/l3USff2ITpc): Gold

[the_druid_droid]

Day 394: Misty

Wanted to get this in for a while now. Tote's sorry, schedule will resume for reals soon.

Links (http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8762/day394.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/l3USff2ITpc): Gold

Changeling ponies, ya?

Very interesting...

[Thanqol]

Changeling ponies, ya?

Very interesting...

Oh, aye.

Here's a partial coloured (http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7528/day394a.jpg).

[Thanqol]

Day 395: Mister

Should also get more kobold sketches in later today.

Links (http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/3743/day395.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/YcQrRwC2WDQ): Princess of the Night


EDIT: Babylon 5 update

The problem I'm increasingly coming up against with this show, mid way through season 4, is that it is the least compelling vision of the future I can possibly imagine. That is to say, not one single technological discovery of any kind (aside from space flight) seems to have occurred in the 310 years since the year 1950, which we are culturally and scientifically trapped within.

A novel set in today's 2012 would demonstrate a higher ambient technology level than B5 and humanity's cultural adaptation towards it.

I also don't like Delenn. She sounds like she's constantly about to burst into tears.

Oddly, for all the telling of how the show took a while to get started, I think I preferred the earlier episodes because the premise - a United Nations in Space - genuinely intrigued me and I liked the crisis-of-the-week format. The more they focus on the Orwellian regime on Earth the less I buy it.

[Thanqol]

Anyway, back to Kobolds.

Day 396: Tumbling

Some days I've got to take my own advice to prove I'm not full of crap.

This was genuine close-my-eyes and throw paint at the wall until I can fight a shape out of the mess. I could spend all day trying to get this right. But I'm not gonna.

The process of doing this taught me some really handy stuff about speedpainting in general, about my brushes and how they interact and what they can be used for - sharpening, pattening, spreading, distorting. I particularly learned some cool stuff about focus. And, it was fun!

I hereby declare today a moral victory, onwards to tomorrow!

Links (http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4686/day396.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/ZG72J2ylUGE): Spiralling (I love this song. It was in my head for every minute when I was in Japan, and it and the country are now inexorably linked in my head)

[TheAmishPirate]

Anyway, back to Kobolds.

Day 396: Tumbling

Some days I've got to take my own advice to prove I'm not full of crap.

This was genuine close-my-eyes and throw paint at the wall until I can fight a shape out of the mess. I could spend all day trying to get this right. But I'm not gonna.

The process of doing this taught me some really handy stuff about speedpainting in general, about my brushes and how they interact and what they can be used for - sharpening, pattening, spreading, distorting. I particularly learned some cool stuff about focus. And, it was fun!

I hereby declare today a moral victory, onwards to tomorrow!

Links (http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4686/day396.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/ZG72J2ylUGE): Spiralling (I love this song. It was in my head for every minute when I was in Japan, and it and the country are now inexorably linked in my head)

For some reason, I'm picturing this as a Kobold who is both focused on the task at hand and unimaginably tired. Don't know what it is, but that's what I'm getting.

I like it, though I'm not entirely sure what the thin lines in the eyebrow-scale thing are.

[Thanqol]

For some reason, I'm picturing this as a Kobold who is both focused on the task at hand and unimaginably tired. Don't know what it is, but that's what I'm getting.

I like it, though I'm not entirely sure what the thin lines in the eyebrow-scale thing are.

Zey are progress, my friend.

Day 397: Sword Get

Was gonna be a more ambitious day but got called into work. Ah well.

Links (http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5272/day397.jpg)

Time: 35 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/3PefGSWmUHc): Different Galaxy

[Thanqol]

Day 397a: Spectacular!

Hoity Toity just naturally looks good. You can't mess it up.

Saw an art style that I absolutely adored today so I'm going to do this one in it tomorrow to see if I can. Got the sketch in this evening so I'd be good to start colouring tomorrow.

Links (http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/517/day397a.jpg)

[Thanqol]

Day 398: Puppies Need To Die

Let's do it!

Step 1: Sketch (http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/517/day397a.jpg)

I've made an enormous mental breakthrough with sketching recently, and curiously I put a lot of it down to the brush settings I've got for my sketch pencil. A solid line you obsess over and fiddle with, a sketchy pencil-like line you feel more okay with erasing, drawing over or ignoring. Resultingly, this step was curiously easy for me.

Step 2: Flats (http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9218/day398a.jpg)

Square brush + Eraser. Just getting the shapes filled in.

Step 3: Render (http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/236/day398b.jpg)

Render brush to add shading and depth. It's a relief not having to fuss over the outlines.

Step 4: Solids (http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/6360/day398c.jpg)

Throwing down some regular round brush strokes to add some irregularity.

Step 5: Outlines (http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9764/day398d.jpg)

Solid black everywhere, yo.

Step 6: Complete (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-398-309269814)

Breaking up the outline with the eraser and cutting the shapes down to size. This part took a surprisingly long time but that's mostly because I hadn't done anything remotely like this before.

Time: 2.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/q-PX2Z4r-e4): God Thinks

[Sean Mirrsen]

Looks very nice, but it seems the concern I expressed in the other thread was justified. The jittery lines on a neutral pose make for some sort of mixed message, I can't tell what the picture does. Besides that, you actually managed to pull the style off quite well. Looks great! :smallsmile:

[TheAmishPirate]

Zey are progress, my friend.

Day 397: Sword Get

Was gonna be a more ambitious day but got called into work. Ah well.

Links (http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5272/day397.jpg)

Time: 35 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/3PefGSWmUHc): Different Galaxy

And there is a Kobold who is dang proud of a sword. As for actual suggestions, I'd say the right foot is a bit too big, even for being closer to the foreground. It's also a little tough to see the left knee(s) from this angle, but that could just be sketchiness.

Re Hoity Toity: I feel like we should either be seeing the tops of his eyes, or those glasses should be a hair higher. Also agree with Sean, it's an odd style for a neutral pose. That said, I think you nailed the style you were going for, and it looks great on him.

[Thanqol]

Looks very nice, but it seems the concern I expressed in the other thread was justified. The jittery lines on a neutral pose make for some sort of mixed message, I can't tell what the picture does. Besides that, you actually managed to pull the style off quite well. Looks great! :smallsmile:


And there is a Kobold who is dang proud of a sword. As for actual suggestions, I'd say the right foot is a bit too big, even for being closer to the foreground. It's also a little tough to see the left knee(s) from this angle, but that could just be sketchiness.

Re Hoity Toity: I feel like we should either be seeing the tops of his eyes, or those glasses should be a hair higher. Also agree with Sean, it's an odd style for a neutral pose. That said, I think you nailed the style you were going for, and it looks great on him.

*Nod nod* Thank you.

Day 399: Scholarly

Another test day so another rubbish sketch.

I'm about done with Kobolds but I've got another few packed days ahead of me. My commitment is to get one, proper, coloured kobold piece to you on a sooner-or-later basis.

Links (http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/2444/day399.jpg)

Time: 20 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/KrQcOmpbkCs): Everything is Under Control

[Thanqol]

Day 400: Ah'm The Fastest

Okay, back to the schedule proper with a new case study: The Scout from TF2.

The scout's always annoyed me, in a good way. I can't play Scout to save my life - my core competency is Spy, which I'm sickeningly good at. The Scout is unfortunately a class with a hard counter - he cannot do anything to a sentry gun, and on the attack/defense maps that I favour, playing Scout is a form of elaborate suicide.

But in terms of what I want out of this particular drawing experiment is to A) Capture some of the scout's facial expressiveness and annoying attitude and B) Draw a lot of pictures of people running. I'm going to focus primarily on sketches even though my schedule has finally opened up because there's not too much for me to play with in Scout's relatively simple colour scheme.

Links (http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/9451/day400.jpg)

Time: 30 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/SfzS_Tg5eUA): Big Mac v Blueblood

[TheAmishPirate]

*Nod nod* Thank you.

Day 399: Scholarly

Another test day so another rubbish sketch.

I'm about done with Kobolds but I've got another few packed days ahead of me. My commitment is to get one, proper, coloured kobold piece to you on a sooner-or-later basis.

Links (http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/2444/day399.jpg)

Time: 20 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/KrQcOmpbkCs): Everything is Under Control

Heh, Ssalik is best grumpy old professor.

Only real thing I can say about this one is that it's a little unclear what happens to his left arm. I can see it start, and I know it ends behind his back, but the transition is somewhat nebulous. Likely due to the sketchy nature, but it's still difficult to spot.

And thanks. I've still gotten some great sketches (and I know SpikeKobold will get some laughs out of my D&D group) out of this theme week. No regrets there.


Day 400: Ah'm The Fastest

Okay, back to the schedule proper with a new case study: The Scout from TF2.

The scout's always annoyed me, in a good way. I can't play Scout to save my life - my core competency is Spy, which I'm sickeningly good at. The Scout is unfortunately a class with a hard counter - he cannot do anything to a sentry gun, and on the attack/defense maps that I favour, playing Scout is a form of elaborate suicide.

But in terms of what I want out of this particular drawing experiment is to A) Capture some of the scout's facial expressiveness and annoying attitude and B) Draw a lot of pictures of people running. I'm going to focus primarily on sketches even though my schedule has finally opened up because there's not too much for me to play with in Scout's relatively simple colour scheme.

Links (http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/9451/day400.jpg)

Time: 30 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/SfzS_Tg5eUA): Big Mac v Blueblood

Everything I know about how to play scout is summed up in this (http://i.imgur.com/ocxOQ.gif). Use it well.

Yeah, nothing really stands out that I can nitpick, even with checking against the Meet the Scout video. I can say that I never noticed how much bigger the hat makes his head look.

[Thanqol]

Heh, Ssalik is best grumpy old professor.

Only real thing I can say about this one is that it's a little unclear what happens to his left arm. I can see it start, and I know it ends behind his back, but the transition is somewhat nebulous. Likely due to the sketchy nature, but it's still difficult to spot.

And thanks. I've still gotten some great sketches (and I know SpikeKobold will get some laughs out of my D&D group) out of this theme week. No regrets there.

Sorry that it had to coincide with test week!

Day 401: The Shortest Theme Week

Okay, I got distracted in record time. Will do some more sketching on the topic later tonight.

This one, hmm. Not sure how I feel about it. I definitely felt the limitations of the style there. Also took way too long for what it was.

One (http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/7338/day401c.jpg)
Two (http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/2854/day401a.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/wzmyDZQWYD8): The Long Arm of The Law

[Thanqol]

Day 401a: Caving To Demands

Charger insisted on being drawn more, and who am I to argue?

Links (http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3033/day401.jpg)

[Thanqol]

Day 402: Chargetastic

It's Charger!

Link (http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2231/day402.jpg)

Boxfull'a thumbnails for my own reference

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8519/chargercore.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3064/chargerangry.jpg
http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/5139/chargerblank.jpg
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5474/chargercurious.jpg
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3575/chargerdishevelled.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9641/chargerembarassed.jpg
http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/8459/chargerfrightened.jpg
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/9827/chargerguilt.jpg
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/4536/chargerhappy.jpg
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4298/chargerinsane.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3662/chargerjealous.jpg
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9848/chargerkind.jpg
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8809/chargerlonely.jpg
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1359/chargermiserable.jpg
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/8672/chargernervous.jpg
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5344/chargerobnoxious.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/48/chargerproud.jpg
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1294/chargerquestioning.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/4103/chargerrelieved.jpg
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/1979/chargerserious.jpg
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/5976/chargerthrilled.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/9063/chargerupset.jpg
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7682/chargerviolent.jpg
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/3623/chargerwitty.jpg
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/169/chargerxxx.jpg
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2092/chargeryearning.jpg
http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/7673/chargerzeal.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9505/chargerpeace.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/1558/chargerdirect.jpg


Time: 4 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/12a6LuyRlxs): Hint Of Red

[the_druid_droid]

Dem bedroom eyes.

Charger is a Mage, yes?

Never trust a Mage.

[Thanqol]

Dem bedroom eyes.

Charger is a Mage, yes?

Never trust a Mage.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8519/chargercore.jpg "Why wouldn't you trust me? Do tell. I'm deadly curious."

[SiuiS]

Day 388: Morning

So sick. You're lucky you get this much. I can barely type. This is what willpower looks like.

Some morning Stephanie. Do not get that girl up before 4pm.

Links (http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/2177/day388.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/qhc1zToQonM): Super Biyatch

Hoods are funny things. Despite what television and video games tell you, they aren't bad ass. They are either A) useless as hoods, and are therefore like poorly tailored Dracula cape toppers, or B) useless as combat clothing because they don't actually turn with your head like that, giving you a roughly 30• cone of vision and making your Rogue girlfriend hot and bothered (dat sneak attack~ <3)

Well done, seriously noteworthy, but that hood. It does not obey fabric laws.
ARREST IT!


http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8519/chargercore.jpg "Why wouldn't you trust me? Do tell. I'm deadly curious."

Mostly it's that emphasis.
The sexy, sexy emphasis.

[the_druid_droid]

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8519/chargercore.jpg "Why wouldn't you trust me? Do tell. I'm deadly curious."

I don't trust myself. Don't take it personally.

Also, your iron levels are looking a little high; consider a chelator.

*stores signature for future reference*

[Thanqol]

Day 403: The Slowest Fast Guy

Forums entered an 8-hour downtime which prevented me from uploading this on time. It still happened on the relevant day so the challenge goes unbroken, but man it bugged me to end a day without posting in this thread.

Links (http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3011/day403.jpg).

[Thanqol]

Day 404: Update Not Found

I've been feeling so good about my sketching recently.

Links (http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5923/day404.jpg)

Time: 20m
Music (http://youtu.be/4a9k8tnNfhM): Spectrum

[Thanqol]

Day 405: A Little Additional Despair

Hum.

Links (http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/2591/img0001wsu.jpg)
Two (http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1996/img0003xx.jpg)

Time: 35 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/4a9k8tnNfhM): Spectrum

[Domochevsky]

Day 405: A Little Additional Despair
...
Links (http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/2591/img0001wsu.jpg)
...

Rappin' like a pro and pretty good at the turntables too, eh? :smallwink:

[Story Time]

Time: 35 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/4a9k8tnNfhM): Spectrum

"...hide where love can save us." ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♫

[Thanqol]

Rappin' like a pro and pretty good at the turntables too, eh? :smallwink:

Spider Jeruselum turns the tables.


"...hide where love can save us." ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♫

It's a lovely song.

Day 406: The Walk

Tried some things.

Links (http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1226/day406.jpg)

Time: 2 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/DKbPUzhWeeI): Riders On The Storm

[the_druid_droid]

Day 406: The Walk

Tried some things.

Links (http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1226/day406.jpg)

Time: 2 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/DKbPUzhWeeI): Riders On The Storm

You know it's summertime around here when the funnel clouds start swirling.

[Thanqol]

Day 407: Credit Distribution Network

Well, that was certainly a session of a game. Mr. Keynes, my character had a max HP of 7. The enemy was a Dark Eldar Lord with 90HP, armed to the teeth with ultra-tech weaponry and backup goons.

But there was one important difference between us.

He wasn't wearing his gas mask.

Links (http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4822/img0001wd.jpg)

Time: 45 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/TRfSbtCFKQ4): Do You Believe In Magic?

[Abscondcrow]

Hello Thanqol! I don't have any advice for you, as honestly I'm more terrible right now, than you were when you started! So I'll just say this, the progress you've made in one year is unbelievable, and has inspired me to do something similar. I'm not sure if I'll end up uploading the images onto this forum, but perhaps I will.
So anyway, KEEP IT COMING!! :smallfurious:

[Thanqol]

Hello Thanqol! I don't have any advice for you, as honestly I'm more terrible right now, than you were when you started! So I'll just say this, the progress you've made in one year is unbelievable, and has inspired me to do something similar. I'm not sure if I'll end up uploading the images onto this forum, but perhaps I will.
So anyway, KEEP IT COMING!! :smallfurious:

WILL DO!

Day 408: Execution Before Idea

Decided to a custom TF2 lineup as an advanced challenge. Realised after an hour I only had five character ideas on hand, making the process rather mad.

There's more to this sketch than is linked below but this is the most finished part; this is gonna take a real while. I'm aware of the incomplete-ness of the image and the leg problem. But a large scale piece like this was really relaxing to set my mind against.

I'm not sure who I'm going to slot into each role. Seems like the sort of thing you'd normally work out in advance. This has also made me realise my games run to games played in is still really, really bad. So far I've got:

Scout - Stephanie
Soldier - Charger
Pyro

Demoman
Heavy - Vorel
Engineer

Medic - Jayden (http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8989/day408.jpg)
Sniper
Spy - Metal Mask (http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2156/day408a.jpg)

Time: 1 hour so far
Music (http://youtu.be/RLG1J-lfxTY): Shelter

[Tectonic Robot]

Are you taking suggestions for characters to fill up the slots? Because I really love tricking getting artists to draw any of my OCs.

[Thanqol]

Are you taking suggestions for characters to fill up the slots? Because I really love tricking getting artists to draw any of my OCs.

For a lineup like this it'd be weird for me to use someone else's characters, I think. Or at least characters I haven't directly gamed alongside.

Day 409: Watch Your Flank

I love Lyra. Best backgrone pone.

Anarion's contest prize - I'm a man of my worrrrrd. Incomplete speedpaint, barely past flats. Finding reference photos of that angle is virtually impossible so this is almost pure compositioning

Links (http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3898/day409.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/POzBugFhSWQ): Twist & Clank, Watch your Flank!

[Thanqol]

Day 410: Writing Bug

I got the writing bug. I made an illustration. It's sucked all my non-writing things into it's deadly mandibles. (Owe Gunnerkriegg Court directly for the concept)

Links (http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/6905/day410.jpg)

Time: 20 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/X7oKtZKIS-E): Bones and Skin

[Thanqol]

Day 411: Vagarities

There was a topic here somewhere, right?

Writing bug continues.

Links (http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/2784/day411.jpg)

Time: 20 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/hqfEVv8otr8): Labyrinth

[Thanqol]

Day 412: Happy Fourth of July

The Queen remembers those who have crossed her.

Just saying.

Links (http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7386/day412.jpg)

Time: A few hours
Music (http://youtu.be/yUVTafn01h0): The Sole Regret

[Thanqol]

Day 413: Hippocratic Suggestion

The past few days have been exhausting. Sigh.

The positives is that I'm still feeling increasingly confident with sketching. The downside is that I haven't quite worked out the next stage of my colouring and painting. I thought time would free up after test week but it hasn't yet due to a series of ongoing Things...

Oh well. The thing comes and goes. I know I'll find time to step it up before too long.

Links (http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2336/day413.jpg)

Time: 40 minutes of sketching
Music (http://youtu.be/x0sDnFIa8TA): Dear Sister

[Thanqol]

Day 414: Grand Theft Linework

Stolen shamelessly from the Prince.

Learned some really neat stuff with this. Not a smashing success, but nice and educational.

Anyone else got some decent linework I can steal?

Links (http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/188/day414.jpg)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/EeXCCk1Mahc): Discord Jazz

[PrinceAquilaDei]

Yes, good.

Loving the inverted colours.

I'm a bit surprised you simplified the hair though since you expressed approval of it earlier.

[Thanqol]

Yes, good.

Loving the inverted colours.

I'm a bit surprised you simplified the hair though since you expressed approval of it earlier.

I've got a fantastic new hair brush in SAI which, while wonderful, I have not yet mastered.

[Domochevsky]

Stealing linework, eh? Show me your moves (http://domochevsky.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4ybosf). :smallamused:

[Thanqol]

Stealing linework, eh? Show me your moves (http://domochevsky.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4ybosf). :smallamused:

Day 415: Busting Out The Moves

I sincerely apologise for the pun.

Not quite finished and not nearly perfect but I played around with a few things to try and find a colour style that fit the lineart.

Links (http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8623/day415.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8623/day415.jpg): One Of A Kind

[Zorg]

A fully loaded Glock 17 (a rather light weapon) weighs in at around a kilo, so would not be teriibly comfortable to hold in one's mouth. Probably should be rotated counter-clockwise a little too.

Unless her shirt is designed with an off centre placket she'd be buttoning it slightly to the right of frame. There's some odd body construction/perspective issues going on around her left collar bone - looks to me like the defining line of her breast shouldn't meet the line of her shirt collar but turn up around where the shading is on her left bicep.
And the base of her neck is shaded wrong, so her skin bleeds over to where there should be the inside of her collar (or she's really working her trapezius' :smalltongue:).

That said you're expressions and faces in general, are looking great lately (day 405 was awesome) as have the poses and variety of designs so, yeah, high fives all round for that :smallsmile:

[Thanqol]

A fully loaded Glock 17 (a rather light weapon) weighs in at around a kilo, so would not be teriibly comfortable to hold in one's mouth. Probably should be rotated counter-clockwise a little too.

Unless her shirt is designed with an off centre placket she'd be buttoning it slightly to the right of frame. There's some odd body construction/perspective issues going on around her left collar bone - looks to me like the defining line of her breast shouldn't meet the line of her shirt collar but turn up around where the shading is on her left bicep.
And the base of her neck is shaded wrong, so her skin bleeds over to where there should be the inside of her collar (or she's really working her trapezius' :smalltongue:).

I take no responsibility for the composition and linework, I just coloured the thang!

Right about the neck thing, derp.


That said you're expressions and faces in general, are looking great lately (day 405 was awesome) as have the poses and variety of designs so, yeah, high fives all round for that :smallsmile:

Excellent, that's great to hear! :smallbiggrin:

[Domochevsky]

I take no responsibility for the composition and linework, I just coloured the thang!
...

You also modified the linework during coloring it in various more or less subtle ways. No wiggling out of that, bucko. :smallamused:

[Thanqol]

You also modified the linework during coloring it in various more or less subtle ways. No wiggling out of that, bucko. :smallamused:

There's minor adjustments and there's compositional redesign. And the entire point of doing this is to wriggle out of responsibility.

Day 416: WIPS

Stole new linework, this time off SiuiS. Intended to be an experiment in three tone shading, if I get back around to it. Kind of turned into a bit of a time sink.

Links (http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/561/day416.jpg)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/OQS5G49w6Mg): Rainmaker

[Thanqol]

Day 417: Trustworthy McLegitimate

I think we should trust him.

Speed inking; just trying to get something that looked decent without spending a hobjillion hours at it. For that purpose, I succeeded.

Links (http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2715/day417.jpg)

Time: 45 minutes
Music: Professor Fate's Theme

[smuchmuch]

for something done in less than an hour, I'd say it's very good.
(I think the arm might a tidbit too long, given the perspective) (Nope probably just an impression.)
Nice work on the hand.

[Thanqol]

for something done in less than an hour, I'd say it's very good.
(I think the arm might a tidbit too long, given the perspective) (Nope probably just an impression.)
Nice work on the hand.

Thank you.

417a: So legit

Quick sketch of the actual Trustworthy McLegitimate

Links (http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/8206/day417a.jpg)

[Thanqol]

Day 418: Ask Charger

She's such a pretty pony.

Links (http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/43/day418.jpg)
Two (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9246/day418a.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/SbK4_fJDNos): Theme of the Universe

[Thanqol]

Day 418b: Ask thubby

Not such a pretty pony

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3402/day418b.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6412/day418c.jpg

[SiuiS]

Hey mate. I came across a thing that might make you turn your head and go "...huh."

Luckily it is a pony thing (http://firstnightmarenight.blogspot.ca/2012/07/golden-crop.html?m=1)

I know what the golden ratio and all that is and I know perspective and grid lines and I know composition. I do not know how they go together and in fact have never heard of such before.

[Thanqol]

Hey mate. I came across a thing that might make you turn your head and go "...huh."

Luckily it is a pony thing (http://firstnightmarenight.blogspot.ca/2012/07/golden-crop.html?m=1)

I know what the golden ratio and all that is and I know perspective and grid lines and I know composition. I do not know how they go together and in fact have never heard of such before.

Ah yeah, seen this.

Day 419: Plague of Hats

I wrote 5000 words today, what do you want from me?

Links (http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/4231/day419.jpg)

Time: 20 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/DTfNjSGrAgw): Uptown Jump

[SiuiS]

Ah yeah, seen this.

That's nice. Any idea how the hell it works?

Also, nice name, that, plague of hats.

[Thanqol]

That's nice. Any idea how the hell it works?

Also, nice name, that, plague of hats.

Uh, wrong brain gears. I'll try and get back to you.

Day 420: Overlord Reporting

This is Overlord. Overlord is a Seer of the Throne in Detroit. Some of ya'll will be meeting him.

Actually like how this turned out, will try to ink it tomorrow. My brain is still geared for writing and drawing is getting the backseat. I blame the weather; it's hard to sit in my cold room and draw when I could be in the warm sitting room and writing.

Links (http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/9214/day420.jpg)

Time: 20 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/pOSAEwUp2AY): Jack Of All Trades

[Thanqol]

Day 421: The Jerusalem Man

Another relatively quick sketch. I'm really happy with how quickly I've been able to produce these. I'm going to relocate to where it's warm now and continue sketching where I don't risk freezing.

Links (http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6047/day421.jpg)

Time: 20 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/symahn3t-34): I Am No Hero

[Thanqol]

Day 422: The Fire

This is something I just wanted to do.

Links (http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9992/day422.jpg)

Time: 20 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/XLvt6ZtXadk): Let The Stars Fall Down

[Thanqol]

Day 422a: The Showdown

Aw what the hell. Can't leave it at that.

I think Fate: Zero might be my favourite thing of all time, bar nothing. Not even ponies.

Links (http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/1966/day422a.jpg)


EDIT: This guy (http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/794) seems to be clearly articulating why I haven't been updating very well recently.

[Thanqol]

Day 423: Executor

Kotonime.

Links (http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/695/day423.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/Z38fklaxyfc): The Battle Is To The Strong

[Thanqol]

Day 424: Panties

I don't know what you've heard, but Panty Stocking is brilliant. The art direction is gorgeous and the stories and references sublime. I should also probably warn you about the content but I lack the words to express it.

Anyway, have some Panty. (what's this? effort?)

Links (http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/2964/day424.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/Vjb4Mfq8J1o): Champion

[Thanqol]

Day 425: Assassin

Kitsuguru

Links (http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/2672/day425.jpg)

Time: 25 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/OaigP8KynvQ): Picture Perfect Pony

[Domochevsky]

...is that some cheekmouth i'm seeing there, Thanqol, mah boi? :smallannoyed:

[Thanqol]

...is that some cheekmouth i'm seeing there, Thanqol, mah boi? :smallannoyed:

I was feeling braindead so I just sketched what I saw.

I've been looking closely at a lot of anime styles recently, and from a lot of angles. A huge part of it is the movement; motion lets you get away with a lot of things that don't particularly work in a still shot.

I don't particularly like the anime facial style, truth be told. The faces of the characters manage to consistently be the least interesting parts of their designs. I feel like that's a bit of a waste.

Hmm, there's a challenge for myself... Draw a bunch of anime characters with distinctive and significantly different facial structures

[Domochevsky]

I was feeling braindead so I just sketched what I saw.

I've been looking closely at a lot of anime styles recently, and from a lot of angles. A huge part of it is the movement; motion lets you get away with a lot of things that don't particularly work in a still shot.

I don't particularly like the anime facial style, truth be told. The faces of the characters manage to consistently be the least interesting parts of their designs. I feel like that's a bit of a waste.

Hmm, there's a challenge for myself... Draw a bunch of anime characters with distinctive and significantly different facial structures

Thanqol... anime facial style? :smallwink: Cheekmouth is a invention of anime, to make animating the mouth easier without having to adjust the face itself. It's there to make animation cheaper. This restriction does not apply to drawn things and subsequently is a bad thing to do, i find.

No, "it's my style" is not a valid excuse, either. Don't fall down that hole and don't even approach it. :smallwink:

[Thanqol]

Thanqol... anime facial style? :smallwink: Cheekmouth is a invention of anime, to make animating the mouth easier without having to adjust the face itself. It's there to make animation cheaper. This restriction does not apply to drawn things and subsequently is a bad thing to do, i find.

No, "it's my style" is not a valid excuse, either. Don't fall down that hole and don't even approach it. :smallwink:

I was agreeing with you, man. And I carried around the quote "It only counts as your style if you could do it any way you wanted and chose to do it this way."

[Thanqol]

Day 426: How The World Works

Stephanie's views on how the world works.

Links (http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/3613/day426.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/e4UCFiXuGlo): Cish Cash

[Thanqol]

Day 427: The Law

A work in progress

Links (http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7652/day427.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/B3BF8RmliZw): Changes

[Thanqol]

Day 428: Hilltop

I won't even describe what my day was spent doing.

Links (http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4824/day428.jpg)

Time: 15 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/KkSZjfO5xUs): I Believe

[Thanqol]

Day 429: Juice

Some days you just gotta win an argument on The Internet

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/9863/day429a.jpg

Time: 20 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/hbe3CQamF8k): Angel

[Elemental]

I am now curious... What argument precisely did you win?

[Thanqol]

I am now curious... What argument precisely did you win?

Had to convince an ancient undying monster to stop possessing the corpse of a little girl.

[Elemental]

Had to convince an ancient undying monster to stop possessing the corpse of a little girl.

Not the most common argument, but one that I know pops up occasionally.
Did you win by reminding said ancient undying monster that it's more practical to possess an army tank or attack helicopter?

[Thanqol]

Did you win by reminding said ancient undying monster that it's more practical to possess an army tank or attack helicopter?

Name one undying monster who's possessed a tank or an attack chopper and gone on to be successful. Heck, name one who survived to the end of the boss fight that immediately triggered upon his transformation.

No, we made him possess a giant muffin instead.

Day 430: Sniping

Sometimes you just gotta shoot a guy.

On the practise goes. Uplook has just shifted to optimistic!

Links (http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/1310/day430l.jpg)

Time: 25 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/076gZWoHWKw): Elusive Gem

[Tectonic Robot]

Heyya, Thanqol. Would you draw Raz Fox for me? As a fox?

[Thanqol]

Heyya, Thanqol. Would you draw Raz Fox for me? As a fox?

Foxes are haaaaaaard to draw in a ponyesque style.

Day 431: General Pants

His fancy pants got him his title, but his sword let him keep it.

Yeah I dunno.

Links (http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/2760/day431.jpg)

Time: 25 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/UOo9Zmia8Xc): The Skull

[Tectonic Robot]

Foxes are haaaaaaard to draw in a ponyesque style.

Day 431: General Pants

His fancy pants got him his title, but his sword let him keep it.

Yeah I dunno.

Links (http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/2760/day431.jpg)

Time: 25 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/UOo9Zmia8Xc): The Skull

Aw, pleeeeeeeaaaaaassssseeeee?

[Thanqol]

Aw, pleeeeeeeaaaaaassssseeeee?

Hm. I might have an idea.

Day 432: Inking Month

Okay, this sketching has gone on way too long and I'm gonna forcefully wean myself off it. New rule is no sketches for a month (excepting pen and paper days); pictures have to be inked, painted or coloured in some way. Let's see if I can get some new techniques and efficiency.

Today's was a partial experiment in line width. Some interesting things learned but nothing to write home about yet. There were some other layers and an attempt at greyscale colouring to this but they didn't work out so I'm just showing the inkline.

Links (http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/3149/day432.jpg)

Time: 35 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/68ugkg9RePc): Blue (Da Be Dee)

[Thanqol]

Day 433: Immediate Failure

And immediately after I declare that I have to do a pen and paper drawing. In my defense, it worked out awesome.

Links (http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/8452/img0003cmt.jpg)

Time: 30 Minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/fiXJXoSC8EU): Link Wray's Girlfriend

[Thanqol]

Day 434: A Farewell

So very, very tired.

Links (http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/826/img0001vas.jpg)

[Thanqol]

Day 435: Flagging Behind

Designed a flag for Mr. Keynes, my Rogue Trader Seneschal. I wanted it to symbolise Wealth, Space and War. Feel like I did a good job! This was fun!

Links (http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3736/day435.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/lDQ7hXMLxGc): Soviet March

[milleris]

So Thanqol, how would you rate your Wacom tablet? I've been looknig on amazon, yours has generally good reviews but some say that it broke quickly and that there's some input lag (0.25s). In your experience is it good, accurate, easy to use, robust etc.?

[Thanqol]

So Thanqol, how would you rate your Wacom tablet? I've been looknig on amazon, yours has generally good reviews but some say that it broke quickly and that there's some input lag (0.25s). In your experience is it good, accurate, easy to use, robust etc.?

I don't have anything to compare it against, but I've never had a single issue with it. It does exactly what I need it to.

[Maxtronaut]

Day 418: Ask Charger

She's such a pretty pony.

Links (http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/43/day418.jpg)
Two (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9246/day418a.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/SbK4_fJDNos): Theme of the Universe

Well, that blows my "Charger gets her Cutie Mark" story out of the water and into the poisonous lava. I feel suckish now. :smallfrown:

[Thanqol]

Well, that blows my "Charger gets her Cutie Mark" story out of the water and into the poisonous lava. I feel suckish now. :smallfrown:

The truth of a myth is not its words but its patterns.

[Thanqol]

Day 436: An Old Friend

Inking practise. After watching Archer, which was good, my interest in variable line thickness was rekindled. This was just a quick experiment at that with my old friend, Oda Nobunaga

Links (http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/7065/day436.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/tyzs_wwgs-M): Va Fangool!

[Maxtronaut]

The truth of a myth is not its words but its patterns.

Dunno what that means, but I'll try to figure it out. New signature right there. :smallsmile:

[Tiki Snakes]

Dunno what that means, but I'll try to figure it out. New signature right there. :smallsmile:

Part of Thanqol's existing Signiture, also.
Meaning is quite clear, which is to say, the specifics aren't the important part of a myth.
It's quite possible it wasn't literally raining and charger wasn't actually even outside when she got her cutie mark, neither was she necessarily nearly struck by lightning.
(also, think Thanqol would like to see such a story completed even if it isn't historically accurate.

It's masks all the way down and all of them are true, remember.
I haven't designed a flag for a character in ages. It's always a cool thing to do.

[Maxtronaut]

Part of Thanqol's existing Signiture, also.
Meaning is quite clear, which is to say, the specifics aren't the important part of a myth.
It's quite possible it wasn't literally raining and charger wasn't actually even outside when she got her cutie mark, neither was she necessarily nearly struck by lightning.
(also, think Thanqol would like to see such a story completed even if it isn't historically accurate.

It's masks all the way down and all of them are true, remember.
I haven't designed a flag for a character in ages. It's always a cool thing to do.

Hmm. I'll remember that. :smallsmile:

[Thanqol]

Day 437: The Truth May Vary

This was fun. Figures are crude but I learned some cool stuff about snow.

Links (http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7743/day437.jpg)

Time: 45 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/ghb6eDopW8I): Little Talks (You should watch this)

[Thanqol]

Day 438: Unlearning

I'm completely spacing today; drew and painted for over an hour and nothing productive came of it. This is the only remotely presentable piece.

Oh well. There are days like that. I'm meandering in the right direction. My major mental block right now is composition.

Links (http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/1855/day438.jpg)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/aT-GnPyxLuY): Ballad For Dead Friends

[Thanqol]

Day 439: Godfather II

Work in progress. Greyscale.

Links (http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8131/day439.jpg)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://tarbyrocks.bandcamp.com/track/burnout): Burnout (A wonderfully illustrative song. I was there, once)

[Thanqol]

Day 440: Punching

Today Jayden learned what it was like to run screaming from a pack of mountain lions for several hours. Words would diminish the experience.

Sketching is unremarkable.

Links (http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2569/img0001zj.jpg)

Time: ~35 minutes of sketching

[Thanqol]

Day 441: Skeletator

Tried something completely random today.

I am still not sure of inking styles I like, even as I continue to mess around with them. I think my next experiment is going to be thin and sketchy pencil lines rather than harsh black lines.

Links (http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8724/day441.jpg)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/yJGqxf86cZs): My Lullaby

[Thanqol]

Day 442: Picture Perfect

Mask, y u no let me draw u smilin?

Simple butt fun. More sketches tomorrow.

Links (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1918/day442.jpg)

Time: 1 Hour
Music (http://youtu.be/sDdL4z5qfr4): Picture Perfect Pony

[Tiki Snakes]

Mask, y u no let me draw u smilin?


Why so serious?
Let's put a smile on that face!
http://i45.tinypic.com/n1owab.jpg
I regret nothing.

[Maxtronaut]

Day 442: Picture Perfect

Mask, y u no let me draw u smilin?

Simple butt fun. More sketches tomorrow.

Links (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1918/day442.jpg)

I think she just needs a hug. /)^3^(\

[Thanqol]

Why so serious?
Let's put a smile on that face!
http://i45.tinypic.com/n1owab.jpg
I regret nothing.

There is nothing to regret.

Except all the suffering you've caused by your foolish action.


I think she just needs a hug. /)^3^(\

She'd tell you that you were wrong.

Day 442a: Minor Acts Of Major Blasphemy

All hail Cowlestia! Bow down and worship this golden calf! Do not offend the golden calf, for it is vengeful!

Artist Training Grounds day 1 (http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/08/newbie-artist-training-grounds-ii-day-1.html): Prompt is "Idleness." Or in this case, Idolness.

Links (http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5125/day443.jpg)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/n6P0SitRwy8): Heart Shaped Box

[Zorg]

Simple butt fun.

Hur hur hur :smallbiggrin:

[Tiki Snakes]

There is nothing to regret.

Except all the suffering you've caused by your foolish action.


I certainly don't regret that.
Even though we apparently gave SiuiS weird dreams/nightmares.

[Thanqol]

Hur hur hur :smallbiggrin:

Hello Zorg! *waves*


I certainly don't regret that.
Even though we apparently gave SiuiS weird dreams/nightmares.

Mission accomplished.

Day 444: A Landmark

I've been climbing this mountain for four hundred and forty four days now.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-444-ATG-Day-2-318717997)

Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/K3pnZQFxKq0): Merchant of Death

[Thanqol]

Day 445: Here Comes Tom

Rarity has bad taste in stallions.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-445-ATG-Day-3-318911058)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/T_VCsEH3bWU): Septette for the Dead Queen

[Thanqol]

Day 446: Lyra Time

Took ages, but it was worth it.

Gems are hard. Lyra is awesome.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-446-ATG-Day-4-319121006)

Time: 3 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/DWaB4PXCwFU): Diary of Jane

[Thanqol]

Day 447: Fabulous

Young Stephen Magnet.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-447-ATG-Day-5-319331780)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/TJCcVyDCiFc): The Golden Path (I don't like this hugely musically, but as a song it describes Archmastery in Mage perfectly.)

[Thanqol]

Day 448: Conclusion'd

Few minutes past the deadline, but Exalted session went overtime and the sketch happened well earlier in the day so all is good.

We killed the First and Forsaken Lion! And we saved the world! And there were absolutely no civilian casualties! And my character can give up Necromancy and start researching non-omnicidal techniques for dealing with the world! An awesome season finale all round!

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-448-ATG-Day-6-319580124)

[Thanqol]

Day 449: Laser Death Tower

"He turned into a giant jerk after he got a death tower that shoots lasers. In his defense, I would probably turn into a jerk too. Death lasers for everyone!"

- PhoeKun

Links (http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/5697/day449.jpg)

Time: 45 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/TGlmdsvfQzo): Phoe talking

[Elemental]

Death lasers for everyone!"[/I]

Now... That is something I can agree with.

[Thanqol]

Now... That is something I can agree with.

Especially for bears.

Day 449a: Applejack's Training

BEARS

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-449-ATG-Day-7-319840811)

[Thanqol]

Day 450: Error

thanqol not found

Links (http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9928/img0002im.jpg)

[Thanqol]

Day 451: Ponytails

Coloured lining is a good effect, I should do it more often.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/#/d5an6mp)

Time: 20 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/8ajX6oFoegU): Daylight's End

[Thanqol]

Day 451a: Best Servant, Best Pony, Best King

Shading's a little inconsistent but this looks basically good.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-451a-ATG-Day-9-320268626)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/63yTUdPU_bQ): FALALALANLERA

[Thanqol]

Day 452: Dawn Coming

Simple stuff. Not much time.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-452-ATG-Day-10-320473229)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/q1pjmN3RF3c): Good Girl

[Thanqol]

Day 453: Pink Truck Repairs

So much talking. So tired.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-453-ATG-Day-11-320669523)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/0B3I33pxAv4): Zeta Aquilae

[Thanqol]

Day 454: Always Amazing

You know what I haven't done in too long? Painting. Also, Hoity Toity.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-454-ATG-Day-12-320877601)

Time: 2 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/78m_mYvYUsE): Remembrance Day

[Thanqol]

Day 455: With Poise; With Anger

Princess Celestia is prettiest pony princess

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-455-ATG-Day-13-321095202)

Time: 2.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/AVH6t7nwfc4): A Deafening Distance

[Thanqol]

Day 456: The Amazing Zebra Dash

I think I levelled up or something.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-456-ATG-Day-14-321273832)

Time: 2 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/h3kSPHcjN34): Lost on the Moon

[Thanqol]

Day 457: The Thinker

SO HUNGRY

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-457-ATG-Day-15-321468043)

Time: 25 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/DHglQRvbzOc): Rainbow Dash Stage

[Thanqol]

Day 458: Quick, Think Of An Excuse

Damn it, Phoe, of course the dating prompt is the one day I'm not going to be able to do anything with it.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-458-ATG-Day-16-321685767)

Time: 25 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/STL7kDNP6_A): Moonstuck

[Thanqol]

Day 459: So Alone

Two weeks with only a single comment?

FOREVER ALONE

I am forever alone
I run this thread on my own
The copycats have failed
The lurkers have bailed

I AM FOREVER ALONE

I am forever alone
Like a forgotten dog bone
Drawing pictures each day
But no one cares each way

I AM FOREVER ALONE

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d5bn25q)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/i62Zjga8JOM): Forever Alone

[Maxtronaut]

I am forever alone
I run this thread on my own
The copycats have failed
The lurkers have bailed

I AM FOREVER ALONE

I am forever alone
Like a forgotten dog bone
Drawing pictures each day
But no one cares each way

I AM FOREVER ALONE

Nice improv song, but you are wrong.

*hugz* You aren't forever alone. :smallbiggrin:

[Tiki Snakes]

A Response. (Subtitle; Bleakmane is a poor motivator).
http://i49.tinypic.com/2vsni48.png

Which is to say I am lurking the hell out of this thread.
But you knew that, I'm sure.

[Colonel Fedora]

I assure you that I check this thread every day. I just can't think of what to say. Lurkers for life and all that. *Relurks*

[Thanqol]

Nice improv song, but you are wrong.

*hugz* You aren't forever alone. :smallbiggrin:


A Response. (Subtitle; Bleakmane is a poor motivator).
http://i49.tinypic.com/2vsni48.png

Which is to say I am lurking the hell out of this thread.
But you knew that, I'm sure.


I assure you that I check this thread every day. I just can't think of what to say. Lurkers for life and all that. *Relurks*

You're all just saying that! You don't really care about me, you're just waiting for minimalism week to come around and then BAM! COMING OUT OF THE WALLS WITH YOUR HATS IN YOUR HANDS!

OH THANQOL, I CAN HEAR YOUR TINNY MOUTH-BREATHING ROBOT VOICES SAY! OH THANQOL, WE HEARD YOU WERE DANCING FOR MONEY! ALLOW US TO LOAD OUR REVOLVERS AND FIRE AT YOUR FEET SO YOU MIGHT INSTEAD DANCE FOR BULLETS!

WELL I SHALL DANCE BUT ONLY BECAUSE I VALUE MY TOES! FOR NO OTHER REASON!

Day 460: Stability

Backstabbing ingrates! Sadistic pompadours! Sea urchins! Kleptomaniacs! Ectoplasm! Ten thousand thundering typhoons! Balderdash! Cockatrices! St. Bernards!

I'LL SHOW YOU! I'LL SHOW YOU ALL!

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-460-ATG-Day-18-322066355)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/9zsfepY2gnc): What Must Be Done

[Tiki Snakes]

You're all just saying that! You don't really care about me, you're just waiting for minimalism week to come around and then BAM! COMING OUT OF THE WALLS WITH YOUR HATS IN YOUR HANDS!

I only ever wear my own avatars given the choice, so this is unlikely. :smallsmile:

[Thanqol]

I only ever wear my own avatars given the choice, so this is unlikely. :smallsmile:

A dagger! A dagger in my heart!

[Maxtronaut]

You're all just saying that! You don't really care about me, you're just waiting for minimalism week to come around and then BAM! COMING OUT OF THE WALLS WITH YOUR HATS IN YOUR HANDS!

OH THANQOL, I CAN HEAR YOUR TINNY MOUTH-BREATHING ROBOT VOICES SAY! OH THANQOL, WE HEARD YOU WERE DANCING FOR MONEY! ALLOW US TO LOAD OUR REVOLVERS AND FIRE AT YOUR FEET SO YOU MIGHT INSTEAD DANCE FOR BULLETS!

WELL I SHALL DANCE BUT ONLY BECAUSE I VALUE MY TOES! FOR NO OTHER REASON!

Day 460: Stability

Backstabbing ingrates! Sadistic pompadours! Sea urchins! Kleptomaniacs! Ectoplasm! Ten thousand thundering typhoons! Balderdash! Cockatrices! St. Bernards!

I'LL SHOW YOU! I'LL SHOW YOU ALL!

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-460-ATG-Day-18-322066355)

Time: 1.5 hours
Music (http://youtu.be/9zsfepY2gnc): What Must Be Done

I'm not really sure how to respond to that... :smallconfused:

Need another hug? *Offers hugz* :smallsmile:

[Thanqol]

Day 461: Bork bork

Bork bork bork bork. Oooh bork bork bjork bork bork

Bork (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-461-ATG-Day-19-322285832)

Bork: Bork bork
Bork (http://youtu.be/sY_Yf4zz-yo): Bork bork bork

[Sean Mirrsen]

Day 461: Bork bork

Bork bork bork bork. Oooh bork bork bjork bork bork

Bork (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-461-ATG-Day-19-322285832)

Bork: Bork bork
Bork (http://youtu.be/sY_Yf4zz-yo): Bork bork borkBork indeed. :smallsmile: If you were me (or lived where I do), you would likely not have passed up an opportunity to sneak a product of the eponymous company into the shot. (BORK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BORK) makes home appliances, kitchen hardware among them. I still can't believe somebody actually called a company "Bork".)

[Zorg]

You draw ponies (which I have no interest in), and draw them well. I haven't commented because what else is there to say besides "yup, it's a pony"?

[Tiki Snakes]

You draw ponies (which I have no interest in), and draw them well. I haven't commented because what else is there to say besides "yup, it's a pony"?

Marvel Comics often used to award people a "No Prize", for things. A prize that wasn't a prize, so you could reward someone with tongue in cheek for no cost or inconvenience.

I hearby vote that "Yup, it's a pony." be the official "No Comment" of support amongst us Thanqol Lurkers.


Day 461: Bork bork

Bork bork bork bork. Oooh bork bork bjork bork bork

Bork (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-461-ATG-Day-19-322285832)

Bork: Bork bork
Bork (http://youtu.be/sY_Yf4zz-yo): Bork bork bork

Yup, it's a pony.
This is clearly not going to catch on.

[Thanqol]

Bork indeed. :smallsmile: If you were me (or lived where I do), you would likely not have passed up an opportunity to sneak a product of the eponymous company into the shot. (BORK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BORK) makes home appliances, kitchen hardware among them. I still can't believe somebody actually called a company "Bork".)

I am not a corporate sellout, you corporate sellout!

nobody's offered me any money.


You draw ponies (which I have no interest in), and draw them well. I haven't commented because what else is there to say besides "yup, it's a pony"?


Marvel Comics often used to award people a "No Prize", for things. A prize that wasn't a prize, so you could reward someone with tongue in cheek for no cost or inconvenience.

I hearby vote that "Yup, it's a pony." be the official "No Comment" of support amongst us Thanqol Lurkers.

Yup, it's a pony.

Believe me, I'm starting to get tired of drawing only pony too @_@

Only 10 more days.

[Kasanip]

Sorry, I don't know what to say. But to watch sometimes quietly :smallredface:

[Thanqol]

Sorry, I don't know what to say. But to watch sometimes quietly :smallredface:

Then WATCH IN AWE

Day 462: Daring Duck!

Woop woop woop woop!

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-462-ATG-Day-20-322498321)

Time: 45 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/4bxhufMoeFs): Smoke Screen

[Thanqol]

Day 463: How To Win Games

Tell it like it is.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-463-ATG-Day-21-322694633)

Time: 20 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/KSNttZECoiI): Grounds for Divorce

[Tectonic Robot]

Day 459: So Alone

Two weeks with only a single comment?

FOREVER ALONE

I am forever alone
I run this thread on my own
The copycats have failed
The lurkers have bailed

I AM FOREVER ALONE

I am forever alone
Like a forgotten dog bone
Drawing pictures each day
But no one cares each way

I AM FOREVER ALONE

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d5bn25q)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/i62Zjga8JOM): Forever Alone

I was backpacking in New Mexico! >_> <_<

Not that, er, I ever comment here, or have any useful advice, or do anything besides sometime request you draw something for me and offer nothing in return.

...Do you want anything from me? >___>

[Thanqol]

I was backpacking in New Mexico! >_> <_<

Not that, er, I ever comment here, or have any useful advice, or do anything besides sometime request you draw something for me and offer nothing in return.

...Do you want anything from me? >___>

If you didn't catch it, that entire thing was me being as ridiculously over the top as possible. :smallwink:

[Thanqol]

Day 464: In Halves

NO TIME

WHERE IS THE TIME

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-464-ATG-Day-22-322888467)

Time: 20 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/z5bDWEWovuQ): Run To Her

[Thanqol]

Day 465: Don't Go To Bed

Tried a whole bunch of new things and it worked out great. There's a lot I can do with this.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-465-ATG-Day-23-323074793)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/b7GTkkA2q8o): Suicide By Star

[Thanqol]

So today I found this (http://vimeo.com/29510470) and this (http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3442391). Super useful, check 'em out.

[Thanqol]

Day 466: Jarring Transitions

Speed-whatever this is.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-466-ATG-Day-24-323263296)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/fE-UNW6GJXk): Sh-Pony!

[Elemental]

That's slightly creepy...
And also anatomically incorrect as the skull of an equine is very different to that of a human. But then again, Ponies from My Little Pony aren't exactly "Of this Earth".

[Thanqol]

Day 467: The Screamer

BUNNIEZH

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-467-ATG-Day-25-323453822)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/favourites/?offset=24#/d4oamh6): SO MANY F*ING WONDERS

[Dexam]

Day 467: The Screamer

BUNNIEZH

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-467-ATG-Day-25-323453822)


http://i.imgur.com/IsXeL.gif

I take it you've sent a copy/link to Yaplap? If not, do so - I command thee!

:smallwink:

[Thanqol]

http://i.imgur.com/IsXeL.gif

I take it you've sent a copy/link to Yaplap? If not, do so - I command thee!

:smallwink:

I have, and his is the first comment on the devart page

[Thanqol]

Day 468: how hold cup

Half assed but 15 minutes

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-468-ATG-Day-26-323690431)

Time: 15 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/jNGbXIiP1q0): Everybody Loves Me

[Thanqol]

Day 469: Aranatan

Gonna have to do today's ATG tomorrow morning 'cause I'm bushed.

Links (http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9597/img0005pz.jpg)

[Thanqol]

Day 470: Metaluchador

You figure it out.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-470-ATG-Day-27-324025764)

Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/r2Xz8ByceWk): Ultimate Sweetie Belle

[Thanqol]

Day 471: Road to Heroism

Charger.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-471-ATG-Day-28-324068007)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/NN9RN_3HbWo): Great to be Different

[Maxtronaut]

Day 471: Road to Heroism

Charger.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-471-ATG-Day-28-324068007)

Time: 1 hour
Music (http://youtu.be/NN9RN_3HbWo): Great to be Different

Oh, she's running towards something. I get it now. :smallbiggrin:

[Tiki Snakes]

Day 470: Metaluchador

You figure it out.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-470-ATG-Day-27-324025764)

Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/r2Xz8ByceWk): Ultimate Sweetie Belle

I'm just going to...leave this here.


http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/242/7/4/maskador_by_mister_cope-d5cyrpo.jpg
Transparent version because we all have our obsessions.
http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/242/9/c/maskador_transparency_by_mister_cope-d5cyruw.png
Also incase you are allergic to dirtily obvious filters.

[Thanqol]

I'm just going to...leave this here.

oh celestia why did i create this character

day 472: party time

party party party

links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-472-ATG-Day-29-324235681)

time: 20 minutes
music (http://youtu.be/8mwPWAmBp8E): new york new york

[Elemental]

Partying is clearly serious business...

[Tiki Snakes]

oh celestia why did i create this character


Because apparently mask is at least a little bit terrible at choosing things when put on the spot. :smallbiggrin:

[Thanqol]

Partying is clearly serious business...

Absolutely. You think those balloon animals tie themselves?


Because apparently mask is at least a little bit terrible at choosing things when put on the spot. :smallbiggrin:

No, she's actually terrific at it. She holds the keys to almost all my adaptive thinking.

She intended to do this.

[Tiki Snakes]

Ah, but her choice appalled your other two fragments, perhaps?

[Thanqol]

Ah, but her choice appalled your other two fragments, perhaps?

Yeah. Jayden mourns the loss of the ideal and Charger is irked at the change of aesthetics, which is exactly why the concept is amusing for Mask. Jayden's ascendant right now, though, and is concerned at being saddled with the complexity of this heel-face turn.

[Tiki Snakes]

Yeah. Jayden mourns the loss of the ideal and Charger is irked at the change of aesthetics, which is exactly why the concept is amusing for Mask. Jayden's ascendant right now, though, and is concerned at being saddled with the complexity of this heel-face turn.

Mask makes an unconvincing Heel.
(Though the Luchador twist on it provides an interesting comparison, given that both Rudos and Technicos are quite honorable in comparison to the American lot, respecting the rules of wager matches and the whole mask ettiquette thing. Almost more like Paragon vs Renegade than Good Vs Evil, I guess?)

[Thanqol]

Day 473: Charger's Terrible Day

FINALLY done with the ATG, and with drawing ponies for the immediate future.

2 minutes per sketch, timed it out.

Safety Ball Mask is now a thing.

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-473-ATG-Day-30-324438760)

Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/rpRmQm1PmCA): In Your Prime

[Thanqol]

Day 474: Aboleth

A new challenge begins.

I've got my old 3.0 edition of the Monster Manual, and I'm going to go through it cover-to-cover and draw every critter in there at least once. This challenge is designed to get me familiar with drawing strange and inhuman creatures, broaden my range, and get me used to new tricks and techniques I wouldn't learn through my usual spheres.

This is not going to be a one monster a day challenge. I reserve the right to spend as long on each critter as I need.

So, day one: The Aboleth! I've had an idea for a campaign involving an Aboleth in my head for a million years.

The monster, old and blind, was washed up on a rocky reef outside a small fishing village. Half-suffocated by the unnatural air, the Aboleth began to go insane, calling out in psychic dreams and mournful whale-song to the village.

Over time, the village began to be shaped by the old monster's will. The Aboleth had never encountered humanity before, and began possessing townsfolk from it's rocky prison, exploring the society of it's lessers out of agonising boredom. In a curious case of stockholm syndrome, the Aboleth actually started to like the humans - and even fell in love with one boy in particular. Unfortunately it doesn't know how to, or understand the idea of, possessing a specific person. So it just grabs whatever mind it can and then begins stalking, reading poetry to, singing alien whale-music at and generally trying to flirt with the boy it loves.

The Aboleth is now almost so insane that it's barely aware of it's desiccated body on the rocks any more, trying haphazardly and earnestly to fit in to the town despite having to possess random townsfolk and being an alien monster. The townsfolk think it's some kind of ghost or spirit. The Aboleth stares with blind eyes into a brass mirror it desperately clutches and imagines it is a pretty human, with long hair to comb and lungs that can breathe air.

Links (http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4862/day474.jpg)

Time: 45 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/xOgyRReHzk0): Horizontal Rain

[Elemental]

That poor hideous aberration from the abyssal reaches of the Earth...
I'm sad now.

Oh, the philosophical questions such an event would bring to the minds of those adventurers who encounter it.
Should they slay the creature and end its suffering? Or grant it human form so that it can spend its final days amongst those it has come to love?

I think this song is appropriate... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjz8ZZU5Ibo&feature=related)

[Thanqol]

That poor hideous aberration from the abyssal reaches of the Earth...
I'm sad now.

Oh, the philosophical questions such an event would bring to the minds of those adventurers who encounter it.
Should they slay the creature and end its suffering? Or grant it human form so that it can spend its final days amongst those it has come to love?

I think this song is appropriate... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjz8ZZU5Ibo&feature=related)

Very appropriate, thank you for linking that.

[Elemental]

Very appropriate, thank you for linking that.

Glad I could help.

[SiuiS]

I was feeling braindead so I just sketched what I saw.

I've been looking closely at a lot of anime styles recently, and from a lot of angles. A huge part of it is the movement; motion lets you get away with a lot of things that don't particularly work in a still shot.

I don't particularly like the anime facial style, truth be told. The faces of the characters manage to consistently be the least interesting parts of their designs. I feel like that's a bit of a waste.

Hmm, there's a challenge for myself... Draw a bunch of anime characters with distinctive and significantly different facial structures

Good luck. You'll note anime has certain stock faces and stick to them; identifiable, repeatable and abstractable. Try to nail those benchmarks and you're golden.

You'll find there is a reason most anime characters are impossible to differentiate when you take off the hair, though.


Day 426: How The World Works

Stephanie's views on how the world works.

Links (http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/3613/day426.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/e4UCFiXuGlo): Cish Cash

Damn wizrobes be whack, yo!


Not the most common argument, but one that I know pops up occasionally.
Did you win by reminding said ancient undying monster that it's more practical to possess an army tank or attack helicopter?

No, but we should have!
Damn it hindsight!


Hm. I might have an idea.

Day 432: Inking Month

Okay, this sketching has gone on way too long and I'm gonna forcefully wean myself off it. New rule is no sketches for a month (excepting pen and paper days); pictures have to be inked, painted or coloured in some way. Let's see if I can get some new techniques and efficiency.

Today's was a partial experiment in line width. Some interesting things learned but nothing to write home about yet. There were some other layers and an attempt at greyscale colouring to this but they didn't work out so I'm just showing the inkline.

Links (http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/3149/day432.jpg)

Time: 35 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/68ugkg9RePc): Blue (Da Be Dee)

Huh. So we are letting structure issues go so you can practice stuff now?


A dagger! A rainbow dagger in my blackened internet heart!

There ya go.


Day 461: Bork bork

Bork bork bork bork. Oooh bork bork bjork bork bork

Bork (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-461-ATG-Day-19-322285832)

Bork: Bork bork
Bork (http://youtu.be/sY_Yf4zz-yo): Bork bork bork

ALL OF THE HIGH FIVES
/) /) /) /) /) !!!


Day 474: Aboleth

A new challenge begins.

I've got my old 3.0 edition of the Monster Manual, and I'm going to go through it cover-to-cover and draw every critter in there at least once. This challenge is designed to get me familiar with drawing strange and inhuman creatures, broaden my range, and get me used to new tricks and techniques I wouldn't learn through my usual spheres.

This is not going to be a one monster a day challenge. I reserve the right to spend as long on each critter as I need.

So, day one: The Aboleth! I've had an idea for a campaign involving an Aboleth in my head for a million years.

The monster, old and blind, was washed up on a rocky reef outside a small fishing village. Half-suffocated by the unnatural air, the Aboleth began to go insane, calling out in psychic dreams and mournful whale-song to the village.

Over time, the village began to be shaped by the old monster's will. The Aboleth had never encountered humanity before, and began possessing townsfolk from it's rocky prison, exploring the society of it's lessers out of agonising boredom. In a curious case of stockholm syndrome, the Aboleth actually started to like the humans - and even fell in love with one boy in particular. Unfortunately it doesn't know how to, or understand the idea of, possessing a specific person. So it just grabs whatever mind it can and then begins stalking, reading poetry to, singing alien whale-music at and generally trying to flirt with the boy it loves.

The Aboleth is now almost so insane that it's barely aware of it's desiccated body on the rocks any more, trying haphazardly and earnestly to fit in to the town despite having to possess random townsfolk and being an alien monster. The townsfolk think it's some kind of ghost or spirit. The Aboleth stares with blind eyes into a brass mirror it desperately clutches and imagines it is a pretty human, with long hair to comb and lungs that can breathe air.

Links (http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4862/day474.jpg)

Time: 45 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/xOgyRReHzk0): Horizontal Rain

****, man. That's dark. :smalleek:
The picture is well done, but it looks like the kind of thing I'd expect from
A video game, where instead I accounting or structure the whole grit end just bends sideways. Or like a bad CGI movie.

[Thanqol]

****, man. That's dark. :smalleek:
The picture is well done, but it looks like the kind of thing I'd expect from
A video game, where instead I accounting or structure the whole grit end just bends sideways. Or like a bad CGI movie.

Uh, thanks? I don't quite see what your complaint is or how to fix it.

Day 475: Achaierai

Wow, here's an obscure one.

An Achaieri is a weird-ass fat chicken devil who wanders around in Hell farting up awful smelling black clouds. They're stupid and ugly and get eaten all the time by the real devils. I don't know if anyone ever used them or if they even made it into 3.5.

Links (http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5729/day475.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/8NsoGsNiNTk): Unstoppable Trixie

[SiuiS]

Uh, thanks? I don't quite see what your complaint is or how to fix it.

You bent a skull where there at no joints and it looks like a rubber toy.


Day 475: Achaierai

Wow, here's an obscure one.

An Achaieri is a weird-ass fat chicken devil who wanders around in Hell farting up awful smelling black clouds. They're stupid and ugly and get eaten all the time by the real devils. I don't know if anyone ever used them or if they even made it into 3.5.

Links (http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5729/day475.jpg)

Time: 30 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/8NsoGsNiNTk): Unstoppable Trixie

They did make it in. They are some sort of obscure joke from the plan escape days. Yours is much more bitchin' than I've bet seen them. Kudos.

[Thanqol]

You bent a skull where there at no joints and it looks like a rubber toy.

I thought of it not having a skull, being more like an eel.


They did make it in. They are some sort of obscure joke from the plan escape days. Yours is much more bitchin' than I've bet seen them. Kudos.

Thanks!

[Tectonic Robot]

Yo, Thanqol, er... might I request a pirate avatar for Talk-like-a-pirate-day? ^^'''

[Thanqol]

Yo, Thanqol, er... might I request a pirate avatar for Talk-like-a-pirate-day? ^^'''

Tell you what, if I do one for myself I'll do one for you too.

Day 476: Thanqol Sells Out

Momma's birthday dinner, sketched this outside the restaurant.

Links (http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/7509/img0002pdu.jpg)

[Thanqol]

Day 477: Allip

Sorry for the slight blur.

An Allip is a headless ghost of someone who goes crazy and offs themselves, and is essentially a free-floating ball of crazy that makes others go crazy. Notable for having, in that very 3.0 way, 1d4 points of permanent wisdom drain per hit, meaning that getting touched three times by one can turn your cleric or druid into a very expensive Warrior chassis.

Links (http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/4221/img0002bsz.jpg)

[Thanqol]

Day 478: Animated Object

Next on our Monster Manual Expedition, the Animated Object.

The most memorable animated object I used... that'd have to be the communication artifact wielded by a senior Silver Ladder mage named Riechstag in my Perfect Arrow tabletop. Whenever he wanted to speak to someone he'd put on a magical gauntlet in his study and start writing on a piece of paper. Elsewhere, all the pens, rulers, staplers and other bits of office equipment on the target's desk would arrange themselves into the form of an arm, which would then start writing out Riechstag's message.

It was intended to be a creepy, high-magic form of communication from a paranoid old Master. It worked; Riechstag was one of my favourite NPCs in that game.

Picturewise, this was a bit of a rough experiment. At least one thing paid off so that's good to know.

Links (http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/9753/day478.jpg)

Time: 35 mins
Music (http://youtu.be/cYq34BSPuvc): Letters

[Thanqol]

Day 479: Ankheg

Dune meets Starcraft meets Ico I guess.

Links (http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/8124/day479.jpg)

Time: 35 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/HK-sBux2AKs): Advantages

[SiuiS]

An Ankheg is when a centipede molests a mantis, and it's child decided it wanted to eat hobbits for a living.

I'm not making that up.

I unfortunately have a bajillionty tabs open (read: five) and can't open any more. So I haven't seen any of your art since last, unfortunately. I'll be back though!

Also, skull or no skull, that many eyes in that many places? Head turnin is not what I'd expect :P

[Thanqol]

An Ankheg is when a centipede molests a mantis, and it's child decided it wanted to eat hobbits for a living.

I'm not making that up.

http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-stare.gif

Day 480: Aranea

I'm so clever. And handsome! Aced my financial management test. Aw yea.

Some kind of shapeshifting spider thing? A monster I never used or saw used. Turned out awesomely creepy, quite happy with this.

Links (http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8486/day480.jpg)

Time: 35 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/85uXDqMLfy4): So Mad You Rage

[Elemental]

Congratulations on doing well on your exam.

No idea how being handsome helped you there, but what do I know about financial management?

[Thanqol]

Congratulations on doing well on your exam.

No idea how being handsome helped you there, but what do I know about financial management?

Numbers like handsomeness. True fact.

I would have done better if I didn't have this huge sunburn over the right half of my face which is making my skin peel off like nasty wallpaper. Urgh.

[Maxtronaut]

Numbers like handsomeness. True fact.

I would have done better if I didn't have this huge sunburn over the right half of my face which is making my skin peel off like nasty wallpaper. Urgh.

Did you get flashed by a UFO a la Close Encounters of The Third Kind? :smalltongue:

[Thanqol]

Did you get flashed by a UFO a la Close Encounters of The Third Kind? :smalltongue:

I read a book outside.

Day 481: Arrowhawk

Might paint this tomorrow. Bit of a frustrating day.

Links (http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5113/day481.jpg)

Time: 20 minutes
Music (http://youtu.be/5vVJNR-envM): Spinning the Record

[Thanqol]

Day 482: Reactor Bug

As part of an art trade.

"One half of the strange biological chain found on forested Skaldin II, the "Reactor Bug" is a huge herbivorous insect being that drags around a stable Microfusion Vortex on it's back. The vortex is sustained by the Reactor Bug's steady diet of TK-494, which Skaldin is extremely rich in. The Reactor Bug itself is extremely simple, with a cattle-like intellect and little understanding of the sheer immense power it carts around with it everywhere.

The creatures that do understand the potential of the reactor bug are the pure energy entities, the Skalds. The Skalds have a strange parasitic relationship with Reactor Bugs - when two Skalds wish to reproduce, they dive together into the vortex of a Reactor Bug and are consumed by the vortex. This makes the Reactor Bug extremely ill until, next year, it's vortex explodes dramatically, releasing several dozen new Skalds into the atmosphere.

As the Skalds became a spacefaring race, they began tapping the reactor bugs for use as power sources. In warfare, they arm and armour reactor bugs and send them into conflict - the creatures are terrifying because their weapons have unlimited power supplies, and they are capable of burning their vortexes an unstable red that releases vast amounts of lethal radiation."

Links (http://thanqol.deviantart.com/art/Day-482-326221339)

Time: 3 hours
Music (http://www.dawnsomewhere.com/music/): Auburn Lady

[the_druid_droid]

Oh hey, a druid droid has emerged from his WoD slumber to post in actual threads again, maybe...

Anyway, liking the monster manual inspired theme. Kinda looking forward to Thanqol owlbear.

Also, I'm finally drawing stuff again, which I should probably post somewhere...

[Thanqol]

Oh hey, a druid droid has emerged from his WoD slumber to post in actual threads again, maybe...

Anyway, liking the monster manual inspired theme. Kinda looking forward to Thanqol owlbear.

Also, I'm finally drawing stuff again, which I should probably post somewhere...

Coo' coo'. Owlbear's a long ways off.

Day 483: Assassin Vine

http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/havethedumb.jpg

Stephanie's just gonna wait this one out.

Links (http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9555/day483.jpg)

Time: 15 minutes
Music (http://www.dawnsomewhere.com/music/): The Devil Owns All the Railways, But I’ve Got a Monopoly On Boardwalk