10-25-2012, 05:29 PM
ok, as promised, time for some mid week crits! maybe ill stream some advice tomorrow, we will see. AS FOLLOWS!
Thomas-
off to a really good start. tons of great studies and research. Its time to nail down the look for arthur tho so you can have it ready for sunday. you uploaded some really cool value sketches of samurai earlier, and one had a crossed cloth across armor. armor over cloth over armor is a cool way to layer and create interest when something is otherwise very recognizable. with some creative symbolism in embroidery and design in the metal, ev en more narrative can be worked in. The samurai helmet is also a cool way to substitute a crown- just make sure you play up the regality of it so its not a normal helmet. again, not over the top, but enough to generate unique interest. a good mix of cloth and armor is going to be essential here, so work on a good balance.
on the second page, you had some more cool studies with a mask. if you go this route, make the mask relevant. If we cant see the characters face, then the mask covering has to convey the character in its place. Arthur's line bears the standard of a red dragon, so this might be a theme to play with- If not in the mask, then elsewhere.
good stuff altogether. work on his sword. It needs to look powerful and ancient, and cant just be a regular katana. awesome work!
Tadas-
your second round of uploads are looking like a cool direction to take. I like the use of the upward crown as a nod to osiris, it also avoids being too stereotypical with a king tut mask. the pose looks good as well, but dont be afraid to sketch around some more to see if youd prefer another. the longer cloth going down to the feet feels far more kingly than the exposed legs, so id go with that. I also really like the girdle and cross belt, and they offer cool oppertunities to inlay gold designs as well as symbology. (the second design- on the right- feels much stronger, use that one as a basis.) other things to consider to make the silhouette feel stronger might be a cape (full or shoulder) to push a more triangular form. because Arthurs mythology represents a dawn of a golden age, he is sometimes figuratively associated with the sun, which works well with egypt. this might be a cool motif to work into the crown and/or armor. good stuff! start refining and godspeed.
Malan-
cool designs on page 1, they will work well when you get to the ornamental finishing touches of your characters. your 2 full characters have cool elements id like you to play with on a third. your second design is much stronger, though elements of the first work well. problems with the second design you can improve on are the symmetry and the feel. in terms of symmetry- make sure his costume isnt completely mirrored. offset it with something to create contrast and interest. a crossed belt, a pauldron on one side, cloth wrapped over one soulder, anything like this helps break up the mirroring problem of a symmetrical design. I liked the one shoulder pauldron over cloth from design 1, maybe reinterpret that. Dont cover his face completely. this approach could work well for arthur or morgane, but its too mysterious and hidden for a character like arthur. and of course, remember, that hes a king. add some special nods here and there both to his office and wealth.
good stuff all around, guys. a few things all of you can improve on:
that sword! its the symbol of what and who he is, and without it he would not be king. make sure it isnt normal or boring, while at the same time not overdoing it.
<3
Thomas-
off to a really good start. tons of great studies and research. Its time to nail down the look for arthur tho so you can have it ready for sunday. you uploaded some really cool value sketches of samurai earlier, and one had a crossed cloth across armor. armor over cloth over armor is a cool way to layer and create interest when something is otherwise very recognizable. with some creative symbolism in embroidery and design in the metal, ev en more narrative can be worked in. The samurai helmet is also a cool way to substitute a crown- just make sure you play up the regality of it so its not a normal helmet. again, not over the top, but enough to generate unique interest. a good mix of cloth and armor is going to be essential here, so work on a good balance.
on the second page, you had some more cool studies with a mask. if you go this route, make the mask relevant. If we cant see the characters face, then the mask covering has to convey the character in its place. Arthur's line bears the standard of a red dragon, so this might be a theme to play with- If not in the mask, then elsewhere.
good stuff altogether. work on his sword. It needs to look powerful and ancient, and cant just be a regular katana. awesome work!
Tadas-
your second round of uploads are looking like a cool direction to take. I like the use of the upward crown as a nod to osiris, it also avoids being too stereotypical with a king tut mask. the pose looks good as well, but dont be afraid to sketch around some more to see if youd prefer another. the longer cloth going down to the feet feels far more kingly than the exposed legs, so id go with that. I also really like the girdle and cross belt, and they offer cool oppertunities to inlay gold designs as well as symbology. (the second design- on the right- feels much stronger, use that one as a basis.) other things to consider to make the silhouette feel stronger might be a cape (full or shoulder) to push a more triangular form. because Arthurs mythology represents a dawn of a golden age, he is sometimes figuratively associated with the sun, which works well with egypt. this might be a cool motif to work into the crown and/or armor. good stuff! start refining and godspeed.
Malan-
cool designs on page 1, they will work well when you get to the ornamental finishing touches of your characters. your 2 full characters have cool elements id like you to play with on a third. your second design is much stronger, though elements of the first work well. problems with the second design you can improve on are the symmetry and the feel. in terms of symmetry- make sure his costume isnt completely mirrored. offset it with something to create contrast and interest. a crossed belt, a pauldron on one side, cloth wrapped over one soulder, anything like this helps break up the mirroring problem of a symmetrical design. I liked the one shoulder pauldron over cloth from design 1, maybe reinterpret that. Dont cover his face completely. this approach could work well for arthur or morgane, but its too mysterious and hidden for a character like arthur. and of course, remember, that hes a king. add some special nods here and there both to his office and wealth.
good stuff all around, guys. a few things all of you can improve on:
that sword! its the symbol of what and who he is, and without it he would not be king. make sure it isnt normal or boring, while at the same time not overdoing it.
<3