Order of the Stick: Reloaded

[Eerie]

As a part of learning how to use Inkscape, I decided to recreate the first page of OotS. It wasn`t as hard as I imagined.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z366/eerieootsavatars/OOtS1remakefinished.png

And just so you won`t suspect I simply copied the original from the site, this is a segment with better resolution:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z366/eerieootsavatars/OotS1segment.png



Any comments? Also, I can make changes to it, obviously. If you want to improve something, I don`t know - new details, different dialog, Belkar`s evil twin - suggest. :smallsmile:

[scienceguy8]

Personally, this kind of feels like cheating. Don't get me wrong, you can learn a lot by studying and copying the style of the masters, but there is not much to gain by tracing over the masters and painting by numbers. I suggest you try taking a character from a comic, television show, video game, etc., find yourself a reference pic or two, and emulate Rich's style.

Example:
J.C. Denton, main protagonist of the 2000 PC video game Deus Ex
http://www.battlereports.com/users/Feanor/DXPart1/1%20JC.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b4/JCDentonDX1.jpg

A day or two later, using additional reference pics of weapons from the game in question, an avatar is born.
http://www.gilberti-industries.com/miselaneous-images/JCD.png

To be fair, I did trace over the assault rifle pic to create it, and J.C. is made from parts borrowed from my Gordon Freeman avatar, but otherwise he is scratch built in Burlew's style.

[Eerie]

Personally, this kind of feels like cheating.

Cheating how? I don`t pretend it`s my original work.

[Dark Faun]

You're kind of forced to emulate Rich Burlew's style if you want to make fanart though (not that I'm saying the original posters does).

That's pretty accurate work too.

Of course, this is coming from someone who can't translate one style to another to save his life. :smalltongue:

[AsteriskAmp]

It's a good start, it familiarizes you with the basics and essential posture work, it also has the benefit that you now have a number of base models and expression for future avatars and you already have defined line thickness.

I'd recommend you to try making them from scratch instead of tracing them, try to get them into different postures using an old one or change their clothing.

One minor error though, Roy's arms are way too short.

[Eerie]

One minor error though, Roy's arms are way too short.

He-he. They are as short as in the comic. Not my fault it is inconsistent. :smallbiggrin:

BTW, do you know what program Rich use to draw?

[Dark Faun]

Inkscape. :smalltongue:

[Elder Tsofu]

Adobe Illustrator If I'm not remembering wrong - and try to copy the new strips instead of the old if you just want to learn. His art has matured over the years...

It is a good copy though.

[AsteriskAmp]

Adobe Illustrator If I'm not remembering wrong - and try to copy the new strips instead of the old if you just want to learn. His art has matured over the years...

It is a good copy though.


Actually, what I learned in art school was ... how to use vector art programs like Adobe Illustrator...
(Quote has not relevant fragments edited out.)
I believe he does use Adobe Illustrator.

[Ninjaman]

Adobe Illustrator If I'm not remembering wrong - and try to copy the new strips instead of the old if you just want to learn. His art has matured over the years...

It is a good copy though.

I will have to agree, his first ones is really... wierd? The new ones is way better for practice.

[A Rainy Knight]

I generally agree with what the others have said; while this is a good way to learn your way around the program and get a feel for using all the tools at your disposal, the really liberating part of being an avatarist is once you can make an OOTS avatar out of a non-OOTS source (or just out of your imagination). For instance, I've been working a while making avatars based on character portraits from Fire Emblem games to improve my skills.

Also, welcome to the avataring world. :smallbiggrin: