Thanqol Learns To Draw!

[Thanqol]

As promised, have a pony to draw!

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Name: Cloudy Skies
Race: Pegasus Pony
Colors: (Thanqol's choice)
Cutie Mark: (Again, artist's interpretation)
Special Talent: Toughness
Description: Cloudy is something of an unusual pony; his defining feature is that he's surprisingly resilient, even by marshmallow pony standards. This is fortunate, because he usually finds himself in the thick of things, working for the Weather Bureau as a storm specialist, either dissipating inclement weather before it can wreak havoc, or redirecting it to locations scheduled for a rough patch. Of course, really serious weather is fairly infrequent, so to keep busy, he usually has to travel over a fair bit of Equestria on storm patrol.

The long hours and wide range of his job have made Cloudy a strong endurance flier, although his speed leaves something to be desired, and he only has a small cloud house, since he's away so often. On a personal level, the pegasus is almost the epitome of Fortitude, strongly believing that it's better for him to risk getting hurt than to let others come to harm. He tends to apply this to emotional as well as physical issues though, which can make him seem stubborn or a bit overbearing, but he's the pony you want by your side in a pinch, since once he's put hoof to a job, it's guaranteed he'll see it through.

Day 212: Shrugging

I doubt this was what you had in mind, but this'll learn ya to be more specific!

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Time: 1.5 hours
Music: Adopted Family

[Hawkflight]

So, I should probably get my requests in before there's a big backlog, shouldn't I?

I actually have two requests.

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First off is a character for an upcoming Legend game. She's a gun-fu catgirl. Dusty in color, possibly some form of ginger. She is basically Ezio Auditore de Fiorenze, only she's a catgirl. And instead of being Italian, she's a Cockney gunslinger. And instead of wielding a hidden blade and knives, she wields a pair of Final Fantasy-style pistols, cool gun tricks, and anime-style martial arts, as well as Ezio's acrobatics, disarming, tripping, and other abilities. Also, she's a bit chibi, but not a kid, though she looks a little childish.

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The second one is me giving the adorable puppy kitty eyes. I'm basically a dark gray / black she-cat catgirl with blue eyes and a dress.

[the_druid_droid]

Day 212: Shrugging

I doubt this was what you had in mind, but this'll learn ya to be more specific!

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Time: 1.5 hours
Music: Adopted Family

Actually, this is a pretty awesome picture, and I have no qualms about being part of the inspiration behind it!

...though I will probably be more specific next time...

[togapika]

Can you draw a were-hippo? Playing up less of the scare factor and more of the awesome factor

[Thanqol]

Actually, this is a pretty awesome picture, and I have no qualms about being part of the inspiration behind it!

...though I will probably be more specific next time...

The only visual description you had in that segment was 'tough'. I did what I could to work with that.

Day 213: Beast

A line density/perspective exercise. Could do with more work but it realised a couple of concepts for me.

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Time: 40 mins
Music: Stronger

[Hawkflight]

So, I should probably get my requests in before there's a big backlog, shouldn't I?

I actually have two requests.

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First off is a character for an upcoming Legend game. She's a gun-fu catgirl. Dusty in color, possibly some form of ginger. She is basically Ezio Auditore de Fiorenze, only she's a catgirl. And instead of being Italian, she's a Cockney gunslinger. And instead of wielding a hidden blade and knives, she wields a pair of Final Fantasy-style pistols, cool gun tricks, and anime-style martial arts, as well as Ezio's acrobatics, disarming, tripping, and other abilities. Also, she's a bit chibi, but not a kid, though she looks a little childish.

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The second one is me giving the adorable puppy kitty eyes. I'm basically a dark gray / black she-cat catgirl with blue eyes and a dress.

Actually, two points.

For the first one, have some inspiration.

For the second one, I forgot to mention, my persona (the kitty girl) is a kitty. Young, chibi, and adorable.

[Thanqol]

Tectonic is technically first but I'm kinda looking to draw something other than ponies right now. Soooo~

Day 214: More Gunpowder Than Common Sense

So, I should probably get my requests in before there's a big backlog, shouldn't I?

I actually have two requests.

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First off is a character for an upcoming Legend game. She's a gun-fu catgirl. Dusty in color, possibly some form of ginger. She is basically Ezio Auditore de Fiorenze, only she's a catgirl. And instead of being Italian, she's a Cockney gunslinger. And instead of wielding a hidden blade and knives, she wields a pair of Final Fantasy-style pistols, cool gun tricks, and anime-style martial arts, as well as Ezio's acrobatics, disarming, tripping, and other abilities. Also, she's a bit chibi, but not a kid, though she looks a little childish.

Hm, this was interesting to do, and laced with chronic failures. No insight today. Just need more practise.

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Time: 1.5 Hours
Music: Princess Celestia Is Best Pony

[Thanqol]

Er, I'll just describe my OCs then? If that's alright?

Candle Keeper:

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Candle Keeper is my first successful OC. He looks basically like this:

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He was originally kind of a jerk, but he's reformed now. Nowadays he just likes hanging out in the IRC and stuff. He has one article of clothing he's always wearing; a poorly defined coat-robe thing. I always imagined it with sleeves and a hood, but I could never totally visualize it. His CM is a candle.

Day 215: Such A Wonderful Show

Not fully happy with this one. Colours threw me a bit. I've got an idea of what I need to practise to improve though.

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Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Music: Such A Wonderful Show

[Tectonic Robot]

Day 215: Such A Wonderful Show

Not fully happy with this one. Colours threw me a bit. I've got an idea of what I need to practise to improve though.

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Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Music: Such A Wonderful Show

ASDKFDJAFAJDFKJDALASLSDJAALFA

OMIGOSH.

He looks... a lot more BA then I imagined him! I mean, usually he's... but... SERIOUSLY OH MY GOSH.

Thanks, Thanqol! What about the colors threw you?

I think it's impossible to adequetly explain or describe what I think the robe looks like in my head.

[Thanqol]

ASDKFDJAFAJDFKJDALASLSDJAALFA

OMIGOSH.

He looks... a lot more BA then I imagined him! I mean, usually he's... but... SERIOUSLY OH MY GOSH.

Thanks, Thanqol! What about the colors threw you?

I think it's impossible to adequetly explain or describe what I think the robe looks like in my head.

I'm glad you like it!

The colour scheme you provided was fine, I just tried out a variety of shading techniques with this one and I wasn't fully content with the way they worked out. The hood, for example, was a black fill; I should have worked on that a bit longer, added a little more variance; not 100% on the clothing folds either.

BUT, as usually happens when I do things that I'm not happy with, a few hours of reflection has lead me to figure out what to fix for next time; my trouble with the hood could have been solved by referencing Luna's from Nightmare Night. I'm increasingly coming to the conclusion that a time will come when I'm prepared to spend 8+ hours on a single piece over the course of a week and I'll be able to fix problems like that directly rather than categorising them as lessons learned and remembering them for next time. I'm happy with my current approach for it's learning progression, but it's not producing end results that reflect the height of my current ability.

Er, wow, that was a bit textwally for that simple question. Sorry; happy again you liked it and I'll get around to your other requests soon

[Lix Lorn]

Day 215: Such A Wonderful Show

Not fully happy with this one. Colours threw me a bit. I've got an idea of what I need to practise to improve though.

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Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Music: Such A Wonderful Show

assfdjsdfj

I'll be in my bunk.

[Thanqol]

assfdjsdfj

I'll be in my bunk.

And that is the highest possible praise ^^

[Thanqol]

Day 216: Woah

This is the most awesome thing I have ever drawn.

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External Link

Time: 3 hours
Music: Glaze's Nightmare Night

[Thanqol]

Can you draw a were-hippo? Playing up less of the scare factor and more of the awesome factor

Day 217: The Buddy Cop Movie Of The Year

You're a loose cannon, werehippo, but you're a damn fine cop.

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Time: 2 hours
Music: Santa Baby

[togapika]

Day 217: The Buddy Cop Movie Of The Year

You're a loose cannon, werehippo, but you're a damn fine cop.

Adji Ageh Whoist... THAT IS THE MOST AWESOME THING EVAR!

[Thanqol]

Day 218: Rest

It's been a long year. This may be my last digital piece for a few weeks. Drawings will continue, but may not always be uploaded on time. Geographic upheaval and all that.

But for now, let's have some rest. We've earned it.

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Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Music: Skyrim/Morrowind Theme

[Lix Lorn]

That is adorable.
(puts a blanket over them and cuddles gently)

[Thanqol]

Day 219: Heritage

My brother looks at some family portraits. So much history here.

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Time: 15 mins
Music: Heartache by the Number

[Thanqol]

Day 220: She Will Treat Me Like A Lady

Merry Christmas. *Kerthud*

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Time: 5+ hours @_@
Music: At The Gala

[Sean Mirrsen]

Although I can see quite a few errors (not least of which... that's a puddle where?) , it looks pretty nice.

Also, 5 hours? Like, continuous, uninterrupted 5 hours of drawing? Have mercy on your eyes! Mine get tired after two...

[Thanqol]

Although I can see quite a few errors (not least of which... that's a puddle where?) , it looks pretty nice.

Right. Fixed. I think. If there's stuff wrong, point it out and be specific because I'm having a hard time processing things right now, and if there's a problem I want to deal with it.

Also, 5 hours? Like, continuous, uninterrupted 5 hours of drawing? Have mercy on your eyes! Mine get tired after two...

ha ha ha ha ha ha @_@

[Sean Mirrsen]

Well, if you want me to point out ALL of them, without mercy...

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The "puddle is where" is more of a fundamental thing. Perspective disregarded, it appears to be in the middle of a perfectly flat floor - where it'd cease being a puddle of any appreciable depth in a few seconds of applied hydrodynamics. If it were on a road somewhere rather than the picturesque balcony thing (or the bow of a ship, it's hard to tell - although if it's a ship and the characters are upright, it's in the final stages of sinking), it'd be more believable.

RD's cutie mark is oriented wrong (the lightning bolt turns towards the hind part, following the shape of the flank, regardless of facing). Her mane is usually styled differently, but that one gets a pass.

Other than those, it's a whole mess of tiny nitpicks about limb proportions, perspective and other boring stuff. But you get a commendation from me for Rarity's dress. Very nice.

[Hawkflight]

Y'know, the whole 'puddle' cliche has always kinda ticked me off. I always think, "Go around it you dumb broad! You're not a Terraria NPC, you're smarter than that!"

[Thanqol]

Well, if you want me to point out ALL of them, without mercy...

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The "puddle is where" is more of a fundamental thing. Perspective disregarded, it appears to be in the middle of a perfectly flat floor - where it'd cease being a puddle of any appreciable depth in a few seconds of applied hydrodynamics. If it were on a road somewhere rather than the picturesque balcony thing (or the bow of a ship, it's hard to tell - although if it's a ship and the characters are upright, it's in the final stages of sinking), it'd be more believable.

RD's cutie mark is oriented wrong (the lightning bolt turns towards the hind part, following the shape of the flank, regardless of facing). Her mane is usually styled differently, but that one gets a pass.

Other than those, it's a whole mess of tiny nitpicks about limb proportions, perspective and other boring stuff. But you get a commendation from me for Rarity's dress. Very nice.

I'm actually feeling strangely content that puddle dynamics/misplaced cutie mark are the long list of problems with that piece. Still, I'll do some more research and practise so I can nail 'em next time.

Y'know, the whole 'puddle' cliche has always kinda ticked me off. I always think, "Go around it you dumb broad! You're not a Terraria NPC, you're smarter than that!"

That's not the point. Any sane person would go around it. The point is that the coat-thrower is so passionately, madly in love with the woman that he's prepared to make ridiculously disproportionate sacrifices, such as ruining an expensive coat, in exchange for mildly conveniencing his beloved.

The fact that it's stupid is the point. It's meant to make passers-by go,
"He's mad!"
"No. He's in love."

[Thanqol]

Day 221: Please Don't Make Me Do This

Experimental character design for Cyprus, a Seer of the Throne I might be playing at some point.

I love designing Mage characters so much. Hand is meh, everything else is half-decent albiet slightly rushed

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Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Music: Glass to the Arson

[fizzybobnewt]

Is that a Portal?

[the_druid_droid]

That's not the point. Any sane person would go around it. The point is that the coat-thrower is so passionately, madly in love with the woman that he's prepared to make ridiculously disproportionate sacrifices, such as ruining an expensive coat, in exchange for mildly conveniencing his beloved.

The fact that it's stupid is the point. It's meant to make passers-by go,
"He's mad!"
"No. He's in love."

What's the bit from Stardust? "Every lover is a poet in his head and a madman in his heart"?

And you were right: I was missing out by not reading Gaiman

[Thanqol]

Is that a Portal?

Supposed to be molten metal, but I kinda half-assed it. It's something I need to do in more detail later.

What's the bit from Stardust? "Every lover is a poet in his head and a madman in his heart"?

And you were right: I was missing out by not reading Gaiman

I'm glad I managed to put you onto a good thing

Day 222: Reinitiation

I noticed myself getting complacent, so I'm busting myself down to base principles for the immediate future. I saw a quote, "If you want to be able to draw something from your mind's eye you should copy it 5-10 times every day" - is there any truth to that?

Principles like this take less time than complex pieces, but they're much more boring to do because they involve conscious learning. I'm not gonna let myself slack, though, and I'll make sure I put the hours in.

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Time: 40 mins
Music: Windigoes

[the_druid_droid]

Supposed to be molten metal, but I kinda half-assed it. It's something I need to do in more detail later.



I'm glad I managed to put you onto a good thing

Day 222: Reinitiation

I noticed myself getting complacent, so I'm busting myself down to base principles for the immediate future. I saw a quote, "If you want to be able to draw something from your mind's eye you should copy it 5-10 times every day" - is there any truth to that?

Principles like this take less time than complex pieces, but they're much more boring to do because they involve conscious learning. I'm not gonna let myself slack, though, and I'll make sure I put the hours in.

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Time: 40 mins
Music: Windigoes

Hmm, from my fairly limited experience, I would say that there's truth to that saying. I certainly feel most confident when trying things like ponies that I've worked at drawing from screenshots most frequently. Stuff I've drawn less takes much more time and experimentation to get right, because I have more trouble seeing it properly in my head.

Also, in your third torso drawing from the left, it looks like you're using the boxes to help establish perspective...that's a good thing! Keep it up - using basic forms like that to rough out the positioning and perspective seems to be something incorporated even by the experienced artists I've seen draw.

[Thanqol]

Day 222a: Will Draw For food nothing

Ponythread IRC made me draw for them. Have some sketches.

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