OotS Style Art/Fanart Showcase V

[Theprettiestorc]

If it's excellent it's because I spend approximately three billion years on it. I'm looking for the lazy way out.

Take my current one for example. Hair? Almost twice as much time as the rest of the avatar combined.

That's a really good avatar, too.

[Teddy]

*image*

It's funny how redrawing characters from months ago makes me feel good. Really shows how my style has improved. For comparison

*comparison*

Yeah, watching yourself improve is one of the greatest joys of avataring. I still use an only slightly updated version of my very first avatar as a template for any new I make (mostly thanks to it's highly neutral pose), and even though it now has the hair and the updated ears, it still has the two-node arms and non-curved legs I used in the beginning, because back then, I didn't see the point of doing anything more than that. In other words, avataring hasn't just made me better at drawing, it has also made me better (or just pickier) at evaluating drawings as well.

Oh, and as far as art criticism goes, it's late and I need to sleep, so I'll just give you this:

It's often quite easy to spot when a detail has be copied and pasted unless some small (sometimes even down to pixel-level) changes are done to the copy. In this case I'm talking about their mouths, which looks so similar that the girls actually end up looking a bit uncanny together. I mean, imagine you met two persons with identical smiles walking down the street. Wouldn't you find that a bit creepy?

[asdflove]

Yeah, watching yourself improve is one of the greatest joys of avataring. I still use an only slightly updated version of my very first avatar as a template for any new I make (mostly thanks to it's highly neutral pose), and even though it now has the hair and the updated ears, it still has the two-node arms and non-curved legs I used in the beginning, because back then, I didn't see the point of doing anything more than that. In other words, avataring hasn't just made me better at drawing, it has also made me better (or just pickier) at evaluating drawings as well.

Oh, and as far as art criticism goes, it's late and I need to sleep, so I'll just give you this:

It's often quite easy to spot when a detail has be copied and pasted unless some small (sometimes even down to pixel-level) changes are done to the copy. In this case I'm talking about their mouths, which looks so similar that the girls actually end up looking a bit uncanny together. I mean, imagine you met two persons with identical smiles walking down the street. Wouldn't you find that a bit creepy?

I know the mouths are Identical. It's my standard female template. If I'm actually using it for something (Like in my comics.) I'll do each individually.

[TaiLiu]

Here are my thoughts.

Spoiler

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I suppose the ultimate test is imitating The Giant's art style perfectly, then?

[Ashen Lilies]

I suppose the ultimate test is imitating The Giant's art style perfectly, then?

Not that difficult. The Giant's style is very deliberately rather simple, and most well-known avatarists make names for themselves by making their own additions and running with them until they find themselves a distinctive style.

[TaiLiu]

Not that difficult. The Giant's style is very deliberately rather simple, and most well-known avatarists make names for themselves by making their own additions and running with them until they find themselves a distinctive style.

Is it not? I've seen artists get the basic style down before adding their own flavouring, but to imitate The Giant's style perfectly? The Giant's style is evolving constantly, which makes it even more difficult, and I have not seen anyone who can draw art that, upon close examination, could be mistaken for The Giant's recent artwork (I have seen some close ones, though).

[Elder Tsofu]

The problem is that if you have to stand up to pixel-by-pixel comparison of the characters they will of course not be perfect - unless you trace (which defeats the point of the whole exercise).
But just for fun I did the lazy people version here; inserting my "drawn from reference Belkar" into the last strip.

Spoiler

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If you guess then try to be a good sport and do not pixel-compare by the comic posted by the Giant, but by the presented material in the spoiler. It shouldn't be too hard regardless.

[Teddy]

I know the mouths are Identical. It's my standard female template. If I'm actually using it for something (Like in my comics.) I'll do each individually.

Yeah, I'm just suggesting that you modify the curves ever so slightly, it goes a long way to remove any uncanniness.

[Cuthalion]

You use templates, asdf? I suppose that's why you can churn them out that fast. Hrm. And why they all look the same.

Spoiler

Show

[TaiLiu]

The problem is that if you have to stand up to pixel-by-pixel comparison of the characters they will of course not be perfect - unless you trace (which defeats the point of the whole exercise).
But just for fun I did the lazy people version here; inserting my "drawn from reference Belkar" into the last strip.

Spoiler

Show

If you guess then try to be a good sport and do not pixel-compare by the comic posted by the Giant, but by the presented material in the spoiler. It shouldn't be too hard regardless.

Oh, very impressive! Panel five has a noticeable difference, but I'll be taking my words back, now.

This begs the question, then: what would be the ultimate test?

[asdflove]

You use templates, asdf? I suppose that's why you can churn them out that fast. Hrm. And why they all look the same.

Spoiler

Show

... Kinda. I mostly grab bits and bobs of old pics, and... re-purpose them.
This is one of my canvases I work in. One of like, 4.
Also, I have no clue what's going on in your picture, but I like it.

[TaiLiu]

Red-haired male, cut below the armour plate!

[asdflove]

Red-haired male, cut below the armour plate!

He doesn't want to fight her though. That's his sister attacking him.

[TaiLiu]

Red-haired male, cast Calm Emotions!

[asdflove]

That's not on the Paladin spell list...

[Elder Tsofu]

This begs the question, then: what would be the ultimate test?

I don't think there is one really. If you enjoy what you do and people enjoy what you do then you're more or less at the top. The art might get more refined or change over time, but as long as someone* gets enjoyment out of it you've succeeded.

*even if it is only yourself.

[Cuthalion]

I don't think there is one really. If you enjoy what you do and people enjoy what you do then you're more or less at the top. The art might get more refined or change over time, but as long as someone* gets enjoyment out of it you've succeeded.

*even if it is only yourself.

If there is one, I'd say making art that people enjoy and can't give much of any criticism to.

[Gnomish Wanderer]

If there is one, I'd say making art that people enjoy and can't give much of any criticism to.

I think that second part is impossible.

[asdflove]

[Gnomish Wanderer]

Very nice! I really like this one. The sash is amazing, and she really looks relaxed. Two things, I would try lifting the violin a little higher, and maybe giving the shoes less laces but larger ones. Good work!

Here are the two gnewest Gnomatars. How do they look?

[asdflove]

Very nice! I really like this one. The sash is amazing, and she really looks relaxed. Two things, I would try lifting the violin a little higher, and maybe giving the shoes less laces but larger ones. Good work!

Here are the two gnewest Gnomatars. How do they look?

Will do. I use those shoes quite a bit, so I want them to look good.

That fox is freaking adorable.

I like how your Gnome girl looks tribal-esk in this one.

Edit:

Better?

[Deathkeeper]

That fox is freaking adorable.

Pretty much this Makes me want to get an avatar of the kitsune I use on the FFRP. I should get on that later.

But more importantly, I really like the face paint/tattoos (not sure which they are) and really just the colors in general. It's also further proof that staves are cool.

[Derjuin]

Here are the two gnewest Gnomatars. How do they look?

The...right side, I believe, of her chest looks a little awkward; I'm thinking it's because of the line thickness. Where it's thinner, it looks like it's out of place, almost. Also the fox's back leg looks off to me, in that it doesn't seem to actually connect to its body. Otherwise, they're lookin' good.

[Tectonic Robot]

Gnomish is really super awesome and cool and good at drawing freakin' adorable foxes, it's true!

[TaiLiu]

I don't think there is one really. If you enjoy what you do and people enjoy what you do then you're more or less at the top. The art might get more refined or change over time, but as long as someone* gets enjoyment out of it you've succeeded.

*even if it is only yourself.

No, no. I meant an ultimate test of imitation, not drawing.

[Elder Tsofu]

No, no. I meant an ultimate test of imitation, not drawing.

That's easy, draw something that the one you copy ends up thinking he/she drew him/herself.

[TaiLiu]

That's easy, draw something that the one you copy ends up thinking he/she drew him/herself.

Oh! I don't know why I didn't think of that. Thank you.

[Theprettiestorc]

I think the biggest critic is always yourself. My Great Grandfather was a watercolor painter in Buffalo, NY. I remember watching him take a painting off of a wall that he'd done thirty years previous, because he wasn't satisfied, and add onto it.

He liked to revisit his paintings after the fact - I think that if you are able to see how you've improved, where you need to, and genuinely work on it, you're on a good track.

(As for me, I'm bunk, period.)

[Teddy]

Gnomish makes lovely art. I've yet to decide whether I think the many uncurved lines add to the effect or not, though. I mean, it's distinctive, and that tends to be a good thing...

*violinist*
Better?

Don't you generally hold the neck of a violin from below so that it rests in your palm, rather than from above? I mean, pose as if you held a violin the way she does. I tried, and it's not comfortable...

[Zombulian]

Gnomish makes lovely art. I've yet to decide whether I think the many uncurved lines add to the effect or not, though. I mean, it's distinctive, and that tends to be a good thing...



Don't you generally hold the neck of a violin from below so that it rests in your palm, rather than from above? I mean, pose as if you held a violin the way she does. I tried, and it's not comfortable...

*Goes to actually look at her hand*
Dear lord that looks uncomfortable. There also appears to be no head or scroll to the violin, how would you tune it?