Ponythread Learns to Draw! Together! - Page 13

Bakuel · 12-19-2011, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pokonic

Pic's adorable.

Landscape is fine, but Applejacks mouth looks...off. The mouth usualy should never extend to where the chin should be in a face-forword shot, or at least with ponies. Wiona is great, tho.

Your right on that! I tried fulling around with the mouth before but whenever I tried fixing it, then the snout would look weird. Finally I chose the lesser evil. If I was more careful during the pre-drawing stage, this would have never happened! Honestly though, half of the time on this one was spent fooling around with Applejack's face. I went into it expecting Winona's design to be hard and Applejack to be easy. It turned out to be the other way around.

Not to blabber, but at the end I almost swore that Rarity would be my new favorite pony. Until I attempted her hair of course.
But live and learn. My next will be better.

I'm happy you think it's adorable though, it's good to know my attempt at a softer scene didn't fall completely flat!

Thanqol · 12-19-2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

I've tried tossing this idea into another forum's quick fiction ideas thread, but nobody picked it up. If anyone wants to try something ridiculously complex, you could try to draw something of it.

Basically, it's a what-if. What if the Elements of Harmony didn't unleash the Orbital Friendship Cannon, but did something entirely different? Try to draw the result of this "something". Possible inspirations: Voltron, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, any of the Power Rangers series.

Thank you for making me do this.

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DA

the_druid_droid · 12-19-2011, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bakuel

Sounds great!
I have a great idea to draw for this, I just hope I can finish it in time.

Well, there's no hard and fast deadline. Feel free to post whenever you finish it, or to move on to something else if you get sick of working on a particular prompt.

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Well, I finished the picture I posted before so I can move on to new things.

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I like it! It almost reminds me of a movie poster or something similar; it's really neat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thanqol

Thank you for making me do this.

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DA

*slowclap.gif*

Pokonic · 12-20-2011, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bakuel

Your right on that! I tried fulling around with the mouth before but whenever I tried fixing it, then the snout would look weird. Finally I chose the lesser evil. If I was more careful during the pre-drawing stage, this would have never happened! Honestly though, half of the time on this one was spent fooling around with Applejack's face. I went into it expecting Winona's design to be hard and Applejack to be easy. It turned out to be the other way around.

Not to blabber, but at the end I almost swore that Rarity would be my new favorite pony. Until I attempted her hair of course.
But live and learn. My next will be better.

I'm happy you think it's adorable though, it's good to know my attempt at a softer scene didn't fall completely flat!

Yeah, it always seemed to me that out of the two kinds of dogs we have seen so far, for whatever reason the one on all fours seems the hardest to draw.

Amusingly, I do belive that the show itself is suffering from the same issues you are with the facial structure of the ponies, juging from the unholy facial expressions we have gotten this season.

Sean Mirrsen · 12-20-2011, 05:55 AM

I tried to imagine what a Captain Harmony would look like. Since I was too lazy to actually look up references, I decided to "wing it" and just think of something as I drew. The design I ended up with... I think I'll call him/her "Captain Platypus".

edit: And colored, shaded, and otherwise done with:

Three hours' work, all in all.

Diego Havoc · 12-20-2011, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thanqol

Thank you for making me do this.

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DA

I feel like there's a reference I'm missing. Still, looks pretty cool ^^

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

I tried to imagine what a Captain Harmony would look like. Since I was too lazy to actually look up references, I decided to "wing it" and just think of something as I drew. The design I ended up with... I think I'll call him/her "Captain Platypus".

Spoiler

Three hours' work, all in all.

Wow that's... that's a lotta pony. XD I must admit, I do like how you've coloured it.

Sean Mirrsen · 12-20-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diego Havoc

Wow that's... that's a lotta pony. XD I must admit, I do like how you've coloured it.

Thanks. I think Thanqol nailed the thought behind it, in the main ponythread. If I were asked "Who is your favorite pony", I could probably only say "All of them".

And the actual inspiration, in case some of you don't frequent TVTropes, is this one image, for the All Your Powers Combined page:

SiuiS · 12-20-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tectonic Robot

Ah, people who are learning to draw. I salute all of you and your valiant efforts! I shall cheer from the sidelines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tectonic Robot

Nah, nah, I'll just watch!

None of that, mate. You really have no excuse not to jump in. Have you seen the pony images EsperDerek and Thanqol started with?

If you don't even care about learning to draw, that's one thing. No use practicing a skill you don't want. But if you are interested, even in just little doodles like I tend to do, then give it a shot. You've got nothing to lose, and much to gain.

Pokonic · 12-20-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

I tried to imagine what a Captain Harmony would look like. Since I was too lazy to actually look up references, I decided to "wing it" and just think of something as I drew. The design I ended up with... I think I'll call him/her "Captain Platypus".

edit: And colored, shaded, and otherwise done with:

Three hours' work, all in all.

.....Heratic! There is no such thing as the legandary Alicorn of Harmony! Exermitus!

Actualy, its quite good. I like the hair, mostly because somthing like what you did theres beyond my drawing abilitys.

Sean Mirrsen · 12-22-2011, 03:44 AM

Sketchy time!

I've no idea where I was going with this...

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Sean Mirrsen · 12-24-2011, 08:36 AM

What does it take to get people to comment in here? Where is everyone?
Sorry for the doublepost, but with the activity level here...

I'm continuing the development of the above sketch now. Any comments on the general design before it's too late to edit it?

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edit: Continuing development:

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Diego Havoc · 12-24-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

What does it take to get people to comment in here? Where is everyone?
Sorry for the doublepost, but with the activity level here...

My apologies, but I lost the tab (musta accidently closed it) and I haven't really drawn much lately... except for one thing... but that's a seeeeeecret

Anyway, your pic is.... well it's kinda cool looking, I'll give you that. The only thing I can critique is that the pony manes attached to a robot is a little odd looking to me. The rest looks good. The machine details look very good ^^

EDIT: You updated as I posted XD

Um, yeah, re: the manes: What if it had one large flowing mane, like Celestia's, but with all the ponies' colours combined?

Also, on second glance, it kinda looks like AJ's mech-hand has nail-polish on it. Am I looking at it wrong?

Sean Mirrsen · 12-24-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diego Havoc

My apologies, but I lost the tab (musta accidently closed it) and I haven't really drawn much lately... except for one thing... but that's a seeeeeecret

Anyway, your pic is.... well it's kinda cool looking, I'll give you that. The only thing I can critique is that the pony manes attached to a robot is a little odd looking to me. The rest looks good. The machine details look very good ^^

EDIT: You updated as I posted XD

Um, yeah, re: the manes: What if it had one large flowing mane, like Celestia's, but with all the ponies' colours combined?

I thought of that, but yes, manes on machines in general tend to look silly. In this case, I'm allowing Pinkie's mane because it's Pinkie, and AJ and Rarity's manes (or rather tails) serve practical purposes - Rarity's tail is an energy whip (that one gif where she swings it above herself comes to mind), and AJ's tail is inexplicably prehensile - in this case, it forms the hand on the arm, and can be used as a sort of an extendable hydraulic ram. The mane, on the other hand, I'm leaving mostly for symmetry purposes. Twilight gets to keep her hair since I can't see it working in any other way. RD's and Fluttershy's mechs are primarily fighter support, however, and manes don't work very well for them in general. I guess I could have the tail formed as part of the "magical engine exhaust", but the mane would have to be integrated into the design somehow.

Quote:

Also, on second glance, it kinda looks like AJ's mech-hand has nail-polish on it. Am I looking at it wrong?

Yes, you are. The red pieces are segments of the "ribbon" that hold her "ponytail" together, since the hand is formed from the mech's prehensile tail. I thought of several places the red segments could go, and ended up putting them on the phalanges. You can't see the fingertips from this angle, so even if it was nail polish, you wouldn't see it. :)

Diego Havoc · 12-24-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

Yes, you are. The red pieces are segments of the "ribbon" that hold her "ponytail" together, since the hand is formed from the mech's prehensile tail. I thought of several places the red segments could go, and ended up putting them on the phalanges. You can't see the fingertips from this angle, so even if it was nail polish, you wouldn't see it. :)

Ahhh, okay then.

Well, I don't have much else to add. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

Sean Mirrsen · 12-25-2011, 07:42 AM

Outlines finished:

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I decided I very much didn't like the plain flat chestplates, especially considering they would come from the flanks of the addon mech (Harmonic Balance, Celestia and Luna's remotely operated HORD). While I was at it, I spruced up AJ's and Pinkie's mechs as well. Still not too sure about Twilight's face as the mech's head. It looks fine as it is, but perhaps I should at least stylize it more... add a helmet/mask to go with the ~~tiara~~ crown thingy.

Thanqol · 12-25-2011, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

What does it take to get people to comment in here? Where is everyone?
Sorry for the doublepost, but with the activity level here...

From my experience of 220 days of art-threading, there'll be long periods of silence, usually a week or two, and then half a dozen people comment at once. Also, it's Christmas break. The internet's dead. I tend to just lurk here because most stuff goes in my own thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

Outlines finished:

Spoiler

I decided I very much didn't like the plain flat chestplates, especially considering they would come from the flanks of the addon mech (Harmonic Balance, Celestia and Luna's remotely operated HORD). While I was at it, I spruced up AJ's and Pinkie's mechs as well. Still not too sure about Twilight's face as the mech's head. It looks fine as it is, but perhaps I should at least stylize it more... add a helmet/mask to go with the ~~tiara~~ crown thingy.

I love the TTGL shades

The picture, by and large, is coming along fantastically but I just can't shake the feeling there's something wrong with the face. I can't really articulate what. The expression, I dunno, makes me think of a Space Marine who got punched in the jaw a lot.

Sean Mirrsen · 12-25-2011, 08:49 AM

Oh, now I see what's wrong with it. The head is too tall. Pony heads are round, and here it's more like a human's head. Hm, gotta do a little thinking for this one. Can't make it wider without moving the cannons and shoulders apart, might lose detail (and make the head too small) if it's just shortened. This calls for some experimentation.

edit: Well, ended up trying to visually round it up without actually changing the overall shape much. Success?

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the_druid_droid · 12-25-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thanqol

From my experience of 220 days of art-threading, there'll be long periods of silence, usually a week or two, and then half a dozen people comment at once. Also, it's Christmas break. The internet's dead. I tend to just lurk here because most stuff goes in my own thread.

I love the TTGL shades

The picture, by and large, is coming along fantastically but I just can't shake the feeling there's something wrong with the face. I can't really articulate what. The expression, I dunno, makes me think of a Space Marine who got punched in the jaw a lot.

I think Thanqol has hit the nail on the head: thread's quiet because of break. I know that's been hurting my own posting frequency, and I haven't been able to draw as much as I'd like, which hasn't helped things. Hopefully today is going to be catch-up day!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

Oh, now I see what's wrong with it. The head is too tall. Pony heads are round, and here it's more like a human's head. Hm, gotta do a little thinking for this one. Can't make it wider without moving the cannons and shoulders apart, might lose detail (and make the head too small) if it's just shortened. This calls for some experimentation.

edit: Well, ended up trying to visually round it up without actually changing the overall shape much. Success?

Spoiler

Hmm, the head looks better I think - before I was going to suggest that it looked a little like a Ninja Turtle head. I'm liking the mechanical details; those seem to be something you're particularly good at. Also, it's hard to critique owing to the fact that the early influence of Power Rangers et al. has made it difficult for me not to equate large, multi-component robots with a certain sense of 7-year-old wonder...

Thanqol · 12-25-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

Oh, now I see what's wrong with it. The head is too tall. Pony heads are round, and here it's more like a human's head. Hm, gotta do a little thinking for this one. Can't make it wider without moving the cannons and shoulders apart, might lose detail (and make the head too small) if it's just shortened. This calls for some experimentation.

edit: Well, ended up trying to visually round it up without actually changing the overall shape much. Success?

Spoiler

Yeah, that has more or less dispelled the uncanny valley effect I was getting.

Further critiques, if they exist, are out of my skill sphere.

Mystic Muse · 12-25-2011, 09:29 PM

I have mah tablet and it's working!

Anypony got a tutorial or something for using them? The one that it supposedly came with won't respond.

Keep in mind, I'm pretty much as new to this as one can be.

Thanqol · 12-25-2011, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soft Serve

I have mah tablet and it's working!

Anypony got a tutorial or something for using them? The one that it supposedly came with won't respond.

Keep in mind, I'm pretty much as new to this as one can be.

Firstly, what programs did it come with?

It'll feel weird as all get out for about a week, and then you'll get used to it. My general advice is make liberal use of zooming in for detail work, and try to get the hang of layers as soon as you can.

Mystic Muse · 12-25-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thanqol

Firstly, what programs did it come with?

Adobe Photo shop elements 9.0, Corel Painter Essentials 4.0, Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 WE3 and Autodesk Sketchbook Express.

Quote:

It'll feel weird as all get out for about a week, and then you'll get used to it. My general advice is make liberal use of zooming in for detail work, and try to get the hang of layers as soon as you can.

Alright. Thanks.

Thanqol · 12-25-2011, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soft Serve

Adobe Photo shop elements 9.0, Corel Painter Essentials 4.0, Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 WE3 and Autodesk Sketchbook Express.

Ah, Corel I know, and it's a great place to get started. The interface should be pretty easy to handle. You want the Fine Point Pen tool, under pencils tab, to do your linework (2B pencil tool has a bit much grain to it). Brushes and waters are fun to play around with, but there's a whole world to colouring that you just need to explore at your own pace. Bucket tool is a decent place to get started but it's very, very limited.

Work a lot on your basic lines, straight and curved, because it's kinda difficult to use a ruler along with a tablet. Remember the blessed key combination, ctrl-Z, to undo bad lines. Play around! Explore the interface! Have fun with it!

Eventually, if you ever feel limited by what Corel has available, I recommend Paint Tool SAI. Good luck!

Dispozition · 12-26-2011, 02:41 AM

Sorry for not being active D: I've been in a bit of an artblock and starting anything just seems daunting. Sorry if I missed any conversation directed at me :P

@Sean: That friendship robot is awesome. Great memories of Power Rangers and Voltron. Can't wait to see the finished product...I might even give some of it a go myself, been a while since I've done any metal shading.

To anyone who got a tablet for christmas, or just recently in general, I can give you a few tips or points in the direction (according to me) if you want...I've been using them for a few years and more or less know how they work and what works sort of well with them :P

That being said, I hate shading hair with a passion...

Noctemwolf · 12-26-2011, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dispozition

Sorry for not being active D: I've been in a bit of an artblock and starting anything just seems daunting. Sorry if I missed any conversation directed at me :P

@Sean: That friendship robot is awesome. Great memories of Power Rangers and Voltron. Can't wait to see the finished product...I might even give some of it a go myself, been a while since I've done any metal shading.

To anyone who got a tablet for christmas, or just recently in general, I can give you a few tips or points in the direction (according to me) if you want...I've been using them for a few years and more or less know how they work and what works sort of well with them :P

That being said, I hate shading hair with a passion...

That is an amazing pic of Luna!

Oh, dropping in unannounced. Sorry!
(Hides again to lurk more).

Dispozition · 12-26-2011, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noctemwolf

That is an amazing pic of Luna!

Oh, dropping in unannounced. Sorry!
(Hides again to lurk more).

Not drawn by me sadly :P
Go look at this guy and blame him. He's completely awesome btw :P

Sean Mirrsen · 12-26-2011, 11:32 AM

Alright, first attempt at doing the colors and lighting on this thing.

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The lines on the Flutterleg get kinda blurry with the shading, should probably darken them a bit. Anything else I should fix?

edit: I think I'll stop with this iteration. Looks good enough, moving on.

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Geno9999 · 12-26-2011, 04:11 PM

ahem

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geno9999

So, on a whim, I drew Zecora and Berry Punch as the Demoman from TF2:

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Gentlemen?

the_druid_droid · 12-26-2011, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geno9999

ahem

Gentlemen?

Welcome to the thread! I promise to offer some feedback as soon as I'm not lurking in a coffeeshop in a rush!

Anyway, have a pony I drew at the suggestion of the IRC (Topaz in particular, I think):

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Dispozition · 12-26-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen

Alright, first attempt at doing the colors and lighting on this thing.

Spoiler

The lines on the Flutterleg get kinda blurry with the shading, should probably darken them a bit. Anything else I should fix?

edit: I think I'll stop with this iteration. Looks good enough, moving on.

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I love this, so much. I do think you should deepen the shading somewhat, make the dark areas quite a bit darker, gives it way more pop. It still seems quite flat as it is now.

Other than that, loving it :D Such a great idea.