HOME | DD

BobBricks In reply to VioletHive [2016-04-22 06:29:46 +0000 UTC]

I appreciate the critique, yet there are several reasons as to why this design was made the way it is.

First and foremost, I tried to stick to something that would fit into the Bionicle universe.
The "gear" in her is not really armor, but part of her construction, it's part of her.
I will give you word on her looking shorter than she should. That would be my own mistake.
She is supposed to be a fighter, as she was built for it. She was in fact forced into combat. That is her character after all.

While I sincerely appreciate you for taking time into writing this, I would also be glad if knowledge about the world this is set into was to take in mind beforehand.
But other than that, thanks for this! I appreciate it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

VioletHive In reply to BobBricks [2016-04-22 07:08:30 +0000 UTC]

I think that all people that do fan-art, should add either a link to the original concept, or, a detailed description... Not everyone is of-the-fandom

It'll be appreciated to have the source right in the image

I think the issue here, is that... It looks like gear sitting on a body, rather than THE body... The parts feels connected to each other above a surface, rather than being the surface... You need to give more depth to those parts, and have more mechanisms from beneath that appears like a machine is there... With the extra clothing, it appears like someone wearing an armor, or even, BattleMage... It does not seem or feel like a mechanical construct.
After looking a bit into how the bionics look, you need to simply add more layers of tubes and metal, instead of having the solid colors, that make it all look like an armor... You need things that appear from beneath the cloth, more detail so to say...

The issue about what you now told me, is that... It appears you accidentally made the opposite- She appears not ready for combat, but with such a stare that says "Come get some!!!" Like her whole body says complete lack of confidence, total lack of any reflexes, and completely not "at one" with her own items and body... She seems like her whole body isn't war-minded, but, her face is wholly bent upon winning, despite the body showing otherwise.

If she were taller, everything would have appeared more connected... BUT... If she is a true-fighter, than she is suppose to have a battle stance, a complete readiness and capability to go to war, and pretty much dead-focus of the body upon war... With a fighter's body, while every part appears connected and hell-bent on war... For, she is suppose to appear build for it.
But, her face is suppose to look away... To try and ignore, to express sadness and ill-will... Kinda as if she is aware of what she is going to do, she can't stop herself from doing it... So, she keeps her mind completely off the scenario, hiding in her own inner sanctum, while her body pretty much does it's job... You need to have her express sadness and lack of will, you didn't do so... It'll give much more impact if indeed you were to add that.

She does not look like someone that someone ells forced into combat, she looks like she forces her body into things it can't handle.

To express her character better, you must make her BE a warrior... Her body needs to look like it's made for it... Her expression (Even though it's a mask) needs to appear as if completely trying to evade it... And give sadness to it all.

I've noted that I didn't feel anything off the picture... If you were to make that simple shift of gear, this image can become much more deeper... The Warrior that wishes not to fight is far more potent in emotion than the weakling hellbent upon storming the enemy, which is what appears to be what you ended up representing.

I'm glad you answered, it gave me a better view of what you intended to bring, and allow you a much more deeper view into the emotional stance... I'm better at giving critique to expression of emotion rather than the general artistic qualities

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

BobBricks In reply to VioletHive [2016-04-22 07:36:50 +0000 UTC]

Well, that is true. It's just that I don't always expect people not in the fandom to make a critique about my FanArt So, I beg your pardon.

Based on my own style, it is kinda difficult to come up with good design for bio-mech beings. I usually try to stick to the design of the original toys, while giving some organic aspect to it. As a result, the building kinda gets to look... Odd.
As far as the body goes, my view was to not really get a fierce warrior look, but rather of someone preparing for battle. Walking around her enemy. The warrior side of her was supposed to be represented by the expression, and by your wording, I think that was a success at least.

As for this character, showing emotions such as sadness was not my intent, as that is not her in the story. Whenever there are characters that act like so, I make sure to show such emotion, but this was not. She was made to fight, and so she fights willingly, with no fears at all. This character never went back from a battle, nor did she ever questioned her purpose of battle.

I understand all what you mean. I, as a storyteller, always try to convey a good story, and this one is the story of a fighter preparing to jump upon her enemy.
But of course, my art usually tries to tell a story more than get deeper into emotion (I do writing for that ). Either way, thanks! I once again appreciate your answer and will definitely look forward to give emotion to my art at some point

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

VioletHive In reply to BobBricks [2016-04-22 09:07:44 +0000 UTC]

It's ok ^^ sometimes I like to randomly look at different arts

Your style is very organic, I hardly felt it was fan-base, and indeed, my mind automatically saw "Battle-Mage" class

The expression is 100% battle-made, that's clearly visible!

I think you need to work a bit on the stance, to make it give more confidence and appearing more sharp and ready, let alone, that all parts indeed move in synch... Since this is a conversion of attempting to transfer bio-mech in your style, perhaps the varying styles didn't mash as well But, I'm certain you'll learn from it!

She looks like someone that won't ever retreat on anything, and that's why it appears kinda funny to have a body that gives that "I'm not ready for anything" twirk xD

It'll be nice if you added a story, it would have given the character much more detail, let alone, convey your own interpretation of what the figure is... Giving her your own wording and style, I would have been glad to see more back-story in the description

You need to look more at battle-stances, and work on stability-appearance and indeed, give more impression that the character has not only the will, but the power and skill to do so

I'm glad that I managed to bring you a benefiting perspective, and, I was glad to know more about the character along the way, and see that you did manage to give her the feeling you sought for!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

BobBricks In reply to VioletHive [2016-04-22 17:13:01 +0000 UTC]

That is not a bad thing at all

I always try to improve with my art, and posing and stance is no exception here. I do need to work a bit on my body language, to transfer some "character" into it.

Funny, how it is with this particular fandom that I don't tend to write a lot of story about these characters more than I do with everything else But it would be interesting regardless.

Aaand once again, I thank you! It was entertaining sharing both sides of view. And I, as an artist, appreciate the feedback on how I can improve

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

VioletHive In reply to BobBricks [2016-04-23 04:23:15 +0000 UTC]

Don't worry, you already got the skills, it's just a matter of twitching, a bit of observation of other arts, let alone, experimenting, and you'll get it perfect soon enough!
Try first working with simple-forms... Kinda like, just studying the basic of expressions through stick-man and base-kind characters, slowly project what you do there to higher-level characters, until you'll get the motion of it... It's the easiest thing to learn expressions through simplicity, because you can play with it fast, twitch it everywhere, and it'll never bother you much that the picture is simple, because... It's simple  

I have a weird thing that I don't care about improving my own art  
I like though seeing how others may express far more... I like seeing potential to reach something bigger, and seeing it happen
I also love expressing pure emotions of what I see in pictures... This site contains allot of emotionally bombarded paintings, and it's fun to kinda just say what I feel from them!

But, my own art is pretty much "Let it be poopish! That's my style xD".

I think that expressing your own view of the characters, will kinda give this notion of... "What do I see in them"... So, your own view of the series might be extremely different from someone ells's... If you add your own idea of it, someone might read and say "Wow, I've never thought of that", or even "That's exactly what I see!"... In both cases, you'll get much more out of the character, because... You bring your own inner interpretation of what you see... I think it'll be appreciated by people of the fandom to kinda see what others really see

I think there is little more for me to add to what you may improve, and I'm glad we had this little chat

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

BobBricks In reply to VioletHive [2016-04-24 04:21:27 +0000 UTC]

In fact, I actually do this quite some times with human characters. Just gotta practice some more with these kind of people
But yeah, there are some other fandoms where I do love to get deeper into character and emotion. Maybe because them being humans makes them more relatable. But yeah! Glad we could talk a bit

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

BobBricks In reply to DawnKni [2016-08-14 17:37:47 +0000 UTC]

Probably, yeah. Once I return to Bio art, later this month.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

BobBricks In reply to BurgrungySaph [2016-04-22 06:08:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! Glad you like it.

I'm not sure if I could come up with designs for the entire team, but Lhikan and Tuyet are definitely in my list though!

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

YriaValiente In reply to BobBricks [2016-04-22 20:35:53 +0000 UTC]

You're going to do Tuyet? Sweet! DD

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

BurgrungySaph In reply to BobBricks [2016-04-22 08:07:54 +0000 UTC]

YASSSS LHIKAN AND TUYET

👍: 0 ⏩: 0