HOME | DD
GH-MoNGo — Gnoll Stalwarts
Published: 2011-10-20 21:52:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 4292; Favourites: 62; Downloads: 3
Redirect to original
Description
Nettlebranch's Finest.Gnolls are fun to paint, I admit. I wanted to fool around with giving them more "jowly" faces for this one.
As an interesting aside, I'm starting to lose favor for Arches watercolor paper. It doesn't handle as well as I remember it handling. The new formulation feels more like mechanically pressed paper instead of handmade. Ah well...
Watercolor, ink, gouache on Arches 140 lb. CP watercolor paper
Related content
Comments: 45
Great blending with the water colours on the skin!
way more respect for them as there is no ctrl+z for it
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Looks good man! Nice to see you posting again!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks dude, glad you like it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Oh they're so angry lookin'. :0
You are just such a pro with the watercolors. I don't know anyone that really can make it rival any other art medium in terms of clear, fun imagry. The coloring is really nice and you got a lot of definition to their faces and muscles. Excellent shading thar!! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah, don't mess with him. That spear will end up shoved someplace you don't want it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
My friend, every piece of yours i see is better and better. Well done!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Long time no post, good to see more from you.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Very well drawn and colored. The bloodshot eyes add to the intensity of the picture.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks man. That's definitely the look I was going for.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Is that white paw print a vague reference to the white hand of Saruman, or am I reading too deeply into this piece? Either way, I like this scene, it is extremley to my tastes
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Nah, wasn't thinking that at all, but now that you mention it...
Glad you like it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Art is full of coincidences; sometimes I think we look for them infact 
And you're welcome
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Have you ever tried Strathmore 500 series Illustration board? It's got a lot of options concerning surface texture. You might enjoy a toothier and enduring surface.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I've tried other boards and I don't really like them all that much. A lot of my process involves scrubbing and lifting, which you can't really do with board without tearing up the surface. That said, I'd be willing to try it out if it's more durable than the Crescent and Bainbridge boards I used to use.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I've literally had Crescent board separate on me while I was working on a very intensive piece. I've vowed never to use it ever again!
That said, I've had excellent results with Strathmore 500 series. I scrub a lot too, as well as work on prolonged wet on wet. It's never separated, I've never had a hole, and a friend of mine who uses F.W. inks to paint even uses clorox bleach on it to erase his ink! (Used in extreme circumstances only and seems to have no ill effects on the paper...)
Strathmore 500 series is expensive, but lately on Dickblick it's rather affordable at $5 for 22" x 30" when bought in bulk. It used to be around $10 a sheet. [link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'll have to give it a try, then.
My preferred surface is Twinrocker watercolor paper, but the price was what kept me from working on it as much. I still have a stash at the house that I vowed to only use on super awesome pieces (i.e. first professional contract, etc) but not enough to do stuff like this (i.e. random big burly monsters).
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Sometimes you can find it at Hobby Lobby or Micheal's. Some school Art stores keep it too, just mind the stickers they put on there- they're not archival safe and will leave a stain eventually!
So what are you up to now that you've graduated?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm going to start working at an art supply store in January. Until then I'll be working on my portfolio, getting back into the swing of being creative. It was kind of tough getting artwork done while trying to find regular paying work.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
It's always hard right out of college, just hold tight and keep painting! And possibly the $$$ you'll save with an employee discount will be worth all the hassle!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Muscular gnolls, its one of your favourite motives.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hah! He can bench about a half a ton, don't let him hear you say that to his face.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'll hide behind his lats, he will never find me!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I absolutely love your art style. I always use your work as a reference as to how to draw muscles. Superb work.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you! Glad you like it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Glad you back to posing artwork.
The bodybuilder gnolls are interesting, they'd make good guards, which is probably what they're doing in this picture.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks.
Indeed they are. Don't mess with them, or they'll break your spine.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
And then play fetch with your bones.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
And hackey-sack with your spleen.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Though I hardly ever used it, I remember Arches fondly. Used to sell the stuff.
Nice image BTW!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
This is wonderful! You're so good with watercolor paintings like this, with subtle detailing like the spots, and wonderful atmospheric perspective. Hooray for gnolls!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1