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RalphHorsley β Betrayal
Published: 2009-08-21 12:32:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 32814; Favourites: 609; Downloads: 889
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Description
BetrayalAcrylic, approx 7" x 10"
World of Warcraft trading card game illustration
Β©Blizzard Entertainment & Upper Deck.
Original artwork for sale; UKΒ£200
"Friends are mere stepping stones when plans are hatched..."
I wanted to try and capture the sense of devious malevolence that is clearly redolent in this Troll. To do that I opted for strong directional lighting. This would mean dark shadows to aid the mood, and by choosing the green light I am visualling signalling that something less than good is at hand.
The closer crop on the figure, and static, almost profile, form further helps give the sense of a quiet, composed, moment as the cogs begin to whirr!
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Comments: 118
Seems you said it al yourself in our description. Your brushwrk is superb, and your use of colour and line equated mastery. Congratulations on a beautiful piece! Your troll is wonderfully manevolent...
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Thanks for saying so
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Hah, well, I would certainly hate to be one of his "friends"... O_o I think more people might actually play trolls if they all looked this sneaky and plotting!
On a side note, it's too bad you weren't at Blizzcon. I had a huge stack of cards for some of the other artists to sign and it would have been awesome to add you to them. As it is, they're collecting a bit of dust sitting here on the desk waiting for me to be unlazy and mail them out. Flying to Cali was sooo much easier! ^_~
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Flying to California might have beene asier for you, but add the Atlantic into the equation for me, and I think I'll let you mail them
Thanks
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he's sure up to something nasty!
maybe he's planning revenge against his barber for the bad hair cut?
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LOL - quite possibly
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Yet another awesome picture! I'm so glad I've found you!
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Wow its amazing, but i think if the right side would be a bit darker (so that he emerges out of the shadows) together with this strong backlighting the atmosphere could be more sinister. Just an idea, its still an amazing piece of art^^
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I understand your point, but didn't want to lose his form completely. I guess i was aiming more for readability at card size.
thanks.
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Yep, I think this way its better for a card^^
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Wow! Awesome lighting and very nice facial expression!
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Thanks very much
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Any time good sir!
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Great scene. The expression of the troll is nice but I am not sure if he is the betrayer or if he got betrayed. Could be both somehow. The lightnng is great and I am surprised about the detailed texture. What brush size do you use?
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Gklad you like it, and are seeing some ambiguity.
I use a mix of brush sizes, but rarely go below '3'.
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this troll totally reminds me of Drakuru! hes like "yeh man! be ma friend! we will get lotsa powa and we can rule together!!... oh btw this is my master Arthas." .. ur like.. WHAT!?!? betrayal indeed Drakuru!
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very glad it tells you that tale
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Now there's a smile you can trust.
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I didn't think I'd ever be faving a troll of all things! Excellent work as usual.
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Devious malevolence indeed! As soon as I saw this, I thought, "Ooooh, he's thinking evil evil thoughts." 
I love how you always talk a little about why you chose the composition/colors/etc. that you did. I learn a little each time I read your artist comments.
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Glad the storytelling was so clear, and that my comments are useful
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Troll beserker. Beautiful; you make those characters come to life
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Thanks. very pleased to hear that
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Perfectly captured, the low lighting and colour choices lend well to that malicious attitude. . . .
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Awesomeeeee! Trolls are so badass!
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this is too epic! i <3 WoW XD im almost the only girl player on skullcrusher
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I enjoy both Blizzard's take on Trolls and clever plans. This picture is an excellent mix of the two. I love it!
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very glad to hear that - thanks
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Thnaks very much
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I really like the small bit of hair off the mohawk hanging down, redirecting your eye back to his face / body effectively keeping your eye circulating throughout the picture instead of getting to the mohawk and falling off the top of the page. Very nice touch
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