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SeanRobertCook — Bladed Elf
Published: 2006-09-21 23:46:38 +0000 UTC; Views: 2661; Favourites: 54; Downloads: 29
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Description
An Elf warrior suited in some custom 'blade armour'. This is one of several idea's i've been playing around with that feature armour designs with weapons built right into them. Defense becomes offense. Bwahaha.Anyway, yeah, will eventually be coloured.
I really like how this turned out, in that i used no reference for any of it. Sort of a test i spose, just to see how accurate my knowledge of anatomy has come over the years.
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Comments: 26
I like the drawing a lot but I wonder if a real fighter wouldn't try to protect his chest and abdomen most of all. After all, they are the most endangered bodyparts in a fight. (It would be a lot less sexy, though 
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Exactly! It's all about sexy.
I'm going to BS it up here and say this here boy is so damned skilled with those bladed-limbs that he never needs his torso or head covered.
Yeah...inside my mind this actually works.
Thanks for the pointer though!
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Or he could be in a show fight *grin*
(Sorry for the late answer).
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Damn impressive. I like the armor and weapon design, that really is imaginative. I think that you got the anatomy correct for the most part, the only thing that seems to be off slightly is that the abdomen is a bit too long, but that could just be the way that the rest of the armor is designed on him.
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Very nice shading, dude. And everything else.
Good job.
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It's always good to test your anatomy knowledge like that. Just remember to never stop practicing. Excellent as usual, I'm looking forward to the colored version.
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This is really a solid piece of work. The rendering is tight, and you have some great subtleties going on in terms of muscle definition with your shading, particularly on his left (our right) arm. My main concern is that his torso feels a bit long. There are usually only six dominant muscles that appear on the stomach area (sometimes there ARE eight, yes), and at the moment you've implied at least eight (there's a strap covering a portion of the stomach, so I don't know if you've added more). Unless that first row of muscle just below the pecs is what you're using to define the bottom of the ribcage, but I can't really tell.
The muscles that are present are heavily definied, particularly in the stomach, and while I understand he is a warrior you're saying he's an elf too. You need to find a balance between these two things, as elves are supposed to be graceful and slender and all that elfy jazz. He's dowright beefy at the moment, which is that is reinforced by his large feet and hands. Were it not for the ears, my first impression would have been barbarian.
The band on his decorative loincloth is coming reeeeeally low, too. I'm thinking you may start to see a little somethin'-somethin' with it in that position.
Please don't interpret this as a rip-apart; I think what you have is a great underdrawing to what will be a strong painting. One thing I've always disliked about DA is that most comments people get are just "great!" and "wow!" and "so cool!". While these are valid comments, when I post my stuff I'm looking for real feedback on issues present in the piece. If I want a pat on the back, I'll go to my mom. I figure an artist who's got the strong work in their gallery that you do would want some insightful feedback. Hope this helps, and keep up the fantastic work!
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Damn. Thank you very much for taking the time to do exactly what you said in your last paragraph. No, i don't take suggestion and perspective as a rip-apart. I love having honesty put up to my work, and that kind of feedback is exactly what helps future work to grow.
As i rarely get to have a detailed conversation like this about artwork, so hopefully you won't mind my pouncing right on this one!
As far as this kind of work goes, i've played around with creating characters somewhere between true-to-life realism and a slightly exadurated comic style fro along time. Though i've yet to get it pinned down, i have seen what i would like to call my own style begin to come through.
You picked up on a helluva lot that i didn't think people would. The larger hands and feet, which have become sort of a regular with my style. But yes, that factor does go against the standard elf design.
Like my more realistic depiction of Feanor from J. R. R. Tolkien's "Silmarillion" posted here on DA, i do tend to beef up my Elves for some reason. I'm facinated with anatomy, thus my often over-muscled torso's and the like are prett much always present.
Another thing you noted, and described so well; his lengthened waist. Yes, i did actually put some thought into overdoing this section, for the simple factor of trying to rebalance out his bulk with a bit of lithe extention thrown in there. As for the low cut covering, well, i spose that's just my naughty side coming through. lol. I do it with the scantily clad girls and guys alike (as a friend noted - you seem to enjoy seeing how little you can clothe them with. lol.). It's just another qwerk in my own little fantasy world.
I know my purely overdone standard goes against what the Elven culture defines Elves as being in most every form of literature, though, i suppose my mind just enjoy's trying to take them down a different road for a change. I do try to keep their essence of beauty and pride showing through in their face and expression particularly. But i've always tried to imagine what the race would be like as stronger, more physically powerful warriors, while at the same time keeping a hold on that deeply wise and spiritual core.
You said barbarian at first sight, which is a great sum of feedback for me. I would think that the fully coloured version of this peice might draw away from the barbaric look in showing the rich, artistic detail of his donned clothing and armour, as well as his many blades.
Your comments will definitely be a huge help when i do begin the fully rendered piece. You just stare at something so long, you begin to lose that ability to stand back and see it in broad strokes. One settles into their own perspective of the work, and before you know it the thing is "written in stone" if you will.
But thanks so much again! I hope all this jive didn't put you to sleep. I do look forward to hearing from you again, and perhaps tossing some idea's back and forth a bit.
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It's beautiful. As always. I dunno about the whole maroon scheme though. When I think of elves, I think of earthy colors like green and brown. But that's just me!
Nice job!
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Thanks alot for your input on the colours. I'm certainly open to idea's that help to reflect the characters background and such. Very helpful!
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Love it, your style is great. Not only do you have a great understanding of muscular anatomy, but the feeling you create in your work is insane. I absolutley love the contrast of smoothly rendered form with the harder illistrative outlining. good stuff.
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Thanks for your great comments and insight on this piece. It's much appreciated and very helpful. The heavy outlines are something i've been trying to learn how to incorperate into this style of work for some time now. I think i'm getting better at it the more i try it out.
Check out an artist by the name of Travis Charest. He does some of the most amazing work i've ever seen..to the point of it practically transcending the notion of it being in a comic. He fully renders his characters also, and in mind-blowing detail, and then adds those nice bold outlines in.
Great inspiration.
Thanks again!
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glad you find my comments helpful. I have played with the idea of stronger outlines, but in a different manner and not nearly as refined as you have accomplished. However, I think you have inspired me to try to spend more time on my next character drawings. So, thank you. As far as Charest, I know his work. I haven't been in the comic loop since McFarlane sold out on Spawn, but Charest was one of my favorites back then. I'll have to use this Intarwebb thing and check out what he's been up to lately. 
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Very nice work. Downright sexy in fact. Keep up the good work!
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Thanks alot! Sexy is good.
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I have to admit, I like elves too. Not the garden-gnome type, but the Orlando-Bloom type.
Did you finish your sketch of the Anton-based elf?
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Thanks man. I actually had a colour scheme in mind..probably a really deep maroon with gold accents.
Something elegant, as he is an elf, while at the same time powerful. Maybe some nicks, or bits of blood splattered across the blades.
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very nice on the anatomy
and the outfit somehow enhances the anatomy
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Thanks. I'm really glad you think so, as that was what i had in mind when designing the armour and coverings. Wanted to show that he's a warrior, but also display his innate beauty and cultural taste. Them elves certainly are creatures of style doncha know. hehe.
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awesome, you succeeded
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