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TalkingToMySoul β Ultimate Wing Tutorial
Published: 2012-03-29 00:17:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 20389; Favourites: 589; Downloads: 5
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Description
So I've had an obsession with properly drawn wings for ages. I love animals, and the idea of humans with wings is fascinating. But the more experienced I get, the more I realize how anatomically incorrect many wings are. Improper placement, feathers, and number of joints not only make drawings look unrealistic, but irk me in ways only things I'm obsessed with can. This is my latest and greatest study on all things human wings, after hundreds of doodles, several finished sketches, and this derpish design [link] a few months ago. I know not all of it is perfect: keeping in mind this is a fictional concept, I'd love to hear your thoughts if you think it needs improvement, or want more explanation.
Repost it wherever you want, help spread the winged love, but ALWAYS LINK BACK TO ME. Thankees.
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Comments: 78
I read through this whole thing thinking, yeah this is actually pretty awesome, this is so helpful. Then I just lost it at 'Ass Wings. Need I say more?'
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If we think for a bit and come up with a solution of surgically adding wings on to a human body it could build up to another revaluation people Β with wings are called angels form the heavens but man with wings on earth is is called a fallen angel this is and actual thought and idea. All we have to do is look at a human x-ray compared to a birds x-ray, any thing is possible.Β Β
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My fursona has wings X3 this is exactly what I need!
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I love this. I'm not even drawing a winged character, I'm writing one. But I just Have To Know how it works and what it looks like. Thanks.
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Thank you very much for this tutorial. I love fantasy animals and people with wings. But it drives me nuts when people don't think about the proper mechanics of how those wings work. I intend to use this tutorial to help me with my drawings of things such as winged people Pegasus and any other winged animal I decide to create. Again, thank you and well done.
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Lol, ass wings XD
P.S: Do you think an avian human with hummingbird type wings could work? Because I did a little research and I found that hummingbirds have a very fast metabolism and they need to consume a lot of food because of that
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This is so perfect. Bless your wonderful soul!!
*time to work out some character anatomy*
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The "huge sternum" is now the reason my oc has huge boobs. Plus she just does, but...
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This is fantastic. And I'm deeply ashamed for not having thought of it, because I already knew half of that as a med student! *Faves to make up for it*
Out of curiosity, what's the muscle above the pectoralis major? I'm thinking trapezoid or sternocleidomastoid, but my bird anatomy obviously needs work and the broad sternal attachment confuses the heck out of me.
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I don't think you have any idea how helpful this is. I've scoured the whole of the internet, and this is really the only good tutorial I've found that actually accounts for realistic anatomy. I'm writing a book with angels in it, and though I'll probably end up drawing character at some point when I get bored enough, I just have so much trouble writing well about things that I can't visualize. Have to say that this is really great. Thanks a TON.
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This is fantastic! Do you think the same anatomical structure could be used--or at least modified--for a bat wing structure?
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Easily! The membrane would stretch down the sides and come to a V-shape in the middle of the back. They'd be about the same length, a bit broader, and the fingers would fold similarly to the folding I depicted here.
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Thanks for this. I have a winged dragon-human race who I have the hardest time drawing properly.
And now I know I can't have them wear shirts. I get to figure out something better.
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Try using something with large slits in the back.Β
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No prob, glad it helps.
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Dang! I made the ugly and nonfunctional wings xD
Well this helps
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I'm glad. 
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Amqzing tutorial! I love the mistakes. It made me laugh out loud. Nice!!
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Thanks.
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Yeah~ This guide is awesome! Wings are the bomb! FLY!!~
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I like this, this is good - It has a lot of pointers about what to do and what NOT to do presented in a neat and humorous way. You have an understanding of anatomy and biological mechanics as well as the interest. I've done a lot of research on this subject as well as making a tutorial
Your concept is pretty solid and I think you're getting at the right ideas but maaaaaybe some more research could help. I'm glad you mentioned the keeled sternum and the large pectoral/flight muscles that people disregard too often, but I'm not sure about the double jointed arm/wing shoulder - it would hinder mobility of both arms and wings to the point where neither would work right. To have the wings and arms function independently, they need separate units and that may require taking evolutionary action and making one dominant over the other (unless of course you have arm wings then its not an issue). Strong abs/abs in general) aren't necessary; birds (not sure about bats or pterosaurs) have fused vertebrae so they are not bending at the waist anyways and for good reason - more stiffness means more support to the legs and lower body during flight. You don't want a flexible waist with a keeled sternum anyways because that keel is going to stab vital organs whenever they bend over (an alternative to the keeled sternum is a breast plate).
Anyways, I love seeing other people explore this idea of winged humanoids in hopes of maybe learning something that I didn't know.
Wings and clothing.... that'll be the next thing I do xD
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My idea, which I fleshed out in my head but never in writing, was that the wing joint is dominant, with the arms being severely limited while the wings are in flight. Arm wings are actually present in this: [link]
I see what you mean with the sternum: however, as a humanoid, they need to bend at the waist. ^_^ I'll have to see about re-working that in my spare time.
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The problem with winged humanoids is that humans are just not meant to fly xD I would say that either the arms or the wings would HAVE to be hindered by the other (depending on use) in order to have them both functioning in a 6 limb creature - this isn't an issue with wing arms because the wings don't have to compete with a second arm unit.
It's hard to see on your profile drawing of the winged humanoid skeleton, but it looks like the humerus's are coming out of one joint socket or something like this [link] where there is a second socket in the middle of the scapula - that kinda wouldn't work too well 
If you're humanoid character must bend at the waist, I would suggest looking into breast plates - they provide surface area but with out the keeled sternum, which would also allow for a more human looking character. There are other ways to get around bending at the waist (ESPECIALLY if the legs and pelvis are primarily human, a flexible waist won't be able to support that in flight unless there are some intense back muscles to hold it up (but even that would take away flexibility from the waist)); you could make the distance between ribcage and pelvis smaller, make the pelvis longer so there is more surface area for the back muscle to attach too OR you can make the hips flexible to compensate for the loss of movement in the waist. That's if you want a more technical looking character - if you're all for looks then go for the 6 pack abs xD
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Technical, definitely: I myself don't even really like the whole "six pack" look. XD You've brought up some excellent points, I'll have to use them for my next concept sketches. /Saves comment to Microsoft
Thanks so much for all the help, and for taking the trouble to write all that out.
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no problem
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Wow, those are excellent tutorials.
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I - love - you.
Seriously, there could be done some practice considering the feathers you draw, but our opinion on unanatomical wings is exactly the same. I enjoyed a lot to see you point out the most common mistakes - which are the worst too by the way. Will people ever learn to draw wings properly? I guess not but let's fight for our feathers anyway! 8D
Oh, your handsome model here who's spreading his wings in the lower left part has quite small wings. Let's hope he doesn't try to fly despite his wings being nice anatomically.
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Yeah, they're quite tiny. 
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WOW this is really great and very helpful.
It would be great if you could make one with bat wing, I can't fined any good ones anywhere.
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I'm planning a vampire tutorial, so I'll probably include a section with bat wings, since so many people have asked for it.
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Sounds good,it would be very helpful.
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This is great and I totally agree on the fact that hiding wings will never be viable for a human! Also finally someone else noticed the butt wings!
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Thanks! Characters like Angel in X-Men,their wings just suddenly appear, wings don't work like that. ^_^ Butt wings are a scourge upon the winged world.
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This is an amazing tutorial. Made better by the fact that it's funny as well.
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Thank you. ^_^ It was a ton of fun to do.
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I can tell.
By the way, this is Gina. You know, from school?
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Great tutorial, I've been trying to get some time to practice wings, but didn't have a tutorial yet on the joints and feather types, I have been watching birds a lot lately to figure some things out. I think this is going to help out a lot. Thank you!
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I'm glad it could help.
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this is so helpful, it defies words! thank you for sharing!!!
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Thank you so much.
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you're very welcome!!!
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I don't think I'll actually need this -not right away, at least, but you never know- but it's AWESOME. Very well thought, and researched, and detailed.
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Thank you.
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