Elven royal portrait

[krisCrash]

Warning: The links given are not very worksafe. It's pretty tame though, just... be warned.

Presenting; a picture that has caused me much frustration. I think I did not really know where to go with it, but all in all, the concept is to be one of those royal portraits you leave hanging around the castle the better to stare at posterity.

A little background concept info; 'he' is meant to be the leader of a smallish kingdom, it might not span more than an oasis or a river delta at the edge of a desert by the sea. Some alien far off planet. Obviously unabashed by nakedness, but I think it's too much here, unless it was to tell a story about having just been dragged out of the harem to do kingly duties? Impatient. Administration is dull, hunting or breaking skulls is really more his thing.

The creature is humanoid, but I mean for something more predator-looking.

My questions/issues:

• It is black and white. While it suits it, it is admitting defeat on my behalf, that I simply could not pick the colours for it. The thing is there are plenty of colour combinations that suit an image, I guess. Making up my mind is not my strongest skill. COLOUR TESTS
• I regret I didn't have the guts to go through with it in "painted" style, however I'm very fond of the lines I ended up doing. No loss I guess.
• I dread his body is too girly. Granted, I want androgyny here, but I don't want bishiboys, really.
• Would also like to know how you think about the transparency and textures.

I'm very open to suggestions at the moment.
Lines; openCanvas. Colours: Photoshop 5.5, mostly. Homemade texture brushes. Another WIP: http://kriscrash.dk/art/08feb/throneprogress.jpg

The upload is a poorly shopped worksafe version. This link is not: FULL VERSION NWS

On a last note, I've worked on the character concept since (my avatar) but I do not really think those colours suit this image at all, and I currently pretend they are different characters.

Also, hi! And thanks for having such a great site up!

[Elwell]

The pose is incredibly awkward. I know you wanted to show off his various bits n' pieces, but it's not working. He doesn't look regal, predatory, or sexy, just stiff. I will say, the raised leg with the spread toes is handled very well. There's more character and story in that one part than the whole rest of the picture. Somehow, you've got to work on getting what's there into everything else.

[krisCrash]

Whoah, so much in one leg? ;D

And yes, I agree about the focus, maybe it's a habit from drawing porn all the time >_>

I don't really agree with the leg though? It's not really resting on anything, and that's what I don't like about it. Stiff? I believe you. This painting is quite boring too - I think, if I were to learn anything in my art right now, I'd have to go crazy with poses. But that's my theory of why I feel stuck.

Mhh, maybe if I cross the other leg under it could rest on the knee or thigh? I could also sag him more down in the seat, if that will make him less stiff? It might be more correct with the pelvis angle too.

Thank you ^_^

(so you're the inspiration of the horse emoticon? It's so cool)

[Lake]

the thing about the legs that bothers me is this: when rulers commissioned royal portraits, they often had to sit still for 10 hours or more for their artists to get the likeness right. Often, they'd even sit for weeks on end when they could find the time.

There is NO WAY your dude could hold that pose long enough for an artist to capture it.

[krisCrash]

My excuse is.. magic!

I think I said the portrait thing to validate the drawing, as I, in retrospect, wasn't really going anywhere with it.

But you know, it actually is a very good point about portraits, one that I doubt many think about. Yet I also think a painter could concievably make sketches quickly and then only call the subject in now and then; neccesary considering the slow rate paint dried at then ;D

I think I'll let it lie, draw something new

[humboldt squid]

Reminds me of the Lincoln Memorial.

[Sardukar]

More like a lady figure! He's a royal, predator of the forests. He's supposed to look like 14 years boy, with all proportions. and absolutely symmetrical face. Why claws on legs? He fights with hands applied to tools,he is evolutions top, not a beast. And the pose... read the book (I saw somewhere in *.pdf) 72 classical poses for photography.

[krisCrash]

Lincoln eh? Several statues like that I guess ^_^

I know about the lady body. I'd more appreciate if you told me how to change it? Although I do like the thin proportions here, because it opens up the silhouette.
I actually want "him" more beastly. Raw. Perhaps with a reptilian theme somehow.
I know the pose has problems - and I don't want to just copy one from a book! I'll drop it for now, like I said, and draw it all over another time when I feel inspired and have the character more fleshed out

[Demonique768]

Hmm he is a bit stiff. Like his spine is one str8 line and then the rest of the body. Kind of makes it look like you drew the chair then stuck a picture of his body on top. And copy poses it helps a lot as well as life drawing. eventually you start seeing how the anatomy works and so forth and then you'll start doing your own stuff.