TEAM CHOW II :: Team Lego Lickers

[Mat Kaminski]

Earendil : I happen to notice that you approach these as a painting, blocking in shapes first. I've never known how to do that...

We need to get you some refs though for these images.

I'll get ready to dump my refs images on the box account to help us get more cohesive and maybe start making a mock up of the poses.

Here's more:

[Earendil]

Yeah, refs would be good. I'll dig through my stuff. Meanwhile, here's another quick bunch. EDIT: Oooo, idea!

[Earendil]

Tonights OC session focusing on The Fisherwoman and Healer Child. I'm really happy I got the pose I was looking for in the bottom center. Sketcheth suggested tilting her head a bit further up, and I agree, as then she can look down/at the viewer with CRAZY eyes.

Let's keep up the good work guys! Go team! :legosigns:

[sketcheth]

Blah! Here's some of the healer concepty stuff I've been doing. I've tried to keep some of the design stuff the same but still mix it up in each one. **shrug**

And this is a enviro concept? nothing final, but just to kind of give the characters some sort of context. Open to discussion, please!

[Earendil]

Bring back the Y-Wing! ARGH!

Nice! The enviro is along the same lines as my thoughts. The windmills help add that wild west back in there too.

I like the side healer one dead center. I think it fits the enviro, while looking foreign enough. It's similar to a thumb matte_art posted, I'm going to try and combine the two.

[Earendil]

Here are some costumes based on some earlier thumbs by Sketcheth and Matte_Art. It's basically setup like a doll in Photoshop, and what I'd like folks to do, is take the PSD (which will be available on the Box account), and add their own layers, designs. I'm going to be gone this weekend, but I'm going to try and create a PSD like this for the remaining chars. Don't worry about pose or face, just try and get the basic body type, use thumbs from earlier if you want, and just play around with shapes, etc. It's looking more and more like we're not going to have these chars finalized by the weekend, so let's shoot for Monday.

I guess that's a good question, hmm, if someone isn't available, does the rest of the team have to wait on them in order to decide on a design? I say no, as it can be a major bottleneck. So in my case, if you guys decide on some designs etc while I'm gone, then I don't have much (or any) say on the matter.

On the other hand, this may just be a reaction on my part, as I really think we need to decide on a deadline. We cannot stay in idea-exploration mode forever, and decisions need to be made soon about our characters. We're nearing the halfway mark, and we haven't locked any of our chars down, and I think that needs to happen soon so we have another 2 weeks to solve composition, pose, lighting, anatomy issues, etc. to present the best darn images that we can.

So, let me throw this out there, and you guys can let me know if I'm crazy or not.

Current Status:

World/Story: We have a world, a general set of rules for magic, and a general backstory event which the characters all share, and what causes the mirrored characters in the first place. A location along a coastal/canyon setup, very rocky, barren, coastal, quick to dry out, quick to get wet kinda place. There's still a question to answer here:

1) What exactly was the event that granted magic to our characters and in the process created their mirrors? We had a few ideas, but we as a team haven't decided per se.

2) We were going to tie that event with some symbols worn by all our characters/mirrors, as a way to unite them visually. We just need to answer #1 in order to answer this question.

As far as characters, in order of most explored/closest to getting finalized:
Assassin/Healer Child - (close to getting designs, basic chardescription/story for assassin, verrry basic story for healer)
Fisherwoman/Mage - (Fisherwoman designs exploring and looking good, maybe done by Friday? Mage still needs a bit more exploring character-wise, but some designs have been done, and ideas are flowing. Story idea: When she hears of the assassination and decides to flee.)
Lizard Guard/Convict - (jdeegz has been fielding the majority of the art for this, with some ideas from us. Are we going to input design work, or let the lizard be jdeegz baby the whole way through? I'm open to anything)

Is this a simplified but accurate picture? Again, maybe it's just me, but I really feel that we should be making our final decisions about certain things very soon, so we can move on to the next phase of production.

Oh yeah, here are those costume variations for the healer.

Go team!

[jdeegz]

i know the roman-esque armor is out of our story, but i was just doodling, do you like the guys body type? i can make them look more like thier characters if you guys dig em.

[Mat Kaminski]

Just as a note: This is a possilbe of what we are shooting for.

[Earendil]

jdeegz, that also brings up a question we should answer as well. Are we aiming for a more animated style, or closer to the zhanglu image?

If the former, your lizard body type works great, if the latter, it's a bit unrealistic.

Great work either way. I would say, whatever style we go with, your beefy body type there works great. Maybe start honing in on clothing styles. How could Roman style work for our world Keep it up guys!

[Mat Kaminski]

Alright guys, gathered up stuff we have so far, and just tossed this up as a tenative 'thoughts' board.

Let me know what you guys think:

[jdeegz]

kjhnf

[jdeegz]

updatin

[Mat Kaminski]

Slowly working out more on the fisher girl...

jdeegz: I really like where this is headed! Your sketches that you've shown me are getting closer to something really interesting

Here's something quick for the fisherlady that I was working on this morning

[Earendil]

Hey, quickie before I'm off. I thought it'd be really cool if she was actually pulling her smile/head up via the fishing pole. I think it could make for an awesome compositional tool with the tip of the pole and line directing the eye. Could also help her with balance or something since her legs are crossed.

deegz, you're rockin it!

Have a great OC session tonight guys!

[Mat Kaminski]

Open canvas grp craziness based on the mage lady we were working on.

[sketcheth]

Whoa, looks like things are kind of shifted around a little crazy with the layers being as they are! Thanks for posting it though, Mat!

[Mat Kaminski]

Yeah, I think regardless it was meant for us to jam out individually, but it helped to get our ideas concrete

[jdeegz]

yo workin on my evil lizard.
i think i like my original pose the most at the moment.

then i did some real fast lizard head studies.

[sketcheth]

Duude nice work on the sketches. I like the variety and the way you did some studies...they seem like they're going in a strong direction. Consider employing some more of those. An iguana could make for a face with loooaaads of personality. Consider some reference!


I did a quick sketch of an iguanaman. Perhaps this one is too skinny, though.

[jdeegz]

hgjhgfv

[jdeegz]

updizzles

i want to push the chained lizard as more of a lizard than human.
and visa versa for the drunk bastard.
i want him to be more human than lizard.

[sketcheth]

A somewhat finalized healer maybe? Anxiously awaiting opinions! I think tweaks are definitely needed but it's getting somwhere maybe?

[Mat Kaminski]

Based on the sketches that we did on oC, I decided to take a stab at going further with the mage sketch.

sketcheth : I'm liking the beginnings of what you got here, but there is something strange about the arms and legs. Although poofy is definitely something worth looking into, it has this odd look to it. I would also tone down the mask a little bit, perhaps adding dreadlocks or something of that sort? I dunno just figure we should approach him in an exotic sense.

Anyway... just some thoughts. We'll have to talk more about this guy.

jdeegz : The bottom three lizards are coming along really well! I would suggest though, that combine the clothing style of lizard number 2, with the pose of number 3!

Very interesting design thus far on that guy.

As far as the slothful lizard looks, the left one looks like he's got a good pose. We need to make him more evil. Perhaps a fist on the other side and froth flying everywhere from his drink. The lazy pose and angry expression fit very well. I'm thinking that he should be much thicker though. This guy is supposed to be a very large lizard methinks.
Great start on these, I'll be happy to talk more about them and try to flesh out as much as we can.

I'm curious about some feedback on mine... here it is:

[Earendil]

jdeegz> I love the fat lizard drunken abusive guard guy! I love that he's fat. I really think it's fine that they're both lizards, maybe just make the convict lizard have a more lean and defined musculature than the guard. Great mage lady sketches too! I think we're honing on it her very nicely.

sketcheth> Had some stuff from OC, but didn't save the event file, so here's your final couple examples of possible headgear. Thinking of changing the headgear up so the face is visible. We're getting close on this guy too I can tell.



Matte> You followed the design/feel well, I just think the heavy fur cloak doesn't fit. Maybe something lighter? Also, I'm working on the fisherwoman's story, and the mage is next, I think she's more of a...rowdy character than we imagined her. I dunno, I think she's more absentminded than naive. What do you think?

More soon.

[Earendil]

Here is the fisherwoman's story bit. Let me know what you think.

Between The Lines

The rain came down.

Ragged clouds wrung themselves dry against the sheer cliffs of Hilea. In this weather, the upper reaches were barely visible amidst the gloom. Not even the extravagant lights of the Nobles could patronize the lower reaches. Crammed around the bottom slopes of the rock wall, lay the disheveled dwellings of the poorer denizens of the city. Their numbers had grown considerably over the past twelve years. Their aged, weather-beaten, and constantly eroding huts required ongoing replacement. The Nobles could not only afford better materials, but had quickly hoarded the remainder for themselves. The rest of the city had to find other means of protection.

The rain came down.
In times past, rain would have been a welcome visitor to the city, trading its gifts for passage over the cliffs. Now, it brought no gifts, and taxed the city greatly with each visit.

Everyone knew when it started. Taro Month, 4th day, Year 195. The First Scalding.
The day the rain was different.
It swept into the city, eating the land, and the people. Within a matter of hours, there were many injured and in great pain, their skin covered in burns.

At first, it was regarded as a one-time event, but the Second Scalding came a few weeks after, robbing the city even more. Livestock was cut in half, and after the 10th and 11thth Scalding, buildings were severely eroded and whole tradeships were damaged. Over the next year, things began to change for the city and its people.

The rain came down.

And Mekusa loved it.

In the rocks by the seashore, inside the carcass of an old tradeship, she lived in her nest. A dank hovel, open to the wind and rain on one side, and providing meager shelter on the other. Inside was a mess of algae, barnacles, and dead gulls. And fishing line.

Hanging from the ceiling, the walls, bunched up in corners in crazy tangles, it cluttered the abandoned cabin. She sat stiffly, her head lolling to one side, and watched the rain drive tiny rivers of water down the wall. It continued its journey, scurrying across the canted floor, and escaping out of a small crack in the corner. A few poles lay haphazardly along the wall.

Mekusa smiled. It was almost time. Her audience was waiting. They would have to.
After all, it wasn't easy preparation. No, not easy at all. Yards of preparation.

When did it become possible to measure it? It was some time ago. Hm, no matter. Remembering only caused trouble. She had to concentrate on the task at hand.

Around and around, she wrapped up her arm, creating a strange net around her injured skin. Years of living on the water had created enormous scars and burnmarks, and had all but ruined her skin. Around again, this time from the ankle, up past the large scab on her knee. She examined it briefly, then ripped the scab off, and wrapped it with more strands. Little bits of blood pooled between the lines.

One lone hook inserted into the side of her mouth and pulled it back into a frozen smile. Her arms and legs were similarly pierced, and she took special care to thread the fishing wire through all of them.

Satisfied, she picked up a broken mirror and dangled it lazily in front of her.

Perhaps something more interesting. They wouldn't want a dull performance would they?

Taking yet another yard of line, she threaded the two hooks above her eyebrows, drawing them together, then pulling them up, and finally tying the whole thing off around a small metal piercing in the center of her forehead.

Beautiful.

A gust of wind rose, and the air moaned above the sloshing waves. With an awkward twist, she jumped up, and dashed out into the storm.

Along the beach she ran, the rain lashing her skin, the wind whipping hair into her face. Towards the town. Towards the amber lights of the city, now emerging out of the fog. Most folks had gone to bed at this time, but Mekusa directed her course towards a quaint little hovel still lit up inside. They were waiting for her! How thoughtful! It wasn't like her to be lax, she thought, as she approached the house.

Or maybe it was, but she stopped thinking about it as she tore two planks away from the window. Alarmed shouts from inside. Mekusa wondered why. Tonight was their lucky night. She dove inside.

There wasn't much to the place, except for the five guards standing by a makeshift fireplace, staring wide-eyed at her. She didn't mind, beauty was distracting by nature. If she wasn't aleady smiling, her glee would have been more noticable.

The larger of the guards grabbed an iron poker from the firepit, and rushed towards her. He swung, nearly hitting her, as she hopped to the side. He was yelling something, but Mekusa didn't notice. There did seem to be a lot of noise though.

Perhaps this wasn't the right audience.

Now all of them were after her. Funny, since that's how it had been before. No need for jealousy, there was plenty of her to go around.

Again, the iron rod swung at her, this time joined by four swords. Definitely not the right audience. Mekusa had hoped for a better reception. One of the swords cut her thigh as she twirled to the side.

She would have to show these men beauty.

Nothing was heard over the windy storm. The light from the hut winked out.

The rain came down.

[Earendil]

No comments? I think I'm going to put these on hold for now, and just give some basic summaries. Concentrate on teh artz.

Meanwhile, now that we're nearing completion of designs, I wanted to explore our final compositions/lighting/values. I had to level adjust, so hopefully these appear correct for y'all.
This first batch is exploring fisherwoman compositions, everything from pose, to lighting, to shapes, value patterns. Let's try and have another meeting to decide on final comps. We have 12 days to pull all this together! Let's doo eet!



And here are some for the assassin, and healer chars.

[Earendil]

1 hr with the fisherwoman. Kind of a difficult pose. hope it reads...does it? Gonna spend some time with the assassin next. I'm interested in what you guys come up with. The PSD is on the Box account so, go ahead and mess around. Maybe save the file differently though, like put "Name - Ver2" or "Ver Sketcheth/Matte".

[Earendil]

Thinking about colors while doing. Rough pose/lighting. Need to read up on proportions because I don't think it's clear this is a child assassin.



Edit: Thinking some more about color scheme. Bumped the saturation and lower lightness slightly in the background. I think it works better. Cool desaturated light source vs warm saturated shadows. Lemme know what you think.

[cdejong]

Cool stuff in here, just wanted to say that the healer guy that Sketcheth made is AWESOME. Really cool design. Can't wait to see your teams stuff finished.

[Earendil]

Some time with the lizard char. Changed the pose slightly, tried to go for a good comp. Having trouble with face, clothing, and shadow/lighting colors. Sure a fun challenge tho. I've uploaded my version onto the Box.net account.

EDIT: And the drawing, and the fundamentals, and the pose. Wow, I messed up, and concentrated on the wrong things. O.o Must remember this...