ChoW#225 :: VOTING :: Viking Berserker

[Paolo13]

Chow225

[artozi]

Wonderful work. When I see humorous submissions I kind of regret I took it so seriously. Thanks for good mood!

Mateusz Ozminski

[Jager]

nice stuff , good luck to everyone!

[jrbarker]

J.R. Barker
ChoW #225

[ArtbyWard]

Deadline! few minutes grace...

[Hellfire]

Its finally finished!
Thanks for those extra minutes

[Emokun]

Arghhhh! miss the deadline...

Anyway...

[MasterStryke]

FUCKKKKK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


shit I missed to upload mine T__________________________T



fffffffffffffffffffffffffff

my first chow...

[Cartogriffi]

Great CHOW, I love all of the variation

[MasterStryke]

Fast feedback from me..


@juki:
needs some more pelts and you have a few anatomy issues here. for example the neck.. I suggest you to do photo-studies of photos with dramatic light.

@partisan:
I like his appearance, even if I think the skulls on his loincloth are a bit over the top.

@retalliator:
looks like a model somehow. the legs do look flat and have a strange shape..
you did a better job on the rest of the pic, why did you let the legs that way?

@emerging:
good technique, but I always think of a huge dwarf if I look at it. probably because of the huge hands and this epic dwarf face I personally don't like his muscles.. they look like inflated :/

@janjager:
great action, but I have a few points here: first of all I think you should have spend more time on the design, because recently he is nearly naked. Additionally the muscles and anatomy on his torso is strange..
Oh and his mouth is not correct I think.. the perspective of it is wrong.. draws my eyes every time I look on your painting

@nikola:
try to not start with black shadows.. the contrast is too hard if you use black shadows.. if I were you I would try to start on a middle gray scale with everything. @design: the metal armor parts are a bit too extreme, but I like the horn ;D eh and his trousers are not understandable for me xD

@mbetteker:
his right breast muscle looks like a female breast.. draws my eye every time try to make those muscles more flat or so.. at least you did a good job on the warpaint. yah the metal spikes on his back are a bit too hardcore

@aeronik:
great skin tones and your design is believable, but still I don't like the skinhead. a few anatomy issues.. mainly of shape-kind but overall.. hmm .. I like his back very good quality.. in matter of concept-art

@thujon:
classic "I HAVE HIS HEAD" mainly the anatomy disturbs from your design imo
I like his equipment

@Urötskidoji:
good setting, but he looks not muscular but obese.. probably you need more body definition here.. and the blood is way too soft ;D

@parsakoira:
techniquewise pretty good but I don't like that his clothing and his skin have the same colour value and I assume, that in gray scales it looks similiar monotone. I like how you did the splatter and he has a pretty good dynamic

@tbaldree:
first thought I had was: Disney .. I don't like that it's so blurry.. and his anatomy has partly a few mistakes.. . overall it makes a good disney villain imo

@penpoint:
still looks like a sketch to me.. try to add some complementary colours in your pictures to create a focus or such.. designwise you did not enough

@(lark:
technique wise not bad, but I totally dislike those bone-armor.. because it's too much fantasy here.. love the bloody hands and his person as such is believable

@60:
butthurt on the topic guidlines veeery fantasy, especially the giant axe there.. good job at design if it were about fantasy-desert warriors ah and his facial expression is epic

@chrisproof:
pretty good design and well executed.. but a big issue is the light.. there are missing a lot of reflections in the metal and the shading is too vague (lightsituation) if you look at the skin.

@ryanoir:
asking for feedback but still letting those babyskin-highlights there.. his skin looks like wet soap. yeah and the idea with the arm is funny.. but the rest of the design would need some more work.. he looks a bit too cute .. overall

@onnophris:
I like the anatomy and the mitsubishi logos on the axes. great job on shading, except of the trousers.. they look like skintight latex partly
the pelt element is missing imo

@dranyer:
pretty good but I'd like it a lot more if the shape was clear..

@lefty:
funny design.. but the shading is strange and the axe is just WTF

@dragon4lunch:
sex sells I suggest warpaint and real clothing around her VAGINARr

@Auspiciouspanda:
reminds me of a troll.. not very realistic.. . maybe it is your style..
but yeah.. the bones in the skin remind me more of Indians than of vikings

@schwager:
just lol the most disturbing thing here in my opinion is the bad worked spear.

@matias:
the legs are so extremely strange.. well yeah... funny facial expression.. well done.
skintones are pretty good too.. but I definitely dislike his strange clothing around his back.. what is this?

@fedde:
there are missing the colourful anime-fight stripes in the background
you mainly need to work on structures/textures

@daveneale:
alice in wonderland - berserker? His clothing is not very believable imo and I don't understand his eyebrows. cool shading btw

@sarmati:
I love the horns. I really like yours. designwise: what viking trousers are those? =)

@creedy:
cool setting and design.. but also a bit too fantasy-like.. this thing with the skull.. you should have designed like it is a mask or helmet

@kischi:
that's a viking? looks like a knight or something.. interesting design
too blurry in my opinion

@paolo:
I like the left one. really cool design.. are both the same guy? if not I miss the nudity on the left one

@artozi:
great design, but too much fantasy :/ and his pose.. looks like he's walking across a flower-meadow

@jager:
super weird guy (is he human?) and awesome weird horn
no seriously.. strange anatomy..

@jrbarker:
no time to finish it? great face..

@hellfire:
kekai style he? I liked his first helmet design a lot.. well.. this design reminds me way too much of fantasy.. and why the heck have the skulls on his shoulders this colour
still a cool design

@emokun:
where is the bloodlust? he did a whole snuff-movie and shows no rage
cool pose but the axe is wrong turned hahaha
btw his clothing would look more awesome with more structure



what a wall O.O
(it's just my opinion, sorry if I was not professional enough for one of you, but it's a lot to write )

my first chow and it was so epic

good job. great chow, guys


good night guys

[dragon4lunch]

MasterStryke: Man, you're just too much! You commented on everyone's entry?! You deserve some respect! Thumbs up man - don't feel obligated to do that everytime though.

[Sarmati]

MasterStryke thanks for comment, actually I don't really know what they are called in English but they were apparently quite popular among varangians. You can see them here http://www.kruki.org/main.php?s=s0101 It's a group that participated in TYRs videoclip Regin Smidur. They are quite comfy and I prefer them over the tighter ones.

Drangon4Lunch is right you put me to shame with your amount of comments... I promise I'll try to crit more this week.

[troyzart]

I voted for Jager's concept, because i feel he captured a primative & aggressive nature of a beserker, despite his warrior not sporting any aggressive or fearsome weapons - the idea is different, yet still highly effective in my opinion. i also fell in love with the mood of the picture, it just works really well for me. O:

[MasterStryke]

@sarmati: np
oh okay.. well I don't know if they have authentic outfits or are mixing something a bit up.. it's possible..

cool website btw, thanks

[Droog]

I voted for Jager's design as well. It was very well thought out, and a beautifully drawn image. Lots of other nice ones as well, but his stands out for its originality I think.
As for mine, had to rush at the end of the weekend, and, eh, its always a kick in the ass to see the image you thought was working so well right next to some MUCH better ones on a poll
Still got lots to learn, but love working on these.
Great round all!

[Sarmati]

MasterStryke, here are some historical references.
http://www.freha.pl/index.php?act=at...e=post&id=5625 http://www.freha.pl/index.php?act=at...e=post&id=7271
The first one is a stone carving from Lillbjars and the other one is from Broa I believe it is Gotland (not sure of the exact English name.)

[~KJK~]

oooh my gooood its gonna be sooooo toughhhh

[emerging]

Okay ill do short straight to the point comments/crits

@jukka:
good: the best thing about this painting is the rust looking blood on the axe
bad: boring subject; bad anatomy; unrealistic and over the top saliva; weird composition; simple colors
fits the brief: don't know if he feels viking enough to me but he does feel like he is a berserker

@partisan:
good: atmosphere; composition; color palette to achieve specific mood
bad: not enough variation of quality of line; character gets dulled down together with the whole picture; wished to see more design on the viking that would probably help
fits the brief: definitely looks like a viking and a berserker to me

@retalliator:
good: understanding of form and light (unless cheated by using premade 3d models)
bad: bad understanding of color; utterly simple and boring design; very static and boring pose; sloppy execution
fits the brief: looks like a berserker and somewhat like a viking

@janjager:
good: color choices; composition; movement and dynamics
bad: style of rendering with brushes that are too soft and looks like 0 hardness photoshop brush plus smudge and blur tools in their truly raw form; anatomy/perspective issues around the head/neck area
fits the brief: definitely looks like a berserker. Viking - not so much to be honest

@nikola:
good: the rune in the top left corner.
bad: as already mentioned black - use black and you are walking a dangerous territory; his left foot need to be completely changed
fits the brief: not really. It looks like a viking yes. But has nothing to do with berserker to be honest.

@mbetteker:
good: in all honesty i do not see anything that would attract me in this image
bad: he looks like he is about to smash himself full force on the ground; looks like his axe is dragging him not the other way around; vibrant anime-like colors do not help much; i do not understand why there are bears; i do not need an artist to tell me verbally why they are there - i could careless what the artist has to say but i care only for what artist already said through his image
fits the brief: does not look like viking to me. Looks like it could be a berserker though


@aeronik:
good: style and rendering; expression study
bad: looks more like a mongolian barbarian; does not look dangerous at all; too simple of an armor/design
fits the brief: no. like already mentioned, although executed well looks nothing like a nordic warrior who falls in frenzy when fighting


@thujon:
good: colors and atmosphere
bad: horrible anatomy especially his crotch is getting squished - is that why he is screaming that much (his jaw is broken too by the way)? ecoherent design where the skull is out of place
fits the brief: looks like a berserker as well as viking although the viking part could be worked on a little further

@Urötskidoji:
good: color palette; potential
bad: the ever staring nipples that follow me everywhere; woman-like figure with man tits; soft edges throughout; missing some key lights; sloppy rendering
fits the brief: captured the berserker viking look well


@parsakoira:
good: great rendering and color
bad: takes around 5 minutes to finally understand wth he is pulling on - the intestines? even now i am not sure if that is intestines or not
fits the brief: yes, quite a believable viking who is going mad violent

@tbaldree:
good: style and pose
bad: coloring especially the acrylic paint looking blood; bad quality of edges and sloppy rendering
fits the brief: looks too much like a barbarian - konnan kinda guy so not so much a viking; his berserking qualities could also be much better

@penpoint:
good: dynamic and bright
bad: too monochromatic; anatomy needs work
fits the brief: looks like a barbarian berserker; so probably the viking part needs to be pushed more

@(lark:
good: colors and detail
bad: it always seems that your brushes are too soft and there aren't enough sharp egdes; the subject is on the verge of being boring
fits the brief: looks like a viking berserker

@60:
good: initial sketch; idea
bad: execution and colors just dont do it for me AT ALL; the best part about the color job are the teletuby things; the axe is too big and looks more like a piece of cloth draped over a stick
fits the brief: defnitely looks like a razy viking

@chrisproof:
good: colors and detail; dynamics
bad: there is a certain unappeal that i get from the actual linework and shapes of the character
fits the brief: one of the best fitting images

@ryanoir:
good: colors and leaking of blue into his body
bad: anatomy needs work; too simple of a design; the skin looks like it has a texture of the inside of a human mouth
fits the brief: pretty much a viking thats somewhat berserking

@onnophris:
good: nice colors and style
bad: can't help but notice the weirdness in the anatomy of his musculature; the axes are not in the right perspective and the nuclear-like symbol is quite destracting
fits the brief: one of the best facial expressions to portray a viking berserker

@dranyer:
good: form and dynamics
bad: boring and dull colors; why in the hell is he hitting the ground that seems to be bleeding? pretty simple of a design and too many soft strokes
fits the brief: looks a lot like a barbarian and viking at the same time; i don't really get a feeling of him being berserker - more of just a viking warrior hitting the ground

@lefty:
good: i guess the fact that you chose to draw a woman is to be appreciated
bad: axe is too huge even for a stylistic choice; i have a hard time telling it is a woman; image too small; sloppy rendering
fits the brief: looks like a viking definitely but definitely not like a berserker

@dragon4lunch:
good: good potential and some pretty decent line work
bad: too static and boring of a pose; perhaps a different light source wouldve made it better
fis the brief: looks like a viking but not a berserker for sure

@Auspiciouspanda:
good: great colors; nice detailed rendering with scars
bad: there is something wrong with his right arm - looks completely broken to me
fits the brief: hoenstly this guy looks too much like a giant cannibal or some tribal warrior so no does not look like a viking; looks pretty berserking though

@schwager:
good: nice refreshing style; funny and still fits the brief
bad: i guess it's hard to critique a work like this for me; it just does not appeal to me in terms of rendering
fits the brief: definitely looks like a berserker viking

@matias:
good: nice rendering, design quality and bear idea
bad: the modern pink geometric figure in the bg is just COMPLETELY destroying the whole image
fits the brief: looks like he is mad/crazy and definitely looks like a viking - one ofthe best

@fedde:
good: the expression on his face
bad: i don't understand how this portrays a berserking viking; looks more like a guy who is overdosing on shrooms; anatomy and rendering can use a lot of work
fits the brief: looks like a viking but does not look like berserker even though we do have it in the brief that they may have been drunk/drugged

@daveneale:
good: style and rendering
bad: no weapon; no indication of who it is and what is he doing being angry about; a little too soft in some spots
fits the brief: not at all; in all honesty this does not look like a viking OR berserker to me

@sarmati:
good: pose and colors; some little design parts like the sheath and the glowing tattoos
bad: the horns just keep making me think of a husband that got cheated on so it is comical to me but i can see you dont want it to be comical; there are some anatomy issues; the bg is too plain and flat
fits the brief: looks like a viking thats raging

@creedy:
good: mood and atmosphere; rendering of the foreground
bad: a bit too monochromatic; too small of an imagel clouds could use some rendering
fits the brief: interesting take on making him look evil but i do not understand whether it is a mask or his actual face; looks more like some demon or death

@kischi:
good: very well done atmosphere and realism of colors
bad: could use some sharper small brushes to put in that extra little detail and make the metal a little more shiny; quality of line is too sloppy in many places
fits the brief: looks like a pretty badass and menacing viking - one of the best fearsome works; not so much a berserker

@paolo:
good: design and metal rendering
bad: as much as i cansee it is your style i think the rendering is just too sloppy and distracting in some spots; a little too monochromatic
fits the brief: i think you should have gone for the right side image alone and render it out completely instead of having two images done in average; i wish i could see a little more berserker in both of them

@artozi:
good: nice take on the ship and the whole atmosphere
bad: rendering could use some more detail and sharp egdes
fits the brief: this is by far the most VIKING thing i have seen here; however i do not really see how berserker it is


@jager:
good: nice rendering and forms
bad: colors maybe a little too desaturated; i don't really understand by looking at the image how he is a berserker
fits the brief: definitely a viking shaman, not so much a berserker


@jrbarker:
good: the intensity; the face
bad: horrible colors; anatomy needs a lot of work; design of the costume is sloppy humorous and impractical
fits the brief: definitely a lot of emotion - very berserk, BUT not so much a viking to be honest


@hellfire:
good: the contrast and costume design; the mood
bad: a little too monochromatic; rendering it out even further would have helped a lot
fits the brief: this is actually one of the best; its original yet comes across as viking and one raging viking


@emokun:
good: rendering and colors; the background looks like a real picture
bad: too static; the dead guys head on the ground - is it a twin brother of the viking? surely looks like one
fits the brief: viking YES berserker NOT SO MUCH

[Jager]

Thank you guys for the comments and feedback, much appreciated!

My votes:

emerging awesome composition with the bear head in the bg. And beautifully rendered image.
cool details with the black eye and missing tooth, it really looks like the face of a warrior.

JanJager Nice action and feeling in the image. You absolutely did not choose the easy way out with that pose and angle

Parsakoira very brutal yet beautiful, I really like the sense of movement and action.

Dranyer powerful and great rendering, awesome anatomy skills

matias haha his eyes are more scarier than the biggest axe or sword imaginable .That’s the look of a berserker. Fantastic rendering of muscles and skin tones.

Paolo13 i really dig your painting style, you make it look so easy great character design and harmonious colors. The figure looks really massive and big.

schwager That expression is priceless he looks madder than mad. I like all the little details

Aeronik Man! the facial expressions are just brilliant. If I only had one vote it would be for this guy, what a character!

[emerging]

Fast feedback from me..


@juki:
needs some more pelts and you have a few anatomy issues here. for example the neck.. I suggest you to do photo-studies of photos with dramatic light.

@partisan:
I like his appearance, even if I think the skulls on his loincloth are a bit over the top.

@retalliator:
looks like a model somehow. the legs do look flat and have a strange shape..
you did a better job on the rest of the pic, why did you let the legs that way?

@emerging:
good technique, but I always think of a huge dwarf if I look at it. probably because of the huge hands and this epic dwarf face I personally don't like his muscles.. they look like inflated :/

@janjager:
great action, but I have a few points here: first of all I think you should have spend more time on the design, because recently he is nearly naked. Additionally the muscles and anatomy on his torso is strange..
Oh and his mouth is not correct I think.. the perspective of it is wrong.. draws my eyes every time I look on your painting

@nikola:
try to not start with black shadows.. the contrast is too hard if you use black shadows.. if I were you I would try to start on a middle gray scale with everything. @design: the metal armor parts are a bit too extreme, but I like the horn ;D eh and his trousers are not understandable for me xD

@mbetteker:
his right breast muscle looks like a female breast.. draws my eye every time try to make those muscles more flat or so.. at least you did a good job on the warpaint. yah the metal spikes on his back are a bit too hardcore

@aeronik:
great skin tones and your design is believable, but still I don't like the skinhead. a few anatomy issues.. mainly of shape-kind but overall.. hmm .. I like his back very good quality.. in matter of concept-art

@thujon:
classic "I HAVE HIS HEAD" mainly the anatomy disturbs from your design imo
I like his equipment

@Urötskidoji:
good setting, but he looks not muscular but obese.. probably you need more body definition here.. and the blood is way too soft ;D

@parsakoira:
techniquewise pretty good but I don't like that his clothing and his skin have the same colour value and I assume, that in gray scales it looks similiar monotone. I like how you did the splatter and he has a pretty good dynamic

@tbaldree:
first thought I had was: Disney .. I don't like that it's so blurry.. and his anatomy has partly a few mistakes.. . overall it makes a good disney villain imo

@penpoint:
still looks like a sketch to me.. try to add some complementary colours in your pictures to create a focus or such.. designwise you did not enough

@(lark:
technique wise not bad, but I totally dislike those bone-armor.. because it's too much fantasy here.. love the bloody hands and his person as such is believable

@60:
butthurt on the topic guidlines veeery fantasy, especially the giant axe there.. good job at design if it were about fantasy-desert warriors ah and his facial expression is epic

@chrisproof:
pretty good design and well executed.. but a big issue is the light.. there are missing a lot of reflections in the metal and the shading is too vague (lightsituation) if you look at the skin.

@ryanoir:
asking for feedback but still letting those babyskin-highlights there.. his skin looks like wet soap. yeah and the idea with the arm is funny.. but the rest of the design would need some more work.. he looks a bit too cute .. overall

@onnophris:
I like the anatomy and the mitsubishi logos on the axes. great job on shading, except of the trousers.. they look like skintight latex partly
the pelt element is missing imo

@dranyer:
pretty good but I'd like it a lot more if the shape was clear..

@lefty:
funny design.. but the shading is strange and the axe is just WTF

@dragon4lunch:
sex sells I suggest warpaint and real clothing around her VAGINARr

@Auspiciouspanda:
reminds me of a troll.. not very realistic.. . maybe it is your style..
but yeah.. the bones in the skin remind me more of Indians than of vikings

@schwager:
just lol the most disturbing thing here in my opinion is the bad worked spear.

@matias:
the legs are so extremely strange.. well yeah... funny facial expression.. well done.
skintones are pretty good too.. but I definitely dislike his strange clothing around his back.. what is this?

@fedde:
there are missing the colourful anime-fight stripes in the background
you mainly need to work on structures/textures

@daveneale:
alice in wonderland - berserker? His clothing is not very believable imo and I don't understand his eyebrows. cool shading btw

@sarmati:
I love the horns. I really like yours. designwise: what viking trousers are those? =)

@creedy:
cool setting and design.. but also a bit too fantasy-like.. this thing with the skull.. you should have designed like it is a mask or helmet

@kischi:
that's a viking? looks like a knight or something.. interesting design
too blurry in my opinion

@paolo:
I like the left one. really cool design.. are both the same guy? if not I miss the nudity on the left one

@artozi:
great design, but too much fantasy :/ and his pose.. looks like he's walking across a flower-meadow

@jager:
super weird guy (is he human?) and awesome weird horn
no seriously.. strange anatomy..

@jrbarker:
no time to finish it? great face..

@hellfire:
kekai style he? I liked his first helmet design a lot.. well.. this design reminds me way too much of fantasy.. and why the heck have the skulls on his shoulders this colour
still a cool design

@emokun:
where is the bloodlust? he did a whole snuff-movie and shows no rage
cool pose but the axe is wrong turned hahaha
btw his clothing would look more awesome with more structure



what a wall O.O
(it's just my opinion, sorry if I was not professional enough for one of you, but it's a lot to write )

my first chow and it was so epic

good job. great chow, guys


good night guys

well if you look closely to the whole dwarf race its design is completely influenced by vikings. Exaggerating some body parts in my work can definitely aid to your point of view but after all vikings and dwarfs are very very similar

[CrookedHorn]

nice job everyone! I like seeing all the crits and comments

[schwager]

What an awesome round... yet again.
I just love the variety of takes on the subject and there are so many awesome entries this round.

I also want to say thanks for all the votes and comments... really appreciate it.

Here a few comments from me:

@60" - Don't get much of a Viking feel from it, but I like the design.. especially the belt area. The Teletubbies are ace, but the axe really ruins it for me.

@ryanoir - I like the dynamic and the angle, but the anatomy has a few issues. It's also hard to make out where the hair ends and the pelt begins.

@matias - I really love the way you've done the muscles and veins under the skin. In fact, I love the whole design and his mad look. Right leg's a bit funny, though, and I have to agree with the others about the pink background thingy... still gets my vote.

@Lark - Really like the face on this one and the background works well, too. Not a big fan of the pose and skulls, though.

@Aeronik - Awesome work! The facial expressions are amazing and I like the general design for it's simplicity. Gets my vote.

@Artozi - Really like the mood, the colours and the movement on the cloak/pelt. The ship is a nice touch, too, but the character just doesn't say Berserker to me.

@Auspiciouspanda - Not sure I get much of the Norse vibe from this, but I like the character. The face and hair are great, but his right hand seems awfully big.

@Lefty - Good on ya for doing a girl Berserker. I like her upper body and arm... the rest not so much. The axe is just too much and the whole picture looks a bit washed out.

@Chrisproof - I wasn't sure about this one for a while. He definitely looks like a Viking Berserker to me and I really dig the way you've rendered his belt buckle/gut plate. I also like the fire reference in the foreground, as it features heavily in some of the descriptions.

@Creedy - Mean looking dude, I like the pose. The head looks a bit big and I don't like the background much.

@Daveneale - Love the style and the character basics. Really would've liked to see it more developed, though.

@Dranyer - There's so much I love about this picture... awesome work. I can relate to what has been said about hitting the bleeding ground, though. Would have been nice to see a hint of the victim(s). Still, one vote from me.

@Kishi - Love the darkness of it and the morning star. More fantasy than Viking maybe. A few stronger highlights could've really made it pop.

@Nikola - He looks really out of it... I like his eyes. Anatomy has major issues, as do a lot of the other elements. What does the rune say?

@Onnophris - Great facial expression and upper body. The axes and legs seem to be placed and shaped very oddly, though. I like the snow effect, too.

@Paolo13 - I really like it. Just love the way you've rendered you're textures. The skin colour is a bit strange, but I absolutely adore his face on the left. Gets my vote.

@Parsakoira - Great image... pose, movement, colours, all very good. It's very fantasy, though, and I'm not all that keen on the glowing eyes. Still, you have my vote.

@Partisan - I like the character design, but it doesn't have that Berserker feel for me. Not a fan of the swords and I would have liked to see a bit more definition (as in visibility) of the main character.

@Retalliator - Good face, but the rest is somewhat lacking. Didn't do yourself any favours with your choice of colours, although it looks nice on the background.

@Sarmati - Nice pose and the pole axe is pretty neat, too. Not a big fan of the baggy pants or the antlers, but his upper body looks pretty awesome.

@fedde - I really quite like this one because of the story it tells and the expression on his face. Don't like the legs much, or in fact the whole lower half of the picture.

@Urötskidoji - Looks suitably Berserker-ish, but in appearance only. The pose is quite boring and I can see what others said about the man-boobs. You need to work on your lighting, too... it's all very dark. I kinda like the background, though.

@Jager - I love it... so different yet fitting. Maybe it does look a bit more like a Shaman than a Berserker, but you get my vote for the sheer beauty of it.

@dragon4lunch - I think she's really hot and although it's a bit simplistic, I like the overall concept, too. Guess I'm a sucker for sex sells, so here goes another vote.

@emerging - Fantastic! Most definitely my favourite of the bunch. From the stylish presentation to the texture of the cloth, I just love everything about it. The face is particularly awesome, too. If I only had one vote, this one would get it.

@JanJager - I really like the dynamic of the whole piece, but something irks me about the proportions/anatomy. I think it's the legs... they just look really short.

@tbaldtree - I really liked it up until you added all that bright red on the body. I think it's too much. Still really like the face, but that bright red just ruins it for me.

@Thujon - The stance and facial expression are great. Some anatomical problems, especially on the hands. I also find the character blends into the background a little too much.

@Penpoint - Very Berserker, great action. Not big on the foreground characters or the rendering.

@Jukka - Could've done more with this one... it's really just a guy with an axe. His face is quite good, but the spit is way too much.

@JRBarker - Great start on the face, love the expression. Shame that it all looks very unfinished.

@MBetteker - I quite like the bears (not sure why they're there, though) and the face of the character. The anatomy is very off and I'm not a fan of the colours you chose.

@Hellfire - As I said before, it looks more Chaos Marauder then Viking to me, but I still love it, especially the helmet. Gets my last vote.

@emokun - Nice character, but not really a Berserker imo. I do love the background.

@MasterStryke - Good start, but I think it needs more rage and better lighting.


Well, was only gonna do a few, but then I got carried away

[jrbarker]

Thanks for the crits! You're all correct. I ran out of time and ended up with an unfinished piece. But at least the face turned out pretty cool. I'll have to finish at some point.

[MasterStryke]

@dragon4lunch: thanks :]

@sarmati: okay, you convinced me

@emerging: thanks for the feedback lol

eh because of dwarfs and stuff: yeah but the new generations made the dwarfs like vikings.
In the Edda nowhere I found any descriptions of the dwarfs, except of their size.
Also it makes no sense, that the northern peoples made those mythologic dwarfs look like themselves.
Still your guy looks like dwarf to me if I look at the proportions and the cliche face... deal with it mate ;P

@schwager: yeah I decided to let him appear threatening by this twilight, he's standing in..
and yeah you are right.. actions always is better for a berserker xD
I decided to make him as believable as possible..
thanks for the feedback, my next berserker will definitely be in an superrage


stryke


ps: epic feedback avalanche I triggered wahahahah

[matias]

Ok thanks for the crits guys, taken on board, no background seems like it would've gone better than last minute cheap background! Got to work on my understand of legs and feet!
Great round by everyone, I'll try and add a few comments but its getting late so I dont think I can match the mammoth efforts of the you guys! First of all the 3 i voted for were Aeronik, Parsakoira and Emerging! But I'll comment on some of my highlights!

Partisan: Nice piece, I liked the character, def said viking to me! I thought that it could have a little more tonal range, wasnt alot of contrast between light and shade on the character himself. I also thought it could be a little more tightly 'finished', felt like the final stage of cleaning up some elements, whether thats down to a time or style thing I dont know!

Emerging: Great work! I really like him, his gappy manic grin is great, really tightly rendered and loved the background bear! +1 vote!

JanJager: Really nice dynamic pose, great lighting and good character, again same as I thought with Partisan, feels like a final stage of clean up was still to go. My only crit is the sword and hand in the bottom right corner feels a bit disconnected, I can see who it belongs to but the difference in d.o.f between hand and weilder is a little too dramatic.

Aeronik: I loved the head studies here, they are fantastic! I voted for this just because of how much personality I think you maintained through the sketches! I actually think the looseness works for this compared to the other I have commented on as this is more of a concept sheet rather than illustration of a character mood. +1 vote!

Parsakoira: Awesome! great energy, love the tearing the guts out of something, very frenzied! Just a small thing I agree with Aspectabund about the wrist that is actually pulling the guts out, in that position it looks a touch awkward for the strength the movement implies. Otherwise I loved it!! +1 vote!

tbaldree: I liked your guy, was really stylized and worked well, I agree that the anatomy of the arm is quite right, were the elbow goes into the forearm is a bit wrong, and his abs seem a bit of an afterthought. Solid style!

(lark: Good execution, I wasnt a huge fan of the skulls concept wise and the bloody hands dont quite convey thats he's been tearing fools apart, the rest of him is too spatter-free for what I assume would be a quite messy act! I really like the handling of the snow and the background though (I failed so hard on my background that I seem to be paying close attention to all the backgrounds now!! )

Dranyer: Good piece, nice mood, I like the nice clean arc of the axe and a good strong pose! I think his armpit is a little of anatomy-wise though. Also, I know its a silly crit, but I would've had the arrow in him lower in a less vital spot, somethings are not a matter of how tough you are, a punctured lung is pretty much gonna slow you down even if you cant feel it.

Schwager: I loved this guy, having him gnawing on his own shield as he charges was a stroke of genius! Great execution and style, awesome!

Kischi: I really liked your work, but I think it feels more like an elite knight, highly trained and well armoured proffessional warrior rahter the a crazy drug-taking booze-swilling manic who charges into battle in a frenzy! Exectuion is great, direction is off a little.

Paolo13: i really like your berserker stage, he looked nice and fierce, great expression on his face, but I dont think having the first pose added much, I know it was to show both sides of him but I cant help thinking that the time spent on the 'at rest' first pose could have put into tightening up the second 'beserk' pose.

Artozi: Nice work, I just wish you had stayed with the pose in you 4th WIP, it felt like a stronger stride as opposed to the final where he's just alot more casual. Working on anatomy overall will help, alot felt just a bit off, just something to work on! (its a constant process for us all!!)

Jager: Interesting character, nice style and execution but he didnt feel like a warrior character to me. Very slim and his body language doesnt express alot of raw power, he seems like he would be more a chief's advisor or a seer.

Hellfire: Strong stance, but his arms feel a little short and stubby compared to his body. Also some of the little detailing I think is too sharp in focus on areas that arent so, like his belt buckle seem really sharply focused but the belt itself is not, his tatts are I too much just placed on a top layer rather than feeling like theyre are inked into his skin. Overall really nice, just a few of the detail addition detract a touch.

Emokun: A pity you missed the deadline, great piece, love the stance and the people in the background fleeing in fear!! His expression of casual malice is great, says to the viewer "oh, you want some too huh?" cool!

MasterStryke: Good, strong, grounded stance, a little dark for me, i would like him to pop a little more rather than being such a silhoette. One note, you nailed his front sword hand I think, its a hard angle to get right but it look spot on to me! Good strong grip, adds alot of belief to a character when those small details work right!!

Cheers guys!
Matias

[Malakuko]

so many awesome entries I think I almost voted for everyone lol

[RichLyons]

Aeronik would have to be my fav, excellent style, great rendering, turn around and expressions. Illustrations are ace but its great to see full character design page.