CHoW#286 :: Aoife & Her Mechanical Guardian

[Johann de Venecia]

Wow, I missed these boards and the perpetual excitement that surrounds ChoW. I made a sketch last night which I will post later, but first a few asspats and critiques...

@Mitze: My favourite one so far. I love the idea behind the character, her blocking and the guardian's. I like the looseness of your lines. Being in sketch stage, I don't know where you're taking it yet, but hoping to see some tightness in a few areas to offset the loose quality later on.

@Pixeltuner: You're a machine with those thumbnails and concepts. I think I like the design of the guardian on the second image you posted in the first page. Interested in how you will tighten up your final.

@Paper Jester: I like where you're going with the guardian so far. It kind of reminds me of the EVA's in N.G.E. I am not a big fan of the plump faced expression of Aoife though, more of a preference thing.

@Daniorr: I like your guardian silhouettes. Looking forward to more.

@Devilminer: Another awesome one. The most inventive guardian design so far. So much mech goodness here. The scale is also perfect. Looking forward to seeing this finished.

[humboldt squid]

It's funny, I just finished the IOW #200 (before this was out), and it ended up looking like it would fit into this theme. I'll post it, maybe it can inspire someone. I don't know that i have the time or the courage to jump in on this one. Awesome stuff everyone for SURE!

There's some serious perspective problems here that are giving me a headache. The girl and the robot are on completely different planes and it's not working.

[Abrazuno]

Fixed the head for the most part and fleshed the background out, should have a color up in the next couple of days. Sleep

[PaperJester]

@Johann de Venecia: thanks for the advice, I really didn't like it either so I totally scrapped that Aoife

@ded: that looks so sick.

I think I found what I'm going for. Kind of going for the post-apocalyptic harajuku scene.

[Johann de Venecia]

Just a quick one, I'll finish the colors tomorrow... Good night!

[ded]

herp derp

[Aaron_]

Great topic. My favorite so far are pixeltuner and Johann de Venecia. Devilminer's look really good too.

Just some crappy sketches, horrible photo quality I know. And I think she needs to be younger.

[Grumbleputty]

After a couple of false starts, here's what I'm working at:



I wanted to twist the idea somehow, so I've landed on the idea that her "protectors" are keeping her in an enchanted slumber in the belly of an elemental defender, where she dreams all her possible lives. Eventually she'll make her choice, and then she'll either fulfill a prophecy and rule her protectors, or be eliminated if she chooses wrong. Hopefully I can make the guardian morally ambiguous enough to suggest that choosing good might not be the right choice for her protectors.

I know I say this a lot, but this time it's even more apparent that the best talents around have turned up for this contest- I'll offer a few humble thoughts later, but honestly there's so many great works it's a bit daunting!

p.s.- I borrowed the water glob from an earlier piece I did for a different contest that was never finished- Mods, is that cheating?

[Razorleaf]

I like your idea Grumbleputty ... it turns away from the rest of the ideas so far and makes it unique.

[Rhdnor]

Updates on character sheets...do I need to color them or will the outlines do? I'm going to put Aoife next to the guardian for the final so the height difference will be apparent.

[M.D.Stranger]

First ever contest entry

[IntoTheVoid]

Lol ded, I love the quick 180 your guardian's personality did My favorite so far.

Updated wip. Does the guardian look like it has enough "trunk space" for Aoife to fit inside or should I expand it a bit more?

[Abrazuno]

First round of coloring and we'll see about getting some atmosphere in next. Still not used to this digital coloring

[penciltipred]

some progress mainly on the gaurdian dividing my time in half for both and have 1 day before the due date for touch ups

[penciltipred]

@ded
seems me and you are the only ones doing flame headed machines
i dont what but i love what ever color thing is goin on it looks like it has a prism effect on it were like the Red and the Green are slightly out of place in the spectrum like this
http://digitalfilms.files.wordpress....3_22.jpg?w=640

[Johann de Venecia]

@Debb: Looks really good! The colors are a treat for the eyes. I like the semblance of cuture you've established so far. I'm not sure how I feel about the graphic head and how it relates to your painting style but its warming up to me!

@Continue: I like the silhouette of the golem on the top right, first image. The feet of the top left one needs more shape I think.

@Grumbleputty: Very cool idea! I like that she is literally in the womb. It does seem a little strange that the top half of the body is just sitting on the fishbowl belly, maybe add some semblace of support in the back? Or make it so its not a complete sphere and maybe extends some ways to the chest? Idk, just throwing ideas around. There's still some ways to go before the image is tightened, looking forward to seeing it finished.

@Abrazuno: Looks good, I like how she is blindfolded. If you are planning to keep the line art, maybe give it some more contast so its not lost completely? The tree on the left corner seems a bit of a distraction, but no biggie.

@Penciltipred: I like the egyptian theme you have going on the guardian, maybe give the girl more of an egyptian vibe (I see it a little in the hair) so you keep a connection between them.

Sorry couldn't get to everyone! Hmm here's mine, final sort of? The more I look at the guardian, the more its proportions bother me. Plus, I don't know how its going to move its arm up, lol. Ah well, I might try to fix some things if I don't get lazy later. Or I might call it done. Cheers and hreat w/e everyone!

[Stinkfist]

[JanJager]

@Abrazuno
Coming very good. Maybe ad some metallic sheen in the guardian.
The horn almost connects to the foliage of the tree. Maybe let the foliage go down a bit. Overall very nice.
@devilminer
amazing
@PxelSlayer
Great
@Johann de Venecia
Very nice

[panb]

didnt see any bellythemed ones like grumbleputty's for example. so started to try on that one. dunno if i can even post crappy photoquality like the beneath so i dunno if i should work on it any further. (not like i made any progresspics )
but its a concept and it was fun so far and i think its to get the message.

[penciltipred]

@Jan Jager
real nice man love how the guardian is positioned and how the girl is radiating nice progress

[NakedZergling]

deleted

[JaninaG]

Oh, shoot, I didn't remember to check this week's challenge until today! It seems like a fun one. Hmm, and the deadline isn't until may 6th... so I MIGHT have time to do it still. We'll see, but I'll give it a try.

I usually never draw mechanical things, so this would be an excellent exercise.

[L4xord]

Wish I could this one, looked so fun but my skill level is rubbish.

[Rob Powell]

L4xord: Don't be afraid to post your work, no matter how rubbish you think it may be. Your not gonna get better if you don't try.

[Pixeltuner]

Some work on this one.

[Grumbleputty]

L4xord, don't worry about that- just dive in! The whole idea is to grow as an artist, and that comes from showing your works in progress and getting advice from the other contestants.

Post what you've got and be open to suggestions, and you'll be amazed what you'll pick up from this community

[Grumbleputty]

here's my latest- I tried carrying the water idea a bit further, but now I'm worried he's not mechanical anymore.

[Trolljack]

Hey guys!

Just got back from holiday the other day only to find this beauty of a topic!

Really like the concept, going to really push my imagination on this one, I have a fairly rough Idea of what I want but it's not coming out on paper quite yet.
Going to try a more painterly approach for this piece.

So far the guardian is non existent, I need to figure out how it would best support Aoife when she's a bit more fleshed out.
Currently I'm going for a nomadic, street rat vibe, to avoid the annoyance of influence she has gone on a pilgrimage to make her own choices etc.

Multi coloured eyes for a somewhat ying and yang approach, will flesh that out a bit more. Age.... 16 or so?
Also looking into ways to bring out her enchantress'ness more.



---EDIT---

Aoife update: (How do you pronounce her name?)

[marko markovic]

character update
main illustration also.....
very inspirative chow.....thanks to all working people...

[Whiskey Sour]

Oy vey, good work everyone! So many variations.
Now it's time to work on Aoife.