WOTW #1 - The Spear - Voting

**Digital_Blacksmith** · December 18th, 2007, 03:18 AM

Well, the time has finally come. We didnt have many entries sadly, but most of the ones we did have were good. So, if you have a favorite you would like to see win the very first Weapon of the Week.

O'Cuin Spear by Raverunner

Pencil by Permanent_Pixels

Spear by Richfloyd

Water Spear by ZsMann

This thing by Bestow

**Kelp** · December 18th, 2007, 06:28 AM

I don't think you have to take Bestow's to the finals..

**addleheaded** · December 18th, 2007, 11:05 AM

@raverrunner: didn't you finish your spear already before the challenge? it's somehow lazy, isn't it? i went through your portfolio... so don't make the next topic for those weapons you already have

**Digital_Blacksmith** · December 18th, 2007, 02:09 PM

Kelp, I put him in there because we didnt have many entries, and I decided to put everyone up.

Addle, Yeah, but its a spear. It was not in the rules I made that you could not use art that you have made for yourself from the past. I just wanted people to put up the best spear that they made...in general.

**Digital_Blacksmith** · December 21st, 2007, 04:57 PM

3 days left people! Keep voting for your favorite, and after christmas, I shall post the new challenge, so get ready, its going to be smashing good fun.

**ZsMann** · December 21st, 2007, 09:06 PM

bestow got more votes then me.... /cry

**OldJake666** · December 21st, 2007, 09:17 PM

Bestow gets my vote... that's pretty much the best painting I've ever seen! He's amazing!

Actually I went for Richfloyd because he actually takes this stuff seriously!

**ZsMann** · December 22nd, 2007, 08:18 PM

yeah I loved the shading he had, one of my weaker areas

**richfloyd** · December 22nd, 2007, 09:33 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys, I have thick skin to feel free to crit hard. I'm looking to develop my skills to a level that I could actually get paying jobs one day... I look at the stuff in other's sketchbooks and am just amazed at the talent on this site.

**Digital_Blacksmith** · December 24th, 2007, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by Jake Kobrin

Actually I went for Richfloyd because he actually takes this stuff seriously!

Dude, everyone here (maybe except Bestow) takes this seriously. Otherwise we would just see a bunch of stick figures.

**Kelp** · December 24th, 2007, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by richfloyd

... feel free to crit.

I'm not the best myself, but hey, I'm here. We're gonna use a little aid here.

First to notice are the bamboo segment-like structure on the shaft and the
slight dents and etchings on the tip of the blade. Both effects are made with
just a few brushstrokes, yet look very realistic. This is good, not wasting
time trying to polish a spot, but instead knowing by heart what
bamboo/metal looks like (by drawing it from reference a lot), and then using a
few strokes to achieve it. It are exactly these kinds of details that can make
a great drawing.
Quickly on the spiral thing, each winding is spaced different and has a
different size, which I think works because the whole spear is a chaotic
orclike thing.
Then, the rows of teeth. The upper row looks good, but the bottom row is
displaced. It either needs to be moved up, or rotated so it points more
downwards (don't correct it though). Imagining 3D-objects and then drawing
them is hard, only cure is reference/practice.

But the biggest thing here is the lack of background. White is a terrible colour
to draw on, especially if you're posting on conceptart (since it has this sandy
brown background). You're in a challenge and you want to win, and you have
a very good drawing of a weapon (I just saw your other entry, the knife, and
wow o_0), but the whole thing is spoiled by the white bg.
Don't leave it white, turn it into something that puts your weapon on a
pedestal. It can be something simple like a few streaks of colour, or a little
more like a sketch of a weaponrack, or a full drawing of a man holding the
spear. Doesn't really matter which you pick, as long as you don't pick white.
For instance, with the knife, if you put it on a marble table that thing would
be an instant winner.

But hey, it's a good spear. And that knife...that is great!

**richfloyd** · December 24th, 2007, 01:11 PM

Kelp- thanks for the crit. Great feedback. I totally appreciate the time you spent on it. I agree with your comments- I'll definitely work on putting in some sort of background on my next entry. Thanks for the encouragement!

**Digital_Blacksmith** · December 27th, 2007, 12:45 PM

Congrats to Richfloyd! Hope to see you in our next challenge, and just bring everything you learned earlier. Cause trust me, so will I. MWAHAHA! Anyways, congrats!