Chow 129 :: "It's Elementary ..."

[S.C. Watson]

ROUND #129 :: SHERLOCK HOLMES

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DESCRIPTION
Sherlock Holmes - keep him to his period. Inclusion of other characters, such as Watson, or Moriarty, are optional.
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DEADLINE
MONDAY, October 6th, 2008
Deadline is Monday, at 5pm Pacific Standard Time.
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POST YOUR FINALS IN THE FINALS THREAD!

Remember to include your nickname in the filename.

About quality - as general rule: if your shapes and values are not decent - you are out. Watch proportions, perspective etc. we need perfectly readable shapes and coherent, consistent values.

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BE PROFESSIONAL - only finished and good quality entries will be taken to the poll. Oregano and Daestwen (yay!) will make the selection.

[S.C. Watson]

Please review these helpful reminders if you have not done so already.

ON GETTING TO POLL
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NEW ROUND RULE: WIPS PLEASE!
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SUBMISSION FORMAT REMINDER

[Max Martelli]

Cool.

I immediatly thought of his drug addiction.

Here's my first sketch.

[amaliax]

...the final won't be this cartoony, I promise. I was really surprised at how quickly I got what I thought he looked like, because I've never been a big fan of Holmes. But I like these! I may have to start reading those again.

Good topic!

[Aly Fell]

Of course this is open to interpretation, but this is the book description of Holmes:

This is a brief biography of Sherlock Holmes-The Detective created by the writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Sherlock Holmes was born around 1854-son of a country Squire, Grand-Son of the Sister of the artist Vernet.
Holmes has an Older brother-Mycroft, who also is something of a detective-assisting in a few of Holmes's cases.

Holmes-his Physical appearance.
Holmes is tall and thin-he himself claims to be 6ft tall-but his friend Watson claims he is over 6ft.
He has black hair and grey eyes, thin lips and 'a hawk-like' nose.
Holmes has a strident voice.
Although Holmes has never excercised for the fun of it, he is always fit and ready for the action that takes place in the stories, and is ready to see off
his attackers with either boxing or Baritsu-a form of martial art. He is also proficient at single-stick and fencing.

Holmes-the man.
Holmes stays up late and gets up just as late. He is a smoker, and when a great depression sweeps over him, he has been known unfortunately to indulge in Cocaine-injecting himself with a 7% solution. Watson has tried on many an occasion to stop Holmes from continuing with this dangerous habit-and once suspected (wrongly) that Holmes had moved on to Opium.
Holmes is scrupulously clean and is always dressed neatly-seldom wearing a Deer-Stalker cap.
Holmes is known for his energetic approach to solving the cases which are presented before him by the many people, from many walks of life-from the lowest to the highest in the land, but when he is not involved in a case-he can become lethargic-and slip into the depression mentioned earlier.
Holmes is a Music lover-going to various concerts and Operas, and of course he himself is a Violinist, prefering German music.
Holmes seems to be an un-loving person at first glance- but he is not. He cares deeply about his friends and is concerned for Watson-especially when Watson's wife dies.
As for women-Holmes could never get over one in particular-Irene
Adler. She would always be 'the woman' to him.


More information can be found here:

HOLMES BIOGRAPHY

[Daray]

Aly - I expect to see something from you, you nail his Era down perfectly Shall give this a go, but Im already working on two websites this week

[Aly Fell]

Thanks - I'd love to, but I really wanted to do the 'heart' one and couldn't find the time. I look forward to seeing what you do too Daray!

Edit: Picked up my copy of Sherlock Holmes: Long Stories and felt a burst of inspiration. He's ended up staring at the photograph of Irene Adler, 'the woman'! As a kid my favourite Holmes was Basil Rathbone, but the best was undoubtedly Jeremy Brett. IMO...

Edit02: Worked on the first a bit more in line. Thought that if it was possible it might be 'period' to do it like a Charles Dana Gibson drawing. And looking around the net I found this pic of Arthur Nikisch, the conductor. I liked the pose so thought I might use it... or not!

When Watson first meets Holmes, Holmes is about 24, so over the 36 odd years of Holmes adventures it's possible to present him at almost any age.

[Foofea]

oooh I may have time for this, assignment handed in, no formal piece for this semester excellent

[t i m]

zooom.

cool topic.

[Clochette]

OOooh so cool !!!
My favorite book hero!
I'm in!

Did you know that the 221b Baker Street, London, is now a Sherlock Holmes museum? It's still a Victorian flat.

[Clochette]

I will represent him on his "lazy period", between 2 cases. Smoking opium, playing violin...
First step.

[Gezzunder]

I promised myself to have a go at a cow, wasn't expecting to do anything like this though. I'd appreciate it if you'd pick my work to pieces - I'm a late starter, but a starter nevertheless. I love the work you guys are putting out and would appreciate the input.

[dirkvandulmen]

Nice topic, again, Classic stuff! Here's my sketch, hopefully I can throw some nice colours in there this week...enjoy!

[madhatter106]

I will represent him on his "lazy period", between 2 cases. Smoking opium, playing violin...
First step.

I like your visual research; it backs up the fact that Holmes described his lifestyle as "bohemian."

However, I would be careful on the whole "opium" thing - we do know that he used morphine (a legal opiate) as well as cocaine (as at the start of The Sign of Four), of which Watson disapproved. Holmes did not approve of the use of opium in the traditional sense, since it was illegal at that time.

I'd persuade against depicting him as an opium smoker, especially for this reason. Plus, opium usage was more likely to occur at a run-down den in Limehouse, where it could be purchased and used on the spot, rather than at one's own home.

But, if you still wanted to continue on the whole opium tack, you need to change the style of pipe in which you have him smoking...you can't smoke opium from a calabash pipe. Also, if you stick with the "opium smoker" Holmes, you would need to provide a chaise or couch in which he could recline almost horizantally on his side in order to smoke. He would also need the additional necessary paraphernalia (opium lamp, needle, trays, etc.) at the table in front of him.

Check out the book Opium: Portrait of the Heavenly Demon, as well as wikipedia and the website Opium Museum for more research.

[MJ_Alcazar]

Cool topic, I may have time to do this. Gigantic test on Thursday, but we'll see.

[Bolo]

Hey Everyone,

Kinda new here, thought It'd give one of the challenges a go. Mainly competing against myself

My initial sketch w/ Holmes finding the smoking gun literally. Or he just shot someone, whatever you want to take from it Thanks

[Bolo]

sorry didn't know the pic would be so big

[Adele]

ooooh Poshspice...hes a handsome old fella! Nice pose, love the line work and the crosshatching shadow on his face...I can see where you are going with this...hard shadow.

Not sure if I have time for this, even though I was extremely excited as soon as I saw the title!

[S.C. Watson]

Posh - I've seen precious few of any film productions of Sherlock Holmes, but the I did enjoy Matt Frewer's portrayal.

~Oreg.

[Bolo]

A more full sketch.

[DeeLock]

Not sure what to do with either the costume or background...grrrr...

[mr. m]

woooow! the hero of my childhood! thanks Oreg!
I hope I gonna have time to make this one!

[madhatter106]

Posh - I'd recommend swapping the side on which your vest buttons - especially since it's double-breasted. Men's jackets/vests should button on the wearer's right side, like in the attached period pics...it might not seem like it matters, but from a fashion standpoint, it's kind of like drawing a person's thumbs on the wrong side of their hands.

The button-down collar corners I suspect is also a design/drawing flourish, and not historically grounded in fact. (Would be curious to see a picture of it if you were basing it off actual photographs/research.) I especially like the inclusion of the woman in the mantel photograph - it was something I was also considering doing. (That and a "Moriarity Still On The Loose" headline on a newspaper sitting on the desk, heheheheh.)

[MJ_Alcazar]

Ok, well, Photobucket is messing up on me again. I'll get a sketch up as soon as I can, I was really needing feedback on it.

Looking good so far guys!

Bolo - I'd like to see his face.

Poshspice - oohhh, cool idea. Looking good so far.

t i m - I think is lips are too pink, they stand out way too much.

[madhatter106]

Kicking this around...hope I have time to finish.

[Adele]

here are a couple of sketches came up with....dont think ill be in this round...but I wanted to do a scribble for brain practice.

Im looking forward to the Guy Richie film with Robert Downey Jr as Holmes!

[Darlene]

I would love to give this one a go. I just finished the adventures of Sherlocke Holmes book... It was a book from the 60s.

[duckyfeets1]

sketchy sketchy.

Hopefully Ill be able to finish this weeks. Plan on making it a bit more cartoony, so we shall see.

Too bad Adele, I really liked your concepts.

[MJ_Alcazar]

Yes! FINALLY. Does the head look to small? I was trying to draw him as a sort of larger than life type, but it looks really odd to me. I don't know if it's because I usually go much smaller, or if it really is odd.

Adele - awww, I loved your initial ideas. They look good.

madhatter106 - I like your sketch.

Sry my crits aren't very in depth. I really must study for this 17 chapter test, and my brain is shutting down as it is. Looking forward to seeing more!

[thesaint]

Thanks a lot Poshspice and Madhatter106 for the resources I'll post my sketches soon