DARTH . . . VADER that is.

**matthewart** · May 3rd, 2005, 03:19 PM

About a year ago I decided I’d paint me up a Darth Vader. I’ve been noodling on this Vader painting for about an hour at a time for over a year. I decided I’d try and get it done in May just in time for the new movie. Last night I realized it was May. So I finished up all the finishing touches on the painting… and today I send my Vader Painting out into the world. This is my first piece of fan art in a long while.

I messed around with the proportions; I gave him a smaller head and taller body. I wanted him to be as scary as he was when I was four. The background he stands in is a mixture the Death Star Walls from A New Hope, the Vader throne from Empire, and the stairs from the Bespin Showdown at the end of Empire.

A strange side effect of painting an iconic character like Vader is: When I was done it didn’t feel like I had painted him. It felt different than I normally feel when completing a piece. Maybe that’s because he’s not strictly from my imagination, though Vader will lurk in the shadow of my mind forever more.

m@u

**dogfood** · May 3rd, 2005, 03:43 PM

I hate to say this in regard to the time spent and the very sweet feel, but that is a tiny, tiny head. I'm expecting Alvin the Chipmonk's heavy, mechanized breathing issuing from the dark metal grill, his evil, piercing voice saying "Come to the dark side... Theodore"

**Blackarts** · May 3rd, 2005, 03:50 PM

That is really badass. I would up the contrast on vader a bit and reduce the size of the lightsaber - it's looks to long to me.

**Dizon** · May 3rd, 2005, 04:03 PM

put this up beside the recent general grievous piece!

nice job man!

**Zaknafain** · May 3rd, 2005, 04:09 PM

Wow... I wish I could paint that good...

some proportions are wrong I think. like the long lightsaber and his head (the shape reminds me of homer simpson ) and his left arm (i don't understand the pose fully)

stupid me... why am I critisizing an image like that

**tylerjwarren** · May 3rd, 2005, 04:51 PM

Well, I think it rocks. Can't say anything bad about the head abd the long light saber is kind of cool, for doing big cutting. Good background and red smokey stuff all around. I think you did a great job!