Character Forge -Weekly Challenge-

[skullsquid]

Ok this is how its going to work, each week a character assignment will be created and whoever wants to pit in will have to of course produce work based on the directions and the theme.
The intent is to be able to improve skill, crit one another and create work that is conceptually challenging.

So if any is interested this is the assignment for this week:

Members

-meeatu
-jayne
-loomer
-Askan
-HugeHarHar

Assignment #1: Futuristic Swordsman/woman

Object: To avoid anything cliche', the assignment has to be taken with a fashion design approach, so the costume design has to be particularly of interest and of certain level of sophistication.

Media: In this round anything goes.

[meeatu]

count me in

[loomer]

when is the exact due date? - just to be sure

[jayne]

oh! OHHH!!! i'm in i'm in! due date tho? medium i'm probably gonna use is just finished pencil or ink.

[skullsquid]

Next monday loomer.

[skullsquid]

My WIP.

[Askan]

Monday which one? Can you still count me in? And if yes, dos it matter if I colour my stoff or does it just have to loke cool?^^

[skullsquid]

Monday May 23rd, and as long as the piece is decent anything goes, I mean don't post a scribble on a napkin thats all.

[HugeHarHar]

Twould be nice if you counted me in on this one.

[jayne]

bleh count me in too please!

[skullsquid]

Ok get cracking!

[Sundance]

I'm gonna try to slide into this a little late... If thats ok with you ofcourse.

[skullsquid]

As long as you get the assignment done by the deadline its fine.

[Askan]

Do I need to post my picture in here`?

[sone_one]

im late but im in

[sone_one]

phew im done...



(3 1/2 - 4 hours, 100% photoshop)

[loomer]

ok - I guess he's like an otherwordly/futuristic swordsman..
5-6 hours Painter IX

[vigostar]

hey loomer quite an interesting costume you have there... my one crit would be that even though its futuristis and "another world" type of character it would be kinda hard to fight with that thing on its head...

sone one i like the overall pose and face but the costume really isnt very interesting... and theres nothing on her that truely screams futuristic other than the red hair and leatard suit...

I hope to join you guys some time in the future here with this on going "battle". Great work guys...

[Johann de Venecia]

Edit: went ahead anyway. about 3 hours...



the androgynous swordswoman

[HugeHarHar]

So here's my design, please, I know it's not the greatest presentation, just look at the design, heh.

[loomer]

thanks vigostar - yeah...I was well aware of the monstrosity that is this dude's "helmet" - but I just l really like making things up that couldn't exist in "our world". That can cause a huge problem, when creating "believable " concept art. Maybe there is a middle ground that I should try - the last thing I want is people to be like "that's just stupid - that would never happen" - Kind of like when you see a bad special effect in a movie.

Sone one - I think your entry is pretty good...vigostar has some valid points. That face is awesome...give us a detail man!

Lukavi - I'm liking this- alot. If you just made the guys='s legs longer you would kick this up 5 notches. He's just a little squat right now

HugeHarHar - Work on the pose a bit..and really try to render the big forms. it seems like you started too, but then called it quits. I wouldn't give you too big a crit because I am like fuckn' 10 years older than you. Oh god...I gotta go kill myself now

[sone_one]

too bad not more work got finished for this. and ya im looking forward to the second assignment .

@ vigostar... yes youre totally right about the lack of "futuristic" and the unexciting costume ... thats really one of my weakest points, designing such things. thanks for your input man.

@ loomer ... i really like the mood of your picture and the designs you got going there. im not a big fan of unrealistic designs if it comes to movement/balance/etc but you pulled it of well i think.

heres the detail you asked for... cant go bigger since this has been my working size...


@ lukavi... nice design ... i like it. i agree with loomer on the size of the legs though. solid.

@hugeharhar ... id like to see this one pushed further in linework/maybe rendering/defintion, since im having a hard time figuring whats going on in most places. the face is pretty solid though. keep it up.

[vigostar]

i would have to give the decision to Lukavi on this one for having the most original costume design...

hugeharhar- Its very difficult to determine whats going on with your drawing.. i hate to say this but it looks a bit sloppy... i also agree on yu pushing your line work more....

great work guys and gals...

[Johann de Venecia]

Thanks, guys. Glad to have discovered this thread. (I saw vigo's nick under it yesterday and blindly followed a fellow-COWer in).

My entry's actually a girl Just very androgynously manly. Didn't notice the legs until now, thanks for pointing that out. Drawing feet and legs is a challenge.

Loomer: Lavish work. Not bothered that its unrealistic because its done with taste. He looks like he was plucked out of Cambodia's Angkor Wat, but with a MadMax spin. I'm fond of South East Asian (Cambo, and Thailand specifically) - inspired designs. Crits: I think the horns on the feet distorts the leg quite a bit. Also, I wish it could have looked more futuristic, just because the challenge calls for it. Although 'futuristic' is relative, your swordsman does not automatically send that idea. Like you said, 'Otherwordly' is a more proper category. Other than that, nothing else. I love the treatment. Uber respect for you.

Sone one: Sleek costume, fits the category nicely. Great face too, unconventional. Being the focal point of the image, I think its right to be the best-rendered part. The rest of the image could have used a little more attention though. (I'm one to talk, mine looks rushed)

Evildisco:The get-up seems to be a little too straight-forward fashion. Like she's dressed to go to some nice party. I love the weapon though, your choice of color and the line work.

HugeHarHar: Not very futuristic, but I like the attention that you put in the armor and the sword. I agree with the sone, loomer and vigo, you could push the rendering some more.

[Sundance]

So I know I'm a day late... and I didn't really finish, but I never was much for coloring. I'm not too happy with the linebacker shoulders, and the alter boy hips, but anywho this is what I drew. I'm lovin' the feedback you all have dished out so far, it's all dead on, so please lay into mine and give me some suggestions.

Thanks

[sone_one]

you asked for it so here you go ...

first crop in on your character more ... the placement feels quite uncomfortable for me, and theres too much white/wasted space around "her".

try to find an interessting pose for your character to depict its attitude. some ref would help alot there. mine is loosely refed too. refs are your friend ^^.

"its" face is looking like a woman but "its" body aint reflecting that... mainly because of her shoulderline (which is quite masculine) and her lack of breasts.

her hands are way too small for the rest of her body too.

keep it up.

thanks for your comments lukavi... ill keep em in mind when doing my next piece. its greatly appreciated.

[Sundance]

Yes I did ask for it! Thanks for the crit sone_one. I agree with all of it. I was aiming for a futuristic version of Joan of Arc, but like I said the linebacker shoulders really discouraged me from finishing it off with color. Composition has always been my weakest point, so hopefully through these challenges I can focus on that and improve.

Thanks again.

[Burning Eyes]

hey disco been a while... id love to participate soon itd be real fun and force me to draw... im almost outta school so expect some from me!

[ChemX]

I don't think I've posted here yet, but is there anyway I can get in on this action?