[L99Relm]

I've spent just about all weekend on this, and I believe it's just about finished. The character is Edgar from Final Fantasy 3/6. The lighting is influenced by that used by Dhabih in his self portrait. And, I did partially use a reference (a link to it is included below). Please tell me what you think.



reference picture:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~l99relm/keanu.jpg

(edit) Just so you know, there's an updated version of this picture below ^_^(/edit)

[ May 06, 2001: Message edited by: L99Relm ]

[Loki]

Not being a character specialist at all (hmm ... not even a beginner) - but I like this. The technical quality is very nice. The colorscheme, even if inspired by Dhabi's image, is nicely applied too.
You might want to try to flip the whole image horizontally, so you can work out some kinks.
Other than that - very nice. And thanks for including the reference ...

[Anthony]

I think he looks like too much of a sissy to be Edward. :] The lighting's not very strong, and the face has problems(especially the nose, although that's a woman's mouth if I'v ever seen one). The shading in general has a certain appeal though. Don't worry, I always point out the faults harshly-just trying to help everyone improve.

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-Anthony
Carpe Carpem

[Lukias]

From this pic I remembered your previous posts straight away.
Nice clean style. I like the colour scheme (I really like the purple for some reason), nice warm hues, very eye friendly.

Sorry, I'm not the best for critiques!

[stneil777]

i looked at this and forgot to say anything.
I really like how much different is it then the refurance.
but he does look a little girly. But lots of chicks dig that sorta stuff in guys.

[Kreuze]

I like it.

I did a quick scribbly overpaint to show some suggestions I have on the lighting and coloring. Of course these are just ideas I'm throwing out, if they go against your style or don't work in your opinion, ignore



What I did:
Added more color variation, reds and greens in the hair, more red on the face, and some blue on the chin (he'll need a shave soon in this version, did a couple other things to make him look more manly, I don't know the character though). More darker areas in the hair. Also I chose a light direction (actually I was thinking 1 back light, and one light to the front and slightly left) then darkened some shadow areas accordingly. Added a few brighter highlights where the light hits the armor to make it look more metallic.
Anyway the overpaint was quick so I didn't think too much on the lighting or apply the new scheme everywhere, it's just a general idea.

[EviLToYLeT]

rofl. you used a reeves reference! (not that thats bad or anything) The first hting that comes to mind is shinier armor... like whoever is posted above me said

Second of all, the guy aint holding a phone no more. You have to tighten his griup around the handle of the sword because it is considerably heavier and would not rest like that...

And, i like the sig. Keep up the work!

[Shinsetsu]

This work is pretty good. My only real criticism is the sword hand. When a warrior grasps his sword, he is prepared to use it. This guy looks like he's about to drop it. In all probability, a small child could wrest it from his grasp. The placid expression of the character makes me think he should have his blade sheathed at the moment.

[L99Relm]

Thanks everyone, for so many helpful replies.

Loki: Glad you like it =)

Anthony: Sissy Edward? Whatever. ;P Hmm...what exactly is it about the nose that's bugging you?

Lukias: Wow it's nice to know that I have a recognizable style...Glad you like the warm colors.

stneil777: Yeah I agree with you on the slightly girlie bit, but I think (and my sister agrees) that he looks better that way ^_^

Kreuze: Thanks so much for illustration your lighting and coloring scheme suggestions ^_^. When I have some time I'll go back and see what I can do to improve some parts.

EviLToYLeT: Yes maybe I should shine his armor up. And, I get your point about the sword grip...

Shinsetsu: Yes the sword hand, the problem is that I like the way the sword is held out like that, but I don't want the character to look very tense.

[eric_morrell]

I'm going to sneak in here with a quick reply. I think the colors are good but you don't use enough of them. What I mean by this is that you don't have a change in hue in the face all you have is a change of tone. I would bring more red into the shadows of the face and hands. The ear looks so close to dhabih's that I can really tell that you used it as more of a guide then a reference. The difference being that the colors in it need to move on into the rest of them picture. I agree with the stuff about the sword, and I don't know anything about painting metal. But lastly I'd say to skip on the five oclock shadow and move to a full beard or more skin toned lips because it seems to me that anytime Michael Jackson wants to look more masculine he doesn't shave and he just looks like a tall skinny white woman who needs a master electrolosist. Ok weill other than all that it is a really great picture and for its size it really has a unity to it.
Eric Morrell

[Enayla]

Bugger "masculine"! Who gives the damn about masculine, anyway? I think he's cute =)

I'll have to agree with previous comments about the metal not looking like metal, and about the grip on the sword needing to be tighter. But really - keep drawing men cutsey if that's what you want. Don't let them grind you down

(beards are damn ugly anyway... heheh...)

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If there's a whip there's a way!

[L99Relm]

Enayla: Thanks for commenting and for the cute guy support =)

Hmm...I got a chance to work on it some more, finally. I haven't messed with the hand position at all but I did implement some of Kreuze's color scheme ideas. I also messed with some other small things. So, do you think it helped?



[ May 06, 2001: Message edited by: L99Relm ]

[Superbug]

Problem - look at the original amano designs for edgar. As i recall his armour and dressing wasn't so plain, but just LOADED with all these cool designs amano style. Plus yeah...he does look like a sissy, remember Edgar was the kick ass ladies man.

[L99Relm]

Let's think about this for a second...Edgar does not have a set design hmmm? And this is my interpretation right? So therefore we might conclude that I have selected this costume/anatomy because this is the way I imagine the character right?

Oh, and here are some pictures of Edgar by artists at Squaresoft, so people not familiar with this character can see the "official" stuff..



[ May 06, 2001: Message edited by: L99Relm ]

[Dthind]

my only comment is that the breast plat seems too close to the tone of the skin. It (IMHO), should be closer to a metallic look.

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Blah...Blah...Blah 'Ginger'

[Blitz]

God Damn Do I love Yoshitaka Amano's work

Im gana give you HUGE Props for doing a character from the best game of all time.

I like it so far. It looks great.
If you go to my website under paintings there is a quick fan art I did of Terra. http://www.geocities.com/levisimpson55/

anyhoo, yours is great, if you havnt noticed my name is named after a serton fighting attack of someone...can you guess who?

Seeyas

Blitz

[L99Relm]

Dthind: I made it that color to try and get some color repetition and make it match the rest of the picture better. It is supposed to be gold not silver.

Blitz: Thankee ^_^. Your Terra picture looks quite nice. And I do believe your name came from an attack of Sabin's. You know, I'm thinking about doing my next picture of him.

[Blitz]

YES...Give that man an odd coin to flip in the air. Heads, you get to chose to be king or not :P

That sounds cool....I love Sabin, Iv been meaning to do a better FF pic for a while now.
We should do a series of FF6 characters...we got 2 so far....I call Shadow =)

Check yas later Yo

[spooge demon]

I remember that Joachim and Micke were trying to stump each other on their weak points, and this is one of mine. I have been working hard at figures, but not drawings like this. L99Relm, this is not a suggestion, just my attempt at doing something that might lead to my thinking about starting to do anything about linework and pencil drawing. Amano's work does catch my eye a lot, too, he clearly has a fashion drawing background.

L99, you need a bigger ref pic than that, so you can see what is going on and abstract it from there. This is what I got out of it, so don't just copy the graphic shapes, look at the forms. Eventually you will make a delicate looking, masculine figure like I think you want, but it will take time and thousands of drawings.

But keep going! you are doing great!



Come on Loki, you big chicken! Lets see one...

[Kreuze]

I'm glad you worked with my repaint ideas.

Now when I look at my version though, I see a lot of small lighting inconsistences and other problems that are carried over into your rework, but the only reason they bother me a bit is because they're my errors. If I changed some shadows and highlights, and worked more with reflections in the metal I'd probably end up creating/seeing different problems.
Anyway, before I thought the piece could use a little stonger contrast (values and a little color variation,) and I think it looks better now.

Spooge: Cool sketch, you're welcome to rework the lighting too if you want, I know you could do a lot job better than me



[This message has been edited by Kreuze (edited April 14, 2001).]

[L99Relm]

Blitz: Yes....a coin that has heads on both sides. A series of FF characters hmmm...

spooge demon: Thanks for the advice, I'm honored that you took the time to reply. Your sketch looks awesome =)

Kreuze: ^_^