Dragonwrought Kobold WIP.

[nblarson]

I think the thing that sticks out the most is foreshortening, especialliy the left arm (foreshortening isn't easy, so don't feel bad!) The head is definitely coming along well.

Try to think of your character three-dimensionally, and maybe use some reference poses to get a better idea of how foreshortening affects proportion.

[SpaXe]

Actually, not only the foreshortening, I should fix the sword's angle as well. Right now it's like sticking into the wings O.o.

Is there a good painting tutorial I can peek at? I'm not very good at doing this, and I'm just playing around Photoshop to try to figure out how to do this.

Thanks muchy.

[SpaXe]

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/krss_kobold_sketch_02.jpg

More playing around ideas and different approaches. I'll try to find a model for myself and fix the foreshortening on my next update.

[Defcombeta]

i do feel there is something off with his left leg (our right) the whole thing looks broken to me.


rework it a bit more to get the angles right perhaps

j mac

[SpaXe]

Defcombeta: Acknowledged. I will look into the left leg tonight.

Also, I have fixed the foreshortening. Praise be to the stamp tool! :)

(Will update tonight.)

[SpaXe]

I have fixed the foreshortening, the left leg, as well as the size of Krss' torso.
As you can see, I played with textures a little bit in different parts. None of the presented work is final. This is still in the early stage.
http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/krss_kobold_sketch_03.jpg

[ramijames]

Hi there,

I'd take a look at sketching on the side a sort of skeleton for this beast.

I like drawing dragons and I find that it helps make them 'believable' when you have a good idea of the underlying anatomy, fictional or otherwise.

Take a look at drawings of fauns and demons for the legs. They are very canine and should looks similar.

I think my biggest problem with this piece is how the wings and the tail sort of blend together without really showing where one begins and the other ends.

[SpaXe]

ramijames: Acknowledged. More things on my list for corrections. :)
I have erased the sword thingy and given Krss (that's his name) a short spear. It'll be there on the next update.

Also, I would like to head toward a combination between these: reptilian, humanoid, feline, canine, and dragon wings. It may not show on the picture, but I'm working on it.

Again, I will update tonight when I get a chance.

Is there anything else?

[DArcy1]

Hi


A good start and congrats for having the courage to post your only third try :-)
My comments go back to anatomy. I can't stress enough the need to get your proportions right first, then the overall muscle masses and shadows, and only then the details like scales. Otherwise you'll have put a huge effort in and people will keep saying things like "what's wrong with his arm?"

Try here : http://imageevent.com/justmeina/temp for a few pics that should be close to your pose; study the shadows as well. When working with reference, I find (since my drawing skills aren't the hottest) that it's easiest to put a grid up in photoshop with the reference on one side of the screen, and use it as a guide to sketch the image on the other side of the screen. It's what I did for the head and body in my "Fishing" WIP.

Hope to see it finished.

D'Arcy

[SpaXe]

D'Arcy: Those are great references. I have realized that the shoulder, the joints between the torso and the legs, and also the muscles on the arms.. and... too many. I'll have to look closer and study them closely.

Thank you very much!

[SpaXe]

A minor update, mainly focused on the right arm. I decided to leave the shading as it is for now, since I need to fix the anatomy first. More to come though. :)

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/krss_kobold_sketch_04.jpg

[SpaXe]

Many things are still on my list. Tonight I added the anatomy to the legs.

The torso will be turned a little rather than facing directly to the viewer.

I'm also missing a lot of muscles yet. Still working on it, but this is it for tonight. :)

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/krss_kobold_sketch_06.jpg

[DArcy1]

Anytime :-)

When you've taken this as far as you can, you might consider posting it to Steven Stahlberg's "paintover" thread to really take it a step further.

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=359226
D.

p.s. I like the spear

[SpaXe]

That's a such amazing thread. Thanks again, D'Arcy. I learned many things just by reading through. I might not post there, though. I want to push myself a little more. :)

[SpaXe]

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/krss_kobold_sketch_07.jpg

This update focuses on Krss' right hand. I redone it to make sure the perspective is right.

More to come, especially on the anatomy part. :)

[SpaXe]

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch08.jpg

A really, really minor update.

I have an AP test up coming in a week. I will be busy for a moment, but it won't stop me from making art! :)

[SpaXe]

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch_10.jpg

I have started on the scales. Let's see.. :)

[Schoende]

Something bothers me with the torso you made now. it seems to be anatomically incorrect with the neck and the arms... I love the idea with attaching the wings to the tail and would love to see some cool nails on the hand in the front of the image.

great image... till now

[SpaXe]

Thanks for the comments, Schoende. Can you expand on the "anatomically incorrect" for me? Which part specificially, and why?

Edit: Also, I would like to know if its the neck and the arms that are bothering you, or the new scales on the torso. I'm planning on partically covering the kobold with scales, and torso is just a start. Please let me know.

I will look into it.

[redfrog]

Interesting progression you have going here. The textures are starting to build up nicely. My main suggestion would be however to next time go for a more dynamic pose. At the moment i can't be sure if the creature is flying or standing on a flat plain.

Keep it up tho, and good luck!

[Schoende]

I guess what is bothering me is how the middle of the rib cage is going mostly. At the top it looks like the torso and the shoulders should be turned to the right, but the arms and the width of the shoulders tell me it just isn't turned, but should be drawn from the front. near the hips it seems right to me. Maybe the upper torso so the shoulders and the rib cage should be drawn from the front and then twist to the left (of the character) while it's going into the hips (because your legs are more in a 3/4 view)....

so a morph of what you had planned first (on 04-28-2007 08:16 AM your post):
http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/krss_kobold_sketch_06.jpg
and for the hips more like what you had in mind now (05-02-2007 07:26 AMyour post):
http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch08.jpg

I hope this helps more... Keep up the good work!!!

[SpaXe]

redfrog: Thanks for the suggestion. (by the way, I admire your works) This is my .. hmm, first character sketch done purely in Photoshop, and I'm still mostly exploring. My progression, as you can see, has jumped and stumbled many times because I didn't like how it turned out, and I switched from the right track to the left, then to the middle. :p. Right now I'm still not clear what airbrush means, but I think I'm getting the concept of the hard and soft brushes. I'm also beginning to use the smudge tools since two days ago, and they are fun. :)

At the moment i can't be sure if the creature is flying or standing on a flat plain.
I'm guessing he would be standing, but his right leg would be on an elevated platform. I have not check the perspective, and I don't think the "toes" are right. Nevertheless, it's on my to-fix list, but I want to get the body done first. :)

To be honest, I have not thought of the background, not even a bit.


Schoende: Yes, I admit that my work isn't the same pose as it was before. I eventually decided, since the legs are posed in different depths, the hips would have a depth difference as well - and so is the lower torso. I begin to change the shadings and a few outlines (negative space, if you will) around the part and rotated his lower torso. I'm also approaching a way that his torso is twisted from a 3/4 view (lower) to a front view (upper, or shoulder.) I don't like the shading on the scales so far (because the breast should be brighter than anything else in that part) and I think I should trim down Krss' lower right torso as well, to add a bit more depth to the position and the view.

By the way, I checked out your DevArtist gallery. You have a nice way of shading in a natural light render in some of your newer works. I still need to practice that (preferablly starting from an egg or something, probably in the summer.) Right now, Krss' shading looks more like a painting than a realistic approach, which I prefer than the former.

Maybe the upper torso so the shoulders and the rib cage should be drawn from the front and then twist to the left (of the character) while it's going into the hips (because your legs are more in a 3/4 view)....
I believe this is exactly what I'm trying to do. :) I'm trying! :p

[SpaXe]

And yet another update.

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch_11.jpg

Any suggestions? Right now I'm very concerned about the arms and the wings.

[SpaXe]

Started on the wings just this morning. Don't think it's quite there yet.

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch_12.jpg

[SpaXe]

Yum. Another update.

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch_13.jpg

[Sullaford]

I love how the wings look.
One thing, and I know this is the first update to this part, but the weapon... I'd like to see a sharp edge to it. Something fierce. Right now it looks dinged up. If that's what you want then cool, but it doesn't feel dangerous right now.

[SpaXe]

Yes sir, Sullaford, I was too tired and had a headache last night... couldn't keep up painting due to physical exhaustion lol. :)

Here's the update. I think I can do better, but there's what you wanted. Hehe.

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch_14.jpg

[SpaXe]

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch_15.jpg

First try on the fur. It isn't easy!

We'll see. I'm having a hard time. :(

[Sullaford]

The fur is cool man! Would feathers work better? If you like the fur, it's falling the wrong way right now... there should be a part at the top so some should fall behind the pole.

[SpaXe]

I see what you mean now. I'll fix it! :thumbsup:

And, yes, I would prefer fur over feather on that part. :)

[SpaXe]

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch_16.jpg

There. Anything else?

I'm thinking of improving on the anatomy of the wingframe and I should be close to finish on the character, moving on to the background.

Also, I'm open to any suggestions or ideas on the background, too. ;)

Kudos everyone!

[Sullaford]

Better job with the fur.

I just noticed something though... The pole lines up exactly with the tail... it makes for some odd visuals. Kinda feels like they are attached, do you see it? I don't want to cause some sort of trouble for your piece but i just noticed.

[SpaXe]

Better job with the fur.

I just noticed something though... The pole lines up exactly with the tail... it makes for some odd visuals. Kinda feels like they are attached, do you see it? I don't want to cause some sort of trouble for your piece but i just noticed.

I never did until someone said "Cute, a kobold with a fluffy tail." Lol. :p Yes, I'll fix that tomorrow. I have improved on the fur a little more and I'm done for the night. ;)

Thanks. :)

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_sketch_17.jpg

[SpaXe]

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_wip_19.jpg

Another update. I'm looking at trimming down the fur.

[Sullaford]

The tail showing helps... As far as the fur goes... it could be feasible that there would be enough weight to the fur that it would part(as in parting your hair) on top and you would see an absence of fur on the top of the spear.

[SpaXe]

Sorry for the late update. I did not have access to my HDD for a bit because I forgot it at school. :p

I have a few things to fix yet, especially the hands. Right now here's how it looks so far.

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_wip_20.jpg

[Sullaford]

Terrific, I can't wait to see where you go with the background.

[SpaXe]

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_kobold_004.jpg

I need a few opinions before I release it. Right now I'd say it's 95% done, but I feel that there are many things that can improve. I don't know what though.

Edit: to do list:
- clean up the art work.
- add some background creatures, probably a dragon in the distance
- some more details on the ground.

[SpaXe]

I'm going to consider this as final and release it, hopefully accepted into the Gallery soon.

Thanks, all! I truly appreciate your help.

http://www.enchantedexplosives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/krss_medium.jpg

[SpaXe]

Update: This is the link to the gallery.

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=133&t=499564

Please comment there if you wish so! :)

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