Strange Behavior (Illustration) Entry: Michael Dashow

#181

Great details in clothes. Awesome design ! :thumbsup: Keep this good way.

#182

It’s looking great, Mike! I didn’t read through all the comments yet, but the one thing that strikes me as very slightly off is the girl on stage left, her right foot seems to be at an odd angle. I also thought you might want to check out this john k drawing of 3 sexy girls walking in a similar pose (your sketch brought it to mind for me):

http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/GL_009-756265.jpg

#183

Thanks for the feedback, folks! I appreciate hearing which parts are working and what isn’t. So here’s a new version… though no one will notice because the thumbnail is almost identical. LOTS more work on all fo the characters, 'though a lot of it is subtle: A new arm for Beliobir, a hoodie for Noïdal, a slightly squared-off chin and wider shoulders for Normiel to make him look a tad more masculine (but still nerdy.) A fix on Nosindier’s foot (thanks,m Alex!) A table, now too, and at least placement for the railing in the background (eventually to be overlooking the rest of an Elvish city-in-the-woods-or-maybe-cliffs in the background.) And some stuff on the table… Detailing that is going to be a lot of fun! I also need to flesh out the weapons for Gotuel and Nosindier, the 2 female warrior-elves. (Aloriel just gets books.)

Anyhow, that’s all for now… but that’s a lot!

#184

superb details Mike! :eek: i especially love each characters’ personality, very diverse and well thought of :stuck_out_tongue: … me just can’t find anything to crit here … alls well done! :stuck_out_tongue: :applause:

#185

Now you’re speeding up, i see you’re confident with the attitudes now, and the detail in these clothes is going to pop up so nicely once it’s done!!

If i could comment on something ii would be that having Noïdal (Hey this time i actually typed it… so proud) wearing a hood and a ponytail could be messy. but I’m sure you will pull it well,
so, oh now I’m speechless.:surprised

Great work!

#186

it might be amusing to have your elves roleplaying to be human roles. Like class 3 policemen, soldiers, scientists, firefighters etc.
have this reflected in carefull crafted figurines of said roles.

#187

i really like this idea.

#188

Hey once again Michael,

This is a great update i love all of the changes in details (btw the new chin works fine) and the clothes for the last two of the bunch…

I only have one remark that might (again) just be me but i just noticed the hand of Aggrolas and it looked way too twisted for a man (or elf for that matter) rolling dice… it just feels like a forced motion that is contrasting to the laid back feeling of all the guys in the table… like someone has grabed his elbow and pushed it inwards suddenly…

As i said, it might just be me,

Have fun,
George

#189

George - Well, I think saying the pose is too twisted for a man is a bit extreme: after all, I look just like that when I roll dice. I know because I based Aggrolas’ pose on several photos my wife took of me, as well as sketches done in the mirror. (NO, I will not post them. :slight_smile: )Keep in mind, he’s not just calmly rolling the dice, he’s really, really into it right now…

Harris-ejaz (and Alex) - Thats a neat idea! I like it too… I’m going to try to run with it. Thanks!

Steevie - I don’t even know the correct keystrokes to type an ‘ï,’ I have to cut and paste it every time myself. How do you do it? I’m not too worried about the pony-tail, though, but thanks for bringing up the concern.

Nwiz - thanks!

… oops, I just noticed that Noïdal’s proportions are a bit off, his body size compared to his head… oh, well, an easy fix!

#190

Great Michael.

I like the expression and all the characters studies you did :slight_smile:

I want know if the elfs in theyr roleplay game will meet some monster like… a Wild Policeman :stuck_out_tongue:

#191

I LOVE the idea of elves playing RPG. I think it’s very funny and clever. Somehow this idea was lost on me at a first glance because I was distracted by other things in the scene. Your character development sketches are wonderful to watch. Good luck.

#192

Hi Michael,
I love all the expressions:thumbsup: I can tell they are all very real for each one of them , and the girl elf from the midle, she’s so adorable
great work your style complement very nice your idea
keep up the good work! It’s looking fantastic

#193

Man… I got to see these pictures:scream:…

But yeah… I just haven’t played in a while so i forget how caught up you can get in this… I will take your word for it:D…

#194

I am amazed how clean your lines are, well the elvish girl in the centre hubba bubba! Have you figured out your background yet?

You have to have them role playing the characters from the village people, policeman ,native american, builder etc or the scooby gang, just go crazy man,

I love to watch this all the way through, makes my concept look like something my mum used to stick to the fridge when I was five LOL

Got to go need to sharpen the nib on my wacom

Rich:buttrock:

#195

Hello Michael, I just have to join the troop and be obvious. I just love your sketch, so full of details and nuances. In addition, follow your progress it is a drawing class experience. I will be watching you and try to learn a thing or two.

#196

Thank you for the notes, everyone! Glad everyone likes how the character sketches have been coming. With those mostly done, it’s now time to focus on some other details" The game on the table, and the environment. These are obviously doodles for the latter.

I took the last post you saw and printed it out on plain old standard 8.5x11-inch paper to draw upon more. I do this a lot in my process: Print what I have out, and then doodle over the print-outs. These two sketches show roughly the direction I’m heading in for the environment: An Elvish city set in the trees and cliff-tops. You can see other balconies, to give you the idea that this foreground is another one of those. And some waterfalls, lots of trees, mountains in the background… More firs and evergreens in sketch 1 while there are more oaks and deciduous trees in #2.

I’m worried that they may be borrowing too much from the Peter Jackson movies. (Curse him and his team for developing such a wonderful, well-crafted vision to subconsciously stick in our heads so that I’m finding it hard to diverge from the paths he forged! :slight_smile: ) Anyhow, that’s where things stand now. I’m open to other ideas for the setting, as long as they’re in this general direction…

-mike

#197

Hi Mike,

Either background looks great, but if you’re worried about the similarities with PJ’s vision, how about a more fairytale castle like Neuschwanstein (just do a Google - you’ll recognise it from movies I’m sure). And a little thing… Gotuel’s eyes: I can’t help thinking it’d be her eye closest to us that would be wider with the higher eyebrow, and the other narrower. I just practiced it in the mirror and that’s how mine came out!

#198

hi walrus, great development! I was a bit off lately so your latest image is quite a jump from ur early character sketches. I see I missed a lot :confused: Anyway, Im voting for no.2 (Im so happy when I can choose from many options that u gave us :smiley: its so fun to participate, hehe). the reason why is mostly because if this is a fantasy landscape its always nice to see fresh colors and nature in the back rather than crowdy cityscapes, even if they are fairy looking.
And I absolutely ladore the middle girl, u drew her really well! keep up the great work buddy!

#199

My vote is for number two as distribution of shapes and masses and kind of vegetation (I somehow can’t see Elves in a ‘high peaks’ sort of environment. Only problem I see with number two is that it reminds me quite strongly of Rivendell…

What about a change of building materials? More wood, maybe, and shapes that mix more with the natural environment instead of standing out?

Or if you like to keep evident pinnacles and ornaments (which are wonderful) what about giving a look at some Thai architecture?

#200

Hey, I really like the background you have going on here! How about a few signs to show where they are- are they in an open air park type of thing, at school, in a mall…?