Strange Behavior (Illustration) Entry: Michael Dashow

#161

On another topic, I was sketching Aggrolas today and thinking about how he might look if he were a really nerdy guy instead of a scruffy, dumber guy. What do you think?

#162

hey walrus … its really nice concept .i like ur style of draw…
good.
best of luck!

cheers

my post —http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=225&t=518377 –Strange Behaviour (Illustration)

#163

Great work on characters :thumbsup:

But the last one, hmm … for me, he looks human-like. Maybe it’s because of his hair style or glasses :curious:

#164

I like him but he looks too Harry Potterish at the moment (especially the one on the right)… i think i prefer him without the glasses though (he looks more nerdish too imho)… keep us posted…

#165

Hi Michael.
For Chic teen Elf-wear - A2,B3,C6
Nerdy Aggrolas - love first, but with wear, he look as gang band, the new - it something kind wizard or ets.

#166

Hmm, Michael…something doesn’t seem right with Aggrolas and I think you see it too. Try a few more sketches?

#167

So here are the final (or close to final) outfits for the Elf girls. For those keeping score, the outfits selected were C4, B2, and a cross between C1&A5. (I’m bummed I couldn’t use the sleeves from A1, but they weren’t practical for an archer or a swords-person, and I liked Aloriel’s bare arms. :shrug: )

All fo the outfits will be in greens and tans and browns, and will have all sorts of intricate elf filigree and decoration.

Theresa - I don’t understand what you mean. Perhaps if you can explain why the sketch or sketches aren’t working for you…?

#168

very nice progress here mike :slight_smile:
i liek the outfits that you have chousen, and for you doubts about the aggrolas i like the naked arms sketch one also, maybe just put him some t-shirt with some nerd logo on it. maybe also try some more nerd haircut, but overall the new updates are wonderfull especialy the outfits of the girls. keep on rockin mate:thumbsup:

#169

Ooh! Those outfits are really cute! I particularly like Nosinder’s- That’s the sort of thing I wear, that is, if the skirt were jeans instead and with a rather higher neckline- but congrats on makign all three elves look very believable indeed!

     About Aggrolas- ignore me, I don't know what I'm talking about. :D
#170

ah hell yeah… it’s-a-nice!

#171

Oh, my gosh!

Michael, tis is wonderful =D

I love it how you dedicate so much time to make the characters and their expresions look so natural. Just like a snaph-shot of a real “strange behaviour” moment =)

I will definitely check on you again!

Keep it up =)

#172

HI Mike,

Cool Fashions here!

I like their facial expressions a lot, particularly Aloriel.:slight_smile:

-Raffy

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MY STRANGE BEHAVIOR ENTRY (ILLUSTRATION)

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#173

Hi Michael.

Just dropping by to say that it’s great to see you in this challenge. Had pleasure following your entry on the last one, will be happy to see this one develop too.

Best of luck to you.

#174

Hi, everyone! Thanks for all of the kind notes! I’m really happy to hear that the faces and poses of the characters are working well for so many… especially the girls, on whom I’ve been lavishing the most attention recently. But today I’ve so far had a lot more time to spend on the guys. I maxed out my vacation time at work and wasn’t going to accrue any more 'til i took some off. So today’s an impromptu vacation day, thus far spent assembling our intrepid band of would-be adventurers!

No one seemed to respond well to the more nerdy Aggrolas (except for my wife) but one of the characters has to be overly geeky looking. That’s one of the general perceptions of RPGers so it has to be here somewhere. So if Aggrolas isn’t too geeky then it has to be Normiel. Besides, he was looking too cute and normal. So after much sketching, here’s the solution: A stringier, rangier Aggrolas (back to the original concept) and a slightly geekier Normiel… but not so geeky that you can’t picture Aloriel finding him kinda cute. Or at least that’s the plan. How’m I doing?

I still need some clothes for Noidal and Beliobir ('though at least he’s looking more dressed.) One of them will have an Elfin Hoodie. I tried one on both Aggrolas and Normiel and they looked great but didn’t fit the characters exactly. But if I’m doing Tolkienesque versions of contemporary teenage clothing, it’s got to be in there.

I hope you all didn’t think from the previous shots that Aggrolas was going to be topless… Don’t be silly! It’s just important to understand and correctly render the forms beneath the clothes before just jumping in and drawing shirts without a clear idea of what’s underneath. You get a better, more accurate sketch that way.

Anyhow, that’s what’s up so far today. Let me know what you think of the whole layout in general, and the new takes on the male characters in particular. Thanks!

-mike

#175

Hi Michael,

just read through your posts and must say really nice concept… quit controversial and therefore very strange indeed :thumbsup: I´ll be following this to the end… great work keep it up!

#176

right now, the chracters fit very nicelly together… Aggrolas looks much better with this expression and style… I agree that stereotypes should be kept (geecky players and the lot) and i love the new Normiel but i really think that he looks a little femine at the moment (i can’t really trace the details that make him look so but i am sure you will)… Beliobir would looks extremelly nice with tha hoodie i think as long as its not tidy…

#177

Thanks for the notes, guys. Interesting point, George. I’m curious to hear what others think: Do you all agree that Normiel (3rd from the left) looks too feminine, or does that just add to his looking young/cute? If you do agree, any suggestions what I should change without making him look too manly? I’m just interested in hearing from a few more voices before I make a change… thanks!

#178

Hi, Mike!

Normiel looks fine for me: cutish and a bit shy. I don’t read him as feminine, rather (as you know perfectly well) elves in RPGs are tipically defined as androginous, so the problem (IMO) would be if he looked too much masculine.

I wouldn’t change him.

Love the exchange between him and Aloriel, and the girls’ outfits.

#179

Jep… same for me… he looks a bit androginous but as long as he is in the “regulars table” the viewer will interpret it correctly… maybe you could change his haircut a bit or add some details to his skirt which will help? Just some humble thoughts :slight_smile:

#180

Hi Michael

All characters looks fine for me and Normiel too. Agree with theuni, about haircut.