Castle Paradox

Uncommon · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 9:02 am Post subject:

Cool. I'll get it whenever the revivified Ariana comes through my door.
Is it freeware, or what? I don't want to pay for anything, since I don't have any money...

The Bard · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 9:21 am Post subject:

I have very little qualms with your art, only one stood out... THE SWORD for the second male character... it should either have a point that runs off of the page, or it should merely not have one at all, also, does he have a sheath for that? Because if so then he couldn't really have thin one, it would have to be rather big to account for the "spikes" on the end of the blade. But over all I like your style, it;s almost Super-Deform but not quite, I have a problem with drawing anime, I can never do the faces, I'm more attuned to drawing the classical fantasy... usually my people have too much detail, hell... when I get my scanner running I'll upload a pic or two maybe? I don't know... probably but I'm not sure... lol, I think that all of your characters are well made though!
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eldritch · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:43 am Post subject:

Bard, isn't the thin bit the physical component of the blade? The rest appears to be energy from the description.
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The Bard · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 11:48 am Post subject:

Oops... forgot about that, alright, I take that part back... lol.... nice pics
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"The future isn't chosen by a throw of the dice, it is made from the concious decisions of you and me..." -Fong.

Uncommon · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 11:56 am Post subject:

Yes, eldritch, you are correct. The thin rod in the middle is the only material part of the blade, the rest is energy. Perhaps it would help if you read the description, Bard.

However, to answer your question, it is a slashing blade, not a thrusting blade, so its point is rather flat. It does not have a sheath, but a loop on his belt, perhaps, would hold it while he isn't wielding it.

One question, what is your avatar of? If it, by chance, is an original picture, then I would look forward to some more scans.

Hunter Green · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 12:15 pm Post subject:

It's Amidamaru, from the Shaman King manga.
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LeRoy_Leo · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:36 pm Post subject:

The energy does look like part of the sword at first sight.

I HAVE A REAL SUGGESTION THIS TIME:

Try to make the veiwer realize that it is an energy aura, and not part of the sword itself, by disconnecting some lines in the energies barrier...
Trust me, it would look cool. Proove me wrong if you want.

Like this:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ <aura
___________
___________<this is the sword, believe it or not...
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ <aura

Hmmm... It would look cool rounded? AWWWW, try it anyway...
Oookay...

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Uncommon · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 12:19 pm Post subject:

I don't think that would look very good. It will be a lot more obvious after I CG the pictures, and if you read the text underneath, you'll know it's an energy blade.

Uncommon · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:13 pm Post subject:

Double-post and the revival of an all but dead thread, I don't care. It would be silly to just make a new thread.

So, yeah, I finally drew some new pictures...

The Mirror (Also called James, real name Jamísulë)

Hair: Auburn
Eyes: Azure Blue
Shirt (main): Red
Shirt (sides): Black
Gloves: Dark Green
Pants: Khaki Tan

Tattoos-
Right arm: A mirror reflecting a black feather
Left arm: A tombstone reading "RIP Jamísulë", the Nersaigh letters underneath reading "mourning the passing of youth"
Back: An epic battle between two samurai that covers James' entire back

Piercings-
A stud in below his lower lip

I drew two pictures of Feather 'cos I wasn't satisfied with the first one. I'm posting them both so you guys can tell me which one you prefer (my little brother liked the first one). I didn't color in the second one yet, but I may just end up CGing it (Feather'll be the easiest to CG, as she's mostly monochromatic).

Feather (also called Darríl, real name Carthage, Darla Shiraha)

Hair: Black (naturally Blonde)
Eyes: Silver
Shirt: Black
Skirt: Black
Boots: Black (really variable, eh?)

Tattoos-
Right arm: A mirror reflecting a black feather
Left arm: a budding rose wrapped around her arm

Piercings-
A stud above her left nostril (about the only one that's ever visible)
A loop and a stud in each ear
A stud in her belly button

Darla was born to Bret Carthage, a wealthy Tethish (British) businessman working in Yamato (Japan), and Shino Mifune, his native wife. Her mother called her Shiraha (Yamatese/Japanese, "White Feather") because she was fair and pleasant as a dove. But as she grew they noticed something bewitching about about her, her silver eyes, when looked into, would reflect everything the beholder was hiding about him/herself. It was a spectacle only the beholder saw, and Darla was completely oblivious to it. Her parents never thought much of it, though, and ignored it for the most part. When they died soon after, she went to live with her relatives, but they were frightened by her gift and shunned her. She ran away at the age of ten, and lived as an orphan until she was taken in by a group of passing elves.

In time, Darla came to stay with Lanorn, headman of an elfin clan in western Yamato, and grew to be good friends with his son, Jamísulë (pronounced "yah-mee-SOO-lay", Nín-Hartoth for "quick mind and foot"), who called her Darríl (Nín-Hartoth, "in shadow"), as he couldn't say her real name too well (Darla called him James for the same reasons). As James learned the skill of mimicry, Darla tended toward black magic, and ended up living up to James' name for her. She also learned that wearing glasses dampens her gift/curse.

When he was young, James befriended the future paladin Garifor, who was a member of his clan, and held him as his hero. But, when the Garifor was exiled from their clan, James defied his father's rules by cutting his hair short, growing a beard (which is against all elfin laws; only elders are allowed to wear beards), and generally rebelling. When his father reacted negatively, he and Darla left the clan and became bounty hunters, calling themselves The Mirror (as he is a mimic) and Feather (a translation and modification of her middle name).

Mirror's swords, Arthond (Nín-Hartoth, "clear reflection") and Nishkei ("silver glare") are short elfin-style katanas. Their reflections of their targets depend on the target's intentions. If for ill, the reflection will be blurry or not shown at all, otherwise it will show normally. He fights with a style of Kendo modified for two swords. Feather is the only real black mage in Where Gods and Mortals Dance, oddly enough, and also knows a good deal of martial arts (don't ask me which one, I haven't researched it enough yet... maybe someone could suggest one?) and uses claws.

They get involved with the story of Where Gods and Mortals Dance when they take the bounty Emperor Roché puts on Thomas and Caleb in part 2, hoping to learn information of Garifor's fate, and why the rogue hunter would join Thomas' paladins if they were (supposedly) evil. After ambushing (and defeating) Caleb and Iris, they join in order to meet the paladins themselves (even if Caleb insists that they go to Fairsdale first). Afterwards, they join as permanent members of the fight at Garifor's urging.

It's a long story, I know, but that's mostly because it's one of the few that's (almost) completely figured out.
I kind of made Feather's eye make-up a little thicker in these pictures than it has been before, and added the little teardrop thing, as I thought it needed a little something more. These pictures of Feather are also my first real attempt at lips. Yes, my practicality has stretched a bit for these two characters, but it's all to achieve their particular looks (I've actually cut back on the Mirror quite a bit if you've seen my older pictures of him).

So, critique away!

Heat · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 11:31 pm Post subject:

Great job on Feather number one, Uncommon. The facial expression is well defined and structured.
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Hunter Green · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 9:58 am Post subject:

Elf + white trash/pirate beard = RAW TERROR
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Uncommon · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 2:16 pm Post subject:

Elaborate. I'm getting the sense that you don't like James too much. Tell me why.

omerta · Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Posts: 25

After briefly glancing over your designs as the page scrolled, I noticed one particularly disturbing trend. Static posturing. I'd highly recommend trying for a more dynamic pose than those you've selected. (See: standing. Standing with arm out. Etc, etc.) A feral posture, or something with a bit more excitement to it won't only interest the viewer more, but it will also test your ability to render a figure in an element you're not used to, furthering you as an artist.

madhatter · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 12:26 pm Post subject:

I like the first pic best. The waist looks too small in proportion to the rest of the body, though. Otherwise, good job.

Uncommon · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 9:19 pm Post subject:

Yes, Omerta, I understand what you mean, as I have thought the same thing about most of my drawings, but none of my characters really fit a feral character and thusly wouldn't fit a feral stance to well, either. These are all really just for the standing graphic, anyway... Anyway, if you look at Iris again (as you said you really just scrolled through the page), her stance is a little more dynamic then the others... I might draw some "attack ready" stances, as well to practice more dynamic poses (as well as draw different costumes)...

Hatter, what did you like better about the first Feather?