I've been drawing a lot! Here's the results! Some of these are like a year or more old but all the character sketches are recent. If this doesn't work I'm gonna cry, I swear to god. These may load rather slowly because they're really big, and actually in the preview at least they look like they aren't really anti-aliased properly because I set the width smaller than their actual really really big size. So, uh, keep in mind that there's some distortion here I guess. I think you should be able to view the images full size by dragging them into a new tab, though.

Here's some Jakkard creatures!


Here's a random rough Moonfolk design for the Godplane, which has at least some potential for expansion I think:


And here's a bunch of characters:


And that's what I've been doodling!

Oh, wow, Keeper. Just wow.

I know that the top Beryl images weren't your favorites, but there's something about the top right one which just whallops me right in the gut when I see it. That's exactly how I kind of picture her comportment when she's talking to someone she's afraid of. (And, for her, that seldom means being afraid of physical harm. It means being afraid of being found out for what, in her darker moments, she fears herself to be.) There's that head angle - a little down and to one side - which tries to hide the scar and looks just a little submissive. But her eye still kind of looks right at you. Gives me chills.

I love the ones on the bottom, too. Especially the in-motion one, like you said. The one in the center as well has this kind of weary expression which also really resonates for me.

The top right one is actually one I'm happy with! That's in fact the most recent one--it's a more refined version basically of the features I settled on in the bottom ones.

Really glad you like them. I wanted to really do Beryl justice, since I think she's such a potentially visually interesting character... and since she's grown into one of my favorite characters, actually.

It's really wonderful. In my mind, so much of her expressiveness comes from the way she carries herself, and the way she does or doesn't quite look at you. And you really captured that.


I'm not crying. Really. I swear I'm not crying right now. It's just allergies...

NOBODY LOOK!

(Thanks; I am humbled.)

Keeper, you have instantly lost points for not using the proper appellation of "critter" for your Jakkardian works!
That being said, some broad reviews, mostly not focusing on technical detail, but in places of where I think your work was most successful. I'm really not aiming for being too critical here.
Jakkard

Moonfolk

Walkers:


There are at least 2 of my characters which I would love for you to take a stab at.* Maybe 3, but truthfully I'm not super thrilled with how Alessa looks hanging around in my head to start with.

*I mean, this is a technical statement, because I'd love for you to try your hand at ALL of them, but I wouldn't want to throw too much your way.

I'll look into these more specifically in a bit, but I just want to say, since they're my characters, that Syl and Chardis are amazing. Chardis looks almost exactly like I picture him when I write him (perhaps with a slightly thicker neck, but otherwise flawless). Syl is also excellent. Thank you so much, Keeper!

Aaaaa you guys like my art aaaaaa

I'm a little lost on what to actually do with these, the characters at least, since they're clearly not finished pieces but just rough designs. I don't know if I have the stamina to do full paintings of all of these folks. But I love working on the concept art--it's a really fun exercise.

@Barinellos:

So, so thrilled that you like Zhiran. I was really nervous with him actually since I just blasted that out with no preliminaries and just working from the memory of the description you gave in the other thread. To hear that I got it right is very gratifying. I agree that he could use more beard, but then can you ever have enough beard?

In my defense re: centaurs, these were drawn pre-Theros. Some of these sketches have been sitting around for a loooong time. And honestly, after going through the very lengthy process of scanning them all, I remembered why I balk at actually scanning my artwork. >_> Anyway, I think you're right about the noses. I tried that early on and couldn't pull it off, the visuals weren't clicking, but I also wasn't as... well... good a year and a half ago as I am now. I might be able to do it now, especially since I have the Theros centaurs to work from.

I'm actually still really pleased with how the fur and the facial features of the fox looks, but in retrospect, yeah, anatomically those legs don't work. Another thing I've become more conscious of recently.

Agree that the moonfolk need work. If you have other critiques for that I'd love to hear them. That was just sort of a vague test to see if I could get the ears and the sense of the elongated neck the way I wanted. I did want the limbs to be slightly inhumanly proportioned but maybe that's pushing the weirdness factor too far.

I'd be totally pumped to hear your ideas for Jakkard guns. I loved the description of the spellshot in Wild Card. What do you think of these designs?

@Raven:

Yeeeeeeeessss

You already know how tough designing these two was for me, so I'm glad you think they turned out right. I love their expressions. These, and maybe Zhiran and the action shot of Beryl, are probably my favorite of the character sketches.

Yeah, I know I set a very difficult task for you. "Here, draw two people who are twins, are described as exceptionally beautiful people, but who have limited actual physical descriptions, particularly about their faces. Aaaaand, GO!"

Yeah, not easy. I am very impressed with the result!

And it's not even the only thing we like about you!

Okay, as promised here are some of my thoughts on these, starting with the 'walkers. Keep in mind that these are just my reactions, because I am no artist, nor do I have a great grasp of what makes "good" art. But to quote Mr. Burns, "I know what I hate, and I don't hate this." So this is just my thoughts on these pieces:













I'll let you know my thoughts on the others when I can!

@ Raven - Now I am dying to know how you do envision Beryl when you read the stories.

It's REALLY hard to describe. First of all, even though you likely specifically describe her burn on the left for all I know, mentally, I have it on her right. Also, to me, it looks more like a mass of scar tissue. I picture her face rounder, less severe, and her hair a little less stringy. Her mouth is smaller in my imagination, both in terms of lips and width. Eyebrows are probably a tad smaller, but not much. But generally, I picture her head more round, like I said, and not as tall.

Admittedly, none of that is really BASED on anything. Just the image I get when I read Beryl.

I could probably stand to round out her face a little bit more than I already have. It's very tricky to go round and gaunt simultaneously though. =_=

Terrible confession - I would have to look it up. I can't remember if I have ever specifically said which side the scar is on.


Alternative solution - my next story will feature Beryl's trip to Golden Corral, and we'll take care of that gaunt issue.

(Actually, having just written that as a complete joke, I am now fascinated by the mental image of Beryl at an all-you-can-eat buffet. I think she would consider that to be more "magic" than most of what she does. And that's even before we get to the chocolate wonderfall.)

I can't stress enough that that is only MY image of her. I think your sketches of Beryl are very good. For the record, I LOVE your portrait of Fisco...but that's also not how I picture him...

For some reason this conversation reminds me of Ember Island Players. Something about a facial burn scar being on the wrong side...

Also, this is brilliant work! I really think with your kind of skill, we could have some serious illustration in the M:EM. I'd try to give more precise critiques, but yeah... I'm oddly both a visual person and a serious non-artist. I almost wonder how I could do at providing direction, but I'd guess the answer to be "horribly"

Haha, I think you're probably fine... I just haven't arbitrarily picked any of your characters just yet. This is all very random.

The trick with my skill is that I'm not super fast... and while sketches like these don't take me too awful long, expanding them into finished works would. I'm not sure what level of sketchiness is acceptable for the archives, to be honest.

@Raven:

Weirdly, it's not how I picture him either.

I always picture him with a mustache. Always. Invariably. I have to mentally shave it off every time.

@OL:

I could've sworn it was left, but uh... I could be totally wrong actually.

I think you're right. I think her left eye is the bad eye.

I'm just embarrassed by the fact that I can't remember.

A number of these probably would be, at least if cropped and possibly cleaned just a little (Aloise, Beryl, Syl & Chardis). Some might even be able to go in without alterations (some of the Jakkard studies, Zhiran)

The reason I asked about direction wasn't to egg you onto my works, but because... well, when comparing my writing with others in meatspace, I "Think like a filmmaker". I'm not sure it shows, as sometimes I forget to do description, but because of that fact It's always frustrated me that I can't actually make the images in my head appear on paper.