Suichiro
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Posts
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Joined
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I'm not sure what the things around her ankles are. It's really unclear in the sheet.
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Getting around that is easy. Type your text into a normal text editor, then spellcheck it there. Copy text and paste into the appropriate place in the work. Done.
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Quote:Actually, I understood who it was immediately. All the clues were there, though many people aren't familiar with Adamastor, so it's tougher to get image recognition from them.Originally Posted by airhead
Not Jack, he's more pink. Looks like my minimal is an epic fail. It's the big ol' Dark Astoria giant monster.
Don't worry Airhead, I think you've managed to catch onto the concept more than anyone else. As well as showing a surprising talent for artistry that I didn't know you had before. -
The thing is, even if you won and got the model sheet, it would do you no good if you aren't willing to settle for a single look for your character. While you can always tell an artist to modify a look from a sheet, it's always going to come back to that sheet as a reference point.
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I know what it is, but I want to say it's Arbiter Fabulous~
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I wish I could suddenly grow hair like that.
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Yeah, I don't think that we're ever going to see eye to eye on this. To me, once you start drawing the character, even in simple blocks, you've lost the point of doing a minimalist piece. To me, it's all about taking a non-human shape and making the audience realize that it's referencing one.
In that regard, I am unhappy with Sapphic's mini, but I don't see a way around it. -
Good lord.
I instantly spotted Posi. Instantaneously.
Marvelous, Airhead.
Edit: Here, let's try this instead. By straightening the lines I could curve the skirt. I think that helped a lot.
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IMO, an artist is not a collection of skills and gallery pieces. It's defined as a person with such an overwhelming desire and need to create, that they will find any way they can to express themselves. An artist will always strive to become better than they are, because they are driven to. It's an instinct and one that cannot be controlled willingly.
I have seen many skilled and talented people with works that far outclass mine in every way possible. Yet some of these people are soulless and dead inside. There is no passion in their hearts, no drive in their blood. They are not artists. They are illustrators, painters, sculptors, performers, but they are not artists.
I know many people who do not have the skill they desire and are roughly on the same level as their average fellow man. But these people can have the burning desire of creation flowing through them, fueling an engine that channels their muse into reality. They will keep drawing if you break all their pencils. They will keep painting if you cut off their arms. They will keep creating, no matter what the cost or pain might be.
Skill, does NOT an artist make. Passion and desire is the measure by which I judge people. That is why I consider Pyro a true artist. One, amongst many that reside here in these forums. -
From what I'm reading of the ongoings, I feel that the fault here is in the intentions of the piece, not the actuality of what's in it.
It's pretty obvious that Bayani was asked about his character and he refused. Then a very similar element of his character was used anyways, then written off that it could be anyone. Furthermore, it was pushed into the edges of the picture and then darkened, like it was purposely being hidden from view.
Don't BS us. It's obvious what happened here.
Now, if it was just a pair of boots with a flame pattern, it could legitimately have been anyone. There's quite a few people with boots like that. But it's everything, including the events that went on behind the scenes that make the problem clear. Intent is rearing it's ugly head.
Now personally, I don't care who's "fault" this is, as I see it as a purely social problem. Bayani can't actually control anyone who tries to draw his character, but he has his rights to feel the way he does about it. JK has every right to draw what he wants, but he is rightly subject to the backlash that his art might cause. It's up to the involved parties to settle the dispute. I just can't stand seeing people write off something this blatant as co-incidence. C'mon, we're not f***ing stupid. At least come clean with it and stand up for your actions. -
Quote:You know, I was taking a long look at this one and I've come to the conclusion that he needs the tie pin to complete the deal. While I think you've got the majority of his character in the simple colors and hint of a vest, it could still be someone else wearing a business suit. I get the sensation of "this looks familiar... is it Airhead?"Originally Posted by airhead
[*] Airhead - Caemgen hinted at it. Stop with the merchandizing already.
When you add in the pin, it seals the deal. While it does add one more layer of complexity to the image, it's the detail that cements that this is Airhead and not anyone else. It also adds in the important color of yellow, which also evokes his hair. While you might not think it important, when you added that fifth color to the image, it made all the difference.
Since this is an exercise in "maximum with minimum," I think the key is to hit that maximum recognition while attempting it with as few details as possible. We all know that the visor makes it nobody other than TA, the scarf with the green means it's nobody but Deebs (scarf with blue would have been Turbo-Ski,) and the ankh makes it Soul Train. Without those elements that we connect with, it's not that very specific character. So I do agree with your original Airhead mini, I feel that you hit it dead on. Maximum Airhead with minimum details.
I did actually fiddle with her hourglass for quite a while. This is the fourth version of it and ultimately the one I decided to post. I feel that aside from making the upper rib area into straight lines, it's about all I can do with it. If I make it into a tighter waistline, I feel like it becomes even more like a head, as the separation between the 'shoulders' and the 'face' becomes more defined.Quote:Originally Posted by airhead
[*] Sapphic Neko - Perhaps could be more hourglass. The pinched waist looked like a neck, I was trying to figure who has black hair in a 50's style. Otherwise, perfect.
I had a hell of a time with Sapphic, which is why I attempted it. Sapphic's design isn't what I would consider to be as iconic as many other characters, even though it's simple. That's because her design includes many separate details that all compete for attention. Is she defined by her ears? Is it the wings? The cleavage? :3
After studying for a long while, I decided that it's not any of those. Because in order for it to be Sapphic Neko and *not* one of the many other cat or succubus characters, I had to reference something unique to her. I eventually settled on the mid-drift top, with the black and white bands, as Neko herself suggested. If I did a blonde bob cut with white ears, it could have been Shia. If I added wings, I'd need to then draw a face to reference them. At that point, why would it be a mini? Instead I may as well draw her out completely. I avoid drawing faces or bodies whenever possible, as I feel that it starts to bypass the concept. The more that I have to draw, the more I failed.
Anyhow, that's my rambling for now. I've been enjoying the way this is turning out, because it's a potent way to study design while still being accessible to most everyone. That's a pretty rare combination, I find. -
Quote:That's because I was using this as a reference:Originally Posted by Bubbawheat
I'm still not really seeing Suichiro's Burnt Matchstick.
If I just recolored it like this, you'll probably see it more.
Funny enough, I was personally happiest with Matchstick, because the use of negative space as a frame and the slight hint at a chin and head only through the use of color was interesting. But alas, what's interesting as art is not necessarily what the public wants to see. That's been something that's plagued all artists for eons. :3 -
Not every design minimizes well. But those that do, work really well. -
Wanted to try my hand at some of the ones already done in the thread. Some are definitely harder than others.
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Quote:Frankly, I like that people are attempting to do their own. I was hoping that's exactly what would happen, seeing as this is a relatively easy thing to approach, while at the same time teaching a lot about basic design and streamlining. It's always the things that we think are the most simple that sometimes wind up being the most complex.Originally Posted by Bubbawheat
I can also move to a new thread if you don't want me stealing your thunder, Suichiro.
Carry on, good sir.
Yet, you did a smashup job on yours. You've managed to achieve exactly what the exercise was about. Well done.Quote:Originally Posted by airhead
It is a lot harder than it looks. -
Frankly, I do tend to plan my costumes around a central idea and then strip away the unnecessary until it becomes something that I like. In general, I have three major rules that I follow to make a good outfit.
One: Use a color combination that's unique. Make good use of contrast.
Two: Make the character's silhouette unique.
Three: Keep It Simple, Stupid.
While I don't consider Melanie's design to be really all that iconic, I did design her outfit thinking about these three things. Her red jacket and the shock of orange hair is pretty well instantly recognizable, her ponytail, horns and shoulder spikes give her a unique silhouette. I did not keep to the KISS mantra with her design, which is where she fails. However, the other two factors make up enough of the difference that she's still decent somewhat palatable.
This is why I'm generally critical of the standard red/white/blue patriot outfits as well as the white/blue ice themed ones. Too many other people use those combinations, so you're already down one point of design. Then, if you have a basic bodysuit and uncowled head, you're down another point since the majority of other designs have similar silhouettes. Lastly, too many details in an outfit can confuse your eye instead of drawing it to the areas you want. It's very easy to get caught in the trap of "that looks cool, so I'm gonna add it to my outfit." Most people need to strip 2-3 layers of complexity out of their designs to get it into a very easy to read form.
You don't need to have all three design elements to make an iconic character. But each time you break a rule, your costume needs to be more and more well designed in order to stand out. Some people succeed despite breaking all three rules. It is very possible to do so, but they're the exception instead of the rule. -
Yeah, you'd think that these would be easy, but they're really not. The key here is to use the least amount of details in order to evoke the maximum amount of recognition. Also, I chose certain outfits and names because they were both iconic and simple, as well as being reasonably well known. This sort of thing only works when everyone has a common pool of knowledge to draw from.
I do feel that the original StreetFighter ones in the linked article ruined the point by naming the characters. -
The yellow and black one is an old forumite who doesn't post here anymore. Still pretty famous around these parts though.
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Frankly, I tried to omit the letters, but it just wasn't possible. The red/black/yellow combo is one of the major iconic parts of the outfit.
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After being inspired by the minimalist StreetFighter characters from this article: http://kotaku.com/5545354/a-minimali...cters/gallery/
I got inspired to do my own of (IMO) the most recognizable characters here. See if you can recognize these forumites:
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I still think you should lay off the drop shadow/bevel, but your line art is still as nice as ever. I agree with LJ, that it's going to be become a bad habit if you don't curb it right away. While it's 'easy' to use, filters don't give you a proper shadowing job and in the end, will just take away from the good work you did already on the illustration.
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LOL, It's exactly this kinda reaction that I live for. See, I have no shame and I would totally submit it. But it's up to you guys to re-assess your submission guidelines and decide if you want to use it.
Since Deebs might be gobsmacked if I went through with that one, here's some alternatives:
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Needs moar broadcast.
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It's also not my DA page. ;3
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The drop shadow or bevel that you're using is having the opposite effect of what you want. It's making your characters look hollow and two dimensional. I suggest not using it at all and sticking to flat color instead of trying to fake it via filters and effects. The linework is already strong enough, no need to take away from it.
