Even More RPG stuff for portfolio/training purposes

[Nordstrand, T]

Been doing more classic RPG stuff, from the D&D universes. Please tell me what you think, especially concerning composition. I'm looking for books on that matter, so if you have seen a book on composition that you learned anything from, recommendations would be great!

The first one here is a character portrait (my first) of Kormschkakh Life-stealer. He's a halfbreed gnome/orc and dedicated follower of Gruumsh One-Eye:

http://mysite.freeserve.com/tnordst/temp/TN-Kormschkakh_the_eeevil.jpg


The second is a recent try in making use of Painter's Scratchboard Rake to produce a more complex situation:

http://mysite.freeserve.com/tnordst/temp/TN-DragonBack01j.jpg

Comments are always welcome, brethren!

[Batteram]

I saw that orc portrait on gfxartist, it looked very cool. I say that maybe you can fix up the teeth a little bit because the tooth between the front teeth and the canine teeth should be smaller than both of the former(s). He is another creature, so it doesn't really matter but that tooth is mostly the same in every animal in terms of size difference. You can also maybe give his teeth a gritty look, that is, make it yellow and dirty.
I also like the mood of this piece, very creepy.
I am not too fond of your second piece though, I don't really like the cross-hatching effect. It just looks too amaeturish. I say you should forget the cross-hatching technique and continue on and perfect your rendering. Thats the way to go...

[Tedsuo]

I rather like your cross-hatching, and don't think it's amaetur at all. If you could recreate that style outside of the computer, you could make some excellent etchings and woodblocks. However, I think the composition needs work. The knight and dragon should be interacting in some meaningful way.

I like the first one too. I understand that the face is the focus, but you still might want to consider hitting the highlights a little harder on other parts, especially the hands.

Cool stuff though. Again, your stuff brings back memories of my old Playa's Handbook :)

[Nordstrand, T]

Batteram: Thanks for letting me know about www.gfxartist.com using it as "Picture of the day"! I'm not sure how I feel about it being hanged on their wall without even letting me know, but all publicity is good I suppose. The teeth bother some, but that means everybody notices them, yeah? His grin is important, but maybe overstated. Before judging his teeth as abnormal though, you should see mine. ;D

About the cross-hatching, I think it works well to convey emotion and atmospheric subtlety. If it works well for illustration purposes I'm still not sure of. I don't control the marks well enough to critize the medium, I think. I'll continue exploring it though, because well... it is fun, and enchants me! Thanks for being critical, I need it.

Tedsuo: Another composition would probably create tension between the two, I agree. And since composition usually involves forcing lots of action-feelings these days, I should probably look into it. But although that dynamic is gone here, maybe it gives a different feeling altogether? That ol' Elmore D&D feeling will never leave me!

Again, thanks for being hard on me. Being able to choose subject matter, I make things too convenient and easy for myself. I promise to work harder! (or else your critique would turn into a waste of time, which I'm not inclined to do)

Cheers!

[MindCandyMan]

These are awesome Nordstrand. I really like the scratchboard one. It reminds me of the old woodcuts. Looks great. Keep pushing the envelope with that tool. The more you work with it...the more depth I am seeing in your pieces. Keep it up.

[Travis_Bourbeau]

well im not sure if you are looking for crits but id like to give you one even though your better than me


The level of detail in the face is great but the rest looks a lil like you got bored with it maybe its just me ! but i think if you added some kind of detail to his armor or rob knefe etc it would make it more consistent im not saying at all that i think its bad just that i think you have the skill to bump it up a notch


I hope this is a helps , and am looking forward to more of your stuff

[Nordstrand, T]

I wrote a reply some hours ago, and somehoe it didn't get in. Oh, the Agony of time and thought wasted!

To repeat, I've retouched some and added elements to make the "Huh? What Wagon?" picture more clear and interesting/exciting (and humourus).

Mindcandy: I think that one of my main attractions to that tool and it's texture is because it vaguely/indirectly reminds me of a woodcut. My eyes and imagination are thus put into a similar atmosphere of age, credibility and authenticity. Therefore it stirs my feelings for the situation more than the typical Photoshop marks can. Thanks for the thumbs-up, I'm still experimenting! (I'm trying out washes and stuff).

Cerreto: I am always grateful for critique. I agree with you that I've been sloppy here and there, and I've given it more time now. Also I've been messing a lot already because I didn't know where I was going. The new hand on the right is cleanly built up, because I knew exactly what form and lighting I was building. Thank you for sharing your viewpoint, and hope to see you later :)


http://mysite.freeserve.com/tnordst/temp/TorsteinNordstrand-DragonBa.jpg

[retro002]

hey torstein,

sorry for bootlicking, just wanted to let you know that piece totally kicks a$$. that technique is awesome. the retouched version is even better. though already mentioned i'd like to get my hands on that knight and :bash: him for standing around like that. perhaps turning his body a bit (to 3/4) perhaps would help, at least you really should rework the legs

hope to see more.