Sagittarius & the Rat

[SaphyrBlaze]

This is a concept sketch for my "Concentration" for AP Studio Art.
I stole the pose from Dynamic Figure Drawing by Burne Hogarth.

Concentration: Western Astrology Meets the Chinese Zodiac

The rat guy is supposed to be a shinigami (gaurdian spirit).
(If you've ever read the manga "'N' is for Nashiki", you'll understand.)

http://www.conceptart.org/gallery/files/3/0/1/5/8/SaggRat2.jpg

I was thinking of putting him in an open field with trees and mountains in the BG. I also don't know what medium to use. What do you think, guys?

[Kanji2000]

Anatomy needs a lot of work...As for character pose, use actual photos of archers in action for reference...

[dogfood]

I'm not convinced that the figure was drawn before the clothing was applied. That's one thing that can really throw some of the anatomy off. Some of the specific things I can see:
-His left leg is very small, but the foot is tiny enough to be the rat's.
-The hand is in an unatural position for gripping (the clutching muscles tend to bring the fingers together).
-His left upper arm is as short as his right upper arm is long.
-From our angle, his clavicle is plunging far too low in the center.
-The sleeve is just touching the rat's head, making it an unwanted focal point.
-From a story-telling standpoint, the pose is at an interest lull, one of those times between something that has just happened and something else happening in the near future. The result is less drama and less time the viewer spends wondering about what's going on.

Even if you don't have a digital camera to capture yourself in this pose, you can still act it out and notice where things are (like where your hand is in relation to your face when you act like you're pulling back a bow).

I can see a lot of potential in here, but greater attention to measuring, anatomy, and story-telling would certainly help.

[SaphyrBlaze]

I'm not convinced that the figure was drawn before the clothing was applied. That's one thing that can really throw some of the anatomy off. Some of the specific things I can see:
-His left leg is very small, but the foot is tiny enough to be the rat's.
-The hand is in an unatural position for gripping (the clutching muscles tend to bring the fingers together).
-His left upper arm is as short as his right upper arm is long.
-From our angle, his clavicle is plunging far too low in the center.
-The sleeve is just touching the rat's head, making it an unwanted focal point.
-From a story-telling standpoint, the pose is at an interest lull, one of those times between something that has just happened and something else happening in the near future. The result is less drama and less time the viewer spends wondering about what's going on.

Even if you don't have a digital camera to capture yourself in this pose, you can still act it out and notice where things are (like where your hand is in relation to your face when you act like you're pulling back a bow).

I can see a lot of potential in here, but greater attention to measuring, anatomy, and story-telling would certainly help.

Oh...ouch. ~_< Thank you for the critique, though. I just want to say a few things in my defense:
1. This is my first attempt at drawing a realistic body. (I've been drawing in the anime style since 8th grade.)
2. I did draw the body before putting clothes on it.
3. ...and the left leg looks short because of foreshortening. (said so in the book)

What your right about:

1. The arms are a bit "off." I had trouble capturing the foreshortening on that part.
2. The sleeve-rat focal point is awkward. I didn't notice that. Thanks.
3. ...and everything else.

[sigh...] I tried. :[


Thank you for the constructive critique...all of you. ^ ^;

[dogfood]

I certainly didn't mean to harsh on you (my apologies if that is the case). Please keep drawing and posting! And you have my sincere admiration for trying to get beyond a particular style (it took me forever to get beyond the superhero look).

[SaphyrBlaze]

Thanks! ^ ^ Here's another:

http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs7/i/2005/168/1/0/Sexy_Neko_by_SaphyrBlaze.jpg

If the image doesn't work: http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs7/i/2005/168/1/0/Sexy_Neko_by_SaphyrBlaze.jpg

I did this one early last May, so it's not as good as some of my recent stuff. I just love this character. I've done at least three different versions of him. His name is Ryukeichi. Credit for the invention of the character goes to a friend of mine. I should post some of my own characters up here...

What kind of a kitty do you think he is?