thespaceinvader's portraits - Ancient Wose

[thespaceinvader]

...because that's not a gryphon.

The anatomy is screwy, but it is the anatomy, and it's what we have to work with. Changing the order of the limbs would make it not a gryphon. I'm not about to do that.

[Simons Mith]

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s142 ... ryphon.jpg

A plain Google search for gryphon picture gave this as (IMV) the best of the four results I found. Head-tail limb order here does seem to be bird wings, bird legs, beast legs. This gryphon is a cut-and-shut between an eagle and a lion. So the way round I'm suggesting is valid option if you need it. Best of luck, anyway; I do like your work.

[thespaceinvader]

That gryphon appears to have its bird feet attached forward of its wings to me - it's kinda unclear anyway, since the forequarters are basically a ball of fluff...

[Corvvs]

Sorry to be a bit late, but I think the way the wings are set up adds to the "chicken" effect. The wings of large birds of prey sort of cross down over the rump... I'll draw what I mean when I have more time.

[Kestenvarn]

What immediately strikes me about the newer version is that his gaze has become unfocused - before, he was looking directly at the viewer/enemy, and that eye contact has a more impressive effect. When someone looks away, they are diminished.

You might be able to make his earlier gaze even more intense/berserk by increasing the whites of his eyes...



Also, the "bandolier" tattoo seems to hover over his chest - it ignores that fold.

[thespaceinvader]

Umm... he's still looking directly at camera - I'm not quite sure where your impression comes from. I'm happy with him as he is, tbh.

[zookeeper]

Umm... he's still looking directly at camera - I'm not quite sure where your impression comes from.

I also get that impression.

It's probably because the iris of especially his our left eye is so dark that it's hard to see properly. In the previous version, it was much more visible, whereas in the new one it looks like just a couple of bright pixels surrounded by black.

[thespaceinvader]

Would making his irises a brighter colour help?

[Mefisto]

When the whites of eyes look even this informs the observer that the gazing of the object is focused on him. Quick sketch: 1. watching ahead, 2. watching left, 3. watching right, 4. watching something near the face. The whites uneven = the gazing focused on something else.

[thespaceinvader]

If the boss is happy with it, I am.

On another note, revised gryphon rider lines.

[Kestenvarn]

Umm... he's still looking directly at camera - I'm not quite sure where your impression comes from. I'm happy with him as he is, tbh.

What is he looking at?

[Turuk]

What is he looking at?

The Dark Adept who almost killed him?

[Corvvs]

That drake that was poking him in the crotch earlier? I do see his eyes as directed differently (as you indicate), though I can't put my finger on why.

[turin]

It's the really bright highlight on his left eye (our right), I'm pretty sure; it's located to the bottom right of the iris, which makes it look like the eye is looking in that direction. Moving that highlight just a pixel up and to the left, and perhaps making it a bit less bright, might have a really good effect.

Observe the subtle difference:

ulfserker.png (145.27 KiB) Viewed 11649 times

Though perhaps I'm mistaken and my change is really no improvement.

[Kestenvarn]

It does help a bit. The right iris could be shifted more to the center to match it, since it has no highlight.

Adding more whites to both might increase his crazed appearance. (Or it might just make him look goofy. It depends really.)