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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Sept 15, 2013 14:55:28 GMT -9
I promised myself I'd try to make some standees, which goes well beyond my comfort zone in terms of (a) creating *new* things, and (b) sharing creativity publicly... I sketched out a page of mushroom warriors of sorts, and plain 'ol giant mushrooms too. Here's the first one I've scaled up, inked, re-scanned, cleaned up and colored. I spent only a couple minutes on the coloring, and though the test print isn't terrible, it's not that good either. I'll keep working on that. I'm used to dishing out constructive criticism, so please feel free to do your worst. Hopefully, I've attached the picture correctly.
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Post by flockofthese on Sept 15, 2013 16:21:07 GMT -9
I hate to criticize when I probably couldn't do better myself, but you asked for it The left hand looks a bit odd to me. I think its mostly the fingers.
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Sept 15, 2013 17:18:04 GMT -9
You're right - the fingers are a little wonky to say the least. His fingers aren't sized quite right, there are details missing that might clue the viewer in on what I was going for... There were some things about the hand that I think I made better than in my original sketch, but I didn't want to let myself get bogged down on that too much, since I really wanted to see if I could get something scanned in. I may revisit some details after I get a bit more practice at all of this. Here are some better colorings: I realize now that the way I positioned his hands would work well with a weapon, too. But, I will try to get some of my other sketches scanned in so I can feel comfortable with the different processing steps I need to go through.
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Post by cowboyleland on Sept 15, 2013 19:38:53 GMT -9
Actually, I like the colouring on the first one, if you spiced up the cap a little. I think the main problem with his left hand is, if it is supposed to be palm up, there isn't enough suggestion of a thumb.
Keep at it, it is going well!
Edit: happened to see this again when I closed some other windows. I decided I like the grey cap fine.
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Post by squirmydad on Sept 15, 2013 21:36:22 GMT -9
Good start, I'm not one to overly criticize and you already know about the hand issue, I'm liking the colors but I do believe you'll need some more highlighting for better definition and appearance of depth. Did you know that the first figures Reivaj posted here were also mushroom warriors?
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Post by Parduz on Sept 16, 2013 3:23:26 GMT -9
I'm used to dishing out constructive criticism, so please feel free to do your worst. Do you know how dangerous is saying something like this with me wandering around? (search about "parduzzing" in the forum and you'll learn it quickly) Before saying anything, i want to ask you what pose you had in mind. Seems to me (from the pose of the hands and the arms) that the shroom is in a "karate guard" stance... sort of this: Am i right?
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Sept 16, 2013 4:27:39 GMT -9
cowboyleland - I had completely missed the thumb on the right hand when I first did it, and I had three fingers on one hand, and four on the other. I focusing more on the back than the front I guess! I'll play a little with the left hand. old squirmydad - my son has always liked mushroom men, and my initial sketches were intended to be giant mushrooms for terrain scenery. I need a LOT more practice if I'm going to draw anything human, so I went back to trying bugs and mushroom men. I figure if the only people I can impress are my kids, then that's still plenty good enough for me. Parduz - egads, I've been a member for 2 years as of last month! I've been lurking for most of that time, and have read just about every post. I knew what I was getting into by posting something, and I couldn't think of a better community of folks to receive constructive criticism from! Ultimately, yeah - that was the kind of arm pose I was trying to sketch out. Well, except with less chest hair and more mushroom growth. I've got some clear ideas now on some tweaks to make on him. Hopefully I'll have a free evening this week to give it a try. EDIT: I didn't realize prefixing a name with "@" would link to a person's profile - neat! I'm liking the forum changes. However, if "@" + "squirmydad" links to "old squirmydad", what links to the *new* squirmydad? lol EDIT AGAIN: could it be "@" + "admin"? Well, squirmydad? Woo hoo!
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Post by Parduz on Sept 16, 2013 4:56:28 GMT -9
Ultimately, yeah - that was the kind of arm pose I was trying to sketch out. Well, except with less chest hair and more mushroom growth. Ok, then Since you're showing it from the front, that pose need to be suggested by strongly enhance the perspective. I try to explain how i see it could be done... Left arm (HIS left arm): You should not be able to see any part of the hand other than the fingers and the thumb last part (the one with the nail ... i lack some word, sorry). Everything else till the elbow is "covered" by the hand itself. The enhance the perspective from the elbow to the shoulder. It should be clear that the elbow is more toward the back than the shoulder. Then do the opposite for the back view. Left foot.Actually it is lower (in he 2D view) than the right one, which is not what we want. You can choose to kill the perspective at the foot level (the OneMonk-Way) and draw them at the same height, or suggest that the left foot is behind by drawing it higher than the right one. Right arm First, the relative size of the fingers is wrong... if it is a human-like hand you have to give them the right proportions. Then, you have to choose how much the arm is pointed to the observer. If fully "orthogonal" to the paper plane, then the only thing we should see is the fist. But is a .... hard pose. I'd keep slightly angled, but then you have to suggest that the whole torso is seen form a 3/4 angle. So, i'd "slide" the whole arm toward the center, basically making the shoulder contained in the torso shape. The you have to make that "ring" around the arm more circular (and keep an eye at the back side, where his perspective is reversed. Again, the fist should be folly frontal so no thumg attachement or wrist should be seen. Higlight and shadows then will enhance what's "orizontal" and what's vertical (referred to the ground plane. Hope this all makes sense.
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Post by cowboyleland on Sept 16, 2013 6:32:07 GMT -9
I had pictured them with their hands more or less at their sides, with the possibility of a staff or other two handed weapon being added horizontally across the front of the body.
If you want to have another go at the "karate stance" keep these ones too, then you'll have a full set nearly done!
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Post by mahotsukai on Sept 16, 2013 7:22:49 GMT -9
I agree with cowboyleland, the pose looks like a classic 'advancing menacingly with pole arm' pose. It might not be what you were looking for but it will work.
With regard to the martial arts I think that as the body is so 'unhuman' a more dynamic 'Kungfu' pose would be easier to identify and possibly create.
On another note the cap of the Shroom is very reminiscent of the conical hats worn by Japanese of the Edo period (it may be intentional), the first Shroom with a naginata would fit with your martial arts theme.
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Sept 23, 2013 17:12:42 GMT -9
Not finding a lot of spare time last week, and this week isn't looking much better. Still, I forced myself to at least recall where I saved the file, so that's something! I may rescan this guy and redo his hand. I may not. I'm not sure. I did go and add a little more shading around him, and I made a variation with a staff.
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Sept 23, 2013 17:14:21 GMT -9
Just for giggles, I doodled a sword and shield on top of him too. For some reason I can't seem to attach the image of him... It's probably just as well, it's only a mockup of a sword and shield, and now I am out of steam tonight. I will try to make a real sword/shield for him, then do him up in three or four color schemes. Then I'll scan in the next fella.
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Post by cowboyleland on Sept 23, 2013 17:21:54 GMT -9
They look great. At least you are making some progress. A little bit helps keep the ball rolling. I've got a couple half done models I've been picking at for years and whenever I try to get back to them I've forgotten where I left off and how the whole image works. I guess what I've learned is "If you have to be slow, at least be steady."
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Sept 24, 2013 17:17:39 GMT -9
Snuck in a couple minutes on this guy tonight to play with the idea of a sword and shield. I need more time than I have tonight to get creative with texturing the shield, so that can wait 'til another day. I will probably make the sword a little more substantial, too. As it is, it looks more like a baton to me. I think I'll make it thicker overall, and extend it out to just before the edge of the shield.
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Post by cowboyleland on Sept 24, 2013 18:21:15 GMT -9
You are right about the sword. If you make it a little thicker there will be room for a fuller or a change of shade near the edge to make it look more like a blade. Also, please consider putting the shield in front, rather than behind. People (even mushroom people) who don't keep their shields between themselves and the guys they are fighting don't represent much of a threat.
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Sept 25, 2013 16:17:29 GMT -9
My 8-year-old (soon to be 9!) wanted to help color a shroom in, so he helped with the colors, and started learning how to switch between tools in GIMP and what not. I finished things up after he went to bed, but he'll continue to do more. He loves this sort of thing, and has already started sketching his own minis. Here's the three guys we've got going now: My son and I will continue tweaking the green guy. I was showing him how to add texture with brushes and colors, and so he'll continue to play with it. I like the idea of using a grass texture on him, but the effect makes him look flat since the brush isn't following his contours at all. Parduz - I will attempt to adjust his feet so his stance isn't backwards. You were totally right about that. cowboyleland - The reason the shield is behind him is because if I don't do it that way, I'll actually have to think about what to do with his arm... With the shield behind his arm, I can add some straps and voila! I'll see what I can do. I'm out of time tonight, though.
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Post by WackyAnne on Sept 25, 2013 17:07:46 GMT -9
My 8-year-old (soon to be 9!) wanted to help color a shroom in, so he helped with the colors, and started learning how to switch between tools in GIMP and what not. I finished things up after he went to bed, but he'll continue to do more. He loves this sort of thing, and has already started sketching his own minis. Here's the three guys we've got going now: My son and I will continue tweaking the green guy. I was showing him how to add texture with brushes and colors, and so he'll continue to play with it. I like the idea of using a grass texture on him, but the effect makes him look flat since the brush isn't following his contours at all. Parduz - I will attempt to adjust his feet so his stance isn't backwards. You were totally right about that. cowboyleland - The reason the shield is behind him is because if I don't do it that way, I'll actually have to think about what to do with his arm... With the shield behind his arm, I can add some straps and voila! I'll see what I can do. I'm out of time tonight, though. They look like such fun! I'm so glad your son is involved My own son (7-1/2) and I just getting started on gaming, including a couple of dungeon runs. He was helping pick out the best combinations of options for OkumArts' massively customizable Beasts & Barbarians set just this afternoon. However, his own mini-making is of the plasticine variety, rather than drawing. He's finally moved on from making his own Angry Birds 3D, and has been articulating quite a cast of characters and a compelling adventure with his newest creations. He really liked your mushroom warrior, so I'll be sure to share your son's contribution with him tomorrow! Maybe he & I can draw together tomorrow - I've got to get out of the planning and into the pen & paper stage if I'm ever getting a pumpkin patch into the Halloween hoard on time! Thanks for the inspiration!
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Feb 16, 2014 17:44:43 GMT -9
Wow, it's been too long since I've worked on any standees. My son finished his own standee - a gigantic cyclops, and despite having an upside-down arm, I'd say he did a fantastic job especially in lining up the front and back! His inspiration came from the Imperfect Giants, thank you very much Dryw the Harper! I'll probably spend a little time helping him turn the arm around if he wants me to. He learned a lot in the process. My older son is working on a couple minis of his own now, so the both of them will be picking up some GIMP skills. I swear they can bop around layers easier than I can! Anyway, here's Brandon's Cyclops, complete with cutfiles! dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/65444848/Papercraft/Cyclops.zip
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 16, 2014 21:54:07 GMT -9
Nasty looking weapon. Those lego guys are in trouble!
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Post by zygrott24 on Mar 3, 2014 20:50:00 GMT -9
Great Cyclops, spiny and intimidating. I am blown away that it is a first mini! I think it is an awesome family project and hope you guys do some more mushroom men too. I love myconoids, and they would be perfect for the March Forum Hoard
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Post by dungeonmistress on Mar 6, 2014 13:12:47 GMT -9
These should go in the Garden of Doom hoard. Nice work!
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Mar 6, 2014 13:21:41 GMT -9
I'd love to get a new shroom into the garden hoard. I have three or four types of mushroom guys, each having two or three textures on them. I've got too many... what's the phrase... pans in the fire? But, there's also a fire lit under my butt to get my day job done, and I've been in stress mode going on three months now. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, though, and I'll be coming back to them soon. Probably not soon enough for the hoard, but I'll try for something!
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Post by dungeonmistress on Mar 6, 2014 13:44:03 GMT -9
Well, I do understand. Whatever you do, whenever you do it, I think your 'Shroom guys are great and I'll be watching the hoards for them. I could definitely use in my game.
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