Blue Sun Room GRAPHICS - IMAGES
River - a first attempt.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
As some of you know (most probably do not) I used to draw quite a bit and then got busy with work/life and somehow just never seemed to find the time. Almost 5 years passed with no serious drawing, a few doodles a year, well a few months back i did a portrait of my cousin as a present for her 10th birthday.
It turned out pretty shiny so i got it in my head to try the BDH's.
My only other creative outlet recently has been the 5 Firefly themed WindowsXP boot screens last month.
Well this taght me a few things,
1. Whew am i rusty. :P
2. I know my cousins face much better than i know Rivers.
I wasn't really going to post this first attempt because i am not really pleased with the result... but since others have i guess i will too. Just remember when commenting that this is only my second real drawing since the new Millenium. Any comments or constructive criticism from other artists is welcome and will hopefully make my next attempt better. Channain? IronCladOtter? Any others?
CATEGORY: GRAPHICS TIMES READ: 3753 RATING: 9.0 (G) SERIES: FIREFLY
Comments
Tuesday, 21 September 2004 07:54
Only my second portrait attempt in a lonnnnnngggggg time. Comments? Suggestions for improvements?
Tuesday, 21 September 2004 13:50
This is actually really, really good. The one thing I'm noticing that seems a bit off is the shape of the head, should be more oval. You have a bit of "boxiness" at the top and back of the head. The eyes are a bit more sultry than River's as well. But that might just be a perceptive differance. ;-)
Tuesday, 21 September 2004 16:01
Better than most. Incredibly, the preview image is right on.
Tuesday, 21 September 2004 16:18
Immediately identifiable as River. I liked that you didn't try to "pretty her up". One thing I noticed is that she has really straight, lanky hair. You made it kind of wavy.
Very good likeness though, and much better that I could do!
Very good likeness though, and much better that I could do!
ANONYMOUS
Tuesday, 21 September 2004 16:33
Good-on-ya.
Tuesday, 21 September 2004 23:47
Perfect!!!! I totally love it!... you should do one for all the characters!!!!.... I realize that may take a while but I HAVE FAITH IN YOU!.... lol
lovely job!!!! keep up the perfect work
lovely job!!!! keep up the perfect work
ANONYMOUS
Wednesday, 22 September 2004 01:40
I usually reserve this comment for fic writers, but what the heck.
More! NOW!
More! NOW!
ANONYMOUS
Wednesday, 22 September 2004 02:37
I like it. Good job. At a passing glance (maybe even longer) that is a perfect likeness of River. Upclose and personal, it's less. It looks to me like you looked at each portion of her head and drew them rather than looking at the whole face. The effect, while better than most (myself included) makes for a disjointed and sometimes disproportionate figure. I'm not sure if that's what happened. but if it is, then try something else. It doesn't have to be photo realistic. As long as it has a life like quality. Thankyou for reading my entirly too long of a review, and please keep up the good work.
Wednesday, 22 September 2004 05:17
It's just fabulous! Previous review mentions the face shape, which I think is fine, but a teensy more shading might create the longer look; it's something about the cheek bone area?
The hair was mentioned, that it should be straight, but River's hair is long and slightly wavy (which you did).
Perhaps that's the distraction I find... the wisps of hair should be pretty much all one length. Hair is just hard to draw, that's what I remember. I think her features are perfect tho'.
Oh and yes, do more! I want to see a Zoe. :)
*cracks whip*
The hair was mentioned, that it should be straight, but River's hair is long and slightly wavy (which you did).
Perhaps that's the distraction I find... the wisps of hair should be pretty much all one length. Hair is just hard to draw, that's what I remember. I think her features are perfect tho'.
Oh and yes, do more! I want to see a Zoe. :)
*cracks whip*
Wednesday, 22 September 2004 05:56
Neroli: Thanks you bring up some good points.
Lurking Horror: You and (one of the)Anonymous hit on something I didn't see until it got thumbnailed while posting, and i think you are right, the smaller preview size looks more like her but on closer inspection of the larger image the likeness is somehow less there.
Willowy: Yes i got a little creative
but her hair is pretty wavy in the image i was studying while doing the pencil outline.
Thanks Browncoat1 and Anonymous1.
Araglas: You are too kind, don't know if i will have time to do them all but i have started another.
Anonymous3: I started the outline (15min) whilst looking at an image on my pc then took my pad outside and over the next three days carried it with me in my vehicle while driving and worked on it here and there for about 4 hours total using memory and the base outline as a reference. Probably would've helped to do it with the image in front of me but i don't like sitting indoors in front of the pc all day.
Needleseye: Very perceptive, there is actually more shading but it is in pencil and didn't show up as well in the photo. You can see the darkest of it above her lips showed up but the lighter stuff got washed out. I' take a better image and post it to my website
(http://www.mechristopherrobin.com)
a little later. I think you are right on the hair too now that i look at it more. Thanks.
Funny you should mention Zoe...
Lurking Horror: You and (one of the)Anonymous hit on something I didn't see until it got thumbnailed while posting, and i think you are right, the smaller preview size looks more like her but on closer inspection of the larger image the likeness is somehow less there.
Willowy: Yes i got a little creative
but her hair is pretty wavy in the image i was studying while doing the pencil outline. Thanks Browncoat1 and Anonymous1.
Araglas: You are too kind, don't know if i will have time to do them all but i have started another.
Anonymous3: I started the outline (15min) whilst looking at an image on my pc then took my pad outside and over the next three days carried it with me in my vehicle while driving and worked on it here and there for about 4 hours total using memory and the base outline as a reference. Probably would've helped to do it with the image in front of me but i don't like sitting indoors in front of the pc all day.
Needleseye: Very perceptive, there is actually more shading but it is in pencil and didn't show up as well in the photo. You can see the darkest of it above her lips showed up but the lighter stuff got washed out. I' take a better image and post it to my website
(http://www.mechristopherrobin.com)
a little later. I think you are right on the hair too now that i look at it more. Thanks.
Funny you should mention Zoe...
Wednesday, 22 September 2004 07:17
Dunno why you're asking for my feedback, Christopher... you're better at this than I am. :D The only commentary I have is in agreement with that posted previously... I have no problem with the hair (I've worked from that photo as well and they've got a fan on her or something ;)) Something about the eyes seems a little disconnected, like there's not enough texture to attach them to the rest of the shapes, but that could just be that your lighter shading has washed out.
Wednesday, 22 September 2004 13:37
NOw don't get me wrong CR, I love this pic, and I haven't done a serious drawing since the late '80s (where's my walker? I need liver pills!!!)...anywho, I think you channeled a little Zoe into the pic...the lips and eyes seem too seductive. Just me, TCM, a REALLY rusty handdrawing artist (computers have spoiled me).
Still, I really like the drawing, and encourage you to do more.
Still, I really like the drawing, and encourage you to do more.
Saturday, 25 September 2004 12:44
I love it. It's soulful. What is she thinking? You've captured the vulnerability of River too.
The hair's rendered really well.River's hair usually looks a little dishevelled. It defines that crazy personality of hers. The eyes are beautiful.
If there was room for improvement it wouldn't be much. (I agree with ironcladotter about the lighter shading. Although it doesn't matter 'cause you've already made it life like.)
I'm a bit of an artist, and I can't believe it's a second attempt. It's a lot better than anything I could do. Keep up the shiny work!
Are there any more pictures of the rest of the crew?
The hair's rendered really well.River's hair usually looks a little dishevelled. It defines that crazy personality of hers. The eyes are beautiful.
If there was room for improvement it wouldn't be much. (I agree with ironcladotter about the lighter shading. Although it doesn't matter 'cause you've already made it life like.)
I'm a bit of an artist, and I can't believe it's a second attempt. It's a lot better than anything I could do. Keep up the shiny work!
Are there any more pictures of the rest of the crew?
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