Here is one I scrapped of Phae after realizing that I couldn't do the pose or proportions right It's flat and never gonna be finished but that's the farthest I've gotten in a self portrait so far. And I probably won't get any farther in a long time if not forever. So.



Anyone else got self portraits of their characters?

your arm is pointing backwards

when did you get an elbow blade.

Yeah heh I couldn't get the pose right. She was supposed to be pointing the sword back behind her and looking over her shoulder. Swing your arm around to the back and you'll sort of understand how it was supposed to be...

nevmind.

I really like this pose. I think it's visually challenging, and that makes it more interesting than some static picture of someone leaning on a tree or what have you. I think you gave more than enough visual cues as to what is going on, and if people can't figure it out then that is their problem. Phae's outfit is quite bad @ss too.

Your character has a blade attached to the arm. Perhaps she is captain cook from peter pan.

She also has short hair - could she be a lesbian??

Her lower legs are thicker than her thighs. How does this happen?

Thank you Rukimoro.

I can clearly see that her hand is gripping the hilt of the sword, I don't know what you're talking about. That part looks fine. The proportions of the legs are a bit off, I agree, it's not a huge problem though. I think it's a good picture.

Good drawing, much better than I could ever do. I also thought armblade when I first looked at it.

Torso should be turned more. You can't put your arm in that angle when you're facing completely forward. Otherwise, this is a pretty nice drawing.

I agree with the constructive critique that's been posted, but also maintain that this is a pretty nice picture. Echoing the words of others, it's better than anything I could do!

Thanks for the compliments and critique! I'm not gonna change this picture, I scrapped it like forever ago...but it still helps.

And yeah Sena you are absolutely right about the legs, I must have redrawn them at least 3 times before giving up.

Did you try? I can do it, but it's not comfortable and feels very unnatural.

Aww...She just has well developed calf muscles and skinny thighs!

i'm mostly curious about how that sword got in that hand when the scabbard that's empty is...well, whatever.

well I always favored the concept of drawing the sword out across the body, I guess.

if they're hip scabbards...if they're back, well...just try do it, it's really quite difficult unless you twist your torso every time to draw.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Feels very unnatural.

Oh yeah that is kinda awkward, I'll keep that in mind

Awesome is too hard to draw.

agreed

Getting proportions right is no fruitcake. I do like the posture of the figure, but i'd just like to point out that the scimitar she's holding doesn't look like it would fit in the scabbard on her back. Also, the left shoulder blade should be bulging when her left arm is in that position. Right leg is little off, but there's nothing here that can't be changed. Other than that I like this drawing and i look forward to seeing the finished work.

That posture does not feel uncomfortable to me at all... I mean you wouldn't find me standing like that for more then a minute, but then again it doesn't seem like a pose you would hold for more than a few seconds. This is also with minimal(wouldn't be noticeable) torso rotation. Though, this does not do justice for this picture. It looks pretty odd and I would suggest the whole subject be facing sideways instead of from the back, simply for aesthetic purposes. It's a more intimidating, and appealing sort of pose. Then again it's pretty cliché.

The problem I have with this at first glance is perspective. You have two hands. One, about a foot in front of the person -- this is the farthest thing from the viewpoint. Then you have the hand holding the sword, pointing straight away from the body. Besides the sword, this is the closest thing to the viewpoint. Why are the hands the same size? Exaggerated perspective would be good for a piece like this.

It's a lot better than anything I could ever draw.

Funny how no one bothers to participate in this topic beyond getting their 2 cents worth of criticism in.
If I wasn't in London without supplies or a scanner I'd throw something together.

Criticism helps artists see mistakes they can't... it's an unbiased eye. There is nothing wrong with it, unless of course, you are too full of yourself to acknowledge that your piece has flaws.

Careful Dusty, you'll hurt his e-feelings.


And Dusty, you do realize you are explaining the point of criticism to someone who obviously can't take it.

I'd assume that you'd draw from the opposite side, unless you want to have to flip the blade around. Only problem is that there are two swords on that side. That's aukward. It's okay. Stuff like that happens. I remember a sketch from a while ago that I did, and I didn't notice until I finished, but whilst drawing, I'd turned the picture upside-down to get the right look on a part, and when I'd turned it back around, and finished, I'd ended up drawing a person with a scabbard (with sword in) upside down. Person right way up, and a diagonally upside down scabbard. Not good...

Only problem I have is the feet. They look fine, but the angle they are pointing at (which IS fine) just looks a little strange. Like I said, they look fine, but... they have a vibe.

As for the thigh/calf problem, it's an angle. It's perfectly possible. I just proved it to myself, at least, when I was checking myself out in the mirror from various angles.

Just the angle, is all.

The only scabbard that needs to be changed is the one on the back... you wouldn't normally draw a scabbard from the back with your opposite hand. It needs to face the hand you're going to draw it with, to optimize the whole length of your arm, as you'll need it to draw the whole sword out.

<3 phae

it's awesome, although... where the hell are her wings?

In order to hold the sword straight back like that, Phae would either have to be a masochist who delights in forcing herself into ridiculous and uncomfortable positions, or else she'd have to turn her left foot ninety degrees counter-clockwise and turn her torso out a bit.

Or she could just... turn her torso a little.

This is my interpertation of my character. I spent about 20 seconds on this piece, and it is my best work to date.