Troll art

[dandelion]

I should be working on a comic book. But I'm discouraged. So to avoid work without completely wasting time, I started coloring this troll:

dandelionstudios.com/thumbnails/elite-t.jpg

I could really use some encouraging. Do you like? Is he good so far? Any suggestions? (Minor ones only; I already drew him and he's drawn and he's not going to change species or uniforms or anything. But his color scheme is open to change, and it wouldn't kill me to fine-tune his weapon or something.)

[mahrundl]

Nice work, Dandelion. For some reason, and it isn't anything I can put my finger on, I says Orc to me more than Troll. Possibly the fangs, possibly the fact that he's in uniform.

That said, it is a good picture. The main colour issues I see are the white bits, which you may just not have gotten to yet. I'd change the colour of the boots to black or dark brown, perhaps. Likewise, the skirt; perhaps a mustard or dark green colour. I'd throw a little contrasting colour into the pouch and dagger, just to emphasise them against the skirt. Nothing too gaudy though.

[dandelion]

Thank you!

Yeah, the white areas aren't done yet. But I'll use your suggestions as guidance. To be honest, I stopped working on it when I couldn't decide on a boot colour, so I'll have another go at it soon.

The distinctions between kindreds are kind of subjective, I suppose. I'm still struggling to get a sense of what makes people think 'orc' versus 'troll' versus 'ogre'. (I chose to be an ogre because of the social ramifications, not for the look.) So hey, maybe he is an orc. He's what came out of my pencil; that's all I can say for sure.

Thank you for being all encouraging. It helps me keep my artistic passion up. Without any passion, I'd be doing nothing.

[Boozer]

Yeah, I agree with Mahrundl, it looks like a clear case of Orc to me! Still a nice drawing though

[keltset]

I like it, too. Sorta looks Orcish to me, but could be Ogreish as well perhaps.

[dandelion]

I'll start calling him an orc, then. Three is enough of a consensus for me!

I'm still working on the coloring. More suggestions are welcome, if anyone has any.

[Ramsen Triton]

Looking pretty good Dandelion.
My advice would be to try and make your darks darker and you lights lighter. Imagine where the light would be coming from when you colour your image - for example, if the light was coming from the top right, the right side of his body should be a lot lighter than the left side. Just think about where shadows would form and darken those areas - you'll find the image will become more three-dimensional if you do..
Metallic areas, like the helmet and chest-plate, should contain pure black and white as well as grey - just have a look at something shiny for inspiration.

Keep up the good work!

[Vin Ahrr Vin]

Very nice. I applaud your artwork!

[Boozer]

WOW, two artists now lurk 'neath the Trollbridge! Strange how Mr Triton & I came to know each other, but at least something good came out of that ill-fated episode that we both found ourselves embroiled in...

[dandelion]

I know how to do shading and highlights. I'm getting to those! Laying down the basics first, as soon as I decide what the basics are.

I had a pretty good classical art education, but for several years I've done nothing but comic books. So my style is a bit hard to pin down.

[dandelion]

A study from my comic book, Knifeclaw Company. People here seem to like my art and I didn't want to deluge the Trollwalla with it, so I hope this is okay. Showing off really helps my motivation, and right now my loyal Minions For Hire fans are giving Knifeclaw Company a cool reception. I'm hoping they'll warm up so I can depend on them again.

[Vin Ahrr Vin]

Dandelion: that's nice artwork. I can't do shading and "realistic" stuff; all I can do is cartoony artwork. (I had a five-day-per-week cartoon strip in my college newspaper for several years and currently have a short strip in THE CRUSADER, a game magazine by Troll Lord Games that is devoted to the CASTLES & CRUSADES RPG.) Mine is all line art.

[dandelion]

Hey, line art is nothing to scoff at; neither is the dedication of running a comic strip... for several years, no less! I'd love to see some of your cartoons. Slip me a URL or something if possible.

Ironically, when I started drawing comics I had to retrain myself to draw in line art. It's its own skill and requires a very different way of looking at the world than shades'n'highlights. That I was able to draw Orc-Dude in all lines and then go back and color him with shades'n'highlights says a lot about how versatile I've become lately. A few years ago I wouldn't have been able to do that.

Or been able to do a strip, which I still struggle horribly with - I'm not very dependable. Just for having that talent you deserve some karma. So I shall exalt you.

[Ramsen Triton]

Sorry Dandelion, I didn't know you'd had traditional art schooling. I hope you didn't think I was being condescending or patronizing by explaining shading and highlights to you.
Anyway, it's nice to know I'm not the only one around here who spent several years of their youth covered in charcoal, plaster of Paris, pencil shavings and paint, all in the name of education. ;D

I admire the patience and discipline of comic book artists. Being able to condense a story/idea/emotion into a series of panels is a real talent.
Comic books are a great expressive medium. It's a shame that most people just dismiss them as 'kid's stuff'. Some of the most thrilling, moving and thought provoking things I've ever read have been in comic book form - Art Speigleman's 'Maus' and Alan Moore's 'Watchmen' are two great examples. However, saying that, the majority of traditional American superhero comics I've ever read have bored me to tears! I guess there's good and bad in every artistic/literary medium though isn't there?

Cheers!

[dandelion]

Don't forget india ink! I spent many years with black fingertips. I still do sometimes.

Hehe. Actually, Ramsen, I did think you were being condescending and patronizing. But to be fair, you only got to see a little line drawing with some of the white areas filled in. If you'd said that after seeing a completed comic book... well, anyway, I was in a serious slump and you bruising my ego and giving me something to prove helped me un-slump myself. So it all works out. And I'm grateful. My orc soldier looks better than ever now.

100% agreement on being bored to tears by the usual stuff. I only became interested in comic books a few years ago, prodded by my ogre-mate (whose lifelong dream it was to create comics). And I have to admit, I never quite grasp superhero comics, no matter what country they're from. I guess my psyche is not tuned to the themes they use. Stories about the underdog and the little guy succeeding against great odds hold my attention. But a super-person accomplishing super things? Eh. And any attempt to burden or disadvantage the superhero so he/she seems more sympathetic comes off as contrived, as far as I've seen.

My stories are about characters who are the Wrong Person For the Job, or at least not the quintessential archetype for their role. My two minions in Zephyr & Reginald: Minions For Hire are ordinary engineers with no real understanding of the concept of 'evil'. In Knifeclaw Company, the cynical, socially inept gunship captain is forced to try to avert a diplomatic disaster. Somehow I ended up writing (and drawing) about everything a superhero comic is not!

So I'm hoping they'll go over well with people who are bored by superheroes, like yourself. It's not quite 'Maus', but what is? And sadly, I've never read 'Watchmen', though it's in my living room. I really should. I've met the guy who colored it and he was really sweet. Nevermind that everyone says such great things about it.

I'm rambling, but hey, I'm an ogre. So, cheers back at ya.