Drawing Discussion: IC&SF Illustrations

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Post any of your comments on my Ill Chances and Strange Fates fic illustrations here! Looking forward to your comments!

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I think what I like about this most is the hair, especially Aranya's.

I don't know why, but the more natural effect you give the hair tends to make it stand out compared to the rest of your drawing most of the time, and I think having some eye-catching about a piece is what makes it special. Like Mona Lisa and her smile, or the "Big Eyes" collection of drawings with the huge eyes filled with emotions, your drawings of Silmarillion elves stand alone because of the hair (to me, at least) and I think it's kinda poetic, considering how important it is in the culture of elves.

The second thing which caught my eye was the serenity of the faint scenery behind them. It reminded me of Rivendell and Lothlórien, and it kinda makes sense I guess. The place is like Rivendell for the both of them, after all. I won't elaborate anymore, as I don't want to spoil your book.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Thank you so much! Hair and eyes are my favorite things to draw, as you can probably tell. I find it interesting that the hair stands out to you first when there's such a bright beam of light going through. The light hitting the characters' faces is probably the area that catches my eye first. But then again, Aranya's hair is one of the darkest parts of the picture, so maybe that's why that stood out to you? Maybe I notice light areas first and you notice dark areas first?

considering how important it is in the culture of elves.

Something Amazon doesn't understand. (And this is why I can't and won't watch RoP. I kinda don't care about how good or bad the other aspects of the show are. The hair is enough to ruin it for me. But anyway, I'm going to try not to derail my own thread on the third post.)

But if there's anything we can consider my "signature," I would be very happy if it's Elf hair! I'd be curious to see what @Server Room Gremlin thinks about this, given her insightful observations of my other drawings, and identifying my style as doll-like.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

Well, I have to say what stood out to me first... was the hair and eyes. 🙂

I know my gaze tends to be drawn first to areas of more intricate detail, especially if they stand out by being significantly darker or brighter than the surrounding colour.
So that would account for the hair, with all its variations of light and dark and all the lines so close together. I was also drawn to look at Aranya's eye first in particular, likely because it is dark and stands out clearly from the rest. The light reflection in her eye is also more obvious due to the dark colour and the way she's looking up into the light. I actually thought to myself 'that's a beautiful eye'. People generally find shiny eyes nice to look at.

I always look at people's faces first in drawings, since generally they have a lot to say (and again, they are usually areas of finer detail closer together). The shading and lighting on Maitimo's face was something I noticed again, just as I did when you shared your work in progress. I like the subtlety and think it looks very natural.
Their facial expressions are fairly neutral to me, but I see all the emotion coming out in their eyes.

 

[Fingon_Findekáno]

First off, AHHH I love how it turned out! It looks stunning!!! ❤️

Secondly, I do notice their hair and faces right away, but I also see the warm light shining between them, creating an air of serenity in this scene. Everything about it is so pleasing to the eye— the colors, the lighting, the shading, their posture and expressions, the details; I could go on.

Your digital art skills have grown significantly in this piece compared to your other drawings! You mentioned the line art, and I can definitely tell a difference with how you utilize it. I also noticed how the line art for their faces more matches the color of their hair, respectively, which helps blend it in more, I think.

I love how much depth, detail, and texture went into their hair, making it look realistic. This is a quiet moment between them, but there’s so much affection and joy in their eyes and in the way they hold one another. The light brings to attention their hands, how they belong together, like this. By keeping the background simple, it allows the viewer to focus solely on them. It makes you want to treasure this moment with them.

I would almost love to see this as an art print, honestly. There’s so much emotion going on here. ☺️

 

[Kiredor]

Post any of your comments on my Ill Chances and Strange Fates fic illustrations here! Looking forward to your comments!

Excellent artwork, creatively impressive. From a scene perspective, I would like to see some natural stuff (blurred) in the background; Trees through a window, flowers on a table etc... just to give a sense of place.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Excellent artwork, creatively impressive. From a scene perspective, I would like to see some natural stuff (blurred) in the background; Trees through a window, flowers on a table etc... just to give a sense of place.

They're in the woods, hence the background being simple.

 

[Fingon_Findekáno]

For this style of artwork, the focus is on the characters, so the background is kept simple as just a color. The choice of color and the lighting does the work of conveying where they are at, but it otherwise has no specific details. The scene will make more sense when the chapter it belongs to in IC&SF is eventually posted.

 

[d4rk3lf]

I love it.
It has the soul, and that's most important.
You can only be better and better from here.
Keep watching tutorials, and keep drawing... and keep showing us...

I am personally not very good at drawing, but I like to watch tutorials (from the famous good old Bob Ross, to modern Feng Zhu, and Marco Bucci), and I know drawing is hard. I mean... it's hard because it needs a lot's and lots of practice and patience... it takes years and years for people to master it.

Anyway.. once again.. great job... keep us updated on any drawing you did.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Excellent artwork, creatively impressive.

Thank you!

It has the soul, and that's most important.

Thanks, and I agree! The soul of the characters is always the most important thing to me whenever I make artwork.

I am personally not very good at drawing, but I like to watch tutorials (from the famous good old Bob Ross, to modern Feng Zhu, and Marco Bucci), and I know drawing is hard. I mean... it's hard because it needs a lot's and lots of practice and patience... it takes years and years for people to master it.

For sure! I've been drawing my whole life, and it takes so much consistent practice to be able to draw well. And I love that there's always more ways to learn and improve.

I first started experimenting with digital art when I was in high school. There was some online art software I used (I believe it was called pixlr?) and I never really got anywhere with it because it took me so long just to make my lineart. I certainly didn't know anything about using layers or anything.

A few years ago, I started experimenting with a free digital art app called ibisPaint, and it's pretty good. It has pretty much all the same features as Procreate and Photoshop, and the customer service people are great. They restored a corrupted drawing of mine once. But anyway, my digital art used to look very flat and cartoony, and it took me foreeeeever to make anything. I was spending so much time fiddling with lineart and filling in tiny gaps when coloring. But after watching lots of tutorials, I learned how to speed up the process and make it faster. Using the bucket tool to fill up areas with color, and shading on a multiply layer, really helped make me faster, as an example. And now I'm learning to experiment with all sorts of different textures, which makes it look more natural and less cartoony.

 

[Ent]

Excellent artwork, creatively impressive. From a scene perspective, I would like to see some natural stuff (blurred) in the background; Trees through a window, flowers on a table etc... just to give a sense of place.

@Maedhros_Nelyafinwë, your talent on many fronts is impressive. I can only stand in awe...

While I understand Kiredor's comment above, for me this would depend on the intent of the particular artwork.
If it is being used 'within' a work, and your focal point is the characters, background could actually detract from the intended impact the art is designed to convey.

As a standalone piece, outside of text and context, background could enhance.

Of course even as a standalone, background needs to be done to deliver what your intended focus is, and could be either under or over done.

Aren't you glad all you do is consistent with all you want to be done?

Smokey the Bear said "Only you can prevent forest fires." Not exactly a true statement - other than as perceived individually, and with the individual's opportunity to prevent a forest fire within the individual's control.

I get to say "Only you can deliver the art you want to deliver." Exactly a true statement, because you're in total control - of source, audience, intended purpose, and desired function.

I'll shut up now, just saying the artwork is noteworthy..!!

 

[Ent]

but I see all the emotion coming out in their eyes.

@Maedhros_Nelyafinwë - I have more to say, sorry.

The more I look at this picture, consider its probable context, and make some 'assumptions' about its intent, the greater I like it. (Which was already substantial.)

Given my current work on the book - Middle-earth: Its Moral and Religions Elements - How Tolkien Achieved His Objective - showing exactly how he used his words to 'demonstrate' and reveal the moral and religious elements he intended rather than just 'coming out and saying it,' I'm probably more attuned to this at the moment.

What you've done is used the entire picture to demonstrate the deep integration and involvement of these two in their intimate 'love story' as it were.

The Gremlin rightly identifies this in the eyes.

And like Tolkien used his words and syntax, almost invisibly, to 'demonstrate' his elements, so you have used your background to suggest the intimate surrounding - (multiple trees are clearly evident, the shaft of light coming into a likely small clearing, etc.) - but by 'understating' the background, you've significantly enhanced the draw of the primary focus - the people and their personal involvement with each other..!

No doubt the words and context of your stor will also add to the scene - but there is no real need to 'specifically state' they are in a forest scene with shafts of light coming through the trees - you have let the 'subtlety of the language of the art' do the speaking for it, mangnifying the focus on the primary element. Their affection/love/integration.

This is advanced stuff..! There are things to be learned here.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Of course even as a standalone, background needs to be done to deliver what your intended focus is, and could be either under or over done.

Exactly. With the sharp details in the characters, it would look way too visually busy if the background had much more going on.

I have more to say, sorry.

Don't be sorry, it is one of my favorite things to have my work analyzed, and to hear these in-depth analyses from you is a real treat!

Given my current work on the book - Middle-earth: Its Moral and Religions Elements - How Tolkien Achieved His Objective - showing exactly how he used his words to 'demonstrate' and reveal the moral and religious elements he intended rather than just 'coming out and saying it,' I'm probably more attuned to this at the moment.

I think it's really cool that you're connecting my artwork to the way Tolkien wrote. I never thought before about "showing not telling" being a concept in art as well as writing, but you're totally right.

No doubt the words and context of your stor will also add to the scene - but there is no real need to 'specifically state' they are in a forest scene with shafts of light coming through the trees - you have let the 'subtlety of the language of the art' do the speaking for it, mangnifying the focus on the primary element. Their affection/love/integration.

Very true! I'm more interested in conveying this mood and feeling of tender romance than I am in conveying every detail.

 

[d4rk3lf]

A few years ago, I started experimenting with a free digital art app called ibisPaint, and it's pretty good. It has pretty much all the same features as Procreate and Photoshop, and the customer service people are great. They restored a corrupted drawing of mine once. But anyway, my digital art used to look very flat and cartoony, and it took me foreeeeever to make anything. I was spending so much time fiddling with lineart and filling in tiny gaps when coloring. But after watching lots of tutorials, I learned how to speed up the process and make it faster. Using the bucket tool to fill up areas with color, and shading on a multiply layer, really helped make me faster, as an example. And now I'm learning to experiment with all sorts of different textures, which makes it look more natural and less cartoony.

Hah.. it's complete opposite for me.

I can spend hours and hours shading, and my lineart skills is practically non existent.
(I am not saying I am good at shading.. it's just... it's so much fun to me)
Here is an example of quick painting I did on a retro drawing software (small resolution and limited colors (I believe that limitations makes us be better (force us to think outside the box)).

https://eab.abime.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=66078&d=1580687952

Anyway, what I think it will help you a lot if you go back, and just try and do shading and materials tests on simple primitives (spheres, boxes)
As you know, humans are hardest to do. Just a very small mistake, and everyone will know something is off.
Very hard to practice on humans.
It's so much easier to practice on sphere or box, and apply what you've learned on characters later.
Materials studies like this can really fast push you in good direction:

Looking again at your drawing, and I think materials are quite good. Especially hair. Hair is freaking awesome.
What I think it lacks is shadows. The sun rays comes from top right, so we should be able to see more of a shadow on Maedhros back Aranya front part of the body.... I am not saying you should do it for this painting if it's finished (and I assume you are tired of improving it), but to consider this for future ones.

Now forgive me.
I am in no position to give advice to you, and you are much better painter then me. I haven't even tried characters yet. They are so hard.
What I am saying (especially for practicing on primitives) is what I've learned from masters and their tutorials.
They always say "go back".. "practice smart"... and they do these studies themselfs often.

Give me some tips on lineart. 🤘

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

I posted my next IC&SF illustration earlier. Curious to hear any thoughts about it!

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

The first thing I looked at was Maitimo holding little Telvo. So cute. Telvo looks very small and fragile, being held by such a tall person and looking upset and anxious as he does.
I suppose my eyes were drawn to them first due to their contrast with the background, as well as their facial expressions.
Maitimo: o_o oops.
😂

The next thing that drew my eye was the background. It looks very light and airy and quiet, with the pale blue colour and the gentle golden light faintly shining upon and through the curtains. It's almost like they're inside a crystal, and it makes what could have been an ordinary moment into something rather ethereal. E.g. If the background had been of wood or stone, it would have looked like an ordinary meeting between these characters.
So I think it's quite fitting. This mundane moment proved to be of great significance to Maitimo and Aranya, even if they did not quite realise it at the time.

I like how you did Aranya's veil and hair. Transparent effects are often quite hard to achieve, especially if you want to be able to clearly see what's underneath and you want the folds of the transparent fabric to look realistic.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

The first thing I looked at was Maitimo holding little Telvo. So cute. Telvo looks very small and fragile, being held by such a tall person and looking upset and anxious as he does.
I suppose my eyes were drawn to them first due to their contrast with the background, as well as their facial expressions.
Maitimo: o_o oops.

Indeed, and they both have the same O_O expression! Except that Maitimo is looking down... way down...

The next thing that drew my eye was the background. It looks very light and airy and quiet, with the pale blue colour and the gentle golden light faintly shining upon and through the curtains. It's almost like they're inside a crystal, and it makes what could have been an ordinary moment into something rather ethereal. E.g. If the background had been of wood or stone, it would have looked like an ordinary meeting between these characters.
So I think it's quite fitting. This mundane moment proved to be of great significance to Maitimo and Aranya, even if they did not quite realise it at the time.

That's a really cool take! Maybe it also implies that the moment is very fragile and could be shattered. Which Maitimo nearly does when he asks Aranya if she's old enough to be a healer. And that moment of embarrassment will live with him to the end of his days.

Which gives me the idea for something cursed...

*Maitimo is lost in his thoughts during post-Thangorodrim recovery, and he groans and shudders*

Fingon: What is it, brother? Are you in pain? Remembering something bad?

Maitimo: Both. I'm just remembering the time I asked Aranya if she was old enough to be a healer.

I like how you did Aranya's veil and hair. Transparent effects are often quite hard to achieve, especially if you want to be able to clearly see what's underneath and you want the folds of the transparent fabric to look realistic.

Thanks! Sheer fabrics are definitely a struggle, but I'm happy with how it came out. First, I shaded the hair itself as if there were no veil. Then, I gave the veil a semi-transparent white layer with darker/more saturated blue in the areas of shadow.

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

Maitimelia, I love your digital version of the original sketch! It pops off the screen instantly with eye-catching coloration and detail. I thought the first sketch was endearingly sweet; this version is just pure preciousnesssss! I couldn't help thinking how cool it would be to have the fanfic in a novella format with illustrations within the chapters to go with the text, for it would just add so much visualization. 👀

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Maitimelia, I love your digital version of the original sketch! It pops off the screen instantly with eye-catching coloration and detail. I thought the first sketch was endearingly sweet; this version is just pure preciousnesssss! I couldn't help thinking how cool it would be to have the fanfic in a novella format with illustrations within the chapters to go with the text, for it would just add so much visualization. 👀

Thanks! Hehe, it's going to be much longer than novella format... it is almost 50k words already, and we're not even done with Arc 2. 😬 But I definitely would like to have a version with illustrations eventually.

Anyone else have comments? I see a few other people have looked at the drawing(s). I want to know your thoughts!