The hands definitely look better with the grime
Would a little red ladybug on one of the leaves off to the side show up on the card, if it was printed?
Edit: BTW, where can I go to see the artwork for the first three mox painting prizes?
well.. I didn't really change the design of the time skeleton from the original card too much. But yes.. it is quite a bit creepier with more detail...
well.. I didn't really change the design of the time skeleton from the original card too much. But yes.. it is quite a bit creepier with more detail...
I always thought it was some sort of red costume. I never realy saw the skeletonyness of the original. this however is not only a skeleton but one with most of the muscle left on.
I wanted to try something new with this thread, which will hopefully up the awesome a bit.
Truth be told, I haven't painted much since college, where I did take a bunch of oil painting classes. I majored in computer science, but ended up taking a job as a toy designer at a big toy company for the last 4.5 years. I recently left to start my own company, which I am not really going to spill the beans on right now, and as a break in my work I painted the mox... and then the time walk.
After painting both of those I am remembering how much I miss painting! (And how much rust I still need to shake off)
Now both of those pieces were painted all in photoshop, and I didn't actually sketch it out first, so things like strange anatomy and other mistakes kind of crept in easily, since I didn't really have a framework first - I wasn't intending to spend tons of time on these.. I just kind of jumped in.
So for the next piece I thought it would be fun to do something a bit more involved and awesome, and to do a sketch first, so I have a better road map.
And I'm going to post the WIP shots of this next one here, so you all can play along.
I present... Mana Drain:
Now, I know I promised to do a Sapphire... and I will eventually. It is just less exciting to do another "hands" painting now...
The time walk is a really, really cool concept, but I'm not sure I like the position too much - to me, it seems like the skeleton-thing is midway thru firing off a Hadouken. IMO, it would look cooler at a slightly different angle, with the skeleton-thing pulling itself through the "portal" - one hand grabbing the edge, the other going through like it is now, and the legs looking a bit different. I dunno, it just strikes me as awkward a bit. //constructive criticisim
As for the art in general - AWESOME work. Any chance we can get a preview sketch of the sapphire (if you do those?) Perhaps we can offer our opinions on it before you ever paint it, that way it'll look even better when it's done
EDIT: @ mana drain - cool concept! I think the mage would look a bit better commanding the drain-thingy from the background, instead of riding it - but the thing itself and the background look really solid !
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I've officially quit magic. Don't like the crap that WotC's been taking on us.
So, I worked up a color study/underpainting to get a feel for everything.
I kind of like the visual of the girl riding the creature... I do think that her legs might be a bit too short, although long torso/short legs is great for swimming (see: Michael Phelps).
Anyhow.. maybe it would be cool if visually you could see her getting the mana from the critter?
Alpha- Im going to paint in more draining "effects" as I go... but Draining Whelk is a riff on mana drain, so I don't think it is too strange that they would be similar. They are supposed to look similar.
Your time walk is awesome. My only criticism, and it is a little one, is that the angle of the arm versus the bone seems a tiny bit off. That said there are many things I love about this piece including the concept, the lighting, background, etc. I think it's really well done. Hats off to you. I'm all the more appreciative because I myself have no artistic talent.
As for mana drain, I think what Alphataru was getting at is to be careful it doesn't look too much like the card is about the creature rather than being about the draining effect. What is it going to be draining in your sketch? (Not that you can really make up what it's draining in the original.)
Not sure if I'll get much more done on this today. Maybe.
Started painting in some detail...tried making the draining a bit more prominent? Is it working?
Nechro: I think the idea of the original was that the "creature thing" was draining mana out of the bottom of the sea. I think. Heh.... I was kind of going for the mage draining the creature who is draining the mana... Like.. what better to steal mana from then a mana rich creature like... that ... thing....
And also, mana drain would be much cooler with a hot girl on it, obviously
her foot looks a little too small\short.. i would imagine the flipper to be a little larger. also the mana drain 'critter' should be draining the mana from the sea floor.. I'm not sure I am sold on the 'mysterious white mana' floating in the water.........
Her face looks too human for a merfolk, or her feet are to fishy for a human. Her baithing suit looks a bit too modern at the moment, something like a japanese onesy You might want to add armor/trinkets/baubles/jewelry to the mage to make her seem more appropriate, and I think even MORE emphasis on the mage draining mana from the thing might be necessary - imagine this at card size. Also, I might post my OWN idea for a sketch of how the esper sapphire should look (if I have time), if you aren't going to get around to it yet (I'd be flattered if you used mine as a basis)
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I've officially quit magic. Don't like the crap that WotC's been taking on us.
Cali: yeah-- too right... I'll make sure to lengthen the foot when I work on it next.
Also.. the critter has got his tentacles in the ground sucking up mana for sure.. I haven't really painted down that far yet, but you can kind of see it... its the red glow at the base of the critters "feet"
The idea for the white lightning type thing, is that the girl will be sucking mana out of the critter through the shell, which is kind of more clear in the second to most recent sketch. The end goal is to have the mana that the creature is sucking out of the ground look identical to the mana going from critter to girl, so that you can follow the "flow" of it.
Kind of like you opponent used some mana to try and cast this critter, but you quickly suck it all out or something. Heh...
I am a little worried it wont end up clear in the final painting, but I may be past the point of no return
PD: Hmm.. ill have to look into the whole "merfolk" thing. I honestly was just going with the blue human with fins variety
As for the outfit, it isn't intended to be left as is.. This is the "base" of the outfit, and i plan on glitzen it up later. Jewelry is an interesting suggestion actually, one I am definitely going to explore some... I was originally only going to work on the clothing itself more..
And as for the Mox Sapphire sketch.. go for it! If I like where it is headed I would certainly consider using it as a base. Saves me some work
I was thinking maybe her left hand (the one without the staff) could be outstretched "pulling" the mana out of the critter. Im going to sleep on it though before I go crazy:)
In honor of the original artist, I was thinking of using this unused art from the set as a basis for the sapphire - one etherium hand gently holding the sapphire between its fingers, with the natural hand cupped below it. The sapphire itself will be unnaturally perfect, mounted in a light etherium frame.
I suck at drawing hands, so I'll start on the background. Maybe I'll take a photo of my hands holding a proxy sapphire for reference (though I have manhands)
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I've officially quit magic. Don't like the crap that WotC's been taking on us.
i like the idea of her hand outstretched drawing mana from the critter and I can see what you're saying about their legs glowing red... that needs to be a little more prominant though (like in the original art, there is NO DOUBT the critters are sucking mana from the ground). jewelry and such is definitely a good idea and you can look at cards like ponder for an example... maybe make her ears more merfolk like, maybe some 'scales' or 'textured' skin. the only thing that bothers me is the white floating mana... it just looks too much like how some underwater fish reproduce.. by releasing their ....sperm... into the water... sorry to be so graphic, but that's just what it looks like lol
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Would a little red ladybug on one of the leaves off to the side show up on the card, if it was printed?
Edit: BTW, where can I go to see the artwork for the first three mox painting prizes?
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Cards I'm selling!!
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UBRNicol Bolas
(I decided to break up the mox paintings for variety sake....)
comments appreciated
very cool but also slightly sick...
I always thought it was some sort of red costume. I never realy saw the skeletonyness of the original. this however is not only a skeleton but one with most of the muscle left on.
it's almost as bad as macabre waltz.
But so very cool
Do you like Elder Dragon Highlander? Check out the EDH deck database with more than 150 decks!
Cards I'm selling!!
EDH
UArcanis the Omnipotent
RJaya Ballard, Task Mage
UBRNicol Bolas
Truth be told, I haven't painted much since college, where I did take a bunch of oil painting classes. I majored in computer science, but ended up taking a job as a toy designer at a big toy company for the last 4.5 years. I recently left to start my own company, which I am not really going to spill the beans on right now, and as a break in my work I painted the mox... and then the time walk.
After painting both of those I am remembering how much I miss painting! (And how much rust I still need to shake off)
Now both of those pieces were painted all in photoshop, and I didn't actually sketch it out first, so things like strange anatomy and other mistakes kind of crept in easily, since I didn't really have a framework first - I wasn't intending to spend tons of time on these.. I just kind of jumped in.
So for the next piece I thought it would be fun to do something a bit more involved and awesome, and to do a sketch first, so I have a better road map.
And I'm going to post the WIP shots of this next one here, so you all can play along.
I present... Mana Drain:
Now, I know I promised to do a Sapphire... and I will eventually. It is just less exciting to do another "hands" painting now...
Enjoy...
Andy
As for the art in general - AWESOME work. Any chance we can get a preview sketch of the sapphire (if you do those?) Perhaps we can offer our opinions on it before you ever paint it, that way it'll look even better when it's done
EDIT: @ mana drain - cool concept! I think the mage would look a bit better commanding the drain-thingy from the background, instead of riding it - but the thing itself and the background look really solid !
Sarnathed on the sketch thing
Yeah- exactly what I was thinking. If I HAD sketched out the time walk first, I would have done it differently for sure....
I kind of like the visual of the girl riding the creature... I do think that her legs might be a bit too short, although long torso/short legs is great for swimming (see: Michael Phelps).
Anyhow.. maybe it would be cool if visually you could see her getting the mana from the critter?
let me know
As for mana drain, I think what Alphataru was getting at is to be careful it doesn't look too much like the card is about the creature rather than being about the draining effect. What is it going to be draining in your sketch? (Not that you can really make up what it's draining in the original.)
Started painting in some detail...tried making the draining a bit more prominent? Is it working?
Nechro: I think the idea of the original was that the "creature thing" was draining mana out of the bottom of the sea. I think. Heh.... I was kind of going for the mage draining the creature who is draining the mana... Like.. what better to steal mana from then a mana rich creature like... that ... thing....
And also, mana drain would be much cooler with a hot girl on it, obviously
suggestions?
Also.. the critter has got his tentacles in the ground sucking up mana for sure.. I haven't really painted down that far yet, but you can kind of see it... its the red glow at the base of the critters "feet"
The idea for the white lightning type thing, is that the girl will be sucking mana out of the critter through the shell, which is kind of more clear in the second to most recent sketch. The end goal is to have the mana that the creature is sucking out of the ground look identical to the mana going from critter to girl, so that you can follow the "flow" of it.
Kind of like you opponent used some mana to try and cast this critter, but you quickly suck it all out or something. Heh...
I am a little worried it wont end up clear in the final painting, but I may be past the point of no return
As for the outfit, it isn't intended to be left as is.. This is the "base" of the outfit, and i plan on glitzen it up later. Jewelry is an interesting suggestion actually, one I am definitely going to explore some... I was originally only going to work on the clothing itself more..
And as for the Mox Sapphire sketch.. go for it! If I like where it is headed I would certainly consider using it as a base. Saves me some work
I was thinking maybe her left hand (the one without the staff) could be outstretched "pulling" the mana out of the critter. Im going to sleep on it though before I go crazy:)
-Andy
I suck at drawing hands, so I'll start on the background. Maybe I'll take a photo of my hands holding a proxy sapphire for reference (though I have manhands)