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★ For a detailed close-up, click here. ★
My illustration for
anzel's 2nd book, the Raider's Companion. This is his cleric, Ferrel, looking imposing and preparing to advance on some unsuspecting trolls or bandits or some other ne'er-do-wells. :) Ferrel is always a challenge, but one I love -- she's not supposed to be "supermodel gorgeous" and is a born leader. Her body type is rather slender yet she wears big, heavy plate armor. I really love the archetype she represents and I think she's a strong heroine. So, drawing her is always a pleasure.
I discovered this style quite by accident while stressed over being two weeks late for the deadline for these images. I first completed all of the images in just ink, and while I had the ability to simply turn them in that way, I didn't feel they looked good enough to present as a final product. I tried shading them two different ways -- which wound up costing me seven hours -- but in my frustration I got irritated and tried just scribbling with Sai's "fringe" effect set to 3 on a multiply layer over the work. It actually turned out not only to look better than the previous tries, but it was actually very soothing. There's something weirdly theraputic about the wet look being applied before your eyes in digital work. If you have Sai and haven't played around with that setting, try it sometime. :) the results can really work in your favor.
Sadly, the results of that detail will be lost in the book because of the size of the portrait, but that's why I included the close-up. :) The effect is really lost on anything bigger than a bust, but it still serves to make the process of creating the art very satisfying.
This image, Ferrel, & the Raider's Companion are © to Adam Trzonkowski.
Do not crop or otherwise alter this work. Not to be sold or used commercially in any way, by anyone. Clients are permitted to re-post a commission in their own FA galleries without a direct request, unless otherwise noted.
Good critique is always welcome, but may not always be implemented into a finished piece. If the post is a sketch, please chime in (politely). :)
My illustration for
anzel's 2nd book, the Raider's Companion. This is his cleric, Ferrel, looking imposing and preparing to advance on some unsuspecting trolls or bandits or some other ne'er-do-wells. :) Ferrel is always a challenge, but one I love -- she's not supposed to be "supermodel gorgeous" and is a born leader. Her body type is rather slender yet she wears big, heavy plate armor. I really love the archetype she represents and I think she's a strong heroine. So, drawing her is always a pleasure.I discovered this style quite by accident while stressed over being two weeks late for the deadline for these images. I first completed all of the images in just ink, and while I had the ability to simply turn them in that way, I didn't feel they looked good enough to present as a final product. I tried shading them two different ways -- which wound up costing me seven hours -- but in my frustration I got irritated and tried just scribbling with Sai's "fringe" effect set to 3 on a multiply layer over the work. It actually turned out not only to look better than the previous tries, but it was actually very soothing. There's something weirdly theraputic about the wet look being applied before your eyes in digital work. If you have Sai and haven't played around with that setting, try it sometime. :) the results can really work in your favor.
Sadly, the results of that detail will be lost in the book because of the size of the portrait, but that's why I included the close-up. :) The effect is really lost on anything bigger than a bust, but it still serves to make the process of creating the art very satisfying.
This image, Ferrel, & the Raider's Companion are © to Adam Trzonkowski.
Do not crop or otherwise alter this work. Not to be sold or used commercially in any way, by anyone. Clients are permitted to re-post a commission in their own FA galleries without a direct request, unless otherwise noted.
Good critique is always welcome, but may not always be implemented into a finished piece. If the post is a sketch, please chime in (politely). :)
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 535 x 800px
File Size 271.6 kB
I wouldn't say that protection isn't a priority. If that were the case, she'd like as not have a 'medieval' bra, a loin cloth, and... nothing else on. Or maybe a mail bra and loin cloth.
More what I was getting at is that her thighs, arms, and sides and chest are not protected particularly well, even if the garment she's wear underneath is padded. And something for the head would be nice, but it's common for protagonists to be depicted without because the audience is alleged to have a hard time identifying/identifying with the hero when half their head is hidden by iron (see: Orlando Bloom in Kingdom of Heaven, Mel Gibson in Braveheart).
In any case, her throat, belly (and breasts), shoulders, forearms, and knees, calves, ankles and feet are all quite well protected... nigh on invulnerable, in fact (short of magic or firearms or siege weaponry). If she wore a padded garment to protect the soft stuff, she'd have good protection against broadhead arrows and sword and axe slashes (although the last two could still cause nasty bruises and broken limbs... and while the blade still may never bite through, skin may still break). Mail and she'd be protected against spears and bodkin arrows and most crossbow bolts (again not a perfect defense... but things that break mail rarely have enough energy to do much to padded garments and flesh underneath).
In any case, if she had a shield, the lack of armor would be largely irrelevant. (There is good reason why militia laws in Scandinavia specified that the poorest free folk ought to have an axe, spear, and shield... and if you were wealthier, you added a helmet... and if you were wealthier still, you added padded armor... and if you were quite wealthy, then came mail.)
ANYHUE. She's quite vulnerable to spears, arrows, and (crossbow) bolts, without additional armor protection and/or a shield. (And those three are the most common threats one is likely to face in a battle or skirmish.)
^^;;;;
More what I was getting at is that her thighs, arms, and sides and chest are not protected particularly well, even if the garment she's wear underneath is padded. And something for the head would be nice, but it's common for protagonists to be depicted without because the audience is alleged to have a hard time identifying/identifying with the hero when half their head is hidden by iron (see: Orlando Bloom in Kingdom of Heaven, Mel Gibson in Braveheart).
In any case, her throat, belly (and breasts), shoulders, forearms, and knees, calves, ankles and feet are all quite well protected... nigh on invulnerable, in fact (short of magic or firearms or siege weaponry). If she wore a padded garment to protect the soft stuff, she'd have good protection against broadhead arrows and sword and axe slashes (although the last two could still cause nasty bruises and broken limbs... and while the blade still may never bite through, skin may still break). Mail and she'd be protected against spears and bodkin arrows and most crossbow bolts (again not a perfect defense... but things that break mail rarely have enough energy to do much to padded garments and flesh underneath).
In any case, if she had a shield, the lack of armor would be largely irrelevant. (There is good reason why militia laws in Scandinavia specified that the poorest free folk ought to have an axe, spear, and shield... and if you were wealthier, you added a helmet... and if you were wealthier still, you added padded armor... and if you were quite wealthy, then came mail.)
ANYHUE. She's quite vulnerable to spears, arrows, and (crossbow) bolts, without additional armor protection and/or a shield. (And those three are the most common threats one is likely to face in a battle or skirmish.)
^^;;;;
At least regarding the weapons, I argued in favor of a shield, really I did. I have drawn her with a shield in the past and I guess I'm more the type who thinks maybe I ought to be really good with one weapon rather than trying to swing two... :D But Anzel said nope, two weapons minimum for this book!
Oh. I guess I forgot to mention, she is wearing chainmaille on her upper body and legs -- but I drew it to be pretty thin and slinky for movement (and suspension-of-disbelief femininity to counter the bulkiness of the rest of the gear). Other than that, I didn't really know where to put stuff so I tend to just throw down big chunks of flat metal and try to tie them on in a way that doesn't give away how totally clueless I am about this stuff.
I really wish people would stop trusting me with armor. -_-;;
I really wish people would stop trusting me with armor. -_-;;
I think you would find MyArmoury.com a useful resource, if you desire to do armor.
Your illustration is quite attractive and you did a pretty good job. Though it is not the most realistic illustration in the history of ever, it's better than a lot of expensive, professional fantasy artists can manage (see: Boris Vallejo).
Your illustration is quite attractive and you did a pretty good job. Though it is not the most realistic illustration in the history of ever, it's better than a lot of expensive, professional fantasy artists can manage (see: Boris Vallejo).
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