Acquana's Art Thread -- Closed, New Thread Started

[Acquana]

Hey um ... please don't take offense at the rant. ^_^;;

Yeah, I guess anime is one of my influences, but only because I like watching it a lot. I guess no matter how hard one tries, it seeps in.

But, hey, this is the guy I take the most influence from: Terry Moore

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I think you may have misinterpreted what I meant. I grew up on anime. I'm not into it now as much as I was 'back in the day' (mmm...Macross, classic Gundam, and the like were my lifeblood), but I definitely don't hate it like many do. I see nothing wrong AT ALL with that kind of style, and its much, much more similar to the "American" animation style than many people realize.

But there's just something that gives off an anime vibe. I'm not sure how to describe it. I'm sure its not the hair. It may be the eyes...not size, but shape and contruction mixed with the more simplistic face design. Other than that, I'm not sure how to put it. Its GOOD, and like I said, its more your own style than anything. Its possible that I see more of a unique style BECAUSE of my exposure to anime.

No offense taken, of course. Nothing is bad about it at all! The more simple style in faces is a good thing. One big difference I see in your stuff compared to most anime is that yours does pass over some details(which are usually pointless to put in too many of anyway), but still gives the feel that they're there. There aren't tons of folds and such in clothes...but they still look perfect and they aren't needed.

How you do that, I'm still trying to figure out. I want to be able to do that!

 

[Acquana]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please understand, I wasn't angry at you or anything. This is just purely a conundrum I've been facing for some two years. I keep hearing it ... but not one bothers to tell me why they see it. And since I don't ... I'm just baffled by their opinion.

But hey ... No harm done on either side. Just wondering is all.

 

[ml3]

zebra centaur

Great stuff, as always.

And, Acquana, remember this?

ooh, that's weird. I have a zebra centaur pic that looks alot like this- mohawk and all. I won't post it here, but weird...

 

[ThoughtBubble]

A
And see, this amazes me every time I hear it. I went to GenCon to show my portfolio, and I got a lot of people who would look at my stuff and then promptly ask "So you like that Japanese stuff, huh?"

And I would just stare at them blankly.

Where does this come from?! I simply must know where people see this in my stuff! Mostly because I'd feel like a hypocrite if somehow I've just been drawing manga half-way.

So what is it? I have to know! The fact that I love hair? The fact that I like to draw expressive faces? Why can't that illustrative? Is it because I don't pay too much attention to little details? You don't need every detail to understand what's there, right?

Well, as long as you're asking, here's how I see it.

First, you have a wonderfully elegant linework. Your lines are subtle, meaningful and uncluttered. You don't need to go drawing all the detail down somone's back, you can capture it all with one graceful curve. That sets a lot of the tone for it. In all the comics I have at my disposal there's a leaning towards more lining, heavier blocking, hatching, and feathering to define shapes (musculature especially).

Second, as was mentioned before, the way you draw eyes brings it across. They're a bit big and very expressive. This combines into your faces pretty well. It's all expressive, and you're willing to exaggerate form in order to get the effect that you want. You also show that economy of lines here too, showing just enough to get your point across. The love of hair just helps in the effect. There may be something with the scaling/shape of the faces you choose as well (some of your noses, for example).

Third, you're completely willing to use flat tones and leave it at that. See the above comment about blocking, hatching, and feathering. After that, add in incessant variations on tone (which is an effect I always associate with Image Comics).

That's what strikes me as anime like about it. It's as much what you're choosing not to show as it is what you show. But it's late and I'm rambling now, so let's just leave it there.

Hope that helped.

 

[Conaill]

Let's see if I can figure out why I have a similar reaction... First two disclaimers:

1) I *love* your work! So please don't take this the wrong way. Oh, and please do keep up that daily posting!

2) I am by no means an artist myself, and probably am about as ignorant or more about anime than those nitwits that ask you "So you like that Japanese stuff, huh?"

That being said, let me try and tease out some elements of your style that remind me of "that japanese stuff" :

- The eyes: big and expressive, with characteristically arched eyebrows

- Simplified facial structure, as in the 03/06 drawing with the almost triangular face.

- The hair - yup! Mainly when you draw it using big spiky strands, as in the 03/06 or 02/28 drawings (the one on the right). Real hair just doesn't behave that way, unless there's a mass of gel is involved...

- Somewhat exxagerrated body proportions, especially the elongated legs (see 02/28, 03/02, 03/06)

- *Everybody* is pretty and in their teens or twenties

As you mentioned in one of the earlier posts, it might be a good exercise to practice drawing older faces and less ideal body types.

Gotta run... I'll try and post a ranking later of which of your drawings so far I find most versus least anime-influenced. Maybe that might help.

 

[Knightfall]

ooh, that's weird. I have a zebra centaur pic that looks alot like this- mohawk and all. I won't post it here, but weird...

umm, can you post it in your own thread. I'd like to see it.

 

[Acquana]

03/07/05

The rest are coming, fear not. It may take longer than anticipated though. -_-;;

First off, I'm a bit surprised at the responses to that question. Looks I brought out some lurkers. But I suppose I should just swallow down my pride and accept the fact that I am at least somewhat influenced by anime. Of course, Alphonse Mucha and Terry Moore are in there too, but so is anime.

So anyhoo ... The last couple of days I was working feverishly on the skins I mentioned earlier ... and then last night realized I dont' like what I came up with. ;_; Back to square one.

In the meantime you guys can see what I was working on.

More to come, I'm just so frustrated by this project I've barely even taken a break the last two days.

 

[Emperor Valerian]

Excellent artwork... yet another lurker in this thread decloaking, so to speak! If you'd want to try something slightly different, one of my players has a character I'd love to see drawn up by someone as skilled as you (The best way to describe my artistic ability is "challenged").

The campaign is based in a realm much like medieval China, so the character has a distinct oriental feel. That said, he's a little taller than average, 18 years old, with rather long hair and a short, but still growing beard. He is usually clad in rather simple but neat robes, wears sandals, as well as a simple peasant's hat. He's a sorcerer, and thus usually has some spell component pouches about his waist, in addition to an elegant walking stick he carries. He has a quite determination about him, in terms of looks and demeanor.

Any work on this would be much appreciated, and thank you once again!

 

[Acquana]

03/08 - 09/05

Well, I'll show you guys the design for this character I've decided to go with.

More good stuff to come, as usual!