Henri

The blacklining is just a bit too heavy on that right hand side, good spot Neko. Love comments like that coz it tells me that the smallest error can make a difference and that people do notice it.

The background, 37... ahh, i hate backgrounds, lol. I have an idea of what i want in the pic, and why they are there, but then can't do a background to fit. Basically, this is Ooni in some alien landscape (her home landscape) after an eventful test flight of the latest aircraft. She's a survivor and walks away from the burning wreck.

I'm really unhappy with the eyes tho, i've done so better eyes before, just couldn't get them to live in this pic tho, ho hum, next...

(actually, next is finished, another Robot H3 NRi pic, but can't decide on a background... i could post it so far, and you all decide... what dyou think?)

cheers H.

Thanks very muchly 37, appreciate the praise I'm going to be out of the country for a little while from Weds but might being looking for some refs when i'm back, cheers for the offer

For now, here's a piece i finished recently, Test Pilot Ooni:

Chris!! you've frumped her up but put sexy socks on her! I don't know where to look... ;p

hehe, 'It's just not cricket' and other versions of that is definately a British phrase, It's seen as quite a high brow complaint, posh people complaining of yobs at ascot, etc, it's not the done thing, it's just not cricket, implying that cricket is a sport with rules and they're all proper to the british gentleman... Don't quote me, and i can't be arsed to research it to see if my outlandish comment is right, but wasn't cricket invented by the residents of india?

Increased and raised, same thing isn't it, both mean 'becoming more'.

Only saying as a Brit, not intending any bi-cultural based offence

quote: Don't quote me, and i can't be arsed to research it to see if my outlandish comment is right, but wasn't cricket invented by the residents of india?

nope i'm wrong, thinking of something else.

this is very good, love it

Google will show you that's a good aproximation of what she developed into, and although i always t'inter to check new devolopments, i'm not disagreeing, i'm also stuck in the past with how heroes should look... time to move on my friend

btw, loving the Scooby Doo Crew that's my time also

edit: worth an edit i think, shaggy should have the resistance beard, also i drink with someone that's known as shaggy, for that reason

Yep, i agree it's more difficult if you're just presented with a flattened image, but you can still start your shading layers from that point, means your not disturbing the original image either if your working on layers above it. I always name my layers too so there's no confusion, yes it could be tricky to someone not used to it, but then painting is tricky to someone not used to it And of course this is only my personal method, was just sharing as i find it a useful way to work, i guess artists adopt many different methods to create their art .

absolutely loving this If you're making up as you go along, then you're a genius!!

(if you had it all planned out before, then i did my comic sooooo wrong, lol )

doh, forgot to add, and this is the thing i was meaning to say all through...

i'm using black and white for all the shade and highlight, just changing the opacity for each layer, but as i (and you) get on, other colours can also give a different hue, blue, red, etc... if it's on layers you can play with it a lot

That's good work there Dee, liking it a lot. More shadow tho, you're the same as me, my shading is all to subtle, i'm now having to force myself to give deeper shadow...

There's parts, under the hairline, under the lower lip, under anything that protrudes, more shadow, presuming the light is from above. I'm only just getting this myself too though, so, your know, take my advice at a pinch Are you using layers for the shading? To make myself shade deeper, i'm adding another and another layer, until i feel i've got too much, like this:



It's a wip, and lit from below not above, but see the layers, more is better imo

I hope i'm not coming across too strong here, i'm only an amateur myself, but i see your potential and just want to add stuff i've learnt to help you grow more, you're going to be a great artist imo

Many condolences TA, this is an experience i've also had to deal with in the past, so my sympathies are very much with you.

sorry no, Euros, goats or magners cider are the only currencies i understand

I could get you some blueprints, but it'll cost extra, the photocopier at Imperial command is only doing black and white at the mo :/ Darth's used all the colour, photocopying his ****!

nice, that works well Chris.

@ people also wishing to create wonderous login screens like this, for the meagre price of only €100 i will not only supply details of how to create your own fully automated death star, but i'll also give you the location of the rebel alliance!! Alternately, if you just want to know how to change your login screen. send me a pm and i'll give you some info

... although if you really do want the plans to the death star, show me the money!!

the line of shadow definately works for me Dee, gives some depth to show the dress is 'over' the skin... though nothing wrong with painted on dresses imo... erm, anyway...

I think what people might have been pointing out was the line of the dress from her stomach to neck. The strap around her neck is supportting the dress and so the line would be more taut i think. In some styles this wouldn't matter as you'd just paint a very stylistic and unreal picture, but this piece you're doing is very realistic and so i think needs to conform to realistic physics... erm, that's a compliment in there somewhere, hehe

Good work Deedee, i really like watching your art journey

Nice work DD Are you adding the 'City of Heroes' logo onto the .bmp manually, or is there some way to do it in creating the texture file?

could try combat aura on one eye? I know it's not in the middle, but might serve the purpose

That's interesting that you're all getting the vibe that it's a scene, that something is happening. My intention was that it is more a kind of 'comic cover' introduction to a new character, or a dvd cover, where the main character/s are depicted not particularly doing anything in an attempt to say to the viewer 'hey, i look cool but i'm not giving anything away, watch/read if you want to know what it's all about!' Not that this is a comic project or anything, just a stand alone piece introducing my character.


Takeshi Northstar is a PPD Mech pilot, i believe his feelings towards his Mech are like a soldier today feels about his rifle. It's a tool, but a tool his life depends on, without his rifle he cannot be effective as a soldier. Takeshi's Mech is part of who and what he is. Takeshi is a man in anger at the world he lives in. Anger at the senseless crime and violence, which is why he joined up, to make a difference and to protect those that can't protect themselves. Anger too at the fact the odds are stacked highly against him, he is just a man, fighting a superpowered fight, his Mech allows him to survive the fight, but he's still just a man.

In game he's an AR/Elec blaster. I've been quite strict with him to follow his bio, as he didn't get his Mech until level 20 (2nd costume unlock) which conceptually is when he finished his training and transferred to Mech division. His elec powers and flight are all abilities of his Mech, so until level 20, he was AR/Ninjarun-away I allowed him ninja run as he's my manga anime based character, you can't be anime and not run like a ninja, lol!

anyway glad it's sparked some conversation, it must be art, heh

ok, good to know. I'd placed the mech directly behind because the mech is him, thought it would emphasize it. i'd like to hear any views, i need all the input i can get. My wife thought he was wearing a big hat... you have to stop for a minute to work on a comment like that...

no one understan... oh wait, no, i'm past that...

Please, more feed back, and Caem, if you've got any nice lines that need an amateurs touch...

Ok , not sure what to write up for this now. At first i thought i'd never finish it, had no interest in it at all, but i've actually really enjoyed doing it as it's gone on. I've actually learnt a bag load of stuff too, not just about cell shading, but stuff i can now use in other methods of colouring too. In the process i've actually restarted from flats twice and even changed the lines coz i wasn't happy with them.

All in all, i'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but mostly i'm stoked at how much i've learn't doing it.

Cheers for looking H.

An 'eye' eyepatch? Brilliant!! Just that alone should make this set a win

Guess it's your lucky day mate I'm actually experimenting with anime styles at the moment so your character, Rider Beta, just fit the bill nicely. PM me your email and i'll send you the full size version.

Hope you like it

Great stuff, i'm liking Beehive a lot