A tale of souls and swords, eternally retold...

[VILARCANE]

Yeah I went to art school for two years because people used to tell me the same thing, but its like trying to be a musician or actor. Its extremely difficult to make it and would most likely starve trying. I still love drawing but I dont do it as much anymore after school and finding the reality of an artist. I have much greater respect now for those who do.

I couldn't agree more, when you look at deviant art, you can see that even artists with a perfect technique struggle to make a living, in France the most successful artists are not the best ones but those who know how to market themselves (google Titeuf if you wanna see what i mean, technically low-end but surfing on what the crowd of casual readers want : low-end but clear/easy to read short comic strips).

By the way, here are my two latest sketches :

Orc Chieftain



Quick sketch of a Dark Elf Archer :

 

[brucege]

Holy shit. That's some nice drawings. I wish I could do that. Did you usually sketch out your CaS before you made them?

 

[TsunamiBye]

Those are rather nice VILARCANE. I second brucege's opinion.

 

[VILARCANE]

Thanks friends...

About brucege's question, it is a yes : on some occasions i did some quick concept sketches for my CAS, all of which have been posted throughout the pages i guess.
It helped me put my little technical tricks or design ideas on paper and actually draw how i should make use of this or that ExEq instead of relying purely on mental notes :)

I sometimes thought of doing the contrary meaning taking one of my most iconic CAS and making a drawing alter ego, as i sort of did with Pocky Yoshi-mitsu back then...
but i concluded a still would never do my actual CAS justice, since there are so many details that already got lost in the pictures i posted vs. in-game (for those who have played with me only, they know what i mean...).

Now if you like them, here is another one i did today, called the fire demon battle, trying to draw a scene rather than a single character for once :

 

[VILARCANE]

ok last one i am gonna upload, in a totally different style, could have been a concept art for my Pixie, remember ?

Cute witch with hungry familiar concept ...

 

[brucege]

Awesome (and I mean it)! That fire demon's really creepy lookin' cause he's got a surprisingly human-like face. I see blood streaming from the warrior's axe and also from the fire demon's fist. His left (anatomical) fist is engulfed in flames while his wounded right fist is not. Here's the story as I see it:

1. Demon makes quick jab with fire-charged right fist.
2. Warrior parries, wounding demon's right fist.
3. Demon withdraws right fist and fires up left fist in preparation for left-handed swing.

So apparently he's in a left-handed fighting stance. Huh. Well, left-handedness was historically perceived as being wrong (literally "sinister") so it's somehow fitting for a demon to be left-handed.

Gonna look into the witch later to see what I can find.

 

[VILARCANE]

Awesome (and I mean it)! That fire demon's really creepy lookin' cause he's got a surprisingly human-like face. I see blood streaming from the warrior's axe and also from the fire demon's fist. His left (anatomical) fist is engulfed in flames while his wounded right fist is not. Here's the story as I see it:

1. Demon makes quick jab with fire-charged right fist.
2. Warrior parries, wounding demon's right fist.
3. Demon withdraws right fist and fires up left fist in preparation for left-handed swing.

So apparently he's in a left-handed fighting stance. Huh. Well, left-handedness was historically perceived as being wrong (literally "sinister") so it's somehow fitting for a demon to be left-handed.

Gonna look into the witch later to see what I can find.

So nice of you to reveal the drawing's details and momentum in some kind of review, i love it :)

The demon is indeed an impersonation of my current fighter spirit, as i am facing many challenges on a professional level IRL... the knight metaphorically represents the target, a tiny thing i need to one-hit or die (figuratively of course, meaning there is an ongoing global restructuring of the corporation i work for where everyone basically has to reapply for his own job or another one, or get lost in the process).
The demon knows he has the upper hand, experience (on the job, as a demon, or white collar) and the will (the fire) to compete and succeed and ultimately get a promotion if he is appointed (for the demon, to be promoted as the one who slain an the corrupt Paladin Khariir who dared challenge him, hum...why this name ? xD)

By the way, i am left handed, and i know/agree with what you mentioned, people in France a few decades ago used to hit pupils with a stick for even trying to write with their left hand, let alone draw :P

I am hyped about your review of my manga witch, bro'

 

[VILARCANE]

Now this page is slowly filling up, lets me share two last sketches, this one should give plenty of room for Brucege's vivid imagination, so i won't even give it a title :)

Also, first time i try (and fail miserably) to draw a horse, lol, i did not even dare to finish the legs, that is how uncomfortable i am with drawing those wretched beasts :P

The other one is more subtle and emotional...

 

[DarkNemeZis666]

woaaaaaw ! impressionnant tes dessins! c'est une passion ou tu bosses la dedans?

 

[brucege]

More awesome pics! My inner Sherlock is kinda preoccupied atm, but I'll see if I can drag him out of his cage tomorrow lol.

 

[VILARCANE]

woaaaaaw ! impressionnant tes dessins! c'est une passion ou tu bosses la dedans?

Une passion, qui fait le bonheur de mes proches et amis, rien de professionnel la dedans.
Je n'ai pas le temps ni l'énergie pour faire plus que des croquis au crayon, parfois coloriés, et ma technique est assez limitée, même si tout le monde me dit que j'ai du talent et du "potentiel"...

For the others, google translate or read short english version : "no, just a hobby, nothing professional, and i wouldn't have the required level of technique"

 

[VILARCANE]

More awesome pics! My inner Sherlock is kinda preoccupied atm, but I'll see if I can drag him out of his cage tomorrow lol.

Thanks, buddy, your inner Sherlock, what a lovely description of yourself, i wondered if you weren't some kind of Crime Scene Investigator with CAS a side activity, i mean in real life :)

 

[brucege]

Now this page is slowly filling up, lets me share two last sketches, this one should give plenty of room for Brucege's vivid imagination, so i won't even give it a title :)

Also, first time i try (and fail miserably) to draw a horse, lol, i did not even dare to finish the legs, that is how uncomfortable i am with drawing those wretched beasts :P

The other one is more subtle and emotional...

I really like that witch drawing too. Anime's always had a special place in my heart. But you're right, those CaS boobs just don't do the original justice. Not to mention the gorgeous hair and flowing robes. Lol at that lil' dragon roasting the hunk of meat.

Decapitation. Good times. It seems that the poor dude's head is already rolling on the ground out of sight. And yet the arm position and blood trails from the axe suggest that he recently finished the attack. The dead guy also seems to be in a relatively relaxed position. No weapon drawn. The horse (which looks great, by the way) is also kinda just chillin' over there. These factors suggest that he was attacked by stealth from behind (for critical damage). I can't seem to identify the dead man either. He seems to wearing skin tight armor, unlike his half-naked assailant, but he does have similar gloves. If I had to venture a guess, the poor bloke on the left was some rank-and-file orc soldier makin' his rounds on the castle ramparts, munching on donuts, when his peaceful meanderings were cut off abruptly by an orc super ninja.

Cyborg girl. Very cool how the armor's divided to emulate natural musculature. the X-50 on the arm is probably her model number. Deep pain on her face and a definite look of indignity/accusation. Single tear on left (anatomical) eye. She's looking straight ahead with marked determination, but her body's turned away. Her arms cover her vulnerable regions around the heart and collarbone. Feminine defensive posture. She's definitely feeling threatened (in an immediate and physical sense), and whoever she's looking at, she's blaming for something. Simplest explanation: rape. Another possibility: she's confronting the murderer of her loved one(s). "How dare you! You monster!!!" Some bad shit's goin' down in space. Thats fo' sho'. Fascinating drawing. It seems you've got a deep understanding of body language.

 

[VILARCANE]

Thank you so much for your review ! Always love reading you

About the orc and headless knight, it was meant to be a poor knight sneak attacked from behind by the orc just swinging his axe while lunging forward for a critical decapitation from the back, nothing we'd ever see in SC5, except it is very much inspired from alpha pat's CE move, which gives a good visual representation of the movement...and yes, the clean cut and momentum made the head fly out of bounds (mostly cuz i was too lazy to draw the actual head)

About the cybergirl, you completely nailed it, she is some kind of cybersexslave directly inspired (with significant changes of course) by my crying cyberdoll maid, remember her ?
Significant work was put into the body language and face construct and expression, yes, you nailed it again, defensive posture it is !

Cheers !

 

[brucege]

Thank you so much for your review ! Always love reading you

About the orc and headless knight, it was meant to be a poor knight sneak attacked from behind by the orc just swinging his axe while lunging forward for a critical decapitation from the back, nothing we'd ever see in SC5, except it is very much inspired from alpha pat's CE move, which gives a good visual representation of the movement...and yes, the clean cut and momentum made the head fly out of bounds (mostly cuz i was too lazy to draw the actual head)

About the cybergirl, you completely nailed it, she is some kind of cybersexslave directly inspired (with significant changes of course) by my crying cyberdoll maid, remember her ?
Significant work was put into the body language and face construct and expression, yes, you nailed it again, defensive posture it is !

Cheers !

I can't believe I haven't noticed her before! I couldn't fully understand her until I looked up your design notes, but I love this strange mix of cyberpunk, horror, and tragedy. The eyelashes, tear, and mouth hinge might stand out more without the grid pattern, but it doesn't really get in the way of your specialty: storytelling.

She also gets me in the mood to try making some more sci-fi CaS. Sci-fi's really difficult to make with SCV's decidedly medieval parts, but it's also relatively unexplored on the forums, so it's easier to get a reaction lol. I think I'm gonna have a go at a cyber/steampunk-sex-doll myself. Proly try to fashion a cool hairdo outta gears and junk for mine and patch up the rest with clunky armor and pocket stickers.

P.S. I actually took a shot at making a ***** fanboy. I managed to get a pretty convincing (i.e. pimply and bucktoothed) face, but just couldn't settle down on an outfit. Most definitely some kinda cheesy graphic tee with shorts, sandals and socks. Any advice on the matter?

 

[VILARCANE]

Thanks, i hope you remember the concluding synaptic overload screenshot at the end of the forbidden slideshow, because it is all her...
The grid effect is to add some depth to an otherwise used to death mask (i am gonna show you another use of it in a bit).

Cool i managed to inspire you and i am hyped to see what you come up with Sci-Fi wise and of course sex-doll-wise.
I agree it is a very difficult task to actually produce good looking sci-fi CAS, but i can give advice if you need as i have done many of those actually over the...years (gulp!) :P

I did not understand your ***** fanboy thing though, i'd be happy to give directions but as i don't know the topic, was the word moderated, please enlighten me ?

 

[VILARCANE]

I had friends on visit the other night, and they challenged me to do a CAS recreation "live", and i remembered there was one particular character i always wanted to recreate, one that made a lasting impression on me, both in comics and movie form, one that would allow me to show how to recreate without copying "à l'identique", as we say in France, one that would allow me to do this one last CAS stunt...no design notes for a more open artistic debate...because i would like you to bend your mind on this most dramatic in-personation of a CAS...that's all Fawkes :p :

"Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, and ideas are bulletproof." V for Vilarcane

never spotted this stage detail before, did you ? Life is so full of surprises :P

 

[brucege]

Damn, V for the WIN. I can tell a LOT of love went into making those small details on the face just perfect from the 'stache right down to the rosy cheeks. I especially like photo of him charging up that bomb, like he's preparing an anti-government molotov. The referee stripes looked kinda funky before, but they're actually a good match for V's trolling sense of humor.

Ah, the forbidden footage. I can't say I remember her specifically, but I'll have to look her up. That particular death mask + glowing eyes/mouth is really cool, so I'm gonna have to find another way to distinguish my own SciFi. I may have to recycle my Basic 17 trick I used to get power lines on my android a few weeks ago. SciFi is all about glowing stuff. I'm gonna finish Liesloth first before attempting my SciFi though. As for the ***** fanboy stuff....that goes way back to our PM conversation lol.

 

[VILARCANE]

Haha i see know...***** is indeed ****** and refers to ***** (looked at all pms n convos i got, man it is like i could add another 10 pages here lol)

Anyways yes a lot of love went into face sticker work...the key was to use this very tribal sticker and not cover some pointy ends of it to mimic details of the smile and face, like some sort of pencil shading...that and most stickers and ExEQ were used on the head... i wanted the porcelaine glow and the sneer to be just right ingame...i think the close up ingame shot of the face shows i did it...my guests at least gave me 1/2 h and id win a bottle of champagne if only i'd manage to wow them to some extent...something went pop! 45 min later :)

Man writing on xbox1 is a chore... gnite buddy...

 

[brucege]

Yah, it's so close it's scary. I still can't figure out how you did those eyebrows. One of my all time favorite movies too! Sherlock Holmes is wondering when he'll see more originals from you.