Kick Your Own @ss Contest Entry

[telophase]

My entry into the DeviantArt Kick Your Own @ss Contest, where you redo an older picture in order to see how much you've improved.





If you want my quick commentary on how I've improved and what I still need to work on, you can read it at the DA entry. (The contest category closed 24 hours early, arg, but the organizer said we could note her the entry and it would be included in the contest and the big official news post she'll make about it.) The regular deviation is here.

Go ahead and crit this if you want to - I've probably covered the major focal point, hair, and anatomy issues in my note on DA. :) I may go back and work on it some more to get it ready for cons, although no major overhauls. I really like the way the wall turned out, but the fabric and hair ... bleah.

Comments

[oyceter]

This may be something you already know, since you commented on his posture in the DA entry, but maybe get his legs wider apart? His stance looks really unbalanced and I think in that position he would have to be in sideways stance where his back foot and leg are about 90 degrees to his body with his front foot pointing forward, with 60% weight on his back leg. Uh. At least that is what I vaguely remember from kendo a bazillion years ago. Also, it feels like his torso isn't sideways enough or that his sword is too near his navel, instead of being at the side of his hip.

I love the color in the hair and eyes, and I really love the veins in his hands! And I love seeing anime characters in your semi-realistic style!

[arinye.livejournal.com]

oh, SO much better!
<3 He's beautiful. Lucky, LUCKY Kaoru.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

That is so gorgeous and sexy. Also, hi, Magome!

[telophase.livejournal.com]

:D Notice how I carefully replaced an upside-down rusty wheelbarrow with Kenshin! XD

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Well, I know which I'd want to bump into in a dark alley!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Wow, fantastic. I adore his face.

[maxineofarc.livejournal.com]

Any chance this might be available as a print sometime? I really like his hands. Among other things.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

There is every chance! I do want to let it rest a bit and see if I can go back and fix some of the things that are bothering me first - and I also need to make a test print to see if things look good on paper. I'd put a small texture onto his clothing at one point, then merged the two layers, forgetting that layer blending modes don't work well when merged, so it looked horrible and I had to fix it, and I'm not sure how well that's gone. :D

But it should be ready by AnimeFest (Labor day weekend), at least.

[maxineofarc.livejournal.com]

Fabulous! I will keep an eye out. Kenshin was my first anime love. And my first (truly horrible) anime costume, too.