The Energon Pub

by **Ramrider** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 4:33 pm

It's been a while since I've done any proper drawing - I'm constantly pumping out concept sketches, but rarely producing any finished pieces, unfortunately. But as an early New Year's resolution I'm planning to fix that. I've been away for the last week, and spent some of my largely offline time getting some stuff done.

First off is Rumble...

Uncharacteristically straying from drawing TFs, I decided to redesign Mer-Man from Masters of the Universe...

And on the same theme, here's one of Beast Man taking on Grizzlor. Still need to get the background finished, but it's nearly there.

Once we've got this new computer sorted out with Paint Shop I'll get them coloured in. I'm planning to revamp Khepri's Throne in the next few weeks, so I want to make sure it's worthwhile by having a decent batch of new work to go with it.

by **tentagil** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:46 pm

Weren't you working on a tarot deck once, or was that someone else?

by **Ramrider** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:56 pm

No, that was me. I'm still doing it, but I've taken a couple of steps back. When I lost my hard drive a while back, I lost all the layered colouring work I'd done for the cards I had, and I need the best resolution stuff I can for when I get them printed (probably many years from now, the rate it's going). So I need to recolour the existing cards as well as doing all those yet to be drawn. But I've decided that some of the cards I had I'm not satisfied with, so I'm re-doing some of them too (especially Brawn, who I noticed a couple of glaring cock-ups on). But rest assured, there'll be more from that particular project soon - believe me, I want to see it done as much as you do...

by **jimsloth** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:01 pm

Amazing Perspective on Rumble!!!! Absolutely LOVE his right leg. Great combination of Toy and Toon details.

by **Ramrider** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:29 pm

Thanks. Actually, there's no conscious 'toon reference at all; the design's all based on the toy (actually the oversized KO I'm repainting), but I must admit, there is a bit of the 'toon style about it, isn't there?

Anywho, here are the completed colours for Rumble...

...and for the weirdos of the RIBFIR camp...

[Edited to post new versions of pics]

by **BillyBadAss** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:18 am

Great camera angle on Rumble..!

The colors are coming along nicely..!

Looking forward to more of your drawings!!

.billy

by **Ramrider** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:23 am

Thanks, Billy!

Post's been updated again with shade levels. Just highlighting and effects to go...

by **jimsloth** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:27 am

I like the colors, but it seems like with a direct light source like that the shadows (both cast and on their fronts) would be much darker. Also, you might want to add back in some more distinct type of rumble effect. While it was very clear thats what was going on in the pencil stage, the colors are camouflaging it. Makes them look like they're just sneakin around.

Website · by **Skullgrin140** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:18 pm

Your very talented!

by **Ramrider** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:38 pm

Thanks, guys. And thanks for the crits, Jim. The lack of rumbling concerned me slightly, too. I was thinking of applying a vibration effect to simulate it, but I'm just trying to get my head round where to place it. Should I blur the ground immediately under his feet? Maybe the jumping stones? Maybe his legs should be shaking a bit too? Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I'll have a potter, see what I can come up with.
While I'm at it, I'll have a look at the shadows, too. I didn't want to take it so far as to obscure the drawing, but I reckon you're right about needing to be darker.

by **Ramrider** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:14 pm

Rumble completed!

by **BillyBadAss** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:29 am

Too cool..!

I really dig this pic.. *right click+save*

The blue bot works well against the warm background colors.

Congratulations..!

.billy

by **jimsloth** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:26 pm

Love the blur, love the eyes, love the shadow. No complaints.

by **Ramrider** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:01 pm

Thanks, all - glad you like 'em!

I'm actually torn as to which one I prefer myself, Billy - I also like the way the blue version stands out, but at the same time, I almost feel it's standing out a bit too much. Or maybe it's just because I know it's not thr 'real' Rumble...

I'm pretty sure the red one's my favourite, but then that is the one I was working on.

by **jimsloth** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:22 pm

I think I like the blue one more because of the contrast between the light and dark colors (ignoring shadows). The red one doesn't have as much difference between the red and the black for some reason (should be more if anything). In case it's not clear what I mean, if you were to convert both to grayscale images, the blue one, you could still tell that the shoulders were a different tone than the chest and forearm. The red picture, not as much. Darker black would help.

by **Ramrider** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 4:45 pm

I know what you mean, Jim. I realised since doing the colouring that my monitor settings were slightly out of whack - I noticed things were a lot darker to me than they should've been. I've set that right now, and now I see that while most of it looks fine, what appeared to be near-black on Rumble (and on my Coldfire pic too) is nowhere near as dark as I thought. I'll have to go back and tweak that - shouldn't be too big a deal, though...

by **Ramrider** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:27 pm

Red Rumble modified; the darks are a lot darker now.

by **jimsloth** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:43 pm

ok, now I like that one better.

by **Ramrider** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:51 pm

Well, I did try to start a new thread for this, but since the forum bug seems to not like it, I'll post here, and maybe start a new one when the thing's fixed.

After a long (too long) gap, I've felt inspired to go back to my big Cybertron Tarot project, and pencilled card XIII... Death. Unfortunately, my scanner appears to be fragged, so I've had to take a photo, but I'm still pretty happy with how it's turned out. Now to colour it...

Enjoy!

by **piranacon** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:11 am

glad your going to finish the cards, galvy looks good, do you use a ruler on some of your lines or is it all free hand?

by **Ramrider** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:10 am

Heh. I plan to finish the cards... how many years it takes me to do them all is another matter.

Thanks a lot. Actually, it's all freehand; not a straight line in sight... :wink: