The Energon Pub

This was line art I had asked Charger to draw. I appreciate what he did and for putting up with me. He used MP-03 and Classics Starscream as the examples for the two characters.

MP-03 appealed to me because of the body lights.

I had some issues with the picture and had to leave it alone for a few days. I have managed to adjust the few things in this picture. First of all I readjusted the colour saturation a but until the green brightened, and BOY did it make a world of difference. I originally had it more of a dark hunter green. Anyway once it was brightened I was much happier with the result. I had spent much time thinking about how I could fix a couple things and make this better than it was.

The other thing I did was lighten the shadows on the face. I do feel I was a bit to heavy on the shading there considering the light over head is quite bright. I also added more brightness to the optics and they show up that much better.

So the original line art is by Charger426.

Here we have Phoenix (femcon) and Starscream having a sort of play fight on the balcony of the "loft"; their off Nemesis II weekend retreat. Yes, when Starscream utters that cry, he really means, lets go back here and have a small party...

Starscream goaded Phoenix into fighting him because he enjoys it for some reason. She seems to be ready to clock him in the jaw or knee him in the ports. Skywarp and Sunburst were watching from the top of the building with the red lights. But they can't be seen.

So that's it for now.

Lines by: Charger
Colours by: Sunstar
OC Phoenix belongs to Pulsar

awsome job both of you!

Excellent coloring. The shading, textures, and my favotite, the lighting effects. The more I look, it reminds me of movies like Blade Runner and the city scenes from the Star Wars Prequels.

Positive:
Great colouring, use of light and shadow. It adds a great depth to the piece. I like Charger426's detail, always have. Its a really great piece of work, both of you.

Negative:
On a personal note, something about Charger426's posing of characters... just doesn't come of completly natural to me.

Kalon wrote:Positive:
Great colouring, use of light and shadow. It adds a great depth to the piece. I like Charger426's detail, always have. Its a really great piece of work, both of you.

Negative:
On a personal note, something about Charger426's posing of characters... just doesn't come of completly natural to me.

Thanks very much.

I would respond that during a fight, I am sure all positions are not entirely natural looking. I think It is hard to stop a fight mid motion because of that. If you look at a lot of sports photographs you'll see some pretty strange shots in that. So, on that, I think they look pretty good. I certianly couldn't draw it better or improve it.

here is one such example to what I mean: These two look awkward and... unnatural.


sorry for the um.. "content" it was all I could find in a moments notice. but the kicker looks pretty awkard...

Sunstar wrote:

Kalon wrote:Positive:
Great colouring, use of light and shadow. It adds a great depth to the piece. I like Charger426's detail, always have. Its a really great piece of work, both of you.

Negative:
On a personal note, something about Charger426's posing of characters... just doesn't come of completly natural to me.

Thanks very much.

I would respond that during a fight, I am sure all positions are not entirely natural looking. I think It is hard to stop a fight mid motion because of that. If you look at a lot of sports photographs you'll see some pretty strange shots in that. So, on that, I think they look pretty good. I certianly couldn't draw it better or improve it.

here is one such example to what I mean: These two look awkward and... unnatural.

sorry for the um.. "content" it was all I could find in a moments notice. but the kicker looks pretty awkard...

Not really. Its about body mechanincs. The foot bone connected to the leg bone... yadda yadda. In your example the players are all staying within proper range of motion for the human frame. In drawing it can take some time(I used to draw and paint alot, 5-6 years, mainly high school and college) to get range of motion/positioning right. Charger426 is close, but its off just a little.

My question for Charger426 is this:
Do you draw freestyle(no models) or do you use a wooden manikin like the attached image? I ask as one of my colleagues who does 3D animation has 3 of them to help insure proper range of motion for things. They many help you out, even with that 'dancing' fight scene you posted earlier. You do great work, and I'd love to see you become ever better.

I got those dolls myself... but they pose poorly. I just tried to get mine in that sitting positon but it didn't want to.

Sunstar wrote:I got those dolls myself... but they pose poorly. I just tried to get mine in that sitting positon but it didn't want to.

Loose or tight joints? Somewhere inbetween is the 'sweet' spot with them and they pose great.

Kalon wrote:My question for Charger426 is this:
Do you draw freestyle(no models) or do you use a wooden manikin like the attached image? I ask as one of my colleagues who does 3D animation has 3 of them to help insure proper range of motion for things. They many help you out, even with that 'dancing' fight scene you posted earlier. You do great work, and I'd love to see you become ever better.

I draw free style, no models. Never had any art classes either. I have read a few books and do admit that I have alot to improve on. The pic I posted earlier was done in about four hours tops. I draw pretty fast and that does give me plenty opportunity for mistakes. I'm impatient in that I cant wait to finish a pic and I dont see my errors till to much has been put in. Thanks for the critique. Its good to get feedback both positive and negative. I'll keep it in mind for whatever action pic I do next.

my mother, who is a trained artist, would say take your art and put it away and look at it the next day. errors will jump out at you then.

Sunstar wrote:my mother, who is a trained artist, would say take your art and put it away and look at it the next day. errors will jump out at you then.

all too true. i am my own worst critic

Gorgeous work.

And this looks like a honeymoon scene, heh.

Kalon wrote:

Sunstar wrote:

Kalon wrote:Positive:
Great colouring, use of light and shadow. It adds a great depth to the piece. I like Charger426's detail, always have. Its a really great piece of work, both of you.

Negative:
On a personal note, something about Charger426's posing of characters... just doesn't come of completly natural to me.

Thanks very much.

I would respond that during a fight, I am sure all positions are not entirely natural looking. I think It is hard to stop a fight mid motion because of that. If you look at a lot of sports photographs you'll see some pretty strange shots in that. So, on that, I think they look pretty good. I certianly couldn't draw it better or improve it.

here is one such example to what I mean: These two look awkward and... unnatural.

sorry for the um.. "content" it was all I could find in a moments notice. but the kicker looks pretty awkard...

Not really. Its about body mechanincs. The foot bone connected to the leg bone... yadda yadda. In your example the players are all staying within proper range of motion for the human frame. In drawing it can take some time(I used to draw and paint alot, 5-6 years, mainly high school and college) to get range of motion/positioning right. Charger426 is close, but its off just a little.

My question for Charger426 is this:
Do you draw freestyle(no models) or do you use a wooden manikin like the attached image? I ask as one of my colleagues who does 3D animation has 3 of them to help insure proper range of motion for things. They many help you out, even with that 'dancing' fight scene you posted earlier. You do great work, and I'd love to see you become ever better.

Fall-Back Justification: Well, they are robots.