more character sketches (SGA)

[astridv]

A few more character sketches... Rodney, Teyla, Zelenka, Ford, Weir. Plus I did a couple more of Sheppard. Because he's pretty, I'm shallow, and he makes the most interesting faces. :)

Rodney is really darn hard to draw, in spite of his distinctive features. I wanted to do one of him in his "Yay I just figured out this bit of Ancient technology!" mode, but I just couldn't get it right (yet, hrmpf). Maybe it's because the man never shuts up and is always gesticulating, and it's tricky to capture that energy on paper. *ponders*

Anyway, next thing I'll probably try my hand at a couple of scenes. I'd like to do a comic in this fandom eventually, but I don't have anything concrete yet, only a few vague ideas. But I have pictures in my head that want out. (I missed that feeling...)





(caps snagged from stargatecaps.com and sg-atlantis.org/caps/)

Comments

[hibernate.livejournal.com]

Awesome!

Yeah, I think you might be right about McKay's energy, I never thought about that before. The pics you included look great though!

I'd love to see more of Weir, who I think is just freakishly beautiful.

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

These are lovely, especially the expressions you've captured on John's face!

[iamza.livejournal.com]

These are gorgeous!

Rodney is really darn hard to draw, in spite of his distinctive features.

Be that as it may, I think you've captured his smirk beautifully in the first image (the one in the preview).

I really love the way you've drawn Ford and Zelenka, and the last Sheppard image. Not sure why, but, for me, those really stand out.

[elli.livejournal.com]

Awesome!!!!! I especially like Zelenka and the second to last John.

[xenachan.livejournal.com]

Great work ! 8)
Love the Aiden and Rodney one !

With what do you do your sketchs ? (computer or pens ?)

[x-erikah-x.livejournal.com]

They are all so beautiful!

[astridv.livejournal.com]

With what do you do your sketchs ? (computer or pens ?)

Ah. I use a Zebra brush pen (that pen is the ideal alternative if you don't like to ink with real brushes, because the line is very easy to control). For larger areas I use the Copic marker that comes with a brush tip on one side. And for finer lines, I use Copic multiliners. Plus, process white and ink pen for the white highlights, and to fix stuff.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks, glad you like'em.

Be that as it may, I think you've captured his smirk beautifully in the first image (the one in the preview).

You should've seen the ones I tossed...

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

especially the expressions you've captured on John's face!

I had a lot to work with. :)

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think you might be right about McKay's energy, I never thought about that before. The pics you included look great though!

Thanks. I'm rather happy with those, but there're at least three more that I threw out because even though on the surface every line was correct, it just wasn't him. Quite fascinating.

[sonadorita.livejournal.com]

Very pretty :)

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly :)

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Seriously; he's just--Sheppard is visually what McKay is orally & kinesthetically; a sort of gallery of expressions.

[lim.livejournal.com]

You REALLY have John down, now. Your line is so clean. I admire it. That heavy line of John's bottom lip - there are EPICS devoted to it but yours is - this is greatness. I'm so happy. *stares*

And that Zelenka sketch is perfick; I love it.

[devildoll.livejournal.com]

Wow, these are great, especially the John ones. You really captured some of his more adorable facial expressions.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

They're both fantastic, particularly in combination. That was some lucky casting. (I hope they'll both still be there come season four?)

a sort of gallery of expressions.

Yup. I don't know if I could ever tire of drawing that guy.

what McKay is orally & kinesthetically

That, right there, is why McKay is so bloody hard to draw. A drawing just sadly lacks a third dimension, time.

Hm. It would be interesting to see how McKay's personality and mannerisms translate into comic - since comic gives a pretty good illusion of time.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

You REALLY have John down, now.

Hee. Thanks. It actually really helped that everyone pointed out that last pic in that other post.

That heavy line of John's bottom lip - there are EPICS devoted to it

:oD

I'm so glad you like it!

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Glad you like!

You really captured some of his more adorable facial expressions.

The guy just makes a great subject.

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Wonderfully done!!

(And you posted to a comm, yes? Cause I need to tell you POST AT THE SGA-NOTICEBOARD! And McKaySheppard, depending!)

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Yup, I linked this post from sga_noticeboard.

[crysothemis.livejournal.com]

Wow. These are awesome. I particularly like the first Rodney and the second to last John. You capture some of the odd fullness of John's face there, which is fantasitcally hard to do.

I'd love to see you draw a comic.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like them. Also, icon love :D

I've just started to check out your artwork... very cool! So interesting to see you use so many different styles and techniques. (I'm sticking with this reduced ink line right now because I want to refine my comic style.)

*off to look at more artwork*

[ileliberte.livejournal.com]

The second to last John picture is excellent, I really like the cleanliness of your lines.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[crysothemis.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm all over the map because I'm relatively new to art (coming up on 2 years) and I'm like a kid in a candy store, wanting to sample everything. I can't ink to save my life, so I know how much talent this takes.

Any chance you'll draw Ronon? I'd love to see what you do with his eyes.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Any chance you'll draw Ronon? I'd love to see what you do with his eyes.

Ronon, absolutely! I just got to the episodes where he joins the team; I love him, and he should make a great subject. I think I'd like to do something that shows him in action, too.

Oh, I'm all over the map because I'm relatively new to art (coming up on 2 years) and I'm like a kid in a candy store, wanting to sample everything. I can't ink to save my life, so I know how much talent this takes.

Two years, that's pretty impressive!

Inking's tricky, when I started out I used to hate inking with nib and brush, it was just frustrating. With these new brush pens it's gotten a whole lot easier, though.

The Zebra brush pen is the best I've come across so far. I had to order mine from ebay Hongkong because they were impossible to get anywhere in Europe, but it was really worth the effort. I can also recommend a technique I just developed, where I'm penciling on Dura-Lar acetate matte film - also has the advantage that you don't need a light box to transfer your sketches - then scan in the pencils, tweak a bit with the contrasts, then reduce to black and white. The result looks surprisingly like an ink line. I love this new style, it's so much fun to experiment with it. (I didn't use it for these drawings here, though.)

You can also pencil on paper instead of matte film, but it won't get you quite the same effect.

Um, this was getting more wordy than I planned. :)

[tinny]

Your Sheppard really is exceptionally pretty. Just like the original. ;) *snerk*

But I think, from this set, I like Zelenka best. He's gruffy and his glasses give the face a depth... hard to describe. He looks very realistic. I am amazed that it's possible to draw realistic glasses like that in stark black and white.

[crysothemis.livejournal.com]

Ronon, absolutely!

Awesome. I'll look forward to it.

The Zebra brush pen is the best I've come across so far

I have some sort of brush pen. Not sure what brand. And I last tried inking over a year ago, so maybe I should try again. I just love your lines.

And thanks for the tip on using pencil on matte film. That sounds interesting, too. I appreciate your wordiness -- I lap up every little bit of info/advice I can get.

I think I just have a mental block against giving up gradations of shading, but one of these days I may get over it. ::g::

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Ah, with glass, the secret more or less lies in what not to draw, I think.

Your Sheppard really is exceptionally pretty. Just like the original. ;) *snerk*

Heh.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Any chance you'll draw Ronon? I'd love to see what you do with his eyes.

(I added two sketches of Ronon...) (http://astridv.livejournal.com/89630.html)

[negolith2.livejournal.com]

Not enough people draw Zelenka, and your image is absolutely wonderful. It stopped me when I came to it - that and the last image of Sheppard with his eyebrows quirked.

And I must add, the eyes on all the above are incredible.

Thank you for sharing!!!!!

=^.^=

[astridv.livejournal.com]

I much appreciate your comments! :)

actually, if you like drawings of Zelenka, here's another very quick study I did for the comic I'm working on right now... it's very rough:

[negolith2.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like the expression. Kind of a ... martyred amusement. =^.^=

I'm currently writing an entry in my AU series where he plays a pivotal part in the beginning, and at one point the above fits quite well.

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

Wow...your Zelenka is amazing.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks. (btw, I don't know if you saw, I'd posted another Radek in the comment above yours.)

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

Oh, he's *so* cute! I love the expression on his wee little face!