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Published: 2011-08-14 13:13:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 21836; Favourites: 1025; Downloads: 0
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Well it's been a while since I did an A4 portrait, as I've been doing smaller images recently. I've been meaning to go back and do some more Lord of the Rings portraits after watching the films again recently (Best. Trilogy. Ever.).I have improved a bit since my Aragorn picture ([link] ), but have been struggling with getting my contrast right and have not been going dark enough on skintones, so found a great picture of Legolas, which had some nice contrast to use and practice on. All the Works in Progress are in my Scrapbook here: [link]
Capturing the fey magical beauty of elves on the big screen is an impossibly hard job, but they managed it pretty well in the films apart from the odd dodgy camp elf here and there
I was pleased to find this ref, where Orlando doesn't look like he's about to go running off to pick flowers or hug a tree right after the shot...
So Orlando Bloom as Legolas on A4 Bristol Smooth paper using 2H-8B pencils and 8B Mars Lumograph for the background. Not sure how long, but around 20hrs or so.. (That poor lumo took a bit of a hammering
Reference comparison pic:
How it starts WiP's (Had somebody ask on FB
[link] [link]
Really pleased with the outcome; probably my best drawing yet, so I'll try and get my tonal values better in future!
I might have to come back and do something about the hair near the braid...that area looks a mess
Comment or critique away! - Kal
**Photo update to answer questions on background and stuff, showing the reflections at the risk of disappointment
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Comments: 528
chinauser In reply to ??? [2011-08-16 03:39:32 +0000 UTC]
Does anyone know Orlando-mail address it?
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Kalgoras In reply to caiusaugustus [2011-08-16 07:08:08 +0000 UTC]
Thanks so much! Means a lot coming from yourself!
I'm a big fan
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Kalgoras In reply to caiusaugustus [2011-08-17 23:32:51 +0000 UTC]
Welcome Do you have more Mosh on the way?
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Kalgoras In reply to NicksPencil [2011-08-15 22:42:37 +0000 UTC]
Thanks so much! Means a lot as I'm a great fan of your work! In fact...how come I wasn't watching you already??? Fixed now
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NicksPencil In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-16 07:24:06 +0000 UTC]
You're welcome and thank you too
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spectacledfruitbat In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 21:30:42 +0000 UTC]
This is really stunning. I thought it was a photo when I saw it for the first time. Wish I could draw like that...
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Kalgoras In reply to Aerodynamike [2011-08-15 22:41:20 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! Yeh it was some work, but very pleased with the result The hair at the bottom right is a bit dodgy, but apart from that I'm reasonably happy with it
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Kalgoras In reply to Aerodynamike [2011-08-15 23:05:38 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! Yeh that seems like a long time ago now heh...would look miles better if I did it now heh
Learned so much since then! Although the sword is decent
His face and hair I could improve a lot
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Kalgoras In reply to Aerodynamike [2011-08-15 23:19:17 +0000 UTC]
There is a million miles to go Everyone can improve, it just takes practice and trying to do something better and different every time!
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Kalgoras In reply to Aerodynamike [2011-08-15 23:30:58 +0000 UTC]
Drawing something different helps And by different, I mean something you wouldn't draw normally heh.
I started drawing with the idea of doing a ton of Sci-Fi stuff for Warhammer universe
Started drawing faces to help my technique and it's come on leaps and bounds...drawing faces is very demanding and you improve really quick
So try something different!
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Kalgoras In reply to Aerodynamike [2011-08-15 23:46:25 +0000 UTC]
Good point...sleep for the win!
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trececielos In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 20:16:21 +0000 UTC]
this Legolas looks like a freaking badass!!!! hes got that killer elf look in his eye
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Kalgoras In reply to trececielos [2011-08-15 22:40:17 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! Yeh I really liked this reference picture...he actually has a steely edge and doesn't look too soft
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hairywookiee In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 19:55:55 +0000 UTC]
Well, bugger me, this is amazing!...well that's about the best Legolas on DA...well bloody done my son! lol!...awesome.
Now I'm thinking I'm so far behind with my creativity...I'm working on a grand plan to put that all right but not quite yet....but I have oh, so many ideas burning a hole in my mind!!!
So many views too!...I have view envy!...lol! You deserve all the adulation, so, again, well done!!!
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Kalgoras In reply to hairywookiee [2011-08-15 22:39:46 +0000 UTC]
Thanks so much your hairyness! I'm really pleased with this one and it also seems Legolas has a major fan club on here lol...I'm a bit stunned by the response
I'm so pleased with that particular reference though, as the tones really work in graphite, so it turned out as I'd hoped (maybe a bit better
)! I really wanted to practice getting my dark tones right as I had been backsliding into greyness on the last few pictures, particularly Graphite Gunz as I undercooked the tonal range totally
I'm amazed how much better it looks going that dark, even though it was scary at the beginning...it comes together and looks great at the end, so now I'm not afraid to go black! (No innuendo or racism intended.) Really pleased you like it, so hoping to keep this standard up from now on!
It's not the greatest Legolas on here by any means, but I'm glad people like it!
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hairywookiee In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-16 05:51:04 +0000 UTC]
It does seem that Legolas is a popular old bean...but I'm sure a lot of it has to do with how damned good it is! That black background does work very well, I shall have to remember that as it works so well!!
Photoshop/Gimp can help with tonal range a lot, it maybe worth a playing with some of your pics digitally. I'm very close to purchasing a very silly Wacom Cintiq as it'll help massively in allowing me to do quick sketches and colour work as I've got so much going on outside of my art, anything that speeds me up is a good thing!...so fingers crossed I'll start doing more art soon. Keep it up, you're dragging me along and I need that right now!!!
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Kalgoras In reply to hairywookiee [2011-08-16 07:05:20 +0000 UTC]
Glad to hear it! I'd love to try a Wacom hehe Need to go somewhere doing demonstrations
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masterpandastudios In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 18:14:23 +0000 UTC]
you are unbelievably talented!
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Kalgoras In reply to masterpandastudios [2011-08-15 18:20:20 +0000 UTC]
Thanks so much and Welcome to DA!
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masterpandastudios In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-15 18:31:44 +0000 UTC]
thank you and no problemo
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NadaRugiada In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 15:11:52 +0000 UTC]
This is so stunning and realistic! I wonder what technique you used for drawing the skin, the texture is great!
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Kalgoras In reply to NadaRugiada [2011-08-15 15:34:37 +0000 UTC]
Just pencil on paper, but the last few layers I don't blend, so they retain a bit of texture. Then use some really light pencilling to get the pores and marks on the skin, combined with a tiny bit of erasing for the highlights
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Mjuz In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 14:48:24 +0000 UTC]
great work! i'm thinking about the background - how you did it that it's so uniformly black? it looks like drawing on black paper!
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Kalgoras In reply to Mjuz [2011-08-15 14:52:29 +0000 UTC]
It's Mars Lumograph 8B, then a layer of normal graphite pencil to make it shiny. The original piece is probably just 'off-black' due to the layer of normal graphite, but I can't leave the Mars Lumograph uncovered as it's Matte and the rest of the graphite is shiny
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Mjuz In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-15 15:00:37 +0000 UTC]
oh, i see now.. thanks, Kal, it will be very helpful for me
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marvintheroundone In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 13:57:13 +0000 UTC]
Insane drawing. couldnt believe is was a drawing at the beginning.
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Kalgoras In reply to marvintheroundone [2011-08-15 14:38:10 +0000 UTC]
That's a good sign Thanks so much
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OlympicSmiler In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 13:56:41 +0000 UTC]
I love the skin texture and the detail is amazing
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