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Kalgoras — Legolas Graphite

Published: 2011-08-14 13:13:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 21836; Favourites: 1025; Downloads: 0
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Description 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 ) The picture probably looks better digitally than it does in real life, but it still looks decent in reality Full view is about actual size

Reference comparison pic:

How it starts WiP's (Had somebody ask on FB ). Some are links as I have maxed out my thumb allowance!:

[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 - read text:
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Comments: 528

ecorecycletree In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 18:53:38 +0000 UTC]

It's really amazing!!

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Kalgoras In reply to ecorecycletree [2011-08-15 19:04:03 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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Lmomjian In reply to ??? [2011-08-15 00:53:35 +0000 UTC]

Even when I zoom in completely it looks like a photo. Incredible.

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Kalgoras In reply to Lmomjian [2011-08-15 07:51:45 +0000 UTC]

I have a higher res version and trust me...it looks NOTHING like a photo hehe...all the rough edges shine through Fullview is about actual size at the resolution I've posted it (A4 is 12x8" or so), so I'll keep it at that res Thanks so much for the comment!

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V-4-VENGEANCE In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 23:44:02 +0000 UTC]

This is really great easily your best yet

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Kalgoras In reply to V-4-VENGEANCE [2011-08-15 07:54:50 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Sean (I'll take a punt on your name ) ! Yeh the last few pictures, I've been wimping out of putting the proper contrast on the skin tonal values, however some of the other bits have improved with the practice. This piece I'm so pleased with as with the other improvements and proper tonal range, this is my favourite so far! Hopefully I can try and maintain this and not backslide into bland greyness on the tones again

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artgeek99 In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 23:37:18 +0000 UTC]

This is so amazing! I thought it was a photo!

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Kalgoras In reply to artgeek99 [2011-08-15 07:55:11 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou! Always nice to be mistaken for a photo

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artgeek99 In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-15 21:45:48 +0000 UTC]

Well its very, very well done. I don't see drawings like that very often that are done with traditional media, rather than digitally (:

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Kalgoras In reply to artgeek99 [2011-08-15 22:26:28 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou

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artgeek99 In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-16 00:17:50 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome (:

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JanusKyot In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 23:30:20 +0000 UTC]

Nice!

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Kalgoras In reply to JanusKyot [2011-08-15 07:55:21 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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JanusKyot In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-15 20:46:53 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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SantosArt In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 23:16:27 +0000 UTC]

I love it!

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Kalgoras In reply to SantosArt [2011-08-15 07:55:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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OEVRLORD In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 23:02:45 +0000 UTC]

Exceptionally realistic. Great work, Kal.

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Kalgoras In reply to OEVRLORD [2011-08-15 07:55:48 +0000 UTC]

Cheers bud! Got this one dark enough at last!

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Camelia-07 In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 22:54:22 +0000 UTC]

That's amazing!!!! O:

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Kalgoras In reply to Camelia-07 [2011-08-15 07:55:59 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

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MGnosisK In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 21:42:46 +0000 UTC]

You've killed your 8B Lumograph with this background, am I right? But the final product as it is ..its really stunning. You made the facial structure really clear and the contrast is amazing. What do you use for the highlights, white pastel?
But again, this drawing is really amazing... you nailed it !

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Kalgoras In reply to MGnosisK [2011-08-14 21:48:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much! Well the Lumo took a bit of stick, but only needed one heavy layer, so didn't come off too badly hehe It's only A4, so 12x8" or so, so it's not a massive area to cover The white you see is from the paper, I don't use anything to whiten it, but might have to get a Gel pen as some of the drawings I've done, I've either forgotten to leave a space or gone over it by accident and you can never get that whiteness back I'll hopefully get one next week Thanks so much for the comment! Much appreciated

- Kal

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thomasg05 In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 21:17:49 +0000 UTC]

great work! indeed best movies ever..

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Kalgoras In reply to thomasg05 [2011-08-14 21:18:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, yeh totally!

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pr-Spira In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 20:55:57 +0000 UTC]

astounding work

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Kalgoras In reply to pr-Spira [2011-08-14 20:57:05 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou!

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CosmicHawk In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 20:36:33 +0000 UTC]

Oh my gosh! You are brilliant!! WOW...

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Kalgoras In reply to CosmicHawk [2011-08-14 20:51:26 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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Scumdog47 In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 20:27:20 +0000 UTC]

Wait...you drew this? It's not a photo?

OK, mind is now officially blown!

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Kalgoras In reply to Scumdog47 [2011-08-14 20:53:20 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou! Yeh it's a scribble

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xxaihxx In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 20:07:03 +0000 UTC]

WOW..amazing work!

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Kalgoras In reply to xxaihxx [2011-08-14 20:53:34 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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kibarocks24 In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 19:03:59 +0000 UTC]

stunning

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Kalgoras In reply to kibarocks24 [2011-08-14 20:53:44 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou!

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kibarocks24 In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-14 23:05:46 +0000 UTC]

you are very welcome my dear

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SignsOfTheNight In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 18:27:31 +0000 UTC]

Really Great! I just love Lotr :3

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Kalgoras In reply to SignsOfTheNight [2011-08-14 18:33:51 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou! I hope to do the whole group at some point soon

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j00de In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 18:26:18 +0000 UTC]

wow!

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Kalgoras In reply to j00de [2011-08-14 18:33:59 +0000 UTC]

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j00de In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-16 05:01:24 +0000 UTC]

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ktasha In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 17:59:59 +0000 UTC]

This is awesome!

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Kalgoras In reply to ktasha [2011-08-14 18:00:24 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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Joilieder In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 17:36:51 +0000 UTC]

Excellent! The skin tones are very nice. His eyes and hair are great! Ear - great!
Beautiful drawing!!

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Kalgoras In reply to Joilieder [2011-08-14 17:48:16 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou!!

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Anna-Mariaa In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 16:51:15 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! How long did it take you to draw the background?
I especially love how you did his skin with all the details and irregularities! Awesome!

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Kalgoras In reply to Anna-Mariaa [2011-08-14 17:01:25 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou! Not too long Just one layer of Mars Lumograph and then another layer of 7B I think to make it shiny Probably only an hour or so in total for the background...maybe a bit longer

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Anna-Mariaa In reply to Kalgoras [2011-08-14 17:23:02 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! Alright, good job!

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Kalgoras In reply to Anna-Mariaa [2011-08-14 17:26:55 +0000 UTC]

No problem, I'm not really sure, as I did the background over several days while doing the main picture hehe...so I could be out by quite some time

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Rockinfroggi In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 16:49:09 +0000 UTC]

Well, I think pretty much everything has been said about this, so little point in me saying anything more than 'FOOKING BRILLIANT'.

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Kalgoras In reply to Rockinfroggi [2011-08-14 17:01:38 +0000 UTC]

Cheers Gary!

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