[Coalhands]

"'I look like a whore'
'Not any old whore, though, right?' Selush said.
'True, I'll take your coin then kill you. That's how I look.'
'There are plenty of men out there who'll go for that, you know.'
'Getting killed?'
'Absolutely. In any case, I was led to believe that wasn't your profession. Although I suppose you might feel inclined to try something new - how does the ootooloo feel, by the way?'
'Hungry. Can't I feed it, uh, something else?'
Selush's eyes sparkled. 'Experimentation, that's the spirit!'
Some comments, the undead woman reflected, deserved no response."

- Midnight Tides, Malazan Book Of The Fallen, Steven Erikson

My interpretation of Shurq - couldn't be bothered with a background in the end, so she is the sole focus. As always, I hope you like!

This post has been edited by max7773: 14 July 2010 - 11:00 PM

[Findarato]

I like this picture! only (partly) critical note might be the high heels as I don't quite associate those with the Malazan (or the Letherii) world.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Maybe she should be a little paler...

[Aptorian]

Is there a reason why you painted one eye closed? If you intended it to look like she is winking you completely missed the expression, it looks really creepy. On the other hand, looking at symbolism, her face almost looks like a reflection of her nature. One side looks dead, almost zombie'ish, while the other one looks decidedly slutty.

Anyway great picture, really like it. (Except for the eye).

[Hetan]

I really like it - she looks cute and lively. I also like the wink and the heels - pretty sure I've seen those mentioned in the books.
Thanks very much for posting and I hope you will carry on!

[Sinisdar Toste]

dude, you are awesome! great pic and i hope to see more.

[Coalhands]

Findarato - Thank you And as for the heels, I had the same thoughts, but she is described as wearing "high boots", and I couldn't really think of a way of making them look like high boots and not wellies, without including heels.

Whisper - This is post-'surgery', which was meant to make her look, well... alive. If I made her look like a corpse, it would sort of defy the point

Aptorian - Valid point, and appreciated. I have altered her face somewhat based on your comments, because I agree 100%. I guess I was just in a rush to post it before going to work this evening

Hetan: Cheers, and although I've no idea what I'll do next, it'll probably be Malazan art. Maybe from Ian Esslemont's books, since I've started reading those now.

Sinisdar Toste: <3

[Throne of War]

Your Shurq is awesome, bro! For my taste it is some of the best I've seen here. May I make a request? Greymane and the Stormriders?

[HoosierDaddy]

Hmmm, I've never pictured the jewel being that large. Still, great pic.

[Aptorian]

max7773, on 13 July 2010 - 08:27 PM, said:

Findarato - Thank you And as for the heels, I had the same thoughts, but she is described as wearing "high boots", and I couldn't really think of a way of making them look like high boots and not wellies, without including heels.

You could just make the heel part look thicker with a slight raise, like this:



Something better suited for running and getting about.

Anyway I like the boots the way they are.

max7773, on 13 July 2010 - 08:27 PM, said:

Aptorian - Valid point, and appreciated. I have altered her face somewhat based on your comments, because I agree 100%. I guess I was just in a rush to post it before going to work this evening

I think it's because one side is in shade which creates a seperation. And the two different facial expressions, winking and licking her lips clashes. If you'd stuck with one of the two it might have come off looking more natural/hot.

[HoosierDaddy]

I'm not quite sure what to say to that post Apt. Sarah Jessica is rubbing off on you, I guess.

[Merlkir]

The clothes look kinda modern, but I appreciate the personality that oozes out of the painting.
One criticism - the pants wrinkled at the left knee are kinda wrong, it makes the leg look bent in a very unnatural angle.

(I can do a paintover to show what I mean if you want me to.)

[Aptorian]

H.D., on 13 July 2010 - 08:58 PM, said:

I'm not quite sure what to say to that post Apt. Sarah Jessica is rubbing off on you, I guess.

The sad part is that I spent 10 minutes browsing womens footwear before finding that picture.

[HoosierDaddy]

Aptorian, on 13 July 2010 - 09:01 PM, said:

H.D., on 13 July 2010 - 08:58 PM, said:

I'm not quite sure what to say to that post Apt. Sarah Jessica is rubbing off on you, I guess.

The sad part is that I spent 10 minutes browsing womens footwear before finding that picture.

Funny and horrifying at the same time.

[MiMo]

Great picture, I really like the feel of it. Exellent use of light, again. The hair looks very realistic (envyyyy...)

But I have to agree with apt and merlkir.
I think her face looks too relaxed for this rather complex expression. (I tried to do it in the mirror - much more tension on the winking side, the eyebrow should be lower, the open eye could be more closed)
Her upper leg looks wrong, too. It looks much farther away than it should be. Can't nail it down, though...

I think you expressed her personalty really good. I like the pose and that face she makes is really fitting (I'd love to see her before the make-over, though. Perhaps I'll try it myself...)

(Sorry for my english, its damn hot here... >_<

[Traveller]

H.D., on 13 July 2010 - 08:54 PM, said:

Hmmm, I've never pictured the jewel being that large. Still, great pic.

The jewel filled a hole in her head made by a length of pipe getting stuck through it. I think the size is fine. Good picture, love the style - her left leg looks a bit wrong though, the folds make
the bottom half of her leg look much longer than her thigh, and narrow at the knee.

[Coalhands]

Just a quick update before I go to bed - thank you all for the constructive criticism. I'll keep tweaking until I can please most people. A bit too tired for individual replies; I'll get around to that tomorrow. Hopefully will sort this soon - I want to move on to something else

[Grimjust Bearegular]

Love the hair, pose and outfit...very Shurq!

[Ain't_It_Just_]

max7773, on 13 July 2010 - 04:44 PM, said:

"'I look like a whore'
'Not any old whore, though, right?' Selush said.
'True, I'll take your coin then kill you. That's how I look.'
'There are plenty of men out there who'll go for that, you know.'
'Getting killed?'
'Absolutely. In any case, I was led to believe that wasn't your profession. Although I suppose you might feel inclined to try something new - how does the ootooloo feel, by the way?'
'Hungry. Can't I feed it, uh, something else?'
Selush's eyes sparkled. 'Experimentation, that's the spirit!'
Some comments, the undead woman reflected, deserved no response."

- Midnight Tides, Malazan Book Of The Fallen, Steven Erikson

My interpretation of Shurq - couldn't be bothered with a background in the end, so she is the sole focus. As always, I hope you like!

Whoa. Man. Whooey. Is it hot in here?

Great artwork, I've never really pictured Shurq in my head until now.

[Dolmen 2.0]

Very impressive work max

I dont know why but I always picture her paler with dark hair and tons of
rouge, eyeliner and eyeshadow, you know like a slu...I mean lady.

other than that I really appreciate your sense of proportions.
your colours are amazing as per usual and I am most impressed
by your grasp of folds in the fabric. perhaps a bit too modern in cut
I still appreciate it and what it adds to your work.

I look forward to your next work