[Puck]

So, here's the deal.. I'm trying to wrap my mind around how in Hood's name [well, Fener's actually] Heboric's tattoos look like.. They're described pretty.. contradictorily aaand since you people here have proven to often be of great help, I though it might be worth a try.. So here you go, that's what I've got so far [it's just a cleaned up sketch, the small version with blue 'tattoos' is what I've come up with so far, doesn't look very boar-ish to me, but I need it to be as simple as possible]:



So, help? Please?



And just for the fun, here's Felisin [at the very start of DG, I might add]..

[Findarato]

Although I won't be able to help with tattoo design, I want to tell you I like your drawings of these two characters. all I can think of, Heboric's tattoos looked somehow like a boar (but that you know yourself I believe).

[Puck]

Yeah, my problem is rather, how to make them look like a boar without all of it becoming one big mess of black ink. I [and, well, the friend of mine who'll have the dubious honour to colour this] will have to draw him several times and I have to figure out how to make the tattoos look boar-like but still keep them as simple as possible.

So, basically, my question is: this up there looks in any way like it might work? Or do any of you guys here have an idea how it might work better?

[Sinisdar Toste]

mm i dno.. seems like you got the right idea, but i don't think that the tattoos were discontinuous. like, its all connected into a superimposed image of a boar on his body. this makes the problem of it descending into an indecipherable mess hard to get around though. near the end of DG he looks dark-skinned the tattoos are so thick. tough job puck, tough job

[alt146]

Sinisdar Toste, on 03 February 2011 - 04:32 PM, said:

mm i dno.. seems like you got the right idea, but i don't think that the tattoos were discontinuous. like, its all connected into a superimposed image of a boar on his body. this makes the problem of it descending into an indecipherable mess hard to get around though. near the end of DG he looks dark-skinned the tattoos are so thick. tough job puck, tough job

Yeah, he is described as being nearly black a couple of times in the series, the tattoos are so thick. Maybe you could do it as a textural thing? Make it look like he is covered in fur but smooth-skinned all in one, rather than trying to draw a traditional tattoo?

[Puck]

That's what's said in the prologue:

He looked more of a sunken-eyed toad than a man. He was bald, his face webbed in tattooing, minute, black, square-etched symbols hidden within an overall pattern covering skin like a wrinkled scroll...The tattooed pattern covered the man - the boar's face overlying his own, the intricate maze of script-threaded, curled fur winding down his arms, covering his exposed thighs and shins, and the detailed hooves etched into the skin of his feet.


It says it's a pattern, otherwise doing something texture-like would be totally cool. Of course, this might be a case where compromising is in order and from far away I think Heboric would look somewhat like this guy here:



I want to do a couple of close-ups, but there the pattern would be visible. I'm not crazy enough to try any script, but it'd like to have some kind pattern I could follow.

Maybe it's an overall fur-texture with some random symbols and script that pop up here and there? That sure would be easier to do.. Mmh, sorry, but I really want to get this right as close as possible

[Puck]

Here's Baudin, too, by the way..

[Traveller]

I think the tattoos are like small lines indicating the flow of hair. Nothing too complicated to tattoo, but giving a 'hairy' appearance, with maybe a swirly, stylised boar face.

Here's a quick example as I can't describe it very well... sorry for drawing on your picture (perfect Heboric btw!) and I can't remeber what a boars ears look like, but you get the idea.

 heboric.jpg (138.66K)
Number of downloads: 1


I could see how the lines could thicken and darken, and also how they could easily evolve into barbs later on. Just an idea, anyway.

This post has been edited by First Tiger: 03 February 2011 - 10:51 PM

[Puck]

@First Tiger: Yeah, I like that.. Thanks, and no worries about drawing there, I posted the images to get help

I'll try to come up with something based on what all you guys posted here, that was a great help and I got some new ideas.. I hope, you actually wanna see what's it gonna end up like and I'm not just talking to myself

In the meantime I've got the coloured sketches of Felisin and Baudin for you, colour added by the all kinds of awesome Arsax [http://sulphar-fire.deviantart.com/ ], who's stalking the forum but never says a word.. She hopes you guys like it

This post has been edited by Puck: 04 February 2011 - 07:55 PM

[Corporal Nobbs]

From what I read in the wiki, I think your on the right track. But maybe make them more irregular.
I like what you did on his shoulder and elbow.
Also, don't forget the Mark of Fener on his chest.
Maybe you could use this, maybe...link


BTW Baudin looks badass

[Bauchelain the Evil]

Not exactly how I imagined him, but the Baudin picture is epic.

[Isa]

Can't help with the tattoos but I love the Baudin image. Although there's obviously been a mishap in my memory because I've always thought of him as being black.

[Blueiron]

I don't know why this stood out to me, but I love Heboric's nose!

[KarsaOolong]

Well hello guys, here´s the one who has the honour to colour the sketches!

I just came up with a possible idea of how to "style" a kind of pattern by browsing ancient ritual tattoos, so yeah.... The basic idea was to trace his body in a pattern that looks like fur, aswell as geometric aswell as some kind of ritual. Kind of... So here´s the sketch; it´s far from symmetrical and I guess it contradicts some of the descriptions, but to get a general design idea it is hopefully okay.

Oh and I have absolutely no idea for the head yet...

Attached File(s)

•  heboric_light_touch2_kl.jpg (475.33K)
  Number of downloads: 4

This post has been edited by Arsax: 07 February 2011 - 06:32 PM

[alt146]

Arsax, on 07 February 2011 - 06:31 PM, said:

Well hello guys, here´s the one who has the honour to colour the sketches!

I just came up with a possible idea of how to "style" a kind of pattern by browsing ancient ritual tattoos, so yeah.... The basic idea was to trace his body in a pattern that looks like fur, aswell as geometric aswell as some kind of ritual. Kind of... So here´s the sketch; it´s far from symmetrical and I guess it contradicts some of the descriptions, but to get a general design idea it is hopefully okay.

Oh and I have absolutely no idea for the head yet...

That's an interesting concept, but it does go against some of what is in the text. The impression of the boar's head is pretty cool, if you could figure out a way to superimpose that over his head it would look good. I always pictured Fener's mark as some kind of crazy celtic knot, so you could probably just go mad on his chest.

Edit, and welcome to the forums!

This post has been edited by alt146: 07 February 2011 - 06:55 PM

[Puck]

Corporal Nobbs, on 05 February 2011 - 02:47 PM, said:

Maybe you could use this, maybe...link

It did help somewhat, thanks

Isolde, on 06 February 2011 - 09:32 AM, said:

Can't help with the tattoos but I love the Baudin image. Although there's obviously been a mishap in my memory because I've always thought of him as being black.

It's never really said what colour Baudin's skin is, so we've got to rely on where he's from, which is most likely Malaz Island.

Blueiron, on 07 February 2011 - 05:14 AM, said:

I don't know why this stood out to me, but I love Heboric's nose!

*lol*


Anyway, what Arsax did there [I love the boar's face on his chest - now how to get that on Heboric's face?] made me redo some of the stuff I've been trying out and this is what I ended up with.. Tried to match the boar's eyes and nostrils with Heboric's.. And borrowed style-wise from sanscrit script, though this somewhat drowns in the 'fur'. I think we might be on on the right track. I hope O_o

'Curly' fur style..


Straight fur style.. Changed Heboric's jaw line slightly in this one.

This post has been edited by Puck: 08 February 2011 - 12:46 AM

[Grimjust Bearegular]

I absolutely love the tattoor version that Arsax came up with, it is so cool!



All those sketches are awesome btw. I really like your style, Puck

[A Demon Llama!]

Those are awesome. i dont remember anything about heborics tattoos but if i may suggest one thing is that maybe you should break up the fur style. Its good but kinda confuses my eyes and makes them hurt ( maybe just me) Some longer lines? or horizontal ones? dunno. Also you should do one where you can vaguely see his glowing hands. Think that would look interesting.

[Enaglio]

Puck

I love the curly hair designs for Heboric. The only thing that I would think about with them is that you have them all flowing down. This makes sense for human tattooing, but I think you should think of Heboric as an actual four legged animal. I would look at a short haired dog and really notice how the hair lays across the body. Their hair really flows in interesting and unexpected ways. I think that this would add interest to your already cool patterns.

I also like the solid "mohawk" that you have added to his head on the later versions. I think you should continue the mohawk pattern down his back as most boars have a longer hair ridge on their spines.

I like the muzzle that you have put on his face, but maybe look into playing with the negative space for a snout and his tusks. I know in the book he is described as almost black but from a visual stand point I think you should break it up.

Great work! I love seeing how far you have come with your art.

Take care.

[Puck]

@Grim: Thanks


@Enaglio: Whoa, that's a surprise, great to see you again

Also, nice to have some commentary from an actual tattoo artist [you're still tattooing, right?]. That you're not dismissing the designs right away is somewhat reassuring and your thoughts are a great help. I'll definately try the short haired dog advice.

With what we're planning, we might have the luxury of having Heboric look almost black with tattoos when seen from some distance but making the pattern more defined in close-ups. But this is also the reason why I fuss so much over the details; I want my part to be the best work I can do for the time being.

Thus thanks, glad you like it!


And here's some Tavore sketches, but I'm not happy with them yet. Just some first tries.. Any help will be appreciated.

This post has been edited by Puck: 11 February 2011 - 12:05 AM