Well, this originally started as a self-portrait... er, I guess it still kinda is, but it doesn't look like me all that much. This isn't the first time I've tried making a pixel portrait, only to decide it should be someone else later... which leads me to exaggerate some features, such as the eyes. Also, it's worth mentioning that I traced it from a drawing that I did:
http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=selfportraitereducedff9.jpg
I can't post a photo because I drew that from a mirror (Heh, I've even gotten a hair cut and a shave since this).
Anyhow, when I got to the beard-y part, I think I decided that I wanted to use shapes for a lot of the shading. I've see other guys around here use similar techniques for sprites... B.O.B. comes to mind, Helm on a few of his works, stuff Tomic does, and ikke has some too. I wasn't trying to emulate anyone, but I think I definitely drew some inspiration from things I've seen them do.
I actually had a lot of fun playing around with the geometric shapes for the shading. Though, I don't think I'll revisit this piece specifically again, I DO want to play around with this kind of style more. So, I'd really like to know what you guys think of this little experiment. What works, what doesn't, what could have been shown clearer, etc...
C+C? |
ikke: Ug! You don't know how much I wanted to add more of that green! I really didn't know were to add it though. Now that you mention it, the beard seems like a good place.
Jal: Hmm, I didn't think it looked like lip stick... but it's a good point to reduce the outlining on the lips.
dragon: That's because I was pretty much done with the face when I decided to start experimenting with geometric shapes for shading. I tried to square it up a bit, but I forgot the outline...
Equilibrix: I actually added that shade of green there because the skin there is typically closer to bone. Anytime you've got skin with less fat, tissue, and muscles between it and the bone, it has a blue kind of hue to it because there's less blood there.
Well, I said I don't think that I'll revisit this... but I'm changing my mind. :P I think I AM going to go back to this and edit it some more. Thanks for the comments and please keep them coming! :)