21 replies to this topic

[Katuko]

Lately I have been drawing some BIONICLE stuff for practice, since I wanted to try "humanizing" robots and "robotizing" humans. This goes well for Toa, since they are already clearly humanoid. Bohrok were trickier, however, since they are 100% robot. I wanted to draw a Lehvak-Va posing with his katana, so here it goes.



The original sketch was drawn on paper, then I scanned it and went over the lines in Illustrator. The shading and stuff could have been better, but I'm rather content with the overall idea.

[Terminus24]

I like it. It still looks like Lehvak-Va, but more humanoid, very nice job.

[Eeko]

Aw, he's adorable.
He looks kinda flat here, try to get some more shading or specular highlights to bring out the metal texture.

[Taka Nuvia]

Oh my... awwwwww <3
This is extremely cute, love it!

[Katuko]

@Terminus24: Yeah, I tried to stick to the original design as much as possible. Had to ditch the "teeth" that I like so much on the set (I used to make the Va bite into apples and stuff ) but I think it was for the best.

@Eeko: I agree, it's very flat. I suck at shading at the moment, though, so I didn't dare go any further with it until I've gotten some more practice. The "shaded" version I had just looked bad.

@Taka Nuvia: Thank you. I had a head design I found rather cute as well, but it didn't fit the rest of the sketch.

[Calvirick]

Its very flat. However, you successfully made a humanized Lehrok Va.

Great job. I've always pictured the Va as adult scouts, they were just short guys.

[Taka Nuvia]

[...]

@Taka Nuvia: Thank you. I had a head design I found rather cute as well, but it didn't fit the rest of the sketch.

Oh WOW, that's extremely adorable. <3
You should do something with it, really!

[Katuko]

I was planning on making a comic, actually, but I didn't get very far (got no funny ideas ) and thus ended up with just these sketches. I got a bunch more of sketches, though, so if you want to see them I can upload those as well.

[Taka Nuvia]

Sure, that would be great!

And as for comics, you could always poke fun at storyline events, or maybe introduce your own universe...

[Katuko]

Here you go: A simple sketch compilation. I cut away a lot of drawings that were just plain bad, plus a few I'm not done with yet.

If I end up doing a comic it will most likely be a humorous one. We'll see.

Edited by Katuko, Oct 19 2011 - 10:51 AM.

[Taka Nuvia]

The expressions are soooo adorable, really love them. <3
Your style of drawing seems like it would be fitting for a comic too. It would be nice to see more hand-drawn stuff in AWIII.

Well, that would be awesome. But as you said, we'll see

[Katuko]

You're right, there is a lack of hand- and computer-drawn comics around here. It's probably because sprites are a lot easier to work with for most people. A bit of copy-pasting and some color shifts plus the text tool and you have a basic sprite comic. Add some backgrounds and brush effects if you feel like it. I'm not saying sprite comics are bad (heck, I loved 8-bit Theater, to name one) but hand-drawn usually shows a lot more effort and the drawings always have their own unique style.

Edited by Katuko, Oct 19 2011 - 01:22 PM.

[Obsessionist]

You made the head brilliantly! I also love the two-toed feet like the tohunga feet.

[Plague]

Awwww, he's adorable! love the head!

[Katuko]

Thank you both for your kind words.

[Phyoohrii]

Aw Lehvak Va, you were the coolest of the Vas by far.

The Illustrator style of art like this is basically my current default style, so I'm biased towards it, so I don't mind the shading because yeah. Anyway, though, when I read the concept I thought this would be an odd thing to try and humanise, but you did a great job at it. I like the style you've come up with, very cool. The shield face looks really great, good swish applied to each of the pincers, as it were. It's almost like it is a Toa, but with a Lehvak Shield as a Kanohi, sorta. But anyway, really like this, good job!

[Phovos the Raptor]

Can I hug it please? That's how cute it is. Well done!

[Taka Nuvia]

You're right, there is a lack of hand- and computer-drawn comics around here. It's probably because sprites are a lot easier to work with for most people. A bit of copy-pasting and some color shifts plus the text tool and you have a basic sprite comic. Add some backgrounds and brush effects if you feel like it. I'm not saying sprite comics are bad (heck, I loved 8-bit Theater, to name one) but hand-drawn usually shows a lot more effort and the drawings always have their own unique style.

It's quite sad... but I don't think sprites are always easier to use. I mean, I tried using them, but it never worked for me. So I wouldn't say they're much easier to use; high-quality work always requires effort, independently of the media used.

But the second thing is true. And that's why I'd be really happy if there were more hand-drawn comics in AWIII...

[Katuko]

@Phyoohrii: Glad you like it. I'm pretty satisfied with the shield-face too. It's a shame the other Va aren't quite as easy to do. I tried making Tahnok have two horns and a burning skull, but it looked kind of weird. I have no idea how I would do Kohrok Va's "saw face" either.

@Phovos the Raptor: Go head, he doesn't have the giant fangs anymore so it should be safe.

@Taka Nuvia: I actually began doing some sketches for a comic, but as I've got other things to do as well it's not very far along.

[Ultimate Sybre]

What did you use to make that? I like it and I wanna try what you did!

[Katuko]

Pencil on paper for the sketch, then I went over the lines in Adobe Illustrator to give it that smooth, cartoony look. I also corrected some mistakes by moving the vector parts around. Any vector program will do for this job, though; a free one is Inkscape. Finally I added some slight shading in Photoshop, but that was more of an afterthought than anything.

[CHTrilogy]

Ahh! Just adorable! I don't know how you do it, just magnificent!