BaronEngel
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At the LZ
🕑 Added 2018-09-29 17:38:10 +0000 UTC A commission that I got the sign off on late last night. The pegasus mare is Ice Shiver and the unicorn mare is Candle Flare.An important thing to remember when doing art is that every piece is a series of decisions and choices where certain aspects are given priority, and other elements are compromised to achieve specific goals. While working on this commission I was confronted with several conflicting requirements and realities. First was desire to have certain visually interesting, dynamic, exciting, action poses for the characters. Second certain pieces of equipment, primarily the rifles, needed to be clearly seen. Finally was the character's overall kit and the numerous pieces of electronics that encrust modern firearm.
Now the client and I didn't want to give these mares full modern Western infantry kits because then they'd end up looking like hermit crabs. Also modern combat kits do an amazing job of promoting gender equality because once you put on the uniform, helmet, goggles, plate carrier and everything that hangs off it. The pack and the weapon it can be hard to tell what gender anyone is. However for this picture the client wanted to make sure the viewer knew there were mares.
The other issue revolved around the characters poses. We wanted dynamic action poses that were interesting, showed off certain pieces of kit, and provided interesting silhouettes which help reinforce the dynamic nature of the characters. However this can result in having the characters doing things that might not be correct in the real world for technique. In reality both characters should be holding there rifles with both hands but this ended up covering more of the weapons obscuring their individual make, or moved the rifles into angles that also covered them up quite a bit. The viewpoint could be changed but that resulted once again in boring silhouettes which didn't contribute to the dynamic poses. Yes someone who has the knowledge and a trained eye would spot certain specific pieces of kit from a hunched over figures running, but I have to assume that most of viewers do not possess that level of knowledge, and may not care to have it.
As this piece came together I was reminded of a comment maybe by the manga artist Masamune Shirow, the creator of Appleseed and Ghost in the Shell, who inspired me many years ago. Masamune had done a promotional piece for GitS which showed the team from Section 9 standing in a jungle wearing combat gear and camouflage. He stated that this piece was inaccurate because if he'd shown the characters properly using the camo what he would've had painted was a nice jungle landscape piece because you wouldn't see the characters at all.
The client made it clear what they want was an action piece. Not an illustration in the correct use of infantry tactics.
FYI. Tonight 9/29/18 starting at 5:30pm Pacific I will be streaming on Picarto. The show will run until 9:30pm. Hope you can make it.
Comments
Vet
While a nice action shot.....by mission end they are going to have the worse neck cramps the way they have slung their weapons. From personal experiences they should get the weight to their shoulder. Front sling under left arm and stock sling over right shoulder. Spreads the load across the back and shoulders getting it off the neck. I personally use a single point sling method. This allows me to fire right or left handed depending on the cover. Going light had advantages in speed and ability to move like bending. Our combat plate armor weighs in at 35 pounds. Falling down and getting up does take effort. Its why I cross fit train. I even do training wearing the gear!! Other than its a great action shot. Captures the initial rush after getting to ground. Done that a few times too. Fast rope from a Chinook and take the fight to the enemy as rapidly as possible.
McClaw
Depictions are even more difficult when real equipment has to be adapted to use by a different form. On my "get Baron to draw" list is an infantry pony with full modern kit.
Baron Engel
If they can't find you. They can't hit you. At least on purpose.
Cult of Dust
WWI Dazzle camouflage is a great example of that practice.
Baron Engel
Often you don't want to be seen at all in combat. I have had this discussion with folks on several occasions. they'll see a photo, film or accurate drawing depicting a realistic combat situation and will note that it's hard to tell what exactly is going on. That is often deliberate since you do not want to convey to your opponent what you plan to do next. Therefore it is harder for them to counter it.
Cult of Dust
Looking like a warrior isn't exciting when you consider warriors often need to look unexciting to survive. :p Fantastic explanation.
