This was originally meant to be nothing more than an outline, as I was intending to use it as the base for a CGed piece like the one of Tonks that I did a while back. However, I somehow ended up shading the thestral while I was detailing it, which lead to shading Luna as well, and...
Actually, it wasn't a smart idea to shade it. Mainly because I was using a regular, No. 2 pencil on the cheap printing paper that I keep in stock for doodling. See, it's a pain in the ass to get any decent contrast with those materials. While it looks all right IRL, it tends to wash out horribly when I attempt to scan anything like it.
In order to compensate for this, I turned down the brightness and intensity. This preserved the shadows and details, but it lost the highlights. (To let you know just how much I had to darken it, I'll tell you right now that the paper is actually white, not that medium shade of grey.) To get the necessary contrast, I plugged it into Corel PhotoPaint and CGed the white parts in. The end effect is... not as bad as I thought it would be.
That being said, this isn't my final thestral design. The more I think about it, the more it looks like a kelpie rather than a winged horse of DEATH. Not nearly bony enough, and next time I'll be sure to grab some reference images of horses. The proportions (particularily on the neck length) are lousy. Although I think I pulled off making the head look dragonish rather well.
No, don't change the thestral! It looks exactly like an unfathomable link between here and the beyond SHOULD look! I mean, if I'm supposed to be able to see it at all.
Ah, the conundrum with drawing thestrals... are we supposed to be able to see them or not? And how do you draw something that you cannot see? Of course, leaving the background blank and simply saying, "There's an invisible horse-thing there, really, you just can't see it," wouldn't make for an interesting drawing.
I've seen animals die, though. D'you think that qualify me to see thestrals?
*beams* Well, I was trying to go for that creepy-as-hell look, so it's nice to know that I accomplished that.
Luna is a dear, isn't she? My main regret about not colouring this piece is that you don't get the full effect of her orange radish earrings. And I'm certain she's be very happy in you pocket. Unless it's infested with nargles, that is...
Oooh, I really like it! I pictured Luna as less pretty, but I can't complain if she is ^__^
And I'm stunned by the thestral. A lot of people can't do both cute and freaky designs (I can't for the life of me...), but you managed to make it really scary. I'll remember the way you did to scan the "pencil on regular paper" to make it look all right. It turns out really good.
gyaaah! more fanart! draw some kinky sirius shit next! this is amazing, Pia. I admit, I never quite imagined luna to be that pretty. a littler skinnier and scruffier...just sort of awkward looking. but cute, somehow. I love what you did with her though. and the thestral is perfect.
*evil grin* Don't worry, I'm planning on drawing some smutty Sirius/Remus pictures in the future... The only problem is that they won't let me draw them. *sigh* Damn stubborn puppies.
And it doesn't help that I don't have a strong mental image of what Remus looks like. But, never fear, I will draw HP smut at some point! ^_^
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piasharn
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Date: 2004-08-03 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-03 07:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-04 07:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-04 10:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-03 06:03 pm (UTC)I really _do_ like your shading, though. Especially her robes and her cheekbones - there is DEPTH!
The thestral creeps me out, which is of course exactly how it should be, and I agree - the head looks awesome.
Can I put Luna in my pocket? I'll put some moondust there for her to squeak over.
t¬
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Date: 2004-08-03 07:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-04 06:06 am (UTC)And I'm stunned by the thestral. A lot of people can't do both cute and freaky designs (I can't for the life of me...), but you managed to make it really scary.
I'll remember the way you did to scan the "pencil on regular paper" to make it look all right. It turns out really good.
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Date: 2004-08-04 10:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-04 06:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-04 10:48 am (UTC)