253 replies to this topic

[Valerie Valens]

Damn, that's a huge improvement there!

[randomizer]

You did an excellent job on the specular highlights, especially on the right hand and forearm. It really helps to make the smooth curves more defined, as does the more complete shading of his entire figure compared to some of the other sketches of yours. His moustache has a softer appearance than usual, almost as though he's been using conditioner

A fine piece indeed.

[Silicate]

Thank you Valerie, Randomizer.

Largely it was only a basic sketch, rather literally taken from my choice of breaking from convention and not using many founding lines to work with. It happened to be one sketch among many to have some reasonable size and detail.

Thank you for the kind words, though, as well as the description of your reasoning. I've been painfully aware of how much my sketching activity has been flagging.

[Silicate]

Greetings, everyone.

This is just another fast sketch, one which was reasonable enough to post here; most of said sketches stem from the product of haste. Evidently I haven't taken the chance to experiment enough with overall conventions or styles fo design, but form a visual standpoint or in-universe conceptual sense. I am sure myself and others will have a good laugh at when I begin musing over his formal Mobian War Minister attire...



Further commentary here: http://lucratanexari...ation-154205247

[MaRaMa-TSG]

Fecking huge shoulders! Murr~ *melts*
I also just ADORE his face. There's a change in the way you used to draw it. It looks like someone I could recognize and younger(as it should be for the time) and also very handsome and this is not just my very biased fangirl side. His face is very nice looking~ X3
I really, really, REALLY love that face!

[Silicate]

Ah, greetings, Mara. Your presence always makes me nervous - in a good way. I respect you as an artist, and I also respect your immense fan... Ism. Fanaticism. Fan-adoration? FanatiJulianation. You like Julian. That alone is enough to have me know that even my meager sketches will fall under a terrible, close, dark, relentless scrutiny.

What I forgot to mention is that there is somewhat of a deceptiveness to the illustration; Julian is leaning to the right rather strongly, resulting in his raised shoulder. His opposing shoulder is meant to be entirely relaxed, obscured as it is by his hand. The hanging epaulet also adds to the appearence of squarish bulk.

But, yes, in my scope of ideas as per the project, Julian's appearences and qualities are usually under serious or satirical assault by all peoples - and the residents of the Acorn Kingdom are not shy. His overall massive size as compared to most Mobians is an issue, as is his physical bulk, his mannerisms, his attire - nigh anything. I can imagine many odd stories and urban-legends arising from Mobian mischief and views of him; likely he'd even be used to scare children... What with all of that massive size, I can see Mobian mothers scaring their children into eating their healthy food so they can remain spry and strong - you are what you eat, and with Julian's quick wit, generally pleasant countenance, and spirit/charisma it's no surprise that he devours children - they keep the soul young and the mind keen. And everyone knows what happens to bad children.

As for drawing his face differently, I haven't really settled on a given style, nor a layout of how he would change over time. Right now, I am simply relying on Sturgeon's Law: 90% of everything is crap. Knowing that, I can take a look at past works and see both the useful and disregardable trends, and make a choice from there, once there is a fair basis of work to observe.

[FreakyFilmFan4ever]

It's been a while since I've strolled through your gallery, Silicate. I must say, impressive works! Especially in regards to your previous two creations.

Yes, Julien does look as if he's about to kill someone. His dark, glassy eyes are really brought out in this sketch. And everything about his determined expression and the composition of the picture itself draws attention to the outstretched hand grasping for more ground in almost a greedy fashion. Yet, it does not overshadow the look of exhaustion on his face, and maybe even a sense of a setback. (I refrain from saying "defeat", as that would imply Julien has given up. And that does not appear to be the case in the picture.) The absence of background also draws us to focus entirely onto Julien, as if little else around him matters to the character himself. The detail given to the shading really really helps define the shape and texture of the different surfaces on Julien. I really like the attention to detail you've put into Julien's robotic arm.

The latter sketch is certainly a more refined Julien. It brings to mind a wolf in sheep's clothing, as the pure white attire and the outstretched hand seem to offer help or advice to whoever is off-frame that he is speaking to. Yet it's almost as if you can notice the very subtle signs of Julien hiding a smirk. And the twisting of the mustache seems very typical in someone engaged in villainous thought patterns. But at the same time, it's just typical of anyone engaged in any sort of thought. So still, no red flags wave in his presence.

[Silicate]

Greetings, FreakyFilm! It's good to see your return here; I'm glad you haven't been dissapointed. As always, your extended comments and elaboration of your viewpoints is always a welcome sight.

As mentioned, I have not quite settled on many actual/finer details of the project as a whole. Largely my works here, and on DeviantArt, are simply for exposure to others: to see their views, but also equally contribute to the community. It is clear that there are many who would wish to see material relating to SatAM, and I am one among them; it has too much unaddressed potential, so far as I see it. SatAM's portrayal appears quite unique among the general Sonic material (of which I essentially have no interest in); the case of this leisure project as a whole is simply a development of my own ideas.

While the complexisites of post-coup Julian will have their own set of difficulties, it's the pre-coup Julian which will require the most focus to build, and in that, I feel terribly underinformed.

Ah, but time will tell all things. Thaks again, FreakyFilm - pardon my trailing thoughts here. Best of luck to you for now.

[Silicate]

It's late... So, here we go again.

Just another fast sketch, with more of a leaning towars something more like the classical Robotnik design. Some perspective failures, and all the general hallmarks of fast, unplanned work.



Extended, and much more useful commentary, here: http://lucratanexarii.deviantart.com/art/Subjugation-154563478

[Silicate]

I have returned, and with another sketch in tow. Again, the subject need not be difficult to guess.

In this case, I wonder just what he is going to do. Though he might appear distinctly unpleasant, he seems just as likely to break into a scathing laugh as he would easily order one's execution or imprisonment... Or simply kill one himself. (I wonder whether the power of his hand-laser is amplified while he is in his command-chair? It would make for a spectacular and unpredictable execution of prisoners or assailants.)



Further commentary here: http://lucratanexari...kness-158167289

[randomizer]

It seems I missed your previous sketch entirely. I usually see them all, although I only comment on some. I love the expression in that sketch. He is in a somewhat vulnerable position, being encumbered by the cables in a rather awkward manner. Yet he is still beckoning you to come closer, almost urging you to try and exploit his vulnerability just so you can see what he would do.

Plus there's that grin that we all love, so instant brownie points there

As for the second sketch, I like that you've used a more finely detailed style of sketching, one that you used in an earlier sketch on the previous page I believe. It gives the smooth, reflective surfaces greater definition (Hmm... I said that last time). This one certainly has an air of uncertainty about it. His facial expression is neutral, mocking, concerned and amused, depending on how long you look at it, and who you imagine he is looking at. His posture definitely lends me to believe that he is quite focussed on whoever or whatever has his attention. But that's about the only thing that is certain in this sketch.

[chalcara]

You know, those things made the jump from sketches to fully rendered pencil work some time ago.

I like them.

[John Roberts]

I love, love, love that latest sketch. It's an eerie realism, like he's about to stand up at any time, and come punch me in the face.

Never stop, Silicate.

Or else.

[randomizer]

It's an eerie realism, like he's about to stand up at any time, and come punch me in the face.

He's just going to have to get in line.

[Silicate]

Greetings, all. Thank you for your cmments here.

Randomizer: My first note - brownie points! Score! ... However, on a serious note, the only aspect of the sketch which I actually appreciate is the unpredictability about him. As you've noted, there is something of a decisive quality in appearence. He could as easily be rising to confront someone as he could be settling back, having delivered his ultimatum. Even those cables might at first seem to be a hinderance, if it weren't that they were coiled only loosely, as if he were tense and ready to react at any split-second. Perhaps his unreadability is the only redeeming quality of the sketch - we will all see it within the air of threat which we imagine Julian to hold.

Thank you also for the comments on the ealrier/second sketch. As you can tell, it was somewhat of a predecessor to the first. That aside, I wanted there to be somethin of a benevolence there, but one which was obviously false, coming from the likes of Julian. His posture seems both inviting and grand, as if he were making some proposition based in both his perecption of grandeur, but also one laced with venom.

Chalcara: Thank you also for your comment here. Most of said sketches here are simply meant as fast works that were just respectable enough to place here. Mind you, the drawings are only just beyond the 'dispose of it with fire' stage - hell, this sketch alone had gone through that for a long period of time. I joke that it was not a test of patience, but endurance. I can't say that I hold any of my work to any degree of esteem; I am simply glad for what thoughts others have to share relative to them, be they reflections or critique - aye, I'm aware of a great amount of errors in this one. Still, many thanks, Chalcara. The thoughts are always welcome.

John: Heh, it's a surprise to see you here. Your presence is certainly welcome. I share the same regards over the sketch: jokingly, 'What's he gonna do?' It seems just as likely that he is going to burst out maniacally laughing as he would simply kill you with a single gesture of his mechanical arm. Perhaps he is just settling back to rest - because he's already given the orders to his forces, and you're already dead - he need only be entertained by the process. Or, he could as easily be rising to deliver an offer you cannot turn away. Personally, the sketch kind of gives me the creeps, as I look at it and think 'He's going to kill me.'

... And Randomizer, Julian does not get in line. If you're foolish enough to stand in a line in his presence, you're just making yourselves collectively that much easier for him to dispose of.

[MaRaMa-TSG]

Sketches... Sketches she says...
I believe that last one is probably your best so far. There's no way to term "sketch" applies anymore. Not with how clean it looks and so -finished-. I'd leave it just like that and not touch it again. It look amazing. The shading looks as realistic as can be. Any more detail and it will look as a 3D render. The entire image has incredible dept. Love how you did the chair. You can just perceive the size of it and the distance between the backrest, Julian and the front of it. This pic has a life of it's own and that's why I adore it so.
As you mentioned, I could see from his expression that there was no anger. It's like a neutral/pondering second just before his expression changes to another. The idea of it being a laugh makes it even more appealing.

The tubes and cables on his arm give me two impressions. Either one of vulnerability or a very menacing one. He's either bound and not able to move from there until whatever process it's happening ends, or he could simply point his finger at you and kill you with a fully powered laser blast without moving any other part of his body. So it's a moment I'd keep my distance from him and approach with caution. Especially like the position of the arm. How he's either leaning that way for the cables to fit easier or he's shifting his position or about to stand. It's very dynamic at the same time as it's static.

I also just plain LOVE his shoulder pads! No longer just labs of whatever material/fabric they were made of, now turned into metal plates. I really love the concept of it. That's just how he should look.
Again, I also love the divisions on the shoulder of his right arm, for the same reason. Looking like armor.

Now, on a very random note but something I've been meaning to mention. The way you draw his eyes has always given me the impression of Oriental people. Like Chinese. I like that. It's a very unique personal touch too set him apart from everyone else's fanart along with many other things of course. :]

[Silicate]

It's late, and I am quite tired.

Ergo, more junk, at last! Sacrifices for the Scrap pile!



Further comentary from DA: http://lucratanexari...anoia-165359698

[An7imatt3r]

I hope you dont consider that junk! It's been too long since I commented on you work Silicate. It's still amazing though. Your level of detail, expression and lighting always leaves me wondering what it might look like if you added color to some of these. Then again, i find it equaling entertaining leaving that aspect to the imagination. Although I must say "The Architect/Darkness" is defiantly one of your best yet and among my favorites of yours. Glad to see you have a DA account, ill have to keep an eye on it. As always great work!

[Inhibitor]

It's late, and I am quite tired.

Ergo, more junk, at last! Sacrifices for the Scrap pile!



Further comentary from DA: http://lucratanexari...anoia-165359698

Wow. That picture is amazing. The amount of detail in it is of the charts. I think Glitcher has been bested.

[Silicate]

Greetings, An7imatt3r.

Thank you for the comment of good faith. I know that I haven't quite had the chance to work on so much SatAM/Project based material of late, but it was good to obey a whim and see taht the result turned out reasonbly well. Most often it is the small range of what would have been errors - or simply unnoticed details - which are cause for new ideas and interpretations. As it is, my view of Julian Robotnik, as per this slow project of mine versus either of the Sonic canons - is a little deviant, but I feel I've hardly begun to even assemble an acceptable level of detail or resolution.... Pardon my rant. Thanks again, An7imatt3r.

And Mr. Knockout:

Greetings. I don't believe I have encountered you before, but I am glad for your word and support. I am not sure that one could reliably compare Glitcher's work and my own - they differ both in the type of detail, method, and concerned atmosphere and given stylization and depiction. However, the fact alone that you've made such a comparison is a nice compliment, thank you. Nigh all of these sketches are just basic works based off of a leisure project of mine - little more than a basic set of amorphous ideas I've held.

Thanks again to each of you. I appreciate it when others offer their thoughts.