253 replies to this topic

[randomizer]

And that intensity I mentioned before is back in full force. I LOVE the glowing eyes, the dramatic pose, even the pencil-roughs floating around him...it's as if his rage is emanating power.

Agreed. Although you say your drawings are "thoughtless and rapid," they have that "intensity" (because I can't think of a better word than Gojira came up with to describe it) which would take others hours to do with alot more "care". Or in my case, several lifetimes

[Jason Ryan]

Robotnik looks pissed, and you've done a great job at capturing his anger with that demonic face of his. If I ever met a person with eyes glowing red like that I'm pretty sure I would be rendered trepid.

The beauty of mechanics, my personal opinion, is if it looks cool enough to work then it doesn't matter if it doesn't fall into the realms of realism (suspension of belief and whatnot) in regards to cartoons and their characters anyway. I think his robotic underarm looks pretty sexy from a robotised point of view.

I love this sort of angle as well, definitely makes him look even more empowered!

Excellent work Silicate. May the Freedom Fighters never incur his inhuman wrath face to face!

[Silicate]

Greetings.

Currently I have little or no time here. However, I wished to post this - It is not so much a sketch as it is a simple doodle I completed for a friend. It's visual flow, mildly exploratory concepts, and shot of color seemed interesting.

(Thank you very much, SAA, I certainly appriciate the new regard you have of the Doctor. It is good to see a new frame of reference made. Any further reflections or comments you have are always welcome, whether they pertain to art, subject, or impression.)

Edit: The image is basic mechanical pencil, with a few color-highlights in blue/orange col-erase respectively, on simple xerox paper. Estimated time: about 10 minutes.

Being something of rapid toying with ideas, it is a rather quirky image, such as Robotnik's mechanical arm housings removed, exposing hastily placed synthetic masses - second is that he appears to be pulling on the ridge of his mechanical arm's equivalent of a glove.... Which brings me to question the advancement of any weapons which may open out of the prone panel upon it: contrary to intuition in that the weapons may be embedded in his arm, perhaps through some ingenious technlogy they instead assemble out of the fabric itself.

The only redeeming qualities here are the heavy stylization, and partial unification of lightsource. I have no further comment at the time, but, as ever, one's thoughts are appriciated - as are criticisms, of course, but in something so hastily laid down one's perspective is better swayed towards the creative rather than technical.

[Silicate]

Greetings.

This sketch was originally not meant to be much, but in choosing to apply mixed media to it (and persevering against my lesser judgement) we have what you see here. As per my general habit, it is a swift work, largely exploratory in it's rapidity... At least it has the advantage of having largely evaded worse expressions of Murphy's Law, moreso in that it's involved color and suffered no crippling mishaps. (I'm well aware of a few blunders in this image already, but anyone's comment, criticism, or remarks are always welcome.)

Needless to paraphrase: "That which does not kill you... Has made a tactical error." It appears the Doctor is in a bit of a situation, though from just what, I cannot say - likely laser fire and an interloper or five. However, by merit of his genius, reflexes, and calculating traits, it seems that someone is going to pay dearly. Knowing Doctor Robotnik, whatever issues from his respective weapons is bound to be five times more deadly, and at least ten times more interesting, than mere laserfire....

A few notes: a hint of orange col-erase in his pupil (giving his eyes that subdued, ember-glow), by slip of hasty inking a darker section of moustache (extra crispy), the tips of his severed moustache are actually curled in their damage (lost in the dark inking), and that general form of his throat fat is somehow appealing, though likely not correct. There is a hint of green (for the sake of color difference and area highlight) on his mechanical shoulder, on the form of his handheld gun, and also on the back surface of his mechanical hand - the latter was largely lost in the graphite smudging. His gun is also reflecting some of him, but in the absence of color and lack of space, one can't tell. ... I also cannot draw guns. His pauldrons are also sectioned, as opposed to whole, and possess more of a chitinous/armored gloss; they're also backed, just behind his neck, by more of a silvery collar, but only one section is visible, the other obscured by his moustache. His cape is also there, but is folded back against him; I like to think that it does possess it's own sort of mobility, in this case held close as not to billow or flap, or otherwise interfere with his movements or sounds he might make.

Details: the usual mechanical pencil, blue col-erase, 6B graphite, light, messy watercolors (basic wash and some drybrushing), and .5 black ink on Canson sketchpad paper. Estimated time: untracked and collective; perhaps 40 minutes.

[randomizer]

However, by merit of his genius, reflexes, and calculating traits, it seems that someone is going to pay dearly.

Reflexes... it's amazing that someone with his bulk can even get out of bed, let alone have reflexes. There's a reason why he rules the planet, he's exceptional

[Silicate]

Heh, of course, Randomizer. That has been one of the most endearing qualities of Robotnik: although he is a genius/engineer/inventor and dictator, and much of him is to be seen as generally evil and scheming, he still retains that capability of surprising those around him - be it with quirks or unexpected areas of prowess. Robotnik must have a long history of deception and manipulation.

By the same note as your post, it's always surprised me that he could rise from his command throne as easily as he could - at it's low height and high backward angle, it'd be a pain for anyone to get out of easily. Yet, Robotnik seems to simply surge to his feet without any hint of trouble. He also seems very balanced as he walks ... Likely all of such matters are simply 'cartoon physics' (as huffing and strain on his part would be quite unbecoming of a villain of his stature). I swear he keeps that girth of his merely to offset or defuse the expectations of those around him, perhaps also to retain an intimidating/large presence, or maybe even appear deliberately unsettling or disgusting. Likely all of the above. Maybe his size simply compliments the volume of his ego.

I would think that being dictator of the planet would be a rather vigilant affair, considering all of the resistance forces crawling through every redundant, uncharted, unmonitored, monitored, or outright open areas of Robotropolis, yet alone other operational areas of Mobius. Everyone would be out to capture or kill you, and you'd better have at least some minimum combat training... Not to mention that one is surrounded by individuals whom can fail in their duty, and one of the greatest points of being ruler of the planet is that you have the intelligence and capability to prove you can do all of their duties yourself, no?

Robotnik simply has the ability to surprise; maybe it's a subconscious part of his eccentric genius. The unexpected is a good portion of the power behind any figure, be it a military, technological, or personal/charismatic element.

(Mind you, Randomizer, Robotnik appears to sleep planted frimly in the center of his bed. I'm no real fan of the season 2 developments, but it's an amusing little thought to think of the damage to his dignity if he did wake up on the wrong side of things, and went over the edge. )

[Vlad Yvhv]

By the same note as your post, it's always surprised me that he could rise from his command throne as easily as he could - at it's low height and high backward angle, it'd be a pain for anyone to get out of easily. Yet, Robotnik seems to simply surge to his feet without any hint of trouble. He also seems very balanced as he walks ... Likely all of such matters are simply 'cartoon physics' (as huffing and strain on his part would be quite unbecoming of a villain of his stature). I swear he keeps that girth of his merely to offset or defuse the expectations of those around him, perhaps also to retain an intimidating/large presence, or maybe even appear deliberately unsettling or disgusting. Likely all of the above. Maybe his size simply compliments the volume of his ego.

There are some unavoidable parallels between Robotnik and Boss Hogg. His ability to function the way he does without the real life physical drawbacks of being so fat helps to keep him from being as laughable as Boss Hogg. Plus, we don't know the exact extent of Robotnik's cybernetics, so it's possible that he really doesn't have that much trouble with his girth...

[randomizer]

Come to think of it, being large does not necessarily mean being unfit. The largest people on The Biggest Loser are often very fit for a person of their size by the end; far fitter than me, who would be 4-5x lighter.

[Silicate]

Vlad, I cannot say I am familiar with this Boss Hogg, so I cannot comment usefully as to those parallels. If you wished to explain some of the areas of similarity, it might be interesting to hear.

I agree that there is simply too much unknown about Robotnik's exact capability - whether it be his own fitness, strength, external technology, cybernetics, or otherwise. Personally, my first impression was not so much that he was fat, but rather that he had some form of cybernetics within his body; the appearence of obesity merely lent to the volume of space useable in such a guise. As one's body is their sole resource and source of action, it stands that obtaining all of the power and capability one can is well within Robotnik's twisted reason - and if one appears, at first glance, simply to be an obese dictator, all the better. One cannot depend on external forces, followers, or technology in entirety. In the end, or in desperate situations, one's personal composition is their final measure. (Heck, there is one episode where he appears to jump out of the way, a damn good height into the air, of an oncoming buzz-saw Sonic , albeit under his own frightened/surprised power.)

Even realistically, I know of a few obese/large indivduals who are quite physically powerful beneath their fat. Being disarmed by their size/appearence at first is easy; they aren't to be underestimated. (Not that I ever have. I state this last paragraph for the sake of perspective.)

[Vlad Yvhv]

Vlad, I cannot say I am familiar with this Boss Hogg, so I cannot comment usefully as to those parallels. If you wished to explain some of the areas of similarity, it might be interesting to hear.

Boss Hogg is the villian in The Dukes of Hazzard. He's a fat, extremely greedy man who essentially owns 99.9% of Hazzard county, having swindled the land and business owners into taking loans they'd never be able to repay. The sheriff is his brother-in-law and perty much his only friend. Perty much the only land he doesn't own is the Duke Farm and he's always trying to frame the Dukes for something so that he can simply take the land. So, the Dukes are constantly fighting him and his corrupt system, both to protect themselves and their land and kin, and to try to help get others out from under his greasy thumb... Though, since it's a family show from the 80's, Boss Hogg tends to be more of a bumbling and less truly villainous individual (he's adamant about not killing to achieve his goals).

[Silicate]

Greetings.

Foremost, thank you, Vlad, for your explaination. I admit that the general similarity between the characters is notable, from a basic perspective anyhow.

This set of sketches was a short exercise in a general panel-constrained series of images. I'd applied a more realistic set of characteristics to Robotnik whilst toying with the idea of his moustache - an additional set of tendrils, more to accentuate his mouth and the creasing of his skin in those areas, secondary would be that mildly more dignified tracery of them... I'm neutral with regards to that alteration. Your thoughts would certainly be appriciated. His eyes here are also deep-set, the skin around them dark and sunken, wrinkled.. Creasing into shadows at every expression. Somehow his eyes seem small, reptillian, deviously observant.

I haven't much to say about this set of sketches, aside from that I clearly wanted to make use of the expressiveness of his gloved, living hand as opposed to his metal one. A thought of mine regarding the top-left panel: in the end, Robotnik is an intelligent and resourceful fellow, despite his villainous nature. He could as easily be one's greatest mentor if he were not one's darkest enemy.

Materials as per usual: primarily mechanical pencil, 6b flat graphite stick, with a literal touch of watercolor to his eyes, and a bit of orange col-erase for his moustache. Blue col-erase in the background. Regular black-ink for the striaghtedge-ruled borders. Time unknown.

If anyone wants to take a crack at dialogue, feel free.

[MaRaMa-TSG]

My, dear, fellow Robotnik Freak, you know very well adore your art and how you draw him looking both so realistic AND sexy. X3

And I continue to insist you art MUST be showed around to a wider audience!
We need more -awesome- Julian Robotnik art! ~<3

[Valerie Valens]

Daaaamn, you sure do have a knack for making Robotnik look like a real human. Great work!

[Vlad Yvhv]

That's really good. But it's 1am and I'm way too tired to try captioning them...

[randomizer]

I really like the bottom sketch. His facial expression is one of malicous joy in whatever he is thinking about. The direction of his pupils (I guess they are pupils) is key in that image. If he were not looking upwards, it wouldn't have the same effect in my opinion, so you've nailed it

[Silicate]

Greetings once more. Foremost, my thanks to your comment, Randomizer. The input is much appriciated.

Here is another sketch, rather more developed than the others. Again, a series of constraining panels to which I had to wrack my little mind to come up with a suiting composition. Originally I was going to apply watercolors to add a sense of grunge and filth, largely to Robotropolis, second to texture anything conerning Robotnik and his command-chair, but instead I decided against it. With inks and heavy graphite already involved, with each additional medium the capacity for mistakes increases markedly, and, alas, life has no undo button, unlike Photoshop.

I seem afflicted with chronic realism, to which I apologise to those disinclined. But, that note aside, there is little here of much comment, aside from my first SWATbot ever put to paper. It is late here, and I should be going.

For those interested, a link to this image on DeviantART: http://lucratanexarii.deviantart.com/ar ... -118501293 Expanded commentary found therein.

Again, media remain the same: blue/orange col-erase, mechanical pencil, 6B graphite stick, inks, and light watercolor for the SWATbot and Julian's eyes. Canson sketchpad paper.

[Razgrizblaze1]

You know, it's not fair...you're just TOO GOOD at this. You capture the good doctor in a light (...or darkness, however you want to put it. ) many dream of portraying and put the rest to shame. If I could just have a scrap of your talent, I'd be so much better!

Oh...and that SWATbot looks like an old Cylon centurion...but maybe that's a good thing. It's all so deliciously evil!

[Silicate]

You give me too much credit, Razgriz. Regardless, I appriciate your regards.... However, my skill at drawing Robotnik hardly existed as of a couple of months ago. It's only through zealous application of what time I have to spare that resulted in the matter you see.

Books and study are a second concern. Light study of system-cybernetics, social organization, governance, and some architecture, followed by reading such books as 'The 48 Laws of Power,' and 'The 33 Strategies of War' have given me great insight in constructing a sufficiently fascinating, threatening, and intelligent view of Julian Robotnik. Application of such knowledge would appear in my conceptualization - only to change as I read 'The Book of War,' comprising both Sun-Tzu's 'The Art of Warfare' and Clauzewitz's 'On War.' In my mind, anything worthy of dedication must possess a tangibility and breadth to match... Of which we know Robotnik's girth is considerable.

I digress. I have always been a bookish person... And even here, I comment merely to insinuate that I have no life. I joke, of course. It is application, hard work, and frustration that have lead me to such accomplishment. Time is everyone's first resource and last measure. In the strength of drive, Julian Robotnik is a great inspiration.

I admit, though, that I am none too familiar with Cylons. A pity. I've heard much about the series...