253 replies to this topic

[randomizer]

I don't think you give yourself enough credit Silicate I agree with Razgriz on all points except that I don't know what a Cylon centurion looks like either. The lighting and shadowing is fantastic, at least in the opinion of someone incapable of drawing properly proportioned stick figures. I really like how you did his eyes in the upper-right image.

[MaRaMa-TSG]

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.

WRONG!

Talent is not created from books or research or whatever external medium. We are born with it, so you've always had it, you just needed the means and motivation to get it into action and I gotta say it sure is moving very fast!

Did you draw before this?
Now I want you to say no just to prove my point you're just fregging awesome for something you -tried- mere months ago while I've been drawing my whole life and I feel inferior to your realistic and pencil detailing skills!

I don't think you give yourself enough credit Silicate I agree with Razgriz on all points except that I don't know what a Cylon centurion looks like either. The lighting and shadowing is fantastic, at least in the opinion of someone incapable of drawing properly proportioned stick figures. I really like how you did his eyes in the upper-right image.

What he said!

Give yourself more credit. You're going through a lot of struggle JUST to get the guy right, be perfect just for him and that alone makes you a great artist. Your passion as well as you're already great talent does wonders. Be proud! Keep up the desire to get even better but at least accept you're very good, more than good, right now. So you can value your pieces too.
They're your babies, and they're all awesome, so don't underestimate and degrade them by thinking they're not good, because they are! :]

[randomizer]

Another Robotnik master has spoken, there's no denying it now.

[Silicate]

It appears your logic is sound.

Only another Robotnik Master (short of the cropulent genius himself) can demand resetting of the values of another. There can be no dissention in the ranks: operative effeciency must be absolute; demoralization is merely a bonus.

[Silicate]

Greetings, all.

A friend managed to pester me into scanning a quick sketch of mine; the result is here. Originally Robotnik was meant to appear scathingly reflective on his roboticized arm - however the art had taken it's own direction, and he seems rather more... Patient. Holding his metal fist, he seems to be contemplating some dire things, indeed...

Or, such is my opinion. This is a much faster and less refined work, a sort of working-image, clearly, as shown by the asemic markings and notes on the peripheral - largely they illuminate a few structural considerations of mine. I find it ironic that his armor-pauldrons appear almost organic - I was experimenting with the sectioning and possible functions of his uniform, hence the odd lines here and there. His moustache also came out rather stiff and unexpressive.

Typical stationery used in production: mechanical pencil, blue/orange col-erase. Canson sketchpad paper. Time unknown; 30 minutes, if that? (Note that his eyes were digitally colorized this time. Not that it is much of an impact.)

[Silicate]

Greetings. It certainly has been quiet in this thread.

Another swift sketch I thought I would share here. It appears the Doctor has lost weight - not that it's improved his complexion. I haven't much to say about the sketch at this hour, aside from the view that he appears rather bored and impatient with me for my inattentiveness.

Due to insufficient time, a link to my gallery, which does contain a couple of sketches not posted here: http://lucratanexari...#_browse/scraps

Typical stationery used in production: mechanical pencil, blue col-erase. Canson sketchpad paper. Time unknown. Not long.

[Spade]

I've been looking at this thread for ages and I don't know why I've never replied but your artwork and the realism of it is just amazing, some of the best Robotnik work I've seen.

I really can't go into it anymore because my artistic knowledge is limited (read: nonexistent). But yeah, great stuff!

[randomizer]

Robotnik on a diet; realising how much it sucks to go without all that chocolate.

[Silicate]

Rayzor: I'm glad to know your opinion. Just reading it alone proves to me that there are those who enjoy the material, yet alone individuals who rank it as significant among the ocean of Sonic-related work existing. I'm glad you possess such a respect for my work - As you appear to have far more experience with the Sonic artistic base, I'd be glad for your opinion anytime, Rayzor. Be it jokes or significant comment, feel free to comment at any point you please.

Likewise, Randomizer: It's good to see you back and picking at this lowly thread. Yes, Robotnik does appear rather irritable, maybe even glum. I'm sure he's not pleased to be deprived of his obvious source of stress-relief. Although he maintains a no-vegetation policy within Robotropolis, I am sure he maintains his own private stash of cacao plants (not to be confused with coca plants! ). Maybe he even has a few vanilla plants hidden away in there, too, with some secret cache of vintage, dried vanilla stock. Don't make me speculate over nutmeg, either. ... Or, being the engineering-genius he his, he likely has a private chemical/sustainence synthesizer secreted away somewhere.

He might be the tyrannical ruler of Mobius, but a change of habit is hard for anyone. That's it, man! Fight the power!

[Silicate]

Greetings, Vins.

Thank you for the comment. Although I tend to enjoy the thought of creating artwork depicting Robotnik, I am often hesitant as to it's range of expression and material - not that I've completed all that much aside from sketching for the sake of finding some stylization I am relatively content with. I don't seem to work with much pertaining to his 'typical' evil side, as, to me, that has been seen often enough and appears somehow empty.

I have always preferred a vision of Robotnik which is more complex than what we know of him, but just how that will be developed and expressed I am unsure. It is a work in fluxation, but it's subtleties do force their appearence through impinging on the sketching and artwork. There are aspects to him that I deliberately do not think about or settle, myself. I am a firm believer in that all details needn't be present for one's standing and regard to be complete; human nature is adaptive and varies in perspective.

I understand I have an almost corrosively-cynical perspective on myself - or at least this artwork - at times, but the habit at least has it's uses in the process; if it's displeasing, I apologize. Hopefully it's permeation isn't too deep in any further material I post here.

For the time being, as my general concept of Robotnik has settled, I've begun suffering from the urge to work with a few Mobians. We will see how that comes to light - and just how the evil Doctor's wiles arise from those slights.

[randomizer]

You can guess which Mobian would be first on my list

[Silicate]

Greetings.

Here we go again. Now then, this is a rather generic sketch, meant for nothing other than toying with heights and porportions of the respective individual characters at hand. The Mobians are entirely generic: pictured here are a bear, a cyote, and a duck. Respectivley, they represent the general tall, average, and short range of the Mobian build.

Robotnik's formal clothing is not heavily developed; I have a poor understanding of rendering cloth of any kind, yet alone anything with regards to fashion or formality.

For now, I should say that I wished to picture the Mobians rather more animal-like in their appearence and nature as to both subtly heighten the contrast between them and Robotnik, but also to retain a greater individual sense of characteristics. I am not familiar with the generic tendencies of anthropomorphization, but I don't find too high a degree of humanization agreeable. Being brought too close to a humanoid standpoint dilutes the expressive quirks of the animal/Mobian in question.

Deviantart link and additional commentary: http://lucratanexari...abble-122026533

Materials: typical - Mechanical pencil, blue col-erase. Canson sketchpad paper. Time: perhaps half an hour.

[randomizer]

To me, it appears as though he is attempting to put on a good-natured facade while hiding sinister thoughts. The smirk you mentioned on dA is the real flaw in that facade, which might account for the slightly suspicious stance and expression of the Mobians, particularly the bear.

I imagine a slightly cold and forced "good afternoon" from Julian, while all the time he is imagining how much better the Mobians would look if they were metallic.

[Silicate]

Greetings, Randomizer. It's good to see your comments, as always.

Yes, that reserved nature of Julian is something I will have to contend with in his development. One of his greatest troubles in dealing with Mobian society is his sheer difference as compared to them...

Pardon me, I don't have much time here. [reposted from DA]:

The long process of working with Julian's standing and development within Mobian culture and society has been troublesome to me, not just because it is largely unexplored territory and that my concept within this project is rather divergent, but because the sheer complexity of his dealings therein - his capacities, tendencies, capabilities (known and unknown), and simple proximity - pose as their own obstacle. There is much to be figured in order to keep the storyline/storytelling both as logically consistent as possible, but also dramatic and interesting. A reasonable degree of such consideration has been that of appearence, and just how Julian would contend with his presence in Mobian society - although I can't draw a formal suit worth a cat's hairball, I will have to adapt to that.

... And yes, some Mobians have finally appeared in my sketchbook. One primary theme is just how different Julian is, compared to them. Mobian society, at least in Mobotropolis, is varied and rich, and for the greater part quite tolerant and welcoming of individual differences yet alone speciation; however, Julian is simply so utterly -different- and yet similar all the same, his presence is naturally unsettling.

In my concept Julian does have a few more adaptive characteristics to him, but not all of which are meant to be common knowledge. One case in point, he smirks often, as opposed to smiling... With good reason. Considering his stature and build, one of his greatest social impediments is that he is naturally imposing. Although Mobians are rather used to dealing with individuals descended from carnivorous species, they aren't afflicted with the overt and subtle characteristics which Julian possesses, and naturally his foreign nature is unsettling to many. Heck, the teeth/canines on the man would spook at least 2/3 of the Mobian population. Fear is easily reduced through exposure or understanding, but it's still a raw fact that the guy has that robust, muscular jaw, and some fierce, orderly dentation to compliment it.

[FreakyFilmFan4ever]

Just want to say, I've enjoyed viewing these since you've posted them. I've never seen any for of Sonic dealt with in such a form of reality, and Robotnik is really a keen choice of character to start with. It's a very fresh side of the SatAM world that I'm still not use to seeing (and I hope I never do get used to it).

In my opinion the mobians you've drawn in your latest work are the prefect mix of characterization (the bipedal stance, expressions, and costumes) and realism (the shapes and proportions of the body, as well as the fur/feather textures). One of my favorite works you've done yet!

[Silicate]

Greetings, FreakyFilmFan.

Thank you very much for the confidant reply. As I've stated before, I am hardly familiar with the view of SatAM within the fan base, but as this is only a personal project of mine, my only hope is that the material provides reason for thought and new regard. I am rather well aware of my habitual tendency towards realism, but I hope to place that to good use through new directions of characterization and richness to both the Mobians and Julian. I admit that the fundamnetal direction of my storyline is quite divergent, and I am hesitant over it - but, in the end, it is simply a personal project. Whether those who watch it develop say yea or nay is not something I consider deeply, as everyone will have their own opinon, which I respect.

I will have to toy with the ideas of the Mobians, but I woud like to find some easy ground where the Mobians retain enough characteristics of their native species, both physical and perhaps psychological, but also not have them too close to an Aesop's Fables style of 'talking animal.' As implied, I am not one for the more overt 'anthro' approach to what is essentially an animal-faced furry human being. Pardon if I sound a little convictive in the last statement; I actually have little to no exposure to the elements, aesthetics, and divisions of the 'furry' community.... I'm simply cautious, if not a bit cool in my regard of it. I prefer a slow approach to any such range of material, and perhaps personal aloofness is a part of that.

Again, thanks once more, FreakyFilmFan. I am always glad to hear the thoughts of the community; I'm glad to contribute to the livliness here.

[Silicate]

Greetings, all.

Here is yet another sketch. This one was originally quite basic, little more than a media exercise - simply, adding layers of various watercolors or inks, and seeing how the sketch is affected.

I haven't much of an opinion on this picture, unfortunately. To me, it implies something of formal discussion and heavy discourse, but as ever, the interpretation is up to the viewer. I was toying with a few minor ideas, but what strikes me most of all is how poor my knowledge of redering fabric is - be it loose and coarse-woven material, or fine, stiff synthetics. There are many inconsistencies I can see in the picture; if anyone wished to state their views, I would be glad to hear.

His pauldrons feature a mark whose top is more like that seen on his War-Minister uniform; I was playing with the base, attempting to draw a symbol implying more civilian activities.

Typical stationery used in production: mechanical pencil, blue col-erase, ink, 6B graphite, watercolors . Canson sketchpad paper. Time unknown.

[An7imatt3r]

I love your art work. It makes Robotnik look so human. He looks very intrigued and concentrated on the discussion at hand. It reminds very much of blast to the past and how he tricked the mobians into signing a demilitarizing contract. Perhaps thats what this is based off of? If not, its still amazing, just what it reminded me of. The emotions you convey through your sketch are unmistakably some of the best I have seen, and how you apply them to such a dark character is beyond me. Keep up the awesome work!

[randomizer]

I think I'm noticing a trend here. You have a "habit" (for lack of a better word) of drawing Robotnik with his index and middle fingers extended on one hand but not the rest. It doesn't seem to matter what he's doing, because even on the sketch where he had been shot he's doing it. It's not in all of the sketches, but a good number of them. I can't say I like or dislike it (to me at least it isn't an important enough detail to change form much of an opinion on), I just felt that it was worth pointing out something I've noticed quite a bit, as I'm curious if there is any particular reason for it or if it's just "one of those things."

Another fine piece of work.