The Monster Within

[Celtic_Emperor]

Heres another "intbetweener" that I've wanted to draw for some time now. It didn't necessarily have to be Morrigan, but I couldn't think of many other choices to carry across the point I wanted to make with this one.

Here we see Morrigan Aensland from Darkstalkers having just fed off of a mortal man. While the drinking of blood is more a vampire thing and Morrigan is not technically a vampire, but a succubus, I thought blood would work better here than having assumed she consumed his soul (which is what a succubus does after seducing men, which explains Morrigan's nudity and the fact she's wearing his coat.)

While the nudity itself was not necessary, it is tasteful and not leud, I thought it put a certain intimacy into the picture, and the fact she's crying is really the ultimate point.

As the title says, she's crying over what she is on the inside and what she's just done (which is why the blood and the tears are in color and thus emphasized), and what she's been doing for hundreds of years. Its what she is and did not ask to be born to be, something she does in relucantance I think, dispite her strong exterior. Its not something she probably wants to do, but has to.

Will Morrigan and her sister ever find a way out? We may never know. But I definitely wanted to show this facet of their reality, and so I did.

I'm glad I finally got this one out on paper. Enjoy. ^__^

Artwork © Damien Jones

Morrigan Aensland © Capcom

 

[nessonite1]

Um...where is her other eye...?

 

[alf1]

Come on Nessonite..........it's on the other side of her head :happy:
hey and where's her nose ??

mmhh anyway it's very nicely done mr Dracula 🙂

 

[mpet]

[I don't love manga style.. but i hope you like this "dark" version... 😉]

I was ashamed of it, so I deleted it. Nothing to do with Vlad's requests

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

You people really don't know your manga do you? 😛

Ness, its a typical style when a character is in such a state that the other eye is not drawn in or the hair covers it, or the shadows do. This is to give the impression of shame, sorrow, concealment or some other negative emotion. Her eye is technically there but not shown for this purpose. Its also a 3/4ths view, so thats to be considered as well.

Alf, her nose is there, can't you see it? Its that curved line. Thats the typical way noses are drawn in manga style. They are either almost non-existant for effect or are slightly offbase, also for effect. Sometimes no nose is drawn and that can give a cutesy look.

Thank you for the compliment though alf.

And mpet, thats a nice picture and provides an interesting contrast between the two. Although I'd appriciate it if you don't do that again without asking first. Thanks. 🙂

 

[nessonite1]

Vlad, you don't have any control over whether or not people may post additional images in a thread you create unless it's within your own forum. Nobody needs special permission from anybody to post here.

 

[jrubicante]

Um...where is her other eye...?

Come to think of it, where's her other boob?

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Well, I'm sorry Ness. But it was a request. I know its not a rule. It doesn't have to be. But you know as well as I do this thread is for my art, regardless of where it is. It would be the same for any other artist and this is the way its been done since the beginning for every artist here. If someone wants to advertize their own art or art they found they can create their own thread for it they don't need to ride mine or anyone else's. Theres nothing unreasonable about that. Its just being tactful and considerate. 🙂

And jrubicante, its a side view, so you're not going to see her other breast.

Does anybody have anything nice to say? These comments are rather unusual for you guys and people that don't normally post are posting. Thats strange and feels out of place.

 

[nessonite1]

Ness, its a typical style when a character is in such a state that the other eye is not drawn in or the hair covers it, or the shadows do. This is to give the impression of shame, sorrow, concealment or some other negative emotion. Her eye is technically there but not shown for this purpose

I understand that...but in that case perhaps it would have been clearer to hide the eye behind hair or shadow rather than omitting it entirely. It makes it look like it's on the opposte side of her head which looks rather tadpole-ish. 😛

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Nope, you'll find in the business there are things that don't make sense at first but once you get used to it and see it from their point of view you'll understand why its done that way.

Yes, complete realism would have seen her eye covered, but even the professionals do this, or they put no eyes at all. Its purely an effect, they know what they are doing (and so do I) and what it looks like to the people that view it the way you are.

So if you want to critcize, critcize them. Theres no reason to tell me about it. 😛

 

[nessonite1]

Well it's an...interesting effect. I've seen it with the eye covered or hidden and also with no eyes at all and I think both options convey the same idea better than one eye and a blank spot...which, as I said, makes it look tadpole-ish to me. I'm not critisizing per se. When you're using a unique style it's impossible for something to be "wrong" after all.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I appriciate that you're taking the time to digest it though. Some people would just be narrow-minded and because they don't understand the artistic medium or effects being used they see it as a critical flaw.

I used to think so too. I remember when I read this one manga, there was this panel where the guy didn't have any eyes. And I'm like "what the hell is going on with his face did the artist forget to draw his eyes?". It wasn't until I read this artbook by a professional manga artist, can't remember his name at the moment, that what I had seen was an effect used to achieve an emotion.

The japanese have some outlandish effects that don't make much sense, or things they do that don't technically make a difference until you examine it.

Another nuance is the big bubble next to a character's head that looks like a teardrop. Alot of people don't understand that one either, but its usually used to imply the character is dumbfounded, upset, or surprized.

It all makes sense when you study the medium long enough. And then you're like "ah, now I see". And then after a while you sort of instinctively know how to use them and what effects they will achieve. I will admit though, at first, it seems bizarre and doesn't add up to anything.

 

[nessonite1]

Yeah...I usually don't have any trouble picking up on the meaning of new symbolism I encounter. Once you know what to look for it becomes second nature.
Like reading a book right to left. I thought it would mess me up thoroughly but it turns out I had no trouble switching back and forth between the two formats.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I'm glad they're doing that with the manga now, even the american releases. We're so used to reading our way that we can't appriciate doing it theirs. Although, of course you know they only do that because the structure of frames and what have you is slightly different in manga.

Its sort of like how anime has about 3 to 6 frames (typically unless its a big action scene or theres alot of dialogue) less per action than regular western style and Disney cartoons.

They have their reasons for doing that, one being the budget. But they're able to touch it up enough that it doesn't matter in most instances.

 

[Merman]

<SNIP>

[/QUOTE]Does anybody have anything nice to say? These comments are rather unusual for you guys and people that don't normally post are posting. Thats strange and feels out of place.[/QUOTE]



The fact that people who don't normally post are posting to this should tell you something.

As for my 02. Interesting image. Freaky, at first glance. But it grows on you. You're a helluva good artist, though. Really well drawn.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Yeah, I know, but I said that half sarcastically since they weren't necessarily good comments that had anything to do with their like or dislike of the picture. I usually don't get ambiguous one liners like that so it threw me off a bit. Its alright though.

Thanks for the compliments. ^^

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Key phrase- "its not my thing"

So I don't expect you to understand or appriciate it whether or not you do.

As for being able to accept what people say, I can and do all the time wherever I post my work. Its other people, other artists I know that have this problem, not me. Maybe you should talk to them. It doesn't mean I have to agree with it however, the opinions. And if they are being rude or problematic for other reasons, you can simply request their posts be deleted.

Most people ask questions before they make an accessment. "Is it supposed to be that way?", etc. They need more info before they say something. Thats my experience with it anyways. People are different depending on where you are.

To say something like "this is wrong you need to change it" would require you to know MY approach first, not your own, afterall this isn't anyone else's piece, its MINE, and that makes approaching it different. Trying to mold someone else's creative processes in your image is wrong as they aren't YOU, you know what I mean? Alot of artists and just casual viewers tend to forget this very simple concept when forming their opinions, and sometimes they end up coming off very callous for it.

If it was a mistake I'm not owning up to because of pride or something, thats one thing, but if I explain myself, which I always do, then that effects the opinions of others to a degree and they may retract their statements. Only the stubborn won't listen to my point of view, as the artist, or take it into consideration when forming an opinion whether for or against the picture. They'll think whatever they want even if they are wrong.

I could easily be accused of the same thing, in that I could be refusing to be wrong, and if I ever did that I'd have to live with it and burden myself, now wouldn't I?

You don't need to tell me you're not being critical, I know you are not. I DO in fact submit my work to art galleries and always get great reviews. I know when people are being honest, but I also know when people are speaking from an ignorant point of view on the subject matter or style or may even be jealous and thats why they're saying anything negative at all. Its also apparent in their attitude and sense of indifference.

Thats not what you have done, so theres no harm and no foul, don't worry about it. :happy:

Just as people can give their opinion, I have the right to give a rebutal and have a conversation with them over it.

I want them to be able to enjoy the picture as much as I do regardless of what they see. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't and thats fine. Afterall, no one knows the creative inner space of an artist's mind when they create something. But its always a treat, at least for me, to be able to understand what motivated them with the piece.

Like you, I'm just being analytical. Theres no rule saying an artist cannot be like that with his or her recieved comments. Being a good artist doesn't mean taking people's abuse and not saying a word either, no more so than it would to only say "thank you" and leaving it at that. I like the interaction I get out of my work when others are involved.

Trust me good sir, I'm mature enough to handle myself. If I can do it in the real art world, I can do it here on a tickling site where my art is less likely to be critiqued in the first place, if simply because of the content and standards here as well as expectations. And as far as that goes, there are none here as there is no professional approach to the way people respond and they don't expect people to be churning out professional level work.

Thats a relief to most artists that post here I'm sure. But the last thing any artist should want is to be pacified by their fans so much so that they become complaceent and don't strive for more.

You should never be TOO satisified with your own work, because then theres no desire to be better and grow to be better. Being an artist means taking part in a personal journey of refinement. Just as natural, crude ore is purified and made rich, so too does an artist go through the same processes. How good they become is totally up to them, but I don't think they should ever hold back and deny themselves. Alot of artists do, its pretty sad.

PS:

No, I don't talk like this all the time, especially not here as most of the replies I get are the casual "excellent" "good work" and so forth. Its people like you, and I appriciate it, that bring out this side of me. I imagine its the same for you, because if I had said nothing to them about this, perhaps you wouldn't have sensed that, and had been motivated to say something to me in the first place.

I'm glad we had this exchange. I don't get to speak like this often enough or as passionately so thank you. Have a good day and Happy New Year. :happy:

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Oh yes, don't get me wrong, I appriciate and understand the need you may have to point out realism where it would apply. But as you admit, you aren't too fimilar with this style, but I however can understand that.

I prefer realism over cartoonish looks even if it may not seem that way and I hope to include more photo or "profile" quality pictures sometime in the future.

As for music, thats a good example. One can dislike the genre but love the musician. To an extent I like Stevy Ray Vaughn, and he's a blues player I believe, well he was, he's dead now. I didn't care for the genre too much, but I liked him ok.

Thanks for the compliments.

As for the rest of my stuff, a good portion of it is either old and not uploaded or current and not uploaded either. As for my newer stuff, I upload that upon completion. I don't like the fact I don't have much work uploaded and I hope to have more free time to get more my ideas on paper.

Between my career goals, potential jobs, and my manga ideas and creating a story and all that, plus requests I fill, and just life in general leaves me with little time to draw a whole lot. Thats why when I do draw I try to make it count every time.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I on the other hand prefer the more traditional methods. I do everything by hand, scan it and then color it on the computer. Although now I have a set of prismacolor markers and that will help speed things up, and plus I get to do it by hand, so thats extra fun. ^__^

I, like you, don't like to say "no" either. Sometimes I feel bad when I turn a request down, but I don't feel too bad since I do them for free. Commissions would be another matter although.

Now, about your picture. First, its excellent and I'll give more of a comment later.

Second, to be fair to the other user, mpet, who had uploaded one of his pictures in this thread, I'll have to request the same thing from you, in that I'd appriciate it if you asked if you could share your work in my art threads before you do. I don't think its something I'd refuse anyone, but its just a courtesy I would appriciate.

This time its fine however, since theres no way you would have known that unless you read my request to him as well.

Anyways, great show, you should create your own thread for it and see what people have to say. ^___^

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Its ok, don't worry about it. ^^