Wednesday, May 02, 2007

The Curse of the Abyssal Heights

How in the world can a choke hold be so difficult to draw?

More specifically, when the person -giving- the choke hold is a few inches shorter than the intended victim - every picture reference I've Googled around for generally has the choke hold giver as -taller- than the poor chap they're trying to suffocate.

Times like this, I'm convinced I really, really don't know how to draw and should go for some classes one day but they'd probably toss me out for knowing -no- theory at all. Thankfully, I did find two photographs to sort of play around poses with, or I'd be sunk.

The subjects of the entire sketching rigmarole are two Abyssal characters for a random Exalted game a friend and I are playing - his is named Whisper of the Deep Shadow, and mine is the Pale Oracle of Dry Bones, known as the Pale Rider to everyone else. Oracle is taller than Shadow, and there was one instance where, on their first meeting, he sneaked up behind her and got her in a choke hold. Accursed height differences!

Anyway --here they are. I'm not proud of how long it took, but in the past I'd never even have been able to pull something like that off with any reasonable amount of success, photo references or not. So that's something I'm very thankful for - artistic improvement!



(Yeah I know. Two posts in one day. Miracle! Well, also, it's a public holiday. That's what I do on public holidays - nothing of consequence AT ALL. RAH!)

11 comments:

constance wong said...

shuku, I love this drawing! the expression on her face, the hair movement...lovely! Ha! ha! you don't need any more art lessons, really! Though what you've said about them kicking you out might come true, but for a different reason...for your knowing too much already! :D

It's been crazy at my workplace too, occasionally, working past midnight...now I look very very haggard and really thank goodness for the holidays...need to breathe like you...with zombie movements :D

Well, do let me know the date or dates of the performance ok...and I'll see if I can make it...

meanwhile, take care dear friend :)

Marcos Mateu said...

Shuku, I find this drawing -very- convincing actually.

Laura said...

Ooo, shiny! This seems realistic-looking to me and very pretty and, well, just neat!

Unknown said...

nice drawing!! Love the movement on the hair.

Mauricio said...

Hello Shuku!

Great drawing,

all ok?

Marcelo Vignali said...

Whaddya complaining about, I think you did a great job Shuku.

I think I may have an answer to your quandry:

Thing about a choke hold, when the "choker" pulls the victim backwards, the victim is shorter to the choker because their body is bent backwards at an angle. Hence the pictures will always show the choker being taller than the victim.

The goal when choking is to grab the victim and move backwards quickly -- keeping the victim from being able to gain their balance. If the victim gains their balance, they could pull the choker forward and flip them -- with the choker being flipped up and over the back of the would-be victim.

Milenko said...

Very nice an honest sketches.
And fresh.
I really like it all.
Cheers to you and your sketchbook,

Regards

Milenko

Shuku said...

Thank you for the comments everyone! You overwhelm me with kindness, truly you do...

Constance: Eeew EVIL midnight work, evil evil EVIL. Yes, thank goodness for the holidays is what I said too, and now we won't get -any- till later on in the year. Boo! Do take care of yourself please, it wouldn't do to have a sick Constance...I'll get you those dates as soon as I know. Haha, I'm singing a -Mandarin- folk song as part of repertoire...

Marcos: Thank you! It's face practice! (I've been drawing faces today too, so I'm definitely feeling better...)

Laura: Shiny! So glad you like it, and I'm thinking good thoughts for you too. And GUPPIES of course!

Alina: Thank you ever so! I've got to post a picture of origami in honour of you one of these days; have you been keeping up with that?

Mauricio: Hello! Lovely to hear from you, all mostly ok, yes! Hope the same goes for you too...

Marcelo: WUMP it's a Marcelo! Thank you, I tend to get worried about the length of -time- I spend on some of these things is all (as in, if I knew what I was doing more, it wouldn't take so long but I guess it's practice!) And the info about the choke hold is -great-, I can -use- that one of these days...

Milenko: Thank you for visiting! I just went to peek at your blog and I think your work is -great-. Really really eyecatching and full of...motion? Movement? Lovely lovely stuff. Will definitely be stopping by lots more!

singinghawk said...

Beautiful sketch, Shuku! Thank you for your kind words! You are kind.

Cheers, my friend!

Ana

Marco Bucci said...

great mood! I love the hand poses especially.

DINTOONS said...

beautiful! wonderful flow and energy in the drawing!