Character Portraits + Graphics?

[Saethiriel]

Alright, I feel like drawing stuff or something, and I have discovered that it is always more gratifying/motivating to draw for other people. :D However, I don't want to kill myself by trying to do a lot of large-scale portraits, or kill anyone else of old age as they wait for me to do this. So, I figure I have the ability to either paint an avatar-sized character bust portrait, avoiding the evil ways of clothing folds, hands, and feet, or make an avatar and signature set out of a pre-existing character image, such as a painting off dA, an actor, video game character, whatever. Here are two forms for requesting a portrait or graphic set...keep in mind that the more description you give me, the closer it will look to your charry. Whatever you don't specify, I'll just make up, which usually works all right, but might not be exactly what you want.

Portrait

Dimensions: The forum limit is 100x120, and I assume you'd want this, but you can get 100x100 or whatever if you like
Description: Face, hair, whatever clothes would show with the character's shoulders and collarbone. Feel free to copy from your profile, but just be as detailed as you can.
Pose: Something very basic, please...I won't be drawing hands, for one thing. Essentially, either a close-up on the face, or a head and shoulders thing; also, whether the character is facing straight ahead, left, or right, and if left or right, whether the face is a profile or a three-quarters view. If you don't have a preference, you can just leave this up to me.
Expression/Mood: Describe the expression, but nothing difficult like screaming or grinning widely. To be honest, I'm not all that great at expressions, but I'll try to get it close. Also, if the portrait lighting/colors should be cold, cheerful, dramatic, etc.
Background/Other Elements: Just simple stuff, please, like a design along the border or maybe a sword along the bottom edge or something. I'll probably be using stock for the backgrounds, I really dislike drawing them
Text: I can probably squeeze in a little bit of text, like the character's first name or something, but keep in mind that the more text/decoration there is, the less of your character there is...
Other: Anything else you can think of?


Graphic Set

Dimensions: Again, avatar would be 100x120 or 100x100, and with the sig I usually do something around 500x100. Nothing much bigger, I think.
Character Image: If you have a specific picture, link to it. It also helps if I can get the name of the actor/character/whatever the picture is of, in case there are better pics to be found. Keep in mind that I can do small edits like change eye color and add markings, as well as changing skin or hair color within a reasonable range.
Mood: Cold, warm, evil, innocent, whatever you can think of.
Background/Other Elements: Should the background be a city, forest, desert, or something neutral but pretty? If you have a background image you think would work, link to it. If your character has a pet familiar or special weapon I can probably fit it in there, but I just do simple comping, not full-on photomanips.
Text: What should it say? Character name, probably, but any other quotes or description you want can go on there too. Also, if you have a font or font style in mind, mention it here.
Other: Anything else you can think of?

Bleh, that's a lot to read. : P If you want examples of my drawing, click on the links in my sig. If you want examples of my graphicking, look at my sig and avvy. Ok, enough typing...

[Selene]

I think I'm going to have to take you up on this Sae because your work is so lovely. ^_^ Although I must admit I am a very bad non-roleplaying admin and I don't have a character profile so I'll have to type up a description for you tomorrow. I have some paintings you might like to play around with too. Just need to find them on my computer. hehe

[Saethiriel]

Ooh, yay! That's totally fine, I'm up for drawing anyone as long as you describe them well. Particularly female anyones...I'm not as good at guys, but I'm improving. ^^;; I do like the painting you have as your avvy; who's the artist, if you know? I try to save anything I like into an inspiration compendium :3

[Selene]

I seem to be better at drawing females too for some strange reason. :S I'm not sure really. I took it from drakonis.org which isn't like me at all because I don't like taking an artist's work without permission. I've searched for the artist but with no luck unfortunately because I'd like to see their portfolio.

[Vizar R'varsheart]

I'm going to take you up on this offer, Sae. Mainly because me and art is like waffles and fire. And because I really like your style.

I'm going to request a portrait, please and thank you.

Portrait

Dimensions: Let's go 100 x 120. Is it bad that I only just now realize that we support that dimension? XD
Description (Profile ripping time!): Vizar has pale alabaster colored skin and raven-black wolf-mane hair sweeping down to the small of his back. His eyes are clear blue (bright azure, if we're going to be specific). Stark white scars cover his entire face. The scars are thin and snaking, and there are an abundance of them, so feel free to go a bit wild. None of the scars, however, reach any higher than the bottom of his eyes. His face is kind of angular, his cheeks are a bit more pronounced and the whole face in general is not the usual "almond shape".

And... we'll do the head and shoulders instead of the close up.

Vizar wears a black tunic and vest, and also a silver pendant, so the chain of it should be slightly evident.

Pose: Head and shoulders. And I'll leave the facing decision up to you. Whatever just feels right, I guess.

Expression/Mood: I'd like Vizar to have a neutral expression, but with just the barest hint of a smile. The portrait lighting/colors should be cold.

Other: http://www.dafont.com/tengwar-annatar.font
Go to that link and scroll to the lowercase letters. If you can, I'd like the tengwar annatar rune of the lowercase 'v' to be one of the bottom corners. Shouldn't be hard to find, the lowercase letters are just below the uppercase.

Also, question: Are you willing to do sigs using the portrait? Like for example, taking the above potential portrait of Vizar and making a sig similar to the one you have? (Minus the body picture of Sae)

[Blaze]

Drakonis.org is really good for avatars! I get mine from there too.

But hey! Look at you, Sae! What beautiful portraits/avvies. I was showing Shan your profile today too. We were both impressed! I'd lovingly take you up on your offer, but I think I have enough images for now. Shan still needs a good one really, but it's not real easy to draw asia men, ha. Meanwhile, Blaze is kinda feminine in figure anyway. Ah, now I'm rambling.

Thanks again for joining Nocturnal Reverie. If you need anything, i'm very accessible.
See you around,
Blaze
(=

[Saethiriel]

@Selene - Oh, wow, how could I forget about drakonis.org... That site frustrates me, heh, because I really want to see the full size paintings. : P I'm rather unscrupulous about stealing other people's art, which is kind of strange because I'm an artist, mostly, but that's overridden by my obsession with making everything look pretty. ^__^;;

@Vizar - Waffles and...fire? Waffles flambé? I guess that wouldn't taste very good... Mmm, anyway, I think I've got a good grasp on V, I shall be happy to oblige. ^_^ As for the sig... I don't like using the same image twice, unless it's in a very different way, like the image in my sig. I'll do the portrait, and see if there's any way I can use it differently, but if not, what about a smaller generic sig, like 400x50, with his name, a quote or something, and just some cool brushes and a background and such?

@Blaze - Thanks :D I have drawn an Asian guy before, he didn't look very oriental but he didn't look too occidental either ^^ I'd be totally willing to give it a try.

[Vizar R'varsheart]

That would be just lovely, thank you. ^^

Yeah...waffles...and fire. That's just wrong.

[Blaze]

I think that's kind of what Shan (the character) looks like. Not too generic and [occidental] nor overly [oriental] and exotic. A pleasant mix of both. I'll talk to Shan more about it. He would definitely benefit from a character portrait, especially one made by you =)

[Selene]

Dang it. I should probably write that description. I'm so bad at things like this...

[Saethiriel]

Lol, that's about in keeping with my pace! I haven't done anything punctually for years now ;)