Gallery Trying to do a Seraphon Illustration

[Lherad]

Sooooo, long story short: I was a bit disappointed with many of the illustrations in the Seraphon Battletome, specially when comparing it with something like Tzeentch Arcanites or Kharadron Overlords.

I have always picked up the army books/codex/battletome as sources of visual reference, and this one does not really cut it for me.

In particular, the cover art seems lazy to me in some points (which I will not describe, unless someone wants me to; as I said, long story short).

So, I have decided to try and do a cover type illustration, as a fanart and a tribute to the best army that was and will be. Because, you know, dinosaurs riding dinosaurs.

I want all the help I can get, to decide which things work and which don't, from composition to details, I am completely open to any suggestions and I will try my best to produce something that reflects both the Seraphon of AoS and the Lizardmen I grew up loving.

Here are 4 different ideas, some more developed than others. Different points of view, different feelings and different situations. Some have references from old army books.
I think you will figure out which I like the most (usually I tend to sketch harder on the things that I like =P), but I am posting this here for you all to speak your mind about them, and hopefully together we will come out with something good!

I am doing this on my free time, so I cannot give estimates on how long it will take, but I really want to do justice to our favourite race (space or not) and to the Old Ones themselves!

1


2


3


4

 

[Lherad]

Oh, and I forgot. The point of this 4 sketches is to help me decide which one works better as a cover style illustration, and to hear if you would like some changes in the background/more units shown etc...

This kind of illustration tends to present the most significative visual style of the force in question (this time I opted for big bulky saurus, as I love em), and usually some other important/impressive units.

 

[Slanputin]

Oh, my. 3/4 please (feel free to make it a poll otherwise @NIGHTBRINGER will get upset ).
As you asked about changes etc., I think it'd be cool if you showed the army "phasing" into reality as they're summoned. Say, part fully-realised Saurus and part glowing-outline/starry silhouette/whatever. Perhaps those near the front more realised than those farther back. I've always thought it'd make a great image and it's a shame GW hasn't capitalised on imagery as much as they could have.

It would be most cool if you uploaded your work in progress too!

 

[Lherad]

Poll added!!! Good idea and thanks @Slanputin. That's the idea on the last two sketches, the guys at the front being more "materialised" than those in the back. And that's why I added a slann floating above, to signal the arrival of the lizzies =P

I am just not sure about the shield arm position.... (talking about 3/4)

 

[Phoedinn]

For me #3 works best for a "cover" But I absolutely love the motion in #1! 3 and 4 are composed better but seem a little static for what I would expect to be a battle pose.

Just an idea from my point of view. Maybe try #3 with a head pushed forwards in a roar with the arms pushed farther back?

 

[Warden]

Personally I liked #2. It reminds me of some of the artwork from the 6th edition codex (my first one )

Spoiler: examples

I loved those pictures, so awesome

 

[Scalenex]

I like four best as a cover (best background action), I like one best as a stand alone piece of art (fine drawing with no background distractions makes the viewer pull in all the detail work on the Saurus.

I will also admit I liked three almost as much as four and two almost as much three.

IF you went a fluff heavy route for your book or e-book and had a Saurus protagonist (that didn't die in his first story like mine usually do), I would pick a cover similar to picture two. It splits the difference between picture one and four. It showcases one Saurus primarily but includes an interesting background but not TOO interesting so it doesn't draw the eye away from the central character.

 

[Aginor]

For a cover I'd go with #4 but WOW I like all of them a lot.

 

[Lherad]

@Warden that was my first army book too, lovely work on the illustrations (Karl Kopinsky I believe...? amazing artist)

Thank you all for your opinions! I think that #1 would work better as part of a bottom page double illustration showing Seraphon charging against a foe, and #2 for a character/unit description illustration (because, as @Scalenex pointed out, it makes the Saurus the focal point and not the background).

I am going to focus on doing the cover illustration first, but I may work with 1 and 2 in the future and flesh them out more!

Upon thinking a bit about the 4 sketches, I think 3 and 4 work better as cover art, but indeed they were both too static, and the pose of the saurus wasn't as good as it could be... He seems to be looking at the left side, instead of forwards towards the viewer (like the guards behind him are doing). The Terradons are also flying in the same direction soooooooo I ended up taking the more "open" posing of #3, pushing it a bit more, and using the background work of #4.

Here is how it looks now!



The detail work is of course not final, but I like the asymmetry the shoulder pad gives him. Also trying to represent an Oldblood/ScarVet, thats why he is so ornamented. The weapon may need some work and the shield too, not too happy about them.

Let me know what you think, and thanks again everyone!

Cheers!

 

[Scalenex]

The weapon is realistically proportioned. Usually Warhammer Fantasy units have over-sized weapons. I don't have a problem with realistic weapon scale, I don't have a problem with "heroic" fantasy weapon scale, just make sure you stay consistent.

 

[Warden]

Hey he looks even better now! I think you made a great choice, looking forward to your finished product!

 

[ravagekitteh]

That looks fantastic already!

 

[Lherad]

Finally been able to do a first color test. The color choice for the BG is mostly due to all the Malign Portents stuff that's going on (Nagash, realm of death, etc...) so I pictured why not show the Seraphon landing in Shyish!

For the lizzie I went with the traditional scheme, but might add some marking in the style of the Seraphon cohorts, dunno yet. As always, feel free to criticise everything you see wrong/with room for improvement, as well as any comments or thoughts you might have.



Cheers!

 

[Aginor]

I like it a lot!

 

[Warden]

Finally been able to do a first color test. The color choice for the BG is mostly due to all the Malign Portents stuff that's going on (Nagash, realm of death, etc...) so I pictured why not show the Seraphon landing in Shyish!

For the lizzie I went with the traditional scheme, but might add some marking in the style of the Seraphon cohorts, dunno yet. As always, feel free to criticise everything you see wrong/with room for improvement, as well as any comments or thoughts you might have.

View attachment 38402

Cheers!

The color looks great, but what are all the meteor's coming down?? Drop rocks?

 

[Crowsfoot]

Finally been able to do a first color test. The color choice for the BG is mostly due to all the Malign Portents stuff that's going on (Nagash, realm of death, etc...) so I pictured why not show the Seraphon landing in Shyish!

For the lizzie I went with the traditional scheme, but might add some marking in the style of the Seraphon cohorts, dunno yet. As always, feel free to criticise everything you see wrong/with room for improvement, as well as any comments or thoughts you might have.

View attachment 38402

Cheers!

That is excellent, can you make his eyes more intense?

 

[Lherad]

@Warden that is how I picture the Seraphon appearing on the battlefield. The lore says that Seraphon hosts form constellations in high Azyr, and that they come down from the starts when a Slann summons them. I imagined it being kind of a starfall, and them emerging from the light of the fallen stars. (keep in mind that is an Age of Sigmar piece, with all of its kinda high fantasy stuff xD)

@Crowsfoot Yes! Im onto it.

Here goes a little update. Struggling to get some time into painting (both these and my army xDDDD)



And a crop of the face where I've begun a bit of the detail work (could not help myself xDD)



Still lots of work to do but so far I'm liking it.

Cheers!

 

[Aginor]

@Warden that is how I picture the Seraphon appearing on the battlefield. The lore says that Seraphon hosts form constellations in high Azyr, and that they come down from the starts when a Slann summons them. I imagined it being kind of a starfall, and them emerging from the light of the fallen stars. (keep in mind that is an Age of Sigmar piece, with all of its kinda high fantasy stuff xD)

@Crowsfoot Yes! Im onto it.

Here goes a little update. Struggling to get some time into painting (both these and my army xDDDD)

View attachment 38463

And a crop of the face where I've begun a bit of the detail work (could not help myself xDD)

View attachment 38464

Still lots of work to do but so far I'm liking it.

Cheers!

Getting better and better!

 

[n810]

Perhaps a slight ghostly ethereal glow around the Slann and the teradons as well ?

ps. amazing work so far.

 

[Zeetherak]

I feel Inspired.

This is great.