Hero High Uniform Designs

DMAC

Most of the stuff I draw lately has been illustration work for various clients and by the time I'm allowed to post it, I've either forgotten about it or I've moved on to something else.

Lately I've been working on illustrations for the Mutants & Masterminds superhero roleplaying game from Green Ronin Publishing, including the upcoming Hero High sourcebook. I still get a kick out of seeing my stuff in print. Heroes Unlimited was the first RPG I ever played and I used to draw my characters in my school notebooks so it's fun to have come "full circle" like this and get to do this sort of thing professionally.

One of the things I was asked to do for the book was to design the school uniforms for Claremont Academy, the school for "gifted youngsters" from the setting. They put up an article on the design process as the latest preview for the book.

They decided it would be better to go with a unisex design but I did a new drawing of a girls' uniform with a skirt that I had proposed:



I also have half a dozen pieces in the Instant Superheroes sourcebook which (I believe) is due out towards the end of the month.

Ravenshadow

Well, that makes a lot of sense. A lot of your stuff reminds me very strongly of the art in the Palladium sourcebooks.

I started playing RPGs with TMNT then moved on to 'Ninjas and Superspies', Robotech and Rifts. Tried other systems, but the Palladium stuff was always the most fun.

Anyways, that highschool girl totally looks like a Heroes Unlimited insert.
I like your stuff as always.

NibCrom

I was kind of hoping to find some sort of flaw with your illustration so I could give a good critique, but honestly it looks like a really good completed piece. The coloring is good, the perspective looks right on. I probably wouldn't change a thing. Is she wearing some sort of belt with no front on it? It's an interesting detail. Well done!

DMAC

Thanks. This was just sort of a "bonus" piece I did for the article. I just wanted to show that the skirt could have been cool if they'd gone with it.

Greatnation

Here's a crit-

Her left leg (our right) looks like its coming out of vagina, instead of coming out to the left of the vagina.

Does that make sense?

Ehmavisca

I agree with Greatnation. I was going to say something, but vagina legs are cool.

DMAC

...I don't see it.

Ehmavisca

See?

EDIT:
well, my PO is off, but maybe it will help.

DMAC

Still not seeing it. I could draw those same construction lines over my piece and have them come to the correct points for the hip joints.

NightDragon

To me, the legs seemed off, but I factor'd that up to the perspective. I think if her feet weren't as far apart vertically, it would fix the problem, in part. The back leg is just considerably shorter than the leg in front. Furthermore, the line that you have for her thigh? If you continue that line, it would seem that that leg has a HUGE thigh, when compared to her front leg.

[EDITATION] This is what I came up with. Still looks *slightly* off to me, but this is the closest I could get it to what I feel looks "correct". (further edit: actually, I think one of the problems could just be that the front foot is pointing at us, while the knee is off to the side. Just looking at the legs fron the thighs to the knees, I would have guess that the front foot would be pointing more to the side.)



What I did:

Changed the length of the back leg and brought it down and over...lessened the "convex" bend that leg appeared to have...shortened the boot-legging on the front leg to better match the back leg's legging...tweaked calf curves to better match...made the ankle "circle things" smaller on the back leg to better match the front leg.

Some things may have been superfluous, but I'm just listing what I edited for comparison purposes.

DMAC

I did exaggerate perspective a little more than I usually do to try to make the drawing more dynamic. eye level is at about shoulder level with the legs showing more of the distortion. The thigh is thicker front to back than it is side to side:

NightDragon

DMAC wrote: »

I did exaggerate perspective a little more than I usually do to try to make the drawing more dynamic. eye level is at about shoulder level with the legs showing more of the distortion. The thigh is thicker front to back than it is side to side:

I realize that, (same with the curve of her back calf being more pronounced), but the way it's drawn made the back thigh look a little "too" big. The last curve that you can see would seem to extend upward at a lower angle than you have in the yellow-line draw-over. At least to me. *shrug* I still think the main issue is just in the length of the legs, especially the lower halves.

Lalilulelo

wow, the forums are all...shinier and blue now. cool.
Hey DMAC, good work as per usual.

DMAC

Good to see you around again.

I tweaked the back leg a little:

Lalilulelo

Shoot I might have to stick around with all this new layout junk going on. nothing to show off at the moment, but that'll change in a month.

Kewop Decam

I think it looks worse now. Something about it just doesn't look right. Maybe the problem is how far the skirt comes out? The way it is now makes her clothes feel like cardboard.

I too thought the first drawing had "vagina" legs.

The uniform itself is bland, which is good because it's for a highschool. The belt thingy looks weird though because it kindda serves no purpose. I think it would be better if it were a belt that went all the way around. You know, kindda like a pre-superhero belt for these up and coming superheroes. I dunno...

DMAC

Kewop Decam wrote: »

I think it would be better if it were a belt that went all the way around. You know, kindda like a pre-superhero belt for these up and coming superheroes. I dunno...

What does that mean?

The "belt" has sensors for tracking their bio signs and GPS data.

Deusfaux

I find the same issue in most of your character images of this pose, the legs just do not appear to match the top half, they look splayed or unnatural or I dont know what, but not natural or realistic

It's definitely a mark of your work, but I don't think it's necessarily right.

Its like everything above the hips is more forward and unbalanced compared to the legs which are further away. Like she would fall over forward, or that she has secret chicken joint legs and is ready to spring 15 feet into the air.

it might be that it's exaggerated, but then I dont see the top half being exaggerated to match. shouldnt feet be under shoulders in a relaxed standard standing pose?



here's an mspaint hackjob of moving the legs to the left (as well as her right leg down some). while the thickness of her right thigh needs some addressing (and its obviously messy as hell), i think it doesnt give the feeling of awkwardness your typical leg stance/pose does. but hey, its just my opinion. everything else about your work is top notch

NibCrom

DMAC wrote: »

Kewop Decam wrote: »

I think it would be better if it were a belt that went all the way around. You know, kindda like a pre-superhero belt for these up and coming superheroes. I dunno...

What does that mean?

The "belt" has sensors for tracking their bio signs and GPS data.

I don't think you should change the belt. It's a really neat detail.

CheerfulBear

Darren, I think it would really benefit you to go back and study from life, or, if you're not ready for that, maybe use some basic geometric shapes like cubes and cones. With enough effort you won't be drawing such horribly misshapen legs in no time, ok!

.Tripwire.

One small crit, I think that maybe the uniform should be improved because it doesn't look completely natural.

Kewop Decam

DMAC wrote: »

Kewop Decam wrote: »

I think it would be better if it were a belt that went all the way around. You know, kindda like a pre-superhero belt for these up and coming superheroes. I dunno...

What does that mean?

The "belt" has sensors for tracking their bio signs and GPS data.

Oh, I dunno I just thought it looked kindda awkward, but that's just me. I'm just thinking of how it appears to have weight and would probably look weird if she was running or something.

Munch

CheerfulBear wrote: »

Darren, I think it would really benefit you to go back and study from life, or, if you're not ready for that, maybe use some basic geometric shapes like cubes and cones. With enough effort you won't be drawing such horribly misshapen legs in no time, ok!

This is how I feel every time I read a DMAC thread.

Kewop Decam

Munch wrote: »

CheerfulBear wrote: »

Darren, I think it would really benefit you to go back and study from life, or, if you're not ready for that, maybe use some basic geometric shapes like cubes and cones. With enough effort you won't be drawing such horribly misshapen legs in no time, ok!

This is how I feel every time I read a DMAC thread.

Yea, some of his stuff is a little wonky at times. DMAC, maybe more pre-sketching and references would keep these little mishaps from happening. Maybe developing a simple map of the human body with proportions related to itself laid out in different angles would help.

I think it's his good coloring that makes the little errors less apparent.

Deusfaux

for reference I notice the same issue in these:

http://www.darrencalvert.com/onuscostume.jpg
http://www.yodaboys.com/impulsesketch2.jpg
http://www.darrencalvert.com/sscostume.jpg

CheerfulBear

Kewop Decam wrote: »

Munch wrote: »

CheerfulBear wrote: »

Darren, I think it would really benefit you to go back and study from life, or, if you're not ready for that, maybe use some basic geometric shapes like cubes and cones. With enough effort you won't be drawing such horribly misshapen legs in no time, ok!

This is how I feel every time I read a DMAC thread.

Yea, some of his stuff is a little wonky at times. DMAC, maybe more pre-sketching and references would keep these little mishaps from happening. Maybe developing a simple map of the human body with proportions related to itself laid out in different angles would help.

I think it's his good coloring that makes the little errors less apparent.

Yeah, I know what you mean!

DMAC, I know you're just beginning when it comes to drawing the full human figure from imagination, but it seems to me like you don't quite have a solid enough grasp on the basics. I suggest you go back and study the underlying skeletal and muscle systems! You should also definitely check out a Hogarth and Loomis for some tips on anatomy! And like I said earlier, definitely work on your shapes by practicing drawing cubes and cones, maybe even work your way up to a pyramid! Hang in there, you're on your way to a professional career, buddy!

Good luck!

Munch

Kewop Decam wrote: »

Yea, some of his stuff is a little wonky at times. DMAC, maybe more pre-sketching and references would keep these little mishaps from happening. Maybe developing a simple map of the human body with proportions related to itself laid out in different angles would help.

I think it's his good coloring that makes the little errors less apparent.

I was actually referring to how people pick apart his drawings over details they perceive as being wrong, or just generally being really nitpicky for some inexplicable reason. But he should totally use more line width variation.

Every artistic problem can be answered with more line width variation.

DMAC

All sarcasm aside, I am trying to find time to attend some local drop-in figure drawing sessions. It's been a long time since I've worked from a live model and it's pretty easy to slip into drawing things the way you think they look instead of the way they really are when it comes to anatomy.

Corgi

That is my biggest problem. That drawing what you think it looks like. I've been trying to break that habit... and I think I'm succeeding in it too.D:

Deusfaux

I wasnt being sarcastic

DMAC

Ha ha! You jokester! You crack me up!

CheerfulBear

Reality is 100% serious, DMAC.

Mayday

Fuck all that bullshit, I want to see a DMAC comic. I've never seen one except for the ArMACgeddon.

drinkinstout

I think you're a great artist DMAC and really enjoy what you've put out here but in looking over your figures, it does seem like they are all kinda leaning or falling or something - it's very slight but consistant - just say it's intentional and meant to add a "dynamic feeling" or something

DMAC

Well, it's going to sound kind of lame now, but superheroes do tend to stand more "poised for action" than your average Joe Lunchpail. It's not supposed to be a relaxed, casual pose.

Godfather

How come her left ankle is smaller than her right, despite the fact that it's closer to the viewer than the right one?

Top of the right foot should be a tad bit more convex to boot.

.Tripwire.

Cavil cavil cavil!

Kewop Decam

Is there a reason the shadows have many tones on her clothing but everywhere else (except her left knee) has only on tone for shade? It's kindda weird.

.Tripwire.

Carp carp carp!

Blue Is Beautiful

Kewop Decam wrote: »

Is there a reason the shadows have many tones on her clothing but everywhere else (except her left knee) has only on tone for shade? It's kindda weird.

the piece is about the uniform. by adding more detail and tone, you draw the eye to the uniform itself, not her or the overall drawing. same idea for using varying line width and many lines vs. few lines

Kewop Decam

Blue Is Beautiful wrote: »

Kewop Decam wrote: »

Is there a reason the shadows have many tones on her clothing but everywhere else (except her left knee) has only on tone for shade? It's kindda weird.

the piece is about the uniform. by adding more detail and tone, you draw the eye to the uniform itself, not her or the overall drawing. same idea for using varying line width and many lines vs. few lines

Which is ironic when the whole thread has been more about her and not the suit, but I see your point.