HOME | DD

Here-for-the-ponies — Kindness by-nc-nd

#anatomy #fluttershy #garden #outdoors #pegasus #portrait #wings #mylittleponyfriendshipismagic
Published: 2014-12-08 20:33:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 2022; Favourites: 81; Downloads: 33
Redirect to original
Description No clue what to call the title.

Alright guys. So I'm not sure if you've noticed, but the way I've been drawing faces has been slightly inconsistent. I have trouble with expressions sometimes because I just hate coming up with expressions with anatomy that just doesn't make sense. I'm trying to change the way I draw faces to make them physiologically possible. You'll understand what I mean when I list what I've changed below.



Here's the list:

     1) ROUND EYES. I can't explain how much the ovular irises and pupils has bothered me. They wouldn't be able to move like they do in the show if they're ovular. I've seen many artists give them round eyes, but I wanted to experiment with it in a piece that focused one on the face before I messed with it. Two things made me realize round eyes work, the first being 's work, because it's very stylistically similar to mine and they work with her style, and the second, finally realizing the source filmmaker model actually have round eyes, which means it would look nice when rendered to look 3 dimensional.

     2) Slightly smaller eyes. There's not enough space around the eyes with the style I was doing. Also, they were too large to fit in the skull, assuming they actually were round and not ovular like the pupils and irises they had.

     3) Eyelids and eye-sockets. They're subtle, but they're there. I need them for the eyelashes. It's impossible to draw upper and lower eyelashes logically and consistently otherwise, and it's really been bothering me ever since I started drawing 3-dimensional forms. And again, they do help with the expression.

     4) Eyebrows. Many artists struggle with giving ponies eyebrows, because they often draw them too bold, and stand out too much. I've wanted to add them in forever now, but I always forget! They really do help add tons of expression, though, and I don't like how in the show they're only used at certain times for certain expressions. Lots of sows do this, but it's like what? Do they just disappear?

     5) The cheeks, chin, and jawline. Cheeks always look cute on ponies, but many artists will have one huge cheek jutting out from the foreshortened side of the face, and have no indication of a cheek on the side facing the viewer. draws the best damn cheeks, and I think he's what mainly influenced me to add them, because they just look so much better with them, to me at least. The chins I just need for logical reasons. I hate drawing ponies with bottom teeth and lips, or at least an area for lips, but no chin. It's just weird thinking about it. The jawlines have to be done subtly as well, or else I risk making them look too manly, or too much like Celestia and Luna. Thinking about it though, the two royal sisters don't look manly, so it can be done. I'm not a huge fan of how draws the chins, but I really love the jawlines they give the ponies.

     6) Snout height. I really love the way draws the snouts and chins as well. The tiny snouts are so damn cute, and allow for more space on the forehead, which I needed if I wanted the eyebrows to work. I moved the snout lower, and I really like how it looks. This also means I can draw bigger smiles without the smile going all the way up to where the eyes should be.

     7) Ear fluff. Nuff said. I'll mess with it a bit in the future, but I want at least a little.

     8) Ever so slightly smaller nostrils. It just helps the faces to look more feminine, which is good.



This isn't only part of the way I draw faces, but check out the reflected light on the chin, cheek, forehead, arm, shoulder, etc. It looks 1,000 times better with it! I've also taken the time to work on wings some more. I'd say my main influences for them are :iconyakovled-lad: and :iconcalliger-carl:. I want to work on the bodies, but I'll save that for a later date.



Like it? Hate it? A bit of both? Tell me what you guys think!
Related content
Comments: 67

Katputze In reply to ??? [2014-12-10 20:00:02 +0000 UTC]

What is your problem, Mr. Here-for-the-ponies ?
Apparently, you delivered something world-shaking ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to Katputze [2014-12-10 20:40:24 +0000 UTC]

I can't even tell if either of you two are being serious right now .-.?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Katputze In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-10 21:10:33 +0000 UTC]

both
...both

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to Katputze [2014-12-10 21:13:25 +0000 UTC]

I will take that as meaning "yes, we are"

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Katputze In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-10 21:24:23 +0000 UTC]

immigrant background ftw!
SWAGermany ...!


okay, I gotta go sleep.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to Katputze [2014-12-10 21:25:24 +0000 UTC]

alright, nighty night!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to ??? [2014-12-10 19:46:24 +0000 UTC]

I-I...WHAT. This is a very strange critique, and it's full 5's on everything, but doesn't even mention anything in the picture except for the last 3-word sentence. 

Those anecdotes though. I like your style, kid.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

DongStrongly In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-12 01:33:29 +0000 UTC]

i am 52 years old

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to DongStrongly [2014-12-12 18:43:35 +0000 UTC]

Well, that is nearly 30 years old, in some sense. And in that same sense, 30 is near 8, so keep it up, kid. You da real mvp.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

DongStrongly In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-12 21:24:03 +0000 UTC]

i found it

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

smutwave [2014-12-10 02:16:17 +0000 UTC]

So you gonna post the edit or nah?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to smutwave [2014-12-10 02:32:41 +0000 UTC]

nope. It would have been funny if I was happy with this piece, but I can't even look at this without feeling discouraged and frustrated.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Neitronik [2014-12-09 21:08:58 +0000 UTC]

Great work!  

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to Neitronik [2014-12-09 23:05:07 +0000 UTC]

thanks

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

NismyFForm [2014-12-09 15:40:22 +0000 UTC]

I see you are also experimenting with the pone facial structure. Honestly, I think is on of the hardest elements to master, especially when one works without border-lines or line-work. When it comes to drawing with this kind of detail, it becomes tricky where to actually shade and give depth to. I tried working with circular eyes... din't quite end well, lol. I'll just stick with the shows's eye style for now. 

The eye style used here definitely has potential, but I think the pupil and the iris is too big, unless it's intentional. As for the snout, I fuckin' love the way you did it here. You also gave her the right depth for her cheeks and snout area. The hair is just beyond amazing! 

Overall, I like this! It's almost as if you were aiming for realism, which I admire from other artists. Great job!  

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to NismyFForm [2014-12-09 23:07:30 +0000 UTC]

I made the pupils too large on accident, and didn't realize until I had already detail the irises. I'm trying to get my stuff done at a reasonable pace, and sadly, mistakes are gonna happen. I should have gone back and fixed it when I spotted it, because it kinda ruined the whole piece I think. I'm going to keep working on how I draw the eyes.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Biker-Dash [2014-12-09 09:06:08 +0000 UTC]

What program did you do this piece on? The level of detail is incredible. Specifically, the mane and eyebrows, the irises of her eyes, and the feathers on her wings. This is the level of detail I would wish to be able to create with Source Filmmaker for making higher end movies. (Still just learning the program, so I really do not know what it is fully capable of.)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to Biker-Dash [2014-12-09 23:22:31 +0000 UTC]

All of it is done on Paint Tool SAI, except for the blur, which was done on photoshop. I'm glad you like it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AstralFoxArt [2014-12-09 05:43:47 +0000 UTC]

Your drawings have become a bit more creepy over time When I look at the older pieces of yours, I think it may be cause of the skin shading which I think got simplified. Up to Dew Drop commision if was quite obvious what you wanted to achieve - it looked so 3-dimentional and legit. Now it looks more like you can't decide between cartoonish and more realistic approach, with the skin being artificially smooth and having little detail.  [EDIT: somebody used  the best word I forgot - it looks a bit like plastic.]
And those are ponies only problem. The background is great as always. But I think you sometimes pay more attention to it than to the main focus.
Also, coloured eyebrows always look suspicious.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to AstralFoxArt [2014-12-09 06:34:49 +0000 UTC]

The shading has definitely not simplified, but I get the message. This picture isn't going over well
as evidenced by the comments, and by the extreme lack of views. And to me, details are important,
and here, if anything, the background has far less detail than usual. It's even blurred. Whatever.
I've obsessed over details for what seems like forever now, and paying attention to details most
people don't look for is how I've managed to improve with so few pieces, and was something I took
pride in. I'll switch to what looks good, and not care about what's done correctly, because I'm working
towards getting popular enoughand fast enough to get enough money to go to Bronycon and Galacon
in the summer, and it looks like that won't be possible with what I'm doing right now.

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

AstralCasualty In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-09 13:12:29 +0000 UTC]

Whitediamonds does lots of simple drawings with fascinating concept each and she's extremely popular. What do you think about such approach to boosting popularity quickly?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to AstralCasualty [2014-12-10 02:31:28 +0000 UTC]

I'm not sure. Do you mean simple in terms of detail, simple in composition, or both? Either way, I'm going to try and find some way to simplify those things, and work on compositions, and getting faster, because this really isn't working out.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AstralFoxArt In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-09 13:07:32 +0000 UTC]

It's all within the "awkardness is much more visible" and if spotted fast enough, can be fixed. However, don't forget that ponies are cute for a reason and I've seen drawings whose authors took realism business too seriously, especially the eyes - those didn't look quite well.

And seriously man, how much views are you expecting within 16 hours to satisfy yourself?
Don't get lost on that crazy run for popularity.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to AstralFoxArt [2014-12-10 02:29:44 +0000 UTC]

Ok, we need to get something straight here. I have been getting less and less views on every piece since the first super detailed one I submitted with Pinkie about a year and a half ago. I've been sweating it off, and hell, I even came back from Bronycon with $1,000 dollars less than what I started with, and with a smile! But my dad had to borrow a few thousand from my bank account, and now I'm broke. I only spend money on my livelihood and nothing else. These cons, and being successful from doing what I love is what I live for right now, and I'm sorry, but I have every reason to worry about having that taken away from me. I actually only gained one watcher from this piece, and lost another, so nothing has been gained from this, and at this rate, I'm kinda screwed.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AstralFoxArt In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-10 05:48:32 +0000 UTC]

So that's how it is. I'm sorry for being so harsh to you, that never brings anything positive :<. Popularity depends in 99% on a pure luck and who features you where and the proof is in huge chunk of low-quality but high-intensity profiles with like 999 adoptable recolors of the same base. That's really weird but well, that's the world.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to AstralFoxArt [2015-01-06 18:21:21 +0000 UTC]

Ah sorry! I manage to lose this in my inbox. 99 percent is a large exaggeration. 
That luck, being "discovered" or "found" can be hugely influenced by which audiences 
you try to bring in, and how to go about doing that. Outside of ponies, success in the art
world, besides skill or talent (with skill defined as ability to achieve the same level of 
proficiency as those who have talent through hard work), is about finding opportunities and 
taking them. The recolors and adopts, I personally credit towards the audience of people on this
site, who prefer that over "good" art. I'm not saying what I call "good" art is better either, that's 
just because that's the best word I can use to show which art I'm talking about.

And don't worry, I wasn't angry. I just wanted to make sure you realized, I don't draw for success,
I draw because I love doing it. I see very little money in the field of art as a whole, so that should
be proof enough of that. The reason I worry about my success in the fandom here, is because, yes,
while skill and ability doesn't directly correlate to popularity, my popularity does correlate to my 
success in art as a career. And with how much I'm working to hopefully get into the field of animation,
I can't keep drawing ponies if I don't get anything back. That's the main think that worries me. I don't
 want to stop drawing ponies anytime soon. Maybe ever. Who knows?

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AquaGalaxy [2014-12-09 02:41:48 +0000 UTC]

love the details and changes! >3<
it looks super awesome! <3333

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to AquaGalaxy [2014-12-09 02:57:24 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear you like it! I'm just so worried people won't like it, or that it may go into the uncanny valley.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SunnyStarscout [2014-12-09 00:57:13 +0000 UTC]

Flutthershy:" Um excuse me but um... sorry but shouldn't it say kindness? Cause um well that's my element.... Sorry please don't be mad"

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to SunnyStarscout [2014-12-09 02:03:11 +0000 UTC]

I'm honestly not sure. I didn't want to go with something that simple, but I can't think of a better title XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

SunnyStarscout In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-09 02:13:42 +0000 UTC]

Flittershy:"Well I just.. you know. I think it would be less confusing if you um.... Change it to kindness. Butyoudonttosinceityourart!"

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to SunnyStarscout [2014-12-09 02:37:29 +0000 UTC]

I will for now, until I can think of something else to call it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Deadninja21 [2014-12-08 23:51:10 +0000 UTC]

This is some uncanny valley stuff right here! This piece moderately disturbs me and I don't know why.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to Deadninja21 [2014-12-09 00:05:30 +0000 UTC]

Dangit, really? Fuck. I hope it's just because I drew the pupils a bit too large.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Deadninja21 In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-09 00:17:43 +0000 UTC]

I really don't know what I find off putting about this one. I like it, don't get me wrong. I think it's because it looks 3 dimensional and 3-D ponies never rubbed off on me the right way.
Still, it's a great picture! I can tell you put a lot of effort in it and that's always commendable! Things never really turn out perfect when you try something new anyways.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to Deadninja21 [2014-12-09 00:27:03 +0000 UTC]

I think it may be something to do with the eyes. I think the shape of the eyelids are too vertical to have upper and lower eyelids.
I'll figure this out, trust me. If they can look good in source film maker or any other 3-D medium, there's a way to do it on paper.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Deadninja21 In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-09 00:34:04 +0000 UTC]

Oh, for sure! Sorry if I gave you a scare.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to Deadninja21 [2014-12-09 00:38:57 +0000 UTC]

No it's fine. I need honest opinions. If no one tells me something looks off I may never find out. It's just that I was pretty proud of this one and my older stuff, which I don't think is as good, is more popular. It's probably the eyes. I'll work on eyes some more.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

silberhase [2014-12-08 21:58:58 +0000 UTC]

Awesome style of the eyes and wings!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to silberhase [2014-12-08 22:01:13 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AstralCasualty [2014-12-08 21:22:58 +0000 UTC]

Good improvement, but eyes are still too big to look appealing. Especially when you use such terms as "physiologically possible" (which is promising). I like the mouth, snout shape, just the smile is noticeably pulled too high towards the eye.

Ear is usually placed at the back of the head whereas you put it right above the eye it seems.

Below the head she's a weird anthro cherub baby instead of a pony.

There's a staggering amount of detail here, which looks odd because the drawing doesn't quite deserve it.

That said, you deserve a credit for this luscious hair, feathered wings, serene background, etc. There's a good chance that in a year you'll be making the best pony drawings in the fandom.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to AstralCasualty [2014-12-08 21:41:45 +0000 UTC]

With practice, who knows. Hmm. The ear placement hasn't changed as far as I can tell. I always have the top edge touch the head circle at the 45 degree mark, and the bottom edge touch the head circle halfway down, with one third of the ear above the top of the head, and the tip halfway between where the bottom and top meet the head circle from the front viewpoint. The angle may be throwing you off, but I assure you no point of the ear is above any point of the eye. The smile, yeah, the tendency for it to go up towards the tear duct is why I moved the snout down, but the only way I can compensate for the lack of distance between it and the bottom of the eye is by making the smile even smaller, which I already decided I wouldn't do when I was drawing this. As for the body, it has no definition or musculature showing, so it isn't necessarily either human or pony. The human appearance is from the shoulders, which I make an exception for because I like the way it looks, and it allows for more poses to be possible. Most artists give the ponies human shoulders when posing them upright, so I figured it would be ok. I think the problem is perhaps the size of the chest being too small, but I'm not sure. As for the size of the eyes, I doubt they'll get any smaller than this in the future. We'll see, but I have to make compromise between what makes sense and what looks good, and right now the eyes are at a point where they can fit inside the head and are much smaller than most other artists draw them, and I fear if I make them any smaller, they won't be as cute. I know it seems like I'm shooting down all your points, but I promise I'm not. Besides what you said about the ears in relation to the eyes, I've already consciously thought about everything else you brought up as I drew this, and I've done what I can in this piece to compensate. I still will consider all these points for feature pieces as well as this piece.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AstralCasualty In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-09 13:27:24 +0000 UTC]

Gee, such a long response to a comment that took me a minute to write. I'm not hesitant about criticizing your work because I know you have a reasonable reception of the feedback you receive. It makes me sigh though that you're basing your judgement on what's seen in the works of the majority of other MLP artists or the official toymakers (3d models, vectors, lack of musculature, etc.). That won't make your art mature or exceptional in my opinion.

One more remark, have you tried drawing lidded eyes? Wide open lidless eyes look really funny on her.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to AstralCasualty [2014-12-10 02:22:17 +0000 UTC]

Majority? Ha! If I just copied what most people did, I'd play it safe and draw slightly modified show style ponies! And I don't base my work off of 3D models, and certainly not toys either. I just cited the 3D models because it proves the circular eyes can look nice in an accurately shaded 3 dimensional form. I don't know where you got that idea from, but that's not the case here. I choose what influences my work consciously and am just showing my main influences so people can understand my train of thought. She has eyelids, but I wanted to keep it subtle. I thought changing the eyes too much would be too...surprising. People don't usually like change, notably in aesthetics.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Dear-Cotton-Candy [2014-12-08 21:17:45 +0000 UTC]

nice!! Im glad you like my tiny tiny snouts *3*  she looks gtreat <3

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to Dear-Cotton-Candy [2014-12-08 21:22:12 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! And yes I love your tiny snouts.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

PostPony [2014-12-08 21:06:11 +0000 UTC]

Those eyebrows yo

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to PostPony [2014-12-08 21:21:50 +0000 UTC]

Trust me, it looks way better with them than without. I had an edit of an earlier version without them, and it just looks wrong XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

PostPony In reply to Here-for-the-ponies [2014-12-08 21:38:23 +0000 UTC]

I am actually glad for that. I am making some things in blender that will be made with actual fur and hair. The eyebrows can't pop in and out of existence like they on the show or in sfm things so I am happy that it looks best this way.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Here-for-the-ponies In reply to PostPony [2014-12-08 21:42:34 +0000 UTC]

That may mean I drew them well, which is good

👍: 0 ⏩: 1


| Next =>