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pallanoph — Custom Aequis: Hoopoe
Published: 2016-10-25 07:34:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 16078; Favourites: 892; Downloads: 0
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Description
A handsome Grasslander x desert Aequis for Maiwenn ! I think he wears those fantastic hoopoe stripes quite well, don't you agree? And let's not forget his crest!Um I have a soft spot for the desert types don't tell anyone. *cough*
Winsor and Newton watercolors, Caran d'Ache Supracolor watercolor pencils, and gouache on Fabriano Artistico 140 lb hot press watercolor paper, 10.5 x 15 inches (26.67 x 38 cm). Lettering done using Nikko comic nib and Daler Rowney FW sepia acrylic ink. (This one took longer than usual, and I'm not sure why?)
Aequis, art, and design © April Schumacher (Me!)
Character © Maiwenn . To be used by commissioner only!
If this shows up despite dA constantly going into maintenance I will be stunned and amazed.
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Comments: 39
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Beautiful work, as always. 
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I think the best way (at least, the way that has always helped me learn and understand fastest) is to find animals to draw from life, if possible! (Some zoos are absolutely great for this!) This, combined with very good photos (from varying angles) and an anatomical book to help point out the way the body works are a great way to be on the right track from the get go.
I used to hoard field guides/National Geographics/etc. to draw from, as well as watching WAY too many animal documentaries when I was a kid. And drawing the dog and cat if they were asleep.
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Thank you for the detailed reply.
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He's PERFECT !! I love him so much! And the features of the desert type seems really fun to draw, I'm looking forward having the time to get him in the pencil ! ;v;
Everything is so detailed and clean, yet so lively ! I love the changing color pattern on his legs and chest, and those silly brow feathers ! And THOSE WINGS !!! v @
The landscapes make everything seems so real, I really have not regret about this commission, it's more than I could have expected. Thank you so much.
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I'm so glad you like him! 
I think the desert types are probably my favorite to draw because of their over the top feather/facial expression, and also because their foot anatomy is a little more simplified: These guys have feet that are so much closer to hooves, THANK GOODNESS. Also, ridiculous big wings and tail, and their eyeliner game is strong. AND EYEBROWS.
Thanks again so much for your patience and for your sketches and drawings of these guys, THEY MAKE ME SO HAPPY!
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I love the thoughtful design and desert element. Absolutely beautiful!
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Is it alright if I make my own Aequis character? If not, that's okay. I really like these guys, btw.
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Glad you like them! Currently, the only way to acquire an Aequis is via premade designs I sell now and again, by ordering a custom from me, or from someone selling their Aequis.
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Aequis are a closed species by Pallanoph, so you cant make your own.
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Man, I hope you make a world of type book for your creatures some day. This stuff is amazing.
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Guh, I would love to do a sort of field guide for my critters. I agonize over it a lot, I'll be honest!
I'll need to get to it in the next 10-15 years, I don't want to wait for arthritis to come get me!
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This is awesome, so striking! Love the landing pose with all that dust being blown up very dramatic and dynamic.
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Thanks so much! Sometimes I get lucky and come up with a perfect pose right away and everything falls into place, those are the best moments. And sometimes it's just so soothing to render dust with big mushy watercolor washes!
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Omg! I love it! Those birds are so pretty, they are called Widehopf in my language. But what makes him a desert Aequis?
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Thank you!
Most of his desert traits are: bare patches of skin around eyes/under throat/above point of keel/under wings, broad feet, large ears, long eyebrow feathers, large rounded tail, and those long crest feathers, which would lay more flat and fluffy if he wasn't half grasslander. The feathers are overall longer and looser so that he can fluff them open on hot days to disperse body heat. He's also considerably larger than the grasslander type, which are mid sized for Aequis, though long legged.
(One of these days I'm going to put up a simple reference to differentiate the types, but I've been so tired lately I haven't gotten around to it! *puts it on the to-do list* 
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So their types are not based on the habitats the birds life on which the Aequis is based of?
I saw Hoopoes twice in my life. They are pretty rare sadly. But soooo pretty.
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Sometimes the bird plumage I'm requested to do has a clear Aequis equivalent, but not always! The Harris hawk one I did on a Grasslander x desert hybrid makes sense, since the hawks live in grassy deserts. But Hoopoes are kind of wide in their range, so I guess this one worked out that way, too!
I still need to provide more specific colors and pattern types for each Aequis type. At this point most people have just given me a bird to base it on and I'll give them the Aequis types that color and pattern are most likely to be found on.
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Here! *covers you in soft Aequis feathers*
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awwnt much better <3
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If this was real... I don't know whether I should run away from it or try to make it my pet XD
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It would depend! All Aequis have distinct personalities, but thankfully they're all pretty good at making their intentions known. I think this guy would be pretty chill and friendly: in my head, the desert types are the most well mannered and friendly/difficult to agitate.
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Thats nice! Sadly real life desert animals are far from friendly XD
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Thank you!
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They do 
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It looks amazing and I must say the way you draw it makes it seem so natural like it could actually exist in real life.
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Thanks very much! 
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That's brilliant, I really am looking forward to seeing what you do next!
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You did a great job here! It really looks fantastic with the stripes!
I had to google "Hoope" to find out what the german name of the bird is - and then I laughed because I know it and the english name perfectly sounds like it's call
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Thank you! I'm so relieved that those stripes turned out; it's a challenge to fit those markings onto a differently shaped wing.
I love when birds are named after their calls, we've got plenty of examples in the states! Killdeer, Whip-poor-will, chickadee, Eastern phoebe, etc.
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