Into the Highstorm

It's nice work! You know, the thing that's been hardest for me is figuring out how to make Kaladin looking like he's glowing. In the end, I pushed up his skin tones right into a glowing blue/white. I really need to do more experimentation with it, but I like that the glow is kinda subtle in yours. The book describes it as being something that could be missed during the daylight if he's not holding much, so that kinda works. 

Are you looking for more an artistic critique? Or feedback on faithfulness to the book?

I'll take artistic critique from a fellow artist but my main reason for uploading here, as opposed to an art forum, was to get faithfulness feedback

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, the glow is difficult. If we paint skin tones properly, with primary and secondary light sources etc, the glow is a third/fourth light that can be confusing. As you say, mine is a subtle daylight usage, so an Obi Wan-esque outline glow seems to work.. Edit: though I admit that if he's using lashings I'd imagine him to be holding more than he was in the image I first uploaded, so I've redone it and given him a haircut. Hopefully it's more believable now..

The glow on yours is done well. I'm impressed with your design & rendering of the carapace armour too.

What of the spren? And Syl? I think Shardblades are supposed to be quite a bit more intricate, but to me 'gracefulness' generally wears a mask of simplicity.. and I do want her to appear graceful..

Edited January 4, 2018 by bluesungfruit

Well, I think it looks amazing (+1), but as far as faithfulness goes, I would make some changes with the windspren. Windspren, especially when they're moving, can take many forms, including people and leaves, though they are mainly "ribbons of light".

This might be an intentional choice on your part, but the heads of the windspren in your picture look more like Mandras (aka Luckspren), the spren that fly around greatshells (probably bonding with them to keep them from being crushed under their own weight). Mandras are specifically described as having arrow-shaped heads. 

One more, thing, I can't really see Kal's eyes, but they should be glowing a light sapphire blue.

Overall, it looks really good! Out of curiosity, is this digital or physical?

Edited January 4, 2018 by Carbonationspren

I'm really bad at faithfulness to the books (i'm a sloppy listener) but what i can say is this looks amazing! i especially love the sort of almost impressionist painting style of the background. It's just a very organic, pleasant rendering style ♥

Thank you both for the kind words

And Carbonationspren, thanks also for the pointers! Yes, I knew the spren weren't quite right but couldn't say why. Actually they were more ribbon-shaped previously, then I went and complicated them..!

I will work on his face a little more. His eye is visible as light blue up close (full size image), but I will highlight it more so it's clear at smaller res.

Oh, it's digital. I was given a pack of acrylics for Christmas, I think in the hope that I would create a nice traditional canvas for someone, but I can't drag myself away from the computer long enough....

Edited January 5, 2018 by bluesungfruit

(This is the third time I've started writing this comment, I keep getting distracted clicking through the three images you uploaded!) 

This is really beautiful! I really love how the shattered plains have developed. I'm a sucker for the longer hair and how it flows in your original, but I'm sure the latest one is more accurate for the books. You were asking about the spren, and I want to say they feel pretty accurate for what I imagine. I see some other commenters already specified on those. 

Either way, seriously gorgeous work, and impressive textures and rendering for digital! (or period, just meant it looks like your hand) 

5 hours ago, KaylaChristine said:

(This is the third time I've started writing this comment, I keep getting distracted clicking through the three images you uploaded!)

Hehe!

5 hours ago, KaylaChristine said:

This is really beautiful! I really love how the shattered plains have developed. I'm a sucker for the longer hair and how it flows in your original, but I'm sure the latest one is more accurate for the books. You were asking about the spren, and I want to say they feel pretty accurate for what I imagine. I see some other commenters already specified on those. 

Either way, seriously gorgeous work, and impressive textures and rendering for digital! (or period, just meant it looks like your hand) 

Thank you very much! Yes, I liked that hair too. And it's nice to hear someone mention the plains -- I thought they looked pretty cool, if a little rough.

I came on the site just now to upload a new picture I've done of the plains, actually, so it'd be great to see what you think about that..