Skin idea - Crystalline Syndra

333lom·Aug 22, 2014·1 votes·904 views

I did this a while ago, but I figured I should try to post it here, let me know what you think :)

11 Comments

SunfieldAug 22, 20141 votes

Good move :). As I said, try putting some more light on it, it will look even neater

333lomAug 22, 20141 votes

Thanks! In fact, I do have a problem with shading and light - I have to work on that, because now it's like I'm afraid of adding bolder shadows and effects to it. I'm looking forward to seeing your art too!

SunfieldAug 22, 20141 votes

Oh I do know that feeling

SunfieldAug 23, 20141 votes

So if you are interested in seeing my take on it, Ive posted my art in community creations

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/fancreations/j978J4m4-shyvana-and-ice-drake-appreciacion-thread-and-my-little-tribute-to-her-and-her-designers

MAZZ1M0Aug 23, 20141 votes

Critique alert: Don't read if you can't handle blunt.

It feels bland and done. It doesn't really seem to say anything and it isn't memorable because it's not attention-getting. You need to design something that resonates or has a feel about it that viewers can attach to it to remember it or connect to it.

Take Justicar Syndra for example, Justicar has the gold, black, white, and red color palette which is interesting enough to look at, but then the helm which covers the eyes and the feather tassel and the sheer elegance of it make it memorable. It grows on you even if you don't like it initially. Your idea suffers (partly) from what Atlantean Syndra suffers from -uninspired or lacking in vision. Riot's idea of Atlantean was ultra blue. As a result, the skin is super boring and doesn't do anything for her. Yours is mega-grey, without unique features like feathers or the blind helm (though I suppose you did give her footwear.)

Refer to some other sources and try a draft sheet coming up with various ideas and sketch them first. Like take inspiration from this: http://www.deviantart.com/art/Dark-Fantasy-381846741 and take the essence or capture the ideas you like and combine them with something else like this http://www.deviantart.com/art/Syndra-The-Dark-Sovereign-Ideation-Thumbnails-342605666 (which is essentially what your idea sheet should look like) and make it fit your vision -well, search for things initially that fit your vision; don't force it.

You'll come out with a much better product with more influences because at the end, no matter how many references you use, you'll still decide what you think looks best. Your idea can work, it just needs to tackled differently.

333lomAug 23, 20141 votes

Well, okay, I get that you don't find the design interesting. But I think it's really because the lack of contrast, nothing else. In the first image you've shown, I see nothing worth remembering when it comes to the design, it just has deep shadows and lighting. In fact, I've done a lot of sketches and plans for this skin, going through many designs. I made a mistake colouring her more gray than dark green, but that can be changed. I had in mind a palette of green, gold and purple, but it just ended up with not enough vibrancy. And the lack of purple.

MAZZ1M0Aug 23, 20141 votes

There's more to it than just color and contrast though. Don't fall into that trap.

The first image shown actually has several colors in it, mostly charcoal and gold, but it has others less pronounced. Because of the style, the deep shadows mask a lot of it which comes out with an effect I rather like -that aside though, what makes it most memorable isn't necessarily the color palette. It's the design and feel of the picture as a whole. The world-is-my-plaything vibe it has is very cool and attention-getting. Even if you don't like the image initially, you remember it for awhile (I didn't like it all that much the first time I saw it.) Then there's just the badass design.

The color doesn't pop, but it's not meant to and that fine, what does work in its favor is the design of her outfit -particularly the gauntlets and breastplate. The helm looks a little weird to me, but you can't miss that either. Its not a question of "Oh I didn't do this one thing right" its the whole package.

A good question to ask yourself is this "If I took the crystal balls out of the picture, would people still think 'crystal Syndra'?"

333lomAug 23, 20141 votes

A simple "I don't like the design" could have been enough. Because I can't use anything from your feedback, you just didn't provide any constructive criticism.

I have to disagree on the design of the first image you've shown, because I didn't find anything interesting, nor memorable on it - and that's because of my taste. It's simply because of your personal taste that you don't like the one I drew, or don't think it leaves an impression, while I like it - that's why I posted it in the first place. I designed the helmet to be that strange on purpose, to add a twist to her repeating look in all of her skins.

There's no point in arguing about taste, you either like it or not. See you in some other thread!

MAZZ1M0Aug 24, 20141 votes

No point in posting just to say "I don't like it." It's fine if our tastes are different, I'm just offering criticism. It's going to be biased. :P