ART WAR | 2D | Murdock, The Magnificent | Rudakov

[rudakov]

Name: Eugene Rudakov
e-mail: son-ra@inbox.ru
ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/artist/rudakov
Team: Fantasy

---

Hello everyone!
So, this is my entry for ART WAR contest, and I'm sure it would be tough, fun and useful experience.
I started today and I want to present my first steps in design of my character - Murdock, The Magnificent.
It's not something special for now, but I hope it will be more interesting later. But for now I'm a little bit satisfied, cause I think I achieved some idea for personality of my champion.
P.S.: sorry for my english, it might be terrible sometimes :{

[blackbell93]

I like the last design but (personal opinion) I would change those feathers for a piece of armour maybe, it feels like they don't fit that much with the rest of his outfit hmm eitherway, very good job!

[rudakov]

Thanks for your opinion! I'm not great at armor, but I'll try to figure something out.
So here I made few variations of shoulder stuff, and armor plate looks a bit boring, dead raven - a bit crazy, so I prefer steel raven, I think.
I'll be glad for any tips or ideas
BTW, a little story of champion: he's a renegade paladin, who practicing with reversal paladin arts. He don't fight with undead - he brings dead back to live! But it works, well, not correctly at all.

[blackbell93]

I like the first one, it seems it blends way better with the rest of the design. The idea of the raven is cool but, what if you add the raven as an engraving detail on the iron of the shoulder armour? that whay it wouldn't be that flavourless either

[Crayvv]

The first and last shoulders are absolutely awesome! Has some resting spots and busy areas too so thats good! Perfect design that fits him! Would love to see more! Btw youre good at designing armors come on man! hahaha

[chloeseranne]

My favourite one has definitely got to be the last one. Nice design!
With the previous sketches you did, I really liked the bottom half number one and four.

[CleverBoi]

Neat sketches. I like the the shoulder pads. The first is great. But I think the last is the best. The character is very original. Cheers!

[PetitChat]

Very cool arm armor! I'm with hidoiyo (concerning the armor on the shoulder). The last one is amazing (I like the second one as well ) Your whole design is great.

[rudakov]

@CleverBoi, @hidoiyo, @Kreyhardt, @blackbell93, @PetitChat
Thanks for your kind words, this really means a lot for me!
At last, I decided to chose 4th shoulder type - it seems more epic than others, imo.
My next step is selection of a weapon type, so I sketched a few variations. This doesn't mean that I'll use a current pose after weapon picking, because I'm going to make another pose for concept sheet depending on chosen weapon (or will upgrade current).
So, as it's a reversal paladin who will summon undead allies from fallen heroes, I think that ritual hammer or both type of swords is fits to him, but I also like how staff looks too (ofc, weapon will be redesigned when I decide which type he will carry).
And I'm curious what kind of weapon you think more preferable for him :}

[PetitChat]

wonderful! I love all of them The fourth one could be an epic second light source and the rope would add some dynamic

[LensPitt]

I really like your design! He has a very strong personality. To me he feels like a narcissist villain who doesn't play fair, therefore i'd go for the short sword or the staff. They both have fighting styles that fit more into that personality imo (if thats the personality youre going for obviously), casting spells from afar or being swift and tricky

[armyerin1]

I agree. The fourth weapon creates a very different dynamic, and he may be buff, but his armor suggests he probably does most of his fighting at a distance. The rope weapon looks like it would be a nasty combo with magical abilities, and it fits with the theme of the armor.

[glubglubz]

First one in the second row is my vote.

[rudakov]

Ok, I'm stuck a little. I can't choose weapon yet, but I figured out, that my character is more magic oriented (summoning etc), so I think it would be choice between magic weapons.
As for "lantern-on-chain-whatever-it-calls-on-english", I don't really see this weapon in his hands on illustration, but It looks like cool vessel for souls or something, so I decided to give that thing to minion.
His name is Bruno and he serves for our hero by carrying all stuff, required for reversal paladin arts ("I'm not an necromancer!" — Murdock shouted). Ofc, I'll give more stuff to him, but right now I just want to find how he will looks like.

[rudakov]

I need an advice and opinion: is it too much for concept? I want to fully show the idea, but I don't know if it's very huge.

[Arulan]

Perhaps for your concept, focus only on Murdock and add a smaller sketch for his minion on the concept sheet. Try and save the supporting characters for the epic final illustration!

[LensPitt]

It's way too much imo, the minion takes all of my attention and Murdock ends up looking like a supporting character

[rudakov]

@Arulan, @LensPitt thanks for your opinion, I agree. Murdock is more like support in current composition, so I'll change it.
Don't really like to draw portraits, but I did this rough piece for better understanding character's face.
It started with a bit more fun, now it's all getting more complicated.
It's a lot of time to do my best and show something good, and I hope I can do it right. Here too much really good artists, I want to be equal someday! Anyway, it's a good opportunity to improve my skills.

[vincent_williams_ii]

Good luck, I hope you do a ton of Composition thumbnails to really get the best Champion illustration possible. You have so much time so I'm looking forward to seeing your final submission develop

[sander-agelink]

Wow! My god your fundamentals are spot on, and I love the concept