I have a work in progress...and need help!

[esmetarr]

HI! Esme here, I finally feel confident enough to show you guys a work I have in progress. it is still unfinished, and I have to do a bit more brain storming. Now this is a tattoo idea I have to honor this amazing series and how I feel about it and my life. this is not just about the books, it's about the epic voyage, the way each individual grew, some stubbornly, and how I feel I grow through my daily life. I am fairly happy with what I have so far. For sizing purposes, this is on an 8x11 sheet of drawing paper, done in mechanical pencil. it is not square to the paper, as it is a rough draft. I also took the picture with my crappy phone
 
I want this on my back, across my shoulders, the Horn of valere will be hopefully, on my shoulder, if not on the side of my right, upper shoulder/ arm. I still have to figure out whether I want just avendesora leaves on my left, or significant weapons from the books intertwined within the branches. if you look closely, there are quotes from the book. Some will be inside the branches, like part of the bark, or trace along the branches. I am not finished with the quotes and have a massive amount I love from the books.  Also, I am thinking I want the ever famous first paragraph of the books around said tattoo, but am unsure how to incorporate it, whether it be intertwined within the branches of the sprawling avendesora, or floating on a small banner...I just don't want it to look like I over did it. As for color, It will be colored, but not too intensely, not big and bold (although I love bold colors and most of my ink is very colorful), though the leaves will be nice green colors and hopefully with no black outline if I can find the correct artist

 I am a lady, and have tattoos: flower on my leg, flower behind my ear, leaves on my foot (with an acorn), and a delightful corvette logo (the racing flags) tramp stamp...so this will be quite a significant tattoo and I am still iffy on putting a sword on me.

 I am open to artistic criticism and any pointers and comments. remember, this is my first go at drawing in years and it is a rough draft and not completed in the least

[King Richard]

In all honesty, I'd vote for "no, tattoos aren't for me". But I don't feel that that is as helpful to you, or what you are looking for from us. So instead, I will just give my opinion about the art itself, for what that is worth. Keep in mind, I'm no artist, and I especially do not have any experience with tattoos. I don't know what makes them cool, but I do have some opinions about your work so far.

For the most part, I really like it. The Wheel area is particularly good in my opinion. However, I think it immediately lacks something. One thing that was drilled into me as a landscaper over the years, was the rule of threes and fives. Any time we planted trees, bushes, plants or flowers in small numbers, it was always in mostly symmetrical groups of threes or fives. (Sevens at most since anything more than that really doesn't matter visually) Groups of evens just don't look right in nature. How does that relate to this?

Right now, I see the piece is perfectly set up in five sections:

V W H
  V V

However, I think the top left Vine section does need something more to balance it with the Horn. I have no ideas on what that would be though. I don't think weapons would really fit, and I would suggest that whatever you think it should be, it should either be similar in size to the Wheel and Horn, or it and the Horn should be slightly scaled down so the Wheel is the main focus.

I like it in black and white like this, but I also see the appeal of color.

Anyway, I hope that helps. If not, feel free to ignore this, as it's going to be part of you, not me, and your opinion is the only one that really matters.


Also, you should come join us in the test site for next version. It's a great time to perfect your game play strategies, as mistakes don't matter. depo.talij.com

[esmetarr]

I have tried to join the test site, but it wont let me... do I have to create a new character?

And thank you, I do agree that it is missing something, I however, dont know what the heck it is yet. I didnt even mean to set up the picture in fives (as you say). I know, I do need to add somethign to the left, and like I said, I am unsure as to what yet, heck, I may just nix the horn all together, or scale it small and get the avendesora to wrap it's branches around it and hold it up. I am reluctant to erase the horn, because it took me forever to draw it lol..I actually never expected to have the picture expand as it did. it started with the middle avendesora and base, symetrical squiggly things and I continued to work it.

I am not really for symetery...in my mind, life isnt even, nature isnt even, hell, your face aint even, and so I just did what felt right...

[King Richard]

Yep. You have to create a new character. It is a test site though, so don't get too attached to it, as it will be deleted when the live age starts in a few weeks. That's why it's good to try something you normally wouldn't have in a live age.

I don't think you should scrap the Horn. I think it's an important image from the story, even though it's only actually seen in 3 books.

[esmetarr]

The horn is talked about in just about every book though, and like you said, it is quite important!

ok, I'll join...I like my other character though, of course, I'll probably have to start over any way, huh?

[esmetarr]

I cant log on. the new site hates me. I give up. I've tried many times

[Seitaarin]

I'm going to vote colour ... whether you run with that or modified, whatever suits you in the end ... but colour brings out so much in anything you want to tell a story, and ink colours can be done fantastically if you find the right person to do it for you.