4ScarfAce4 [2013-11-02 16:18:54 +0000 UTC]
Overall
Vision
Originality
Technique
Impact
In My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, alicorn characters tend to have semi-divine powers: they move celestial bodies and cause love to spring between ponies. The brony fandom accordingly designated the canon alicorns the gods of their world, and characters seen as divine - angels or Lauren Faust - are generally ponified as alicorns. So it's hardly surprising that this Earth goddess OC, Lila, became an alicorn when rendered as a pony.
The basic idea behind this picture is ... well, basic. Two OCs, side by side, in surroundings that match them. While the concept of surroundings isn't always seen in OC pairings, they do often appear in groups or pairs. The overall impression is that the artist was trying to show us something beautiful, and used a well-tested arrangement. While the original idea certainly has carried, the concept itself isn't really anything new.
The big winning point in this picture, to me, is the way in which it was carried out. The design of both OC's - remember, Lila, the alicorn, was originally a human figure - is pleasing to the eye, and their colour schemes fit well together. Cryst's special feature, the crystal growths, are also eye-catching without being too obtrusive.
The style of the figures looks very delicate, suggesting a fragility behind those smiles, yet strong enough not to break under the viewer's eyes and to withstand a certain amount of force. The colours and shading are well-applied, and the texture of the manes is particularly eye-catching. The eyes are rendered rather simply. However, this rendition is effective and, more importantly, fits well with the style of the rest of the picture.
The background's design is very well chosen: it evokes snow, ice and wind, which echo the associations that the figures' designs evoke. Colours are mixed and distributed well, and the snowflakes/stars above the characters' heads finish off the picture nicely.
What's the impact of this picture? Well, you need to take a close look. The colours, well-applied and chosen as they are, tend to render the picture rather ineffective in the thumbnail, as they appear both light and synchronized - there's not much contrast. However, if you take the trouble to open the deviation, look at it and examine its components closely, you'll find a lot to like, especially in the aesthetic department. Put simply, this is what Ian Dury called an "eyeball-pleaser".
This picture isn't quite on the top level of art. However, for a piece created in two hours, containing two OCs - it's definitely worth a look. For one, it looks nice. And for another, you may want to investigate the OCs depicted, as they look interesting, absorbing and developed. This is a piece of art worth looking at, by an artist worth keeping an eye on.
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ASinglePetal In reply to 4ScarfAce4 [2013-11-02 16:23:15 +0000 UTC]
Thank you for this!
I would like to add that Lila does have a much more to her in her storyline I just don't like giving it out unless it's a written commission.
I'm glad you like it
This is the first time I drew these two oc's together It would be different if it's another form and it's something new to add to a story I'm writing for my friend.
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4ScarfAce4 In reply to ASinglePetal [2013-11-02 16:27:59 +0000 UTC]
You're most welcome! I hope I could help.
I didn't want to say too much about Lila, in case I made a mistake. Your notes didn't say much about her relationship with Cryst, or even how she became a pony, so I kept that part out of the critique.
And thanks for the llama! Llamas are good. We like llamas.
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