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Gaspode5 — Riordan - The Duelist

Published: 2012-06-18 22:10:58 +0000 UTC; Views: 3160; Favourites: 87; Downloads: 26
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Description Edit:
I did some serious re-shaping of Riordan's face which was all over the place. With that came repositioning of the right eye. I also tweaked the sword hand and hilt. Finally I increased the contrast a little. Hopefully now he should look both a little bit more sozzled and taunting.

I went back and tweaked the sword that did look odd. Also I wasn't happy with Riordan's face which looked too smooth compared to the rest of the picture and a bit flat. I also uploaded a close up here [link]

More art for the story 'The Narrow Path'. Riordan of the Grey Wardens, a small character that appears in the end of the game Dragon Age: Origins but was given his own story since he deserved it.

This is Riordan at not quite his finest. I was trying to capture his particular brand of cocky recklessness and he is a man that doesn't care much for convention, or safety. My guess is he's just a little bit drunk here, perhaps it's a bet.

For anybody curious about his character, here's a link to the story [link]

I did experiment a lot in this picture both with colours and these amazing brushes [link] I constantly try to get a more 'painterly' feel and here I almost got there but unfortunately I tripped myself up and tweaked his face a bit too much. I might rectify that together with the sword soon.

The pose is actually inspired by the almost iconic pose that Harvey Keitel uses in the film The Duellists. Yes, I know he fights with a sabre and Riordan is using a sword but this is fantasy so I fantasise.
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Comments: 64

Gaspode5 In reply to ??? [2013-02-25 10:25:33 +0000 UTC]

I agree totally. That's why olivegbg and I began writing the story, he needed it. And then of course, it needed illustrations.

Always good to meet a fellow Riordan aficionado.

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Darkslayer0905 In reply to Gaspode5 [2013-02-25 17:11:00 +0000 UTC]

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KaanaMoonshadow [2013-02-06 09:03:49 +0000 UTC]

If this wasn't already in my s, I'd totally it again - you know I have a soft spot for troublemakers with pretty eyes and scruffy good looks. Nice edit, you're progressing with every image. Keep up the good work!

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Gaspode5 In reply to KaanaMoonshadow [2013-02-06 10:09:26 +0000 UTC]

Aw thank you. Yes we share that particular obsession. I do have an image of a certain ranger in the works but I have to finish something else first and it's-really-boring-but-I-promised. Sigh

I'm glad the edit was an improvement. One never knows.

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olivegbg [2013-02-03 16:04:08 +0000 UTC]

The face is great now moving the eye was the right idea. Still think the blade seems, hm, less than sharp at the point.

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Gaspode5 In reply to olivegbg [2013-02-03 22:24:16 +0000 UTC]

Bah, who needs weapons with eyes like that.

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olivegbg In reply to Gaspode5 [2013-02-04 17:23:14 +0000 UTC]

You have a point...

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Gaspode5 In reply to olivegbg [2013-02-04 18:24:08 +0000 UTC]

Unlike the sword...

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olivegbg In reply to Gaspode5 [2013-02-04 18:52:46 +0000 UTC]

He he yes.

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DaggerXIV [2013-02-03 15:55:08 +0000 UTC]

Simply amazing I like the perpesctive and how he's unting his blade againt me.

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Gaspode5 In reply to DaggerXIV [2013-02-03 22:25:14 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Riordan needs more love.

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CodyWolf [2012-11-15 17:04:48 +0000 UTC]

Amazing. I love the angle and the colors. Makes his eyes stand out and the sword really draws the eye. Gret wor.

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Gaspode5 In reply to CodyWolf [2012-11-15 21:56:08 +0000 UTC]

I wanted his eyes to be a focus since in the story they are described as quite intense. I used the same neutral grey in the sword highlights. Many thanks for the comment, it is much appreciated.

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CodyWolf In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-11-16 00:37:13 +0000 UTC]

Your very welcome.

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Murdelizer [2012-08-27 20:58:19 +0000 UTC]

I love the pose and the weapons. for my taste the blue eyes are a little over the top. but it's still a wonderful piece. beard, chest hair, yummie!

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Gaspode5 In reply to Murdelizer [2012-08-28 09:18:43 +0000 UTC]

Riordan is yummy, no doubt about it and if I can capture some of that I'm happy. Hm yes, the eyes were a deliberate experiment and may not suit all tastes. As I imagine Riordan he has these very intense almost predatory eyes, which is what I aimed for. The curious thing is they are actually a neutral grey but against the other colours of the image they look very blue. I deliberately re-used the colour in the highlights of the weapons too, but I don't know if it's that noticeable. Again, thank you so much for the comment, it's very appreciated.

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Murdelizer In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-08-28 09:54:39 +0000 UTC]

His expression just says "I'll just pinch you a little, if you don't mind."
Now that you mention it the blue/grey in the shading is obvious...

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Gaspode5 In reply to Murdelizer [2012-08-28 10:23:58 +0000 UTC]

"...and if you mind, I'll pinch you anyway."
Phew, at least that worked. I'll have to live with that his eyes won't appeal to everybody.

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Murdelizer In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-08-28 10:30:42 +0000 UTC]

[stupid fangirl mode] "Yeah, you can pinch me with your big sword anytime you want..." *giggle*[/stupid fangirl mode]
Don't get me wrong, I still love the eyes, they just seem to be a *little* too brigt in comparison to the overall composition of the pic. No point discussing it, the more often I look at them, the more I begin to like them.

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Gaspode5 In reply to Murdelizer [2012-08-28 10:39:18 +0000 UTC]

Aha! Nobody can resist 'that look'. Seriously, you could be right and I might have to 'tone them down' a bit. I'll look into it.

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Murdelizer In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-08-28 12:08:24 +0000 UTC]

How should a girl resist that look if even the mighty Gray Warden Duncan can't?

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Gaspode5 In reply to Murdelizer [2012-08-28 12:42:37 +0000 UTC]

Indeed, we are suckers.

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Murdelizer In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-08-28 15:14:02 +0000 UTC]

Why the sad face?

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Gaspode5 In reply to Murdelizer [2012-08-28 15:16:36 +0000 UTC]

Because I have reason to suspect Riordan has no interest in us at all. Sigh

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olivegbg [2012-07-01 15:44:44 +0000 UTC]

Uh, nice scarring!

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Gaspode5 In reply to olivegbg [2012-07-01 19:49:43 +0000 UTC]

I know he probably has more but it's early days yet and some are hidden by the clothes he unfortunately had to wear. Ah well...

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olivegbg In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-07-01 19:53:14 +0000 UTC]

Love the one on his lip. Bad fall when drunk, head-butted by Duncan...?

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Gaspode5 In reply to olivegbg [2012-07-01 20:04:23 +0000 UTC]

Hm, head-butted by Duncan I think.

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olivegbg In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-07-01 20:07:30 +0000 UTC]

I'm sure he had it coming! :-D

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Gaspode5 In reply to olivegbg [2012-07-01 20:13:18 +0000 UTC]

Damn right. I actually made his nose a bit bigger too. Oh and since you liked his eyes I put up a detail version of just his face, and the hand with the light.

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olivegbg In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-07-01 20:19:17 +0000 UTC]

Snicked! Nice scar closeup!:-D

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Gaspode5 In reply to olivegbg [2012-07-01 20:21:12 +0000 UTC]

Yeah the scars, nothing else right...

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olivegbg In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-07-01 20:23:02 +0000 UTC]

All my favorite parts! Who am I kidding?!

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Gaspode5 In reply to olivegbg [2012-07-01 20:31:01 +0000 UTC]

Not me.

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olivegbg In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-07-01 20:35:57 +0000 UTC]

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JadenAnderson [2012-06-29 07:13:33 +0000 UTC]

This is an awesome picture! I love the angle and well, everything else as well haha. Riordan is awesome xD

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Gaspode5 In reply to JadenAnderson [2012-06-29 07:36:16 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks. Yes Riordan is awesome and deserves lots of attention.

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olivegbg [2012-06-26 15:37:36 +0000 UTC]

But he is lovely dear! The eyes are stunning, as is the light on the hand holding the dagger. Even considering perspective the weapons look pretty blunt, but no matter, Riordan looks like he can take care of himself either way

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Gaspode5 In reply to olivegbg [2012-06-26 18:29:29 +0000 UTC]

Yes, I noticed they don't look so sharp but I had so much trouble getting the shapes right I decided sharpness will come next, and possibly a few scars.

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olivegbg In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-06-26 19:43:24 +0000 UTC]

That will do the trick! absolutely!

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EpiphanyAndromeda [2012-06-19 19:18:15 +0000 UTC]

I really like his "devil-may-care" smirk. It really captures the essence of the character. Good job!

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Gaspode5 In reply to EpiphanyAndromeda [2012-06-20 11:28:51 +0000 UTC]

Hooray! That was what I was aiming for. For a while there he did look a little bit too sinister and Olivegbg would have been upset so I had to change it. Thank you.

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EpiphanyAndromeda In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-06-20 22:06:23 +0000 UTC]

No, he definitely did not look sinister. You shall be spared the wrath of Olivegbg.

It is a very expressive piece.

I had to look up the Harvey Keitel picture just to compare. Good choice of pose.

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Gaspode5 In reply to EpiphanyAndromeda [2012-06-21 08:14:17 +0000 UTC]

Heh, he did look a bit more sinister before but I managed to tone it down.

Yes, the pose stuck in my mind years ago and resurfaced when I was looking for a pose for Riordan. Wonderful film too.

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raynetempura [2012-06-19 16:58:04 +0000 UTC]

This is great! I really liked Riordan even though his "screen time" was so brief. Good job. ^_^

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Gaspode5 In reply to raynetempura [2012-06-20 11:25:54 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Yes he did stand out as a character that should have had more appearances in the game. In the end he was the true hero since the Wardens wouldn't have been able to kill the Arch demon if he hadn't brought it down. Also I really liked the voice, mmmm....

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raynetempura In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-06-20 14:22:49 +0000 UTC]

Heheh, me too. Did he have more story in a book somewhere? I haven't read them yet.

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Gaspode5 In reply to raynetempura [2012-06-20 14:35:02 +0000 UTC]

No, unfortunately not. I read through The Calling and The Stolen Throne when I began working on my story, just to get background information but he wasn't even mentioned. Sigh. There's plenty of Duncan in The Calling though and I tried to incorporate some of that.

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raynetempura In reply to Gaspode5 [2012-06-20 18:00:48 +0000 UTC]

Well, that's good at least. I really loved Duncan, too. If I ever made the movie, I would cast Liam Neeson as Duncan. He may not really have the build, but he would play have the perfect execution of the attitude and stuff! That's my opinion, at least... D:

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Gaspode5 In reply to raynetempura [2012-06-21 08:17:57 +0000 UTC]

Hm, not a bad idea. Yes Duncan is another great and in the game sadly neglected character but that's why I write fan fiction and do fan art, so these two get their due.

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