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Inkthinker — Duelist Armor Design

Published: 2005-08-16 11:10:50 +0000 UTC; Views: 22085; Favourites: 475; Downloads: 1821
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Description -MAJOR EDIT-

Used the old "mirror trick" to fix one of her eyes and the cant of her lips... they were just slightly off, which in some ways is worse than being totally off... it's like a mosquito behind your eyes. At any rate, I think it's much better now, but I doubt anyone else will notice.

You might notice that I totally changed the layout, though. Mixed it with the original thumbnail doodles and sized it up like a wallpaper. And if you like it, you're welcome to use it as such.



-END EDIT-

* * *

EXTRA! EXTRA!

threw down some pretty sweet colors on this character. Check 'em out! [link]

* * *

Finished pencils for an armor design of my own creation... just playing around, not sure how I'll apply this character.

Made of very strong but very light metals, capable of withstanding light attacks easily, medium attacks to some degree, and will at least reduce the damage of heavy attacks. It's not going to hold up against most arrows or anything but a light pistol crossbow, either. The armor is designed to be very articulate, but this added complexity requires a good deal of maintainance and care. The armor can be put on by a person alone with enough preperation, but it's best to have someone to assist in the fine fitting. Beneath the metal are layers of leather, fine chain mesh at the pits, waist and elbows, and an underlayer of silk (both breathes and is very strong). If you'd like a closer look at the gloves, they're the same as this design from a while back: [link]

The grommets around the neckline serve as bolt holes to attach a gorget (neck protection), and a helm completes the suit. Both are left off here because... ummm... it looks cooler and has more character this way, I guess. But I'll probably do another couple illustrations with this outfit, when I have some time. I like this armor design a lot. I'd like to do a short comic around this character, but then again I'd like to do a short comic around almost every character I create. *shrug*

Total time for both illustrations: approx. 4 hours, both drawn on 9x2 Bristol with a 4H and HB pencil. A ruler and two erasers (one soft, one kneaded) were the only other tools. No particular reference used, but the boots are straight-up early Yukito Kishiro, and the elbows spark shades of Ahihiko Yoshida.

Related content
Comments: 90

RedTRexGames [2013-05-10 07:05:42 +0000 UTC]

Amazing work!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Turnpike303 [2012-05-09 01:31:23 +0000 UTC]

awesome concept

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Bergholtz [2012-03-02 19:08:58 +0000 UTC]

It might be a bit to overloaded for swashbuckling but it is still a really good looking armour design. One thing is bothering me though. Everything seem like it was meant for a historically inspired fantasy setting but the soles of her boots looks like modern rubber boot soles.

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Inkthinker In reply to Bergholtz [2012-03-03 05:58:59 +0000 UTC]

...dragon leather!! Trimmed and shaped.



Honestly, I'm not sure what material they ought to be, I just liked the idea of treaded boots. Tread seems to me like one of those inventions that really should have existed long before it did.

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Bergholtz In reply to Inkthinker [2012-03-03 10:01:38 +0000 UTC]

I think that it probably would have been invented earlier if there would have been a suitable material for it. One that did not broke off or wore down to quicky. Instead people used metal studs for soles and wheels. Err I'm usually not anal about things like this, I just commented because the soles made me wonder if the character was for a more modern setting. Let me also add that I'm always happy to see a woman who is drawn to be more than eyecandy. The pouch on her stomach is my favorite detail. On the few armour designs that I have made I never think of a good looking way for the character to store stuff.

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2kuhl4you [2011-11-07 22:56:32 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful Work! My Compliments!

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scorpsting [2010-10-29 00:55:41 +0000 UTC]

the armor design is a bit weird, like the back of the collar, the twin rapiers, and armor-scale skirt with random things. Still, its very hard to analyze it when there is that much epic pencil detail.

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Scarlethope [2010-04-09 06:04:16 +0000 UTC]

Superb work my friend, I love pictures like this-the heavily detailed armor pieces

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Inkthinker In reply to Scarlethope [2010-04-17 05:11:11 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! That one's still a favorite, especially the spine. I'm sure I'll get a good use out of it someday soon.

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Scarlethope In reply to Inkthinker [2010-04-24 02:44:11 +0000 UTC]

I am quite fond of the spine as well.

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3EyedGirl [2009-12-29 02:51:00 +0000 UTC]

as awsome and well thought out that looks
it looks like it would pinch a lot
lol

but still
really cool

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corvo450 [2009-08-05 17:52:11 +0000 UTC]

This is friggin AWESOME!! You got skills.

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Kissakisan [2009-05-25 04:48:02 +0000 UTC]

I love this armor design

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batoma [2009-01-01 19:50:45 +0000 UTC]

nice, I like all the detail and how she has all the things on her belt.
You can see all with the 360 view, nice work.

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arcais [2008-11-12 05:32:41 +0000 UTC]

Nice looking design and rendering and details.

I see I came upon this one about 3 years late, haha. Have to check the rest of your pics.

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SkirmisherLex23 [2008-09-25 23:54:11 +0000 UTC]

Sweet! I love it!

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EmbryH [2008-06-03 21:41:22 +0000 UTC]

Love the details!

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Blackfire-Dragon [2008-04-14 19:09:42 +0000 UTC]

Its a GREAT work!!! i'd just wish that MY "mixed armor" looked like this!!! , though i did mine some years ago b4 taking any lessons, but though i'd create a new one it wouldnt b as good as this one!!

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raulovsky [2007-09-13 06:24:08 +0000 UTC]

love the design and details

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G-Master64 [2007-09-12 07:48:13 +0000 UTC]

aquite a lot of armor for just dueling unless that's her name. awsome job keep it up.

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Inkthinker In reply to G-Master64 [2007-09-14 10:45:16 +0000 UTC]

You know, I actually realised some time after I named it that you're right... she is WAY overloaded for dueling. And what's up with the mace/baton? I think my logic was that a professional duelist that had intentions of continued survival might wear lightweight, highly articulate plate (which is all I really wanted to draw when I did this). But it really doesn't makes sense in terms of dueling as a real profession.

I've long since rethought this character entirely, in a role much more suitable to her appearance, but I'm just too damn lazy to come back and rework this drawing and change it... folks will just have to wait until I come around to it again to find out how this has evolved.

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MysteryofAlbesila [2007-07-09 14:46:48 +0000 UTC]

great work!

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z3r0t0lerance [2007-04-14 11:31:13 +0000 UTC]

awesome details and design

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BurgerLord [2007-01-20 01:54:54 +0000 UTC]

The detail in this picture is fraken insane, simply amazing.

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sketch404 [2006-08-23 04:57:45 +0000 UTC]

love the armor design

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cheeny [2006-07-28 05:34:40 +0000 UTC]

insane. i cant draw details like that, u managed to keep it neat, reeeally neat, i like the backgound and the 360 view.(by mirror trick you mean u held it up to a mirror,right?i havent done that in ages.)

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Inkthinker In reply to cheeny [2006-07-28 06:32:49 +0000 UTC]

Same trick, pretty much. I'm doing it in Photoshop, by flipping the image along the horizontal, and then touching up anything that looks weird with transforms and cloning and such.

I totally recommend it as a technique towards mastering symmetry and balance. A lot of us unconciously skew sometimes, and this can totally bring it out enough so that you can see it and fix it.

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cheeny In reply to Inkthinker [2006-07-28 06:41:13 +0000 UTC]

i know what u mean, ima get photoshop realy soon.

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Astrocat [2005-09-21 21:36:34 +0000 UTC]

I love the attention to detail and trying to make it be able to work in real life. it intresting the mix of clothing, weapons and armour from different periods *fav*

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Irruki [2005-09-05 00:34:32 +0000 UTC]

Dude... I was just browsing through DA and came across this... I gotta say that this is a really awesome piece of work!!! ^__^ So detailed and awesome!!! ^__^ What kind of pencils and cleanup techniques do you use to get that finished look? ^__^

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DarkCrow41 [2005-08-21 15:05:34 +0000 UTC]

Oh wow... This is incredible! Love the detail! Ever thought about colour?

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Inkthinker In reply to DarkCrow41 [2005-08-22 04:28:00 +0000 UTC]

It could happen.

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DarkCrow41 In reply to Inkthinker [2005-08-27 07:41:57 +0000 UTC]

Well, I think colour would suit it quite well!

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Inkthinker In reply to DarkCrow41 [2005-08-27 08:06:01 +0000 UTC]

I think Seed did a pretty good job on it. Made her face a little bonier than I would have liked, perhaps, but he built a good color scheme that steps beyond what I would have thought of myself.

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DarkCrow41 In reply to Inkthinker [2005-08-27 19:42:33 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, Seed did a mighty fine job! I like it a lot!

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steamrobo [2005-08-20 14:56:44 +0000 UTC]

your clothe/sword/armor designs kick so much ass

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Ivanovaili [2005-08-20 00:25:12 +0000 UTC]

I'm in awe! My eyes are bleeding... SO MUCH DETAIL!
hATS OFF BEFORE THE mASTAH!

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Lawbringer-Vypr [2005-08-18 14:18:58 +0000 UTC]

There is just something amazingly magical about your designs, and the amount of care and detail you put into them. This is absolutely phenomenal.
Also, the mirror trick is very useful - I use it quite frequently

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Taimat [2005-08-18 06:40:59 +0000 UTC]

nice but the hair is a bit over the edge , hes a cool character overall but he dosent really appeal to me
the two reapier consept is cool though

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Inkthinker In reply to Taimat [2005-08-18 09:38:11 +0000 UTC]

"she"

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Taimat In reply to Inkthinker [2005-08-20 16:51:58 +0000 UTC]

lol, one word made my day, but seriously, twas a typo,....dont ask about my english grades

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LucGrigg [2005-08-17 15:29:24 +0000 UTC]

Yo, I can dig it. The sketch work ups in the back ground are a nice touch. Would you object to my attempting to throw colours on the figures?

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Dualmask [2005-08-17 14:34:51 +0000 UTC]

These characters look great. You definitely have an eye for adding authenticity to your character designs. I'm of the opinion that there is a such thing as too much detail. For a pinup, it's fine to go as far as you can but for a character that's going to appear multiple times in a sequential or an animation, redrawing all that could be a serious hassle. Still, the character looks awesome. I don't delve into the physics or believability of a character's design, I just judge on what I see, and I like what I see.

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Inkthinker In reply to Dualmask [2005-08-17 19:17:27 +0000 UTC]

I wouldn't want to animate it traditionally, that's for certain... it's not so bad for comics, I think, since I don't think you'd be always drawing the character in full like this. Might work well for video games, though, 'cause once they build it, it's built.

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therealarien [2005-08-17 12:59:34 +0000 UTC]

wow....i could stare at this for hours!
i like how the armour at the back is like...a spine, very cool.
but alas...

i have nothing much advacned to say!

i could stare at this for hours...in fact i will.

*prints

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dawnblade [2005-08-17 11:25:52 +0000 UTC]

I red the other comments and they said what i thought ....Vagrant story and Final Fasntasy i like the detail and the space of it all it all pretty much even nice work.....

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smartkyle [2005-08-17 11:23:10 +0000 UTC]

Cool its like Ash's armour from vagrant story, even the elbow pads are liek the really similar, cool.

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TheNass [2005-08-17 09:26:29 +0000 UTC]

Very nice man! Very nice

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pinaypenciler [2005-08-17 07:54:46 +0000 UTC]

omg. that is amazing. i love those details

lovely work

~Rose

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lonewolf304 [2005-08-17 05:10:42 +0000 UTC]

great concept art. love the details on the armor.

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