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Lady-Owl — CTN 0452-9
Published: 2012-12-01 06:56:50 +0000 UTC; Views: 18395; Favourites: 377; Downloads: 189
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Description
- Edit: I did a couple small adjustments to her face because some things about it were bothering me. A bust of Cortana as she appears in Halo 4. Did this as practice and to test the limits of this computer, as I wasn't working this much with digital art the last time I used it. It runs like ass. Related Work:
Materials
Drawn with Pencil on Printer Paper 8.5x11
Colored in Photoshop 5.0 with Mouse
Character (c) 343i, artwork (c) Lady Owl 2012 | Tumblr
Related content
Comments: 45
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you really improved! i just looked at a picture you did of her in 2006 and compared it to this. very impressive!
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Thank you! I would hope I'd improve in over 6 years!
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you are a skilled artist it is a good depiction of the character.
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Cortana is a good character, and would be a good person. you depicted her well. kudos and bravo.
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This art is absolutely beautiful.
I'm no artist, so I can't go into analyses of your use of colour or composition (other than it's exemplary), but I will say this: This is one of the best pieces of Halo fanart I have ever seen. In fact, one of the best pieces of art I've ever seen full stop.
You've absolutely captured Cortana here. Most of the Halo fanart so rarely does her justice.
(I've just fulfilled your bet, haven't I? sorry, I couldn't help myself).
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Well wow, that is quite a flattering comment. Thank you very much for your kind words. I was actually doubting how well I had captured her, so I really appreciate that.
(and not at all. Your comment is the type any artist would be grateful to receive)
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Goregous! I love the expression and Glowyness! Her eyes are done really well!
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I really love the subtle shading around her nose and eyes for some reason. It's always stuff like that that catches my eye and tells me how much work and attention to detail the artist put into their work. Especially, you know, considering you used a damn mouse. 
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Lol... well this is one of those drawings where I really wish I did have a tablet.
I like this one, but it didn't come out the way I really wanted it to, and I know it is because I had to use a mouse. Not that using a tablet would necessarily be better, as I heard that you have to relearn a lot to work with one, before it feels as natural as pencil on paper, but I figure using one, I could at least have the ability to apply the amount of pressure I want and keep a steady hand...
Actually, the pressure thing could be my lack of knowledge with PS, or that I have an older version, I'm not sure. But having the ability to adjust my pressure, would make shit so much easier. I use so many layers because of a lack of pressure adjustments, and because shit is hard enough getting it decent the first time with a mouse, that I don't want to risk making adjustments to it, and messing it all up again.
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>Rightfully complain about stupid commenters
>commenters proceed to asskiss.
Her expression is really cute, but she almost looks asian here.
Keep up the great work
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That would make a great Art Student Owl meme.
Yeah, I have this bad habit of "cat eying" female eyes; seems fine in sketch form, add color... fuck.
I might do a couple more portrait drawings of various ladies, to force myself out of doing old mistakes I keep repeating. Or maybe I'll just start drawing Asians exclusively.
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yeeey memes!
Rofl, those are both good options XDD
i tend to draw all my women the same way too
i've tried so hard to break the habit >.>'
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Lol, I bet that regardless of your Artist Description, there is going to be at least 10% of your comments regarding how "sexy" Cortana is and/or how they want to fuck her.
You know the really sad thing about that is that even within her universe she's not real. =/
ANYWAYS! I really love this. I love the highlights and shadows and yet how she's slightly transparent. I love how your pallete consists of blue and the various shades of blue. I mean, I can see the small splotches of red, but the canvas is primarely blue. And I feel that you captured her 'sassy' kind of aditude with this bust. 
And those eyes! So crips and so vibrant; my eyes are instantly drawn to hers. That's a sign of a good portrait/bust IMO.
Wonderful job all the way around.
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Nah, I got fucking lazy again and didn't put all her markings, like on her shoulders and stuff ( Believe it or not, it was actually easier to do it traditionally). This computer was making me go crazy, I couldn't even run PS and Firefox at the same time without it throwing a tantrum, so towards the end of this, I just wanted to get it done before I melted.
It took me 2 minutes to save it. EVERY TIME.
As for the comments, they wont come till later. Watchers usually get first dips, then over the coming days, weeks, months, randoms will trickle in and those types never read descriptions anyway.
I like to digital color, but I just don't have the precision and control I would if it were pencils, so it never feels like I'm doing things the way I really want to. Like, I really like this image, but it didn't turn out how I really wanted it, so I'm torn on it. But I wanna get better with colors, actually, it's just easier to experiment and make corrections with digital art, over traditional, obviously.
Glad her eyes came out well and that you enjoyed the drawing regardless of the issues I'm having with it. Thank you.
As for her being real, well, I find it interesting that sci-fis have been addressing that recently. I know you never got into Mass Effect, and I'm not sure you ever got into Transformers, but the concept of synthetic/robotic/artificial life not being considered "real" is being talked about a lot more often. Cortana having a real body that can feel and be touched, really isn't that far off of an idea, especially with how advanced the Forerunners are and that Halo 4 touched on the concept of organics and synthetics coming together to form new life forms.
With all the time and work 343 put into Cortana, her rampancy (which has a stage of becoming a true sentient life), bringing up the fact that she is very unique and a clone of Halsey's brain, along with the relationship with the Chief and the cyborgish elements added with the Knights and Forerunner tech, seems to me Cortana may very well become a lot more than she currently is, in the future. The ending already hinted at it.
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Ug, I've had computers that bad before. You could try to defrag it and that might help it a little. Other than that or just resetting it back to factory settings, I don't know how to make a computer having an emotional breakdown at the fact that it's figured out it's a computer. If it's a microsoft, the updates that they so love to do every 5 hours could be messing it up really bad too, so turn off auto update. If not a Microsoft, then I cannot help because I'm an idiot with Macs.
That is true, I have noticed a lot more stories have that kind of theme, and it's not just Sci-Fi, there are a handful of Fantasy books that have that element too. Like this one series I read had a vampire character that was mind controled by the Litch, and the vampire had very few thoughts of self awairness and she kept contemplaiting if she was even real, if she was even alive, and eventually those thoughts freed her from his control. I know, undead doesn't equal robot/AI, but within that universe the undead might as wel have been robots or AI. You get the idea.
Lol, it's funny to see the trends in themes in entertainment media.
BUT, what I was saying, she's not real within her universe as of Halo CE all the way to 3 and most of 4.
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It's the ram.
Back when Windows Vista first came out, remember everyone complaining about how shit it was? My theory for that was it was a giant memory hog and it was being shipped on computers with limited ram that could not handle the system.
This image was like 4500x3500 when I was working on it and took up 645,000kb of ram. The desktop I was using back at my parent's house had 8gigs of ram. I could have a fuck ton of programs all running at once. Have youtube vids on autoplay while working on digital art, no issue. But Falcon's friend might have some computer parts for us to gut. At least ram is a lot cheaper now than it used to be. I'm hoping to get at least 4gigs ram which is what my dad's new laptop was running on and it worked really smooth.
As for Cortana, I still considered her real. I don't think the same deep principles were being said in any Halo media back then about her, but what is being revealed more recently is certainly implying she is far more real and special than even other smart A.I.s.
Sci-fis certainly seem to be... sharing (and I say that politely), a lot lately. I think everyone is so inspired by one another, and seeing how successful the other is, that they just wanna piggy back off of it. So many concepts in Halo 4 feel very very similar to Mass Effect, which is a shame. Every sci-fi has had their own distinct feel about them, that everyone being so inspired by one another, is ruining individual charm. Take for example, that Star Trek movie that came out in 2009. They come out of warp right into a debris field of destroyed ships to face down an extremely large, powerfully advanced never before seen enemy ship with intense orange lighting. Fucking hell... sound fucking familiar? (well for you it wouldn't), this is almost the exact damn scene out of Mass Effect 2's suicide mission... which came out a year later. Thankfully I played the game before watching the movie, as the experience in the game was 100x more scary and thrilling, but still. Probably also why BioWare added so many fucking lens flares everywhere (not that I hate those). THEN Halo 4 does that too. On top of several other extremely close similarities.
I want Halo to feel like Halo's unique universe. And Mass Effect to feel like Mass Effect. And Aliens to feel like Aliens. You get the idea. And while it's cool to be inspired by something, changing your already unique successful idea, to be like something you admire... just no
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I love this as ever but it's the eyes that really get me - they're so real and the light bouncing off them is so striking!
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I can most definitely tell that you are irked, but you phrase yourself so eloquently it makes me giggle. I wouldn't be sure if the stupid comment journal is a good idea, unless it's just the highlights, DA might break under the upload size.
That aside - you seem to be able to artify her more spectacularly every time .3.
Now if only i had enough money for the game >.<
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I can't help it, Lost. I can't post one drawing anymore without the stupid coming along. I know I'm on the internet and all and it's like... a lot to ask for common sense, but my fucking God...
Yes, it would be just the highlights. I don't think I could keep my sanity collecting all of them.
Ask for a Christmas gift? I miss playing with you. ;__;
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Sadly, we knew we'd find ourselves hipdeep in outstanding displays of stupidity on the point of genius when we signed up. IQ scores are not a prerequisite for an internet account ;-; Oh well, when faced with incredible idiocy, I just go back and watch this video [link] Don't know if it'll make sense but it makes me smile in knowing that the internet, for all it's moss-swathed tunnels and branches, does herald some truly spectacular intellect now and then :3 One of the best half hour's I've spent on youtube
And, lets be honest, if we went and redeemed every stupid comment in your whole gallery, I don't know if we'd live long enough to amass the whole collection
>3> *If it turns out I didn't quite withdraw enough for my excursion to see da lady (not da Lady, sadly 
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This is impressive art...a very nice work!! (I apologize for my lack of skill as an art critic) Much better than my own, though to be honest I'm an amateur who only works with charcoal.
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O_O
Sorry about the lame comments others may make.... I've never played the game. I was thinking the woman looked like she was a hologram or something, and the lines across her made her look like a projection of some sort. You've got the stark lighting/deep shadow thing down pat. It looks so real I had to deliberately think about the fact that you used white to signify the spots where the lighting hits her. Also, she has kind eyes.
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I love the overall feel to this piece, it's soft and calming and Cortana seems peaceful. I also love the tiny little details in her eyes, they give her so much life, it's very awesome and beautiful. And your line work! Love it! I really like how it's more defined around her face and softer around her neck and shoulders. Excellent work!
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This is beautiful. I love what you've done with the colours and lighting on this painting.
Damn it, now I need to go oogle at concept art and try again.
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I was about to make an intelligent comment about this piece, and then I read your description. Can't breathe for laughing!
Okay, but in all seriousness, I love her expression and the way her eyes just pop, despite the fact that they are in the same color scheme as the rest of her. You are so amazing with drawing eyes.
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i have to say i know nothing about the character because i know nothing about halo or the franchise but i do like your artwork and the way it looks by the time you publish though not sure of how it looks before hand other than some of you scraps in EUTS but other than that. i like how you did her face it reminds me of the patterns of faces i have in my special deviants colloction in my favorites. this peice would surely fit! my favorite style of artwork from you though so far is by far the colored pencil ones like in "bliss", "guardian angel", "its been a long time" or the digital (or was it colored pencil?) in the portraits you did for your caharacters in EUTS
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Very beautiful! Cortana looks great in your style!
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Well, you've done an impressive job making her look like a hologram, as well as making her look impressive.
That last bit will most likely be added to your growing list of people to fulfill that bet,
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No, not at all. In fact, you have always left extremely polite and nice comments on top of the fact you almost always comment. This time is no exception. I'm very thankful to have you as a follower of my work.
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^^ Well, I'm grateful to have met a great person like yourself.
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I love how you do the eyes and face, such a gentle look that conveys her inquisitive and beautiful personality.
The colours are also true to her AI form and I also like the smile she has.
her latest fate made me feel sad inside.
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Thank you, I really appreciate that, especially since I had many ups and downs working on this one.
I honestly don't think we've seen the last of her, though.
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you sure conveyed the gentle (motherly) aspect of cortana. Well, the colours are well done...
I hope they allow us to see cortana again.
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