HOME | DD
Toughset — The World Never Wanted
Published: 2011-11-15 01:42:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 2372; Favourites: 75; Downloads: 80
Redirect to original
Description
"The World Never Wanted"-
Midterm Self-Portrait done in Pen and Ink. *not sharpies and what not, I mean legit metal pen and inkwell, all done by hand.*
-
First off, I apologize for the content of this piece. The goal was to draw something as a self-portrait, but also as a reflection on our personality and/or what goes on inside us or describes us.
And frankly, it's not exactly all sunshine and rainbows as I try to make it sound. I'll leave the interpretation up to you guys.
Related content
Comments: 47
Warning: long critique. You have been forewarned.
Ah I finally get a chance to critique this piece! It was certainly exciting to see quite a different work than what normally comes from you. Quite exciting actually. Especially since it's an ink piece.
***
LINEART: Well, since this is an inked piece, I'll speak more of the actual quality of the hatching more than anything. But this is beautifully done line work. Excellent quality, a broad range of strokes, and very clean and crisp. Some oddly scattered lines but overall, a very good hand.
VALUE: Your values are handled wonderfully. Overall a very good range between lights and darks. There is rather sharp contrast between the backdrop light and dark values, which depending on the piece can make or break the piece although in this case I think you're all right (is discussed later why it does work). However your values on the left side of the piece are very strong.
COMPOSITION: The composition's a little interesting...I'm actually having trouble deciding whether it's entirely effective or not. The prominent foreground element is dead-center in the middle of the canvas but it is counterbalanced by the other figures present in the right and left sides, creating a horizontal line. And there is a nice framing device of dark values on the left side of the piece, which helps to counterbalance the incredibly dark right side. I suppose what troubles me the most is that the eye has a hard time being drawn away from the center portrait, especially since the figure is addressing the audience directly (in other words, looking out). It does drawn you in...but it doesn't lead you anywhere else.
FIGURES/ANATOMY: Overall, your anatomy of the figures is really well done. You have a fairly good grasp of realistic human anatomy. The intensity in the faces is very powerful and the strength of the arms on the right side of the canvas is clearly illustrated. There's also a lot of expression and body language in the figure on the left side, despite an inability to see the face.
FOREGROUND ELEMENTS: Rather prominent foreground element that draws you in. As it being the only real foreground part of the piece, it provides an excellent boundary between the right and left hemispheres of the piece and brings the most attention, particularly when combined with the line work and value.
BACKGROUND ELEMENTS: All right, we'll start with the left side first. The background is laid out well, shows good perspective work and foreshortening. It does feel slightly unfinished on the upper part of the canvas, almost as if the concrete and brick is supposed to continue. It's not a large concern though. Right side: a bit more flat but some perspective elements, which are handled well. The text is an interesting feature although it is slightly distracting. However, if one views the left side of the canvas as the subconscious and the right side as reality, it makes a bit more sense and also explains the sharp contrast in values.
EFFECT: Overall effect in its essence, with all critique aside, is actually rather powerful. Quite a number of themes come across in this: struggle, suffering, entrapment, power of free will, feelings of forsakenness, sense of justice (or where or what is justice?), confusion, foundations shaken, striking out alone...need I go on? It's definitely not all sunshine and rainbows but it certainly addresses things that perhaps other people might not be strong enough to mention.
IN COMPARISON OF OTHERS WORKS BY THE ARTIST: Well this piece really stands out on its own. There really isn't anything else that it can be compared to, but definitely a different idea and an excellent addition to the gallery.
POSSIBLE MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT: Overall the piece is pretty strong. There's a few what feels like unfinished patches on the canvas as well as some rather odd-looking/placed lines.
OVERALL IMPACT: Overall very solid ink work, decent composition, powerful emotional reaction, and good range of value. Quite a powerful self-portrait, well done.
-Hawkeye
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is really sweet! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wow, this looks absolutely amazing!
The use of pen and ink is very effective here
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Heh I don't feel comfortablt giving a full interpritation, but it is definitly an interesting piece, and from where I am standing, yeah there are always some negatives, but my interpritation is that this piece shows you're not one to give up, or at least you're still trying to make the best of what you got.
I will admit though traditional art is always something that impresses me throughly as skills like these are almost a foundation. Would quite like to see more traditional stuff from yourself so I hope you are able to share things in the future
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Are those words written on the black side in white.
I wonder what they say...it's all so interesting...
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Trapped, a loner, forced, lonely and seeking attention? That's what I get from this and this is extremely well done, like this, blew my mind, it's that good.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Alone and trapped in a sense, yes, but not technically a "loner" and seeking for attention. (Kinda was trying to avoid that last part.)
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I don't mean that in a bad way, I mean that in a sense of your fairly lonely, I don't mean that as "An Attention Seeker.". It's easy to understand when you feel the same.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Just one question...Those words I barely noticed...the ones surrounding what looks like you being pulled away from a loved one (Or vice versa), is that bible scripture, or...?
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This looks great! I love the style and the atmosphere.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wow, this is just beyond amazing, Toughset. A very well-done artwork indeed.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
nice pic. i'd like to hope the arms grabbing you (at least i think it's you) aren't zombies.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
NICE!!!^^
Was going to say something but my conscious got in the way!
Me: Damn u, conscious>>
Conscious: keep your deep thoughts to yourself!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Amazing stuff... this picture tells so much... Art is epic when it comes to expressing ideas and feelings...
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Really great artwork, it looks really ancient greek style of drawing something of what we have in the inside, really awesome mate
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I like the protrait very well done
ALot of people have already interpretated it
so All I have to say is Unstoppable
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
First off, don't apologize for the content of this. This was from the heart, I can tell. And it is nice break from your traditional work.
The first thing that hit me when I looked at this was [link] . That isolated struggle in the midst of madness feeling comes off very powerfully from this picture. And the way you have the state of your mind to the rear of your head and your everyday struggle in front of you was INCREDIBLY well done on your part. I had to struggle to find a quibble with this piece and all I could find was that I wish I could see the broken text more clearly on the right. Otherwise, from the references and messages to just the plain old details, this is a work of art in several different ways. A masterpiece if ever I saw one. I'm serious when I say that you should consider submitting this to an art gallery of some kind.
A solid 5/5 and favorite. I'm really glad you put this up here. I was afraid that I was incapable of finding any more praise to heap upon you, but this has taken my doubts away.
Keep doing what you do man.
-DarkX
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Aah, good ol' Chrono Trigger. Love that game. Glad you were able to come to appreciate it! I've always wanted to do something like this. MUCH more effective than "vent art" and without all the cheap pity as well! And glad I can still impress.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You always impress. I've just run out things to say. XD This picture helped me with that.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
It is indeed most interesting. I have trouble getting over your lack of trademark headband though.
I find myself drawing far to many possible meanings from the other aspects of this work of art... perhaps you can elaborate? or if you really wanted, I could try my hand at it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Now this is a really emotionally epic drawing here Tough! I really love the atmosphere and the dynamics and the overall them in this entire pic! Art-wise,the shading and the backgrounds and the expressions! Amazing concept and design!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
After looking through it, my interpretation is almost the same as especially in
"World coming apart around ya, struggling to break free of what's holdin' ya back and take the help offered....".
Though the broken tablets in the right side seems fermilular, like the Rosetta Stone where you must send the message across in different ways for other to receive, or quite possibly it could be broken speech that you try to get out when you call for help, but others don't seem to quite get the message as you stuggle for help.
The Lady Justice falling over could mean how injust it was that what is happening to you and it causes the world to crumble around you.
Again...this is my interpretation, so I could be wrong and very off.
This is an excellent piece you made Tough, I especially love the broken text and the struggling on the right side. You are very good in terms of human ananomy (of course since you do study it in collage). Anyways, it was very interesting trying to figure out the meaning.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you. Your interpretation is incomplete, but in the right direction, so don't sweat it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
oh my .o. this is quite becoming and yet rather scary
its hard to keep things all sunshine lollipops and rainbows 
i get scared for people and for most others around them when this goes threw there minds but what do i know of your mind
its a wounder how your able to push it and go on with your day for yourself and everyone around you and make it wonderful i applaud you and your work
truly fantastic are your workings
im honestly fathomed the deteriorated city the Text are so well done and so in proportion as is quite everything in the picture i not knowing much of art like.. at all.. dont think i can give you any Critique unfortunately <8) i can how ever say i do very much like this
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Like I said before, this is remarkable on so many levels. I love seeing this from you and wish to see much more
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
A picture with meaning and purpose holds more value than ones that are just for 'show', in my opinion. Happy or not, this shows that you still have emotions, and that your heart hasn't turned stone cold. A relief to see.
You still get kudos as well for the quality. Pen isn't an easy medium to work with! Keep it up Toughset. And thank you for the glimpse into your perspective.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Curiouser and curiouser, my friend. I could spend all day picking through the possible meanings.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
That's deep bro.... I have no idea what the symbolism is... but that's DEEP.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Totally get the right side, the left with the crumbling buildings, not so much.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Cute. Maybe I'll take your comments more seriously once you learn how to use punctuation..... let alone learn how to turn off the caps lock.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
Hehehe, sorry, but I don't know what you mean by "Thuth."
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
That's cute and all, but you need to realize, after lying about your paypal, assaulting my friends, and also lying about that copy of starcraft 2, you are in absolutely NO place to present "truth."
...
...
...or should I say.... "Thuth?"
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Man...I'd give it a whirl and do some dramatic narration.
But this morning, found out that copper pipes smoke when bleach gets on themn. Head's been killing me since. Sorry.
Just full of symbolism though, I think I get alot of it... World coming apart around ya, struggling to break free of what's holdin' ya back and take the help offered.
Not sure I get the reclining Justice though..
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
| Next =>