"Lord Rydiafan" by Ryan Bourret

How can they say it's a cheesy idea for being original?.... I think those people are just a bunch of slackers who don't even try to think any original ideas... they can only imagine a fantastic story if it has elves, dwarves, and fearies in it. I mean they don't even try to show a name or nick in order to just throw the bunch of childish comments. It's your idea if people don't agree, let them deal with it... not like they might get you do just what they want. After all this kind of people are negatively annoying that if Tolkien was alive they would be complaining for being (just as right now is happening) "chissy". I'm not so much into the Orient and all but I do recognize creative and good ideas, over that I loved the drawing.

Ryan Bourret replies: "Thanks Raziel, its nice to get some support here. At least I'm trying to be different, and whether I succeed or fail, its more than what these naysayers have done."

Impressive! I love this picture, it's nice and simple and tells the story without going overboard with details. As for orginality? Come on, be real. There are thousands of people on elfwood alone, plus all the other fantasy artists/writers out in the world- how on earth can you possibly completely original? I can understand where you're comming from but in this case its the thought that counts

Go for being original! There are always people saying you nay, but they are much wind and little substance. I must read this story of yours.... I'll look to see if it's in Elfwood. Hmmm. About this pic- wicked background, I admire your Photoshop skills- which brush is that? Anyway, really realistic pic. One question, though- after ~ his waist the armor seems to go vague. Is it just chainmail or did you get lazy? No insult intended- it just looks very skirt-like and perhaps not the easiest thing to get around in. Keep up the good work, and consider the flames proof that there are at least 50 intelligent people who were silent for every one you get!

Ryan Bourret replies: "Its a long skirt, kinda based loosely off this samurai armour I saw once. As for the brush, its just a grass brush in Photoshop 7. Scroll down through the list of them, its toward the bottom."

I recommend they try reading the book. All of it. Or rather, all three before they tell you the story is shallow.

Devilboy never had to face this horror, thank God.

Yeah, I agree with the above people. The names are really lame. It's like you just took them from some crappy message board or something.

The picture's great though, as if you need to be told that! ^_^

Ryan Bourret replies: "I hate message boards and would never post on those things. _> V_V"

Thanks for the suggestion, but just like you did to mine, i'm not gonna take it, sounds stupid. Can't you take a little constructive criticism? You get enough good comments on your art (and the ART deserves it) but work on the names. Your story IS mediocre. It's just like every other fantasy story. Shoot for grandeur without the proper ammunition, you'll miss. Shoot for mediocrity with the knowledge that you can do it well, and you just may develop something new.

Ryan Bourret replies: "Ugh, dude you don't even know me. Why do you care? Go and do your own thing and let me have fun. I'm not trying to re-invent the wheel, I'm just having fun. "

first off, i'd like to say how good this pic is, i like the character, hes got the whole bear aspect thing going on. i would love to see this in color.

to anonymous guy: this is not a forum to discuss the originality or quality of names and storylines. this is a fantasy ART gallery, and the ART in ryan's gallerey, as you said yourself, is quite good. if you want to give advice on names or stories, then how about sending him a private email about it, instead of clogging up his comment board with suggestions of, quote; 'non-cheezy originalness'(which is a matter of YOUR definition of cheesyness, anyway). whether or not ryan's characters are in fact original or if his story is of high quality is irrelevant. this is just plainly not the place for such criticism.

Sorry to clog up yet more space on your page ryan, i hope this will be the last comment concerning this pointless argument. your art IS worth praising, and i hope to see more of your work soon.

Ryan Bourret replies: "Truer words have never been spoken. Thank you for your support "

To Max Frankel: if this is purely for ART, then why does the artist provide a background for the drawing, huh? if it's just for ART, then why not say "did it with pencil and paper, thought it looked nice, put it up here"? shut up Max, think before you speak. obviously Ryan thought the background story relevant enough to put up, so if i criticize it, then it's okay, cause the story is relevant to Ryan, so why shouldn't criticism be? and i'm not clogging up space, guess what, Ryan can delete anything he wants!!
To Ryan: if the criticism i gave wasn't relevant, then your story wasn't relevant. if it's just pure ART here, then shove it with all your background story plot stuff, eh? true words spoken by Max? then APPLY THAT TRUTH!

Ryan Bourret replies: "And you keep thinking I care what you think. Get over yourself."

Well, you're replying, aren't you? It means you care, or you wouldn't have thought it necessary to deliver that little message of yours. What's so wrong about jokingly criticizing, and then defending myself when somebody takes serious offense and insults me? You seem to think it important to defend yourself, am i not allowed that same freedom? If the art is what's important, why take offense when someone criticizes a biproduct?

Ryan Bourret replies: "Actually I find you quite amusing. Keep going."

Wow no i mean wow! Keep up the good work. That guy in the drawing... He means bisness! Lol