"Feline mage" by Charles-Emmanuel Ouellette

Wowie Kaboodles, this is great! I really like the concept and the design and everything, but I think it twould look even greater if you colored it! *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*

Well of course congrats on the mods choice, which is well deserved, and congratulations also on an excellent gallery.
I like Your inking very much, and wish I could produce the same soft feeling. It is good to see that black and white drawings never ceases to be interesting, especially one as beautifully done as this one.

Charles-Emmanuel Ouellette replies: "Thanks for the nice comment, its really appreciated. I’d like to answer to all, but that’s mod’s choice thing created a traffic like never before around here! Black and white drawing are truly nice to work on and perfect, as they’re many technique and trick to come up with nice shades, distances and light effects. I’ll look forward to your gallery, till then, take care!"

Okay I'm probably going to get pelted here, but her chest area down to her ribs, is a wee bit to big/wide. I understand you might be going for that look but I think if you could shave off a bit it would still achieve that and then also maintain an even flow. It also has a lot to do with her height and over bearing stance, since she projects that feeling it causes it to feel much larger. (I hope that made sense :| ) Also, the conical parts of the towers mainly the one the right, seems to bend back a bit, like it's off balance some. *ducks* I know I know it's so little, but this picture is so beautiful I can't help it, it just sticks out to me. And for that being the only problems let me tell you that is amazing in itself. I do love the hand drawn look to it all, and especially how the costume matches the background. I'm sure you know, with the high neck cloth and the "hat" it does have a "nunish" feel to it but yet it is so original. How the two very different aspects mesh together in one solid piece is just lovely. Oh yea, and also (hehe) I love how the back ground is simple yet it conveys the mood so very well. All in all the different elements to this piece are very tuned in with each other, it is a very fine piece indeed.

Charles-Emmanuel Ouellette replies: "I’d made sense, and that’s a good point. I corrected her chest on reposted the pic as «Feline mage, corrected» on my gallery, I will be happy you drop by to see it. I didn’t really resize her chest, yet I replaced it properly, which help her out a lot. Anyway, as for the towers, I don’t really use a ruler which sometimes tricks me. It’s real that the tower on the left is off balance. Let’s call this collateral damages... Glad you liked her costume and the overall culture blends of the picture. Congratulations on your gallery again, it was my pleasure! That’s what Elfwood is all about, isn’t? Exchanging impressions, tricks and comments with fellow artists…"

Everyone seems to have commented on what I was thinking, so not to be redundant.. but in particular I love the border. Instead of using a ruler, or trying to draw it perfectly straight, it's a little wavy and I love that. It looks really good.

Charles-Emmanuel Ouellette replies: "Glad you noticed that line. I first work with ruler and pen for the pencils, but then I ink loosely with the pen brush. It gives more breathing and more life to a pic, to my sense at least. I am not a good technical drawer, so I go on for the shaky mood of these lines. It also help creating a retro, medieval look, to my sense at least. I’ll look forward to your gallery, thanks again for this cunning observation, I really appreciate."

I love the African flavor to it. *grins* Congrats!!!

Charles-Emmanuel Ouellette replies: "A Cheetah inspired character just ad to have a bit of African «spice» in it! Mixing up this style with classic, fairy tales style medieval European influence was a big part of the fun of doing this pic. Isn’t mixing cultures, history and imagination the very fundamental of fantasy? Thanks again, I’ll drop to see your gallery as soon as I have the time."

Wow, this is beautiful! I've always evied people that can ink well.. [Make that everybody. I feel so..INFERIOR all the time!] Congrats on Mod's Choice! I'm gonna go find a leprechaun to shoot.. ::looks around for the stalker leprechauns::

Charles-Emmanuel Ouellette replies: "I’ll sure have a look around for these Leprechauns. Thanks for the nice comments, it’s really appreciated. As for the inking, well, Rome didn’t get build in one day! I first practiced on photocopies and tracing paper to avoid ruining my originals, and I’ll gradually master the brush to a satisfying way. I also inked a lot for my friends, which in may case have very different styles, which help doing varied lines and traits. Again, I’d always ink their work on tracing paper, preserving the original. I’ll look forward to your gallery, thanks again for the kind words."

Hey, that's amazing: she doesn't look in the least as if posing!It is as if you sneaked this image from her while she was on her way to (work?craft?) and didn't bother to pursue you!
Interesting the way you ink... the Eye will watch you!

Charles-Emmanuel Ouellette replies: "Glad to hear your comments. The pose was inspired to me by a model in a mag, which, funny enough, was a Lara Croft promo model. The whole gesture came from her, at least for the «skeleton» of the feline mage, as I gradually added layer of forms, texture and details on it to make her a completely different character. With a staff and an empty hand instead of two gun, for example, and a slightly tweaked head and different facial traits, etc. Using photos or asking for a friend to pose is always a good way to come up with living posture for a character, even if there part we change, they’re always dynamic will catch that we wouldn’t have though without the model. I’ll look forward to your gallery, till then, take care and thanks again for dropping by."

Very nice

Very cool- just needs color!

Charles-Emmanuel Ouellette replies: "Glad you like it! I don’t think color will come the enlighten it, do. Thanks for the suggestion. I get nice thing done coloring on the computer, yet it rarely has the right feel, to my taste, for a medieval, fantastic pic. Beside, I love the fairy tales book feel it give the B&W give to such illustrations. And the other hand, you handle the color very well, I had the chance to see your gallery and there wonderful work out there."

OMG that has a lot of detail in it!!! Sooo cool! love all your stuff, but ya know I bet it would look 10x better in color!! *hints at above statement*