Rough sketch for XNPC book 2's cover!

CountVanBadger

CountVanBadger

Pootis Spencer Here
Joined
Nov 5, 2025
Messages
335
Points
93
I just got the first rough sketch of XNPC: Book 2's cover from my artist. Do you love it, or do you really REEEAAAALLY love it?

Screenshot_20260223_011014_Gmail.jpg

I asked her to rotate the axe in Jeremy's hand about ninety degrees so it looks more like he's about to swing or throw it. Other than that, I think it looks great!
 
NotaNuffian

NotaNuffian

This does spark joy.
Joined
Nov 26, 2019
Messages
5,283
Points
233
CountVanBadger said:
Not sure why you would think that, since Dullahans are Irish and Feitoumans are Chinese.
Click to expand...
No, I meant the head floating portion.

Or does your dullahan know mage hand? Because in the irish folklore, the headless horseman carries his own head. In his arms.
 
NotaNuffian

NotaNuffian

This does spark joy.
Joined
Nov 26, 2019
Messages
5,283
Points
233
CountVanBadger said:
...the headless horseman isn't a dullahan. Sleepy Hollow is also an American story, not an Irish one. Why do you keep trying to bring unrelated myths into this?
Click to expand...
Oh.

Was I coming up bit too strong on the semantics? Sorry about that.

There isn't any way for her to wield a polearm without her head floating in your case.

So wait, does her head just float around like a 3rd person camera or can she headbutt as well?
 
pangmida

pangmida

needs a better sleep schedule
Joined
Sep 30, 2025
Messages
507
Points
93
CountVanBadger said:
...the headless horseman isn't a dullahan. Sleepy Hollow is also an American story, not an Irish one. Why do you keep trying to bring unrelated myths into this?
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure Nota is just curious if you used any folklore as inspiration since a couple of cultures have floating head monsters in mythology.

Cover looking great btw! :)
 
Envylope

Envylope

Queen of the Enpire
Joined
Oct 7, 2025
Messages
588
Points
93
CountVanBadger said:
I'm regretting showing you people this a little more with every knowitall that chimes in to tell me that my fantasy monstergirl isn't fantasy monstergirling right.
Click to expand...
I wanted to send welcome to the internet song, but I don't want to derail the thread.

It's a nice sketch. Though, you should link the artist. Is it a Vgen artist?
 
Y

yakusu

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 26, 2023
Messages
26
Points
68
My advice is about the head.
For me, the head is out of place like a placeholder. As you can see, the body isn't straight like the head. The head is straight and flat-looking to the front, but the body is 3/4.
Make the head 3/4 of the body; it's even better if the head is at a high angle, 3/4, it will feel impactful for the character. Secondly, make the eyes look not to the front or the reader, make the eyes look natural, like what is the threat or what is she calculating, rather than look straight.
This is my attempt using the mouse.
Screenshot_122.png

The 3/4 angle for the head will give your head more depth and volume than a straight front view.
Placing a straight, front-facing head onto a 3/4 turned body flattens the character and breaks the illusion of 3D space.
 
Last edited:
Tabula_Rasa

Tabula_Rasa

Professional NPC
Joined
Dec 23, 2020
Messages
258
Points
133
yakusu said:
My advice is about the head.
For me, the head is out of place like a placeholder. As you can see, the body isn't straight like the head. The head is straight and flat-looking to the front, but the body is 3/4.
Make the head 3/4 of the body; it's even better if the head is at a high angle, 3/4, it will feel impactful for the character. Secondly, make the eyes look not to the front or the reader, make the eyes look natural, like what is the threat or what is she calculating, rather than look straight.
This is my attempt using the mouse.
View attachment 46744
The 3/4 angle for the house will give your head more depth and volume than a straight front view.
Placing a straight, front-facing head onto a 3/4 turned body flattens the character and breaks the illusion of 3D space.
Click to expand...
Yep that could be cool, also a slightly clockwise tilted head at a strange angle would also add some flare, some exaggeration to the disjointedness from the body.

what am I talking about, lol, I am not an artist :blobrofl::blobrofl::blobrofl::blobrofl:
 
Y

yakusu

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 26, 2023
Messages
26
Points
68
Additionally, the pose.
The middle one is the weakest among the three.
Screenshot_123.png


The red line I drew is your contrapose, it's good on the body, the contrapose is different from each other, but the head is not good. It's still straight.
Secondly, the yellow line is the negative space; it's too little. It makes your pose readability weak.
I test it with Silhouette.

Screenshot_125.png

As you can see, it isn't readable enough and not strong enough. It's maybe because the weapon, the weapon is too straight.


If the character is preparing to attack, tilt the weapon up.
If the character is aggressive to attack, tilt the weapon down.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top