So, for this weeks COTW we're going to look at one of the most creative and unique creators still active on the machine, Harlekin (/Harlequin/ Tarkarra/ Tarkabarka). Here's the piece in question.
Now, of course there are many things to talk about here, so we'll focus on a few things.
First off, the perspective. Harlekin is very good at doing weird perspectives, birds eye view is one he's very good at. A very good way of doing unusual perspective/ position parts of limbs (such as thighs and biceps) is to use female-heads and then resize them, as you can see with the biceps here. This can also be used for foreshortened arms and crossed legged thighs.
The bike is very well made, out of numerous different items, a good example of thinking outside the box when using items. In the construction here I can see items from headgear, items-right, body-mech and insignias. I'm not sure about how the front wheel and handlebars line up, but still, it's not that noticeable, and it still works.
The main thing, apart from his posing skill, that is interesting about how Harlekin does characters is how he does faces. The manga/ anime style is very hard to do on heromachine with conventional items. The way this is done is by using insignias to create every aspect of the face (which he shows how to do in this series of tutorials http://www.heromachine.com/forum/tips-tricks-how-tos-and-guides/lick-and-tricks-with-harlequin/).
I'm sure we'll cover Harlekin again, because there are other aspects of his art that aren't best demonstrated in this piece that I'd like to talk about, such as his shading and clothing design, but for now I'll just end with that.
My occasional tours through Harlie’s work missed THIS one. As for the lining up, it can depend on the style of bike, as the angle of the handlebars can’t line up with a vertical and is unlikely to line up with the POV. I’m not a bike person, but it looks like a custom racing job anyway–which I might not pair with the character, but maybe he stole it? Nice job, and congratulations on even better proof that the heromachine can’t be broken by ‘unplanned uses.’ ;^>
I don’t always comment on his every piece, but I always do love his work. Harlekin always has fairly ambitious and unique takes on perspective and a style that is distinctively his own on Heromachine. Sometimes it doesn’t work (although rarely), but without pushing the creative process as far as you can, it would be impossible to make anything as beautiful as he often does.
Intense action! The facial expression, the pose. You can tell that she’s been spotted from up high and is planning her escape. Sharp color contrasts but the work well together.
I love Harlekin’s stuff. It’s always beautiful to look at and has unusual stuff too. The subject matter is also often out of the box. I also love when he goes a little racy with it.
Someday I hope to get him to do his own impression of one of my characters. 😉
Peace and thanks for all. No more comment.
Worf in the forum if you think to want to see one of your picture send me with pm or i check your topic. I do request work but my taste is special 😛
I’d love to see Harlekin’s take on my character the Succubus ;D
Take on the order. Challenge Accepted 😛