Molemen debate

[chriss2d]

Yeah, it's me again.
I'd like to get your honest opinion about something. Here are two different takes on the same illustration. The first one is the publishers design for these molemen and the second is mine. I like them both, but I'd like to hear what you guys think. Do you like one better than the other. Feel free to be painfully honest

[chriss2d]

This one's mine. Their features are greatly exaggerated, but that's kinda why I like it I think. By the way. they went with theirs so this is just for fun

[Storn]

Chris, I much prefer yours. There is more "humanity?" in the second set of mutant mole folk. The noses create interest, direction (cause they are huge honkers! <g>).

But they are also a bit goofy. And maybe your publisher liked the real, cool, mean look of the first.

[chriss2d]

Thanks Storn,
I know what you mean by the goofy thing. I felt the same way but, I got attached to the little guys. Thanks for the input

[Steve T. Laws]

Well, I like the Face cave thingy of the first one.

But your people are much more entertaining and interesting than the publisher's thingy.

Me posits the publishers went with the first one because they wanted thier mole people to be more mysterious and perhaps a bit more threatening. That's kinda what you get with full face masks, less humanism, more anonimity and automaton like qualities.

Your people are great better by far than the others, but I guess they have a more charasmatic appeal, making them less threatening and more friendly.

Just speculative theories, don't hold them against me.

[Misguided]

Originally posted by Steve T. Laws
Well, I like the Face cave thingy of the first one.

But your people are much more entertaining and interesting than the publisher's thingy.



Agreed on both counts. I really like the helmets in particular.

[Holy Bear]

I do think the second is better...or atleast more interesting to the eye, which to me constitutes better. :)

However, you might be able to do both..?
I think having some of the molemen with masks, hoods, or scarves in front of their faces, while others just show their big noses (no offense...chuckles) might actually make it even more interesting. Diversity gets the mind going.

Just my 2 cents.

Love the work!

Asbjørn

[chriss2d]

I really appreciate all the great comments. Assuming all of you weren't just trying to be nice, I feel better about my design. I probably should have been more diverse with their head and facial gear but, what can you do?
Thanks again for your opinions,
Chris

[Noel Murphy]

I like the second one better because it's better thought out. You can look at them and say they're molemen. Shovel hands etc.
The first is a good picture but it doesn't sing to me!;)
...dahling

[Tomasz Zieba]

I think that it all depends on how much realism you want in your illustrations. Personally, I'm a big fan of realism, so I must go with the first illustration. Not only it looks more realistic, but it is more sinister. As someone said, the other one looks "goofy."
However, if you want goofiness, then go for number two.

[chriss2d]

Thanks again for the feedback. Gotta love this forum! To Tomasz, I appreciate the honesty. I too am a big fan of realism. I think I have more fun with simplistic or stylized art, but I really enjoy it when I'm able to pull off something that looks realistic. Then again, for me, it takes me a hundred times longer to do something realistic than it does to do something comic booky. Noel, I'm really glad you noticed the shovel hands! I don't think most of the people I've showed it to caught that.
Thanks to all

[Eric Lofgren]

Chris, I'd fall right in the middle I guess. Damn, I hate having to make decisions like this. Technically, they are both pretty close to perfect, your style is ......beautiful. But, and I say this with utmost respect for your efforts here, I would probably have chosen the first one. You did too good of a job on the second pics facial features. I can't get past the noses :) I suppose it depends on if you want sinister or slightly comical. I like the design of the outfits and gear , etc. in the second pic, so maybe some sort of combination of the two... okay I'm rambling, I'll quit now. Awesome stuff.

Thanks for sharing,
Eric Lofgren

[Jon H]

First ones are dull, to my eye, but I can see why a publisher would play it safe. Get ready to find that out again and again.

Isn't it frustrating when you feel like you've come up with something really cool and original, and then the guy with the money says - naw, just make i look like xyz (where xyz is an idea that's already been done to death in one million other publications)

But that's the job. I've learnt to be careful when it comes to undermining the client's vision. Don't get me wrong, 99 to 100% of the guys I work for have great ideas, or just let me get on with it - Stone Circle Games in the UK are very cool for that. But there have been one or two jobs I looked into, and then turned down, because I knew my work just couldn't sit happily with what they wanted. Discretion being the better part of valour.

I'm in no way suggesting turning work down in some sort of Prima Donna-ish way. That's suicide in this industry. And personally abhorrent. But if the basis of what you'll have to do is totally at odds with what you can naturally turn out, it's worth thinking about whether you can provide what the client wants.

Obviously Chris can provide that, and you did, which was cool. And you know now that what you came up with was better looking. (which you already knew!) I would, however, be wary of attempting to show a publisher as "wrong". Chris isn't doing this, as he's said he likes both, and they're both mighty fine pieces of work. But remember:They're the boss and they pay the bills!
(Edited for spelling and nonsense)

[Tomasz Zieba]

About shovel hands.
I noticed them too and I think that they are great (even if the rest is too gofy for my taste). Maybe you could combine both images? Would it be possible to give the molemen shovel hands on the first image and keep the rest. Personally, I think that they would look more moleish with shovel hands. Right now they look like a bunch of humans in armor.

[chriss2d]

I hope that everyone understands that I'm not trying to show the bad side of publishers or discredit them in any way. This forum is a great place to get honest feedback on artwork and ideas. Like Jon said, I was only curious about what you guys think. The image and design the publisher went with is just as good as my original, it's just a matter of opinion like every piece of art is.
Thanks to all for your responces!

[Christian]

I really enjoyed your take on the moleman concept. They actually looked like molemen!

[chriss2d]

Thanks Christian!

That's what I was thinking too! Oh well, you win some you lose some.
Thanks

[Gideon]

I guess it depends on the genre and the feel they were after. To my mind your second illustration is so much more interesting. If you want slightly comedic or quirky then these would be much better. If you want scary as hell, psychopathic and sinister then the second one would be better for this too. If you want standard middle of the road 'find them in any sci fi concept' then the first will do.

I want to play the game of the second illo. I've already played the game in the first.

cheers

[tiny pedantic edit]

[chriss2d]

Until you guys mentioned the mood of the piece, I never even thought about it. The first one is definitely more intimidating. In that respect I think the publisher was right.

Again, I'd like to thank everyone for their participation. I'm still amazed at how many people took the time to put in their two cents.
Awesome!

[Matt Drake]

I like them both. I think the difference is all in the mood. The second one makes me smile, and kind of laugh. I want to meet these molemen, and maybe drink cheap berry wine with them.

I don't want to meet the first ones. They frighten me. Though they would frighten me more with those misshapen hands you put on the second ones.

Matt Drake
www.spectrepress.com

[Eric Lofgren]

Originally posted by Matt Drake
I want to meet these molemen, and maybe drink cheap berry wine with them.

Matt, can we get in on that?