henrymidfield's charcoal pencil artwork - both Pokemon and others - featuring Nintendo heroines

[henrymidfields]

*Erik Satie's Je te veux starts playing...*

So, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Le Corbusier's masterpiece, the National Museum of Western Art, home to the best impressionistic artwork collection in one of the few green oasis of Yamabuki City, that is the Ueno Park. I am now proud to say that the building has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage Listing as part of the Kalosian architect's masterpiece collection. I too, now have the honour of my works being exhibited in this prestigious museum...

*record needle scratch!* Just kidding. I wish I was that good. But I have been doing pencil sketches throughout the past couple of years. I've got a bit of a collection that I am hoping to update (bi)weekly. Keep in mind, that they are not limited to Pokémon - there are sketchings from real life stuff, while others are from Fire Emblem. (They will be uploaded to, and linked to, imgur.)

Also, I will be uploading the same stuff onto Serenes Forest, the other site I am a member of, so please do not be alarmed when you happen to see similar stuff over there. (I am still henrymidfields over there too.)


Nintendo Heroines EDIT (11 April 2017):
I am also going to be starting up a series of studies on official artwork on Nintendo heroines - mainly female protagonists and important characters that I have loved (or at worst, not majorly dislike) throughout the ages. While I will look for examples from various franchises that Nintendo published (including some obscure ones) emphasis will be given to female characters from Pokémon and Fire Emblem. In particular to the latter, I am going to make a conscious effort to publicize all the games throughout its history, and not just Awakening and Fates. I have got a couple started already, in fact. Please check the list below for them. Anything in red letters are already complete, while black entries are still in planning.

Roster EDIT (31 May 2017):
Pokémon Franchise - Iris (Best Wishes Anime) complete!

Spoiler

• Dawn (Anime DP)
• Hilda (BW1 Games)
• Iris (Anime BW)
• Leaf (FRLG Games)
• Lyra (Anime DP)
• May (Anime AG)
• Misty (the original Pokémon Anime!)
• Rosa (BW2 Games)
• Serena (XY games)
• Solana (Anime AG)

Fire Emblem Franchise - Celica (Shadows of Valentia) complete!

Spoiler

• Beruka (my own LP of Fates Conquest)
• Caeda (the original Fire Emblem!)
• Celica (Gaiden/Echoes: Shadows of Valentia)
• Deidre (Genealogy of the Holy War)
• Elincia (Path of Radiance / Radiant Dawn)
• Elise (Fates)
• Eirika (Sacred Stones)
• Julia (Genealogy of the Holy War)
• Lilina (Binding Blade)
• Micaiah (Radiant Dawn)
• Nanna (Genealogy of the Holy War / Thracia 776)
• Robin (F) (Awakening)
• Tsubasa Oribe (Tokyo Mirage Sessions)

Golden Sun - Sheba (Lost Ages) complete!

Spoiler

• Jenna (the original game)
• Karis (Dark Dawn)
• Mia (the original game)
• Sheba (Lost Ages)

Legend of Zelda

• Lana (Hyrule Warriors)
• Linkle (Hyrule Warriors)
• Marin (Link's Awakening - Hyrule Warriors version)
• Zelda Junior (Ocarina of time)

Others

• Adelaine (Kirby) - upon request from a friend
• Alice (Balloon Fight: Balloon Kid)
• Ayumi Tachibana (Famicon Detective Club)
• Chao (Yuyuki)
• Hikari (Shin Onigashima)
• Jane B Christie (F-Zero Advance/Maximum Velocity)
• Kumatora (MOTHER 3 / Earthbound 2)
• Liv (Custom Robo Arena)
• Megan (F-Zero Advance/Maximum Velocity) Sadly cancelled due to lack of a suitable image from Google to work from.
• Paula (Earthbound)
• Rachel (Advanced Wars: Dual Strike)
• Sammy (Advanced Wars (original))

Gallery - 19 Nov 2016
In fact, this week is stuff I've drawn from real life, and an practice study of Camilla's (FE Fates) official portrait.

Spoiler: A ponytail of a girl sitting in front of me during Sunday evening sermon

Spoiler: One of the bible preachers on Sunday evening

This unintentionally ended up looking like a caricature of one of the bible preachers.

Spoiler: An Asian guy at another table

A rather pathetic drawing in my attempt in drawing an Asian-looking guy who was waiting for his food in one of the food courts at Sydney's Chinatown. I also happened to be waiting for my food there.

Spoiler: A curry bowl and a set of table equipments

The above is a katsu curry bowl that I sketched on the same day as the previous picture. The below is a sugar jar, a pepper grinder, and a container holding cutleries.

Spoiler: Practice sketch on Camilla (FE Fates)

My practise sketch of the official artwork of Camilla.

 

[henrymidfields]

Gallery - 27 Nov 2016
Hi, I am back for another week. I've went through a couple of old sketches that I've done over the past couple of years, and I shall upload them as well. Firstly, stuff I have done the past week.

Spoiler: FE Lilina as Pokémon Dawn

This was an attempt in dressing up Lilina (from Fire Emblem: Binding Blade) being dressed up in Dawn's (from DPPt) clothes. The attempted crossover ended up being not as apparent as I have hoped, due to similar facial appearances of both characters. Just for reference, the official character artworks for both are:
Lilina: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net.../Lilina.png/revision/latest?cb=20160614032742
Dawn: http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/6/6f/Platinum_Dawn.png/250px-Platinum_Dawn.png

Spoiler: A study of girl's hair

Again at my regular church sermon, I took the time to study the expression of a girl sitting in a row front of me. It is quite difficult in expression the lusturous, flaxen nature of the blonde hair.

Spoiler: A Bar in Sydney

This was over at a bar counter in a Sydney pub. The actual counter is much longer than this - it looks like I messed up with the perspective of this one.

Spoiler: FE Fates Leo

A practice sketch of Leo's official portrait. This one seems to be alright for a first try done in 15 minutes. Of course, it is not easy to get the original feeling of the official artwork. For reference, the official artwork is: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net...ortrait.png/revision/latest?cb=20150620081341

Spoiler: FE Fates Xander

After practicing on Xander's portrait, I have found a new appreciation of the actual artist's artworks. I find it very easy to over-emphasise particular features of a character. My attempt above resulted in a somewhat of a caricature of Xander with his face somewhat elongated (and looking like Virion!?), where the official artwork of him has a better proportion of the face. For reference:
Xander (official artwork): http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net...ortrait.png/revision/latest?cb=20160903122803

Spoiler: FE Fates Azura

Not a huge fan for this outcome. The original artwork shows her serenity, yet also her firm posture. Here, she looks much more fragile, perhaps not helped by her dead eyes. For reference, the official artwork is: http://i1.ruliweb.com/img/5/5/9/0/5590BCA04722D70024

Works from the past:
I've drawn Pokémon stuff over the past 3-4 years back when XY was new. They are also pencil sketches that I've kept for years. Here are four such Pokémon that I will publish.

Spoiler: Yveltal

Spoiler: Fennekin

Spoiler: Oshawott

Spoiler: Froakie

 

[Shadao]

Many of these sketches are nice, though Lilina's hands are comedically and disproportionately small. I do wonder if you translate them into digital drawings.

 

[henrymidfields]

Many of these sketches are nice, though Lilina's hands are comedically and disproportionately small. I do wonder if you translate them into digital drawings.

I just had a good look, and yeah, Lilina's got baby hands on a teenage body. As for translating them to digital, I'm not too keen on that to be honest. If anything, I might do actual watercolour, as I have a watercolour set kit with me.

 

[henrymidfields]

Gallery: 3-4 Dec 2016
Apologies for the delay - I have been sick for the last several days. As such, I don't have as many entries that I did for this week, but here goes. Firstly, a perspective drawing of a truck, and a practice of the official artwork of Shigure (FE Fates).

Spoiler: A truck that I drew in Kings Cross

Spoiler: Shigure (FE Fates)

This has gone better than my previous runs. While my drawing of Azura in the previous week looked like a frail woman, here, Shigure here looks more confident. It seems that a bigger-sized portrait is generally better for more expression in the drawing.
Official artwork: http://ami.animecharactersdatabase.com/uploads/chars/29292-256871546.png

Works from the past:
As I've mentioned in my previous update, I've drawn Pokémon stuff over the past 3-4 years back when XY was new. Here are some more sketches I've done during that time.

Spoiler: Hilda (Pkmn BW1)

Shadao in response to my previous update has rightly pointed out that the hands that I've drawn for Pkmn!Lilina last week was too small. As I had a glance at Hilda again, one of her hand is similarly undersized; it looks like hand figures are something that I will need to further study.

Spoiler: Rosa (Pkmn BW2)

One of my less successful attempts in drawing Rosa from BW2. I'll have to uploade another archived drawing of her and ask everyone to compare.

Spoiler: various starter Pokémon

Spoiler: In memory of a hilarious scene (AG034)

There was one morning in which my high school friends and I watched the Pokémon Anime in 2004. It happened to be AG034, with Ash and Max's babysitting an unruly not-yet-trainer-owned Torchic going awry. It then evolved into Combusken, and Ash and Max had to brainstorm a way to get out of the situation. Max proposed to do the old switcheroo and lie to May about "her" Torchic evolving. The result? One of the scenes that still gives me laughs to this day. The sketch above has slightly different expressions for Ash and Max, however - they have a more "Oh crap! That so did not fool her!" kind of feel. The original (link below) has them in a more shocked state.

Original scene: http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/9/9d/AG034.png

Next update: Weekend of 10-11 December

 

[henrymidfields]

Gallery: 10-11 Dec 2016
I don't have as many entries that I did for this week either, but here goes.

Spoiler: A caricature of Benito Mussolini from a WWII poster

Official artwork: http://image0-rubylane.s3.amazonaws.com/shops/rachelsattic/13PC00611.1L.jpg

Spoiler: Some more scribbles

Works from the past:
As I've mentioned in my previous update, I've drawn Pokémon stuff over the past 3-4 years back when XY was new. Here are some more sketches I've done during that time.

Spoiler: Rosa and Calem

On one hand, the hands don't look as out of proportion as before. On the other hand, Rosa's waist looks too thin, and she looks a bit too tall.
For reference to the official artworks:
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120616212602/pokemon/images/b/bf/White2.png (Rosa)
http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/4/48/XY_Calem.png/150px-XY_Calem.png (Calem)

Spoiler: Rosa again (Pkmn BW2)

Her battle pose used in the Champion battle in BW2.
Reference: http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/d/dc/RosaChallenge2.png

Spoiler: Red and Leaf (Pkmn FRLG)

Next update: Weekend of 17-18 December

 

[henrymidfields]

Gallery: 17-18 Dec 2016
I don't have as many entries that I did for this week either, but here goes.

Spoiler: A singer at the altar

Shuuda from Serenes Forest advised me to use values for portraying hair, so I gave that a try here.

Spoiler: A drink in a bar

Works from the past:

Spoiler: Brains and Brawns (Pokemon XY)

"Wow, his drawing is over 9000, lol."

Next update: Probably not until January.
I will be busy spending time with my family, so my next update would not be until I'm back at my home, probably in mid-January. Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

[henrymidfields]

Gallery: 14-15 Jan 2016
I am back, and I have quite a few entries to show for this week. In fact I have two from Fire Emblem and one from Earthbound! I also started to use a set of charcoal pencils an old friend gifted to me, and they seem to be working well. Sadly, no Pokémon stuff for this week.

Spoiler: Elise - FE Fates

I actually copied and imposed a grid on the official artwork for this time. That actually helped me proportion things better. Now my Elise actually looks like the official one, and not like the disaster that happened with Azura or Xander a couple of entries back.

Spoiler: Lilina - FE Binding Blade

As with Elise, Lilina also came better than my previous portraits.

Spoiler: Paula - Earthbound

After doing Elise and Lilina's portraits, I have become emboldened and decided to try out Paula's official clay model from Earthbound. However, the gradation was difficult due to the lack of colour contrast on the original clay model.

Spoiler: Bottle at a cafe

Spoiler: Café table and stool

Spoiler: Coming up next - Arthur - FE Fates

I am also going to do a portrait of a random Nintendo heroine/female protagonist/female main character. I've already have a couple of characters that I want to try - 2 are from Fire Emblem, with 2 from Pokémon, and 1 from Golden Sun. Please stay tuned!

 

[henrymidfields]

Gallery: 11-12 March 2017

Hi, sorry for the long hiatus since my last post - it has been busy times. Anyway, I've finally managed to get some artwork done, and especially one that was difficult to work with.

Spoiler: Arthur (FE Fates)

Here is our resident patriot and defender of Nohrian democracy, Arthur!

Spoiler: Caeda (FE's resident heroine!)

And our unsung Nintendo heroine, alongside with Paula (see previous post) and Misty (coming soon), Caeda from Fire Emblem!

 

[henrymidfields]

Gallery: 1-2 April 2017
And now, back to some Pokémon stuff. Featuring studies on Serena from Pokémon XY, and Misty from the Anime in her AG outfit.

Spoiler: Serena from Pokémon XY

Spoiler: Misty from Pokémon Anime

 

[Deleted member 72389]

Wow, your artwork is beautiful! Serena and Misty are looking really good. Your other sketches are also nice.
I especially liked the sketch of that funny scene from AG and Red and Leaf's sketches.

 

[henrymidfields]

@Captain Pallet: Thank you, my faithful viewer! Frankly, I was not too confident with Serena, but I'm glad it turned out well for you.

@Soki: (referring to your comment immediately below this post)
Thank you. I'm glad that all that hand-drawn perspectives at my old architectural school turned out be anything but in vain.

While I will still draw random stuff from Fire Emblem, Pokémon, and from real life, I will also be starting up a intermittent series of Nintendo heroines. Next up, I'm going to be drawing Zelda Junior from Ocarina of Time, and after that, Jasmine and Mia from Golden Sun, and then female Robin from Fire Emblem Awakening.

 

[Soki]

You art's really good, especially the shading! I love your environment drawings the most, like the truck and the Café table and stool. I absolutely suck at drawing stuff like that, but you do the shading so well that it looks really good

 

[henrymidfields]

Gallery: 8 May 2017

Ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the belated update. First things, behold, Jenna from the original Golden Sun, and Zelda Jr from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Spoiler: Jenna (Golden Sun)

I was quite happy how this interpretation of the official art turned out. Barring a couple of minor differences, it is perhaps the closest I have got in imitating/reconstructing the official artwork in black-and-white charcoal pencil. Speaking of the subject, I have not yet played anything beyond the very first GBA game, so that is something I need to do...eventually

Spoiler: Zelda Jr (Ocarina of Time)

This one was not as successful in retaining the essence of the official artwork. The problem is due to the smaller pupils I drew compared to the original, with Zelda looking somewhat sinister. While I will move on for the time being, I may want to do a "Draw-it-again-meme" later down the track.

Spoiler: Table set and lamp post in cafe

A real-life/still-life sketch of a set of furnitures in a café I started to frequent regularly.

Spoiler: A series of sketches: facial features

Next up, Female Robin from Fire Emblem: Awakening.

 

[Soki]

Loving Jenna, she looks really good! And quite impressed you were able to do these with just charcoal.

Looking forward to seeing Robin, I love her

 

[henrymidfields]

@Soki: Thanks! I just got started. Here's my underlay draft (in pencil) so far.

Spoiler: outline of Robin

I don't know your reasons for liking Robin, but I think Robin has some interesting characterisation. Any Awakening player worth their salt knows that Sully is the relatively brawny tomboy, Sumia is the feminine girl, and Miriel is the brainy magician. While Robin seems to be portrayed more the sane (wo)man, she is also more like a nuanced and composite character. Though perhaps not to the extent as Sully, she's got her confident and assertive moments (and maybe brawns, depending on her assigned Assets/Flaws). Yet Robin is considerably more feminine than Sully is, though not to the same extent like Sumia. And at the same time, she's a smart girl too, though perhaps in a different aspect to Miriel. All in all, she doesn't seem like a flat character as her role implies. (A Renaissance Woman?!)

 

[Deleted member 72389]

Your artwork is brilliant! I especially liked Jenna and Zelda Jr., they are looking beautiful.

 

[henrymidfields]

@Soki: All right, here's my outline. Now to fill in the shadows...

Spoiler: Outline complete

@Captain Pallet: Thank you again, my faithful viewer! After Robin, your May (Pokémon Anime) shall be next!

Update (16 May 2017): Robin's official portrait is done, pending update. Here is the first pencil draft of May in progress.

Spoiler

@NMLewis (re: below post): Actually, @Cutiefly also made the request as well, so that is actually two votes for May!

PS Does anyone know how I can delete and start new polls?

 

[NMLewis]

I am pleased that May will indeed be next, I was the sole vote it seems!

Your work is so utterly impressive!

 

[henrymidfields]

Gallery: 20 May 2017
My faithful audience, behold our two new heroines in the gallery.

Robin from Fire Emblem Awakening

Spoiler: Robin (female; Awakening)

Both Robin in here and May below have come out quicker than I initially thought. Robin was actually my first Nintendo-based portrait where I didn't use any shadowing on Robin's skin at all. That was how pale-skinned she looked in the original/official sprite in Awakening, even compared to, say, Serena (Pokémon XY).

May from the Pokémon Anime (Advanced Generation)

Spoiler: May (Pokémon Anime)

Given that the original scene done by the animators lacked depth in the colouring/shading department, I started to do my own interpretations, shown above. I've added shine to May's hair, and also made the shadings more gradual/transient. Later on, I might do an alternate costume to the above pose - maybe put her on in her game counterpart's ORAS outfit.

Coming up next: Kumatora (yes, the clay model from Mother 3)

Spoiler: preview