Chikumbutso - WIP 3

The golden forehead bars were originally outlined in black. However, as you'll see, seeing as the neck rings were used a dark gold color and another element used a color hold (can't remember the color right now...), I decided to help balance out the visuals and use a color hold on this element here. In addition to just looking kind of interesting in and of itself, the use of a color hold can help create a specific effect. For instance, the dark gold outlines on the gold forehead bars creates a sort of embedded effect like it's welded or implanted into her head. It can also have the effect of suggesting a material very different from the rest of the subject. When shading, these bars should look more metallic than if I'd left them with the standard black outlines.

You'd think with a unified outline, it would make it look like everything is part of the same whole in the most simple yet effective way possible. Well, it certainly can be, but maybe not always. I feel as though the color itself hold helps push the affected area forward juuuuuuuuust enough to make it stand out as separate from the rest of the lineart, but the fact that it's clearly part of the lineart grounds it.

Cartoons and many, many, many 2-D animation pieces are traditionally outlined in black or very dark brown. We know when an element stops and another begins because of the separation via said clear outlines. In 3-D animation, as well as in the real world, elements are separated visually by changes in hue or lighting but not necessarily by clear delineation of lines. An effective color, I feel, kinda blurs that line and helps create something very tangible but still recognizable as a cartoon element. It's like it picks at both parts of our brain that can interpret depth through two-dimensional cartoons and the three-dimensions we see in real life.

Or that's how I see it, anyway. There's probably some actual reason out there somewhere. Should probably mention that I'm half awake as I write this.

#lineart #cartoon #genrechowderstudios