When old, crappy ideas make new, cool ones.

I have a whole lotta commissions I am working on. I'm practically being paid in compliments, but they should all make nice additions to my portfolio. I carved out just a little bit of time to work on my Zelda piece and put in the final touches. Like many of my 'I learned so much' pieces, I will post the finish along with the process.

This one was interesting because it started as something very different:

I completed this bad boy a little over a year ago. He was an 8x10 study in mood and composition. I liked how it looked, and decided to cut my teeth in Photoshop with a little re-imagining.

This isn't my first re-imagining.





I was also hankering to do fan art, so I could come out to the world as a practicing video gamer. What better idea than to have Link in a dungeon? I would have to change so little! Just a fairy in the corner and a hookshot instead of a gun. But then I remembered this:

Not to mention this, which I am still not finished with:


It is sad when a painting stalls in its teenage phase.. but I digress. Yeah, I've done dungeon before. I wanted to do something with sky! Mountains! Open air! So I did.

Since you've already seen steps one through seven, in which I change my mind multiple times and learn the wonders of layers, I'll just show you my newest and mostest finished (yes, that was on purpose) version(s).



Pow.

The Legend of Zelda

Here they are! The two finished versions of my first legit fan-art. Now, only true Zelda nerds (myself included) would ever realize that I put the Twilight Princess Link and Ganon with Navi. What can I say? I like Ocarina of Time better, but the outfit isn't as cool, and Ganon's design is kind of a mess in that game. I was never really sure what I killed at the end there... I am still trying to come up with a name, though. I need help, and I need it from you fine folk. Which title should I go with? I have:

"HEY! LISTEN!"
"The Death of Ganon"
"Endgame"
"The Legend"
"Like a Boss"

Or... something. Let me know in the comments! Also, weigh in on which version of the piece you like better. Without further ado, here they are!

WIP

I have been practically living at my day job, so after posting on Thursday, this is the first full day I've been able to devote to my personal project. No, the classic Zelda HUD will not make it into the final, I just thought it was funny. Though if the image is popular with people, I may offer a 'with' and 'without' version.

An update:

One last update and then I'm off to bed:

Today's update:

I have to go to work now, but as you can see, this sucker is damn near close to done. I just have to finish the arm/hand/sword, his lower half, and put some touch-ups on the ground. I will have two finished versions, one with the classic Zelda hearts and my pixelated signature, and one with no hearts and a serious signature. Is anyone else a fan of the game? Do you feel I am doing the game justice?