Can we get a quick description of this month's wallpaper?

[YuriPup]

LOL I can see the dragon...but who is that (if that is a who) and what do you think they are doing?

[Naelaen]

It's the dead sleeper.... obviously :D

[Woody]

It is not the sleeper.

It's just a dragon. And a very slick one if I do say so myself.

[Coffee]

Dammett Woody, you're gonna make me get a PayPal account. You would just go and do a dragon wallpaper.
*sigh*
Okay, I'll make one sometime tonight.

[Ciarin]

yea, now I gotta donate too.....I have a thing for dragons.....


I've drawn many, but none of turn out as good as I'd like. I just have to keep practicing....


edit: nah, I changed my mind.....

[Raven00x]

hmm...dragon you say? hmmm

[Coffee]

Only one dragon I can draw, starts with an s, then a more different s.

[Karimi]

Looks like Smaug from the hobbit, or at least what i imagined him to look like.

[Mordican]

I don't know how many of you remember Turiya's commision but THAT was a sweet commision with the Ikky over the dragon. If this one is half as good as that its well worth the donation...

[Woody]

Mordican, it's better.

[Coffee]

<------Is already drooling.

[Penguin (:>(O ):]

I wish i could get the Desktop without the donation. Number one i dont have any money Number 2 my parents wouldnt let me if i did. But, once i get my poster back from school ill show you MY dragon. Woodies dragon looks like Naggy IMHO. Heheh hey Woody can i have this one as a christmas present PRETTY PLEASE!!!

[Woody]

Nagafen in EQ and in EQ2 both have completely different characteristics than what little of the desktop image is shown.

And no. Giving you the image as a "christmas present" would undermine the foundation of the donation system... as ONLY the people that donate get to see the final products each month.

[MCW]

heh, seeing all these people who desperatly want a dragon picture and my lust for competition just surges through-out.

but I'll let woody have this one, I won't rival him, not today.


www.rollingindustries.com

[Kaylen]

Speaking of which (though this should probably be a PM, perhaps someone else can answer the question based upon past months) - when do you usually send out the wallpapers, Woody?

[John Dyne]

He takes the paypal information (E-mail or what not), and posts the wallpaper for download, sending the information to everyone who donated at the end of each month... I think that's how he explained it. I may have missed something.

And bah. I hate how I can't hit alt+s to post now.. I have to actually scroll and click.

[Woody]

Usually I have it out the first day of the month, but the new forums have me incredibly busy, so it'll likely be tomorrow before the info is sent out. Sorry.

[Kaylen]

No need to apologize - I'm not impatient, just idley curious.

[Ciarin]

well, if I donate on behalf of Penguin, can you send it to him, instead of me?

[Woody]

Nope. I grab the email addresses that are associated with the paypal account that donated and send the info there. This makes sure the right people get the image, without someone coming back later saying "I didn't get it". The system allows me to check everything and ensure a certain quality of service.

---

The November Info has been mailed, by the way, Kaylen.

[Tenolein]

W00t! I got mah first GU Comics wallpaper! Looks nice Woody.

Just thought I'd point that out. =)

*EDIT* By the way, how long does/will it take for commissions now days? I ain't in a hurry, but I'm just curious. :D

[Poofe 'n Evandril]

A Dragon /gu Wallpaper... Ok, time to find SOME way Paypal will take my money ;) (Being overseas means I can't use my checking account)

[Woody]

PayPal has support for people in Japan.

http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/approved_countries-outside

[Ciarin]

Only one dragon I can draw, starts with an s, then a more different s.

Trogdor!!!!

[MCW]

argh... Its nearly impossible to get any feedback on my work.

heh, well im gonna give Woody a run for his money when im done with my dragon wallpaper.

I would laugh if this in the end got Woody more donations from people wanting to compare, I expect to be done by the end of the week.

[Ciarin]

I use visualartarray.com as a gallery for my art. If you want a critique on your stuff, try their forums (http://www.visualartarray.com/commdisc/).

[Kaylen]

The SomethingAwful.com forums would give you a nice critique, I think. But it costs some money to get an account there.

The "s" is for sucks. Trogdor's still my favorite e-mail..

[Woody]

MCW, not to crush your dreams or anything...
But, you'll have to pull an extraordinary rabbit out of your hat if you intend to give me a "run for [my] money".

Folks have already seen my work on dragons:
http://www.gucomics.com/archives/view.php?cdate=20031113

So my words of accepting your "challenge" are:
Bring it.

[Ciarin]

roflimm


Woody's dragons are pretty good for cartoons. And by the looks of the comics on MCW's site, it won't be much of a contest.

That'd be like me challenging Vallejo's dragons (http://www.artsforge.com/boris/dragons.html).....

[Kaylen]

What does this "roflimm" mean? I've never heard the acronym before.

[Ciarin]

it's rofl, with imm on the end.

imm means in my mind. Cause if i were really rolling on the floor my boss might not like it. So I do it in my head instead. same with LOLIMM, and LMAOIMM, etc.

[Kaylen]

Oh. I like that, it's honest. It's the people that say "el oh el" off the computer that scare me..

[Naelaen]

Like the woman hacker on a News/chatshow interview who says something the lines of "well I wouldn't class myself as a leet haxor" (/ne avoids inserting the numbers for obvious reasons).

They don't scare me, you just have to give them a nudge when they do it, at which point they realise what they've said and get all embarresed :D

[John Dyne]

So my words of accepting your "challenge" are:
Bring it.
High noon. Pen and stylus. Don't draw till the third bell.

*whistles a spaghetti western theme*

[Turiya]

I don't know how many of you remember Turiya's commision but THAT was a sweet commision with the Ikky over the dragon. If this one is half as good as that its well worth the donation...

In case anyone missed it :)

Turiya's Commission (http://home.earthlink.net/~markkus/data/misc/Turiya_GU.jpg)

[Ciarin]

pretty good

[Poofe 'n Evandril]

As much as I hate to say it, I've never liked Valleo's Dragons... And I love almost all his other work. My favorite Dragon artist is currently Michael Whelan... Ruth Thompson is up there as well.

I like Dragons enough that I'm VERY picky about how they look...Since, in my head, I *know* how they look...If an artist doesn't match that, I won't like it <shrugs> Woody's Dragons do, so I'm finding a way to donate (Thanks, btw, been meaning to, but too lazy 'til now ;) )

Oh, and thanks for the link, Woody, but doesn't really work for me ( Military confuses LOTS of issues with things like that... My bank is on-base, so it's not technically in Japan, but since it is physically in Japan, it doesn't count as a state-side bank, either <sigh> Will be back in the states for a couple weeks, worst case I'll open a mini-account in me home town ;)

[Coffee]

Well, I don't know if I like Vallejo's dragons, but one look at the riders has me quite envious of the dragons.

[Woody]

I never back away from an artistic challenge when someone says they're going to give me a run for my money. **grins**

And, yeah... I'm not really the same kind of artist as folks like Boris and Whelan. I'm a cartoony illustrator, they are classical illustrators. I'm just not of that kind of calibre. And for my money... I'll take a DiTerlizzi drawn Dragon ANY day.

I did get a rather healthy thanks and a handshake from Micheal Whelan though. I was working my table at a Dragon Con/ACE and the art director (my highschool art teacher) asked if I would store some of Micheal's paintings in my space under the table. It was a big corner booth so I said of course.

It's both and awe inspiring and humbling experience to sit beside the work of Micheal Whelan.

And as far as Turiya's commission... It's fine, but the dragon was done with less detail so that it wouldn't take focus away from the character himself. That's why your eye sees the Iksar first. Well, that... and color usuage. But, that's what we artists do.

[Serresrelic]

Eh yeah. I don't mean any insult to MCW's work or anything, but I have to agree that's it's pretty much no contest.

Sorry

[Pike Tha Blodd]

Etch-a-Sketches AT DAWN!!!

sunday sunday sunday.....

Be there be there be there....

[Velenka]

ROFL, John Dyne, Pike... thank you for my mid-day giggle. I needed that :)

I'm only going to assume that MCM's comment was made in jest, as in, "Gah, I could never compair to that, but false bravado can be funny if played just right..."

[MCW]

Sunday, is that the date, well, I guess ive got a lot of work ahead of me. I must admit that I havn't really had reasons to draw my other pictures, but now. Now I get to go up against Woody. The person who has inspired me into what I do now.

I must admit, someone with Woody's expereice will be difficult to compare too, but I live most my life on the thrill of competition. I will be going a full 100% into this.

And if I fail, it was a good run, It's not shattering my dreams in any way, I'm arleady a professinal cartoonist for my local newspaper.

Like all you guys who talk about the other great dragon artists, I look at Woody in the same way, better than me. If I could draw anything better than him, it will be a milestone. A bench mark I hope to make by this Sunday!

Always remember hobbies are aways in fun, there is never a loss when your having fun.

[Woody]

**buffs his nails on his shirt and looks over fingers that have seen nearly 14 years of professional illustration experience**

[Coffee]

I...er...I can draw one mean stick figure.

[Velenka]

I'm inspired to draw a dragon now, too. Most of my stuff is people or humanoid-like fantasy creatures, so this will be something new.

*busts out the crayons*

[Darley Marilith]

If you enjoy Ruth Thompson's dragons. you might also like Nene Thomas'. I think she's an amazing artist. She also draws a lot of Faries and did artwork for several of the card games that are so popular, such as Magic the Gathering, one of the vampire games, and at least a couple of others I cant recall right off.

[Woody]

Then we abandon the word competition, and everyone that wants to can submit a dragon picture.

Of course if you guys want to make a game of it... I'll judge them and pick a winner to receive a Woody gift. Like, say... one of the original GU panels maybe?

[Coffee]

Best I can do would look like Trogdor.
I would however, as an appreciator of good drawing, if not a practitioner, to see the entries posted.

[Velenka]

Oh :shock: Hehe, I wasn't planning on posting it, I was just inspired to draw a dragon. In any case, there is no chance in the 7 levels of hell that I could complete any sort of dragon picture by Sunday. Well, in pencil maybe.. but definately not colored. RL on the brain.

I work at the pace of: Snail.

[Coffee]

I'll play a haste song for ya Vel.

[Rhiamon Fatesealer]

We wanna see it Vel! I like your artwork.

You guys are making me wish that I could drop something better than "an S and then a more different S"

The S would DEFINATELY be for sucks

[John Dyne]

Well.. I could draw one with words and make you guys all imagine it. I suck with the drawing portion of art.

[Sarius]

yeh MCW i must admit though your artwork is better than some of the people in my year of school (Not myself or my friend, who btw if anyone cares we're getting some of his art scanned, will post a few, hopefully you'll enjoy them and i would never even begin to compare them to Woody's let alone compete with)

...*back to my point* its not actually very good in comparison to Woody's style, he's worked on them for years and its a fine art, its probably THE best webcomic drawn and coloured on the net. The competition is already won, and you guessed, by Woody.

But to give you a positive with that much talent at 17 by the time your Woody's age im sure you'll be as good


wrote this in reply to page 2 or 3, did not see page 4 where it said there is no competition, meh [editted 30 seconds after it was posted :P ]

[Sarius]

Ah man gotta draw a dragon now, an original Gu panel /drool, is it okay if i host in on the www.cobblestoned.com/gushell website, i dont have any webspace of my own, I'll get a direct link to it though once its up

[Ciarin]

wow, so could I enter into this competition too?

I can't draw cartoons, but I'll give it a go.

[Tadashya]

hand draw you mean... like.. with a pencil? *giggles*

[Rhiamon Fatesealer]

hmm judging on the 3d art I saw on your website Tad, I'm not sure its fair for you to enter the contest. You might beat Woody if you can do 3d art for the contest :D

[Tadashya]

nah.. that would be more than slightly cheating. :D

I can draw..... I just gotta remember where I might actually find one of those funky ancient tools... called a pencil as I recall :wink:

[Ciarin]

*busts out ye olde staedtler*



hmmmm....now..I believe I'll start with an S.......

[Woody]

There is no beating Woody. As I'm not competing in anything. I'm not producing new artwork.

---

And, I started doing professional illustration when I was 15. I was paid to do murals, sign & banner design, and I did these illustrations of groups that I sold Examples: groups of army like snow men having a snowball fight, Santa and his elves, rock concerts... etc. They won awards, were displayed in several area museums (including the the High Museum in Atlanta), and got rave reviews when I used them as the basis of my portfolio for college applications.

[Ciarin]

I've done murals and signs and logos. But I didn't get paid for it. I was in the army, and when the chain of command discovered that I could draw and paint a little, they put me to good use. I had to paint huge murals of military eqipment and insignia. I made up some logos for MI. And the pain in the ass is, every new station I went I had to do it over again. I think I've painted the Army Corps of Engineers insignia atleast a dozen times. I'm so sick of that red castle!!!

Also, since the Army is full of a bunch of cheapskates, I had horrible supplies to work with. One time I actually had to paint a *realistic* red castle on plywood using only a bucket of red paint, and a 2 inch brush. Can someone tell me how you get shading with only one color?!?

::grumbles off to work::

[MCW]

well it looks like Woody has retracted his
"Bring it on" statment...

but the idea of turning into a "game" as he calls it where many of us draw pictures and he chooses the best sounds like a good idea, i'd be up to it!

[Tadashya]

*frowns* ok I came into this kinda late.. but.. I dont think this was ever a "competition" and I cant see Woody saying 'bring it on' and.. 3D and pencil drawing are apples and oranges and shouldnt be compared anyway .. and .. when I said it was cheating.. its because I can generate a dragon in under 15 minutes... AND *frowns more* MCW maybe you should consider reducing your sugar intake? :?

[MCW]

reduce my sugar intake...

Well im sorry that you didn't read Woody's post about his orginal reply. And im sorry that your comparing my 2-d "rough drafts" to his 3-d completed art.

I hope you atleast know he doesn't just generate those all in 3-d, if you look at his "donate logo with the %" you can easily tell its a 2-d picture gradually being colored in. Given the shadow effect to look 3-d.

Also the orignal competion was that, I had stated that I could draw a decent dragon, one that could compare quite well to Woody's if not better. Woody scoffed in disbelief and said "Bring it on"

Knowing Woody's experience, I know he should easily out-do me, I expect it. But that is no reason to stop trying.

Now as for that, is there anything esle your un-clear about Tadashya??

[Woody]

MCW, you said you were going to give me a run for my money, and I said bring it on.

I haven't retracted anything. You're the one that has to prove yourself.

As kind as I can be about it, you draw like I did in the 4th grade and that's when I first started. You've got a way to go before you give me a run for my money. And if you don't see that, then you're at an improper level of accomplishment, and honest self assessment, to be calling people out. I'm all for helping you and pushing you, but don't turn it into a competition next time. It's just the wrong way to go about things.

**shrugs**

I've been trying NOT to say that to save people's feelings.

[MCW]

Looks like I got off on the wrong start, I apologize to every I said that angered anyone.

I will remain silent for the time being, until I am fully ready to display my best.

To strive to be the best is one of the best goals in life, clearly it not the best to gloat about and for that I am truly sorry.

Have fun and good luck, I wont bother anyone, anymore.

-MCW- Cartoonist -Wind-

[Woody]

**grumbles**

Listen... there is nothing wrong with striving to make your art better. Heck, there's nothing wrong with calling a person out either. But, you really need to be able to guage yourself better.

And once you receive criticism, you buckle?

What is that about? How are we supposed to respond to you, or help you, if you decide to leave the first time someone says, "you've got a LOT of work to do if you intend to give an artist a run for his money on his own forums"?

New artists email me several times a month asking for critiques of their work. And, I never give them one for this exact reason.

**sighs**

[Tadashya]

I am going to recommend www.norrathsstudio.org if you want cc on your work. No its not FF work but you can post in the pen/pencil section.. there are FF players there that still frequent.

for clarities sake.. I was speaking of my 3D work. I had more of a rant but Woody pretty much covered it.

[Ciarin]

I appreciated the one you gave me, Woody. I don't think I've had a better critique of my work.

[MCW]

Trust me, I don't buckle easy, this just simply isn't the place for me, I relieze that now.

Your right about me not accepting it the way I should, Ive grown up mostly the best artist in my town, locally im the best many of the people have ever seen "besides very famous people of course like Van Gogh"

Its good to see some constructive feed back though, but still the forums are simply not my fortay.

I will take your advice however and see what I can do on some online critics and brace myself for whatever changes may come my way.

You've all been very helpful. I thank you for that.

[Ciarin]

This is the place for fans of gucomics. If you're a fan, then I guess this is a good place as any....

[Woody]

If you're patient with us... we get much better.

It's called old-fogey-ism.

[Tadashya]

hey! I resemble that remark 8)

[Triv]

I'm big on cartooning, but Whenever I try to make something look real (not that cartoons cant look real), it comes out like one of WOODY's Famous "poopy" stick figures, any advice?

and don't reply so fast that by the time I go back to the main sections its here allready - cuz i'll never get the forums read!

- sorry woody, im a bad ytpist

[Ciarin]

first advice, change Woddy to Woody.

second, practice, practice, practice. shading is your friend, and try not to have lines. outlining your subjects makes it look like a cartoon.

[Triv]

thanks, i'll keep that in mind :) also I think I will be entering the dragon contest to see what you all think of my work

p.s. I changed woddy to woody, and as i added, im a bad ytpist

[Takara]

*twitch*

[Sarius]

This sounds really mean, but its not meant to be its just my personal critisism but if your the "best" in your town at drawing, your town isnt good at drawing at all. And this also sounds like bragging but my friend (who's pics i will get scanned,..soon,..very soon) are loads better in means of proportion etc. you know, drawn wise (we cant colour them on comp yet, doh) but still, just wanted to let you know they arent that good in the big wide world as they may be to your town, i've seen better 1st hand and Woody's and the likes are miles better than the best I've seen in real life.

[MCW]

yeah, I know, im just figuring that out. And yes my town is a quite small and very boring. But I don't have my best on my page, just recent things, ones ive had time to get on there. And I wouldnt have a clue on how to proportion them right, there all about 50% scaled down so its not huge on the page.

[Rosey]

I didn't want to start a new thread just for this comment, but I personally am very pleased with the November wallpaper. Hot Wood Elf, whoo! I just have to alternate it with Vhah ^_^