#I'm a better armorer than artist but I still hope some of my references help!

[patternwelded-quill]

As an armorer I really appreciate these tips, they'll help when sketching designs prior to forging or to have a portfolio of the templates people can see. As a writer and artist, I REALLY appreciate the logical and realistic approach, I'm firmly on the side of realism and not fantasy armor.

Another good resource for some armor-in-motion would come from wiktenaur, they document traditional fight manuals for HEMA but those have a lot of sketches of the stances/moves described. And it's free!

If you want to spend money and can find it, the Wallace Collection put out a hardcover book with a thumb drive of 3D models of weapons and armor.

Techniques of Medieval Armor Reproduction by Brian Price is aimed at the armorer, but there are a lot of useful pictures and sketches that cover moving parts, proportions, designs, etc.

And of course, even though Facebook is a cesspit, there are a lot of really good armors who post photographs of their Works finished and in progress that can help give you an idea for designs as well.

Happy drawing!

Here’s a ⭐️ tutorial ⭐️ on my approach to drawing armor!

[rennybu]

Hi there! Maybe this is a weird question, but as an artist and A D&D, I thought you might be a good resource! I'm wanting to commission a portrait of my D&D character for roll20 purposes, but I'm struggling with what refs and such I should gather for the artist. How can I make it as easy as possible for an artist when the character I'm wanting a portrait of isn't human? Would a written description suffice, or are images better? Thank you for whatever advice you have! --sincerely, a Loam enjoyer

DELIGHTFUL QUESTION, not weird at all!!! I hope its okay to publish this in case anyone else was wondering the same :']

Speaking as an artist who's done portrait commissions in the very recent past, a mix of images and written description is a sweet spot. Notes about specific features that the reference images might not show, or might not show accurately, help a lot to avoid retakes and corrections down the line.

Using Loam as an example, I have my own drawings of him I can crop and compile as reference, as well as a human model whose face proportions I like and make sure to include in case the realism is helpful at all to the artist. (The model is. EXTREMELY pale, ginger, and blue-eyed, so it really is just for like, Nose, Mouth, Jaw. FORM!) Then bolster what I've provided with additional reference - for Loam's ears, I have some pictures of cow ears saved for the overall shape and fur texture. AND all his jewelry afgkhfldKLJSHFGLSKD <3 Plus various armors, weathered fabrics, pieces of misc gear that complement and offer more options than what I've presented in my own artwork - to give the artist a range to work within, while still representing what I imagine suits Loam.

Simple notepad or Paint sketches also go a long way in conveying which details/features are most important to include in a given commission!!! Even scribbling over a reference image to be like, "this but PURPLE" is quick and easy. The power of the stick figure/smiley face with annotated doodles is never to be underestimated in communicating a bigger idea!!!!!!

SUMMARY?

Any existing artwork of the character

Any models/actors (or animals, for textures in fur/scales/eyes/teeth, etc etc) with features that are accurate to your image of the character

A simple doodle/sketch of the concept you have in mind

Written notes to consolidate the visuals you've provided and fill in any gaps that might still remain

BONUS? Links to the artist's own work depicting non-human features in a way you enjoyed seeing previously, that made you want to commission them for your character! (this has also helped me in the past with clients wanting lighting/rendering styles, hair, magic effects, etc. similar to pieces I'd done previously)

GO FORTH HAVE FUN!! i hope some of this was a little helpful :'D