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Drow portraits

mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
in General Discussion (Spoiler Warning!)
Although I am very impressed by much of the art that I have seen on the forums, especially by artastrophe and the like, I am afraid that most drow art/portraits, even that found via google or on deviantart, just doesn't capture how I envision in my mind the dark elves of the forgotten realms.

Most dark elf art is either too cartoony, way too world of warcraft (total blegh!), or too sexualized. There is so much excellent art and portraits out there for high elves and other white elves, but when it comes to the evil drow of the realms, I am just underwhelmed.

As a side note, I have found more male drow art that appeals to my tastes than female drow art, which is sad because female drow are so much more awesomazerful.

See the following URLS for an idea of my tastes.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/02/9d/13/029d13742a539a2eac692590a2490a8b.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/32/4e/96/324e9608a7d69dc34e315bc36dfc2b07.jpg

Anyone with similar tastes?
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Comments

  • VallmyrVallmyr Member, Mobile Tester Posts: 2,459
    Yeeesss I totally agree! I was trying to find a good portrait for Val'myr in my current run of BG but went with this basic Drow picture. That second one I'm TOTALLY going to steal for my char's portrait XD
    http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/baldursgategame/images/7/73/Male_drow.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130910145457
  • AlexisisinneedAlexisisinneed Member Posts: 470
    edited May 2015
    Have you tried this yet? I found a lot of drow pictures on here they might be up to stuff. There's a lot of pictures there so you'll have to do some digging.

    I tried to get the link to show but failed. There's LadyRhian's too many pictures for any thread page in the fan creation of this site.
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    Alexisisinneed said:

    Have you tried this yet? I found a lot of drow pictures on here they might be up to stuff. There's a lot of pictures there so you'll have to do some digging.

    I tried to get the link to show but failed. There's LadyRhian's too many pictures for any thread page in the fan creation of this site.

    I'm not sure what the first part of your comment is about... tried what yet? Found portraits where?
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    Vallmyr said:

    Yeeesss I totally agree! I was trying to find a good portrait for Val'myr in my current run of BG but went with this basic Drow picture. That second one I'm TOTALLY going to steal for my char's portrait XD
    http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/baldursgategame/images/7/73/Male_drow.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130910145457

    That's an awesome drow portrait! Too bad its black and white...still, you don't really notice with the drow because they have black skin and white hair, lol.
  • AlexisisinneedAlexisisinneed Member Posts: 470
    mashedtaters said:

    Alexisisinneed said:

    Have you tried this yet? I found a lot of drow pictures on here they might be up to stuff. There's a lot of pictures there so you'll have to do some digging.

    I tried to get the link to show but failed. There's LadyRhian's too many pictures for any thread page in the fan creation of this site.

    I'm not sure what the first part of your comment is about... tried what yet? Found portraits where?
    I was trying to direct you to a thread on this forum in the Fan Creation part of this forum site that has a massive amount of pictures ones could change in Character portraits. It goes by the name "LadyRhian's too many pictures for any thread page." It has a lot of drow pictures mixed in there perhaps you'll find one you like.
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    Oh, ok thanks! I'll google it.
  • KamigoroshiKamigoroshi Member Posts: 5,870
    image

    Made by Natalie Holkham over at deviantart.


    This one is my personal favourite. While originally an Dunmer portrait, it works really well for Drow and Half-Drow alike.
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    Both very nice.
  • JuliusBorisovJuliusBorisov Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,758
    http://mario573.deviantart.com/

    image

    image
  • ArchaosArchaos Member Posts: 1,421
    Funny
    mashedtaters said:


    Most dark elf art is too sexualized.

    Fun fact: Drow are actually supposed to be sexualized in lore. It's part of their culture and it's a sign of status to show a sexy body in their society.
    Good drow, Eilistraeen's especially, like wearing revealing outfits as well.

    Surface elves are similar just to a lesser extent.
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    Archaos said:

    Funny

    mashedtaters said:


    Most dark elf art is too sexualized.

    Fun fact: Drow are actually supposed to be sexualized in lore. It's part of their culture and it's a sign of status to show a sexy body in their society.
    Good drow, Eilistraeen's especially, like wearing revealing outfits as well.

    Surface elves are similar just to a lesser extent.
    I am afraid that I disagree with you. Drow culture is defined by horrible matrons, not horny maidens.
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    @bengoshi Very nice male drow portraits. Rock on.
  • GemHoundGemHound Member Posts: 801
    edited November 2015
    My avatar is good, I could also probably post 10 or more pictures right now that are decent.
    Edit: For example:
    Here are my three favourite male pictures:
    image
    by angelkittyworld https://www.pinterest.com/source/angelkittyworld.tumblr.com/
    image
    be jianjiagu http://jianjiagu.deviantart.com/
    image
    by AiDerathar http://aiderathar.deviantart.com/
    and my 3 favourite female pictures:
    image
    by Anonymous(can't find the artist) - I am quite certain it is a Wizard's picture
    image
    by Gerald Brom http://www.bromart.com/
    This one is one of my favourite armours, but is a cosplay, not a picture. The only issue is it is missing a little in detail work.
    image

    by LoliDSoliD http://lolidsolid.deviantart.com/


    Most of the difficulty for the edit was finding the artists.
    Edit2: I actually use the 3rd Drow picture as an avatar on the BG:TSCC forums.
    Post edited by GemHound on
  • GemHoundGemHound Member Posts: 801
    edited November 2015
    Here are some more:
    As I said earlier, they are easy to find, you just have to comb through the garbage to find good ones.
    A very well done assassin(I'm not sure about the permission to post it so I'll just post a link)
    http://mavrosh.deviantart.com/art/Drow-505568607
    by Mavrosh http://mavrosh.deviantart.com/

    A very intricately done High Priestess in her robes
    image
    by Jianjiagu http://jianjiagu.deviantart.com/

    This is another set of Drow armour, that I think is really cool.
    image
    by Anonymous

    Drow Priestess
    image
    by Wizards of the Coast

    A Drow Fighter
    image
    by Anonymous

    A really cool action shot of a Drow struggling with an Illithid
    image
    by artpox http://artpox.deviantart.com/


    This is a female Drow assassin that seems to have just mortally injured another Drow(I'm not sure about the permission to post it so I'll just post a link)
    http://drowcampaign.roleplaynexus.com/images/BauthaZhinbyAzraelEvangeline.jpg
    by AzraelEvangeline/Blind-Leviathan http://blind-leviathan.deviantart.com/?rnrd=156615


    @mashedtaters Yes, I am fully aware of the religious rituals that Lolthites and Eilistraeeans perform. That does not mean they dress or undress like that all the time. Most priestesses actually wear somewhat sensible clothing, as in a highly volatile cloak and dagger society, do you think any of those scantily clad Drow that artists post on the internet would be able to defend themselves without something popping out of place? Be a little realistic. :) Eilistraeeans though in my mind are fruity. :tongue:
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    GemHound said:


    @mashedtaters Yes, I am fully aware of the religious rituals that Lolthites and Eilistraeeans perform. That does not mean they dress or undress like that all the time. Most priestesses actually wear somewhat sensible clothing, as in a highly volatile cloak and dagger society, do you think any of those scantily clad Drow that artists post on the internet would be able to defend themselves without something popping out of place? Be a little realistic. :) Eilistraeeans though in my mind are fruity. :tongue:

    I couldn't agree more. As such, I'm always on the lookout for sensible female drow art.

    Ellistraeeans have identity issues.
  • ButtercheeseButtercheese Member Posts: 3,766
    No no, the problem isn't that female drow dress too skimpily, the problem is that male drow don't.
  • CaloNordCaloNord Member Posts: 1,809
    Ahdhgfterhtyd!!!

    That second portrait @bengoshi shared!!! That's my new character! :D Thank you so very much! I've been arsing around for about 4 days trying to settle on a new character I actually enjoy and you just helped a great deal! Even if the thread is old!!

    There is never too much Drow elf art that ISN'T hypersexualized! :)

    Love it all! I hope @Icecreamtub has seen this thread. :D
  • PteranPteran Member Posts: 388
    There are some excellent portraits here! I just wanted to add in one I found a while back that I'm rather fond of. Maybe it's too skimpy or sexualized for you, but I think it fits wonderfully with a drow female, especially one with a bit of Thief skills (she's in leather).


    Artist: NixxiCal on DeviantArt
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    Thanks for all the awesome portraits!

    Also, I don't think that there's anything wrong with resurrecting an old thread like this.
  • MoradinMoradin Member Posts: 372
    Wow, some of these portraits are truly magnificent. Thanks for sharing, guys and gals!
  • Francois42424Francois42424 Member Posts: 44
    edited April 2016
    Great Thread. I was looking for a new portrait to remake an old BG1/2 character (since I lost the original portrait pack to time and even tho I got it originally from sorcerer.net it's no longer there... it contained a geisha pic, a samurai pic, and a blue-purple drow-ish warrior portrait really liked... who knew I'd want that pack again 17 years later... life is funny that way)

    So far the androgynous Fiery red eyes or the Blue-eyes B&W portrait get my vote.
    Not sure which one to go with... but since I am remaking "Drow, of the Fist" the fiery one is the winner so far.
    Still I like the posed stature of the b&w one.

    Hard to pick. Thanks for the pics guys, much appreciated.
    EDIT: On second tought, this one is closer to the original, and the one I had in mind :

  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    edited April 2016
    Here's a couple I found while surfing. Not female, though.



  • ButtercheeseButtercheese Member Posts: 3,766
    @mashedtaters Please source :I
  • mashedtatersmashedtaters Member Posts: 2,266
    @Buttercheese

    http://40.media.tumblr.com/b19f59f19c423fb64dcef068ea42ce60/tumblr_nbp66q1H0e1tjq5m6o10_1280.jpg

    http://i38.servimg.com/u/f38/19/14/50/01/92c66a10.jpg
  • ArnaeusArnaeus Member Posts: 90
    @buttercheese The top picture by mashtaters is Sorin Markhov, it's from the game magic the gathering. A quick google should find some other good pictures of that character.
  • helmo1977helmo1977 Member Posts: 366
    edited April 2016
    Vallmyr said:

    Yeeesss I totally agree! I was trying to find a good portrait for Val'myr in my current run of BG but went with this basic Drow picture. That second one I'm TOTALLY going to steal for my char's portrait XD
    http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/baldursgategame/images/7/73/Male_drow.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130910145457

    Do drows have blue eyes? I thought their eyes were red (and, very rarely, yellow, grey or violet, like those of Drizzt)

    PS. By the way, really gorgeous portraits (especially the aleksandra trezvina one). The only problem I have with some of them is that the drows in them dont look drows, but humans with pointy ears and weird colour eyes.
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