Artastrophe's Portraits
Maelora69
Member Posts: 75
Just wanted to give forum members a heads-up on a really nice set of alternate portraits by a friend of mine.
I'm likely in the minority, but despite playing BG dozens of times over the years, I've always hated the original portraits. I don't want anime/manga style pictures, but I don't feel the inhabitants of the game should be grimacing, pox-ridden, wart-faced monstrosities either. Alora is a cute halfling, not a withered old hag. Coran should be a gorgeous ladies-man, not a warped Hall-of-Mirrors grotesquery. Even the ones that are not too hideous, like Imoen and Branwen's original portraits, are much too old for the characters they are supposed to portray. Branwen's not in her 40's, and Imoen is not a soccer mom, she's a perky teen, 17-18 tops.
Kaila's portraits are great - classic fantasy but not TOO fantastic. I don't think the anime look suits BG, and while I personally like the Boris Vallejo chainmail-bikini look, that doesn't suit BG either.
I think her reworkings of the classic characters are lovely, and accurate reflect the characters involved. We have Jahiera's trademark scowl, Xzar's unsettling stare and the bug-eyed weirdness of Tiax. Xan and Coran now actually look like high-charisma guys. The females are attractive without being airbrushed supermodels.
Check it out here: http://www.shsforums.net/topic/55677-paintbg-introduction-and-samples/
There's also another pack of her commissions, some of them mine, on DeviantArt:
http://artastrophe.deviantart.com/art/BG-Portrait-Package-145216289
I love being able to play the game with a unified look and art style, whether I'm playing a MP party or recruiting NPCs. There's a full range here, familiars, gnomes, half-orcs, halflings, the lot.
Hope some of you find it useful anyway.
I'm likely in the minority, but despite playing BG dozens of times over the years, I've always hated the original portraits. I don't want anime/manga style pictures, but I don't feel the inhabitants of the game should be grimacing, pox-ridden, wart-faced monstrosities either. Alora is a cute halfling, not a withered old hag. Coran should be a gorgeous ladies-man, not a warped Hall-of-Mirrors grotesquery. Even the ones that are not too hideous, like Imoen and Branwen's original portraits, are much too old for the characters they are supposed to portray. Branwen's not in her 40's, and Imoen is not a soccer mom, she's a perky teen, 17-18 tops.
Kaila's portraits are great - classic fantasy but not TOO fantastic. I don't think the anime look suits BG, and while I personally like the Boris Vallejo chainmail-bikini look, that doesn't suit BG either.
I think her reworkings of the classic characters are lovely, and accurate reflect the characters involved. We have Jahiera's trademark scowl, Xzar's unsettling stare and the bug-eyed weirdness of Tiax. Xan and Coran now actually look like high-charisma guys. The females are attractive without being airbrushed supermodels.
Check it out here: http://www.shsforums.net/topic/55677-paintbg-introduction-and-samples/
There's also another pack of her commissions, some of them mine, on DeviantArt:
http://artastrophe.deviantart.com/art/BG-Portrait-Package-145216289
I love being able to play the game with a unified look and art style, whether I'm playing a MP party or recruiting NPCs. There's a full range here, familiars, gnomes, half-orcs, halflings, the lot.
Hope some of you find it useful anyway.
9
Comments
In fact, in the spirit of community, and since 1) she'll be putting it in the pack anyway, and 2) it is technically mine. I present you with:
Belindis, Lawful Evil Fighter/Assassin, courtesy of Kaila's astounding art skills.
Belindis and Shar-Teel are pretty good battle-buddies. I always like it when Shar takes on her dad in the final battle.
Branwen, Monty, Xzar, Yeslick, Kivan, Khalid, Jahiera, Kagain, Garrick, eldoth, Faldorn
Adjantis, Coran, Imoen, Dynahier, Minsc, Alora, Quayle, Keldorn, Jan, Anomen, Cernd
Aerie, Vicky, Valygar, Sarevok, Nalia, Mazzy, Korgan, Yoshimo, HaerDalis, Edwin, Edwina
Download the BGEE version and it automatically replaces the original portraits for you.
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/13507/paintbg-for-all-bg-platforms
EDIT: And Xulaye.
I guess I can try escaping, but it seems like a bit of a project.
And yeah, there are 3 mod NPCs already and they will appear in the mod, but when there are more than just...you know, three portrait :P But I am the guy with the whip in my and Arta's relationship so I will make her work xD
...but no, seriously, I understand she's not a portrait machine, but I remember that there are people who want more, so will try to support her in a way or two
...hmm, I think I'll send her a PM ^^
I had thought I tried this in the past and didn't have much luck. I'll try again. :]
Does it also apply to existing save-games?
The original ones.
The ones that look like they've had their facial features rearranged by Minsc with Crom Feyr.
>Does it also apply to existing save-games?
Yep!
Who did the original ones then?
I actually like the BG2 ones. But Kaila's are better.
I don't know who did the defaults. Aren't they all painted-over Bioware employees and their friends? I mean, Ajantis is clearly Ray Muzyka.