Thanks for the clarification, @Buttercheese. What I meant is that, being myself an artist, is that the majority of active artists appreciate fanart , as long as you give the original author its proper credit. Even the moderators posted that beamdog wants people to do fanart.
I remember that a fan made a tumblr dedicated to Neera with lots of fanart, are they getting sued? I doubt it, even though showing it on the web may be considered distribution.
I repeat that giving proper credit is the ethical thing to do, but reinterpretating someone's work because you are a fan is different from making money illegaly.
It was indeed sweet to see how an artist supports a user. Thanks for sharing. As for privacy of correspondence, I wish there was one unified approach to this, as not long ago an artist on devianart posted correspondence with one of our users.
Yes, it was nice of him.
I removed his message, somehow I just didn't think of it as a private conversation, it was my error, I should have known it's not polite to share other people's messages like that.
@DrakeICN When you link pictures here, please, credit their artists. The links you have posted don't allow users to understand from where these pictures come and who is their artist.
@JuliusBorisov You could understand where the last one came from. The web address says that it is by cowsgomoose, so he should have given credit there. With the sexy orc lady, even google reverse search couldn't find it. Speaking personally, that's an image that I would like to un-see.
Moving on , @artastrophe 's Edwin is sexy as hell.
Edwin smiling just looks weird. He's a narcissistic, unpleasant, spiteful dick; he does not radiate joy and warmth. Now, if his expression were changed so it looks like he's urinating on you from a third-story balcony then I could really appreciate this portrait.
The portraits I use in game, with the exception of Jaheira and Hexxat (For whom I have modified their hair colors and have put in unmodified originals in this picture):
My CHARNAME (Unmodified Plasmocat) - Plasmocat's BG portraits in BG2 Style, above
Dorn (unmodified default) - Beamdog
Edwin (unmodified BG1 default) - Bioware and Black Isle Studios
Haer'Dalis (unmodified MiLeah) - Above posting of MiLeah portraits
Hexxat (Modified Plasmocat) - For failure to contact Plasmocat regarding my modifications, I put in Plasmocat's unmodified original Dynaheir portrait. For use for Hexxat, I modified it by adjusting the hair color to a very dark brown-black.
Jaheira (Modified Plasmocat) - For failure to contact Plasmocat regarding my modifications, I put in Plasmocat's unmodified original Jaheira portrait. In the actual portrait I use, I changed Jaheira's hair color to a brighter copper color, similar to a new penny (though I've sometimes thought I went a little overboard, it's rather bright).
Jan (unmodified BG2 default) - Bioware and Black Isle Studios
Nalia (Unmodified Enkida) - Enkida's portrait pack, who in turn sources it as BG2 original
Neera (modified Smilika) - Modified with permission from both Smilika (the original artist) and Vedunia (to whom the original character belongs), my edits consisted of new background, changing the hair color, and removing the prominent scar.
Rasaad (unmodified default) - Beamdog
Sarevok (unmodified Enkida) - Enkida's portrait pack, who in turn sources it as MiLeah
Tashia (modified Enkida) - Modified from Enkida's portrait pack, with permission from Enkida, who in turn sources http://isostock.deviantart.com/art/People-026-118963004. My modification consisted of changing the ears' shape (narrower and slightly longer).
Valygar (unmodified default) - Bioware and Black Isle Studios
Wow, I wish that I had known about that alt Neera portrait the last time that I played.
To be perfectly honest I'm still not happy with it as I am bothered every time I look at it by the hair at the far right where it appears to not blend well with the background.
Anyways, yes, Neera portraits have always been a thorn to me, I have looked at tons of portraits and modified half a dozen and never liked them until I saw that Vidaniel portrait. For example, I made Enkida's Tashia portrait (the original) with pink hair, it...didn't work well. Apparently "pink-haired Half Elf mage" is hard to pull off.
In BG1EE I went with a picture from Aerie's Portrait Pack that worked better with the sharper Plasmocat pictures I liked. But then come BG2EE it didn't work as well since I couldn't have 100% Plasmocat portraits and went to this blend of 1/3 Plasmocat, 1/3 Enkida, 1/3 Other, and I went looking once more for alternatives. Until this picture actually, I'd used Plasmocat's Eldoth portrait for Haer'Dalis
I saw the picture and thought "Huh, pink hair, remove the scar, and that'd be pretty nice for Neera."
Super thanks again to the original artist and character owner who gave permission, plus they're BG fans too.
With as much traffic as this thread gets, we could probably all scrape together enough to commission a portrait pack from one of our favorite independent/freelance artists. Just sayin'.
I'd vote for this Tomasz Chistowski guy, hands down.
Now here's something which you don't see everyday. Anyone else still remembers the ol' tabaxi race from Forgotten Realms' Maztica campaign set? I sure do!
Okay, I MUST share this here because I can't take my eyes of it. A few weeks ago I won Anzahar's art giveaway and they drew a portrait of my halfling bard Bhaalspawn Primula for me and ABSULUTELY NAILED IT, I can't get over how real and beautiful she looks, so here you go:
This one is photoshopped blend from the original art of Lindsay Laney (http://artoflindseylaney.blogspot.com.br/) and the Male Human Monk portrait available at BG2EE (anybody knows who the artist is?) . I made it for a human bard, but he could also be an elf or half elf.
If Aerie were born as an half-orc, she'd probably look alot like that. Both having the same hairstyle and all. Either way, chances of her being a headbanger is extraordinary high. Which is always a plus in my book!
These are from my brother. I do not know where he got them from and quite a few are pretty old. It's a big zip. Enjoy or take it down if it breaks rules and stuff.
The problem with them is that for EE the resolution is a bit poor as is the case with most old portraits. I haven't checked them for ownership just deleted them as they are not good enough resolution IMO.
Some of them I do like, but agree with @Wise_Grimwald that the resolution of many are somewhat lacking.
I don't understand why it is, but portraits like that seemed to be fine for Vanilla BG and Tutu, seem blurred with EE. This is true of a lot of the old portraits.
Comments
I remember that a fan made a tumblr dedicated to Neera with lots of fanart, are they getting sued? I doubt it, even though showing it on the web may be considered distribution.
I repeat that giving proper credit is the ethical thing to do, but reinterpretating someone's work because you are a fan is different from making money illegaly.
I removed his message, somehow I just didn't think of it as a private conversation, it was my error, I should have known it's not polite to share other people's messages like that.
Edwin is sexy as hell.
At least when they are not asked for permission first.
Here is the guide.
Now, could you please stop?
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/83/5d/4b/835d4b739848cb6e904ca7cb82eb2a40.jpg
http://img11.deviantart.net/40d2/i/2012/244/9/d/wip_orc_archer_by_cowsgomoose-d5d93t4.png
It's alright to question and discuss an important issue in a polite and transparent manner. @DrakeICN When you link pictures here, please, credit their artists. The links you have posted don't allow users to understand from where these pictures come and who is their artist.
With the sexy orc lady, even google reverse search couldn't find it. Speaking personally, that's an image that I would like to un-see.
As for "undestanding from the web address", it's not enough as the link just leads to the image on it's own instead of to the page it was posted on.
I dislike both of the vanilla portraits of Jaheira, and this is the first one I've seen that really makes her come alive. Edwin smiling just looks weird. He's a narcissistic, unpleasant, spiteful dick; he does not radiate joy and warmth. Now, if his expression were changed so it looks like he's urinating on you from a third-story balcony then I could really appreciate this portrait.
Orc by Straban
The best drinking buddy one could have in an Icewind Dale party. Probably.
my direct sources:
Enkida's portrait pack
Plasmocat's BG portraits in BG2 Style
Aerie Portrait Pack
BG:Vidaniel by Smilika
Auren mod
Collection of MiLeah portraits
The actual game files for BG1, BG2, and BG2EE defaults
Specific Credits:
Sourced as - http://www.gibberlings3.net/jpspp/index.php
Anomen (unmodified Enkida) - Enkida's portrait pack. who in turn sources it as Miloch, sourced at http://www.shsforums.net/topic/34869-clerics-get-their-deity-colours/
Auren (unmodified Auren mod default) - http://www.gibberlings3.net/auren/
Cernd (unmodified Enkida) - Enkida's portrait pack, who in turn sources it as Miloch, sourced at http://www.shsforums.net/topic/34869-clerics-get-their-deity-colours/
My CHARNAME (Unmodified Plasmocat) - Plasmocat's BG portraits in BG2 Style, above
Dorn (unmodified default) - Beamdog
Edwin (unmodified BG1 default) - Bioware and Black Isle Studios
Haer'Dalis (unmodified MiLeah) - Above posting of MiLeah portraits
Hexxat (Modified Plasmocat) - For failure to contact Plasmocat regarding my modifications, I put in Plasmocat's unmodified original Dynaheir portrait. For use for Hexxat, I modified it by adjusting the hair color to a very dark brown-black.
Imoen (Aerie Portrait pack) - Found as NIM1L.jpg in Aerie's portrait pack on SHS, I believe it to be originally from a Guildwars Ranger poster such as https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/File:"Ranger"_wallpaper.jpg
Jaheira (Modified Plasmocat) - For failure to contact Plasmocat regarding my modifications, I put in Plasmocat's unmodified original Jaheira portrait. In the actual portrait I use, I changed Jaheira's hair color to a brighter copper color, similar to a new penny (though I've sometimes thought I went a little overboard, it's rather bright).
Jan (unmodified BG2 default) - Bioware and Black Isle Studios
Keldorn (unmodified Enkida) - Enkida's portrait pack, who in turn sources it as Miloch, sourced at http://www.shsforums.net/topic/34869-clerics-get-their-deity-colours/
Korgan (unmodified Plasmocat) - Plasmocat's BG portraits in BG2 Style, above
Mazzy (unmodified Enkida) - Enkida's portrait pack, who in turn sources it as Amaurea
Minsc (unmodified Plasmocat) - Plasmocat's BG portraits in BG2 Style, above
Nalia (Unmodified Enkida) - Enkida's portrait pack, who in turn sources it as BG2 original
Neera (modified Smilika) - Modified with permission from both Smilika (the original artist) and Vedunia (to whom the original character belongs), my edits consisted of new background, changing the hair color, and removing the prominent scar.
Rasaad (unmodified default) - Beamdog
Sarevok (unmodified Enkida) - Enkida's portrait pack, who in turn sources it as MiLeah
Tashia (modified Enkida) - Modified from Enkida's portrait pack, with permission from Enkida, who in turn sources http://isostock.deviantart.com/art/People-026-118963004. My modification consisted of changing the ears' shape (narrower and slightly longer).
Valygar (unmodified default) - Bioware and Black Isle Studios
Viconia (unmodified Plasmocat) - Plasmocat's BG portraits in BG2 Style, above
Yoshimo (unmodified default) - Bioware and Black Isle Studios
Anyways, yes, Neera portraits have always been a thorn to me, I have looked at tons of portraits and modified half a dozen and never liked them until I saw that Vidaniel portrait. For example, I made Enkida's Tashia portrait (the original) with pink hair, it...didn't work well. Apparently "pink-haired Half Elf mage" is hard to pull off.
In BG1EE I went with a picture from Aerie's Portrait Pack that worked better with the sharper Plasmocat pictures I liked. But then come BG2EE it didn't work as well since I couldn't have 100% Plasmocat portraits and went to this blend of 1/3 Plasmocat, 1/3 Enkida, 1/3 Other, and I went looking once more for alternatives. Until this picture actually, I'd used Plasmocat's Eldoth portrait for Haer'Dalis
I saw the picture and thought "Huh, pink hair, remove the scar, and that'd be pretty nice for Neera."
Super thanks again to the original artist and character owner who gave permission, plus they're BG fans too.
I'd vote for this Tomasz Chistowski guy, hands down.
Tabaxi Ranger by SurugaMonkey
Now here's something which you don't see everyday. Anyone else still remembers the ol' tabaxi race from Forgotten Realms' Maztica campaign set? I sure do!
A few weeks ago I won Anzahar's art giveaway and they drew a portrait of my halfling bard Bhaalspawn Primula for me and ABSULUTELY NAILED IT, I can't get over how real and beautiful she looks, so here you go:
Please go check out their blog
Orc Blizz12 by Gulukaz
If Aerie were born as an half-orc, she'd probably look alot like that. Both having the same hairstyle and all.
Either way, chances of her being a headbanger is extraordinary high. Which is always a plus in my book!
Gnome Ranger by missuskisses (Benni)
Not many Icewind Dale styled gnome portraits out there. Especially female ones at that. This should provide to be a slight fix for the issue at hand.
Some of them I do like, but agree with @Wise_Grimwald that the resolution of many are somewhat lacking.