Art: Rivek Studies

We are teaching the freshmen head modeling in ACM SIGGRAPH, so I decided to futher a personal project of mine during the tutorial. I think this is a pretty definitive piece for Rivek's facial construction.


I wanted to draw Rivek in the outfit from this picture, to get a better sense of it. I think after drawing this a few more times, it will become a permanent change.


I figured it might be easier to draw over a body to give myself more freedom of clothing design. So I drew Rivek in boxers (they're dark blue or grey, for the curious). You can see his birthmark(at his waist) and his tattoo (on his left upper arm). The various scars are mostly from the fire in his teen years, various battles, or reckless childhood decisions. Like sleeping in trees. The large one across his abdomen would have killed him if it weren't for Willowren. The one on his left trapezius is from his first real battle. The one on his right pectoral busted his lung.



Rumor has is that there exists only one true portrait of Rivek Ailinar. The difficulty now - eight hundred years later - is distinguishing it from the fakes. Since the man's dead, he has become a historical figurehead for Alisian nationals, notably those residing in other countries. The only consistent visual is the cross-shaped scar on his face. Medieval literature verifies this mark, but its origin has been debated.

However, I believe we may have found it. Ailinar's own documents - which are sparse and written in archaic Alisian - imply that he may have sat for his half-brother and well-known painter, Artorin Cordelain. ("Half-brother" is my own opinion. No substantial evidence links Ailinar by blood to any nobles in that time period.)

I point out this piece since it is so different from any of the others we have found. The subject's physique is significantly thinner, and his facial features are more distinguished. There are still strong stylistic tones, but the lack of idealism suggests a more intimate knowledge of the subject. Personally, though, what I liked best about it the sense of honesty it emits. There is no implied symbolism. This is Ailinar as he would be as a man, not an eight-hundred year old story.


Rivek sits like a girl.