Artwork vs Actors

[Lief]

When I first joined Chaos I always used Artwork to represent my characters. The problem was that sometimes it was difficult to find an image or two that were similar, and having the same image in my SIG, bio and Avatar wasn't something I liked.

So I switched to using RL faceclaims

However, lately I've been missing the artistic flair that comes with a beautiful piece of artwork for my avatars. Sure I love the GIFs but they've become a little monotonous to me. As a result I'm considering switching back to artwork, I just don't want to lose the image diversity that an Actor provides.

Anyway tangent aside, which do you prefer of the two and why?

 

[Faith Organa]

it depends, sometimes a face claim from a specific role portrays the character more than any artwork. But that being said, I have found some beautiful artwork that also portrays the mood and image of a character.

So what am I saying, i can go either way. Both avenues offer a depth of imagery for the characters written.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Don't have a preference, to be honest. I try to leave it free and easy, and just choose what fits. As long as the general look is the same or similar(skin color, basic hair style and color, etc...) I don't fret it really. That's why the bio template has a description field and a few physical attribute fields, in my opinion.

 

[Connor Harrison]

[member="Kyra Sol"] Actors for me.

I want my characters to be real, and to look real, and to give the reader someone they can picture as I want them to. Using actors from films and TV enable me to hopefully find a wealth of imagery to chart their journey and changes as real as possible.

So far I've used Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko and Christian Bale to help bring my characters to life. I wonder who the next will be.

I always try and use imagery and manipulation away from their source so you don't see Benedict as Khan or Doctor Strange (much), but see them now as Connor.

If you want artistic flair, how about trying to find fan-art of said actor? There are some really nice works out there to keep them real, but add a very...artistic touch to them.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Drawn. Avatars. For. Life.

 

[Darth Metus]

I prefer artwork, hands-down.

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

I use what fits. This character, for example, has an actual person (yes, they're wearing a mask, but still, it's no animated/drawn/etc).

But, if you happened by my bio, you'd see how he is depicted beneath the mask. Because of how I envisioned my character, as you'll find, it's exceedingly difficult/virtually impossible to find an applicable face-claim, as they've not really done it, or not done it well, yet.

Movie-Make-up magic could pull it off.... just it hasn't yet.



Yet....

 

[Connor Harrison]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Artwork of actors.

#Renegade

 

[Lief]

I'm honestly tempted to use a mixture; artwork for the avatar, and main image, and RL to flesh out the biography if the character warrants it. Eg not just for the sake of more pictures..

 

[Krux Mullarus]

Always preferred artwork, but my newest playby is a game character so I guess its a bit of both? I like it, it portrays my character well, thats all that matters. Really, I can care less what others use, as long as they feel it represents their character well.

Just dont be salty when I poke fun at actors.

Right Benedict Cumberbatch [member="Connor Harrison"]?

Right Felicity Jones [member="Darth Azurea"]?

 

[Darth Ferus]

Gifs in general make reading anything on Chaos really, really hard on my phone. Lags it out, phone gives up, all that sort of thing. So I like non gif anything.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

No preference; depends on the character. I find anime artwork, especially kemonomimi and BESM, to be jarring, but that's on me.

 

[Kira Vaal]

I am a huge artwork fan. However I'm not above leaping to RL claims for certain characters.
Or even better...find artwork of RL characters...

 

[Sinistra]

It depends on the character. Alien species, I have to rely on art. For some things, I like the look of art. For others, I like an actual person.

When I first started writing Sin, she was all art. After a while, I switched to Monica Bellucci. I love her look, and it allowed me to age her up because there are plenty of photos of her getting older, with wrinkles, and looking less than flattering.

My current characters on Chaos are split. There are humans with art, my cathar has a closeup photo of a lion face for an avatar. My Twi'leks and Togrutas are all art because it's easier.

 

[Voices of The Deep]

[member="Kyra Sol"] - I tend to always use artwork of characters from a franchise that i 'know'. When looking up original art, it is rare that the character you see is an actual OC and has tons of stuff drawn of them. High quality artist tend to not have many OC's and mostly draw either fan art or one time images. (Jon-loc, Sakmikichan) come to mind. But, if you have a character from somewhere that you like, finding art of them is pretty simple.

For example, almost any mass effect character. Look up Commander Shepherd Art into google or something and just watch the magic happen. Same with other popular shows, games, and movies.

At least thats how i do it. Not everyone has the same method as me ^^;

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Speaking of Benedict Cumberbatch and Felicity Jones - this is my favorite gif of them together. Notice how she is removing his hand from her waist...

[member="Krux Mullarus"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

Spoiler

I thought we agreed you get Chastity and I get Setzi...

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

I like to use a combination, mostly because people using the same actors on different characters by different wrotters annoys and confuses me.

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

ART!