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Blinded Iraq war vet raids with a little helpWyndforge releases new WoW character art
by Mike Schramm 
Mar 17th 2008 at 6:00PM
Very nice stuff. He really has a talent for sculpting the screenshots together, and keeping the original look of the characters while also adding a little extra to make them epic enough to be framed and hung on the wall.
[Via Incgamers]
Filed under: Fan stuff, Virtual selves, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Silverrealm Mar 17th 2008 6:32PM
I am an artist of tradtional method (drawing, sketches, and paints)... and this just blew my mind!
I bow down in utter respect and worship!
Interrorator Mar 17th 2008 7:27PM
You shouldn't. Every picture is the same; he takes a screen shot and adds incredibly obnoxious and overdone glowing effects.
Unsurprisingly, the alliance races, and elves in particular, seem to be the favored subject matter. But fear not, some pieces come with FAN FICTION.
Sean Riley Mar 17th 2008 7:24PM
I hate being negative, but I have to agree with Interrorator. Look at his undead rogue (Loch Modan gallery). Big bright flashing colors. For an undead rogue.
Couldn't he at least add dark gray swirls? Hint at some evil and sinister quality?
That said, I would totally cheer at a WoWInsider column on fan artists.
Rashi Mar 17th 2008 11:57PM
If your talking about this undead rogue
http://wyndforge.com/WOW/gallery/library_a/Grielva_Shadowsong.html
Maybe, maybe not you looked closely at it. The "flashy green" is poison dripping from the blades. There is a dread green mist around his feet at the dead body.
Though I do agree, maybe change the purple swirls into a darker shade to emphasize the darker side of undead.
Sean Riley Mar 18th 2008 1:23AM
That was indeed the one I was talking about, and I maintain my opinion. Look at Brill and Tirisfal Glades -- The undead are defined by dark greys, sinister shadows and (yes) the bright green glow of Undercity's water.
His gallery doesn't show capability of reflecting anything but flash and dazzle.
Silverrealm Mar 17th 2008 6:51PM
Well that was uncalled for!
I respect the eye, and work done in these. I have utilized Photoshop, and it's not easy, nor quick to do the elements of composition and balancing, and digital painting.
It's work, and IMHO, I feel respect for that dedication and skill.
Plus I'm a girl, and I like sparklies...
Good Dai!
Interrorator Mar 17th 2008 6:55PM
It's cool to appreciate the skill it supposedly takes to do that, but just because it is not easy and takes a long time doesn't make it good.
Also, perpetuating stereotypes =)
Interrorator Mar 17th 2008 7:27PM
Also, I am not a lawyer, but Wyndforge is probably infringing on copyright by selling these. The copyright to video game screen shots typically belongs to the company who developed the game, therefore I believe the sale of a derivative work would be an infringement?
I assume creating and distributing them for free would be considered fair use, but selling them is another story.
Any real lawyers around?
Calaana Mar 18th 2008 1:04AM
It's possible he's not selling the image, but the time put into changing it, shipping and the frame. Borderline but given the case(price dependant), blizzard might be willing to ignore that little aspect, much like "fan" shirts and so forth.
Alex Mar 18th 2008 1:55AM
Hey I always wondered; Whats it like to be a d0uchebag to someone that is clearly trying to do a fan service, and is not hurting anyone while doing so (as if Blizzard would adopt this idea as their own and start this). It seams like you might be able to help me. Do you get an adrenaline rush from hating on things you disagree with? What do you think while typing? Is it about how the only possible result of your post is the sadness of others? Maybe you think about sick children? Please do tell, cause I am trying to understand my masochistic daily routine that is reading the Wowinsider comments.
thanks ;D
P.S. to your later comments about how you have the right to hate on stuff you don't find visually appealing: AWESOME!!!1! Most times when I see artwork I don't like I too try and find the artists' fans to tell them how wrong they are in exercising their free will (opinions, speech, etc). Of course you understand free speech, something shown by your abuse of it.
Interrorator Mar 18th 2008 1:52AM
Like I said, I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is that it doesn't work like that. A copyright gives you the exclusive rights to control reproduction and modification of a work. While of course people copy and distribute screen shots all the time, it doesn't really matter because there's no reason to sue you if you don't cause any damages. When he is competing with a licensed, authorized copyright holder (http://www.figureprints.com), however, things change.
I wouldn't really care normally, but this strikes me as somewhat of a scam. The price is too high for a modification of another's work (Blizzard's, specifically) that he isn't really authorized to use.
jbodar Mar 18th 2008 6:52AM
@Alex
Good Lord. Could you have added a bit more hyperbole there? Apparently, in your world, criticizing someone's work or pointing out the fact that it may in fact violate copyright law is akin to genocide. Nevermind the fact that the artist is likely making a decent, if not exorbitant, side-income for this "fan service".
Yes, it takes talent to do the compositing and probably a lot of work. Hell, I like a lot of it, if only for his composition, but he isn't Mother Theresa.
"To permit freedom of expression is primarily for the benefit of the majority, because it protects criticism, and criticism leads to progress." - Harry S. Truman
Ozeb Mar 17th 2008 7:35PM
Its very nice looking but is he is making money from Blizzards artwork???
Silverrealm Mar 17th 2008 7:37PM
Um it's an artist rendition and has been digitally painted, therefore it's artistic expression, he is just using a template from screen shots as underlying reference.
I'm sorry I just can't side with either of you, because I'm an artist through and through and your opinion of the peices will be different, but the bottom line is his fans, followers and even clients like it, and there is demand, as much as you might not think a urinal is a peice of art... it's signed in a gallery somewhere ain't it?
Kudo again to the artist. And thanks for your opinions.
Ozeb Mar 17th 2008 7:44PM
Oh, I love the art and even thought of doing the same but feared getting in trouble with the game I love.
JParris Mar 17th 2008 9:47PM
Actually, he only digitally paints details onto the screenshots. If you look at the step by step breakdowns he does, you can see that he does use bits and parts of the actual screenshots themselves. There is a high amount of modification done to them, however, so he may be skirting the line of infringement. Intellectual properties law is vague and complex. :P
That said, I do love his style. It's not to everyone's taste, but I do like the flashiness of it.
He is very pricey. I believe some portraits have cost up to $250 . However, the time it takes to get the very specialized poses and render them with so much added detail is well worth it, if you enjoy his style.
Silverrealm Mar 17th 2008 7:51PM
On another note, you guys just possibly don't get artistic freedom.
You are more concerned about potentially 'getting' someone for 'grey area' material then celebrating a fan art column (which this is) and you are bitching about it... what is wrong with you?
Ever heard of being supportive?
Also, this is an artist, who cares if their clients are Alli heavy, or if he favours them for that matter, it's not a democracy, it's art! They could paint Darnassian Bleu for all I care.
Honestly guys, this was not cool what you put here!
Interrorator Mar 17th 2008 8:06PM
Whoa there. He is free to create glowing, dancing blood elf/teenage mutant ninja turtle hybrid smurf-beasts in the name of art if he so pleases. But I am free to think it is bad art as well. To each their own. I am sure he can handle this tiny bit of criticism.
I don't have any desire to 'get' him, as you say, however I am concerned, for his sake, that he could almost certainly be sued for selling these. Whether or not it would actually happen, I do not know, but it seems quite plausible.
Andrige Mar 17th 2008 8:08PM
I've seen these wallpapers before, and the quality is very good but I'm not still a fan of the sparklies.
Wallpapers on a computer should be a bit in "harmony" and neutral, also I dunno, it gets repetitive to have that swirl everywhere. The quality on which the characters are polished is just amazing though aswell as a very fine sharpness, that I have to say is probably the reason I still like those.
Venyo Mar 17th 2008 8:37PM
The prices are really really really sick:
DIGITAL PACKAGE: $150
* You get your character portrait (as you see in the galleries) in digital file format.
* Digital files include: Original, raw hi-res image of your portrait.
* You will also recieve a hi-res image of your character without the nameplate, so you can print it yourself. Click to see a sample HERE
* TIF files available if requested. TIF files are the common file format when getting professional prints made.
PHOTO PACKAGE: $200
* You get everything as described in the Digital Package.
* You also recieve a 18x12 Photo Print of your portrait (on glossy professional photo paper)
* You also recieve a 18x12 Professional Chrome Luster Print of your portrait without the nameplate. This is ideal for mounting and framing.
* Finally, you will also receive an 18 x 12 Canvas Print of your portrait, to be used for mounting and framing. Click to see an example HERE
* Free US Shipping
ANTIQUE FRAME PACKAGE: $375
* You get everything as described in the Digital Package.
* Click HERE to read more about Antique Frames and to see samples.
* Free US Shipping