A few of you might know that I’m very intrigued by the possibilities of the dynamic between Legend and Four. I also wanted to push myself in learning CSP today. So now here we are. The first two fire rod users of the chain.
Thank you @quirkle2 for opening my eyes to my new favorite crossover: LU + Slime Rancher. This was exactly the kind of drawing subject I needed tonight and your list of the boys and their favorite slimes feels so spot on. And like, same Legend. Ringtails are too freakin’ cute.
So this was originally going to be the rooster skull in Link’s Awakening sitting next to an ocarina, but then my weird brain went “that is simply not enough bones” and then this happened instead.
A few of you might know that I’m very intrigued by the possibilities of the dynamic between Legend and Four. I also wanted to push myself in learning CSP today. So now here we are. The first two fire rod users of the chain.
Done for Kate’s DTIYS. Original version is here! Thank you for giving me something to draw when my art mojo is otherwise nonexistent. You are such an amazing friend and artist and I love how much you love these two!
Hero of the Four Sword - Rito Version (inspired by Linked Universe design)
Been going through a rough patch, so perfect time to redesign my fave and cheer myself up a bit. Also yes, you get a baby Rito on this one because it was extremely relevant to why I chose the painted bunting for Four. More artist notes below the cut for those interested:
1) Yes! Juvenile male painted bunting are green until they reach maturity and their colors come in. I had not known that fact when I initially picked this bird, but when I found that out while doing some research it absolutely solidified my choice. It was a perfect fit from the transition between Minish Cap and Four Swords. You’d be hard-pressed to convince me there was a better choice at this point.
2) The very distinct color blocking on this species was, of course, perfect for Four’s ridiculous color scheme. I’ve said it before but boy is worse than some of the tunic and hat color combos you get in A Link To The Past. But nature said it was okay to put these colors together on a bird, so we’ll allow it.
3) Rito designs and patterns are very angular, so I thought it would be fun to redesign the elemental symbols just a bit to match that aesthetic. And then of course figure out how to put those on a completely different kind of outfit.
Hero of Legend - Rito Version (inspired by Linked Universe design)
Seriously hoping I can keep this little project going, because the process of redesigning Hylian characters as Rito is so, so much fun! Decided to tackle Legend’s redesign first for a number of reasons:
1) A fun opportunity to play with color thanks to the species I chose. And a real challenge in complementary color schemes at that! Honestly I still don’t know if this is cohesive or if it clashes horribly. Both maybe? I do like it a lot actually. Even though it is also making my eyes burn just the tiniest bit.
2) Legend’s LU design has a lot of key features that don’t translate simply onto a Rito. Rings, hats, and boots either don’t work or don’t fit the overall style. So rings became bracelets, hats became bandanas, and boots became...pauldrons, I guess? Not sure if the term still applies when it’s feathers? (Also Ravio’s bracelet was originally on his upper arm for the sake of being more prominent, but then I realized BOTW Rito are never seen wearing anything on their arms aside from bandages. Because of course not! Surely any hinderance is bad for flight! So to the ankle it went.)
3) Legend’s general facial features and expressions are probably one of the closer ones to Revali and Teba’s sort of angry looking bird thing, so it was a nice jumping off point while I agonized over figuring out how Rito anatomy even works.
So guess who’s thinking of revisiting her “Links as Ritos” redesign idea! (See also: I bought the tabletop game Wingspan a while back and am back on my bird nerd bullshit.)
Which Link is what and reasoning for choices under the cut. I love that the designs of the Rito in Breath of the Wild hint at different species, so I wanted to choose birds that fit each characters personality as much as their looks.
Going from top left to bottom right I've got:
Four (painted bunting) - colorful, has a tendency toward keeping themselves hidden, known to warm up to people once socialized
Hyrule (American kestrel) - small but incredibly effective hunter, specifically adapted to get by on lower food intake than other falcons
Legend (Indochinese green magpie) - one legend is that magpies are hoarders (research shows this is untrue, magpie Legend is an outlier and should not have been counted), highly intelligent members of the corvid family
Warriors (sacred kingfisher) - birds held in high regard in New Zealand for their mythical associations, patient hunters who survey their surroundings before striking quickly
Time (great horned owl) - of course the general owl association with Time, that intimidating and sharp look, but for real this bird is a beast and can take on things larger than they are
Sky (woodchat shrike) - adorable, unassuming, can and will stab things (I just really love shrikes, guys)
Wild (squirrel cuckoo) - jumps from branch to branch like a squirrel, rarely flies and instead glides from place to place, excessively long tail, forager, sticks to the wilderness but has been known to be sociable with other animals
Twilight (Harris's hawk) - one of the rare group-hunting and nesting hawks, social birds
(A somewhat belated) Happy Birthday to @kate-m-art! I have been meaning to draw your girl Magnolia for what feels like ages now and this seems like the perfect occasion. Thank you for being the sweetest friend a person could ask for, Kate! I’m so lucky to know you!
So if you have ever talked with me about fan fic, I have probably told you that My Heart’s Forsaken Me by @sister-dear is not just one of my favorite LU fics, but probably sits solidly as one of my favorite fics of all time. Period. (See also: It is saved in my Kindle app.) And apparently the way I express my appreciation for some of the best fanfiction out there is to yeet surprise illustrations at their authors. I hope that’s alright, Sister!
But guys, seriously, if you have not read this fic, please go do so! It’s just a perfect little novella-sized package of adventure and feelings and amazing characterization and beautiful writing and I really just cannot say enough good things about it. And you bet I was itching to illustrate this scene in particular, because I do have a soft spot when it comes to Four proving how sentimental he can be. Just warms my heart!
So Sister, thank you for being such a stellar author! I am always excited when I see you’ve written something new!
So my art brain continues to be absolutely inscrutable and apparently it’s feeling powerful tonight. Doubly amazing, I had to swap around my workdays this week so I have tomorrow off, which means this baby might avoid the usual fate of being dumped in the WIP graveyard!
Hi, y’all! Sorry to have dipped out there again. I think I’m definitely going to have to declare a holiday season hiatus here until things calm down at work. As a parting gift until I return in the new year, please take this old sketch of a snowman all the Links built together. Hope you all have a very wonderful holiday season! See you in 2022!
stormborns
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theartofmadeline
kaledo-art
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