I am an illustrator living in South Africa. To say that I'm an artist would be, I feel, inaccurate. I am first, and foremost, a nerd. I grew up playing games but apart from some Quake 3 rivalries I never got into the competitive aspects of gaming and it largely went by me as I gravitated towards immersive, single-player experiences. Not to say that I didn't like competition, however: I played chess on a competitively for some time and I have always enjoyed watching European Football, if that counts.
It wasn't until the release of Starcraft 2 that these two, strangely separated interests of mine archon warped into my discovery of E-Sports. For some reason it had always eluded me.
As I learned more about StarCraft 2 I came to marvel at how these high level players were so good at this game. Historically, I had always done well in RTS games amongst my friends. How was it that these players were so many light years ahead of me? How was it that Day 9 was explaining these elaborate concepts only weeks after this games release?
Those were questions to which everyone knew the answer; but you had to think about them, repeat them out loud, to really grasp the magnitude of that answer: These players that were so unbelievably good at SC2 had learned from a legendary select few playing another, even tougher game. And they were still playing it.
Brood War.
I did not understand anything that was said, but the Zero vs Bisu ace match on Neo Aztec was the single most riveting thing I had watched up to that point. Brood War beckoned, and I could but only follow it.
I do not pretend to be a BW aficionado; even though I've always played it, my view of Brood War is so different than that of Zero and Bisu, playing their hearts out for their teams.
What I see is different. When you try something out like BW and you start getting to grips with how ridiculously tough the game is, you can only stand in awe of the inhuman capabilities of its most skilled exponents. And then? Then you go about convincing others to watch with you, you give them the punchline to your monologue:
It's been slapped together with some haste, making extensive use of photo-compositing and referencing (all the faces are, in fact, paint overs). But the result is okay.
Now, my modest and hastily created hype poster might not win you over, otherwise disinclined reader, but remember this: Brood War made me paint this, not Starcraft 2.
(Before I go, I just want to plug Kiett and Kiante for their threads, which gave me the idea to do the poster in the first place.
EDIT: I completely forgot to thank NeverGG for her amazing photopgraphs, the ones which I used to as the base for this image: thank you lady, your photos rocked! ) And thank you so much for the Spotlight! It feels like I've cheated my way to TL fame>
Poor toss, storming his own carriers. Pretty epic fanart. With such a zerg bias I am surprised that you didn't put Effort up there, I mean someone needs to immortalize his new hair.
looks good if it wouldn't be done in a haste. Since it was done in a haste its good and impressive and awesome heh! But ima be the evil judge, never giving out full points. 4,98/5 points !
Wish you'd picked a slightly more flattering picture of Bisu than the photoshopped middle-finger source photo, but ignore me, that's just me being a crazy fangirl. It looks amazing. I'm really glad you've come to love BW; the more fans the better! And thanks for adding to the hype! :D
I feel the same way. I knew that professional StarCraft existed (and I used to watch pro WarCraft 3) but I never got into it since StarCraft 2 came out. I love StarCraft 2, but there's something more to BW. I don't understand it as much as SC2, but despite my lack of information, there's something amazing about the players and the fans, and frankly it's just exciting. This poster is awesome, keep up the great work!
Fantastic. How about take your digital file to the print shop, print some high quality 30*45" posters and sell those on TL? I will buy 2 if you can just make FBH 3 times bigger...
K, when I get my next girl friend, I'll show her this right before the 2nd date . Anything that has the fans doing stuff like this deserves attention. Plus, will be better than showing any game that she won't understand. This at least looks cool. For making it look neater cut the wings of the muta/wraith that are flying out of the picture so that the colors stay inside the lines. (Yeah, I went preschooler on you)
Now that is freakin' amazing. You sir, are a very talented individual. Thanks for sharing your story and art with us, I'm glad you discovered the beauty in BW and hope you continue watching it!
nice work, but does it matter what made you paint this? arent we all in this for the success of e-sports, not 1 title or another? unity is key, not isolating ourselves into small groups, we're all gamers, we all love esports.... regardless, amazing work!
This is really awesome ^_^ Impressed a fellow South African was able to follow the Brood War scene to the point of such fandom, I applaud you! And thank you for the lovely art.
Gorgeous.. saw fbh last but you cant do much better if you want to illustrate passion, or the kid part of every broodwar player that still plays for fun
Wow, I'm quite overwhelmed by this incredible response ... you guys rock. I'm especially humbled by the kind words from the various TL Staff members (<3 NeverGG): thank you so much!
I've read every single comment up to now and I think I should respond to at least some of the points raised:
On the Zerg Bias: Yeah, there is a Zerg bias and yes I'm a zerg player, but honestly the two have little to do with one another. It has more to do with the hastiness in which I did it - Zerg units are easier to paint because they're organic. As for Zero and Jaedong: Jaedong had to be in and his legendary stare would automatically make him the huge face hovering above everything else; and Zero had some kick ass photos and - at least to me - had a remarkable rise this year as he firmly rooted himself as Woongjin's ace. Apologies to T's and P's! I'll try to be fairer in the future!
On the Star Wars pastiche: I neglected to add this into the OP but yes - it is absolutely a pastiche of the old Star Wars posters. I felt referencing something like Star Wars was very apt in illustrating Brood War, plus it's just a blueprint for awesomeness.
On a Wallpaper Version: I'm sorry to disappoint those looking for a wallpaper version, but currently that would mean quite a bit of work and I don't see the result turning out as well as this poster. The format kinda lends itself to the style. But, due to the frequency of the request, I'll see if I can find time to specifically do a BW wallpaper, racially balanced and featuring Stork!
On tame taken to make: It took about 3 full days to make this, with the help of NeverGG's wonderful photos and google to find references for the units. It's pretty rushed and relies pretty heavily on the photos especially!
On a Printable Poster Version: I'll want to go over the ultra-highres version and make sure it's good, but if it's ok with NeverGG I'll release an huge printable version for free. It'll be 35cm x 51cm @ 300 DPI, though it should look good at 150 DPI as well, scaling it up to just over a meter. Again, because of the use of the photos I'd first need NeverGG's consent to do this (even if it's only a formality).
Again - mad thanks to everyone! I'm wearing a terrifying grin and audibly purring as I drink my morning coffee and read through the comments. You guys rock.
EDIT: I [i]completely[/] forgot to thank NeverGG for his amazing photopgraphs, the ones which I used to as the base for this image: thank you sir, your photos rocked! ) And thank you so much for the Spotlight! It feels like I've cheated my way to TL fame>
Oh FBH, i'll never get tired of your antics. It takes a certain type of man to, having just won an important game in PL, instantly put his shades on and crotch-thrust his way to the bench.
Wow, I'm quite overwhelmed by this incredible response ... you guys rock. I'm especially humbled by the kind words from the various TL Staff members (<3 NeverGG): thank you so much!
I've read every single comment up to now and I think I should respond to at least some of the points raised:
On the Zerg Bias: Yeah, there is a Zerg bias and yes I'm a zerg player, but honestly the two have little to do with one another. It has more to do with the hastiness in which I did it - Zerg units are easier to paint because they're organic. As for Zero and Jaedong: Jaedong had to be in and his legendary stare would automatically make him the huge face hovering above everything else; and Zero had some kick ass photos and - at least to me - had a remarkable rise this year as he firmly rooted himself as Woongjin's ace. Apologies to T's and P's! I'll try to be fairer in the future!
On the Star Wars pastiche: I neglected to add this into the OP but yes - it is absolutely a pastiche of the old Star Wars posters. I felt referencing something like Star Wars was very apt in illustrating Brood War, plus it's just a blueprint for awesomeness.
On a Wallpaper Version: I'm sorry to disappoint those looking for a wallpaper version, but currently that would mean quite a bit of work and I don't see the result turning out as well as this poster. The format kinda lends itself to the style. But, due to the frequency of the request, I'll see if I can find time to specifically do a BW wallpaper, racially balanced and featuring Stork!
On tame taken to make: It took about 3 full days to make this, with the help of NeverGG's wonderful photos and google to find references for the units. It's pretty rushed and relies pretty heavily on the photos especially!
On a Printable Poster Version: I'll want to go over the ultra-highres version and make sure it's good, but if it's ok with NeverGG I'll release an huge printable version for free. It'll be 35cm x 51cm @ 300 DPI, though it should look good at 150 DPI as well, scaling it up to just over a meter. Again, because of the use of the photos I'd first need NeverGG's consent to do this (even if it's only a formality).
Again - mad thanks to everyone! I'm wearing a terrifying grin and audibly purring as I drink my morning coffee and read through the comments. You guys rock.
<3 BW, <3 TL, <3 E-Sports.
Do you have anything to say regarding the previous request to blow up FBH a little bigger? :D I would still laminate and hang up the current version on my wall, but i was just wondering xD
On November 28 2011 21:48 Radfield wrote: Just so you know, NeverGG is a girl!
oh, shhiiiiiii .... fixed now! I'm so embarrassed - apologies to the lady!
On November 28 2011 22:32 rotinegg wrote: Do you have anything to say regarding the previous request to blow up FBH a little bigger? :D I would still laminate and hang up the current version on my wall, but i was just wondering xD
I'll see what I can do - it'll require some repainting but it shouldn't be a big deal. Looking at it now, I think it might work better with a larger FBH, so it's definitely a good change.
Someone else in this thread said you were doing a Star Wars theme. If that's the case, I think this picture would really complete the poster considering all that Savior has done........he truly did become the Sith =/
On November 28 2011 22:32 rotinegg wrote: Do you have anything to say regarding the previous request to blow up FBH a little bigger? :D I would still laminate and hang up the current version on my wall, but i was just wondering xD
I'll see what I can do - it'll require some repainting but it shouldn't be a big deal. Looking at it now, I think it might work better with a larger FBH, so it's definitely a good change.
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/gnHcI.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.traileraddict.com/content/20th-century-fox/starwars3.jpg)
. Anything that has the fans doing stuff like this deserves attention. Plus, will be better than showing any game that she won't understand. This at least looks cool. For making it look neater cut the wings of the muta/wraith that are flying out of the picture so that the colors stay inside the lines. (Yeah, I went preschooler on you)
