I think they're probably one of the biggest producers of art that doesn't come from a company whose main product is art (e.g. a movie studio, a record label, etc.). That's why I find it so awful to see them firing their artists -- not just ofc because they do it in such a cruel way, but also because art is so important and I don't want to see a major source of art go away!
Thank you for touching on AI. The anger really resonated with me, and I think it's important to let people know how exactly they contribute to the spread and popularity without even thinking.
right?? I got soo mad when people started calling her work AI, seeing that more people agree with me is comforting :') artists shouldn't have to explain themselves when the ones stealing are GenAI
as an artist (still in learning stage) it infuriates me when i see instagram pages (so called "ai artists") profiting and gaining engagement from stealing... I really felt his anger and makes me feel that my work, and work of countless other small and big artists matters all that much more, where a human hand and mind creates a piece of art that makes someone feel something when they see it
@@あゆ-c4f2si think people just use AI as a synonym of face same syndrome or a when the art doesn’t feel very unique. But like the opposite of AI is this much detail and texture.
I love that when you first zoomed in on Aurora my first response was "oh shit, it's actually furry, that's so cool!" And I STILL fell for the bit when you actually wanted to talk about it.
@@HK-gm8pe Seriously! Imagine putting this much effort into a splash art, lovingly showing the fuzz and fur of her design and sheer beauty of her magic, and some executive is like ‘can you make her boobs bigger?’ (If that is what happened, we don’t know for sure, but that sounds like the most plausible theory). Although credit to her for using the opportunity to improve the magic and for making her waist and thighs a bit thicker at the same time to keep her proportional. When life gives you lemons, apply color theory.
@@caiovinicius5204I can't speak for them but personally I found her kit very disappointing. all the intrigue went into her ultimate, the rest of her kit is basically just hitting enemies or a small cloak dash. she was supposed to be of two worlds, able to see things others can't, but there's very little of that in reflected in her kit. it's just another 3 hit passive that gives... move speed? idk, maybe my reasonings are different from others but I was really looking forward to her and they ended up settling on a design that makes her a very safe and standard burst mage aside from her ult
i for real started crying during the xayah and rakan section of this vid, that splash art and examination had me smiling like thw biggest dumbass ever and its just so adorable and i love them so much, they deserve all the happiness
I need two thousand more of splash art swooning videos, but I can assume the amount of time that goes into this kinda thing and i dont want to exhaust skyen.
@@darkbrother339 you know what? i could see an analysis of hillbilly gragas as "ye gragas is a fart joke. deal with it. it's kinda cool, actually" because of the smug expression of graggy in that splash.
i really adore spirit blossom syndra splash art, it feels so joyfull and playfull which is super impacting considering that Syndra si by default represented as scornful
omg huge same, but I don't see it as playful but like, 'blissful', like "laying back in the pool on a hot day with your eyes closed" Ahhhhhhhhh into a daydream, with a little bit of almost, 'lost in the daydream'
I really appreciate how you included Porcelain Irelia. I feel like the splash art gets overlooked simply because of a director's incompetence at enforcing visual consistency
liking odyssey is like losing a loved one and having an absent parent at the same time you are mourning the relationship you had and wondering what a possible relationship could be like just waiting for the other person to want it too
I feel like this series is critial to help educate people on why it is that ai art will never match up to the talent of genuinely excellent artists, Sadly most people aren't educated enough to know the difference so I'm thankful for the things you point out and teach regarding lighting, story telling, and composition - if I was to recommend a splashart Hextech annie is a criminally underrated Splashart worthy of consideration.
THANK YOU, that ai rant was highly needed, and im glad some peoole are able to recognize the talent alsie lau has and realise that no ai can replicate that
Omg i love star guardians so much! the music is awesome, i like the character designs so much, the art is gorgeous and the stories are cool! i just wish there was actual story for my favorite members neeko and gwen
God, Skyen. I'm sitting here at my desk sobbing while you're highlighting different aspects of the splash art for Xayah and Rakan. It's so true, everyone should kill the part of them that cringes -- love is something simultaneously so clandestine and awe-consuming, and I think the passion and love that is depicted on the faces and poses of these characters by the artist truly shows that no amount of artificial intelligence can replace the heart put in by the human experience. Thank you for sharing
as a student of illustration I can normally barely bring myself to watch movies due to the time investment, and yet here I sit watching all of these long form splash analysis videos front to back. you are a gem in this community and I feel that you bring both a depth of analysis and a kindness and ethical outlook that are near exclusive to your videos. never stop
18:40 There is one more tiny but amazing detail about the fingers of Aurora. A bit of a physics lesson first, however. When you cover your hand with something hydrophobic (like cocoa powder) and dip it in water, it forms a boundary layer of air, because water can't interact with your skin, that reflects the light very weirdly, almost as if your finger is made out of a mirror. If you're wondering how that looks, it's exactly the same as Aurora's first three fingers in the splash art. From a storytelling standpoint that shows us that she is able to reach into the magic and "touch" it, but she's ultimately unable to truly become one with it, because she's from the real world and the magic is from the spirit one.
Man you hit the nail on the head. I just kept on coming back to those fingers, and what they were reminding me of. Thank you for squashing that bug in my head.
The fact that Vex, a character whose main goal is to die but who cant because she is inmortal, has her dimension ERASED but still has to live as this cursed creature.
I dont play League but your videos always make me care deeply about the characters and worlds that have been so well crafted by these pieces of art. I get emotional every time you make vids about art (League splash or otherwise) because the appreciation and critique of the craft and care that goes into them fuels my own creative drive that much more. I feel like I learn something with each piece and it keeps me wanting to hone my skill. Thank you Skyen for continuing to do what you do!
It's kinda strange how these videos are just elaborate ways of Skyen going "Hey look at this" but I am SO here for it. The expertise clearly shows and I love how much there is to learn in terms of appreciating art on our end. I can practically feel myself paying more attention to new artworks I see.
I really really like the way you analyzed Odyssey Sona, she really feels like in control, embraced in the shadow of her own talent for manipulating ora. She feels like she could be a Warframe character with her pale color scheme despite the very bright overall colors of the splash art.
For me, i absolutely adore Spirit Blossom Kindred's splash as it uses its like sparingly in an amazing way to trickle in light from above to highlight Lamb's hair/horn in a way that makes it seem like a natural open area through the trees above have allowed you to catch this rare moment before death. However, the rest of Lambs face is obscured by not only the mask but shadow that accentuates the unknown feeling of Kindred in general. Plus the shadow perfectly obscures Wolf and the little animal in the foreground that really makes you feel like you're somewhere peaceful you really shouldn't be (i wish i could express my thoughts even better than this tho xppp)
Not too far in, but I want to bring up what an old shorthand it is to have a character, particularly their head, wreathed in golden light. She's not just a monk, not just an important monk, she's *the* most important monk.
I haven't heard about the references Ms Alsie Lau used for Porcelain Irelia, having said that and learnt of the past works she's participated in, I've come to be a fan and can't wait to see what she'll present us next time. Thank you TB Skyen for this eye opener
TB why am I crying on each description you make at Rakan and Xayahs splash art holy shit that was so sweet and beautiful, i really agree with all the points, ive always felt that splash art was one of my favorites but never was able to put it into words exactly what captivated me the most. Now i have everything explained in the most passionate way possible, thank you so much for this
THANK YOU for touching on empyrean Vex. I've been transfixed by this splash ever since the skinline came out. A skinline that I almost hate, mind you... but that splash. Damn that splash. It feels like the artist looked into my soul and ripped this out. As someone who has been struggling with depression for years, yet feels an intense, gripping, obsessive appreciation for life and a wild imagination... this art is how I often feel. How I feel like this black, drained shadow of a human sinking in a sea of color exploding from within. I... haven't actually watched further through your analysis. I really, really need to sleep. But I just saw empyrean Vex and I had to say it. This is beautiful.
When I first started with digital art, the thing that I always kept in the back of my head was: this is the level I want to be at one day. And to be honest I'm not even close, in fact I think I'm moving in the opposite direction of that style but videos like these bring back that feeling. That there's something very powerful in this level of skill.
The splash art videos you do are my favourite to watch and I really appreciate your input because I, as an artist myself, don't stop to look at the splash arts nearly often enough and they deserve the attention
28:10 I noticed something! Xayah's and Rakan's heads and their hair framed by Xayah's elbow also kinda form an actual love heart shape which ughhhhh but awww
RAIN SHEPHERD MILIO PLEASEEE it's so gorgeous and I love the details in it that really just make it feel oh-so-precious like he's just a lil guy having lil fun 🥺
Old God Mordekaiser is pretty insane, I think it could make a valid entry for the next video. This is my favorite series of yours, so I hope to see another one!
There is something about having your favorite RUclipsr validate the vibes you get from splash arts and like having them describe so eloquently how you feel and what you see
I remember that Cho’Gath skin from one of your shorts. But I couldn’t help but smile so hard that my face hurts looking at it and listening to you gush about it.
seeing the intricate details of the splash art for porcelain irelia just makes me so impressed, also the thing about people saying how it looks ai-generated pissed me off sm, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE ALL OF THEM DON'T LOOK AI-GENERATED AT ALL
Hi TB Skyen! I'm not a fan of LoL or the company, but my partner plays Legends of Runeterra and is a huge fan of yours. I actually only consume League stuff through you and Nickyboi! Wanted to comment while watching this lovely video just to thank you for this series. I'm very into art (tho I don't draw anymore) and this series has been a wonderful bridge between our interests, bringing us closer together. It has helped my partner appreciate art in all forms more and more, and I actually really enjoy a handful of LoL's characters, artworks, and skin lines now. They have inspired original works, fanfiction, and even some shipping out me! (I will die on the hill that Renekton and Janna would make a precious couple!!) So yeah, this series of videos, the character design rework videos, and especially your video on being a man have really touched our hearts and have led to many wonderful nights of creation. Thank you so much for what you do and for all the effort you put in. Thank you for introducing me to a terrible game with amazing concepts and lovely characters that I will never fucking play. And thank you for giving my partner an amazing male role model to look up to (although I'm pretty sure we're close-ish in age, we're 28) I can't wait to see more of this series (at your own pace ofc!) and I will be delighted to talk to my partner about this video tonight when he gets home from work. Now, I should get back to watching the rest!
I'm so happy we're likely to get a fourth installment of this series! Some splash arts I'd love for you to look at are... Aether Wing Kayle (I love how her flight suit is painted and the fact that her eyes are completely shrouded in darkness as a representation of her losing her humankty) Silver Kayle (The lighting and values... DEAR GOD they are gorgeous and so dramatic) And to avoid having Alex Flores for like, the 8th time on these lists, I really love the chaotic composition of Mythmaker Zyra with that lighting from the bottom of the artwork with all those swirling red paper plants, and the genuinely gorgeous detailing and rendering of Base Hwei (which I guess gives us Bo Chen on the list again, but hes so fucking good at what he does)
I can't believe people were calling that ai art. Like I'm no artist, but no AI is gonna make hands in a cool karate pose with a normal amount of fingers
As someone who can't play assassins to save my life, I was and still am irresponsibly in love with Winterbless Diana and bought that skin immediately when it came out. I am part of the problem.
One of my favorite videos in a while, I hearing the commentary and honestly i didnt realize splash arts had this much detail until you zoomed in on them
Something that i wanted to add to the Aurora bit, is that at first glance, the shapes on her more visible thigh and shoulders, look like tattoos. And when you don't really give much attention to these tattoos they look(to me at least) like they're less for decoration and more for purpose, not like how Ryze does it per say, but more like how a dnd player would play around with their "spell book" when they make a wizard. But when you do give more attention to it, or zoom in, you realize they are patterns, FUR patterns. And the first thing that really gives it away is they look kinda similar to Aurora's freckles, which when you think back to it are ALSO patterns. And i think this is kinda cool 'cus it doesn't just add a certain "coolness" to her connections with magic , but also to the whole "looks more human from afar, but is much more animal on a closer inspection" with the subtle fur and peach fuzz. i honestly have no idea if this even makes any sense, but it does to me so i wanted to say it
i have been watching some artists that upload the whole recording od drawing the splasharts and i really wish to learn to render like them truly mad respect to their skill
This video not only showed me how to appreciate art, it made me feel the creator’s genuine love for it. I like art, but I’ve never had the eye or patience to TRUELY appreciate paintings. Watching this made me feel like I had drank a love potion in a gallery.
I’m so glad that we got a third video in this series. This series, and your channel for that matter, has helped me to really understand what goes into analyzing art/pictures. As for other splash arts, I feel like whenever another one of these videos comes out, Rain Shepherd Milio is a great pick. Given the review you gave for the skin, I know you would give a great analysis of the splash art!
Just wanna add something in here, Fiend Queller Swain, a Wild Rift exclusive skin. The splash art is reaaaaally really good. In a first glance you are looking to Swain upward but as you dig in further to the whole perspective of the splash art changes, you are looking downwards to a rain puddle reflection, you can see his shoe stepping to the puddle.
Me and the fellas did PowerPoint night just the other day, and one of our presenters was inspired by the previous videos and did some analysis on beautiful splash arts in League - specifically ones you hadn't covered to make the presentation feel like their own. Seeing a third video from this series was amazing timing.
I had actually never seen the Empyrean Vex splash art before. What a fantastic bit of storytelling it has. I had mostly written off the Empyrean skin line because it just didn't appeal to me much but I have to thank you for showing me that splash. It's wonderful. As for recommendations for other splash arts, I have a few ideas. Elderwood Gnar for it's beautiful lighting and hidden details, Northern Front Swain for it's textures and well crafted expression, and Star Guardian Poppy for it's composition. SG Poppy specifically gives me a feeling of hurtling through space but somehow still stable. Maybe it has to do with Poppy being solid in her stance and reaching her hand out to us.
Thank you for making videos like this one, its really helped remind me why AI will never, and can never replace human artists. No algorithm could ever have the level of passion and craft required to create art as beautiful as this. I was truly left completely stunned by how much detail there was on Aurora's splash art specifically, so many little details you pointed out that, as you mentioned, I would've never noticed had you not taken the time to point them out. Thank you
I was just watching in your first iteration of this video and thinking, wow, I could really use another one of these. It's so wonderful listening to you talk so passionately about art. I checked your channel, and here this was! I'm so pleased~~
i clicked a bit further into the video cause i wanted to get straight into the action and the first thing i hear is "whale oil instead of cocaine". nice
I love looking at beautiful art and hearing someone passionately wax poetic about it- pointing out the little details and nuances that might go un-considered by the viewer. Thank you Skyen, I could listen to videos like this for hours. Kudo's to the incredible artist who provide with with ample to appreciate, Kelly Aleshire, Francis Tneh, Jennifer Wuestling, Ina Wong, Horace Hozure Hsu, Bo chenbowow Chen, Alsie Lau and Fortune Fortuneee K. Should any of them read this- your passion and hard work stir emotions within us, and thank you so much for your dedication to your craft for which we all get to share in the joy of. I would also like to shout out my own personal favourite splash art in the game- Spiritblossom Syndra by Chengwei Pan. The feelings the image depict Syndra expressing embody the very spirit of freedom and movement she is supposed to be. Syndra looks to be wholly in her element, at ease yet in movement, eyes closed to simply relish the feeling of her body in motion. Thank you.
Please please PLEASE do another episode of this, make it 3 hours long if you have to, i don't care! Your genuine passion about art shows through in these and draws me in, reminding me to take a closer look at some of my personal favorite splash arts, not just in league, but in games and entertainment in general.
Your narration and analysis of these, particularly with xayah/rakan, Diana and cho'gath made me tear up The emotion in it, in the images... Really evokes something deep within me "Hugged enough to break, and loved enough to fix" Something beautiful about that line... A good sister line to "to be loved is to be changed"
Francis Tneh (the guy who did victorious sejuani and many more) does such good work for games. He's made loads of pieces for various card games like capcom's teopen. I really reccomend his portfolio
There's something about the way you just so beautifully analyze and respect the artistry so much that genuinely makes me feel so hopeful and beloved and warm. All the connections, the associations, the hidden deeper meanings, the absolute pin-point focus and call to attention on even the smallest details - all of it is such an amazing level of appreciation. There's something you do when it comes to seeing just how well the intentions or the message of an artwork comes across that inspired me to achieve something like that, along with the ability to see artistry in ANYTHING. Case in point, I never... really looked into the splash art in League. I never really looked into cover art for video games, nor have been able to understand decisions like lighting or camera-work in a lot of things. It's BEAUTIFUL, just BEAUTIFUL how you can so painstakingly translate art into words not only digestible but so enlightening. And for a comment more specific to this video, I think Empyrean Vex is my favorite among these. The ambiguity in the expression and body language is there but the way every other element interacts and hones in on Vex really does give off the feel of exhaustion. Tiredness. Maybe a deep anger. Or maybe numbness? Regardless, it's a negative emotion and it's an emotion someone can only get from being eroded for so long. The contrast is deeply striking among all the other Empyrean skins, and it's beautiful for it.
honestly expected the bonus happy video to be rain shepherd milio but i am satisfied nonetheless, this is my favorite series of yours rn and im glad we got a part 3!
I could feel tears behind my eyes for most of the video between the passion on display in the art and your passion in talking about it and then "He's been hugged enough to break, and loved enough to fix" just actually makes me cry a little?? from a silly toy chogath skin????
These splash art videos are my favourite. It just makes me love League's splash arts so much more out of my personal favouritism. Since you mentioned engagement and talking about other splash arts, I'm gonna take the opportunity to talk about High Noon Varus and Talon. While, yeah it came from one of the biggest, bloatiest waves of a skinline ever, I absolutely love the details. The motion depicted is amazing with the specks of gravel flying past. I love the shocks of pink around the centre of Varus' bow, which complements gold and soft translucent yellow. But my favourite detail is the arrow. The fact that it is still flying towards the front of the train in the image, and leaving a trail behind it. The fact that Talon just barely manages to dodge it in time, and you can see a chunk of his hat *and* his scarf completely singed off by the close call is amazing. I also love how molten Talon's blade looks at the end. I must admit though, this is the aforementioned favouritism (especially on Varus' side) talking here.
Always happy to see more appreciation and love for the Riot artworks and artists. All really enjoyed your in-depth explanation of the splash arts you've presented (I even personally like Porcelain Irelia and the Porcelain skin line in general). XD I hope you do more of these types of videos, I'll watch them all. ^_^
As an artist, I am heavily touched by your passionate love and appreciation for artists, I've never felt so seen and heard and respected before 😭 and I'm not even addressed directly!!
I haven’t seen one of your videos in a little while, and I noticed that it feels like your way of explaining what it so masterful about each skin has improved a lot. It feels like you’ve gotten better at telling a story with your analysis, weaving everything together with smooth transitions between each point and space where it’s needed. I also think the way you executed the jokes made them very punchy this time around, helped both by your acting and by the editing style of this video. Thank you for taking the time to properly highlight what makes these splashes amazing, criticize the backlash against Porcelain Irelia’s splash, and share it publicly. Your videos are always very eye-opening.
I'd like to say, in this random video, that I showed your "not without you" to my friends and they were all in tears by the stairway scene. You're an astonishing writer, Sky. Thank you for your work.
The in depth splash breakdowns are always my favourite of your videos, i could listen to 20 more hours of it EASILY so if you feel like it and have the energy, PLEASE make more of these
I love the way you break down the craft of stuff like this. I really want to improve my own art and, while I need to actually draw more, the way you describe how light works and how texture reads on a canvas makes understanding those more abstract ideas easier to grasp.
I’ve never seen a more gorgeous and highly revered splash art by the community as Blood Moon Diana. She’s not being framed as a vengeful assassin. She’s soft and solemn, with pale accents to accentuate the ornate details around her outfit, weapon, and most importantly her mask as she’s seen placing it gently on her face as if she’s been called to duty. Even as aspect of the moon, she’s been seen as solitary, and this splash art frames her as such. Shrouded in a soft mist and showing a sense of movement as she’s headed against the night air. It’s also important to note that this splash art sets itself apart from the thematic universe by not portraying her as a malefic cultist, which is seen in much of the other art pieces. This is the only skin I’ve bought solely based on the splash art because the storytelling and world building is next level.
I never thought this video would actually come. This is amazing! Love your opinion on AI Art. Totally agree, it can be so incredibly frustrating. Especially, if you don't have the ability to zoom in and actually see, if it's just a quick mimickery or an actual masterpiece. Oh, and show as the other three Splasharts. Give me the extra content, I need it!
my only critique of Alsie Lau's porcelain irelia skin, is that the proportions do feel off, her rendering style is so beautiful, but irelia's neck being twig thin (which is also apparent in her sivir skin but less so) her neck being so thin and then your eyes go to her thighs which feel huge in comparison, feels a little off, which is sad! because if it had just a little more refinements in the sketching phase, it could have been a very beautiful skin! ( i do like some of the porcelain skins)
I would buy a Toy Terror Cho'gath plush. Also please please PLEASE do more splashart reviews. There is so many easter eggs in some splasharts that we'll never see!
being an artist, I really thank you for your message about ia. I love this kind of video, I do it myself very often on this kind of freeking good splash art, because it's exciting. Thank you so much !
I was so happy when I saw that you uploaded another splash art analysis video. I love them so much!! The way you analysis so many different aspects and details and I think it's really heartwarming how you gush over the art itself xD. I would love to see and hear about the other three that you scraped and many more!!! For me (and I think for at least 90% of the people watching these videos) they could not be long enough. I 100% would watch a splash art analysis video that is 5 hours long Thank you for all the time and effort you put into all of your video
you know, i feel like hwei’s splash art is also an incredibly detailed and thoughtful piece of work - actually i kinda wanna say that about most recent splash arts but for some reason hwei’s base splash specifically stuck with me ever since he came out
empyrean vex's splash single handedly convinced me to buy the skin. the moment I saw it was like love at first sight, I felted excited and awed by simply looking at it but I was never able to put words into it. my brain recognized how insanely good it is but not why so I was so happy to see you covered it here while saying the exact words I would've
Im not good at giving art love and apreciating everything that went into making it, but whenever I listen to skyen talk about art i get a little closer to it. Im sure hearing this feels amazing for any Artist. Youre doing an amazing Job ❤
Riot’s one redeeming quality is that they’ve hired passionate people, that is the one kudos I will grant them
sadly, to then fire hundreds of them without warning
@@kailet1997 Yeah… the Kudos is more to Riots employees rather than its higher ups
Funnily enough, one of such studio is also named Kudos Production
I think they're probably one of the biggest producers of art that doesn't come from a company whose main product is art (e.g. a movie studio, a record label, etc.). That's why I find it so awful to see them firing their artists -- not just ofc because they do it in such a cruel way, but also because art is so important and I don't want to see a major source of art go away!
That's how they get them 🎣🎣
Thank you for touching on AI. The anger really resonated with me, and I think it's important to let people know how exactly they contribute to the spread and popularity without even thinking.
right?? I got soo mad when people started calling her work AI, seeing that more people agree with me is comforting :') artists shouldn't have to explain themselves when the ones stealing are GenAI
as an artist (still in learning stage) it infuriates me when i see instagram pages (so called "ai artists") profiting and gaining engagement from stealing... I really felt his anger and makes me feel that my work, and work of countless other small and big artists matters all that much more, where a human hand and mind creates a piece of art that makes someone feel something when they see it
@@あゆ-c4f2si think people just use AI as a synonym of face same syndrome or a when the art doesn’t feel very unique. But like the opposite of AI is this much detail and texture.
I love that when you first zoomed in on Aurora my first response was "oh shit, it's actually furry, that's so cool!" And I STILL fell for the bit when you actually wanted to talk about it.
My asexual ass: oh cool tattoo!
@@nomisunrider6472 SAME 😭😭😭
I hate how they changed her splash art to make her more sexualised
@@HK-gm8pe Seriously! Imagine putting this much effort into a splash art, lovingly showing the fuzz and fur of her design and sheer beauty of her magic, and some executive is like ‘can you make her boobs bigger?’ (If that is what happened, we don’t know for sure, but that sounds like the most plausible theory).
Although credit to her for using the opportunity to improve the magic and for making her waist and thighs a bit thicker at the same time to keep her proportional. When life gives you lemons, apply color theory.
Honestly very glad I got to see that Aurora splash up close - it is SO gorgeous and soft!
IKR. You can actually feel the fuzzy fur just by looking at the splash art, and the little bitty details in every splash art here. so beautiful!!
A shame her design is so bad
@@KuromoriXwhy?
@@caiovinicius5204I can't speak for them but personally I found her kit very disappointing. all the intrigue went into her ultimate, the rest of her kit is basically just hitting enemies or a small cloak dash. she was supposed to be of two worlds, able to see things others can't, but there's very little of that in reflected in her kit. it's just another 3 hit passive that gives... move speed? idk, maybe my reasonings are different from others but I was really looking forward to her and they ended up settling on a design that makes her a very safe and standard burst mage aside from her ult
also I really liked her cloak and they got rid of it and made her another hourglass girl :(
I might have cried a lil' with "He has been hugged enough to break and loved enough to fix"
i for real started crying during the xayah and rakan section of this vid, that splash art and examination had me smiling like thw biggest dumbass ever and its just so adorable and i love them so much, they deserve all the happiness
ok i'm not the only one then :')
@@nolestrono make that three!
4!
5 hehe!
6 :)
I need two thousand more of splash art swooning videos, but I can assume the amount of time that goes into this kinda thing and i dont want to exhaust skyen.
Why do that when hillbilly Gragas exist?
@@darkbrother339 you know what? i could see an analysis of hillbilly gragas as "ye gragas is a fart joke. deal with it. it's kinda cool, actually" because of the smug expression of graggy in that splash.
@@tigrafidun We all get to see it at least once
i really adore spirit blossom syndra splash art, it feels so joyfull and playfull which is super impacting considering that Syndra si by default represented as scornful
Oh I wholeheartedly agree with this, that splash art has been one of my favs since that skin came out
fav splash art just next to winterblessed diana
omg huge same, but I don't see it as playful but like, 'blissful', like "laying back in the pool on a hot day with your eyes closed" Ahhhhhhhhh into a daydream, with a little bit of almost, 'lost in the daydream'
"The centerpiece of this artwork is the eyes..."
Me looking at the screen: Sir, those are bobas...
Mordekaiser vanishes you to horny jail *bonk*
Skyen told you this is only for serious art appreciators. 😂
Just thought the same 😂
"Is it really worth it?"
@@Greenwren put some humor in your day sir
@@Iago.Carvalho I thought my unseriousness came across pretty good. 🤔 Did it not?
I really appreciate how you included Porcelain Irelia. I feel like the splash art gets overlooked simply because of a director's incompetence at enforcing visual consistency
liking odyssey is like losing a loved one and having an absent parent at the same time you are mourning the relationship you had and wondering what a possible relationship could be like just waiting for the other person to want it too
Dang. That’s deep
I feel like this series is critial to help educate people on why it is that ai art will never match up to the talent of genuinely excellent artists, Sadly most people aren't educated enough to know the difference so I'm thankful for the things you point out and teach regarding lighting, story telling, and composition - if I was to recommend a splashart Hextech annie is a criminally underrated Splashart worthy of consideration.
THANK YOU, that ai rant was highly needed, and im glad some peoole are able to recognize the talent alsie lau has and realise that no ai can replicate that
Babe wake up, TB skyen just dropped a skin analysis video that will make me spiral back into playing league
NO, YOU FOOL!
NO! SAVE YOURSELF!
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@@wholelottawhale4103 Please no, I've been sober😭😭😭
just play someone fun
That star guardian melody is so fricking good man they really out did themself with that for a skinline that brought so many ups and downs skin wise
Omg i love star guardians so much! the music is awesome, i like the character designs so much, the art is gorgeous and the stories are cool! i just wish there was actual story for my favorite members neeko and gwen
God, Skyen. I'm sitting here at my desk sobbing while you're highlighting different aspects of the splash art for Xayah and Rakan. It's so true, everyone should kill the part of them that cringes -- love is something simultaneously so clandestine and awe-consuming, and I think the passion and love that is depicted on the faces and poses of these characters by the artist truly shows that no amount of artificial intelligence can replace the heart put in by the human experience. Thank you for sharing
The avatar is so expressive, so cool
as a student of illustration I can normally barely bring myself to watch movies due to the time investment, and yet here I sit watching all of these long form splash analysis videos front to back. you are a gem in this community and I feel that you bring both a depth of analysis and a kindness and ethical outlook that are near exclusive to your videos. never stop
I love how they credit the artists, and it's easy to download the HD splasharts. As a WH 40K enjoyer, this is something i appreciate.
18:40 There is one more tiny but amazing detail about the fingers of Aurora.
A bit of a physics lesson first, however. When you cover your hand with something hydrophobic (like cocoa powder) and dip it in water, it forms a boundary layer of air, because water can't interact with your skin, that reflects the light very weirdly, almost as if your finger is made out of a mirror.
If you're wondering how that looks, it's exactly the same as Aurora's first three fingers in the splash art. From a storytelling standpoint that shows us that she is able to reach into the magic and "touch" it, but she's ultimately unable to truly become one with it, because she's from the real world and the magic is from the spirit one.
Man you hit the nail on the head. I just kept on coming back to those fingers, and what they were reminding me of. Thank you for squashing that bug in my head.
Hahah love to hear that. You're welcome.
The fact that Vex, a character whose main goal is to die but who cant because she is inmortal, has her dimension ERASED but still has to live as this cursed creature.
I dont play League but your videos always make me care deeply about the characters and worlds that have been so well crafted by these pieces of art. I get emotional every time you make vids about art (League splash or otherwise) because the appreciation and critique of the craft and care that goes into them fuels my own creative drive that much more. I feel like I learn something with each piece and it keeps me wanting to hone my skill.
Thank you Skyen for continuing to do what you do!
Couldn't have said it better myself
30:36 OH MY GOD MAN YOU'RE MAKING ME CRY
It's kinda strange how these videos are just elaborate ways of Skyen going "Hey look at this" but I am SO here for it. The expertise clearly shows and I love how much there is to learn in terms of appreciating art on our end. I can practically feel myself paying more attention to new artworks I see.
I really really like the way you analyzed Odyssey Sona, she really feels like in control, embraced in the shadow of her own talent for manipulating ora. She feels like she could be a Warframe character with her pale color scheme despite the very bright overall colors of the splash art.
it makes me think of psyops sona and the cool story behind it, I wish he would do a video on that
that last rant came from the heart and i totally agree
Honestly TB, we seriously need more of this. All this art and splash art content is GOATED
For me, i absolutely adore Spirit Blossom Kindred's splash as it uses its like sparingly in an amazing way to trickle in light from above to highlight Lamb's hair/horn in a way that makes it seem like a natural open area through the trees above have allowed you to catch this rare moment before death. However, the rest of Lambs face is obscured by not only the mask but shadow that accentuates the unknown feeling of Kindred in general. Plus the shadow perfectly obscures Wolf and the little animal in the foreground that really makes you feel like you're somewhere peaceful you really shouldn't be (i wish i could express my thoughts even better than this tho xppp)
Not too far in, but I want to bring up what an old shorthand it is to have a character, particularly their head, wreathed in golden light. She's not just a monk, not just an important monk, she's *the* most important monk.
I haven't heard about the references Ms Alsie Lau used for Porcelain Irelia, having said that and learnt of the past works she's participated in, I've come to be a fan and can't wait to see what she'll present us next time. Thank you TB Skyen for this eye opener
I really love the Seraphine base Splash Art, the music in the air, seraphine's smile and the audience cheering just wowed me
That Star Guardian Xayah and Rakan splash art is definitely god tier
TB why am I crying on each description you make at Rakan and Xayahs splash art holy shit that was so sweet and beautiful, i really agree with all the points, ive always felt that splash art was one of my favorites but never was able to put it into words exactly what captivated me the most. Now i have everything explained in the most passionate way possible, thank you so much for this
THANK YOU for touching on empyrean Vex. I've been transfixed by this splash ever since the skinline came out. A skinline that I almost hate, mind you... but that splash. Damn that splash. It feels like the artist looked into my soul and ripped this out. As someone who has been struggling with depression for years, yet feels an intense, gripping, obsessive appreciation for life and a wild imagination... this art is how I often feel. How I feel like this black, drained shadow of a human sinking in a sea of color exploding from within.
I... haven't actually watched further through your analysis. I really, really need to sleep. But I just saw empyrean Vex and I had to say it. This is beautiful.
When I first started with digital art, the thing that I always kept in the back of my head was: this is the level I want to be at one day. And to be honest I'm not even close, in fact I think I'm moving in the opposite direction of that style but videos like these bring back that feeling. That there's something very powerful in this level of skill.
The splash art videos you do are my favourite to watch and I really appreciate your input because I, as an artist myself, don't stop to look at the splash arts nearly often enough and they deserve the attention
So, so beautifully narrated, Skyen. This series has to be my favorite of all those that you update.
28:10 I noticed something! Xayah's and Rakan's heads and their hair framed by Xayah's elbow also kinda form an actual love heart shape which ughhhhh but awww
RAIN SHEPHERD MILIO PLEASEEE it's so gorgeous and I love the details in it that really just make it feel oh-so-precious like he's just a lil guy having lil fun 🥺
Old God Mordekaiser is pretty insane, I think it could make a valid entry for the next video. This is my favorite series of yours, so I hope to see another one!
There is something about having your favorite RUclipsr validate the vibes you get from splash arts and like having them describe so eloquently how you feel and what you see
I remember that Cho’Gath skin from one of your shorts. But I couldn’t help but smile so hard that my face hurts looking at it and listening to you gush about it.
seeing the intricate details of the splash art for porcelain irelia just makes me so impressed, also the thing about people saying how it looks ai-generated pissed me off sm, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE ALL OF THEM DON'T LOOK AI-GENERATED AT ALL
Man, Winterblessed diana is making me fall in love with a picture its just that good
Hi TB Skyen! I'm not a fan of LoL or the company, but my partner plays Legends of Runeterra and is a huge fan of yours. I actually only consume League stuff through you and Nickyboi! Wanted to comment while watching this lovely video just to thank you for this series.
I'm very into art (tho I don't draw anymore) and this series has been a wonderful bridge between our interests, bringing us closer together. It has helped my partner appreciate art in all forms more and more, and I actually really enjoy a handful of LoL's characters, artworks, and skin lines now. They have inspired original works, fanfiction, and even some shipping out me! (I will die on the hill that Renekton and Janna would make a precious couple!!)
So yeah, this series of videos, the character design rework videos, and especially your video on being a man have really touched our hearts and have led to many wonderful nights of creation. Thank you so much for what you do and for all the effort you put in. Thank you for introducing me to a terrible game with amazing concepts and lovely characters that I will never fucking play. And thank you for giving my partner an amazing male role model to look up to (although I'm pretty sure we're close-ish in age, we're 28)
I can't wait to see more of this series (at your own pace ofc!) and I will be delighted to talk to my partner about this video tonight when he gets home from work. Now, I should get back to watching the rest!
I'm so happy we're likely to get a fourth installment of this series! Some splash arts I'd love for you to look at are...
Aether Wing Kayle (I love how her flight suit is painted and the fact that her eyes are completely shrouded in darkness as a representation of her losing her humankty)
Silver Kayle (The lighting and values... DEAR GOD they are gorgeous and so dramatic)
And to avoid having Alex Flores for like, the 8th time on these lists, I really love the chaotic composition of Mythmaker Zyra with that lighting from the bottom of the artwork with all those swirling red paper plants, and the genuinely gorgeous detailing and rendering of Base Hwei (which I guess gives us Bo Chen on the list again, but hes so fucking good at what he does)
I can't believe people were calling that ai art. Like I'm no artist, but no AI is gonna make hands in a cool karate pose with a normal amount of fingers
Your way with words would actually make me believe old lollipoppy was beautiful
As someone who can't play assassins to save my life, I was and still am irresponsibly in love with Winterbless Diana and bought that skin immediately when it came out. I am part of the problem.
One of my favorite videos in a while, I hearing the commentary and honestly i didnt realize splash arts had this much detail until you zoomed in on them
Something that i wanted to add to the Aurora bit, is that at first glance, the shapes on her more visible thigh and shoulders, look like tattoos. And when you don't really give much attention to these tattoos they look(to me at least) like they're less for decoration and more for purpose, not like how Ryze does it per say, but more like how a dnd player would play around with their "spell book" when they make a wizard.
But when you do give more attention to it, or zoom in, you realize they are patterns, FUR patterns. And the first thing that really gives it away is they look kinda similar to Aurora's freckles, which when you think back to it are ALSO patterns.
And i think this is kinda cool 'cus it doesn't just add a certain "coolness" to her connections with magic , but also to the whole "looks more human from afar, but is much more animal on a closer inspection" with the subtle fur and peach fuzz.
i honestly have no idea if this even makes any sense, but it does to me so i wanted to say it
i have been watching some artists that upload the whole recording od drawing the splasharts and i really wish to learn to render like them truly mad respect to their skill
This video not only showed me how to appreciate art, it made me feel the creator’s genuine love for it.
I like art, but I’ve never had the eye or patience to TRUELY appreciate paintings.
Watching this made me feel like I had drank a love potion in a gallery.
I’m so glad that we got a third video in this series. This series, and your channel for that matter, has helped me to really understand what goes into analyzing art/pictures.
As for other splash arts, I feel like whenever another one of these videos comes out, Rain Shepherd Milio is a great pick. Given the review you gave for the skin, I know you would give a great analysis of the splash art!
Just wanna add something in here, Fiend Queller Swain, a Wild Rift exclusive skin. The splash art is reaaaaally really good. In a first glance you are looking to Swain upward but as you dig in further to the whole perspective of the splash art changes, you are looking downwards to a rain puddle reflection, you can see his shoe stepping to the puddle.
Me and the fellas did PowerPoint night just the other day, and one of our presenters was inspired by the previous videos and did some analysis on beautiful splash arts in League - specifically ones you hadn't covered to make the presentation feel like their own.
Seeing a third video from this series was amazing timing.
I had actually never seen the Empyrean Vex splash art before. What a fantastic bit of storytelling it has. I had mostly written off the Empyrean skin line because it just didn't appeal to me much but I have to thank you for showing me that splash. It's wonderful.
As for recommendations for other splash arts, I have a few ideas. Elderwood Gnar for it's beautiful lighting and hidden details, Northern Front Swain for it's textures and well crafted expression, and Star Guardian Poppy for it's composition. SG Poppy specifically gives me a feeling of hurtling through space but somehow still stable. Maybe it has to do with Poppy being solid in her stance and reaching her hand out to us.
Thank you for making videos like this one, its really helped remind me why AI will never, and can never replace human artists. No algorithm could ever have the level of passion and craft required to create art as beautiful as this. I was truly left completely stunned by how much detail there was on Aurora's splash art specifically, so many little details you pointed out that, as you mentioned, I would've never noticed had you not taken the time to point them out. Thank you
I really missed watching these splash art analysis videos! You really make me appreciate them all on a new level with all the details you point out!
Wake up guys! Skyen finished editing the splash art video and its 1 hour long!!!!! LETS GOOOOOOOOO
I was just watching in your first iteration of this video and thinking, wow, I could really use another one of these.
It's so wonderful listening to you talk so passionately about art. I checked your channel, and here this was!
I'm so pleased~~
17:34 - that 's a very good one xD
i clicked a bit further into the video cause i wanted to get straight into the action and the first thing i hear is "whale oil instead of cocaine". nice
Instructions unclear.
Snorted a whale.
I would kill to see a beauty in splash art for kayn
I love looking at beautiful art and hearing someone passionately wax poetic about it- pointing out the little details and nuances that might go un-considered by the viewer. Thank you Skyen, I could listen to videos like this for hours.
Kudo's to the incredible artist who provide with with ample to appreciate, Kelly Aleshire, Francis Tneh, Jennifer Wuestling, Ina Wong, Horace Hozure Hsu, Bo chenbowow Chen, Alsie Lau and Fortune Fortuneee K. Should any of them read this- your passion and hard work stir emotions within us, and thank you so much for your dedication to your craft for which we all get to share in the joy of.
I would also like to shout out my own personal favourite splash art in the game- Spiritblossom Syndra by Chengwei Pan. The feelings the image depict Syndra expressing embody the very spirit of freedom and movement she is supposed to be. Syndra looks to be wholly in her element, at ease yet in movement, eyes closed to simply relish the feeling of her body in motion. Thank you.
Please please PLEASE do another episode of this, make it 3 hours long if you have to, i don't care! Your genuine passion about art shows through in these and draws me in, reminding me to take a closer look at some of my personal favorite splash arts, not just in league, but in games and entertainment in general.
Your narration and analysis of these, particularly with xayah/rakan, Diana and cho'gath made me tear up
The emotion in it, in the images... Really evokes something deep within me
"Hugged enough to break, and loved enough to fix"
Something beautiful about that line...
A good sister line to "to be loved is to be changed"
Francis Tneh (the guy who did victorious sejuani and many more) does such good work for games.
He's made loads of pieces for various card games like capcom's teopen. I really reccomend his portfolio
I love that you include "negative" critiques even in stuff you are otherwise raving about. I just really appreciate your attention to detail
There's something about the way you just so beautifully analyze and respect the artistry so much that genuinely makes me feel so hopeful and beloved and warm. All the connections, the associations, the hidden deeper meanings, the absolute pin-point focus and call to attention on even the smallest details - all of it is such an amazing level of appreciation. There's something you do when it comes to seeing just how well the intentions or the message of an artwork comes across that inspired me to achieve something like that, along with the ability to see artistry in ANYTHING. Case in point, I never... really looked into the splash art in League. I never really looked into cover art for video games, nor have been able to understand decisions like lighting or camera-work in a lot of things. It's BEAUTIFUL, just BEAUTIFUL how you can so painstakingly translate art into words not only digestible but so enlightening.
And for a comment more specific to this video, I think Empyrean Vex is my favorite among these. The ambiguity in the expression and body language is there but the way every other element interacts and hones in on Vex really does give off the feel of exhaustion. Tiredness. Maybe a deep anger. Or maybe numbness? Regardless, it's a negative emotion and it's an emotion someone can only get from being eroded for so long. The contrast is deeply striking among all the other Empyrean skins, and it's beautiful for it.
honestly expected the bonus happy video to be rain shepherd milio but i am satisfied nonetheless, this is my favorite series of yours rn and im glad we got a part 3!
I could feel tears behind my eyes for most of the video between the passion on display in the art and your passion in talking about it and then "He's been hugged enough to break, and loved enough to fix" just actually makes me cry a little?? from a silly toy chogath skin????
watching your videos is a curse, i really love the art but it makes me wanna play league again
I genuinely apologize lol
I craved another one of these like water
please keep these art episodes going. the articulation of your interpretations and observations of these beautiful artworks are as fascinating
These splash art videos are my favourite. It just makes me love League's splash arts so much more out of my personal favouritism.
Since you mentioned engagement and talking about other splash arts, I'm gonna take the opportunity to talk about High Noon Varus and Talon. While, yeah it came from one of the biggest, bloatiest waves of a skinline ever, I absolutely love the details. The motion depicted is amazing with the specks of gravel flying past. I love the shocks of pink around the centre of Varus' bow, which complements gold and soft translucent yellow. But my favourite detail is the arrow. The fact that it is still flying towards the front of the train in the image, and leaving a trail behind it. The fact that Talon just barely manages to dodge it in time, and you can see a chunk of his hat *and* his scarf completely singed off by the close call is amazing. I also love how molten Talon's blade looks at the end. I must admit though, this is the aforementioned favouritism (especially on Varus' side) talking here.
Always happy to see more appreciation and love for the Riot artworks and artists. All really enjoyed your in-depth explanation of the splash arts you've presented (I even personally like Porcelain Irelia and the Porcelain skin line in general). XD
I hope you do more of these types of videos, I'll watch them all. ^_^
17:40 OH I LAUGH a real and good laugh now hahahahahahhahaha
God, i love listening to people talk about things that they are passionate about, and your videos are a prime example of that. Excellent work !
As an artist, I am heavily touched by your passionate love and appreciation for artists, I've never felt so seen and heard and respected before 😭 and I'm not even addressed directly!!
"he has been hugged enough to brake, and loved enough to fix" ABSOLUTE CINEMA
I haven’t seen one of your videos in a little while, and I noticed that it feels like your way of explaining what it so masterful about each skin has improved a lot. It feels like you’ve gotten better at telling a story with your analysis, weaving everything together with smooth transitions between each point and space where it’s needed. I also think the way you executed the jokes made them very punchy this time around, helped both by your acting and by the editing style of this video. Thank you for taking the time to properly highlight what makes these splashes amazing, criticize the backlash against Porcelain Irelia’s splash, and share it publicly. Your videos are always very eye-opening.
I'd like to say, in this random video, that I showed your "not without you" to my friends and they were all in tears by the stairway scene. You're an astonishing writer, Sky. Thank you for your work.
The in depth splash breakdowns are always my favourite of your videos, i could listen to 20 more hours of it EASILY so if you feel like it and have the energy, PLEASE make more of these
I love the way you break down the craft of stuff like this. I really want to improve my own art and, while I need to actually draw more, the way you describe how light works and how texture reads on a canvas makes understanding those more abstract ideas easier to grasp.
Project Naafiri left an impression on me (maybe it's the stark contrast with the in-game version)
I’ve never seen a more gorgeous and highly revered splash art by the community as Blood Moon Diana.
She’s not being framed as a vengeful assassin. She’s soft and solemn, with pale accents to accentuate the ornate details around her outfit, weapon, and most importantly her mask as she’s seen placing it gently on her face as if she’s been called to duty. Even as aspect of the moon, she’s been seen as solitary, and this splash art frames her as such. Shrouded in a soft mist and showing a sense of movement as she’s headed against the night air.
It’s also important to note that this splash art sets itself apart from the thematic universe by not portraying her as a malefic cultist, which is seen in much of the other art pieces.
This is the only skin I’ve bought solely based on the splash art because the storytelling and world building is next level.
I never thought this video would actually come. This is amazing!
Love your opinion on AI Art. Totally agree, it can be so incredibly frustrating. Especially, if you don't have the ability to zoom in and actually see, if it's just a quick mimickery or an actual masterpiece.
Oh, and show as the other three Splasharts. Give me the extra content, I need it!
DA ART KING IS BACK BABY HE NEVA MISS WE'RE EATING GOOD TODAY Y'ALL
my only critique of Alsie Lau's porcelain irelia skin, is that the proportions do feel off, her rendering style is so beautiful, but irelia's neck being twig thin (which is also apparent in her sivir skin but less so) her neck being so thin and then your eyes go to her thighs which feel huge in comparison, feels a little off, which is sad! because if it had just a little more refinements in the sketching phase, it could have been a very beautiful skin! ( i do like some of the porcelain skins)
The fact that I can only give a like to this amount of effort and insight aughjfjgjg
YES I LOVE THESE
I would buy a Toy Terror Cho'gath plush. Also please please PLEASE do more splashart reviews. There is so many easter eggs in some splasharts that we'll never see!
being an artist, I really thank you for your message about ia. I love this kind of video, I do it myself very often on this kind of freeking good splash art, because it's exciting. Thank you so much !
These videos are great for watching while I am stuck in one spot at work. It helps alleviate the monotony of some of my tasks.
i genuinely love these videos with all my heart. they make me want to draw and be creative again.
I was so happy when I saw that you uploaded another splash art analysis video. I love them so much!! The way you analysis so many different aspects and details and I think it's really heartwarming how you gush over the art itself xD. I would love to see and hear about the other three that you scraped and many more!!! For me (and I think for at least 90% of the people watching these videos) they could not be long enough. I 100% would watch a splash art analysis video that is 5 hours long
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into all of your video
you know, i feel like hwei’s splash art is also an incredibly detailed and thoughtful piece of work - actually i kinda wanna say that about most recent splash arts but for some reason hwei’s base splash specifically stuck with me ever since he came out
empyrean vex's splash single handedly convinced me to buy the skin. the moment I saw it was like love at first sight, I felted excited and awed by simply looking at it but I was never able to put words into it. my brain recognized how insanely good it is but not why so I was so happy to see you covered it here while saying the exact words I would've
Im not good at giving art love and apreciating everything that went into making it, but whenever I listen to skyen talk about art i get a little closer to it.
Im sure hearing this feels amazing for any Artist.
Youre doing an amazing Job ❤