Character Brief: Summoned creature - Keywords are Mecha/Organic/Summoned
I usually start with quick thumbnail sketches (3-5mins), focusing on the silhouettes of the thumbnails. As i was sketching i started visualizing something more golem-ish (strong, floating upper body, no legs). I thought number 3 from topleft was pretty cool too but decided not to, as i wanted the "summon" to stand out from the summoner by having a non-humanoid body. I also thought it'd be interesting to have the creature summoned via a paintbrush, ala Okami.
Idea Visualization Process Step 2: Character Technical Sheet
Once i've decided on a thumbnail to explore further, its time for a character technical sheet on areas that i think will feature heavily in the illustration. For this character, my idea was to have him be some sort of chaotic powerful being from another dimension, called upon and enslaved -partially- by the summoner; thus the heavy mechanical armor featuring heavily only on one side, while the other retains the being's organic body. Also did some runes/emblem exploration.
Idea Visualization Process Step 3: Illustration
Time to start the illustration. Photoshop's Hard Round Brush set to Opacity & Flow 100%, Flow occasionally set to 25% used.
Fleshed out the figures and the summon, which was easy with the thumbnail/technical sheet as reference - focusing less on the summoner and more on the summon. added a placeholder name and stuck on an old paper texture set to mode "Soft Light".
Composition and feel wasnt working, so i decided to remove the name, and add a simple background.
Some detailing...
Finished up with the detailing, added some highlights but it was waaaayyy overkill.
Final touches, toned down the highlights and added some ink flowing out from the armor..
Done!
Character concept :) Great crits from Emily as usual, would have been stuck for long periods of time without her crits. Photoshop CS, with mostly 100% Hard Round Brush used, plus a nifty old paper texture on top!
