The idea behind this artwork was to portray V, the main protagonist from our upcoming title Cyberpunk 2077, in a way that reflects their nature. V is an ambitious and fearless cyberpunk, an urban mercenary equipped with cybernetic enhancements, and is fighting to survive in Night City – the most dangerous megalopolis of the dark future.
To capture this personality, I took into account the environment V is living in, thinking about what kind of approach to life someone in those shoes would need to develop in order to thrive. It’s a ruthless world where it’s do or die, so I chose a dynamic and expressive pose that summarises an essential confidence in one attention-grabbing action. V is no stranger to a fight, and understands the need to take the initiative. I wanted to encapsulate this in a way that represents a feeling of strength and poise – and the innate danger that comes with the territory.
1 A SOLID BASE FOR AN ILLUSTRATION
Drawing out a direction and pose for the character
The first step involves simple sketches to find the right pose. I want toidentify the soul of the piece and the best way to present it using only the simplest means. It helps me to develop the direction and dynamics of the composition, and with each sketch I get closer to finding it.
2 Prepping key 3D assets
Once I find a direction that clicks, I refine the pose in Daz Studio. I also develop a 3D model of a katana in Blender, based on Cyberpunk 2077concept art. A blade is a strong focal point, so I test it from different perspectives to get a feel for how it might contribute to the final piece.
3 Setting the scene
This story is from the January 2021 edition of ImagineFX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2021 edition of ImagineFX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Tribute To Akira Toriyama
Remembering a legend Artists from across the world pay homage to the influential manga artist and genius creator of Dragon Ball
First Impressions
The illustrator reveals his journey through the world of art
DEVELOP 3D SKILLS FOR CONCEPT ART
Gaëlle Seguillon creates a breathtaking fantasy environment by combining a selection of techniques within her workflow
DRAW FUTURISTIC VEHICLE DESIGNS
John A. Frye uses just a single brush to transform his messy thumbnail into a bold and colourful hard-surface creation
PART 5: SIMPLIFY THE VALUE SCALE
Charlie Pickard introduces his top advice for achieving strong values in your artwork to create clear and powerful imagery
Charles Ratteray
Page-turner Library meets laboratory in the artist's studio, packed with inspiration and a mix of media
How to tell a story in an image
Narrative masters Tanya Combrinck talks to four artists about using visual elements to imbue their work with personal and universal human stories
ILLUSTRATE A MAGICAL CHARACTER
For this illustration, I was asked to create a fun, bright image with the theme of making artwork magical by the developers behind the digital drawing app Clip Studio Paint.
First Impressions - Glenn Arthur
Influences from Disneyland shape the artist’s work
THE ART OF BRIAN SUM
Dominic Carter talks to the mech master about honing his cyberpunk visions, character designs, and his new artbook