This artwork was commissioned by the ImagineFX team for their cover! I was given a reference for the pose they wanted, based on a sketch I had previously drawn and some ideas for the character.
The idea of beauty and strength being non-exclusive is something I like a lot, which is why I often turn to the theme of female knights for my original character designs. In the past, I found armour quite difficult to draw, but I’ve always tried to push myself through challenges instead of avoiding them.
Crystal horns from a past artwork of mine caught the team’s eye, so I incorporated them into this design. I added similar embellishments on her sword and armour because I thought the crystal would look a little out of place if it were only on her horns, especially as this character’s hair is warm and bright. Because it’s a close-up of a character and the team wanted the focus to be on her face, I spent extra time painting the details and softening her features.
How I create…
A STYLISED MANGA HAIR LOOK
1 Create an interesting base
This story is from the August 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 August 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