1 month later

Name: Joshua Culp
Email: JoshCulpArt@Gmail.Com
@Twitter: JoshCulpArt
@Facebook: Facebook.com/JoshCulpArt

Update:

I just randomly started rendering his face. Its one of those things where you just start and then you cant stop, even though rendering is probably the least helpful thing during this stage of development.

I'm not even sure this is the face I want him to have, but I like the overall design. More then anything I was excited to play with his colors, and I feel that they're going in a solid direction.

Here's a list of goals that I have for this illustration / design:

He is strong, and powerful, but not prone to aggression. This isn't to say that hes pleasant by any means, but definitely not a hot head. I don't picture him being chatty. This should be conveyed in his body design, his facial expression and his pose / the action of the illustration.

This is a fantasy character, and I want the lighting and color to convey that this is a fantastical creature in a setting that couldn't occur in the real world. I plan to show this through added saturation, dramatic lighting, and more color variance then I would normally use.

He is able to use magic; though he won't necessarily be doing that in the illustration. Maybe runes / markings / spell components will be included to hint at his potential magic prowess. Also maybe costume elements reminiscent of mages/druids.

Angular / planar. I really like the hard surface sculpted look, and I'd like to apply that here. I've already begun doing that in his random face render. (see cheek bones / nose especially.

Theres more but this post already seems long winded; so thats enough thought for now!

Thanks for reading!

Cute design :smile:
Really like the first, third and fourth !

But I can sense you already wanna do others haha ^^
Have fun & good luck !

More costumes update:

These costumes are variations on the previously done ones, borrowing from their design and color schemes.

My next step is to pick a few designs, and then start fleshing them out more.

(weapons, details, facial hair, jewelry, boots, colors, etc.)

And then work with those three designs to come up with a final design to illustrate.

I'd love to get feedback on what elements / colors you guys think are working; or if theres a specific face that you think might work with a specific costume!

Thanks!

Started messing around with a composition. I like him protecting something or someone, and in this one I picture him against some formless Aku-esque (samurai jack!) shadow beast (this iteration happens to be bird like) while protecting a forest-villaige.

I think this could give me a lot of room to play with the light and colorful forest on the left, with sun shining through the trees onto the hero, and get some dark cool colors in the foreground / right side to give an interesting contrast.

Love the character development sheet! Composition looks promising. Good luck!

Progress on composition- zoomed in, changed weird bird monster to foreground dirt mound with zombie/skeleton hand coming out, will incorporate other undead creatures into the background (and maybe the foreground??).

I really didn't like how small the character was in that composition; but zooming in made it hard to include an enemy / the impression of an enemy.

@berrysquare -

thanks! I have a hard time making myself work for a design, and normally rush into a finished piece without laying out the ground work, so i'm working to avoid that.

I'll be sure to check your piece out in a minute here.

Wow! An amazing composition ^-^
it is really ehxiting, and I love the champion :wink: Want to see colouring & rendering)))

Thanks @justartress! I appreciate it!

Here's more progress.

It's tricky, I'm currently trying to fit his anatomy into my ideal composition, and thats a bit tough. His mid section needs some help so it doesnt look so much like hes going to topple over, but the actual shapes and composition are working better this time around.

More 'playing with the shapes' to come.

Late on that but the very first colour/design on the second line looks pretty good to me.
The only one that really don't match for me is the middle one again on the second line (even if I like the blue...), and his design looks like a merchant...not sure if that's what you're searching for ?

But looking at your composition progress I guess you're going with a warrior ^^
I know this is maybe just me but...try to make him more "alive", with a run or a special attack, no ?
Otherwise, playing with the shapes is a good feeling :wink:

I know that's maybe sounds weird but try to be your character, what's he doing, what he feels, etc...gives emotions to your piece !
Hope I'm not going too far haha

I have no idea what I'm doing.

I started slapping color onto a new canvas and made this thing. Based on the row 2 column 2 costume. He lost some fierceness somewhere along the way.

Straight to color probably works better for me. I just don't really have a workflow yet.

Times almost up. Don't worry about a workflow just make something and have fun!

@Mhnke - Two weeks is actually plenty of time to finish this guy. I'm having a lot of fun, and I'm not so much concerned about not having a workflow, as I am just excited to be learning which methods work best for me.

@justartress - I'm not dissapointed at all. Just enjoying exploring.

If you don't like the meaning & feeling of orange light, will you change it?