Just some inicial ideas to kick-start my brain. This is heavely inspired by celtic mythology. Hence the hornes, the menhir (the huge floating stone), the cauldron and, of course, the raven, which is the main symbol of The Morrigan, goddess of War.
I'm pretty happy with the direction this is having for now.
I started with the development of the idea. I need to deside if I want him to have wings or not (because if not, I'll have him get rid of the ornaments in his arms 
). Then I need to go for the Cauldron, which is a gift from the goddess Morrigan, and the source of his power. The idea is that he boils the skulls of his enemies in the cauldron to use them in different ways to cast spells.
So, I have completed the sketches for all the "components" for my design. In this sheet I've define the color scheme for it, including some FX. The little face inside the skull mouth is that of Morrigan her self, as her spirit inhabits the artifact. When the cauldron is used to cast a spell, she "awakens" and the FX are triggered.
Ok. So. I'm actually going to change part of the design to give him a more humanoid face. 1) Because I want, rather, I need to step out from my confort zones and 2) Because I think I can do it. (Also because it'll be fun n___n)
Well, face is done. But I think I now have to rework the color scheme. Specially in regard of the skin and the feathers....
Ok. Now, finally, I can move on the illustration and the concept sheet. (Already noticed the disproportion in the right side of his head. I'm going to correct that in the final entry)
So.... mmmm... I'm not so sure about the direction now. I thought that making him more "humanoid" would be a good idea... u___u Now I feel a bit stuck. Anyway, this is suppose to be part of the concept sheet for the contest entry. But I'll see where it goes. My rendering is not as good as I would like either. 
Time to sleep now.
Just want to step in and say that the humanoid direction is great fun and you should keep at it! Maybe try pushing the facial shapes a bit more to get it to be even more bird like, really just push the hell out if it until you think you have gone way too far and see what it looks like!
The snapped horn with the energy leak is a nice touch too, play it up some more. Maybe get that same effect coming out of some other places on him, the tattoos or talons.
Maybe try thinking about it as he was originally a bird man but tried to change and the spell only worked partially, try sticking some partial wing stumps on the back.
Your cauldron design is delightful.
Anyways, I really like it and hope that you keep on going with this guy, because he is fun.
Ty. Yeah, the wings were originally part of the concept. I'm going to retreat a bit to make another iteration. More bird like. More creature like. Then I'm going to figure out what to do with the face and the horn. I really want those elements to be part of the design. I feel like I stepped too much out of my confort zone and freaked out because of that XD . But, I'm learning faster than ever. And your tips are amazingly helpful! n___n Again, ty. I'll check out your profile and your entry to the contest 
So. This is only to contrast the new and definitive version vs the "original" version. I really wanted to go for the bird like but it deminished the evilness of the character. So, I decided to accentuate a more "bird-like" elongated neck shape, adding a long beard and change his posture so it looks more like an "old trickster". Also there will not be wings for this fellow. He has too much going arroud already for my taste already and I don't want to make a mess of him.
But I did changed his horns to make them more menazing.
11 days later
Current state of the thing...
Subject: Illustration (?)
I kind of loosed the time a bit during Christmas. Mainly because the heat is pretty overwelming in Buenos Aires and it drains all my energy. So, I'm trying to paint at night to avoid that. Now I'm starting too speed up and really devote myself to the task ahead. So... here's how it is going...
The atmosphere is already here! To my mind you can turn your arms to the right, this way you will avoid a tedious forshortening.
Send some heat to Europe please.
yeah, the thing is that I want to give space to the Cauldron's misty reach also, I may end up making the image just a bit thiner. I'll take your advise and see what's the best option. Ty,
Sending warm sun vibes to you! n___n
Alternative idea for the Illustration. Going for a bit more of a action sequence. The first one seems too stiff for my taste. Also, I'm not streching too far from my confort zone. An that is, again, a big "nope" for me. So, pushing a bit some boundaries. And I'll have to do a quick concept for the fellow who's been torn apart and soul-harvested...
Because what feels better, than working against the clock to accomplish something whose success you are utterly uncertain? 
Ok. So...
I'm kind of loosing my mind right now. I'm going to try a different idea for the illustration once again, knowing that given how much time remains, such course of action is a bit reckless and stupid on my part... But, alas, the previous iteration is not what I expected and my morale is very low right now.
I really hope to be able to get in time for this. Specially because of how hard I been working on this and how rewarding it has already been.
Sketch for the (hopefully) final illustration.
If this doesn't work I'll withdraw myself from the contest. I would like to retire with at least some of my dignity intact... (?)
This one is very pleasant, you can't go wrong. Go go go!
