I used the new celebrations as a total break for this contest and design. Then this evening I asked myself, if I was the great power of the Earth, what kind of herault would I want to annonce the approch of my army.
With this statement, I found my design pretty "meh" and unconvincing for that purpose. If I was the great and big Earth, I would love to have something bigger, heavier and more frightening to announce my army.
Then I came up with the idea that I should create something only for this purpose, not a humanlike creature with a banner. So I keep the idea of a magical like floating symbol and build a gigantic golem to support it.
And it's cool, I like it a alot.

I just made some compositions tests. I'm not sure if the sketches are clear enough but I don't want to polish them too hard. I personnaly think the 10 is the best, and I could roll with it, what do you think ?

Hey !
Here is where the real fun strat !
I've been messing around with some colors and ambiance, and this one particulary please me. I think it just need a bit more of vibrations, the color palette make this already stable composition really quiet and I don't like that much (it's war isn't it ?).
So my next step will be to figure out how to add a bit a dynamisme with the color play.
If you have any suggestions, about anything, I will be more than happy to read your comments !

First update on the illustration itself. I'm feeling like the more aggressive sky was better.

Secpmd work in progress, I've decided to push the top of my creature further in the distance, and to keep the sky less charged.
I'm also trying some new render techniques, we'll see.

@yazziixx Thank ! I think it look better like this too !
@gabinguede.work Thank you so much. I love MTG ! making illustration for them is one of my dreamjob and objective.
@baklaher Thank's ! Since my golem is a quite big and stable creature, I've guessed I should add the dynamism with the composition

@nesokaiyoh Oh god, your comment warm my heart thank you so much !<3
I'm glad you like the new design ! I have the same feeling about the old one

Keeping the render process, there's some parts a bit messy because I was not convinced by what I've done so I went back on the previous version.

artwar4-3.jpg3838x2196 2.87 MB

I was looking at my illustration and I had the idea of flipping the canvas to caught the eye with the arm, and make it stay on the head.
What do you think ?

Thank you for your comment !
Yes they both tell a really different story, I'm not sure which one I preferer yet, but thank your for the advise

That's not a bad idea, I will think about that, thank you for your comment and your suggestion ;D

Hey !
@nesokaiyoh es sure, the spike at the front will no be rock or mountain but spruce/fir. I also want to add more small (in comparison) earth golems to bring more of the war aspect.
@darthmorpho That's a very nice idea, thank you for the suggestion

New update for my illustration.
I've made some improvement in the render, made the trees and foreground. And I've roughly added a bit of storm in my side clouds.
I'm not sure if the current state of the tree doesn't flood too much my creature, I've a lot of work left to do with the values and contrast of this area.
Then I need to put some basic and smaller earth golem/warrior and figure out some things for the overall render, to bring the illustration together.

Also, thank you for all your support and kind messages, when I've entered this challenge I was far away from expecting that . If you have any comment/critic/suggestion feel free to let me know