So this is the final design I'm going with, thank you all for the advice.

So I went with a colour palette that I felt would allow for the arm to be the focus , and also give me the least amount of trouble with the final illustration. I really did like the idea of different colour skin and the orange pants but felt it strayed too far from the humanity struggle/ test subject vibe. Look at them toes BRUH!!

Now time to do some thumbnails .... LIGHTING CLAN

While we share your hatred for water and earth, we are not allies... so don't cross us.

...*ahem*

Anyway, your champion is looking really good so far! I love the idea of his power arm :smile:

Thank all, I'm happy you like his look.

Now thumbnails. I have some of the messiest thumbnails I ever seen, heavens help me.

So since we got to show them attacking or defending , I want to show them fighting the other elements or defending themselves . Problem I've found is lighting is a chaotic element, it is power it is attack. You aint never heard people say "man Nice cool breeze of lighting hit me today "

So A B D they are attacking compositions. Going for power and destruction taking out all in its path leaving an after math of chaos, with C it's different. How do I show lighting ( with my character ) in a defensive state. So I fought what if they are surrounded by enemies and you want these people away from you but all you know is attack. Well you push someone away so Im thinking of a shock wave or bubble of lighting pushing them away.

I feel C would have the greatest story potential or emotion. But damn I do love me my action and so A really sticks out to me but hides a lot of the characters main body. B Is the most true to press the attack , and your results of the attack around you.

I need to think which to go for this is tough, Let me know your thoughts? which you like.

I be writing to much.

I think a mix between floating with power in air like C + attack like B or A, with him being "opened up" to show his design like D.. That's my opinion :sweat_smile:

Overall very nice progress on this character!

C is cool but not much of the character is visible, B has a nice dynamic.

i really like the movement in A but the power in C is also cool. maybe try a mixture maybe he has an electric whip that he is swinging at a group of people ?

Really interesting and dynamic character and flow even on a simple standing pose.

As for thumbnails...not easy to say.
Nobody liked the last one, but it could be very cool too (if it is extended a little on the left).
But maybe his legs look too stiffs ? (or maybe he's surrounded by trees, branches or in the sea ?)

Anyways, I'm sure you could figure out the best one you could do.
Good luck !

I'm really drawn to A and C! :grin: A is really dynamic and leads the eye, and like you said I can see neat story potential for C. I'm wondering if maybe a couple more thumbnails, maybe at a different camera angle, could really get the most out of the story for C since it feels a little bit stiff right now. Maybe even just tilting it a bit and putting it on an angle for drama?

They're all really solid though and I think no matter what one you choose will be great!

Thank you all for the advice and feedback it really helped.

So I really like the idea of parting water with the lightning also the pose in B is strong and cool , So this is where I'm heading. HavIng them charging threw the water cutting (attacking) it apart with lightning destroy all in their way, (gonna do a boat cut in half ).

so begins the grind... :beer:

Update:

Splashed colour onto it (no pun intended) and have messed with the the proportions to push that dynamic element. its just the slow grind now ....Send all the Monster Energy :tm: my way .

Nice values bro! Keep workinggg so dynamic!!

Update 2-
So much to do , rendering fun. why didn't i just do cell shade " cause you like pain Camron hoho" .... dont send help , just let it take me.

hey man, i really like where youre going and i have some critique!
I really like all of the lines of action, power, and energy in the poses of the thumbnails. each thumbnail evokes a specific emotion and responce which is super impressive. with B. it gives this air of raw built up power about ready to explode from him, along with great speed in a shot up battlefield.
but in your illustration, everything is different?
your rendering skills are far beyond me, so i cant crit that at all
i really like the design and i want to see it blossom!
im not really sure how to fix it, just that i think you could easily make it better! :smile:
i think study/ref of some LoL splash art for Posing, forshortening, and line of action, could be invaluable! they have a similar artstyle and mood to your render.
dont be afraid to break anatomy a little for the sake of a cooler pose, itll help keep it looser, and more powerful!

@aypersc Cheers

@brandoncrampton1 Thank you man.

@bevanhewett The reason why you get that sense of "power and energy" is because with sketches our brains fill in the gaps and make us see what pleases us, often the reason why people always like sketches over the final products. Also you're seeing the bare bones right now. If I was doing this in line art with set clean lines, then line weight could be used to fake that power early on and you would see that right away. But this is painting so got to go threw ugly stages, and honestly I picked a comp that I would have the most fun with.

Update- Last update before the new year.

I like the idea and the rendering is coming along very well, looks a little bit like hes falling over or diving in to the water to me. (Not sure if that's intentional) I would be tempted to bring that front leg forward if he's running.

19 days later

I agree he does look like he's falling so maybe bring the back foot to the front. Also seeing the ocean made it seem like he's a water elemental and not lighting. I really liked your C and D compositions, maybe change the setting to a forest or a rocky area like you previously sketched out, hope this helps!