Little update :
Here's a more global look at her and some outfits.
(I decided to go with haircut #1 btw, but i'm still working on the marks and lightnings colors)
This is all looking really cool so far! I love the beginning sketches too, I can feel the power in her moments :D.
As for the facial marks around the eyes, I am leaning towards both the lighting color (2) and the pink one (5) However the red marks (1) doesn't look too bad either!
Hi again !
Thank you for the reply and for you point of view @clarief 
I've been working on the colors of the lightnings recently, here's the result.
I think that the combination of the facial marks #1 and yellow lightnings works the best if I want to keep it simple.
So next step will be finishing the details of the outfit. I started thinking about some composition ideas, I'll have to sketch them too.
I love all the colors lol! I can’t decide XD
Yeah that was my problem too, but I had to make a choice (even if it still can be changed as things progress) 
Little update. I decided to take a small break from the whole charadesign of Nariko to put on "paper" some compositions I had in mind for the final illustration.
Initially, composition #3 was the one that came to me as soon as I started working on the contest. I think the low-angle perspective shows the power and stature of the character.
I still love it but I know that I'll have some problems working in this perspective... Especially with the face 
In the meantime, #4 started to really grow on me.
Sooooo... I'm a bit lost. What's your opinion about it ?
I am doing the same thing now since we only have a short time left and probably need to figure out how to display the character's abilities and strengths.
I like #4 because I think it kind of shows how strong she is like "Look at all the people she defeated with a few punches" or something like that. Like she has finished her mission but still needs to continue to the next level. At least that is what the composition tells me.
I still have a bit of lore I'd like to explore but yeah, that's kinda my problem : I take a lot of time to polish everything even these concept arts that are supposed to be kind of basic.
Yeah #4 kinda won in my mind. The more I think about these compositions, the more I realise that I'm just thinking about #4
Another update before I work on that final illustration (even if, as I said above, I'd like to draw and write a bit of lore).
So I worked a bit on the outfit of Nariko. (First time in color, Yay!).
As you can see I was inspired by the japanese thunder divinity : Raijin (as Narijo is the thunder child 
).
But it wasn't really supposed to be SO inspired in fact. At first I just wanted to represent his sash/scarf around his shoulders as an electric arc going around Nariko's shoulders as she prepares to fight.
But as I was looking for some references of him to remember how it actually looked I found out that the color palette I used for Nariko was almost the same as Raijin's 
I intended to try a bit more colors combination but I think this is fate 
You’ve got a pretty cool design 
as for the composition, I think that the low angle on 3 is great, but I also like how dynamic 4 came out. Have you thought of what setting you’ll draw your character in? I’ll be looking forward to see how this one develops!
Mmmh, I was thinking (based on composition #4) maybe Nariko in a (her ?) dojo. Being attacked, and stepping outside to teach a lesson to those water, earth and fire champions who dared disturb her meditation and training .
Little update, I've finally started to work on the final illustration.
I didn't have too much time today so that's just where I am for now. I also started to write a little bit of the lore. I'll post it as soon as I finish it !
Nice lighting! I also really like the effect you have with the lightning. I think you should do some really cool composition stuff using that lightning in the background if you aren't already set on your current layout. Its basically a free pass to make any shape you want back there
@dreamsequenz Dude. Avatar was sooo good (I miss it).
I see the resemblance to Azula (I hated her, but kinda liked her. That's a strange feeling ) !
@danrob Thank you ! I see what you mean, I'm not that used to make illustrations with that much perspectives and composition-thinking but at least it's a training for me.
I'd like to keep the overall shape of the lightning right because there are elements I want to try adding. But I try to keep my layers organized in case I ever want to change anything at any time .
Update of the day.
I added the (water) soldiers I initialy drew on the composition sketch.
(Troubling an electric martial artist in her dojo was NOT a smart decision from the water soldiers)
I also started to work a little on the face and chest. A bit flat for now but we will see how it goes with the lightning lights later.
I think I'm done with Nariko for now !
I didn't want to paint to much details on her before putting down my colors but I got carried away.
So now, I want to do that, putting down my colors... And I guess that's where the masks come down : I am freaking scared when it comes to coloring an illustration.
It's one way or the other : Either I start painting with colors and I just can't do anything, OR I start with grayscale and I just don't know how to colorise it.
When it come to illustration, I'm self-taught, whenever I have trouble on something I look for the possibles solutions on the web or in my book. But I can't figure that out... I feel like it's always by luck that I make a good coloring ! 
So yeah. It's time to do some experiments I guess
