Here we go! Officially launched.
Your personal details:
Neal Tse
nealtse@gmail.com
nealtse.com
https://www.facebook.com/nealtse.art/
I'm coming out on team Lightning
I will post updates every Wednesday and Sunday. Good luck to you all!
I'm streaming on twitch tonight while I work on these concepts! Come hang out with me, or checkout the summary afterwards. Nealtse on twitch.
Trying to narrow down my concepts. I've come up with what I feel is three solid choices. I'll field opinions on what direction I should go.
Here are the sketches/silhouettes. I've broken it down into these three concepts.
Shock Angel
Most of our imagery of the winged human comes from Babylonian myth. I decided to delve that history a bit to showcase a costume that was less predictable fantasy wise. I think giving her these wild electrical spreading wings would create a very impactful image.
Warrior Marionette
My grandmother watches a lot of Chinese Opera. I had an idea of a puppet with one of those highly detailed opera masks. I think that would be quite menacing having floating body parts coming at you with threads of electricity binding them together. The master would ride on a floating cloud above it and manipulate it with her "strings."
Tesla Mecha
I love steampunk, and this is more than likely tried before, but I thought it would be fun to play on a 1800's mad scientist mecha wielding tesla coils. They look cool as hell, and I think I could really make this sing. This would probably come out fairly pinup-y. Been awhile since I've leaned into that! Might be time to flex that way again.
What stands out to you? Anything you'd like to see fleshed out?
Based on fan consensus, I've settled on the chinese warrior marionette. I feel like this is a fairly fresh idea, and has great potential to be an impressive illustration! So far I've been hammering out the details on the puppet warrior designs.
I'm not familiarized with this chinese marionettes, but the idea looks very promising, it is and "elemntal electric body" into the marionette clothes right?
Oh, and by the way, do you come from the future? it says '22 there 
Thanks, Serfer, I'm having fun with it. Definitely not 2022...my bad.
Here is the work from the week. I'm a little behind pace-wise. I'll be jumping to lines ASAP.
I've been going through trying to settle on a costume for the puppeteer.
Of the four final designs, which appeals to you?
- Elegant
- Side-swept
- Cute & Active
- Militant
side-swept, though I'd describe that one as being the most elegant :3
it has a really nice use of asymmetry across the body
Side swept looks great! my vote goes for it.
Thanks! That sidesweep one seems really popular. I do like the others, but hey picking one direction is part of the process, right?
I am frontloading a lot of work, or that was the plan, but I am going to have to pickup the pace to get this done this week. Here are some of my next stages.
Settling on the sidesweep, I was playing around with color versions as well.
And then I was considering colors for the environment. I have circled the one I settled on. I wanted something dramatic, but not too predictable. Also something that wouldn't wash out the lightning effects, without looking too alien.
Finally. Here is the very rough composition sketch. My immediate next step is to create a refined drawing and then rush into may background colors. Wish me luck!
Right up to Thursday, I was working on this piece. Then I came down with the flu just two days before due date. Having lost all my strength, I resigned myself to the fact that this wasn't going to get done in time. I'll sadly, frustratedly have to pass on the challenge this year. Good luck to you all. <3
