ART WAR 4 | 2D | War of the Elements | On the wings of Fire | nesokaiyoh

Hey everyone! I took part in an art war a few years ago, created the character Adeodatus in 2017! I've decided to take part again now that I do art 24/7 and really want to push my skills and ideals. Good luck everyone!

Name: Rachel Walpole
Character's Name: Phaedrus God of Fire
Email: r.walpole220@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nesokaiyoh/?hl=en
Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/nesokaiyoh
Website: https://www.storyartistrachelwalpole.com/

Finished entry:

My first post technically. Got some mood boards going. I really love the concept and design of angels, so I wanted to design one for this challenge. Going with fire, my concept is that of a God, who lived in a volcano and finally awoke.
Will probably change this as I go along! He doesn't have a name yet either, but I'll post the sketches I have of him after the first moodboards.

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Here are some of my first sketches too! Will do some concepts especially of the bust upward as I'm not totally happy with the design of the head.

Ahh thank you! I like that he looks quite sinister, I can really play around with that

haha thanks! And will do, I'm not completely set on his design yet and I want to push the uniqueness of it. I've seen many designs like this myself so I want to put a lot of thought into his design before I go with the illustration!

Decided to go digital now for some iterations on the head. Decided to mix a few of the designs I did with some cultural references, in particular Roman helmets which I've always loved. I'm thinking more of the background of this character too. Haven't got a name yet, but I like the idea that he was once a mighty god that god into a fight with another but he lost. Due to this, parts of him broke apart and his helmet and facade are failing him (hence the lava spilling from his crest)

Either way, I'd love some feedback on these. I like the simplicity of the first two, but as I really want to try with something new and different and unique, I'm thinking a good combination of all of these. In particular I like the crest shape of the first one the most, with the fiery collar and general silhouette of the third. Let let me know what you guys think? (I'm gonna work more on this and create a few other designs)

Ahh thank you so much!!

I also really enjoyed the idea of hiding the eyes, on the other hand I like that he shows emotion and pain through his eyes, really he's in a lot of tragic pain, I'll probably keep going back and forth lol OR maybe just hide one eye joy

Another update, iterated further on the head design I liked. Mixed the first and third in the end, and struggling on whether to keep his eyes or not.

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Full body design! Still something off but I've got plenty of days left so I'll think on the design, get another sheet going for other angles of him and then work on the thumbs for the final piece! He's more of a lava-fire kinda guy now.

A little more of his backstory is that he was once fighting for the good of all gods but another god had started working against him, Phaedrus was framed by this other god and imprisoned within a great volcano prison. After many centuries of pain and thoughts of vengeance he finally arises, having amassed much power.

I wanted to point out this is just an illustration showing his colours, full body design etc this won't be my final piece! For my final piece I will be showing more of a perspective based piece, much like those shown in my moodboards.

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Ahh thank you so much! Yeah it went from fiery fire to fiery magma which I'm enjoying delving into, not something I've ever really drawn or painted before

Not doing much today, but more focusing on some of his story and how he appears to others. It hasn't been mentioned yet, but Phaedrus was huge, large enough to have to be contained within a volcano. When he arose, the fire atop his bright crest turned into clouds of ash, which rained upon those who stood against him. His fire becoming lava, seeping from the very wounds he sustained many centuries back. His very rage explodes from his being, while his face says that of pain. For once he was a benevolent and kind god, ravaged from the very core now seeks to destroy all that had betrayed him. "Phaedrus; God of Light, ruler of all that burns in life"

On a design note I'm not entirely happy with his design from the torso up. I want to make his crest more ornate, and give give him some elements of Greek armour and clothing. The drapery that floats around his body is what he throws and becomes a sheet of lava falling from the sky.