Demon Assassin Girl - color

So, because I really wanted to participate in this weeks ArtOrder character challenge, but was incredibly limited in time, (boooo!) I decided to add a little color to my Demon Assassin girl with watercolor.  I'm leaving for LA tomorrow morning (provided I don't have to swim there due to the massive storm both LA and Tucson are experiencing right now) and won't be back until late Sunday night, so I've submitted her early.

Demon Assassin Girl

This is my sketch of a female Assassin Devil for the next challenge on ArtOrder.  There are a few minor adjustments I plan to make in order to have this character fit the description more accurately... (i.e. making the cloak more cloak-like and posing the face so that I can switch the mask to the other side of the face - oops!).  At the time I sketched this out I didn't have the description in front of me.  I initially just wanted to layout what was coming to me - sort of like artistic brainstorming.

Here's the actual art description:

• 6' tall
• Devilish humanoid
• Female
• Indigo skin
• Unappealing face w/ left half covered by frightening iron mask that looks like a demonic face
• 2 horns
• Lithe but muscular
• Wears dark leather armor w/ iron parts that resemble demonic body parts (iron pauldrom w/ iron horns sprouting from it)
• Wears a cloak made of shadows and darkness
• Wields a black longsword made of shadowstuff
• Has devil feet (reference provided on ArtOrder)
• Has a dour look on her face
• Holds sword at the ready
• Vignette image on white background

The finished piece is due this Sunday by noon, so check back to see it then.

Best of ArtOrder submission

Here he is, your friendly neighborhood Krampus critter... well, maybe not so friendly.  When he's finished, I'll be submitting him as a candidate for inclusion to the Best of ArtOrder book challenge.  The book is being organized and published via Senior Art Director, Jon Schindehette, of Dungeons and Dragons - Wizards of the Coast.  I hope Krampus makes a positive and lasting impression on the powers that be.  *crosses fingers*

This painting is also being submitted to the Spectrum fantasy art annual jury, which I hope will also bring good results.  Spectrum is an art annual that provides a showcase for contemporary fantasy artists.  I would be ever so happy if I could see Krampus on the pages of either of these books.  I have such a fire and drive for this stuff, and I LOVE coming up with creatures! I'm just hoping someone will give me that break I need to prove my mettle.  So for now, I'll be waiting with bated breath.  :)

Now it's on to my ArtOrder Assassin demon-girl and Beautiful Grim projects.

Beautiful Grim WIP

So here is the sketched pose I decided to go with for my Beautiful Grim contribution, as well as the WIP (graphite and charcoal on grey Canson paper).  And it's definitely still a WIP, as you can see.

To find out more about this wonderful fundraiser, please click on here.  The Beautiful Grim event is being organized by Mythic Entertainment concept artist/illustrator Daarken and Dreamworks animator Leif Jeffers.

I'll be posting more as the work progresses.  The deadline for this is February 1st, 2010.  This is one of several different pieces I'm working on right now (as mentioned in my previous post).  I tend to rotate between pieces when I'm working on several at a time.  This not only helps keep me from getting bored or frustrated with working on the same piece, but it also helps me to keep a fresh eye on the work in front of me.  When I work on the same piece continually, I seem to be more prone to get artist's block.  I've found that rotating helps me to avoid that.

Happy New Year!

I've sorta been on hiatus for the holidays, but as of today I've resumed working to finish up several projects I've got lined up, (which are all due this month).

1. Best of ArtOrder - Annual art book.

2. Spectrum - Fantasy art annual.

3. Beautiful Grim - Art fundraiser.

4. Museum of Mythical History

Keep an eye out for new work to be posted soon.  In the meantime, I'll do my best to put up sketches when I can.

Cheers!

=)