DEV WORK AND STUFF | Kirin Bridge (Patreon)

BRIEF

Listening to some people share their love for Kirins, I decided to draw a Kirin.

CONCEPT

Taking a small break from all the chibi commissions and Photoshop, I started doodling in Krita. With the new update I was not familiar with some of the brushes, so my first sketch is a Frankenstein cluster of brushes.

Then I found it. MY FAVOURITE KRITA BRUSH!

I cleaned up the original messy sketch with my favourite sketch brush. This brush is really good at blocking in details with a single brush stroke with its dynamic properties.

This sketch brush, when scaled up creates a webbing and hatching pattern when the same line comes into contact with itself.

I imported the new sketch into Photoshop. The original hair was too smokey looking and did not suit the flowy design of the tail hair. This is still a very loose sketch and I am still not satisfied with the details.

LINE ART

I felt like details and something pretty. 

This is the first version of the line art I created. It is pretty and all but even though the hair is incredibly detailed there were too many elements that felt lackluster.

The background element and the face have no personality.

Despite redrawing much of this, I still was not happy.

Swapping out the bridge like structure for an organic looking rock brought more life into the image. 

I reworked the nose and I still hate it, however I like the new ears.

Finally. I redrew the face, though it is not the expression that I hoped for, it is far more majestic than the original. 

EVOLUTION OF THE FACE

COLOUR

I didn't feel much for colouring this but I also did not want to leave it just as line art. I added some grayscale tones to break elements up.

REFLECTION

At this point it is pretty clear that I started this with very little planning, just the desire to draw a Kirin.  Sometimes this can work out in your favour as is sort refreshes your mind. The downside is; it can be a large amount of back and forth while refining your artwork. This can be tiresome and time consuming.

DOWNLOADABLE STUFF

I have included some downloadable files. The final illustration, a transparent version of the line art (if people wish to colour) and the .PSD file.