DEV WORK AND STUFF | Helios (Patreon)

Before you continue down the post, I am sad to say I lost the original PDS for this commission after I completed the artwork. Details about the background and final touches. Apologies my Patrons.

I did get the full recording LINK.

COMMISSION DETAILS

• Single Character
• Cell Shaded
• SImple Background

A stoic pose featuring the bat pony Helio wearing armour.

REFERENCES

SOURCE: Duck the Batpack

SOURCE: Vector Brony

POSE 1

Pose is ok, but I'd rather have a portrait image over a landscape image.

POSE 2

This one is not stoic enough. The commissioner asked for this to be less 'edgy'. Also I rather not have the character in full profile.

POSE 3

I like this pose, but again it is not stoic.

POSE 4

This is a stoic pose.

Cleaned up the sketch and added more personality.

Added a flag (I dont keep it). 

Flipped the canvas, though I tried to make it work it feels 'forced'.

Now that the pony is sitting in a position that I like it is time for the armour! The armour design is based on Luna's Night guards.

At this point of the commission, it was requested that I add a helmet under his raised front hoof.

I was feeling ambitious and jumped to the line art at this point. Normally with detailed pieces like this I would clean up a little more before I started inking.

This is the part of the post where I was unable to collect my screenshots of the process.

Knowing that this was going to be a moody blue picture I kept the shadows a deep blue. Something that I have been doing recently is lowering the opacity rather than multiplying the layer blending mode.

On this image it is a little hard to see the difference but the MULTIPLY version is much darker while the opacity version is a little softer and keeps the colour saturation throughout the image. It's subtle but as I have said before I am still figuring out new ways to make my colours pop more.

Normal blending mode @100% Opacity.

Normal blending mode @25% Opacity with background layer off.

Opacity and the colours combined.

Touched up some colours with gradients and lighting.

After completing this commission I think maybe the only thing I would add is a flag or more details in the background of the art.