MtG: Thalia, Guardian of Thraben

So this is what I start with! I know it doesn't look like much, but to me this is a complete sketch - at least combined with the ideas in my head. Once I have this, my heart rate goes way down.

Obviously I can't send that scribble in, and for the painting I need something more solid anyways, so here's the finished drawing. Art Director on this Secret Lair was Taylor "The Man" Ingvarsson!

With the sketch approved, it's time to find colors that will make this piece pop! I throw in some rough layers and establish the lighting and palette. The goal for me here is to have Thalia front and center, to emphasize that she's now 110% more magical!

After I decide I like the colors, it's time to get painty-painty! I start with the focal area and work out from there. It's super important to me to establish the emotion in her face and the movement in her hair before I do anything else.

With a baseline of rendering established, I can keep the rest of the piece a bit looser. I work from the face out and paint her clothes and hair, making sure the movement stays - don't want this looking stiff!

With the foreground done, all that's left to do is work in a simple background, push the colors a bit so she really glows, and we're done! I send this in for feedback!

Taylor loves it, and after a few tweaks (having her look at us and raising the sword to push the drama a bit more for this climactic story moment!) we're done! There you go, that's the story!