For this round of the Splinterlands Fan Art Challenge, I chose to illustrate Fenmoor Gorgon, a common card with a magic attack that belongs to the Death element. I was drawn to her eerie yet powerful aesthetic and wanted to bring that to life in my own art style.
Step 1: Outline
I started by sketching the outline of Fenmoor Gorgon. At this stage, I focused on defining her pose, the flow of her snake tail, facial features, and other key elements. I aimed to capture her sinister and mysterious aura right from the beginning.
Step 2: Block Shadows
Next, I laid down the block shadows. This step helped me set the mood and establish the lighting direction of the piece early on. I used bold, angular shadows to enhance the dramatic feel, similar to what you’d see in shounen manga panels.
Step 3: Base Color
Once the shadows were in place, I applied the base colors. I chose natural but slightly muted tones to match the Death element’s theme — mostly purples, grays, and dark tones that give off a haunting yet elegant vibe.
Step 4: Shadows
To add depth, I carefully painted the shadows over the base colors. This helped create contrast and volume, emphasizing her features like the snake tail, muscles, and folds in her outfit.
Step 5: Highlights
After the shadows, I added highlights to make certain areas pop. I especially focused on the magic-hand area and parts of her body catching the most light, giving Fenmoor Gorgon a more dynamic and powerful look. I also added a magical flame in her hand to enhance the fantasy effect.
Step 6: Background
Finally, I designed the background to complete the scene. I placed Fenmoor Gorgon against a simple dark backdrop, keeping the focus on her while still supporting the mood of the piece.
