Hazards of Tomb Raiding process

I had a wild hair and did this pic in really distinct stages, so I thought it might be fun to share here.

1. The initial concept sketch: I was really in the mood to draw some tomb raiding gear. So my first sketch was really planning out all of the cool stuff I wanted to feature. But it came out sooooo stiff and lifeless. I wasn't doin' my girl any justice, I needed to loosen things up

2. Concept sketch 2.0: Now that I knew what my gear was going to look like, I took another pass at the sketch with more of a mind toward motion and characterization. I really like how it turned out. It had much more life and energy. Something I wish I could hold on to more with my complete pieces, but I digress.

3. Forms: Just trying to make sure everything makes sense. Has volume and proper proportion. This is where I lose that dynamic looseness. but I can't help it. It's a compulsion ;)

4. EX Forms?: I don't know what I was on when I decided to do this, but I isolated and pulled out the details one by one akin to how I establish forms. It was kinda fun. and it spawned what I dubbed "Rainbow Lara." (yes, I am very clever.)

5: Lines: My all time favorite step. I just love drawing linework. Especially extra-liney linework. Give me lots of things to draw! I also watched a couple video breakdowns on the parts of a compound bow and how they work so I could design my own. I love that shit.

6. Flats: Blockin' in those colors.

7. Final: From flats I just define the forms further with block shading and that is pretty much the last step that has any layers. I flatten the image as I go from here, so I destroyed the rest of my steps. Mostly just creating skin pigment variation with blush to give the skin some life and playing around with the tone differences for her outdoorsy tan lines. After that I clean up everything and add little details. I was really indecisive about how sweaty I should make her. I was obsessing over sweat droplets when my wife came in the office, and she gave me a look like "this is why I can't ever explain your job to people" Heh

Anyway. I hope that was vaguely interesting.

Shard