"Phoenix" aliens from Robert Reed's "Great Ship" universe

Once again, generous patron J. M. commissioned me to illustrate an alien from Robert Reed's "Great Ship" universe. Here is how the "Phoenix" race was described:

They evolved on a small hot world. Gills augmented a trio of large, black-blooded lungs; their metabolisms were quick and fierce. Where most winged aliens were gliders or soarers, passive and efficient, the Phoenixes were the ecological equivalent of human-sized peregrines...

Phoenix males were always beautiful, but he was exceptionally so. What passed for feathers were a brilliant gold fringed with the darkest black, and an elegant, efficient face seemed to be all eyes and beak. The eyes were a lush coppery green, bright as polished gemstones. The beak was a vivid jade color, hard and obviously sharp. It was open when he sang, and it remained open afterward, always gulping down the liters of air that he required just to perch in one place and live. The apparatus on his chest translated his elaborate song.

Based on these descriptions, I drew a set of simple sketches and portraits first:

I then created some photo-bashed portrait studies to compliment these.

I combined the best portrait and body designs to create a final composite.

The labels in the wing are artifacts from a scientific picture of a scarab wing, which I used as part of this collage :) I love the mixed-up, "punk rock" look of these advanced sketches, I think they have great artistic value of their own.

Then it was time for the final drawing. Once again, head and body were drawn separately for greater fidelity.

Final composite with lines, screentones, and colour:

Painting the fur, the jaws, and the "lush coppery green" eyes was really fun. Note how dabs of counter-intuitive colour help make the metallic fur of the alien come alive.

Thus, another vibrant commission was complete.

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