Drawing a Healer - part 1 concept and gesture

Hi, this is Ian of Studio Kyuu!

This week I’ve got two posts: a Work-in-Progress and an Exercise on Warming Up for Artists.

In this post, I’m working on a commission art piece for Candice, who I met at Kinyoobi Con 2008. She was a young lady looking for an anime alter ego, a healer type hero, to be drawn for her.

[Candice, I lost your contact info! Please email me from my website! ^_^;;;]

This is the live process I am going through with her and for her, and I’ll update this every week!

Step 1: Roughing the concept

Candace and I first discussed some words and concepts to understand what we were drawing. Story is very important! The inner thoughts of a character will come out in the drawing. We came up with these words while brainstorming.

strong - solid - motherly
giving - compassionate - medic
caring - Celtic, Irish - Crows

(click to enlarge)

We agreed on using orange, blue, and yellow watercolor pencils. They’re like normal color pencils, but you can also mix them with water to give smoother colors. At this point, we’ve just shook hands to start the commissions, after thinking a little bit about pose and how to draw the crow wings.

Step 2: Exploring the concept at home

(click either image to enlarge)

Now at home, I’m starting to explore some details of the costume, and working out a pose for the whole body. I thought the torso would be a little lonely by itself More costume details are coming out, and I’m collecting some reference online. I think I’m on the right track!

Step 3: Beginning the Drawing (Gesture)

(click to enlarge)

This is a very important time for a drawing. I’m keeping all the keywords Candice and I have discussed in mind, and making sure the pose reflects those things. I plan to have some energy coming off her left hand to show she has power, but I’m not giving her any weapons to keep her a peaceful type. Still, she’ll have armor and cool clothes to be a fantasy-type healer! They are traditionally strong in defense but do not carry blades.

Since I’ve now moved from scratch paper to the real paper, I’m also being careful about the placement of the figure so that she’s in the middle of the page. It’s also time to watch out for good proportions: Are the legs long enough? The arms not too long? How is her torso and head?

I love seeing drawings in this stage. There’s so much thought and spirit even with so few lines!

Next week, look for anatomy to start coming in to the drawing, as forms for her body and armor are added.