Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · 3d

DRAGONSLAYERS - THE ROGUE

Seichi von Tiefhölle, a name sometimes echoed in lore.

She is an enigmatic traveler from a far off land, finding herself in Solvognen on a mission. What this mission is, only she knows

The devil is in the details with her

//

#art #sketch #characterdesign #digitalart

Her design always took after her creator's input, and she has changed little from that. A mixture of stylish and sly. Her white and black color scheme works to distinguish her from other demons.

The differentiators for Seichi are her hair, her scarf, and her fashion sense. All saying "Cool-Japanese" without having kanji written on her - and that says a lot to me.

She fights with needles of all types, whether throwing or using them as melee weapons. Given her origins, the type of magic she uses is unlike the rest: shadows. Whether developed or granted, this magic is seen with her alone.

Seichi's hairstyle is the start of the Bellerose line's trademark hair streak. How Sei wears it is what is distinctive compared to her descendants. Semi-practical but built to billow in the wind - a sign she likes to live wings-spread, never looking back.

Or perhaps it's a sign of her short-sightedness, metaphorically.

Her uniform of course takes after the traditional style with asymmetrical add-ons and her scarf to make her roguish nature clear.

The untucked, messy white dress shirt under says a lot about Seichi without it having to be spelled out: she's elegantly disheveled.

The solvognish sorcerer armor can be made to look quite tactical and battle-ready with just a few belts to have quick access to stuff with.

Finally, her nightwear makes no attempts to hide her nationality - in fact its her would-be uniform turned into something more... comfortable.

Always had a bit of a seamstress side to her, apparently. Given the needles and all. Maybe she took after her mom in this regard - whoever she is. Or was.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · 3d

DRAGONSLAYERS - THE ROGUE

Seichi von Tiefhölle, a name sometimes echoed in lore.

She is an enigmatic traveler from a far off land, finding herself in Solvognen on a mission. What this mission is, only she knows

The devil is in the details with her

//

#art #sketch #characterdesign #digitalart

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · 9d

DAWN-LIGHT-ON-HER-THREADS

Orsina, an Anadi who prefers to keep to the shadows. Often labels herself as a "Trash Witch," due to her tatters.

If one looks closely, they can see tiny seams on her skin - remnants of an imperfect guise.

For @bibliophileemi.bsky.social !

//

#digitalart #art #ttrpg

Orsina's silhouette is meant to be arachnid looking with the bits and bobs sharply jutting out of her tatters. Her spider-like theme was weaved into the design - combining rich African inspired garbs with a bog witch's look.

In general, she's meant to be unkempt and moody.

She's gaunt, and very lanky. There is a slight slouch to her posture. She feels languid and famished, but not actively dying. Almost as if that's how she prefers to look.

The seams form particularly visually interesting "panels" to her.

The flats really showcase the variation in values - a valance that was monumentally difficult to achieve with so many hues of purple intertwining.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · 14d

JUNO, VERSED IN THE OCCULT

Your every choice. Your every thought. Your every move - all preordained for you to become a vessel for He who will call down the new world.

But... What if you grow to love your monster?
Can you bring yourself to kill your only child?

//

#digitalart #art #dark #ritual

A world away from home. Magic and promises of a new life. Yet, though from afar it looks like a gilded cage, the inside is rusted with blood.

Juno's disposition began as ditzy and unassuming, but the more things unraveled and went along, this side of her personality was more of a coping mechanism than her being child-like.

However, that juxtaposition was paramount for an illustration like this to come alive. The dark, spooky ritual going on with the sweet-looking, if distant, Juno as its center is quite an apt summary of her character journey.

Forced to become something beyond her control, for a purpose she was never told.

The deer whisper in the dark - betrayal, suffering, hatred.

I see them.

I feel them.

Juno's facial expression was hard to land. It had to look innocent - a blend of both scared and nonchalant. Something she's used to, considers normal, but at the same time, primally unnerves her.

This more... distant look serves to show her as someonr whose grown disconnected from her life, and yearns to escape.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · 19d

FLYING HIGH

"I'm way better with a rifle, Cass. You should come to the range with me one day.

'Til then, heh, yes, I'm looking."

Linn, a direct opposite to her rival Cassandra. Where Cassie is strong and built, Linnet is lean and optimized.

Competition keeps one sharp.

//

#art #digitalart #oc

Linnet's clothing is more practical for exercise, with material that's stretchy and water absorbent. Her time as a soldier has toughened her up, but also made her more confident. I wanted to showcase a more fun side to her, instead of always being serious - she's a person with a wide range of emotions.

Designing her sporty clothes was a lot more challenging than I anticipated. I not only had to design something that fit her personality, but also coordinate the colors so it'd be something she'd wear and also be cohesive to her character design.

The sweater wrapped around her waist is specifically drawn here to keep her silhouette somewhat similar, with the long coat.

There is a certain maturity and elegance Linnet's features require. She's not just an American woman, she's also a nimble foil to Cassie - so instead of wild and sharp, Linnet is more traditionally pretty. She looks like she has experience, which is paramount to her character.

As a soldier, she can be serious, but also mellow. She's a professional through and through.

In her element.

I am rather proud of the colors and patternwork I did for her outfit, so the flat colors are being attached. Modern sport clothes feel sleek and sharp - just looking at them gets one in the mood to work out. And when I see the result, I feel it.

The dominant color has to be red, but I also wanted to follow the coloring of a Robin, and so the subtleties had to be taken into account, something I feel I quite nailed here.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · 23d

SHEDDING SKIN

"What's the fun in getting a body like this and not showing off a little?

'Sides, you can look Lin."

Remake of art from 4 years ago; casual clothes for Cassie.

Her genetics are definitely for fighting; she'd be stupid not to follow her calling.

//

#art #oc #artwork #muscle #girl

This combination of clothes befits the sporty but still stylish Cassandra, who though is the best fighter and knight in Deathblow I, still has a soft spot for grungier and street-like styles.

She takes after her father quite a bit, in appearance and clothing preferences. This design alsp implies she is into martial arts beyond swordfighting and medieval warfare. Wrestling? Streetfighting? She definitely feels like the type to be punch-heavy, rather than a kicker.

An important point to this illustration was practicing muscles and muscle definition. I wanted to portray her physique correctly and in a way that felt achievable, if not realistic.

She's got snake genetics, so she's voracious and strong. It makes sense, given her strength and practice of fighting, that she's sculpted like this. Still practical, but built - however she's more optimized than straight bulky.

Cassandra's hair, eyes, and lips are what make her most recognizable - save for the obvious fangs.

She really takes after her father here, and styles her hair similarly to Queen Elysia. All in all, she represents the golden age of Solvognen.

Plus, that smile is infectious.

This original drawing was from 4 years ago. Made when I was still figuring out how to effectively use Procreate and my way around layers and brushes to get the effects I wanted. I think I've come a very long way, in both my art style and my propotions and character drawing.

That and my color choices. I feel that I've vastly improved in choosing my colors and intuitively making up palettes as I design and execute said design.

My process involves a lot of improvisation. Makes it easy to come up with stuff on the fly.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · 29d

THE ATHERIS

"Oh-hoh, spare me. Don't take it personal, just stating facts. After all,

what's a snake without a little bite, Snakebite?"

Lukah's wit is sharp like his blade; very nimble and skilled.

To him, it's all about the competition.
2nd place is 1st loser.

//

#digitalart #characterdesign

Lukah's poise and design were highlights of his inclusion in the Team Picture. He and Zonaira are the standout designs I feel are perfect and need no changes.

The inclusion of his family's color scheme plus a very light, faded green make him feel like a big deal, which he is. His arrogance is conveyed in how he is presenting himself.

Much like Sigrid, the character Lukah is a descendant of, his hairstyle is short, voluminous, and has a long arcing bang - however, it also makes him look cocky and fashion-forward.

The side cape is an aspect that brings out his nimble fencer-like poise, it implies a lot. And the colors and stylings being darker versions of Sigrid's say he is more "mature" and "bold."

Lukah's face came to me in a dream, to put it some way. I had thoughts of making a character similar to Yuri from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and when I put pen to paper this design came out during the Team Images. He was a very easy slam dunk.

Smug sonuva bitch. However, very much earned. He is not strong like Cassandra, but he is dexterous. Before you can feel angry at his taunts, he's got the first hit on you.

Perhaps its a tactic?

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Sep 10

THE SHADE

"I'll die as many times as it takes.

...Until the demon is gone."

An enigmatic mercenary from the land of the exiles: Solvognen. The Shade is rumored to have come back from Hell.

He's got a chip on his shoulder.
Either from his aggressive swordplay or his trauma.

//

#art #oc #artwork

The Shade's design is tricky. In essence, the idea was always there. A shadowy merc with Guts inspirations and a cool mask with goggles.

However, putting those elements into context AND giving it a proper style was the challenge. Due to his story, his design elements clash, and it's a balancing act of taking modern and old and putting them in a packahe that feels and is cohesive.

Having a Guts-like character isn't just about recreating him though, it's more about taking what I like about his design and adapting and molding it to taste, so that the Shade is NOT just Guts 0.8, but rather wearing his inspiration on his sleeve while feeling like his own person.

His blues and purples are distinct, ominous. He feels inhuman, because he is.

The Finstertöter is a massive sword that carries a certain elegance, showing Shade as not a brute but a swordsman with a grudge.

The Shade's mask is purposeful. He's seeing red - he's angry, bitter, and the mask sells the idea that he doesn't matter, but rather what he can do. Almost as if he's some vengeful spirit.

A shade, if you will.

A transparent version; this one, funnily enough, doesn't change much. The majestic cape offers quite the backdrop by itself.

I debated about the cape being torn or maintained, and I settled on maintained as it keeps the Shade from feeling like a brute, like with the Finstertöter.

The flat colors. Here, the materials come through in just how they are colored and textured. However, it also shows the armor is not fully black, nor can it be. Renders need leeway to darken and lighten, otherwise a material feels odd. Or emissive.

The delicate shapes are on full display here, too.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Sep 7

THE MOON

"I'm not quite sure, Alex... Maybe I could call those perks of yours 'even'...

But I've got plenty of time to widen the gap."

Veraxis, she who wields a blade of Selenite: the Torn Moon; an exquisite sword.

Her guiding moonlight; for her sunrise.

//

#digitalart #art #knight #fantasyart

Vera's design has refined over the years to mend and make consistent her armor set with the aesthetics of Solvognish Martial Design. She's the baseline behind the armor style of Solvognen - domed shapes, a preference for single pieces with precise segmentation for articulation.

Steel on white - she's the epitome of silver and the moon. It makes her look like a figure out of a painting, of a fantastical hero meant to save us all.

Her sword is a standard longsword with the caveat it's made of meteorite ore - much like her, it's something practical with aesthetics to turn them into much more.

Her Soul Brace is a unique spell which mimics the shape of her gauntlet, acting as a shield - imperfectly so, as it's unable to prevent pain. However, she does not take damage in a way an unarmored limb would.

She's honor bound. Diligent. Confident.

All represented in her design.

Her white hair is also quite unique in Luxumbra, but in Solvognen it's quite commonplace. Even before having hair-dye magic. Magic's effects on genetics are wondrous indeed.

No congenital defects, as of yet.

Her favorite flavor is Vanilla.

The transparent version of the image showcases Vera's Soul Brace and Selenite blade better. The lighting is very satisfying.

The sword looks sharp.

The flat colors of the image. Her harmonious, more grounded palette of colors help keep her simple and unique.

She doesn't wear flashy colors - almost as if she only cares to be what's needed and not being extra for no reason. It makes the Torn Moon pop so much more.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Sep 3

THE STORM

"U-Um, hello... Excuse me, I was in line first - eep! Aw man... I wanted the day one edition..."

Margaret Bellerose, older of the twins. Deep in her mind lies something volatile: Ballroom Blitz.

Emm's lightning in a bottle; she needs only a faraday cage

//

#digitalart #magic #girl #oc

Margaret's design was fairly figured out early on. She's not messy per se, but her style is definitely conflicting with itself. It's like she wants to express herself one way but feels like she should be more modest - like she's embarrassed of herself.

Not necessarily in a way where she hates her body, rather, she feels she should not be herself.

Unassuming and meek with a chic side. Alongside Roger, Margaret follows the theme of the twins playing with how the Belleroses' hairstyles usually go. Unlike the previous generations, Emm does NOT have a bang covering one eye, instead, she had a much more practical style - relatively speaking.

Ballroom Blitz' looks have only really evolved alongside the Luxumbran Knight armor design. It is perfect. Heavy contrast with Rampart: Robot vs Knight, Order vs Chaos, Simple vs Complex, Defense vs Offense.

She looks dangerous and slightly unnerving. Lightning barely contained. A reflection of Emm's psyche.

Margaret and Ballroom Blitz have a unique relationship to one another in that its creation was mostly involuntary. All of Emm's blocked and denied emotions and feelings well up into an entity that is shaped by what Emm has experienced and wants to experience.

Almost like... Intrusive thoughts given form. Violent. Dark. But also of fantasy. Wanting to be the fierce one everyone respects.

Her Ego manifested.

A transparent version showcases the dynamic silhouette and the violent lightning-hair emanating from Ballroom Blitz. Their poses also match, albeit opposite.

Emm is wanting to run away, but in her mind she wants to destroy the source of her anxiety.

No mercy.

The flat colors showcase, mainly, just how much Ballroom Blitz benefits from rendering - and how intense it as a lightsource is.

It also lets one see Margaret's pleated skirt pattern better. Yes, every ridge and contour was considered when drawing it.

The concentric irises, a defining feature of the twins, show their closeness with Dark affinity, as their eyes change color based on how they're feeling and how intensely.

They'd make terrible liars.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Aug 31

THE CALM

"Dude, I told you once already: Leave Emm out of this. You got a problem? - It's a problem with me."

Roger, younger of the Bellerose twins. Like his sister, he's an anomaly of genetics which leads to their unique pupils and traits.

He's got a good soul.

//

#digitalart #oc #robot #stand

Roger's design used to be a lot more closely aligned with his sister's aesthetics, and was even like the dichotomy of a soyjack and a chad, with him being the chad of the two. However, over time, he became more like a direct contrast of Emm's personality.

Where she's neurotic, he's calm.
She's shy, he's confident. And so on.

So for his clothing, it's more defined and bold - a statement that he values how he visually carries himself while also building his own punk-y style.

Rampart's design has remained more or less the same with some refinements. He's meant to be a visual mixture of the Iron Giant and Soft & Wet; wearing the inspirations behind he and Emm's signature spells on their sleeve.

At first he was directly a mechanical summon, but he's been transitioning into more of a spiritual, construct-like entity.

Though he keeps his retrofuturistic aesthetics.

Roger's head is also a direct contrast to Emm's design. He has a more Amazing Spiderman Andrew Garfield style. It plays on the Belleroses so far having long downward bangs, so he has his instead pointing up. The streak is essential, as always.

Rampart takes after Roger, making use of the "crest" on its head to resemble Roger's. Rampart's head is similar to Ballroom Blitz', but more hard-surface and simple.

Its eyes are quite unnerving by themselves.

Transparent version, showcasing some of Rampart's VFX more clearly. His focus on swirls and vortexes are to really give a feel of psychedelia and mysticism. Based on more eastern-style esoterica.

Hypnotic but still out there.
A visualization of gravity's dilation of space and time.

The flats. I regret not posting all of these with them, but I am rectifying it now. They carry texture and the true tones of each character.

Immensely useful as reference.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Aug 28

THE MINX

"I've got time to settle the score. You're wearing armor, I'm wielding Jubei.

I'd call that fair game, V."

Alex S, as she likes to be called, has a certain arrogance to her that makes her magnetic. Nimble as her swords.

Let the battle begin

//

#digitalart #art #red #OC #drawing #anime

Alex's design iterations have been mainly down to color. She used to rep the same exact colors from her father: purple jacket and (formerly) jeans with calf-high boots. Now she wears a red crop-jacket and pink-purple pants. This, combined with her tank top and hair really make her resemble the Lesbian flag, which is a very fitting result.

Her biker jacket is inner-lined with armor at the shoulders to make use of the padding and keep her in-theme with her... biker ronin look. She only wears one sided kusazuri because it helps her sleek, urban asymmetric look.

Of course, she wields two swords for story reasons anf because it distinguishes her from her father - literally being extra.

She embodies the term "sleek."

Alex's hair has always been based on her being the epitome of her parents - what they'd both be like if their lives went "right." Wild, messy, but still feminine and stylish. In a way, her hairstyle by itself represents Alex's style quite well.

The goggles are an addition made since she is a mechanic, so her eyes are quite important.

She's good with her hands.

The transparent version of this pic gives a better view of the trail effects and general neon-like aesthetic of how Jubei manifests herself. It's because of Alex she has a tangible, interactable form.

Imaginary friends? Nah.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Aug 24

THE COURIER

"You're a lousy shot, chief.
No need to go startin' a war you won't finish."

Wyatt's a... courier. A messenger for a gang. He travels atop his own steed on two wheels, finding meaning; his heart still belongs home,

To the moonlight facing west

//

#digitalart #cowboy #characterdesign

Wyatt's design has changed a lot aesthetically, but the idea of him being a cowboy with a duster, a bike, and a revolver was always there.

There is a ruggedness that overlaps with sincerity to his design that communicates he's both shady but also well-meaning. There are layers to him in both style and as a person that make him complex.

His green plaid shirt is there to definitely establish a link with Thomas as part of his extended family, but not a direct relative. He heavily contrasts with his friend Veraxis, whom is the white to his black.

All around, a design made to pair with hers, that's seen many tinkers and small changes to where he is now.

Wyatt's features are similar to Thomas', but with stylings that take after Ethan Malkovich, who acted as his father.

His stubble and grin suggest an unkempt nature, but groomed enough to feel intentional.

Quite the cool cat, if mysterious.

A transparent version of the image emphasizes the detailing and general painting of his clothes, equipment, and features. Every material can be felt by sight alone.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Aug 20

THE REAPER

"I'm not an angel... The streets are hell, and I'm another demon.
...I just hate my kind."

Katherine, more known and feared as Reaper. Her weaponry and vigilante persona serve as a constant reminder to her old mentor.

(Do) Fear the Reaper

//

#art #digitalart #emo #oc #death #drawing

Kat's design is very much rooted in 2000s scene fashion more leaning towards emo. Her theme of death is layered, as it is the character's vision of the Reaper communicated through my visual choices.

Her hoodie and jeans combo keeps her angsty and grounded - anyone could be the Reaper. Her inner red shirt and checkered belt shows creativity that she's hiding under her own trauma.

Of course, the modified hockey mask painted over to resemble a simplified, cat-eyed skull. This aspect of her design, her hairstyle, and general fashion have always been part of her - but the red highlights on her hair were a later addition that really caps off the design.

She feels like a grungy take on death - while still being a hurt woman who wants to protect other women.

Finally, her scythe. She borrowed it from Death itself. Shaped to feel similar to Thomas' Stained Union.

Kat's mask has LEDs with eyetrackers to make what she's looking at obvious. This modification was made by Ethan Malkovich as he found her quite dangerous. At first she despised the change, but it grew on her. Makes her cattish gaze intimidating and stylish.

Also, the black lenses were just spooky.
Too spooky.

The Harvester is Death's scythe, the head of it shaped like a demon's skull, but fitted to work as a scythe-head. Its shapes and jags help make it feel like it was of high-standing, as in made for use by the elite, but also has an otherworldly quality to it.

Unlike the Abaddon, this doesn't steal souls.

Death is only a guide, nothing more.

A transparent version showcasing the silhouette of everything. Kat's knife and scythe also works to show her affinity for blades.

Take caution.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Aug 17

THE CHOSEN ONE

"If my sword bathed in their blood was made stronger... I will be too.

Once I get the hell out of here."

Thomas McLinter, put in a situation with no victor - but still, he rises to the occasion.

A Dark Horse against all odds.

//

#art #digitalart #characterdesign #fantasy #comics

Thomas' design has seen the most work done throughout the years. He's the anchor of the design philosophy in Hersteller, as the first major character to form part of it. His colors indicate that he's amateur, as his main color, green, implies inexperience in an organic way.

How he wields his sword, the armor he wears, and his clothing come together to make both the ultimate protagonist while also communicating his potential without making him either too strong or too weak looking.

In essence, T's design encompasses my thought process when designing characters.

The design of his armor is meant to showcase his mixed ancestry. It combines the shapes and construction of Regalian designs while coating them in the bold blacks and golds of Luxumbran armor.

Without him, there would be no others.

Thomas' face and hair also underwent a lot of changes. The swept feathered look he has today is definitive. Has a lot of "cool" while keeping him grounded and young. Nothing about it says "pretentious," nor "unkempt."

Lots of dualities with him. Old and new. Determined and scared. Armored and uncovered.

The transparent version really showcases his rendering and his equipment. Quite crisp, even for a novice thrown into such a chaotic situation.

Godspeed.

Finally, this illustration showcasing T wielding the Abaddon, a sword owned by none other than the Devil Lucifer himself.

Down in hell, he has no choice but to become his enemy to succeed.

This is the last tear you ever shed, Thomas,

for Devils never cry.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Aug 11

THE GUN-G-NEER

"I know their make, their caliber, their effective range...

...You bastards won't take T and Wyatt too."

Ethan Malkovich, eccentric gunsmith with a shrouded past beyond being a lazy genius with contracts from the Luxumbran Military.

//

#digitalart #art #conceptart #oc #drawing

Ethan's design has seen some change from its inception. Originally he was more geeky in his getup, but his inspirations kept him as some sort of assassin. Now however, he's a smart weapons-maker who fell into a deep depression after losing his best friend metaphorically - he has deep anger stemming from this, and as such has prepared on the off chance he goes postal.

Well, that happened when said friend passed away. Now he puts his smarts to use beyond his work once more - seeking Mark's next of kin.

His SWAT getup used to be lighter in tone, but the dark blue really accentuates his red hair - that and it sets him apart from the engineer persona that's "him;" the SWAT officer getup is his postal self.

Ethan's weapon choices are focused on armor piercing - he doesn't want explicit stopping power more than he wants an assured effective hit.

The Five-SeveN sidearm is his favorite - he didn't invent it, but he was friends with the man who did.

Ethan's "angry state" is years upon years of stress coming out in a huge lash-out.

At least he points the gun away from us. And himself.

The transparent version of the image showcases his weaponry a bit better. It also lets the dynamism sink in, as the shapes can be focused on separate from the background.

Good trigger discipline.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Aug 4

THE CONDUIT

"There was a time and place I needed her.
And that time is gone."

Riley Bellerose, known for his seemingly supernatural abilities.

Even without guidance he has managed to figure out quite a bit about his own affinity with Lightning.

//

#digitalart #oc #comics #art #conceptart #magic

Riley's design is pretty much perfect. Since his first iteration, he's had the cool red jacket with the blue shoulders and accents. To me this not only symbolizes his rather hard-to-miss nature, looking the way he does, but it also makes his conflict clear.

His family's color is purple, but he feels like his mother failed him. He splits the red from the blue, as if wrestling with himself about his identity. Is he his mother's child? Or is he cursed with abilities no mortal should have - at least not without guidance.

Hard question to answer.

The color of his lightning is to show his "figure it out myself" aspect to his abilities, as he is using Lightning and THEN applying the Soul, instead of having it be mixed. Things a trained sorcerer would know how to fix.

Riley's glasses were bought by his mother - it is the only gift of hers he's received in many years. There is a reason to her disappearance, but it is still quite a sore spot for Riley.

However, for how much he says he doesn't care... He is still wearing this pair. And takes care of it like a precious item.

Maybe deep down, he still holds on to hope.

Transparent image. It really showcases the effects and materials of his clothes and armor.

Which was a hand-me-down from his grandmother, who his mother obviously kept.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Jul 28

THE MARAUDER

"This blade does a bit more than glow in the dark... Let me show you what we can do."

William Catfrey. Cool, suave, and able to kick ass before rogues react.

He wields a possessed sword named Jubei, carrying out her dying will;
Judge, jury, and executor.

//

#art #oc #digitalart

William's design is simple - a guy in professional clothes who has samurai armor strapped over it. He is clad in more secondary colors, which contrast Thomas' primary color scheme.

His design is entirely based on being one half of a duality. Professional, samurai, suave, mature.

Jubei, William's sword and teacher, manifests herself as a neon-like red ghost, an energy that also coats the blade when the two are in sync. He embodies the Urban Fantasy aspect of the story part he participates in, with the modern clothes and neon-themed powers.

Kind of like a superhero mixed with a fantasy protagonist.

William's face and hair have always been like this - from the moment of his initial ideation, the parted hairstyle and suave facial hair help evoke the imagery of the competent, confident swordsman who even without Jubei could probably get stuff done.

In a way, he's reminiscent of the character Phil Winnick from the Hangover series of movies, but much less slimy.

Very stylish, indeed.

Without the background, the image remains striking. It also allows for a better look at the sword's red streaks. In essence, this, and the rest of the images in this set, were based on the character portrait styles of Capcom Vs. SNK 2.

I wanted each to feel like a character select portrait - and William is a tough act to follow in that regard.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Jul 22

THE ALTERNATIVE

"What do you say, hot stuff - into it?"

Alix Brooke. Never let her catch you calling her Alison. Paradoxically confident and insecure.

She's quite the ambitious lyricist when given the chance.

Let her hear you de-politicize her rhyme.

//

#digitalart #art #punk #characterdesign

Alix's design has its bases on a couple of things. Ever since I first gave her form, I knew I wanted someone angular, alternative, and slightly sardonic.

Daria Morgendorffer from Daria was a starting point, mentally. The glasses and the beady eyes were on my mind when I first drafted her up. Also, a completely undeniable influence is Lynette Guycott from Scott Pilgrim, except Alix is a bassist, not a drummer.

Alix's fashion is very intricate and rooted in alternative emo aesthetics. Bright, but still having that edge. Not quite scene or mall goth. Very grounded in feeling bold and daring without being melodramatic.

Alix's two-tone hair was a test I did to make her more visually interesting initially. I was pleasantly surprised at how not-terrible the electric blue looked against her natural brown hair.

Her shades are also a center point of the design. Really sort of also takes after Vinyl Scratch from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Jul 14

ERI LINDOLF, BEHEMOTH

"I'll show you what it means to get the horns. It's nothin' personal, you're just in my labyrinth, babe."

Eri, codenamed Behemoth. She wields a naginata & is trained in blacksmithing. She's got groupies.

She's the real deal, no LARP here.

//

#digitalart #oc #armor #design

Eri's design has changed very slightly through her iterations. She's always meant to be a cockier version of her mother - one who was never insecure about anything regarding her physical ability and skills. In fact, she borders on arrogant on a lot of her feats, which has led to some viewing her as a meathead.

However, she's very passionate - a detail that's noticeable by the fact the armor she wears, made by her, falls in line with the team's aesthetics even if she doesn't agree fully with the direction its heading in.

Design-wise, the tasteful asymmetry shows her eye for detail, as she's covered thickest where it matters most. The feathers, belts, scarves, and coats for the Ravens were additions made to give them more identity and mystique.

Eri's love life is another matter entirely. Not unlucky. Not unable to score whenever she wants.

But she hates the L word.

Eri's face and hair take after her mother Sekai, while her eye color and eye for detail come from her other mother, Emily. Her scrappiness is shown by the bandaids on her nose and cheek. Never a stranger to getting rough, in every sense.

I suppose it comes in the family to heavily look like one of the parents.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Jul 10

Thank you!
This was one of my most personally anticipated ideas and I'm glad it turned out as good as it did.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Jul 10

SONIC REDUCER

A miscreant, rebellious super-terrorist whom grew estranged from his family but their ability with the skateboard and their ideals have gained him quite a good amount of fans.

He'll be a pharaoh soon.

SoNic ReDucer ain't no loser.

//

#digitalart #comics #art #sketch #oc #super

SoNic ReDucer's design was based on the idea of a punk riot policeman. His namesake comes from a song of the same name, but more specifically a cover of it by Saves the Day; part of the Tony Hawk's American Wasteland soundtrack.

His design takes cues from SWAT officers, skaters, and riot policemen. Of course, his technology is a standout design detail.

His weapons are called: Search and Destroy, and Shock and Awe. They are two pairs of gauntlets which do different things - all sound related.

- Search is a radar
- Destroy is a wave of sound
- Shock is Flashbang grenades
- Awe is Stun grenades

All in all, he's a very cool design that I feel passed all of the requirements with flying colors.

SoNic ReDucer's helmet is one of the highlights of this design.

An empty riot visor could've been an effective design detail, but adding an audio visualizer-like eye design hones in on the theme and gives him quite a unique identity.

That and the stickers and other branding help make the overall aesthetic feel more tactile and genuine.

Besides, the facemask underneath with the shiteating grin is the cherry on top.

SoNic ReDucer but in just flat colors. This allows one to get a better view on all of the small but significant detailing that went into his creation.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Jul 5

ARCHANGELO

"Nah, I'm good. Zweis are lighter than you'd think anyway, Styxy."

Evelyn Hellgeist.

Codenamed Asmodeus, she's got a vibe to her that she's too cool to be where she is - but she just has a laidback, lax attitude.

Got one hell of an arm, too.

//

#digitalart #art #goth #character #oc

Evelyn's design is partially based on Magik. I found her design in Marvel Rivals quite compelling, and wanted to try my hand at having someone with a similar design philosophy.

Evelyn is definitely a nerd, but she's a cool nerd. The type to wear leather cropped jackets and train in a sport like Deathblow. She takes her LARPing quite seriously.

With this piece I also believe I've become well acquainted with Luxumbran armor shading with my new rendering style, which is quite a milestone. This type of armor is quite complicated.

Evelyn's headpiece, though subtle, is a key part of her design. I wanted to capture Magik while still retaining part of my own style into it - so I turned the "horns" into a tiara - something that adds to her knight look by giving it an air or regal rebellion.

That and the fingerless gloves, too.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Jul 1

THE VICTIM

"When I woke up, it was all fire.
My mother was holding me. She fell silent."

Their cruelty knew no limits - and so the manor burned to the ground.
Loveless child; born still. Lay your weary head down.

No one will ever remember you were here

//

#digitalart #conceptart #steampunk #oc

A noble child suspected of something she wasn't at fault for. Her only crime was being born in an unfair world. Such tragedy forms a person. Some block it out of their memory, their mind feigning ignorance though it bears the scars.

Others keep the wound fresh, reopening it with every recall. Of a night where the aristocracy of Relicta punished a young girl and her family.

Young child Amber's defining event was always a fascinsting idea to me. I wanted to portray the tragedy but also the beautiful defiance of walking free from the inferno. Though she lost her family, they gave their life to ensure she had hers.

And she would live on, finding a purpose.

A detail kept was her left arm being affected by the fire. Surely an omen of her future - what society would do to her.

But she faces the storm. On and on.

Never laying down to die.

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Molinnaire @molinnaire.bsky.social · Jun 24

THE HUNTER

"We are all victim of this plague. Born with a condition that determines our future.

A bloodborne disease called pedigree."

A motivation like the need to protect can help us power through to the bitter end.

What do you want for your last words?

//

#digitalart #art #steampunk #oc

Amber Grant's design is brought back to basics and perfected. Her top hat, arm, harpoon launcher, and color scheme come together to give her both a roguish and an elegant design - like what she is, a fallen noblewoman.

This illustration was given form thanks to HEALTH's DSM-V. The sheer hopelessness at the end of the song gave me this visual that I felt compelled to illustrate.

The oppressive reds of the sunset frame Amber's blue. Like a display of her humanity pushing through the harsh environment she's in.

Though she was driven to become a monster, it merely coats her. Inside, she's who she's always been.

Her top hat is the only thing she has left from her family. Everything else was lost in the fire. A memory that is best left as a nightmare.

A thing that never happened - a night that never came to be.

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