The Birth Of A Mythical Warrior
c. keo // October 12, 2021 // creative process
Covid is fading out here, and I’d just opened my art studio. I rent this place with a friend, who’s running a kun khmer gym downstairs. A new place means white walls, perfect for murals.
Since this one will go in the gym area, I want to create something related to martial arts. My immediate thought goes to the iconic warrior ape Hanuman. I’m not looking to re-use the classic aesthetics, but to create my own. This is a start for a series to come.
Read on to get an insight on my creative process.
UNDERSTANDING ANATOMY
My creative process is quite technical. I usually start with understanding the anatomical features, and ask questions such as:
– How do muscles look like in certain positions?
– What shape is the skeleton?
– What stance should the character be in?
With more knowledge, I can start adjusting elements to my desire, with less risk of it looking too unnatural.
ITERATION IS KEY
After knowing better what I’m looking for, I start sketching. Fast, and dynamic, with long strokes. I need a few iterations to choose the best one.
When I’m satisfied with some sketches, I’ll add more volume by tracing the contours, and by filling up the forms that constructs the figure. I can now make it more alive by imagining how light would fall on the different forms. I work in greyscale during this process, and move to color with the next step.
The sketches in each step are not set in stone, to improve your work it is necessary to review previous steps. A creative process is iterative and not linear.
During the coloring process, I’ll try out different colors to get the result I like.
THE INTENTION OF A LINE
I spend quite a bit of time sketching and they are often better than the end result. More dynamic and loose.
Putting a line on paper is making your inner world visible. You can see with what intention it was set. Is it hesitant or loose? It is a direct result of your energy.
The moment I have to finalize a work of art, something happens in my head. I put unnecessary pressure on myself, which can make the result seem too forceful. Most artists can relate to this.
The key is to deliver your end result as if it was one of your sketches, and even if you feel it is unfinished, it is part of the process for the next one.
