This is a story about a cool Egyptian cat sculpture (Patreon)

Hope your day is going well so far! If you've got a busy week ahead of you I stand in solidarity with ya because same. But we can get through it, one day at a time, don't despair! <3 Anyways, I've got a couple of fun pieces and a tutorial to share with you today. I saw this really cool picture on tumblr of an ancient Egyptian sculpture of a black cat with jewelry and I thought it was super rad. I mean, I love cats so it was kind of a no-brainer but also it was wearing jewelry!? Does it really get any cooler than that? I don't think so. 

I was so taken by that sculpture that I wanted to try designing my own version of it. I wanted to see what it could look like as a human and if I could create an interesting character out of it. I ended up making two characters, who I've decided are sisters named Halima and Nailah. (I design a lot of characters and never give them any stories...I should do something to change that >->....)

The dramatic lighting was a last minute touch, but I think it works! I really like how it adds a lot of grandeur and royalty to their characters, which is what I was going for. Want to know how I drew these pieces? Look no further because it's TUTORIAL TIME! :D /polite applause/

Step 1) Loose sketch

Alright y'all already know how this starts. Before I draw anything I always ALWAYS draw a loose sketch to determine the general positioning and movement of the subject. Nothing detailed at this stage, just some lines to get the the juices flowing and help our brains understand what's coming next. 

2) Sketch

Now we sketch the subject! I like to pay attention to big details at this point, like how the neck curves or the shape of the hair. I like to take into account the silhouette of the character and make sure it flows nicely. If it looks too clunky or cluttered, I work at it until it looks pleasing. Pay attention during this stage because the sketch is the foundation of the piece and sets the tone for the rest of the process! 

3) Flats

I like to flat with midtones because it gives you the most amount of leeway. You can work on it in two directions, either lightening or darkening it and I prefer that sort of flexibility. Take time to play around with colors at this stage to figure out what palette you're going for. If you don't get it on the first try, no worries (I rarely do), just keep changing it until it looks juuuust right. :D

4) Painting

At this point I merge all layers (sketch + flats) and start painting. I use multiply layers to add in shadows and bring more depth into the piece. I prefer working on one area at a time (ex: face first, hair next, etc.), because I like the control it allows me. Whereas we were working more generally in the previous steps and taking the entire piece into account, we can start focusing on smaller details and really fleshing them out. 

5) More painting!

Yay! Same steps from 4, just keep going with it! :D

6) Highlights

At this point I like to put in some highlights in to balance out all the shadows I've added. It helps to lift the piece and give it some life rather than feeling heavy and shrouded. I typically use luminosity and overlay layers to add highlights. Luminosity gives an intense shine while overlay provides a gentle wash of light. Play around with the two to achieve a look that suits you! :D

7) Final touches/rim lighting

Since I want the final lighting to look very dramatic, I have to put the rest of the piece in shadow. I throw a multiply layer on top to bring it down a few notches and add an overlay layer on top to give it some atmospheric lighting (left). I use a luminosity layer on the right to portray harsh direct light that adds some nice contrast and definition. 

And voiiiiila we are finished! ^^ Let me know whether or not this was helpful and if you could be any animal what would you be? ovo Comment down below and let me know! I'd be a cat for sure...I like to sleep....and I like food. Haha.

Thank you all so much for your support, I'm currently working on my merch plan for summer 2017 and I've got some fun ideas coming your way that I'm excited to share! ^^ Chat with you all soon~ <3

Much love,

Vicki