Tag: Anko Xelkova

May Sketch A Day Week 3 – Tieflings Galore!

This week, my muse followed my Dungeons & Dragons character, Anko, down the inspiration rabbithole this time!  I have a lot of behind-the-scenes deadline to meet this week, which meant an ‘easy’ week where I didn’t have to think too much, just have pure fun exploring this character who’s already fairly established in my brain.

It’s felt good to define Anko even more thoroughly, since I’ve been playing her for years now!  She’s had a really satisfying arc from being a timid young Tiefling girl to blossoming into a fully capable mage. She deserved more art than she’s gotten from me, honestly!

Day 14

This week’s journey began with gesture sketches and trying to discover what pose worked best for showing off Anko’s small demure horns for a formal concept chart.  I needed an angle that would show enough dimension in the spirals so that I could properly show off any danglies and decorations and ended up with a classical head turn.

My first horn decoration ideas were simple bejeweled tips and a studded cloth wrap inspired by how sacred cows are adorend in India.  Inspiration leads you to unexpected places sometimes!

Day 15

Some days are slower than others when you’re tired, but I managed a single variation with lots of braids and dainty filigree horn caps!  I love the way the braids wrapping around give a more elegant transition between hair and horn.

Day 16

I explored two concepts in mind, including flower garlands around the horns and gold-dusted or painted horns.  I was surprised how many colors this character looks good in and how much I loved the flowers!  They were my favorite look until the next set came along.  Even if I don’t go with them, I think if I ever have a need to depict Anko in a marriage or spring ceremony that the flowers would be perfect!

Day 17

A productive few days! I honestly thought I was done with concepts, but then I got the idea to combine my previous day’s concepts into a new variations, plus try the cloth wraps, but with chain taking the shape of the wraps.  I also loved the long elegant shapes of the dangling flowers I found while reference hunting and had to try them on horns!

Day 18

I needed another easy day and laying in flat colors on Anko’s dice arrangement from last week obliged!  Color brings all the golden goodness of baked goods to life, doesn’t it?

Day 20

After all this concepting, I wanted to work up one of my fave designs into a more fleshed out sketch!  The result is this lovely little portrait which was also great gesture and anatomy practice.  I had a little help from Senshistock with the pose as well!  Highly recommend her awesome stock for idea-gathering.

Concept Compilation

I’m not sure I made it any easier for myself to choose a formal look for Anko because they all have something I like about them!  Which ones did you guys like best?

Did you draw anything for May Sketch A Day this week? Share your favorite in comments so I can see and enjoy it too!  Or if not, let me know which of my sketches you enjoyed best.

More soon!  I’ve been working on a collection of enamel pin design sketches I’m so excited to share once I have them in a more finished spot!

– Ang

D&D Portrait – Anko Xelkova

And now for something completely different!  I thought you all might enjoy seeing a character portrait I completed over Thanksgiving break.  With all of the craziness of this year, playing Dungeons & Dragons with my friends every other weekend has been an important escape for my husband and I!

My husband is the Dungeon Master of our merry little band, while I play this gal, a Tiefling Warlock of the Fiend.  Anko grew up in a Tiefling ghetto where many of her race consider it taboo to practice magic, as their mage ancestors once dabbled with fiends, resulting in their Tiefling ‘abomination’.  

That was never enough for Anko, who was always curious about how magic could improve the lives of her and her loved ones.  She also enjoys baking and helps her family with their small bakery to keep their poor neighborhood fed.  Her adventures with the party have helped her escape her fear of racism and gain confidence as a fledgling mage (now a level 20 through their epic world-saving adventures!).

Anko has been a delight to play as I’ve grown with her as she’s matured into a stronger person. It gives me hope I can do the same for myself in real life and bring happiness and comfort to others as well the way she does!

I drew the original sketch back in January and never got around to finishing it till now.

And here’s a detail shot so we can appreciate those freckles!

I know this isn’t like the other art I share here, but I figured you all might enjoy it anyways!  I’ve also shared more in-depth WIPs over on my Patreon Discord server, which all Patrons should have access to.

Everyone needs something that refreshes their creative well and tabletop RPG’s have been that therapy for me since I was a high school kid.

Do you guys play games?  Which ones?  What kind of character do you play?  If not, what’s your creative outlet?  Feel free to geek out with me!  I love to hear about this kind of stuff.

PS.

Are you a $5+ Patron?  Do you want a PSD file of this drawing to study?  Let me know in comments and I can share it for you guys, but only if there’s actually some demand for it.