Michael Howe
Illustrator & Character Artist
Fingolfin Before Morgoth
Was commissioned to do a fantasy piece. Chose to do a depiction of the elf king Fingolfin fighting the Dark Lord Morgoth, from The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien.
Final Image
First sketches, trying to figure out exactly how to tell this story. Also did one of different story in case she wanted something else.
Scanned and added more obvious tone to show the thumbnails to the client. She picked number 1 (which is also the one I wanted, yay!)
Super rough color test/study.
In process on grayscale painting.
Close to finished on the grayscale.
Beginning to add the colors.
Further in the colors. Also, at one point, I tried working in Morgoth's giant hand holding his hammer handle, but decided it was too awkward.
Detail shot 1
Detail shot 2