However, this time, I'm not creating another piece for Holozing. Instead, I'm fulfilling my self-promise to create weekly art for Splinterlands. Last week, I only managed to participate in the social media challenge, but now I'm excited to share my entry for the weekly art contest. Allow me to introduce Nerisaa Tridawn, one of the most muscular warriors in all of Splinterlands. She can defeat you either with her enchanted trident or a direct blow to the jaw—your choice. Either way, you'll end up unconscious.

_Reference

I've focused on two essential aspects of my art: starting with the sketch (the usual) and establishing a dynamic pose for the character (the essential). I already had in mind that there would be plenty of water in the composition, but Nerissa is the true focal point.

Nerissa's lore clearly states that she was "born and raised by the ocean," so her skin should be deeply bronzed. I chose a caramel color for her skin and used it to emphasize her well-defined muscles. Honestly, I felt a bit envious—I sometimes take reference photos of myself, but my muscles aren't quite as impressive as Nerissa's!

As I neared the end of the painting, I encountered a stumbling block—a misfit arm. The arm holding the trident didn't align well with the character; it looked too thin and poorly positioned. So, I widened Nerissa's back slightly and sketched an alternative arm position that worked better. The catch was that the correct pose was partially hidden by her hair. Rather than undoing the well-executed hair, I took a risk and left the arm somewhat obscured. But fear not—I compensated with magic! I added a beautiful glow to the trident, ensuring it would capture the viewer's attention.

I will leave you a GIF with the whole process on it, so you can better appreciate the illustration process.