Working on the armour

Initially I wanted the wing design on the pauldron to be etched into the metal, but I decide that a three-dimensional form is the way to go. I also clean up the arms I sketched in previously, starting with two simple values to establish the form and further defining details as I move along.

Repeating design elements

I spend time working on the armour, introducing a simple design element of repeating grooves, which helps add some cohesion to the overall design. As I paint, I have the light sources as well as the surroundings in mind, which create reflections in the metal. However, I keep them quite abstract to avoid making it look too polished or chrome-like.