I began a somewhat personal project in creating fan art of a popular comic and mythical character, Thor. I have been a long time fan of the comic version since adolescence, and was pleased to tackle them in my own self-directed piece.

Here, Thor is shown in a more contemplative mood, looking over a remote mountain expanse. He is dressed in the classic outfit designed for his comicbook debut in the 1960's.

The Process

As he is often depicted in the midst of action, I wished to explore this other side of the figure. My original idea of placing him outside the halls of his home on Asgard was set aside as it didn't quite convey the mood I wished to cmmunicate. Instead, he is placed on a mountainous peak. He is shown in a sombre and inhospitable place to emphasise the isolation and to hint at his superhero abilities, but in a more passive manner.

Before adding details, I created a basic sketch that would establish Thor's form and the landmarks that would guide the rest of the drawing. From there, I would adjust and refine the illustration, finally creating the 'clean' line work. Colour would then follow.

As with previous projects, colouring was broken down to three stages. The flat colour, the shading and the highlights. This time around I added an extra step, adding snow and gusts of wind to express the loneliness, cold and isolation of the environment.