The name of this game was texture. I love adding texture to my work. It gives the piece so much feeling and emotions, it's hard to pass up.
The mission was to create a design that represented emergence for science book cover.
So my idea turned into putting two things together that represented fear and hope. For many people fear is commonly shown when a snake appears. Then hope is often thought of when looking at a flame, it can guide you through the night.
When choosing my reference images I wanted to have rich and deep colors to show the bond between the flame and snake.
Reference images of the snake and flame.
Main color palette used in the design.
To achieve the texture that I was looking for, I used the acrylic brush tool in procreate. I also used a variation of colors on different surfaces. Nothing is one solid color.
My first step was to place all the basic shapes and build up from there. Drawing a hand is tough but if you get all the sizes and shapes in the right place then you're on the right track.
Next was adding the background. I wanted this one flame to mirror a lot of luminosity in the space around it. So, I placed light in all of the spots where the light would reflect. This included the air around the match, fingertips, palm, and the snake.
After the light, it was time for intense shadowing. Since the surrounding area is practically pitch black I had to replicate the darkness to everything else. Most of the focused shadow went into the hand where it was pinched to hold the flame and under the hand. The rest went behind the snake's head because his face was blocking most of the light.
The shadows and light really helped keep unity and contrast with the foreground and background in this piece.
It was lovely to see it all come together at the end.
Video of full process.
In the end, I felt that the final piece was able to show how innocent a snake can appear. Just like people, snakes search for heat and light as much as we do. And with the soft lighting I applied to this, it all seems peaceful and warm. Harmony.
Final product
