CHAOS LACKEY (juggler version) // Splinterlands art contest (315)

Finally, I’ve completed my entry for the Splinterlands art contest. I’ve been sharing updates about my progress since yesterday, and now that it’s done, I can drop it as today’s final post.

For this entry, I'm featuring the Chaos Lackey as my subject.

The Chaos Lackey is a common neutral monster from the Rebellion edition, costing 4 mana, suitable for lower-level battles due to its single ranged attack, but less effective in higher leagues unless used strategically for its Dispel and True Strike abilities to counter enemy buffs.

Hmm, what's with the juggler persona of Chaos Lackey? It was just a playful idea I had when I saw the reference image, where he's tossing metal balls with sharp thorns. So, I gave it a fun, playful twist to add some humor to the design, lol.

Let me show you my work process for this piece.

Sketching & line work.

WIP 1	WIP 2	WIP 3

Here's the complete linework.

Coloring!

WIP 4	WIP 5	WIP 6

Lighting & shadow study.

Shading!

WIP 7	WIP 8	WIP 9

Highlights!

WIP 10	WIP 11	WIP 12

Lastly, the background work!

I find that an effective way to add depth to artwork is by creating contrast with shading and highlights. In my previous works, I tended to make it less pronounced, resulting in a less appealing piece. This time, I made sure to use bolder contrasts, and I hope it worked better.

Another change I made for this piece is blurring the background. As a result, the focus is directed toward the main subject, minimizing attention on the background. I think it’s an effective way to add more elements to the scene without distracting from the subject, which in turn makes the subject stand out even more.

To wrap up, this piece has allowed me to experiment with new techniques, like bold contrasts and background blurring, which I believe enhanced the overall composition. The playful interpretation of Chaos Lackey as a juggler added a fun twist to the design, bringing out more character. I’m excited to continue exploring and improving my art in future work, and I hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did creating it!