[Riot 2017 Art Contest]- Leona - Iron Maiden
polycounter lvl 3
Hi everyone! I'm Marie, I participated in 2014 and it was an amazing experience so I just had to join again this year! 
I'm a really big fan of Leona and first I wanted to go with her Valkyrie skin, which is the first Leona skin I ever bought and the one I still play today! (equally with Iron Solari!)
But in the end I was like "humm why don't make my own Valkyrie themed skin?" :O
So I chose to make her a skin with... everything I like about women in armor basically. But more seriously, I wanted to go for some kind of "medieval valkyrie". I think this theme fits well with Leona as a leader in battle and as a symbol of light and hope, she would be like a divine figure that soldiers look up to during the battle (a little bit like Gandalf during the helm's deep battle ahah).
So for the moodboard I went with medieval references like Joan of Arc and jousting knights, Valkyries' painting but also with some fantasy armors that I love (I'm a sucker for JRPG/anime heavy armor designs in general so bare with me xD).
So with all of that in mind, I began thumbnails and mixed them together, exploring some styles/shapes. For exemple the 1 is more "vikingish" with the fur and leather straps etc. But I knew I wanted something High fantasy, with mainly metal to remind of medieval knights.
Then I chose my favorite which was C and I did some tests by painting on a Leona ingame model, with the right angle view. I tweaked some things (taking number 4 helmet, bringing number 3 tabard) and tested colors here.
Then I did a refined drawing of this design, knowing that for the splash art I needed more interesting details to paint while staying true to the ingame/readable character. I also tweaked the design again by adding more on the tabard and by reworking the belt area. I also think the feathers on her helmet will be magical and the holes inside her visor will let some blue magic shines through.
I also thought that Fx during her E could be golden wings appearing in her back, like she's flying through the battlefield to rescue or smash you. Maybe I'll do a mock up of this if I have the time because it could be cool to add it in the splash eventually.
Here are the designs for her weapons, I still don't have chosen which one I'll take but I like shield B and E.
Same for her sword that I changed into a Lance to remind of medieval joust and Valkyrie's lances. I also thought that it could be fun to see her charge in with this lance.
Sorry for posting all of these in one go but I didn't managed to sit and clean everything until this week end! Don't hesitate to give your opinions and advices, it will be a great help!
I'm a really big fan of Leona and first I wanted to go with her Valkyrie skin, which is the first Leona skin I ever bought and the one I still play today! (equally with Iron Solari!)
But in the end I was like "humm why don't make my own Valkyrie themed skin?" :O
So I chose to make her a skin with... everything I like about women in armor basically. But more seriously, I wanted to go for some kind of "medieval valkyrie". I think this theme fits well with Leona as a leader in battle and as a symbol of light and hope, she would be like a divine figure that soldiers look up to during the battle (a little bit like Gandalf during the helm's deep battle ahah).
So for the moodboard I went with medieval references like Joan of Arc and jousting knights, Valkyries' painting but also with some fantasy armors that I love (I'm a sucker for JRPG/anime heavy armor designs in general so bare with me xD).
So with all of that in mind, I began thumbnails and mixed them together, exploring some styles/shapes. For exemple the 1 is more "vikingish" with the fur and leather straps etc. But I knew I wanted something High fantasy, with mainly metal to remind of medieval knights.
Then I chose my favorite which was C and I did some tests by painting on a Leona ingame model, with the right angle view. I tweaked some things (taking number 4 helmet, bringing number 3 tabard) and tested colors here.
Then I did a refined drawing of this design, knowing that for the splash art I needed more interesting details to paint while staying true to the ingame/readable character. I also tweaked the design again by adding more on the tabard and by reworking the belt area. I also think the feathers on her helmet will be magical and the holes inside her visor will let some blue magic shines through.
I also thought that Fx during her E could be golden wings appearing in her back, like she's flying through the battlefield to rescue or smash you. Maybe I'll do a mock up of this if I have the time because it could be cool to add it in the splash eventually.
Here are the designs for her weapons, I still don't have chosen which one I'll take but I like shield B and E.
Same for her sword that I changed into a Lance to remind of medieval joust and Valkyrie's lances. I also thought that it could be fun to see her charge in with this lance.
Sorry for posting all of these in one go but I didn't managed to sit and clean everything until this week end! Don't hesitate to give your opinions and advices, it will be a great help!
Replies
For the sword I would say that A and D , and I suggest to add that little piece of loth to the handle in the final result. . aaaand for the Shield I like hm... G, and some details of the C, because they resemble that "feathers" , similar to the head piece of the armor. I imagine G could have a FX similar to "light wings spreading" from the shield core, when you use W.
Totally in love with Leo but sadly she has no really good skins (apart of Project she only has basic vfx and project is just yellow..)
I like your ideas btw how about making her blade not out of iron? The blade could be like crystal (a bit transparent) blue. You draw that already as the whole sword (I know its just a placeholder but that actually gave me the idea) as else she'd turn out to be way too grey tbh (and she already has Iron Solari, Defender and Project which are mainly grey).
I love your models G & H, shields E, F & B, Swords A, C, D & H
for me:
armor: I personnaly think you picked a nice fit (even if i prefer the 3rd helmet)
shield: E
Lance: lave the D (a charge animation would be sweet with that ^^)
keep up the good work
its really gorgeous, my favourite work in all the entrances - really, good luck(again))!
In weapon i like F
And in Shield B - because they will look awesome without details - as low poly need. Love their silhouettes
RedSinistra : You're right, I will definitively add a piece of cloth on the design I'll chose, I like flowy things and it will add some colors!
DawnHeart : I think the sword will be in metal and another material to bring some variations, maybe white wood or something. Maybe I'll add some gold here too + a blue piece of cloth
Maccam : thank you mate
MaoAkari : Thank you sooo much Maokari! I'm so glad to find you here again too, your advices were gold for me in 2014!! I wish you the best of luck for this year!!
Silvarspark: Thank you SIlverspark! I'll try to go all out for the angelic/valkyrie vibe in the splash so I'm glad you find it cool
The thumbnails
1 & 2 are outside of the battlefield.
1. She is entering a kind of cathedral/sacred place after a glorious victory (white flags , flower petals descending etc) .
2. She is taking an oath, it's her knighting.
3/4 & 5 are more "during a battle"
3. Charging in frontline, fighting like 100 soldiers.
4. She rushed in to save a fallen soldier
5. Reviewing the troups, leading the battle, giving them hope and heart.
I personnally like the mood of 1 & 2 but I have hard time choosing ><
Don't hesitate to give your opinion, it will be very welcome!
also i love 2 and 4 the most : because of lighting contrast, story that they tells
and im inloved when riot team makes static characters and dynamic vfx - and 2,4 looks exactly that way
And to be honest I would totally buy a skin with that splash hahahaha
But my faves are 1 and 5 I think... maybe 4 too. Idk they all look rly nice!
I'd have gone for 1 3 or 5,
I think my fav is the 1st because it kinda gives off a "paladin of light and peace" vibe (something like "I shall lead them to glory !" before a battle). (you did say it was after the battle but to me, it feels like she's about to go fight)
The 3rd shows the Valkyrie side ("I'LL FIGHT AN ARMY IF NEEDED"), but is probably more challenging to draw and is more brutal for the theme, but it could look really awesome.
5th feels more like an "accomplished deed" (and so light won again. ez gg guys !), If you pick this one, I'd have put Leona a bit more to the left of the composition tho.
For some reason the 4th makes me think of Mercy XD
Good luuuck
Number 3 was also a fav of mine but ultimately I felt like it wasn't the better story wise, like it could be any of Leona skin or any champion that is a warrior (I can really imagine a Darius or a Garen or a Jarvan being in the exact same pose and it would work fine I guess). In the meantime, in number 2 I feel that there is something a little bit more unique to Leona and this skin in particular. If it doesn't work during the prep phases, I think I will fall back on number 1
Good luck to all of you too!
I'll clean the background more tomorrow I think!
C&C are more than welcome!
Love it, rly. Her face emotion so beautiful - hope u will save this emotion at render stage (for me its must hard part)
I relate because emotions are a difficult part to paint (I also tend to lose it the more I render things out!) but I'll try my best to keep it genuine!
I hope you will win this time
Thank you @BenG! Good luck for your entrie!
@MaoAkari ahah! I hope you'll find time for your splash too! I really wish to see this harrowing illustration finished one day
Tho I think open hair wouldve been cooler as they are floating sadly her great hair gets always hidden / tied in her skins (except base which is just bae
@stanfunn I use the "hard corners" brush from Zedig brushpack! I don't think it's the best for lineart but it's not my specialty so, it does the job well ahah
@o_oleu it was my dream to hear mama Ru say that to me, thank you xD
@DawnHeart yeah it's a blonde Leo , I think it could suits her well