Couple Descending a Staircase (Patreon)

Classic illustration, but make it Final Fantasy XIV! 

I decided to get back into my work flow with a style study of one of my favourite artists, J.C. Leyendecker. I borrowed his piece Couple Descending a Staircase, an editorial illustration from his work on Arrow Collars & Shirts advertising. (See the original above!) Leyendecker was a master of oils, using bold paint strokes and colour to create one of the most distinctive styles of the 20th century. 

I can't oil paint, but I can do colour and light! 

I started off designing an outfit for my character Cyrus, who needed some fine military dress uniform for the shot. I pulled motifs from FFXIV and roman senatorial colours. His companion, Nelle, got a dress inspired by one by Thierry Mugler (worn by Demi Moore in the movie Indecent Proposal. 

This was a very fun exercise in soft brushes and gradient colour.