SABER - Update 1 (Patreon)

Hi there! Here comes the first update on Saber. This will be the first character in line to design for my Fate Fan Servant project. You can check out full details of this project here, in case you missed it: https://www.patreon.com/posts/project-119933708

As a very brief introduction, this historical character is widely known as Scotland's national hero, and he was born around A.D. 1270. Little is known about his physical appearance, but there are some sources that describe him, such as Walter Bower did in the 14th century, that goes (and I quote): "He was a tall man with the body of a giant, cheerful in appearance with agreeable features, broad-shouldered and big-boned…pleasing in appearance but with a wild look…with strong arms and legs, a most spirited fighting-man, with all his limbs very strong and firm."

My Art process:

Based on that, and some monuments and artistic renderings that were based off a 18th century sketch, it gave me an idea of how I could portray him and start working. It's worth mentioning that I avoided the contemporary Hollywood depiction, due to its inaccuracy and inconsistencies.

My approach for designing each character will be by starting with some portraits that help me "click" with the character in question, and then proceed to sketch an overall design that is more or less "accurate" based on the references that I have in hand, and after that, I will "evolve" that design by exaggerating some features and adding fantasy elements.

If you're familiar with the Fate franchise, you'll know at times they take too many liberties when it comes to depictions of the Servants. I might take some liberties too, but I want to find a balance between something that is very fantasy-like and a design that can be recognizable as the character I'm portraying.

What is shown in the pictures posted is just my first approach. I still need to develop the design more and after I find something I'm corfortable with and that looks cool enough, I'll do some color tests and then will start rendering the final artwork.

I'll be sharing more of my process in the next update. Please look forward to it, and thanks for reading! :)