The Making Of 'The Demon Hunter'
Jae-seung Cho is currently working for a VR game company called 'Skonec Entertainment' in Korea as a junior concept artist. He's participated in making 'Mortal Blitz (PSVR)' and various VR games. Influenced by sci-fi games like 'Heavy Gear' and 'Mech Warrior' he's been crazy about SF since he was a little boy. Although, the Korean game industry prefers fantasy genres rather than Sci-fi genres. Cho's specialty is drawing machines and robots.
Recently, his interest has been mixing the characteristics of futuristic, modern, and traditional things much like 'So seo-noh'. Here is a step by step of the creation of his piece, "The Demon Hunter."
Getting Started
First, I organized the character's keywords. When an image came up I started to draw thumbnails.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/628/content_7809a82108.jpg)
Unfortunately, I realized that these look too similar to 'that character'. So I tried another silhouette.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/629/content_54c4286314.jpg)
I then tried to make it a bit closer to the image of the hunter.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/630/content_776ad8171c.jpg)
Now I get to choose which looks best.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/631/content_2b009e1825.jpg)
References
Next I collect references to enable the combination of ancient Asian and European styles, medieval and modern styles.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/632/content_d7fef0ad7f.jpg)
This is variation works of the front view.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/633/content_2250be688a.jpg)
I gather references for the backpack gear design.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/634/content_85eeb58ea7.jpg)
I, then design back view and backpack gear with reference to the front view.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/635/content_ca4f5d50dd.jpg)
Design
Next I take the following steps:
1. I turned the black rough sketch to white for coloring.
2. Draw the face details for check the overall looks.
3. It wasn't used for the final, but I put a gas mask and head gear on the character.
4. Painting a color roughly in the multiply mode. After trying different colors I determine the first one looks fine.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/636/content_b99d05271d.jpg)
I colored the back view in the same way. I also changed backpack's bullet crates shape because of it long vertical shape makes an odd silhouette.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/637/content_74cbc47563.jpg)
Weapon Design
The character finds and uses modern weapons in the fantasy world, so the appearance of the weapon is almost exactly the same as the modern weapon.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/638/content_54fe83d9ad.jpg)
I place the images according to the final submission specification.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/639/content_8e30b8c460.jpg)
Sketch
I create detail sketch based on rough images and changed her hairstyle.
I draw all the parts in as many separate layers as possible. (It is a personal habit that has occurred while working.)
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/640/content_219294ec70.jpg)
I drew the parts considering the usability of the backpack and its moving parts.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/641/content_681057900b.jpg)
I do the same work in the front view.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/642/content_2b408e81c1.jpg)
I refined the sketch of weapons neatly adding details.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/643/content_7e5c7b699f.jpg)
Now to assemble the divided parts and plan coloring.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/644/content_78c2f0aceb.jpg)
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/645/content_8bb3917737.jpg)
Coloring
I begin the coloring based on the first rough sketch.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/646/content_2cf987cd2e.jpg)
Then arrange the concept sheet for final submission and add the old paper texture on background to make an antique atmosphere.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/647/content_e18cb9f1e3.jpg)
The hard-drawn backpack structure was not expressed correctly, so I changed the layout of the concept sheet a little bit.
Then we wrap up the text and finish the concept sheet.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/648/content_662cd94cdf.jpg)
Details
This is a composition thumbnail for an illustration. Keyword is 'Power Overwhelming'. I chose D.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/649/content_d2a506d8c4.jpg)
I drew a guideline on the thumbnail image to express perspective and to place monsters and props on the background. I referred to the Concept Sheet that I drew earlier and drew the character roughly then express the Value.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/650/content_e8e06da03f.jpg)
I changed the head to fit the modified concept sheet and begin detail work.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/651/content_ec430aa8fc.jpg)
I drew the monsters that are standing in a background and the hand of the monster that is shot in a character.
I then added muzzle flame effects and background details.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/652/content_049fc1d5c9.jpg)
More Coloring
To start coloring I use layer modes such as multiply and overlay appropriately to help make it closer the originally planned image.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/653/content_cbc410391f.jpg)
I added motion blur to the guns to emphasize dynamic atmosphere. However, I thought it's a slightly lacking effect. So I added rain and changed the material and air to match it.
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/654/content_0f9c08dbc4.jpg)
Final
I adjust the curve to correct the color and finish. Thank you very much :)
![](https://d27nqrvkk22y65.cloudfront.net/redactor2_rails/image/data/655/content_eff59b03eb.jpg)
Follow Jae-Seung on Facebook.