Red Pommel concepts

(apologies if you have to see this twice – for some reason, submitting certain files to DA puts them in my “scrapbook” even if I submit them to “featured”)

As part of an Artist of the Week interview, I was asked how I designed the character of Red Pommel for “Swordpony.” So, needing a break from my comic work, I threw together all of the concepts I did on my tablet.

(1) Red started out as a Canterlot Royal Guard, ye olde medieval style. This was one of the first things I doodled on my tablet, trying to get the hang of drawing onto a computer screen.

(2) I briefly experimented with the idea that Red was part of an elite cadre of warriors serving the Queen, and designed his armor to be similar to the armor of “Sven the Returned” from the comic “Northlanders.”

(3) At this point, I thought Red might be a simple footsoldier-turned-courier. Armor didn’t change much, but it got me to wondering – why would a pony wear LEATHER armor?

(4) This design ended up being the basis for the character of Silver Lance. Note the tail-mace and the jousting shield on his leg. This version of Red Pommel was a pompous knight who was sent on a journey by Celestia so he could learn humility.

(5) Here, Red was a grizzled mercenary for hire. I liked the vambraces and the eyepatch, but kept neither.

(6) I was starting to hone in on the final character design here. In my mind he became a young hedge knight attempting to earn his way into the Royal Guard by going on a quest for Celestia.

(7) This was the character design that ended up making the original version of the cover. All the major elements were in place, and Red Pommel was finally himself.

(8) And here’s the final design, complete with cruppers and decorative vambraces. Unfortunately, the look on his face just screams “I’m a terrible person.”

I had other concept designs, most of them doodles on random pieces of graded homework, but my scanner’s broken. So, thankfully, they remain locked away where nobody is forced to see them.

_{January 4, 2012}