Ressurrection Dance

this went sooooo much better than expected! and much faster

This is another costume idea of mine, but the real one will be less... on fire... or smokey... don't expect me to finish it soon though, it will be finished in 1.5 years from now. 

the costume version will have  much more complicated make-up; feathered eyebrows, lace, some sort of metalwork (like the beak) and more colors will be added to it. I liked the serene look of this though, so I kept it simple. 

I didn't use much references, just one to figure out the lips/nose/chin part (I really don't understand how to draw that) and one for the front hand. I did use a wooden art doll wit arthritis in its knees and elbows, haha! I do not recommend to figure out poses with mannequins, because they are to flexible in some places and not flexible enough in other. I just used it, together with a flashlight, to help with the lighting. That was rather fun

This is Anka'a by the way, or better known as the phoenix lady. I created her ages ago, but I obviously changed her looks now (and gosh, look at those old drawings of mine... they are baaaaaaad!)
queenofeagles.deviantart.com/a…
queenofeagles.deviantart.com/a… (that's actually a photomanip of me cosplaying this character)
queenofeagles.deviantart.com/a…

I hope you like this change of looks quite fun to see a character develop like that, I wish I made more pics of my characters -_- Anyway, do you guys like where I am going with my style? I am using texture brushes much more now than in the beginning, where I just used standard photoshop brushes. 

Anka'a is part of a story I am working on, called 'a State of Equilibrium'. I am afraid that she only pops up at the end of the story, so I still have to give her more of a personality. I do know most of her background, but I prefer to keep that for myself. Let's just say it's important  

Here is where I will dump more art and info about my OCs and my world:
queenofeagles.deviantart.com/g…

And here is the prologue of my story:
Prologue - a State of Equilibrium
There was that feeling again. He was used to it, after suffering from it for years. It was so unpleasant though that he still couldn't ignore it. It felt like his skin was pinched by thousands of hot, long needles. It always happened when it was time for him to wake up. Luckily it only lasted a second, and it was just a fraction of the misery that already darkened him. The pain faded, and he stood up in the middle of an endless sea of grass, blades moving slowly in the wind.  The pieces of his armour clattered softly against each other. Dark blood stained the shining metal, but it wasn't his. He wondered why he always wore it; he didn't need protection. Getting wounded was something he didn't care about. Maybe he should leave it behind. He started fumbling with the clasps of his armour, while he looked at his surroundings. Only a few gnarled trees were scattered amongst this dull, monotone la