Turning gemstones 💎 into VILLIANS 😈 (CHARACTER DESIGN CHALLENGE)

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[@zenebean]

It would be so creepy if Pearl first appeared as shadows in water or reflections, maybe luring heroes or criticizing Fire Opal. Her extra arms remind me of sea creatures moving under the water

[@stephaniewhitaker3566]

Dude she actually gives me orchid mantis vibes like she gives me "hiding in plain sight and you don't sew her til it's too late" vibes but she also reminds me of the squid family magnapinna which have tentacles 24 feet long that drag on the sea floor to brush up against any prey around so it can snatch it up and eat it (5 times the size of the body) and it sits in a T pose... but don't worry... it gets worse... it always gets worse. The only ones ever found are thought to be juveniles... which means they can possibly get even better that that. So yeah I kinda get those vibes too I feel like I said vibes way too much in my description my bad

[@WSchmidt09]

"ominous, powerful looking characters" 👀 "angels" 👀👀 ''buff strong punchy women" 👀👀👀👀👀👀 Evil is HOT indeed. You did an incredible job on these, struggle bus or no. Like, WOW! Definitely one of my favorite design sets you've done, and not just because seeing you draw scary or evil characters is such a rare, delicious treat. Will throw out name suggestions later! Sincerely, A leaf P.S. Ominious, buff, powerful looking angel woman when?

[@v.v365]

When you started out with the prompt “villains inspired by stones with negative superstition” I thought “witch’s coven” but then you made Fire Opal more of a brawler warrior and the fact that there could be a family dynamic between these three characters and now I’m thinking more along the lines of a witchy family comprised of the witch (obsidian), the dark god they worshipped (pearl), and the anti-christ style child they magically created to end the world (fire opal)

[@anextremelyattractivepieceofgr]

Something about the pearl villain just hits different- Creepy, confusing, lots going on, I just love it. Also pink.

[@sparrow3516]

I am respectfully Looking at Red Fire Opal and Obsidian. Name ideas! Pearl: Dolores (it means sorrow) Red Fire Opal: Ember or Pyra Obsidian: Helena (Mount St. Helens)

[@apocalypsefrog2008]

I think those are great ideas! Especially Helena!

[@ocinidolegna]

Pyra my love

[@pokepoke1889]

Dolores

[@AntiqueMe]

I like particularly like obsidian and pearl so much omg

[@codeearth9820]

When you mentioned doing villain counter-parts to the hero gems, I immediately thought of opals because of a stupid story my grand-ma told me about a ring of her's where my grand-pa bought it before discovering that it could bring bad luck, thus making her promise him to not wear it. She thought it was stupid, but she still went along. Anyway, great designs, I really like the lava effect you did on the last one

[@BaobhanloreArt]

These designs are freaking awesome! If I were to do a bit of backstory concept, I'd maybe say that Obsidian isn't just old, she's ancient, and has been around since the fiery stages of the earth. But just not in a human form and instead the lava that overcame the surface of the planet. She was the only consciousness there, and became well aquatinted with the feeling of loneliness and how powerful it was. It got to a point where the feeling of loneliness became less like an emotion and more like a power. Feeling although it no longer harmed her and even embracing it. As life started to form on earth, she fed off of the loneliness from grieving animals for millennia. Even if it meant causing volcanic eruptions to kill their loved ones. But after so much time spent living off of loneliness, she wants to thrive off of it to the point where she never has to seek it. And so she embarks on a journey to make the world suffer. Pearl, as the symbol of tears, should fall right into loneliness. Perhaps she could be a heartbroken bride who was left alone at the alter, but ended up hunting down and drowning her fiance with a whimsical look on her face. But in the chaos, her dragged her down to the depths with her. But instead of dying like normal, she became a siren. Perhaps her appearance is an illusion she created to try and appear beautiful, but her sinister nature could not be masked completely. After that, she gained an obsession with trying to cause people harm, which made her volunteer to work alongside Obsidian. Wanting to take beloved people from their adoring friends and family so that they can feel how she did. Fire Opal could perhaps be a result of Pearl and Obsidian's powers combining to create an army of obsidian soilders to fight for them. But in the clash, they accidentally made Fire Opal. She ends up seeing the two as mother-like figures, only to be seen as a nuisance when she tries to help out. The three would have a complicated relationship, where Fire Opal just wants to make them happy but feels irritated when they try to give her guidence. Almost like a doubtful hothead and mysterious mentor dynamic. Also, if I were to come up with names, they would be: Obsidian: Oriana (meaning sunrise or dawn, but also sounding similar to origin). Pearl: Lilith (meaning night monster, coming from Jewish texts, but also sounding vintage and elegant). Fire Opal: Enya (meaning fire or little seed, which is really cute but is also Celtic and her having an inexplicable Scottish accent would really suit her.)

[@mekagacha2551]

My phone shut off whilst reading this its so long

[@0ArmoredSoul0]

The only name I can think of is for the Pearl character- Mariana, relating both to the Biblical reference and the Marianas Trench AKA the deepest darkest part of the ocean. :)

[@classiceb6323]

girl I can’t your art is so good 😭

[@avocadoartist1145]

Thank you Kira for somehow making me simp over rocks. I have zero idea how you did it but you turned literal rocks into the most beautiful villains I’ve ever seen.

[@WSchmidt09]

Names & history suggestions: Fire Opal: Inferna (for the fire aesthetic) - young, impetuous, the most gung ho about fighting the heroes but also the most likely to potentially make a Heel-Face turn down the road under the right circumstances. Probably a well-intentioned extremist and the most passionately following a set of ideals (misguided though they may be). Pearl: Aquael (going for the lazy latin word for water + "-iel/ael" angel suffix) - Going with the fallen angel vibe, used to be aligned with the heroic gemstones as a mentor but was convinced of Obsidian's vision (maybe fell into despair, going with the pearl/tear motif). Feels like the ongoing conflict is too painful for everyone and is set on ending the pain by putting everyone out of their misery. Obsidian: Gravana (honestly just think it sounds weighty and cool) - Emerged with the volcanic creation of the planet, time abyss levels of old, feels that the planet has turned out wrong, humanity and nature are unworkable first drafts and wants to wipe the slate clean and start over and "get the planet right this time," serious Big Bad material and vibes

[@asanyr9902]

I would love to see an in-depth/longform or real-time process of your character design!! Maybe even live, i love watching your process and you make AMAZING tutorials!

[@PricklyAlpaca]

I would love to do that! Maybe I'll do a character design sketchbook session at some point. I'd also love to do some art Livestreams but my internet is pretty rubbish. Hopefully I can figure that out at some point tho!

[@Lucidly_cremated]

I have a design idea- characters designed from architecture, especially the Victorian era- that lovely gothic feel

[@taliatucker3417]

i get a very specific vibe for each of them. Obsidian feels like a woman who lost everything, like she lost her family to a natural disaster and that's how she got her abilities almost? Opal feels like that she had a lover who betrayed her because the lover didn't believe her when she explained who she truly was! And then for fire opal, i feel like she had it rough growing up, similar to Vi from arcane. Having to learn how to fight on her own and being so hot tempered that people rejected her, so when Obsidian found the two, she accepted them as her children, the family she lost had been reborn. And now, the three of them are out to avenge themselves, one by one destroying those who destroyed their lives. (idk this might just be dumb i;m sorry)

[@amortlepsg]

My favourite is the pearl inspired one, it's the multiple eyes you see (no pun intended). Also it doesn't matter is obsidian if an actual gemstone or not, we accept her.

[@solongfarewell6896]

Some name suggestions - for pearl : Victoria but her companions call her Vicky, queen Victoria was famously sad and cold toward her children so I imagine her being nice outwardly but cruel to those closest to her (which might be the reason why she was left at the alter 🤭) For red fire opal I see Abellona being an option, in Greek it means destroyer, but in Norwegian it means the sun goddess. Since she is supposed to be the “crime happy” one I see the name being something either the media or maybe someone she attacked calling her and something that she embraces. For obsidian I thought of Apate, in Greek mythology Apate is the personification of deceit and you said she was able to take to negative emotions of others into her own power and I imagine she would need to use a lot of deceit as fertilizer for those fruits.

[@avivagodfrey]

Ah- one more thought. What about the name "Mara" for pearl? Since she's inspired by angels, a Hebrew name makes a good match. Naomi (Ruth's mother-in-law) changed her name to Mara, which means bitterness, after she lost her husband and sons-a similarly sad outcome to marriage, which follows your theme.

[@angelcakeart]

I'm crying because of how much I love the pearl angel (as is my username doesn't give that away), she's so creepy and beautiful. Man, I love biblically accurate angels. Plus the amount of colors in the rendering is -chef's kiss- perfection

[@ReimaginedSkies]

Name suggestions: pearl: dákrya-- which is greek for tears (since the bible used to be written in Greek and she is tied to angels) Obsidian: sidious-- obsidian + insidious (Mexican) Fire opal: quemar-- spanish for burn

[@rexandmothattempt4837]

Love the villain idea! I was wondering if you would do a batch for more evil based characters. Red Opal: Adara, femine version of Adar which is fire or flame in hebrew Pearl: Talia, meaning “dew from heaven”, which one, they have water on them so they are a water based character, and they are based off angels so heaven i guess Obsidian: Adri, which loosely means mountain in Hindi and obsidian is a rock and rock mountain. Also it just fits them i guess Thanks if you took any of these suggestions!

[@oogalaboo]

All the eyes and decaying arms of the pearl girl are BALLIN

[@machiavalienz5165]

Oh gosh i love these designs so much! I can totally see them as like, chaos gods or something! Really interesting and i love the colors you chose! I feel like it can be easy to get similar looking designs with popular ones like fire, but you executed it perfectly! Awesome stuff :] (side nots, some name ideas are Jericho for fire opal, Briar for pearl and Minerva for obsidian!)

[@Lucidly_cremated]

I love how you research and actually put thought behind the designs

[@machiavalienz5165]

new upload lets goooo time to break out the pencil

[@lucasmarques1045]

I love the pearl one (im biased because i like creepy stuff) because I don't think I've seen you make a weirder, more horror character and that was rlly cool and interesting to see!

[@raeesaameer1000]

Your videos are so beautiful and aesthetic ✨

[@kaiyonangel1987]

After you said the part about the fire opal being the child of pearl and obsidian my mind immediately went to two villian moms and their chaotic fire teenager. The designs are awesome btw!!

[@erinkarp]

Thumbnailing is really something I need to do more of, yours always look so good!

[@ocinidolegna]

im in love with the mother edit: like i want to marry her. and the unfinished pearl design too. gosh, they all look so wonderful though!! fire opal's hair is wonderful in each iteration. thank you for sharing 😌

[@kylenecobb7322]

Your designs are always so cool, and you're a huge inspiration for me and my own art. Keep doing what you do, because it's all really great! Also, I would let all of these women pummel me, thank you. Also also, villains based on poisons?

[@sunnymidnight]

At least to me, Opal and Obisidian almost look like mother and daughter, since their both kinda fire based and just in general have a lot of reds and black compared to Pearl. Maybe that's how the less experienced Opal got into the group, she is simply following her mother, maybe even being forced to, while Obsidian specifically recruited Pearl for her potential.

[@arkkangelll]

Art is beautiful as always, and so are your ideas! Also, love the dress btw 💕

[@incognimbus]

Prickly Alpaca: "I just realized this at the time of recording but it makes her (Opal) basically a perfect mix of the other two characters thematically because of the water and lava.." Me: *automatically thinks of Pearl and Obsidian as cool sapphic guardian/mothers of Opal and invents a scenario where Opal gets really hurt and both Pearl and Obsidian take revenge on their daughter with their powerful evil gemstone powers*

[@mojihouse]

YES! VILLAINS! MY DREAM CAME TRUE OMG🛐🙏

[@alyssap7405]

This characters were beautiful and haunting at the same time. Especially, pearl she so eerie but mysteriously beautiful. 😆

[@robal6013]

i swear, your designs always make me want to draw and design myself, youre literally my biggest inspiration

[@cactusgod5672]

Your art style is truely magical and such a pleasure to look at

[@jananay2768]

I'm quite excited to see some badass rock villains. It is objectively correct that villains are more attractive.

[@trashotaku]

Now I'm just headcanoning fire opal as the daughter of pearl and Obsidian

[@ZannaMint]

I was not ready for the mega gorgeous villain vibes and I am here for it!!!! Very awesome art and concepts!

[@katrina-w-6569]

NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! Love them, absolutely perfect.

[@Gilmore-Girls]

She some how always brings historical fashion in every video I just love it

[@flower_chain7098]

I love your art so much! This is how I dream to be able to draw one day. I don’t understand how EVERY SINGLE ONE of your designs is so beautiful and stylized and has so much personality? You’re really underrated!

[@SimpleSigma29]

These designs are freaking amazing, and it gave me a random thought.Since Fire Opal also represents love and passion, what if one of the things she’d do to kill someone is lure them into a false sense of security and like, hug them?? Cause when she’s hugging them she could just combust and that would very easily kill whoever she was hugging. Or it could also fit the brawler aspect where she grapples someone and then does that.

[@artisticallypri]

You always put so much thought into these character designs, you’re so creative, Kira. We love seeing well designed villains!! 👏 I always know watching your videos will cheer me up, I love your upbeat personality and your videos are so creative and educational while simultaneously being relatable, funny and entertaining.😤💖 (btw your background and setup are always so beautifully aesthetic!) 🤌💋

[@Kurooganeko]

These designs are SOOO SMART! Like! OMG! The angel one... divine!

[@-B33-]

Idea for obsidian what if she became a villain because she was envious of her not be a real gemstone??? Btw love you videos!

[@soyiskool7680]

**claps** ahhhh lovely I FRICKIN LOVE THIS MATE

[@jadedavis1190]

The thing about natural disasters, especially forest fires and volcanic eruptions, they bring about new life (at least from my understanding). Lava reshapes the land, and forest fires kills all the dead plant life, leaving room for fresh plants to sprout. Of course both come with death and devastating effects, so I imagine that those two villains have origins based on that concept and how people focus on those things.

[@ghostly_blue3269]

These designs look really cool, I think Pearl is my favourite Potential name ideas: Pearl: Asrai (a type of aquatic fairy from English folklore) or Khalen Obsidian: Eris Red Fire Opal: Tavora

[@erinkarp]

These look amazing!

[@hannahbrown9136]

Beautiful as always! As for names, I’m thinking Juno for the obsidian as she is the Roman equivalent to Hera and often portrayed as both royal, nurturing, and cold all at once. Also, if there is one god you NEVER want to piss off, it’s Juno. For Pearl, I like the name Alcmene, another Greek name derived from the words for strength and wrath, both of which seem like a perfect fit for a fallen Angel and a jilted bride. Fire Opal is a bit tricky… Amber maybe, after the petrified sap in petrified wood? Or one last green name Deianira, which literally translates to “destroyer of man” which seems accurate for a forest fire.

[@alexschofield8085]

These are so absolutely gorgeous, I’m in awe of them!!

[@inky9011]

I love your designs! There so cool!

[@avivagodfrey]

I am ***OBSESSED*** with your pearl character. omg. You hit me in like half my aesthetics all at once with pearl. I'm a Christian, but my first introduction to "what angels actually look like" was the Madeleine L'Engle book, "A Wind in the Door." Have you read it? Highly recommend the whole "Wrinkle in Time" quartet if you haven't. ("Many Waters" is my favorite. 8D) (I am now quietly looking forward to you doing a villains video companion for your flower and mushroom designs. 8D)

[@CrudeHunter]

This is my favorite set of designs you've done so far

[@lea4645]

all of your designs are always so amazing! honestly i aspire to be as good as you one day omg 😭

[@stencilfox5]

I absolutely love the creative process you use so awe inspiring and love the outfit you have everything all just fits so well for your videos keeps me hooked and wanting to watch more

[@seako8829]

If these characters were in a show I swear there would be heaps of people just drooling over obsidian. Also I would love if pearl uses her four extra arms while walking, sort of like a spider.

[@canjica_]

Amazing job! I love the way you design your characters

[@elizabetholson1561]

As someone with a pearl birth stone, I approve of her design 💯🤌

[@danaekoloka9819]

Omg your skills >>>

[@welleykelley]

you look so incredible!! Great video!

[@lochness7419]

HOW are all of your designs just. So interesting and dynamic and unique while still staying cohesive its INSANE and SO COOL

[@daddy_quack5182]

YOUVE DONE IT AGAIN YOUR ART IS LITERALLY SO BEAUTIFUL AND YOUR LIKE ONE OF MY MAIN INSPIRATION

[@KyreeDBass_]

I love these character designs! The costuming is gorgeous and I can see these being for major cosplay and MOVIESSSSS❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@marblin]

I cant put into words how happy I get when you upload! Keep up the great work :)

[@hakka3208]

This is amazing😱❤️

[@ajs1844]

Omg I love these ideas so much

[@flokicrosswell9988]

when I think of volcano eruptions part of what comes to mind is the smothering affect, was thinking this might be an interesting thing to add to the character's personality or her powers. on another note, I love the designs and ideas especially how well they incorporate into one another. ahhh this is so long but another idea is possibly that the dedicated natural disaster characters may be little side helpers to the gems they created or like guardians. :)

[@fishb0wl260]

How do I like something multiple times- this was amazing. Love your art! 💗

[@LilMoonieDragon]

Dang, these are some of the coolest designs yet! And the backgrounds came out so beautifully -- especially Pearl's!

[@1art4u]

I really love your style and when you explore these concepts. And also power villains because your beginning speech of and about villains is very accurate.

[@spaceyfireneko]

Phenomenal. That's all I can muster to say about this that's coherent.

[@magpie3392]

these are awesome kira! ive been feeling a bit of art block lately so i might actually do my own character design challenge to get past it lol. thanks for the inspiration :D

[@Nishkween]

omg, so beautiful!!! Of course, being the Scorpio I am, my fave is Obsidian

[@b-blrrb7833]

these look so cool fire opal is my favorite!!

[@allmightyrighteouslordgodk6059]

I love the villain fire opal and her two moms!

[@static_leila763]

I love them so much!!! For the names I think Diana for obsidian, Penelope for pearl and Minerva for fire opal

[@amayamitchell5546]

Ahhhh! I love your art

[@flop9840]

i love the pearl one (it’s so cool)

[@HariFarkas]

It’s giving dark ✨Steven universe✨, like you can get fire opal by having an amethyst pearl and ruby fuse and since fusions aren’t accepted in the diamond’s courts she was supposed to be publicly executed and was saved by pearl and obsidian, pearl went crazy after her trying to run away from her abusive owners to marry the love of her life but her lover betrayed her and ratted her out to her owners, obsidian is an off color ( an outcast ) that was accidentally created when a volcano erupted by a gem kindergarten

[@unoriginalbun8325]

This is pretty dark (idk exactly if or how to put a trigger warning for this), but a backstory that I thought of for Pearl is that she was a child bride. I don’t exactly know how that would work in the story, but it would make her instantly sympathetic and could play into a wider narrative about how the church takes advantage of women and children. Idk that’s just my idea.

[@chloepainter4064]

y'know what'd make a great inspo for an antihero? Cinnabar! It's a really intense dark red color, which is very moody, and it's formed out of a compund partially made of mercury, which is a deadly poison and a very pretty metal.

[@katherinehavegreen515]

"Are her wings made of ocean water or her tears?" The ocean water *is* her tears

[@thesaviourfromheavensunwuk9639]

Nicely done

[@ZirconiaGacha]

You gave me inspiration to make gold sheen obsidian into a character to be honest. It represents personal power and (supposedly) attracts wealth so maybe a person who's fallen on hard times and is an assassin or paid theif of sorts.

[@_van_guildo]

Your character designs are always the best, Kira, aaaaaaaa They give very much a super hero comic vibe, it's awesome I had a little idea, if you still wanna draw more of them but not wanting to make a full story yet, maybe you could draw them like in the middle of a scene, sorta like picking a super hero comic in a random page where they're in a middle of a fight, IDK, it souds cool to me, hah Name ideas! Pearl - Angel, Angie, Cosmo, Nessa, Jude, Jidith, Thalasso or Thalas (inspired by thalassophobia; sea phobia) Red Fire Opal - Caroline, Ester, Thabata, Amber, Flannery, Obsidian - Mortissa, Morticia

[@sam-is-sleeping]

some more villain ideas would for for the goddesses based off of sunset, day, and night. still related to the sky, but maybe storms? like hurricanes, hail, and rain? i think that could be interesting

[@nootnootman6353]

noot noot question: What canvas size do you use for your digital art?

[@PricklyAlpaca]

I normally use 2000x3000 px at 300 dpi!

[@nootnootman6353]

@@PricklyAlpaca noot noot thank you!

[@yavvid8520]

I really like villans and anti-heros not only cuase their hot, but also they have the most tragic back stories and the most realistic emotions rather than goody good guys that only care for one thing

[@nailahplays4261]

Pearl name suggestion: Lorelei According to the internet, "The Lorelei in German lore is a siren of distracting beauty said to sit atop a particular rock at the edge of the River Rhine, singing to lure sailors to their doom. When she was a human woman her lover was faithless, so in despair she threw herself into the river and was transformed into a siren whose voice pulled men under her spell and onto the rocks." I'd say the German lore goes pretty well with your idea of the pearl enduring a marriage full of tears.

[@edenis_gay]

I love your representation in your art

[@xXxZayanaxXx]

These designs are amazing!! I love the different vibes of each of them and yet how they work well together, the thumbnailing idea definitely helped in that regard (but it's super cool to see the unfinished first attempt too, to see how your ideas got refined as you went along!) I really like the sturdier pose and final pass on Fire Opal, her gauntlets look so good, and Obsidian's facial detailing is so pretty and she looks so powerful. I was also wondering when I saw the thumbnail if Pearl had all those eyes because some species of oysters/clams have dozens of tiny little spooky eyes all over them and you tied that into some kind of angelic inspiration, guess I was only half right, haha. Still, it's another neat hidden connection between pearls and eyes ;0

[@pinkolivetree8873]

Love the mom-big sis-lil sis dynamic so much! I imagine pearl and opal bickering before obsidian erupts (heh) and silences them. Can’t wait for you to design more villains, even for the fairies, knights, and magical girls!

[@fuzzydragons]

love all the creepy eyes on Pearl 😀

[@just_midnight4082]

I was thinking pyro for the fire opal,either pearl or Sakura for the pearl and Adira for the obsedion but either way u can still mix and match the names,love your art btw

[@ajanaethompson8445]

I am thinking the lore of this universe is that two gods/goddesses, shed tears of power that changes the world. Gems, animals, plants, etc. absorbed the gods' tear powers. And they gain other worldly powers and appearance.

[@streetst4610]

i am in full support of this villain family. i wish them nothing but the best in life :D

[@cowboy_kraken]

all these designs turned out really well, you did such a good job on all of them