CELESTINE (Riptide Concept Art)

Celestine was crafted artistically by the divinely talented Ren!

CELESTINE

For this elegant Archfey, I had a very specific vision in mind, and wrote out an entire document with the description & reference images that I sent to Ren! You'll see those references attached.

I took inspiration from different interpretations of Archfey and Elves on pinterest, but mostly I just sorta imagined this one! I really especially like the embroidered blue flowers. If anyone's curious, they are mostly forget me nots, blue flax, and bluebells.

I started with a color scheme, I love Black and Turquoise together. I described Celestine as having dainty, delicate, symmetrical, and thin, features. Of course, I added that she'd have exaggerated elf-like features, because she is a fey! Including the long pointed ears, and the silver wispy marking all around her rosy pink skin. 

Fun fact, I didn't describe her eyes as being cloudy for no reason, Celestine is blind! She can not see with her eyes, but instead sees through feeling the arcane energy that weaves naturally through the world. This means that she is more sensitive to and can see clearer with those who have high arcane ability. She also can see more directly through her tiny blue sprites, similar to using the vision of a familiar. One of the blue sprites followed The Riptide Pirates, and led them through the Laboratory for a short time! That sprites name was Mai. The palace of Hopes and Dreams used to have many blue sprites hovering throughout, as did Kas' Karnival, but over time, as her magic was being drained, they all faded. 

I gave Ren a real person reference for Anatomy, Bella Hadid, but also explained that Celestine is around 6'4, which is another part of her race as an Archfey. 

Finding reference and describing the outfit was difficult, mostly because there wasn't a specific reference that existed since I was designing with my brain, but I tried to find things that got the idea across, and Ren absolutely NAILED IT. On the surface it sounds simple, a two-piece dress that is made of thin, silky, fabrics, with the lower dress, under the hip cape, being a more sheer texture with embroidered flowers. Those same flowers also connected the top to the sleeves on her arms. HOWEVER, that description doesn't describe the cut of the top or how it fits around the torso, so that heavy work was done by Ren, and I'm very proud of how she turned out.

In my head, I wanted to play Celestine with a personality that mixed between Starfire (Teen Titans,) and Wonder Woman. I wanted her to come off as aloof, and a bit silly, but also strong, courageous, powerful, and compassionate. Every time I go into a session, even after practicing a voice, I sometimes forget what I'm doing and end up preforming a character in a way I didn't intend. I hope I did alright and did her design justice with her personality.

Anyways, I'm very excited that The Riptide Pirates have made friends of two of my favorite characters, Kas & Celestine. I have no idea what their purpose will be, but the fact is that they are here if needed. Hopefully, Celestine can make a reappearance!

Thank you so much to Ren who rode the same wavelength with me and created the perfect design first try. I genuinely could not have brought Celestine to life without them!

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If you have any questions about Celestine, please let me know! If its not a spoiler, Ill do my best to answer.

Please look forward to the next break down of a design or concept art process! They may not happen every episode, but I will try my best.

- Grizzly