Lantern Light and Shining eyes

Painted in Photoshop

It is done! I still have all the layers and may choose to play with the colors... come up with more versions, and I will probably put up a scrap showing the details and the image layers, since I have finished layers under layers that you can't see.

I drew this initially to work on a new technique for eyes and lips, and I am quite proud of how it came out.

Seeing how I am tired of working on this any further, you are of course welcome to critique... but I do not believe I will be making any real big changes with this one, so I hope you like her. Took me ages.

To see more art of this character (Kiala) follow the links below:
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From int he Time of Dragon

Kiala came out of her room dressed in her favorite kimono. The gold and red patterns casting a warm glow to her, almost like firelight. Koji could hear the excitement of the festival outside, and the lantern lights were shining in through the open door and window. The festivities were in full bloom, people were walking hand in hand from booth to booth, fireworks exploded in the distance, music played, and he could hear a parade marching down Main Street. This was more than just an Autumn Festival; they were still celebrating the end of the war. And their victory. Koji couldn’t’ help but wonder if it was at the expense of the losing side that they could afford all this… but he decided he would deal with that later if he had to, right now they all deserved to be happy. Images of a long past youth flashed in his mind, and he remembered enjoying festivals just like this one so many times. It was almost like Kanite was there with him, calling for him to follow, and he suddenly felt very alone. Then he remembered Kiala, Ryu wasn’t here… he looked back at her.

She was stunning, with red and white orchids in her hair, a set of sticks given to her by her friend Tomiji, and a clip in her hair of the finest rubies. She looked so delicate, like a porcelain doll, so fragile… and for once, he thought that maybe the appearances weren’t deceiving. She was fragile. Probably thinking of Ryu. Tomiji wanted to go to the festival with her, and she had told him no, saying she couldn’t stand to be out, but here she was, all dressed up and ready to go. Why? Because he had told her to. He had said that she was being stupid. So here she was. She was here for him. He was suddenly embarrassed that this beautiful girl was counting on him, expecting him to be her escort, and he had been daydreaming again.

“You look lovely.” He said to her simply.

“I know.” She replied.

Koji came up to her, and put his hand on her cheek, it was so soft, smooth. He looked into her eyes. There was no trace of the sadness that he knew she had to be feeling. Such strength. Foolish, though admirable. “How do you do it?” He asked, looking into her green eyes deeply. They were sparkling in the light.

Kiala was a little confused. “Do what? My make up?” Koji removed his hand and she placed hers where he had just had it. A slight smile came across her face. His touch was cool, comforting the fire inside her. An impish desire to toy with him a little suddenly came to her, a feeling she hadn’t felt in a while; it resembled happiness. Mocking shyness, she brought her fan up to her face and batted her eyes coyly, “Are you trying to charm me? You naughty kitten.”

Koji stepped back, a little insulted, but he brushed that thought aside. She lowered her fan a bit, a smile just barely visible on her lips. She looked mirthfully at him. It made him happy to see her smile, so he decided to let that one go. He didn’t think she could get lovelier than she looked right at that moment, and a sudden longing rang in the back of his mind. It took him by surprise, but he didn’t’ suppress it. “No,” He replied, “If I was trying to charm you, dear lady, you would already be in my arms.” With that, he smirked in turn and offered her his hand. “Still, if you would like, I can be your escort tonight.”

Kiala lowered the fan and looked at his extended hand, and at his smile. She was suddenly reminded of how beautiful he was, especially in the festival lights. He almost seemed to glow. Her heart quickened a little. How could she not have noticed before? Koji was a gentleman… Awkwardly she took his hand and he led her out into the night. “I was dreading this day for a long time. I thought that all of this would just remind me of how much I miss Ryu.” She said quietly, more to herself than to Koji.

“We are both missing people tonight, but you know what?” Koji was grinning now.

“What?”

“They would want us to have fun tonight, so let’s do that, for them, and for ourselves.”

To see what Koji looks like, follow this link: [link]