Challenge #20 : Sails of the Black Bones

"The Black Bones Treasure Hideout

Deep within a strangely shaped cavern decorated with all sorts of stalagmites, the lost treasure of the Black Bones is said to be hidden. A heavy, humid atmosphere reigns there, punctuated by shafts of light coming from the ceiling. Of course, no one alive can reveal its location, but it is also said that on the day of the full moon, the pools of water that dot its floor begin to glow with a faint blue light. We're counting on you to imagine this place, as beautiful as it is mysterious, and to make us dream..."

This is the entry for the Challenge I have chosen, you can watch all the entries here : https://digitalpainting.school/challenges/20-sailsofblackbones/participations

There were many choices available, ranging from characters to monsters, and landscapes.

The challenge is still ongoing, if you want to participate ! the deadline being 15 December 2025 at 23:59 PM.

I have decided to show my process, beginning by a lot a scribbles on my sketchbook until I find a concept I like:

Then I switch to the tablet, and digital work. At this point, my sketch changed drastically (all I kept were the 2 stalagmites), since I thought the beach atmosphere was not mysterious enough, so I went full claustrophobic here:

Once I am satisfied with the sketch, I add the values in greys (on the right above), although my work is still very rough, it allows me to foresee what will happen of the final drawing, I can then add the first colors and work on my favorite part, painting and experimenting: