Hey everyone, I'm currently working on my own concept for Shaak Ti. I really liked her initial concept art and wanted to bring something more to her look. I really liked the idea that the Tagruta have their own unique, archaic, and therefore aggressive, culture. As we know from canon, Tagruta are predators. I wanted to convey this in her design, both in her clothing and possibly through body modifications.
However, I feel like even though I'm asking my friend, as someone who's studying art history, and also as someone who positions myself as an artist, how I can best convey the theme of aggression in clothing in a drawing, I still feel like I'm missing a broader perspective from the Star Wars community. (She's also interested in the Star Wars universe as much as I am, but not deeply enough to notice all the possible aspects within.)
I would like to highlight some details that I would like to catch:
— The initial concept art showed a brutality and dark mysticism more characteristic of a Sith than a Jedi. I wanted to retain some of these traits. So I left her breasts exposed (which, by the way, also adds to the archaic quality I mentioned above).
— I came up with my own design for the art on clothing, but its presence also references the original concept art. I wanted to hint at some possible plot hidden in the lines, or perhaps a semblance of a cultural design.
— At my friend's suggestion, the design on the clothes can be transferred to tattoos on the skin, which gives the image a more archaic and mystical feel.
— I have a strong association between aggressive design and Force users, so I feel obligated to include some Sith cues in the clothing. I haven't yet been able to achieve this in practice to the extent I envision in my mind. This should be reflected in the weight and density of the fabric. The clothing itself should have strong, sharp lines. But either I'm not skilled enough, or I'm doing something wrong at the very beginning, causing the entire look to collapse like a house of cards.
— This is where the guessing game begins. Because Shaak Ti is still a Jedi. And their culture has its own distinctive features that can be visually observed. And I, on my own foolish initiative, decided to somehow show this as well. Jedi clothing is usually multi-layered, which is the opposite of the monolithic garments often used in the images of dark beings.
— I decided to keep the belt. A belt or sash is practical. It evokes ordinary human adaptation, not the image of a dark, mystical being standing somewhere above all others. A belt is a support. It's part of the equipment. I remember a line from a song, "You can't tell where art is, and where craft is." A belt points to the craftsman.
— I tried to show layering, but so far it's just a few petticoats and a weird choice for a cape. I think it's better to show the down-to-earth nature of the character through other practical accessories. Honestly, this part of the question is causing me the most tension on a conceptual level. Perhaps if you know a simple solution related to the cultural peculiarities of the Jedi, you can help me, I can't seem to get out of this crisis on my own yet.
— The most interesting and, at the moment, the most noticeable thing is color. It can ruin the entire look, all the positions I listed earlier, with just one wrong shade. If you choose purely Sith colors, it will be an excellent marker to show that this Jedi is most likely dark or has the potential to fall to the dark side. If you choose purely Jedi colors, it will immediately negate any potential aggressiveness of the look. For now, I've settled on a garish, bright shade of green, as such shades are more often associated with aggression. Green itself is either the color of life or the color of poison. In short, I hope you understand the dire situation I'm in. I also don't see a graceful way out of this situation yet.
— I haven't figured out the face and neck accessories yet, I'm still learning Tagruta, but the general direction seems promising
— Shaak Ti herself, in my concept, is a true Jedi. And also a true predator. She is not naturally omnivorous in every aspect of life, as humans are. But she is adaptive and pure in her intentions and the overall activities of the order. She is kind and resilient. I try to show all this in her face and posture.
In short, if you're willing and able to help me figure this out, or if you have any advice or resources that could help me figure this out on my own, I'd be very grateful.
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