Villain inspirations.

I often get my inspirations from random places... however, a lot of inspiration tends to come from the world of anime & manga. Although not the most realistic style in many cases, I am hugely inspired by many artists who work in the style, and will often get an outfit idea or such from anime I've watched or manga I've read.

^ (Idea for the lower dress)

^ (Idea for the pigtails!)

I get many influences from the gothic lolita style of fashion that is popular in Japan (and becoming more popular every year in the UK).

Although many artists may be put off the style of anime & manga due to the rather unrealistic proportions, I believe that a sense of realism can come from the style through the use of textures and shading, as well as toning down the more crazy elements that exist throughout, such as the large eyes (amongst other things!). Getting rid of the black outlines such as in the piece below also helps create a sense of realism, especially concerning the hair.