Fuck Off

As always, took way longer than expected. Maybe I need to reevaluate, how long things actually take...

This was really spontaneous. The theme/pose might look similar to other pieces I've done before, but if you look at them side by side, I'd say they're still pretty different.

The Sketch (2) was one of the cleanest I've ever done! I think I got a little carried away. Either way, this doesn't mean any time saving, I just got work done in this step, I'd do in the next usually.
The Linework was pretty relaxing because of that. I pretty much only had to trace the Sketch. Some probably would've just used the sketch, or rendered it further - but I really like to do really clean Lineart, so I drew the whole thing again.

The lighting was a bit difficult and to the end I wasn't completely satisfied. At this point however, I poured like 6h into it which I didn't want to waste tbh... See the problem with back and rim light is simply that it drowns every other detail. Realistically, you would only see a silhouette - but because I spent so much time on his front, I just made it a bit lighter than it would be in real life.

First I wanted to let him hunch over a bit, but this way it would be even darker, so I tried to make him lean back instead. Idk if one can see that, or only that the lighting is a complete mess...

However, I tend to choose form over function - I do not aim for a realistic style anyways... I remember that a friend, who works with 3D models, helped me once with an artwork to figure out the lighting. They modeled a simple human and some primitive shapes to emulate what I was going for. Turns out my idea was a complete mess haha!
But that shouldn't stop you - I argued that I was pretty sure I saw this kind of lighting in pictures or movies to which they responded, that producers manipulate the light too.

Take this however you like, but make sure to actually study light conditions on real life pictures/references.
I can't stress enough that you should never use other peoples artworks for references, except when you know exactly whats right/wrong with it.

Either way, I imagine a front/bottom light would've fitted the scene better - but honestly that's one scheme I feel like I do too often, so I wanted some change.