>>56762860>>56765320Still on progress but I wanted to share anyways.
First off, I prefer short hair so I went with a style slightly inspired in Hepburn's Rome Holiday haircut, with the short bangs and the curls. The small curls under the ear are to remind a bit of Mega Gardevoir's hairstyle.
I thought the less arched eyebrows and smaller lips would help to make her more youthful. I still wanted to make her expression more determined and striking, but without being too different. I think that, specially in her official illustration, her expression is rather uncanny and void of feeling, instead of being full of feeling expressed through a composed stance.
That's a bit related to the next point, which is that I read somewhere she was meant to stand along Cynthia. Cynthia's art shows a rather aloof face, one that's calm and confident due to experience, almost expecting for new things. I wanted Diantha's expression to have a similar vibe, but instead of aloof, it's determined. She's a young (20) girl with clear knowledge and a path she's familiar with. She knows what she's doing, so she's aware of the signals that someone is going to be a good trainer. Also, Cynthia has these flops that look like Lucario's, which is in her team but not her ace. I added the hairpin with Aurorus' diamond jewel and a small veil to mimic the aurora in it's head.
It's a bit hard because I had to draw it with my finger on my phone, but I hope it conveys slightly my intent.
