ZHU QIAO, THE RED Bird

My Illustration thesis was character and creature concept art, and the theme behind it was chinese mythology. Specifically, each direction of the compass has an animal associated with it, as well as an element, a color, and a ranking, among other attributes. My goal was to create a female warrior (each one of a different nation) to use one of the animals as their mount into battle.

Zhu Qiao, the Red Bird, represents south and its element is fire. It’s known as the symbol of the Empress.