this is cool
#Current WIP taking me way to long. Critique Welcome. Help me brainstorm.
short aspen
opaque helm
this is awesome dude
rare quail
Key words for clue for your own idea
Eye, lava, water, armored skeleton, face cut in slices like cucumber but no blood
naive oriole
don't know if this would work but placing some other less detailed knights/archers farther away from him could be a nice detail
the drawing looks amazing btw. every single part is so compact with detail but not overwhelming and the knight just looks amazing
zealous garnet
It looks like a cave or forest. Build on this theme. I suggest adding some organic textures such as moth, possibly small animals, and a skull would be fitting.
vivid path
I wouldn't touch the top section of the storm above as it looks quite nice. Looks like a eclipse.
Looks like the light is shining down on him from above in the direction of the storm.
I think everything you're doing is perfect in detail. I think the main thing you need rn is just someone to say keep going. One thing I will suggest is making the storm or lines darker as you continue to go downwards with it. This will give the effect that where he is currently standing is darker than from above. Also making the faces within the storm bigger next to him indicating he as already entered into it.
Or you could find some way to indicate he has not yet entered into it. By adding something natural on the outside such as trees grass, however I'd making these natural things effected by the storm since it feels like a very life changing event happening...
short aspen
You say the work is taking way too long -- you are using an expensive technique for rendering complex textures, its going to take time. Be sure to charge extra for it, or pick quicker methods
opaque helm
you could add scary lil faces in the background that kinda blends together