"Leah the Diablo" by Sheh

"Leah the Diablo" by Sheh

Beloved for her bravery and endless search for the truth, Leah will never be forgotten by the heroes of Sanctuary. And although she may have been lost to the sinister forces of the Burning Hells, her spirit lives on through the remarkable creations of this community.

For this Artisan Showcase, we take a closer look at one such piece with Taiwanese community manager Broodlisk, who recently sat down with fan artist Ming-yi Sheh ("Sheh") to talk about his Diablo III-themed digital painting, "Leah the Diablo." Here's the translated interview:

Q. We've very happy to see such a high quality piece of Diablo artwork featuring a female Diablo. Before we continue, could introduce yourself to community?

My name's Sheh and I dropped out of Life Sciences at National Taiwan Normal University. I am now studying Multimedia and Animation at National Taiwan University of Arts. I am super honored to be introduced by Blizzard! My hobbies are, naturally, drawing and fantasy literature.

Q. How much art experience do you have?

About 3 years. I used to go online to check out tutorials and the drawings by top artists. I ended up neglecting my studies, so I had no choice but to study animation instead (laugh). It's mainly out of personal interest. The university doesn't really expect much and, as an arts university, you have a lot of freedom. You can choose whatever path you like as long as you take responsibility for your own future.

Q. What was your inspiration for this drawing of a female Diablo?

I played Diablo II as a child, so I've always looked forward to Diablo III. As Leah was the main character in all of the official videos released, and she was such a looker, I couldn't wait to see what role she played in the game. When Diablo III finally came out, a group of us graduate students bought it and played it all through the night. When Leah became Diablo, I nearly broke down. Going from babe one second to monster the next? That was just too much. I eventually decided to try and set things right. She should at least keep her beautiful face.

Q: What did you feel was the trickiest part of this drawing?

I think it was the hands. The hands are always the most difficult part to draw. It might be different for other people, but I think I have trouble with hands because, when I look in the mirror, I don't usually look at my hands. Your hands are also reversed from your own point of view. As well, I am a guy, so the hands in this drawing… feel a bit masculine. I could only use my hands for reference, after all. The face, as well as the horns and spines on the back, was a lot easier by comparison.

Q. You have experience with drawing settings, characters and monsters. Are you planning to go into game art in the future?

If I get the chance, definitely. I hope to work overseas in the future and I've always loved to draw. My technique is not good enough yet so I will probably look for jobs in 3D, which is my specialty. I will continue to hone my drawing skills, however. I've been a fan of Blizzard since childhood. There is not much chance of me finding a job in the US at the moment, but I will try my luck and send in my resume eventually.

Q. Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Finally, is there anything that you would like to say to Diablo III players or people learning how to draw?

I still have plenty of room for improvement but I hope people will like my drawing. I appreciate this opportunity from Blizzard as well as Broodlisk for taking the time to give me an interview. Thanks.

To see more of Peter Sheh's atwork, make sure to check out his CGHub portfolio and personal website.

Are you working on any Blizzard fan creations? Make sure to tell us all about them over in our Community Creations forum!