The Keeper of Mankind

"The Emperor of Mankind is the immortal ruling monarch of the Imperium of Man, and is described by the Imperial Ecclesiarchy and the Imperial Cult as the Father, Guardian and God of Humanity. The Chaos Gods and the daemons of the Warp refer to him as "the Anathema" for he is the greatest embodiment of universal Order in the galaxy today."
--- [©Games Workshop Ltd. 2000-2011 & respective author(s). Used without permission. No copyright infringement intended.]

EDIT: Uploaded a better scan <3

Clearly, this is a pre-Heresy shot seeing how His arm is still properly attached and He isn't, in fact, a desiccated corpse. Or is He, and is this simply a mind's perception of His true self?

I am quite excited about this piece as it is one of the first I have finished since... forever. And I am actually considering drafting up another version of the same sketch - different background, different mood. I have also applied a new inking technique as well as tinkering with my blending styles. So all-in-all it's an "all new" look for my marker art. For the better, I think. I am especially pleased with how his skin-tone came out. It could have done with slightly more tan but I was, truth be told, too afraid to spoil it by darkening it too much in the event that I might over-do it.

I used the most well-known image of him during the pinnacle of the Horus Heresy where he confronts his favoured son Horus after the slaying of his other son Sanguinius as a reference for his general look and colour-feel. I do like this rendering best, especially his visage. And I think I managed to mimic it nicely in my own drawing. Although, as my drawing preferences dictate I ditched the bulky gilded armour and left on whatever was left.

Which was... not too much. Enough though, I think.