One of my favorite stories is that of Swan Lake. When I was a 4 year old girl I first saw the manga version of white swan Odette, and her love for prince Cedric. I was in love. Although the movie now now seems a bit out of date, I still enjoy watching it. If only for the lovely designed characters. So it's high time to create an illustration of the white swan and the black swan.

Creating White Swan Black Swan

I mainly wanted to depict the difference in character. White Swan Odette is a timid girl is of a somewhat melancholic disposition, where Black Swan Odile is a seductive being. 
As always I first draw the basis with a lightblue pencil. When I'm satisfied with my linework, I trace it with a darker color. 

After that I add the shadows and highlights. This gives my illustration the depth I want. Then I start adding color. I do this by mixing several colors of Prismacolor pencils . Because these pencils are somewhat oily, they blend very well. Especially with my Prismacolor blender.

White Swan Black Swan details

Because Swan Lake is a ballet based on the musical symphony by Pjotr Iljitsj Tsjaikovski, I thought it best to show the swans in their ballet dresses. 
Furthermore they both wear a swan as a headpiece, by which you can obviously see whom they represent.
An important thing when you wish to tell a story by illustrating, is the body language of your subject. White Swan Odette is demure, and looks up to the sky with a melancholy but also dreamy glance, like she's imagining seeing her loved one. Black Swan Odile has an open stance of ' look at me' and an arrogant facial expression. And of course the color of their dresses finishes it all.
If you want to create an illustration yourself, my tip is: think of what story you wish to tell, and how you can emphasize this by adding details.

My son the art critic looks very impressed :-P