A Sketchy Mess

MEME: And now for something a little different...

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:01:18 GMT

Found this meme over at wow_fanart

1. Take the name of a character of yours and find out what it means. http://www.behindthename.com/
2. Go to http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/search.sets and type in the meaning of the name.
3. Draw your character in the second outfit that comes up. (If something that isn't clothes comes up, skip to the third.)

Picked out Amara for this. What came out of it was a ridiculous outfit that was just too good to not doodle up. 8D

WoW Tarot Project: V of Swords

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:35:08 GMT

By contrast from the V of Cups, the third card has been the fastest thus far.

Preview:

And an unaltered version because I really like the skintone:

Card: Five of Swords
Character: Vissic

So... I actually had a lot of fun with this one. It also didn't take a million weeks to do it. (Planning took awhile, but once that was all figured out, it took about two weeks from sketch to final product.) The Five of Swords represents lack of integrity (no moral compass), taking part in conflict, and acting out of your own self-interests. And well... Vissic is pretty much all of that. This illustration actually depicts an RP event that happened a little over a year ago where he had Ravine murder several civilians during the Ritual of Doom--a greater summoning spell that brings a Doomguard demon into the mortal plane, though not without a price. And while Ravine regrets her actions, Vissic is drinking up in her grief--perhaps right now even plotting something more sinister with that smirk on his face.

As for the armor, T5 Warlock. Not only is it a very iconic warlock set (at least I think so), but I think it fits him very well. (I also think he wore that during the RP. >>) The blades weren't really anything in particular. But, I wanted to get a sort of sinister vibe with the sword/dagger he was carrying. (The ones in the background, I didn't care too much about. >>)

Long story short: evil is great! I'm really glad this came out well.

D433: Untitled and WIP on the Five of Swords

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:19:55 GMT

I have no idea why, but I can't stop listening to this song.

Process is going a lot more quicker. Mostly because I've thrown the whole lineless thing out the window. (And have furthermore decided to stick with the sketch) I think I'm having way more fun than I should painting an evil bastard. :v I also still need to decide on how the other four blades/swords will look. Vissic needs another evil/creepy blade. I remember coming across one in Model Viewer but I can't find it for the life of me. Arrr.

Been looking at/listening to a lot of Silent Hill stuff lately, so it a way... I think it's contributing a bit to the coloring at least. 8D

This is random.

Tarot Series: 5 of Swords (WIP)

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:47:22 GMT

Time to work on a new card.

Still playing around with the background on this. Needs more dead bodies (because shoulder armor covered up where the armor was going to be originally. Go fig.) Also need to decide if I want to do anything decorative and special with the blades he's holding.

Mostly planned out at this point, but probably needs to undergo a few more tweeks.

(I do like how his face came out though. :> )

D432: it's the fear

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:41:48 GMT

I think I finally have all the random doodles out of my system now.

Everytime I draw Ravine, I feel like I'm getting one step closer to actually being able to draw her as I envision her in my head. This is... hands down the closest I've gotten.

D430: Passed On

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:35:40 GMT

Wanted to draw a dead person, but... yeah. I'll try again later.

D429: Wavering

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:44:43 GMT

Ravine felt a touch at first on her head. Slender hands with their fingers weaving themselves through her auburn-colored hair.

The headaches were first—immediate and intense as she winced, lowering her head into her hand for support. Then, there was feeling inside of her. Something dark, ugly and full of venom was growing within her. It was something—that for so long—she fought a never-ending battle to suppress.

And then she heard it. A voice like her own, but laced with malice and contempt.

"Give up."

D426: Three Women

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:27:24 GMT

Something like 30 minutes in Painter. Was considering using this for a post on my WoW RP blog, but I have since decided to scrap the post altogether. :|
From left to right: Ravine, Amara, and Veshara.

D424: Warlock

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:57:05 GMT

Character head study for the next tarot card I'm doing. Vissic, you magnificent bastard you.

WoW Tarot Project: V of Cups

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:42:33 GMT

Yeah. This one didn't take me a month to do. Nope. Actually, if I didn't slack on it for a good two weeks, probably not. >.>

As much as this card is kind of a negative nancy, it really fits Kitra well. Sorry Kit. :< The Five of Cups is generally associated with loss, or feelings associated with it (such as: regret, sorrow or denial) However, we get so caught up in these emotions, that we fail to notice the things that we still have.

I really like the composition here. It's probably my favorite part about this piece. A few things I would like to tweek still. but... well. I'm ready to take on the next picture really at this point.

Doodles

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:21:48 GMT

Two fanarts:

This is actually a week old. Oops.
Anyways, wooh Vyse! (done in paintchat with charmwitch and friends!) I am rusty in the ways of oekaki-type applets.

(This reminds me that I need to work on playing Valkyria Chronicles again.)

Yaaaaay childhood.
I'm not sure how, but I borked my cover pencil tool in Painter IX. Super messy sketch. :(

Oh god I really need to stop listening to Sailor Moon music. (though the BGMs are so good. And nostalgic.)

Next update: 5 of Cups (completed!)

Scheen

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:54:57 GMT

A quickie! (And by quickie, I mean this took about two days.)

Late birthday gift for a friend on my RP server. :> Textures from http://princess-of-shadows.deviantart.com/ (although that set isn't there anymore oddly... Hm.)

Frosting Over (Speedpaint) + Another WIP

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:37:43 GMT

After about two weeks--progress!

Finished up those damn glass bottles sitting in the back. Now, I'm having a conundrum with those two goblets in the back, and where to put them. :| I'll be toning down the brightness on them so they're not such of an eyesore, as well as other assorted things. And then, I can finally work on the character! (Which will... actually not take that long. Unless fingers give me a hard time.)

And one more.

Quickie 30 min speed paint in Painter, followed by color tweeks + filters in Photoshop! It has a nitty-gritty quality that I like. Didn't expect the snow to come out all bright like that, but heeeey. Contrast!

Also may or may not be based on recent RP. I do that a lot nowdays.

WoW - Winter Wear and Scheen!

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:18:37 GMT

Two quick ones before going to bed. Both were done in my sketchbook with copics and white paint. :> Also a mechanical pencil.

Rav in her current RP wear. Also sporting a really large,fuzzy cloak. It's really freaking cold in the Storm Peaks, y'know. This one actually feels like this was done with watercolors, which is pretty awesome to me.

Scheen! Picture is blurry and kind of sucks. :| Also I have no idea how I managed to salvage this. because there were like a million things wrong with it as I went through the coloring process. Also used some multiliners to define some lineage going on. Practice practice practice!

EDIT: Better picutre has been uploaded

(Yet Another) 5 of Cups WIP and Oekaki Sketch

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:59:06 GMT

Since I'm pretty sure most people are sick of my WIP paintings at this point... D:

Yuyu, my super old RO priestess from like... seven or eight years ago. Before I get questions from some people, she was an acolyte/priestess when I used to play her on the Chaos server. I wouldn't consider her and Lilith as the same person, since one would much rather heal you, while the other would probably cut your throat. 8D

Went down nostalgia lane when I came across a site I used to frequent back in my RO playing days. Their old oekaki was spammed up to hell, but it looks like a few months ago, the site admin went and wiped everything clean, and installed a new board.

I haven't used an oekaki applet in about two years. It's safe to say that, holy shit, those applets sure have evolved since the last time I used them!

(Doesn't stop me from being lazy though. 8D)

More stuff! Almost done with the background, and then I can FINALLY WORK ON THE CHARACTER. :D I'm actually looking forward to it.

Five of Cups (WIP 2)

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:19:21 GMT

So far, largely pleased with how this is coming out--save for one thing.

Somewhere along the way, my composition ended up changing. I say this, because there's actually supposed to be a bar table behind the character. But it got turned into the wall behind her. Uh... oops. The main thing is that I actually like how it is, but that means I don't have a place at the moment to place the two cups that are supposed to be standing. :x

I'm thinking about maybe putting a shelf up behind her, but I dunno. I kind of don't want to mess with the background.

Arrrgh. Maybe I'll sleep on it.

(And probably work on the fallen goblets more. I'm pretty pleased with the perspective. But if it looks off in some form of fashion, someone let me knoooow.)

Tarot Series: Five of Cups (WIP)

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:52 GMT

This one is going to take awhile to finish. I can feel it in my bones. Background is.... probably 25% done. :| So many things that I need to add to it still.

I'm actually on the fence with using the texture on the stones. I actually started hi-res this time (in 300DPI, unlike the IX of Pentacles where I was working in only 100DPI), so I can actually -do- detailed work. The wood textures are currently placeholders, as I'll be painting in the wood paneling in the background. (I already started on it if you look at the top horizontal bar. :x)

I'm trying something a liiittle bit different in my coloring technique. (I had a chance of starting fresh after a Painter crash destroyed the original file I was working on.) Taking a few tips from blackeri in her painting tutorial, so I remain hopeful! There's supposed to be something at the bottom, but I haven't put it in yet. Most (if not all) of the elements should be together in some shape or form on the next update. :D

D422: Ref Sheet

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:57:05 GMT

Did a quick ref sheet doodle for a Rav bust commission. 8D A fellow artist on my server was offering to do $5 bust portraits in order to pay off vet bills for her cat. It was a really good offer, since she does some amazing work. Check out her dA here. :D [/plug]

EDIT: She is currently offering three more slots for her $5 colored commission portraits. If you have the spare change, I highly recommend looking into getting a commission!

WoW Tarot Project: IX of Pentacles

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:57:12 GMT

Three weeks later..

So yeah. The first card in this series. I decided to start with Ravine (since she has two cards. So, I'm starting and ending the series with Ravine cards. 8D)

Originally, she had one card like everyone else, but co-conspirator Frank pointed out to me that I picked a pretty negative card for her, even if it fits her. I still wanted to do the other card, but I wanted something positive for her as well. The Nine of Pentacles represents self-reliance, discipline and refinement, which I think fit her pretty well (despite the fact that her recent episodes have made her falter as far as keeping in line with her goals, but no one's perfect.)

The image was about three weeks of work. However, I'm probably gonna go back later and design a proper card border for this. By the time I finished this, it was damn near 6 AM, and I really, really didn't have it in me to design something nice, so it's kind of plain at the moment. But, it'll be nice to design a card border, so then I can put it on every card I do! 8D

Anyhoo, as mentioned before, I learned a few new tricks with this piece. So I'm definitely going to apply them to the next card. Hopefully, I can shave a week off the next one. And so forth and so forth.

Also going to be using more textures in the future! It makes things so much more interesting. :D

EDIT: Went back and fixed a few things since a friend of mine pointed out some things that could be fixed.

Nine of Pents (Even more WIP shots)

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:53:15 GMT

ITT: More progress shots
(Sorry folks. No dumb doodles today.)

Everything's starting to slowly come together. But oh man. So much more to go. /cry

MUST. PERSEVERE.
(On the bright side, I have my next card planned out, so I can jump right into it after this one!)

D421: Resistance & Tarot WIP

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:58:56 GMT

Coming along slowly. There's some tweaks here and there from the last one. Oh hey, and this is the first picture where I used the masking tool. It's funny how it kind of confounded me for so long. But, now I'm seriously kicking myself in the face because it's... not hard to use at all. wtf me. :( Will be fiddling with the texture more when I move this painting to post.

As soon as I listened to Resistance from Muse, I knew I had to draw Rav and Sav. :V Sav came out amazing, but Rav came out all cruddy. Oh well.

Tarot Series: Nine of Pentacles (WIP)

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:05:47 GMT

So um... hey! I'm not dead!

To summarize the last month and a half: The flu sucks, but I'm alive in Washington right now--though currently jobless. In the meantime though, I've been getting myself back into drawing after being in a craptastic slump for about two months.

I got in my head while I was sick with the flu that I should put myself to work on an art project that takes a bunch of RP characters I've met in WoW and pairing them up with tarot cards. I don't want to reveal too much, since they're all going to be surprise gifts to these people--a thank you gesture for allowing me to RP with them over the years. But in total, there'll be 21 cards. (although two of them are Rav cards. I like drawing her. Don't judge me man!) I've also picked cards from both the major and minor arcana.

Anyways, I'm about... maybe a little over halfway done with the overall picture. About halfway done painting Rav (gotta paint in the details), need to add some ground and shadows under her so she isn't floating, and need to work on the pentacles. I started painting this uh... around last week? 8D I'm just really slow with painting characters. But goddammit, I'm determined to finish.

D414

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:56:29 GMT

Oh hey. I have a sketchblog don't I? Yeah, I haven't drawn too much lately. Lots of stuff going on in life. 8U Soz. Will try and remedy that.

In the meantime, Rav looks kinda... antagonistic. She's been feeling like that a lot lately.
(Also, my copy of Painter IX is officially borked. orz)

D413, KK doodle and Commission WIP

Mon, 11 May 2009 21:40:48 GMT

Soz. I know it's been awhile. Got reeeally busy towards the end of April/early May.

Sat in my example folder during KK. Used to lure unsuspecting anime fans to my table and ask for work during the con. It was later traded away for a box of takoyaki.

People commission that I'm currently working on from KK. Truth be told, I had an older version all inked and I started to color it. But, I had some pretty glaring mistakes on it, which prompted me to start again. Hoping to finish this before I leave on Friday.

The first "for me" drawing I've done in a very long while. Senkir's design... sort of begs to be remodeled though. It's only a sketch though, so I'll see what to do with it when I go digital with this.

Birthday!

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:53:08 GMT

Today's Sav's birthday, so I drew him something. 8D

Drawing hunter armor=sucks. It's 2 AM and I didn't want to draw it in. (thus the lame dialoge 8D)
Hope you enjoy Sav, and have a good one! :>