Sorry for the late post this week! My inspiration for this week’s post was similar to the previous project I undertook. For this one, I wanted to focus on a sorceress that is inspired by traditional Japanese kimonos and then also her regular everyday clothing. I thought water powers would be an excellent contrast to the fire sorceress I previously was working on. I have a more dynamic illustration in progress right now too – maybe I’ll post that next week!
This is Phen Lemege. She’s an office drone of the Mercenaries Guild’s bureaucracy. She works in the ever-backlogged dimensional travel department. There’s a 5-year waitlist!
She’s supposed to have an attractive secretary look. She has a background in Hell, like a DnD tiefling. She’s dating Tove, who wass a previous subject of Sketchbook Smashing. She has cherry-red skin, and rams horns and I don’t know if she should have a tail. I keep forgetting to add it. I’m not sure about her personality. I’m thinking since most of her clothes are black and white, maybe she could have a black-and-white morality.
Ambassador Tomon,
I am afraid there is only so much I can tell you regarding the King. That you asked such a question in the first place is grounds for treason if this letter comes into the wrong hands. In truth, responding to you is an act that brings me great discomfort. I am writing you to explain why missives of such a nature cannot be asked in this court because you understandably are not yet familiar with our customs. I do not wish to offend you because I am not versed in the court of your Empire. In Tokavsk, it is forbidden to speak negatively of the King within the walls of the Court. The King could be anywhere at any time because it is his palace; therefore, he could hear what one says against him. It will affect his judgment of you if he knows your thoughts on him. The law is to protect both the King and the people within his walls.
I am willing to discuss with you certain matters of the King, but it must be beyond the confines of the palace. I do hope you are understanding of this arrangement. There is only so much I am willing to say both because of my high position and the Tokavskan cultural stigma against speaking of the King. Please keep in mind to word your thoughts carefully lest you become a social outcast. Tokavskans know of foreign conventions of discussing their leaders, but we do not understand the reasoning for such talk. I offer this opportunity to you because I know Rushevians have fewer laws regarding addressing your Emperor. I can advise you on how to act in Tokavsk so you do not risk yourself.
This letter was penned by Zhanda Sheshyen.
While most of what I post is related to freelance work, commercial art, illustration, etc., I do also enjoy drawing from observation to learn from and reinterpret what I see around myself. Just as I try to find visual solutions to questions and problems (what would a giant military robot engineered from a construction model look like?) through stylization, I also try to find ways to convey information about the real world in the most efficient and expressive ways possible. Which is to say, for the self-portraits I’ve made for class over the past few weeks, I’ve simplified my features and the shadows on my body down to express what I’m seeing and feeling in the moment, rather than committing a photorealistic representation to paper. The self-portraits are shown below, starting from the earliest to the most recent (drawn last week).
Out of all of these, I like the most recent one the most because it looks the most developed and thoughtfully realized. It also helps that it was at the largest scale (18×24″) and on the nicest drawing paper I own (Strathmore 400 series), whereas the others were at 9×12″ at the largest and drawn on mediocre drawing paper or mixed media sketch paper. The quality of materials really does matter for traditional art, which is both a major annoyance (supply costs add up very, very fast) and an interesting limiting factor (making the most of the given materials is immensely satisfying to me).
While I’ve been pretty busy with schoolwork and making game assets for “Flamechaser” lately (we’re releasing the 0.58 build soon with an expanded story and more complete visuals/animation/sound effects), I’m also going to try to find time to make watercolor and oil paintings again, either stylized or observed from life. Having to draw people from life on a regular basis has reawakened my interest in traditional art, and my improvement over a few weeks of study feels promising for what I could do if I practice my traditional painting skills more.
The Lovers: harmony, love, companionship, dependence
Beauty among the rose bushes, come find me. There in the rose bushes, come find me. We sing in different tones, yet they complement. Each other. We find each other among the rose bushes. A petal for your thoughts? In return keep my thorn. By my delicate petal, I’ll be your valiant thorn. Together we’ll be a rose harmoniously blooming in happiness, wilting in sadness. And in happiness again, dispersing our love through wind, water, and gravity. So that more may grow among the rose bushes.
As roads come and go, I’ll wander them with you. Wade through water. Clutch your hand. I want to have your hand. Forever. Two protons break the fusion barrier to be together. One nucleus. Can you handle it? Do you comprehend your ensnarement to me? Eternally. Right now, eternity doesn’t seem long enough.
But let’s make it real here under roosting crows. Soon we’ll find our own place to rest. After all the wandering, wading, and clutching your hand. To be with you.
Making love under the moon. It’s something lovers do. Every time I think I know where you end and where you begin. It slithers from my grasp. You know how to make me focus. On being enthralled by you. Even after we’re tired after hours of vibrant affection. You still turn my head. Roll it against the pillow. To you. The moon rises above you. Ethereal. I can’t help but think the moon must have blessed me with you. As lovers do.
Happy belated Valentine’s <3
Lyrics from “Killer Whale” by Boyscott. I interpreted this song as a story about two people who’s lives rely on each other. Personally, I relate this song to my brother and I. We’ve been close our entire lives, so it feels as though we’re permanently tied, both by family and what we’ve been through. The song puts an emphasis on ‘home’ and the idea of leaving and coming back to it. As each person goes through their own struggles in life, it seems like the other acts as an anchor. They both try to be there for each other while also trying not to get lost themselves. I wanted to visualize this connection through a red cord tying the two characters together. As the first character ‘loses heart’ the cord unravels, loosening its hold on the other. I think this push and pull of needing another person can be seen in a lot of different relationships, but this is how I hear the song!
