9/16/12: Cover Work & Ref for a Friend

Cover for a short story.  A lot of WIP stuff, basically....

So here's the original paper, exposed photo paper with ink over it.  

Original colors on the left, B/W on the right.

And with art added.  Filtered the B/W differently here, different values, cooler grey.

And linework.  Forgot his side strands of his bangs, trying to decide if that bothers me....

And here we go, a reference for a friend of mine who used to be online; her fursona (slightly redesigned/finalized) :)

The design is all her, I provided a bit of input but she made all the calls and the base is completely hers, without my input.

In person the ref will be over two pieces of paper, one for the standard base colors (the cream/red) the other for her alternative color scheme.  Previously the stripes on the blue design had been yellow too but we decided to tone it down and stick with a three-color-scheme for each design.  

I hope she likes it, she hasn't seen it finished yet.

7/23/12: Badges...and a LOT of Darkmoon!

 

 Left: My half of an art part of an art-and-items trade for angryprncess <3 Right: One of two badges for Punkrock-shefox, fancy badge!

Badge for Antique of Yum*Pop, for part of a commission payment.  This badge is done, except for puffy stickers.  I want to scan it when the stickers are on it, but those will only be added after I laminate it since to do so before hand would be certain death for the badge.  It's really cute...y'all will see it soon. :)
It's not scanned yet because I need to wait until I have enough to laminate so I'm not wasting the sheet with only two things on it and a ton of empty space.

 Darkmoon, supplementary for her ref to show her body hair (armpits, crotch, inner thighs, navel) which is very thick and very dark.  Also a vent piece about societal pressures to shave that due to my texture issues (mostly mild except when concerning this) are just impossible for me to give into.  The texture of my own shaved skin is repulsive and appalling to me and shaving is emotionally draining and takes forever due to exactly how thick the hair is.  Most of the time it doesn't deter me from wearing shorts without tights or leggings and mostly others don't critique me anymore, but I've been told I couldn't go on school trips, been teased, singled out etc. by both teachers and peers in school so it's hard for me to shake off paranoia about it.  Also I'm the only one of my friends who doesn't shave and it's galling for me to have to listen to others talk about shaving during the summer.  So, yeah, there's my rant.  Felt good to draw Darkmoon again.
I temporarily had a desk position at work that was really tedious and repetitive so I did some sketching...this, the badges above, and the work below...the whole post....basically was done at a desk during my lunch breaks and other times when I needed to get away from the task without actually doing anything too engrossing.

So you may remember my Feature Friday about theeverydaygoth, talking about her inspiring me to do a wardrobe cleansing.  I also got back into wearing gothy stuff-I had given up since I felt it didn't look good on me--but then I realized I was being ridiculous and had the right to feel pretty, so I went through my wardrobe and cleaned out a lot of things and resolved to wear my other clothes again.  When I went to see Rasputina in April I got all dressed up for the first time in ages and felt really good and looked really good--that reassured me that I look pretty good in elegant black stuff too.
Supplemental to Dark's ref, these are all outfits I own.
First sketch was the bottom left, by far my favorite.  Put this together for AC.  Hand-dyed pettipants!  Little cute goaty horns are from DMB.
The top left one shows a shirt that my mom and I are pretty sure she made years ago, gave to a thrift store, and I bought it. No joke. XD  Hair clips from the awesome Miss Monster.
Top right shows me in the only short-sleeve blouse I still own, haha.  Put that together for work in the office since I realized I didn't have to wear jeans and tees every day and looked grungy compared to others around me. :I
Bottom right one was the last and I ran out of room and it's my least favorite.  But the caplet is cute.  The bustle skirt is poorly made and the material is cheap and I'm trying to replace it with something better-made.
So a few notes: I layer a lot, wear mostly black, grey, and white, also ivory, also burgundy/wine sometimes, and some purple.  My use of blue is usually muted and rather limited but I have a few blue tops.  I layer a lot, hence the camis and transparent tops.
The crow skull necklace is from Skullery, it's another optional necklace for Darkmoon, but I also have an ankh and a circular chain mail necklace, so in addition to the two on her reference sheet, these are also all daily optionals.  I/she typically wear(s) two at once but one can be worn too.
I'll be making other cute goth sketches in the future as I update my wardrobe and will hopefully be doing fairy kei, lolita, and punk ones.

Warning: Nudity under the cut

This is ALSO supplemental to a ref, but Felix's ref only.  He can have Baphomet features--horns, bat wings, halo, visible chakras, etc.  The wings and horns are transparent/ghostly.  The sigil of Baphomet and inverted crosses aren't part of the form exclusively, rather, some of his many optional tattoos.  Also wax fetish.
Also super inspired by tons of Black Tape For A Blue Girl.

Badge, sketch, and adult ACEO

<3 My BFF and co-owner of nearly all the characters has a birthday coming up and got to be a guinea pig for my 20s photography badges.  This was so fun to make, all my favorite things at once pretty much!  I hope others commission me for them JUST so I can draw more of them, they're so fun.  $15 each, they're standard badges.

A sketch I've had kicking around for a while.  Trying to make more dynamic images, draw more humans, and human/anthro interaction.  Also I wanted to show their relationships through movement and positioning. I think I did a good job.  Transferred and began inking, it'll get purple sketch lines added since I really love how they look.

Kept forgetting to scan/post, it's in my portfolio pile.  A few animals I sketched at the museum.  I love taxidermy specimens...they stay still for you.  the fawn is my favorite.  His/her spots were SO vivid, but the shading I did made it hard to add them.  I originally was going to paint them on later.

Made two months ago (close to when the above was made).  A lot I'm not thrilled with but overallI like it.  I may finish it.  And yes, I do see Baphomet as my preferred way to visualize the universe/nature in a single form of chaos and balance.  Philosophically I'm similar to a LaVeyan Satanist but not exact.  And while I haven't done much yet I have a lot of interest in sigil work and other kinds of magick.  I never thought I'd find faith but hey, look.

This is not meant to be "satanic" or "offensive" imagery. 

Warning: adult content under the cut!

3/15/12: MLP and Dancer Inks & Sketchbook Scans

So, WIP update of the trade with my IRL friend.  Need to add another marking I forgot.  I also need to outline that circle still...I'm already coloring it.  I usually like to color clothes with markers and bodies with pencils if I'm doing mixed media, and I'm doing that with this picture.

My MLP dolls are close to being complete, sans Gala dresses and elements of harmony...those are thus far not started.  I did some questions on a few sites and decided to do a Luna doll and either a Derpy, Vinyl Scratch, Zecora, or Big Mac if I have time for extras too. 

I decided to make MLP ACEOs in the style I use for my own MLP drawings, as opposed to the dolls--which were in some ways closer to the style of the show than my usual comic style....which for MLP is a lot cleaner/more refined and pony influenced than normal...

I already finished this, it's really cute.  Fluttershy's next.  So far, cutie marks aren't showing on either of them, but they're shown with their passions/livelihoods.  I may keep it up and keep from showing their cutie marks on this series.  I may sell a little print of each one with their matching doll, IDK yet.

Practice, may go in portfolio as a sketchbook example. Right now this is my typical sketchbook, actually.  I've been doing a lot of work with human and animal anatomy and poses.  I drew the skulls from reference (except that crappy one to the side) and the ones with noses, eyes etc. w/o reference, to practice laying skin and muscle over a skull.  The coyote is less than I would have liked but I was having trouble fixing it.  I guess my canines do need some work.  Also, bamboo lemurs and golden mantled tree kangaroos!

Two character concepts.  The top right is a genderqueer FtM mongoose lemur named Gage.  He likes pomade and 50s hair, heh.

The other design is not really like this anymore..it's a tree kangaroo....thing.  Named Jazz, short for Jasper.  Gender null.

They're supposed to be best friends and partners. 

 Will scan soon.  :)

3/7/12: Ayami Trade Sketch

Here's the sketch so far:

(Sorry for the massive fullview.  My computer is being weird.)

I'm inking it right now and will post the update later!
Pose reffed from Posemaniacs, which I highly recommend to any person looking to better their human art.  It's a free tool that has an archive of poses broken down to muscle, viewable on a grid in many angles, and it also has sections showing just certain parts of the body, like feet.  I think you can even get it as a phone app.  There's no fee but donations are encouraged.  The person this trade is for actually recommended it to me a few years ago.
Background is going to be a bunch of fish and glow-bugs, things the character greatly enjoys.  I will probably put it on scrapbook paper after that or another piece of paper so I can make the background like a roller rink a little, unsure!

Hoping to post a few character concepts later as well as updates on the image's progress.

3/6/12: Badge Trades // Sketchbook Page // Gift

For Kaili!  Used photo paper, totally killed a pen, will have to experiment with tip types to find what works best....

Inked half of a badge trade with Vore.  Mm, zombies. 

Warning: Nudity under the cut!

2/17/11-2/19/11: Tear Your Little World Apart

I'm trying to draw 100 things influenced by songs.  I've had the project's specifications going for a little while and have maybe 5 drawings done or close to completion.  I've mostly been doing refs the past year, so...yeah.  Slowed things down.  Basically, I'm trying to draw properly again by doing this and a lot of practice sketching in a proper sketchbook.....

This started because I drew Carlos looking hot while listening to Garbage.  I now have two Garbage images in the works, I guess--that Tess ACEO from the last post, and this.


WARNING: Nudity and mild adult content under the cut!

2/15/11: Three ACEOs; One's for V-Day! // Ref & Pin-up WIPs

DON'T FORGET THE RAFFLES: furaffinity.net/journal/3167400/

First, a trade with Brett!

I had a lot of fun drawing this character for him.  Except for the Not-Dog and a few miscellaneous sketches I don't get to draw monstery critters!  I REALLY love how it came out, I had been saving that ACEO for something special since I had colored it a while ago.

It's iridescent IRL so it's super shiny.

TESS!

Meant to go along with the ACEOs I've been doing of my girl characters being sexy.  This one is a little more clean than the others, I guess, since she's the most covered and the material's opaque :P  Gonna do an orange-yellow background.  Make her look all fiery and hot (punny).

WARNING: Nudity and adult content under the cut!

2/4/12: Mr. Hummingbird

ACEO of my dead hummingbird, aptly named Mr. Hummingbird.
I did this with colored pencils, gold and white gel pen for details and additional shading, and water (background).  I REALLY am very proud of how he came out.

1/22/11: Trade//Ref//Adult Trade//ACEO

As it says.  Trades, ref, ACEO.

I'm not going to shade my MLPs anymore.  I only did it once.  Here.  I don't like how it looks.  Still, pleased with how it came out in terms of pose...gonna cut it out and rescan.  Trade half with Opossumsrubnoses. 

Lindsay finished.  I used graphite instead of iridescent stuff on the background...Pretty happy with how it looks.  A lot of people draw her with brown patches instead of grey, but the actual breed can have either.  I prefer her with the grey, but it's shown here to be a sort of grey-brown.  Her new ref will come soon, I hope. 

Other trade and ref under the cut. Nudity AND adult content.

01/15/11: ACEOs // MLP

 One finished pony, two finished ACEOS, one unfinished.  Yep.

 Sweet Surprise finished!  I'm thinking all my ponies will be unshaded....I like this look.

Emma being hot.  Iridescent medium on the background!  I love the pose too.  Oh man.

I really like this.  It's done but I haven't gotten to scanning yet.  Lindsay's a fashion model...and I had seen a few things on tumblr that were these lace-only dresses...or something.  No undergarments....hmm.

 Gift for Angel.  <3  Her and Sam, inspired by Renaissance Madonna with Child imagery.  I sure do love halos....

2011 In Review. // ATC, MLP, and Ferrets!

Art summary for 2011!  I think this year I really improved on humans the most, but also anatomy....I hope...

Also, references for Emma's ferrets, Amanda (left) and Rosalie (right).  Rosalie's usually just called Rosie.

Also, Merriweather MLP.  His design just follows his donkey sona.  Drawing the guys was more fun than I expected....

Carlos butt ACEO  Because I love drawing her.  I also love iridescent/pearlescent mediums.

Martha sketches. I can't remember if I posed these, but they're up now....Her ref's about half done, maybe more.

 And finally, colored version of a sketch commission for my friend Clockworkgh0st, decided to dress it up for Christmas...not done yet, I don't have my paper with me so I couldn't finish it how I wanted to.  Also unhappy with the ribbon.  But otherwise, glad I inked and colored it, it was a good challenge. 

12/4/11

I decided to make some ponysonas for myself and a few of my characters...so far just Carlos and Merriweather. 

Carlos is the only one with a finalized design, so I drew her out...

Her ponysona's name is Sweet Surprise, her element is spontaneity, her special talents are performance art and design, and her cutie mark symbolizes that, along with her strong ties to family and friends and interest in kink.

Her wings are really quite weak; she's afraid of flying and isn't very good at it, is only able to hover a little. Her horn is much more powerful and she is an accomplished magic user.

Sweet Surprise is also half zebra, hence the stripes on her legs.

I'm gonna make a doll of her to go with the others too, I think.  I have all the bodies done and I need to scan them.  I'm starting the clothes--the underwear is all inked except for AJ and about halfway colored.

Also, an ACEO that's probably going to my grandma for Christmas.  I had been messing around with my inks and tinted a few cards, then decided to draw a peacock (reference-less) on the card.  No undersketch.  I hope she likes it.  I never know what to get my relatives and I VERY rarely am able to draw something I know they'll enjoy, so this will literally be the first piece of art I remember planning to make and give to a relative.

11/19/11

Two commission sketches, adult art update, reference sheet in the works, a few art cards.

2, 3, 4.  Now part of a theme for Shadowed Lives ACEOs illustrating the different characters.  Colors correspond to their energies, personalities, and connections with other characters and forces in the story.

Sketch for an ink commission for Magnus on FA.  Since I've been watching too much Metalocalypse, this seemed like a good idea, lol.

WARNING:

NUDITY AND ADULT ART UNDER THE CUT.  

(in that order.  most graphic at bottom, nudity-only at top)

10/14/11: Badges n Stickers // MLP FiM Dolls // Andy Ref WIP // Altered Book preview

Hi, y'all.  I have a lot to post, but it's really cool stuff and I'm pretty excited to share it.

The one to the left is for my IRL friend Liz.  I made the character for her for Christmas.  The one on the right is a bonus for a trade with Trey. 

Rest of the trade--Trey's ratpossum fursona.  Fairly pleased with the outcome--the coloring, shading especially, I'm very pleased with--I use a lot of tones when I color to make things more rich and lifelike, and I feel I did that well, but her eyes seems off to me, slightly :P.  I added a little star between Retro and Rodent, but that was after I scanned it. XP 

Okay, so since I'm going to Anthrocon and ToraCon next year, I figured I should make some fanart to sell....and I love MLP FiM, and so does everyone else, and I wanted to make fanart of Rarity for some time...and had been considering doing an ATC for each of the mane six, and I wanted to draw them in their Gala gowns, but then my friend suggested how about making paper dolls?  Here's the inks for Rarity.  

Each one's gonna have at least a slightly different body type.  I feel the show's message of "girls are all unique" would, if they were human characters, hopefully reflect this in body types.  I'm thinking of making Fluttershy a little slimmer than this, and more flat and less curvy--a typical model (the model episode's one of my favorites).  I want Pinkie Pie to be a little heavy.  Rainbow Dash would obv. be more muscular without being un-feminine, and I dunno where Twilight Sparkle would be--I feel maybe curvy, borderline plump...and then Applejack would be on the athletic side as well.  Each one's going to have their gala gown as well as underwear and a regular "casual" outfit. I may make their pets to go with, and maaaybe a little Spike with a little bowtie, haha.  Not sure yet.

I also have plans to do some comic promo art in the style of Adventure Time as well as some Pokemon and maybe if I have time some Powerpuff Girls and Flapjack art too.  These are gonna be my main focus for now, though.  Very excited.

I'm gonna fix the width of Rarity's right eyelid to match the left when I add her eyeshadow and then I feel her linework will be fine.  Been playing with line weight and this was another good opportunity to do so.

ANDY

Liam's partner, a ticked tabby cat.  I did two headshots and at first liked neither but I kinda like the one on the left more.  I think he may have a white belly but I'm not sure.  

Andy's a genetic rarity--he has a more animal face, more body fur, extra nipples, and slightly more animal behavior.  Not that he's uncivilized--he usually shows more restraint than Liam could dream of, but he purrs, hisses, etc. unconsciously, which most anthro cats don't do.  Most of them look more humanoid as well.  He also has a bad habit of pouncing, and has retractable claws--his nails are supposed to be slitted, my bad XP maybe they're really blunt and the tips are visible?  Idk.

Ticked tabbies are really cute. 

So that's what I've been up to over the past few weeks.  I finished Carlos' ref last week (or was it the week before?) and posted it on her ref page on here, and also worked on a really neat altered book project themed after the comic (shadowed lives) but it got collected before I could scan the pages.  

Here's two unfinished pages....it's all I've got scanned.

warning, this file is massive.  I kind of forgot to resize it.  I probably should but it's also the unfinished version and I just don't care right now.

First page illustration.  It was cut out and pasted onto a tinted page--every page of the book was inkwashed.