This Entry is Brought to You by Too Much Bastion

I can't stop playing Bastion. Seriously, you guys. It's an amazing game with fantastic music. I'm totally horrible at it and die constantly, but that's okay because I am completely addicted to the music. As you may or may not know/care, I've been having some artistic issues lately coupled with some weird mood things, so I haven't really been in a good place as far as creating goes. I'm working my way out of it slowly but surely, and I finally have something that isn't totally terrible to show for it!

I swear Bastion is helping. The music anyway. If I allow myself to start playing again, I'll be glued to my laptop for hours and that is no good if I am trying to create artwork and work on my script for my current comic project.

This was a huge pain to complete. I literally threw my sketchbook in frustration no less than six times. I became hyper-focused, as I usually do, on small details like his braids and his scarf, so I kind of wasn't sure of how I wanted the rest of the picture to go, and it all started to seem very static to me. Eventually, I started to listening to "Build That Wall" from the Bastion soundtrack on repeat, and that, for whatever reason, lulled me into a sort of working state where I was able to find a new direction in free-form lines and fluid movement. I'm not especially pleased with the results, but it helped me to get over the hump and actually finish something, God Dammit.

This is Ukyou. He's one of my muses from the scifi-horror story I am perpetually working on. He's also based off of one of my ball-jointed dolls; A luts El 60cm boy. One of these days I need to make character sheets.

Anyway, materials: smallish watercolor sketchbook, ballpoint pens, uchida markers, copic markers, neopiko markers, white ink, walnut ink, red ink.

A Crisis of Confidence.

Sorry it's been quiet around here. I haven't been happy lately, so I haven't been working very much. Anyway, here's a dumb little Winnowill.

Yay. It's kind of crappy, but it's a step towards something, at least.

Announcing my hiatus mid-hiatus

I'm still alive. In a bit of a rough patch, but I haven't forgotten about my blog, even though I've neglected it.

Here's a sketch.

I'll be back soon, I promise.

Livestream!

Hello again! This is just a mini update to say that I am going to be doing some livestreaming stuff on and off from now on! I did a pretty long session on photoshop last night, but I'm thinking I'll try to do my next ones with traditional media.

Here's the link to my channel: http://www.livestream.com/akoe

Hope to see you guys there!

Commission progress and blogging ponderings.

Oh man, this is a very long way from done, but so far, so good! This is a sneak of the commission I am working on currently. Because I am such an anal-retentive pixel-hunter, it takes me ages to work on a single piece, whether digitally or traditionally. For whatever reason, I'm finding it easier this time around to work in photoshop, but I'll be coloring this traditionally because that's what I'm comfortable with. Stay tuned, because I think this is going to turn out quite well! :D

In other news, despite the fact that I am practically swimming in paper and different kinds of sketchbooks, I'm rapidly approaching the end of my much-loved teNeues coolnotes book. I've ordered a new one, which should be in within the week, but if anybody is interested, I may do a big post on paper and sketchbooks, and provide reviews of a sort! Over the years, I have amassed a tremendous supply of paper in many different forms, so I think it may be of use to pontificate a bit over what it is and what it is best suited for. Also, after spending entirely too much time drooling over Diamine Inks, I think I might start doing reviews on supplies as well.

So, when my new sketchbook comes in, I'm going to ramble incessantly and post lots of pictures! I can't wait to start!

Duh Dammit. :U

I make it a habit to always get a scan of my finished sketches because I'm terrified I'll mess them up. Which I totally just did.

I know the quality isn't super fantastic, but the lines were actually quite light, so I had to fudge about with the contrast a bit. Anyway, I feel like I should have left it alone, because it's quite nice on it's own, but for some reason, even though I had this feeling I would mess it all up, I decided to take my inks to it anyway.

Blech. I don't know, I feel like the balance has suffered somewhat from the coloring. I had some issues with my new waterbrush where it would keep blotting the paper and spreading around the ink either too thinly or darkly, and it just didn't sync up to the image I was hoping to achieve in my mind. Also, I like how I just spent a lot of money on markers at Sakuracon, and the first thing I create post-con is with my inks instead. Wah-Wahhhhh. Still clipping together a sketchfile to show you all the scribblings and such I've been working on, and maybe I'll post that when I'm not distracted by all the shameful Vocaloid doujinshi and gay vampire comics I bought.

WOOPS.

Con preparations.

They're sucking up my life. I have almost everything ready, but I need to make prints. Today, I make sure my rings and displays are dry, then I can take pictures. Sorry I've been scarce lately. I'll have a big post up with stuff for sale soon! Also, I've been drawing, but it's mostly kind of porny. I'll clip together a big sketch document and post it when I have a few minutes to breathe.

Now, back to work.