Wednesday, March 25, 2015

LV1 NOOBHERO


Enter the noob hero!

Born of peasant parentage,
in a palace we call village.
Now that he is of age.
and being the only teenage.

Wooden sword he carry
His guide a pocket fairy
He should not tarry
Lest the villagers unhappy

So off he goes to slay a monster
Or to be chase by king slime!

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I grew up playing RPG and stuff so as I thought of what would the young me would love to draw, I decided to do some fantasy rpg influenced design.

Hero Exploration sketches.

The Hero is a village boy (since most hero always start off in a village o_o).. the only young man in the village, the moment he grew up he was made to help out around the village. From slaying slimes to gathering legendary herb that grow on the top of a charging bull dragon.

I started the design with thought of a beginner hero.. but later on I went a bit too far and made him look a bit too advanced. Then I thought of armor that they could make from surrounding materials and thought of acorn armor (Too much monhun in my life :x its awesome tho)

Companion Exploration sketches. 

In then end I went with companion E since in my mind she has similar personality as Olaf in frozen. Would be fun to see her saying very very innocently inappropriate things. In my finished version above, I imagine her eating the last healing herb in the hero's pocket and when he was injured she would hand him the half eaten herb while saying

"Master.. I think  you need this!"

(updated the image after some feedback!)

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Beautiful Poem

Today I saw stephen silver shared a beautiful poem in FB together with 2 part video
https://vimeo.com/84022735
https://vimeo.com/87448006

When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.
Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.
Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean. 

Constantine P. Cavafy

--------------------------------
I like the poem so much that I want to share it here so I could remember it in the future.. It came just in time because today I felt rather down due due to some feedback about my art. Made me realize I have been living too long in a glass bubble that I forgot some feedback could be very painful to hear but its like bitter medicine that I have to hear. Anyway, no art post for today because I have to fix it up. :)

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Jackal D Butcher


Just posting up and old piece of work that I did last year.

Was originally done for client work but later on the client had some financial issue and decided to abandon the project.

The brief was to do a medieval knight unit for a mobile game.

My idea was a butcher knight, the type that become a source of conversation among the enemy troop. Sort of an urban legend that they share around the campfire...story passed down from the older soldiers to the younger ones.

Little did they know he truly exist!

I was imagining how jack the ripper x sweeney todd be if they live in medieval era.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015


Banana?


Too much crazy turbulent emo inducing news? Burntout from social media drama? Here have some banana!

Monday, March 16, 2015

Owley Scarface

Naval Commander Owley Scarface
As scary as the scar on his face!
----------------- 

I thought it would be fun to share my Owl dude thought process.
Let me know what you think about it :)

Recently had some talk with my friend ca-tha-na (not her real name :p) about the importance of design. 

So I thought I will try my best to put in more thoughts into the design. Which was also the reason why I had another steps of design polish..

Step 1:
I started researching after having overall idea that this dude has to be someone that Ratty Cheesybeard is truly scared of and he has to be kinda like an arch enemy or villain to the story. My key word was pretty much intimidating discipline and naval captain..

I quickly Sketch in rough paper. Just vomiting out as many ideas as I could. Before settling down to some silhouette and design language I like. Square. Trapezium. Heavy Top. 

Step 2:
Just polishing the design... and while doing that I also try to put in something I truly enjoy which was character development and back story. With that in mind, as I was refining the design I also try to simplify and push the pose and design language. There was so much of erasing and trial and error here x_x 

Step 3:
Just inking and coloring.

Tried several color but I like this two best. I keep stressing to myself that it must be different color from Mr Ratty! Perhaps a color that would feel like they are antagonizing him. 

Purple since it has poisonous/venomous feel and green since its complimentary color to red.

Last Step: 
Enjoy! 

Friday, March 13, 2015

March Still life Fiesta #10


Late post for the day!
Painting my beloved 3ds~~
I am really weak at opaque materials so definitely need to do more of such materials :)

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

March Still life Fiesta #9

Cleaning liquid inside a bottle..this was a nightmare to paint... especially the liquid and the frosted sides of the bottle!! Still, I think I need more practice on this two materials.. so definitely looking forward to revisit this traumatic object in the future studies!

A different lighting scenario would prove to be an interesting one!

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Ratty Cheesybeard!

Ahoy! Captain Ratty Cheesybeard is on board!
Sailing seven seas in a voyage for the legendary cheesy cheese!

----------------------
Breaking my routine of still life painting cause I cant resist the cheesy temptation to join the rat character design weekend by Dan Warren.

Here are some of the progress shot: 

and variations for the final look. 
Feel free to let me know which one do you prefer!

Sunday, March 8, 2015

March Still life Fiesta #8

Lalala... just another still life~~

Saturday, March 7, 2015

March Still life Fiesta #7

Painted Carnegie Spinosaurus..I started collecting dinosaurs toy coz of this little fella. But its pretty hard to find affordable good quality dino toy here.

Friday, March 6, 2015

March Still life Fiesta #6

Today's practice.. brought my laptop outdoor.

This was an old pot that got burnt during the fire even few months ago.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

March Still life Fiesta #5


Morning!

 Today I painted a pear just so I have an excuse to eat it.. I wanted to paint (eat) an apple but I could not find one in the fridge.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Video for a thought

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTfYv3IEOqM

A very good video that makes me think alot :)

March Still life Fiesta #4

Hullo! 

Today I attempted to do drapery, that is one thing I always struggle with.
That and edge control...

So here is my attempt to get better at that. 

Made full use of smudge tool and soft brush here, while trying to keep the balance of the sharp edges.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

March Still life Fiesta #3



Good morning all!

This is my digimon tamagotchi toy that I dug up from my cupboard. Unfortunately the battery is dead so I cannot play with agumon anymore.

Anyway, this proves to be an interesting still life studies! Reason being the material has a bit of SSS going on even though its quite plastic-ky and I found a wondrous use for smudge tool! Its really good to smooth up edges, something I have been struggling with for a long time.

Finally just would like to share a quote that started a change in me few months ago!

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that! I'm always gonna love you, no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son and you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, you ain't gonna have a life."

~Sylvester Stallone As Rocky Balboa~

 ==============================================
From here on, its just me rambling some personal thoughts ;)

So few months ago when I was in a big bad slump. I watched tonnes of motivational video and then this quote by Stallone.. started playing... and something just clicked inside my head...

Excuses.. those are what I have been doing all my life!

From early days of childhood when I wanted to try to do push up.. I did it once.. twice.. then I said I will do it tomorrow...and tomorrow never comes. I drew some shitty comic when I was in junior high school, but when I could not draw the angle I wanted. I erased it and changed it... then I gave it all up later.

During school, I was not a model student. I played a lot.. I made a lot of excuses to myself.. things like I am not good enough.. its okay to settle for it to be like this... and things like, but they never taught me that yet!

I realized I never pushed on.. one of a very bad habit of mine. Always having thoughts of being tired, hungry, and procrastinating..convincing myself every single time that.. "Ah.. I will do it later". Rinse and repeat.

In my mind.. I convinced myself.. that one day its all gonna be okay.. Perhaps, I somehow believed that I will one day wake up from good night sleep and became a master artist. During this period of time, I scoured the internet for tutorials and talked to many good artists.. but I didn't made use of it well. I never finished work that I set out to do.. and I kept on looking for magical skill up potions o_o|||

FZD was a kick in the butt. Good tight wake up slap across the face that the cruel reality is that I have to fight for the share of the pie. But after graduating.. I went into a depression slump that maybe I just suck... not realizing that too is a trap..cause I stop asking how to improve.. instead, I kept asking why do I suck.

It made me have a bad mindset for a year or so..I let life pass through me..
Instead of living a life.. I let it lived me.

Its like eating junk food, my priority was pretty messed up then. I splurge on everything that is not art related. I party, ate, gaming, read comics, watch movies, meh..I WAS ENJOYING LIFE!! But I was not happy. Not at peace. Like an itch in my heart I know that is not what I wanted. Its just a form of escape.

Then comes the quote.. and thanks to that quote I had a realization.

That I have to take control back!! I have to control my life and actions. Time is precious but at least I realized it early.

At this point too, sick of me being depressed and making excuses, I tried to face my fear. Picked a few things I feared and bam! Just do it. It was not easy to fight my own thoughts, until today I fail more than I want to.

Nevertheless..  Deep inside my heart I know that I am finally changing.. and that.. made me so happy in recent days! I am not sure how to explain it but my heart finally feels at peace.

Monday, March 2, 2015

March Still life Fiesta #2


Another one! Feel free to feedback and comment!

March Still life Fiesta

Another still life studies!

Trying to go back to basic.
Feel free to comment and give feedback :)