Shelf
I’m kinda enjoying indulging a bit of time on background elements, rather than rushing to complete an image. Here’s tonight’s progress.
Chair
So it seems like I’m doing this thing, huh? I even realised I have an email with an art request from the Owl so maybe that email chain I asked for yesterday might just get off the ground.
During Blay I inked and flatted a picture. I didn’t touch it again during the month, and opening it up tonight I just felt so lost on how to progress the image. But I figured it won’t go anywhere if I don’t at least try. Here’s a corner of the piece, progressed slightly.
The Blaug Rides Again
Well I really had pretty firm intentions to remain quite deliberately un-productive for a little while longer yet, but I can’t shake the nagging feeling in the back of my head that says that hey if I can just spare a little time, why not log a post for the first day of Blaugust? That way if I decide to keep up with it, I won’t have missed a day.
And I rather regret not posting anything at all last year; Blaugust 2017 completely blindsided me. So even if I don’t post again for the month, I’d like to leave this little waymarker here.
In some ways, I guess I’m a little wary of our ol’ annual blogging tradition. Nowadays, it doesn’t feel like Blaugust is for me anymore. The coping habits that I used to use to get through old Blaugusts don’t mesh with the new “rules” defined by bloggers with so much more dedication and commitment than I. I don’t feel like I belong anymore. In some ways, I envy The Leaflocker for finding the adaptability to join the new wave.
In May, Staircase Witch challenged us to revisit our roots with a classic blog fest. It felt good to be blogging aside others once again. I tried something different for that challenge; actually creating the art that I posted each day. I burnt out fast, and the decline in posts from my colleagues left us without much further inspiration to continue posting. Each of us did get a bit back on the bandwagon but it was too late; the magic of a blog festival was gone.
Maybe the Leaflocker is right. The best Blaugusts are ones fuelled by camaraderie. Maybe I shouldn’t be so scared of “new Blaugust”. Still, I cling to the roots of the event and eschew the Facebook groups and other communities that steadily build stronger as the Blaugust tradition grows each year.
I think I just crave a good 100-deep email dialogue with my old co-conspirator. Send me an email sometime, Mr Owl?
Fixed Fox
Smashed With Four Aces is one of my old paintings that I still love. Sure it’s a cliche idea but I so enjoyed weaving a lot of easter eggs into the artwork, referencing both the original series of paintings by CM Coolidge and of course, the various titles that the dogs appear from. You can read all about the process of creating this art in an old blog post.
One of the common critiques about the artwork was about Fox’s face. When I’d just completed the artwork I had trouble seeing it, then, over time the issues became really obvious but I didn’t find the time to address them. In some ways I was just so exhausted by the painting still (and the fact that my computer chugged whenever I opened the massive file). Mostly the problems emerged because I drafted Fox’s face after his Melee model, then swapped to his Brawl/Smash 4 partway through, trying hard to hew to the small snout, which didn’t really translate well.
Now that I’ve decided to do a new print run of these posters I’ve been able to find time to fix up Fox’s face. Matching up to the colour sensibilities I had when I first painted this picture was difficult. It’s not perfect but I think it’ll do for now.
Splatoon 2 @ Battle Arena Melbourne
I did some poster art because I was hype about Squid Game at BAM!
Battle Arena Melbourne is Australia’s largest fighting game event. It’s being held this year from the 18th to 20th of May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center. This year we’ll be joining the fun, running Splatoon 2 events throughout the weekend!
I’m pretty proud of this artwork. The sketch, lineart, flats and draft background were all completed in a single session on Monday, with touchups done over the next couple of days.
Merlion
Apparently there’s some drawing thing going on called Mermay or something? Well here’s Singapore’s best shot at inventing a mythology for itself. The Merlion is half lion, half fish. And it shoots lasers from its eyes.
Waiting for Busso
I missed the bus on Friday and spent the time waiting for the next one doing a twee little self-portrait based on my reflection in the bus shelter ad.
Needle Knight
Kinda lost interest in this one part way through. There was a lot I wanted to do with it that just didn’t work out. Oh well, here it is
Bird and Bear
A quick half-hour sketch. I have no idea where this one came from.
Transcription WIP
A mage transcribes single-use spells from their schoolbook. The spells are probably very basic and benign, perhaps for use when doing housework.
A variety of spells can be stored in this manner. To invoke the spell the paper is burned.
