New Art Style

Hello, poppets! How have you been?

Ah, Manifest? It was awesome as always. Definitely like going with friends this time round. You know, on the walk back from Melbourne Uni I like to reflect on Manifests past, and compare what I was then with what I was now... nostalgic.

Anyway, didn't enter the art competitions seeing as there wasn't one (except Iron Artist, which I can't yet). However, some people were very impressed with some of my drawings (but on Sunday the whole room was filled with professional artists! I was totally overwhelmed by the difference in our levels). What I did do was participate in the huge Suzumiya Haruhi Hare-Hare Yukai dance-off (I'm hidden somewhere in the back). No, I didn't do the main competition, but Melbourne's trying to kick Sydney's ass at the size thing. Saw some really funny anime like Lucky Star, Seto no Hanayome and Sumomomo mo momo. Didn't get to see that many good action ones though. Got addicted to wasabi peas and had some nice fish in the nearby restaurants.

Going back to work afterwards was a terrible pain. And then sis came down the next weekend so that kept me totally deadlocked. We had a good time, though (except for that horrible movie Superbad). Ate at many a good restaurant and discovered some great dishes. Fun, but in the end kept me pretty busy (work helped wear me out too).

Now things are slowly settling down and I've taken up the table to try learning that thing I meant to do, which is colouring. I picked it up from http://www.mangarevolution.com/tutorials.php which was pretty helpful. However, my skills are still horrible and I need to either be patient or do things better. Ugh. So the 2nd pic was my first try at the new airbrush and multi-layered shadow that they recommended. The first one was something I tried to do using inks first (they generally recommend colouring before outlining). Both are pretty dang sorry excuses. Still, that's another card done for my pal.

I've got some ideas about drawing my Manifest experiences as a comic but I've been too busy to do that. Also, I've got a presentation coming up for my work so I reckon I could spice that up with some pictures. Heh heh...

Manifest 07 Approaches!

It's almost here and none too soon! Manifest 07! Excitement. A weekend drenched with anime so intoxicating I can only hope that I forget about the troubles of work and life in general. I'm even taking the afternoon off just so I can attend (don't worry I pulled overtime working late and during weekends the past few weeks). Lots of stuff waiting for me when I get back, but at least for a few days it'll be bliss.

So practice... needed to practice. I needed some ideas but I found that I'm now quite reliant on inking again to get a cleaner look. My sketches are a bit too messy and hard to erase out.

First pic, was something my cousin suggested I try tonight... a high-tech ninja that became like a mutant-ish with some little techie stuff here and there. However, I've got some room to play with this idea as I was thinking if the swords could link up a la double lightsabers and maybe he could pull some flap things from his back with his hands to act as gliders or something.

Second pic, a naughty one based on a girl I happened upon during web searching. Won't state source.

Third is an attempt to practice drawing Haruhi because I expect that she will be a key point in earning me winning points in any art competitions during Manifest. There's a big Hare Hare Yukai dance off going on and I reckon Haruhi and Peppa-chan (the mascot) will have a great time pushing Kyon about.

Either that or a 300-themed sketch... that would be funny too. I shall determine based off my experience at Manifest. Here's to a good one again!

Man, I just want to sleep...

Ugh... so tired. Now that probation is virtually over I'm feeling the pinch. Deadlines for projects that are impossible to meet, software that decides to commit suicide or to spew out garbage despite carefully scrutinising the inputs. The whole works. Working overtime and popping in during weekends despite being advised not to.

Yeah.

Anyway, at least I have Manifest 07 to look forward to. I really hope I can get Friday off early since I've been working overtime these past few days. It's one of the only things keeping me going. Still, I don't seem to have time to practise my drawings. Not like practice would do me good... I just can't seem to get anything out. And I still haven't decided what to focus on for the festival.

On one hand, Pani Poni Dash was introduced last year and I love the cute yet busty girls plus the strange things they are involved in. To that extent, I am fascinated with some of the expressions involved, including the blank 'Maho' expression on Himeko the ahoge girl to Rebecca's priceless expression in the Bugyo episode.

On the other... we've got that big Hare Hare Yukai dance on this year (I haven't practiced!) that I'm sure will win me points if I can draw the mascot dancing to it. Hmmm... that seems the safer bet and I do like Nagato a lot. Dance is pretty quick and hard to draw though. Would be nice to draw an exasperated Kyon.

Anyway, Chainsaw Dave makes a return. It was supposed to be a build-up towards Halloween, with another grand drawing stashed somewhere that never got completed. Chainsaw Dave now features contrast. Will he ever be coloured? Who knows?

And the last was something whipped up quickly afterwards. Could have done better. Will keep with the B&W sketches and inkings until at least after Manifest. I've found a site that has some good tutorials on how to colour that I might work on later, but definitely not while I'm this busy. Plus, I need to design more cards when the opportunity arises.

Sick Week

Oh, man... what a week. That flu or cold or whatever sure knows how to get back and forth.

Let's just say it was tremendously busy and leave it at that. A huge pressure to finish things and not enough time to do it. Add to it general misery from getting sick again and that's roughly it. Rubbing your eyes when someone else has touched your stuff = stupidity.

So anyway... I haven't been doing much drawing for the past few weeks. Well, the first two I managed to squeeze out last week, but just barely. There was a youtube clip showing the process used to create a Looking For Group webcomic (http://www.lfgcomic.com/) that I thought I would imitate (in Pic 1) but it turns out I am nowhere near the level of proficiency. Halfway through I realised what I was doing was completely wrong and it got really frustrating so I just fudged it.

Second one was partially something drawn to accentuate action and to use the cool little 'smudge' tool you get on photoshop. Does a very nice impact. I really wanted to increase the violence in the picture but lacked skills. Also should have used speed lines on the leg.

Anyway I'm experiencing a complete lack of skills at the moment. I can't seem to draw anything right and I'm feeling a bit frustrated as Manifest is less than 2 weeks away. I certainly can't compete on a decent level if I'm only at this level, so I tried to do some sketches and they just turned out all wrong.

My poker buddy (http://www.pokerpostings.blogspot.com/) came along and requested I do a set of drawings that could be set on card faces. Now, I'd seen that done on Pani Poni Dash (check the 2nd ending sequence) and was thoroughly impressed, especially the artwork done on the Tarot cards. I really tried to imitate it and get something nice but as you can see... I'm really shit at the moment. Still, nothing wrong with me re-doing the above cards when I get better.

Alright, I've got chores to do and then I'll keep practicing. I bet the competition will be stiffer this year, so I can't let up.