Sketch of a Girl

I doodled this two days ago. I at first had a character in mind when I began, but by the time I was done it just looked like a generic girl to me.
I had a lot of fun with the hair.

Late Night Sketches, Part 1

I find myself more often inspired at night than in the morning, and while listening to my music I doodled the following sketches:

They're all originally-based, save for the bottom-left, which is a quick idea for Cloud's outfit in a crossover I'm making with a friend (Silent Hill: Reunion). I will be making an official set of concept art for outfits Cloud could be wearing in it...eventually.

Halloween Costume

It has been a while since I posted here, and I figured it would be a good opportunity to post pictures of my Halloween costume for this year.

I was Harry Mason from the first Silent Hill game. He happens to be my favorite SH protagonist, and I am hoping that I will be able to take this cosplay to a convention someday. I want to change a few things if I do go to a convention. I want to get a better wig, a better pair of jeans and more props (like the pink rubber ball and the epic hammer).

Feathers

I have been finding a lot of black feathers around my yard lately. I have only recently started a collection, putting them into my design journal that I hold to fill with inspirational sources and ideas.

Of course feathers bring a certain game series to mind, but feathers have held a great deal of symbolic significance to many races. Most of them have been spiritual, dealing with our souls and it rising to higher places and levels of understanding. Other meanings have been attributed to various rituals performed by people such as the Native Americans, the Druids, and so forth.
You can read more about how they were used here: http://www.whats-your-sign.com/symbol-meaning-of-feathers.html

Although it is fascinating to learn what some ancient civilizations did to try and reach enlightenment as well as their gods, I am glad to know a God that does not require a special set of clothes, incantations, or symbols in order to stay in communication.
Too many people get caught up in the rituals. That is not to say we should be doing whatever we want, but rather not focus on frivolous legalism and place emphasis on relationships with others and God.

No matter the sort and object, I love symbolism. Everything you touch seems to be full of meaning and history, and it's a shame that my brain is having a hard time fitting it all in.

Fantasy Races

Seems a lot of fantasy stories either go to the basics in terms of races, or the new ones they create are rarely put into detail, so they stand out.
I have had Zelda on the mind for a while, since I have been replaying Majora's Mask. Most of the races in that series are well known by many, but you can't explain the details behind them. Take the Zora, for example. You can say that they're fish people who have a monarchy and enjoy music, but what else is there to mention? Are they usually friendly, sticklers, xenophobic?

On the other hand, it is also annoying when information about a new race is dumped on your lap and you need to process it all in a very short time. I haven't seen this scenario as often, but it's not a good choice either.

When you come down to it, though, creating a fantasy race is not easy. Sure, you may have a unique idea for their looks in mind. In creating the Ciefians (pronounced like "siphon"), I had certain thoughts of how the species would look. I'm still tweaking it as the days go by.
The hard part, however, is determining their way of life. I could create a checklist for those that have their own fantasy races and see if they have all the details required.

Granted, having all the details about a fantasy race does not mean you need to dump it all to your reader/viewer. It's information that is there in case you need it. It is not only about showing them off to your audience, but giving them dimension.

It's better to show, not tell. If you see or read about a race that seems to have meat in every meal, you'll quickly get the idea that they don't care for plants that much.

My dilemma:
I've had a bit of trouble in determining certain abilities that certain Ciefians have. I solidified that Ciefians with white wings and white/silver eyes can see spirits, and have the ability to sense. The question is what the other Ciefian types should be. I've been brainstorming about it the past few weeks, and I have no definitive plans yet.

My aim is attribute powers that are not over the top, and not generic. For example, I could've chosen 'light' power for the white Ciefians, or I can make water or ice abilities for blue. However, I would prefer to not do that. If I can get beyond cliches and work with unique powers that are not often done, I would be in pretty good shape.

Here are pages from my journal that show my ideas:

Tales of Old

I have always been fond of songs that tell a story from folklore or legend. Arthurian legend is one of my favorites, and it is a shame that most of the media in the form of movies, TV shows, and otherwise have not been able to even come close to the glory of the King Arthur story.

That is why I am so fond of Heather Dale's music. I recently bought more of her songs from iTunes, one of my favorites from this new batch being her retelling of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Many paintings and drawings have been made of the Green Knight that showed up in the halls of King Arthur. Many have depicted him as a man with a long beard, dressed in green and having all green features, such as hair and skin. I personally envisioned him as a knight having a helmet similar to a crusader, looking very menacing and able for a challenge.



I attempted my own rendition of how I envisioned this knight. Many have wondered what he represented in his particular tale, and while I have no interpretation to add, I find this level of mystery only adding to the effect of his lore and presence in King Arthur's court.

On the Street

I've had this sinking feeling before, sometimes while doing my artwork or college homework and wondering: will I even be able to get a job with this degree? Will I leave my place of education and be left stranded in a highly competitive world? Despite my fear, I remain as hopeful as I can as I imagine the possibilities of the future.