Mirrors

Flipping through my files, I found this. A piece I was quite fond of when I had first drawn and painted it.

It was a basic profile of Shyloris and the twin presence residing within her.

By origin, Shyloris is a time-locked character, having partook of the immortalizing nectar of the Amaranthinae Lily. Over the years, she meets Neiro prior to his encounter with Silas, and the Numen becomes her anchor.

Despite the nigh omnipresent abilities of the Numen, however, there were times when Neiro would be away. 

It was during one such period that Shyloris happened upon an engraved silver pocket mirror. Upon polishing and gazing into its reflective surface, came an unguarded moment, and in that instant, befell the curse set upon it and the being within. The shade within the mirror had likewise bound her and they now coexist, both souls tied to the mirror and one another. 

By gazing into the surface they can swap in an out. While the one in the mirror can travel across all panes of the "Aether" and are safe from most harms of the material world, their life is protected only by the physical safety of the mirror itself, likewise does current inhabitant of the physical form hold the other's life in their hands. 

As such Shyloris has had to overcome much working with her shade, who is as much bound to her as the reverse. Oddly enough the immortal isn't as upset about the situation as most in her position would be to hear themselves bound, and is in fact rather spirited about. Something that her gloom could not at first comprehend. 

The two learn to coexist, protecting one another from harm. Where one falls short, the other picks up and as such they work over their shortcomings. 

Neiro and the shade seem to be acquaintances, and the Numen seems to sympathize with the plight of both Shyloris for her perpetual existence, and the Shade's fixation.

Poem: Merry Chase

Amongst the barren 'scape so banked in snow,
Lies the forgotten child meek, that none shall know.

Desperate in flight, does she e'er flee,
Yet never aloft, however she plea.

In the company of but shadows gloom,
In her lofty flight o'er the fallow bloom.

A stranger to all,
That only does appall.

Perpetual a chase, her plight,
For ever greater a height,

Yet the greater the ascent,
Portend inevitable descent.

Where hence the child shall fall,
Never to grace the Lord's hall.`

Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Dog Day Shorts - Tiny

"Everything about you is tiny." Neiro murmured quietly.

Shyloris buried her face into the crook of his neck, nose bumping and nuzzling against the warm body.

The statement brought a light tint to her cheeks. She certainly felt small compared to the immortal.

Long fingers grazed her back, trailing up to rest on her shoulders.

After meeting him while he sought refuge in the barriers she had erected centuries ago, they had retired to the hollowed oak for the night.

Mismatched eyes roamed the grand space within the ancient tree, lingering over the odd knickknacks that were haphazardly, yet carefully arranged. It painted a chaotic, yet lovingly sentimental scene.

Loggia Deadlocke: Concept and Prologue

Loggia Deadlocke is the name of a comic I'm starting featuring webcomics of the various games I play (e.g. Terraria, FFXIV: ARR, Don't Starve, etc.)

It's kind of a "on the fly" comic, and more for practice than anything too serious.

Here's a preview of the first page, still in the work:

An example of the finalized first panel, to the L. you can see the sketch of the rough draft.

Quite bare at the moment, and in all honesty, it's a very lazy style where I use the free form selection tool to lasso, select, and clear selection.

First in line will be Terraria, and herein lies the problem. I want to delve into the comic as a story, but I'm unsure as to the "what" and "how"-to's. As it is I'll likely be making the comic in a fashion similar to Oglaf. Be warned, Oglaf is intended for mature audiences as much of its humor pertains to sexual acts and nudity, though there is a fair bit of gore too.

More on Oglaf, the comic is indiscriminate in its portrayal of sex, everyone has sex, and nothing of the who or what matter. It's incredibly entertaining not in a sensual manner, but in the blatant humor. I myself have re-read the comic several times, as the style of execution is incredible, and I can't stress that enough. Even now I still wonder how they do it with wit and gags.

But I digress, it's my hope that I can manage the same portrayal and execution of comedy, though considerably more modesty. Sexual humor is not a fancy of mine. Which made it even more odd how entertaining I found Oglaf.

Hopefully. I really want to show this to Cloud, but I'm a little worried. More on that in Satin Dog Days, as really this blog is more for my artistic progression and development.

Revisions: Cloudstealth and Ryuki Aurion

When I had sent them the unfinished piece, I had been in a slight rush, overeager and excited, to show them what I had. The piece was naturally rushed and less than stellar, and I've learnt my lesson that a piece unfinished is a piece best kept to oneself.

Ryuki had been fond of it and pasted it to her profile, and while it is flattering, incredibly so, I still wish I had touched it up a little more. It wasn't within my expectations to see it pasted and used. That being said I'm not sure how to bring it up and have in the end, settled for touching up on it myself and knowing that I could've done better. Still can but again, I'm impatient.

The revisions aren't too obvious and I've still a long way to go, but for now I'm relieved. I'll probably revise it again once I get the motivation back.

They make a cute couple.

Umbral Night

Umbral Night

The submission date is today, and there the drawing was. Unfortunately, it seems I didn't finish in time, and submitted the entry as was.

Some have posted up their drawings on social networks such as Tumblr, sharing their piece with others. It would suffice to say I have a very slim chance indeed of landing in the top 5, but nonetheless, I had a lot of fun with the project. It's probably one of the first pieces which I found truly satisfying, and though not completed, finished.

The theme of the Heavenswards Transition contest is to show how your character is doing in Heavenward, and how they've changed, new gear, class, and so on.

Umbral Night basically shows Silas practicing his arcane spells, the shadow behind him his old class prior to Heavensward. In going into 3.0, he chooses to go back to his starting class. On a whim I chose to go back to arcanist, a decision that has likely changed . Heading into the future while looking to the past.

Honestly though, it is a rather messy finish to this piece. I hadn't finished the shading, so the shadow looks a tad too prominent and out of place. His weapon is meant to be the Hive Grimoire as well, and I hadn't finished the glow yet.

It would suffice to say that I'd be amazed (overjoyed first, but also amazed) if I actually managed to place top 5 among all those other more practiced artists who have also likely put in more time into their work and touching it up to a greater extent.

Contest Entry: FFXIV Heavensward Contest

This'll be the first time I enter an art contest.

As expected I'm nervous. Though slim, one still hopes and tries. Simple though the prompt was, I feel I've learned plenty. Still haven't fully transitioned into the border-less style, but I've compromised some with colored lines instead.

Despite all attempts at sportsmanship, I find myself fervently hoping for the prize that will be gifted to the top 5 pieces judged: The FFXIV: A Realm Reborn, The Art of Eorzea.

Signed by the director no less.

I cannot express just how eager I am to prie open the the cover and take in the concept art, for there is much to learn and study from even the guidelines, if not more so, than the full piece itself.

The artist in me admires the work and details that have been worked into the game I so enjoy. The submission date is only a couple days away, I hope I make it.

It's not finished yet, but it's coming along nicely, if I do say so myself.