... In Which Lea, The Mage, Somehow Managed To Get Turned Into A Cat.

Progress - How I got to this point:

Step 1 is a thumbnail. A really quick (30 seconds max) really small (3 x 5 cm; that’s actually too big for an actual thumbnail but pssssht) doodle of what the drawing might look like. I'll often do multiple of them per drawing, trying out different poses and angles.

Step 2 is an anatomical and perspective sketch. I took some reference photos of myself to test out poses. It lended up looking way too stiff (as my initial sketches often do, this is my least favourite step). Also, I decided I wanted Isa to look down.

Step 3 was new for me. I was stuck in a place with only post-its and a pen, so I redrew the picture from memory, focussing more on the flow, but with the anatomy and perspective cues I still had in mind from step 2. This worked SUPER well and I think this will be my new MO from now on. So I guess that makes Step 2 a study actually? Wow, using studies in my art, that sounds so professional.

Step 4 is a big step. I took a photo of step 3 and then worked over it digitally. I worked out the final pose I wanted (mix between step 2 and 3), took some new reference photos, played around with the pattern in the background and the flow. Then I printed it (in twice the size I usually work with) and finally …

Step 5 I traced the printed sketch on the paper I want to use for the colours. This step alone took over TWO HOURS and I fixed some details (like correcting tangents) while working on it. Usually I trace only very lightly, often in a pencil that will smudge into the colours. I don't like working with actual lines, I only add them at the very end of a drawing. But this was when I realized I will have to post the WIP and in order for you to see anything at all I jumped over my shadow and drew over the lines again with different pencils (ranging from scale B to 3H). Which took another 1 1/2 hours. Oof.

And that’s where we are now! <3 Next up is colour, but I won’t get to that anytime soon unfortunately :(

@akusaimonth​ 2022

Prompt: Flowers / Garden

ID in alt. My prompt card is under the cut!

Keep reading

Akusaimonth: Berserk Mode Day 2: Expressions

It's not as though I'd really need a heart. All I want is to see your smile one more time.

"The Calm Seen From Above"

ID in Alt. Pastels, Polychromos and white ink on mould-made pastel paper, ~ 20 x 30 cm

A gift for the wonderful @kheadhoro, who travels Eorzea by my side <3

The lovely lady in front is Khea Dhoro and the taller lady is my WOL, Fierce Magnolia!

Ishgard was hard for both of them and so, even with a dangerous task ahead of them, waiting on the top of Sohm Al feels (like home, to Fierce) calm.

(They're, uh, not actually to size. I took some liberties so that I could show both their faces clearly. Khea is. very small, compared to Fierce)

I'll post some process photos in a later reblog, so check the notes for that if you're interested! <3

Akusaimonth: Berserk Mode Day 22: Hair 2/2

Don't worry. I'll be there.

Hair. Hair. Hair, I ALWAYS loved drawing hair *3* Especially if it's flowing and silky and awwwwwww. (I can spend hours and hours on colouring hair ... and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours) A KaKAO card again. :) Done with coloured pencils.

I was told that those cards seem bigger on screen then they are, so the second picture is meant as a scale. Note that this is already a maxi card, which means two cards in one. An actual KaKAO card is half the size. I plan maxi cards always in a way that they could be separated, but I seriously don't want to cut those two apart. Ever. =_="

So, I had been wondering about a ship name for these two. Maybe NightWeight, after their surnames. Or Jorsa, like a mixup of their first names.

Turns out, we’re apparently going with their callsigns. So, SpinFace is it. 

Honestly, this is simultaneously the best and the worst name ever and I love it.

I know people claim there’s no romance in Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward, but that’s not true. It’s just the most amazing and realistically written rivals to friends to lovers slow burn I’ve ever seen. 

Honestly, I just love Jerkface and Spin with my entire being. 

Di[e]ce Appreciation Week | Day 2: Focus

This time, I will protect you. You alone are my reason to live.

I’ve never felt this alive before.

I think Naoto is my favourite Di[e]ce character, except for Haruki. Then again, this always tends to depend on who’s important for the story at the moment. I love all of them. But Naoto ... Naoto ... aww.

I just love how he leaves everything behind, all of his past and his fears and insecurities to concentrate on what matters the most to him.

Me and my sisters finally finished our DMMD cosplays at least far enough to wear them. :D Still unfinished, still a lot to change, but NyanCon was A LOT of fun anyway.

Photos by @kittendough ... and me

AKUSAIMONTH: BERSERK Day 11: SET C - “Patterns”

How could you smile like that? How could you smile without a heart.

Everything was becoming routine so fast. I was separated from everyone else from the start. I realized it, yet this was giving me the best access to information, so I welcomed it anyway. You never stopped smiling whenever I send you off to those missions. You were joking and grinning, like nothing had happened. Like nothing was wrong at all. You seemed to do so perfectly fine. Unlike me.

I tried to tell myself that I was doing all this for you, for us, so we could go home together, as whole beings again, but soon the thought began to change in my head. It didn’t take long before I found myself blaming you for everything. A little more every time you smiled at me.

[previous] [next] [chapter overview]

AKUSAIMONTH: BERSERK Day 12: SET C - “Gradient”

Your behavior towards me changed. You changed.

It was important to keep a close eye on the wielder of the keyblade. Up to this very day, I cannot claim to know the full truth behind Xemnas’ – behind Xehanort’s plan. The essential part this boy played in it was obvious nonetheless. It was only logical to let you watch him.

As always though, you didn’t quite act as I was expecting. You never did, and still I could have never forseen the outcome this would cause. By the time I realized, it was already too late.

I was already losing you to him.

[previous] [next] [chapter overview]

Akusaimonth: Berserk Mode Day 9: Flustered I guess, not everything is lost just yet. I actually spent all my free time of the last two days on this @_@“ (so much for my resolution to do small and simple drawings.) Urgh, I’m sorry for my handwriting. Page 1: Saix: Axel. Axel: … Axel: What? Spit it out already. Saix: Will you … eat some sea salt ice cream with me? Axel: … (processing, please wait.) Saix: Nevermind. Just forget it. Page 2: Axel: Oi, wait! You can’t just walk away like that! That’s not fair! Saix: … Saix: Then tell me. Will you? Axel: … Axel: Not as long you’re acting like that, that much’s for sure. So, no more running, okay? Saix: You mean … Axel: Of course I will! After all we’re still friends, right? Page 3: Saix: … right. Axel: Wait, was that a SMILE just now?! Saix: Oh, shut up. I guess Saix was trying to ask this question for days, if not weeks and that’s what happened, when he finally managed. Axel, who had actually almost given up on his friend was obviously rather surprised by it. (who wouldn’t?) He probably expected him to order him around or to say something mean about his (new) friends and well, when that question came he just decided to give Saix another chance. Because maybe, just maybe, their friendship was not completely lost after all.