The Druid

 Artist's Notes:

For once I wanted to use my skills for good rather than evil...so I tried to draw my DnD OC. He's based of a character in a 2nd Edition DnD campaign I played years ago, who in turn is based of a character archetype I try to play in almost every game. 

I think everyone who plays RPGs has a character archetype they gravitate towards. When I was very young, I loved the idea of half-elves, probably because as a child of immigrants I identified with the concept being being between two cultures and not quite being fully beholden to either. I also like the archetype of wizards, as being a nerdy, scrawny kid I found solace in the idea that smarts could be powerful too.

Nowadays, the archetype I almost always end up playing are druids. If the game allows it, I'm going to cram a druid-ish worldview or character into it. I like the idea of being spiritual but not religious and the physicality of primal nature. I'm also not a furry but the idea of being a shape-shifter is kinda pragmatically attractive. Why be a warrior when you can turn into a bear? Why be a rogue when you can turn into a cat? Why be bound to the ground when you can turn into a bird?

I wish the current world left me more time for such escapism.

The specific character was a druid who focused on shape-shifting. The character wasn't very strong, or very smart but had a high WIS and CHA. He was the only druid in a campaign filled with clerics and the DM wasn't familiar with the class or the wild-shape ability so it was very by-the-book rules and the 2nd Edition rules were both complicated an restrictive. I think the rules were that he could turn into an animal three times a rest but only once for each animal category (mammal, bird or reptile) and his gear didn't change with him. As such clothes and weapons were irrelevant to the character, and I played him as clad only in rough furs.

Regarding drawing - life remains too distracting to indulge in it much. At this rate I'll be averaging 3-4 drawings a year which is obviously not really enough to grow and develop.  I found I was beating myself up about this and I've had to remind myself that I'm doing this for pleasure and so to just...enjoy it when I can. I still can't draw backgrounds for peanuts but I like how this picture in general has turned out.

Officer Ricky

I drew something for a story by Danny Perkasa who makes me wish I could read Indonesian. Story can be found here.

Artist's notes:

The pandemic continues to be cray-cray and real life is a clusterfuck of stress. I did however have the chance to draw the above...I did a nose shape which I've never really done before and I quite like it. I feel like there is so much to learn. For example, I find I am still struggling with hair (including body hair). I'm not really happy with how I've done it here, but it works for now.

The composition is admittedly one I've had in my head for awhile and is not really that original. I feel the compulsion to keep tinkering with it, replacing the taser with an assortment of other implements...but I feel this would be stagnating and if you're standing still you might as well be going backwards.

Omni-Man

 

Omni-Man because, well, why the hell not?

Artist's notes: 

Went back to the outline style because I felt the subject necessitated it. But I am trying to do a hybrid style. I feel that it is a mental deficiency on my part, but I struggle with the concept of line weight. When do you make it heavy? When do you make it light?

I'm not getting much time/inclination to draw. The pandemic is really fucking things up big-time where I am. Stressed out of my head and creatively empty. I did this over about 2 days, which is relatively quick for me. 

I also started a twitter account. It's a strange thought...the idea of my work being out in the internet and beyond my control is disturbing but on the other hand I do crave a certain amount of interaction. Blogger seems pretty dead right now, but I do like the fact is empowers my ramblings.

The Vice

I drew a pic for Ancalagon.

Author's notes:

Trialling a different "no outlines" art style. Pros: I quite like it. Cons: I find it takes ages to do. I'm not sure I'll stick with it or go back to outlines. I'm not a fast artist and I have so little time to devote to drawing that I actually have to be be relatively economical with my time. Will have to see how it turns out. 

Family Feud

This one was another request, this time to illustrate a scene from Buster's story Family Feud. I hope you like it, mysterious request-maker!

Football Stud

This one was a request from a viewer that I actually quite eager to fulfil as it's based on this story - "Crushing the Football Stud" by Buster. It's actually one of my all time favourite stories from him. There's alot in the story to like - the description of the protagonist James is great but I think the most amazing thing is how the story makes a theme of what James' balls represent. They're almost characters in their own right and part of their importance is in how James was planning on using them and what it means when he can't...

 

Artist's notes:

I'm quite happy with how this one turned out in that I'm trying to push myself more with shading and making the composition more dynamic. I mean yeah, I still have a long way to go...but I really enjoyed drawing this. I still struggle drawing faces and hair - there was added challenge in this as the author described James as being "blonde with violet eyes" which I have to say is not a combo I'm used to. The background is recycled because I still abhor drawing backgrounds...still so much to work one and improve!

Deadwood

 What seems like a life-time ago, I stumbled on the story "Deadwood" by the author Tripwire. I was a very young man at the time and to this day I think it altered (damaged?) my formative mind. The level of description was so evocative, the anatomical accuracy so detailed that it stuck in my mind like a pick axe...so much so I guess it was inevitable that I'd have to try to illustrate it one day.

The story is so grotesque, so terrifying and yet so compelling that the imagery remains with me still. As a man, imagine seeing your balls, the very core of your masculinity, the centre of your manhood in a jar. Separated, even alien in appearance, no longer part of you, filling your veins with strength and arousal.

Over even weirder yet, what about if the testicles were not your own, but the instead were the set that created you, the engines of the seed from which you sprang and so similar in fact to your own that hang reassuringly heavy between your legs. I don't think there's a man alive who wouldn't consider the idea a mindfuck. 

Artist's notes:

I'm trying a new shading method which is "simpler" and more cartoony. I...kinda like it but am unsure if it qualifies as an improvement. 

As a sidenote - I've received quite few requests and comments through my email. To the guys who've sent positive thoughts, it is much appreciated. I love hearing from you. I am planning on trying to fulfil some of the requests but my process is snail-like and I don't have as much time to devote to this as I'd like, so your patience if much appreciated.