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Sketchbook: Name Engraver

Just a very quick drawing of Xilonen. Literally, the mood was ‘throw whatever you want at it and see what sticks’, the ‘ruin your drawing with confidence’ approach. I took the brush-tip pen and just let it run loose.

It’s not very clear, but she’s holding an Ancient Name in her left hand and engraving on it with her right. Tried to make the cool Nightsoul effect with traditional paint, and I think it only worked halfway.

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Sketchbook: Wrath of the Rock/Flame!

I just find it hilarious that Zhongli has a legitimate punishment he titled ‘The Wrath of the Rock’, and that Yanfei stumbled onto it when reading a very old book on law and decided to add it to her attacks. Plus, Yanfei was one of my first main DPS. Drawing her kinda made me wanna play as her again.

I think I kinda found the medium I prefer when using my pens, which is essentially monochrome using copics (as long as I am careful, I can avoid the whole bleed situation), then adding a wash of colour or pops of colour on top. Still needs some refinement, but getting there.

I’m especially proud of the way I did Yanfei’s sigils, which are done traditionally (I say this because the blocks of text on black background were done digitally). A wash of red first, with the symbols in white acrylic on top, followed by red fineliner to outline and define, and finished with a slight wash of red here and there.

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Sketchbook: Swan Lake

Am I the only one who thought Furina (the human and the divine) suit the Snow Winged Goose and Darkwing Goose perfectly?

Furina used to be Focalors, both the human and the divine in one, as an Oceanid that was given human form by Egeria. After Egeria’s death, Focalors separated herself into two, the human and the divine. She named the human ‘Furina’, but they are still one and the same. Furina just doesn’t have the memories Focalors has.

The duality of this one person being two, the fact that Furina has to fool everyone that she is a god to save them, it reminds me a lot of the white and black swan from Swan Lake. That’s the main inspiration behind Furina being the black swan (pretending to be the white swan, that is the divine part of herself). I added elements of the in-game versions of the two swans in their outfits and colours, though I did debate on giving them just the actual ballerina outfits from Swan Lake.

Plus, Furina can switch between Pneuma and Ousia, and with how her outfit changes from white to black respectively, it reminds me of how the role of Odile and Odette are now played by one dancer, switching between the two.

Also, here’s some sketches that I made in preparation for the final outcome. The pose is actually from the dance at the conclusion of the archon quest, with her hands posed that way briefly. I didn’t choose the final bow because it would not be very easy to show that mirroring effect.

Final tip: if you want to draw something mirroring like this without using tracing paper or digital means, you measure the length and width of certain key points (like where the shoulders, the waist and the knees are, how wide the torso is, where the hands are placed). It doesn’t have to be perfect (because mine sure isn’t); it’s just the bigger picture and focal points that have to look reasonably similar.

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Sketchbook: Trip to Fontaine

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Sketchbook: Kazuha

I did this drawing twice, and I honestly am glad that the second try turned out decently, since usually for me, the first one is always better than the second.

It is Kazuha parrying the Raiden Shogun’s Musou no Hitotachi, with his friend supporting him from behind! Love how the pose and expression came out. I’m still trying to figure out what medium is best to go together with my pen linework.

Even though this is pretty nice, it still isn’t quite what I want, but that’s what experimenting is about, as you can probably see from my other pen stuff.

Secret peek of how the first drawing went.

I think it could have worked…but there is a time when you just need to stop and start anew, and maybe come back to this much later in life.

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Bookmarks! Bird bookmarks! Did these two as a birthday gift for a friend overseas.

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Sketchbook: Clorinde

I had plans to draw Clorinde’s Game Master skin from her story quest, only to end up scrapping it (see the one page being extra white because I covered it with watercolor paper) and doing this instead. I’m still learning about drawing anime (or anime-adjacent in appearance) characters, so hopefully, I can be skilled enough to bring my ideas to physical form. One step at a time.

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Sketchbook: Morning Routine

Original pen and ink drawing under cut.

Trying out colouring digitally my traditional drawings. Like, just giving it a pop of colour here and there, and adjusting some proportions. I also did this for my Kinich drawing, and I think I’ll need more practice and confidence before adding even more colour.

Baizhu just chilling out, watering his plants, sipping his warm tea, and Changsheng still sleeping the morning away. I drew this before even reading his Good Morning voice line, so imagine my pleasant surprise when I found out that he does drink tea before breakfast. I don’t know if he canonically has plants he takes care of, but he does give me that vibe.

Anyways, I’m off exploring Natlan’s new locations! I’mma hunt down the new local legends and speed run getting that name card.

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Sketchbook: Iridescent Rain

The title’s a reference to one of Xingqiu’s many identities. And the redesign is inspired by the animation “The Divine Inquiry”. I was having a hard time thinking of what to draw for Xingqiu, only to remember wuxia and xianxia novels, so bam! Travelling cultivator Xingqiu.

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Sketchbook: Thoma’s Hobby

Inspired by two of his voice-overs; one where he’s interested in seeing a tanuki, and how he likes reading stories about shapeshifting Yōkai. A kasa-obake isn’t exactly a shapeshifting Yōkai, but it is also referencing the event sword weapon from the yokai event, so yeah.

In relation to Yōkai, my favourite anime of all time is Natsume Yuujinchou, so I hope this evokes the same feel for you guys. Thoma’s voice lines about Yōkai particularly reminds me of Taki’s grandfather’s own passion, and that’s what really drove me to create this drawing.

Also, as a challenge, while this is done with pencil sketching, the inking is all done with a brush pen. That’s why the window frames are a bit hit-or-miss, hehe.

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Sketchbook: Bennett’s Companion

There is one big reason why Yumkasaur.

It is (currently, other than a Qucusaur) that can save Bennett out of most situations should he go exploring in Natlan.

Because cliffs. Sheer cliffs. Before Xilonen, I have had many falls�� so many deaths to falling with no stamina and not enough reaction time for a plunge attack.

So, in case Benny accidentally walked off a cliff or something, his Yumkasaur buddy will grapple him to safety.

Or, like in my drawing, cushioning him safely should he fall.

Also, if Yumkasaur is like Yoshi, that would make Bennett Mario. Do with that as you will.

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Sketchbook: Teatime

Arlecchino and her (daughter) Lynette having tea.

Ps, the tea’s from Wriothesley as an apology gift after…ya know.

Also, copic markers are not my wheelhouse. I am wincing at every blotchy area I can see… my sketchbook paper didn’t pass the bleed test either. It was a good thing nothing important was behind this page in particular.

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Just a last minute addition. Edits done digitally.

Sketchbook: Kinich’s Birthday message

This came to me like a brain worm that will NOT leave until it comes to visual form. And since I got some new liner pens and brush pen… It’s no longer Inktober, but I wanted to try them out.

“Oh, that one looks interesting. Go on Ajaw.”

“KINICH! Don’t you DARE-!”

Plus, here’re more sketches using those pens.

[solunos]

Sketchbook: Kinich’s Birthday message

This came to me like a brain worm that will NOT leave until it comes to visual form. And since I got some new liner pens and brush pen… It’s no longer Inktober, but I wanted to try them out.

“Oh, that one looks interesting. Go on Ajaw.”

“KINICH! Don’t you DARE-!”

Plus, here’re more sketches using those pens.

[solunos]

Sketchbook: Night at Lambad’s Tavern

I am very late, and this one was stressing me out, so I decided that I needed to stop fussing over more details and just get it posted. Thus, have a boys’ night out.

More explanation (like, a lot, because this was a PROCESS) and close up images under the cut.

Out of all the regions, Sumeru has one of my most favourite architectural designs, especially inside the buildings. The floral motifs and intricate wooden carvings just tickle the maximalist part of my brain. So when I saw this bar area on the second floor of Lambad’s Tavern, I knew I just had to put in the Sumeru boys having a drink together while hanging out.

Coming up with who’s present and where they are sitting is…um, let’s just say eventful. I know the original 4ggravate has to be there, but who else? Wanderer? I imagine he just scoffs at the idea of hanging out with the others, plus he doesn’t have that same close friendship as the four.

So the only other candidate left was Sethos. And considering the voice line he has for Kaveh and Alhaitham…

Yup, he’s (technically) the third wheel to the group. He’s more invested in keeping an eye on Kaveh and Alhaitham, instead of getting dragged further in to Cyno’s TCG rambles that Tighnari is currently lending an ear to.

TL;DR, Kaveh drinking the night away, with Alhaitham badgering him for one thing or another, Sethos watching in fascination like it’s a soap opera, while Cyno and Tighnari are in their own corner with TCG on the brain.

Also, happy birthday Nahida! Currently doing her event and waiting for her weapon banner to drop. I already have her at C2, so going for her weapon as a birthday gift. Might do art, but not sure; this one tired me out bad.

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Sketchbook: Harvisptokhm and Simurgh

This is my interpretation of the Simurgh from Genshin Impact. We never see them in-game, so this is just my headcanon of what they might look like.

In Genshin lore, they were formed from a shard of Khvarena from Nabu Malikata, that was then transformed into a bird by Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.

And from the Simurgh, when its form shattered into motes of Khvarena as it dove into the Amrita pool, the Pari were born. It really speaks to the Simurgh myth of ‘being made from many birds’. So, due to the connection to Pari, I made the Simurgh share visual similarities with them. Think Simurgh as a bigger and more elaborate version of a Pari.

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Sketchbook: Tighnari and Karkata

We’re still on the Sumeru train (and we will continue to be on that train until Nahida’s birthday has come and passed, because she’s my favourite Archon and I love her to bits).

Ahem.

I know I said I wanted to draw Karkata. And I technically did. But listen, I was planning to draw Karkata awake…until I discovered that if you did Tighnari’s story quest before Sumeru Archon quest where he got struck by lightning, instead of resting on the floor, he sits on Karkata.

Mind. Blown.

And inspiration triggered. So, here we have a quiet moment where Tighnari’s just reading out loud a book, with Karkata actually listening even though they’re in their box form. I was particularly inspired to do this greenish-yellow lighting streaming through the glass walls of Pardis Dhyai, and the plants are from acrylic to get some differences in colours.