#artsofmetamoor reply

[artsofmetamoor]

Hey! I want you to know never doubt it, your art is FAN-TASTIC 👀 and it deserves all the praise it can get! 💖✨️❤️

How do you come up with your designs for the characters? Diego in particular; how did you come up with the design or the color scheme and the like! Seems a complicated process of thought!

Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words, it means a lot!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Oh gosh, there's a bit to unpack here, but I'll try not to drag it! Diego is an interesting choice, not many people ask me about him, you are very attentive stranger! It's kind of funny because when I first created him he had a simple antagonistic role, mainly because I didn’t have much experience with character design or storytelling at the time. Both him and my skills are still growing.

When designing a character, I start by exploring their personality, background, and role in the story. So now I aimed to capture Diego's inner qualities and flaws, as well as how his environment and relationships influence him. From his pose, to the way he carries himself, his expressions, the silhouette of his body e.t.c. all of that must hint to the viewer who is is as a person.

For instance Diego has mostly the role of an archer in the rebellion, so he should have well-developed upper arms and shoulders. However, given his stealthy and cunning nature, I imagined him to be toned and athletic rather than overly muscular despite being a warrior. Additionally, Diego has a subtle 'posh' vibe to him even when he's being erratic, which I try to show through small details like elegant movements or the gestures of his hands.

After deciding his body structure I move over to all the other details that add to his character. For example I also wanted his clothes to balance his personality with his role in a rebellion, so they are a bit more elegant for a rebel, reflecting his slightly vain nature, but I also tried to portray them as practical. Everything he wears has a purpose, whether it’s for mobility, stealth, or durability in battle. The elegance in his attire is subtle, maybe in the cut of his tunic or the way his boots are laced, but it’s there, showing that he’s someone who cares about how he presents himself. Now that I think about it Diego is pretty much like an elf ranger 😆

As far as his colors go, one of the first things I knew I wanted for Diego was red hair. Even though it’s a bit cliché, I felt it symbolized the fiery aggression he carries inside. As his character developed, the red hair came to represent not just aggression, but also his passion, determination, and his intense need to prove himself (feelings he often keeps hidden). The color also reflects how he loves fiercely, sometimes to the point of self-destruction. I focused on keeping his hair red and built the color scheme around it because having that one fixed detail made the rest of the design process easier for me.

After that I used complementary and softer colors such as greens and earthly browns to highlight his outfit, eyes e.t.c.

It can definitely seem daunting to create something from scratch, I always try to go back to basics so things don't turn into a rumble in my head. For example, when I'm choosing color schemes for either characters or environments I tend to just look back at color theory, and I know that might seem dull, but it’s incredibly important and useful for understanding how colors interact and complement each other (just like it is important to understand anatomy for drawing figures).

I won’t dive into the technical details since there are plenty of online tutorials, but one reference I highly recommend is James Gurney’s book Color and Light. It’s been a game-changer for me and it's a tool I frequently return to when I feel stuck in my coloring process:

Palette generators are also useful resources:

https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel

Even stuff like character creator and dress-up games can be surprisingly effective for inspiration and kick starting a base for character designs and color schemes if you are feeling stuck. Some of our most beloved original characters started from this, combined with the techniques I mentioned above. For example, Dilla was initially created by @katerinaaqu using one of these games (left). I then drew her and fleshed out her body structure and tailored her appearance to better fit her personality and physical descriptions, as we both envisioned her (right) :

With this I also must point out that the development of Diego and the entirety of Chronicles of Metamoor was a team effort. My friend @katerinaaqu, an awesome writer who collaborates with me on this project, played a big role in shaping these characters. Her detailed descriptions, stories, and insights were very important to bring them all to life ❤️

I think this is all for now. I apologize if this explanation was a bit general, but if you (or anyone else) have more questions about Diego’s design or any of our other characters, or even just any general question feel free to ask! Your support and interest in my art and our story mean a lot to me, thank you so much! ❤️🌹

[katerinaaqu]

Okay, if someone asked me to put greek music that fits Odysseus especially the final parts of his arduous trip (in a way the things that occur before and during Ogygia, as also memorized in my fic "Survivor's Guilt and Survivor's Duty") I think I am among two!

It's Raining Fire on my way (or "Bitter wave")

It's raining fire on my way Fire that has burnt me For my poor youth No one shall cry

[Ref] The life, the life ends here My lamp is burning out And the soul, and the soul like a swallow Flees from my lips

Bitter wave against my bow And the sails (are) torn Not even a brother, my boy Has ever cared about you

[Ref] The life, the life ends here My lamp is burning out And the soul, and the soul like a swallow Flees from my lips

I keep asking (or "The Bitter Path")

I took the bitter path, I took the bitter path That leads nowhere Pain binds my lips, pain binds my lips My heart is dripping blood, my heart is dripping blood

[Ref] And I keep asking, and I keep asking And I seek for my love But no reply arrives And my hope is sinking, and my hope is sinking Road after road and I got lost, road after road and I got lost The nightbird is crying I took the bitter path, I took the bitter path That leads nowhere, that leads nowhere

[Ref] But as I keep asking, but as I keep asking For the love that I am seeking for A smile breaks through Somewhere afar the dawn is breaking, somewhere afar the dawn is breaking

***

Hehehehe sorry a bit of nostalgia for some of these passionate old songs! In a way I would love to see some sort of Odyssey created by greeks like these golden movies of the 1950s-1960s with such music in! Haha! Anyways probably mates like @margaretkart will understand! Hehehe sorry for the random post! I just had to! Because these songs are pure poetry of pain!

I also wanna give a wink to my amazing friend @artsofmetamoor with her recent inspiration for greek mythology inspired AU for our meridian/metamoor charcters from W.I.T.C.H and her latest amazing sketches that deserve so much more love!

Jaoral and Akule (Apollo and Artemis)

Cornelia and Jaoral and Akule (Persephone/Leto, Apollo and Artemis)

And of course you imagine a certain cheesy dude that is going to play the part of this poor tormented boy that is called Odysseus! Hahaha! Keep your eyes open for that! Hahahaha!

[artsofmetamoor]

Hello, I need you to know I would die for Dilla. I love her so much 😍

Bonus Avatar AU

[artsofmetamoor]

How would growing up in Dilla and Caleb’s care change Spider? Many theorise that he wears dreads bc he wants to be more like Jake, but in difference from him, his locs are matted and dirty, which solidified his neglect. Would Dilla braid them into intricate styles? Would Spider be proud of his curls?

Oh for real, it also did seem to me, among other things, that Spider's locs being so unkept and uncared for were a clear sign of neglect, especially when compared to Jake's.

In future drawings I'm planning to show exactly that, how his appearance and self worth will change now that he is in the care of a loving family who don't ostracize or blame him for his birth father's crimes or for being human.

Dilla and Caleb without a doubt take care of his hair and everything else with all the love in the world, and especially Dilla indeed stylizes it in various ways, she also loves to snuggle against his loose fluffy hair when they embrace ❤️🥰 he definitely wears his long curls, either stylized or loose, much more proudly ❤️

[artsofmetamoor]

I just wanna say how BEAUTIFUL your artwork is like the coloring? The poses? The uniqueness in each and every character? FAWK, I'd gobble your artwork if I could, i just wanted to tell you it is STUNNINNGGGGG! Keep doing what you do, I love to see it! <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3 So many hearts for you

Aaaaah thank you so much for your kind words!! This made me smile so much, I'm happy you enjoy my art and these characters! that really means a lot!

So many hearts right back at you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[artsofmetamoor]

Omg baby Spider adopted by them is so cute 😭😭😭😭😭😭

The baby must be happy with a family!! I'm making so many drawings for them 😭😭😭💙

[artsofmetamoor]

OI

just stumbled across the comic strip where Dilla meets Mikes Jr- is she blind?? I'm an idiot and she has the eyes of opal :3

Hi! Sorry I took so long to reply!

Aww Opal eyes!! I love that ❤️❤️

Yes Dilla is blind, she and her twin brother Ballard were born blind and had to train hard to sharpen their other senses so they could survive and thrive as part of the Omatikaya clan.

Her eyes are also something we have chosen to keep from her original design to this Avatar AU. In our original story she's a Tribal Galhot, a fantasy race of people who are all blind but with very developed hearing and other senses:

[artsofmetamoor]

I just recently discovered your page and I’m loving every second of it! But I must ask how did Dilla and Caleb meet each other?😋😋

Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️ how they meet in the original Story or in the Avatar AU?

In the original story Caleb was leading some of his rebel men through the forests of Meridian while trying to escape the troops of prince Phobos. The rebels then stumbled into the territory of the Tribal Galhots, and are confronted by a hunting party of warriors (among them is Dilla). After deciding Caleb and his rebels are not a threat to them the hunting party escorts them to their village and offers them shelter, and it was during this time that Caleb and Dilla get close. First Caleb is impressed by Dilla's combat skills while watching her spar with a co-villager, so he asks her to train him and she agrees. During the time that follows they develop a strong bond and fall in love. Touched and inspired by their cause Dilla also requests to join the rebellion, and follows Caleb and the other rebels when they depart from the village.

In the Avatar AU Caleb along with Cornelia are marines in charge of protecting the scientists of the Avatar program. During one of the outings in the forest right before the airship was about to return to the base, Caleb and Cornelia decided to scan the surrounding area after hearing strange noises, to make sure no flying creatures would attempt to take the airship down. However they end up lost with their navigation devices going crazy in the middle of the Pandoran jungle. They freak out when they run face to face with a mighty and huge Omatikaya Na'vi warrior, however this Na'vi introduces herself as Dilla, and helps them find their way back to their camp and airship, Caleb is grateful and touched by Dilla's act of kindness, and they never leave each other's minds until fatefully meeting once more when Caleb goes on his first mission with his Avatar body.

Note: You can read the fanfic of our Avatar AU, written by @katerinaaqu HERE ^^

[artsofmetamoor]

The fact this is a W.I.T.C.H account makes me so happy this is a show and book series I love as a kid a still love. I watched it so many times even found the entire show on YouTube. The guardians, the heart of candracar, ahhh now I have to Binge watch. Love the avatar sprinkles in there too. 💖👏🏾🥺

Sorry it took me so long to reply 😭

Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️ even if we do stray quite a bit from the W.I.T.C.H. lore and themes (we focus more on the medieval fantasy aspect of it) but I'm so glad you enjoy our stuff and the Avatar AU as well 💙✨

[artsofmetamoor]

Hello, I love your art so much. They're amazing. If you have a time and a wish could you draw Dilla with different hairstyles?) Two braids,ponytail,hair down and so on.+I have a question. Can Galhots shave temples because their hair is too thick?

Thank you so much!! That means a lot ❤️

This was a really fun idea, so here is Dilla with some different hairstyles🥰 With her original one on top for comparison.

Tribal Galhots usually shave part of their hair both for cultural reasons and for practicality, and indeed because their hair is very full and thick, so they also braid and stylize it in such a way so that it won't bother them while they do their daily tasks or hunt.

It's also for general grooming and hygiene reasons, for example if by any chance something like louse got in their hair they could easily detect the parasites and get rid of them.

And besides that it can be a very intimate and affectionate moment between family members, friends and loved ones to braid and groom each other’s hair.

Also Tribal Galhots for the most part have a more pragmatic culture ( they do believe in an afterlife, and worship the concept of the heavens and stars, since it's the only aspect of the natural world they know to exists, but cannot experience it with their senses since they don't have sight, so they regard it with great wonder and reverence. But they do not worship any deities, and instead give much more importance to the physical world around that provides for all their needs) so their hair does not really have any spiritualistic meaning in regards to religious beliefs, but it still does have great importance and symbolism to each individual.

Dilla for example considers the long section of hair that she usually keeps in a long single braid to be a symbol of all the battles she has won throughout her life (both battles in arms, and emotional battles of mental will and strength), and it's also something that always connects her to her people even when she might be far from them, such as when she followed Caleb and the rebels during the war. Therefore it would be a great distress to her if she had to cut her longer section of hair, or if someone else cut it off, and it would hurt her deeply.

[artsofmetamoor]

Hello. I'm always interested, we know that Galhots like wearing jewellery especially in ears, they have a lot earrings in different place.

1)How they pierce their ears symmetrical?(They are blind))

2)How they choose ,what they want?(helix, industrial,lobe and so on)

3)Why do they do that? Is there meaning?(exemple:You can wearing helix if you kill big cat)

I know it's a lot but i relly want to know)

Hi! Thank you so much for your interest, it always means a lot ^^

With their other developed senses Tribal Galhots can accurately measure distances between objects and their symmetry, both by using reflecting sounds in a sort of echolocation technique, or simply by touch. They assist each other with piercings, and in the case of equal earrings they touch the lobe and place the first one as best as they can, then they measure the spot of the second piercing while touching the first one for reference.

The where and why a piercing is made, as well as for the shape, it's all for the most part a purely personal choice. There is not a general symbolic meaning for them, tho they can have their own individual and sentimental value to each person. Many Tribal Galhots are crafters and smiths and like to display their work with gold and iron in their jewelry (their craftsmanship technique is also unique to Metamoor and can be a connection to their people) other times in the case of a special hunt (such as a rite of passage into adulthood) they might choose to turn the hunted animal's claws, teeth or bones into earrings or other jewelry to display their victory and pride. Sometimes when there is a funeral, after the pyre burns for the deceased, one might chose to collect a small fragment of bone and turn it into a piece of jewelry to remember a lost loved one. And other times it could be simply a tribute for someone or something, or simply a special gift e.t.c. Also since children do not get piercings, it's a sign of someone's coming of age.

[artsofmetamoor]

Good evening) You and katerinaaqu very talented. I love your arts and galhots biography. Thank you so much) I have a question. We know that in the past Dilla protected Cornelia from Assara and won. Does Dilla stronger than Assara or they are equal? And if you have a time and opportunity could you draw Dilla and Assara tohether.(Sorry for mistakes. Not my first language)

Hello! Here are the ladies 👀

Thank you so much! That's kind, we're very happy you enjoy this collab ^^ It really makes my day when people remember our original characters and concepts! ❤️

Assara surpasses Dilla in brute strength and size, however Dilla accompanied Caleb and the rebels for years during the revolution against Phobos, and has gained real life experience in harsh warfare.

They are both highly skilled warriors and huntresses, however Assara can get carried away in her overconfidence and uncontrolled emotions.

So short answer, physically Assara is much stronger, but in general having in mind skill and experience, they can be considered to be at a similar level.