Sketch Diary: Warrior concept

This is what happens when you watch too much Viking and Ancient Rome related movies and shows. Love those braids, though.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Monster concepts

Just a few monsters for your consideration. Well, some might say monsters. Maybe they're just different. I'm not sure I'd take the chance to find out, especially with the one on the right. The one on the left, the spikes are supposed to look like they're coming from the inside, breaking through the skin rather than growing like horns might. I always feel at my most creative when making creatures that are at least a little bit 'off'.

In case my shading isn't contrasted enough (heh yes), if you zoom in on the middle dude, you might be able to see the teeth better. It's my fav.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Faerie Queen concept

First sketch in weeks! At least it's a detailed one, haha. I got inspired suddenly and had to get this out of my system. I know I've done a lot of headshots lately but hey, better than nothing. My bf doesn't like the neck angle and says the eye is a bit large  but oh well. If I go back to ink it later, maybe I'll adjust it a bit.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Harpy priestess concept

Isn't she ADORABLE?! I think so. I'm pretty pleased with myself. It only took... forever to finish this sketch. Such is the curse of having full-time design work. Doesn't leave much time for random sketching. But I was inspired for this little illustration project I'm working on with some folks, The Compendium. It's a nice way to motivate each other to draw more regularly and with purpose without any real deadline to stress us out.

Anyway, what I mentioned when I first uploaded this sketch there was this whole priestess thing. "I'm not sure why but I like the idea of harpies being priestesses to the gods. Kind of like an pre-christian idea of angels. But I imagine harpies as being more...gray. Not good but not evil. They do the gods bidding and maintain the great temples or something. Guard the relics, preside over sacrifices, light the sacred candles."
Maybe she needs more cloths? I don't know. I feel like harpies should, in general, be pretty bare.
with love - M

Sketch Diary: TBT - Fairy concept

Another throwback piece to August 2010, an early attempt with my Copic markers. I just can't get over how much I still love those head pompom thingies. The mushrooms were pretty rushed and I didn't bother filling in the rest of the background. I was more interested in figuring out how to blend properly. This particular hair style, with the side swirly curl, I'm still fond of and if you had access to all my sketches, you'd see it a lot during that summer.

Faeriecon East is coming up and I wanted to upload something fae-like to get me pumped about fae stuff. I think it's working. If you've never been to a faerie convention/festival, it's a lot like other festivals but with LOTS of wonderful costumed folk and usually it takes about a week to get all of the glitter off your body... even if you weren't wearing any. It's just something that happens.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: TBT mer-person concept

Androgynous mer-person! The written note says "no males or females - fins fold up for courting and defense". An old sketch from the year after I graduated college. Not sure what the bun looking things on it's forehead are... maybe hair? I forget.