Two Boys At The Beach

I couldn’t think of a proper title for this one, so I’m going to keep it as it is. 

Painting with SketchBook on my phone, as usual, but this time, a departure from DEATH STRANDING. This is a piece inspired by a Taiwanese film that was released quite recently called ‘Your Name Engraved Herein’ ( 刻在你心底的名字). 

I had to choose to watch this movie after the emotional wreckage I received from Chapter 9 of DEATH STRANDING. (Might as well since I needed a good cry after that portion of the game, anyways.) 

The Valley

The Valley
297 x 210 mm
Acrylic on acrylic paper. 

A DEATH STRANDING Fan Art

. . .

My next acrylic piece. This is one of my favourite views in the game and I had taken a screenshot of it a long while back, hoping to eventually turn it into a painting. Now, at long last, I have done it!

There were small dramas with this piece, though. I started off with a really wet coat of underpaint and that seeped under the masking tape that held the paper to the mountain board. I only found out about this once I started peeling the tape away, so I had to patch up the frame with white paint. Speaking of peeling, the tape tore of a small bit off the top left corner. I squealed. Thankfully it wasn’t too obvious and I was able to patch it up a little too. 

 

The Ridge

The Ridge

1500 x 1200

SketchBook

Inspired by DEATH STRANDING

. . .

I initially didn’t have a plan with this one. Wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out. Started with just the sky, then some mountains from a distance, and then went straight to layering in the details until I was satisfied. Oh, and added the little man of course -- as always. 

The Seam

The Seam

1200 x 1500

SketchBook

Inspired by DEATH STRANDING & Woodkid's 'I LOVE YOU' MV

. . . 

Took quite a while to do this one. Needed some reference photos of whales underwater, because I realised the refracted light that reflects off their body is hard to recreate. 

And here is the video that inspired this piece. 

Going Home

 Going Home

1200 x 1500

SketchBook

Inspired by DEATH STRANDING

. . .

Well, let's get you home now, Lou. Watch your step. 

Saving Lou

Saving Lou

1200 x 1500

SketchBook

A DEATH STRANDING Fan Art

. . .

So much mixed feelings. 😣😣😣

VALHALLA

 VALHALLA

1500 x 1200

SketchBook

Inspired by DEATH STRANDING and the soundscape of Richard Wagner. 

BRIDGE

BRIDGE

1200 x 1500

SketchBook

Inspired by DEATH STRANDING

. . .

A little quick one before bed last night. An attempt at minimalism. 

 

LEVIATHAN

LEVIATHAN

1200 x 1500

SketchBook

Inspired by DEATH STRANDING

. . .

I have just made my way through the Tar Belt in DEATH STRANDING. It was such an exciting, intense and beautiful portion of the game, especially with the whale BTs. I was mostly in awe with these creatures and I couldn't help gawking at all of them as they breached over me. I was living my FREE WILLY fantasy. 

Connor, Traci & Higgs

Connor, Traci & Higgs

1200 x 1980

SketchBook

A DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN & DEATH STRANDING Fan Art

. . .

I saw the GIFs of this beautiful moment (link here), and I had to draw it, because... you know... why not? 

So here they are, Bryan Dechart, Amelia Rose Blaire and Troy Baker as Connor (DBH), Traci (DBH) and Higgs Monaghan (DS). 

Howling Winds

Howling Winds

1980 x 1200

SketchBook

A DEATH STRANDING fan art

. . .

I initially had another scene in mind, but as much as I tried to sketch it out, it never seemed right. It is supposed to show Sam walking up a slope towards a valley, upon which another porter or maybe even a holo projection waves down at him from the top. An image of human decency.

But I couldn’t get the proportions right, so instead I shelved that idea and went with something simpler (and maybe lonelier) -- Sam hiking through the snow-capped mountains around Mountain Knot City. 

And here is the song to which I painted this to. Enjoy!  🌨 🌨 🌨

Little anecdote behind it:

I was inspired to make this while having Sam take a really slow hike through the mountains recently in the game. I wasn’t in any rush to do much that evening, and planned for myself to have about two to three easy deliveries tops because I was feeling bushed. So there I was, taking time to slowly trek through the mountains, and as I came up to the spine, I started noticing details in the view that I almost quite always took for granted; the chilling drop down the slope, the distance between me and the rest of the mountains, the clouds, the snow, the fog. It took my breath away and for a while I didn’t want to move.

A Painting of Icelandic Mountains

Acrylic on acrylic painting paper

210 mm x 297 mm

. . .

I really do not have a title for this piece, and I intend to leave it that way. My first piece painted on acrylic painting paper (really thick paper) and also probably the largest work I have done in a long while now, and it took me two afternoons and a bit of morning to complete it. I feel quite spent as I am typing this to be honest. 😅

A landscape piece, spiritually inspired (if that's a thing) by Death Stranding. 

Also, big credits to Chris Reid for his amazing photo on Unsplash which I have used as reference. 
Link to photo: https://unsplash.com/photos/sqJ40H9RtNw

Likers Get Liked!

'Likers Get Liked'
1080 x 1350
SketchBook
A DEATH STRANDING Fan Art + Appreciation

. . .

This painting was done in appreciation of all the love and support I have received in the recent days, mostly notably for my 'Entity' paintings on Twitter and my 'Entity' and 'The Picture' paintings on Tumblr. And if you are here reading this, here is my appreciation to you, too! Thank you, kind reader!

Also, that is supposed to be me, but since I suck at drawing my own face, this is but an approximation -- and a rather idealized version, at that. 

Entity

'Entity'

1980 x 1980

SketchBook

A DEATH STRANDING fan art

. . .

Whiteouts are scary!

The Beach

The Beach
1980 x 1200
SketchBook
Inspired by the Beach in DEATH STRANDING

. . .

Once
I was a Child,
Until they told me that, 
I cried too much,
I was lazy, 
I was stupid, 
I was unfocused,
I talked too much, 
I was selfish,
And everything that I ever wanted,
Was pointless. 

I believed them. 

And it seemed so important that I did.

So I tried,

Crying less,

Working hard,

Being smart,

Being focused,

Talking less,

Being considerate

And wanting things, 

That made justifiable sense to want.

And everyone was happy, 

Though I wasn't, 

But it wasn't selfish, 

So that was good, 

So I continued,

Until I was,

An adult.

Then, 

Came the rain, 

And those, 

Whom I have so tried, 

To please, 

And serve, 

Scrambled for shelter, 

Leaving me,

Drenched. 

I sought for help, 

And all they could say, was:

'Fend for yourself;

You have but grown!'

I tried and I failed, 

And again I sought for help . 

But all they could say, was:

'Fend for yourself;

You have but grown!'

I tried, 

And again I failed, 

And so I sought for help, 

But all they could say, was:

You cry too much!

You are lazy!

You are stupid!

You are unfocused!

You talk too much!

You are selfish!

And You,

Are, 

Pointless!

They remained in their shelters, 

And I could do no more. 

With a heavy heart, 

I turned, 

And left as they cowered. 

I came upon a beach,

Where the rain was heaviest, 

And I saw a Child, 

Alone on the shore. 

The Child was crying,

So I sat myself down, 

Next to him, 

And asked, 

What was wrong. 

'They said, 

I cry too much, 

I am lazy, 

I am stupid, 

I am unfocused,

I talk too much, 

I am selfish,

I am pointless,

And I do not deserve, 

The shelter.'

He continued to cry, 

And all I could do, 

Was sit by him, 

On the black sands of the beach, 

Looking out, 

Over ferocious waves, 

Rolling under dark skies, 

As the world, 

Slowly floods. 

Extinction

'Extinction'

1080 x 1350

SketchBook

Inspired by DEATH STRANDING

. . .

(Just realised as I write this post that I missed out the handprint mark in the crater. Probably in a next version XP)

Little unrelated story:

When I was painting this, I was listening to Les Friction’s YOUR WORLD WILL FAIL, and it really helped to set the mood for this. I was hoping to be able to accompany the picture with that song when I share it on Instagram Story, but couldn’t find it on Instagram Music, which I am a little upset about, but oh well, ended up with another song that sorta fits too. 

Here is the track I wanted to use:

Here is the track I used instead:

(Not sure if the embedded tracks will appear properly or not. In any case, the links are there)

The Scientist & The Porter

'The Scientist & The Porter'

1080 x 1350

SketchBook

A DEATH STRANDING fan art

. . .

Mini head canon of these two just hanging out and chilling. 

 

Portrait of HEARTMAN

Heartman

Pencil on paper

A DEATH STRANDING Fan Art

. . .

I have come to a portion of the game where Sam Porter Bridges (and, by extension, the player) is finally properly introduced to Heartman in the flesh, and I have to say, I am smitten! I find myself very much attracted to this man; he is so adorably nerdy and beautiful! I can't ... I just... 

Him. Just him. 💙👍+20

 

Enough Resting -- Time to Make More Art!

So I have finally decided that I have rested enough, after just about 4 to 5 days since finishing #OctoberDechART. I would have thought perhaps a week at least, but the itch was real and I couldn't help it. So here are the 2 (+1) pieces I made at work -- in between work tasks, of course. 

'Misty Hike'
1080 x 1350
SketchBook
Inspired by DEATH STRANDING

This first one was inspired by the in-game landscape of DEATH STRANDING, which yes, I am still playing till today because I can't get enough of making deliveries in that game. I haven't progressed much in terms of the story, but I find the day-to-day deliveries across the landscape very therapeutic and mentally stimulating, so I am really taking my time here to savour the game. 

'Walking Without Rhythm'
1080 x 1350
SketchBook
A DUNE Fanart

This next one didn't really start off as a DUNE fanart at first. I was in the middle of a meeting and I was losing focus halfway through and I needed to just doodle something to keep myself aligned, and it began as something that looked like a beach. But then, as I painted some more, the horizon became less of a horizon and started taking the form of a peak, and very soon it looked almost like the top of a sand dune, and that was when Shai-Hulud and the Fremen figure manifested themselves in my mind. 

'Walking Without Rhythm - Daytime Version'
1080 x 1350
SketchBook + Adobe LightRoom
A DUNE Fanart

This isn't a repaint, but rather I took the original and upped the colour temperature in LightRoom. This wasn't planned, but was born out of spontaneous motivation when a fellow artist on Instagram -- who probably isn't familiar with DUNE -- thought what they were seeing was snow. I don't blame them; anyone unfamiliar with the story and the recent movie would think that, given the colour scheme I have used for the piece. So out of curiosity, I wondered then how it would look if I switched it up to daytime instead. Much to my surprise, it turned out well, and I am all the more happy for it. 

The End of #OctoberDechART 2021!

And so, #OctoberDechART has come to an end, and here is my collage for this event. Big thanks and lots of appreciation to Bryan Dechart and Amelia Rose Blaire for DechartGames for making this possible and lots of love and gratitude to the community for the love and support. I had loads of fun exploring new techniques and looks and themes and media. Looking forward to more in the future.

💙💙💙

❤️💙🤍

And Happy (Belated) Halloween! 🎃🎃🎃

#OctoberDechART Day 31: Multiverse

#OctoberDechART 

Day 31

Multiverse

Pencil, ink, brush pen, acrylic & SketchBook

. . .

My final piece! A little self-insert piece, a self-portrait with me as a Bridges Porter and also me as an RK800 Android, using all the media I have used for this event. A tad bit self indulgent, but screw that, I had fun making this!

Also, that is supposed to be me, but as I look at it, it looks more like if Ken Watanabe and Patrick Stewart had a baby and that baby grew up. 😄

Here is the original scan before I added the digital bits.

#OctoberDechART Day 30: Fear

#OctoberDechART 

Day 30

Fear

SketchBook

. . .

"I fear not the dark itself, but what may lurk within it." -- Unknown