City Lights VI

City Lights VI

2240 x 1400

SketchBook

Bringing another different mood to the 'City Lights' series, this time one that (hopefully) befits the current occasion. 

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Everybody say LOVE!

City Lights V

City Lights V

2208 × 1380

SketchBook

It has been raining quite a lot recently. Thought I'd bring a different mood to the series. 

City Lights IV

City Lights IV

SketchBook

3360 × 2100

Something a little familiar, just repainted with some slight differences, and a slight change in the colour. 

City Lights III

City Lights III

1920 x 1600

SketchBook

well, i'm near the end and i just ain't got the time,

and i'm wasted and i can't find my way home.

-- Blind Faith, Can't Find My Way Home

City Lights II

City Lights II

1600 x 1920

SketchBook

the stars are out tonight. look up. 

Beyond Saving

Beyond Saving

1920 x 1600

SketchBook

I was very recently acquainted with the art of Simon Stålenhag and also just started watching TALES FROM THE LOOP. I am deeply enthralled and inspired by the atmosphere and the mood and the stories told by both Stålenhag's works and also the show, so much so that I thought I'd use that inspiration for my next practice on composition. 

Eurydice

Eurydice
1920 x 1600
SketchBook

Lately I have been feeling somewhat lousy about a couple of things where painting is concerned. At least with my last piece of work (my first for 2023), I realised that I have heavily regressed to purely working instinctively again, and in struggling to bring the piece to life, it has made me realise what I might still need a great deal of work on: composition, tone and perspective. 

So I went in search of an instructional video on composition -- which I really should have done in the past, or if I did, probably should have paid more attention -- and I found this one, which helped a great deal. 

I do highly recommend this video. Do check it out, if you haven't. The explanations are delivered quite well, and there are pretty solid examples given in here too. I haven't seen the rest of the series, but I plan to continue (hopefully). 

Anyways, having seen the video, I took out my stylus and phone and started making a sketch, very reminiscent of some of the examples you will see in the video.

I was surprised at the sense of depth this sketch was able to achieve, and I felt quite happy about it, even without any sort of details on it. This was... I think... my first conscious experience of this particular aspect of making art. 

After the sketch, I went straight into painting and adding in the details almost very instinctively -- which was fine seeing as there was already work done for the foundation, and I didn't have to guess how the picture would generally look like anymore. 

Once again, a solid foundation makes for a more fulfilling and satisfying painting process. And fun too. 

Anyways, here's the close-up of our little 'Opheus' character. Why Orpheus? Because as I filled in the details, I began to realise that I may have been subconsciously inspired by SONG OF ORPHEUS from THE SANDMAN graphic novel. 

Happy New Year 2023!

Adventure awaits! Wishing y'alls Love and Happiness and Hope for 2023! HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Winter In The UCA

Winter In The UCA
1600 x 1920
SketchBook

. . .

 Merry Christmas, everyone! And Happy Holidays!

🎄🎇🎆🎁🎉🎊❤️💚🤍

Something DS-themed for the Yuletide season!

Infinite Dust, Infinite Dark

Infinite Dust, Infinite Dark

1600 x 1920

SketchBook

This one is inspired by THE SANDMAN (both the picture and the title). 

I am in a big SANDMAN mood these past few days. I am close to finishing the first volume of my copy of the graphic novel and will be getting the second volume soon. Can't wait to continue reading it! 

Also, rewatching the first season, too. Having now finished the Doll-House arc, I would like to re-watch the first season with new eyes. 

The Climb (DS Fanart)

The Climb

1600 x 1920

SketchBook

DEATH STRANDING Fanart

Been a while since I painted DS fanart. 

New Stars

New Stars

1920 x 1600

SketchBook

🌌🌠🪐🌔

The Sun Bleeds

The Sun Bleeds

1600 x 1920

SketchBook

Have yourselves a great weekend, y'alls!

Steam Through The Cracks

Steam Through The Cracks

1920 x 1600

SketchBook

Somewhat inspired by Fallout 4. Recently gotten into the game, and I really love the look and feel of the atmosphere. I guess I have been into it quite a bit, it sorta subconsciously influenced me when I painted this. 

Anyways, here is a close-up of our guy and their feathery friend! Have a great weekend ahead, guys!

Muddy Puddles

Muddy Puddles

1920 x 1200

SketchBook

I kinda miss painting rain. 🌧🌧

Cabin By The Mountain

Cabin By The Mountain

2480 x 3058

SketchBook

I recently came across a glazing demonstration video, and I was quite intrigued by the process. 

For those who are not familiar with it: they would start with an underpainting of the lights and shadows, before adding a layer of semi-transparent paint over them to bring out the tones with more colour.

I thought I'd give this a go in digital, just to see how I would feel about it. I realise that as I write this, it isn't too different from the usual digital painting process that I have used in the past, what with all the layers that we can play around with and whatnot, but this would be my first conscious attempt to do it in this manner. 

So, I started with this as the underpainting, mapping out the tones and at the same time, on the composition of the picture:

It isn't exactly as precise as how it would have been with the real process, but it is a pretty solid start. 

After that, I used a glaze brush to add the translucent colours in, followed by some opaque colours to touch up on the details, and adjust the composition where required. 

By the end, there is definitely satisfaction that came from having achieved something through this process. Much like how I worked on the Postcard painting, to have things structured in the beginning where the foundations are laid and then later -- once things have been set up nicely -- being able to tweak and have a bit of fun with the rest of the process, does make for a great sense of accomplishment, I feel. 

Dreams Of Montana II

Dreams Of Montana II

3058 x 2480

SketchBook

Yeah, more landscape art inspired by Montana, cos why not? 

Also today, while painting this, I was reacquainted with an old classic, through a new re-recording, which I have only just found out about. 

Hehehe, this brought back so much childhood memories with SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON, I couldn't help but let the movie's setting (which I later found out was Oregon -- not too far from Montana) inspire bits of the painting. 

Dreams Of Montana

Dreams of Montana

3048 x 2480

SketchBook

Okay, so not exactly Montana, but it is at the very least inspired by the landscapes there. 

I came across a video recently for CCR's song 'Have You Seen The Rain?' and, yeah, I clicked in because Jack Quaid's in it. The location where they filmed it seemed really beautiful, so I looked it up and found out that it is in Montana. 

This brought me back to 'The Horse Whisperer', one of my few conscious media experiences of the place, and one where I had some fond memories off, mostly because of the setting of the film and the music. That got me to watching a few clips of it again on YouTube -- and I might just rewatch it again one of these days. Here are two scenes which also features two of my favourite tracks from the OST.

From there, inspirations for this painting started pouring in. And so, this painting was born. 

I've never been to Montana, but having seen that music video and watched more clips of 'The Horse Whisperer', I would definitely like to visit it someday.