Speed-Drawing Video - Mario World 8-4 Illustration

Commission/request from my brother was to create a Super Mario Bros. illustration from the original NES game. That pivotal moment when you face against Bowser and you're about to cut the bridge away from underneath him. 

As part of my Patreon, I vowed to create one video-recording each month of a piece I work on. Only I'm an idiot and recorded in thee worst possible settings and quality - so apologies for how small and poor this is. Next time will be better! 

PATREON

I’ve started a Patreon Page!

What in the world is Patreon? Well there’s this handy video you can watch of me, where I squint and wriggle my eyebrows a lot while I explain in the first 60 seconds. If you don’t feel like watching the video - Patreon is where people can support the creators they love.

Basically I’ll continue to post artwork, including daily sketches, WIPs, illustrations etc, but now you have the option of supporting me, by donating as little as $2 a month (that’s like.. less than one fancy coffee a month) to see my artwork AND receive extra goodies, in the forms of drawing videos, art prints, mailed postcards of my illustrations, and more!

It comes down to this: The more support I receive, the more I can give back to you! I’d truly appreciate any re-blogging or sharing of this - even if you are uninterested, perhaps your friends might be? Thanks, everyone! :)

Shadow of the Colossus

This was a doodle that went a bit further and became mostly an illustration.  I never actually played the game. I sat and watched my boyfriend play it while I was working on various other jobs and sketching.  So technically I played through but my boyfriend was my hands on the controls. Let me tell you, I felt so bad for the kid, Wander. Because the absolute SCALE of that game... makes the player so diminutive compared to these hulking silhouettes that fill up the entire landscape.

Detail shot of Wander:

There's something about silent heroes in video games that makes them so incredibly compelling. They go forth and get the job done, to protect the world or a loved one. ...Even if there's an incredibly steep price to pay.

Sailor Moon - Reboot

The ever-popular Sailor Moon is getting a reboot series this year - figured I'd do an illustration to celebrate. Also: warning of a fandom rave below.

Truth be told, I first saw commercials for Sailor Moon's dolls when I was about 11 years old, so my interest was piqued from the tidbits of animation they showed. And then discovered it was on extremely early in the morning before going to elementary school. I became obsessed with it because it had that wonderful story-line that we the viewer (or reader, in some cases) can easily put ourselves in. Reminiscent of Spider-Man for guys, or for more broader, recent references to all: Harry Potter.

It got dark, fast. There were certainly hilarious things about it that I can think are absol-freakin-lutely crazy like a masked man in a tuxedo/cape combo that spouted lines of random poetry whenever he arrived to the scene.  But for the most part, it was about an average, everyday person, suddenly being thrown into something that no matter what, they had to deal with the situation that required insurmountable determination and bravery. They were given this great power and responsibility. It just screams coming of age/adolescence, and going forth into adulthood.

But for me, as a kid, all I wanted was to get to age 14, which was how old Sailor Moon was, and just hope and pray that a weird cat with a crescent moon was going to hop through my window and change my life forever. I wanted the cool costumes, and the flashy transformation sequences, and the powerful abilities (that you had to shout aloud). I just didn't think about the realistic consequences.  I mean, the thing about this girl was she wasn't incredible in any way. She failed tests, made awful tasting food, tripped over her own feet, cried when she scraped her knees, and didn't look where she was going so she ran into telephone poles, and so on. I mean, this was the savior of the world, she was given this immense responsibility. It shows at one point that she didn't even want it anymore but she turns around and steps up to the challenge to continue taking up the helm, because she has to do it.
When I got past age 14, I started thinking that maybe, just maybe, I didn't want that cat to come through my window.  Adolescence already has so many extras added on to make life so troublesome. ...As an adult, I still want that flashy transformation sequence and attack though.