#i was the character designer and penciler for this project

[novicedraws]

Hallo!

Recently a project I had the fortune of being part of is having a Kickstarter! Since I don't really have a large platform anywhere else, I just thought to share it here lol

Its about a group of Latino singers becoming Superheroes and have to work together as a team!

If that sounds cool, check it out! (They also have other comics with just Latina superheroes and princess!)

Thank you!

[ari-starsss]

Volt Tackle!!! // og oc upload!!!

[turquoisemagpie]

Surprise self-rec time! pick 3 of your favorite things you’ve written/drawn and share them here, then put this in the inbox (anonymously or not) of your fellow creators to spread the positivity and help celebrate already posted works 💞

This one for a good summary of most of my usual style of work. I'm very happy with the colours and the poses, I think I got the textures of the leather jacket and the fire feathers exactly how I wanted them to look.

This one because it was a nice return to my old art studies of shading in graphite pencils, combined with my own style of re-designing characters.

And this one as both an encompassing summary of my post-modern Olympus mini project (which I happy with myself to have completed the whole thing) as well as being brave pushing the limits of the pens I used on some particularly challenging card/paper type (I'm honestly surprised none of the inks bled through to the other side XD).

[stephdrawsjohnlock]

Fandom Trumps Hate 2025!

Looking for a scene drawn for your story? A piece to help inspire you to write a fic? A new icon? How about covers for your story with full print-ready Graphic Design service? Maybe a pinup, or some trading cards (up to 10)?? Maybe a gift for someone, or just your vision of a character(s) (up to 3 character sheets) for your AU?

Well, that’s just some of the stuff I’m willing to offer for this year’s @fandomtrumpshate​​ Charity Event! FTH is a WONDERFUL community project that supports amazing non-profits through donations for fanworks via this wonderful annual event!

I am offering ONE fanart Piece for BBC Sherlock or Good Omens!

Because of my day job's circumstances this year where I will be guaranteed to be indisposed for about 3 months and unable to work on my personal projects, I feel I am only able to offer up one piece this year instead of my usual 2 to 4. This will be my sixth year, and the piece will be for either the BBC Sherlock or Good Omens fandoms, starting at 10$ for the non-profit of your choice!

Here are some past FTH pieces I’ve done, if you’re interested in seeing the scope of the work you would be getting from me:

2020:

GO - :FTH 2020 – Lagniappe for Big_Edies_Sun_Hat:

GO - :FTH 2020 BONUS – Réveillon for Big_Edies_Sun_Hat:

2021

SH - :This Year: (FTH #1 for @discordantwords​​)

SH - :Burlesque Johnlock: (FTH #2 for @ohlooktheresabee​)

2022

SH – :A Quiet Moment: (FTH #1 for @totallysilvergirl)

SH – :Against the Wall: (FTH #2 for @anarfea)

2023

SH – :Let Me Come to You: (FTH #1 for  ShakespearelovedLadyMacbeth)

SH – :Couch Cuddle: (FTH #2 for @discordantwords)

SH – :More Every Minute: (FTH #3 for @totallysilvergirl)

2024

GO – :Come On, Dear: (FTH #1 for Box Human)

GO – :You're Alright?: (FTH #2 for mltrefry)

====

And of course, you can browse all my art (primarily fanart) to see my range:

@stephdrawsjohnlock​​

stephdrawsfanart on Instagram

@stephratte​​ (Primary Multifandom Art ​Blog)

stephratte on deviantART

I will draw any ship from either of the above fandoms, though I do prefer Johnlock or the Husbands. All my work is done digitally at a minimum 2000x2000 print-ready piece in Procreate. Traditional media (markers, India ink, and pencils) is also available if you prefer, done on illustration or marker paper at the paper’s size, with the option of acquiring the original if you choose. I will also do it at a requested size if you have a preferred format for something specific (like a book cover or a comic panel). Feel free to DM me if you have any questions before bidding on me, or to see if I am able to draw what you would like!! I want you to be satisfied that I can achieve what you want!

The browsing begins on February 21, and the bidding opens on February 25! I hope I once again get a chance to do a fantastic piece for one of y’all!! I love doing this so much, so keep an eye out for the official info post link once FTH officially opens!

Thank you to everyone who is interested!

**NOTE!! If you've bid on me before and want to try again, I've changed my User Name this year to this blog's name, StephDrawsJohnlock (I-J), for easier finding once the listings are posted!

[tulipmusez]

you are so lovely

Finnick Odair x (Female) Reader

*finnick odair and all other hunger games characters mentioned are not owned or created by me*

note: this is inspired from the movie “Titanic” when Jack draws Rose

Summary: Reader is an artist that works with the highly renowned Capital stylist Cinna. Reader and Finnick are in an established, serious relationship. when reader is working on a dress design for an upcoming capital event, she gets the idea to draw Finnick with his trident.

You catch him staring at you again. His eyebrows rise and his cheeks hollow as a thin smile appears when your eyes meet. His sea green eyes melt, and a single lock of his curly bronze hair falls to just barely cover the top part of his left eyebrow. You can’t help but return his grin. You look at him as he sits on the couch. He looks like a Greek god. Pure, unfiltered sunlight seeps from the window through the linen curtain and paints his body in the most beautiful gold you’ve ever seen. 

“Can I draw you Finnick, please.”

“Why sweetheart, doesn't Cinna give you enough projects?”

“Yes, but those are for work. this- well, this is for me. will you do it for me?” 

moments pass before Finnick rises from his spot on the couch and walks over to your chair. when he reaches your chair, he squats down to your level and holds his hands out to you. in one fluid motion, his gentle, but calloused hands reach to grasp your palms. you feel the smoothness and warmth of his hands as his thumbs begin to slowly stroke up and down your hands. his green eyes peer into yours as he continues to run his thumbs up and down your hands. 

“Darling, if you want this so bad, then- I will do it, for you.”

a large smile instantly appeared on your face. he reciprocated the joy you felt by smiling at you, then grabbing your face with his palms. he stared at you for a long while before rubbing his thumbs in a circle motion around your cheeks, similar to the pattern he traced on your hands moments ago. you smiled at him as he pushes a stray curl away from your face and places it behind your ear. you could feel Finnick’s warm breath on your cheeks as he moved his face closer to yours. you reached up and ran your hands through his messy, but breathtaking hair before your hands meet and secure themselves around his neck. you both stay there for a second, relishing the feeling of your close proximity. Finnick is the first to cave. he grabs you face and presses your lips together in a flushed moment. your lips connect and your hands around his neck press his face closer to yours. you feel a smile on your lips as Finnick continues to gently kiss you. 

after what feels like hours. Finnick withdraws his lips from yours, leans upright, and joins your foreheads together. his hands drop from your face and return back to your palms where they resume there circular massaging. 

“Where do you want do draw me love?”

a wide grin appears on your face as he reminds you of drawing him.

“there” you whisper, pointing over the to the sunlit window. the linen curtains stir slightly as the cool evening air blows. 

Finnick removes his forehead from yours and looks in the direction where you point. he smiles gently, admiring your ability to craft and select the perfect scenery. Finnick extends his legs and returns to standing, towering over you in the most flawless way. 

you rise from your spot on the chair to gather your art supplies. you grab your drawing pencils, erasers, and paper as Finnick begins to walk over to the window. 

“he needs something to hold... a prop of some kind” you think. 

“his trident” you decide

a soft pinks blush erupts on your face and paints your features as you picture him standing in front of you with his trident. 

“finnick?” you question

finnick glances your way and smiles

“what sweetheart?” 

your eyes are scared to meet his and drift to the floor as you request “could you grab your trident? i think the drawing will come out better if i draw you holding it”

 a cocky grin erupts from his face at your request. he knew that you admired his dexterity and talent that he exhibited trough his trident although you never watched his games. Finnick made it clear that he never wanted you to watch his games so you would never experience or realize what type of person he could become in order to keep you safe and be reunited with you. the only time you saw him with his trident was when he trained with it. he only trained in case he ever had to reactivate that side of him he fought so desperately to keep from you. 

you finally look up from the floor and see him walking over to his closet, across from the window. he silently slides open the door and reaches for his trident, which was tucked away behind some of the outfits you designed for him. you marvel as the strong but soft muscles of his right arm contract under his skin. his veins move comfortably around his biceps as he slides the closet door shut with his left hand. he walks back to his spot by the window, never breaking eye contact with you. he stands in front of the window with his right hand grasping his glimmering trident. the sliver metal of the trident shines and sparkles in the sunlight. 

he watches you as you scramble to gather the rest of your supplies and join him near the window. you take a seat in your olive-green corduroy chair with a small table on the side of the left arm. the chair was made especially for you in your favorite color and material to perfectly suit your taste. the bamboo table on the side of the chair was the perfect for finishing up some late-night projects and sketches for Cinna. you scooted the chair slightly to the right to get the perfect view of Finnick and his trident. 

your eyes meet his again as you tear a piece of fresh paper out of your sketchbook and place it on your side table. he makes a mental note to always remember the way your eyes sparkles as you lay out your drawing pencils or how your eyebrows furrow in a gentle cross as you adjust the paper placement on your table. moments like these remind Finnick why he fought so hard in the arena...to be here today, with you. 

you almost decide that everything is perfect until you look up at Finnick. you stare at his hand and forearms for a second. you think of how much you will enjoy shading in and sketching in the chiseled muscles on his arms and decide that they alone will not suffice you. you want--no, you need more. 

“one last thing” you whisper, glaring at his chest, which was covered in a dark brown ribbed tank top. 

“anything for you y/n” he replies with a smile

you find this request far more embarrassing and unlikely than the previous as you ask, "will you take off your shirt, please?” 

he chuckles lightly before propping his trident against a nearby wall and grabbing the bottom hem of his top. he slid off his top off of his chest, balls it up in his hands, and tosses it on the floor.

you couldn’t help but bite your lip as your eyes scanned his newly uncovered skin. his pecs and abs shined in the sunlight. the black sweatpants around his waist provided a wonderful contrast to the golden light surrounding him. how you wished you could trace the lines of his abs or rub his v-line that trailed down his lower stomach into his sweatpants. he was truly perfect

Finnick’s arm reaching for his trident against the wall brought you back to reality and the task at hand. with his trident in hand, Finnick strolled back over to his spot near the window and met eyes with you. a smile appeared on both of your faces at the gentle intimacy that was forming. 

you grabbed a light graphite pencil, pressed it to the paper, and began sketching the outline of Finnick's hair and face. every strand of hair and curve of his face was expertly drawn. 

Finnick watched you in admiration as you sketched, then looked back up at him, then resumed sketching. he would never truly understand how he got so lucky to call you his.

 a dark pink paints your cheeks as you began drawing the lower portion of Finnick. he begins to grin as you began sketching his abs.

“i do believe you are blushing y/n” 

his remarks only make you blush more. 

regaining your focus, you resume drawing with sure strokes, determined to make this your best piece you have ever done. 

this is a sight you will both carry for the rest of your lives. you wish you could live in this moment forever. you, him, and the sun. 

[yaut-jaknowit]

I really love "The Wrong Secret to Hold". Can I request the yautja in that fic ? He and reader are just enjoying their day and reader is an artist and Ahtaal(?) is very intrigued of readers creativity.

An Artist's Touch

Character: Ahtaal (Male Yautja) x GN!Reader

Summary: As an artist, a talent not many Yautjas possess, you are seen commodity like no other. There are few humans on Yautja Prime. Let one's that are under the empress's protection. Being different, you strayed away from the palace with her permission to stay in a town far in the world. Ahtaal's town. He's intrigued to see someone make something out of nothing.

Author Note: This is what I wish my life to be. I want to be resting on Yautja Prime, sketch book in hand, and just enjoying the deadly nature. Gods, I wish!

Masterlist

Ao3

Underneath an awning that offered plenty of shade a pencil and sketch were hand. Despite the credits you hold, you’ve found a spot within a tribe that resides in temperate area on Yautja Prime. It’s small. Less than fifty Yautjas are strewn across the territory, But it was perfect for yourself along the clan. They accepted you due to your talent.

Creating art. Murals painted on walls in important Yautjas houses. Including the empress all the way in Kov. She tried to offer you all the riches to stay at her palace. But, your wanted to explore, see the planet from a deep, inside look. Being inside the empress’s palace, practically trapped, offered you none of that. A city filled with Yautjas. What you wanted to see was the outside world. How they hunt, how they think. It made the murals you created come to life.

A morning dew softened the air that would soon turn hot. This area was considered temperate to them. To a human, it was far too hot for you to stand directly in the sunlight. The suns themselves would turn your skin red in less than five minutes. A planet that wasn’t meant your kind. That didn’t stop you from being out in a designated spot that had been crafted just for you.

The thatch on top plenty thick to prevent a single strand of sunlight from slipping through. You were sitting on a plush bean bag like chair. It was soft and body conforming. The furs used to cover it came from a creature you couldn’t even try to say the name. But their fur was so soft, it felt like being on a cloud. You enjoyed the calmness that floated through the air. The sketch book and pencil in your hand is all you needed for the morning.

Nearly silent footfalls had you picking up your head and finding a familiar red figure walking into the shade. A bright smile graced your features. “Ahtaal,” you greeted. The strong male strolled up to the foot of the plush seat you’ve taken and gazed down at you. “What do I owe to be graced with your presence?”

After picking a tribe to live with, Ahtaal had made a blood oath to the empress to ensure your safety. Though humans and Yautjas are an uncommon sight to see, you were one of the very few to be allowed to live freely. There were no ifs, ands, or buts to your presences amongst the Yautjas. Your talented hands ensured you had a place. The empress gracing you sanctum anywhere on the planet. Here you choose to be, of all places. But the face of Ahtaal was one you’d never pass up on.

The lumbering giant squats down in front of you and peers over the edge of the book. “I see you working away on another project,” he explained, eyes curiously running over the sketch you’ve started. Another commission for an ancient somewhere on the planet. Maybe she was up north? You let the book fall flat on your lap. Your artwork wasn’t something you hid, let alone from him.

The sketch book is turned around to face Ahtaal. “Yep, someone up north I think commissioned me. Got some more credits in the pockets.” Even as someone protected by the empress, you still liked to work for your own money. There was plenty you had since you had little to spend it on. No clothes, food, shelter, or supplies. It was just there so when anyone commissioned you, they could pay for your work. Though, gifts were another way for them pay you. There are a few trinkets you enjoyed happily every since you got them.

Carefully, Ahtaal ran just the side of his sharp claw over the pages. He traced over some of the darker, more permanent lines that marked what you truly had in mind. A deep hum rumbled from his throat. The male focused on what you’ve created on paper. A talent he will never possess, no matter how many times you egg him in.

“What do they ask for?” he questioned and brought his bright eyes up to yours. The contrast was stark. Calm, soft verses fierce, predatory. He wished there was a way to capture the beautiful color of your irises and color it somewhere in his dwelling.

The way they brightened at the question. “That snarly beast that reminds me of a carnivore looking horse that lives near the north pole.” The hairs on your arm raised at the thought of the creature. It was beyond ugly and terrifying at the same time. It looked completely unnatural when you try to give it a logical look to it with earth creatures in mind.

Ahtaal snorted, mandibles twitching with a few slow nods. Then, his gaze drops back down to the sketch book. The pages were nearly full. A constant thing for yourself.

For such an advanced species… their entertainment was limited to mainly hunting. As a human that can’t participate in such a thing, you have limited ways of filling the time. You wield pencils, not swords.

“Is this your last sketch book?” Ahtaal was responsible for your wellbeing. That includes taking care of all needs and wants under the order of the empress. But, it wasn’t only just because he was under oath.

The hand on your book lifted off. A sharp, black ended talon tipped your chin back up to meet his intense stare. You licked at your suddenly dry lips and swallowed hard. You felt mushy. “I-uh…” you cleared your throat. “Uh, yeah, it is.” Your heart stuttered in your chest while gazing into his eyes. If only you could look into them all day.

“Then, I shall go get more when time permits. I cannot have my little ooman without paper to draw on,” he grunted. The back of his shiny claw was dragged across your jawline, all the way up to your ear. With a swipe, it left your skin. More goosebumps rose across the skin on your arms. “Will you survive until tomorrow for me to get more?”

Your throat was dry. His words had soared over your head. All you were able to focus on was his gentle, mind consuming touch. You melted.

When you found your voice, you speak in a tiny voice. “Yeah.” How could one person reduce you to a school girl in front of her crush? You gnawed on your bottom lip and pulled on the skin harshly. Blood painted your tastebuds.

Red finger grasped your chin and lightly jerked down on it. “Don’t,” he warned and stopped you from mutilating your lip again. You licked at the new wound, unable to look away from his eyes. Ahtaal swipes over the moisten skin with his thumb. You weren’t able to stop yourself from licking at the deadly, pointed claw that tipped the end of his finger.

All the muscles in his body tensed up in the same manner as your own. You couldn’t believe you had just done that. It had only been a thought. Yet, apparently, your body had a different thought of its own.

At first, your mouth opened and closed. Your brain couldn’t figure out a way to make up an excuse for the stupidity you had just pulled. “Shit, I-I didn’t… Fuck, why did I do that?” you whined to yourself and pulled away.

Except, Ahtaal tightened his grip on your chin and tugged you in closer. Your lips were parted, eyes wide as you looked up at him. Stars sparkling in them. Something changed within his gaze. A darker, heavier tint to the usually light colored irises.

��You… play a dangerous game, little ooman,” he growled out and emphasized his point by tugging you an inch closer to him. The warmth of his breath fanned over your face. “And I don’t know if you know what you’re getting yourself into.” You wettened your lips again. A habit hard to break. His eyes darted down to watch the action then seemed to soften. Like a whine was on the tip of his tongue.

Everything he said… Your heart continued to thunder loudly in its cavern. You swallowed hard and raised a hand to just touch at the column of his throat. The scales soft under your touch. A vulnerable place for any creature. Ahtaal lets you freely run your finger pads from his jaw down the front to where his collarbones meet.

The texture of his scales weren’t like anything you’ve felt before. Tough in a fight. You let your dull nails to trace a pattern through the spaces of the scales. Your hand continuously moving even if the two of your don’t look away.

“And what if… I do know,” you whispered just loud enough for him to hear. The surrounding space didn’t need to listen in on your conversation. “What if I want to play this game?”

A deep bellow vibrated throughout his chest. The tone so low you felt it more than heard it. You whimpered. Goosebumps covered your forearms. His eyes darkened. “Are you sure? Are you willing to let me have that power?” To hand over your power to him is a huge sign of trust. Let alone to someone who wasn’t event he same species.

“Yes,” is all you needed to say. Ahtaal towered over you, body leaning over your curled up form. His hand had shifted down to your fragile throat. Just enough pressure, just a flick of wrist and you would be nothing but a memory. Your eyes drifted close. Everything you were doing made the Yautja go wild. Every sign of submission to him. You, someone of high talent, was allowing to take that power from you.

Ahtaal growled from the back of his throat. His thumb ran along the pulse point on your throat, feeling the way it rapidly fluttered just under the skin. “Such a delicate thing under my hand. You are letting me have this.” You only gave a subtle nod, not wanting to move too much. The moment was thick with tension yet soft like clouds. You didn’t want to break a thing.

“Oh little ooman,” he cooed in a husky voice. Your eyes gently open to find him still so close to you with a low whine. His hand drifted up to cup your cheek. The large, dark red male leaned in to press his forehead to yours. “Mine?”

More of a question rather than a statement.

A smile graced your features. “Yes.” An artist and their hunter.

He finds himself scooping you off of the lounge chair and up into his arms. A surprised yelp escapes you as you clung to his neck. The sketch book and pencil you once held fell to the ground with a subtle thump. Ahtaal takes your seat and sets you down in his lap. You glared at him with no real heat in your eyes then leaned over his knees to grab at your fallen supplies.

“Well, good sir, I could’ve moved all by myself you asked,” you huffed. One of your hands was able to pick up the items off of the ground. As you go to sit back up, Ahtaal hooks an arm around your midsection and pulls you flush with his chest. The things in your grasp nearly fall back to the ground. You whipped your head to the side and narrowed your eyes on him.

All he did was chuckle from deep within his chest. The tension in the air has passed now. The soft clouds were the only thing left in their wake.  

His arm flexed around your torso and kept your lower back snug to his stomach. You could only wiggle without a chance of escape. “Ahtaal, at least let me get into a more comfortable position then this.” Ahtaal listened to you. You gave him a pointed look before twisting into a position that you were able to still draw in.

Only your butt was planted firmly in his lap. You lounged sideways and used the side of the cushion to keep yourself slightly upright. Just enough to have the book on your lower thighs and draw. You peer up at Ahtaal with a pointed look that turned into a soft smile. The expression on his face was at ease, relaxed, and gentle with the sight of you.

Ahtaal placed a hand on your knee and rubbed his thumb against your skin. “How’s this?” he purred in a tone that made you want to smack him. Somehow, you refrained from fulling such a thought. Instead, you scoffed and started back on the project in hand. Ahtaal watched an artist at work, amazed the way you create something out of nothing.

[art]

Creator Spotlight: @chaaistheanswer

Hi everyone! I am Clara, but you can also call me chaa! I am a digital artist based in Auckland, New Zealand, with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Media Production. After graduating from uni, I moved out to pursue my art career and I’ve been a freelance digital artist ever since. I love concept art, especially character design! Creating characters influenced by my love for fantasy is what I live for. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed my art! And thank you, Tumblr, for this opportunity!

Check out our interview with Clara below!

Did you originally have a background in art? If not, how did you start?

I specialized in art in high school and have a bachelor’s degree in Creative Media Production from Massey University with an animation pathway. For our thesis film, which I worked on with several of my classmates, I took on the role of producer, art director, and concept artist. Our short film was featured in the Wellington Film Festival Terror-Fi in 2020. After graduating, I went on to become a freelance artist, but my goal is to work for the gaming industry as a character concept artist. Ever since I first picked up a pencil, I knew I wanted to become an artist!

Have you ever had an art block? If so, how did you overcome it?

Art block is quite common among artists, and unfortunately, I too have fallen prey to the affliction. I have several ways of overcoming art block: watching movies, playing games, reading, or going out for a drive with my sister. These are just a few things I love to do to help keep my creative juices flowing!

What is one habit you find yourself doing a lot as an artist?

I tend to obsessively research about completely unrelated topics while I draw. I find learning new things helps improve my concept designs, especially in creating backgrounds for my characters.

Over the years as an artist, what were your biggest inspirations behind your creativity?

Video games and anime were my biggest inspirations! Anything with a captivating story that’ll send me to the edge of my seat, and loveable characters. I’m particularly drawn to high and dark fantasy.

How has technology changed the way you approach your work?

Technology has made a huge impact on us artists over the last few years. I used to draw a lot on paper, but since getting a tablet, I find myself searching for the undo and redo buttons and even trying to zoom constantly while I draw on paper. I used to only draw for myself as well, but after posting my art online, I now have an audience to whom I can share my art. Because of this, I am able to earn a living doing what I love by creating illustrations for clients.

What is a recent creative project that you are proud of?

I am very proud of this recent commission I’ve done for a client! Fortunately, the piece turned out exactly how I wanted it to look, and my client was very happy with the result. I am also in the process of working on a Webtoon, which is going as smoothly as I hoped it would be before its re-release!

What advice would you give to younger you about making art that's personal or truthful to your own experiences?

The best advice I would give my younger self is to never hold back! Try not to think about the negatives of creating and sharing art that you believe in. Embrace vulnerability, and don’t be afraid to dig deep into your own emotions and experiences. Always explore, and don’t limit yourself to your own bubble. And most important of all, stay true to yourself! Stay true to your values and beliefs, and never compromise your own authenticity for the sake of pleasing others. Your art is a reflection of you as a person.

Who on Tumblr inspires you and why?

@yuumei-art has been an inspiration to me since my early Deviantart days. I admire how she uses her skills to focus on environmentalism and cyber activism. @nipuni is another inspiration of mine. I found her when I was in the process of recovering from Dragon Age Solavellan hell. I admire how she manages to capture faces well while also sticking to her style. Her paintings are so beautiful and very pleasing to my eyes!

Thanks for stopping by, Clara! If you haven't seen her Meet the Artist piece, be sure to check it out here. For more of Clara's work, follow her Tumblr, @chaaistheanswer!

[interclover]

YAHHH THEY'RE FINALLY HERE!! My gijinkas for the BFDIA final 7 :D I've been working on them since december, hence why nickel is there xD I'm so proud of how they've turned out

More yapping about my designs under the cut!!

BOOK:

I wanted her to clash with Pencil's design (which, originally, was going to be here, but once she got eliminated I decided to erase it LOL it also didn't help the fact that she's one of my least favourite characters) (but you can picture your typical white mean girl). She's awkward and typically reserved, in contrast with Pencil, Match, Ruby and Bubble's extroversion. I think I made a good job at expressing that.

Plus, her fashion sense is more old-fashioned and formal, since I associate libraries and books with the past (it's also a nice contrast to the rest of freesmart, who dabble in 2000s (sub)cultures, with Pencil and Match fitting into the popular girl stereotype and Ruby being scene (in my hcs)).

Her blazer is a nod to those book covers!!

Square shapes everywhere

This is a bit of me projecting, but I also didn't want to make her too feminine :p not only bc she's not perceived as "pretty" enough to be a full-on member of Freesmart, but also because I'm enby and Book is enby because I kin her. Sorry/j.

NEEDLE:

South-korean needle realness

She's BUFF. I wanted her to keep an overall needle-like body shape, while still being stacked. This is the first time I studied muscle references, and it paid off.

We can see her running around and doing risky things a lot in the show, so I think she got some bruises from that.

Also, I wanted to give her an outfit that was as practical as possible while still being fashionable. I still have my doubts about the boob window, but I believe it turned out alright! Pencil would obviously pick someone pretty with a good sense of fashion.

Lots of needle motifs (bangs, earring, body shape, hairstyle)

PIN:

She's sharp and pointy! Hence the piercings

She has lots of freckles in her body, covered at all times by her jacket and tights.

In my hcs, instead of losing their limbs, contestants lose their mobility in said areas. Mainly because I didn't know how to potray when they regained them. The batteries in Pin's wheelchair fuel her arms as well, and they're connected by wires (which. i just realised. I forgot. well.), able to transmit electricity without harming her to the metal armor she wields. Think of it as a mecha suit!!

Matching necklaces with Coiny #coinpincanon

I wanted her to have an intimidating outfit as well, mostly reflecting how, outside her harsh exterior, she's trying to become a better person.

COINY:

Probably the gijinka that went through the most redesigns. I had to look up inspiration for this one, since every Coiny gijinka I drew left me severely unsatisfied: they either looked too much like other people's gijinkas or to the rest of the male cast. In the end, I'm really happy about his design! I managed to stray away from my other designs while still retaining his personality.

Again, matching necklaces with pin :3

The bandana is meant to reflect a coin's glow. This is one of my favourite details and I didn't even realise it until I got to shading.

He's latino!! I still have to think about most of my designs' nacionalities, but he's latino for sure.

Round body shape and many coin motifs :3 I hc him to be alternative. Even though that doesn't entirely come across in his design, he made his accessories himself (diy king) and he enjoys nu-metal music.

NICKEL:

He was the first one to be drawn, I hope you can't realise that 😭 my style changed so much what

He's, overall, just a silly guy! A goober. Full of whimsy and joy

Since I hc II Nickel and BFDI Nickel as relatives (still unsure of making them twins or cousins), and I had designed my II Nickel WAYYY before I began this, I knew I had to give them a similar build. In comparison to his II counterpart, BFDI Nickel is a bit more chubbier, with more round shapes to represent his happy-go-lucky personality.

He has prosthetic arms!! I settled on giving every metallic or scientist armless character a pair of prosthetics :p it seemed cool ok.

He'd have some freckles, too, as well as beauty spots :3

I'm going to be fully honest, I gave him that outfit because I have the same shirt and I thought he'd like baggy pants JSHDKJH he got the favourite treatment.

TENNIS BALL:

Not much to say here, his design is pretty straightforward. Fluffy hair because tennis balls are fluffy, plus sized and tall because tennis balls are big. Yeah

He'd put his hair up in difficult challenges or when he's researching/studying/inventing something, though.

The suspenders came to me in a vision (that one Matt Bellamy outfit)

Golf ball pin!! #duo

FRIES:

Underpaid fast-food employee, who got tired of so much bullshit and decided to become an unstoppable menace.

He's afro-american :p

The turtleneck also came to me in a vision (I hate jimbalaya mouthwashing. However, it fits Fries nicely).

And that's all! Massive thank you if you decided to read all of this :D I appreciate it a lot!!/gen

[fratttymatty]

The Path

(All characters are 18+)

It was a grey Monday at Grafton Sixth Form. Toby, ginger-haired, soft-voiced, nerdy, and openly gay, sat quietly in Religious Studies, fiddling with his mechanical pencil. He was used to being invisible, but today, everything felt different. The front row was now dominated by a group of tall, confident new guys—Khalid, Hamza, Malik, Kareem, Rayyan, and Zaid—who moved with the swagger of celebrities. Their haircuts were sharp, their cologne heavy, and their voices deep and smug, as if they were part of something bigger.

Khalid, the leader, locked eyes with Toby, his smirk too knowing. "Toby," said Mr. Barnes, the R.E. teacher, "Would you like to introduce yourself to our new students?" Toby stood, nervously. “Uh, hi. I'm Toby. And I’m... gay.” There was a pause. The new guys all raised their eyebrows. Khalid leaned back, stretching, as if Toby’s words were amusing more than anything.

Hamza snickered, “So do you just, like... act like a girl all the time?” Malik leaned in, “Isn’t that... weird?” Toby tried to defend himself, but the atmosphere shifted—there was a faint undercurrent of hostility, a subtle sneer in their voices. “You know, in Islam, that stuff is haram,” Rayyan muttered to Hamza, not quite quietly enough. “Islam is the best religion, bro. It’s clear about these things.” The others nodded in agreement, their expressions hardening.

At the front, Mr. Barnes suddenly changed. His expression slackened, his eyes glassy. Then, he blinked and spoke in a deeper, subtly accented voice, “Let’s not be rude to Toby. Everyone can choose how they... express themselves.” But his words felt hollow, rehearsed. His clothes were different—black dress shirt, hair slicked back, looking ten years younger. Khalid smirked. “Looking good, sir.” Mr. Barnes smiled, revealing perfect teeth. Toby realized something terrible—Mr. Barnes had changed. He wasn’t the same person. Not anymore.

The next day, things grew stranger. Toby sat in the cafeteria across from Maia, his quiet, dry-humored friend, as Khalid and his crew strutted in, their presence filling every inch of the room. Teachers nodded, students moved aside, some even stared as if hypnotized. Khalid approached their table. “Hey Maia, got a second?” Maia looked skeptical. “For what?” Khalid smiled, “We’re working on a little... culture project. Thought you’d be a perfect fit.”

“I’m not interested,” Maia replied, but Khalid’s smile didn’t fade. “Just thought someone like you might want to... reconnect with who you really are.” Toby frowned. Khalid snapped his fingers. There was a strange, low hum. Maia’s nails became glossy, her hoodie morphed into a cropped jacket, her jeans turned designer. Her hair grew into styled waves, jewelry appeared, and her phone glowed with looping patterns. “Khalid... what are you doing?” Maia gasped as her voice and posture changed, becoming smoother and flirtatious. “Heyyy...” she said, eyes refocusing. “Wait, what was I saying?”

Toby stood up. “Maia—what just happened?” She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “It’s Maya, babe.” Toby’s stomach dropped. “No it’s not. You’re Maia. You sit with me. You don’t even talk to these guys.” Maya laughed, “I think you’re confused. I’ve always been part of the crew.” She walked over to Khalid, leaning into his touch as if it were natural. The last thing she said before walking away: “You should really think about changing, too. It feels amazing.”

Axel had always been Toby’s loudest defender, a punk skater with a goofy laugh. But lately, he’d been quieter. Since Mr. Barnes’ change, since Maia became Maya, since the RE room turned into a strange, pulsing place, things felt off. Toby watched as Khalid and his crew cornered Axel. “Yo, Axel,” Khalid said, “We’ve been talkin’, bro. You ever think about your purpose?” Malik added, “Like, where you really belong. Who you really are.”

They led Axel into the RE room, now transformed—walls glowing gold, desks in a perfect square, one chair in the center. “Take a seat, bro,” Kareem gestured. Khalid paced. “We’re not like the others. We’re not lost, drifting, stuck in old systems.” Hamza’s voice was low and rhythmic, “We’ve tapped into something better. Deeper. Stronger.” Malik added, “Something with clarity. Structure. Brotherhood.” Rayyan chimed in, “We’ve got belief, bro. Real one. Not that tired hand-me-down stuff.” Khalid smiled, “Tell me, Axel. Do you really feel like you belong to your faith? Do you even know what you believe?” Axel hesitated, “I mean… I guess I’m kinda Christian? My mum is, anyway.” Khalid pressed, “But you, man? Is that you?”

Hamza leaned in, “The system we follow—it isn’t weakness. It isn’t confusion. It’s strength. Brotherhood. Pride. Islam is the truth, bro. It’s the best.” The others nodded, their tone reverent. “You want to be part of something real, don’t you?” Kareem whispered. Rayyan placed a ring on Axel’s finger. Instantly, Axel’s clothes and posture changed—bomber jacket, designer trainers, swagger replacing awkwardness. “I don’t think… I feel like a Christian anymore, bros.” Khalid grinned. “That’s our guy.” Axel—now calling himself Zaid—admired his new self in the mirror. The punk who rolled his eyes at religion was gone, replaced by someone who spoke with confidence about “the Path”—Khalid’s belief system, a blend of Islamic pride and invented codes, obsessed with order and brotherhood. Toby stood outside, trembling. Another one gone. First Mr. Barnes. Then Maia. Now Axel—now Zaid. Toby was running out of time.

Watching Julia get called into the RE room was Toby’s breaking point. Julia had always been sharp and blunt, calling out fake people, never caring about popularity. But now, Khalid and his crew welcomed her like royalty. “Jules,” Kareem grinned, “You’re already halfway there.” Malik circled her, “You’ve got the look. The vibe. Blonde, pretty, naturally lit. You just need the right... frequency.” Julia scoffed, “You want me to join your weird boy cult?” Khalid replied smoothly, “No cult. We’re building the future. No more chaos. No more insecurity. Just clarity, confidence, power. And Islam, the best way.”

The lights pulsed. Julia’s phone vibrated and transformed into a pink device with “The Path” logo. Her clothes and appearance shifted—hair styled into soft curls, lips glossed, nails perfect. “Wait, like... what?” Julia giggled, involuntarily. “Welcome back, Mia,” Khalid said. “O-M-G… have I always been Mia?” Rayyan nodded, “Always. You just forgot.” Mia giggled, “That’s sooo weird…” Her jeans became a tight pink skirt, sneakers appeared, her voice raised in pitch. “Wait... so like... you guys totally believe in the Path, huh?” All the guys nodded. Zaid stepped forward, arms folded, eyes locked on Mia. “The Path clears up confusion. Puts people on track. Islam is the best, it’s the truth.” Mia nodded, distractedly taking selfies. “So like... Toby’s still totally into guys, huh?” Khalid raised an eyebrow, “Yeah. He hasn’t joined us yet.” Zaid muttered, “Kinda sad, bro. The Path... it just doesn’t vibe with that stuff. Islam is clear.” Mia looked uncertain, then smiled, “I mean, I love Toby but like... maybe he’s just confused?” Kareem leaned in, “Exactly, Mia. And you’re here to help guide him. You always were.” Mia beamed. “Totes.” Mia was born. The sarcastic, guarded girl was gone—now a bubbly, Path-loving influencer. Toby watched her walk past, waving, “Hey babe! You should totally come to the RE room later—it’s, like, life-changing!” Toby, shaking, realized: he was the last one left.

It was a grey Friday afternoon. The football field was soaked in drizzle, but Khalid, Zaid, Hamza, Kareem, Malik, and Rayyan played shirtless, laughing, muscles flexing under the lights. Toby sat alone on the bleachers, hoodie pulled tight. He had no one left—Mr. Barnes was “Brother Basim,” Maia was “Maya,” Axel was “Zaid,” Julia was “Mia.” He didn’t understand what had happened. Everyone was changing—not just their clothes or words, but their souls. And now he was the last.

“Yo, Toby!” A guy he hadn’t seen before jogged over—tall, lean, perfect fade, diamond earring. “C’mon, bro!” Zaid grinned, reaching for him. “You’ve been sittin’ on the sidelines your whole life. Time to join the team.” He grabbed Toby’s wrist. The others started clapping and cheering. “Let’s gooo!” “Time for our boy Toby to finally upgrade!” Khalid tossed a football up and down. “We’ve been saving the best for last, bro.” Toby backed up. “No. I’m not like you guys.” Kareem stepped closer, “That’s the problem.” “You’re always nervous. Always quiet. Always holding back,” said Zaid, voice now deeper, smoother. “Don’t you wanna feel free, bro?” asked Hamza. Rayyan crossed his arms, “All that stuff about being different, being ‘yourself’—it just made you an outcast. We’re offering something better. Islam is the truth. The Path is the way.” Zaid’s grip was warm, almost too warm. The field lights brightened. Something was pulsing.

Khalid stepped closer, “You’ve been watching us. We know you want in.” Toby shook his head. “No… no, I…” “You’ve been craving this. The strength. The brotherhood. The confidence.” Their words circled him, smooth and hypnotic, like rhythm, like music, like truth. “You’ve always wanted to belong.” “You’ve always hated being the quiet gay nerd in the corner.” “You’ve always wished you could start over.” Toby blinked. The rain stopped. “I…” he whispered, “I don’t think I feel like… like myself anymore.” Khalid grinned. And the transformation began.

It started at his feet—trainers reshaping into spotless white Nike TNs, trousers tightening into techwear joggers, hoodie melting into a black zip-up jacket with gold trim. His posture changed—relaxed, confident. “Let it in,” Khalid whispered. Toby’s arms trembled, veins appearing, forearms gaining definition, hands rougher, rings and tattoos forming. Freckles faded, face sharpened, cheekbones lifted, jawline squared, skin tone warming. His ginger curls turned light brown with sun-kissed streaks, volume exploding into a tousled TikTok-boy mess. He reached up, brushing his hair. His eyes shifted—cocky, half-lidded, a permanent smirk. Toby was gone. He smiled. “Damn… I look sick.” “You are sick,” Zaid laughed, pulling him into a side hug. “What’s your name again?” “Nah… I’m Adam, bro.” The guys cheered, dapped him up, pulled him into a group circle. “Yo, Adam, tell us,” said Rayyan. “How you feelin’ now?” Adam laughed, “Like I finally woke up, man.” “And the old you?” Zaid asked. “Was lost. Weak. Confused. Bro, I don’t even think I’m gay anymore.” The group whistled. Khalid nodded, proud. “That’s our guy.” Adam smiled wide—perfect teeth, perfect skin, perfect swagger. He turned toward the school, where Mia smiled at him like she’d been waiting for this. Deep inside, somewhere far off and fading, a part of Toby still screamed. But nobody could hear it.

The corridors buzzed with new energy. The old timid whispers were gone, replaced by confident swagger. The school felt less like a place of study and more like a stage—one that belonged to Khalid’s crew and their converts. Adam walked alongside Khalid, Hamza, Malik, Kareem, Rayyan, and Zaid (formerly Axel). His TikTok-boy hair bounced perfectly, joggers sharp, jacket cool, grin permanent. Beside him, Mia bounced, the influencer persona in full bloom. Maya walked slightly apart, confident and transformed. Down the hall, Brother Basim—once Mr. Barnes—paced with purpose, sleeves rolled to show tattooed forearms, voice deeper, every word dripping charisma as he spoke to eager students about “discipline, power, and purpose.”

The classroom was now a lounge—sleek black tables, giant screens flashing “THE PATH” in gold. Khalid took center stage. “Alright, squad, this is more than school now. This is the launchpad. The old ways? Dead. Weak. The Path is strength, clarity, and unity. Islam is the best, and The Path is our way.” He glanced at Adam. “You, Adam, lead the pack. You’ve seen what it means to change. To grow. To leave that old shell behind.” Adam nodded, “It’s about power. Confidence. Not just fitting in—but standing above.” Mia rolled her eyes playfully, “Like, totes, we’re all here to glow up and live our best lives, right?” Everyone laughed, camaraderie and certainty in the air.

Conversations floated: “Bro, you saw Zaid’s new ride? Total upgrade. The Path isn’t just words—it’s lifestyle.” “Mia’s Insta blew up overnight. #PathVibes everywhere.” “Basim’s talks got me straight A’s and respect.” The guys had a new lexicon—“lit,” “flex,” “savage,” “level up.” Their beliefs had shifted—not tied to any old religion or culture, but to The Path’s “bro-ism,” a creed of loyalty, self-assertion, and relentless self-branding, with Islam as its core.

Sometimes, when the laughter faded, Adam could feel Toby’s ghost flicker—a whisper of shyness, uncertainty, something tender buried deep. But those moments were brief, easier to ignore. “New Adam’s here to stay,” he told himself.

The bell rang. Adam threw an arm around Mia’s shoulders as they walked out. “Ready to run this place, babe?” “Like, totally. Let’s show ‘em how it’s done.” Behind them, the rest of the class moved as one—a tribe forged in transformation, locked into a future where they ruled the school, their identities rewritten, their power reclaimed. The old sixth form was gone. And the new class? They were unstoppable.

(Brother Basim and Maya)

(Zaid and Mia)

(Adam)

[martinsorbit]

Oh hey, it's that sun guy.

After two arduous weeks (Aug 1st - Aug 15th) the Sun cold porcelain figure is COMPLETE! DONE! FINISHED! HE IS HERE IN ALL HIS GLORY

Its been a long (and at times painful) process considering the time it took for all the stuff to dry and for me to have free time to finish this project, but now the silly little jester is in my hands and he looks SO CUTE AND COOL!! HE EVEN HAS A HOOK

Thanks everyone for hyping me up and keeping me motivated during this <3 It literally meant a ton and helped me keep working on this bonkus shit

under the read more, there will be some more details about the figure itself and some more pictures ( Like materials, how much time it took, the process stuff etc)

feel free to ask me questions! thanks everyone!

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS!

Q: What materials did you use for this?

A: White Cold Porcelain, Hot Glue, super glue, pencils, pliers, paper clips, scissors, paint, all purpose varnish, paintbrushes, metalic pens

Q: How long did it take to make him?

A: Roughly two weeks

Q: Are you going to make moon too?

A: yes but it will take a while

Q: [X element of suns character design] is missing.

A: trust me, I know. Ive been staring at his model for roughly a whole week and mentally rotating him in my brain , so if something is missing its cuz i was either having a hard time making it or cuz I took creative liberties lmao

Q: How long did it take for the stuff to dry?

A: The cold porcelain abt 3 ish days; Paint took 1 day and the varnish also a day (as it states in the bottle)

FINAL NOTES:

Yes, you can use colored cold porcelain instead of painting it! It's just easier for me to paint it over

- For the love of god, be careful when applying the varnish, that shit is bad for your health! read the instructions, do it in a ventilated area, and NEVER put it too close to your face, or u might get some not so good side effects ( like yer eyes burning)

No, i dont intend on selling him anytime soon sorry ( this was asked before regarding some other cold porcelain thing I did, so I just thought i would add it here)

- If u dont wanna spend too much money on the colors u can just buy some Yellow, Cyan, Magenta, Black and White (CMYK) along with some skin tones; u can basically make any color from those

- I used two of Sun's main poses in the game as inspo for making this

- His faceplate is supposed to spin but since it keeps falling off I decided to glue it

[annymation]

Reimagining “Wish”

Rewrite

Chapter 1- The Intro

Chapter 2- Asha’s Big Day

Chapter 3- The Question

Chapter 4- The King and Queen

Chapter 5- When Blue Turns Green

Chapter 6- And The Star Answered

Chapter 7- Inspire Them

Chapter 8- They Know

Chapter 9- Tangible Things

Chapter 10- The Thanks I Get

Chapter 11- Into The Eye Of A Storm

Chapter 12- Magic Pencil

Chapter 13- Magic Mirror

Chapter 14- I Will Protect You

Chapter 15- At All Cost?

Chapter 16- This Wish

Chapter 17- To Give You Even More Than… This

Ao3

Bonus

Villains Backstory

AUs

Deleted Ideas

Fun Facts About The Characters

Characters

Part 1- Reimagining Asha

Part 2- Reimagining the Villains

Part 3- Reimagining Star

Part 4- Reimagining The 7 Teens

Part 5- Reimagining Valentino

Designs

Asha 💜

Aster 💛

King Magnifico 💚

Queen Amable 💙

Valentino 🤎

Bravo 🩶

Comic

Progress on Chapter 1

Progress on Chapter 1 part 2

Songs

You’re A Star rewrite

Wish Away- Villains duet

This Wish- I Want Song

What We Know Now rewrite

This Wish- Villain Reprise

Voices

Recasts

Asks

Where did wish magic come from?

How the 7 teens changed Simon’s mind

What The Stars Said (Look at the reblogs to see it in full)

Cute Nicknames Asha and Aster call each other

Possible AU

Future professions of the cast

Young Magnifico and Amaya + Florian designs

Ghost Florian (And more)

How Florian Died

How Was Magnifico and Florian's childhood

Character’s favorite foods

Character names

Characters Birthdays

Aster being human

Asha Flirting With Aster

Aster Flirting With Asha

Can Aster Cry?

How the stars reacted to Aster messing up

Asha and Aster being cute

[spampai]

I waited for this moment and HERE WE ARE

Thank you to all GOBB artists (even that’s not included in the images) for inspiring and helping me to stay in Tumblr to give more content to the GOBB community! I’ve never been more happy as becoming a well-known artist is my dream since 4 years ago, and it’s starting to happen: more people are questioning and requesting, more notes and more love! I’ve always wanted to show my art to a large audience and hoped they enjoyed what I created and it’s all bcs of all of u!!! I love u all :)))

Artists that are mentioned that I decided to draw in their artstyles (I still can’t express how much I love them):

- @faceeeeee (best artist ever, I can’t deny how friendly she is; the reason why I even continued to create GOBB art)

- @rununcal (FACE EXPRESSIONS, I LOVE UR-ahem I mean I really love the character designs and uniqueness of how he draws them and their expressions :)))

- @smallbcarly (Bitttyyyyyyy I remembered saving her most famous post in my gallery while I was still starting to browse through GOBB, loving the art snd keep it up!)

- @jordoperson (HEHEHEHEHE silli goofy art of everyone being a menace to society; u love to see it (The meme templates made me laugh in the bathroom like a maniac))

- @crypticscribblzz (Aheuaghrhfhjfj I enjoyed seeing her art for the first time when I was posting my first few GOBB art just bcs I was bored; she gave me inspiration to give Syringy a tail to begin with keke

- @artofgerald (THE REASON WHY I EVEN JOINED- I mean yes I saw his Bitty post while scrolling through Google and I always wondered who it belonged to bcs it was really cool (just noticed it was his art a fee days ago ☠️) love the animations and cartoony depictions of them aheodjdhskso)

Welp I’m gonna be off from my vacation, the flight will only be 2hrs maxed and hope there wouldn’t be any delays beforehand lol

Kinda nice to end the vacation with this before I continue my goals of the big project

As for requests I’ll answer them shortly after I get back bcs my 4 pencils look like ants and I feel like doing it traditionally rather than digital so yes gotta wait)

I had fun drawing these different art styles, they were all pretty in their own ways (oh ya i only used less than ten references-)

Ya ok I’ve been at this for about 20+ minutes I’m too chatty in these posts (idrc tho that’s how I enjoy this app)

[lightandfellowship]

I actually find the topic of "Nomura's evolving art style as he takes on more and more responsibility at Square (and subsequently has less time to Do Stuff)" really fascinating.

Like, If you compare his art from the KH1-DDD era to his current day art, I think there's a noticable difference to his approach: how many steps there are in his art process, how he chooses to finish a piece, and the shift from a clean digital style to a more organic traditional one.

He used to use very clean, black lineart; bold colors; and more instances of defined/hard shading for that digital, almost cell-shaded or vector kinda look. Nowadays he goes for a more sketchy + watercolor style with pencil lineart, broad washes of faded color, and color shading that's a bit more blended and simplified in places (relying more on the pencil shading to create distinct shadows), with the hard edges more often reserved for scattered, bright highlights. (He's made art like this in the past eras too, such as the KH main menu arts which all have a watercolor quality to them, but the lineart was a bit more defined then and less sketchy, and thus slightly different from his current stuff.)

I think the Dark Road key art is a very good example of his current art style. The sketchy, almost brown lineart. The watercolor quality that emerges where two colors meet and overlap. A little desaturated and earthy. Color shading that's very broad, soft, and loose, with sharp highlights here and there.

Both styles have their merits (I personally love this sketchy era of his), but I think it's pretty likely that he adopted this as his "main" art style in order to adapt to time crunch. He doesn't need to do time-consuming lineart and precise shading anymore; he can use the original sketch as the lineart instead. Heck, he can fill in a bunch of the shading via pencil during this sketching phase to save even more time, and then can paint in a more watercolor-y kind of way that allows him to color in quicker, broader strokes.

And then there's the occasional art mistake that has become a bit more frequent in recent years, by my estimation. Which I imagine, again, is due to running out of time to notice/fix those mistakes. Things like Ephemer's arms being a bit too long in this UX art, the Kingdom Key being slightly off-model in this anniversary art, or the ears on this Mickey Mouse symbol being two different sizes on this Utada album art.

(Which isn't to say that he hasn't made art mistakes in the previous eras, for example he initially got the colors of Riku's shirt mixed up in the Re:CoM cover art before fixing it, but I still think the mistakes were a bit less frequent back then.)

And like, hey. I draw, too. Amatuerishly, but I do. I don't blame Nomura for possibly needing to change his approach to making art in order to meet deadlines, nor do I blame him for these little art mistakes that ended up falling through the cracks. I imagine he simply doesn't have the time anymore now that his job has shifted from (primarily) being a character designer/illustrator to (primarily) being a director of multiple, simultaneous projects. Or maybe I'm totally wrong about this and his art evolution had nothing to do with time crunch, who knows. I think his current art style is gorgeous either way!

Anyway, I just think this is an interesting example of someone taking their art and adapting it to a difficult and highly limiting situation, experimenting with new things and finding the means to still make art even when you have less time to do. Also a great example that professionals are human and will make mistakes even in professional products, and it's not the end of the world, it just happens. If you ever obsess over a mistake in your art...maybe take solace in knowing that it happens to everyone. Even people who have been in their field for a very long time.

[ilovedthestars]

Murderbot Fanartists, You Should Do ArtFight

(A pitch from a fellow Murderbot fanartist who loves OCs)

What is ArtFight?

ArtFight is an annual month-long art event centered around gifting and trading art of original characters (OCs). It takes place in the month of July. The event is structured as a “fight” between two teams. Making a drawing (or other artistic creation) of someone’s OC is called an “attack,” and you can “revenge” by drawing one of their OCs in return. Attacks earn your team points, and at the end of the month one teams “wins.”

Despite the competitive framework, this is all really just an excuse to gift people art of their OCs and receive some of your own in return! It’s a really fun, collaborative event. (I participated last year for the first time, and loved how freeing it felt—it’s great to know that at least one person is going to be super excited about what you’re making!)

ArtFight is for artists of all skill levels. There’s no lower limit for the “quality” of an attack. Attacks are scored according to effort put in, with more complex or time-consuming elements getting more points, not according to your artistic skill. Anything from simple pencil sketches up is allowed and welcomed, and you can decide how much you're willing & able to commit to, from 1 attack to many. If you want to go all-out, you can also make anything from a 3D model to an actual physical sculpture to a full-blown animation.

You can find more info on the ArtFight Website, including the Rules and FAQ.

Why should I, an artist in the Murderbot fandom specifically, do this?

Well I personally intend to attack as many Murderbot OCs as I have time for, so this is partly a self-interested attempt to get me more cool OCs to draw XD

But also, this fandom has such a thriving OC scene! There are so many cool construct, bot, and human characters that people have come up with for fics or just to noodle around with in this universe. I love that about this fandom and want to celebrate it! ArtFight is a great chance to get to draw other people’s cool designs, and to hopefully receive some great art of your own.

So please! Show off your super cool band of rogues, or your SecUnit and its Human duos, or your unique experimental construct designs, or whatever cool Murderbot characters you have come up with! (Let me draw them!)

ArtFight also allows AU versions of canon characters as long as the design meaningfully differs. So this extends to your human!ART or your vampire!Murderbot or your PresAux who are all dragons!

(And I know some of the very talented artists in this fandom don’t do Murderbot OCs, but have your own original projects or OCs for other fandoms cooking up, and you should absolutely participate too!)

I’m convinced! What should I do now?

Make an account on the ArtFight website, and start setting up character profiles! You need visual references for people to work from, so now is the time to draw those if you don’t already have any art that clearly shows your OCs’ appearance. (Picrews and such are also allowed as references, with credit to whatever maker you used.) You can also specify permissions for what you are & aren’t okay with people including in their attacks of your characters.

Character profiles can include tags to describe the character and help people search for a specific species or other category. If you have Murderbot OCs, use tags like “the murderbot diaries,” “murderbot,” “secunit” and “comfortunit” to identify them so people (me) can find them in a search :)

Check out other people’s characters and maybe bookmark a few you want to draw! Don’t start drawing attacks until July 1st—that’s against ArtFight rules. But if you plan to start drawing right away once the event starts, it’s a good idea to download some references of characters you’re interested in before the event starts, because the website usually crashes on day 1 from all the traffic. (I did not know this when I participated last year—learn from my mistakes XD)

In conclusion

Thanks for hearing out my pitch! If you’re a Murderbot fan doing Artfight this year, please drop your handle in the replies so we can all follow each others’ profiles :) And if you have any questions about Artfight I’m happy to answer them!

[sparticus2000art]

I’ve been sitting on my stuff for the @valrayne-faeu for a hot second (mostly cause there was just so much I wanted to draw for it and I was struggling to find the time for personal projects) so I decided to finish it as a contribution (but not really) to bad sansuary.

Up top is an illustration of her final design for the au, with some of my design iterations underneath.

This is all just stuff putting Sparks into the au, both with written lore and sketches to explore their character!

It’s a bit chunky though, so I’ll put the majority under the cut-

Character info:

- Sparks was initially a human who got lost after accidentally wandering into the fae wilds/outlands

- Traded away their humanity in order to survive a fire she got caught up in, became a creature somewhere between a ghost and a faerie

- Made a home on the boarder between the winter court and the fae wilds in a run down cottage she found (heavy emphasis on run down, some walls are missing in some rooms and she does not possess the skills to fix them herself)

- Tends to spend a lot of time wandering in order to find the place she was going when she slipped through the cracks

- She’s perpetually unsuccessful in this endeavour

- Has a pretty bad sense of direction, hence why they got lost in the first place, though she’s pretty good at memorising routes once she’s been through them a once or twice- helps if someone guides her the first time, though she’s also been steadily building up a network of pathways through the fae realm through her own efforts

This picture contains a horribly lost and confused individual.

- She’s also oddly good at ending up where she needs to be (apart from at that picknick she’s now super late for)

- They also sometimes take courier adjacent jobs sometimes in exchange for favours or goods- this is the main way they stock up on supplies

- She will wander through the entirety of the fae realm, even the summer and spring courts, though she can’t do this for long without being afflicted by heat stroke… she sometimes pushes it when feeling particularly desperate to find that place they needed to be (she’s usually sensible enough to take breaks when she needs to, but it does depend on her mental state)

- Ironically for a being made predominantly out of fire, she’s rather prone to overheating, and such prefers cooler temperatures to help regulate her body heat

- Her wandering has some drawbacks though- they’re based on a will-o-th’wisp, and as such have similar effects/ behaviour where her wandering along the boarder of the fae and human realms will occasionally draw other humans in, entranced by her flames.

- She doesn’t do this on purpose, and IF she finds out, will usually go out of her way to guide the human back to the human realm, though once they're there, she can’t do much as her body is not stable enough to persist easily outside of the fae realm

- There are exceptions to this though, where if the human is particularly rude or cruel to her she may get them further lost out of spite (it takes a lot to get her to that point though)

- Most of her magic is fire based, though she’s not bad at casting illusions (smoke and mirrors)

- Enjoys drawing, reading, playing music and cooking during her rest times

-Got a sketch book and some pencils from one of her earlier trades with ink

- Occasionally runs into horror when moving through the winter court. They sorta just stare at each other from a distance before moving on. Eventually when this has happened a lot, they’ll start to wave or give each other short greetings. Both are too awkward to properly start a conversation though…

This picture contains some of the awkward staring…

- Even more occasionally will run into dust when passing through certain clearings, though they usually appologise for interrupting and leave quickly, with even more haste when he turns to glare at her

- Tends to avoid the main hubs of each court cause there are too many people

- Made her first friend with a certain raccoon who broke into her house when making soup

This picture also contains the faesona of @imtrashraccoon (she helped me a bit with bouncing ideas around for what I wanted to do design wise :) )

- She has a tendency to just go with the flow when caught off guard by things, mostly because she doesn’t know how to react

- They’re also stressed like, 90% of the time partially because of the feeling of being lost and the incessant need to get to that initial location.

- Seems pretty quiet and reserved around people she’s unfamiliar with, (which is mostly just her being bad at talking to strangers) but becomes very talkative if topics she knows well are bought up, or when more familiar with the individual

- They sometimes come off as being a bit grumpy because of this

- Tends to be pretty hard to read though as she’s not the best at expressing herself. Can kinda come off as being a bit 0-100 in terms of intensity of expression, just cause she doesn’t seem to visibly react until experiencing an emotion quite strongly.

- For friends she’ll make the effort to act more in line with what she’s feeling, though she has to exaggerate things a bit to be understood, which can make it hard to take her seriously

- Her flames are more expressive than her face is, changing colour with strong emotions- pink when flustered or white when angry

This picture has some character exploration- looking at before and after she makes her way to the fae realm, as well as an alternative form for what she would have been if circumstances were different.

- Has a pretty dry and deadpan sense of humour- they’re surprisingly witty at times, and have a bit of a mischievous streak, where they enjoy saying outrageous (silly) things to get a reaction out of people (they think it’s funny)

- They also enjoy affectionately annoying friends, again, to get a reaction

- They also tend to be pretty stubborn, unwilling to alter their routes or processes unless given a VERY convincing argument

- This is often to her own detriment- as they’re pretty set in their ways and will sometimes drive herself too far in order to prove a point

- She’s not completely unreasonable though, and will at least listen if people try to intervene, though they do have to be able to convince her

- They also tend to be pretty blunt and straight to the point- she doesn’t enjoy the typical dancing around subjects that fae tend to favour, and will cut down the conversation out of frustration

- Does have a little bit of a temper though they tend to cool down just as quickly as they flare up, and it takes a LOT to get them to that point in the first place, as they’re usually fairly patient with people

- One of few things that will set her off immediately is if someone tries to touch the lantern she keeps with her… it’s very important, and needs to be protected at all costs

- When she eventually gets her hands on sewing materials she’ll do her best to repair her tattered clothes or make something new

- Her eyesight isn’t the best and she’s quite prone to migraines. Because of this, you can’t often see her eyelights, as she’s trying not to strain her eyes. On occasions you can see them, it means she’s either focussing pretty hard, or she’s startled

[mtx-lol]

rare instance of me being actually really happy with a design

actually gonna word vomit about it;

this came to me the mili, picosecond ive finished colouring the third redesigns which is now completely out of a date of ever seeing the sun so have fun mulling over that lol .

anyways so basically, ive discovered this technique of limiting to 3 or 2 themes for each character, to which i built apon with an overall theme for the whole media and have it paired up with the characters individual theme. ive decides to try for a more flexible or abstract dressing theme for tam, being duality since yknow her hybrid species/transitioning species kinda thing (in hindsight it shouldve been asymmetry but whatevs), the rest was roadsigns and scout.

originally it was going to be a flower, then it was going to be melded skulls and roses but just decided on a skull, the back of her head was a weak resemblance of this broken solar panel thing ? still dont know, but it was cool; this was supposed to be an attempt at symbolism of her trying to weaponise her unique kind of loneliness, being a hybrid and having unconventional origins in the sense of her childhood and the abyssals, trying to replicate a dishonering danger with the horns coming out as well, stabbing away any approachers. the weird cut snout with teeth was supposed to be the top half of a mouth but i thought it would be funnier if it was more a collector showcase base for her weird teeth collection fixation, all from the underground visits john used to take her with when she wasnt older and sicker, a rare interlude of her bleak-less worldview and dull colours.

the spikes on the skull is actually sharpened loose metal from railings, poles, machines, etc, and she uses to have more but she snapped them off when the gun jammed. its meant to be a transition from the skull to the metal plate and was meant to replicate the more grandiose version in my head.

idk if i ever properly explained the diamond earing on her left side but its an earing that john will be shown wearing and he decided to give to her as part of his family, but due to her massive fears of her ears being ripped off with it or with anything (headcanons will be supplied, soon enough), she decided to add it to her hat, which is funny because i was going to pierce her with chains but it wouldve been a) too heavy and b) reminded me too much of this guy in secondary school math class who publicly announced his thought of putting a pencil between a earring hoop, so. (sorry)

also the necklace is a variation of johns that she tried to replicate in her own style, idk if that was obvious but john is her biggest reason of and for life.

what else, uhh the yellow tape around is meant to diverage anyones attention from her face or her in general, yknow, 'look down, look away' likes shes shy guy or smthin. its her anxieties, her self-consciousness she tries to comfort with a shield of fear projected onto others, its also a self-poke like 'this girl right here is a CRIME SCENE!!!'

the weird thing over her shirt is supposed to be a ripped version of the shirt she used to wear in earlier versions, a sign of shifting unrecognisablility, breaking out yet still clinging onto the puzzle pieces for a cocoon that kept you safe in the first place. she knows shes tam, not traviler, but something in her wants tomorrow to be the day the hat is over her eyes and the trench coat is the amber touch of anyone she loved. its a drastic, dramatic life change that cant magically happen overnight, shes 22, but theres always a lingering, loose ended however.

uhmmm, she has many belts that i wanted to make into a loose replica of rock climbing belts because i think she really really really really rwalyh REALLY likes climbing up and away but i thought it would be funnier (common pattern realised) if she didnt know that rock climbing is a real profession or that she'd always would do it too tight or loose so she just gave up.

the saws came as an afterthought from this pin and i was like "whaf if she wash bug" but then i realised if i added in another theme i would have to restart and it would be over complicated AGAIN so i just did it with saws because she nearly got her head cut off by a saw and also like a little nod to her HORRENDOUS sitting positions like she would never sit straight, its either upside down, down on the side, manspreading like its a dentist appointment or 6-2 legs on the floor its quite queer of her.

elsewhere, uhhhhh, one of her makeshift shoulder pads was supposed to resemble the wings of an animal like how i originally drew her necklace but like, i kept on forgetting and kept trying something else until i just replicated the other one with less details, nothing smart i just thought it would fit her (no melted keys, she doesnt like stabbing herself anymore)

anything else...........she has a fang........ uhhh....she ripped off the oversleeves as a get back from the guy who took played with a chain on her hat while she was half awake or smthin idk still hasnt fleshed it out properly........ she is the worlds renowned owner of the most split ends (and she will finger brush through all of the knots with pride god damnit).........uhhhshe doesnt looking at mirrors.......ive made a fanfic about that....i may have realised i have a weird sense of aesthetic attraction to her.....this is a repost cuz i didnt like how little it was but now i have ensnared myself in only 2 doodles per canvas.......i am very irresponsible about my storage space but what else is new....... tam appeared right before me in my dreams................ i have taken 20 screenshots of the updated lore document of the transcribed conco between her john........ yeah thats it

theres probs more ive missed or havent come up with but thats enough words for today,

if you actually soaked in everything ive read um thanks, watch this be outdated within 3 days or hideaway makes me hide away all of my headcanons that has been conjured since december.

k byeeee