Sketch Dump

Blithe (those hats were all the trend during the last winter)

Random drawing, rough sketch

Random drawing, newer version has colour

A DGM image I was going to submit, but time constraints and a whole bunch of other factors got in the way. Will ink this later.

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Two whole months without posting anything on the blog; all thanks to the dissertation and the upcoming exams. Plenty to do, so probably won't be frequenting here until mid-June. Alas...

Misc Doodles

Drawn this evening using Open Canvas; just needed to practice more, since I haven't done this in weeks.

An old drawing I did last term (sometime in November?), testing out one of the poses I drew during life-drawing class. Just wanted to see if I could translate the human figure in the real world into a more abstract style for these characters.

The spring, the sun; and breathe

Small version of Kidd, also posted on the Livejournal community. Now that term is over (it was actually over a week ago, but I had a tutorial during the first week of vacation) I can finally afford some time to breathe and relax again. Not to mention draw to my heart's content!

But who knows how long this bout of freedom will last for; I have another deadline next week, alongside a whole bunch of thesis revisions to make before this academic year is over. Ooh, and exam readings and preparations.

Year of the Tiger

Updates+Old Rough-Sketch Dump

Kanda and Lavi, drawn 2008

Blithe, Aein, and Phys, drawn 2008

Group shot (Erebos, Aein, Blithe, Hoale and Edel): drawn 2008

Group shot: drawn 2008
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Guess what I found this year when I was home last month? Old sketches, so old and so amateur that my toes started to curl upon first sighting! But I need to document them somewhere, since the originals are disintegrating rapidly (curses, humidity!) Plus, always nice to have a laugh when I refer to these again in the future.

Back in the U.K. (after an eventful month back home; including my birthday, Home Office visa worries, intestinal infections), and the new school term has started. Much readings to do, essays to write. And since my last post, I've decided to move back into college; couldn't stand my anti-social flatmate anymore. Not only did she have this strange deluded opinion that I was making a mess in the kitchen (a miracle, considering I don't cook at all), she also invites strange guests into the flat without prior warning. And when she goes on vacation, she turns off the main fuse without thinking that I would still be living there in her absence.The moment she started hanging her Christmas decorations all over the flat and on my room door, it was time to go bye-bye.

College-living is nice, especially since my friends are around. It does have a bit of a downside; recently went to a folk dance (college event), paired up with one college-mate for two songs, and the next day he messages about wanting to know where in college I live (didn't ask to meet in a cafe or somewhere public, but my room. No thanks, I like my privacy.) I don't even tell my parents where in college I live, much less a stranger who I just met. (I'm sure he is a nice person, and that I am being oversensitive; but I do have a huge personal 'buffer zone'.) Think I'll just wear a hoodie for the next few...weeks. Or months. That is the last time I go to any social events.

Goodness. I've caught the sniffles. Better go remedy that. Will post holiday photos later.

Winter 2009

Going home for the holidays, going to do some research, going to get several medical check-ups, will be back in January, moving back into college, have plenty of presentations and readings to do. Hectic month, and more hectic days to follow.

Summer in Autumn

Today's product; the first image drawn since my dissertation was submitted (a couple of weeks ago). Don't really know what came over me; suddenly felt a lack of motivation to draw anything. So here is a rough sketch of Ue (left), Aein (right) and the TeaR (front, name short for Tea Rabbit).

An image of Blithe, drawn in July. Just playing with perspective, and there will be more sketches like these later.

Strange design for a headdress. Not really a finished design, but because I started this in July and just picked it up again, I'll just redraw it in another sketch.

Blithe; outfit study.

Drawing of Kidd from Soul Eater, from several months ago. Haven't designed the outfit yet, though I assume it would be a suit per usual. Read the recent chapters, and can't believe how slowly the plot is moving. New characters are introduced (which is fine), but there hasn't been any real character development with the existing cast.

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Can't believe how quickly time flies; Autumn has officially begun (that was a crappy Summer...what happened to the promised sunshine?) and the skies are gray and dreary. Primary and Secondary students are back in school already, but the rest of us in college is just enjoying life. Not like we had much time to enjoy the Summer; too busy writing dissertations and other essays to have fun (though to be fair, we did have one or two golden moments). The results come out tomorrow....eurgh.

Friends have been leaving town (the programme was only a year long, and many or going back to their home countries to work), but I am excited about the upcoming freshers week; potential to corrupt new minds. But the downside is that, for the friends that are staying for another year, they need my help with moving houses. Normally I wouldn't mind (if it were for one or two people), but it has gotten to the point where I am just sick of it.

At first, my grumpiness stemmed from the fact that I managed to move all my stuff to my new room by myself. But my opinion changed after seeing how much crap these friends accummulate within the year; at that point I knew they definitiely needed outside-help. I had one suitcase of clothes, a medium box of books and miscellany, one small wheely suitcase, and several small boxes (water kettle, shoes, bike helmet, other gifts I acquired this year). But for these friends, we're talking multiple suitcases (big and small), dozens of boxes, and large bags of other stuff. Cripes, its one thing to live comfortably in college through having personal belongings, it is another to literallybring your entire room overseas.

Oh, speaking of moving rooms, I recently moved into a private housing (since my college situation is a little iffy right now). Not a bad place (and the rent is cheaper), but my flatmate seems to prefer...living alone. As in 'avoid social contact' with me. Which works fine with me, seeing how I'm not a fan of awkward small-talk in the corridors anyways. Eh, maybe things will improve later this year.

Scribble I

Roundabouts

Aein, in a b+w type style. First in a three-image series (the other characters will be Blithe and Edel.)

Random scribble, the first picture I've drawn in a few weeks.

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Nothing really happens in town during summer. A whole bunch of summer school kids frolic around the city-centre during the day, and some of them have parties at the clubs after dark. As a cyclist, I am finding tourists to be of increasing annoyance; they don't seem to comprehend that the green traffic light means 'don't walk onto the road. Some of us don't care if we run you over.' At least ringing the bicycle bell as a warning is very cathartic...

...unfortunately, biking also has its disadvantages as I recently got totally soaked from the sudden heavy rain. Alas, U.K. weather, ever so fickle.

Dissertation progress is slow, and I've gone way over the word count. Still haven't finished all my readings, but I reckon I have written enough for the editing process to start. I feel dreadful that there is still so much to do, but taking today off was a good idea. Tomorrow I'll be back in the library trying to drain all the information from the book that is vital for the paper, but not surprisingly, cannot be borrowed.

Have friends visiting this coming Friday, and not too pleased about having them crash in my room for an evening (my room is small, and I like my privacy. This means I'll actually have to clean my blasted room for once.) Ah well, they'll be using the sleeping-bag, because there is no way an inflatable mattress will fit on the floor (even my suitcase is placed on top of my closet...that is how small my room is.)

Scribble II

Don't really know if I'll ink and colour this one later, but we'll see what happens. Stupid weather is making me feel bipolar (sun, rain, sun, rain, sun, rain!)

Scribble

Darn, the summer started ages ago but all I can do is muster up the strength to scribble. Just a picture of Aein when he was younger, alongside some of his ramblings. Now to work on the dissertation...

Brief Norge Review

Needless to say, Norway is gorgeous and I had fun traveling there. (Of course there were some downer moments, but the experience was well worth it.) The best thing would be the art museums, especially Edvard Munch's paintings in Oslo. The Historisk Museum had an impressive collection based on life in the Arctic Circle, but after going to the Pitt Rivers it seems slightly...barren in comparison. Would have no objections about returning there only when I i) get a job and make enough money (because everything in the country is expensive) ii) manage integrate outdoor components into the travel plans (cycling around the fjords would be incredible!)

Though must also add that I'm glad to be back in the U.K. Vacations are fun, but there is also work to be done. And it is nice to return back to the college and meet up with friends before they leave for the summer/permanently for home...not to mention, meeting up with other people to watch the new Harry Potter movie. (And as for the movie, I do have some complaints regarding the way the storyline was altered...but then again I watch for the special effects. And I've rambled enough about it to my friends, so posting about it seems a tad excessive.)

Must say that when you are my age and heard all sorts of shoddy innuendo used by other people in bars/clubs/pubs, the script in that movie did set off a few alarms here and there...and I'm not the only one that thinks that way. They even have a facebook group based on the dialogue...

Potluck Eve

The title of this post has little to do with the image itself; I'm just going to a potluck in a hour or so. Anyways, a rough scribble of random characters...I really need to practice drawing more often this summer. Not really sure who the caption belongs to in the image, but I'll leave that open for interpretation.

Despite the exams and work from the previous term, I have been watching several anime series. I actually quite like Chrome Shelled Regios for the animation quality (and the illustrations used by the RPG itself are lovely), except some of the characters are annoying (and seems to effectively work against the progress of the plot)...and then there was Sengoku Basra, which ended up being hilarious (and I have my suspicions that it wasn't meant to be that way)....other than that, I haven't been watching much. Fullmetal Alchemist by BONES would be an interesting watch, but have been reluctant to watch the series again since they left it off pretty well in the previous season.

Procrastination Blues

After a couple of days (more like a week) of procrastination, socializing, and endless bar visits, I can say that my brain is on the verge of a meltdown. (Which might explain why I drew such a wonky picture....it really wasn't supposed to turn out this way at all. In fact, I started by drawing Maka. I have absolutely no control over my hand today.) Nonetheless, this is the first picture in months. Months....since easter break, before revision and exams really took up all of my time.

So the partying has died down a bit, but now my friends are moving away for the summer (and some are bound never to return) so a bunch of good-bye gatherings are to be expected. And it is also the time of year for disappointments; where students find out what grades they get (we get ours this coming Friday), realize that they don't have enough money for tuition next year (and hence have to drop out of school), or find out that their academic dreams are dashed because of personal problems.

Yes, I've encountered some crying friends recently. And no, I have no idea how to cope with such moments. I know its not about me, but it really is difficult to find a suitable way to comfort someone when they're crying their eyes out. Should I give them a hug? Or do what I was taught to do since I was a kid, and leave them to their own devices? Well, hopefully there will only be good news after these few weeks.

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On a brighter note, I'm going to head to Norway for a couple of days. How delightful it is to realize that I don't need a Schegen (is this how I spell it?) visa to travel around Europe...I suppose that is when my passport really comes in handy. But before the summer travels begin, must write my dissertation, and enjoy a few more days of sunshine and snoozing in the grass....

...and then there is the more difficult task of avoiding people I don't want to see in town. Of course, not that there is anyone I absolutely hate, but there is this one girl where each time I come close to thinking she is a decent human being, would just go out and try to prove me wrong. She would do things like i)being an hour late or not showing up for meetings ii)act slightly antagonistically when others contradict her points iii)sometimes lie about the most random things. It is partially my fault that she thinks we're absolutely 'best friends', since I wasn't persistent enough (like the other people who she knows) in trying to create some social distance....maybe the best solution is just to avoid her in general.

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PS: thanks to Ancode for the post-exam well-wishes!

Post Exam Days

I am finally back after a week of intensive exams (each three hours long, and it doesn't help that we have to wear these kooky gowns that makes tourists gravitate towards you for photos). Spent the previous term writing essays, revising, cramming, despairing, and sorting other stuff out. Not I'm spent, and life seems so directionless without the stress, the reading, and the writing.

Oh wait, I do have to write a dissertation by September, and I need to get moving with that. But right now I'm just elated....this feeling will probably dissipate the moment I receive the exam results. In two weeks time.

April Blues

Blithe in uniform; rough draft. I like this sort of uniform (and had one like it back in grade school), and I'm still not set on the colour scheme. I do like her stockings though....

Kidd at the seaside....I drew this soon after I returned from my seaside weekend wander. It was most delightful, and I guess I had so much fun because I had no expectations from it whatsoever. The beautiful weather helped a lot as well. Not really sure why I gave him longer hair, but it matches him...

Young Kidd wanting a lift. Drawn soon after the series ended; I'm terrible at drawing children.

Illustration of the moment: Kidd in a strange outfit I drew this evening. Those circles remind me on Eibon/Noah's technique

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Must get back to reading and work. Am feeling super unproductive this vacation; the fact that my other classmates are all working doesn't help at all. I feel terrible about not working, but then I don't feel like working because I'm feeling so terrible...cycle of death.

I'm also resting; after donating blood this week, I was foolish enough to immediately ride a bike and almost ended up losing my mind in the middle of the street. Moment of spasticity indeed. Luckily I managed to get to a bench, sit and sweat it out for 10 minutes or so, and then walk back home. Thought about asking for help from the people around me, but I didn't have enough energy to do so/ didn't want to bother anyone and admit to my stupidity. But it was alright; no one seems to have noticed my condition (half dead, flopped over my bike, sweating in freezing conditions) so I was left to my privacy. Or should I be worried that no one offered help...?

Scribble VI

Rough sketch of character designs for the IDS (Inter Dimensional Shells). The girl on the left is called IDDS/Idds (Inter Dimensional Defense Shield) and the boy on the right is known as IDOS/Idos (Inter Dimensional Offense Sword). I still haven't figured out the exact form of the shield and sword, so I'm just placing some random shapes here first. Everyone mostly calls them by their acronyms.

Scribble V

Again with the hats! I quite like the design of this one, I might actually use it for Ue in the future. It was sort of supposed to be a marching-band-type hat, but decided halfway through that it looks better if it resembled a cap instead.

Oh, almost time to turn off the lights in preparation of Earth Hour....8:30pm, everyone!

To Paris and back!

Photos from Paris: Pont Alexandre III, Louvre, and the Petit Palais. I have more photos, but I rather put those on facebook. Let me just say that the trip was stressful, but overall it was nice seeing new sights and going to a foreign country during the vacation....though the local Parisians could have been a tad nicer, especially in the language department. The metro was fun to use (and so much more comfortable than being jam packed onto a tour bus), but the rush hours are a nightmare to sit through. Especially when you're in a hurry...more on that later.
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Just got back from Paris, and felt like drawing something strangely...strange. Here is Aein wearing a headpiece that is a mixture of bamboo-structuring, clovers, beads, and etc elements. I suppose I was thinking of drawing a french hat, but then the asian imagery just entered my mind.

Scribbles IV

Death the Kidd with mask and hairpiece...wanted to draw something like this for a while, but never mustered up the energy. It takes longer to draw this than if I were to draw and colour an image (such as the one below).

Aein, rolling (apparently faceless) dice.

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So I went to London on earlier this week, and despite seeing people from my old school and catching up on their current affairs, I regretted going so far from home. My shoulder is aching, and I can feel the early flu symptoms (it was bloody cold, the wind was strong). Not to mention I got carded at Sainsburys from buying alcohol for the people I was seeing. It really was one of those days where I wanted to spend it alone.

A pet peeve; just because my parents can pay my tuition does not mean they're rich. It doesn't mean I am rich (need I mention my part-time jobs and scholarships throughout my undergrad years?). It just means my parents saved up over the years to pay, by cutting back on a lot of things in the family. We didn't get the newest technological gadgets; we didn't have annual vacations to far away destinations. Affording the tuition doesn't mean I'm some spoiled child who doesn't know anything about the world. Oh course, one should take comments like that from ignorant and small-minded people in moderation, and just deal with it...

...damn I'm pissed. Hate it when people presume they know the sort of things we go through.