Concept - Phoenix (off)

Phoenix. It was a whispered, curse of a name, if ever there was one. I didn't ask for this responsibility, but I couldn't say I was upset to have the power that inspired it. And I couldn't say I was sorry for what it meant I get to do. In fact, I was sorta gleeful of that little detail. Like a Phoenix rising from her own ashes, I was a new being, an alien being, a being to be feared. And fear they should, for this rogue Magi -- the only rogue Magi in existence -- was about to bring about the End in all its fiery, self-prophesied glory. And it was going to be dramatic. 

I still have trouble with colouring my line art. It's a problem that I need to get over quickly. I'm not sure if it's the colours I choose, or that I should just add hints of colour/shading so that you can see the line art. 'Cause I thought the line art was pretty decent.

As another aside, excuse my tidbits of garbled text with my concepts -- it helps me remember, and catalogue, the little bits of jumbled world-building that I'm trying to piece together.  

Concept - Phoenix (lines)

The Academy is a highly intensive, highly exclusive place of study, where students train in the art of Magic. Most of the students of the Academy come from the Cliffs, seeking a way into the Uppertowns of Skyvein, and sacrificing some freedom and safety in order to achieve that. Of those students in the Academy, Sylphs specialize in wind, A'nders in fire, and Undines in water. They are taught how to use their elemental packs, and, minimally, how to fix them, although altering them is illegal. When students graduate the Academy, they are allowed to practice their trade for five years, before the Core (through the Academy) claims them for the Magi, an elite group of 'oid soldiers, surgically altered to have a much more resilient body for fighting. 

Concept - Guardians

Guardians, or 'squids,' patrol the outer limits of the cities, keeping the citizens in check and in fear. While the more humanoid guardians keep 'peace' in the hightown areas, the 'squids' keep it in the cliffs, spiraling around the base of the peak, making sure that no one attempts to venture into the poisoned clouds below.

Concept - Skyvein Creature Sheet

Complied a list of what I definitely need to do (or redo) for my portfolio. Hopefully, I'll finish the list in Florida over the next couple of months (while doing four pages of comic a week and two hours of languages...I'm an over-achiever!) so that I can start applying for internships and jobs...do I want to do that already? I sort of just want to go out and see everything -- there's so much to see! I'm going to Argentina, officially, the end of January 2013. But I also want to bike the UK and train hop the US. There's time for it all, but maybe I'll just freelance for now to make time for revolutionizing the world and seeing all the beautiful nonsense.

Concept - Skyvein creature lines

And again, haven't updated in ages! Been working a lot at the comic -- also, figuring out what I need to actually be working on so that I can have a complete and working portfolio..'cause I'm going to start sending that out to folks pretty soon! Working on more world-building. Skyvein is becoming more and more interesting to me.

DS - guards of skyvein, take two

DS - the guards of Skyvein

Wow. I'm a slacker. My last update was on the 11th? Going to try to update much more! Lots of family nonsense going on. In a good way, of course. But between that and pretending to do those two pages of the comic a week that I'm supposed to be doing? No concepting time. When I'm in florida, I'm going to do at least one a day, I swear. Here's another go at the guards of Skyvein! I think I'm starting to work out what they're going to look like.

Concept - Tunnels

I could draw environments every day and not run out of material, at this rate. It's pretty amazing, but I really need to work on some character/creature/object designs!

DS - Byte

The Ninth Circle Launching Party

We have takeoff, people! So, this is a few months late -- there were some technical difficulties, but we are up! And we are running!  And we have a schedule. So bring your kazoos, and hats, and confetti, and balloons and come check it out.

ninthcirclecomic.com

Concept - Caverns

I've never done a concept sketch this quickly. It took me a little over an hour to finish this. And I actually like it. What's going on? Yay.

I came out with a massively bruised knee, but no injury has ever been worth it as much as that one was. What was there, below the streets and sidewalks that you walk and bike and drive over, were colossal caves, caverns, tunnels. You could get lost there. I did. And without the light, what would you do? There, in that deepest, darkest black where the sun wouldn't hit even if it were out, how would you find your way back? I came back with stories, with the remainder of gorgeous rock formations burned behind my lids, and an even more pressingly, consumingly urgent need to go back again. Tomorrow.