Rough WIP from March 17th, 2024

whoops guess you're getting a rough design for Apus tonight too lol

The name Apus means "without feet", as apparently these birds were once thought to not have any, and I thought that would fit perfectly into a double peg-leg to match the pirate theme she's got. A bird-of-paradise could be any number of species under that name though, so I've incorporated attributes from several here, particularly the sicklebills and the various species that have those distinct tail feathers, of both the long and curly varieties. I may give her an actual sickle as a secondary weapon too, we'll see!

Even after I decided to add her to Columba's crew, I'd been stumped for a LONG while on what direction to take with the design in general and FINALLY I have one that I really like, especially after giving her the more harpy-ish treatment like Grus's current sketch. Pretty proud of the symbol integration on this one so far too, some are easier than others!

Symbol Design for Apus by Denis Moskowitz

Rough WIP from March 17th, 2024

I've been toying for a while with how to make some of the designs for the many bird constellations more distinct in Starglass Zodiac, and I think going the harpy route for some of them may work, so I tried it with Grus here

idk what his body and clothing are doing and there's a lot going on on his head right now but I'll figure it out. I'm coming back from a 3-day depressive episode so I gotta start somewhere, you know?

I like where this is going at least, I'm not sure if I'll actually finish this particular drawing or just use it as a springboard for his design sheet but we'll see. I'll officially decide what crane he's based on later, but for now I'm leaning towards the red-crowned crane.

Symbol Design for Grus by Denis Moskowitz

Doodles from March 11th, 2024

Couldn't really figure out what to do with myself after a day of travel so I settled on doodling my funny little egg guy, he's very grumpy about it lol

i haven't done a rotation in a hot minute but this is a very simple design so even this first pass is pretty solid

same for expressions too actually, I could probably use these for a full expression sheet later on

WIPs from February 3rd and 4th, 2024

I'm used to feeling relatively aimless in February in general, but today was a particularly strong day for that and the ennui set in pretty fast, so i opted for equally aimless art for today (aimless as in lacking a direction, not aimless as in lacking worth, to be clear)

both of these are from even more things rolling around in my brain that I've barely posted about (if at all), but I'm slowly clawing back my ability to just draw and post whatever without having to justify it as much, even if it has nothing to do with my active projects. I do want to dedicate some time to make some portfolio-ready stuff (as in, stuff that is specifically cleaned up and assembled for that purpose) so maybe it's a good thing I'm coming up with more stuff with a different conceptual basis to them

idk there's something cool about being able to put a logo I just made up and put it next to characters that I also just made up relatively recently (for me anyway) Makes it look so much more legit, or like I put a stamp or stencil on it

Wake and Pebble had a rough sketch that I cleaned up here, whereas the Timekeeper has existed for longer (I think? I actually can't remember now lol) but this is the first time I've tried to put the image of him in my head onto digital paper. This wasn't the first attempt, but this is the first sketch I cleaned up in an attempt to feel out his design a bit more. It's the closest to where I want it to be so far at least, even as a crouched action pose. Don't really know what his staff is doing but that's for future me to figure out I guess. I've been working on something else that uses my more angular art style so I guess that was still in my system for him too aha

WIP from January 22nd, 2024

While making art for this post I thought about drawing Cassie in different formal wear again so here you go lol

I've had this idea for a while so I have other styles in mind, but I got tired so this is the WIP for now

I feel like I draw her proportions differently each time I draw her, I gotta get a handle on that lmao

Doodles from January 14th, 2024

welp it's officially Too Tired To Have Inhibition Hours™ so time to post the sillies i guess

i haven't been able to get this idea out of my head ever since I saw Kieran and Carmine's designs because their eyes are just Like That, very catlike for some reason

these turned out surprisingly well despite my sweet boy's disaster of a hair style lmao

Doodle from December 29th, 2023

Had the experience of playing Forgotten Land with a 6 year old who wanted to fight the bosses and ONLY the bosses

And while I don't think it's a bad idea to let kids pick which character they want to play as in general, Kirby not only takes more damage comparatively but also resets the entire run if he dies so

let's just say I uh

took one for the team on this one lol

Comic Doodle from November 5th, 2023 These idiots have existed for like 2 collective days and I'm already drawing them again lmao. I should have done more angles but I got tired funny egg guy :)

WIP from November 3rd, 2023 A case of me doing something completely different and then it derailed, but not in a bad way this time! In my "do whatever" art days before college I used to just make something up for one scene/illustration, the art equivalent of free writing I guess. Free designing? I used to do that all the time (I think most artists do), and I'm not sure why I stopped outside of wanting to finish a project for once. But this is a good reminder that I can just make characters without having to immediately make it A Thing™, even if I decide to later on. I think I've been restricting myself too much in that regard lately, as if doing this is "less important" than my active project work. An easy trap to fall into! My New Year's resolution for 2023 is to do more illustration work though, so hopefully I can finish this before the end of the year and add it to my goal of 5 finished pieces. The title/logo is just as random, though me coming up with a title based on vibes is very common for me lol. It's a good springboard for expanding the concept later on, if I feel like it. "That's life!" was a common phrase I heard growing up from the more cynical people in my life, though with more ghostly imagery here maybe it could take on a more literal meaning as well. Even though it's pretty minimal here, oh boy am I rusty at backgrounds! As usual! :') I did better with the colours than I thought I would though, I made this while being incredibly sleep deprived so I waited until after sleeping to post it just in case. Luckily I still like it! I hope you do too :) If I ever stop drawing magical characters with animal inspirations assume I've perished lmao

POV you've given the star child candy and she is happy :D

Doodle from October 31st, 2023 I did this specifically to send in an ask but I might as well upload it here too. Trick-or-Treat for a little ghostie (Ghost Starlie) c: Happy Halloween everybody!

Doodle from October 31st, 2023 I did this specifically to send in an ask but I might as well upload it here too. Trick-or-Treat for a little ghostie (Ghost Starlie) c: Happy Halloween everybody!

WIPs from September 21st, 2023 Alright so I almost never show stuff at this stage because I'm usually too embarrassed to post something this messy, but shaking that off is precisely what this blog is for so here you go! If you've ever wanted to know what I consider a "thumbnail" for my own work then this is it lol

Especially for covers and comic page planning, I usually end up at the greyscale shading stage within the thumbnail stage before I actually commit to a composition, as I can't properly gauge if it's going in the right direction otherwise. That said though, I really like how these are turning out so far! I tend to get decision paralysis with cover ideas, goodness knows that I continue to struggle with the main cover for this series, so having these go relatively smoothly tells me I'm getting better at it (hopefully!)

I have a lot of interconnected stories within Starglass Zodiac that I want to make dedicated side comics for, so any time I have an idea for a title and/or cover for one, I'll "jot it down" like this so I don't lose it. I've had the file for The Paladin's Shadow for a while, but Curse of the Hunted is a new addition from today (well, the story idea itself isn't new but the title/cover idea is)

The Paladin's Shadow is Aries's backstory, focusing on his struggle to live up to the reputation of the prior incarnations of his constellation, cementing them as a lineage of powerful and upstanding paladins. Aries has to wrestle with both his small stature and standoffish temperament by comparison, meaning he is constantly in the shadow of his own lineage and has to somehow forge his own path despite that. Curse of the Hunted is Orion's backstory as a once infamous name on the Astral Plane prior to his adoption as Taurus's zodiac companion. True to his namesake, he was once a skilled yet relentless hunter, and had his dogs (Canis Major and Minor) at his side. Though Orion could tame them to obey his own command, he is warned by Rangifer (the reindeer), that should his dogs ever turn on him, it will turn them to stone. Orion initially dismisses this by claiming they have complete loyalty to him, and as punishment for his hubris, Orion is cursed by Rangifer and given his half-deer appearance that is seen in the main story. This makes him the "prey" for once, and thus both Canis Major and Minor chase after him, turning them both to stone as promised. The guilt from their loss and the fear caused by being the hunted rather than the hunter does much to humble Orion, and he begins his journey to redemption afterwards. I don't have finished designs for most of the characters featured here but I like where their placeholders are for now. Oh and if you're wondering about the font, it's one I'm developing for this project specifically! :D It's called SGZ Display, and is based on the lettering I did for the main logo. I'm testing it out here to see if it reads well at smaller sizes, but it still needs work all around. It'll be a long while before these or the stories they're connected to are finished, but I hope you enjoy this little sneak peek anyway :]

WIPs from September 13th, 2023

Some more late-night buggies for you :) I really like the idea of winged bugs in this story draping their wings over themselves like a blanket or cape regardless of age, but I especially like the idea of elderly ones doing it after they're no longer able to fly with them. It gives me good shapes to work with (and has the added bonus of hiding most of their limbs here so I don't have to draw them yet lol) Similar to Sgt. Shield, I've had the idea and rough sketch for Elder Moss for a while now, but Ivy was a relatively new addition after I expanded on their part in the story a bit recently. They're essentially Kiida's adoptive grandparents, providing the occasional safe haven for her during her rather turbulent upbringing. Like everyone else, it takes a while for Kiida to warm up to them, but they quickly become two of the very few people from her past that she can still hold dear. Though the bugs in this story are constantly "at war" with the predators that hunt them, Ivy is more the veteran of the two, having actively trained and fought during her youth. Moss has his own fair share of stories to tell as a former postman though, and both are the type who could tell you the story behind every scar and wing tear like it was yesterday. Apparently I still don't have it in me to do colour right now, but otherwise I really like how these came out. Outside of green I'm not sure what direction I'll go for them or if I'll use a specific real-world inspiration for their wing patterns, but I'll figure that out later. In the meantime, I hope you like them too :)

WIPs from September 10th, 2023

-has two completely separate series WIPs- -makes cameo/crossover characters between them rather than working on the main stories again- in other words I'm back on my bullshit lol

I've felt very burnt out and unmotivated lately so I guess I'm trying to shake myself enough to make more art?? I've been chipping away at designs for both Moth to the Flame and Captain Artemis so I've got bugs on the brain again I've had the idea of giving Scutum a parallel character/reference in MttF for a while considering he's already a beetle in Starglass Zodiac (I honestly just love referencing other things in the background aha) and since Scorpio is also based on a bug (arachnid yes i know) I really liked the idea of giving him a nod too since they're already a duo I'd imagine that they'd have a different dynamic/personalities here, and since they're based on other characters of mine already, they'll probably just be cameos in Moth to the Flame rather than full characters to avoid repeating myself with their stories, but I like them a lot anyway :]

I may explore the idea of sapient scorpions existing in MttF's society though, since spiders and other predatory bugs are considered non-sapient animals that hunt the characters in this universe. All of the sapient bugs have a very militaristic society that highly favours those who do well in combat for the sake of survival, so I imagine that Scorpius quickly gained his status as commander due to his natural attributes, though many question whether he's actually on their side because of that. With his claws and stinger, he's essentially a "living weapon" as it is, and only carries other weapons to further augment this, whereas other bugs need to carry some kind of weapon in order to survive at all, like Kiida with her bow and arrows. I gave him a bandaged eye to sort of mimic SGZ Scorpio's side-swept hair, but it ended up referencing Ophiuchus more (which is hilarious if you know anything about Starglass Zodiac lol) Despite being generally freaked out by bugs in real life, they provide me with endless creativity that I don't think will ever wane. There's just such a variety not only in species but in how one can interpret them into characters. Though posing that many limbs is always a challenge, it's still very fun! I'm proud of Scorpius's double salute aha This isn't much but it's the most art I've done in weeks so hooray??? celebrate the little victories folks

WIP from August 10th, 2023 -throws this post like bird seed- More birdies for you :) For anyone who knows me personally, designing a knight based on this bird feels like a long time coming lol

I don't do back views very often for initial poses like this as it usually obscures key parts of a design, but I like this a lot still. Her full sheet will have more than one view anyway, and I like the energy it gives off.

Not sure on her personality just yet, but the idea of a serious no-nonsense character based on a bird with an inherently goofy name appeals to me greatly, perhaps hiding a quirkier side to her under all that armour. The idea of an "agile tank" feels contradictory in a similar way, but I do want to make more of my designs for Feather Knights have a heavier look to them for more armour variety, even if most birds they're based on maintain that "thin and spindly" kind of look. Her lance is akin to a loon's beak that it will use to stab something when threatened.

I still feel kind of out of it but at least I'm less tired than yesterday (I think???) I tend to do a lot of WIPs at once when this happens rather than finishing things, but that's exactly what this blog is for lol

WIP from August 9th, 2023

>stressing too hard >brain too tired for other art >draw another owl person??? It's been a while since I've done some "stream of consciousness random" art and one of my defaults seems to be specifically owl/bird based humanoids for some reason, I don't know why lmao So anyway this is Sevi! I'm not sure if I'm actually any less stressed than before, but he exists now and I like him so :) Anatomically correct bird wing enjoyers look away, I feel like mine only get more stylized as time goes on lol His colours were also purely on random vibes so he ended up like a combo of a snowy owl and blue jay, or perhaps a Steller's jay. I guess he's also got a bit of horned owl in there too, that was the original vague base I had in mind when I started. Those are some of my favourite birds, so no complaints here aha! Maybe he can go with Emilia, one of my owl girls from 2018 who is also a combo of a few different owl species. I haven't drawn her in a while tbh, her ref sheet needs an update

I'll hopefully finish this sometime later, but for now I hope you enjoy <(-'v'-)>

WIPs from June 27th and March 12th, 2023 I'm in one of those mind states where it takes me literal hours to make myself upload my WIPs, even though that's the entire point of this side blog :') Not that I dislike these, rather I received some bad (but unrelated) news today/yesterday and that always ramps up my insomnia. I'm up WAY too late again and my mood has been awful all day, so this was inevitable

It's been a while since I uploaded a completely new design for Starglass Zodiac (as in a completely new character rather than just a redesign of an already made one) and I'm not entirely sure why. Like the last one was over a year ago??? I still have way more to do so I'm not sure why I stopped for a while, even when I was still doing art for this project rather than switching to another. I have a massive folder of WIPs still so maybe I got decision paralysis or something, idk. These are far from done but I did come up with some cool new scenes with them so that's neat!

The less specific or more basic constellations are usually the most fun but also the most challenging to tackle, because it can be hard to make the concepts interesting if there's no pre-existing mythology associated with them, which is the case for both of these and many others. A lot of the constellations, even among the official 88 modern ones, boil down to an astronomer somewhere being like "put a [thing] in the sky" without anymore specificity or reason. Custos Messium is a defunct constellation to boot, but the idea of a "harvest keeper" gives me a lot of cool visuals to work with at least. I'm particularly proud of their sickle and scythe arms that form a C and M, respectively. Plus with the defunct constellations I get to design their symbols :D Not super happy with the bodies for either of these yet, but I like their heads so that's a good start. Horologium is inspired by those awesome looking astral clock towers with multiple faces, but with that in mind I want to make its body more tower-like. In the story, it's the constellation of the clock that was given artificial life after being lost and corrupted by void magic, so I want it to look like the pieces of the tower itself got transformed into this hulking beast over time. Overall I just want to have more non-sapient creatures inhabiting this world for variety's sake and to create bigger threats for the cast as stuff ramps up in later chapters. Defeating Horologium in particular is going to be quite the feat, but I am excited to finish writing/drawing that part of the comic at least!