Concept Sketches of Yore: Alec in Cyberland

Straight out of the "Stuff I've Been Meaning to Upload For a Ridiculously Long Time" archives, I decided to be nice and show you all some character designs for a one-shot comic story that you might remember me mumbling a few things about last year. Well, I may revisit this project in the future but it all largely depends on how strongly I feel about it. You have no idea how many times I've swung back and forth between "nay" ("Does the world really need another 'Alice in Wonderland' adaptation?") and "yay" ("Wonderland goes futuristic cyberpunk?! Hell yeah!") on this concept.

However, when I look back on these character designs I can't help but feel like they deserve at least some kind of showcase since I spent so much time on some of them (you'll know which ones I'm talking about as soon as you spot them) hence why I'm posting them now. ;-)

Up first, we have Alec, the would-be hero of this tale. At the time, I was contemplating the classic female lead for a Wonderland story until I got the suggestion to swap it to a male main character. Immediately, I was quite intrigued by the idea of thrusting an 18 year old otaku manchild into a high tech world he'd seen, played in and read about in anime, video games and manga...and finding out the hard way that it's not what he expected it to be at all. Not even all those hours puttering around TV Tropes could have prepared him for Cyberland!

Oh Chesh, you shapeshifting, flamboyantly androgynous ol' scamp! I have been told that Chesh leans a little closer to the feminine side of the gender scale. Maybe I oughtta dial back on the hips.

You all knew she was coming. The Queen of Cyber-Hearts is easily my favorite design out of this batch. Sure, a full-body sketch of her takes roughly two hours (yeah, you read that right) but y'know what? If she looks this bloody awesome, it's totally worth it. ;-)

Finally, we have our catalyst of the chaos Usa. Perhaps you may remember her in a much bigger and colorful context. In fact, she was what inspired this whole crazy idea in the first place. I still have a soft spot for her big buck teeth.

So whaddya guys think? Potentially awesome or a cliche best left behind?

Print Design: Sweet Surgery Symphony

D'awww, look at the cute widdle bunny rabbits...wielding massive scalpels. If anyone must be blamed for planting this imagery in my head, it has to be Mr. Vorhias and his Dr. Squid audio logs. Seriously though, check 'em out.

Now the reason I call this a "print design" is that I drew this like you would a printed fabric design complete with the flat colors and wrap-around imagery...though I don't think I got that across well enough. Simplicity and unsettling sweetness was the key. Now that I think of it, I totally should have added a heart rate monitor somewhere.

I do plan on incorporating this design in a future image. Just you wait and see.

Pro-tip: blood stains do an excellent job covering up bleeding marker edges.

SKETCHAVEMBER Day 19: Wanda's Big-Ass...Glasses!

Barely defeating the clock once again, Day 19 of Sketchavember has me drawing some very large, very colorful glasses.

I gotta admit, I love this little spur-of-the-moment character design. I think I gotta use Wanda in another drawing some time. ^_^

SKETCHAVEMBER Day 17: Fancy Funeral Fudge Cake

Not gonna lie, I was feeling a little stumped as to what to draw today but inspiration for Day 17's drawing for Sketchavember came in the form of The Most Dangerous Cake recipe and repeated listenings of bands like Dead Can Dance, Black Tape for a Blue Girl with a little helping of Voltaire.

Thus, the fancy shmancy funeral themed cake was born. I've always admired the work and craftsmanship that goes into all those crazy elaborate cakes and I've always wanted to take a crack at designing something in that manner.

Not sure I exactly have the baking skills to live up to it but I'm working on it. ;-)

Hungry yet? :-9