Kiss for the Win (and Happy Holidays)

 Hey, we have come to the end of a very strange year. I hope you and your family are safe. Take Care and Happy Holidays! See ya in the New Year!

BBK and Caaseth sketch

 

BBK sketches

 some fun sketches

Beautiful Beast Kiss (BBK) for the Win Sketch

 

Shedim Daeva Inking Process Video (Final in the Yal Lenor Set) Hooray!!!

 

Shedim Daeva of Yal Lenor Fantasy world Ink

 Shedim Daeva: Fallen Children of Heaven.  The Makars were one of the most advanced people in Yal Lenor.  They made their tiny Island a technological marvel in Magi-Tech, raised great cities that reached the sky, while drawing a diverse peoples from all over the continent to be a part of this cosmopolitan jewel.  

At the height of their power the Leaders thought of a grand plan: to take their place among the Heavens to become New Gods.  They set off to build three Grand Cities to ascent to their rightful place. However they were struck down for their hubris.  Upon reaching the heavens One City exploded and crashed back down onto the island. The second city vanished only leaving a rare phantom image that can be seen crossing the full moon every thirty three years.  

While the third city imploded with etherial energy then crashed.  The rampant energy ravaged and transformed all caught in the pull fusing the inanimate with the animate, and all manner of animals with the populace, changing and morphing the survivors into mutated monstrosities.  This was the tragic end of the Makars.

The Makars are dead and their islands ruined wastelands.  However after thousands of years, the Shedim Daeva have begun to rise from the ashes.  Rumor has it that Shedim Daeva emissaries, terrifying beings encased in advanced armor, have been seen visiting foreign royalty, and are poised to make a new entrance into the wider world.

Vain the Red Magi Ink Process Video

 

Vain the Red Mage Hats Off Ink

There are many names given to Magi.  Weavers, nUmen, Manan, Sourcer, but to most they are Cursed Children.  Those born to tap into the etherial energy and bend the raw power to their whims. Only one in one hundred have any tangible ability, and even rarer, are those able to wield incredible power. 

Most common are elementals, able to summon and control the elements to varying degrees.  Magi start life as normal children until the “Awakening”, a trance like state, which most Magi describe as a visitation by “something” from across the void, almost like a dream. Once “Awakened” the new Magi describe a calling or pull towards their element. For example a water weaver would be draw to any source of water, or a fire weaver to any flame.  Most Magi have only one call, to weave only one element, but two have been recorded, while the ability to weave three elements is extremely rare.  

More powerful Magi can tap into the “Source” the life stream of the world to increase their lifespan, to become near immortals, and are called Sourcers. But the most powerful and the most dangerous are Aesolurens, those that can not only weave an element, but can become the element itself. One famous example was of the Magi Matil, when put to the torch became the flame and in vengeance left the city of Gaferon the ashen ruin it is to this day.

Magi have a conflicted history in Yal Lenor.  Most see the them and the power they can exhibit with fear, jealousy and mistrust, yet to others they are curious about their beings.  There are tales of great deeds of Magi, like the Ancient Magi Kingdom of the Floating Isles which sunk into the sea under mysterious circumstances.  Or the three Magi who elevated the Uman kingdoms in causing the breakup of the Goubrin Empire. The Magi where then conscripted to fight in the Imperial war of Uman unification. 

The Magi where begrudgingly given a place to call home in the cold, wet, wild north east lands of Yal Lenor.  The land was once Dragon territory; Most now believe the Magi toil out a meager existence just to survive, as they fade into obscurity.  Little do common Umans realize, while not yet unified under a single banner, Magi nations are thriving, if not growing in technology, culture and identity.  Some Magi even wish to surpass the ancients Magi of the past seeing themselves as new gods. 

Vain the Red Magi

Vain the Red Magi is the most famous, most powerful, bestest, greatest Magi in all of Yal Lenor. A fact Vain will not let others forget. Oh, and the most handsome too!

Aetherian Skull Emperor Inking Process

 

Aetherian Skull Emperor Ink

Legends tell that the Aetherians came from the Moon, pale and frail, and when the Sun god saw them, blessed them with a kiss, turning their skin black; their descendants then stood between the heavens and the aether, life and death.

        They soon came into conflict with other stronger tribes, driving the Aetherian north.  One night The phantom Silver Night King visited a young warrior from the dream world and lead them into ancient abandoned Ellowy city; where they descended into the earth until they came to a glittering hall, there the specter gave the young warrior a Skull, a Crown, and a Crystal Sword. 

The youth emerged wearing the skull, and crown, and while wielding the crystal sword drove their rivals back, and established their own city upon the Ellowy ruins.  Soon the Aetherians were dominating their rival who began to parley and join together in peace; creating the first Uman empire with their two strongest rival nations. The empire eventually grew to encompass all of Yal Lenor at the height of power. Yet under the Sun Gods blessing the Aetherians worship three items: the Skull, the Crown, and the Crystal Sword.

 

Aetherian Emperor Ink Process

 

Aetherian Emperor Ink

Aetherian Empire, the most powerful empire in Yal Lenor, has united the whole Uman race. The Aetherians were once a small warrior tribe, that ascended to a continental uniting Empire. Making a Grand city upon ancient Ellowy ruins, Centralia is one of the most technological advanced cities in all of Yal Lenor. Centralia city located north of the great Centralia Lake is the shining metropolitan jewel of the world and head of scholarly learning. 

Fire Gigan Inking Process Video

 

Fire Gigan Ink

Fire Gigan, Children of Fire, Two horned red skinned giants of the Tropical jungles in the Savage Southern Island; home to some of the largest most deadly beasts imaginable.  The island is inhospitable to most other races because in this land the rule of life is: only the Strong survive.

 

Ice Gigan Inks

Ice Gigans, Children of Ice, One horned blue skinned giants of the frozen wilds of the Great Northern Lands. One of the Unseen races that most believe as tall tales only reported from explorers; who cite the Northern Wilds as full of untamed majestic landscapes, exotic flora and fauna, and gigantic woolly animals of all types roaming the land.

 

Lillan Fey Ink

Lillan Fey, Children of Flowering Joy, Nature spirits that haunt the ancient forests, rivers and plains, but most don’t believe these etherial children truly exist.

 

Ellowy Wanderer Inking Process Video

 

Yal Lenor: Ellowy Nomads Ink

Ellowy

Ellowy, Children of the Wind, are said to be the oldest of the elder races.  Elusive, prideful, and oddly nomadic; only the females are seen in small groups traveling the land while avoiding contact with other races.  Ellowy are renowned with the bow, but are most highly thought of as masters of the “Source”, arcane energy drawn from the planet that can be used to enhance the physical, speak to the elements, and even extend ones lifespan. 

Dwaravii North Inking Process Video

 

Dwaravii North Ink

Dwaravii North

Dwaravii, Children of Stone, in the Northern Mountains have become separatists from the Old Ways of the Stone. They have Allied themselves very closely to Umans, even going so far as to help build, and live within Uman cites. Dwaravii of the North have occupied themselves with Trade and formed the Golden Guild, a network of traders and bankers, making the Nine,  masters of varying industries, some of the wealthiest in the world.  The Nine of the Golden Guild have transformed Northern Dwaravii society, once miners and masters of the forge. Now risen to new heights of power and influence all across Yal Lenor; Masters of wealth and Kings of Coin.

 

Dwaravii South Ink process video

 

Dwaravii of the South: Yal Lenor Fantasy world Ink

Dwaravii SouthDwaravii, Children of Stone, are the most visible and friendly to the Umans and most despised by the Goubrins; renowned for their humor, physical sturdiness, and overwhelming competitiveness. Dwaravii of the southern regions are traditionalist following the old Way of the Stone and where  only Masters of the forge become Kings.

Goubrin Ink Video

 

Yal Lenor: Goubrins Ink

 

Goubrins

Goubrins, Children of Shadow, are one of the oldest of races in Yal Lenor. The so called Dwellers of the Dark, live under mountains and hills, but primarily make their hive capitals under Volcanos, which has brought them in to conflict with Dwaravii.  The strife and rivalry between the Goubrin Swarm and the Dwaravii Legions has become legendary, only coming to an uneasy truce in the recent era.

Fantasy World Yal Lenor: The Messenger Ink

 Messengers

The Old Gods created the messengers to create great architectural achievements in their name. Not quite living and not quite dead, they purged all of the races out of the Old World for transgressing into the White Spire. Messengers, when inactive have a curious habit of standing motionless with one hand reaching to the stars.

Yal Lenor: Bard ink process video

 

Yal Lenor: The Bard

The Bard

Historian, Storytellers, and most of all, Entertainers. Bards fill the world with joy and song, but the Guilds greatest contribution is as a reminder of the history and tragedies of the old world. So the world will never forget the Messengers of the Old Gods, those not quite living and not quite dead, and the threat they pose even from across the Black Sea.

Lore: Ruined Video

 

Lore of the Silver Hand Ink Steps

 Refined Sketch, Tight Pencils, and Ink with ink wash.  

I think this is one of my favorite images of Lore.

Lore: Ruined

Some would call Lore a traitor, a thief, or a mercenary. Some of the bitterest enemies shout, “King Killer”. But Lore the wanderer would call himself “no one”; a ruined man stalking the ruins of the Yal Lenor. Alway hunted, always haunted.

Lore Stand and Fight Inks process

Lore Stand and Fight Video

 

Lore Brush Pen Ink Sketches

Lore on one knee Battle Ready (upper image) 

Lore just chillin on a rock (lower image)

I like doing these quick and dirty brush pen sketches. Great Practice as they allow me to not think too much and just go for it! Fun

Lore seated on a rock Brush Pen Ink Sketch

 I like this one. He feels like he is brooding.

Lore the Wanderer Brush Pen Sketch Hand on Hilt

 Doing a second set of brush pen sketches for practice, and for fun.

Watercolor Landscapes Practice

Moon Princess Watercolor Studies

Moon Princess watercolor practice for skin and hair. I found out on these studies that I like to paint hair, so this was fun.

Willis Henry Says "Hello" Sketch Watercolor Ink

One of my favorite characters I have created, although I am very biased (hahaha).
I knew I had the design nailed when my brother said he loved this character.