Surrounded

Surrounded by *DarkSunRose on deviantART

I'm Gwen Turner, an every day ex-librarian who has found herself in a crazy situation.

These two keep assuring me that they'll keep me alive.

I'm just wondering, as I am standing here scared out of my wits, how they define alive. Is it the "alive and she is still breathing" or the good kind of alive. With me still intact.

I realize now that "we" are not surrounded. Nope.

Just me.


Raza, Gwen, and Navar from my work in progress story "Dresidian". Started off as just a fun doodle but I couldn't seem to stop.

The Legend

The Legend by *DarkSunRose on deviantART

I grew up on Zelda, my Father use to wake me up just so I could watch him beat the temple boss. It was the first game that really captured my imagination with a hero that would save the princess and the journey we would helped him through.

My sister and I use to always wonder about the princess. Who was she? I would make up stories and always hope that one day she would be the sword wielder. I started this piece with a story in mind ((my own interpretation of the origins of Zelda)) before a friend revealed her disappointment in the story line of "Skyward Sword".

It was a BIG slap in the face to find out what the creators decided, and as a fan I am deeply disappointed in the direction of what they consider a prelude to the Zelda arc. There is so much potential, so many ways to incorporate the nostalgic ideas already presented in the world that we, the fans, love. (how many of you look for the similarities of what carries over and how they find themselves in the new world in each game? I do!)

Zelda, in every game, felt like a figure that held the world in her hands. As if guided by a higher purpose even if she didn't fully understand it herself, Zelda guided the hero with a plea, "Stop Gannon."

I asked myself, "why is it legend of ZELDA? What made her so important that every princess afterwards was named after her?"
Thus the inspiration for my fanart.

In my imagination, Zelda held the Light and Gannon the Darkness. They say to keep balance both are needed.

What if the original Gannon and Zelda were once friends who undertook a quest to help the three goddess keep Hyrule in balance. And at the end of their journey, it was Gannon who made the ultimate sacrifice -- to take all the darkness within himself to spare Zelda, knowing that he would die over and over as a figure that everyone would despise.

Zelda could never kill her friend and so created a hero (our Link!) that would rise up when ever Gannon would reawaken.

My imagination for the story holds a sadness, because in it..Gannon would be the only one who would remember the true legend of Zelda and their quest for balance. Zelda, in her light, would be reborn only holding her duty and compassion for a lost soul who must be stopped.

Hope you enjoy the piece! I know its just an interpretation, but it was fun to make up story to a game that has always held a special place in my heart.

Hell's Time - sketch

Took a break today and this is what I sketched. Been working on a character that I want to include in my Dresdian project.

Zelda sketch

Before Link, there must have been a story for Zelda. Hence..."LEGEND OF" followed by Zelda. At least, in my imagination there is and thus the inspiration for my next fanart piece.

Super Girl fanart

I'm a big fan of seeing how a piece started and how it ended by artist I really admire. Something about seeing the thought process and choices they make as an artist that has my heart going pitter patter. It's a great source of inspiration and, as an artist is always a student, a wonderful way to keep learning.

So here are a two artist that looooooove to show their techniques:

Mr. Jack  and his peice Hilltop Encounter
Elsevilla and his livestreaming channel

My latest piece is a fanart of Super Girl. My knowledge is mostly limited to the animations with her in it but I still enjoy the idea of her character. Here is where this piece started and ended:

Super Girl by *DarkSunRose on deviantART

Sketching

My new goal shall be to share more sketches from the sketch book.

-Cheers-

Sketch Dump

First post of the new year! Starting off by scanning a few pages of my sketchbook. -cheers-

 

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone had a merry merry Christmas!
Ahhh, the holidays. Lots of festivities, family, friends, and COOKIES! I did some pretty crazy amount of baking this year. The year of cookie experimenting with new recipes. Nothing better then watching the people you care for eating the cookies you bake.

Had to take a picture, they were so pretty. And yummy. You can find the recipes I used here:
Gingerbread Cookies
Russian Tea Cookies
Peppermint Chocolate Chip
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Best part was having to sample all the cookies. My cookie quota this year has been filled. Good thing the new year is right around the corner.

One of the best parts about being an artist is the ability to make really personal handmade gifts.


One fun idea to add to gifts are hand painted ornaments :)  Paint images that make you think of the person and then top them by hooking the ornament to the wrapping.



My favorite handmade gift was for my little brother. We grew up playing Zelda so I decided to hand paint a wooden box with Zelda illustrations. Many days, many hours, were spent after work on this gift and I loved how it turned out (so did he, Yay!). Painted using acrylic and colored pencils.

Can't believe Christmas is over already. So much energy and time preparing for one day... I say it should at least be a three day event. Can't wait for the new year, I predict lots more art and more fun changes coming this way.

~Cheers~

Sac Con Report

Happy Holidays! Sac con was Amazing. So much art love and creative people all rolled up in a one day event in Sacramento. I wasn't sure what to expect but there was a great turn out and I had the opportunity to talk with so many art enthusiast and anime lovers. Even met a guy who use to work for Pixar and he bought one of my art pieces!! And he can quote from the Hogfather (EXTRA exclamation points inserted here!)

A really big thank you to everyone who stopped by my table to say hello. It was great to see familiar faces and chat with friends.

I was even busting out some sketch commissions that day. My new trend is drawing a new fanart piece after each convention (all the fandom and cheer gets to me that I just need to revisit some nostalgic anime and show it some love).

This convention it was Utena, which means I will probably do an Utena marathon while working on the piece.

I am pretty messy sketcher, but it helps the creative flowing by not worrying about perfect lines. Here is a preview of the updated linework:

Working title for it is "Breaking Castles", because sometimes you have to let things break before you can let change in. My plan is to add in a crumbling castle and some merry-go-round horses.

-cheers!-

***EDIT:  December 20th

The final of this piece can be found here:

Breaking Castle by *DarkSunRose on deviantART

Gobble, gobble, gobble...

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I certainly ate WAY to much this year, so worth it. Wanted to do a quick update of a few art pieces in the works. Plus, testing out drawing a few of my Dresidian characters, Navar and Raza.

In case people wonder why Navar doesn't get with the hot cambion minion, turns out he doesn't wear the right tie....

Work in progress piece. Raza is a fun strong female character. Knows what she wants, doesn't try to hide it or excuse it. "I am what I am. Took awhile to accept it myself but once I did, no turning back." Has a thing for men of the cloth and playing up human perception of demons (for laughs).

I swear I'll finish my Swan piece....

Gwen Turner

Gwen Turner by *DarkSunRose on deviantART

Gwen Turner is obsessed with books. She lives in mountains of books, she works with books, and you can't convince her that there is anything more exciting then books.

Gwen is the main character in my Dresidian project. I wanted a prudish, non adventuring type character to get mixed into a world of danger and demons. And you can ask "how is it a librarian could get mixed in with demons?", WELL! Not by choice Gwen will tell you. Framed for theft, cornered, and snared into by a demon motivated by revenge.

Sometimes, knowing the wrong people can get you into a lot of trouble. Wait till she gets her hands on Uncle Dresidian...

Maeve

Maeve by *DarkSunRose on deviantART

Character from my Dresidian project.

Let me introduce lady Maeve, a villain of sorts but mostly just a driven woman on a mission. Her goal unknown but it is clear to everyone who meets her she will do whatever it takes accomplish it.

A charmer, a deceiver yet oddly enough holds her own sense of honor. It is rumored she is in the service of demons, or is it the other way around?

I.F. - "SCARY"

Click to see larger version

Illustration Friday's theme for SCARY...
First thing that came to mind are some of the ladies I see on Halloween.They can be scary! I tend to be in the overdressed crowd.

Have a Happy Haloween! 

-Cheers!-

FUEL

and in the LAND of TEA, there was an addict
Who drank TEA all day long
And even wore TEA

Because there shall be non other then the greatness of TEA
And so, there were TEA birds and TEA clouds
And it was a good day



Did I mention I love Tea? Have you drank this stuff? It's amazing!
Quick 2 hour illustration created for Illustration Friday.

Theme: FUEL,

The Horrid Queen

The Horrid Queen poster by *DarkSunRose on deviantART

One day, as I was suppose to be doing work I had this sudden need to start writing. So I opened a text document and let it flow.

It took me two days and many edits but I finished the tale. I am still working on my Dresidian project, but I felt it was important to start with a smaller goal to work myself up towards bigger dreams. And hopefully I can improve my illustration towards story telling.

Here is the first, a poster of sorts, to get the ball rolling after completing the text work.

Look for "The Horrid Queen," because it is coming soon!

The Swan Dance

Thought my next piece fit nicely for Illustration Friday "Scattered".

As her wings touched the reflection upon the water, 
it was as though a hundred swans scattered upon the surface.
 until they fluttered away below the lake's surface

And the wizard looked upon his prize. And plotted.

Flipped

PLAN B - Flipped by *DarkSunRose on deviantART

Recently completed a commission for the comic Plan B. This was a great piece to work on as I had fun with two of their characters and their facial expression. One of great worry and the other of ..well, the character always looks like he is amused by his own private joke. In the comic, they are actually one in the same person, or that is...one is in the other mind, hence the title "Flipped".  I added layers of textures to give it an old vibe.

Next project to color is my Outer Sailor Senshi piece:

PLAN B - Sketch

Working on a commission for the comic Plan B, check out the work! You'll go mad with science.
Sketch, sketch, sketch, in your face. With or without speech bubble?

-AND-

 

Madusa's lady

Turned to stone, Madusa's lady stands in stone. The birds her only witness.

Outer Sailor Senshi sketch

Thought it would be fun to do a follow up fanart of the outer Sailor Senshi.

-cheers!-