Reluctant Designer

Log WIP

2008.07.06 「No one wants to hear you're tired.」

So I guess... just keep going, eh? Can't wait for that long, luxurious break (quoth Twitch) after this is all done. 7 more pages and only 19 days to go OTL... I hope I won't have to rush for the cover illustration. In any case, gawd, I'm such a fan of Ferrum's sexy TYL!Hibari, she has no idea XD. I'm very excited for her parts <3 <3 <3. She's a multitasker from hell (just finished a doujin, is working on another 42-pager and will be drawing her part for our collab afterwards) but she always delivers. How I envy people who work quickly and effectively! Whereas I... I work my arse off just to finish a page in a day. Different people, different paces x__x.

After marathoning 13 pages, I do find it slightly more manageable to draw quickly and to my satisfaction now. And I didn't expect drawing backgrounds to be so enjoyable =DDD. Loving my research (I always have a stack of magazines and Flickr/GettyImages nearby) and finding application of details a suprisingly Zen exercise. All in all, despite my growing fatigue, I'm pretty much enjoying this process. Just several issues I need to tackle regarding my doujin:

How on earth is my subtle western humour going to translate to Japanese? OTL The other thing I'm worried about is that in my attempt to retain IC-ness I've inadvertently made Mukuhiba the main pairing OTL OTL. I feel like I've sabotaged my own goal to be "the first and probably last Hibakuro circle - YEAH" OTL OTL OTL. I hope Ferrum would fix that whenever she gets around to doing it because this so isn't helping the cover art; as in, is it going to be Hibari and Chrome OR Hibari and Mukuro? Both options would be misleading x__x. 

 

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2008.07.04 「Oh my gawd!」

Target 200! THAT IS THE BACK OF CHROME YES. Er, teen version, mind. But OMGGGG after, what, FOUR? FIVE MONTHS? You better not get our hopes up and crush them, Ms. Amano!! And the trident! Is intact! Not that Amano's managed to fool us with Mukuro's purported 'death', but... I'm just happy to see it confirmed. Also, pfft... the (fangirl foddery) possibility of Dino coming to Hibari's rescue x__x. Have Xanxus come instead! If that happened, the birth of a new pairing would be inevitable but it would be weird and awesome XDDD. Regardless, I'm pretty sure the Millefiore troops have been hoodwinked into believing that Hibari's losing. My inner fangirl hopes it's a very convincing illusion cooked up by Mukuro (ohyes) to make way for Chrome/Mukuro (ohyesss) to infiltrate the enemy's HQ and... do whatever it is they need to do there.

Are we finally seeing the end of this arc? This arc that smacks of X-Men and Pokemon? Bring in some mafia like you hinted on in the beginning, missus, and I'll be the happiest KHR fan in, urrrr, my city XDDD.

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2008.06.27 「I am optimistic, optimistic, optimistic, op...」

As the title says, this Log is going to consist of doujin process talk and possibly no stand-alone art like the past Logs. Does this sound boring? I apologise in advance. Because these days I can't even find half an hour to catch up on R2. 12 pages to go within less than a month. I must be crazy.

I must say, this has been a good exercise for both the mind and the hand (especially when you're on a supertight deadline). For one, I can now ignore little mistakes that only the artist itself (most likely) can pick out. Also, I no longer zoom in at 50% to smooth out my lines -> very unnecessary. I also learn to draw faster and more efficiently -> will come in handy at Natsucomi, Ferrum says. I've gotten comments on odd-looking facial proportions in my WIPs, but then everyone is used to seeing my illustrations x__x. It's a bit of a tall demand to want every panel looking perfect in manga. That's also something I've only begun to understand in this learning curve.

And to answer a few questions posed by one Mitsu-san:

- Yes, it's 1896 with 69>18 on the side <3
- Yes, it's going to be sold, unfortunately LOL. But we're currently aiming for a low print since, um, I'm a beginner and I'm not that confident -___-. I guess I'll do a quick preorder post on LJ at the end of the month and see if reprinting would be necessary.
- No, you don't need to be in the city you mentioned to buy it since I'll be doing this in another country and online anyway.

Also, for those who actually wondered:

- No, I don't have a DA account.

*****

Back to the factory now *dragging my feet*.

Log #7

2008.06.20 「And I'm onto the next chapter.」

I'm glad my bizarre setting was pleasantly received by my friends m(_ _)m. Now I feel confident to go on without worrying about overt self-indulgence. I'm constantly worried about not being able to meet the 20-page goal by the time I need to send out the files for print, seeing how I work at the speed of one page per 3 days (at best!) OTL.... I suppose my main goal now is to make it into a book and be satisfied with it; doesn't matter how thin it might end up being...

Oh, and. Last night I designed En-Syn's promotional flyer in 5 minutes XD. And am (unexpectedly) quite happy with how it turned out. I figured my mochi chibis inverted against stark black would pique visitors' curiosity. Go, go, black <3. Now to wait and see if people would actually take it at R3.

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2008.06.17 「And I'm done.」

 

...with the first 5 pages, hahaha... Oh my, I work so slowly TxT. As I haven't got much to show this time around without spoiling the content (does that matter? LOL) I'm just going to show my work process. The chart below describes your typical diligent doujinka's process (correct me if I'm wrong) and the one below it is mine on a predictable day:

[systematic] Name -> Panel -> Sketch ->  Ink -> Tone

[ whatever ] Name+Panel+Sketch+Ink -> Tone -> Sketch+Ink

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2008.06.14 「OMG plot finally?」

I've been enjoying the last 2-3 chapters in the manga <3. FINALLY we have a semblance of plot... albeit one that isn't connected to the main cast (I'm drumming my fingers forever waiiiiiting for just ONE amongst my favourite trio to show up). But it's nice to get a mafia-ish backstory all the same. Who knew Uni was  brainwashed? XD And who knew Gamma was this amiable? I suppose in this series no good-looking villain is villainous, but it still stands to be clarified just where Hibari actually stands in this XD. Thoroughly enjoying this pleasant turn of events in canon, and Yamamoto and Lal's return onscreen... before Genkishi (I see a sign that says "Five chapters of snarking and fighting - JUMP style! *niko*" on his forehead) showed up with apparently a maiming intent.

OTL.

All that "Best swordsman of this era" talk and we all know Yamamoto is going to breeze through this or, at worst, gain one conspicuous scar on a conspicuous part of his face.

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2008.06.12 「Paneling woe.」

There you go. Just listen to the Jyuudaime. In times like this, I wish I had Suzaku's inexhaustible stamina. Paneling makes me grieve; looking at my pages, anyone can tell that I still draw manga as I draw illustrations. Although, as I progress, I find I'm getting messier, more practical and therefore faster, which is really what needs to be kept in mind when you have a deadline. Randomly, this project is so impossible (not as impossible as Omega-2D's female Hibari, mind) that I feel guilty of self-indulgence sometimes, tee-hee.

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2008.06.10 「...Getting over the initial shock of you-know.」

I'm onto it, I'm onto it. Although I'm moving very slowly due to too much unnecessary pondering over things like "...does this paneling make sense? Does this character's head have the right number of hair strands?" *headpalm* That's why it's called amateur, self-published work, silly. Thankfully, my fear of technical and political errors (?) have kept me plodding onwards. Thanks to my fear of deadlines, also, now I can even overlook not-too-fine strokes and slightly wonky proportions- er, wonky-er than usual.

...Not sure if I'd be able to sit and wait at that table twiddling my thumbs as visitors flick through my stuff. Good gawd, what could be running through their minds? I'm sure I'll chicken out eventually and run the hell out of there, leaving a flabbergasted Ferrum on standby XDDD. Oh, man, if only I could communicate in that... that language, which reminds me that while I CAN escape my tablesitting responsibilities, I would have nowhere to go OTL... Guess I have no choice but to stick to Ferrum like a fly on a veryvery sticky, gluey surface.

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2008.06.07 「...東地区 "Ｅ" ブロック 32a.」

A... Apparently Ferrum managed to get us a space at Summer Comiket.

I... I....

OH MY GOD, THERE'S A GIANT BIRD BEHIND YOU.

*runs the hell away from responsibilities*

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2008.06.06 「Why, yes, it is an actually grown-up Tsuna... Why?」

So I was bored at work yada yada yada... which spawned this low-res doodle. When I drew TYL!Tsuna for UdO, I didn't have to know how I wanted him to look like since you don't really see his face, but I kind of had to decide on a fanon design for doujin, haha. Paul and I agree that, since he seems to take after mum, he would (hopefully) inherit dad's stature. Not the burly aspect of his stature, o gawd XD. Giotto is so not an adult... look at that face. If anything, only his hair grew taller *ducks freshly picked tomatoes*. Bet that's the reason he's covered in pinstripes *ducks a cow*.

In a fit of inspiration (whut) I drew a TYL!Tsuna with considerably much shorter hair and thicker built. Though I had to be careful NOT to make him come across as too confident like his hyper-mode version. I'm sure he remains sweet and peace-loving (and awkward) even as Vongola Decimo to a certain extent. Only to a certain believable extent, Ms. Amano. Don't give me a pedobait 24-year-old whenever you decide you've kept him long enough to yourself.

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2008.06.05 「Uomini d'Onore News #6 - OMG OMG I'M DONE!!!」

I'm freaking, effing done <3333. Now that I've got UdO out of the way (finally), I can (fiiiinally) focus on Hibari Household and, uh, probably some work at internship XD.
Have this miniscule preview  <3. Which... I wasn't supposed to put up at all. But the group doesn't need to know that. I think I'll collapse on my bed first thing when I get home tonight.

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2008.06.04 「Uomini d'Onore News #5」

One more figure and I'm done. Above are two characters whose future selves haven't been revealed in canon. Considering I have a deadline, waiting for Ms. Amano to FINALLY do so is a no-go. Cooking up a fanon TYL!Tsuna was hard-er than I'd anticipated. What look should I go for? Less crazy hair, authoritative body language, snazzy outfit... No long hair on my Vongola Decimo, please, Ms. Amano. Also, he better not look like a shota pedobait - TYL!Haru and TYL!Kyoko's reactions to Tsuna sounded ominous already ("You seem... different." DURRR LOLOL).

One more complaint from me while I'm at it. The other day, Ruka and I had the following exchange:

Ruka: Realms said FuutaxHibari would piss Hibari off.

Rune: Haha, no kidding.

Ruka: Eh, actually, I DID find a FuutaxHibari doujin on Tora no Ana. The young Fuuta. This fandom does have everything o__o.

Rune: No - no, it doesn't. It doesn't have MY pairing.

Ruka: I don't think I've seen a single doujin on that. I wonder why.

I wondered, too. Considering that this is a fandom that pairs off two people just for rubbing shoulders while passing by each other, you'd expect it to at least acknowledge the way canon makes Hibari seem kind of OOC in 169. I mean, it's something, isn't it? Of course, you could argue that it is Mukuro he's talking to and not Chrome (because, seriously, why would anyone give a fig about Chrome when you can have Mukuro? Pfft). Still, I have the suspicion that, had it been a BL moment, it would've spawned a shedload of fanworks within an hour of the chapter's release like it did with 3827. Rawr, you disappoint me, J-fandom *shakes head*.

...Or I could stop complaining about J-fandom's wanting treatment of Hibakuro and use that time to make my own. There's that option, but... Argh. Sometimes it's more fun to look at other people's works.

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2008.05.31 「Uomini d'Onore News #4」

A WIP screenshot to prove that I AM working on my bag illustration. I promised the group to put it out by next week orz.... I wonder if they'd remember to ask for it when the time comes. Also, as we've FAILED to predict, three (four?) months into the project and we're still not seeing TYL!Tsuna or TYL!Chrome, so I guess canon won't kill my designs as of yet. With my luck, Ms. Amano would reveal them promptly after everything is decidedly good to go, being the evil, evil lady that she is.

The hardest part of this job was trying to work out a good angle and, later, the placement of eight people in so limited a space at that angle. Orrie managed to (and beautifully) give everyone equal spotlight, but in my case, three people are hogging the best spaces. Dhieta took a jab at my Hibari-bias and it's true if you look at the positioning~ I asked around and nobody had any qualms. After all, he's still number one in the chara ranking poll, tralala...

Irrelevant piece of info: My head is full of Perfume's SEVENTH HEAVEN and Perfect Star Perfect Style right now even though I shouldn't be listening to cutesy while doing this illustration (yes, it will show).  Also, Janet Jackson's Luv, which is... well, love. Can't seem to stop putting them on repeat ;_____;.

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2008.05.30 「Happy Birthday, Yami-sua~n」

Let's just say that I'm glad I don't have as many friends as, say, Ruka. May has been near-killer XDDD; too many close friends having their birthdays. I was going to give Yami 6918 at first, but then she commented once that she'd like to see this Hibakuro. Based on her lovely ficlet, actually, although in that one Hibari isn't nearly so... posey.

And, yes, TYL!Hibari is TALL, isn't he? Half a head taller than teen Yamamoto. I don't think the height difference I gave Hibakuro is that exaggerated considering canon hints. Even this TYL!Chrome is as big as teen Yama so she really should've been tinier than this o___o. Amano and her heights...

...........

I... I'm sorry. Chrome is DEFINITELY TOO TINY in that picture. It's scary to even contemplate R-18 involving those two being the sizes they are *cowers*.

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2008.05.27 「Uomini d'Onore News #3」

I... forgot what number News it is for UdO, but putting that aside - I have previews for my calendar spread (with handwritten watermark because Painter doesn't offer type application)!:

My friends all know that no colouring process is ever unaccompanied by bitching and whining where I'm concerned. I've put my best efforts at imitating marker-colouring on Photoshop for this job and am hoping like whoa that my group mates would at least appreciate my efforts even if the end product turned out mediocre =(. I feel sorry for my Ipin who IMHO is underdone (naturally I would get lazy once I got to her since she came last), and I prefer the monochromatic Bianchi much more (colours killed her expression) but I suppose the calendar needs full-colour spreads. I have to say, though, that I'm quite content with my Haru and Kyoko.

As of now, Rue (Suki) our project leader is running in circles trying to get every spread in order for printing as per scheduled. I've asked for a one-week extension where my bag illustration is concerned (Orrie has done hers and OMFG it is brilliant~) and thankfully Rue gave it to me. Hopefully we'll get the bookmark and calendar previews out by next week and get them to the printer by the next. Honestly? I'm not sure how this thing would look like once it comes out. I admit to feeling quite... overwhelmed (nervous?). I've never had anything of mine reproduced before o___o.

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2008.05.20 「Happy Birthday, Ruka!!!」

No, I know - too many May babies XDDD. Since I wouldn't do Ruka's favourite D18 or 1827 (I'm picky picky picky, and that's why I don't take requests) I settled for TYL1818 after she dropped a few hints on having taken a shine to it (plus, a chance to draw the two Hibaris side-by-side? I would be silly to refuse <3). In other news, I think I'll get my first break in a long time starting June, as in I'll only have my doujin work to worry about. I thought I was going to have my hands full with that AND calendar work, but it turns out that everything for Uomini d'Onore is due in at the end of this month *FALLSDEADFALLSDEAD*. I'll... I'll try my best to finish the monstrous bag illustration and my monthly portion in ten days T_______T.

Also, Seki and I talked about this last night before we posted our gifts to Ruka:

Is this thief-proof enough a watermark for you? LOLOL I was thinking that, since sigs most likely wouldn't be effective against thefts (heck, I saw my birthday art from Kurot up on YouTube STILL bearing my name - some people just can't be bothered), we can most definitely do this XDDD. Then Seki told me the whole pic ended up looking like some sort of an ad ("You have now started your new brand: RUNE!").

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2008.05.19 「Welcome Home, Hope」

Collaborated again with Realms, but this time it's on a Sound File-formatted Code Geass with transcript and all. Again, the pictures came first and Realms wrote around them beautifully. All this for an amazing ficcer of a friend who's just come back from a three-month study in Russia (says she wants to get into our new fandom soonish - yes, we were still Code Geass maniacs when she left ^^"). Anyway, the above picture is my attempt at a "Geass in my own style" if I had one, that is.

I'm sure our next collab will be KHR-related again. Realms isn't getting out of anything once I'm art-bunnied XD.

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2008.05.07 「Hibari Household News #3」

Not family in the Famiglia sense. Family as in unlikely breadwinner, equally unlikely homemaker, annoying in-laws, neurotic butlers, nosey boss... XDDDD. It's been ages, but I AM still working on this doujin project, which is a collab between Ferrum and myself. Finally I can fully concentrate on Hibari Household (project title undecided) after the hell that was Vongola Editorials *shudder*.

If all goes to plan, we'll be putting this project out for print. Otherwise, this would remain a secret amongst my flist LOL. We'll see, I guess. I mean, with Ferrum's workload I'm somewhat pessimistic about pulling this off, but Ferrum is a superhuman when it comes to multitasking, so we'll see...

Ruka commented on the above promo looking like a chibified family portrait. Cute XD.

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2008.05.04 「Happy birthday, Kurot!」

Ghahaha... That girl received so many Yamamotos on her birthday. I knew her OTP was 8018 but my mind simply failed to wrap around the pairing somehow. So I went for what I thought she MIGHT also like x___x (I find TYL8059 very appealing orz - this is why I no longer take requests). Done during a time of great fatigue. I hadn't been so exhausted since I submitted my graduation thesis, to the extent that I couldn't even judge my lines (which would explain Goku's weird hand... hopefully). There are too many May babies, yargh. Now the thing I made for Hibari's birthday on May 5th would have to wait...

Also, despite all my portrayals of smoking KHR characters, I don't endorse smoking. No no no. It's only cool in art.

Vongola Editorials

...in which Rune pretends to be a fashion illustration expert and has a go at Hitman Reborn slash fashion photography. Also, I am sucky at taglines which is why no one will catch me doing copywriting for a living.

Note:

- The spreads are not 100% accurate renditions of the existing fashion due to many factors such as a) teeny tiny reference pictures in low resolutions b) details that would require an ungodly amount of hours to pull off, or c) details that are obscured by some object/body part in reference pictures.

- I like to play favourites and it will show.

 

- The screentoning for all screentoned spreads except the first two are by Ferrum <3.

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Chrome Dokuro wears Armani Collezioni jacket and skirt.

Her pose was referenced from Richard Warren's photography. And my friends all know that Chrome is my muse <3 and naturally I would also think of her as a model. Despite being slightly petite in stature (read: short) at least she has the right cup-size? Hahaha. I love her dollish image, by which I mean she doesn't look like a full-fledged woman but not quite a child, either. I really like Gemma Ward for the same reason, I suppose.

Kyoya Hibari wears Issey Miyake jacket and shirt, KENZO belt and Levi's jeans.

The original Issey Miyake jacket lining has a gradation that goes from white (top) to gray (bottom) with pink and blue Chinoise flowers... IF I saw it correctly. The reference picture was smaaaaall. But for Hibari I applied a Japanese kimono pattern of cranes =D. Hibari feels like a crane rather than a skylark in my head.

Fuuta del Stella wears Bottega Veneta.

I wasn't going to include him in my shortlist of models but Ferrum's sexy DinoxFuuta webcomic persuaded me to do so XDDD. In any case, instead of Italian he looks more British, no? The prep schoolboy type. I can imagine him doing Burberry or the like. And the rainy season image definitely suits him.

Bianchi wears Bottega Veneta (except belt).

Victoria Beckham wore this same ensemble and that is where the belt comes from. I would be embarrassed to come across a woman in that low a bodice in real life... which is why I thought Amano's modestly-breasted women would do allright in it.

Mukuro wears DSQUARED2.

What I'd give to be able to see Mukuro pick up a book and actually read it in canon <3. But so far Gokudera is the only mafioso I've seen with a book. Much too bad. Also, his pose here was referenced from a stylish Zegna ad except for the hand with the book. The tagline was given to me by Dhieta and I was surprised to see how it kind of fit with the image.

I could've called it Etro and no one would tell the difference x__x. I noticed that fashion photography doesn't have to provide clear shots of the clothes given the theme. Ahh, "pairing x" for "fashion house x" sounds like a joke, doesn't it? XDD But I like it. This wasn't going to be the only pairingy spread in the set; in fact, I had a Dino/Bianchi spread which failed to make it to the final cut. I got tired...

Hibakuro's pose was inspired (not referenced from) by an Aquascutum ad starring Giselle Bundchen, which is why it may seem familiar but with modifications. The first version looked all sorts of wrong what with Chrome straddling Hibari and hence looking like something else. Luckily, Ferrum pointed it out before I published it *was horrified*.

As it says. Also, the cardigan is supposed to be print but there was no way to find a similar-looking screentone and I wasn't going to do it all by hand. The jacket and slacks are supposed to be dark brown. And I don't know why so many of my friends put it down as their favourite since I got pretty lazy doing this. TYL!Dino has only one expression in canon and I find that uninteresting x___x.

Hibari e Mukuro per Ermenegildo Zegna

...I'm kind of proud of the tagline; shush you. Also, the bride is someone else's, not Hibari's or Mukuro's. I've had... people asking me if Chrome is the bride and if Hibari happens to tolerate Mukuro just for the day since he's the bride's father and all *ducks from tomatoes*. I must be the only loud Hibakuro shipper in their flists @__@.

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So there you have it. It was just something to relieve my fashion obsession by. Now that I've got this out of the way, I can focus on my doujin...

Log #6

2008.04.23 「Can I have that back please?」

When Ferrum spoiled me on that scene (she couldn't resist telling, which I understand) I imagined it'd be a little on the moe side like the above. But the actual scene turned out to be far more grave, serving as a huge character point. So much is revealed about Rollocakes in Turn 3, most of which made my maternal alarms go off like crazy  @___@. The boy only wants his nii-san T^T.

"You gave it to me so it's mine!"

"Are birthdays that important?"

"Family?"

"Where's my nii-san!?"

Rollo.... Rollo......

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2008.04.20 「Somehow, I feel like...」

...looking through the English Tegaki board and Deviantart, I seem to be finding more and more long-haired Chrome with hair parted on the side where her good eye is like my fanon TYL!Chrome =DDDD. Now, I'm not saying that people have been getting ideas from my fanart (really, who does? Well, okay, some LOL) but it's nothing short of amusing that every 1896 fan seems to share the same foresight regarding TYL!Chrome's hairstyle. And then I was told by Ruka that, in fact, Nagi never wanted Mukuro's pineapple topknot but instead was forced to adopt it by Ken who couldn't stand the fact that she's a girl. This is according to the second novel. So it's very possible that TYL!Chrome would've done away with the topknot. And considering that she appears in the manga wearing a scarf over her head, what else could it be but sans pineapple?

 

 

I'm WAITING, Amano.

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2008.04.16 「What do you mean I'm protecting my right eye?」

Because, apparently, I never learn when to stop embarking on new minor projects and going back to my old major ones. CG-ing is hell on Photoshop, is it not? *is met with silence*. Honey wanted me to do lineart tutorial for which I'd made Rollo my model. I figured I'd have a go at colouring it since I need to learn how to lend colours onto my art anyway. My friends don't believe me when I say I'm a terrible, mediocre at best, colourist *points to the above and below examples*. Cel-shading isn't exactly colouring in my book x__x. You don't get creative with your colours in cel-shading.

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2008.04.14 「And I tried colouring」

Crediting Gabriela Gosden for the idea of making Mukuro cosplay George Koizumi, Chrome into Hayakawa Yukari and Hibari an antagonistic Tokumori Hiroyuki. I have sinned by doing this piece of art but since Gabriela has told me not to lock it, I unlocked it *fidgets*. Although the troublesome post on LJ definitely needs to stay locked.

With this, I might stick with monochromatic art a little bit longer. Yes?

Log #5

2008.04.10 「HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SISCA!」

 

Probably the longest I've ever worked on a gift art. I'm seriously beat x__x. I did Suzaku and inking while Ferrum did Lelouch and toning. In the end, we posted it one day late OTL. My... My hand feels like it was just overcome by one week's worth of shading even though it may not look like much. In the process of bringing this to the finish line, we constantly corresponded on G-chat at ungodly hours for the amount of time an average person would spend going to work, having lunch, going home, having dinner and bathing. I don't remember how many times this went back and forth between us, but I'm glad we're finally done with this darn thing x___x.

WELCOME BACK, CODE GEASS!!! <3 <3 <3

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2008.04.08 「I... I can't draw Dino T___T」

I realise that, ever since Ferrum and I established EN-SYN, I haven't had time to do anymore "proper" inked art. I even neglected my doujin - wahhh! To make up for lost opportunities, I'm busying myself with one "proper" project. It's taking forever (I hate not being good at proportions) and finding the right fashion for each character is taking more time than necessary ---> is a perfectionist. I aim to get it out by Sunday but since I'm only up to spread 4 out of 9, I really don't know... T____T The "pairing" spreads are so darn hard (the poses!!!). A learning curve, I suppose.

Also, thanks to Ferrum's ideas, I think DinoFuuta might be my new fanon coupling. I know, I know. HibaKuro looks so canon next to DinoFuuta, right? XDDD But I like the aesthetics of it, soooo... And it doesn't help that Ferrum's webmanga for it is so darn sexy.

Um, and for your information, it's TYLDinoFuuta. Eep.

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2008.04.05 「Everywhere you see is chibi LOLOL」

Oh yeah... And above contains some pretty spoilerific spoilers. Did you get spoiled? I offer you a bow of apology *bowbow*. Also, a bonus Hibamochi as an answer to Sammie's comment:

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2008.03.31 「I have a new computer~」

Picture has nothing to do with entry, tee-hee. But I bet Hibari-san is bored waiting for SOMETHING INTERESTING to happen already.

It's the new Macbook Pro! <3 I'm installing Windows XP onto it tomorrow since Painter is strangely slow on OS X... Now I can go on with my 600-dpi projects~ Also, presently I haven't been able to stop listening to Jay-Z's American Gangster thanks to DA MAN magazine's recommendation (yes, I've picked up the habit of buying men's magazines - it's my suit fetish... Also, their recs are more to my tastes). In fact, it's the only sound I listen to whilst drawing the hopefully-edgy and Reservoir Dogs-inspired Uomini d'Onore bag illustration. Definitely helps with the ambience.

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2008.03.29 「I... I finally did it.」

As of THIS POST I am officially no longer a good, clean, at worst PG-13, fanartist.

To top it all off, my first non-doodle 1896 turned out to be...... 9618.

I guess I'm somewhat happy?

---> Here is the comm's banner LOLOL!

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2008.03.26 「What have I done for you lately, Ferrum?」

I was pondering over this. Considering my OTP is 1896, I don't really do much about it. I mean, SURE I'm working on this collab doujin to be put out at an event. Wow, I didn't dare dream to debut this way two months ago x___x. Anyway. I saw someone's comment on someone else's LJ about hoping I'd do more 1896 something or other, which made me realise I've never drawn it the way I did that 5927 or that LamPin or... I even dedicated TWO COMPLETE PROJECTS for TsunaKyoko o__o. Every other art I've done for my OTP has always been mere doodling. I wonder...

I asked Realms whether I HAVE been neglecting my ship and she told me (surprisingly): "But you've always been drawing them." I... I have? "Well, yes. You've made sure to include them in all your drawings. Well, not all." WHAT??? "Your supposedly gen drawings have pairing vibes in them." Even the ones where the guys and girls are separate????? "They're looking across to each other, aren't they? Then it has pairing vibes." OTL

And then, I had people asking me if the White Day comic had 1896 in it or if it was just their imagination (yes, it's your imagination OTLOTL). Or whether it was Hibari leaving Chrome's room in Shot In Sicily. Or whether- My conclusion? Apparently, my thoughts freaking show on my drawings *headdesk*. And, apparently, I draw them better than I do the others. Well, well, well. I guess it's no use trying to hide my ship (since it's like... hiding a goshdarned elephant with your 5'6'' tall person) so I suppose I better go all out now. However, I still can't get past this... PHASE wherein every pairingy art I make magically turns into suggestive gen in the end. I want to do NSFW, too, damnit!!! ;____;

The point of this post is............ to illustrate how my minor pairing stigma has tied me down so badly, that Ferrum who doesn't really like 1896 (as far as I can tell!) has beaten me to a pairingy 1896. TWICE... *thinks*. Actually, THRICE. Beat me with a self-esteem stick, please OTLLLLL. And to those of you who watch this blog and WANT TO SEE 1896 I'm going to pimp Ferrum's through this link here.

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2008.03.21 「EN-SYN = Ennui Syndicate <3」

Ferrum and I finally succumbed to the comm-making trend and started our own art-a-day journal OTL. Because we're BORED and CAPRICIOUS like that.

Okay, not really. We only wanted an excuse to put out half-arsed, crappy art every day without bothering our friends list. Would you like to check it out? Say "ENNUI"  <3.

...the name? Okay. Since I'm too lazy to summarise, here's how the conversation went. Roughly:

Ferrum: What should it be?

Rune: Festive Rune.

Ferrum: HELL NO.

Rune: What, too pairingy for you? Come to think of it, I don't think anyone has ever slashed LJ personas... How's FeRot? LOLLL

Ferrum: OTL.

Rune: Okay, what's your favourite food?

Ferrum: Cup noodles.

Rune: ...

Ferrum: Wrong answer? Then perfumes.

Rune: Lolita Lempicka.

Ferrum: Red Petal. Would that be "Red Lolita"?

Rune: Do our drawing styles scream RED LOLITA to you?

Ferrum: How about we turn it around and it becomes... Windesque.

And hence... "Ennui Syndicate". Yes, I cut a lot of the conversation. Yes, I'm a terrible storyteller. Your point? XDDD

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2008.03.20 「Hibari Household News #2」

No real update here, just... *dead* had this annoyance of a problem trying to figure out where on earth the ear goes on a profile. I hate drawing profiles - HATE it x___x. Luckily! Ferrum was kind enough to help me find Hibari's ear. Below is her discovery:

=DDDDDD

Please don't shoot me.

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2008.03.18 「Hibari Household News #1」

Yes - believe it or not, this Hibari Household thing is still happening >___> It's the only stress-relief project for me right now. No commitment, no angst, no deadline (well, maybe Natsucomi will be). Research remains a must, though, seeing how I'm playing with a foreign culture here ("Is this an appropriate roundness for the Japanese teapot?? Is this how you hold it?? Is lifting it by the base considered rude??"). SIGH, gaijin, SIGH.

Anyway.

Above is teaboy Kusakabe-san serving, er, tea at the reception. I've said it before and I'll say it again: 600dpi is GODSEND (provided that your computer's processor is also godsend). I haven't gotten to the part where I have to draw Hibari yet but I really worry about him looking silly with that... that pompom thing *killed by Japanophiles* grooms wear on their front. Because... it's HIBARI in a groom's kimono *dead*. I'll find a way to avoid silliness somehow x____x. For now, I'll just get this four-pager out on LJ first.

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2008.03.14 「Megane & Melon + Uomini d'Onore News #2」

...And above is a request I'd forgotten to put up here due to... forgetfulness. This was the thing that Demi prompted in exchange for my 1896 trilogy (LOL) - the same one I felt underwhelmed about after seeing just how brilliant Demi's fic is. Also, the reason I made that "Shot In Sicily" set at all. Uri was frikken hard to do... all that FUR x___x. Will never attempt animals again. Speaking of which...

Bwah, did I just update THREE days in a row? I must not have a life! Which is currently true, seeing how a) my friends are either studying/working abroad or back at school, b) the calendar project has seen progress and I gotta put myself back in gear!!! Not my progress, by the way; still, there is progress! So far we have two monthly spreads done by Suki and S-kun as well as the cover art by Mr. Li Julian. After this influx of updates, suddenly the Uomini d'Onore comm is again abuzz with activities after weeks of silence XDD.

No more aimless lingering on Painter, answering requests or embarking on my new collab with Demi until my part for the bag is at least half-done D=. Last I heard, Orrie, who's doing the reverse side, has only "5% to go". I couldn't NOT begin drawing furiously after I heard that from Suki. The result after I dunno how many hours? The above drawing of a still-disembodied TYL!Hibari OTL.

 

Seven more faces now *dead*. Meeting next Saturday *dead again*.

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2008.03.13 「Target 184」

*SNORE*

Wake me up when it's time for plot, please. Thank you.

Seriously, I don't remember anymore exciting KHR chapters since that night raid by Millefiore soldiers. The amount of fighting and snarking of the past chapters has escalated to ridiculousness. I was proud that this was the only shounen series in which no fight between two of the same parties lasted for more than 3 chapters, but look how it broke the tradition with the current Mosca-battling.

I wish something bad would happen to Tsuna already because at least then I'll have some form of entertainment. If we're still not seeing plot in 5 chapters and the old characters' return in 8 and a semblance of mafia lifestyle in 25, I'm considering out. I have been patient and defending you from skeptical readers but do realise that patience wears thin. Are you happy NOW, Mr. Editor? *fumes*

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2008.03.12 「Suzaku e Lelouch per DSquared2」

Time for a new log post. Thanks to Realms, my newly appointed consigliere (XD), I've gotten over my largely-self-made fandom issues. I don't know anyone more patient and sensible (not to mention agreeing LOL) than her, and so I decided to make her favourite boys the first of a long line of fashion ambassadors in my new collab with Demi. Uhh, I still don't know what the heck I'm going to get Demi to write based on this, but for now I'm happy to indulge myself with mental images of a fashionable KHR cast.

Also! I'm a new DSquared2 fan. I wish I were a guy JUST to be able to wear their awesome men's line. And this particular line has been named "Rule Britannia", can you believe? How could I resist? XDD ALSO I've taken some liberty with some details in the clothing since the references I worked with were teeny and I couldn't make out the little accessories if I squinted.