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.