Guan is the man. Seriously.
1.7.10
30.5.10
15.5.10
10.5.10
8.5.10
Waterpine page 1 version 7
Last fall I started feeling that I should actually get something on this 8 year project done. I was finding that I was getting bogged down in the middle part of the story of the Ascension of the Green Emperor. The normal first page starts with the escape and recruitment of who will become Sister of the Plow. I had a story for how it ended, how it began, but not as solid of one for the middle parts of the this tale. To get me actually creating again, I decided that the first chapter I wanted to do was the end of this chapter, as I had the ending somewhat more solidly designed. This is what I am currently doing as the version, not caring if there is explanation for who everyone is. No time for guns over mantle pieces in this one, as it is diving into the end.
7.5.10
Waterpine page 1 versions 6a and 6b
This post gets two really rough versions, basically not even at the page level. They were from my thoughts that I didn't really want to start at the story I had mapped out in the history. The Waterpine as a character was about 120-140 years old in that story, and I had much of that time period mapped out. It was basically going to be about when the immortals worked through Europe (the creation of the Western Kingdom/Ascension of the White Emperor)
This was the first attempt at that page, showing one of the other immortals in their standard battle garb.
This one is the second attempt, showing the War Hall of the Yellow Emperor.
Basically, what wrecked it was not this first page, but trying to figure out how to draw the rest. It was going to be an ugly war story, which was going to be difficult to illustrate. Basically a counterpoint to the initial story, which was the second attempt at setting up the Green Emperor. The White Emperor went much smoother.
Ultimately, I also abandoned this version as well for the time being.
There is one more version left (for the moment)
This was the first attempt at that page, showing one of the other immortals in their standard battle garb.
This one is the second attempt, showing the War Hall of the Yellow Emperor.Basically, what wrecked it was not this first page, but trying to figure out how to draw the rest. It was going to be an ugly war story, which was going to be difficult to illustrate. Basically a counterpoint to the initial story, which was the second attempt at setting up the Green Emperor. The White Emperor went much smoother.
Ultimately, I also abandoned this version as well for the time being.
There is one more version left (for the moment)
5.5.10
Waterpine page 1 version 5
This one is the most directly redo out of page 1. Can anyone guess what the differences are/why I made it? It is not because of the original art, though this one does have better perspective.
Ok the reasons (and a big reason why this is not done): first, the originals are at a slightly lower overall resolution due to my scanner; second, and this will probably not be obvious to the casual reader: the orginal designs were all 1.3:1 (8.5x11), whereas this one is 1.5:1, like standard comics are. Cropping or warping wouldn't work well, so I would need to redraw. I got about 3 pages in before I became really frustrated. Which will lead into tomorrow.
Waterpine page 1 version 4 (prologue)
After crunching away on the story for a bit, I decided that it could use a bit of a prologue. As such, I made up a 5 page intro to the setting, thus making this the new page 1.
4.5.10
Waterpine page 1 version 3
This is the second version of the actual opening page, as mentioned in the last post, and the one that for quite a while was considered to be the actual opening page.
3.5.10
Waterpine page "1" version 2
Welcome to the first in a series (and it is sad that it is a series) of images that were potentially serve as the first page of the story of the Waterpine. This first image is slightly different than the rest as it is not actually the first page, but was a creativity excercise. However, it was the first page that was drawn that was actually meant to be a part of the story. In this case, it is about page 28 or so. The actual first version of the first page was never scanned as I knew I wasn't going to use it... maybe I will include it sometime. Starting the story on this image would be an interesting choice, as the Waterpine is basically invincible, and the first panel is him bleeding out on the floor.
2.5.10
1.5.10
Scorpinatrix
Since I had her standing behind The Slushist in the example of play, I felt I should elucidate a bit on who she was. The other figures are Froog and the Closet King.
29.4.10
Iron Chef Atlantis
Amongst the highest honourifics that can be bestowed on the root race cultures, with Atlantean cuisine being considered the most rarefied of all. The Iron Chef Atlantis is a god amongst gods, though us simple monkeys have forgotten this.
28.4.10
26.4.10
25.4.10
23.4.10
21.4.10
Water Pine
This one is interesting because it is a digitally coloured linoprint. It is of the Water Pine and the Demon (expect more of both). The trees are Water Pines as well.
19.4.10
Uintathere
I tried to do some justice to the huge ass of Uintatherium, but it is really difficult to do (and not usually noted in reconstructions unless 3D).
18.4.10
17.4.10
15.4.10
14.4.10
Land shark teeth
The general form of the xenocanth teeth is seen in figure A. Though they have three points, like the majority of other shark teeth (figure B), they are reversed so that the lateral spines are enlarged while the central spine is a nub.
They fit together like in figure C, overlapping their spines into the crotch of the one beside it. This gives them a surprisingly normal looking tooth row, despite the odd shape of their teeth.
13.4.10
11.4.10
Deathcaps
The black, slightly fungal, nearly gray goo servants of the great Dr. Chingis Fiveberry. They will never stop when commanded.
10.4.10
The Underminister (child-like skeleton)
The August Minister of Death wouldn't have succeeded without his relentless, nearly silent (at least unintelligible) presence. He has many hats, though due to his promotion to underminister he typically wears his skulls instead of the sombrero.
WYEDG
The Scarecrow, king of the masked legions, prisoner of the doll. His prison is one without walls, without form but what he gives it.
9.4.10
Adventuring Beetle
It had been a harsh winter, and the village had been isolated by deep drifts blocking up the passes so that only foot traffic could go through, at the very most. Supplies had dwindled. Guenter, the most skilled climber of the village set out. Though the elders generally advised against leaving the valley (as the inside out feared the true people), they agreed to set him up with the appropriate gear. They filled his satchel with enough supplies to make it out, gave him a scarf that would make the winds cooperate, and their greatest treasure: a hat of one of the special inside out that had made him not be noticed.
Guenter had been on his adventure for quite some time when I noticed him, trying to hide behind the garbage can. At first afraid, we managed to work out a deal, where I would be able to find out about them and share my findings to those of like minds (as long as their people were safe), as well as potentially call on them in the conflicts with those that would despise them if, in exchange for information on us and supplies to get the village going. Given that they most desired refuse (it is easier for them to digest, since their tolerances were different), I have managed to cheaply acquire a small army of nightmares for my cause. As they were right: most of us inside outers still fear the true people.
8.4.10
Creepy little shadowfaced demon
In the Fifteenth century, entirely by mistake (as he was very devout in his own way), Bosch acted as a channel for all sorts of nasty demons to slip into this world, where they have been slowly combining and multiplying since then. These imps (for an indirect channel accidentally formed by an artist can only draw so much up) are generally a tortured lot, small, with great deformity. They often cannot even manifest, instead being things mostly of psyche.
I found this one trapped by a poor illustration of a summoner's circle in one of my books. Though not summoned to it, he had gotten trapped there. He is, in his words, "a blaighte of caencurs aboute the earse of mise". Since I don't mind cankers on my mice, I freed him into my service to go do what he does best. I am still awaiting the final results.
7.4.10
The River Shark who speaks for his people
The legions are many, of things that are not, strange creatures, strange objects and the combination therein.
The River Sharks lived during the Devonian. Their forms were streamlined, with fewer vertical parts than their seaward cousins. Much like the later suchids, they waited in the shallows for their prey, strong predators of the river system. In other reflections, they walked out of the rivers instead. Over time, they reflect us. Sometimes both reflections are present. That is the case here, his bifurcating teeth speaking of promises between us, neither side respecting them. Beware the shark that walks.
The River Sharks lived during the Devonian. Their forms were streamlined, with fewer vertical parts than their seaward cousins. Much like the later suchids, they waited in the shallows for their prey, strong predators of the river system. In other reflections, they walked out of the rivers instead. Over time, they reflect us. Sometimes both reflections are present. That is the case here, his bifurcating teeth speaking of promises between us, neither side respecting them. Beware the shark that walks.
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