Ash

Ash
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A mysterious man with malevolent intentions, and wielder of the Black Phoenix. 
His appearance decimates the battlefield, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake. What is his ultimate goal, and who follows his carnage?

Ash 
Age: ??? / Height: 5' 11" / Weight: 163 lbs.
Birth Date: ??? / Zodiac: ??? / Blood Type: ???
VI: Keith Silverstein

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[Illustration Info]

Ash (Ver.2019)

This is one that has eluded me for a long time, but I'm finally happy with his design. I was definitely inspired by the whole Sunrise masked antagonist trope, but it's entire necessary to his character for many reasons, for which I can't divulge this early.
This illustration was pretty ambitious, and with the wings and orate armor, it's probably the most detailed of the character designs I've done, thus far.
 
January 12, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Mash

Mash
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Member of Il Inno di Morte, a quiet and large spriggan. 
Half of his body is composed of natural root and stone, and he carries the ability to shape it and extend it to his will, making him adept at both offense and defense.

Mash
Age: ??? / Height: 7' 9" / Weight: 348 lbs.
Birth Date: April 19 / Zodiac: Aries / Blood Type: AB
VI: Christopher Sabat

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[Illustration Info]

Mash (Ver.2019)

Once again, I've made changes to this one's design, but I think the differences between this and the 2017 version are ultimately subtle. His color palette has come together better, and I think this will be where I leave it. He definitely looks like the absolute unit I intended him to be, so that's a plus.

His background of the wilting tree goes hand-in-hand with his spriggan nature, but also lends to his own character nature, as well.
 
January 7, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Switch

Switch
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Member of Il Inno di Morte, a wiry kobold. 
Quite insane, his fighting style is difficult to counter due to his swift agility. 
He often agitates his fellow comrades with his hair-trigger tongue and actions.

Switch
Age: ??? / Height: 6' 6" / Weight: 210 lbs.
Birth Date: April 12 / Zodiac: Aries / Blood Type: O
VI: Steven Blum

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[Illustration Info]

Switch (Ver.2019)

Switch is one of two where I used the pose from the 2017 version verbatim, with just changing the lineart styling and cleaning up some of the angles. Though, unintentionally, I changed th color of his skin to an almost greenish grey instead of the ghost grey it was prior. However, I accepted it after the fact because this puts it closer to how I had it on my very first draft in 2004.

His background is, admittedly, less subtle than the other Il Inno di Morte members, simply because... I couldn't think of anything else for him. His character is complete, in therms of plotting and story arc, but that's just kinda how he stands in my mind.
 
January 6, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Heart

Heart
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Member of Il Inno di Morte, a seductive succubus. 
Her abilities have the capability of affecting the psyches of conscious men and women, keeping them from being able to fight, to completely removing their will to.

Heart
Age: ??? / Height: 5' 10" / Weight: 128 lbs.
Birth Date: September 7 / Zodiac: Virgo / Blood Type: O
VI: Laura Bailey

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[Illustration Info]

Heart (Ver.2019)

Aside form the new style and slight proportional changes, Heart is exactly the same, design-wise. I did want to make the mesh parts more apparent, so I did those in pencil over the markers to give them a distinct texture.
Her pose and her hair posed a good challenge, but the mist emanating off of her was even more so. Mostly because my light lavender marker was dying, but I had to finish it, so I just went back to using it every 20 minutes as the tip regained pigment.
 
January 2, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Grey

Grey
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Leader of the devious group Il Inno di Morte, and a powerful lycanthrope. 
He is a calculated tactician, who wields strength enough to personally head his stratagems.

Grey
Age: ??? / Height: 5' 7" / Weight: 210 lbs.
Birth Date: July 25 / Zodiac: Leo / Blood Type: AB
VI: Michael Alston Bailey

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[Illustration Info]

Grey (Ver.2019)

So, it has been a few months since I started these, but as inspiration often does, it struck with a fury. But, rather than just doing a new illustration, it doubled as a chance to finally update his outfit... Something that I'd been meaning to do for ages. The color's a little jarring, but I'm getting to like it a bit more. Sorta similar to my last illustration of him, I added a background shot of his werewolf form, but matching his pose and obscured (As it, too, is being somewhat redesigned). 
 
January 1, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Merry Xmas 2018

"Merry Xmas 2018"
(Original)

I don't often do holiday themed pics, but for some reason, this year made me want to. It also gave me a reason to use my characters again, and further flex my newfound style.
I first did this piece a s a quick "ink sketch" a couple days prior, but something wouldn't let me just settle with that. So I redid the piece on a larger scale and made it full color. Making sure the face and height differences between Rhapsody (left) and Elysium (right) were another challenge for myself. Not a tough one, necessarily, but something I need to make sure I can do consistently in the future.
For the final, I did add some digital effects just for the sake of not letting the text seem so stark with the traditional art.

The raw piece and the original sketch can be found below.

December 27, 2018
Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
Background/foreground effects and text done digitally via Photoshop Elements 7.0

"Merry Xmas 2018" (traditional piece)

"Merry Xmas 2018" (original ink sketch)

December 24, 2018
Micron pens
on 8.5x11" cardstock
Background text done digitally via Photoshop Elements 7.0

Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Halcyon Days

"Halcyon Days"
(Animal Crossing/Gift art)

This one was part of a secret project I was doing for Christmas gifts for a few friends this year. However, due to time and creativity walls, this was the only one that saw production.
My friends here are fans of Animal Crossing, pumping unknown amount of time into the last installment, New Leaf. I decided to put them into the world that brings them joy, along with their favorite villagers, Bob, Avery, and K.K. I balanced their designs with normal proportions with AC human facial features.
Despite the size of this one (14x18"), coloring did not take as long as I anticipated, doing most of it within two sittings.
The other pieces I had in mind for my other friends may see the light of day, someday, but it definitely won't be in time for this Christmas, lol

December 2, 2018
Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.