Mist

Mist
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"Quit playing around, Surge..." 
The aloof woman can vary the density of her body, and to serve the Black Phoenix, she'll use her powerful fists against all who oppose them.

Mist
Age: ??? / Height: 5'6" / Weight: 158 lbs.
Birth Date: February 15 / Zodiac: Aquarius / Blood Type: AB
VI: Kira Buckland

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[Illustration Info]

Mist

A companion character to Surge, a sibling in fact, Mist will first appear near the climax of book two. Like Surge, she is another brawler-type fighter, but she can control the density of her body's consistency, meaning she can either be condensed like a diamond or thinned out to almost a vapor. She uses the former to deliver strong, heavy-hitting attacks, and can use the latter as evasive maneuvers.
I based her appearance as an homage to WWE's Asuka, though mostly with the hair coloring, and I designed the outfit to kinda flow with Surge's style. Her colors are considerably more muted compared to her brother's, though it still contains a few brights to keep it from looking completely drab.
I was a bit worried with the hair at first, but after getting the colors on the skirting, it balances out pretty well, I believe.
 
October 17, 2019 
Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, and POSCA paint pens
on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Surge

Surge
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"Humans are all so humorously fragile — they're nothing but a spark to my luminescence." 
With manipulation of atmospheric pressure in his possession, the arrogant man aligns himself with the winged shadow looming over Ogelna.

Surge
Age: ??? / Height: 6'2" / Weight: 212 lbs.
Birth Date: April 30 / Zodiac: Taurus / Blood Type: AB
VI: Stefan Martello

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[Illustration Info]

Surge 

A new character I developed on the fly who will make his appearance toward the end of book two, along with his sister, Mist. I realized I sorta had all my cards on the table after book one, and I needed to add new players to keep the story from getting too linear, plus for further world building. It doesn't stop with these, either, I've got a good deal of new faces in the works as the story unfolds further. I developed these two to be villains that truly work in tandem, and Surge in particular has powers over atmospheric pressure, allowing him to manipulate wind and even lightning. 
For his design, I decidedly took some inspiration from Shinsuke Nakamura of WWE fame, but definitely tilted it toward something that works withing the otherworldly confines of Ogelna. Getting the colors to work with both the regular master light source and the electricity was interesting, and a bit bold. Aside from just plotting out the shading with markers, I also used chalk pastels to create the overall luminescence which I took an eraser to "chisel" in the shape, and completed the effect with the white POSCA paint pen. 
I hope as the story progresses this becomes a character you love to hate (lol).
 
October 17, 2019 
Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, chalk pastels, and POSCA paint pens
on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Tifa -LIMIT-

"Tifa -LIMIT-"

Been a while since I've done fan art stuff, eh?
I figure with Final Fantasy VII Remake just around the corner (somehow wasn't lost to the dancing crabs) it'd be a good time to do some art for the roster's redesigns, of which Tifa's was definitely the most anticipated — and most divisive — by the fans. (Personally, I think it's perfect.)
This was a bit of a test to see if I could carry over my own style to other properties, and I think this is a note of success on that front. Also, pushing myself on more dynamic posing and even motion, as is seen on the kicking left foot.
The colors follow the same way I've been doing my own characters, with no-frills coloring with deep shades being subdued with light lavender over a hatched pencil base layer.

September 1, 2019
Sakura Pigma pens, pencil, Prismacolor Markers, charcoal pencils, and POSCA paint pens
on 9x12" smooth bristol stock.

Lonely Prayer

"Lonely Prayer"
Key illustration

"Should we ever part, look up at the moon. I shall always watch you from it...” 
The words echo ceaselessly through Rhapsody's memories, as they're the last words she heard from her mother before she disappeared 4 years ago...
This illustration was a massive overhaul of a redo that I had been inspired to do, and only the second TRUE full illustration I've done for the story. Rhapsody has a fascination with Lyuna, the moon of Ogelna, and thus join into a major focal point.
Her color palette compliments the nighttime setting beautifully, but provided quite the challenge to make look natural in the darkened tints and tones of the moonlight. Her staff was also, as usual, a pain to do, but the glow on the tree from the orb was the major payoff of having it in shot.

August 6, 2019
Pencils, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, charcoal pencils, gel pens, POSCA paint pens, and chalk pastels
on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.

Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Zephyrus

Zephyrus
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The sullen widow. Wielding a sword he found in tragedy's wake, he recklessly vows to avenge his fallen lover, no matter the cost.

Zephyrus Tulrric
Age: 20 / Height: 5' 6" / Weight: 166 lbs.
Birth Date: December 27 / Zodiac: Capricorn / Blood Type: O
VI: Yuri Lowenthal

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[Illustration Info]

Zephyrus (Ver.2019)

This was one of the characters I've not touched since 2006, and while the general feel of the character is the same, a lot has changed, especially in how he fits in the narrative. I had considered some pretty drastic changes for his look but actually ended up pretty close to how he began, only with his expression and attitude different (and name).
The colors were pretty set since my first iteration, and I'm glad I was able to keep with them here. His weapon (or weapons, depending on how you wish to interpret it) had rough drafts from forever ago but finally got true form here. It's an ambitious weapon that I'm going to wish I never designed like that. lol
 
July 23, 2019 
Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, chalk pastels, and POSCA paint pens
on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Omnia

Omnia
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The Grand Pillar of Ogelna. After watching for time immemorial, she wishes to see the wrongs of her past, and of history, finally set right.

Omnia
Age: N/A / Height: 5' 11" / Weight: 139 lbs.
Birth Date: ??? / Zodiac: ??? / Blood Type: ???
VI: ???

______________________________

[Illustration Info]

Omnia (Ver.2019)

This is one that received a full re-conceptualization back in 2010, but only saw a turnaround draft. Even then, this is a pretty drastic change from what I had then, even. I tried very hard to give her an otherworldly beauty, something that came off as sensual yet mysterious. Her color palette ended up being similar to her OLD design back from the early drafts when she went by the name "Eden." It's a bit more green than I anticipated, but I don't feel it off-putting, and actually think despite its gaudiness, the color flow is actually quite balanced.
 
July 21, 2019

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

You Must be Exhausted...

"You Must be Exhausted..."
(Mother 3)

A piece I did for Mother 3 after watching Vinny Vinesauce's stream for the game.
That ending was such a gut punch.

I also did a version with lyrics from Red Vox's "Cemetery Window."

March 2, 2019
Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, and POSCA paint pens
on 9x12" smooth bristol stock.

"Sleep Pushing Down On Me"

March 2, 2019
Text added via Photoshop Elements 7.0