HEAVEN SIDE

"HEAVEN SIDE"
Key illustration

This will provide a 2-page chapter cover spread for the first section of Volume Two.
This piece was a challenge for many reasons. One, of course, is the more up-front subject, but also the semi-realistic style, the pencil lineart, softer shades, and most importantly, the wings, which I used several real-life references to make look as believably real as possible while not standing out too much from the stylized nature of mine.
I completed the traditional portion of this art quite some time ago, however due to the subject matter, taking it to scan at a public facility was a bit nerve racking.
The background base admittedly uses a stock photo that I heavily manipulated and retooled because I had no confidence doing such dense cloud coloring on an already complicated piece.

February 1, 2019
Colored pencils, Prismacolor Markers, and POSCA paint pens
on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
Background digitally created and added via Photoshop Elements 7

Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Grace

"Grace"
Key illustration

Deciding on the visual theming for this series of pieces, I finally came up with ones for the other two main characters, starting with Elysium. Her face took a little work in the early stages to get right, but once there, everything else just kinda flowed together. Even her sword posed little problems.
I tried to go off the theme set by Terra's illustration and do her base shading in blue, though most of her outfit's colors are darker tones that Terra's or Rhapsody's, so it was tough to work with. I ended up using chalk pastels at the end to give back some of the blue highlights.

February 8, 2019
Sakura Pigma pens, 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

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

The Prophecy

"The Prophecy"
First volume cover illustration

Yet another redo of this illustration, but one I'm far more proud of in size, layout, and overall execution.
On top of updating their faces to be more consistent with their updated illustrations, I changed the coloring style, the angles at which Oni and Elysium are facing, made their hair longer and curl up higher to act as strategic censoring, and even made the lighting distinct on each character.
The background phoenix is now just black with a radiant red from the center, which is mostly obscured by the forefront figures.

June 23, 2018
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

Elysium

Elysium

______________________________

Elysium wields the fated sword Aegis of the Heavenly Sky.
Her home city was destroyed years ago. When her refuge town is attacked, she takes up arms, leading the one-sided battle against a group destroying humanity.
When she encounters Terra, the two eventually discover just how deep the war has gone.

Elysium Fairheim
Age: 21 / Height: 5’ 5” / Weight: 131 lbs.
Birth Date: December 29 / Zodiac: Capricorn / Blood Type: B
VI: Kate Higgins

______________________________

[Illustration Info]

Elysium (Ver.2018)

Hot off the heels of the last redesign for Terra, I have the one that inspired me to do these in the first place — Elysium. I don't know why, but for such a simple character design, I've consistently had the hardest times drawing her proportionately, much less creatively.

I must say, for the first time since 2004, I am in love with how I made her look, here. The pose, the face, the sword's angle. Everything is exACTly how I envisioned them to be. The colors turned out to be a little less flat than how I did Terra, but I don't think it's distractingly different.
One thing I as able to do I couldn't as well with Terra was the highlights, which I accomplished with a new Uni POSCA white paint pen, which allowed some really amazing controllable white lines here and there, especially on the blade of the sword, as well as her eyes and earring.
 
June 9, 2018
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

[Dual Balance] Elysium

[Dual Balance] Elysium 
(Original Character)

Key character illustration for my story "Fated Sword Dual Balance."

Elysium wields the sword Aegis, the heavenly protector, and is leading the one-sided battle against a group destroying humanity.
When she encounters Terra, the two discover just how deep the war has gone...

November 14, 2017
Sakura Pigma pens, Copic Multiliner, Prismacolor Markers, and gel pens
on 8.5x11" cardstock.
(*faded enlarged version and text added digitally via Photoshop Elements)

Fated Sword Dual Balance ©2017 Studio OZKai