Mezzo-Piano

 

"Mezzo-Piano"
Key illustration

“You believe we’re incapable of love?”
“Not at all. I’m just lamenting that we weren’t given any purpose for love... as they had been.”

I inked this one probably a good month ago, but lost the motivation to finish it due to ongoing events in the world, at the moment. But, enough time with nothing to do will even reawaken motivation out of sheer boredom, apparently?
I'd been wanting to do an illustration for Grey and Heart for some time now, but finally got the layout in mind probably late January, iirc. I had something more fierce for Grey, originally, but decided to make him more calm while still showing a hint of his bestial physiology. Heart's pose was one that underwent a few different trials before landing on this one to balance and frame the piece.
Colors were pretty much decided to keep them in line with Oni's red under-lighting. Though, I admittedly almost messed up Heart's arm hosiery as I first colored it the same as the red bits. Thankfully, making it a darker color was doable and fixed it in a clutch.

April 7, 2020
Sakura Pigma pens, pencils, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, and POSCA paint pens
on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.

Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Switch

Switch
______________________________

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

______________________________

[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

Grey

Grey
______________________________

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

______________________________

[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

[Dual Balance] Mash

[Dual Balance] Mash 
(Original Character)

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

Member of Il Inno di Morte, a 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.

December 13, 2017
Sakura Pigma pens, 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

[Dual Balance] Switch

[Dual Balance] Switch 
(Original Character)

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

Member of Il Inno di Morte, a wiry kobald.
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.

December 12, 2017
Sakura Pigma pens, 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

[Dual Balance] Heart

[Dual Balance] Heart 
(Original Character)

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

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

December 3, 2017
Sakura Pigma pens, 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

[Dual Balance] Grey

[Dual Balance] Grey 
(Original Character)

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

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.

December 2, 2017
Sakura Pigma pens, 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

[Dual Balance] Iris

[Dual Balance] Iris 
(Original Character)

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

Friend of Elysium, and a brilliant archer and scout. Her eyesight is like an eagle's, and is able to rapid fire with tremendous accuracy.

November 24, 2017
Sakura Pigma pens, 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

[Dual Balance] Nocturne

[Dual Balance] Nocturne 
(Original Character)

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

A dangerous hunter who assaults Terra early in his journey. Does he have affiliation with the creatures destroying towns all over Ogelna, or do his loyalties lie elsewhere?

November 17, 2017
Sakura Pigma pens, 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

[Dual Balance] Rhapsody

[Dual Balance] Rhapsody 
(Original Character)

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

A young refugee from the destroyed city of Judah, she was separated from her family and ended up in the forest where Elysium now camps. While raised as a mage, Rhapsody's mother disappeared too soon into her training, her confidence and potential still not fully tapped.

November 16, 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

[Dual Balance] Requiem

[Dual Balance] Requiem 
(Original Character)

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

The local fortune teller of Terra's hometown of Gaf, she is responsible for the mission to retrieve the Fated Swords for which Terra sets out on.
She exudes a mysterious air tht hints at wisdom far beyond her years.

November 15, 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

[Dual Balance] Oni

[Dual Balance] Oni 
(Original Character)

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

"Oni" is the chosen bearer of the sword of wrathful earth, Helgram.
Born with a deep hatred for the humans that betrayed her, she commands the group Il Inno de Morte, destroying much of civilization in search of something.
She will face off against Elysium and Terra, forever altering her destiny.

November 14, 2017
Sakura Pigma pens, 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

[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

[Dual Balance] Terra

[Dual Balance] Terra 
(Original Character)

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

Terra is the main protagonist and wielder of the sword Dual Balance.
In his quest to locate the other two Fated Swords, he will stumble into a quiet war a millennia old. Within, he will find out the truth behind its bloody past, his blade, as well as his "self."

November 13, 2017
Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, and gel pens
on 8.5x11" cardstock.
(*enlarged version and text added digitally via Photoshop Elements)

Fated Sword Dual Balance ©2017 Studio OZKai

The Chozen One

"The Chozen One"

(Samus Aran from Metroid/Original Concept)

 
I'll be honest, this isn't the most original idea, as I've seen other knight armored Samus' in the past. But with the Varia Suit design updated for the upcoming Metroid: Samus Returns, I love the layered armor look that they did for it, and it made me want to convert it into a more traditional armor set. And yes, I even opted to make sure the entire body was covered, if not in armor, than in cloth and chain mail. I did a lot of gaps in the armor simply to keep Samus' agility and acrobatics intact, but decided to give her under garb akin to her zero suit. I really like the sword, designed to look like her arm cannon, and the cape, which has the silhouette of a familiar nemisis...

Rather than inked lineart, I just did it in pencil, to keep it relatively soft. I reprinted it onto ivory parchment paper (with a slight brown hue to the lining) and colored it with my standard fare of Prismacolors. I tried to keep the shades soft, as well, going for more typical older medieval fantasy art. I only used a white charcoal pencil for highlights here and there.

July 6, 2017
Pencil, Prismacolor markers, and charcoal pencils
on 8.5x11 parchment paper

PKMN Trainer Jean

"PKMN Trainer Jean"
(Cubone from Pokémon and Jean (Original))

The first *serious* coloring for some linearts I had done a few years back for my friends as Pokémon trainers. I finished this as a birthday present fro my friend Kelli, who plays under the name "Jean" (at least, in Pokémon X), and her favorite Pokémonis Cubone. Doing the newer Sugimori style with traditional mediums was interesting, but I think it was a pretty good success! Which is good, since I have many more I plan to do in the future...

February 6, 2014
Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, and gel pens
on 8.5x11" cardstock.

P̨̀KM̢̀͟Ǹ̴͟ ̨͡T̶͞ŗ̀͡a̴̛i͢͟n̡è͜͞r̢̕ ̢͘L̷ ̶W̸̢a̸̵͡n̸͘t̷̛͘s ̷̛t̡̨͜o͝ ̀F̢͞i̛g̶h́t͝

"P̨̀KM̢̀͟Ǹ̴͟ ̨͡T̶͞ŗ̀͡a̴̛i͢͟n̡è͜͞r̢̕ ̢͘L̷ ̶W̸̢a̸̵͡n̸͘t̷̛͘s ̷̛t̡̨͜o͝ ̀F̢͞i̛g̶h́t͝"
(Missingno. from Pokémon and L (Original))

The first coloring to my previous Pokémon Trainer line arts that I never colored, which were based on friends of mine with their Pokémon. This one was kind of a joke one, though, and thus took a far different approach from how the rest will be. I did a bunch of glitch shapes on a separate piece of cardstock and cut them out and pasted them at random places to make the character appear to be "glitching" himself. And, of course, the bugged Master Ball, which is likely in the sixth slot in his bag... XD

January 23, 2014
Micron pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, knife and Mod Podge
on 8.5x11" cardstock.

Under the Violet Shade

"Under the Violet Shade"
(Original characters for commission)

The last commission I had done for 2013, and the longest to complete, as it was commissioned back in May, and only finished in December... The characters are original to the client, and she loves the idea of purple trees, I ended up on doing a lavender tree for reference, given the winter setting. Doing the characters was quite trying because of their size on the paper and making sure they had enough detail to not look lazily done, and the tree itself took the longest, and probably created the long gaps between sessions with this piece. There was a lot of daunting elements about this, and to be quite frank, I'm not completely satisfied with the final product. If I just had some more colors...
Kelli, if you read this, I'm game for a re-do in the future! XD (But I am glad you're happy with it, so that's all that should matter to me)

December 20, 2013
Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, chalk pastels, and gel pens
on 11x17" cardstock.

Eyes on Me

 "Eyes on Me"
(Final Fantasy VIII / Original)

The key illustration for the invitations to our wedding. It was difficult capturing just the right emotion for us, but in the end, I believe turned out almost exactly as planned. I was aiming toward a more watercolor-look with the colors... While I think it could have been better, I don't feel it was a failed attempt. And, yes, my fiance and I are getting married dressed as Rinoa and Squall, respectively, as it's our favorite love story from our favorite Final Fantasy game.

June 19, 2013
Ink pens, Micron pens, Prismacolor markers, and gel pens
on 8.5x11" cardstock

A Walk

"A Walk"
(Original / Commission)

This piece was an interesting challenge mostly because of the more natural tone and the addition of a background - something I had yet to do since working with Prismacolor markers. considering the level of precise detail I was given with only the smallest bit of artistic liberty, I am extremely proud of this piece, and hope to do further things like this. It's a good change of pace from the usual anime/video game fan art I'm used to.

April 2, 2013
Ink pens, Prismacolor markers, and colored pencils
on 8.5x11" cardstock