Lirielle

Glee fan art: Emma Pillsbury 2

Mike — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:12:45 +0000

Another painting of Emma from Glee from an afternoon/evening practice session. Experimenting also with some new photoshop custom brushes.

Mistborn fan art: Vin and Inquisitor

Mike — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:18:07 +0000

Fan art for Mistborn.

Glee fan art: Rachel Berry

Mike — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:33:22 +0000

More Glee fan art.

Glee fan art: Emma Pillsbury

Mike — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 07:28:28 +0000

Emma from Glee, my current favorite show on TV.

Done freehand, but with reference and measuring lines added in Photoshop to help achieve the right proportions.

This was an exercise in how to capture a likeness. I think I must have scrapped about 6 prior attempts. Once I got the likeness close, the painting went pretty quickly.

The colors are still a little wacky. But I think it’s time to move on to the next piece.

Photoshop CS4. 12 hours.

Firefly fan art: Kaylee

Mike — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:41:28 +0000

Some fan art of Kaylee from Serenity. Photoshop CS4.
I lost count of the hours trying to get the likeness right. Maybe 8? Finally had to give up. It’s just not quite there. I wish I were a better artist so I could see how to fix it more easily.

Finished it off with a quick hack coloring job of only an hour or so.

I was a bit rusty after not painting for at least a month it feels like. It was hard to get back into the groove.

My project at work is over, so hopefully some breathing room. Still working on my feature script. But I’m getting the itch to draw again. Maybe will pick up the webcomic again, but treat it more like an encyclopedia of the world for a little bit. Just have some fun with characters, locations, world building without worrying about narrative again just yet.

June update

Mike — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:50:57 +0000

Getting in some painting practice after being inspired by the season 2 finale of Dr. Who. I’m considering adding a character to Lirielle’s story that will owe his heritage to the Tenth Doctor.

Currently I am also working on a feature script with the intent to get it up on reels by this time next year.

Unfortunately this means Lirielle is becoming a backburner project. I do find that I enjoy dabbling with Lirielle’s story whenever I get stuck on the feature scriptwriting.

Delivering The Goods

Mike — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 07:00:00 +0000

INT. PUB -- NIGHT

Lirielle walks in with the papers. Finnegan spots her and waves her over.

FINNEGAN

Well?

Lirielle spreads the papers out on the table.

LIRIELLE

It was a trap. He knew I was coming.

FINNEGAN

Did he now? And yet, here you are. You weren’t stupid enough to be followed, were you?

LIRIELLE

Hmph. Please.

FINNEGAN

Right then. You can go.

LIRIELLE

All my sins forgiven?

FINNEGAN

Until next time. Watch yourself. Follow the rules.

Lirielle turns to leave. Crabbe blocks her way.

LIRIELLE

Let me by, Crabbe. You heard the man. I’m a free girl.

Crabbe reaches out and plays with a lock of her hair.

CRABBE

For now. I’ve got my eye on you. Another slip up, and Finnegan will let me have you. Don’t matter how good a pickpocket you are.

Lirielle swats his hand away and shoulders him aside. He laughs. Lirielle stomps to the door, thinks a moment. She looks at Finnegan in warning.

LIRIELLE

By the by, Finnegan. There’s something odd about those papers--

FINNEGAN

Why else would I want them? Now get you gone.

Postscript:
I haven’t been painting much in the past few weeks, so I’m feeling a little rusty. Also tried a new technique. Paint grayscale first to get good values, then add colors. So the poses feel stiff and my color seems less integrated. Ah, well.

I’m thinking about ending this first little chapter. Lirielle isn’t in trouble anymore, so the initial bit of business has been resolved. I’ve set up the world and a bunch of characters. And now there are a couple of mysteries to explore: who is this Cromwell and what’s up with those papers anyway? Lirielle may think she’s done with them, since she’s put them behind her. But just because she’s unaware of events doesn’t mean they won’t impact her later.

I’m afraid there won’t be much structure to her story. I’m finding that treating these like informal blog posts are easiest for me to both be productive and not feel like it’s too much work. I realize that this may not be the best thing for a cohesive, well-paced story. But it’s good for my creative outlet, and really that’s the main goal.

Progress for March

Mike — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:41:37 +0000

Things are going slowly right now. Been very busy with other things that don’t leave enough mental energy to write. Plus I keep getting sidetracked. Like today I upgraded my ComicPress version, but then I spent a couple of hours repairing stylesheets and whatnot.

I’m not sure I’m happy with the emphasis I placed on magic in the last couple of installments. I might try to limit what magic can do soon so it’s not such a can of worms.

I’ve been writing one page at a time and living from installment to installment. I think I need to spend a little bit planning things out a little bit better, which means my already slow one-page-a-month pace is about to get slower. I’m going to try to make it up by posting some more concept art while I get my story in better shape.

Cornered

Mike — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0000

EXT. ALLEYWAY -- EVENING

Lirielle hurries from her hiding spot. The older gentleman blocks her way.

She draws a knife from her sleeve.

LIRIELLE

Out of my way.

The man laughs. Stands his ground.

Lirielle steps toward him, threatening him with her blade.

LIRIELLE

I’m deuced late. Good as dead.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

Now see, the fact that you aren’t actually dead surprises me.

He gestures. The papers glow brightly. Lirielle gasps and drops them. They float towards the man, who snatches them from the air with a flourish.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

These stopped you long enough for me to find you. Alive, that is. Normally I just find the corpse.

Lirielle’s voice trembles when she speaks.

LIRIELLE

Fascinating, I’m sure.

(gestures with knife)

I’ll just take them back now, if you please.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

Nonsense.

She inches closer. The man examines the papers for damage and ignores her approach.

LIRIELLE

My life depends on it.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

How unfortunate for you.

Her knife pricks his gut.

LIRIELLE

Let me put it this way: your life depends on it.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

Hmph. You shouldn’t bluff. You’re not very good at it. Stick to picking pockets and leave killing to the professionals.

LIRIELLE

There’s a first time for everything.

(pushes the knife more firmly against him)

Papers. Please.

He stares at her, considering for a long moment.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

You know. I’ve the oddest feeling that they’re meant to go with you. I fear our paths will cross again.

He hands the papers back to Lirielle. She stuffs them into her coat. The man winces at her rough treatment of the papers.

LIRIELLE

I’ll be going now.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

Be seeing you, then.

He steps out of her way. Lirielle scurries into the dark.

Lirielle Checks Her Take

Mike — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:00:00 +0000

EXT. ALLEYWAY--DAY

Lirielle scurries into the dark and settles behind some crates. She stills herself, listening for pursuit. She hears the noise of the crowd.

She takes a few breaths to calm down. She takes the packet of papers from beneath her coat and studies it. They’re tucked into a weathered leather folio, tied with a lace to keep it from spilling.

LIRIELLE

Let’s see why old Finnegan is so keen to get his mitts on you.

Lirielle unlaces the folio and opens it. The crowd noise echoes and fades. The alley becomes unnaturally quiet.

Something in the packet glows. Lirielle blinks.

The world turns from afternoon to evening. Somehow she’s lost hours during that blink.

LIRIELLE

Blimey.