FanArt_BiggieLilz

 I've been chugging away at Clip Studio Paint, having moved on from Photoshop, and we're finally getting comfortable enough to start churning out some full illustrations, so here's Liliana, Heretical Healer.

   I wanted to test out たなかもげたろう's SAZANAMI watercolor brush set, which I got thanks to the annual Clippy giveaway event.  This was pretty pricey, at 200 Clippy, which is a chunk of change, but the event earns you 740 Clippy, so you should be able to swing it if you plot out the brushes you'll be purchasing--plus the expansion "EX Pack" set is free.  Most brushes are 10 Clippy, so it's super helpful to know which big buys you're budgeting for, and this was our pick for our major purchase this time around.  At left is the final illustration minus any blurring, since I wanted to see what a full, exclusively watercolor illustration might look like, and too much post-production felt like it could interfere with the spirit of doing a watercolor illustration, though perhaps that tension is just invented, and all that matters is making a compelling final illustration, however you paint it. But in any case, most of the colors visible in this version at left is made entirely with the brushes in the set, with just a few gradients and color dodge layers to juice some of the softer effects, but even the fog was made with the set.  

 Of these eight total brushes, I find the best of bunch are SAZANAMI_Paint(R) [120] (the [#] is just a note to myself on what the default brush size is, so I can tinker away and still retain a frame of reference for what the "factory" settings are) for most colors, with SAZANAMI_Blur+ [120] for blending out any stray or sharp parts and SAZANAMI_Repair [200] for mending any parts that get too smoothed out from the blur brush.   I did use some of the other brushes, but by the end, it was mainly these three that could handle everything that came up just fine. You do have to watch out that the Repair brush doesn't color-burn your repaired areas too intensely, but it's generally not a problem if you just take it easy and are mindful as you brush. I also studied along with these Adilson Farias walkthrough videos to study the watercolor-specific process, since I've mainly ever just done the KNKL method of digital painting.  This was helpful just to get a feel for how a digital artist approaches watercolor, since I've only had limited experience with actual watercolors myself, and pleasantly it felt like a similar experience, at least. 

 The lines were also quite experimental.  I have been slowly working my way through the backlog of brushes I've wanted to test out--I literally have a Quick Access list for all my new acquisitions from the Asset Shop so I can be sure to give each a good try before I categorize them into my main Quick Access lists.  I love how CSP enables a comprehensive list system via the Quick Access feature, since we can't organize brushes by folders. So anyway, yes, the quite unusual lines are Rickety Line [15] ガタガタ線 (the first brush) from ×ェ×'s Freehand Style Brush Set (フリーハンド風ブラシセット) brush set.  I gather this whole brush set is more for translating preset background lines to feel more human and hand-drawn, but they also are cool to draw with from the get-go.  However, they are all quite unwieldy, so I wouldn't recommend using them willy-nilly or on anything you really want to have a tight grasp on.    

 I find they're best specifically for low-stakes sketching, just pure doodling, where you aren't super concerned with the neatness of your lines, or even the presentability of the finished image. This is actually quite contrary to how I like to draw--I want fine, meticulous lines, which is why drawing takes me forever--to my detriment, even, as I lose steam on an image and the self-doubt overpowers my ambitions to wrap a drawing.   So I tried this brush set out specifically to help me get less precious with this drawing.  I also wanted to try out this watercolor brush for similar reasons--to help me churn out an illustration faster and less noodley, so that I would be discouraged from just tinkering away for too long and allowing for doubt to accumulate.  So this whole illustration was an experiment on top of an experiment--wacky lines and loosey-goosey colors, and I'd say it worked out pretty okay.  

  

I really enjoyed this whole experience and felt I learned a good amount, though, after doing some even smaller drawings with all the "Rickety" brushes, I believe the absolute-best of the set is what I call Rough Rickety [15] ざら線, which is the last brush of the set.   I love how they all discourage noodling, and just forcefully loosen you up, but that said, I do like tight line control, so I'm not sure I'll be lining up for most of these later on. But if you just want to sit back and scratch out some drawings, these are pretty nice and only ones I wouldn't recommend, and that are just more trouble than they're worth are Zigzag Rickety [15] ざかざか線 (the third brush) and Drained Rickety [15] へろへろ線 (the second brush).  But a close runner-up for favorite brush is Trickling Rickety [15] へろ線 (the penultimate of the set, the sixth brush).  By the way, my method for naming brushes is "My Nickname (Recommended Brush Size [Default Brush Size]) Default Name," plus I copy this name into the brush's display in my materials tab, as well as tag the artist, so I can always look up the brush page later in case they have a guide specific to those brushes since I also bookmark the brush's page so I can refer to it later and also know at a glance if I've downloaded it already or am planning to, etc., which also helps plan for the annual Clippy event, too .   

 And indeed, these were the original lines, complete with the minimal tones via the rough Shigepen 2020 (Copic) [44] しげペン改[2020] brush, I believe from rokushigeru's Pen breaks (しげペン改) collection.  When I knew I wanted to explore the watercolor set, I looked for old, simple drawings to plop the colors on.  So it all felt thankfully lower pressure, just trusting the process to guide us to the final, which is a pleasant relief, that you can take on new stuff using trusty methods that translate well to a new situation.  A bit of a morale boost, really. Not normal,  

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Landmark

MTGinktober achieves Day 31, "Landmark," starring Kamahl, Fist of Krosa; Pollen-Shield Hare; Stinging Barrier; and Vine Trellis!

To mark this landmark, historical occasion, I wanted to see if I could shoehorn a Kamala Harris pun into our run, having already celebrated Joe this year, so we wound up with "Kamahl-Hare is a remarkable combo with tim Walls."  And indeed, if you ever land Kamahl with an active tim Wall, forget about multiples, you're gonna be able to attack with vigilance thanks to the Bun's Adventure, and then start wrecking your opponent's lands.

Fun Facts:  This is everyone's debut, but there's also an Ozymandius-like toppled tyrant's statue as one of the notable things on the horizon, but our little party here has decided to head to the Washington Monu--I mean Spires of Orazca.  I was thrilled I finally got to draw Vine Trellis on-theme (a Wall!) no less, as that's been one of my favorite illustrations from the early days and is emblematic of sorta "pre-historical" Magic for me--the time before I actually started (7th Edition). 

Easter Eggs:  The birds hanging out above the reef are from Barry's Land, which felt like a nice nod to Obama.  Also apparently Matt Tabak drew it, pretty neat, I wonder how much fan art he gets.

Well, that's it for this year--I'm always blown away how October screams by and apart from the exhaustion, I feel like I've been able to weather the marathon pretty well physically, no injuries and no serious smears, errors, or mishaps.  I believe next year will be my tenth and final MTGinktober run.  I've loved doing MTGinktober, particularly studying all these incredible Magic illustrations and other references and coming up with different combos and scenarios for them, but I recognize it consumes so much time, for almost no benefit aside from slightly improving at art (I guess?) and entertaining hardly any people (I'm beyond grateful that people do tune in, and even recognize some long-standing and/or consistent viewers, which is pretty cool).  But more crucially, MTGinktober sidelines everything for a month--I put absolutely everything on hold for it cuz I draw so slowly and thus have no time for anything else.  So it might be for the best to call it a day there.  In the meantime, I'm happy to take a couple requests if I didn't get to your favorite character, though the archive has over 200 MTGinktobers by now, and it might be a wait while I spend every day until the election volunteering.

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Violin

MTGinktober sustains to Day 30, "Violin," starring Olivia, Crimson Bride (Xiaobotong showcase version) and Raucous Entertainer!

There aren't a lot of musical instruments in actual Magic (MTGinktober doesn't use Universes Beyond), let alone stringed ones, but I was enchanted by the idea of a virtuoso Raucous Entertainer playing two instruments at once, thanks to his many arms, one of which could easily be a violin, and where better than at Olivia's party?  And I've always wanted to do a dance invitation pose, so everything lined up.

Fun Facts:  This is Olivia's second MTGinktober appearance and so far every appearance has been as a different card. Everyone else debuts, including Invisible Stalker making an immediate move for cake.  This was also the closest call before deadline, so it was a pretty rough, one-chance scan--it's good enough, but ideally, I'd like to take a little more time on it.

Easter Eggs:  Olivia's pose is from Join the Dance and Raucous Entertainer's from Geist-Honored Monk, which I've always wanted to study.  He's playing Quatre's violin with a Wooden Stake powered by Geistflame, and a Starnheim & Sons piano.  He only plays staccato notes because that sounds cactus-like.  The cake is from Marchesa's Surprise Party and Invisible Stalker is about to slice into it with, of course, Butcher's Cleaver, the classic Innistrad Limited combo.    

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Navigator

MTGinktober plans a trip for Day 29, "Navigator," starring Hanna, Ship's Navigator; Timestream Navigator; and Thermal Navigator!

This had to be the toughest one physically to draw this year--it ate up a lot of time just getting these poses down, especially cuz I had to coordinate them so closely with each other, including Thermal jumping off Timestream's hand, forget about the highly detailed costumes for those two.  Anyway, we managed to get it reasonably polished in the last burst of inking time.  I thought it might be neat to see two navigators hanging out and since one's a Pirate, she might be trying to rip off Hanna by selling her some junk as crucial navigator's tools.  

Fun Facts:  This is Hanna's third MTGinktober appearance.  I wanted to feature her as a nod to my old campaign boss as we're winding down and I'm about to continue campaign volunteering in these final pre-election days--and Hanna herself inspired the whole navigator-swindler scenario we ran with.  Timestream's long been a captivating card I've wanted to draw, so I was happy to debut her here.  Thankfully her complicated costume was balanced timewise with Hanna's quite simple (and weird) outfit, though Thermal's debut also meant more complicated details.

Easter Eggs:  The background is based on the Chris Rallis Hanna art, with its ropes and vessel hints, and then the more jungly background comes Serra Sphinx, after I realized one of the final "normal" Expressions of Magic cards I had yet to draw was a Planar Chaos timeshifted frame.  I don't know if this counts, as it's just a background rather than a discernible figure, but I'm sure we'll have another chance for a full Colorshifted star.  Also I based Hanna mostly on DiTerlizzi's incredible Hanna's Custody.

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Jumbo

MTGinktober fee-fi-fo-fums into Day 28, "Jumbo," starring Vivien Reid and Kogla, the Titan Ape!

I wanted to do a send-up of Gorilla Titan, with its famous pose, and it felt like Vivien might hang out with him, as her whole deal is large beasts, and she recently got that new art in Foundations, which is a really cool reinterpretation, not to mention her own land, so that told me who and where to draw, but I was still a little stuck on what to do with Vivien.  More on that at the pencils section.    

Fun Facts:  This is only Vivien's second MTGinktober appearance--first time this decade!  Kogla debuts.  I had a bunch of neat co-stars and things lined up, but unfortunately the composition didn't leave much room for fellow travelers, so this is a pretty rare "straightforward" piece with just as-advertized characters and a background.

Easter Eggs:  The background is from one of the fantastic, new, full-art Forests they just unveiled in Foundations, which really helped inspire this piece.  As you can see from the bonus pencils (below), her pose changed quite a bit.  I originally wanted her to sorta sheepishly insist on a smaller banana than Kogla--either with both hands mimicking him, but also recalling Obama, or just with a pinching gesture, but I worried that might get misinterpreted, so I just cut the element altogether, unfortunately.

  Really early on, I even entertained switching over to just a portrait of Javier Dominguez to celebrate his jumbo achievement this weekend, which I had just accidentally learned of (I wanted to watch the event later and root for Kai), so I did a quick test portrait to see if it was workable and it didn't feel like it, so since you gotta make quick decisions (like choosing a hand gesture) or miss MTGinktober deadline, I decided it was best to continue on with Kogla and Viv.

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Road

MTGinktober looks for the best route to Day 27, "Road," starring Azusa, Lost but Seeking; Sakura-Tribe Elder; and Captivating Crossroads!

Again, this year has had some really similar prompts, let alone across the years, but we make do.  I wanted to do a kinder version of that Sorin-Nahiri bickering scenario anyway, and Azusa seems like she'd keep good spirits (probably literally) even while lost.  Thankfully since we last met, her hair pin has some closer detail available.

Fun Facts:  This is Azusa's long-awaited second MTGintkober appearance after a seven-year absence.  STEVE debuts, as does this landscape--I feel like I've drawn a similar structure, though.  That those Crossroads's floating fireballs seem like Kamigawa spirit objects, particularly above the Gifts Given gift was an unintentional plus.  Azusa was on her way to deliver Gifts Given as an omiyage before she got lost and now they've both been at this so long, they've forgotten who's asking who for directions.

Easter Eggs:  The signposts are a commentary on how Magic's being phased out of Magic, as per Cardboard Crack.  One thing I love about MTGinktober is getting to explore all the lore and seeing how different characters might interact--it's quite disappointing they've basically conceded their lore is inferior and aren't trying to improve it--wasn't Marvel on the outs before they focused on their stuff and now it's a powerhouse?  At the root, I blame the escalation towards EDH as initiating these incessant money moves, hollowing out Magic.

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Camera

MTGinktober snaps up Day 26, "Camera," starring Meet and Greet "Sisay"; Svega, the Unconventional; and Questing Cosplayer!

All right, this was a fun one to put together--I've wanted to draw Svega for a while, and right during MagicCon Las Vegas, no less, we finally get a great opportunity to feature her.  I've also wanted to draw a sorta fan-talent kind of interaction, and this was just the prompt for all of that.  The trickiest thing was working a Magical camera in there, but fortunately, as Magic insists on getting more modern, we have a pretty strong solution in Undergrowth Recon. 

Fun Facts:  This isn't actual Sisay, of course, but some kind of imposter Elf, so this would be her debut, as with the others.  This is the second time I've used directory signage for our signature, though, oddly enough.  Also, I almost forgot Questo's hand-teeth, but was able to live ink them in there--not his other hand is the one with the buck teeth, critical details. 

Easter Eggs:  I studied actual photos of what MagicCon Las Vegas looks like this year to inform our background, so those vertical vendor banners and imposing pillars, for instance, come from that, but also memories of attending ComicCon, so a lot of people waiting in various lines.  I don't know the policy at MagicCon, but I added bracelets for press, and tags for weapons to signify they're props and the owner is an exhibitor, which I know some cons do--Svega's tag is swooped behind her for the photo.

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Scarecrow

MTGinktober frightens Day 25, "Scarecrow," starring Aminatou, Veil Piercer; Reaper King, and Pandora's Box!

I literally had to start drawing this to start drawing this, as I couldn't come up with any real plan of what to draw and it was already time to start so I just let things roll and follow the drawing.  All I knew was I wanted these two as our main guys, along with as many "Expressions of Magic" remaining from our little list as was reasonable for the illustration.  So it's just a creepy kid and her creepier buddy, who she rides into battle or whatever, while cradling her mysterious, destructive treasure.

Fun Facts:  This is Aminatou's second MTGinktober appearance, after a four-year absence, but she debuted in one of my favorite illustrations of that year.  Reaper King debuts, but in a way that I always am a little bummed at--basically a straight copy of the card art, which is fine for some incidental character, but not really my hope for a starring role.  One of our expressions stars here, Pandora's Box, which is one of the MircroProse Shandalar exclusive cards, I believe.  If anyone might wield that, it's prolly her.

Easter Eggs:  Two more Expressions off the list, here--rather than her regular staff, she's got a Spear of the General, which comes from the Theros prerelease series (JOU's specifically, so I'll have to get to the other two eventually), and rather than her regular moth things, she's leading a pack of Bog Humbugs, from the Holiday Card set.  And then, finally hitting every kind of test card, is Pinchy McStingbutt, from the test card series with an art credit, after already hitting the nameless ones.

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Expedition

MTGinktober goes on a trip for Day 24, "Expedition," starring Chandra, Flame's Catalyst and Mira and Tau of Ondu!

It's yet another of this year's relentless "people traveling" prompts, so mize illustrate some explorers being inept at achieving their goals, thus I went with these guys from one of Magic's "Journey to the Eye, Part I" webcomic, illustrated by Nic Klein, so all of these costumes are from that, including Chandra with this really cool cape.  I did use the Grzegorz Rutkowski art to anchor, though.  I like how Chandra's just trying to get a good guide, but keeps getting chumps, so here she's following their "expertise," while losing her patience with them.

Fun Facts:  This is Chandra's second (or third) MTGinktober appearance this year, and her surely-record fifteenth over-all!  I was just glad to give her more of a starring, rather than incidental role for this one, as she's playing the part of Death the Kid, who is trying to get her useless guides to not be terrible at their jobs (they die almost instantly in the comic).  This is our first instance of drawing webcomic characters, though I wouldn't count that as something from the "Expressions of Magic" list.

Easter Eggs:  The background is made up of Expedition arts for Kor Haven, and Canopy Vista.  My signature is cleverly hidden just under Chandra's left arm.  Note I almost forgot  Chandra's Regulator tube thing, that goes to her other hand, but I live-inked it in at the last minute--thankfully I kept bouncing between comic pages to get the costumes down.

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Rust

MTGinktober wears away into Day 23, "Rust," starring Emry, Lurker of the Loch and Solemn Simulacrum!

I don't know if I've ever drawn rust before, but this composition did subconsciously recall Collect, though here it's the opposite dynamic for who's crying.  Anyway, I thought it'd be interesting to see Emry realizing one of her prized artifacts was rusting away as she hoards her treasures underwater, and who better than a Sad Robot?  It mighta been funny if she didn't realize he was falling apart, like that one webcomic of like a forest dryad who has tea parties and stuff with her strong, silent boyfriend, not realizing he's a long-dead knight's remains, but I wanted to go emo.

Fun Facts:  This is Emry's fourth MTGinktober appearance, and Solemn's first, but not the first time we've had a real-world player (and Invitational winner) depicted--though such illustrations usually tank, but that's prolly cuz they're the focus of the illustration, whereas here he's more a supportive role.  I decided a while ago no longer to draw real-world players, cuz something terrible regarding them usually happens soon after, so I'm trying to avoid all that, but this prompt was perfect for this card, which only happens to be based on a real-world player.

Easter Eggs:  With all the scumbling texture, I was able to hide my signature pretty well in the bottom right.  You can also see some last minute details added in the ink touch-ups phase, which is after I've done my "principle inks" (see the image that is usually right above our pencils image, what the inks look like right after wiping the pencils but before going back in for the detailwork)--we last-minute added in her hair decorations and some lily pads.

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Camp

MTGinktober plans derivative activities for Day 22, "Camp," starring Spike, Tournament Grinder; Vorthos, Steward of Myth; and Lord Windgrace (Tatamepi version)!

This year is definitely about a lot of really similar prompts, so might as well make a sequel to our old Camping illustration, though Camp Wedonwannamull has upgraded its facilities (or Thalia and Tyvar just paid for the hardmode experience last time.  Anyway, I loved reading stories people post of their learning Magic while away at camp, so I wanted to draw a scene like that, where clearly only Vorthos is into it (see her various camp bracelets) while Spike is just constantly jamming games.

Fun Facts:  This is Spike's fourth MTGinktober appearance--and she's since learned not to play lands in front, at least as a courtesy to Vorthos, who makes her second appearance, her debut being with Spike last year.  And it's easy to scoff at Vorthos helping Spike prep her perfect 75, but she's instrumental in choosing the most thematic Basics.  Also we've done pretty well this year, but on the 22nd day, we've finally got an unmaskable ink smear (see Vorthos).  The cat's inspired by these charming, responsibly-nagging cat illustrations I've been seeing on Twitter.

Easter Eggs: As a sequel, theres there's continuity with the last Camp-themed illo--see the camp's shirt (unclear why Vorthos wears her costume to sleep) and six-timer Thalia, Guardian of Thraben's snoozing in the background with a familiar-symbol eye mask. Speaking of familiar symbols, her swooshy B (ß)'s on her pillow--campers BYOP.  There's a Clock of DOOOOOOOOOOOOM! and the cards are Mortivore, naturally, and Regal Bunnicorn (testing that */* matchup)--Vorthos like bunnies, Spike prefers the power of the best Lhurgoyf--and 七原しえ red Swamps for the edge.

Reuxben

FanArt_ink.Rhinoceros

MTGinktober noses into Day 21, "Rhinoceros," starring Headliner Scarlett and Security Rhox!

Siege Rhino felt to obvious, but I finally got to draw Headliner Scarlett, after she narrowly missed out as a bombed-out failure of an artist/singer who couldn't chart.  I've always loved the composition and narrative in Security Rhox, so when I saw it, I knew I had to run on that.  It's kind of inspired by when I saw Bill Burr live--he was just hanging out in the hallway after the show (I was too nervous to talk to him) but he didn't have any security, though he was nowhere near the name he is now.

Fun Facts:  This is both characters' debuts.  I refuse to draw any Universes Beyond cards for MTGinktober, but I gave the Clue set a pass because they made a serious effort to bring that into Magic, as opposed to just giving us straight-up The One Walking 40kth Doctor--it really feels like how Magic takes on Greek/Norse/Egyption Mythology and so on, making it Magic's own.  So because of that, Clue is fair for MTGinktober.  That said, I don't want to return to it too much, as it's still on the periphery.

Easter Eggs:  I also feel hesitant to Duskmourn, as it's just too modern for Magic, but ironically the background comes from one of its rooms (and not the Clue-type--that's the set, not the artifact...) Ticket Booth.  The plucky ticket taker is Will, Scholar of Frost.  I wanted a kind of annoying, but earnest summer-job style character taking tickets--I figured he travels the multiverse doing various first-jobs--so he wouldn't expect to see the actual star of the show in-person, so he's thrilled to see a celebrity.  I also got to study Secret Service hands, pretty cool.

Reuxben