Mary (Final Fantasy VI) Sketches 5

Autumn was in full swing, leaves once verdant now turned into varying shades of orange, red, and yellow. The sun shone a different way in the sky now, with skies bluer than they usually would have been in the summer. There were many days when they had to rake up leaves in piles and to store them away in burlap sacks, for use as either fuel for the fire, or dry mulch for the planters in the future.

Autumn also meant something else for Terra. She remembered the days when she still communicated with her father through his magicite; he would tell her stories of his life in the Esper World, and what her mother was like to him. While a lot of their conversations were so terribly mundane to the outsider, to them, it was all they had as father and child, robbed of the peace they should have had.

Maduin loved her dearly. He told her to always remember a certain day in October, the day when he and her mother were the happiest they had ever been when Terra was...

Etherei and Zephyr Sketches 2

Heels clacked in the distance, the sound of hard leather meeting ancient stone echoing from the other side of the corridor. Then, at last, a figure emerged from the darkness: a caped woman with long, flowing apricot tresses, her cerulean eyes cold and scrutinizing as her gaze transfixed on the young Enerhija Knight before her.

Etherei swallowed. Suddenly, it felt like all the fighting beyond the walls became drowned out by the sound of his heartbeat pounding in his ears. She had such an intimidating aura that he could already feel the bile in his system rising to his throat from how overwhelming it was.

"Wh... Who are you?"

Silence hung over them following his question, compounding the already suffocating feeling of dread and darkness that constantly hovered all over the fortress' atmosphere. She then reached for the hilt of her blade, drawing it out with a clean swipe from its sheath.

"Hmph. I had dismissed you as yet another barbarian like the others invading my liege's domain," She grunted. "But as you've at least some semblance of decorum rather than coming mindlessly at me, I will do you this one final act of kindness."

Raising her blade, she aimed it at him directly, her cape and long hair billowing right behind her.

"I am Emeline Marie de Garde, of the Valkyrie Queen's Chosen," She introduced herself with steely conviction, "And you shall sully these walls with your existence no further."

---

Alone without Zephyr's guidance, Etherei ventures into the Fjalar Fortress alone, where he comes face-to-face with one of the Valkyrie Queen's most powerful generals and a member of her personal guard. And boy, things ain't looking good for our little guy.

Was messing around with lighting again while I was working on this, and I also used this tutorial on Pinterest as a reference for getting the stone walls and floor sketched out. I'll have to try this on a future landscape painting though. This rendering technique looks absolutely genius.

Self-Reflections 1

The one time I decide not to add associated backstory to my work and it takes longer than I expected it to. 😅😆

Just something about my avatar that had been just floating around in my head while I was lounging by a river in the mountains a few days ago. So I figured I'd indulge in myself a little bit. 😌 Also made a last-minute, half-assed attempt at shadows and lighting. Looks decent enough, I suppose.

Nameless Scion Sketches 5

The sight was horrifyingly vivid.

Of you standing there, staggering once, coughing. The second time, you fell to your knees, and you were hacking out gobs of light (part of her wished it had been blood instead, to save you a harsher fate). Alisaie could hear how labored your breathing was, how erratic it became, choked as you collasped prostrating, violently trembling. Chocolate brown orbs Alisaie once peered into in search for comfort now rolled to the back of your head. Your body and limbs twisted in unnatural angles amidst the noise of bones breaking and flesh tearing.

All the while, light began beaming out of your body, threatening to consume you whole. In the final moment you held your remaining sliver of sanity, tears rolled down your cheeks as you intended to make it count.

"Alisaie..." You forced a last gasp, "I'm sorry—"

Nameless Summoner Sketches 4

He didn't really know when it had started. What he did remember, though, was how. He recalled the first time he had seen her: a young woman with her black hair tied to a ponytail, well-dressed in her neat blazer and straight-cut knee-length skirt—a salarywoman who looked like she often kept to herself. She stopped to watch him play briefly against the other Transients in the court, and none could match his speed and agility as he scored dunk after dunk. The crowd cheered from the fences and the bleachers, rooting for their favorite stray dog. Unlike the rest of them though, she didn't stay. She simply moved on.

He dismissed it as nothing initially. Passerby watched the games all the time. Nothing new... Until she had come by again a few days later. Just like the first time, she stayed to watch him win, but was gone as soon as he did. For the next couple of weeks, she became a frequent sight to him from across the fence, yet never with the throng of admirers sitting and cheering.

Always in that stuffy corporate getup, always watching... Always coming and going like the wind.

One day, things changed.

Crocigator Sketches 2

Slowly trying to get through these missed days of OC-tober... 😅

I was planning on making another custom hoodie with my gator OCs featured on them. I'm thinking about making it Crocigator-centric; the idea is I'd have my last sketch of him on the front, then these little expressions of him on the sleeves, and then a final design on the back of the hoodie. Not sure what that final design is meant to be yet, though. I may opt for something simpler on the front of the hoodie, and then put the big Crocigator sketch on the back instead.

Nameless Summoner Sketches 3

AH I'M 5 DAYS LATE NOW 😱😭

Wanted to flesh out more of my Nameless Summoner and her interests. In my head, she has an active lifestyle and a bit of a quiet rebel, so I decided to add skateboarding as one of her hobbies.

I've had an interest in skateboarding myself since I was younger, but the best I could do back then was just playing the Tony Hawk's Underground series back on the PS2 and PSP. I've also skateboarded a little bit IRL when I recently became very interested in trying it out for myself. I'm not particularly all that experienced with it but I remember the thrill of being able to get on and stay on the board for the first time. I'll leave all the kickflips and other gnarly tricks for my Summoner to do in my stead. 🛹

Etherei and Zephyr Sketches 1

In their search for an airship, the pair had a chance encounter with Leonard Lightfell, a general in the Caladrian Royal Army. He had come to Argent after hearing of their heroic deeds in the floating island of Ferro, wishing to personally thank them for slaying the abomination they had encountered in the Coperna Mines.

But the man's visit was beyond merely a display of courtesy on behalf of his kingdom; he sought them out to recruit them for the kingdom's upcoming assault on Fjalar, the Valkyrian fortress on the isolated continent of Titania. War had been coming to a head between the two nations, and the skirmishes began transpiring more frequently on the soil of northern Aurum, where Caladria was located. Now the Kingdom wanted to take the fight to the Valkyries and put a swift, decisive end to their nations' historical animosity once and for all. He believed that extra help from mercenaries and adventurers would bolster their strength, as it once had several centuries past, when the entire Aethersphere rallied up against the Queendom during their imperial campaign of conquest across the skies.

In return for their service, Leonard offered the opportunity for them to be granted an airship upon war's end. Beyond the fleet under the Kingdom's employ, finding anyone manufacturing airships outside of Argent was rare... If not unaffordable by what few sparks they held. It wasn't as if they had a lot of options, though Zephyr had told the knight that they would take the time to think on his offer, which he agreed.

As Leonard turned to leave, however, he made one final request... A duel to prove one's mettle in combat. He was curious to discover the strength behind the saviors of Ferro, which would perhaps have been wiped off the face of the map by now were it not for their intervention.

"Well, Eth," Zephyr starts as she gives her shorter companion a smack on his upper back, "Guess you're up."

"What!?" Etherei staggered from the force of her hand, but quickly regained his balance. "Wait, why me!? Shouldn't it be you? Out of the two of us, you're stronger than I am!"

"It could be, but the man's offered the challenge to you, not me. Would be wrong of me to take it in your stead."

"Full glad am I to know you've the honor to match your strength, Lady Zephyr." The Caladrian general turned his gaze onto the rattled Etherei. "And to you, Sir Etherei. I once again entreat you to a demonstration of your combat prowess."

Backed into a corner, Etherei once again looked pleadingly at Zephyr for help. But she simply gave him a thumbs up in solidarity.

For the first time since coming to the Aether, he was on his own...

---

A quick little story involving my two OCs, Etherei and Zephyr. I ended up writing a much longer story than I expected originally, so much that I had to cut so much of it off and replace it with something more succinct to read. I also really wanted to move on from this so I had to take what wasn't necessary and save it on a separate file. 😅

Nameless Summoner Sketches 2

"Hey..." Arc kept their voice down, but spoke loud enough for their feline companion to hear. "Hey, Sitri."

"Huh?" Sitri turned around, his attention distracted from watching his schoolmates rush off to the festival grounds. "What's up, Arc?"

Arc pointed discreetly with a flick of their head at the black-haired woman wearing a red, Shinjuku letterman jacket striding across the hallway. Reaching her hand out towards the handle of the glass doors, she pushed it open and walked right out of the school.

"Who is that? I've never seen her around before. Is she a new student?"

"Oh, her?" Sitri's face beamed at his friend's interest. "She's just the coolest cat you'll find in town. She's not a student though. One of the TA's. She's super nice and really awesome. She just started working here recently. I think it was like... Two weeks ago when she first came around?"

Arc crossed their arms over their chest. "Huh."

A cheeky grin spread across Sitri's face. "Why, you like her or something?"

"W-What?" Arc blinked, their face quickly turning pink. "I don't even know her at all. How could I like anyone from just seeing them once?"

Sitri laughed, elbowing his friend. "Aww, you know I'm playin', Arc. But I don't blame you. She's really pretty. Lots of folks know her and like her too. She's got her own little fanclub around school, not that she knows too much about it. But..."

"But...?"

Sitri's shoulders slumped a bit as he sighed. "Well. I dunno if this is true or not, but I hear she's dated a lot of other people before. Rumor has it she's dumped them all for some reason or another." He shrugged. "They say it's always her who leaves first. You wouldn't think it to look at her though. Would be a real darn shame if it was true..."

---

Running with more Nameless Summoner content while I still feel up for it! Had to write the text up in like half an hour just so I can move on to my next OC-tober entry... 😅

Nameless Summoner Sketches 1

Gender: Female

Guild: Unaffiliated/Independent

School: Setagaya Agricultural Academy

Height: 160 cm./5'2"

Weight: 54 kg./119 lbs.

A young woman living a quiet life in the Suginami suburbs of Tokyo. Although she takes horticulture classes in Setagaya Agricultural Academy and is a member of their mountaineering club, she works full-time as a teaching assistant in Shinjuku Academy. A social butterfly to her peers, she maintains amicable ties with all she meets, though these ties are, more often than not, skin-deep at best; very few are the individuals that have ever really crossed the threshold of her pleasant outer shell to really know who she is beneath the surface.

Outside of her work life, she engages in a number of outdoorsy hobbies ranging from hiking to swimming, and even hunting. One of her favorite hobbies is actually gardening, and she keeps an elaborately furnished greenhouse on the second floor of her Suginami home.

A stray dog from Arakawa has taken an interest in her after learning she was into hunting. While she admires his allure from afar, she light-heartedly rebuffs his efforts to seduce her, fully aware of his reputation. However, she has no qualms about treating him as a friend.

She's no stranger to the dating scene, having dated a few Transients throughout her time in Tokyo. Unfortunately, she's had to end each relationship every single time, finding that everyone she's dated all see someone else in her rather than who she actually is. This has left her quite disillusioned and even distraught that the people who are interested in her will only ever see the person they want her to be. A certain chain-wielder, whom she befriended during a school event in Shinjuku and she has since grown close to, is especially privy to this information.

---

Time to put my Nameless Summoner in the spotlight for a change! I don't think I've ever set aside any time to talk about her in depth (just like the Wayfinder 😔). She's a bit older in my AU Housamo timeloop, between 18-20 years old.

Mary (Final Fantasy VI) Sketches 4

They had been a few nights out on the road since they escaped the imperial forces besieging Figaro Castle. After passing through the southern caves of the desert, a breathtaking view of the open ocean greeted them at the port town of South Figaro. Although they hadn't been too long since they were at a settlement with amenities, they were nonetheless grateful to be back in civilization.

Edgar arranged for their lodging at the local inn, though it turned out vacancy was in high demand. Thankfully, the innkeeper was able to spare them the two rooms they needed. Gender helped everyone decide the sleeping arrangements for the evening.

But as one problem went, another came in, as the two women were soon confronted with the dilemma of a singular queen bed instead of the two twins Edgar and Locke had for their room.

Viresco and Tadatora Sketches 1

Ah, two of my favorite OCs... And yet, I've not bothered to spare more time to just draw about them. Together, preferrably in a sensually intimate position.

Viresco has several love interests in her life, but my personal favorite is her dynamic with Tadatora. She's been broken since her last relationship fell to ruin, often easily blinded by her narrow-minded pursuit of revenge against the man who betrayed her, even when she portrays herself to all as an elegant and demure woman. Someone as level-headed and down-to-earth as Tadatora serves as an excellent foil to this. In the moments when they are alone, Viresco knows she doesn't have to pretend, because Tadatora has already seen her when she had been at her worst and on the brink of death. She trusts him not to take advantage of her at her weakest, as he's already proven to her—by tending to her gravest wounds as she recovered—that she can entrust her life to him.

His loyalty towards her, and her willingness to let him see her at her most vulnerable... Man. I will take ten of these, good sirs and madams. 😋

Nameless Wayfinder Sketches 2

She barged in without even so much as a warning. She came after she heard whispers from the Exalted and the local skritt that you were in the area. As soon as she was able, she rushed to find your hut overlooking the Fahautl Grounds: a quiet sanctuary in the heart of the Auric Wilds that you considered home more than you did Kryta. It was the home only she knew of... As well as the local Itzel; they helped you build it, after all. They were also quick to confirm the rumors.

She expected you to inform her—via comms or carrier pidgeon, something—but you sent her nary a word of your coming to the valley. One would think you would have tried to reach out to your beloved after being physically out of reach for months.

Seeing you now, though... She realized why.

"Commander...?"

Jagged marks littered your body, ignorant of the sanctity the body was once said to represent. Most of the smaller ones were old and healed, but so many were the massive burns and gashes that once tore your body apart, in more ways than one.

It was in your eyes that Caithe saw the most change. If one peered deeply within them like she had, one could see the grief that has haunted you for the last two years: regrets that ultimately culminated with the losses of both Sieran and Trahearne. Today, however, something darker lingered in your bistre brown orbs... Something that Caithe could even say she's often seen in her own.

Shame... And self-loathing.

---

Oh, delicious angst, how I thrive in thee. Having angst between these two is such a treat.

Caithe is my favorite character in Guild Wars 2. I remember a time when I was so indifferent to her, only to end up falling for her hard when I saw the tensions between her and the Commander, and their attempts to patch it up. As I played more of the story, the more I saw of their interactions and ugh, it hits especially hard in Living World 4 and End of Dragons. I swear to god, there is so much shipping fuel for these two from just looking into their conversations together. And I am here for ALL of it.

Nameless Scion Sketches 4

I usually depict my Scion in her Monk outfit, so this time I wanted to change it up and show what she looks like in her Paladin outfit. This class is my 2nd main class to play in the game, but I typically feel hesitant to draw her in these clothes because of how stupidly detailed the armor can be. I find it daunting, though I do love it as an outfit for her.

Crocigator Sketches 1

"Where the fish at?"

---

Definitely been ages since I last made anything related to Gator Buddies.

I don't know why but for the longest time, I struggled to match Crocigator's head shape to that of his initial concept art. I guess it's because I never really made a proper, individual character reference sheet for him and the other characters... But something about the shape of his head in my comics almost always felt kind of wrong and I could never really put my finger as to what. Even this piece that was meant to be his official art didn't feel right to me.

After taking a look at my art again, I made another attempt, though this time I was more mindful about the simple shapes on his head. Then I came up with this, and frankly I much prefer the look of his head like this compared to before. I suppose I just really needed a better distinction of the gap between his head and the rest of his body... Since in the past he just really looked like a thumb or something. 😅😂

Nameless Wayfinder Sketches 1

Back with the Nameless Wayfinder! I've only ever depicted her in my Guild Wars 2 fancomic, but I've never really talked about her interests beyond sketching and art. I'd say her favorite kind of food is Elonian cuisine.

Nameless Scion Sketches 3

You weren't certain where to focus your attentions first: the broken pieces of a white staff framed and hung over the sandstone wall at the end of the room, the fact that you were surrounded by yet another crowd of eccentric strangers (thank goodness for Thancred's welcome presence, though he was no less peculiar), or how to effectively negotiate commensurate wages from your would-be employers. They were no doubt interested in your newfound abilities, as well as your willingness to work, and so you felt rather confident that they would offer compensation equal to your value.

But it's an upbeat, pleased voice that pierces clarity to your muddled thoughts.

"So you are the adventurer whom I've heard of so much."

The first things that came into your line of sight were the shape of her figure and her outfit. Light blonde hair braided on one side and tied up as her bangs covered half of her face. She was no stranger to exposing her skin, much like you were, though she carried a fair bit more elegance than you did, and she had a lot more to cover herself up with.

Your gaze eventually fell on her pale blue eyes, clear as crystal, as they glimmer with welcoming warmth. 

"Well met, friend. My name is Minfilia, and I lead the Scions of the Seventh Dawn."

A shiver ran down your spine. Despite your carefully crafted amicable façade, which you'd worn amongst the many individuals you had encountered out of necessity... It felt as though she was staring at you in all your entirety, laid bare all for her to see. For the first time since coming to this world, you had never felt so... Exposed.

Perhaps this was what they meant when they said the eyes are a window to the soul.

---

A short snippet of when the Nameless Scion Adventurer first meets Minfilia at the Waking Sands. She's had to play customer service for all of her clients in Ul'dah, but for this new employer, she might not even have to. Can't say the same for her other allies, though.

OC-tober 2026

Now, it wouldn't be right to start October without starting a new art challenge... And it wouldn't be right to start the challenge without my avatar featured, as is the custom:

I call this year's art challenge OC-tober 2026. I will be engaging in content that centers around my original characters, creating little snippets and doodles that expound on their backstories and even interactions with other characters. Or maybe it's just sketches of the characters in various poses. I had said before that I wanted to tell more of my characters' stories, and this, I feel, is a good way to be able to do that.

Given my busy schedule, I doubt I will be able to do the full 31 days of the challenge this year. But as I do with every challenge every year, I'll strive to do all the entries as best as I can. I'll be putting the tag on the sidebar of my website, as usual.

Here's to another productive October full of art! 🧃

10+1 Years of Crossover

I told myself years ago that I would make a post to commemorate a decade of my blog being up. That, unfortunately, never came to pass during the time I intended for it to be so. But perhaps, with me having redone my self-portrait recently, this might have been a more favorable outcome so I can properly display how much my art skill has developed (and degraded) through my avatars over the last 11 years:

Ladies, gents, gays, and furniture. We've come a long way since I first departed DeviantArt in 2015, searching for a quiet niche on the Internet where I can showcase and write about my art, even though I grappled for so long with how inadequate and obscure I had been. In many ways, my obscurity has served both blessing and a curse, though these days I view it more as a blessing than anything.

I've grown in a lot of ways, as well. I suppose one can also see this in my avatar timelapse: back in 2015, I had been weathering through many personal issues and insecurities, especially with my appearance; most of that had changed around 2017 when I accepted my hair would be as rebellious as I was no matter what. I desired to improve in digital art but never brought up the will to properly commit to it until 2020. Six years later, my art style looks near-unrecognizable from what it had been. I also have a lot less covering over my avatar's skin this year. Being healthy truly does wonders for one's self-confidence. 😆

It's been a journey. I've had my ups and downs, good times and bad. I call myself an artist no longer, but art remains a defining part of my life and identity. It will continue to be for as long as I breathe, and for as long as my imagination is alight with the stories I want to tell.

To you who has borne witness to my journey these last eleven years—be it in part or in full—and remain to continue by my side as I stride forward whilst penning these unnecessarily verbose proses, I once again offer my gratitude, as I am wont to do during these milestones. Even though I've said previously that I don't really give a rat's ass about trying to improve my art, I find that I'm going to try and do so anyway, whether I'm aware of it or otherwise.

Here's to eleven years of Crossover, the confluence of my creativity and imagination. It will only continue to grow as I do, and I look forward to another decade of bringing my ideas to life on canvas.🧃

Redesigned Self-Portrait 2026

Earlier this year, I made a self-portrait for 2026 as an early birthday present for myself. I was content with it at the time, but following my experiences over the summer, I felt like I needed to make something that better captured how I felt about myself in the present:

I've spoken a few times on this blog and to my friends about how this year I've been rediscovering myself and my femininity through health improvement, outdoor recreation, and building up the identity of my Nameless Scion. Back in June, when I made the first self-portrait, I felt so-so about the outcome, but today, with this one... I felt more confident and satisfied with myself than anything. I'm especially glad with the refined shading style and anatomy.

I feel like this one properly captures the essence of how freespirited I've been, how happier I've felt about my body and who I am now despite whatever lingering feelings of inadequacy I have. Of course, this is but an ideal of what I truly want for myself to become. Still a ways away for that defined stomach, at least. 😋

I have multiple versions of this avatar, but for simplicity's sake I am just posting this one version for my blog post. I might get around to adding the rest to this post later.

Mary (Final Fantasy VI) Sketches 3

Thought I'd engage in a quick hit of self-indulgence while I slowly chip away at a project I've put on the backburner for months.

I am content. 😌

Blossom Princess

After nearly a full year of being smitten by this woman (again) and struggling to create anything due to a combination of my art block, my busy job and my desire to spend more time in the outdoors, I've finally been able to make proper fan art of my favorite Final Fantasy character of all time. This has truly been a long time coming for me.

And God bless her new outfit in Dissidia Duellum for making this possible. I'm genuinely very happy to see how she actually looks with her hair down in 3D. She looks absolutely gorgeous. I already can't wait for her summer outfit. 😏

Objet d'Art (Part 15)

Still super employed and super outdoorsy, but I managed to find the time to update!

🌌A Wayfinder/Peitha Series🌌

Objet d'Art

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Self-Portrait 2026

An overdue self-portrait, though it's more of a birthday gift to myself more than anything. I've been wanting to draw my avatar in her new look in full color, though it had taken me quite a while to finally get around to it... Not that it wasn't all bad; in the time I hadn't been doing art, I've been able to just rediscover myself as a creator, and find a newfound sense of self-confidence especially in my IRL appearance. Weight loss and touching grass really help. A lot. Especially when I want to show more skin lately.

I would say this could have been better off as a full-body render, but I'm not upset over how this turned out either. I tried to attempt relying less on settling for black lineart to show folds and different values and just calling it a day. It's... A work in progress, I would say.

I also made two versions because sometimes I like wearing glasses and sometimes I don't. I'd never wear contacts though. They sound like a pain to just maintain with how small they are.

Gold Creek Campground

It's been a while since I dabbled in painting a fully colored landscape. I feel really good about this one.

As I mentioned in my last post, I've recently gotten into camping. It was always something that intrigued me even when I was younger but I could never fully get into it because I had other hobbies, and the Philippines was waaaay too hot and humid to even enjoy any kind of camping.

When I moved here to Canada, I was suddenly surrounded by grandiose mountains within plain sight: Golden Ears, Mt. Baker, the Cheam Range, the Lions and Grouse Mountain... To name a few. Whenever I drive up to Whistler, I'm treated to even more sights of nature within reach: dense evergreen forests, snowcapped peaks, pristine rivers and glacial lakes... The economy might be shitty where I am currently, but the nature is simply too beautiful. I'm in love with it.

After spending some time dipping my feet through park walks and fishing, I decided 2026 was the year I finally jumped into camping. My girlfriend and I spent our first trip together in early April, at Gold Greek Campground in Golden Ears Provincial Park. I felt so giddy being surrounded by nature and just being out in the middle of the woods, setting up a tent while my girlfriend tended to our campfire. We grilled some sausages and slept on the floor of our tent... Though we grossly underestimated just how cold the ground would get even with all the sheets we brought.

Since then, I've understood why one of my acquaintances is such an avid camper. I used to think it was ridiculous that he was booking camp reservations months in advance and that he was camping regardless of the weather. I still wouldn't camp in poor weather conditions, but seeing how booked campsites can get in the summer, I can see why he had to book so early.

In any case, that first experience was all I needed to get hooked. I've been going back to Gold Creek every now and then by myself whenever a site was available (my partner isn't as into it as I am). I've also gotten a few sites booked out east in the Okanagan for June and July. I would have never thought just how into it I would be.

So far all I've done is frontcountry camping, which is simply booking a site at a campground instead of venturing out into the wilderness. Setting up my tents and lugging my equipment around is a pain, but the whole experience of just being in nature—sleeping in the wilderness and just being unbothered by the world beyond—has proven to be a lot more fulfilling than I would have ever imagined.

The idea for this painting had quickly weaseled its way into my head during the morning after my second trip out. I was taking photos of how the sun was just hitting the trees because I found it so serene. I wanted to depict the scene flat and 2D, something like a Terraria screenshot, and to use a cool color palette consisting of blues, greens, and grays, with yellow for contrast.

I'm elated to see my painting ultimately match my vision. I'll be doing more outdoorsy landscapes related to my camping adventures and more over the summer. That is, assuming I can stay grounded long enough at home to actually work on them... 😅

Open-Minded

"I'm not opposed to exploring more of this... Newfound dynamic between us, if you're willing."

---

It's been a while since I decided to create something fully rendered. Had spent a lot of my time on this one trying some techniques and restructuring my process. Though I found myself back on the same pitfalls I had when I struggled to break my glass ceiling, they don't frustrate me as much. Rather, I'm a lot happier simply because I finished something.

I've been on-and-off with this project, frankly; things have just grown terribly busy on my end with my work having become regular. Well, that, and me popping in and out of the mountains on a regular basis on the weekends to either go camping or paddleboarding. Hah.

Anyway. More of my Nameless Scion. As I've mentioned in a previous sketchdump, she died in her old world and was reborn in this new body, while still retaining her old memories. That said, because of these experiences, she has a wealth more patience than most of her peers, though that doesn't stop her from quietly roasting anyone in the back of her mind, especially during the events of A Realm Reborn. Her experiences have also allowed her to have a generally more open mind about trying everything and anything... Including the exploration of her own sexuality.

As this hovered over my head these last several weeks, I found myself just projecting into her. Like with my other OCs, a lot of her development has been mostly tied to my current frame of mind—workaholism, general indifference, love for the outdoors, an interest in multiple hobbies, to name a few that has shaped her identity. Perhaps it's the fact that I've been living a healthier life, but having an OC like this, unapologetically apathetic to whatever means little in the grand scheme of things... Unapologetically scarred yet confident, unashamed to show just how feminine she is and can be despite her imperfections... It's inspiring. It makes me feel good about myself. I have a lot of admiration for the kind of person she is and what she represents for me: someone who is unafraid to live her life to the fullest, unbound by limitations, while still staying grounded to who she really is at her core.

It's spurred me in recent days to try things I otherwise wouldn't have done. Typically, they're a lot of outdoorsy things, like camping and paddleboarding, as I mentioned previously. Coupled with my physically active job and working out to lose weight, I feel a lot lighter. Thinner. It's easier to breathe. I have a better outlook towards my body and fit into clothes I previously struggled to.

And that just makes me feel more confident about... Well. Showing more of that. Being a little more revealing when I'm paddleboarding or swimming rather than covering so much of myself up. I often find myself thinking, "Maybe I want to show off a little more skin and feel sexy..." Or something. It's a little silly. 😆 Nonetheless, I feel a lot happier now from just being inspired by this, though I also know I've still quite a ways to go to hit some of my health targets.

This art piece was meant to just express all that. Express how much I admire my OC and her femininity. Ergo, she's hot and I would totally bang given the opportunity. 😏

Objet d'Art (Part 14)

WE ARE FINALLY BACK WITH THIS! I am so proud to present Part 14 after months of hiatus!

My god, Peitha looks great. I haven't drawn her in ages and it's been a real blast being able to draw her again. I've come a long way from my initial attempts to draw her in my style last year, as well. She's definitely (and finally) going to show up more from here on out.

Updates to this comic will be more frequent especially now I've got my art groove again ✌

🌌A Wayfinder/Peitha Series🌌

Objet d'Art

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Crossroads (Part 2)

Watching the ball roll on this new comic makes me feel so excited. 😄

Still thinking about a name, but I'm not finding one that satisfies me. I'll be camping this weekend so I think I'll just brainstorm further then. ⛺

Crossroads

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Crossroads (Part 1)

Oh no... Not me starting comics while I have others still in progress 💀💀💀

For my own pure self-satisfaction and the fact that it's been driving me insane lately thinking about these two, I've decided to start a series of fancomics solely dedicated to exploring the relationship between Terra and my OC Mary.

I'm still thinking of a name for this series. I'm going to need to think about it for a good while...

Crossroads

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A Shift in Direction

I don't usually post anything purely text unless it's a fan fiction of some sort. And even then I usually have an image to go with it. But today there's no fan fiction; just me wanting to express how I've been feeling about art as a whole, and where I would like to go moving forward.

Actually, I do have an image to go with it, and it's this lovely view of Alouette Lake from the lake's southern shore; beyond the valley, you can see a glimpse of Mt. Clarke and Stonerabbit Peak in the distance. It's my destination of choice whenever I feel troubled about anything or simply want to relax, so I decided to go here to gather my thoughts and write this post out.

Contemplation

As some may have been no doubt aware, I took an unexpected and sudden hiatus from art for the past couple of months. I expressed what I was feeling at the time at the end of my Studytober 2025 art challenge, but despite my attempts to further improve on my skills, I genuinely couldn't find it in myself to focus on my art whenever I tried to make something new. I couldn't look at my canvas without feeling misery and inadequacy that I couldn't overcome my own glass ceiling. Beyond what I knew, I couldn't understand lighting no matter how I tried to take a crack at it and no matter what the tutorials and videos tried to tell me. This overarching feeling of failure along with envy for my betters left me feeling like I needed to distance myself from certain people. I also felt incapable of doing my usual art ventures, because I was just reminded of what I struggled to accomplish. Coupled with the feeling that everything I tried to learn wasn't the right way to learn art simply because it was a hodgepodge of art tutorials I randomly found online rather than a curated art course, I naturally felt like whatever I would end up making henceforth would never amount to anything on par compared to the other, more experienced artists around me... Especially those who seemed to be doing just fine based on both art quality and social media statistics.

Through this period, I immersed myself in videogames again: a good old companion during times of depression and escapism. I came upon the company of some folk who have been very pleasant to spend time with especially when I played Final Fantasy XIV. Being in their company didn't solve my problems of course, but they were company I frankly needed while I both enjoyed the game and trudged on in my journey to find myself again. Somehow I did, as I was shaping the identity of my Nameless Scion and as I slowly started working on a commission for a friend.

There was also a point in this period that I found myself questioning my own beliefs especially with regards to the use of AI... And even my identity as an artist. In one of my friend circles, I witnessed an argument between two good friends of mine—one, an artist for advocating for the downfall of AI, and the other believing that AI is being treated the same way digital art or photography when they first came out. Things became unnecessarily heated, resulting in the latter being dismissed by my artist circle as the rest of the insufferable pro-AI scum... Despite me knowing that he wasn't. He was simply inquisitive and wanted to understand, only to be cast out for not unquestioningly agreeing with the collective.

The encounter is nothing new especially in the art world. I've seen a lot of people online, be it on Discord or Twitter or YouTube, expressing their sheer abhorrence for AI art/writing apps and dunking on anyone who supports it, let alone uses it. As an artist myself, I see where they're coming from: artists have a hard time as it is trying to make money from their profession as a whole. What's more, the AI is fed art made by actual people so that it can improve its image generation, and more often than not, the artists who made the art didn't consent to the use of their work. And given the shift of many companies to AI integration... It's no surprise artists feel threatened that their careers teeter even more precariously on the balance.

The Starving Artist

Yet even without AI, hasn't that always been the case for artists in general? It's only when you get lucky with a following willing to spend money on you that you can ever find any semblance of financial stability. And even then that's simply up there in the game of chance. Being in the right place at the right time. Knowing the right people. In a conversation I had with Tom Carter, one of Vancouver's most renowned painters in recent memory, he expresses these same sentiments when I asked him what the key to success is in his art career. He explained to me that most of his job as an artist involves socializing and attending various social events to make connections. "You never know if you'll find your next big opportunity," was his reasoning for it.

However, famous as he was, he admitted to me that he was struggling like any other artist in the industry. This only exacerbated when I witnessed him bedridden in a hospital sometime in the midsummer of 2025. I remember vividly the enthusiasm in his voice when I met him on his 60th birthday, how he had his life ahead of him as he was entering his golden years... Only for so much of it to be stripped away by health complications no less than a week later. His health has improved since his bout at the hospital, yet in our conversations since his recovery, I notice the undercurrent of bitterness in his voice... One that I know all too well.

But I digress.

The life of an artist very rarely ever equates to that of financial stability. I've gone through this myself, when my experiences proved without a shadow of a doubt that I made more money working two entirely different jobs than relying solely on Twitch streaming and commissions. At the time, I could never fully transition to having art as a full-time career. You'd be fortunate, perhaps, if you wound up with a job at a good company that pays you a commensurate salary... Or if you made it big as a famous artist, taking commissions, working as an art streamer, or making an ongoing webcomic that has hundreds or thousands of followers.

But let's take a step back and think about it for a second from an economic standpoint. We have all these artists struggling to make it big in an already oversaturated market. Just look at Twitter... Heck, even any Discord server that has any semblance of an art community. More often than not there's some kind of comment about how life is hard as an artist, how they're not getting enough followers on social media, how AI is ruining everything for artists... Yet so many enter the market with this knowledge in mind, and wonder why they struggle to weather their dire financial straits.

It makes me wonder if anyone has ever really just... Stopped to consider that maybe that it's simply the basic law of supply and demand at work? When I look at job postings, at least here in British Columbian Canada, I don't really see postings for artists or musicians or anyone in a creative field often, and those I do find require years of technical experience or training that I simply don't have. Between August to September of last year, I was on the hunt for a new job, and most of the postings I've seen involved office work, retail, construction, or anything that required special certifications or trade licenses.

In addition, given the state of the economy these days, and based on so many conversations I've had with co-workers and acquaintances I've met in social gatherings, people seem to be generally more concerned about trying to pay their bills. Groceries. Retirement. Surviving and just hopefully having a little something left over for some extra spending, and I would even go so far as to say that art is a luxury only those with that extra spending can afford. The same is true for myself, given I've got a mortgage and a car to pay for (and besides, I could make the art myself, anyway). I'm not in a pinch anymore like I was, thankfully. I'm always fortunate and grateful to get a little extra on payday, and even more so with my newfound job security.

The more I think about it, when I look back over the past ten years... With the exception of one job that involved color matching in manufacturing, nearly every single job I had that kept me financially afloat had next to nothing in relation to art whatsoever.

Acceptance

That said, after years of making attempts to be financially successful in art, I've come to terms with the fact that I will never have a stable career in the art industry. One cannot thrive simply through having a passion for your craft nor by developing one's art skill, and socializing for the sake of finding your next big break is quite frankly exhausting; I have a hard time trying to find people who are as like-minded as I am when it comes to my other hobbies as it is. Maybe one could argue that I played my cards terribly and maybe I would have been better off if I did things differently. Maybe I can still turn it around if I tried a different strategy or focused on better marketing. But I am genuinely exasperated with this fruitless game I've consciously (or subconsciously) played over the course of a decade and a half. I don't care about trying to improve my lighting, or color theory, or trying to paint in a specific way, or what's the right way to learn art anymore. I don't care about trying to gather more followers on my Twitter or Bluesky. I don't care about the state of the industry, or how other freelance artists are struggling in an industry that they know isn't likely going to grant them the ideal lifestyle of working a job you love while making a stable income.

All I care about now is making art that makes me happy again. Making art that gives me a swell of pride knowing I made it possible for myself. Telling stories through my art that I would never have been able to do when I was much younger and didn't have the tools nor the knowledge to make it possible... And watch my characters come to life because of the stories I tell. I just want to be genuinely fucking selfish about my art and not give a damn about the world if it means making myself feel better.

Now, if you're an artist and want to stay your course, then by all means do so. I'm not here to determine how you should live your life, just my own. My experiences aren't yours and never will be, and vice versa. Perhaps you will be more fortunate than I was, or you'll come around to mirroring my sentiments. At the end of the day, how you move forward with your art career is ultimately your own choice.

Of AI in General

When I witness so much of the uproar of anti-AI sentiments, of the mob mentality chanting for the downfall of AI and anyone who even so much as engages in it, I am reminded of the history of digital art, and even photography. In spite of the threat the new technologies posed when they first came out, traditional artists and painters remain and persist to this day. Both digital art and photography emerged to become their own thing over the course of time, the former eventually branching out into several subcategories.

Much like Aaron Hertzmann has expressed in this article, I believe that we are currently in a phase where we see history repeating itself, for even with AI's exponential learning, the world at large will continue wanting to see art made with the human touch. There is always something to be said about human beings being capable of overcoming the hurdles of learning that AI trivializes... A testament to the tenacious and indomitable human spirit, if you will. This is especially true, I feel, when it comes to creativity.

However, I would be very much a hypocrite if I said I completely denounced AI like the rest of my peers. I have engaged in the use of AI myself since early 2023, particularly in my creative writing ventures. Like many others, I recoiled at the idea of even engaging with it. But after giving it a try, it has only inspired me to write further and even finish little plot ideas in my head that I struggled to complete by myself, including those that had been stewing in my head from years and years ago. I don't completely rely on AI to move the story forward, because at the end of the day, I'm the one still steering the ship in terms of my story's direction especially in terms of proofreading and quality control.

I've never used it to generate images; I fully disagree with how AI is being fed art without the consent of their makers, and the malicious use to replace actual artists entirely. However, I also can see the boon of using it to generate ideas to inspire someone to create something entirely of their own making. Anyone can find inspiration in anything, after all.

What's more, I partly owe my current financial stability to AI when my job adviser threw my resume into ChatGPT (albeit without my consent, but I held my tongue as I was more concerned about finding work and had nothing to lose), and the AI fixed it so it would be read by the ATS companies use to recruit workers. It also made it easier for my potential employers to read when I went on job fairs. Though most of the effort doubtlessly came through my own persistence and tenacity in finding another job, I give credit where credit's due; I'm grateful for what it's done to help me become financially stable, have extra spending money, and still have time to do whatever I want in my free time. It has also given me an opportunity to travel around B.C., and allowed me to meet so many people from different walks of life.

Am I any less of an artist or a writer for using AI to find inspiration for my stories and fuel myself to write my little snippets to completion? Do I deserve to be outcast the same way my inquisitive friend was when he questioned the anti-AI narrative the art community generally has? Do I deserve scorn and shame for wanting job security and a decent life? What about my girlfriend's parents, who—despite being part of a family of artists—used AI to create a little storybook as a gift for their son's family and their grandchild because they were either too old, had little time, or didn't have enough money to hire someone to make it for them? Do they deserve condemnation too for wanting to make their children happy?

If the answer to all of this is yes, then maybe I frankly don't want to be called an artist anymore. I want no part of such a community that demands you conform entirely to their collectivist ideals and shame you for thinking differently. There is good and bad in AI, much like anything else, and one cannot simply just dismiss all forms of AI as a bane to society. I know I can't, given what good it has done for me.

I am a firm believer in agreeing to disagree, respecting and accepting that everyone holds different beliefs and viewpoints, and still choosing to remain in good terms with people who don't necessarily share the same views as I do. To see the opposite happening amongst my peers fills me with disappointment. I cannot bring myself to continue being in their company if this is how they truly feel about people who don't think the same way they do. If it means I have to venture on alone, abandoning my title as an artist or holding none at all, then so be it. My morals have always ever held precedence over my friendships, in spite of it resulting in my own self-exile.

I take comfort knowing I stand up for what I believe in, even when I stand alone.

Moving Forward

It's liberating, frankly, to no longer shackle myself to the pipedream of having a successful art career that was never meant to come. I feel the world is my oyster more than ever before. I suppose it's just part of the package that comes with no longer giving a fuck. And I am here for it.

From here on, I don't foresee myself actively engaging in anything that involves further developing my craft in the near future. If I do, it may be just so that I learn how to draw or sketch something in a particular way. I may eventually come around to wanting to pursue art learning again, but for now, I want just about nothing at all to do with it. In fact, I'm going to tell you all that right now I genuinely do not care about trying to get better at art or helping others get better at art, and I don't want to talk about it unless I explicitly asked.

These days, I find myself wanting to engage more in storytelling. In making little comics about my OCs. I feel like I'm circling back to the reason why I was so passionate about making art in the first place... And it was so that I could bring my characters and their stories to life. So that's what I'll be striving for moving forward, be it with a following or without. Being able to tell their stories excites me, and I truly can't wait to do more of it.

To those I must unfortunately part ways with following all this, I only wish you the best in your future endeavors. And to those that still choose to remain, to join me even though I intend to journey forth in solitude... If you think you still find value with someone as selfish as I am, then I'm certainly not one to turn you away. I personally extend my heartfelt gratitude to you, and look forward to where our journey will take us next.

Here's to selfishness, to rediscovering oneself, and the pursuit of your own happiness. 🧃

-Zip