Mana's Art Blog.

I’m dusting off this old place because I miss finding community online the way we used to.

I deleted my accounts on Twitter long ago, and my TikTok account more recently.

But maybe it’s a similar hellscape here, too.

Art by me, based on this tweet (screencaps included above).  Thanks to @lubidul for the idea!  I’ve been told that the photo of the cats is photoshopped, but I’m not even mad… I liked the challenge of quickly fleshing out a concept!

Pin-Point of Convergence, 2017.  Watch the butterfly on his hand move! 

A ridiculously corny title I know, but I’m sticking with it.  The way Saroo’s obsessive behavior was depicted in Lion really resonated with me (not that I’m claiming to have experience with anything he went through). The many pushpins that dotted his maps indicated empty leads.  The anxiety he felt must have been unbearable, especially as time went on.  I connected the many fluttering butterflies from an earlier scene to the fleeting false hopes Saroo found in his search.

- Mana

The colors in the gif are oversaturated… ugh.

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I couldn’t decide whether I liked the flat solid color or the colorful, shaded version better, so here’s both.  I couldn’t quite get this done by the end of Stormpilot Week, but these two are forever, so...

- Mana

I tried Hourly Comic Day.  Unfortunately, my daily routine as of late has been rather boring!  Oh well, it was a fun exercise.

I want you all to believe that the reason I wear a radio and earpiece is because I’m a secret agent.

- Mana

Trixie is probably my favorite.  Well, aside from Chummy.

Working on this was a bit of a learning curve for me, since I decided on a more painterly style and process (not to mention a whole slew of new brushes: Kyle T. Webster’s ULTIMATE Megapack), but I feel somewhat creatively restored as a result.  For now.  I DID IT.  *wheeze*

- Mana

…and I mean that genuinely. I have no other words. Much love to President Obama, his family, to everyone. @whitehouse

- Mana

Cautious, but hopeful for the new year.  How was your first day?

- Mana

Inktober 2016 Day #30-31  ||  Eleven, my poor baby, everything is going to be okay - *whips around to glare at the Duffer brothers*- RIGHT?!  She’ll be back, right?!!

That a wrap, folks!  Thanks for following my journey through Inktober 2016.

Mana’s Inktober 2016:  01 /02 /03 /04 /05 /06 /07 /08 //18 /19 /20 /21 /22 /23 /24-25 /26-27 /28-29 /30-31

Inktober 2016 Day #28-29  ||  A promotional video containing Phililpa Soo’s performance of “Burn” was one of first things I saw from Hamilton (the video has since been taken down).  Do you know how valuable it was for me to see someone who looks like me on a Broadway stage?  It was this, plus a few other things, that began a shift in the way I viewed myself.

Also... the lyrics, man.  “I’m erasing myself from the narrative” and “You forfeit all rights to my heart” kill me every time!

Mana’s Inktober 2016:  01 /02 /03 /04 /05 /06 /07 /08 //18 /19 /20 /21 /22 /23 /24-25 /26-27 /28-29

Inktober 2016 Day #26-27  ||  Oh Anne, “bosom friend” is such a funny phrase, but I understand your wanting one in earnest.  Also, poor Anne!  You put yourself down so much!  If I were even half as articulate...

Mana’s Inktober 2016:  01 /02 /03 /04 /05 /06 /07 /08 //18 /19 /20 /21 /22 /23 /24-25 /26-27

Inktober 2016 Day #25  ||  The peonies again, inked.  Admittedly, this turned out a lot better than I thought!  It’s also like, weirdly - well, perhaps not so weirdly, they’re flowers after all - suggestive?  Sorry, kids.

*in George Takei’s voice* oOHH MYy. 

Mana’s Inktober 2016:  01/02 /03 /04 /05 /06 /07 /08 //18 /19/20 /21 /22 /23 /24 /25

Inktober 2016 Day #24  ||  Peonies to ease my distress!  Life has been a little crazy recently.  I already spent 10 days off of Inktober to concentrate on a freelance gig, and would hate for my entries to fizzle out toward the end of the month… But I also need to focus on other things.  So, I’ve decided to spend two days on each entry.  Tomorrow, I will add the lines. 

Mana’s Inktober 2016:  01 /02 /03 /04 /05 /06 /07 /08 //18 /19 /20 /21 /22 /23 /24

Inktober 2016 Day #22  ||  Kinda want this yellow dress now.

Mana’s Inktober 2016:  01 /02 / 03 /04 /05 /06 /07 /08 //18 /19 /20 /21 /22

Inktober 2016 Day #23  ||  Here’s a quick drawing of a doggo.

Inktober 2016 Day #21  ||  To celebrate the television premiere of Hamilton’s America - and because I adore him - today’s entry features Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Mana’s Inktober 2016:  01 /02 / 03 /04 /05 /06 /07 /08 //18 /19 /20 /21

Inktober 2016 Day #20  ||  Re-watched Over The Garden Wall recently, of course!  Very appropriate for the season.  Although I would have preferred adding some shading to this, I’m afraid I’m just too tired tonight.  What is exciting, however, is that I finally broke out my pocket brush pen for the first time this Inktober (pretty late in the month, but no matter).

Mana’s Inktober 2016:  01 /02 /03 /04 /05 /06 /07 /08 //18 /19 /20