About "OOC" art, happiness as a state, and why I draw Scaramouche the way I do
Lately, I've been thinking deeply about something. I had a discussion with a friend recently, and it got me reflecting on this topic.
Today I want to talk about my drawings of Wanderer and Lumine. Some people have pointed out that in my art and comics, he's too soft compared to his in-game canon. You're free to think whatever you want about that, but personally? I don't see it that way. Here's why.
1. I want to make something clear: my drawings don't depict any specific moment from the game. They could be the present, the future, even a dream — however you want to interpret them.
2. My art isn't about strictly adhering to a character's so-called "canon personality." It's about a state of being — right here, right now. They're literally compensation for the kind of content I personally feel is missing with these characters in the fandom.
I believe that if a character is capable of feeling anger or suffering, they're also capable of being happy. Besides, in my works, I interpret them as a couple who deeply love and respect each other — a space where there are no masks, no defense mechanisms left between them.
Happiness isn't about canon. It's about a state of being.
3. I've always seen Wanderer as more than just a collection of traits and stereotypes. That's why it always surprises me when people are afraid to depict him with an emotion or reaction that's "out of character." In most fanworks, he's almost always composed, expressionless, sharp-tongued — rarely vulnerable or anything else.
Sure, you could say that's "canon-compliant." But in my humble opinion, the game itself has broken those stereotypes multiple times throughout his character development, hinting that he can be so many different things.
And God, that's exactly what I love about him!
I love Scara not because of the stereotypical "edgy guy" image — but because of his depth. His internal conflict. His whole story is about humanity. And themes like "what's right" and "what's wrong" have always resonated deeply with me.
4. If you check out the Scaralumi wiki (which compiles canon moments from the game, mind you), there are multiple instances where he mentions being happy when she's happy. That's literally translated from his Chinese lines. And honestly? Lines like that perfectly capture what their dynamic feels like — a state of comfort and safety that's been highlighted in-game more than once (like his dialogues with Durin in the teapot, or his birthday letter this year).
I could go deeper into this, but I won't drag it out.
Here's something I've never said here before: all of my Scaralumi art is actually based on a fanfiction I'm not currently writing. But my perception of them has stayed the same — and honestly? The game has only reinforced it in some ways.
You're free to interpret things however you want. Think whatever you want.
But the warmth in my art? That's not just something these characters need. It's something I need too.
There's already so much anger, pain, and darkness in the world. That's exactly why I want to be an artist who brings a little more warmth, comfort, and magic into it.
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