#fuckmarykill

The Process

Most of the time when I do trad art I'll do a rough sketch in marker or pen, sometimes pencil/colored pencil. This time around I went a little old school (for me anyway) and tried my best to be intentional with my lines! It can be tricky to plan out with pen- esp when you won't be using white out! Some of them I added in black way too early- that would bite me in the ass later haha!

Working like this can be a little tricky (for me anyway) because I feel like I need to work backwards. In my minds eye I can see the final layer of inks or lines that will help pull everything together, but I need to build those layers underneath the lines before I can actually line it. Once I got into the groove of things it came easier, but some of the illustrations were a little trial and error.

At some point I went "fuck it get the gouache" and broke out my himi palette! I purchased this last year and have made it a soft goal to try and finish this dang thing by next Art Fight at the latest. (I'll do another post on himi gouache another day.) This really helped with the areas that I fumbled with, or sections that weren't popping as much as I wanted them to. In my final versions the bottom illustration had the most gouache on it, which really pulled it all together!! The only illustration I did any major digital painting on was the top-right portrait of Nacht- his artwork didn't look bad or anything, it just didn't have the level of oomph I wanted, which happens with trad art sometimes (and vise versa)!

Wrap-Up & Materials

Ngl, I really wanted to go into Art Fight with a BOOM! I wanted to roll in, do some crazy illustration to show how much I loved some of these characters...and then life happened LOL! I also did not plan on joining AF this year, so idk in what reality showing up with some massive painting was realistic lol. Still- I AM very happy with this art! Every time I flip through my sketchbook I get to see this, and its a nice reminder of having fun with my art.

Materials used: Himi Gouache, Zebra Highlighters, Tombow Water-based Brush Markers, Le Pen fine-liners, Ooly Double Fine Double Tipped Markers, Canson XL Mixed Media Sketchbook & gel pen

“No,” you reply, turning away from him and burying your face in your pillow to muffle yourself. “It’s not.”

“...Is there anything I can do?”

“I don’t know.” You curl in on yourself. Tears of exhaustion and frustration blur your vision. “I can’t sleep. I’m so tired.”

He doesn’t respond. For a moment, you think maybe he’s left just as quickly as he’s come, and the ache in your chest becomes so pronounced that you can’t breathe. More sobs wrack your entire body, but you go still when you hear the window sliding shut, boots thudding to the floor, and a hoodied leather jacket being shed.

“...Mary?”

The bed dips behind you, and suddenly one of his lean arms is pulling you flush against his chest while the other slides under your head. You’re cocooned in his embrace, safe and secure. With a rumbling hum, he brushes his nose against the nape of your neck, and his hot breath ghosts across your skin. For a long while, he just holds you in silence, his presence a soothing balm to your frayed nerves. Without a word, he coaxes your breaths to match his, breathing deep and steady and calm. Occasionally, he presses a kiss to your shoulder and neck.

After awhile, your tears cease. Your body relaxes, and your sobs abate. You are boneless in his arms, and the irresistible siren song of sleep pulls heavily at your mind.

“Better?” he murmurs.

“Yes.” Sudden anxiety spikes your pulse and you twist a little to look at him over your shoulder. “Please don’t go.”

“I ain’t going anywhere, sweetness.” He kisses your cheek and shifts a little to get comfortable. “Close your eyes and sleep.”