Mix-up at the Grand Galloping Gala · 1:01am Jun 17th, 2017
Hello every this is supposed to be my 'weekly' blog post. I was originally supposed set myself as a form of routine to at least produce something to show to who or whatever was conveniently on line to comment or critic my work to feed my all so starving ego who is wilting like a dried up potted plant, desperately clinging to life. Anyway, this is one of my more resent personal projects as my next avatar for FimFiction that I have been wanted to change for a while now. Granted, some of you might have noticed it was changed few weeks ago, but I sort... of... wasn't... in... the mood to do it any sooner. But, wanting to practice with updating my activates with my appertain 'followers' I wanted to to at least give everyone to give them a 'legitimate' reason to follow me. So, here it is, some new art to enjoy, have fun.
It’s been a while sense I redesigned my ponysona, and I think it was just about time for me to do just that. This time around I thought it was time that Mix-up should look dapper for an upcoming gala that I was imagining him to be invited. This was an interesting piece to work on, as I wanted to gauge how far my current digital art skills stand now, compared to the last three years that I have been practicing on it. My hope of this project was to trying to find a faster, more efficient, way to create smooth rendering curves on my character, in which that the brush strokes wouldn’t show off as much as they usually do and try to make it a more realistic feel of drawing. I used several different methods to do this, as I tried to harmonize them together in which I had hadn’t managed to integrate them very successfully up until now. Even then, I think I could have done a better job at it, but at least it went a bit faster and cleaner than most this time.
This took me about 20 hours to do, and the most difficult part was, as usual, the wings, which isn’t easy trying to align all of the feathers right to make it look good. This time around, I decided to go as much in detail in drawing out the figure, by starting with from a simple sketch and do a more detailed drawing over with layers. I haven’t done this method in a while, sense usually I immediately jumped into the coloring and start sculpting the shape without a detailed plan in mind on how I should go about it. It was fine for a while, and it is even encouraged by many of my sources, but I thought that I really needed to go back into the basics in drawing, and adding the colors after the line are was fully completed. I also wanted to restart using extensively the Selections Tool for the shadings all the colors, which helped a lot in saving time. For the clothing, I think I did a good job a representing the folding the fabric and the seams to give them a sense of the material to the viewers. The mane and tail has caused me some trouble, as I still have a lot of trouble rendering convincing long hair styles.
For the clothing, I decided to go with a brown tailcoat with gold trimming and red cuffs, a double breasted vest, red bow tie(as a nod to the red scarf he’s usually drawn with) and finally red sparts on the rear legs. For the extra touch of detail, and adding some ridiculousness, I added horseshoes to my OC , which I thought it was hilarious to me in my mind. All in all, I think he looks dashing for a social event. I did consider adding a top hat to him, but I felt he was better without it.
The background was the last thing to work on, again, which after finishing my ponysona, I did a quick sketch for the glass murals where fun to do for me. Surprisingly, after studying the images of the Canterlot Palace design in the show, I noticed that the architecture of the interior is rather simple, with luminous lighting and very spacious corridors. What stand out the most about the design that I notice are the numerous glass murals that peppered the walkways everywhere, which despite their simplicity add a lot the atmosphere to the place and my mind easily create its own narration to them, even if it doesn’t depict an actual story.
I drew Royal Cesar because I always loved his design despite the drab colors scheme that I felt there was a lot of charm and class to him. I loved drawing Cesar, a semi realistic design, strutting around with his head high like he owned the place like the typical snootiness the people write about the rich, noble, ponies of the show, always made me laugh.The Guards at the doors are actually flip copies of the same model. The scene itself was still fun to do. The mare with the near transparent green slick dress was fun to do and I think I managed to bring out her femininity. Doing the dress was somewhat difficult to find the compromise with showing the gradient of the folds of the dress and its transparency as the merging of layers always created weird results; I will have to find better methods to produce that sort of fabric effect.
Nice to see you were invited to the Gala.
It's very good, as always. Might one day ask you to draw Stardust at the gala. Nice job!
4573341
Maybe I could do that if you ask nicely, that and maybe a favor too.
4573340
Yes!!! I was invited there even got the golden tickets to show for it!!!
4573346
A favour? I have no money to offer for a commission. XD As for asking nicely: I humbly ask you, O great artist, for a drawing of Stardust at the gala... Maybe with Twilight too. I've been lacking Twidust pics lately. XD
4573350 Well, sense you ask so nicety, could use more groveling doe, I have either two choices of payment that you can chose from that has nothing to do with money or any martial exchange. The first would that my ponysona make a brief cameo in the story, I would let you decide how he would make his appearance. The second option of payment would at the low low price of your immortal soul. for that last one you would have to be signed with your blood and in triplicates, so make sure to drink plenty of fluids, wouldn't want you to die now would we...
4573379
XD Sounds fair. I should point out I try to keep as close to canon as possible, but I could give your OC a background appearance and line or two. It'd have be somewhere during season six since I'm already writing up to that point.
...Actually, I think I got the perfect placement for your character in mind.
In addition, could Stardust wear the Seventh Doctor TV Movie attire in the pic? I'll leave you to decide what the picture depicts; him and Twilight walking outside in the castle garden, the two dancing, admiring the stars, or whatever sounds ideal to you. Anything you decide, you have my gratitude for.
4573384
So your not willing to part with your soul then?! Oh well, it's not like you would have ever missed it. I guess I will settle with the cameo then, just let me know if you change your mind then on the trade.
So the seventh Doctor's out fit it is then, that's funny I previously thought you where more of a fan of Colin Baker's, the Sixth Doctor, outfit and not that of that Sylvester McCoy, the Seventh Doctor. I would have thought it would be more appropriate to for the gala too, but I can work with that anyway always like silly costumes.
I will probably just make Twilight and Stardust in a limelight and pitch black background in it to save On time. I suppose you would like to have a style that is closer to that in the show two then?
4573407
Actually, are you aware of the alternate blue coat outfit the Sixth Doctor wears in comics and audio? That could work too if you wanted.
And yes, more closer to the style of the show if you could. It feels more... Authentic that way. Like it legit looks like your character's in the show itself.
4573415
Is this the blue outfit you're talking about?
i.imgur.com/HXTbSAr.jpg
4573429
The coat part certainly. The rest could do with a bit more blue.
I like it. I hope you had a good time at the Gala instead of a boring one.
4573505
thanks Eon333MS, it's nice ti see you again. How is it going for you these days?
4573644
Well my internet connection has been poor the last few days, but other than that it's been pretty relaxing. The internet problem seems to be getting better as well so hopefully I'll get back to work on my story as well.
Love it!
4576815
Thanks, I try to do my best.