Comrade Punynari decided to hold a contest for artists to design a new mascot for his site, Moe Passion. He used a moe character generator (more info on his site), to design the mascot, but wanted something with a little more artistic liberty to fit with his site’s main theme – being a blog of a US sailor and otaku.
His design was quite interesting, and very impressionable to me, so I gladly took on the challenge. That and he also wanted to draw on a Navy motif gave me just the inspiration I needed in order to make his mascot Sakura more unique. Drawing this style was definitely out of my comfort zone, as I don’t do a lot of moe feeling characters. That and I’ve still yet to grasp the subtle nuances of the loli-moe proportions.
I’m quite happy with the results, even though I think the line quality could use a bit of work. She definitely captures the loligirl heart. Moe~
The results are in, and I was runner up. However, I was flattered and honored to have been a contender amongst some very good artists, Chun and Tonee. Congratulations go to Chun for winning the contest!
In closing, here’s a youtube video of the job being done.
[pro-player]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wfAoDtQZEc[/pro-player]
Incidentally, someone on Neogaf decided to host his own little contest for the upcoming release of Sakura Taisen V So Long My Love. He requested a banner for the official thread. I was also runner up in this contest, by 3 votes.
Here’s the banner I made:
Fortunately for me, someone else in the thread decided to motivate more participants by providing prizes for the 2nd and 3rd place winners as well. So all in all, it’s been a very good week for me. 🙂
Oh yeah, my copy of Final Fantasy XIII arrived this morning. However, it sits here at my desk, still unopened. I had anticipated that it might not have arrived until after (or as my luck usually happens, the same day) Resonance of Fate came out. Now the question is, which one should I play first? Or should I play neither and finish off Touch Detective 2.5 (I’m already on the third chapter)?
Read more!
Nice Moe Passion Mascot. She is really adorable !
Thanks Leonia!
I’ve been wondering – you used to have a gravatar. How come you don’t have one anymore?
Because my email was not that my gravatar account email xD Just an error ^^’
ic ic. Fix’d. You know you can add multiple email addresses to the same gravatar account, right?
Which game to play? I say just go ahead and finish off Touch Detective 2.5. That’s how my backlog got so bad…I’d play a game, get a new game and play that instead, and then play another game instead of going back and finishing the first. Bad habit!
You’re right, GK. Touch Detective it is. I’m not super eager to jump onto FF13 either. (exactly how I felt when I first got FF12 too). After I finish Touch Detective, Resonance of Fate will probably have arrived, and the more I think about it, the more I want to play that first anyway.
My backlog is probably isn’t going to make much progress if I keep buying games. But I’m glad that I’ve settled with the philosophy to finish any new purchase before going back to the backlog. Those games are old enough now that hype doesn’t matter, and neither does the pressure of resale value.
Congratulations on being the runner up 😀 I am sure that experience of getting into the competition with fellow artist will spur you on to do greater stuff ^^
Thanks chubbybots! I’m a little sad that I didn’t win 1st, but you’re right, and I am more motivated now than before, to strive on improving. My art style has definitely changed over the years, while a lot of other artists seem to stick to a certain style. 😛
Hey, I rather like yours! This is coming from the artistically-blind one again, but I feel the font is a lot more representative to the theme of the name, and the minimalistic pastel background gives off more of a loli-vibe, if you will. You know, innocence, charm, and all that.
And that’s my opinion completely without bias. Everyone will just have to take my word for it though.
Still, I suppose it’s all dependent on one’s mixed bag of chips.
Sped up draws are so enriching to watch. One can see all the little changes, fine tweaks and techniques not apparent in the final product.
Thanks Ningyo! That means a lot to me, actually!
I think that you have generally a good sense of taste in aesthetics. Not everyone can do art, but everyone can be a critic, and a good one at that. All it needs is good, non-biased observation. You have that, I believe. It shows in your blog. 🙂
I don’t know why I never did video recordings until a year ago. I’ve been drawing for so long. I actually learn a lot from my own drawings when I replay them. It’s very different to watch something, knowing how the end result turned out, and basically spotting the mistakes and changes leading up to the final product.
It seems to have raised my popularity quite a bit too, as someone on facebook asked me “You’re THE Radiant Dreamer?!” lol
ah really adorable resembled sailor not giving weapon?? cute navy weapon maybe 😉
lol Not everyone in the navy carries weapons, especially not cute moe-girls! 😀
I just wanted to say that I added you to my blogroll. If you wanna remove the link just let me know. Keep up with the good work. I love your articles.
I’d add you too, if you provided a URL!
Hey you are doing well with a moe style character ^^ Like it, when a saw the word “Sailor” i always think about Sailor Moon :/ I think i’m possessed lol
About the banner for Sakura Wars i looooove the effect you put on the characters. It’s amazing !!
Does this effect has a name or something ? Because it’s great.
He he FFXIII is a great game so far even if i merely played a few hours for now 🙂
Thanks, Katsura-chan. ^^;
Heh heh, Sailor Moon. 😀 I like Sailor Moon too.
The sketch effect? Actually the sketches were scans from one of the countless Sakura Taisen artbooks. I scanned in a whole bunch of those line-drawn concept sketches, and then painted over them with a rough brushing to give it more depth.
Personally, I think my banner looked the best, so I have no idea why it didn’t win. 😛
I’m glad you’re enjoying FFXIII! Mine’s still sealed! LOL! I’m thinking I might end up playing Resonance of Fate first, don’t know… or maybe not. First I gotta finish Touch Detective!
I like it how your version of mascot closely resembles the original appearance of punyari’s mascot. The sailor dress (kinda reminds me of kindergarden uniform) is a nice touch over the usual school sailor uniforms. Don’t worry about not being get to 1st; I am sure we still appreciate your artwork~
Speaking of your artwork, I’ve come across your online portfolio recently, and the “lost tank” painting at the homepage instantly caught my attention: Renault FT-17 in your picture! Well I am a sucker of tanks and you probably know about it anyway. I am curious what got you to use that particular tank for that image, but nonetheless it’s still a significant one in the tank history – first appeared in 1917, it’s considered the first ‘modern looking’ tank with a turret, and possibly something that’s most revolutionary at the time, especially for a French design!
Oh, yes, that’ tank is a pretty old painting. I’ve done some other work since then. Pretty awesome that you were able to identify the model of the tank! I guess that means I did a decent enough representation of it!
The main reason I wanted to use that particular tank was because it’s small, so it realistically can be driven around in a forest and get stuck. I wanted something smaller so that the kids would fit in frame too, otherwise the children would appear too small in the image, or it would be zoomed in so close that you can’t even make out the tank properly.
It was also a tank that while small, also resembled a tank. There were some pretty weird looking contraptions back then. lol!
Congratz for the contest and getting FF13 ^^
always luv your demo video, great way for learning =)
As always your artistic abilities are lovely 🙂 Currently I’m playing Zack and Wiki, FF3, FF13, and Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations. My main focus is FF13 but my bf’s love of hockey has my TV gaming time limited.
Congratulations even if you don’t win the first price. It will be for a next time i’m sure of it. You have a lot of talent. 😉
And about moe mascot i just only love it with her small wings and the idea of a pink boat anchor on the background is great.
Thanks Lyli! 😀
I’m glad that even though I won second place, I still get a prize. 🙂