Guest posting continues at Hayley’s blog, Eventide Unmasked! Today’s topic: How do you transplant a character from an RPG setting to a novel setting? What to watch out for, advice, and discussion. Come share your ex-RPG characters with us!

If you missed this on my DeviantART journal, here it is again!

If you’ve had your eye on my calendar of classic work, then this is a chance you can’t miss!

I’ve gotten my hands on four miniature 2010 calendars with a shiny metallic gold wire spine. These are roughly 5×7 in. when closed and open up to a full size for display on your wall at 7×11 in. They’re the perfect size to fit in any corner of your room, dorm, or otherwise!

In addition, I’ll be sending these with an original 5×7 in. ink sketch of a subject of your choice! (generic suggestions and no fanart only, please. Sketches will have a minimalistic background) Calendars will also be autographed on each page by the artist. When you’re done with it at the end of the year, tear out the pages for framing. A calendar should never go to waste!

How much is this fine thing, you ask? For an autographed mini-calendar AND original sketch, the price is $25 with FREE shipping within the US. For international shipping, we’ll sort things out via note.

Continuing my pattern of more art sharing, here’s the progress on the sketch I showed you last entry. Ms. Tude is coming along nicely and despite her small size at 5×7 inches, she’s holding her own.

For this image I’m testing out the new illustration board from Strathmore called the 500 Series Wet Media Board, which has been sized specifically to suit the needs of wet media. I’ve always had a problem with the paint drying too fast or the surface not absorbing enough hue to make such effects like salt blooms work consistently on regular cold press illustration board. I’ve also had issues with the vibrancy of colors being somewhat less brilliant than watercolor paper. I’m happy to report this new board seems more absorbent-friendly. I’ve been abusing it with wet-in-wet techniques and salt crystals without much sign of buckling or problems with color vibrancy.

The layering continues and I’ll be back next entry with the completed painting and the final verdict on the wet media board.

In the thrall of a mournful voice braided with the heartbeat of Persian instruments and the thrum of strings, the Prince took form in a swirl of desert sands and whirling spirits. Ramah moved in my mind despite his inanimate representation taking shape in watercolor. Painting Song of Exile is a perfect example of how strongly music can act as an inspiration for my work. Something in the beat, the mood, and the haunting voice conjured an image so strong that I just had to put it on paper after hearing Feraghi Song of Exile by Niyaz.

I’ve recently discovered the ability to create playlists on YouTube which has prompted me to share a little bit of the music I listen to while I paint. Upon building this list, I realized my inspirational music seems to lean towards a strange mix of techno, baritone voices, chant, and strings these days. I am not quite sure why this is other than my muse seems most pleased when the music has a narrative quality about it, either in vocals or in the ability of a key note or rhythm that weaves its own path throughout a song.

One of my favorite exercises in art class was when our teacher would put on classical music, make us close our eyes, and then draw what it was we saw while we were listening. I was always tickled by the surprising images my subconscious would conjure up from something as ‘simple’ as sound.

These days I seem to have a playlist for everything, including individual characters who cry out for their own musical inspirations outside of my generic art list. I hope to share some of these lists later now that I know how to create them.

Without further ado, here is my playlist of inspirational painting music. Enjoy my odd mix of influences. I’ve left off most of my Disney favorites just to keep some of my badassness intact.

Angela’s Art & Inspiration Music

So you other musically inspired artists, what do you listen to when you’re in the mood to create?

Shout out to my fellow panelists & the attendees who showed up for “Reframing Frankenstein: Empathy, Creation, & the Other” at Multiverse this past weekend. It felt great to geekout with fellow monster lovers & lit nerds! (And put that ol’ English degree of mine to use!)

I had horrible imposter syndrome at the time being the only visual artist on the panel amongst some really rad writers and academic panelists, but ended up having such fun!

I also got to plug the amazing animated show PANTHEON to a whole room of people new to it, which made me very happy. It’s one of my fave shows & a culturally relevant masterpiece it feels like nobody’s talking about. Hope you dig it, friends! Let me know if you do.

(A tangential connection to PANTHEON was unexpected, but somehow perfect once we made it. This show definitely connects with our fears of AI/new science, the resurrection of consciousness after death, personhood, and so much more.)