Not going to lie, friends. I wasn’t supposed to be working on this art. I had very serious intentions to work on character art samples for private commissions, but job hunt stress and the world at large have been overwhelming me to a frankly unhealthy degree.
So I gave myself permission to indulge in my happy place – tabletop RPG art! Specifically, the Exalted Discord Fan Artist server I’m in had a Valentine’s Day couples art trade event I couldn’t resist taking part in. Not only did I get to make cool art for a cool person, but I also got to challenge myself with backgrounds, multiple figures, and a specific storytelling goal.
My gunslinger, Koh, was paired up with AnnaCory’s Gale, to which Anna suggested the perfect date for Gale might be quietly reading together or a more mischievious night on the town. I thought “why not both?”
I chose to render the two on a date inside of a noble’s heretical library, the perfect place for a picnic and a good laugh at the noble’s secret stash of bawdy Scarlet Empress books and knicknacks. Meanwhile, Koh’s bodyguard, who was likely told to stay home, looks on, glad the boss is having fun.
Here’s a timelapse of the piece so y’all can appreciate how much it drastically changed along the way:
https://youtu.be/Tc_SM-Lkcc8?si=ZJjg2zKE8Ea25rr_
Art Feature: Anna Cory Kulikova
I knew I had to make something extra special for this particular trade because Anna has done such amazing art of my characters in the past. Look at these gorgeous portraits she’s done of my brainchildren!
Anna also took part in the Valentines challenge and created this gorgeous piece featuring her character, Satica, and another of my characters, Mask of Golden Lies. I just love the little ghosts and the entire moody atmosphere! She’s shared a timelapse of this piece here.
So perhaps this wasn’t as on task as I thought I’d be in February, but fun and not going insane was had instead. What more could one ask for?
I hope you all enjoyed this extreme artistic diversion!
<3 Ang