Tag: Studio Hangouts

July 2025 Studio Hangout + AMA – Art Fight, OC Art, & My Fave Tropes

Time for July’s Studio Hangout! It’s coming to you a little late because I wanted to give the Art Fight art feature room to breathe, but here we are with the monthly wrap-up of everything you might’ve missed in July!

Feel free to watch the video above or read and enjoy this article at your own pace below. A transcript of this video (attached to this post) and captions.

Personal Updates

  • Layoffs suck, AI sucks, tariffs suck, and life is rough on our end for many reasons, but I’m tired of being mad and sad about it. Tell me something good that happened to you in the comments! (I’ve thankfully got some happier news below in the Announcements)
  • Keep your head up, friends and fellow artists. Let’s take it one day at a time!

Announcements

  • Upcoming Convention Appearance! I’ll be appearing as an official Guest at Multiverse in October! Read more here. I’m back at cons after 6 years away!
  • New Poll! Free & Paid Patreon members, I want to know your thoughts about how you’re liking these Studio Hangouts! Only a couple of folks have responded thus far and I’d like to hear from more of you.
  • New Ask Me Anything Archive. We’ve accumulated quite a few Q&As over the past few months, so I’ve finally started listing them in one handy location organized by category. Ask and ye shall receive!

New Art in July

Art Fight 2025 – Go Team Crystals!

Art Fight happened in July and led to the creation of many fun emote portraits of the amazing characters created by the Art Fight community. If you want to deep dive into the reference art created by others not shared here, check out my art feature of Art Fight.

The Attacks on me by other artists featuring my characters (You can get a full view of each of these images at the Art Fight feature):

Character Commission – Cassius for Psycheen on BlueSky

This was prize art for another commission giveaway winner, Psycheen, who gave me free reign to play with their design of their solarpunk-themed character, Cassius. Find out more about this character’s tragic backstory and watch a timelapse of this piece’s creation here.

Cassiel’s Servant WIP – 3D Modeling

I’ve been very art-blocked on this piece and it has taken me FORever to make progress on it! Likely because I decided it was past time I taught myself how to use Clip Studio Paint’s 3D model posing tools to create reference for myself for the complex aspects of this piece, such as the daggers in perspective and the foreshortening of the main figure.

It took a lot of shouting at the interface to get it right, but I arrived at something very useful for my purposes! I’ll likely be covering this part of the process in a future Secret Sketchbook entry for paid members, so keep an eye out for it.
(Watch the video on this post for some more cool things that I discovered how to do in CSP).

Ask Me Anything

Q: (From Psycheen on BlueSky) What is your favorite trope and why?
A: Watch the answer here. SPOILER ALERT for a 20 year old show (Avatar the Last Airbender)!

Q: (From Psycheen on BlueSky) What do you want to draw, but haven’t yet, and why?
A: Watch the answer here. Lots of Elden Ring: Nightreign gushing!

Q: What art of yours would you like to redo?
A: Watch the answer here.

Happening in August

  • Kev’s surgery. With our health insurance finally sorted out, my husband can finally get the surgical procedures he needs! I’ll be focusing on his care, first and foremost. With luck, everything will happen this month without being prolonged any longer and we can be on the road to better health!
  • Finishing up the “Cassiel’s Servant” cover. I have the reference completed after much fighting with Clip Studio Paint. It’s finally time to get to the meat of the art-making process!

Links in the video:

  • Mimimaru – Artist who did Zelda and Arcane character art in the style of Klimt.
  • Christian Angel – Artist of the Elden Ring art done in a classical style.
  • Sam Hogg – Artist of the reference art of my character, Nils.
  • Psycheen – Artist and creator of Cassius.
  • The Uncrucified – My Exalted TTRPG blog

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Here’s to another month of surviving. Hang in there, everyone!

<3 Ang

Studio Hangout June 2025 + AMA – The Health Insurance Circus, New Character Art, and Discussing My Fave Media

Have a look at all the happenings and posts you might have missed in June, plus the monthly Ask Me Anything segment where I answer questions from fans and Patrons! Watch the video above or read the TL;DR summary below. The video includes captions with the transcript attached to this post.

Personal Updates

  • We were dropped AGAIN by health insurance after finding a new plan. But only after I spent weeks calling offices and the insurance company where nobody knew whether we were covered by our doctors or not and their own system said we were covered. It was a very frustrating process which ate up so much of my time this month! Meanwhile, we’re still bracing ourselves for multiple surgical procedures for Kev on the horizon, which have been stalled by this whole insurance coverage uncertainty.
  • The Silver Lining! The hubby MIGHT be starting a new job with new health insurance, which will help us with most of our current challenges! Even if that doesn’t work out, we are thankfully able to change our current problematic plan within 30 days. Phew! Please redirect all spare luck and good fortune to Kev as the interview process continues!
  • Considering a career pivot? After doing the math, I’ve decided not to reopen for small private commissions. Better to focus my energies on studying for entry level IT helpdesk which I can also do remotely, as it promises better pay than what I can currently bring in with art.  (I’ve actually started studying in May, while also balancing my current obligations).

    Our current life challenges combined with the past few years of an imploding illustration industry thanks to AI, shrinking freelance opportunities, and impossible convention table rates /competition, something has to give and that’s unfortunately been my own mental health and our stability.

If/when this career pivot happens, I’ll need to reconsider how this Patreon is structured. If our situation changes in the meanwhile, awesome! But I want to be prepared in case things don’t work out the way we want.

I’m never going to abandon creating art, but the amount of time I have for it may change depending on how life plays out! We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it…

New Art in June

I finished the first of the two commission prizes for the winners this month! Sadly, I won’t be continuing to take commissions as I focus on studying for my IT certification, but I didn’t want to leave these winners hanging!

A peek at a few other pieces in-progress this month, mostly for casual fun events related to tabletop gaming. Watch this month’s Studio Hangout vid above where I talk a little more about the story behind each piece.

[Character art in the bottom left by Psycheen, which is a sneak peek of the character I’ll be drawing for the final giveaway winner next!]

Announcements

  • Review of Fourthwall Samples – I’m vetting this shop platform for my own side projects. Have any questions about them? Drop a comment! Find the quickie review and a video overview here.
  • Introducing my new YouTube channel – I’ve decided to break my more gallery-minded art videos off from my main channel so my geeky tabletop art doesn’t clash too badly with galleries scouting my paintings for display. Find out more about my new Fine Art channel here!
  • Ask Me Anything Archive Coming Soon! – I’ve gotten enough AMA questions now to merit creating an archive which will be categorized by topic. Look for it here when it’s complete!

Mentioned Links

Posts from June

Ask Me Anything

Q: [From Kit Chimera on BlueSky] How does being a traditional artist influence your digital art?
A: Answered here.

Q: [From Psycheen on BlueSky] What media are you into lately and why?
A: Answered here.

Q: [Also from Psycheen] What character do you hate in media lately?
A: Answered here.

July Goals

  • Hopping into Art Fight 2025 – I’ll be participating in this art trading event with some simple art! Find my profile here. I don’t have a lot of time to participate, but I need SOME HAPPINESS in my life and this event brings pure joy!
  • Clearing out my Art queue – I’m wrapping up as many of my in-progress images as I can so I can pivot my focus to studying for entry level helpdesk certification.

[My Art Fight card for 2025. Go, Team Crystals!]

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My eternal thanks to those of you who keep supporting here even when things have slowed to a crawl because of our IRL challenges. I’m remaining hopeful for a kinder turn of fortune in store for us in July!

<3 Ang

Studio Hangout May 2025 + AMA – Medical Woes, Clair Obscur, and Discussing How to Commission Artists

The end of the month has come and with it the monthly Studio Hangout update that wraps up all the happenings and posts you might have missed! Watch the video above or read the TL;DR summary below. The video includes captions and the transcript is attached to this post.

Personal Updates

  • Medical Woes – My husband had serious medical complications this month, which means I haven’t been around much for streaming or art while I’ve focused on family. See this post for the longer story.

Announcements

  • Commission Launch Delayed – Until we know what the immediate future will be like for treatment plans, I am delaying taking commissions until further notice. My apologies to everyone who sent inquiries! Please keep me in mind for later once I have a better idea of my availability.

New Art

Once again, the Forge of Wonders server pulled me out of my art block to create this single silly piece of art for the Character of the Month event. Behold Dr. Zaius’ Clouseau-inspired brilliant, yet bumbling Detective Claw Zu.

Not usually the kind of character I draw, but I appreciate being pushed out of my comfort zone with such a fun concept!

Watch a timelapse of this piece’s creation here.

Streaming Updates

I took a break from Banishers to sample the gorgeous game, Clair Obscur, with Kev as my commentator this month (just before things hit the fan). I’ll be taking a break from streaming until we know more about what the immediate future is going to be like for us.

[VIDEO] Game Night: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Watch this beautifully French work of art in video game form! I have been buzzing about this game ever since its first trailer in which a giant eldritch artist painted people out of existence, while the populace bravely defies her by sending a small, but determined group of soldiers.

I’m pleased to see this game has gotten so much critical acclaim recently! Join Kev and I as we bask in its loveliness and rock out to the music. Just ignore how much I fail at parrying.

AMA (Ask Me Anything)

The links should lead you to the timestamps that have the answers. I’ve included the timestamps just in case the links don’t work.

Q (from Lindowyn): How does an artist identify their audience?
A: Watch the answer here. 05:34

Q: (from Jim D AKA Overlord Jim of Apotheosis Adventures): What info does an artist need to draw a character?
A: Watch the answer here. 08:48

Q: (also from Overlord Jim): What info should a client have prepared to commission an artist?
A: Watch the answer here. 12:00

June Goals

Everything is going to be dependent on my availability while I prioritize family, but I hope to aim for the following.

  • Finishing the Cassiel’s Servant faux book cover. I’m likely switching to working digitally, as it will now take too long to learn acrylics as I originally planned with everything going on. Despite the digital medium, however, I plan to offer hand-gilded limited edition prints so they still have a touch of the artist’s hand in them.
  • Get back to my novel-writing class homework. It has been sorely neglected!
  • Returning to commission portraits later on in the month. (Husband’s health willing!) I’m going to see if I can still get the commission giveaway winners done at the very least!

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I hope I have better news and more fun things to share soon, but I may also fall off the planet depending on how things go. Either way, thanks for reading and for your support, both via Patreon and via your kind words.

Hug your loved ones, y’all, and take care!

<3 Ang

Featured

Studio Hangout APR 2025 + AMA – Character Art, Vampire Pirates, & Free Commission Slots [Video + Monthly Digest]

Another monthly Studio Hangout and AMA arrives! How is it the end of April already?? As per usual, you can watch the video above or read the summary in text here. Captions are included on the video and a transcript is also included attached to this post for your reference.

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There’s no way to sugar coat another bad month. I’ve been trying to work during a metaphorical hurricane. Tariffs have severely impacted my ability to plan any crowdfunding projects for the future, as what might be held up in customs changes day by day. Tariffs are also affecting my main target clients in the entertainment industry, so they’re hesitant to hire while they’re waiting for things to calm down.

It’s been heartbreaking to watch more than a few artists I know finally quitting the profession after already being strained by the state of things the past few years. Meanwhile, smaller game studios are even closing down because having their products frozen at port behind an unexpected customs fee means they can’t move any product.

The icing on the frustration cake of this month is finding out I’ve been waistlisted for DragonCon after hoping it’d be my grand return from being absent from conventions for 5 years. Alas, competition for in-person shows has grown even more fierce as AI generated art slop has flooded online marketplaces, making in-person shows the last bastion of marketplaces not flooded by cheap AI art because it’s generally against the rules for it to be included in these exhibition spaces.

Even still, I’m trying to celebrate the small victories. I’ve approached a couple more big game companies with my portfolio and hope that with enough persistence, one of these big clients will bite when things (hopefully) stabilize. I’ve also been accepted into a convention that I’ll announce soon once I’m allowed to talk about it more. It’s a really cool show I can’t wait to share more about!

I’ve also, after much toil and experimention, managed to finish the long-awaited character art samples I’ve been working on for far too long! Friends and fans have been after me for years to solidify something in this vein, though I fear my timing is absolutely terrible for launching character commissions at a time when we’re all tightening our belts.

Still, my only option is forward and hoping that we can hang on a bit longer while my husband and I recover from our no good bad year slowly, but surely.

New Art in April

It was another sparse month for art, as most of my time was spent doing all of the invisible background work writing the commission FAQ and updating my website to make ready for the Character Commission process. What art I did make I’m very pleased with, however!

[New Art] Artorias, Soul Knife Rogue

This image represents a technique level up for me, as well as a new professional direction targeting TTRPG markets. Read more about its creation, watch a timelapse, etc. here.

For those interested in a deep dive about character design, illustration process, etc. I’ve also written a deep dive Secret Sketchbook entry about this portrait which is available to Patrons at all paid levels.

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[Work-in-Progress Art] Kalara versus The Bride

This piece is another personal fun one for the Exalted Character of the Month challenge. This month’s featured character is The Forsaken Bride of Crimson Vows who belongs to ToxinFox and is featured heavily in her webcomic Reclamation (an Exalted TTRPG story). The vampire known as Bride, for short, terrorizes the high seas with her soulsteel blade, cat-o-nine-tails, and incredibly epic hat!

ToxinFox and I have always talked about how cool it would be to see our Exalted characters meet and so I’ve taken the chance to indulge the idea! I ended up with a fighting game style VERSUS screen which I’ll be finishing in a Hades-inspired ink style.

Who will win? Place your bets, folks!

—-
(Below) Reference of Kalara (art by me) vs Bride (art by ToxinFox)

Important Announcements

  • I’ve launched Character Art Commissions! Commission slots are currently open exclusively to Patreon Patrons at any tier (including the free tier) and my Fantasy Art newsletter subscribers. The general public will have to wait till May 6th to claim any leftover slots. Learn how to reserve your slot here.
  • Free Character Art Slots! To celebrate the commission launch, I’m offering 2 slots for free. This is only happening on BlueSky, however! Read on at the BlueSky post for more details.

AMA

Q: (From Char) What support systems do you have in place for your art career (part time job, spouse, etc)?
A: Watch the answer here.

Q: (From Lindowyn) Is there an artform you want to try and just haven’t gotten around to it?
A: Watch the answer here.

Q: What profession did your multiverse self go into?
A: Watch the answer here.

Stream Schedule

I’ve been playing Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden this month for Game Nights.

This game tells the story of Red and Antea, two lovers working as ghost hunters, who have come to New England during a time of tumult in an alternate history frontier Puritan America. They must face their greatest fear when one of them becomes the thing they hunt after dying at the hands of a powerful spirit. They must find the origin of the curse that keeps them trapped in the forsaken settlement or be trapped forever in a loop of regret.

It’s a wonderfully inspiring and underrated game that I’ve been wanting to share with others for a long time! Tune in Thursday nights as I continue my playthrough and discuss its inspiring qualities.

  • Find the playlist of the Game Night recordings for Banishers here.

May Goals

  • Returning to work on my CASSIEL’S SERVANT cover
  • Teaching myself acrylic paints using studies (new Kushiel art possibly?)
  • Continuing my writing homework with Maggie Steiftvater’s novel-writing class

    —-

    Feel free to tell me what your multiverse profession is in the comments! I’d love to hear you guys’ answer to that question.

<3 Ang

Studio Hangout MAR 2025 – TTRPG Portraits & Artist AMA [Video + Monthly Digest]

Where did March go??? Here’s the skinny on the happenings, new art, etc. for this month. You can watch the video above (which has captions and chapter breaks in the desc on YouTube) for my full update. This post contains an abbreviated summary if you’re short on time and a transcript of the full video attached to this post.

Personal Updates

It’s been a rough month! I’ve been attempting to keep up with writing and art, but found myself overwhelmed trying to juggle art/writing classes, a regular biweekly stream schedule, and swapping my sleep schedule to a new night-time routine (as endorsed by Brandon Sanderson).

This month, I’ve also taken the time to do our taxes and was faced with the exact numerical value of how my business has been impacted by social media and AI flooding Etsy’s marketplace in the past year (60% down in sales, to be precise).

The art community is suffering existentionally right now, so I have to thank you all once more for your continued support during these trying times! It’s been a struggle to create with all this noise around us. Making art goes, slowly, but surely!

New Art

I only have a couple of things to share this month because of existential dread brain and taking time to do taxes reasons.

  • Yorigasu, a celestial agent from Exalted. (Top)

  • Artorias Portrait (Bottom Right) – A D&D character portrait currently in-progress (which was shared for the first time on stream). Watch the full vid for more about each character.

  • Writing Class Homework – A little different than the art I share, but hopefully an interesting glimpse, regardless! Here’s a quick look at the brainstorming homework I’m doing for my writing class with Maggie Steitvater. A longer explanation is in the video as well as a story pitch of what I’m working on.

Ask Me Anything Questions

Check the time stamps for the answers to these questions.

  • 22:25 – (From Aaron R.) – What’s a piece of yours that surprised you?

  • 24:53 – (From Lindowyn) – What is the most satisfying piece that you’ve done?

  • 27:13 – (From Lindowyn) – What is your favorite medium?

Announcements

  • Art Streams are on hold until further notice!  I’ve been overwhelmed and sleep-deprived and needed more time to focus on re-balancing my schedule. Art streams will return once I’ve been able to settle into a healthier schedule for myself! Game Streams (featuring the game Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden) is still a go for Thursdays, 8pm EST.

  • Coming in April! – Creating private character art commission samples is my current priority. Then, I hope to return to focusing mainly on writing, with a couple of days a week spent on art as soon as the samples are out in the wild. I’m hoping taking these private commissions can help refill our life savings after our bad year last year. They will be released to my Patrons and newsletter subscribers before the public.

    —-

    Catch you next month.
    Wishing you all inspiration!

    <3 Angela S.

Studio Hangout FEB 2025 – Valentine’s Art, Good News, & Artist AMA [Video + Monthly Digest]

It’s been an eventful and emotional month! Here’s a quick rundown on everything you might’ve missed in February.

Like last month’s Studio Hangout, you can get the quick highlights of this studio hangout from reading this post or watch the full video above or on my YouTube which also has chapters and closed captions. A transcript is also attached to this post.

(Are you guys liking this format? Let me know in the comments!) Read more

[VIDEO] Studio Hangout OCT 2017 – Kickstart Art Review, Inktober, and My Favorite Author

Check out my latest wrap-up video for October. I fear with every video I share, the more of a dork I reveal myself to be!

Featuring the following things:

– My thoughts on the Kickstart Art seminar with Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and what revelations I had from it.

– An epic level geek out about Kushiel’s Dart which I was nearly hesitant to share online, but it’s on the internet now.  Oh well!

– Pumpkin Spice shenanigans.

– Plus aaaaart!