I used to offer monthly sketch rewards to patrons but at some point the workload started to drain my ability to focus on my main projects.

So now I offer the monthly "Roll For Loot" contest were upwards of 3 contestants can win a personalized sketch request.

I also offer them as birthday gifts to members of the "Crimson Dames Discord Server" (Even to non Patrons)

And sometimes I offer them up randomly as a gift to people I identify as being in dire need of a pick me up. To help offer something a bit more exciting for them to look forward to. 

Why I recommend that peeps join up with the server and participate. To help strengthen your network of peeps, and be kept in the know of interesting goings on. 

If or rather "When? my work starts to gain traction and eventually reaches critical mass, I'll open a secondary server to ensure that those earliest peeps who were there from the beginning will have their platform preserved before it becomes flooded with new peeps. 

To ensure my core fans have the strongest voice in influencing the growth of my works. ^ _^

Not every sketch may be my best work but they do help me to continue improving my penciling skills.

The completed logos! Or at least I think they are. I just put in the last bit of feed back they had. 1 to make the spikes and teeth sharper for the flat version, and that I had forgotten to put the tail on top of the logo for the full version.

Came out a lot faster than I expected overall which I'm very grateful for in that I now can get back to my novella! :D

Had a short notice project come down from Dragon Shield today and I would feel really bad to have to turn them down after they've made my works into an entire line of product. 

That and I really need the funds to put towards my move to a new apartment. I need to get out of this tuna can. 

here are 3 concepts I came up with tonight to give them a bit of choice. I believe I'll have to also do a fully rendered version as well with inks and color. Should still be a fairly quick job if they get their feedback back to me in a timely manner. 

I'm sort of torn between the first 2 myself, which one do you like better?

Phewa, finally finished this one up.

Feels like it might be missing something still, but I'll let the Art Director and his people decide what they need adjusted.

Final invoice has been sent out so I should be free for the next day or so till they get back to me.

Was considering doing a Crimson Dames related illustration. 

Perhaps something that could serve as a poster or shirt. that or just a moody transformation scene? Not sure yet. That or just jump right into finishing up a new illustration for the novella.

I really need to get back to finishing writing it too. Its been a sort of by the seat of my pants sort of project so far but doing up a few illustrations in advance helped to inform the writing, which in turn helped to inform further illustrations. 

Can't wait to get a solid product out there for the world to see. Then once the novella and comic are complete I'll probably start the prolog story with the chayse family and the wraparound vampire segment. 

First of the month is coming up soon. I implore my current patrons to please consider swapping over from Deviant art to the paypal subscriptions. Links in the footer below! 

Would really help me to further push what I can accomplish with your support. ^ _^

In the meanwhile please tell me about what you'd like to see next out of me. 

Worked in the skyline for a baseline, will likely not be the final version.
The finished version will have the shield activating with power giving a glowing/sparkling effect to his armor and such.
I predict it will be quite the challenge to capture. 
Hopefully it doesn't drag on for too long though. Really wanting to get back to my own projects already.  TT  oTT

I went ahead with a significant redo for the armor to better match a reference I was given. While its still completely different its at least a bit more spiritually thematic than what I had before.

Will be trying to achieve a pearlescant sheen on the main figures for this one. A color I haven't had the best luck in recreating in the past, but hopefully I can figure it out this time around. ^ _^

I'll work in some moody storm clouds in the background and mebe add a few more angry dragon pursuers.

Phewa I think this one is just about done. I'll have to wait to see what the art director requests edit wise. In the meanwhile will try to knock out the second pic as quickly as possible.

Can't wait to get back to my own projects. 

Tell me what you think of it overall. ^ _^

I've been experimenting with the color balance and blend modes to see what color layout works best to bring the right feel to the overall piece.

It felt like the dragon being a reddish/orange color was causing its form to bleed into the main character's silhouette a bit too much so I tried desaturating the dragon to match the background a bit more. and seperate them out.

I'm starting to work in the secondary lighting sources now. 

I'll break up the red with more oranges as it continues to progress for that rusted blood look.

​slowly but surely making it there though.

Got the Flats in so am now working in some of the light sources to better inform the positions of the shadows. I'm hoping to be able to get it completed by tomorrow though I suspect I'll need more back and forth with the art director to really get the colors where they work for them.

Phewa inks are complete for the time being, pending approval from the art director. Flats have a bit of a ways to go still.

The shield is supposed to be a rust coppery color, so I'll probably be using that as the foundation to base the other colors on.

I'll probably start up something new for myself for the weekend Crimson Dames related. Not sure what yet though. I'm leaning towards an illustration showing a woman turning into a shewolf caught unawares in the middle of the process. 

I'd like something that especially plays up the eyes and sheen on the body. That or mebe just spend the weekend sketching out the lead Crimson Dames characters and better exploring how to render their outfits. 

​What would you prefer to see??

Inks are coming along for Emperor Scion! 

I didn't quite get as much done as I wanted due to having to go grocery shopping today.

Which is an all day affair for me due to not having a vehicle.

I have a sturdy luggage rack that I drag along with an old Amazon Food box and bring back as much as I can carry crossed as well as how thick (or Thin) the wallet is for that week.

I tend to feel like I'm playing a game of Organ Trail. Go out hunting and and shoot 800 pounds worth of food but could only carry back 200 pounds. XD​

Inking progress for Lane!

I changed up his expresion some to get it a bit more interesting.

Shield's persepctive is gonna be an annoyance to finish up.

Still need to put in some more details into the dragon here and there as well.

Refined pencils for Emperor Scion. Both Pieces have been approved for inking now. 
Moved the shield to his other hand after peeps in the stream helped me come to the realization that it looked like a lefties shield. XD 

I predict this one will still be the more difficult of the 2 to ink but It's been simplified some so hopefully things go smoothly enough. 

Third version for this illustration Is almost ready to start inking.

Did another set of Sketch Draw Overs to give peeps a better idea of what you might get after submitting your own sketches.

Don't forget that Gold Tier Patrons get 2 Draw Over Requests per month staring this month!

Submit your requests today via the Wolf Pack Queue in the Crimson Dames Discord!

Not an artist? Thats okay you can offer it to someone who you think would appreciate. ^ _^

Take 2 for Emperor Scion, Got feedback already, wasn't quite what they were looking for yet so will try a new take tomorrow.

Todays progress with refining the pencils for Lance Thunderhoof. Not sure about his expression just yet, might add in the dragons tail in the background too later.

Next take on the Lane Thunderhoof sketch.
I felt that the dragon was eating up too much space for the original take so attempted to a version that was zoomed in closer.
Will see what the Art Director decides they like best.
Tomorrow will work more on Scion while waiting for feedback.

Finally getting started on these 2. The first set of sketches is proving to be quite the challenge for finding the right balance between the 3 main figures each of which pulls focus away from the other.

The more of the dragon I show the smaller the riders presence, were as there's only so many poses I can use where that tower shield isn't covering up most of his body.

The next of the emperors throne came together much quicker, but will conversely be the harder of the 2 to ink. T  oT

Will see what suggestions the Art director provides before moving forward.