Owl's Gift, finished!

[ellenmillion]

You can see the in-progress steps here: http://www.fantasticportfolios.com/salon/viewtopic.php?t=167

A 'Tell Me a Story' commission for Marina. She specified first that it have an owl and an oak tree, and later told me about her RPG character, Nimhelith, while I was noodling around trying to figure out what to put in as a central focal point. From there, the composition fell into place.

I used a new kind of pen on this one, a Copic Multiliner, and I think I may a convert from the Microns... they have smaller sizes (this piece is almost all the .03 size, with some .7 for bold areas). The lines are really nice and controllable - the feathers are actually outlined with the .03 with heavy pressure, not the .7 - and the pen is still working after this entire piece. I think I would have gone through at least 2 of the 005 microns on this. I didn't go easy on 'em, either, though I wanted to because they were more than twice as expensive. I also picked up a brush pen that they had, but didn't want to chance this piece with a tool that unpredictable. I'll use that on something safer...

I forgot to keep count of my hours, darn it. At least 5 in inking alone, I think.

ETA: Also, voting is up for LJ Idol! If you didn't think my entry on Internet Me was too awful, please vote! http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/105142.html

Comments

Nice!

[uminomamori.livejournal.com]

crazy dot lady :)

You can also get refils for copic pens, and the brush pens don't die as quick as sakuras.

[brightling.livejournal.com]

Wow! Your linework is always really dynamic. You get so many different textures and tones using just black ink that I find really impressive. So much motion to the lines... ah sorry, my thoughts kinda trailed off there. ^_^;; I can totally believe a solid 5+ hours went into that inking.

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Your art is always so lovely, but the loveliness is almost always eclipsed by my initial reaction of "how long did it take her to make all those DOTS??" Hee.

[winterswitchery.livejournal.com]

That's really hot :)~~~

[fleeboy.livejournal.com]

you did an awesome job rendering feathers, the rest is awesome too. copic brushpens are handy for filling in black. when i do mandala pieces i fill in the blacks with copics. no fuss no muss. i'm trying to train myself to ink in photoshop or just make pencil lines look like ink, but it's a constant growing process and the brushpens have come in handy filling in the cracks.

[hippiechic567.livejournal.com]

This looks wonderful Ellen!

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

Wow, it's looking great. I voted at LJ Idol!