This is a project that I've been working on for a while. The series is called, Aoi: Blue Sun. I've been working with the characters and developing them for some time, now, but recently, I put it on the shelf to really throw myself into working on Sweet Shoppe. But, still, this is a developing series that's really close to my heart. ^_^I'm all about the environment and this series deals heavily with that. It's a series that I started after creating and introducing this character here, Adjani, into a game inspired by a Japanese animated series, Ronin Warriors (Yoroiden Samurai Troopers in Japan) that I used to play on. Adjani (the blue girl there) is a part of the tribe of water spirits, one of the seven major spirits (earth, tree, wind, fire, water, light, dark) on the planet. She is next in line to lead her people and maintain the waters of the world along with them. She cannot allow herself the luxury of following her heart and being with the one she loves who happens to be human.
Back in the day when I played this game, he was her lover. He is the Ronin Warrior, Cye (or Shin in Japan). This picture shows them parting, one last time. She has her destiny to fulfill as he has his. An immortal princess of water spirits must live her life for her people while he, a mortal warrior who fights to save the planet from the forces of evil, must live his.
( http://aoibluesun.blogspot.com/ )
*stretches* You know, I can't believe that I didn't post this here when I got this commission back in November of 2009.This was a commission that I was requested to do as a design for a night club in Nashville. Someone told me that this image is hosted as a very large image in their historic print district. That made me really happy to hear. I wish I could see it for myself, but, if I'm ever in the Nashville area, I'll hunt it down, for sure ;-)SO! Lemme think what else is new. I've finalized the designs for the costumes of the Sweet Shoppe girls even if I haven't finalized the color arrangements for them. I'm debating just having the girls wear the same design and let them all wear whatever colors they choose. That seems to be the best course of action since all the girls have such varied hues, also.
The first issue's story is done, although, I think I'm going to add just a little more to it. I'm not sure as of yet, but I may add an additional bit of writing to what I already have. I won't know for sure, though, until I really get into the illustrations, see how much space I have and determine if I have enough time to make additional submissions to the existing material. So, here's hoping! :)
Alrighty! Back to work! In the meantime, here's Candy and Plum modeling the uniforms for the Sweet Shoppe girls to wear.
Well well well... Another day, still plowing through the Sweet Shoppe, trying to get things done with the script so I can move on to art. I've actually planned the layout of the shoppe so I can begin figuring out how the shop looks, but the issue of uniforms came up and, thankfully, it was resolved swiftly enough...more or less ^^; Here, I'll show you what I mean:
This is the design for the uniforms of the Sweet Shoppe. There are two versions of, essentially, the same outfit. The one on the left was the original design, but upon thinking on it, I realized that it may be a bit too young for the older girls, Plum, Mint and Sweetheart. So, I designed the second outfit on the right. The lack of a pleated skirt ages it up, just a little and is something that I can easily see the three older girls wearing. So, for the moment, there are two uniforms worn at the Sweet Shoppe ^__~
...now, we move on to the rival shoppe known as, Brandy's Place.
The outfits couldn't be more different, but then, the restaurants couldn't be more different. The Sweet Shoppe is like a soda bar while Brandy's Place is more like a pub. The atmosphere in her establishment is considerably darker and more adult. You wouldn't find children here as you would at the Sweet Shoppe, but, that's the look that Brandy wanted. Children don't make money, or at least not a lot of it so she has very little use for them and thus does not tailor her business to cater to them.
Sweetheart, on the other hand, thinks children are precious and the light of the world and without them, the world would be a much less joyous place. Because of this, her establishment is very geared toward youth and at any given time of the day, you're very likely to see a child in her store. ^_^
Well, several weeks ago, I came to realize that the monitor on my laptop wasn't accurately displaying color. I...was dismayed with this turn of events, mostly because with the Sweet Shoppe, the characters are colors that MUST be conveyed correctly. So, I decided to shop around for a new monitor...or rather...an additional monitor to partner with my laptop. Luck was with me because I found one and at an amazing price.
So, with joy and with the help of my new monitor, I am FINALLY able to get accurate colors for these characters. Mint is no longer neon!! (I hope! You tell me if she is!!) and Sugar is more sweet looking with a less darker shade of blue, more "baby" blue, now. AND Sweetheart isn't that soul-less yellow that she was before, she's quite a bit warmer now and her eyes are more brown, not so reddish.
The other three, Plum, Candy and Tange are actually fine the way they are, but these three bothered me, quite a lot. Boomer is also fine. He's brighter than I had intended, but, somehow, I like that on him 
Brandy...well, she's more saturated and brighter than I had originally planned, but, she may stay the way she is as well 
Anyhoo, please let me know if you see a difference on your screens. I can see a noticeable difference from my laptop screen to my monitor, so I want to see if you can see a difference as well. Thanks a bunch! ^_^
Well, I was talking to my friend the other day and he wanted me to design something edgy for a line of fashion things he wants to get in together with me. SO! As I sat in Starbucks that day, sketching, this character came up. I've been calling her Brandy. Now, something that I had in mind was that Sweetheart has a rival, a girl and her crew of of culinary competitors. 
They have a shop that's not quite as successful as Sweet Shoppe because...well, the girls aren't as likable across the board, but they DO attract a particular audience (it's not the most modest of establishments ^^; ). 
Long story short, Brandy despises Sweetheart and Sweetheart really wouldn't mind not having ANYTHING to do with Brandy. She doesn't HATE her the way Brandy hates her, but she does try to avoid her when she can. But, what I think Brandy truly hates is the fact that Sweetheart has Boomer...and Brandy wants Boomer, too...but, she can't have him. ...ah well. There will be more of Brandy and her staff eventually. They're not needed in the story just now, so, I have time to work on them. Anyhoo, I hope you like her...er...no...wait...not LIKE her 'cause she's the enemy but...hmm...darn! I don't know what to say! ^^; I guess I want people to like her in the way that people like the antagonist in a story I think that's about all for the moment. There will be more from the rivals soon...well...maybe not that soon, but at least this is something to get them started.
Well, I was playing around with the Sweet Shoppe girls and I guess I must have been bored or curious or spacing out...or something! :-p Long story short, I wanted to see what the cats would look like as regular cats. So, this was what I came up with. This is Sugar, Tange and Plum just...being very feline.
I may end up doing something with this like a little web comic or like a mini-comic at the end of each issue, but we'll have to see. :-) I realize that this is the same thing that I did with my other series, Eyes in the Dark. Except, that series was in reverse. I started with quadrupeds and then did a series with them as upright anthros. ;-) So, if I go forth using these characters in this way, it'll be a twist.OH! Speaking of cats, I forgot to mention a series that I put on the back burner, Alley Cat Blues. I've left it on the side for a while...you know, that's another post for another day ^_^ For now, I'll just post a little teaser image here so hopefully, you'll be curious for more when the time comes to talk a little more about it here. ...or, you can just dig around my DeviantArt account site! HAHA! Okay! Gotta go! See ya!
