The Strumline

[Magistrum]

Chill out, make yourself at home.

Currently the request-taking is on hiatus. For now.
(づ◕‿‿◕)づ

Hello everyone! Welcome to my humble little thread, The Strumline.

I'm Magistrum.

Shameless self promotion[AKA history]¬

...

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I've been a fan of Pokemon games since I was a kid, experiencing each generation either by console [gen 1-3] or emulator[gen 4-5]. Only till recently have I stumbled upon Smogon, after the announcement of Gen 6. I made an account then. I was searching for forums discussing gen 6 so that was how I got into a bucketload of data concerning competitive battling in Pokemon. I actually played the pokemon games only till the storyline ends[post elite 4] and never bothered with online battles, so it was sort of a culture shock for me.

Searching for what else Smogon has to offer, I stumbled onto CAP. I was like
"Wow this is fun, a whole forum makes their own pokemon and do online battles with it." I wanted to be involved.

I've always liked drawing, but only took it seriously the time I pursued Architecture and joined as an artist in our college paper. I got the hang of trad drawing during those years and has greatly influenced my style. My main media is pencil, ink and color pens. My work is sketchy at the pencil stage since I always finalize it with inking. Coloring was optional.

A couple of my works back then:[although these are rejects since I cannot post the published ones]

The first one is pencil(albeit finalized)

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while this one is with ink, supposed to be colored but rejected because the article got scrapped.

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A couple of traditionally colored artworks, back when I was making some comics. These are inked, and colored with Kurekolor:

This is my attempt to manganize the Anito, guardian spirits of Philippine folklore.

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The frontliners of my characters on my comic Mad Scotch (discontinued): Ronald McDonald, Burger King, Colonel Sanders(KFC) and Jollibee

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FYI Jollibee is a fastfood chain that beats international staples like McDonald's, KFC and Burger King in the Philippine Fastfood scene.

Color pens actually influenced my style in digital art greatly. My art usually has vivid colors as a result.

Then WACOM TABLET happened. I graduated when I got my hands on it about 2 years ago [I've tried it a bit but didn't touch it again until recently though because of work constraints]. Currently I am learning the ropes in digital art [yeah I'm slow in joining the digital art bandwagon] and I'm hoping to learn a lot and impart with everyone!

My first digital artworks:

A random chick sitting on his eggshell. I wish I just made it into Torchic instead.

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This is a fanart of my ingame character in Ragnarok Online, Thalassa Frostbane. Actually when I showed this to my guildmates, they suddenly wanted to marry me ingame, which was awkward since at that time, I haven't told them yet that I'm a guy.

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A collection of sketches of my guildmates, again from Ragnarok Online.

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A sketch of random job classes, yet again from Ragnarok Online.

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Looking back at it, my digital lineart sucks compared to trad...

Now onto the pokemon stuff:

Latest Art

CAP5 Proposed Design: Forest Troll
This is my first project in all of Smogon. Placed 4th in the art polls; definitely not bad at all for a first attempt at CAP.

Preliminary Sketches

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Look at his baby picture. I find him kinda adorable at this stage of the design.

Aaaand this is where he comes at a rebellious stage. His arm 'hair', eyes, and an earring. What a delinquent.

Color schemes

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Personally I loved both of the schemes that I have done here, so much that I left the choosing to anyone who would comment on them. The first scheme prevailed, so I went with it. However, deep inside, I didn't want to waste the autumn theme, so I planned it to be a proposed shiny sprite.

Support art: Various Attacks and Shenanigans

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Yeah, I know, I put in a bit more effort than I normally would in these supporting artworks, since I believed that they're fundamental for gaining appeal to onlookers and potential voters and to gain comments from artists and other contributors. I also thought that they would make good supplements for my final submission. How wrong I was to think they mattered to most of the voters; well perhaps some of them viewed the art thread and/or clicked that small link to the final submission post, but I guess voters like that who study their prospected candidates are few. Well overall I do not regret devoting additional time for my support artworks; they made my design have attitude, substance, interaction, and most of all, they brought my design to life.

This is my first Support Art, demonstrating various attacks (and ability) that I initially wanted for my design. Kinda disappointing since I feel that due to my main design only relying on this pic to demonstrate its Harvest sequence, naturally the majority of the voters didn't see it. My fault, execution-wise.

The next one is a sequence for charging Solarbeam.

Next is Power Whip.

This is perhaps my favorite support art because I love to draw many pokemon in one picture. The Beat Up attack is a perfect excuse for me to achieve this.

My last support art which is more oriented towards movepool utility that I gather to be wanted by many: Pursuit, Rapid Spin, and Sucker Punch. I had to incorporate a new feature to the design especially for Rapid Spin, with which I opted for vines using the Doraemon's Pocket Principle.

Discontinued attempt at facial revamp

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This I might say, was a series of artworks that I have done to achieve an ulterior motive. At the middle of the design process, various people have commented that the vines on the face were too creepy for their liking. Of course I wanted to ignore them, but then I felt it was an opportunity to get feedback. I came up with a "facial revamp" using circles inspired by Cradily's fake eyes.

And of course, some joke schemes inspired by duskull's eyes, crobat's eyes, and cloyster's face. Of course, I included my original design as a comparison to show how these joke schemes suck.

After posting these, along with some viable and believable justifications, I achieved the result I wanted---most of them wanted the vines back. So in a way, I used my troll to troll. =P

Relative Scale:

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The cat's out of the bag. I adore Rise Kujikawa. End of story.

Final Product (Normal & Shiny version):

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I was about to post my original design as my final sub when I looked back at my first sketch. Then it dawned on me---sharp facial vines were still frowned upon by some; so why not soften it? So I came up with the face that I feel was more expressive than I would have had in the original design:

And yes, I looked back at my autumn color scheme too. However I came up with this proposed shiny version, which I feel was more acceptable as a shiny than just a recolor of the leaf mane. The gloomy autumn feel it has also made it perfect.

Overall I am very satisfied with the direction this design has taken.

Flavor Backstory

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This Pokemon is mischievous and obnoxious, and will definitely pull a prank or two even in battle despite its menacing look and massive size. It takes advantage of its odd facial features to provoke opponents. It is proud of its tree hollow pouch housing elastic, sturdy vines growing from a subspecies of Liana Vine inside its body. Even though it is a bit slow because of its heavy wood-like body, its strength can deliver powerful whipping blows with amazing speed and dexterity, enough to pierce through its enemies' defenses.

A long time ago, people were puzzled by the swirling vines imposing as its eyes and tongue, because it reacts to various stimuli the way a normal eye or tongue would. Some people theorized that these vines function as some sort of evolved sensors akin to an insect's antennae. Others dismissed it as mere reactions according to its "real" eyes and tongue, but whether those "real" eyes and tongue existed or not is still a mystery to this day.

It has been discovered through the help of modern technology that this Pokemon’s tree hollow parts and its organic skin has almost the same genetic makeup and is bonded to the cellular level, effectively making its “bark armor” a harder variant of its organic skin and its “mask” to be its real face.

Closing Remarks

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CAP 5, which is the first Smogon project I participated in, has been a very fun experience. Trollfreak, as I once named it in the supporting art, is a precious piece to me, as it is, after all, my very first capmon. Even though I’m just a newbie in Smogon, especially in CAP, I appreciate the comments, critiques and support that the community has given to this design. I hope to participate in the next CAP too, if time would be so kind to let me. Until then, thanks everyone!

Updates [The Smog Artworks]:
Smog #26
Sir Cloy vi Destroia from The Smog #26 Article "An Introduction to Setting Up Moves in OU"
Hi, I'm god. from The Smog #26 Article "Enlightenment: A Guide to Working Out Arceus Formes from Team Preview"
Amidst a harsh battle from The Smog #26 Article "OU's Top Threats: How Do They Fare in Ubers?"
Derpingler and Derpingler: Tobacco Edition from The Smog #26 Article "ADV Player Bio: reyscarface"
Smog #27
Join the Matrx, Mr. Porygon from The Smog #27 Article "Interview with Vader"
Riolu and Lucario: After Training from The Smog #27 Article "LC Pokémon That Take After Their OU Parents"
KyuGeLdeScorMory from The Smog #27 Article "Everything you've been told is a lie: Weatherless Offense in BW2 OU"
My Neighbor Ludicolo from The Smog #27 Article "OU Playstyle Analysis: Rain Offense"

Updates [Smeargle's Studio-related Artworks]:
MonochroMILOTIC
Vitruvian Smeargle (Sketch Guide Article Artwork)
4th Clover Crobat (Smeargle Card Project Entry)
Spade Queen Milotic (Smeargle Card Project Entry)
Surreaveelution (MAC#23 entry)
Jetpoleon (Priority Guide Article Artwork)
Fakemon: Aguilet & Aguilari

Updates [Requests]:
Probopass Avatar (requested by Eagle4, relinked to the Spriting and Banners thread)
Insidious Woobat (requested by elcheeso)
Scrafty Remix (requested by bluehoundoom)
Stantler Photobomb (requested by nov)
Kel-Tar Tandem (requested by Trinitrotoluene)
PokeFlutist Aipom (requested by Corkscrew)
Cress-Tran Tandem (requested by Trinitrotoluene)
Purugly Diary Entry #01: The head is a fish I must eat it (requested by RitterCat)
HD Reigon (requested by bluehoundoom)
LC Premier League Logo (requested by blajaran)
Psycho(?)Cut (requested by Ethergrace)
Bianca...or Latias? (requested by Sarkynin)
Pick of the Pools Tournament Logo (requested by Eagle4)
ABSOLute sheen (requested by GlassAbsol)
The Smut Premiere: Whoever Thought Ice can be Hot? (requested by andrew3391)
Gazceit (requested by Snaquaza)

Updates [Non-Pokemon Artworks]:
Absolem
Ragnarok Partymates
Traditional Art Process
Ekreya Stormforge
Ekreya Moonripper
Faceswap featuring my sister, my dad, and my TROLLFACE
Caricature Commissions for my Mom's Officemates

So that's it for now, I will update from time to time, mostly on weekends. As always, comments, suggestions, critiques and criticisms are welcome.

[Juicy Fruit]

Don't think you need me to tell you how could you are since I've already thrown my support behind your CAP design. There really isn't a lot to critique on here, its all awesome. (I'll forgive the lineart on your support art because it is support art after all).

Also this may be one of my favourite pieces I've seen around here, in terms of concept especially. I look at it and I see writer's block, something I really struggle with.

Shit, this kid is good.

[Alice]

You must have A LOT of patience to draw all those chains >_<...

[Magistrum]

Originally Posted by Fat Juicy Fruit

Don't think you need me to tell you how could you are since I've already thrown my support behind your CAP design. There really isn't a lot to critique on here, its all awesome. (I'll forgive the lineart on your support art because it is support art after all).

Also this may be one of my favourite pieces I've seen around here, in terms of concept especially. I look at it and I see writer's block, something I really struggle with.

Shit, this kid is good.

Thank you sir, you are too kind. Actually, those support art [solarbeam, power whip and beat up] were supposed to be uncolored, if not for the warning given to me being accused of hogging the thread. o_0 So I colored them to let off steam.

Originally Posted by Fat Alice

You must have A LOT of patience to draw all those chains >_<...

Yeah, and kinda sucked that it got rejected T_T

In the meantime, a wee update:
Monochromilotic!

Watercolor with Photoshop effects.

[Magistrum]

An update with two artworks:
Vitruvian Smeargle

This is a digital art intended to represent this thread, but seeing that the art for articles thread needed some, well, art, I figured I might as well attempt to contribute this. I hope it's good enough, though.

Absolem

A traditional pencilwork of my impression of a darker Absolem, the smoking caterpillar in Wonderland where Alice wandered about.

[Governess]

I LOVED the chain one. The way you varied the shades, and made it look realistic really stood out to me. Also, for your most recent pic, I am amazed with all the details you put into each part, whether it's the smoke, the fingertips, or the shading. Really, really nice work. Luvdisc'd! =)

[Alice]

Originally Posted by Fat Magistrum

An update with two artworks:
Vitruvian Smeargle

this is brilliant

[Magistrum]

Wow my chain man is loved... thanks guys!

Meanwhile, a wee update: a submission to the Smeargle Card Project, which is also coincidentally a digital fan art of my fave pokemon:

4th Clover Crobat!

[Cheeno]

Awesome drawings.. >_<

You've taken my heart at that Milotic [my favorite gen 3 poke]

That chained man must have taken ages X_o .. too COOL!

I love the Absolem sketch. It has so much emotion.

Do try to compress some of your drawings though. Maybe around 640x640 pixels at most. It's too large for my screen. Hahaha. And it would be easier for other user to appreciate your work.

[Magistrum]

Originally Posted by Fat Cheeno

Awesome drawings.. >_<
Do try to compress some of your drawings though. Maybe around 640x640 pixels at most. It's too large for my screen. Hahaha. And it would be easier for other user to appreciate your work.

Okay I'll do that, thanks for the advice.

...BTW hey there kababayan (/^o^)/\(^o^\)

[Cheeno]

Originally Posted by Fat Magistrum

Okay I'll do that, thanks for the advice.

...BTW hey there kababayan (/^o^)/\(^o^\)

X_o... I've just noticed. Haha...
Madami talagang magagaling na pinoy.

[ium]

this is really neat stuff; i would love to see you pump out more refined and complete digital pieces, because the linework and colors you've done for the cap design are stellar.

the composition on your crobat piece is a little weird; perhaps adding some silhouettes (like of trees or anything else you could think of) would make it seem more complete. additionally, the text doesn't really stand out against a black background so i would probably reconsider the color or something.

anyway, looking forward to seeing more.

[Magistrum]

Originally Posted by Fat ium

the composition on your crobat piece is a little weird; perhaps adding some silhouettes (like of trees or anything else you could think of) would make it seem more complete. additionally, the text doesn't really stand out against a black background so i would probably reconsider the color or something.

anyway, looking forward to seeing more.

Kinda hard to add trees since the POV is staring up at the moon,[possibly a few branches can be drawn, albeit small ones on the edge of the pic] but I could add other crobats in the distance to make it more complete. Thanks for the critique! Edit: finished modifications

[Magistrum]

A bigger update than last time:
A scan of my fanart of some jobs in Ragnarok Online:

Pencils and ink. This was done years ago though, I thought I might as well dump it here.

A CAP update:


Which one of them strikes your fancy?

And a WIP:

I realized that for the longest time, I haven't tried to color any of my traditional artwork digitally! It was always pure traditional or pure digital, never a mix in between. Sooooo for the first time I am giving it a try!

It was hard at first because of the line art cleaning, since I tend to be sketchy at the pencil stage and thus leaving a lot of unnecessary grain. However, thanks to the internet tutorials I pulled through. Of course, any tips from everyone would be welcome.

[Magistrum]

Another Update: [I hope I ain't stepping the line, I got a triple post but they're in different days so i guess it's okay =P]

First in line is Spade Queen Milotic!

This is my second attempt in the Smeargle Card Project, this time the Queen of Spades. I tried a coloring style different from my comfort zone but I think I nailed it, or at least close enough. I also kinda got a Persona 4 feel going on in this artwork. [If you haven't played Persona 4 yet, you're missing out too much. It's that good.]

Also, I have something that would show a bit of how I do traditional. This was actually advised by my art director back when I was an artist in the college paper. I dunno if she was trolling or helping me back then; the process was...time consuming, but it helped fill my portfolio faster. She also argued that this refines your inking skills, so I did it anyway, and it worked for me. [Although, she never used this process and so far I was the only one who did it among my peers]

1. Of course the pencilwork goes first...

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I never outgrew my sketchy pencilwork because somehow it has that authentic feel to it. This was actually cleaned in preparation for the 2nd step; refer to the rough preliminary sketch of my proposed capmon 5 to get a feel of how really messy my sketching is.

2. Buuuut before getting to the inking stage, I photocopy it first. Why? because the sketch is an artwork in itself already. The copy is what I ink while the original goes to my folio. That's why the sketch is cleaned a bit.

3. Inking Stage

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The sketch becomes the monochromatic render of the line art, albeit giving only a brief depiction of lighting and shadows.

4. Photocopy the output again. This is usually the most annoying step. Although the lines are defined from the inking, the photocopy usually lowers its quality so I redraw the lines. This step is actually what my art director implies as refining my inking skills. Of course, the original line art is also stashed into the folio. After reinking the hardcopy...

5. Coloring Stage

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The final step is what I make the most fun out of. I use Kurekolor as my coloring medium because the strokes are faster and easier to control than watercolor, and averts the white spots problem which occurs often when using color pencils/oil pastels.

Overall this process is arduous but it is quite fulfilling, netting you at least 3 artworks! I actually once made 4 copies on the 4th step of another artwork to make different color schemes in the coloring stage. If you have the time [and patience] why not try this out?

[GlassAbsol]

I think it's fine, considering the work you're putting out is really really great, and the fact that nobody has commented in between each post which is a shame. You could always update a previous post with more work.

Everything's brilliant. It's just a massive shame that nobody is really picking up on how good everything is.

Also I like the step process you gave for your artwork. It's a lovely piece as well :)

[someone under the sea]

Milotic is so colorful and nice :D

As for the archer, do you think it would be better for her right wrist to be straight? It looks quite awkward.

[Fulgrate]

The Spade Queen Milotic is friggin' awesome.

[Sæglópur]

It does remind me of Persona 4, with all the colors! If Milotic were just a little bit scarier maybe she could pass for a shadow. :P

[Magistrum]

@GlassAbsol: Thanks for all the praise! I really appreciate it.

@someone under the sea: I think it's the angle that confuses you. Her hand reaches to the bow backwards away from her body, which shortens it in the picture.

@Fulgrate and Sæglópur: Yeah I think looks awesome too. I'm glad it came out okay since I just lurked at deviantART for some digital artworks and tried to adapt and try out the coloring style.

A wee update this time compared to the previous ones, since I've been busy. I posted my final submission for CAP 5 though:

I reverted to my previous design but tweaked the eyes to be more circular. The facial revamp earlier just didn't cut it for me. Also a shiny version:

I think I just rushed it though but it looks okay I guess

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and a scale to determine its relative size:

Pokemon trainer Rise Kujikawa FTW!!!

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[Particular1]

Man this is inspiring. There is tons of humor, colour and obviously lot of effort in your pictures. Luv to the disc'd!

[Magistrum]

Originally Posted by Fat Particular1

Man this is inspiring. There is tons of humor, colour and obviously lot of effort in your pictures. Luv to the disc'd!

Thank you! (づ｡◕ω◕｡)づ <(^‿‿^< ) I'm glad you like it.

Also a little update, since apparently I've been lurking in the IRC too much lately... In the meantime let me present to you a non-pokemon related art that I posted before as a WIP: another of my characters in Ragnarok Online, Ekreya Stormforge the mechanic!



Ink with Photoshop Coloring and Effects.

[mpea]

The Milotic looked brilliant. Very colorful, bright, and really emphasized Milotic's beauty, which we all know is it's main theme. Also loved the Crobat. The dark colors, combined with the moon again emphasized the theme of Vampires. Especially loved the moon, the bright contrast with the dark colors of the night was done highly effectively and in good detail.

[Sæglópur]

I tried RO once, but just couldn't get into it! I liked the sprites/art though...
Also you should totally draw people from Persona like your RO characters! <333

[RitterCat]

Oh wow I haven't really had a good look through your thread and all your stuff is amazing. I think I love your shading the most, just the way you use it to show different surfaces so well (like the metallic shading on the robot hand in the last pic compared to the softer shading in other places)
Hope you stick around for a good while with this quality art man n_n