Smeargle's Studio Update 4
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Welcome back to another Smeargle's Studio update! For those of you who remember, Smeargle's Studio tended to have the occasional update every now and again, and seeing as the last one was roughly 4 years ago at the time of this article, there's a bit to cover and catch up on! For those of you who are new to these updates, welcome! For this specific update, Shadowshocker, Albatross, and I will be going over the latest Summer Event, and I'll touch upon this month's featured artist and briefly catch up on what's been happening around the studio since the last update.
Art by Shadowshocker.
Smeargle's Summer Illustration Event!
Seasonal art events are hardly uncommon in Smeargle's Studio. From prior Monthly Art Contests to Annual Secret Santas, each seasonal event is the hype of the studio when it comes around and is often something our community looks forward to most. Smeargle's Summer Illustration Event was no exception! Hosted by MiniArchitect, the event was open to all, and the theme was to take a provided image depicting a beach or otherwise summer theme and have artists draw Pokémon-related characters existing as well in the scene! With 14 participants, there were a lot of masterpieces to behold and a wide variety of ways artists seamlessly slipped in their works into a real-life setting, some of which will be commented on below! To see all artists' pieces for the event, check out the results through this link!
Art by Brumirage.
Albatross
In terms of content, this piece might seem simple, but the way Brumirage has managed to make their sprites fit perfectly into the scene is nothing short of impressive. The bright, saturated colors strike a nice contrast against the otherwise desaturated photo, quickly drawing the viewer's attention towards Mina and her Ribombee. Additionally, the juxtaposition between Ribombee's absentminded pose and Mina's complete focus on her art is incredibly charming. My only complaint is with Mina's bag and hat, as they both draw attention away from the main subjects of Mina and Ribombee by being the most colorful objects in the scene. That's mostly a nitpick though, as the unexpected but delightful use of pixel art makes this one of the most noteworthy entries of this event.
Kaiju Bunny
Not gonna lie, I was 100% not expecting a piece that featured pixel art. Being able to seamlessly blend art into any image is impressive enough, but managing to go the extra mile and blend pixels into a real photo is nothing short of spectacular. I think one of my favorite parts of this piece has got to be the use of such soft pastels and being able to combine that with brighter colors all around. The soft creams, whites, and yellows of the original image pair nicely with the pastel pink of Ribombee and the muted colors of Mina's outfit. On the flip side, the brightness of Mina's beret and backpack create a nice focal point for viewers without seeming to take up too much of the original image. This piece absolutely makes use of the entire image provided and definitely leaves quite the positive impression.
Art by Kolohe.
Albatross
Floette seems tailor made for such a flowery photo as this, and cleffa's rendition of it is simply adorable. The remarkably clean art really makes Floette stand out against its blurred background and gives the piece a rather minimalistic feel that adds to its charm. I adore Floette's pose and expression as well; the slight curvature of its body makes for a more interesting pose and leads the eye directly to Floette's gentle smile and blue flush—a unique choice of color that suits Floette perfectly. My only qualm with this piece is how starkly Floette's colors contrast with its surroundings; it doesn't feel like it's really in the scene. A little extra shading to make Floette truly feel at home would likely do wonders here. This doesn't take away from the pleasantness of Floette's addition though, as its graceful poise and interaction with the scene definitely make this an overall great piece.
Kaiju Bunny
A flower Pokémon placed in a flower field; you can't get much more fitting than that! cleffa did a very good job of keeping the emotion in this piece lighthearted and comforting in a way. The softer colors and even softer shading in some parts of the Floette itself pretty much go hand in hand. The soft lighting in particular almost comes across as something from a dream, which I think works well here. The only small nitpick I might have is that perhaps the shading could be more prominent? It never hurts to play around with that, especially outside, where shadows are going to be at their strongest. Be that as it may, the softer shading doesn't distract heavily enough from the piece itself for me to have any major problems with it, as I'm sure viewers of this can agree on!
Art by Gravity Monkey.
Shadowshocker
Complex outlines and shading made this starting picture quite the challenge, but challenge seems to be exactly what studio regular Gravity Monkey eats for breakfast. Despite having to wrestle with a mess of leafy silhouettes, Gravity Monkey approached the task with complementary patches of shade over Shauntal, matching this shading with a demure expression that exemplifies the Ghost specialist's adorable appearance yet underlying spooky strength. Props also go to Gravity Monkey for a sketch-based linework that, while arguably unrefined, synergizes effectively with the shadows. All in all, Gravity Monkey's done a good job of putting one of Unova's Elite Four in her element.
Albatross
Gravity Monkey's piece radiates tranquillity. Though Shauntal takes up very little space in this scene, the stark contrast of the forest's brilliant greens against her muted purples draws the eye immediately to her. Her ribbon both frames and brings attention to her face, which sports an excellent focused expression, and the cozy lighting from the overhead trees gives this piece an almost intimate feel. One thing I particularly like about this piece is how natural it looks. The loose, sketchy lineart perfectly matches the calming energy that Shauntal exudes, giving her a very casual look that would be hard to capture with solid lineart. In terms of composition, I'm admittedly a little disappointed by Shauntal's placement in this scene. She's been drawn right in the centre of the piece; a rather bland placement, considering the otherwise interesting shape of the photo. I do, however, love the way the pavement leads directly towards her. To the viewer it's as though we're approaching her to ask for a battle, making her calm disposition one that seems slightly foreboding. A fitting framing device for a Ghost specialist, and an all-around excellent entry.
Art by Meganium1579.
Kaiju Bunny
There can never be too much Pokémon Mystery Dungeon art. What immediately blows me away with this is piece is the shading; from the lighting in each Pokémon's eyes to taking into account the extra light source from Charmander's tail, I was definitely captured by the warmth the shading and lighting give off for this piece. Additionally, I feel like Meganium captured the feeling of excitement and comfort one can expect to have toasting marshmallows with friends nearly perfectly with this piece, from Treecko's usual cool and collected demeanor to Wigglytuff's excited smile. Though the lineart may seem a little wobbly (which would be the only real detail I noticed being semi-problematic here), I'll be honest, I hardly noticed it at first. It's not too often you see artists tackling art that takes place at night, so to see Meganium taking up the challenge here is definitely a treat (just like those marshmallows)!
Shadowshocker
Explorers is the best release from the Mystery Dungeon spinoffs, fight me! But seriously, juxtaposing a beach bonfire with a marshmallow meetup is a solid idea, and using one of the franchise's most wholesome teams sells the concept well. Meganium's work might not be the most refined of what we've seen so far, but the effort to integrate principles of illustration should not go ignored—the soft shade work on the Pokémon subjects manages to give a homely, inviting feel to the powwow, and Meganium did not neglect the additional light source of Charmander's tail flame! If there's one thing that merits mention in evaluating Pokémon artwork, it's an illustrator's attention to how a Pokémon's biology and characteristics affect artistic execution. With a bit more study on anatomy and form, particularly regarding Charmander's eye positioning and Treecko's fingers, I'd say Meganium is likely to go far in implementing their concepts to life.
Art by Wet Kisser.
Shadowshocker
I'm not a huge fan of ranking art in general, given how subjective and multifaceted the topic is, and I have my own misgivings about pitting diverse styles against each other. But I'd say that the theory-crafted origin story for Jessie and Ekans in this piece is stunning, based on technical execution. References to other aspects of the franchise will always be a plus in my book, even if this example is subtler than most. Actually, I'd add that "subtler" is a good summation of what Wet Kisser has done here, marrying appropriately colored outlines and fading them out so the subjects look more realistic. The layers of light and shadows cast over leafy silhouettes sharply put Ekans in focus, allowing Jessie's shadows to be simplified without detracting from the overall piece. It could have stopped there, but Wet Kisser went the extra mile by adding a filter on the original picture and adjusting the shadows and saturation. Others have pointed out the 1980s anime effect, but what I really like about it is how reducing the stark shadows of the foreground leaves made Ekans stand out more, and it's an additional step that paid off in the end.
Albatross
When talking about creative entries, you'd be hard pressed to find one as original as Wet Kisser's. Just from a glance, the desaturated color scheme and emphasis on greens and purples set this piece apart from its peers, and the additional layer of grain really helps sell the 1980s anime aesthetic Wet Kisser was aiming for. The text helps here as well; it lacks the fuzz and grain of its surroundings as though it were added on top of the finished product, much like old anime fansubs. Ekans dominates the bottom half of the composition, visually encircling the girl and creating a curiously predatory feel that is entirely unique to this entry. Although the anatomy of the girl could use a little work, I personally believe Wet Kisser's piece is one of the best entries of the bunch and an entirely original take that really sets it apart from the rest.
Art by Zephyri.
Kaiju Bunny
They're taking over. I love the energy practically oozing from this piece. The cheeky Crustle with their ice cream, the spider Furret, the wily Sneasel, even the overjoyed Electabuzz that managed to infiltrate the ice cream truck: each Pokémon here is clearly having a good time, and if that doesn't scream summer, I don't know what does. It may seem like a lot is going on here, but honestly, I think it works! I feel it definitely adds life and innocent playful chaos you'd see exuded embodied in the average rambunctious child, and because of that, I feel it makes the piece pretty memorable. In addition, I find it a bit fun that things are somewhat scattered about; it invites the viewer to really look around and can provide a nice surprise in case they missed anything at a first glance (looking at you, tiny adorable Fletchling).
Shadowshocker
Recent watchers of the Flying Press will recognize the signature signs of Zephyri's methodology. Relying on bold, thick outlines and stark highlights and shades to match, Zephyri has injected considerable personality into this casual, static ice cream truck. The otherwise flat lighting of the image is enhanced by Zephyri's variety of featured subjects, all ready and excited for some summertime fun, and I can't quite get over how happy Electabuzz is to be manning the distribution of cryogenic confectionery. It's not all perfect, to be fair, with Crustle's claw foreshortening, Electabuzz's fingers, Sneasel's lack of a mouth, and Furret's spontaneous wall walking ability being aspects I can't shake. I also get the idea that the ice cream theme could also have featured much more in the art, with the ice cream being more prominent—maybe give Electabuzz a dapper little cap? But Zephyri has never let challenges or comfort zones slow him down from improving, so this is a fine showing from him all 'round.
Artist of the Month: ausma
Part of what's recently been reintroduced to Smeargle's Studio is our official arterviews! In these special semi-monthly interviews, we pick a random artist from the community and not only have a host ask them some one-on-one questions, but allow the community to ask some questions of their own! This month's artist is ausma, who just so happens to also be an OU Forum Leader, and who has provided numerous stellar pieces for projects such as The Flying Press, numerous thread banners for metagames across the site, and more! If you're interested in reading her interview, check it out in this thread, and if you'd like to view more of her work, check out her art thread!
Recently in Smeargle's Studio
In addition to reintroducing our arterviews, a few other events have been introduced as well! Most recently made events include the following:
You're Not My Type - Ever wanted to see what a Pokémon would look like in a brand new type? In this event, artists are presented with both a random Pokémon and a random type (or type combination)! Afterward, it's up to you to come up with what you think that Pokémon would look like with its new type! Feeling inspired? You're more than welcome to add moves, stats, abilities, and more to your creation upon completion!
Smeargle's Draw This In Your Own Style! - The ever-popular DTIYS has made its way to Smeargle's Studio! In this event, you'll be receiving a piece of art someone has previously made and recreating it in your own personal style. In return, someone will be receiving one of your own pieces and will proceed to recreate it in their own unique style!
'Mon of the Month - Every month, a random Pokémon is picked to be the star of this event, where artists can come together to create fanart depicting the "'Mon of the Month"! Any style, any medium; this event is often good practice for artists to experiment in their craft and even allows the artist to ask for feedback pertaining to their piece(s). Some pieces may even be added to the Hub's Gallery!
OC Central - There's more to Smeargle's Studio than simply posting Pokémon art! This thread aims to be an outlet for artists to share their original characters with the community and additionally brainstorm new characters to come, create fanart, share backstories, and more!
If you're interested in any of these, feel free to check them out and even participate if you'd like; no artistic history necessary!
In addition to the above, Smeargle's Studio is currently in the process of revamping our Hub again. A few portions of the page had been either left untouched or simply outdated. After some brief discussion both on and off the forums, we're steadily beginning to update everything to reflect the present-day Smeargle's Studio, so keep on the lookout for that!
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