Sketch Dump 3

Sketch Dump 2

Sketch Dump '97

Been rifling around the junk in the attic last couple of days, since me and my dad have been putting in some floor paneling up there, and found this little piece amongst it all.

It's a picture of Batman I copied from a panel in Batman:Conatgion where Batman crashes through a skylight. The date (cropped out of the scan) in the corner reads, 'Sat 25th Oct 1997', at which point I would have been 12 years old.
I remember how cool the panel looked the first time I looked at it, and how dynamic Batman looked in mid-air just before he landed, and wanting to recreate it for myself.
When I finished I was really chuffed with the outcome, and thought it was one of the best pictures I'd ever done. I sometimes feel that way about some of my new pieces, or rather, I feel that they capture exactly the mood that I have in my head. This was something that used to frustrate me a lot when I was younger. The pictures I drew looked nothing like what I had envisioned in my head, or sometimes as my skill improved, they'd look like bastardised versions of those ideas. In fact, up until recently, that's how a lot of my work looked to me! lol

Since that always used to frustrate me so, I sort of ended up letting my pictures draw themselves, in that, I might have a vague semblance of an image in my head, or maybe no image, but I would just let my pencil just scratch lines and shapes across my picture until maybe I got a spark of inspiration, or until they started to resemble something reconisable.

Even now, I employ this technique, since it seems to make sketching a bit mroe forgiving, because there's no expectancy.

I wonder if other more skillfull artists feel this way, or have they achieved that level where their pictures look EXACTLY how they had it inside their head...

It just got me thinking. :D

Z

Sketch Dump 1

Just some old, and somewhat new sketches. I do have backstories for some of them but they're not incredibly well-developed. Some of the characters aren't mine and are actually fan-art of existing characters. Some you might recognise, others might seem a bit obscure, and others might be 'out-of-their-element' ;-P ; like Kusanagi Matoko (from Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell), dressed up in Solid Snake's Metal Gear Solid 4 outfit, in the second pic...although, I guess that means she's still in her 'element' since it means kicking arse...and plenty of it! XD

Got a quite a few to stick up, so expect a couple similar entries over the next couple of days.

Happy Holidays!

Z

Hyung Hüter Bergmann

A hlaf-Korean, half-German humourless mercenary, Hyung is a man who doesn't waste time.

Quick, efficient and reliable, he's the only option if you want a job done properly. Which is true...at least, that's what it says on his card.

His card does, however, fail to mention his ineptitdue for discretion and lack of keeping 'collateral damage' to a minimum.

It's a shame he hates his job, but since it's the only thing he's 'good' at, he's somewhat stuck.

Generally, he's a bit of a lazy-ass, with very few hobbies, or friends. His only past-times include smoking, reading comics, women's magazines (he doesn't understand them, so it's purely curiosity.....purely...), and preening a small bonsai tree that once belonged to his mother.

Beneath this hardened, scarred exterior beats the heart of kind soul..

The son, of a Soldier and a good man, Hyung grew up idolising his father, who after his dishcarge, would spend as much time with his family as possible, teaching Hyung about the finer aspects of life, its enjoyments and, above all else, the sanctity of it.

However, one day his father was killed suddenly, leaving behind a broken and vulnerable family.

As time passed, Hyung became disillusioned with the world and began to follow hsi father's footsteps, secretly biding his time, until he could find the people responsible for his family's suffering.

The Devil Hunter

The half-human, half-demon son of The Legendary Dark Knight Sparda, Dante rises above the mountain of demon skulls, and remains, Ebony and Ivory in either hand.

With the strength of the Devil and the heart of a Man, there is none that can defeat him.

For his, is a world full of chaos, demons, darkness....

and strawberry sundaes...

Background texture from http://fantasystock.deviantart.com/art/Cracked-Skull-Bone-Texture-68302149

New Webpage

Been kinda AWOL for a while. Just sorting out things in the humble little life I live. :D

Lots to tell and yet lots that I can't =P

Amongst the things I can tell, I'm currently working on a website/web-portfolio, as well as a few new piccies.

Also going to Germany next Wednesday for a whole week! So exciting! \(^o^)/ Haven't been anywhere since I went backpacking around South East Asia. Gonna take loads of pictures, and who knows, maybe I'll upload some here ;)

Fianlly, I've just uploaded a Portfolio on Krop.com until I get my own website up and running:

http://www.krop.com/zeeshaanmir/

Hopefully, it won't be too long now :S

Z

2nd Seat Kimihiko Fujisaka

2nd Seat Kimihiko Fujisaka

Recruited into the ranks of the Shinchogumi (a special police force that operated in Edo - now Tokyo), Fujisaka has proved himself to be nothing short of useless in everything he does, except in battle. It is his unique, and uncanny sense of swordsmanship that has kept him alive so far, and also regarded as a worthwhile member of his unit, despite his apparent laziness, and perhaps deliberate fumbling at any task assigned to him other than keeping out of the way, or fighting.

In spite of his seemingly lax attitude towards everything, and everyone, around him, Fujisaka has a kind heart, and will often help anyone in need, even if it is at odds with his nature of trying to blend in with the background.

The Crescent Reaper

The Crescent Reaper:

Once an infamous Jewel Thief, this young lady had the misfortune of stealing one jewel too many. After successfully breaching the labyrinth, and overcoming its many traps, she entered the central chamber to steal the Minotaur Medallion. As soon as her fingers brushed the medallion's surface, she was hit by the spell that protects it. Her soul now consumed by the curse transforms her into the terrible spectre; the Crescent Reaper.

This possessed being now dwells in and around the forest near the chamber where the jewel still resides. Acting as the guardian of the medallion that enslaves her, she hacks and slashes, by moonlight, any intruder who dares to step into the forest to possibly steal the medallion for themselves. Her only chance or hope of breaking the spell, is if someone more devious than she is/was can escape the wild, and yet deft, swing of her scythe, steal the Minotaur Medallion and flee to the edge of the forest alive.

Painting Practice

This was just a little practice run on realism and colouring. I really wanna be able to push my painting skills without the aid of outlines so it gives the image a more real-life look.

The funny thing is, I was originally trying to sketch a picture of Bae Seul Gi, a Korean pop-star/actress/model, but obviously it ended up looking nothing like her, but I still liked it and decided to paint it up anyway =P

She kinda reminds me a bit of Pepper, from the IFS's Pepper Project...

Shishou

My entry for the Don't Panic SF4 Competition. Didn't expect to win but this was good practice for painting. I chose to do Gouken as a hermit living in the mountains to explain what he's been doing away all these years.

Cross Generation of Heroes

Finally finished this one after some delay, but thoroughly enjoyed doing it, and I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

When I first started this, I was completely at a loss as to who I should pit against Ryu in this shot. In the end, after much brain rattling and coming up blank, I decided on Teknoman (Tekkaman Blade), in homage to the new 'Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes' game coming out on the Wii.

Whilst I'm familiar with some of Tatsunoko Productions shows (all of which appear in the game), like Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets), Casshern(Neo-Human Casshern) and Tekkaman:The Space Knight (old school Teknoman), the one show I watched growing up, and was most familiar with, was Tekkaman Blade, which was meant to be a reboot of the original series. So I decided to put him in instead, as opposed to the original version.

Thanks goes to Nick, for his suggestion on the Northern Lights background, inspired by the fluorescent colours in the game.

-Z

To Remove The Wool...

'How far are you willing to go, to remove the wool from your eyes?'

Just a piece I did for a friend's proposed collab, which is supposed juxtapose our artwork, which in turn is kinda supposed to encapsulate what we're about/our style.

Got some inspiration for this from some friends.

In case you're wondering, this is kinda like a sneak peek at some of the characters that will appear in one of the comics I'll be working on this year. I won't reveal much more than that. I hope to get the first few pages started, but I still have parts of the story I wanna flesh out first, as well as the other characters.

In fact, some of these characters aren't quite in their final conceptual stage, just yet. So don't be surprised if there are some changes to their appearances in the comic.

Hope everyone looks forward to it ^_____^

Z

The Modern Man

"I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond!

I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warmhearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.

Behind the eight ball, ahead of the curve, ridin' the wave, dodgin' the bullet and pushin' the envelope. I’m on-point, on-task, on-message and off drugs. I’ve got no need for coke and speed. I've got no urge to binge and purge. I’m in-the-moment, on-the-edge, over-the-top and under-the-radar. A high-concept, low-profile, medium-range ballistic missionary. A street-wise smart bomb. A top-gun bottom feeder. I wear power ties, I tell power lies, I take power naps and run victory laps. I’m a totally ongoing big-foot, slam-dunk, rainmaker with a pro-active outreach. A raging workaholic. A working rageaholic. Out of rehab and in denial!

I’ve got a personal trainer, a personal shopper, a personal assistant and a personal agenda. You can’t shut me up. You can’t dumb me down because I’m tireless and I’m wireless, I’m an alpha male on beta-blockers.

I’m a non-believer and an over-achiever, laid-back but fashion-forward. Up-front, down-home, low-rent, high-maintenance. Super-sized, long-lasting, high-definition, fast-acting, oven-ready and built-to-last! I’m a hands-on, foot-loose, knee-jerk head case pretty maturely post-traumatic and I’ve got a love-child that sends me hate mail.

But, I’m feeling, I’m caring, I’m healing, I’m sharing-- a supportive, bonding, nurturing primary care-giver. My output is down, but my income is up. I took a short position on the long bond and my revenue stream has its own cash-flow. I read junk mail, I eat junk food, I buy junk bonds and I watch trash sports! I’m gender specific, capital intensive, user-friendly and lactose intolerant.

I like rough sex. I like tough love. I use the “F” word in my emails and the software on my hard-drive is hardcore--no soft porn.

I bought a microwave at a mini-mall; I bought a mini-van at a mega-store. I eat fast-food in the slow lane. I’m toll-free, bite-sized, ready-to-wear and I come in all sizes. A fully-equipped, factory-authorized, hospital-tested, clinically-proven, scientifically- formulated medical miracle. I’ve been pre-wash, pre-cooked, pre-heated, pre-screened, pre-approved, pre-packaged, post-dated, freeze-dried, double-wrapped, vacuum-packed and, I have an unlimited broadband capacity.

I’m a rude dude, but I’m the real deal. Lean and mean! Cocked, locked and ready-to-rock. Rough, tough and hard to bluff. I take it slow, I go with the flow, I ride with the tide. I’ve got glide in my stride. Drivin and movin', sailin' and spinin', jiving and groovin', wailin' and winnin'. I don’t snooze, so I don’t lose. I keep the pedal to the metal and the rubber on the road. I party hearty and lunch time is crunch time. I’m hangin' in, there ain’t no doubt and I’m hangin' tough, over and out!"

~George Carlin, a comedic genius and poet extraordinaire

R.I.P George Carlin(May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008)

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