hello, im blaze! demiboy, he/they • adult • this is where i post my art, whether that be drawings or the occasional written peice. sometimes its original work and sometimes its fanart. i like found families, dragons, plants and collect far too many rocks. Carrd (Mobile Viewers)
i'm blaze (he/they) and this is my artblog. i generally post whatever i've been drawing lately, whether it be fanart or original works of my own characters. i also periodically write fanfiction, which can be found on my AO3.
im absolutely terrible about being active or replying to asks/messages, but i do appreciate any likes or reblogs (or notes left in reblogs), they warm me up and make the backpain worth it!
occasionally, i do talk more in-depth about various concepts in my stories and am currently working on a book! if you have any questions about my characters or bits of the story, feel free to ask! i like talking about them :)
some more of that MDZS dragon au, this time with the yunmeng siblings! jiang yanli and jiang cheng are waterwalkers respectively; jiang yanli takes after their mother and is a deep-sea waterwalker whereas jiang cheng is actually more like their father. both of them are considered "tropical"
in this au, jiang fengmian finds wei ying when he's wandering along the shoreline, seemingly abandoned, very hungry and all too close to a human village. jiang yanli is put in charge of him "temporarily" while he argues with yu ziyuan about keeping him. its not uncommon for dragons of any kind to adopt hatchlings into their flocks or pods, in the case of waterwalkers but as is the case in canon, yu ziyuan is insecure lmao. it doesnt help that wei ying and her children look like they could be related (the similarities are a bit of an illusion. he grows up to have a lot of similar habits, as is the way when you're around certain people a lot but if his parents were still around, it'd be a hell of a lot easier to tell its all superficial. a damn shame theyre not, huh?).
young waterwalkers often sleep tangled up together in a manner rather reminiscent of sea otter moms with their pups :) typically, the parent would be the one securing the younglings but in this case, jiang yanli has been responsible for jiang cheng in some manner or another ever since he hatched and well...wei ying is her new brother. and she's six years older, so he's her responsibility too. the oldest/biggest curls their wings around the younger ones to ensure they stay together. sometimes, depending on where they are, they might tuck themselves in little underwater caves or wrap themselves in kelp. i did intend on drawing some kelp here (wei ying's gills are underdeveloped compared to the jiang siblings and often needs to surface when they periodically decide to stop working in tandem with the extra set of lungs hes got, so both of them got into the habit of sleeping lightly or sleeping near the surface so they could push him up to keep him from drowning) BUT! the watery bits of the background pissed me off too much and i got distracted looking for a good bubble brush. good news: i have a bubble brush now. rejoice.
anyhow, this particular drawing came about because of something ive been idly working on in a notebook about the various siblings in MDZS. i have some other sketches i hope to finish at some point. who knows if ill post the thing or not. im thinking about it. i hope you enjoyed this drawing and my AU rambles lmao. there is a speedpaint to accompany this if you like that sort of thing. took me awhile to come up with a decent song choice
so back in the beginning of the year, when i was going a little mad from wintertime fuckery, my partner finally convinced me to watch this show with them. "its interesting," they said "the characters are gay" they said. and i did not anticipaite liking it quite as much as i do now, but i should probably learn atp that my partner has great taste lmao
anyways, that show was MDZS or The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation and over the past 2 weeks or so, ive been concocting a semi-elaborate dragon au set in my own world but with the mdzs characters. idk if i'll actually ever post anything of it?? ive been wanting to draw fanart for this fandom for so long but i dont enjoy drawing humans/humanoids, thus the dragonization but. i havent decided if i want to share what ive been thinking about. maybe! who's to say, i started writing something about the various siblings in my notebook....
anyways, this is wei ying/wei wuxian and lan zhan/lan wangji :) in this au, wei ying's a waterwalker/umbral hybrid whereas lan zhan is just a northern windwarper. one of these days, i ought to create a post sharing more about the different types (and maybe some other general worldbuilding things. windwarpers spend most of their time in the air and place great emphasis on flight-courtship, as well as gifting things theyve made. music in particular, holds great cultural signifigance and is part of their ways of communication. felt very fitting to make him one. waterwalkers are generally not known about in my world nor are umbrals and wei ying in this au is kind of "bad" at being both at the same time, i guess you could say. his gills are too small to be particularly effective for long periods of submersion and while he can see fairly well in the dark (as waterwalkers also have this ability), he's not really aware of all the umbral stuff on account of being adopted by the jiangs when jiang fengmian found him wandering along the shore (theyre also waterwalkers)
if anyone is particularly interested in the details of this AU or in the world my original story is from, please feel free to ask! i would be delighted to share :)
and if anyone is still here/interested, there is an accompanying speedpaint to this drawing. im glad i got something done for pride
first new art of the year that isnt a reference sheet or a pfp lets goooooo
in all seriousness, i sketched this out in my sketchbook sometime last year with the full intent to ink and paint it traditionally, as i did with the last one of these i made (and never posted) but i got a new tablet a couple of days ago so ive been trying to learn how to use it and such. my old one (displayed here) is still functional (save for the slider thing that broke somehow) but it requires me to sit at my desk to operate it, which is oftentimes painful. so i saved up for a standalone one.
i talked about this recently on my personal blog but ive been having a lot of difficulty making art as of late. part of it i think is just plain burnout, another bit is the AI garbage floating around. some of it is also because i let some rando at a store say some shitty things to me and that crap kinda festered for awhile (tbh, i think i already had some apprehension brewing in the back of my mind and what this person said did NOT help in the slightest, rip me and my mentally ill mind). i wouldnt say im "back", more that im just trying to find equilibrium between my various hobbies, trying to settle into new skills, etc.
also ive been drawing more dragons lately (fanart shit but still) and thats helping massively. i hate drawing humanoids despite the many oc's to suggest otherwise
ive been anticipating 2026 to be a particularly difficult year for me. without getting too far into specifics, 2016 (which was a decade ago, jesus christ) was a particularly awful year for me and i know how my mind likes to pick at things until they bleed. ive been pleasantly surprised to see that old therapy is paying off ive been thinking more about the good things that happened that year. 2016 was the year i got to actually start drawing digital art. 2016 was the year i started posting speedpaints on my youtube channel. i remember being so passionate about making art, about engaging in various fandoms i was in at the time. i remember filling sketchbook after sketchbook with stuff id probably cringe at today. mostly a lot of cat drawings.
and while i was drawing this, i realized that the dragonsona i made a few years back has almost the same exact colors as the cat i designed for myself back then. the markings are different but...still the same vibe. we're really feeling the "despite everything, it's still you", gang
drawing this felt theraputic in ways i did not anticipate in the slightest. even though i balk at the concept of being Perceived (ideally, no one would ever know i existed at all save for what i deigned to share), it feels good in a way to have the sona and a portrait of my flesh casing side-by-side. they're both me, after all. and i feel a lot better about being "me" than i did back then. what a terrifying thing to realize on something that was mostly supposed to be a practice drawing on a new tablet lmao
theres also a speedpaint to this if youre interested. the song choice is very 2016-blazecore (and i still havent seen the movie it's from LMAO)
hoping to potentially get some other, more "normal" art out at some point although who the fuck knows. i would in particular, like to draw some art for pride so. we'll see if i get around to that.
some extra details about this that i either couldnt fit in or want to elaborate on:
i knitted that vest that im wearing. its the third vest ive ever made and the second colorwork one. im not overfond of the colors (theyre much different than how they were when i ordered the yarn) but it does look good when paired with other things correctly
the shirt and pants are things i thrifted on depop and im particularly proud of myself with both of them because the shirt is very good at giving the vibe of victorian-esque/old man (though the collar is wrong for the time period) and the pants are literally the most comfortable pants i have ever worn in my life, holy shit. they rest on my waist, not my hips and are the perfect shade of green. nice and light weight too. 10/10, ive been trying to find others in different colors but i dont think they make them like this anymore. might have to tackle my sewing patterns to make something similar
i genuinely do always carry a small knitting project around with me; it helps with anxiety/fidgeting
not pictured is a bag because i dont actually often carry a bag around anymore since i graduated (unless im going to work; i use a blue backpack ive been steadily covering in patches and pins but i dont carry that around daily). the only time i carry a bag is if im going shopping or have a large yarn project
not pictured two: my sunglasses and keys because my glasses get gross so i keep a cleaning glass in there, and i didnt feel like drawing keys
i gave up trying to draw the csp logo which is why its just There
tbh, i didnt want to add the queer flag but i had 3 flag templates and i very adamantly did Not want to try drawing the fucking american flag at that scale. the queer flag is applicable to me (im at the point in life where labels are kind of. eh. for the most part)
"old things" just refers to like. buildings and antiques. i have a lot of antiques/vintage possessions, from furniture to dishware to a whole ass 200 year old spinning wheel and i live in an old ass town. i do NOT believe in vintage values though
i probably should've just put "textile arts" instead of knitting but again, i drew the sketch for this last year
the little roses on the corner are also a design feature from my youtube thumbnails! i like adding little botanical elements even if theyre not particularly polished :) i also drew roses on my graduation cap but i have no idea where that painting went at all
so i thought i'd posted this at some point but APPARENTLY i completely forgot after i posted last years art summary. i wouldn't necessarily say im back to drawing more consistently (given that this is the only finished piece i've finished should say a lot and i finished this almost a year ago) BUT i did recently get another drawing tablet so i can draw other places. like in my bed. or on the couch. and ive been working on some fanart-ish references so i can potentially doodle with those.
anyways, this is something i painted last july. i was playing a lot of RDO with my partner and as anyone knows, you can get some great screenshots in that game. sort of spiraled into me making yet another story that i'll hopefully get to write about someday. this is atticus bramble and his horse who needs a different name because i cannot just call a buckskin mustang "spirit", that would be far too transparent lmao. it was sort of a different style to how i usually draw, as is evident. i think. but i dont hate the effect a year later, so that should speak for something.
maybe ill have something made for pride this year, who knows. also, there is a speedpaint for this if you're interested in that sort of thing! back i go into the ether
im not going to lie, i kinda stopped drawing around may-ish and i think it was in part due to a comment made by a localish shop owner about digital art, partly because i forgot that while i do like some sort of structure, i hate making hobbies an obligation (the 2 videos a month on youtube kinda killed me). but my hands haven't been idle so i wanted to share the other things ive made as well this year, though they aren't drawings
last year, i learned how to knit and it's become somewhat of a relaxing (while very challenging) way to pass my time. i've been trying to learn how to do more textile arts, like spinning and weaving too, as well as sewing. i consider whatever i make to be art, even if i'm following a pattern, because i still had to make choices in regards to the colors and materials. i still had to make these things with my hands. and it felt really weird to me, when i sat down to set up this years art summary, not to include the other things ive made with my hands simply because it wasn't drawings. i wanna thank my partner for agreeing with me on that and being the one to point out that i still made other things this year. it made me feel a hell of a lot better for not drawing as much as i did last year
the textile things with patterns i followed you see in the summary are as follows: the Moby Sweater by PetiteKnit, Nautile socks by Audrey Borrego, Ghost Horses by Caitlyn Hunter and As Above So Beetle socks by Marie-frederique St-onge (which was a gift for a friend).
i wove the ribbon used in the yellow gingham drawstring bag myself using a technique called tabletweaving, which is very old and has historically been used to make trims and belts. that particular weaving project is a point of pride for me, as my last attempt did not go so well. as for why there's a hank of brightly colored yarn for november; i spun it with drop spindles and some pre-dyed roving i bought. i want you all to know that i did not start these textile projects in the months they're listed in. this is slower work for me. the moby sweater alone was started in march! but again, it felt important to share these other things ive made
im not saying i will never return to drawing and painting again (as i type this, im actively trying to reignite my love of watercolors even as my arm brushes up against my latest knitting project) but i just wanted to explain my absence somewhat. i don't know if i'll also share progress shots of my textile-stuff like i do on ravelry, but perhaps i'll consider it. after all, this is an artblog and i am the maker :)
wishing for all of us to have a somewhat better new year, and hoping those of us who live in the northern hemisphere to stay nice and warm during these colder months. i'll see you all at some point next year :)
also yes, i will be properly uploading the piece i made in july. i meant to upload it proper but then kept forgetting as it was a little different from what i usually make lmao
was thinking about them two again. this is actually a scene in the book ive been writing :) so i unfortunately cannot say much about it. i hope you enjoy :)
random scene i thought of back in april i think, of what happened to daithi's family. a sea monster of some sort attacked the ships they lived on and tore them all to pieces, eating those onboard. daithi only managed to survive because his grandmother (the otter in the foreground) pushed him on top of a large piece of wreckage, tucked her ring into his fist and told him to live and remember
this scene shows that moment right before the monster dragged her under too. i also wanted to test the reference i made for him, so. sad drawing it is skdjfb i think ive also proven i need to work on my water painting abilities because jeez
anyways as usual, there's a speedpaint accompanying this, so i hope you enjoy :)
i didn't know what i was looking for 'til i found Her
was obsessed with this song awhile back so i drew a young hector gonzalez and fiadh to cope. this is probably when they first met in some random tavern years ago. fiadh looked more human than usual and was trying to ask the head of hector's group if he would let her join a job to hunt a magic boar. he didnt, but hector later followed her when the hunt went badly. very much a love-at-first-sight moment, a rare thing for me to write about tbh
theres also a speedpaint to this one if youre interested. hope you enjoy!
i went on a little hiatus over the winter because i have a hard time drawing when its cold and dark out BUT im back to posting speedpaints and the like again so. here we are. i drew this back in march and mostly wanted to do some posing practice with beorn. the other creature in the picture is supposed to be a demon. it's admittedly, not as creative as beorn lmao.
theres not much else to it that isnt super spoilery so i'll leave it at that. ive been working on getting more character references done for my sake, so perhaps we'll have more art of people that aren't frieda, malikite and quino
hope you enjoy!
there is a speedpaint to this as well if you're interested in that sort of thing :)
once again, cutting it a bit close with the video upload aspect to this particular project of mine but its fine. got it done in the end
this is a scene i envision happening later in the story, when Malikite has grown to love and care for Frieda almost as much as he loves Quino. otherwise, there's no reason he'd allow her to point her dagger at them lmao.
the trio is under a lot of pressure in the future thanks to things i cannot yet talk about, but they still find little pockets of time to be happy and play or do something silly. right now, Frieda's mock-duelling Quino, partly to have fun and partly to reassure the much-larger dragon that he will not hurt her in play. Malikite watches on at a short distance, less so because he doesn't want to participate and more because he derives pleasure from seeing Quino so carefree and happy. he might join in a bit, if he's feeling up to it.
i started this particular drawing several months ago, possibly around fall of last year but couldn't get the background right in my head, so i left it in my WIPs for a rainy day. this happens with a lot of drawings where i just cant figure out exactly what i want to do until the right moment. im glad i was able to finish this one :) and ive made a speedpaint if you're interested in that sort of thing.
i really dont have much in the ol' drawing juice factory rn lmao. winter is the time i struggle to draw the most, in part because my room is freezing and im more interested in reading books and knitting. but ive been trying to keep a consistent schedule, thus this
just a little bit of ryder and gaylia to keep us all feeling a bit warmer. one of the more important aspects of this story that i occasionally pick up the pieces to and play with, is how Ryder comes to care for Gaylia like she's his daughter. a sort of chance to do better, like he wanted to do when he was younger and full of more hope. Gaylia's just glad to have someone willing to look out for her, especially with how dangerous their world can be. should i ever pick up this story again, i think i'd like to play with that dynamic more and see how more fleshed out i can get it
there's a corresponding speedpaint to this artwork if you're interested in that sort of thing
i technically started this last year but i only finished it about 2 weeks ago. this was also supposed to be posted 2 weeks ago but guess who got super busy :)))
anyways, this is the promised holiday drawing that i finally finished. im sure you can see why it took so long. the background is based on an actual building i made in a minecraft world to serve as a reference for future projects; both written and drawn. there really isnt a christmas in the world of constellations, but islanders celebrate a midwinter festival similar to yule. you could think of this little gathering as a more lowkey version of the bigger feasts and festivals that take place in villages
there's an accompanying speedpaint to this which can be found here if you're interested :)
the worms won out and i drew yet another drawing of my characters curled up together and looking at the stars. there probably should be snow on the ground but honestly? i didn't feel like fighting with that lmao
also, i think this is the first time ive posted something with daithi and einin (pronounced ay-neen). they aren't going to actually show up in the story until way later, but that's fine.
peep mali being an absolute noodle creature with the way he curls around quino lmao
hope you enjoy! theres a speedpaint that goes along to this if you're interested in that sort of thing :)
but when it comes to the end // you're just the same as them
this was originally drawn back in december of last year, which may be a bit confusing if i decide this was the best drawing of the month for my yearly recap but whatever. had sharks by imagine dragons stuck in my head and ive been thinking about ways to rework the old renegades project (which will eventually be under a different name as soon as i figure it out). thus you get this!
ryder is in the process of leading gaylia through a sketchy part of town. as of this current rework, this is at the very beginning of them meeting. i hope to have more details soon, as soon as i figure out those details lmao. hope you enjoy!
there is also a speedpaint if youre interested in that sort of thing or just want to have a little music background noise while you do whatever :)
all in all, i have to say im much happier about the art i made this year than i have been in a long while. i set a goal for myself that i would draw at least one good thing a month and i actually managed to get myself to draw at least 2 things per month, thanks to the reintroduction of speedpaints to my youtube channel. ive also be experimenting more with different ways of shading and doing lineart. its less clean than it used to be, but it feels more like me, and that's all i care about.
to anyone who just discovered me this year, thank you so much for following :) thank you to the people who chanced upon my fanart and my silly dragon drawings, to people who liked and reblogged. i know im largely inconsistent, but i hope my work is at least interesting to look at for a few minutes whenever it crops up
i make no promises for the next year beyond trying my best, as ive done this year. let 2025 be an okay year for us all and to anyone who maybe feels like they're stuck in a rut with drawing, thats okay. even if you just draw the same thing over and over again, you're still doing something and thats better than nothing.
take care everyone and stay warm if you live in a colder climate. ill see you sometime in january of next year :D
you can find the template to this particular summary here
fear is never an option, so dying's not a real phobia
i was supposed to have a more seasonally appropriate drawing finished for today but alas, that drawing is a bit more complicated so it might come out some time in january. so have an unhinged mali for now :) hes really fun to draw lmao
there's also a speedpaint to accompany this if you're into that sort of thing. its a bit shorter than usual, but im blaming the relative simplicity of this one for that. hope you all enjoy!
also, thats not paint on his face, thats dragon blood lmao
