Fofitico

[seyaryminamoto]

And here we are! Another March 26th, another of Gladiator’s anniversaries has come. What a Fourth Anniversary it has been, eh? Thanks to every last one of you for your support through these years, and through this week too as I posted the collection of fanarts seen above!

Under the cut, one of my long-winded ramblings, this time about the story that has changed my life beyond belief.

Seguir leyendo

[seyaryminamoto]

In my life I decide and it turns me on How I am, how I live, who I love In my way, I feel strong, and it turns me on In my life, I decide, I decide

Countdown: 3 days to Gladiator’s Fifth Anniversary

When it came to the Slate, I actually had no song in mind. I confess… I mostly wrote it listening to Two Steps From Hell, and of course, they don’t usually do songs with lyrics so I had to go browse my music library. After a few rounds here and there, I figure this is the best fit.

While I could have split the Slate with the Festivals/Ball, I couldn’t bring myself to do it when it really came down to it. Making a full one for the Slate was only right and fair, as it’s one of Sokka’s biggest challenges and achievements to date.

Of course, I did not feel confident enough to pull off the platform properly, so I settled for… the bars, really. Sorry to disappoint. But hey, you guys get to see the Millennium Dragon now! His body looks weird-ish but I kinda like how his face turned out. As for Sokka… I’m really enjoying all these angry action Sokkas. Can’t lie, they make me a happy fangirl. It’s so much fun to draw him like that. And this time he gets to wield Wolf’s Bane, another must because this is the fight where its skills with firebending were discovered.  

Ceremony Azula was a lot of fun too. Finally I’ve drawn her bending her gold fire, though admittedly making her bend blue and gold simultaneously is just an artistic liberty, as she can’t really do both at the same time. But you guys know that, just as you also know I just had to make her look as graceful as I could :’D I’m pleased enough with how she turned out.

Zuko and Suki’s intense heart-to-heart was nice to draw too, I particularly like how Suki turned out in this one. After all these years I finally feel like I’m doing the girl some justice! But I also… am really proud of Mai and Ty Lee here. I feel like I’ve made them look enough like themselves, while giving them what was needed so they’d look more aged up… and heh, Ty Lee’s hands. I… had never drawn someone in that position before. I am patting myself in the back for it, sorry not sorry.

There’s still three more artworks to go, so wait for ‘em!

[seyaryminamoto]

Sokkla Week 2018 - Day One: Awkwardness

I confess, I didn’t initially work on this for Sokkla Week, but halfway through it I realized it suited this prompt fairly well :’D so here goes! Awkwardness indeed!

Now, I originally meant for this comic to be part of something else (and it still is), and while I could simply direct you to my Patreon and tell you to read all about it there, I’ll try to explain the basis of it anyways:

After I wrote this post, several responses inspired me to create a silly comic collection that I’ve decided to call the “Worst-kept Secret” collection. As the name suggests, it’s meant to be a collection of Gladiator scenes as seen through the eyes of characters who are witnesses to some rather suspicious behavior on Sokka and Azula’s part…

In this case? You’ve met these two witnesses before, but you haven’t read this chapter because it was written in advance, as most stuff I write these days :’D I would’ve kept the comic tucked away for a few months until the time was right for me to publish it, but as it suited Sokkla Week’s prompt, I figured why not go ahead and post it already?

I’m hoping to create these on a bi-monthly basis, and I’ll cross-post them on Tumblr for sure… but the main platform where I’ll be posting them will be Patreon. My patrons will have early releases for each comic, and they’ll also have the chance to suggest and help me choose scenes for me to satirize like this. You can, naturally, sit back and enjoy them as they come… but if you’d like to be involved with the creative process, just a $1 donation on my Patreon will be enough for you to join in on the fun :)

And I think that was enough shameless self-promotion. Hope you guys liked it, and I hope Sokkla Week keeps being as fun as it’s been so far!

[seyaryminamoto]

With a heart staying obstinate, The pebble can go anywhere it wants. Fragile like sand, it crumbles In a future you can’t even read one letter of.                 … Even in a single cold stone, I’m sure there is a hot passion hidden within. Since it’s going to happen anyway, I want to win In the future that I can’t see anything of.

COUNTDOWN: 4 days to Gladiator’s Seventh Anniversary

The most Toph-centric arc up to date (… possibly the most Toph-centric in the entire story, come to think of it) warranted being as epic as I could possibly make it. It was certainly a tricky one, but I’m proud of the outcome, portraying the duality in Toph’s circumstances this arc.

Seeing as fics are indeed fics, some developments are predictable enough due to how canon developed :’D that Toph would discover metalbending for the first time in the Slate was probably the most obvious thing ever for most readers, but I still found it really exciting to offer Toph a new way to discover metalbending. Her fight against The Storm’s Edge is the biggest challenge she has faced up to date. Never before had her victorious streak been at such risk of breaking… but she pulled through! Last-minute metalbending discovery FTW!

It was honestly unintentional on my part that the outfit I designed for her this time, her flame-retardant clothes, would end up resembling her LOK police officer armor/uniform, but when I realized they were the same colors I actually didn’t mind it one bit xD consider it a very strange way to pay homage to metalbending police officer Toph from canon (?)

Of course, the duality I mentioned above refers to Toph’s rift with Iroh and growing closeness with Azula and Sokka. Her relationship with Iroh was ever so stable and steady… up until the end of Part 1, where Toph unknowingly pushed Zuko to leave the Fire Nation. And the more distance Iroh built between himself and his gladiator, the closer she grew to Azula and Sokka. The rivalry between both teams endures still and it always will, but by now Toph cherishes those two with everything she’s got.

Despite my obvious grievances with his character, I didn’t want to portray Iroh at his worst in this arc: instead, I chose the moment where he finally comes back to his senses and rushes to the Slate to find Toph. And I’m pretty happy I chose to do that because I don’t think I’ve ever drawn a better Iroh than this one XD his despair as he watched his estranged partner fighting impossible odds was a good subject to portray. And of course, Toph hugging both Azula and Sokka was a must. There were some really dark moments for Toph in this arc, but the power of friendship prevailed somehow :’D

Lastly, the song I linked this time around has become my actual Toph theme song in Gladiator, no contest. And… that’s that for today! I hope you guys will enjoy tomorrow’s entry too!

[seyaryminamoto]

I ride the lightning, roll with the thunder I’m going down, down, down with my sisters and brothers I fell in love with their darkest parts Stand on the side of the wild at heart I plucked the feather off a crow so I could fly Since I was thirteen years old, I’ve had my fist to the sky

COUNTDOWN: 7 days to Gladiator’s Seventh Anniversary

Toph’s discovery of Azula and Sokka’s secret relationship was only a matter of time. I mean, in all fairness she kind of knew since the Pairs Tournament that they were head over heels with each other, but not enough had happened yet… by now she caught them in the act, however, and like all smart people, she decided to keep their secret under one condition…

… Said condition being the all-out bending brawl she has wanted to hold with Azula since chapter 27 xD Almost took her 100 chapters, but FINALLY Toph fulfilled her dream!

I’ve never even bothered hiding that I love Azula and Toph’s friendship and it’s definitely one of my favorites in the story, especially during Toph and Iroh’s rough patch. Toph doesn’t really have a lot of people in her life, so when she makes a friend she’s basically ride-or-die with them, and she’s absolutely that with Azula and Sokka. So, while a short arc, I REALLY wanted to draw this even if I’ve already depicted their showdown before xD but I just wanted to do it again, especially because of my own dream of featuring Sokka and Xin Long watching from the sidelines, both reacting in their own ways to watching these two deck it out xD I’m sooo proud of how Xin Long came out this time. That’s definitely the cutest expression I’ve drawn on him so far.

The song linked to the artwork this time is one I’ve associated with Toph as well. I’m not going to lie, I tend to associate crazy chaotic songs with her xD but that one’s definitely been my go-to soundtrack for Azula and Toph’s big fight since I first started to plan it.

Hope you guys enjoyed this one, and strap on your seatbelts! There’s a reeeeally special surprise in tomorrow’s artwork, which, you may recall, is about a pretty intense arc… :’)

[seyaryminamoto]

Dragon Surfing

After my last very serious artwork, now the deadly trio is a happier trio and they’re ecstatic to ride waves together. The water effects were difficult, so if it’s not clear enough that they’re inside a wave-tunnel thingy, I’m very sorry xD Either way, I kind of improvised this scene in a still far-off chapter of the story, and it was so endearing to me that I had to make this artwork, especially now that I can draw Xin Long without dying in the process :’D

First time I actually draw them riding him, actually, for all the obvious reasons! It’s a milestone, and one I’m pretty proud of. I might try to draw them riding him again in the future, but for now I’ll just savor this one and rejoice in having reached a point where I can do this xD

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #14: Sokka and Azula in the Planetarium Room of Wan Shi Tong's Library

This month's prompt, "Peace and quiet", was meant to be a bit of a counterweight to last month's VERY angsty scene. My patrons voted and the result saw us backtracking a few chapters in Gladiator to a much happier time in the lives of Sokka and Azula, specifically that time they geeked out adorably over the Planetarium Room. Admittedly, they weren't all that quiet while they tested the possibilities of the Planetarium Room, let alone when they started a silly battle over switching the simulation so it would emulate the night sky on the days of the other's birth... but it was probably a much more peaceful visit to Wan Shi Tong's Library than what many might have anticipated, I'd say.

All in all, it's not a scene I had thought to create an artwork for before it won the poll, and at this point I have no idea why I didn't think of it xD I'm really happy with how it turned out, it might be one of my favorite artworks this year altogether, so it's fitting that it would be my very last for this year. Hope you guys liked it as much as I liked making it!

If you want to participate in the creative process that goes into my creation of these artworks, a $1 pledge will be enough for you to join in on suggesting prompts and voting in the monthly polls at my Patreon!

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #25: A decade-long journey with Sokka and Azula

Yep. I can't believe it's been a full decade either, but here we are. Ten years later and it feels like it was yesterday, almost.

On this month on Patreon, I figured I'd just make a larger sort of tribute to my long journey as a fic writer. I've had ups and downs, big moments and small, but ultimately, that I've had the chance to be here for as many years as I have is certainly a privilege, and one I don't take for granted.

I've met lots of great people because of my participation in this fandom, particularly in the Sokkla community. I've honestly made some of the best friends I've ever known through the past ten years. I've graduated from university, I've grown in many ways as a person, artist and writer, something that kid right out of high school would have never imagined possible when she first set out on this journey with zero clue of how far it would take her, and how important this would be for her in the years to follow.

After all this time, it feels like the red string of fate from The Reason has woven itself through all my stories afterwards, resulting in a very curious relationship between all these stories and the one that started it all. I mean, technically it was OoPB that started everything X'D but The Reason is by far the flagship of that particular setting. I haven't even revisited those stories in forever, but I really am glad that I did it for this particular purpose.

Alright then, if you would like the specifics regarding which story is being referenced (in case you don't know), keep reading!

The Reason, the source of the red string that then spills down into the rest of the artworks!

Gladiator Part 1, the handshake that started it all.

It Had To Be You, their unintentional first date!

Gladiator Part 2... this is honestly just a general thematic Sokkla make-out session, which as we know they were very likely to do throughout Part 2 x'D

The Love Advisor, reading a book together for the first time.

The White Lotus International Games, their rejoicing after they rushed their finals to watch each other winning at their competitions.

Matching Heartbeats... I picked the Yakuza AU as a reference to this one because people really missed it this year. But DAMN did those tattoos kick my ass to kingdom come, most difficult part of this entire mini project x'D

Underneath Starlit Skies, I picked the final scene of the Happy Family prompt because I couldn't decide on a better scene from any of the other prompts that year hahaha.

Leap of Faith, here I chose my personal favorite story from this year, Toph matchmaking Sokka and Azula, with Sokka in his councilman outfit and Azula in her ambassador attire.

Gladiator Part 3... spoilersssssss!

Alas, it was crazy to work on a project like this one on relatively short notice and pull it off regardless. I did know I wanted to do something like this, should the chance arise, and it kinda did? So I'm really glad I could finish it, maybe not exactly on time (two days late actually), but still within this month, haha.

I really hope you guys enjoy this massive piece, thank you to everyone who has been supporting me for the last decade, whether those who have been here all along, those who have only come by my work recently, as well as those who come and go. That my stories have touched anyone's lives is a miracle to me, and one I won't ever stop cherishing.

Thank you for ten years of Sokka and Azula <3

(... and as ever, feel free to join my Patreon too if you would like to do so...)

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #45: Happy Family

In this house we cope with hard times in fics by thinking of better days and brighter futures!

... By which I mean, the prompt for September was "hope" and to my utter surprise, my Patrons chose Happy Family, my story for Underneath Starlit Skies, as what gives them the most hope in these trying times :'D and to be fair, this particular story is about as opposite to what's going on in Gladiator atm as can be, so... makes sense :'D

This was a hilarious story to write and revisit, always makes me smile. It's another rare situation where I actually feel like I mostly managed to translate my vision of this scene, in my head, to what I wound up drawing... I really wanted to make sure all characters felt as active as could be (except for Mai, who didn't really care about how the game turned out or if Azula burned down a net, she was just getting justice for her son xD), and getting the sunset lighting right was also a big priority.

For anyone who didn't read this chapter (if you're in need of a pick-me-up over Gladiator, I absolutely recommend it haha), at this point, Azula, Sokka, Zuko and Katara were teamed up against Mari, Zi (Zuko and Suki's daughters), Hotaru (Sokka and Azula's daughter) and Mai in a kuai ball match, while the rest of the audience sat on the sidelines, enjoying the show. As Mai's joining the team to substitute for her son, Yuudai, resulted in a near-upset, Sokka and Azula decided they needed to get serious to clinch their victory and... well. I suppose the rest is history xD

It was a little bit insane to finish this in like... 3 days. But. Yeah. I did that. I should've posted earlier but I was nightshading and glazing and whatnot, I got busier than intended... but here it is! Hope you guys like it!

If you'd like to be part of the creative process behind these pieces, a $1 pledge is enough to make you eligible for suggesting and voting on prompts, as well as reading Gladiator snippets 6 days before the next chapter is released!

[seyaryminamoto]

Azula Week - Day 7: Training

This was by far the most challenging of the fanarts I drew this week, but it was worth it. From the start, and even for most the week, I was at a loss about what to do (as some people can confirm because I even told them). I pondered young Azula training with her father, with Lo and Li, even with Mai and Ty Lee, but I was slightly unsure of those ideas…

And then I bumped into this old sketch I made and the course was clear. Maybe I was onto something by thinking of the training of young people… But maybe Azula should have been the master, and not the student!

Soooo… That led me to doing this: grown-ups vs. babies! No better way for everyone to get some good training done than together. Happy family, happy life!

I designed​ the kids outfits based on examples on the show and comics. The oldest child, the girl with the sword, is wearing an apprentice firebender outfit based on what the firebending students from the Promise wore. The boy, who’s only firebending, was meant to wear something reminiscent of Sokka’s Fire Nation outfit but it ended up being a bit more similar to Zuko’s book 3 outfit. Oh well. Last one, the little waterbender and boomerang-wielder at the back, is wearing a variation of Toph’s Book 3 outfit.

I have no excuse for why I went so Sokkla on a day that should have been ship-neutral… But I honestly couldn’t help myself XD I kept things pretty Azula-centric, so I hope that was enough.

I sure hope you all enjoyed it! I’m glad I could be part of Azula Week!

[seyaryminamoto]

“You’re supposed to be looking at the camera, Sokka…”

“Maybe later.”

“Sokka!”

A commission for @gd2go2, inspired by the very famous Kataang photograph from LOK. He requested Sokkla with their family of steambabies that I’ve already used in other artworks before, and so, here we are!

The way I pictured it, I thought Sokka was so giddy about taking this picture that he couldn’t hold back the urge to kiss his wife right then and there. Azula tries to straighten him out on time, but the photographer snaps the picture just when Sokka is in the middle of his little mischievous scheme. Azula manages to make him behave himself for a more serious photograph later… but she finds she likes this one best, because it encompasses much better what their family life is like than a serious one could. (As for the kids, Azula is holding Yuuna, the one on the stool is Shun, Hotaru is the one in front of Sokka)

I colored it first, then turned it to sepia so it would look more like the Kataang picture, but I thought posting both would be better. The bulk of this artwork was done before the blackout sprees, I managed to finish it in between power outages over the last few days.

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #26: Azula introduces Sokka to their child

My final artwork of the year... and I think it might be the best one to close things off. It's a scene I haven't written yet, but one that I hope will feel as glorious and bright as possible, once I do.

Small moments can sometimes be the most rewarding ones, whether in life or in stories. After all the hardships these two have faced and will still face... I can only hope that it will be a relief to know that bright moments such as this one await them in the future.

Do I know how to draw children? Honestly, no. References are not enough, I need a lot of help in figuring them out x'D still a work in progress on that front. But for now, I'm happy to show our little girl being dazed and curious about finally getting to know her dad. Sokka's expression probably required even MORE emotion, but this was the full extent of my abilities at the moment x'D As for Azula, as I mentioned in the Patreon post, I actually had to overhaul her entire position and situation in this artwork because it just didn't feel right. Things felt so rigid that it really wouldn't have appeared to be a sort-of screenshot glance into their lives, which is what the prompt would require :'D So I switched things around with her... and I'm honestly so relieved that the outcome was pretty good, basically just what I hoped it would look like.

As for questions like... why is Azula wearing an outfit unlike anything I've made her wear for all these years? Why's her hair down like that? Why is Sokka wounded? Where ARE they...?

... Weeeell, I shall leave you to ponder all those things while I go cry through the writing of the second half of Part 3 (?) I'm powering through, trying to make my way to this moment. Hopefully I'll be there next year! Who knows? Might be possible!

I really hope you guys like it, I'm honestly pretty proud of this one... so happy holidays, everyone, and I hope I'll be able to bring much more art next year, too :D

If you'd like to be part of the creative process behind these pieces, a $1 pledge on Patreon will give you access to prompt suggestion, poll voting and Gladiator snippets, 6 days before the next chapter is released!

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #64: Fireflies

Out of many scenes I've had in my head from the final moments of Gladiator, this one might be among the first that crossed my mind. It even has a little soundtrack! Pretty sure listening to that song is literally what spawned the notion of the scene, tbh, haha.

So, our little Hotaru, a firefly in her own right, runs about the garden, full of pretty little green-yellow lights. Eventually, she runs right back into her parents' arms (how I would love to be a quick animator so I could depict the entire thing but I know my limitations...). It was such a small, simple moment but it embodied so much peace, well-deserved after everything they've faced across the years of toil that led to this moment.

Again, I tried my luck at a few techniques I've been trying to get better with, hopefully it's coming across :') anyways, hope you guys like it! If you'd like to support my creative process with these pieces, feel free to make even a $1 pledge on Patreon! Every donation goes a long way in ensuring I can continue making a living through my art and stories!

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #63: Azula's thumbs up to the crowd

Last month, my patrons voted on this particular scene for the prompt selection... aaaaand I totally forgot to post it here, woops. Sorry about that! :'D Here it is, though, as good as a remake of an older artwork I made of this scene many years ago. This is a little less ambitious in some regards, but far more satisfactory for me, partly because it lines up with the scene a little better and focuses the wholesome little rebellion of Azula against her confused father, who has no idea wtf she's doing.

If there's something I kind of regret here... it's the fact that I actually did a pretty decent job with that temple gate and it just barely shows because of the trees and characters hahahaha. What can you do... it's not as important as everything else anyway! I've been trying to implement some art techniques I'm picking up from reading some manhwa lately. While I can't say it's perfect, I do think it's helping improve my art overall... I hope it shows, at least to some extent, haha.

Hope you guys like it! I'll be posting this month's artwork later, as long as I don't forget again :'D If you'd like to support my creative process with these pieces, feel free to make even a $1 pledge on Patreon! Every donation goes a long way in ensuring I can continue making a living through my art and stories!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 418

Toph and Shoji team up as they begin to develop their concepts and business plans for the new and improved Gladiator League. After making many decisions pertaining rebranding and securing funding, Shoji presents the project officially to a friendly, enthusiastic Sokka...

The reality of the League's return triggers an unforeseen reaction in the Gladiator's heart, one he discusses that night with the Fire Lord. As the project progresses, and the new Gladiatorial Battle Hall is constructed, Sokka finds greater peace and purpose with his past, as he looks towards the future...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 418

Toph and Shoji team up as they begin to develop their concepts and business plans for the new and improved Gladiator League. After making many decisions pertaining rebranding and securing funding, Shoji presents the project officially to a friendly, enthusiastic Sokka...

The reality of the League's return triggers an unforeseen reaction in the Gladiator's heart, one he discusses that night with the Fire Lord. As the project progresses, and the new Gladiatorial Battle Hall is constructed, Sokka finds greater peace and purpose with his past, as he looks towards the future...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 417

After a year of stability in the wake of the grand wedding between Azula and Sokka, Aang returns from a journey to the west with scarce leads on the Air Nomad survivors from the Hundred Year War. The Fire Lord encourages him not to lose heart, and to cling to the hope that he won't have to be the last airbender...

Upon coming home, Azula winds up roped into an unexpected game with Hotaru and Sokk. The pleasant mood between the married couple leads to consequences, however: Azula is quick to suspect the cause of her sudden sickness, a few months after that enjoyable night...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!