Drawing swirls for life

Gotta do the things

[old-world-bird]

✨COMMISSIONS ARE OPEN✨

✨✨✨And I now have a neat page with all the prices and important information✨✨✨

✨MORE INFO ✨ Contact me here or via @old_world_bird in Discord or Telegram to place an order or in case of any questions

COMMISSION INFO

Discord: @old_world_bird Telegram: @old_world_bird Or DM here

[old-world-bird]

Omg, it's done! Finally!! This piece was intended to be a challenge, and oh boi, it was. The palette, the composition, the amount of wings and folds - every single pixel made me struggle so much I almost started hating this thing by the end of the day. Still love the outcome tho, even though I messed up a lot and lot of things here.

Full picture under the cut, tw for some blood.

Nam etsi ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis, non timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es.

"For though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me", or, as one might say, "help, I accidentally recreated Jesus in my DnD campaign."

You might remember Dietrich.

He is dead now.

And his death was harsh, and painful, and cruel, and he took it willingly to cast a Sun-summoning ritual, hoping to burn away those strange fogs that twist people into mad, blood-craving creatures and that might - or might be not - come from Barovia distant planes for the sake of Strahd someone's bloody feast, and also be - or not - a plot hook for the party to travel to the Barovia far away in search for the revenge. They've already got their shady fortune-telling with some directions from their cryptic neighbor Joe 🙌

[old-world-bird]

Hi! Would you ever consider selling your work in print form? The Strahd/Sergei piece and its symbolism is so breathtaking (though, I recognize that may not be possible, with it being a commission).

In either case, love the work!

Hi! Thank you so much for your kind words!

The idea of selling some of my artworks as prints has been swirling in my head for a couple of years, I believe. Another year or so, and I might finally gather the strength to do that, haha.

Thanks for your interest! It warms my heart and brings the courage to keep going 💖

[old-world-bird]

I bought a pretty sketchbook at the end of September and even drew smthing (mostly tiny study-type sketches) in it in October, so, I guess one could say I actually had some kind of Inktober this year, lol. These are my favs, I thought it would be nice to share them :3

[worldhammerer-old]

what if vampires are like mosquitoes and only the ladies drink blood

Pretty sure that would mean the fellas drink tree sap or something. Imagine running from a vampire thru the woods and passing her husband who’s biting a tree real hard

[elf-kid2]

Maple syrup vampire husband

[patentlyabsurdrpgideas]

Encounter: Maple syrup vampire husband drinking sap in the woods, also trying to lure you to his literally bloodthirsty wife.

The wife has the classic Villain Of The Night aesthetic, all black, flowing cape, everything, and her husband is wearing red flannel, overalls, a beard, and is welding a log-splitting axe

[patentlyabsurdrpgideas]

This person gets it! Classic vampire lady and her lumberjack husband!

[old-world-bird]

I regret nothing

[gehayi]

Okay, but now you’re reminding me of Skyrim’s Hert and Hern. They’re a vampire couple that runs a lumber mill. 

[mallk-z]

Guys guys guys you’re missing the obvious

Vampire husband is VERY passionate about pancakes

[old-world-bird]

Because you don’t have to ask me twice. You just need to wait long enough until I cathch the mood-

Also posting here this tiny pic from an older ask considering beaver teeth instead of fangs, ‘cause why not, he’s cute, he deserves more attention

[old-world-bird]

This post keeps popping up in my activity notifications again these days, probably because it's Halloween. At least that was what I thought a second before I decided these two need a small comeback.

So.

Happy Halloween! Here's your treat ✨

I thought it would be nice to give the Lady some mosquito wings as a pattern, but mix it with the bat wings because, you know, vampires, Halloween, all that stuff.

He, on the other side, doesn't seem to be into the costume thing that much

[old-world-bird]

Allow me to introduce

The reason why I was dead for the past couple of months

Me and my fellow @lacyfishhh​ participated in the Horror Themed Game Jam. We didn’t manage to finish it and I don’t have a game to bring up here (which is devestating and also a reason I was lying on the floor in dissapointment for two weeks).

But hey, at least I can show you a bunch of pretty pictures. All these amazing backgrounds are drawn by @lacyfishhh​, everything that has lineart - by me.

Keep reading

[old-world-bird]

-for all of a sudden...

And playable here

Programming and writing done by Burashka, background art by @fishshhh, sprite art and riddles by yours forever faithful. All art was done in 2022 and has not been revisited ever since.

[old-world-bird]

This piece took me a little over 2 months to draw, and then another month to process the fact that I actually did it and it didn't cost me my sanity.

Commission poster for @blazingemstone and their CoS team. Details, as always, under the cut.

About commissions

You see the wolf in the far distance? Boi I love him, he's just vibing there "imma wolfing, woof-woof". Also, Ireena and her PC sibling!

The lady on the right has had her heart torn out, so now she is walking resurrected, yet still with a hole in her chest.

The left fella is all worrying yet cool, the right fella listens to misty voices. Yep, that's Rahadin spying in the distance.

[old-world-bird]

✨The BIG post✨

About flowers and symbols and details and processes to celebrate a New Year, may it be merciful upon us all. Starring this piece with Strahd, that piece with Strahd, and another piece with Strahd. Can't say I was too productive this year, but when I was - oh boi I tried my best.

We'll go in chronological order. Please don't pay attention to the fact that it's Spring already, I honestly started composing this thing in December.

Also, although all three campaigns are heavily homebrewed and this post is generally spoiler-free, I'll leave the spoiler alert here just in case.

━━━━➳༻❀✿❀༺➳━━━━

THE FAMILY PORTRAIT

The family portrait of Strahd and his daughter from one of Tatyana's reincarnations for @blazingemstone.

First of all,

To my shame, I still have not researched, why some mysterious unidentified vines represent intoxication, while ivy, the vine I've used here, means fidelity (it won't easily let go of something it's attached itself to), eternal life (because the plant is evergreen), and marriage. Anyway, I think it's one hilariously ironic combo of meanings, so I let them co-exist in my head and in this piece.

Love and Bravery

Roses (love) and oak leaves (bravery) make up the combo I use as Zarovich's patented trademark for some years now??? I think??? Pretentious, fancy, symbolic, and neat, looks especially nice near the Zarovich crest. In this particular piece, the roses are yellow because it's the golden embroidery, but gods bless this coincidence: yellow roses symbolize jealousy and decreasing love. Strahd is in a complicated relationship with his daughter, himself, and the world around him, and all these symbols work nicely together here.

Young Anastasia wears roses on her gown to

But rosebuds here are closed. Because, you know, immaturity. The love that has yet to unfold.

Also, hand positions. In this iteration of Barovia, Strahd is deeply possessive and protective of Anastasia because of her resemblance to Tatyana. Anastasia, in turn, interprets this as genuine care for her. She is grateful and also admires him. I tried to reflect that relationship in the way Strahd firmly grasps Anastasia's shoulders while she touches his hand gently in a responsive gesture of soft gratitude.

The portrait of an eternal love

The white lily in Tatyana's hands represents innocence; her face is covered with ivy vines and a blue veil, and we kinda can claim that all this refers to the mists that stole her life, personality, youthful innocence, etc... But actually, honestly, I just wanted this corner to look eery. On the other side, gotta trust own brain when it offers something like this. You never know what deepest meanings one can find in these random ideas later.

Some other details

I went a bit experimental with the fur lineart, using curly lines for Anastassia and pointy lines for Strahd. This was done to emphasize character differences.

Also, the spiderweb texture on Strahd's shirt references another campaign's portrait of him with his daughter. Man, my man is a parent of many children.

━━━━➳༻❀✿❀༺➳━━━━

THE ROYAL ONE

Lady Strahd's fancy royal portrait with the ominous shadow, some flower symbolism, and pretentious candelabra for @flyingkitesatnight

First of all,

I feel obligated to share the knowledge that the sketch where the shadow eats Strahd's head existed at some point.

Mirror strikes again

You might remember the older piece with Strahd and Alek, where there also was the mirror without Strahd's reflection.

This time, to emphasize the inhuman nature of the vampire, we added swirling fog where there is no reflection. You know, it's kinda like the mirror is showing the true nature of a vampire, which is mist, and I probably should stop seeking deep meanings in my own artworks, but it's fun, so maybe next time...

Yay, 🌸flowers🌸

A deep red carnation on the chest translates as "Alas! for my poor heart!" Fun fact: striped carnations represent refusal, and yellow carnations are said to mean disdain. Nothing good about carnations out there.

The commissioner requested something to represent Lady Strahd's softer/feminine side in opposition to the monstrosity and war-forged brutality, so in addition to a softly falling hairstyle, we chose Spanish jasmine (in the hand), which represents sensuality.

The almond tree on the wall tapestry represents hope. It's blooming in the light and is withered where the monstrous shadow is cast.

Other small details

Quite obvious references, but I'll mention them because why not.

Clothes reference the module portrait of Strahd. Almond tree tapestry is inspired by van Gogh's paintings. And yes, there is a War against Azalin book, written by this lady's own hands.

━━━━➳༻❀✿❀༺➳━━━━

AND THE MOVIE POSTER

For @curseofthebloodcountess's and @troubledtimeinravenloft's and their marvelous party. Oh boi, where do I even start here...

Probably with the link to the GM's post, where they dive into the details about who all these fellas are.

And once again, 🌸FLOWERS🌸

Strahd is surrounded by poisonous hemlock ("You'll be my death") and there are weeping willow branches (mourning) behind her, and that perfectly sums up her relationship with the party aka her past, present, and probably the future. Hemlock is also embroidered on her dress.

Theodora, the Morninglord's nun in the upper right corner is not only a suspiciously independent construct of the Abbot's creation but also a reincarnation of Strahd's dear friend from the times everyone was alive. Spiked Speedwell is there as a symbol of semblance, and zinnia represents thoughts of absent friends.

Alistor, the knight of Argynvostholt, bearing dragons and scales on his armor, is actually Strahd's long-lost son. Cinquefoil flowers represent maternal affection, and harebells represent grief.

There is also a frame of bramble, most of which creeps around Kolyana siblings and the last member of party, Tam. But some branches twist with Alistor's frame as well. Bramble represents envy.

Creeping willow all around the bottom corner symbolizes forsaken love. Tam, the ranger, eventually turned out to be a reincarnation of Sergei. He is surrounded by the aforementioned bramble of envy and creeping willow, and we also added a rosebay - danger - because of how paranoid his mere existence makes Strahd. You know, those flashbacks from days long gone.

Fun fact #1 - in Estonian, rosebay is põdrakanep, which literally translates to "elk's hemp". Fun fact #2 - in the early sketches, I suggested adding meadowsweet behind Ismark. It means uselessness, and it is very SAD for meadowsweet because it is pretty and smells heavenly good. Fun fact #3 - pine branches behind Tam are there because he had spent most of his life in Svalich woods, so in this particular case, pine was meant to represent, well, pine. But apparently, book says it also means "pity", and this is another neat coincidence. Does Sergey pity Strahd? Who knows. Does Tam pity himself because he is tired and simply wants everyone to just leave him be? There is such a chance indeed.

Bats, dragons, and other cute animals

The traditional fancy bat-winged candelabra is missing here. That could be a shame, so I decided to add bat wings to the frame twice and all around Strahd's gown, including the necklace. Still not as good as a pretentious candelabra could be, tho....

Then there is a wolf devouring the sun. Twice. The frame around the sun references the teeth pattern.

And then there is a small doggy paw mark on Ismark's leather armor because he is the golden retriever of the party and the best boy of the whole Barovia.

Dragons and scales all on and around Alistor, because Argynvostholt. Also, he's standing in flames not only because he and dragons are hot, but also because this fella seems to be an arsonist. "He burned down the coffin shop, he ran through fire to face Strahd at the festival" (c) their DM.

Also, the embroidery on Theodora's clothes is inspired by traditional angels and her familiar Benedict Algernon Ernest von Birdington the Fifteenth, a perfectly normal Morning Dove.

━━━━➳༻❀✿❀༺➳━━━━

That will be all for this time. Hope you enjoyed reading this ✨

The sourcebooks used are Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway and Floriography by Jessica Roux.

Commission info

[old-world-bird]

Something is brewing... 👀

[old-world-bird]

Commission for @blazingemstone. Their CoS party, mind-controlled and serving the Ravenloft. Lit in dramatic anime lighting, because I recently watched a series where every second scene is similar to this, so I got inspired.

Thank you for commissioning me! More info about commissions

[old-world-bird]

Marcella/Wilhelm, because it's been more than half a year since we finished that campaign, but they're still in my heart, being tender and cute.

[old-world-bird]

A batch of portraits for our current DnD campaign. We're still in Waterdeep, and I'm using a bit of canon lore, so some surnames might seem familiar :D

1 - Atos Phylund from the noble family of beast tamers. Softest bro, big fan of mimics 2 - Nicole Snome, the Archmage. Not soft, not bro, party liked her at first but then it turned out that mages are way too much into bureaucracy and being pragmatic 3 - Dietrich #2, not to confuse with Dietrich Lance even if they look vaguely similar, go to the same tavern and he seems to know Lance's mom. Cheeky boi 4-6 - Brokengulf family members, Erasmus, his son Umberto, and their son Romero who enjoys night walks on city roofs and demonstrating how awesome he is. Acts like an insolent cat

[old-world-bird]

Let's take a break from one horrible man (Douglas) and talk about another horrible man (Strahd), this time - the female version of him. SheStrahd campaign poster for @curseofthebloodcountess's and @troubledtimeinravenloft's campaign, starring Her Grace herself, three party members, and Kolyan siblings. Boi, this one almost cost me my sanity.

More info about commissions here, more details in close-ups under the cut

You can only guess how long it took us to set up the whole flower thing.

[old-world-bird]

The Shadow Whisperer demo is now available on Android

The Shadow Whisperer by Mustjoe, Old-World-Bird, LacyFissssh

A romantic fantasy VN, with a touch of horror

Also, I would like to thank you guys for all the support and love we've received. I remember finishing drawing all the things and making a "let's pray we'll get at least a couple of players outside our friends' circle" joke, and now we have over 1k plays. That might not be that much in terms of the industry, but it means a lot to us.

[old-world-bird]

Brought you some background process gifs for The Shadow Whisperer, which are more of a layer-by-layer breakdown actually because I keep promising myself to start recording the process and then never actually do that.

Fun fact: I used my old artwork for some pictures in the frames. Also, gods bless the SAI's perspective ruler.

The Shadow Whisperer is a fantasy romance Visual Novel with a dark twist, made by 3 people.

You can play the demo on itch.

If you enjoyed the demo and would like to support further development via donation you can do so by clicking a "download" button and typing a desired sum. No actual download is required.

[old-world-bird]

More screencaps from The Shadow Whisperer, our visual novel tagged as romance and psychological horror.

You can play the demo here

If you enjoyed the demo and would like to support further development via donation you can do so by clicking a "download" button and typing a desired sum. No actual download is required.

[old-world-bird]

After almost half a year it is finally moving, breathing, having a stats system, and is looking quite ok!

The Shadow Whisperer demo is out on itch.io

You can download it, you can play in the browser, you can stare for 10 hours straight at Douglas, and then give him your heart, your will, and all the money.

It's still a work in progress, but please feel free to give it a try, leave your feedback, and spread it across the globe - the further development strongly depends on people's interest in the whole thing ✨

[silverbard22]

Okay, I know this is random but why is the blonde dude giving me Vampire vibes?

[old-world-bird]

That's probably because he is much, much worse. Vampires at least knock...