Simon's Art

(Art Only account of SimonSoys) If you'd like to ask me something, please use my main blog! No sexual or gore content on this blog. Occasionally strong language.

[simonsoys]

"You've changed a lot since I last saw you."

"I could say the same thing about you!"

Liked this panel from a scrapped Shard + Amy comic I was working on and decided to throw some colors on it. Unfortunately now that this is done I kind of want to go back and keep working on it after all lol

I think they'd have a lot to talk about in terms of growing up and reinventing yourself from the person you used to be.

[archiesoniconline]

Sonictober 2025 Day 21! Theme: Divine. When you’re already a goddess, why not look the part as well? Feel free to offer your daily tribute in the form of gold, priceless artifacts and jewels… mostly jewels. In fact, all jewels.

Art by Dict.Cola, @maydaylakes and @simonsoys

[simonsoys]

[simonsoys]

Understand what my brain saw

[simonsoys]

Bonus old unfinished sketch of Nicole and Larry helping Shard come up with his new name at the start of the SFF arc

[simonsoys]

Shard but he's just a little more pointy and retains more of the original Metal Sonic look and scare-factor.

Plus trying on the Trooper/Neo Metal look with mixed opinions.

[simonsoys]

Sick on the couch today doodling redesigns and thinking about Bernie from the Archie Sonic comics.

I feel like Bernie never really got her own character story like Jules did, which feels like a waste. We know she was top of her class in school, was a soldier on important missions, and is later only ever shown as a housewife.

So I thought the contrast between what we get in the flashbacks with how she's characterized (or lack thereof) in the present could be interesting. Like she was ambitious in her youth, and wanted to break gender stereotypes. She kept getting told she should be more traditional, that she's better suited to being a wife and a mom, but she continues.

Later, after she's a very successful officer in spite of the nay-sayers, she wants to have a family. Now people are telling her she's wasting her career if she "throws it away" to be "just" a wife and mom.

Frustrated by people telling her what's best for her, she eventually decides for herself that she wants to be with her loved ones. I picture this culminating with her deciding to marry Jules.

(Of course it almost immediately gets ripped apart by circumstances out of her control.)

Even after everything she goes through, she has no regrets, because she made the decision. I want to frame her character story as people pushing "career woman" vs. "stay home mom" lifestyles on her, when there is no correct choice except the one she decided was right for her.

If I could give Sally a more concentrated character arc, it would've been her evaluation of the old Acorn traditions she fought to preserve, versus a new way of doing things. I think Sally sees Kingdom Acorn as its people and its values, while Max sees it as a physical place and its history.

This is a comic that regularly has King Max and Queen Alicia remind Sally of what her expected, passive role is. As soon as his son shows up, Max throws the crown at him despite being completely unqualified. Sally's autonomy and qualifications are regularly dismissed and discouraged.

There's a clear divide in the politics of the kids who grew up in Knothole versus the old folks from Mobotropolis. Maybe not all traditions should be brought back as they rebuild.

While Sally is grappling with her frustration, I think it'd be nice if there was a character she could talk to that's already dealt with the stifling old traditions, even if for one scene. She's looking for advice on what the "strong" thing to do is in this situation, but Bernie says the strongest thing she can do is not let anyone tell her who or what she is.

I think the typical "girl power" message would pick the more badass role, but in-context that alone isn't what Sally needs to be free. Bernie could be a good foil to Alicia. Alicia who passively entered her significant political role, versus Bernie who actively walked away from it.

[simonsoys]

[simonsoys]

Disaster weirdo teen trio (they're all banned from the arcade)

[simonsoys]

[simonsoys]

[simonsoys]

He's gone good but that doesn't mean he's gone nice.

(He's not sure if he's enjoying annoying Sonic or Chuck more.)

[simonsoys]

Shard doesn't remember him being this intense back in the day

(thinking about more elaborate character moments from when they first reunite)

Reuniting with Sonic, Tails, and Amy isn't as heartwarming as Shard imagined it would be.

Sonic does not immediately welcome or forgive Shard when they first encounter each other, and is very distrustful. He's exhausted, they've been pursuing Eggman for days on end, and this is the last thing he needs. He's upset that Shard is going to be *his* problem to solve once he betrays everyone, and secretly... he's not sure he can win. He just lost a friend to a Metal Sonic he couldn't stop. And this one got the closest to beating him, using Tails as bait!

But he doesn't have time to deal with this now, so he tells Shard to just stay out of his way and get lost.

Shard is miffed by the reaction (He almost died saving this guy. Where's the gratitude???), but it also feels... bad, somehow. It was subtle, but... did him showing up just terrify Sonic? For just a second? He's never seen Sonic this worn out and uncertain before... and it's weird.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, his image of who he thinks Sonic *is* starts to chip.

Amy and Tails are also tired and leery, but approach Shard anyway.

Tails says he doesn't know if Shard is good or bad, but he was always sad how things ended, and he's glad Shard lived.

Amy demands an apology for kidnapping her, almost killing Sonic and Tails, and terrorizing her friends and Knuckles and the Chaotix and... Ok, ok, he gets it. Shard apologizes, embarrassed but genuine. That's good enough for Amy, who forgives him and moves on.

It feels nice to be welcomed by them even if Sonic's the hold out-- Shard has a high opinion of Tails, and Amy was nice to him even when he was a monster. 2 out of 3 isn't too bad.

After seeing his friends forgive, Sonic realizes his exhaustion is getting the better of his morals. Didn't it always bother him that he couldn't save Metal Sonic, even if they had been enemies until the last moment?

He asks to have a chat with Shard later once Sally is rescued and things have calmed down. It's actually pretty cool that Shard saved them back at Mt. Mobius.

He makes Shard swear on his honor as “The Better Sonic” that if he's planning something nefarious, to prove it by leaving Sonic's friends and family out of it. Shard promises not to lay a finger on them, and Sonic seems to visibly relax, at least a little. If he's legit, then... it's good to have him back.

They part ways, and say they'll catch up for real when they're back in New Mobotropolis.

:'(

[simonsoys]

When they finally met back up I kind of wanted Shard to be Sonic's salty ex but also a sweetie pie towards literally everyone else

He doesn't want to fight him anymore, and would gladly help/save him (and brag about it after)-- but he's sick of thinking of/hearing about/having his life revolve around Sonic. What's so great about this guy anyway? He can be a better hero any day of the week.

The urge to mildly antagonize him is probably hard-coded and probably not just him feeling a little jealous and insecure about how much easier being liked seems to be for Sonic than it is for him.

[soysimons]

Commission for @robotnik-mun! I had a blast working on this! Thank you!

[simonsoys]

COMMISSION INFO

I will be opening 1 - 2 single character commission slots later this week in a later announcement.

A third slot is already on hold. I may open up more complex scenarios and additional characters later on, but I want to start simple.

My prices and terms are below, if you're interested please have your references ready when you reach out.

——SINGLE CHARACTER COMMISSIONS——

All prices include up to 1 full body character. 

Clean sketch $35

Inked drawing, add $15. ($50 total)

Flat colors, add $10. ($60 total)

Rendered, add $25 ($85 total)

Clean sketch style examples:

Inked drawing style examples:

Flat color style examples:

Rendered style examples:

Currently unavailable:

Backgrounds

Complex comic pages

NSFW

I Refuse to Draw:

Hateful, discriminating content

Payment:

Invoice will be sent from me to you through PayPal– USD$. 

Upfront payment is required for $50 and below commissions (Sketch/Ink).

50% upfront/50% upon completion is an option for any commissions above $50 if you prefer it. 

Process:

I take commissions when I feel I can complete them within a week, and would like to get started within 24 hours of receiving payment.

If you want me to use a character reference, have all reference documents ready at the time payment is sent. I will not be able to wait for you to gather materials after requesting a commission. 

A rough sketch will be sent to you for review within 1-2 days. At this point, you can ask for major tweaks to the art– (poses, outfits, expressions, etc.) 

If you want a specific inking/rendering method (crisp clean lines vs. the textured pen I usually use, or soft shading vs. cel-shading), please let me know by the time the rough sketch is approved. 

Example of what to expect from the rough sketch: 

Only after the rough sketch is approved, will I start cleaning up the sketch, inking, and coloring. 

The finished product will be sent as a PNG via email. PSD available upon request. If using a 50/50 payment method, the final image will be sent after final payment. 

Terms: 

Commissions are for personal use only, unless we agree on different arrangements. 

Do not remove my signature, unless we agree on different arrangements. 

Do not modify the finished artwork to promote hateful ideology.

Do not claim my artwork as your own. 

NO REFUNDS after the rough sketch is approved and work has begun.

[simonsoys]

Folks who do commissions often, can you give me advice on best practices/how you handle invoicing and payment?

[soysimons]

Asking on my art blog too.

[simonsoys]

a small soft toriel