Bluesky: stellastra (I post sketches + WIPs here!)
Toyhouse (for OC info): stellastra
Artfight: stellastra
Reddit: stellastra (I don't post there much, though)
Archive of Our Own: stellastra_scribbles
Twitter: k_stellastra (retired account/not posting there anymore)
Hi, hello! You can call me Stellastra. This is my art blog I made in September 2024, but I've been on tumblr since 2014 on my personal blog.
To tell you a bit about me: I like to draw, play video games, take photos, work out, and collect historical fashion books.
I'm admittedly a fairly shy and private person, so my posts will almost strictly be related to art and/or my OCs. However, feel free to send me a message, whether it's about me, my art, my OCs, or if you just wanted to drop in and say hello.
All I ask is for some basic cordiality if I don't know you.
Some Ground Rules:
I make art based on mature games/genres. My content is intended for an adult audience.
Reposting my art off-site is fine, so long as I'm credited/it links back to me. For example, if I drew you something and you want to add it in your OC's reference compilation on Toyhouse or wherever, that's fine. Something as simple as "art by stellastra [insert link to my blog]" is all I ask for.
I can't believe I have to say this, but just be a decent human being. It's not that hard. I will not engage in petty discourse openly nor in DMs. I will ignore any asks that smell like engagement bait.
I am not doing commissions. I am not offering them nor do I intend on doing so in the foreseeable future.
My favorite video games are:
The Elder Scrolls series (particularly Morrowind)
Guild Wars (both GW1 and GW2. GW1 is my childhood jam~)
Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (a D&D-like fantasy setting paired with the 19th century aesthetic? *chef's kiss*)
Fire Emblem series (especially Shadows of Valentia and Three Houses, crossing my fingers for a proper remake of the Jugdral games)
Halo series (Bungie-era, haven't played any 343 entry since 4)
Tomb Raider series (the Legend games are my childhood classics)
More random fun facts about me I'm willing to share (if you wanted to know for some reason):
I'm half-Filipina (Igorot, specifically Kalinga) and half-white (apparently of mostly British ancestry, according to a 23andMe test my dad did).
I was born and raised in the the southeast USA.
Unfortunately, I can only speak English (+ some rusty high school-level French). I want to learn Tagalog or Itneg (my mom's native language) someday.
I have pet cats :3
I can safely say that I really started drawing when I was around 10 years old, when I was doodling in the margins of my schoolwork in the fourth grade.
I love watching 'so bad, it's good' movies like The Room, Troll 2, Samurai Cop, Neil Breen movies, etc.
I have an unhealthily large collection of historical fashion books. Most of my collection is 19th century European stuff, but I'm always looking for books of an earlier time or even non-European cultures.
If you're looking for any specific resource regarding historical clothing, feel free to shoot me a message and I can point you to some resources for reference material. Should you need something specific, I'm willing take a look in my collection for you. I JUST LOVE TALKING ABOUT HISTORICAL CLOTHING!!!
Well, with that out of the way, it's a pleasure to meet y'all~
An'zen and Tui'las Mal'los, the parents of my Living One, Rí'an. They're both city elves. An'zen is an actor and Tui'las is a seamstress (which is why Rí'an has theatre-kid energy lol).
I haven't drawn them in just over a year and really just wanted to finally give them proper hairstyles and outfit designs~
Their clothing is based on late-19th century/Meiji-era fashion.
I made An'zen's hair ahistorical, instead basing it on the low ponytail from Arcanum's male elf sprite. Also, I figured a hat would fit better over his low ponytailed head rather than a topknot.
Tui'las' attire is based on the more western-influenced clothing of the Meiji-era. She's originally from the continent of Arcanum (an analog to Victorian-era Great Britain), so she likes wearing clothes that remind her of her homeland.
An'zen's also not short. Tui'las is just tall for an elf.
The Night of the Living Ones 3: Catfights & Caviar
Part 1 | Part 2
Yet another compilation of people's custom protagonists for the 2001 cRPG Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (which you should absolutely give a chance if you haven't!)
Tabitha Fairechild - @queen-scribbles (HD) (no glasses version)
Delilah Fitzsimmons | Eva Fitzsimmons - @starlightcleric (HD)
Anariel - @draikopinpix (HD)
If you've got a Living One OC, feel free to shoot me a message (basic rules here)! I'd love to draw them!~
pet peeve is when you look up fashion references from a specific era and you keep getting modern day '[era]-inspired' fashion like NO i want authenticity damn it. i can see your 2020 photo quality and your 2020 hair and your 2020 makeup. youre not fooling me.
hello i'm a historical fashion researcher and i have a lot of experience looking up things! this is a very widely experienced irritation and you're definitely not alone in this, but i am here to share everything i know!
so, ways to get around this:
turn off AI results. they're literally nonsense to us
don't use pinterest because the sources/provenance is often hard to trace
a standard internet search can be okay, but museum collections are the top tier (list of collections below this list)
instead of broad terms like victorian, regency, tudor, renaissance etc. try using the decade you're looking for. if you're not sure of what decade it is but have a vague image in your head, look on the fashion history timeline and just jump around until you find it. but even changing to e.g. 19th century will give better results than victorian
including terms like womenswear/menswear, daywear, formal wear, evening wear, court dress should increase the value of your search too
including "fashion plates" in your search can give you a nice impression of the intended silhouettes of the era. some of these might be a little stylised but will show you what was considered in vogue
for pre-fashion plate eras or things like makeup and styling, you'll have to look at portraiture or manuscripts. these are harder to actually find what you're looking for, but searching museum collections and limiting results to specific date ranges will be your friend
when looking at art, do bear in mind sometimes artists would paint fabric extra flow-y to show off their skills. it might not have been exactly like that in terms of fabric weight or drape. so, a pinch of salt required!
if you find something on image search where the provenance is dubious, reverse image search and you might find a source! i've been able to trace random pinterest images to real sources, but this does take a lot of time and effort and is often not worth the headache
some online resources and museum collections:
fashion history timeline is an invaluable resource if you're trying to get a feel for everything and should be your first port of call. it'll also link to good examples
the met has a vast number of extant examples of clothing, as well as fashion plates
costume institute fashion plates is a subcollection of the met for fashion plates (1800s-1922)
v&a also has many extant garments, fashion plates, and incredible articles on clothing and aesthetics. read the details of the objects because they'll often reveal a lot about the piece
lacma is good for C19th-20th pieces
nypl digital collection for photographs
national portrait gallery or similar for portraiture, or literally any museum in your country that has historical art
national museums scotland can be useful situationally but might be oddly specific
stout style history is a great collection for finding image references for fat people wearing historical clothes. survival bias of a lot of museum pieces tends towards smaller clothing that couldn't be repurposed, but this aims to counter that. it's not sortable, but is still a really nice resource
wikimedia commons is surprisingly handy! and the images, if you should need to link/repost them, are public domain
auction websites sound like a funny one to recommend. some won't have mannequins and some will. just look up historical garment auctions and you'll find some!
anyway, i hope this has been a good place to start for anyone interested! there are probably some i've missed because there are so many museums across the world and i don't know about all of them or can't remember them. but these are the ones i've used the most! (my specialisation/jobs i've had to research for have only really been in western fashion, so my resources reflect that)
Wikipedia has a list of fashion museums. Unfortunately, the page itself is only available in German, but the introductory paragraph is very short and after that, it's organised by country, and then it's a simple list. If you click on a museum's article, the website is usually linked in the overview table.
First fic for a new fandom let's gooooo~ I'm starting off easy, with Player Character Introspection, but this was fun so I'm pretty sure there will be more [960 words]
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This was not the fresh start she had envisioned.
When Tabitha had journeyed to Caladon and boarded the Zephyr, it had been with a satchel bearing pages of want ads, neatly circled, for Tarant and few smaller cities nearby, and the hope of employment as a governess or research assistant. She had no experience in those fields, true, but she was possessed of an eagerness to learn, a firm but respectful demeanor, and miraculously restored vision that made her grateful for any opportunity. Said miracle was, in fact, why she had boarded the airship with hopes of a fresh start and not much else to her name.
Being the sole survivor of a fiery crash had not been part of the plan.
Tabitha mournfully fidgeted with the singed sleeves of her good blue dress, donned for an afternoon tea and now the only clothing she had left in the world. A swath was ripped from the skirt, the collar and breast were covered in soot, and the bustle was... deflated, to put it kindly. A woeful picture, to be sure. Some savior I make, she thought wryly, with a glance at the silhouette guarding the mouth of the cave refuge.
Being the reincarnation of an ancient elven god had definitely not been the plan. Much less her alleged deity coming with a handily present devotee. Although, no matter how convenient his presence--or recent his affiliation with the Panarii faith--Virgil had set about making himself invaluable with all haste.
The wolves and other dangers she had no illusions of surviving on her own. Aid scavenging the wreckage for survivors or anything useful. This had mostly amounted to several bottles of good wine--one now open but barely touched beside her--and personal effects valuable as closure to loved ones and not much else. Helping dissuade that stranger. (Even if she did wonder what made Virgil so adamant he was... trouble, she couldn't deny the man's behavior had become suspect when confronted.) And he'd been the one to find this small cave for shelter when night fell en route to Shrouded Hills, and even volunteered to guard the entrance.
From what, Tabitha was uncertain. More wolves? They did seem to be quite prevelent in these mountains. The stranger returning? Bandits? A small, cynical part of her wondered if he was keeping threats out or her in. She shushed it; he'd been nothing but helpful. Regardless of what Virgil thought might happen, she was grateful for the company, and protection.
She shifted, leaning against the wall in an attempt to get settled. Far cry from the usual comforts, she thought wryly. Sleep wasn't coming, so she pulled up the small compact on her chatelaine, now empty of cosmetics, and withdrew the ring that had been pressed into her hand by a dying gnome. It was hard to study it in the dim moonlight that managed to filter inside the cave, but after her time spent blind, her fingers 'saw' almost as well as her eyes for things like this. There didn't seem to be anything especially dazzling about the ring. Simple silver band with an engraving and the maker's mark inside. No air of magical power, good or ill. No sense of small hidden compartments. Just a ring.
Then why had it been so important the gnome--Radcliffe, if the passport in his pocket was correct--had spent his last breaths pressing it on her? Why the warnings about a child and an 'evil one'?
Honestly, that almost lent credence to Virgil's belief in her being this 'Living One' from his faith's prophecies. After all, if there was an 'evil one', it followed such an entity would take whatever steps necessary to thwart efforts against it. Such as attacking a passenger airship, never mind the casualties. And it also followed, one would hope, there existed a counter to the evil. Someone who could stop it. She just never would have expected that to be her.
The formerly blind daughter of formerly rich parents. Well-off until recently, but nothing special, as the world went. Weren't legendary heroes supposed to be special? They certainly tended to be in books. How could he tell? What made him so sure? Was there a chance he was wrong?
Tabitha sighed and returned the ring to the compact and the compact to her chatelaine. Such questions were making her head hurt. Best to save them for the elder Virgil had mentioned waiting in Shrouded Hills. Hopefully this Joachim would know what was going on. What it meant for her to be the reincarnation of an elven god. Maybe even why someone would attack the Zephyr.
She grimaced at the thought as she settled in to try sleeping again. Another hope: Shrouded Hills having some manner of post system so she could write to assure her parents she was alive. Given the Zephyr's route from Caladon to Tarant, surely word would spread of its crash. Father would be beside himself with worry, Mother clinging to pragmatism as one did a life preserver.
She thought about asking Virgil, since he'd come from the town, but that seemed a silly thing to nag about now. Especially since she couldn't tell from his silhouette if he was asleep or just very good at sitting still. If the former, she hoped he was a light sleeper, given he'd taken guard duty on himself. Either way, she didn't want to disturb him. She'd find her answers tomorrow.
Which was the status of many things about this 'fresh start' of hers. Tomorrow. Best to get some sleep and hasten its arrival.
Tabitha snugged herself into a divot in the rock and finally, as if her resolve made it happen, drifted off to sleep.
regarding my previously-reblogged post, if anybody writes any NEW fanfics for Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, i will sketch a scene from it (including your Living One OC)!
🇫🇷 Je suis contente de tomber sur des fanarts d'Arcanum : Engrenages et Sortilèges, un de mes jeux favoris. Je refais une partie, actuellement. J'adore le lore de ce jeu ainsi que son écriture. Quoi de mieux que de créer un personnage tourné vers le dialogue ?
Voici mon Être Réincarné, Anariel. C'est une elfe avec le background "opération miraculeuse". Et que dire à part qu'elle m'obsède, en ce moment ? J'ai imaginé sa vie avant et après le jeu ainsi que son caractère. Aujourd'hui, je l'ai créée sur https://www.dolldivine.com/classic-games/mega-fantasy-avatar-creator
Présentation
Anariel est une elfe fière, parfois arrogante. Elle est cultivée et persuasive. Elle adore lire et est très curieuse.
Elle est très maladroite, frêle et a une santé très fragile.
Après avoir recouvré la vue, Anariel a assisté à la chute de ses parents, qui avaient pourtant une belle fortune. Ils se sont tués au travail, tombant grièvement malades. Anariel a alors quitté son pays natal pour faire fortune ailleurs. Elle a très peur de la pauvreté, sans pour autant être avare. Elle évite les personnes les plus misérables qu'elle rejette.
Elle est d'une grande beauté et toujours bien vêtue. Elle est coquette sans être superficielle.
Après la fin de son aventure, elle n'arrivait pas à se poser. Elle a compris qu'elle était une éternelle voyageuse.
Elle entretient une relation très fraternelle avec Virgile, à qui elle rend souvent visite.
Elle n'est ni tournée vers la technologie, ni vers la magie, bien qu'elle ait une légère attirance envers cette dernière. Pour se défendre, elle a un poignard, mais c'est dans les cas les plus désespérés.
(Ce qui suit comporte des SPOILERS)
D'abord très méfiante envers Arronax, elle se demande si elle a bien fait de le libérer. En voyant ses actes lorsqu'il retourne en Arcanum, elle lui rend visite et se rapproche de lui... 😏
Si j'ai l'intention d'écrire une fanfiction qui raconte la suite de ses aventures ? Peut-être...
🇬🇧 I'm glad to see some fanarts of Arcanum : Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, one of my favorite games. I’m replaying a part, right now. I love the lore and the writing. What better way to enjoy it than by creating a dialogue-focused character?
Here is my Living One, Anariel. She’s an elf with the “miraculous operation” background. And what can I say except that I’m completely obsessed with her right now? I imagined her life before and after the game, as well as her personality. Today, I created her on https://www.dolldivine.com/classic-games/mega-fantasy-avatar-creator
Introduction
Anariel is a proud elf, sometimes arrogant. She is cultured and persuasive. She loves reading and is extremely curious.
She is very clumsy, frail, and in poor health.
After regaining her sight, Anariel witnessed the downfall of her parents, despite their great fortune. They worked themselves to death until they became gravely ill. So Anariel left her homeland to seek wealth elsewhere. She is deeply afraid of poverty, without being miserly. She avoids the poorest people and pushes them away.
She is very beautiful and always elegantly dressed. She is stylish without being superficial.
After the end of her adventure, Anariel found herself unable to settle down. She realized she was destined to be an eternal traveler.
She has a very fraternal relationship with Virgil, whom she visits often.
She is attracted neither to technology nor to magic, although she has an attraction to the latter. For self-defense, she has a dagger, but only in the most desperate situations.
(The following contains SPOILERS)
At first very distrustful of Arronax, she wonders if freeing him was truly the right choice. But after witnessing his actions upon returning to Arcanum, she visits him and gradually grows closer to him... 😏
If I want to write a fanfiction which tells the continuation of her adventures ? Maybe...
«The distortion is caused by the eyes with which we choose to see.»
An illustration commission for @stellastra-scribbles, this was a very fun experiment inspired by the art nouveau style. I'm so lucky to be able to do experimental commissions like this ❤️
