OC ramblings & niche fandoms

zyuna (ジユナ) [ziu-na] | they/them | Illustrator Socials: https://linktr.ee/ZyunaArts DON'T REPOST/USE MY WORK | NO GEN A.I.

[cidnoo]

Code Secret Santa for Zyuna-arts!

Hello (again) @zyuna-arts! I was your secret santa this year! I decided to draw your OC Aria and Odd chillin as per one of your recommendations. I feel like Kiwi and Aria would be close since Aria and Odd are so close. So I added Kiwi napping over Aria's feet instead of Odd. My sister's bull terriers used to do the same thing to me, so I thought this would fit in a weird way lol. I hope you like it!

Happy holidays! @codesecretsanta

[zyuna-arts]

aY YOU!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH <3

I love how this turned out and how you took inspiration from your own real life experiences! Thank you for doing one of my suggestions - Kiwi was a welcome surprise and the second image made me chuckle!

I actually did write a scenario for fun where Aria visited Odd's family in Italy as a post-main story thing in their timeline and met Kiwi, who warmed up to Aria quickly so maybe you read my mind?? Lolol (attached is a screenshot of the scene I mentioned written in 2022)

In hindsight I couldn't remember how Kiwi canonically behaves around strangers except he's not the bravest doggo... I think I figured that animals tend to be more defensive around unfamiliar things/people and Aria isn't just a stranger but literally not from Earth so Kiwi was naturally more suspicious akjsdhajks

Since I'm here giving fun facts, later on I wrote that Aria fibbed about owning dogs as well but big ones like malamutes (to explain Kiwi's behaviour)... none of this is true because Aria actually rides and takes care of dragonlike creatures instead of dogs but nobody gonna believe that lmao

ANyway thank you once again!! Happy holidays and I really appreciate what you did for me this year <3

[zyuna-arts]

CODE SECRET SANTA 2025

Hi @ani-action, I'm your Secret Santa (again) for this year :D

Drew your OC! Maybe surprised at sudden snowfall?

I've not been in a good place mentally when it comes to my art lately so I struggled coming up with what to do but I hope you still like it <3

Happy holidays!

SOCIALS: Linktree

Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

god I have too much backlog on tumblr since I'm not active here

[zyuna-arts]

SUMMARY OF ART 2024

2024 template by @/Papakkapao_ on X! (included past years till 2019)

What a mix of styles HAHAHA but I actually did more sketches I never posted yet and simpler styles compared to fully rendered work. I'm a lot happier and less stressed just doing what I feel like at the moment at my own pace compared to pushing myself to finish fully rendered pieces all the time 😔

Happier that I did more original art and tried more subjects outside of my comfort zone/norm, but still not enough - so I hope 2025 will see a lot more of that!! Especially all the WIPs and sketches I have sitting in my computer 💀

Honestly, I started having doubts about my progress and felt that I was stagnant in my improvement especially since I'm no longer in school... Started hating my own art too, but I suppose that's normal and motivation for me to keep practicing 🥹

As always, I enjoyed the conventions and events I visited and boothed at! Got to meet old and new friends, more local Transformers fans, reconnected with some folks I hadn't talked/seen in a while and had lots of laughs, deep talks and unhinged moments ❤️

May 2025 be full of new opportunities, growth, compassion and courage ✨🔥

SOCIALS: Linktree

Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

I love you Narel 🫶✨❤️ Swipe for process and photos of in-game Narel featuring ikran Nimun!

Painted my player character/Sarentu (@narelsarentu) from Frontiers of Pandora though I took artistic liberty by combining and altering various designs. Don't like how this pineapple hair turned out in terms of aesthetics and Narel's face doesn't really look like them but it was too late to turn back 🥹

Fun facts: I named my Sarentu 'Narel' (nah-rehl) after the same word from my fictional language Pyra Unso (pih-rah uhn-soh), meaning "cloud". I picked Nimun for my ikran's name as it sounded similar to my OCs named Nimu and Dirun, who are both rynka which are ridable dragonlike creatures like ikran 👀

Can't believe this is my first time ever doing Avatar fanart and drawing a Na'vi... I love playing FOP so much and I highly recommend the game if you like fantasy/science fiction and worldbuilding! So much attention to detail and amazing voice acting and music that I appreciate. This definitely won't be my last time drawing Narel and I hope I'll get better!

I haven't painted in a while so this was a challenge for me but I'm happy I managed to complete it in about 2 days total 🥺 I don't think my rendering/lighting sense is that great yet but all the more I should practice 🙏

More posts to come on my FOP account when find time to set it up!

[Artwork created in early December 2024]

SOCIALS: Linktree

Original Art © zyuna

Game screenshots are mine

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

🍈 MELON TEA HAMSTER 🍈

Refreshing with a hint of sweetness, melon tea is great for hydration and cooling you down especially after a workout or hot day! ☀

It's packed full of Vitamin C and a good source of potassium, with low sodium content that may help reduce blood sugar levels. Those electrolytes will help restore your body and energy levels. Perhaps you, too, can float on water like a melon tea hamster...

The sixth tea hamster I created! I realised I hadn't made any new ones since 2023 and coincidentally, melon tea hamster will be debuting as a print for NYP SDM Fest like the fifth tea hamster (saffron) 😳 It's a 1 year anniversary!!

Hope you like this round ham! 💚 I was inspired by Gryphon Tea's ROJI CHA line (specifically Melona Manpuku green tea) as I love the flavour so much 🥺 Idk if I'll be making any more tea hamsters in the future as I feel 6 is enough and I'd want to explore other ideas.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Please do not attempt to recreate this scene in reality or feed your pets such foods (unless they are animal-safe ingredients and in moderation

[Artwork created in November 2024]

SOCIALS: Linktree

Original Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

Belated Halloween post!! 👻

bruh it's been 4 YEARS since I completed an illustration of them??? WIP from 2022 I never got around to finishing and decided to wrap up. Only after I finished everything did I realise I missed out details like Xenon's white collar and Radon's collar is white with a black stripe instead of whatever I did here 🤡 This is what happens when you wing it and don't use references, even if it's your own characters. Don't be me

[Artwork created in November 2024]

SOCIALS: Linktree

Original Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

✨SAUCE✨ PLS???

6 most common sauces for dipping and snacking based on a Singaporean context, at least in my experience living here and asking several local friends 🤨 Hope you like them! They will be turned into small prints and stickers so grab your faves while you can ✨

Did not include guacamole because this was a generic context of (free) sauces you'd find at cafés and restaurants to help yourself with your meals + common sauces you'd dip with finger food, put in your sandwiches, burgers, hotdogs etc. No soy sauce too, since that pairs with Asian dishes and not something you'd usually dip your fries in 🤔 Design inspo from well-known brands but I tried to deviate enough I hope!

Kewpie-I mean, "Kitsune" mayo is the superior mayonnaise and you cannot convince me otherwise 🔥 Once I switched to Japanese-style mayo I never looked back... I still eat the 'normal' type of mayo but prefer the richer taste of JP mayo 😍

Choose to highlight garlic chilli sauce specifically as I, along with multiple mutuals, really love it 🥹 My personal favourite chilli sauces are Heinz and Kimball's Thai sweet chilli! Tomato ketchup, BBQ sauce and cheese sauce are all popular around most of the world so at least one of them can save the day 🙏 Deliberately spelled in American English for the label on barbecue sauce since it originates from USA.

Mustard may not be that popular in Singapore but it's a well-known condiment so I couldn't leave it out 👀 I used to not like mustard much until I tried dijon mustard... My life changed!!

[Artwork created in October 2024]

SOCIALS: Linktree

Original Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

Merfish Secret Santa 2024 piece for @/a13ki_ (Instagram) with OC Taylor! He was a fun challenge to draw :)

SOCIALS: Linktree

Art © zyuna

(DON'T REPOST/USE)

[cidnoo]

Code Secret Santa for @zyuna-arts

Happy holidays @zyuna-arts & @codesecretsanta ! I was your secret santa this year. I drew Odd playing with cat toys as per one of your suggestions because there's no way I was gonna up the chance to do that lol. I loved your designs of the characters, so I did reference those. I hope you like it!

[zyuna-arts]

OH MY GOODNESS thank you so much!! 🥺😭❤️

Truly a cat trapped in a human body...

[zyuna-arts]

CODE: SECRET SANTA 2024

For @ani-action , your OC Cerise for @codesecretsanta! I took a bit of artistic liberty on the design but hope that's alright. I figured that you might appreciate more art of your OC (who doesn't?) and I hope you like it :D

posting this first before the rest of my art backlog on tumblr, oop

SOCIALS: Linktree

Art © zyuna

[zyuna-arts]

ART FIGHT 2024

Very late post because I keep forgetting to upload here ajkshdask

Was on Team Stardust and did more attacks than 2023, and they were all revenges :") Next year I shall focus on clearing characters in my bookmarks!! OCs & their owners: 1. Alex (SirMeo) 2. Oshen (bisukiut) 3. Sadie (strawburry_cow8572) 4. Kai - beast form (DemonHusband) 5. Sebastian (goats) 6. Cosmic Wish (Lemon_candy) 7. Siorc Ingne (Palamon) 8. Catpie (acatpiestuff) 9. Mel (batiferrite) 10. Cherry (cherrysalmon) 11. Blair & Hani (kmayafk)

SOCIALS: Linktree

Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

VILUJIN (Striped Octohound)

A shy, elusive creature that makes its home in deserts and occasionally seen in tundra. Most active at dawn and dusk where the sun is low on the horizon. Locally known as 'vilujin' but also known to Earthlings as the striped octohound or just 'octohound', after its 8 tendrils and 'doglike' appearance.

Its reverse countershading is a warning to others not to get too close as its tentacle-like tendrils on its back secrete venom. When threatened, it lowers his head to the ground with a wide stance and its tendrils undulate simultaneously in a wave-like pattern to intimidate foes. It may also make a hissing noise similar to the rattle of a rattlesnake.

If the initial threat display is ineffective, it will either flee or attack with its tendrils jabbing the foe like a supersonic punch. The venom is potent enough to temporarily paralyse victims by numbing their senses but only lethal to creatures much smaller than itself. It does not use its tendrils to hunt, only as a self-defense technique and possibly as a display in mating rituals - more research is needed to confirm the latter theory.

In the past, it was revered as a sacred animal where seeing one in person was a sign of luck. The ancient nomadic peoples of Kaskora Dunes would host a dance ceremony each time a vilujin was sighted, hoping that good news would come their way like safe delivery of a child or rain after drought. This practice died out in modern times but some people still like to believe the old tales where sighting a vilujin brings good luck - particularly travellers who spend long periods of time in the desert where getting lost, injured or dehydrated is common. I couldn't decide which one I liked most so I made 3 versions... This piece was meant to be a different interpretation of my sona for pride but impromptu plans also turned it into a creature from #Project UNCIA wahoo!! Last image is a collage of my original concepts which have nothing to do with Project UNCIA 🤣

[Artwork created in July 2024]

SOCIALS: Linktree

Original Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

✨ C0MMISSIONS 2024 ✨ 5/5 slots open

Please read the T&C carefully!! This is a simplified version so for more details, scan the QR code in the last image or go here. Payment in USD, 100% upfront with no refunds.

For SGD, please contact me privately for alternative payment options (don't order a c0mm on Kofi unless you don't mind paying in USD).

Reopening c0mms after too dang long because I need to keep myself working on art and to pay the bills 😔 The next time I revamp my c0mm list, there will be more options and it's probably gonna be on google forms. I hosted this round on Kofi to make things easier to keep track.

I WILL NOT ENTERTAIN C0MMISSION REQUESTS IN COMMENTS/DMS. Please only message me if you have sensitive questions you want to ask/clarify.

C0mms will automatically close once all slots are filled. I will not be reopening slots until the current batch is cleared. No waitlist, FCFS - keep a lookout on my social media sites for updates.

Reblogs appreciated! Donations to my Ko-fi are always welcome or you can get something from my online store.

SOCIALS: Linktree

Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

Reblogs really appreciated! I have c0mmissions open to pay off some urgent bills I need to settle.

[zyuna-arts]

✨ C0MMISSIONS 2024 ✨ 5/5 slots open

Please read the T&C carefully!! This is a simplified version so for more details, scan the QR code in the last image or go here. Payment in USD, 100% upfront with no refunds.

For SGD, please contact me privately for alternative payment options (don't order a c0mm on Kofi unless you don't mind paying in USD).

Reopening c0mms after too dang long because I need to keep myself working on art and to pay the bills 😔 The next time I revamp my c0mm list, there will be more options and it's probably gonna be on google forms. I hosted this round on Kofi to make things easier to keep track.

I WILL NOT ENTERTAIN C0MMISSION REQUESTS IN COMMENTS/DMS. Please only message me if you have sensitive questions you want to ask/clarify.

C0mms will automatically close once all slots are filled. I will not be reopening slots until the current batch is cleared. No waitlist, FCFS - keep a lookout on my social media sites for updates.

Reblogs appreciated! Donations to my Ko-fi are always welcome or you can get something from my online store.

SOCIALS: Linktree

Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

🔷 CINTHYA 🔷

I was excited getting to draw this and overall happy with the results in the time I did! My first fully rendered humanoid illustration for 2024. Made the impromptu decision to join the #sgoctradingcard event back in April 2024 and one of the designs is my OC Cinthya! 👀

I used several references including a photo of my own hand and a screenshot of a model I posed with lighting in Magic Poser. Sometimes I genuinely surprise myself with what I'm able to achieve, thinking "wow, I did that?!" and that's when I know I'm making progress ❤️

Cinthya is one of those comfort OCs in the sense that she's fun to draw because of her personality and design. I guess it's the chaotic gremlin energy? I don't need to think too much when I draw her as I can go as wild as I want so she's good for doodles and vent art. I'd say she's like kinda like Captain Jack Sparrow and Peter B. Parker (Spider-verse) combined.

There will be a lot of more of her to come, especially since I decided to include her in Project UNCIA although she's much older during that timeline. New designs to come!

SOCIALS: Linktree

Original Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

XYZ SIBLINGS INTRO

I'm happy to finally introduce the XYZ siblings in art form after brainrotting for so long through writing about him and his siblings in my original story/spin-off of Code Lyoko, Project UNCIA 😭

I introduced concepts for their species earlier on here!

I took part in the #sgoctradingcard event which gave me an excuse to draw the siblings, though I could've done a better job with the graphic design and everything had I started much earlier 🤣 Deliberately kept the art style simpler after spending so long working on Cinthya and I have the tendency to overcomplicate things 🗿

ZOL:

He's energetic and curious and will steal your snacks if you leave them unattended 👀 Despite his playful nature, Zol knows when it's time to have fun and time to be serious. He is incredibly smart for a rynka but with intelligence comes mischief - not everyone can handle him and he gets labelled 'stubborn' or 'untrainable' sometimes. There are times he decides he wants to do his own thing so you must know how to negotiate with him.

He loves working together with his rider Aria (who I will formally introduce via art soon) and is very loyal to them, and by extension whoever Aria is close to. Zol likes to retrieve and gift things, where his gifts can range from a single rock, a branch, food, tools... Anything he thinks is interesting or useful!

YSRI:

Ysri [pronounced 'is-rri'] is anything but the stereotypical "forgotten middle child". With a heart of gold and dignified loyalty, her royal blue and red coat is coincidentally apt as "people's Prince" Faros [pronounced 'fah-rros'] of Rodron is her rider.

Although she isn't the easiest rynka to get close to, she is a reliable ally and dependable friend you can count on if you gain her trust. Ysri cares for her brothers deeply and looks out for them despite the occasional sibling squabble, as well as her rider Faros and by extension anybody he's close to.

I found myself gawking while designing Ysri's card frames (idk maybe I was high from lack of sleep) and it gave me Star Wars vibes for some reason.

XILIM:

Xilim [pronounced 'si-lim'] may be docile by nature, though he dozes off when he gets a bit too relaxed and isn't much help saving you unless you give him detailed instructions on what to do... He will just stand there or idle like an NPC and lacks natural guarding instincts - something his rider needs to keep in mind. If you do tell him to keep watch and be firm about it, only then will he fulfil that task. But he is good for hugs! He's also a popular choice among his drift for public meet-and-greets when there's open houses since he's one of the calmest around strangers.

Fun fact: The notch on his 'ear' is natural and doesn't cause him any issues. What may look like ears on rynka are actually akin to whiskers, helping them sense and pick up vibrations in their surroundings! Their actual ears are hidden behind those appendages and look similar to bird ears.

You may have first heard of Zol and Xilim as the name of my pigeonboi and crowboi plushies by @berry_winkle_ if you follow my Instagram but the reality is the plushies were named after the OCs and not the other way around hehe 👁️ Zol and his siblings mean a lot to me and I hope to share more about them 🥺

SOCIALS: Linktree

Original Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)

[zyuna-arts]

OLD ART (2021-2022) + 2023 sketches I never posted!

You've probably heard of my bird bois Zol and Xilim if you follow my Instagram, but did you know they're named after my OCs who are original species called rynka [rrin-kah] which were based on griffins? 👀 Here's my initial concepts of the rynka species!

While working on Project UNCIA sometime in 2020, I introduced gryphons into the story as I wanted some form of fantasy creature equivalent to horses. At first, I never considered what they'd looked like. When I was still studying at 3dsense in 2021, I'd already wanted to incorporate personal work into my assignments and made use of them to explore personal character designs.

The creature design assignments I had in particular were my opportunity to expand on this gryphon idea and eventually they became known as 'rynka' as the story is set in an alien planet. I had a lot of fun working on the rynka designs! ❤️

I won't ramble about the design process but you can zoom in on the images to read my notes. Best viewed on desktop!

I didn't post these earlier because I wanted to complete them at my own time since I never finished the original creature infographic. Alas, I don't think I ever will as I'd rather redo everything from scratch so I'm leaving them as is.

I'm finally going to reveal my current designs for my OCs Zol, Ysri & Xilim (collectively known as the XYZ siblings) and wanted to give an introduction of their species first!

SOCIALS: Linktree

Original Art © zyuna

(DON’T REPOST/USE)