On Frills and Elegance ... and Humour

My own Lolita meet badge is finished! The print was tricky and I had to omit some of the details on it (there's such a thing as "too much detail", I've found) but I'm very pleased with how it's turned out. I'm tempted to make one for every outfit I put together, at this rate.

I doodled a slightly-rushed mini-comic a couple of weeks ago, called Horatio the Angry Wig - it was pretty popular with the Lolis on my Facebook page. It was based on respecting personal space - just because you are dressed differently, it does not give people the right to start pulling at you. A Horatio wig is the answer to all your problems - it will bellow expletives at anyone who comes up and gives it a tug, going "IS THIS YOUR REAL HAIR?!".

This is a continuation, based somewhat off the myth of vagina dentata. This one, however, is a little more useful when you're all frilled out. Goes great when you're trying to be creepy-cute, although it'll make you a helluva lot more creepy.

Personally I am frilly, but not this dainty, elegant creature. Far from it. I am one of the least ladylike people I know. I eat my food with gusto (one of life's pleasures), I'm clumsy, I'm sarcastic, I pull funny faces, I have this obnoxiously dirty laugh, I have my bad days and good days, I let the odd four-letter word slip, I have a twisted sense of humour that sometimes only makes sense to myself (I hope you would have surmised that by now), I have short hair that's all over the place when I wake up ... and my style reflects this. It's a representative of me. Many Lolis I know in person also have similar qualities and more. We're all different people who bring different things to meets. We're only doll-like in appearance - underneath the  fanciness is a normal human being. Frilly dresses don't change us as people. We sometimes drink too much, eat too much, spend too much, rant too much, joke too much, fangirl too much, sleep too much or stay up too late but we have a damned good time - and I ruddy love them all for it. And what way to best represent that than to do funny Loli drawings, to try and offer something a bit different ... and hopefully, as funny to fellow frillies as it is to me?

Here I go again

Eeeeyeah, what was that I said about finally getting time to update my blog? It turns out a whole bunch of stuff comes up. I'll write and post what I can now, but it isn't going to be much.

Uni-wise, I have a little summer project going on editorial illustration. I've not got much to show for it yet (aside from a new Tumblr - follow, guys, follow!) - but as this is the area I want to go in, I'm all too happy to have it. On the other hand, though, a significant portion of my summer is going to be spent at my part-time (which will more closely resemble full-time during my holidays) work.

The top two images are based from a friend's MapleStory characters and gave me a good chance to try out different poses and perspective - and the little chibi girl shows some Plural Pride.

I'm hoping to make a post of more significance next time - hold onto your hats, folks, and if I go on a month-long vacation again, be sure to have a nice July!

What I Wore Today

Not my best work, as they're only quick sketches, but I enjoy doing them.

 (I really, really need to sort my blog tags out. I have too many.)

Here's some light humour for you

My assessment is tomorrow, so one could say I'm getting a bit 'carried away' with university work. So, last night, I shut off Powerpoint to take a break, and my imagination just 'flew' across the page - I'm really on 'cloud nine' when I relax with my art materials. I don't mean to sound like I have an 'inflated' ego or putting on 'airs' and graces, but I think this piece turned out pretty cute.

'Plane' and simple ... I should be banned from making bad puns. No doubt you're having that 'sinking' feeling.

The Nervousness Awesome Induces

First, a diagram.

On one hand, I want to say 'and that's just 20% of the nervousness I feel', and on the other hand I want to say 'What an exaggeration!'. Well, I don't think I really react like that physically (I don't dribble, thank God) - but I do get extremely nervous when I approach people I admire, often other illustrators, to say 'I love your work' - even if it's just an e-mail over the internet. I'm not really sure why - perhaps it's because I've only just started my degree, perhaps I just need to be more confident in myself and my own work, perhaps it's a fear of looking creepy or stalkerish, or perhaps I'm just awkward like that. Actually, it might just be a combo of all those things. Either way, my brain needs to quit it.

There's a surprise going on for Art of the Polyrhythm right now on CMTV, which I think will help me with this attitude (and it does need to stop). After the first episode is released, I want to start bringing the idea over here, too.

Let's petition for Crash 2010!

So if you're in the Crash Bandicoot community - chances are you'll have heard about this.

Recently, JumpButton and LXShadow over at Crash Mania discovered some concept art and an animation reel by former Radical workers that were part of the cancelled Crash project. Now, Activision weren't exactly in our good books to begin with, but now the Crash fanbase has decided to take action by signing and promoting a petition. And here's the bit I'm doing for 'em.

Here is the petition, if you'd like your voice to be heard, too. There's no guarantee that Activision will resurrect the project, but the least we can do is make some noise* and show some support for our favourite bandicoot.





The YouTube channel for the petition is here. Check it out!


* - however, the wrong kind of noise is 'phoning up/e-mailing people who worked on the concept stuff asking for details on the game. You might be anxious and want news, and you might not mean to annoy them, but it's seriously not cool to go hassling them. As JB says: "I've hidden the B-Roll for now, as some of you people seem to think that emailing and calling a man who you have no business emailing/calling. He can not and will not be able to tell you anything about Crash, so back the hell off, and when he stops getting calls, maybe we'll put an edited version back up."

New Stuff

... wow, it really has been a while. What with working for money (for upcoming university) and having other stuff to do, this blog gets kinda neglected at times. But not to worry, I'm here - and with something Crashy-related, too:



I got a little bored last night, so I seized the nearest pad and a biro and got to work on some doodles of the Doctors (I coloured in Brio for my new forum signature).


Aaaand ... something CMTV related!:








Guess which show has a summer special? I'm pretty darn hyped for it, and you should be too (and if you haven't seen CMTV 6 yet, you need a smack on the butt). This was finished off last week, before I went away on a mini-holiday to meet Smaz's family and friends (awesome people, by the way) and the videos were uploaded after I came back.

Also on CMTV - a new little news item on the unreleased Crash 2010 game. I'm happy to see all this material (especially that animating and concept art, it has me drooling) yet sad that this game never really came to fruition. I do hope Crash is continued someday, though.


Until next time, you blog-lurkers, you!

What I Wore Today

(Before you think I paint my legs dark grey, I was wearing knee-high socks, only I forgot to write about them.)

I don't often do things like this, but during the Easter break (aside from CMTV things) I've been stuck in a bit of an art rut. I know what I'm doing for my final project back at college, but I've been distracted with other things such as my new job (yay, paid work!). Smaz came to visit though during the Easter weekend to meet my family, which was really awesome.


I'm back to college this next week. And, on the 27th April, I'll be travelling to my first-choice university for an interview on the 28th. I'm nervous (understatement) - but at the same time really looking forward to it.

The CMTV Christmas Carol

It is truly wonderful to see the hard work and enthusiasm everyone at Crash Mania puts into CMTV, and this Christmas special is no exception.

Happy Holidays, readers!

ポリリズム の 家族

You have nooo idea how long it's taken me to write this. I seem to have come down with temporary blogger's-block, but I'm doing this knowing I'll feel proud of myself and accomplished after I press 'Publish Post'. *grin*



This is Paytotheorderofofof2, on YouTube - one of my favourite video-bloggers. Watching her videos - especially her 'YouTube: Most Rewarding Thing' video - actually helped me get the confidence to do my first v-log (remember the 'sketchbook' videos?).

She kind of reminds me of someone I went to college with.




And this guy inspired me to think about filming my own 'nostalgia' video. It isn't filmed and up yet, I'm still waiting for a few things first, but it'll be up. If you get a chance, go watch some Nostalgia Critic episodes - even if you didn't watch the movies or TV shows he reviews, he's hilarious.

... I just need to draw the Angry Video Game Nerd now. >.>




Poririzumu no Kazoku.

Unfortunately I haven't kept this piece - it really wasn't one of my best - but it has a strange childlike charm to it, I guess.


I've put a couple new links in the Links section under a new heading - Awesome Series. Take a look at them, a lot of hard work goes into them, I enjoy reading/viewing them, and - as the heading states - I think they're great. I like supporting fellow artists. *thumbs up*

Polyrhythm shows her face (and her old sketchbook)

There's not a lot more I can say there, really: if you haven't seen it yet, do. I laugh at myself a fair bit. I really enjoyed doing the video-blog, and as I've had positive responses I may just keep it up. To those of you who commented, thanks guys! <3

What's this?

Posting not long after my last update, I know, but I realised I'd forgotten a piece I spent a while on (as well as having a new doodle).

Want to see mah winning smile? No? Too bad, you're getting it anyway:





I did the line-art for this early one morning (as in, early early) and spent the following day giving it some colour. I was pleased with it overall, but I spent a while debating with myself over colour schemes.

Stephen Colbert in 6 Steps

... only towards the end he looked a little less like Colbert and more like Harry Potter (especially with that oversized timer). Ahh well.

But anyhow, I got "I Am America (And So Can You)" for my birthday and found the reference image, and wanted to have a go at drawing it. *shrug*

In Which Polyrhythm is an Adult

So, earlier this week I turned eighteen. I actually do feel eighteen, which is a little strange and unexpected, but ... nice. Not scary.

Me wonderful mum and stepdad surprised me by taking me out on my birthday night to one of my favourite restaurants, where we shared memories of when I was at nursery through to Year Six, and good giggles were had. Tonight we also went out, as my stepsiblings and my stepsister's partner came with us, and that was brilliant too.

Everyone: *munch-munch-talking-about-XboxLive-and-games, how-everyone-on-their-headsets-is-being-dead-aggressive-and-such*
Stepsister: There was this one night, when Mum was getting up to go downstairs and [partner] and I were on the XBox, and the first thing she heard coming from our room was [partner] saying "Get back in your cage, slave!"
Everyone: *MEGALOL*

See, I'm even laughing now as I type it.


Oh, art? Just a couple pieces right now, including my first anthro piece (for Smaz of Crash Mania's birthday) and my last ever portrait of myself I did when I was seventeen.




So, first off, this is the Crash x Tawna piece I did for Smazzum. I'm pleased, as it's my first anthro piece. Ever.




The last portrait of myself I drew when seventeen. It's ... it's so BEAUTIFUL! *sob*

*falls over*

I'm sorry. I don't feel up to writing about each of these pieces just yet, 'cause my brain's tired out. I've finally finished sitting my mock exams, and they take the energy right out of you (never mind what the real ones do to me, I'm usually outright incoherent afterwards). Just that yes, they were done traditionally but had to be edited digitally slightly because the camera doesn't really bring out the quality. I am very pleased with both pieces, but I wish I either had 1) better photos, or 2) a working scanner.

The Azumanga fanart comes with a drawing video. I can't explain much more than that.





Drawing Tomo Takino





Drawing Ayumu Kasuga 'Osaka'




Drawing Chiyo Mihama

In-Progress shots

Not a lot spectacular today, folks - just a manga-doodle I did one night when seriously bored (also, I'm really bad at full side-on views, so it was also a little practise in that field). The other photo shows an in-progress piece I'm doing for my steampunk unit. I won't tell you what else I'll be doing with it, but I was pleased with this little picture-frame and its resident tea-stained sketch (again, done by me) so I figured I'd take a photo for future reference and upload.


*groan* In other news, I am currently in the midst of exams and I have an interview next Monday. That's really all that's going on with me right now (and pretty much all I'm focussing on). 'Till next time.

Just a quick half-hour sketch

... steampunk aspects on a normal portrait, yay.



I still have to do some blending of the shades and for that I use a tiny paintbrush with just a dab of water (at least I know where the smudge will be going).

I've now moved onto my Unit 4 steampunk unit. I know it was going to be recycling, but it moved onto steampunk (that can have some aspects of recycling in it too). I've saved that many carrier bags, you wouldn't believe. @_@

I've been practising portrait work and anatomy more, and I'm seeing an improvement compared with my previous work. Unfortunately, RL studies has never been a strong suit of mine (even though it's the foundation to illustrating and drawing cartoons) but I realise it's still important to keep on top of, even if sometimes drawing spheres and cubes is annoying.


Till next time.

Wow, guys

... I was poking around on YouTube for drawing tutorials, and I found two really good videos.

One is "How to draw Eyes" by Sycra:


And the other is from Eclectic Asylum's How to Draw series, on Value Shapes:


I'm already learning good techniques from these videos, so I thought I'd share the goodness.

Oh, and speaking of sharing goodness (bwahahah) here's some of the digital art I did today. I am proud of 'em, even if they are small sketches and could be improved muchly: