You Haunt My Dreams

Happy Friday everyone!

Hope you all get a chance to enjoy this sun (if you're in the greater Seattle area that is).

Last night we finally watched the 3rd episode of The Tudors, season 1. It was pretty good. The story is really starting go get together. But it did inspire me to do another period piece. This one heavily inspired from the show. You could even call it a fan-pic. Even though I haven't watched enough of the show to consider myself a fan. But whatever.

It was done on my MacBook using the free version of ArtRage and my Bamboo tablet.

Hope you all like it. Have a great weekend and I'll see you all on Monday.

Don't Leave Again

Hello everyone, and I hope you're having a wonderful Thursday. It's amazingly sunny outside here right now. Which makes it hard to think about much more than taking walks, playing in water, and laughing with my daughter.

Ok, that might only be applicable to me. But I'm sure more than one of you out there in internets-ville share one or more of those thoughts.

Today's sketch is my version of Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori from the awesome anime series Full Metal Panic, Full Metal Panic Fumoffu and Full Metal Panic: TSR.

I got into this series in a big way. It was actually the first series I completed on DVD. And that was after already watching it as FanSubs. Great show!

Anyway, the sketch is based off the vibe at the end of TSR. Chidori is overwhelmed to see Sagara again, and he's found a new passion for protecting her. But I have just noticed that I made Sagara WAY too tall. Oh well. It's the camera perspective. Yeah, that's what the problem is. Not at all artist error.

Oh who am I kidding. Yeah, I flubbed that one. At least the drawing's kinda nice though.

It was done on my MacBook using the free version of ArtRage (I started playing around with some more of its functions with this sketch) an my Bamboo tablet.

Hope you all dig it.

Naihanchi Shodan

As you probably have gathered by now, yes, I have studied martial arts. And am more than slightly infatuated with them.

The style in which I am most familiar with is a branch of Karate, and as such I bring to you today's very quick sketch. It's a segment from the Naihanchi Shodan kata, found in multiple styles of Karate. A lot of the subtleties are different from style to style. But the core of the kata is the same no matter what school, or Ryu you are in.

It's a very dynamic kata, and there are lots of movements/techniques that I am still learning about. It's not as straight forward as you may think. There are some very interesting movements that make you really want to dissect what is going on to see if you can interpret what the kata is "actually" teaching you.

Anyway, it was done on my MacBook using the free version of ArtRage and my Bamboo tablet. Of course.

See you all tomorrow.

What a finish!

Welcome back everyone, we've been treated to a spectacular fight this evening, but it looks like it may be coming to an end.

Tuesday Sketch took a series of unanswered blows after being hit with a monstrous knee strike that he was unable to recover from. And was taken to the mat.

It looks like Smith is moving into side control. He may be looking for a kimura...

Oh no. Tuesday Sketch tried to roll out of the side control and Smith has taken his back and locked in a deep rear naked choke! I think it's all over!

There's the Tap!

After a strong first round, Smith was able to submit the newcomer Tuesday Sketch! What a great performance and an example of the "never back down" attitude that these fighters need to have in order to last in this business.

After a break for the free version of ArtRage on Mac and the Bamboo tablet, we'll be back with an interview with the winner and our next fight of the evening.

A Holiday, and a break in continuity

Hey everyone. Yeah, I know that there's a fight going on. But before I can give you the exciting end to Tuesday Sketch's debut in the octagon, I have to post a piece to make up for the missing piece on Friday.

I'm taking Monday off. It's a holiday after all. :P

Enjoy this older sketch and I'll see you all back here on Tuesday to catch the end of the fight in progress.

A Staggering Blow

Wow, that was a powerful knee that Tuesday Sketch just took. I don't think he was ready for that, and he's having a hard time recovering from it. He's keeping his distance and really favoring his ribs.

He might have a few cracked after that hit.

Yeah, it's a heavy possibility. Knee strikes are one of the most dangerous strikes in a fighter's arsenal. A properly landed knee strike could easily end a fight.

Let's see if Tuesday Sketch manages to go the distance... once again I'd like to remind the viewers that tonight's fight is brought to you by the free version of ArtRage on a MacBook and the Bamboo tablet.

A Strong First Round

Hey everyone, wasn't that an incredible first round! Tuesday Sketch came out strong and used an aggressive standing game. Multiple blows were landed before Smith even had a chance to react. Tuesday Sketch has incredible speed and accuracy.

Let's go to the tape and take a look at the punch that opened up a cut above Smith's eyebrow.

Ouch! Tuesday had an incredible set up with the low leg kick that opened up Smith's guard and took the punishment to him in spades.

Yeah, but Smith did show Tuesday Sketch that he's still a new comer to the Octagon. Smith landed some heavy body punches that had Tuesday Sketch reeling pretty badly. Smith may be slower than Tuesday Sketch, but he's got the experience, and power, to put a serious hurt on Tuesday Sketch in a bad way.

Good points. We'll see how the next round goes, but so far this is an exciting first round. Brought to you again by the free version of ArtRage on a MacBook and also by the Bamboo tablet.

Here comes round 2.

UPDATE: I've been trying to post this sketch since yesterday afternoon. And every time I do the wifi connection I happen to be on says no sketch for you. So I had to update it today. Sorry for the delay, but this time it wasn't my fault. Hope you enjoy part 2 in my ultimate sketch series. Look for part 3 later today.

The Ultimate

Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to a Tuesday installment of ninjaboy's sketch a day!

In the right corner. Wearing the black trunks and making his professional fighting debut, with a semi-pro career of 5 wins, 1 losses, fighting out of Seattle, Washington!

Tuesday's Sketch!

"This is a sketch you really need to keep your eyes on. He's not the most experienced sketch to step into the octagon, but you can see the determination in his eyes. This is a sketch that won't back down."

Tuesday's Sketch a Day is being brought to you by the free version of ArtRage on a MacBook. And by the Bamboo tablet.

See you all after the main event!

I used to be able to draw mice... I think

Hey there everyone. Hope you all had a decent Monday.

Over the weekend I slurged and picked up a book I've been interested in reading for a while now, but I'm only a few pages into it. That book is Mouse Guard by David Petersen. It reminds me of the Redwall book series by Brian Jacques I read back when I was going to school in Alaska. I was completely enthralled by those books. The stories were so dramatic, and the characters, while animals, were so easy to relate to and become attached to. He brought a world to life and made you a part of it. Fantastic storytelling, and I'm looking forward to reading the books to my daughter when she gets older.

And Mouse Guard picks up where I left off with that series. Not in a literal sense, but it's got the same sense of wonderment and 'humanity' that can only seem to work when the characters are anything but. I'm really looking forward to finishing the book.

So, I decided to try and do a sketch of a young mouse, as he becomes a champion. Mostly inspired by Redwall. But apparently it's been far too long since I've drawn a humanoid mouse. It didn't really come out the way I would have liked. But hey, it's Monday. No biggie.

As usual it was sketched on my MacBook using the free version of ArtRage and my Bamboo tablet.

See you all tomorrow.

One from the random...

Hey there everyone. It's Friday evening, and I'm still at work.

I did have the opportunity to do this quick sketch of, well, some random girl. Earlier this week I was looking at this artist's deviantart page and really got inspired. So with this sketch I decided to try out some of the hair styles I had seen in their gallery. Just playing around with styles.

As per norm, done on my MacBook using the free version of ArtRage and my Bamboo tablet.

But just after I finished that sketch, I remembered seeing some screenshots for the new Lunar PSP re-dux. It looks like it could be interesting, but more importantly it made me remember how much I loved those character designs and that drawing style.

So I have promised myself to find the Lunar art book I have (somewhere) and renew my inspiration from the media.

So look forward to that in the future.

If I'm here much longer I may just do another drawing to keep myself entertained.

Anywho, have a great weekend and I'll see you all back here on Monday.

I Am Revenge

Hey there everyone. Yes, it's still technically Thursday. For another hour or so. I made it.

Boy, today was a busy one. But I had a couple of chances today to try my hand at another sketch using a colored background.

Today's sketch is a very fast, and unrefined fan-pic of Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo.

This is one of the most visually dynamic, original and beautiful anime I've ever watched. The entire series uses textures in photoshop (or whatever program they used) for the clothing, hair, environments, almost everything. It's really amazing to watch. It's now available on DVD and in iTunes. If you really feel like watching something different with a familiar story (it's a retelling of Dumas' classic The Count of Monte Cristo) you should really check it out.

Anyway, once again it was created on my MacBook using the free version of ArtRage and my Bamboo tablet.

See you all tomorrow for a TGIF sketch of the day.

One more, still sick and ran out of time...

I know. Lame right. Here you all are expecting me to do some new material every day and I go and post 2 old pictures in a row.

I promise to make it up to you. I have a few ideas floating in my head right now for sketches. So hopefully I'll get a new one done tomorrow.

In the meantime here's another set of ninja sketches. It's actually a character based on someone I know, for a comic regarding how we both received our degrees from NIT (Ninja Institute of Technology).

It's on Conqueror coverstock, and was inked using my fancy new (at the time) Copic brush pen and fine tipped pen.

See you all tomorrow.

I Hate Colds...

Hey everyone.

I managed to catch a cold yesterday, and after a day of work I'm feeling pretty drained. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be feeling more up to snuff and will be able to grace you with a new sketch.

But for today I'm posting another sketch from the way back machine. Ok, so it's not from so far back. Only a year ago. I was playing around with my new Copic bruch pen, and was watching some great videos of Katori Shinto Ryu on youtube at the time. So, I did some inspired sketches.

Anyway, hope you all dig it. See you tomorrow. Hopefully with a new sketch.

Final (unintentional) Fantasy Tactics

Hey there everyone. Hope you all had a good Mother's Day weekend.

I had a very good one, and thanks to everyone who came out for the b-day drinking extravaganza.

But today's sketch actually made me laugh. I have a new (and very cool) Final Fantasy Tactics wallpaper on my MacBook, so I thought I'd do a FFT inspired sketch today, to take a break from ninjas and girls in states of undress.

And I was pretty happy with the sketch, until I started drawing another character in the background. It wasn't until I was about to finish his figure structure that it looks like she's... well... greeting him. With her left hand. In a 'fun' fashion.

So I erased his body.

Can't have any unintentional handjobs if there's no body to, uh, job.

Anyway, good times. LOL This accidental (almost)porn is brought to you via the free version of ArtRage on my MacBook and my Bamboo tablet.

See you all tomorrow.

The Chase

My god, today was a busy one. So I have for you yet another 2 minute ninja sketch. This one takes place a few wrong steps after the first one. Our poor ninja quick sketch was spotted and forced to flee the castle.

If I have more time to devote to a drawing I'll give ninja quick sketch a much better outcome. Or maybe I'll make ninja quick sketch a recurring theme. Who knows.

Honestly, I think I may start drawing more women in various states of undress. Because, well it's fun, and I need a lot of work sketching women. I'm 'sorely' out of practice.

At any rate, this was done on my MacBook using the free ArtRage and my Bamboo tablet. I know, shocking isn't it?

Anywho, see you all tomorrow for another Friday edition of Sketch a Day.

In Service to the King

Well, as I promised. A period piece, inspired by our initial viewings of the Tudors. And yes, it is a little racy. Well, sort of. Mostly it's poorly rendered, but that's beside the point.

The show is fun. It takes place during a very entertaining time in european history, and is quite sexy so far. However, it still hasn't been able to top Rome. Don't get me wrong, The Tudors really is a great show, and we are only 2 episodes into the first season so far, but Rome was just awesome right out of the gate. Incredible drama, action, a very interesting cast of characters and sex.

The Tudors does deliver on all of these aspects in the first episode as well. But it's a little more diluted, as the cast of characters presented to the viewers at once is very large. But it's picking up and I'm sure by the end of the season I'll be fully in love with the show. Right now it's one of those crushes that's starting to build in intensity. But you're still not sure if it's going to last or fizzle out.

Either way, I can't wait to finish the show.

I managed to take a few moments today and get a sketch done for ya'll. It was done on my MacBook using the free version of ArtRage and my Bamboo tablet.

See you all tomorrow.

1 Minute Ninja

Wow. It looks like I'm going to be pressed for time this week. Lots of stuff to do at work, and a busy weekend.

Anyway, I'll be sure to post something for the rest of the week. No more missed posts.

In the spirit of that, I give you One Minute Ninja! Yup. It took more time to connect my Bamboo tablet and launch my free version of ArtRage on my MacBook than sketching today's image.

And it shows. Boy, does it show.

I do like the flow of the piece though, and will probably do a more refined version later.

Anywho, see you all tomorrow.

Littering And?

Hi everyone, and welcome to another Monday installment of sketch a day.

I've been stuck quoting Supertroopers for the last, oh I don't know, month or so. And since I'm quoting it all the time, I decided to do a (very quick) sketch of one of the characters from the film. I happened to look at Sean Galloway's blog (this guy is awesomely talented and I find myself looking at his designs often for inspiration; check him out) before I started my sketch, so I knew I wanted to try and include some of his stylings in it.

We've been watching the Tudors on the apple tv lately, so don't be surprised if you see another period pice from me in the near future. Maybe fully clothed. Maybe not. Hard to say right now. Oh yeah, and I did promise to do another ninja picture didn't I? I'll have to work that in this week too.

Anyway, today's piece was done on my MacBook using the free version of ArtRage and my Bamboo tablet.

See you all tomorrow.

Thanks Wolverine

Hey everyone.

Well, another missed post has happened this week. I wasn't able to get a sketch up on Friday due to the fact that while I was at work I was busy, and when I wasn't at work I was at a viewing of the new Wolverine movie.

Mini Review:

I enjoyed the first X-Men movie. I thought it captured enough of the cannon material to make it interesting. But it was FAR surpassed by Spiderman.

The 2nd X-Men was a lot more entertaining for my brother and I. Not only was it a really good 'old school' X-Men short story (it even had traces of Claremont's old stories) but it had an awesome comic-book-geek ending. We left the theater excited. Good thing for people to do after a movie by the way.

Still haven't seen 3. I've been told that due to my love of the original Dark Phoenix Saga I'm predisposed to hating the movie.

But Wolverine... I mean, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Just, wow. They never should have tried to make it a 'prequel' to the first X-Men movie, as it just pisses all over the continuity of the film. Seriously, WTF? Not even a brief 3 or 4 scenes with Ryan Renyolds (who was awesome, but his character was never fully explained/utilized) nor Liev Schreiber could save this movie. Liev's version of Sabertooth/Creed was awesome. But it just doesn't fit in with the rest of the movies timelines/stories at all.

Anyway, to make up for that ass-hattery, here is another sketch from a couple of years ago. Actually, it's an entire page of sketches. I was going to do a short story about gung-fu and these were some character studies/warm up sketches. Needless to say, the comic was never fully realized, but I am rather fond of this page of sketches. Enjoy, and if you do decide to go to Wolverine, keep your expectations low.

Peace out.