It was summer of 2000 and I was busy reading Slayers and Gunsmith cats Manga which only made my taste for the artform from Japan start to grow at an alarming rate.   In 1997 when I was in high school I was exposed to a lot of new anime and such but one thing stood out: The dedication and legendary craftsmanship that made their medium so famous.  I wanted to make it mine but this wouldn’t happen for some years.  After going through old DVD backups that I was converting the data to a new backup external drive I came across a ton of history, my history.  Pictures from old conventions, backups of the first playgroundpop.com site from 2003, and most important my old artwork from those days.

Why important? it really shows how much my style has evolved and in all ways improved since I started making Manga.  Those close to me that have a hand in PGP or my everyday life all know this already but to the people who don’t? take a look.

The very first Asprin Mishi

There she is, Asprin Mishi, the very first time she graced the art pad.  This was June of 2000.  And now you can see how much she has changed:

Hot as hell and cute to boot!

This is Miss Mishi today (March of 2009) and boy how much she has grown in the last 9 years.  Of course this isn’t the latest update to the ever-evolving Miss Mishi but it is a clear look and where she is going.  I just wanted to post this up because I wanted to take the time out to say thank you to a few people who really made PGP into more than just a really great experience but became a part of the Universe I created.  Pata-chan, Eddie, Nate, Abe, and of course Zane, thank you all for inspiring me and keeping PGP alive through the rough times especially when we hit the road with the PGP show.

Thank you all.

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Yue and myself have been writing and sharpening the blade that is PGP yet again and I am very happy with the progress of the new storyline and direction.  In the past the PGP storyline (or lack of) was pretty much a hodgepodge of ideas and rushed emotions that sure, the art made the book work BUT the story really wasn’t what it should or could be.  I always had emails from people that caught hints of where it was going and were very interested.

It always made me feel guilty because I never delivered what I felt was a “Complete” package.  This time it is a very different story.

Check back for more info as the story is going to unfold sooner than you think.

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Just wanted to share another fun piece. Same ol story.

Dude needs to chill.

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Trying out Painter IX and I must admit it can give me some results in terms of brushes that Photoshop just can’t match.  But when I combine the best of both beasts look what we get:

Sagat - Defender of Animals and friend to all Children.

Started to paint one of my “Girly Orcs” who can’t handle their Draught but then decided to make a Sagat fanart.  I haven’t drawn this guy since the Super Street fighter days back in the early 90’s when I used to buy copies of EGM in hopes that they would feature more art by famed Street fighter artist (And one of my heroes) Bengus.  Alas how so much has changed.  Enjoy Sagat.

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Been sick and feeling really really horrible the last month ever since the trip to the hospital.  Doctors gave me nothing but bad news and all I can do now is stay positive.  It isn’t working.  But alas I do have some cool shit to share.  A client has recently gave me the green light to share today the design I am currently working on for a T-shirt.  The whole idea is evil tree, evil moon with clouds and winged chick – you can’t really go wrong there.

Take a look at the progression:

The initial idea

This was the first idea I came up with and talked with the client about.  They liked the idea of a big tree, a moon, and of course the girl but they wanted something with a lot more kick and tude’.

Getting there.

After some more tweaks I wanted to go with a more “Dramatic” feel so I changed up the pose.  The client was delighted but demanded bigger wings, and more focus on that sky up above.  So that is what I did next…

Still close but no cigar.

The client liked this idea but wanted something more “Playful” and energetic.  I liked this one but also felt that I could do a lot better.  The wingspan also was nowhere near what the client called for so I had to yet again figure out a way to give her a graceful wingspan without drawing too much attention to her over the “Feel” of the piece.  It was tough but after a few days of tweaking I came up with the final and approved Angel bird wing girl of most guys dreams.

A WINNER IS YOU!

The client and his partners were very satisfied with this version of what I liked to call “Bird girl of doom”.  The wings are a nice size, her hair is all over the place and she is a lot more “Playful”.  Her sort of lack of emotion was also on key with what they called for initially but it took me a few tries to get it right.  Bird Girl you are almost done!

So where the hell is the Tree? The fucking moon? Well stick around and you will see those next time I swear.  Also when the product wraps up you and all your friends can own your very own Bird Girl of Doom on a 100% cotton T-shirt (Probably made in Taiwan.)! holy hell you better start saving up your pocket change or selling blood.  I am tired and the meds are not working again.  To sleep I go!

UPDATES!!!

Ok, I promised that I would keep you all updated on Bird girl of doom and like a good little robot I stuck to my word so here she is now as pretty and clean line art ready for the colorin’ and spacial effects that make her so damn bird-eriffic.

Bye Bye Birdie!

She is now a clean piece of vector art via my awesome skills…well not really. any monkey with the patience can make vector art (LOL yeah right) ok enough of that.  Birdieis now clean line work that is full of definition and ready for the rigors of painting and effects.  The client really loved this cleaned up version and so did Yue chan and myself.  Birdie is now ready for the next section in the pecking order (Bad pun) and I must say that this was my favorite part – Bringing Bird girl of doom to life.

KFC has nothin on this Bird!

Birdie is now full of life as she is now taken from the line art and into a full-fledged oil painting.  Birdie still has her “Emotionless” look, her sauve and sexy hair style and the wings look a touch more soft and defined.  BUT this is NOT the end for our feathered friend.  The Moon? The fucking Tree you say? EXACTLY! both are still coming up in an update possibly tomorrow but no later than Saturnsday.  We say bye bye Birdie for now.

The Moon and the Fucking Tree are up next so stick around and see what those two turn into or don’t turn into.

UPDATES!!! Tree time and all.

Ok so now the fucking tree and moon are up.  I was gonna go to bed but I had this image in my head burning a hole into my mind and when that happens it means it is time to either get a catscan or get to work – guess which one is cheaper?  SO! take a look at my idea for the evil Moon and fucking Tree:

"He looks kinda spooky, Cooper!" - Josh from Dead Man on campus.

I wanted it to be dark, evil and yet have a warm feeling with it because I mean hell I am just sick of depressing things and this is nowhere near it. (I think.) I don’t have much more to say other than this is just the starting point for the Moon and Tree segment of the piece.  The next update for this post will indeed be the final one and also give everyone a chance to own their very own desktop version featuring the Bird girl of doom (I will call Birdie for now), the damn Moon, and the fucking Tree.  Keep an eye out!

FINAL UPDATE!!!!

Ok folks this is it, the final piece.  Birdie is now in her full sexyness, with our good friends the damn Moon, Fucking Tree and all new special guest – Bastard Picket fence!

Welcome to Prime time, Bitch.

All elements have come together as one as I took the sort of “Evil Autumn” feel alive.  Some fancy effects, tattoos, glowing bugs and a bit more heart and this shit is done!

I am now going to sleep!

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