Digital Art

Print Progress + Typography Updates (The Harbinger’s Path) | February 19, 2026

Comics, Digital Art, Guild Wars 2
Posted on
Updated typography | Ch2 Title Page | The Harbinger’s Path
Link to live page here.

I’m here with an update about The Harbinger’s Path print book’s progress!  

As of this writing, I have finished the first edit pass for all of Chapter 1, all of Chapter 2, and I am now up to pages 5-6 in Chapter 3. These edits include adjusting the pages to factor in margin, bleed, and trim, for when the pages are cut for printing. I have also retouched the art for certain pages along the way (one of them might even be live on the site!). 

Book Dimensions and Page Count

I can also share some of the physical attributes of the book. It will be 5.5 x 8.5 inches, which is slightly wider than A4 Correction: A5. (I always mix these two up, forgive me.) This is a standard size for US printers – a size below the standard 6 x 9 in for many US comics. This made figuring out some of the cost logistics easier. The current page count, including the cover, front and back matter, and bonus material, is 84 pages. This version will also be perfect-bound (like a standard book/not like a magazine). 

With the comic pages themselves adding up to 55 pages, this means the remaining pages are bonus material! This page count will likely change as I continue working on the book’s layout, but increasing the page count from the original ~60 to the current 84 had a negligible effect on cost (to my surprise and delight). And, it is giving me an excuse to refine and polish several illustrations of Trahearne and Malyck I’ve started over the years – some I’ve shown before, but a few I never have! 

Typography Updates (Live)

In addition to the above book info, one of the updates I wanted to show are typography updates! 

Below are comparisons of the updated versions with the previous typography, as I’ve updated the title pages for all 3 chapters on the live site now. 

Link to live Chapter 1 title page here. 

Left is the updated version, right is the previous version. 

One of the changes that’s always been in the back of my mind was updating the typography for the chapter title pages. I don’t know why I didn’t think to try this before, but I tried out using the same font I used the the cover (“Gloucester MT Extra Condensed”), and I much prefer the look of this one compared to the previous version. 

I remember I spent a good amount of time with the typography in the original, as I was never quite satisfied with it. I should have realized it was my choice of font face! Once I changed it to this Gloucester font, it fell into place quickly. 

Link to live Chapter 2 title page here. 

I’m fond of that previous edgelord font, but after trying it for 3 chapters, I’ve realized it isn’t the best fit for the tone I want to convey in this comic. I still love the font, but it’s better suited for a different project. 

In addition to font changes in these comparisons, you might also notice the slight adjustments made to account for page trim and bleed. 

Link to live Chapter 3 title page here. 

Additional Notes

Very luckily, it turns out the dimensions I used for the pages spread layout is the exact same ratio as 5.5 x 8.5 in. I am not sure how this happened, because this entire time, I was formatting the pages only with web in mind. I specifically remember originally starting with a 6 x 9 ratio, and then manually adjusting the dimensions to be taller, to fit better for web and mobile. I don’t recall specifically formatting the page dimensions for 5.5 x 8.5, but I either must have and it was so long ago I no longer recall, or this is an incredibly very fortunate coincidence. 

If you’d like to know more about this print version of The Harbinger’s Path, click here or the banner below for January’s announcement post which has more info! 

Trahearne & Malyck Practice Animation | February 14, 2026

2D Animation, Digital Art, Guild Wars 2, Sketches & Studies
Posted on
2d hand-drawn animation showing Mordrem Lieutenant Malyck greeting a corrupted Trahearne.
Current version.

Spent some hours last night seeing how much I could add to this small animation practice! 

I did the early draft for this one at the end of January. I had a vague notion of potentially finishing it for Valentine’s Day for fun, but before I knew it, the day was upon us! Yesterday became practice to see how much I could add, or how presentable I could make it, by today. 

The version all the way at the end of this post is how the file looked when I opened it yesterday. I wasn’t sure whether I’d add color – I could have spent much more time on the lines – but I learned a lot in this one from how I added the color this time. 

Line version of the previous animation.
Lines only.

I have to confess I’ve always not understood cell-shading well. But I am quickly growing an appreciation for it after trying it out here. 

Early draft showing the keyframes.
Early “keyframe” draft.

One thing I noticed recently is there’s a “messy” stage when going from the early “keyframe” draft to adding the in-between “breakdown” frames (below). It’s a bit counterintuitive for me, because when adding the breakdown frames, it almost looks like the animation is reversing its progress – at the same time, I can start to see more of how the final motion might look. And seeing that potential is what makes adding these breakdown frames so invigorating to draw!  

Version when I opened the file yesterday, where I had started adding the “breakdown” frames. 

 

Hannibal and Will Warm-up Drawing | February 11, 2026

Digital Art, Sketches & Studies
Posted on
Drawing of Hannibal reaching for the back of Will's head, as Will dispassionately takes a bite from an unspecified bit of meat from his fork.
Will and Hannibal Warm-up drawing

I enjoyed season 2, episode 10 of the “Hannibal” tv show for all the wrong reasons, but it’s been a refreshing reminder for how much I love dark fantasies, haha. I knew I’d have to do a small drawing of them at some point. 

This is from memory (another drawing from imagination practice), so I don’t expect the likeness to be precise – though I was thinking of the actors’ portrayals (Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelson). My hope is it conveys the “feeling” of their characters, even if the likeness isn’t precise. I’ve been really enjoying the actors’ performances, especially during season 2. This show has been a delightful, slow-burn for me – I almost didn’t continue it after the first initial episodes in season 1 – but the show really rewards you during the second season for sticking with it. I’m very glad I’m finally getting around to watching it after so long! 

I’m still within season 2 (I think just finished episode 12 the other day). This show has been sort of fascinating me for how much it was able to get away with. I can’t believe it was a network television show. I question whether they would be able to shoot this show today. 

I’m really glad it exists. I learned afterward that this show was cancelled in its third season for poor ratings, and even though I love it, I can understand why – it is so niche and unapologetic in its show creators’ interests. I really admire and respect this level of dedication to staying true to their vision. It almost feels more like an art house or indie production than a network show. 

Wider crop of the previous drawing.
Slightly wider cropping.

It’s giving me much to ponder about the type of art I want to do and express. 

Guild Wars 2 Official Forum Avatars | February 8, 2026

Digital Art, Finished Art, Guild Wars 2
Posted on
Artwork showing nine forum avatars used on the official Guild Wars 2 forums.
Top row: 2022 | Middle row: 2019 | Bottom row: 2018

I was reminded of the forum avatar projects I was part of back when I was an ArenaNet Creative Partner for Guild Wars 2. It reminded me that I don’t think I’ve ever shown the original batch of avatars I drew. 

Much of these are older artworks – especially the ones before 2022. I remember this was a really fun project for us to work on as fans of the game. I’m still sentimental over a few of these because of this, despite some of them showing their age! 

I’ve shown the second and third batches on socials before (but i think this is the first time for this blog, now that I’m using it again :D ) – the first and second rows in the image above. I remember posting those, and the original batch (2018’s) was so long ago, that I thought I had only done these 6. I only remembered I had drawn 3 additional avatars during the first time they ran this project, which  I think I was only reminded of when I happened to see them being used on their official forums some time after. 

Four forum avatars from 2018.
The three forum avatars from 2018, including an extra alternate version which was unused in favor of the live version.

I don’t have the original files for the 2018 batch (at least not on my current PC), and found these when searching through my emails for when I submitted the files to ArenaNet. I completely forgot I had drawn two versions of Cadeyrn – which according to the email I wrote at the time, I apparently drew both because I couldn’t decide which to go with. The top version is the one which is used on the forums now, which I’m glad about as it’s clearly stronger as a sized-down avatar compared to the alternate option. 

I do love Cadeyrn as a character, and since I didn’t remember I drew this at all, it was fun to see a new artwork of him I had forgotten about! 

As of this post, these avatars are still live on their official forums. I still get a kick when I see them being used! 

“Surprise Me!” Commission | February 6, 2026

Commission Process, Commissions, Digital Art
Posted on

Painting of an anthro bird character sitting on a log with a paintbrush in one hand, a journal in the other, as they look captivated by a glowing leaf above their head.

A “Surprise Me!” (or “skeb-style”) commission finished last month in January. This is a commission type I haven’t really done before, but I’ve been interested in trying. Thank you again to the commissioner for asking me to draw it for them! 

Sometimes also called “skeb-style” commissions, because these are a commission type which to my understanding, first became popularized in Japan. 

Loose line sketch of the previous painting.
Initial Sketch

What I like about these is that they offer more flexibility for both the artist and the client. In exchange for more artistic freedom for the artist, the client enjoys a lower rate. This works best for artwork where the client is open to being surprised by the final art – for clients with a specific vision in mind, or who are more comfortable giving feedback during work-in-progress steps, this commission type isn’t the best fit. 

But for those who enjoy being surprised, this can be wonderfully satisfying for both the artist and commissioner! :D 

A few more process images below, and then I’ll post an overview about this commission type: 

General aspects about “surprise me” commissions: 

  • These are similar to “Pay What You Want” commissions. The commissioner is free to stay within their desired budget, with respect to a potential minimum amount. 
  • Some artists invite you to give a brief description for what you’d like painted. I enjoy asking for: 
    • A) Brief description of your character’s personality. 
    • B) 5 keywords describing what you’d like to see in your commission. This can be anything from the mood, atmosphere, tone, or emotion you’d like to see for your character. 
  • The artist will say (or mention on a page somewhere) what they can do for your general budget. 
  •  Important difference from other commission types: There are no WIP’s (“works-in-progress”) or revisions. The final result is what the client receives. 
    • This is the key aspect which makes “surprise me!” commissions have lower rates than regular commissions. 
    • Of course, if there are character errors in the final art, these will be adjusted at no additional cost. 
  • If everyone agrees with and is comfortable with these terms, the artist then draws what they can within your budget after receiving payment. 
  • If all goes well, you are happily surprised and delighted by the result! :D

I’m considering adding these as listed commission type at some point. In the meantime, if this interests you, feel free to contact me and I can put together a custom order for you. 

Copyright © 2026 Landylachs (Liz Liu). All rights reserved.