Landy’s Sketchblog - Page 22 - Sketch-paintings and sketch-writings

GW2 Illustration Work-in-Progress | March 19, 2025

Posted on March 19, 2025

Current version (in-progress). A forested scene with three sylvari characters and thorned vines winding throughout the background. One character stabs his Mordrem Saber through another character, while the third character summons thorns in the background. — Current version (in-progress) | From left to right: Caydren, Landis, and Lorcan

Had an idea with my sylvari characters I wanted to jot down! It turned into a book cover composition, somehow. It’d be reversed if I used it as one – but I mainly wanted to sketch my three characters together, since I haven’t drawn them all together in an illustration in a while.

The left character is my Nightmare Court elementalist, Caydren; the middle character is my sylvari reaper/necromancer, Landis; and the right character is my Nightmare Courtier ranger/druid, Lorcan (who has yet to have his outfit added).

My Nightmare Courtier ranger/druid’s favorite pet Iboga, which he affectionately named “Mordremoth.”

Close-up of two sylvari characters, a Nightmare Court elementalist piercing his Mordrem Saber through an uncooperative necromancer's chest. — Close-up of the current in-progress version.

Close-up of my necromancer before I begin adding sylvari features to his anatomy.

Geissler Concepts (In-progress) | March 11, 2025

Posted on March 11, 2025

Geissler design concept. A male kemonomimi character stands in a display pose. His color scheme is light browns, orange, and teals. — Geissler design concept.

I’ve been meaning to try some different designs for Geissler for a while – here’s a recent attempt! I’m not sure if I’ll finish this one, but it felt good to draw him again. The “in-progress” of the title refers to the design – he’s meant to have an accessory by his wrist, and probably sandals with some sort of leg wraps. But, since I’m not certain whether I’ll finish this drawing or do another one with the design, I wanted to post it as-is for now!

Geissler’s previous design was much more monochrome – essentially dark hair, dark or gray eyes, pale skin. I have a lot of characters with darker-toned hair – including the character Geissler is meant to foil – which is another reason why I wanted to explore a potential redesign. So, here I tried adding more color to him. In the image at the top of the post, I brought back some of that monochrome aspect, by darkening his hair and subduing the color contrast – which I’m not sure whether I like yet or not. Hopefully seeing it here on the blog will help me with deciding which fits him best!

Looking at him now, I sort of lean toward going with the lighter/redder tones.

Trahearne Sketches | March 7, 2025

Posted on March 7, 2025

Trahearne sketch ideas (character from Guild Wars 2).

The idea was, I wanted to see how Trahearne looked if he held Caladbolg in the “modern fantasy” greatsword style, where the weapon is slung (probably impractically) over the shoulder. I suspect (though could easily be mistaken) this pose was once popularized by FF7’s Cloud Strife player character, and has since become a standard fantasy pose. I think GW2’s in-game male humans and norn also take inspiration from that pose, instead of the more practical carried to the side, as GW2’s in-game male sylvari characters wield them. Incidentally, this was one of the early things which endeared me to my male sylvari character – and eventual new main – over my original female charr main.

While I cannot help but think the pose is impractical whenever I see it, there’s no denying it looks slick, in an anime sort of way, haha. It admittedly also probably looks more practical in this case, as I made Caladbolg smaller than I would have otherwise, to fit in the composition. If I take this further, I’d need to push Caladbolg’s perspective more, to appear its proper size.

Earlier versions, plus a rough color test.

Random Trahaerne sketch from last week. I think it became unintentional practice for the sketch from this week.

With support from ArenaNet.

Corveil Color Sketch + Enviro Thumbs | March 6, 2025

Posted on March 6, 2025

Had a potential idea today for the Corveil sketch from February 20, 2025.

And a rough thumb of a vague idea I had one of the mornings earlier this week, and forgot about until this morning. Only this time, I sketched it down quickly before I could forget it again!

It’s probably difficult to make out to anyone other than me – it’s Corveil and Arquel on a boat, floating down a river in a misty mire.

Illustration Work-in-Progress | February 27, 2025

Posted on February 27, 2025

Crop from a digital painting where one character is holding the other by the chin. Flame-like wisps emerge from his open palm, snaking under the other's jaw and throat. — Detail crop (in-progress).

Wanted to post some progress on this illustration I’ve been fiddling around with! Corveil and Arquel again here.

The loose idea behind this one is, “Not your voice, not your vision.” This is also another of the ideas that I sketched a while back, and didn’t add to in a while – though not as long ago as the previous “Don’t Listen” illustration. This idea looks like it was first sketched last year, in May 2024. I think this was another one that wasn’t turning out as I liked at the time, and I set it aside to prioritize other things.

While sometimes that results in a pile of ideas which risk remaining untouched and unresolved, for this and “Don’t Listen,” these paintings surprisingly benefited from being set aside.