Another "Linkage" illustration

Linkage has been a nebulous original character. They started out as a cisgender boy, and when I revived the character a few years back, I thought they were a trans teen. Imagine my surprise and delight when I decided to make Linkage nonbinary and suddenly, the character became this cheeky little [insert your expletive of choice here] and so much more interesting a personality than my first draft ideas.

Linkage is descended from South Asian
peoples of Old Earth, specifically from several Indonesian ethnic groups. I wanted to showcase Linkage finding out their old earth roots with some headdresses and emblems from different Indonesian cultural groups in yellows, oranges, and reds while showcasing their hacking profession via digital text and Linkage's virtual headphones(they can activate these psychically) are in blues.

My mom told me how she appreciates the fabrics on my characters and that they look like the fabric they're emulating(she sews and makes clothing). 

All I can think about was that time in high school art class when one of the fashion design folks left her seat from the front to walk around and view other classmate's work and she became angered by how dare I, the 'cartoon/comic artist', draw such an incredible dress on one of my characters(who was an anthro cat, no less!). 

The character's accessories and outfits should also reflect their cultural background and sense of modernity in the far future, yet not look bland as scifi clothing tends to. I mean, clothing in fantasy often looks interesting and culturally significant, so why can't science fiction clothes too?

I also love SF book covers which tend to highlight other aspects of the character's life or several characters' lives in the story. 

Here, Linkage has a pet from another world they once visited. I deliberately create my aliens, but sometimes, an alien, or its species, turns up on the fly. When that happens, lI'll use that first sketch as a template to further expand. 

So I will be expanding on this cockatrice-type creature later on!

Hope you liked this post about me explaining my process! You can see the entire slide show from start to finish on my Insta @ Handdrawnbycarmenjr

Until next time, Dear Readers!

I have a new art series on Instagram!

Athletic wear, sportswear, and workout wear gives me so many ideas about futuristic clothing for my science fiction artwork and stories.

One question I have is why is everyone in skin-tight clothes in the future? Not every one wants to wear a revealing wardrobe. Religious ideas of dress, differing ideas of modesties will still exist. 

Even when we use newer kinds of fabric technology, why aren't any sci-fi clothes wrinkling? 

Also, clothing needs to accommodate different body types as well as anatomical differences among species. Like my reptilian aliens' two-toe-prong work shoes and sneakers. Being in the Furry Fandom, which started from being a fan of various furry artists, illustrators, and cartoonists showed me ways to accommodate clothing and accessories often on a non-human form/body.

With my new art series "Office chairs", I explore these ideas along with how simple office equipment and office furniture will evolve in the future. 

Head over to my IG: handdrawnbycarmenjr to see my series! 

Drawing covers as I cannot seem to write

10 Ohuhu markers with 7 ShinHan Touch markers will be the colors I'll use for my furry comic covers. I'll also use 4 of the 8 Faber-Castell art pens if for any inking.

Summer to Winter(c) cover by CWJR

Also, by coloring only along lines, I can still show skin tones and clothing colors. It makes for more luminescence and gives vibrancy to the characters and space.

Summer to Winter(c) cover by CWJR

When I'm working in black or white, I'll use a single color and perhaps its own shades or tones ONLY for that chapter. I feel it gives a European graphic novel look while I'm aiming for more of an Asian comic look for the covers themselves.

You can see all these covers and draft pages from my story on my Instagram: handdrawnbycarmenjr 

You can also click above [HanddrawnbyCarmenJr underneath this blog's title!]

Summer to Winter(c) cover by CWJR