Procrastinating with my buddies Prismacolor markers and then clashing my two obsessions together

I really should be schoolworking.

But, I'm not.

Instead, I'm playing around with Prismacolors because I was super curious how they're like in comparison to Copics.

My conclusion is that Copics are the better designed markers. I feel like the colors are more vibrant and are easier to blend.   I also like how versatile Copics can be with appearance, like you can create cell-coloring drawings or watercolour painting-like drawings. As for the physical design of the marker, I feel like I spend less time with Copics in trying to figure out what color marker I'm holding. However,  I also noticed a sense of comfort with Prismacolor Markers that I don't have with Copic Markers.  Despite my love for Copics, I actually get pretty nervous when I hold Copics, like I'm not worthy of being in the presence of these magnificent markers.  I often have to give myself a pep talk before I can get the Copic markers to meet the face of the paper/board.  For Prismacolors, I just go for it.  In a sense, I think Prismacolors is beneficial when you just want to do quick sketches.

I've noticed a trend. I find that when I want to experiment with new material, I tend to draw self-portraits.  

Yupe, that's me boppin' my head to music in front of the teeny mirror that I use for self-portraits and expression references.

Ever since I got into Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin (進撃の巨人）series, I've been  thinking about which Takarazuka actress could play which character from Attack on Titan.

In this sketch, I tried out (from top to bottom):

Ayabuki Mao = Hanji Zoe

(she, uhm, well she was in a lot of troupes, like Flower and Snow).  Ayabuki Mao has such a wide smile and she wears thick-rimmed glasses so well, she reminds me of Hanji-san.  Also, she has a cute dimple. I always enjoy her lovely and warm performances, she never disappoints. Another actress who kind of reminds me of Hanji-san is Hokushou Kairi.

Suzukaze Mayo = Rivaille/Levi

(Former Moon Troupe Otokoyaku Top Star AND the voice of Anime Kenshin from Rurouni Kenshin).  Suzukaze Mayo was considered a Fairy-type otokoyaku. She does resemble a fairy and she's short for an Otokoyaku.  And Levi, well, he's short.  Despite the fact that Suzukaze Mayo is naturally cute and feminine, she has a freakishly amazing man-deep (speaking and singing) voice and she can also do this (death) glare that pierces through you.  With these elements, I thought she would be a perfect Levi, but I think my sketch just made my Suzukaze Mayo/Levi look like a drag queen.  I tried to make her look more Levi-like but it became a senseless task after 5 minutes. Another actress I was thinking about for Levi was Ichiro Maki, who also can do a chilling glare. I might try her next time.

Otozuki Kei = Petra Ral 

(Former Snow Troupe Otokoyaku Top Star) Actually, I was debating between having Otozuki Kei be either Eren or Petra because Otozuki Kei looks boyish, but she also reminds me of Petra because she is always grinning and happy-like.  I was also considering for Mikasa too.  I think I'm just in love with Otozuki Kei's face.

I totally picked up the wrong marker when I was doing Otozuki Kei/Petra.  Audience, White China Marker can be your friend in dire Marker times.

I think it's ironic that I'm playing with markers because in the past I refused to believe in markers.  I thought markers were rigid and only cocky Manga fans used them. 

Hahaha. 

Haha.

Ha.

Does this mean I'm a cocky manga fan?

Dealing with my obsessions, one fan art at a time, while busting out my rusty Photoshop skills to Shhhh

A little while ago, I bought a new pen holder and nibs from the "Manga" section of a Japanese bookstore, mostly out of curiosity. And, they're Made in Japan.  Clearly, they're far superior than the Made in USA ones.  I mean, come on, Japan completely knows how to make their manga-makin' swag. All kidding aside, they are actually rather lovely, and currently my favorite babies for art-ing, or, I guess lately more for fanart-ing

Obsession 1: Haruno Sumire and Takarazuka

Takarazuka is an all-female musical theater troupe in Japan that has been around for almost a century.  There are 5 main troupes in Takarazuka: Flower, Snow, Star, Moon, and Cosmos.  The Takarazuka actresses are generally split into otokoyaku (actresses who play men) or musumeyaku (actresses who play women).   I can go on and on, but essentially these actresses are triple threats: they sing, dance and convincingly act their assigned gender. 

Takarazuka holds a special place in my heart because I discovered them the summer I was going to transfer from a community college to a big university.  That summer I was scared shitless. There were days I felt really hopeless, and I just wanted to roll up in a corner to forget the world exists.  Then one day when I was looking for the clips on Youtube for the Viennese musical, Elisabeth, I came across clips of Takarazuka's Elisabeth. And, I fell in love. 

Yes, that is the story of my life.

A few weeks ago, I went on a Takarazuka fan art spree. So, Voila.

Haruno Sumire, a former Flower troupe otokoyaku  top star (2002-2008), is my favorite Takarazuka actress.   I mean, look at her (she's Death, or Tod, the Emperor of the Death -- The one with the white wig and military-like uniform).  She is so lovely and graceful.  Like, her voice and smile are hugging you.

I don't know, my Made in USA nibs didn't want to behave and kept on dripping on Haruno Sumire.  It was a bit frustrating, why USA? WHY? 

Otozuki Kei, Former Snow troupe otokoyaku top star (2010~2012), is bunches of cute.  She's interesting because she looks like a short little girl, but since she is an otokoyaku she is a little taller than the average Japanese woman and once she starts acting, she BOOM turns into cute little boy.  She did a cover of K-pop boy band's song Doushite Kimi wo Suki Natte Shimattandarou  and I was confused because I couldn't figure out if she was playing a woman or a man.  Based on the lyrics and the original K-pop version, I'm going to take an educated guess and say she's playing a man.  I might be biased, but I thought Otozuki Kei's version was much more heart wrenching and better story-telling, and, well, better everything.   

There's a move that she does in the music video that I really love....Little did I know how difficult drawing dance moves is.  *insert nervous laugh*

I actually have original Takarazuka actress characters who are best friends.  The otokoyaku (left) was actually a pop idol before she joined Takarazuka and her musumeyaku partner(right) is her bff who marries the otokoyaku's twin brother after her retirement. This explanation would probably less confusing if I actually assigned names to these characters, but I seem to be never be able to make up my mind.  I'm Japanese, I'm indecisive.  

My OCs are probably awkwardly sitting in back of my brain wondering why they even exist or if they should even bother having their existence known...since their creator is too lazy to even properly tell their story or acknowledge their existence. 

Also, I created a secret love child of the otokoyaku character, and called her Ryu but she isn't aware of her parentage. Ryu has a bit of darkish and muddy past.  She was kidnapped as an infant and raised to be a child assassin by a secret organization.  However, when she was 10, she was rescued by a woman and she is the only adult Ryu trusts.
Yes, I realize it's a very manga-like plot.
I lived and breathed manga during my developmental period.  It's soaked into my brain.  

Also, I'm Japanese.  It's in my blood. 

There simply is no escape for me.
I'm not sure why I'm having a child have such a life. I'm a horrible, horrible adult.

Ryu (right) originally had a different character design for a really long time,but I really like Otozuki Kei's appearance, so I changed her design to resemble Otozuki Kei.

Obsession 2: Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin

Shingeki no Kyojin is a great manga.

It is.

Shhhhhh, don't question it. Just accept it.

I really like the character Petra.  I like her because she is femininely cute, sweet, and kind, yet she is a soldier who has mad survivor skills and has respect from her superior.  She is also one of the few characters who still treated Eren with humanly kindness even after he was discovered to be a titan.

  

There is irony in this fan art.  Just a tad bit.  I'd like to think that she was happy on a tree once.  I think she deserved at least that.

I drew most of these with FW ink.
I was a little horrified when I scanned these drawing because I found out that everyone's heads were too big for their heads to be supported by their bodies.  So I had to search for my long lost photoshop skills and fix their heads to look less terrifying.  It was a pathetically long task because my skills were like covered 2-inches of amnesiac rust.

Until next time, amazing people who kindly read this through the whole thing.  I tip my imaginary Daiso Fedora to you.