Thread: Sakurazaki's Art.

Holy smokes!! Sakurazaki, these are amazing! Such improvement over the pages...!! Your colouring is grand. (: (:

Yay glad I'm improved! XD

here's more landscape. Ignore the fail.

Makes your imagination run, this does! The bamboo interests me particularly.

Yeah I'll be making a better version of that quickie ;/

Testing out coloring styles for animatic final

Yeah unforuntately a majority of the animatic takes place during the night...so may have to stick with cellshade. but it's a pain in the ass to do T.T you have to be pretty exact.

Very good, Sakurazaki!

Love the lens flare effect!

Cellshade style. Help me pick guys!



The story (Very very cheesy)

Festival of Light

“If the sun is setting, the dark is coming. The demons will come out to eat, so you must return home before then.”

This was what young Azumi remembered her mother telling her before she left the small village to pick flowers at the nearby abandoned shrine. It was now turning dark and the cicadas were crying with their sorrowful voices.

Small sniffles could be heard as the small girl in her flower patterned yukata was huddled in a corner of the run down temple. The last rays of the setting sun were slowly withdrawing from the sky. The dark night would set in soon.

The girl continued to silently cry. Azumi clutched a small bunch of flowers within one hand, her head facedown upon her knees that were drawn up tightly to her chest.

“The demons will come out.” It continued to repeat, and slowly she imagined all the horrors that would befall her. Tears leaked out from her eyes as if by their own will, dropping with a “plip” and “plop” down onto the wooden floor.

“Little girl, little girl, why do you cry?”

A voice came out from the darkness. Step, step, step. The sound of footsteps coming quietly from the shadows. Azumi only looked up to see a young boy about her age with hair as white as snow, and eyes as red as the retreating rays of the sun come forward, clad in a ragged yukata of his own. Most of his face was obscured by the night shadows. A hand softly brushed away the tears, as the boy knelt down with a smile. “Do you cry because of the setting sun?” His voice came again softly, urging her to speak.

Quickly she brushed away her tears, “I cry….because of the night. The demons will come out and surely eat me. I was picking flowers and lost track of time-” She looked sincerely into the boy’s crimson eyes with her own blue ones as she stopped her explanation, tears once again springing up into her eyes. She watched as the young boy pause for a moment in thought.

However, the boy in his patchworked clothes only laughed a second after. “There is no need to fear. I am named Oni. I live in the forests that surround this shrine, so I know my way around. I will take you to your village.” He once again wiped her tears away before getting up and extending a hand towards Azumi, who replied in return. “Thank you, Oni. My name is Azumi.” She smiled at the boy who only smiled in return.

And so they walked. The dark of the night was now overhead, leaving them to find their way in darkness. However Oni trudged on, stepping carefully and silently. Oni held onto Azumi’s hand as to ensure that she didn’t stumble or lose her way in the darkness. It was only a matter of time until they saw the small lights of the village.

“Here you are, Azumi.” He looked at the girl who now stood beside him. “You’re home.”

She looked up gratefully at Oni. “Why don’t you come in to the village? It’s not safe at night. Demons might try to eat you when you go back to your home.”
He once again let out a small laugh. “I’m afraid I will have to decline. My home is not very far away from here. Don’t worry.” He paused once again looking at the village before speaking, “You know…the dark…it’s not scary once you find the light.”

Azumi looked up at Oni in question, “The light?”

He sighed, “I suppose it would be better to show it to you rather than to have me explain it. You will know when you see it.” Oni turned to face Azumi with a grin. “Meet me back at the abandoned shrine at sunset and I will show you.”

“You promise?”

“Yeah.” With that remark, Oni sped off into the forest leaving Azumi to await the next day. Azumi waited patiently until the sun started to fade before setting off for the promised place. It was not long until she spied the familiar figure of Oni making his way up the stone steps. However, he looked different now that there was a still a bit of sun left. His face could now be fully seen, and she gasped as she saw the stripe markings on his cheek, the pointed ears, and the small horns that protruded from his forehead. Oni himself looked a bit ashamed, as he continued towards her.

“A demon…” The words came out softly as Azumi recognized the facial features of the boy who had so kindly led her home that previous night. Oni was careful enough to stand many feet away from Azumi as to not frighten her.

“Yes, I am a demon. One of the demons that your kin fears.” He looked away from the girl’s gaze. “I wanted to tell you this earlier…on that night… Do you fear me, Azumi?”

There was a small silence that was filled by the sounds of the cicadas crying.

“No.” Azumi stood up and walked towards Oni. “You’re a good demon, Oni.” She smiled brightly at him. There was a sigh of relief as Oni let out the breath that he had been holding. “And you, Azumi, are a good friend. Now, I want to show you the thing that I had promised. You will see why I had to reveal myself. I will take you to a place that is dear to me. However you must keep this on you at all times.” He slipped on a mask onto the side of her head. “There…I put it so you can see what the light is. This mask will protect you in the darkness, so don’t let it fall off. Hold onto me tightly.” There was scarcely enough time for Azumi to collect her thoughts as she grabbed tightly onto Oni’s wrist and was whisked away into the grove of bamboo that surrounded the shrine. She squeezed her eyes shut momentarily as the wind and bamboo leaves flew past them, gripping Oni’s wrist as tightly as she could.

They soon stopped and Azumi opened her eyes to find herself at the edge of the bamboo forest. “Is this it?”

Oni nodded, “Now close your eyes and don’t open them until I say so.” When Azumi closed her eyes, Oni quickly led her out of the forest. Azumi could faintly hear noises as a dim glow pressed upon her eyelids.

“Open them now, Azumi.”

And so she did. With a gasp she took in the sight before her. Lanterns of every color brilliantly hung strung about every which way, their bright glow illuminated the clearing well. Colorful banners hung from bamboo staves, fluttering on the night wind. A large bonfire sat roaring in the middle with figures dancing all around the area. Many had colorful clothes and masks on, but on closer inspection, Azumi could see that they were demons. But they were not bloodthirsty, no, they were in fact joyous and happy. They danced and laughed like any other group of humans, and Oni was no exception. He grabbed Azumi by the wrist and led her into the throng of demons, yelling and whooping all the way.

They got a bit closer, and already the girl felt the heat of the bonfire touch her cheeks. Oni turned to face Azumi, who just stood in the middle admiring the beauty of it all.

“This.” Oni flung his arms out to indicate the whole of the sky. “Is the light, Azumi.” He pointed up at the stars, which now peeked out above the clouds, and now she noticed the moonbeams which cast its glows upon the bamboo forest. “You will never be alone, with the stars and the moon to guide you.” Oni continued to explain, “Where there is dark, there is light. This is the Festival of Light that we celebrate. Although I suppose you humans call it by some other name. So what do you think?”

Azumi closed her gaping mouth to reply, “It’s…unreal and so beautiful. I never know that you celebrated the stars and the moon as well.”

“Mhmm.” Oni nodded. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard of the story of the two stars: Orihime and Hikoboshi, two people who fell in love?”

Azumi shook her head. Oni sighed in exasperation. “Ah, I guess it can’t be helped. Orihime was the daughter of Tentei. Tentei arranged for a marriage between Orihime and Hikoboshi, the cow-herder star, who lived on the other side of the Milky Way. They both fell in love and began to neglect their duties. Tentei became angry and separated them both. Orihime pleaded with Tentei, and Tentei, who became so moved by her tears, allows them to meet once every year. The Milkyway becomes a gateway between the two. This date just happens to fall on the Festival of Light for us demons, or Tanabata in your language.”

The girl nodded, as the demon boy continued on, “It’s odd. I befriended you on the day that Orihime and Hikoboshi were to meet. Maybe it’s coincidence?”

“Would we be able to meet again?” Azumi asked this quietly. Oni fell silent.

“I have already gone past what the rules dictate of us, but maybe. Humans and demons don’t’ get along well. Just as you are afraid of us, we are afraid of you. Which is why I had to disguise you.” Oni pointed at the mask that was perched on the side of Azumi’s head. “So do you understand? The dark is nothing to be afraid of. The stars and moon shall always guide you to your loved ones, just like how Orihime will always meet Hikoboshi in the end.”

“I think I do. “

“Good.” Oni smiled widely. “Now come, let us enjoy what time we have together. The fireworks will start any moment.” Soon giant flares screeched as they ascended their way up the night sky, before exploding into colorful sparks that slowly rained down upon the clearing. Splashes of color began to illuminate the faces of the young pair as the demons around them continued to revel in the glow of the night sky and the stars.

Azumi began to dance with Oni, twirling around this way and that, and even dancing along with some of the other patrons of the festival. She felt as if the festive spirit of the demons had been absorbed by her as well. However, a demon bumped into Azumi as she danced causing her to stumble and fall. As she fell to the ground, her mask came loose, clattering to the ground. Oni tried to help her up quickly but it was too late. The whole clearing was in chaos as they realized that a human had been hiding in their midst. Demons began to vanish in puffs of smoke one by one, the banners and lanterns were disappearing in a similar fashion. The gentle glow of the bonfire was extinguished as one demon made it disappear with a snap of his fingers. In the midst of it all, Azumi remained on the ground, her eyes squeezed shut. Eventually there was no one left, save for Oni.

“Sorry, it looks like the time we have together is over,” Oni whispered apologetically as he began to become enveloped in mist.

“I’m glad I was able to meet you again, Azumi.

Soon, Azumi was left alone in the clearing, as the cries of the cicada filled the air.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Was it all a dream?” she found herself wondering this as she awoke the next day. Stepping out onto the porch of her family’s small house, she smiled.

Sitting on the wooden planks was a small kitsune mask. A small note held down by a rock was laid next to it.

“For when we meet again, dear friend. – ONI”

definatly doing better and better works. Saki i do say your eye style trips me out, but of course, mine tend to be softer eyes.

Thanks. Unfortunately I need to learn more eye styles. >.>'

Lightning Processs -Long overdue >.>'

http://fav.me/d2lkbt5

Yay decided on a coloring style

now see here your hardening up your lines... less blending making it difficult to distinguish color differences,(which i think was planned on some) i really like this last one here as is, (don't know if you were planning to do more) it gives off a feel as he's dancing with her ghost.

sad, yet happy at the same time... omg i gotta stop.



this picture is great. it made me cry.

Oh my god. Saku! Your second-most recent one! It's gorgeous... That's cell shading, isn't it? Superb. As for your last one (Almost looks like water colour! How did you do that?), I really adore your anatomy. You should see my anatomy when I try and draw. Hands are as big as the head, head is usually lopsided, etc. It's hilarious. But your artwork is wonderful! Don't stop drawing.

omgggggg reeeeiiii what have you done? Your art is like sex on paper!

*bows* I do try....

@Betong: Grats, your quote just made me spit out water. Luckily not on my laptop/tablet.

Here's the 2nd WIP version. Will do a normal "daybreak" version. And to get the watercolor look I added texturing to my brushes. Still have to color in the girl *sigh* might change her outfiiiit to a mid length sleeve kimono :x But I hate doing the patterns for 'em. I have to go back and clean up things/add Oni's ears and demon horns (yeah the guy's a demon, girl's a human).

He doesn't look much like an oni atm! The red eyes give it away, I guess

Yep so here's the final version, with Oni's pointed ear and horns (one of them...)

Lovely! I was actually hoping you'd keep the sleeves short, but you've pulled them off really well!