Ukrainian Folk Themed Unrequited Love

Emily outfit redesigns

One for when she was 12, starting out as a stonekeeper, one when she's 14-16, a bit later down the line.

Notes:

I have been trying to give Emily a redesign throughout the years, and it was difficult finding out which one worked. On one hand, her kazu design is recognizable but unfortunately every other character is a copy pasted version of that, which doesn't really help her stand out or say anything about her.

I also tried color variations, like giving her a green shirt to complement the hair (and also a ref to videogame heroes like Link), but it honestly doesn't suit her. So i decided to re-stick the basics.

I recall Nausicaa as an inspiration to Emily, so the first drawing is built around that. Her hair is longer there, and nothing about her outfit is "combative" per se, everything is cloth and easy to move around, as she hasn't built a preference to what is best to wear in a fight. She uses a walking stick.

The second one is based on an abandoned manuscript for book 5. Kazu actually planned a shorter haircut and new outfit for Emily (at least on text, not on drawing), so I decided to get a bit more creative. She has darker colors this time around, which symbolizes her going on a darker path bc of her experiences (thnx Max). She also wears armor this time around, as she's a stonekeeper built for offensive magic. I also thought it'd be interesting if I were to give her a sword this time, to show she's more willing to commit serious violence vs her initial rejection of it in book 2, leading her to make more aggressive and lethal attacks.

I also think it'd be a nice foil to Trellis's outfit in this case: Emily starts with light-colored soft clothes, Trellis in dark armor, and then they gradually invert as they go on their journey in life.

Also, I had to look up some ref on how 12 year olds and 15 year olds are, and it's an odd combination of 'wow that's really young' and 'HUH they actually look way older and taller than I assumed in my head', so there's that!

Idk if my 2nd design of her will stick in future art. On one hand, I actually REALLY like it. On the other hand, rather difficult to render. May need to actually create a reference and draw her often that way.

I may or may make redesigns for other characters in the future.

ENG: Ehe-he...

Here's Blud but human forms

In my headcanon Yerem and Yeremiya were twins who died in the Forest. Than Blud found their bodies in and took their appearance. The entity, back in the days when they were allowed to leave the Forest, had enjoyed watching the strange twin since their childhood...

UA: хіх

Людські подоби Блуда

У моєму гедканоні Єрем та Єремія були двійнятами, які загинули у Лісі. Блуд знаходить їх тіла і бере їх подобу. Сутності ще за часів, коли було дозволено покидати Ліс, подобалося спостерігати за дивакуватою двійнею з їх дитинства...

ENG:

"He grabs your barely perceptible shoulders and breathes hard, looking into the face, as if he didn't expect to see you among the living.

Y: Yulian... Are you...

Vodyanyk doesn't let you finish and hugs you close. His lips cover yours and at that moment the world around dissolves..."

This fragment still makes me cry. This made me so emotional...

And the drawing took a long time (for me). If it weren't for the ref (I don't know who the author is, let me know if you know, please), everything would have gone to hell ;-;

Save me from squama!

UA:

«Він хапає за ледь відчутні плечі і важко дихає, вдивляючись в обличчя, ніби й не сподівався вже побачити серед живих.

Є: Юліане... ти...

Водяник не дає закінчити і пригортає до себе. Його губи накривають твої і цієї миті світ навколо розчиняється...»

Цей фрагмент досі змушує волати. Я буквально випала, коли це відбублося..

А малюнок — було довго (для мене). Якби не реф (не знаю, хто автор, підкажіть, якщо вам відомо, пліз), все попливло б до біса ;-;

Рятуйте від луски!

The bandurist and the asio otus

Some old ONE refs and drawings. I still love those

I really wanted to draw something. I came across the cover and here it is, so let it be

Since I lacked practice so much, I decided to redraw the shots with the characters. Yes, there is a little bit of headcanon.

Just a normal night in Kyiv, thanks to russians

Air alert in a specific region means something might potentially fly to this region and kill people, while increased air alert means that something is definitely already approaching this specific area

I'm too lazy to draw headdress for now 🥲

an "ordinary russian" man : "I want to catch a 16-year-old khokhlushka (slur for a ukrainian woman) whose father died near Bakhmut, take off her underwear and tights, leave her only with a t-shirt with the inscription “Everything will be Ukraine”and roar to deflower her, kissing her tears and looking at her into the eyes where the pupils dilate to the size of Mother Russia."

these are the people you like to infantilise and justify so much btw

Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine after russian missile attack.