Summer's Memories

I finished this piece in May 2010.This was a piece inspired by a lucid dream I had that set in a summer setting a while ago. A dream I hope to make into a long one-shot comic eventually. All I can say is that it felt like a long journey through time and then back to the place where it all started to than wake up into reality only to find it isn't really true but another dream within a dream. I feel like I can relate to Nemo (Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McKay) and than some. It felt really bittersweet and nostalgic, both joyful and painful, and yet I feel the words I used to describe it isn't quite the best way to portray it. It's fascinating how powerful dreams can cast a spell on the human mind, isn't it? It's like magic in a sense. :child-like grin: Both frightening yet breathe taking and beautiful. At least, I feel it to be this.


Media: Texture, pencil and photoshop

Copyrights: All rights belong to J.S. Choi (C) DO NOT USE!

Year of the Tiger 2010

This was something I finished back in April/May that I decided to post now. The girl was an inspiration from different Asian cultures and eras such as the Jomon era of Japan and other tribal ideas. The tiger's exaggerated build was influenced by the round mass of a bear. The tree was inspired by a tree I researched that I think was in the Tibetan or Chinese area. I can't remember at the top of my head. One other influence I had was the environmental issue that occurs as humanity continues to spread more of their territory with the wildlife having less places to live rather than living in harmony. However, the later influence is rather subtle as the colors make the mood of the piece rather light rather than dark themed. I don't think anyone would honestly notice the hint unless I had mentioned my inspiration. If anyone did, I'm glad. If not, no harm and no foul; I didn't expect anyone too. :grin: With that said, I hope everyone enjoys the piece.

Media: Textured paper, digital painting with photoshop, and pencil. I'd say most of the work was done by pencil, but alas, that's an opinion. :smile:

Copyrights: All rights belong to J.S. Choi (C) DO NOT USE!

A Zombie's Tale

Light Ver.
Dark Ver.

While working on a series of pin-up based illustrations, one piece became horror themed. This piece depicts a classic katana wielding high-schooler hacking zombies left and right with more coming; greatly inspired by Japanese cartoons and their style of horror. Finished in May/June 2010.

Copyright: All rights of this piece belong to J.S. Choi (C)
Medium: Pencil, Photoshop, Gouache, Watercolor, & Textures.

Sleeping Beauty - La Belle Au Bois Dormant

Sleeping Beauty is a dark tale. It's interesting to compare from the original to the modern version. Originally, a princess is taken by force unconsciously by her king or prince to waken and find she had given birth to twins. What's the curse? Sleeping or waking up? A dark prince, twin fetuses, and a dress turning from white to red showing a loss of innocence- Hints to a tragic end. Originally illustrated in December 2009.

Copyright: All rights of this piece belongs to J.S. Choi (C) DO NOT USE!
Medium: Photoshop & Varied Pencils

Elven Noir: Sophisticated ver.

This is a version of the elf girl in a more sophisticated color scheme rather than the more retro vibe I gave to the previous palette. This palette and style was inspired by Ragnar, a illustrator known for his graphic design and pin-ups along side other infleunce, Coles Phillips. It was also funny enough inspired by Poison Ivy from Batman, most specific, Bruce Timm's green skinned version. ^^

NOTE: DO NOT USE! This is copyrighted by J.S. Choi(C)

Elven Noir: Retro

This is a pin-up based illustration with influences of noir and art nouveau that became more concept based than its original intent. My original inspiration though was the illustrator, Coles Phillips, creator of the Fade-Away Girls. I was so inspired by Phillips' girls that I felt the need to try the technique he used on his Fade-Away Girl series. For me who loves to put everything in a piece, every nuance and detail... It was quite a challenge to keep things simple in this illustration. Even now, I feel the Fade-Away Girl should have been more so simple, but as a final result- I'm still content. However, I think I will plan to do more Fade-Aways as a way to learn how to deal with graphic shapes, composition, and simplicity.


NOTE: DO NOT USE! Copyright of J.S. Choi(C) 2009

Odin - Prophesy

Hi guys!

This is a montage I did loosely based on an event in Ragnarok from Norse Mythology. The characters presented in this piece are Odin(All-father god of all of the Aesirs), Hugin(Crow-Odin's thought), Munin(Crow- Odin's memory), and Fenrir(Wolf-god and son of Loki, the Trickster God).
It was destiny that they (Odin and Fenrir) would intertwine and it was fate they would die by each other's hand.

Copyrights: All rights of this piece belongs to J.S. Choi (C) DO NOT USE!
media: Watercolor, gouache, color pencil, and gesso