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atelierasther.bsky.social
@atelierasther.bsky.social
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atelierasther.bsky.social
I wrote a journal entry about my frustrations with my sketch from yesterday.

I transcribed the pages into the alt text in case my writing is too messy for you to read.

300 characters for a post, and 2000 characters for each alt text was a hella wild decision.
Nov. 12 - 2025 I had written, or rather typed up a post on blue sky about why I had gotten so bummed out about my Corrin sketch yesterday. But as I was sitting on the couch typing it out, I thought it would be more fun to write about it in my journal that I've barely used and then post the results. So I got up and went out to a cafe to write this journal to have less distractions surrounding me. Also a funb chance to use one of my fountain pens for a bit of writing. I'll gas up my vehicle afterwards so I won't have to do it later. Back to the focus of this journal entry. I had decided to draw a sketch og my avatar unit from Fire Emblem Fates, I named her Merlin after my FFXIV character. (A sketch of my FFXIV and the my Avatar unit respectfully). For the sketch, I decided to draw her in a very old moleskin sketch journal I had laying around. I must have had this thing for over ten years. It's got some hella old sketches from back then, but otherwise it's hardly used. I laid out the rough sketch with a coloured mechanical pencil. Specifically it's my really old Pentel Graphgear 500, loaded with blue pentel enocolor lead. Normally it's loaded with Pink or Light Blue, the regular blue was the container I happened to find (at the time). After I was happy with the rough sketch, I started the line art using a dual tipped, 2 colour brush pen. I don't remember the name of the pen, but the brand is Tombrow. (It's labelled as a calligraphy pen, but the specific name is in japanese, so I still couldn't tell exactly what it is.) The brush tips are fairly stiff, so it took a little practice to better be able to vary the width of my pen strokes. One side has a black, the other side has a cool grey ink. The black ink leaves a fairly consistent line, only streaking when you try to put more into a longer stroke. The grey ink has problems with streaking no matter what you do. So I've only sort of been able to add shading details with it. So I finished the lineart and was really happy with it and was considering being finished with the sketch there. But I decided to colour it since I thought I should give my markers a spin more often. Since it was just a quick sketch, I thought it might be fun to try out some older, different markers I had laying around. These were a set of Prisma Color Markers, and a small set of winsor newton pigment markers. And then also copic markers since I have a good selection of skin tones. Before I go further, I'll mention that I cleaned up the rough pencil layer using a faber castell kneadable eraser, and a _ - Kokuya Resare Plastic Eraser, Black Premium type. The Kokuya eraser is extremely good, I highly recommend them. Just get a regular kneadable eraser, it doesn't need to be from a big brand like faber castell. Back to colouring the sketch. One other thing I was looking to see was how the brush pen ink held up to being coloured over. To my delight, it held up wonderfully. The performance might be different on a different type of paper however. I suppose I'll have to find out. Started the colouring process with (the) skin, using copics. I've been using copics since high school, so I approached colouring the skin with confidence, layering and using different tones. I was pleased with how the skin turned out. The I started on the hair and switched to suing the prisma color markers. I bought these on a whim a long time ago thinking it would be fun to give a different brand of makers a try. Prisma makes execellent coloured pencils, so that was a factor in choosing them. I was disappointed with how they weren't, or didn't work similarly to copics. I got frustrated with them easily and put them away, telling myself I'd give them another chance when I was more skilled. Now that I am more skilled, I can better articulate why I don't like them, especially after using them yesterday. It's mostly due to how strong the markers lay on the pigment when compared to copics. It's not quite possible to layer and blend the prisma colour markers the way you can with copics. The colours are vibrant enough that you have to plan out exactly... ... where each stroke of the marker goes. Not only that, but the markers dual tipped as well with a thin tip and a broad chisel tip. The amount of ink and pigment each tip applies is a stroke is different, which varies how the colour appears on the paper. It feel difficult to express subtle colours and details with the prisma markers, almost as if the markers are screaming to be heard. The eyes and cape were also coloured with the prismas, I used the chisel tip on the cape and it felt like colouring with a scratchy butter knife. (specifically with how the chisel tip applied the ink and pigment) At least the prisma markers flowed nicely across the paper. Then I switch to try out the winsor newton pigment markers to colour the armor. These markers I purchased even more long ago than the prismas. I came across them at the (local) art store back then when they first came out. They were the shiny new product put out on display, and I wanted to try them out badly. So I bought a set and tried them out fast. They sucked. How you see the result of the armor is how they performed out of the packaging all those years ago. It also feels like gritty sand paper when gliding across the paper, back then and yesterday too. It is hella streaky, intuitive to use. They were discontinued a long time ago. Yesterday's sketch was an exercise telling (me) to stick with the tools I invested in, and to do more research before I buy into a new set of tools. Thanks for reading. I feel a little better now.
November 12, 2025 at 10:41 PM
atelierasther.bsky.social
I've been playing FE Fates lately and decided to sketch my avatar unit.

Gave her some eye bags because you go through some stuff in this game.

I really liked this sketch, but I got really bummed out when I decided to try using some markers I bought a long time ago and the colouring got all botched
November 12, 2025 at 7:40 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
I started playing Ciel nosurge recently thanks to the fanmade translation patch that was recently completed!

So I sketched Ion the way my heart desired:
June 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
atelierasther.bsky.social
A package from a friend arrived today.

Can't wait to get funny stares and questions from the people around me (as liquid death isn't available in canada, also I'm canadian if anyone happened to be wondering).
June 16, 2025 at 7:16 PM
atelierasther.bsky.social
I finished Atelier Yumia earlier this evening, and my heart compelled me to get this sketch out before the idea was lost to the ether (or my spotty memory).

Yumia left me feeling many things.

I hope we get another Memories game that matures Yumia's themes and message

#アトリ絵
May 20, 2025 at 7:18 PM
atelierasther.bsky.social
One of my daily struggles.

P.S. It's kinda hella cold today.
May 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
atelierasther.bsky.social
I feel you
May 14, 2025 at 6:29 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
Practice sketch of Solle Grumman from Atelier Shallie.

I think I made him a little too young and hot looking, but I'll be drawing him a bit more so I can tweak it as I go!

#アトリ絵
May 12, 2025 at 5:57 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
Quick coloured sketch of my Lalafell from ffxiv, she's geared up in the latest caster crafted gear.
April 15, 2025 at 6:06 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
Another quick Yumia sketch before bedtime

#アトリ絵 #ユミアのアトリエ
April 3, 2025 at 6:13 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
I sketched L&S Plachta wearing glasses earlier yesterday to show a friend my idea of "old lady glasses" and ended up with Libraian lady vibes.

This was my first time getting a good look at her restored form, and like, Sophie made her kinda stacked lmao.
April 1, 2025 at 5:53 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
I've been slowly making my way through Atelier Yumia (no thanks to FFXIV and other, albeit pleasant concerns).

So I wanted to sketch Yumia quickly before bedtime.

She's a good girl and I really love her flashy way of fighting, she really does move like Asbel from Tales of Graces lmao!
March 31, 2025 at 5:46 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
A rough idea for a Lotte sticker I had in my mind for awhile.

She needs to be more SD to work as a irl sticker, so I'll be work shopping the idea more!
March 25, 2025 at 5:53 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
I bought a brush pen from the art store the other day and decided to test it out by drawing Stera.

The brush tip is kinda stiff, so I'm finding it uncomfortable to use.
March 19, 2025 at 3:48 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
I drew an Escha from memory drinking coffee during my morning coffee break at work.

I smudged the ink as I was drawing...
March 18, 2025 at 5:09 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
Happy Belated Valentines Everyone!

I drew Sophie giving Young Plachta a surprise hug from behind because it's been super cold lately!

It seems Plachta was working up the courage to gift her valentines!

#アトリ絵
February 23, 2025 at 5:44 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
A quick sketch of Nina from Atelier Yumia:
February 13, 2025 at 6:50 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
KT showed off some super cute chocolate puni shirts earlier.

I like'em a whole lot but I don't think I'll go through the hassle of obtaining one.

So I did the next best thing and drew my lalafell wearing the pink shirt for funsies!
February 11, 2025 at 7:31 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
Hiii everyone, I was at magfest this past weekend and drew some stickers for the graffiti banners!

First was Miruca and then I drew a Rami!

I'm home now and I have an idea I think everyone will dislike!

Stay tuned~
January 28, 2025 at 2:06 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
School girl Lotte sketch because an idea hit me that I needed to get down
January 17, 2025 at 8:11 AM
atelierasther.bsky.social
I bought some coloured pencils the other week and to test them out, I sketched my lalafell!

She definitely didn't come out the way I wanted to. It's a skill issue on my part when it comes to using coloured pencils, since I hadn't used any for the past decade or so.

I'll keep practicing tho!
December 15, 2024 at 11:12 PM
atelierasther.bsky.social
Ahh hi, it's my first bluesky post ever.

I was watching someone stream Eschalogy earlier and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

So I sketched my favourite character from A15 for fun.

There's something about Clone that makes me feel really at ease, I love it.

#atelierseries #atelier
December 3, 2024 at 7:13 AM