Work is Never Over

Hello, Good Day! Salutations!

Over the last week, I’ve gotten so very much done with Dark Horse. I’ve also been working a little bit on revamping the other acts. Here’s a sample:

I will be inking this drawing in the future, and replacing the Act 2 cover with the new artwork. Lots is going to happen in Dark Horse, so please check it out 😀 It’s free, and you can catch it here. You can also learn more about Dark Horse by clicking the comics tab in the Navigation Buttons.

Hope you’re all well, and having a nice summer (if it’s summer where you live.)

Cheers!

Ashleen
aka
Blue Dragon

Posted in Dark Horse Art, Updates.

By Ashleen

July 30, 2018

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Format Change Coming Soon

Hello people,

I realize I’ve been away for a while–I have been preoccupied with a lot of changes life-wise (full time work schedule, cooking most of our food from scratch, working out to prove I can do it, even though I’m lazy and shiftless, and to a very small extent, household chores–which means, barely keeping up with laundry and dishes enough to not have roaches.) However, I intend to begin work on re-organizing this site a bit. I want the front page not to be this blog update, but rather a page with samples of my art. I’m not abandoning these posts, I just don’t feel they need to be the page people see when they come to Cerulean Dreams.

I also intend to have some focus be on art I’m creating for art’s sake, in addition to the comic art I work on (which unfortunately has needed to be set a side for a while.) I have been working on Dark Horse, I just had some upset regarding losing a lot of work I did on the computer, which dispirited my efforts. And, instead of buckling down and working harder to make up for the losses, I drank and played The Legend of Dragoons and other video games. You know….like an adult.

But, I haven’t given up. I just had to take a break. And I’ve been working on a lot of stuff. For one thing, I’m going to finish off the last 2-3 pages of Dark Horse Act 4, and then I’m going to start inking and making progress in Act 5. Today, I am going to share some of my sketches for Act 5. But you have to earn it by slugging though all this crappy text. Or you can just skip all this and get to the goodies.

Okay, so the real last thing I want to say, is I’ve been working super hard on improving Dark Horse. Not just regarding the characters (although damn, Mark Crilley is amazing and every aspiring manga artist needs to go over to his youtube,) but also the backgrounds, the framing, and the story-telling (or “showing”) in general. And while I am working on Act 5, I am also still plugging away at upgrading (or revamping) Dark Horse Act 1. My hopes is to get it finished, clean up the rest of the acts, then put together a couple acts and print a few hard copies. I would like to start participating in conventions in my area, and I need to have something to sell! I guess I’m not getting any younger, and I need to work better on actually achieving some of my life goals.

So this was a loooong update, but it was also a long time coming as I haven’t posted anything in a while. I have finally gotten a weekend to myself (not blaming my partner at all–I distract myself plenty) so I’m finally taking some time to work on this!

As always, to anyone reading, my sincerest thanks and keep on truckin’!!!

Blue Dragon
aka
Ashleen

And now for something…completely the same:

Posted in Dark Horse Art, Updates.

By Ashleen

September 24, 2017

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Whimper in the Dark Now Updating!

Hey hey what can I say?

Well, Whimper in the Dark has it’s page up, though I have a lot of layout work to do 🙂 It updates every Thursday. So you all can check it out here.
Additionally, here’s a nice little character study of my dog, Julius 🙂

Dark Horse is nearing the end of Act 4! Holy crap! I need to get to work on Act 5 right away! I did work on a few *small* script additions, and I’ve got the cover art drafted. I’ll have a few pages after Act 4, such as the Author’s note, a Web Short, and some other images to help pad the comic until I get a couple pages up and running. Gotta have that cushion 😉

That’s all for tonight, folks! Feel free to ask questions, post comments, look around, enjoy your time 😀

Peace out!

Blue Dragon
aka
Ashleen

Posted in Dark Horse Art, The Whimper in the Dark, Updates.

By Ashleen

April 27, 2017

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New Comic on the Way!

Hello good peoples 🙂

So, I know I’m being a little ambitious, but in addition to working on Dark Horse and Devil May Take You, Brad Arnett and I are collaborating on a comic that’s going to be done in ink. It’s an idea he’s had bouncing around in his mind for a while, and I like his ideas, so we’re going to put it to put it paper.

Here’s a sneak peek at what The Whimper in the Dark is going to look like:

We’re debating on exactly how we want it to be, but as you can tell from my little notes, it’s a little inspired by Edward Gorey. 🙂 Obviously not nearly as well illustrated, bu we’re going to keep it mostly black and white (with a little color here and there.)

Once we get a couple strips into it, I’ll create a website for it to be viewed. Please keep an eye out for it! And, of course, it’ll be accessible for free!

I’ve been a bit sick, or I’d be much farther along. Also prodding at Brad to get me some script ideas 🙂

Cheers for now!

Ashleen Woods
aka
Blue Dragon

Posted in The Whimper in the Dark.

By Ashleen

April 4, 2017

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Inklings…

Hey everyone!

Been busy inking pages for Dark Horse! Super excited to complete Act 4–though we’re still quite a ways away from that. I’ve finished sketching all of Act 4, and began inking earlier this week. But—Dilemma! Earlier this year someone stole my light box…and we’ve been kinda tight on a budget…

So what do you do when you have no light box and no money? Turn your partner’s desk into a light box!!!

(But only while he’s at work)

Ta-Dah!!!! Glass tables make great light boxes!

I’ve been updating some pages here, and commissions are open, so please check out my commissions page if you’d like something! It’s under construction, so please forgive the temporary disarray.

Dark Horse updates every Wednesday, so you can read it for free here!

‘Til next time!

Ashleen
aka
Blue Dragon

Posted in Dark Horse Art, Total Randomness, Updates.

By Ashleen

September 29, 2016

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Gen Con! 2016

Okay,

So I wasn’t sure if I’d have a chance to post anything, since I’ve been at Gen Con, but seems as though I’ve got some free time in my schedule 😀

Here’s some pictures:

In the hotel Marriot with four friends. This is our view.

A nifty Theatre by the Embassy Hotel, where some of the events I attended were held.

Old School (Adam West) Batman.

Super Girl!

If anyone knows who this dude is cosplaying as, please let me know!

And Captain Kirk and the Joker.

Last thing I’d like to post is a mock-up of a commission I’ve completed (except for the cover, which this is just a mock-up, as I’ve said.) I need to scan in the finished image so the lines are cleaner. I am also making a few changes that were requested, including adding some buildings.

Okay! That’s all I have time for today. I hope to post some more later 🙂

~Blue Dragon
aka
Ashleen

Posted in Updates.

By Ashleen

August 5, 2016

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Commission and Next Dark Horse Post

Good morning! Almost afternoon!

So while I was away from the Internet, I got a commission from a woman with whom I worked. So I got this done back in May for a gift the client was going to give to her friend. It may not make a lot of sense just looking at it, but suffice it to say it had something to with getting something off this person’s back.

She liked it and all was well 🙂 Click for a larger version.

Dark Horse is scheduled to update this Wednesday! So feel free to check it out here: Click!

And I’ve been working on screening the next page, so it should be ready for the following week, as well. I’ll be going to GenCon this weekend, so I may not have any updates until following this event. Maybe I’ll have some pictures to post! Who knows!

Have a great week everyone!

Ashleen
aka
Blue Dragon

Posted in Regular Art, Updates.

By Ashleen

August 1, 2016

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New Updates on the Way

It’s been a while, I know–for this, I apologize. I have had so many thing going on, including a move from Illinois out of state. So…things have been more than a little crazy, and I’ve had no time for art–and little access to Internet service.

So once I finally get my desk and scanner and everything up here, I’ll be working on Dark Horse again, as well as some other stuff. Until then, here’s a picture I drew so I didn’t get too out of practice.

Random drawing I did for practice.

I look forward to updating this blog and my comic once more! Sorry for such a long delay :*(

~The Blue Dragon
aka
Ashleen

Posted in Updates.

By Ashleen

July 27, 2016

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No Sleep til Brooklyn…

Pulled an all night job to get all the works for my final completed in time. I may post a few other images later on, but for now I’m just going to post my final series I’ve been working on. I intend to continue this series next semester 🙂

(Click to see details)

Untitled

Close Up:

Close up:

Last one:

Close up:

It’s been intense this semester: this is just a small portion of what I’ve been working on. I have three pieces Billie had hung up. Our whole class had fantastic work, and they’ve a lot of work hanging in the building, too 🙂 I was very envious of many people’s talent.

I am hoping I will be able to work a bit on my comic this break, but I am going to keep working on other art, as well.

Winter is the time to listen to later/mid Depeche Mode. It’s a dark time…

I am tired, so I should get to sleep.

Good night!

Ashleen
aka
Blue Dragon

Posted in Regular Art.

By Ashleen

December 9, 2015

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More Progess…

Well, D-Day (Due Day?) is coming soon. I have to get to work, since I’ll be home for Thanksgiving and presumably useless regarding any art working. Was in the studio the other night and tonight. Slowly getting done. Trying to take suggestions from faculty while still retaining what I want. I don’t really care what certain symbols mean to others–images have many different meanings, and I’m well aware of many of them (it’s hard to think perhaps I’m more well read than people assume?)

Anyway, not bitching just saying, I know what a tree symbolizes, but there are ways to changing that meaning or using that idea and flipping it. This has nothing to do with the image I’m posting, aside from they’re all part of the same series.

Here’s an update of one I’ve been working more on than the others: it’s near completion. Personal subject matter, but hopefully some of it comes across.

Poor picture quality. My apologies. I am also well aware the arm needs work. Needs to be smaller for sure and is off. I’ll figure it before cleaning it up.

I keep meaning to post an update of the egg tempera crow. It’s pretty much finished as much as I’m going to work on it. So I’ll try to remember to get a photo of it 🙂

More to come later!

Ashleen
aka
The Blue Dragon

Posted in Regular Art.

By Ashleen

November 21, 2015

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