Kiriko Moth’s Blog

I’m caffeinated, let’s go.

I’m working on a whole package of branding and illustration for a local beekeeping and honey store, Her Majesty’s Secret Beekeeper, that is opening up soon. Here’s the logo:

 

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed making up a mechanical bee. The entire look of the store will be very Art Nouveau meets Steampunk.

I did another of the Concept Challenges over at ArtOrder. This time the brief was to make a series of four silhouettes, one for each character archetype. This was my first time doing full blown silhouettes, and it was fast and fun, like sketching.

 

And this final piece was a private commission from an author who wanted a depiction of one of her characters.

I recently sent my portfolio to WotC, and the AD that got back to me had a link to his very very useful art blog, ArtOrder in the sig line. Well, I’m bound and determined to keep a visible presence ’round WotC ’til I land me some work. They have an ongoing weekly concept challenge, and the current one just happens to have a prize of a commission for one of their magazines. The challenge ends on Sunday - it started about two weeks ago and I’m late to the game. So I’ve only got a pencilled line drawing, whereas some of the other entries are full blown beautiful paintings.

But I’m happy with my gruesome little creation. Isn’t that larva peeking up over the rocks just precious?

This has just gone live on Altrock Productions’ site, so I’m also posting it here!

I recently finished up some CD packaging art for a local Oakland band, Mirthkon. Cars aren’t in my regular repetoire of subjects, so this one was a really enjoyable challenge.

Media: Ink and Photoshop 7

Illustration for an upcoming supplement for Sufficiently Advanced, a sci-fi RPG from Valent Games.

Media: Digital, Photoshop 7

Jordan just posted some amazing photos of the books that Modofly has been producing. I liked the moleskines, but I am seriously blown away by how incredible these look.

Here’s a shot of one of mine, but you’ll definitely to check out the others as well, posted at the Modofly blog.

 

Concept sketch for an illustration for an upcoming RPG supplement.

Media: Photoshop 7

Sometimes when I conceive of a drawing , the entire picture forms as a visual in my mind. I often take this visual and then look for photo references, so that I can get the anatomy correct. In many cases, I can’t find refs for exactly what I’m thinking of, and I end up modifying my original idea to fit.

This was almost one of those cases. I couldn’t find an exact reference, but I also wasn’t happy with any of the sketches I developed from the photos I did find. I ended up scrapping all the refs and just drawing what was in my head, and I think I’m much happier with the results.

And just for fun, here’s the original pencil sketch:

Meredith commissioned a chrysanthemum tattoo design from me a short while back, and she just sent me a photo of the finished product!

How awesome is that? I love the vibrant colors! Thanks for sharing, Meredith!

For Kirby Crow, who misguidedly suggested I should draw kittens, and because Kittens Inspired by Kittens is one of the strongest arguments as to why we can’t live without internets.

Good news everyone!  Modofly is back in action! They had closed up shop briefly after discovering that the moleskines produced toxic fumes when etched. Continuing to burn them with lasers was out of the question. But instead of being sad, Modofly decided to just be awesome, and they started making their own full-color journals and sketchbooks!

I’ve got a selection of my books available here!

These new journals have wraparound covers, and the example pictures show the front and back.