My Artwork
History
Despite my affinity towards the sciences, art, as a hobby, has been a passion all of my life. I must have been about four or five when I began drawing Star Wars - mostly childish doodles of R2-D2 and C-3PO. In fact, I was convinced they lived in a place called "Robot Land," and wanted to send them my artwork...no idea! I began drawing in earnest, however, when I was 12, and met my best friend while living in Israel. She specialises in the anime style, and at the time, it was unlike anything I'd seen (I'm beginning to realise I had a very sheltered childhood). It was so beautiful, so lifelike, and could produce, in my mind, both serious pieces and amazing humour. She was awesome enough to take me under her wing, and has been both a muse and a good critic ever since.
The following year, at 13, I began drawing Star Wars. In fact, my first proper piece was even of a Neimoidian (you can actually see traces of my attempt at anime in it). For the the remainder of that year, Star Wars allowed my work to improve greatly. I even tried my hand at some digital colouring, however limited it was, given that I used a mouse and not a tablet. As with so much else in my Star Wars experience, things stalled once I moved to Colorado. My work got worse, not better, and, eventually, I stopped altogether. Getting my drawing tablet at 16 was a life- and sanity-saving event. While it didn't magically improve my level of art skill at the time, it DID give me far more control over my settings and my own hand, allowing me to gradually improve MYSELF! I got back into drawing, but had no set direction - I drew whatever took my fancy, at the time.
It was in January 2010 that I began drawing Neimoidians. My first attempt was far from any sort of decency, but it was (and is) something I truly loved; I was desperate to do a proper job and actually produce a "good" picture of Neimoidians. A couple of weeks later, I set a challenge for myself. I wanted to draw a romantic picture of Nute Gunray and Rune Haako. I worked for three days getting trying to get everything right. What resulted from that attempt was...well, it wasn't the best piece of work I've ever done, but it was entirely groundbreaking! I used a new "layered" drawing system, I paid extra attention to detail, I used a pose and an angle I wasn't used it. Most importantly, it solidified in my mind that I COULD draw Neimoidians, if I really set my mind to it!
It's been a steady improvement process ever since. I improved faster in one year than I had in my entire life, and to levels I never thought I'd reach. Neimoidian have given me so much inspiration and motivation, and, without a doubt, that has played an enormous role in my experience. In December of 2011, I was asked to do the backcover of Teekay-421 Magazine 60 (published in June 2012), then in September of 2012, I completed a Neimoidian anatomy chart, which JediNews.co.uk unexpectedly published. I never in my LIFE believed I would ever be published, but the experience gave me so much hope and a fantastic opportunity to improve. It's my goal, one day, to become officially licensed to do artwork for Lucasfilm. I know it's going to be a bit of a slow process, but with steady improvement (and perhaps the right connections), I hope I can one day accomplish that, and become "THE Neimoidian artist."
The following year, at 13, I began drawing Star Wars. In fact, my first proper piece was even of a Neimoidian (you can actually see traces of my attempt at anime in it). For the the remainder of that year, Star Wars allowed my work to improve greatly. I even tried my hand at some digital colouring, however limited it was, given that I used a mouse and not a tablet. As with so much else in my Star Wars experience, things stalled once I moved to Colorado. My work got worse, not better, and, eventually, I stopped altogether. Getting my drawing tablet at 16 was a life- and sanity-saving event. While it didn't magically improve my level of art skill at the time, it DID give me far more control over my settings and my own hand, allowing me to gradually improve MYSELF! I got back into drawing, but had no set direction - I drew whatever took my fancy, at the time.
It was in January 2010 that I began drawing Neimoidians. My first attempt was far from any sort of decency, but it was (and is) something I truly loved; I was desperate to do a proper job and actually produce a "good" picture of Neimoidians. A couple of weeks later, I set a challenge for myself. I wanted to draw a romantic picture of Nute Gunray and Rune Haako. I worked for three days getting trying to get everything right. What resulted from that attempt was...well, it wasn't the best piece of work I've ever done, but it was entirely groundbreaking! I used a new "layered" drawing system, I paid extra attention to detail, I used a pose and an angle I wasn't used it. Most importantly, it solidified in my mind that I COULD draw Neimoidians, if I really set my mind to it!
It's been a steady improvement process ever since. I improved faster in one year than I had in my entire life, and to levels I never thought I'd reach. Neimoidian have given me so much inspiration and motivation, and, without a doubt, that has played an enormous role in my experience. In December of 2011, I was asked to do the backcover of Teekay-421 Magazine 60 (published in June 2012), then in September of 2012, I completed a Neimoidian anatomy chart, which JediNews.co.uk unexpectedly published. I never in my LIFE believed I would ever be published, but the experience gave me so much hope and a fantastic opportunity to improve. It's my goal, one day, to become officially licensed to do artwork for Lucasfilm. I know it's going to be a bit of a slow process, but with steady improvement (and perhaps the right connections), I hope I can one day accomplish that, and become "THE Neimoidian artist."
Art
Kweh's Best
Are you just stopping by? Do you just want a general feel of my work? Are you from Lucasfilm and want to license a desperate artist 8DDD? Below is a small selection of what I think are my best pieces to date, and what best represent what I can do now. Note that I CAN and DO draw more than just Neimoidians and Duros; however, given the nature of this website, I am posting only Neimoidian work.
Year By Year
While I've never been able to accomplish the anime style, I am pleased to have slowly developed my own style, which is arguably the goal of any artist. Regardless, despite not being an anime fan at all, I still find the style beautiful, and I still intend to work towards creating a full, proper Neimoidian picture done in it!
Below is a small selection of some of my better artwork from each year. I'm not going to post my entire gallery (that's what my deviantART is for!), but if you like what you see and would like to see more, or keep up with new pieces that come out, you're very welcome to follow my page on deviantART: Kweh-chan. I take Neimoidian or Duros requests at any time! 8D
Got any questions? You can leave a message on the guestbook page, and I'll be happy to answer them in my blog! If you'd like to repost anything here on another website, I would greatly appreciate it if you contacted me first here or on my deviantART or Twitter (you can find them on my Links page); I promise I don't bite :D. At the very least, you must credit me as the artist and, if possible, put a link to my dA.
Below is a small selection of some of my better artwork from each year. I'm not going to post my entire gallery (that's what my deviantART is for!), but if you like what you see and would like to see more, or keep up with new pieces that come out, you're very welcome to follow my page on deviantART: Kweh-chan. I take Neimoidian or Duros requests at any time! 8D
Got any questions? You can leave a message on the guestbook page, and I'll be happy to answer them in my blog! If you'd like to repost anything here on another website, I would greatly appreciate it if you contacted me first here or on my deviantART or Twitter (you can find them on my Links page); I promise I don't bite :D. At the very least, you must credit me as the artist and, if possible, put a link to my dA.
My first Neimoidian:
I got into Star Wars seriously, for the first time, in late 2004. This picture was my first "proper" Star Wars picture (as opposed to doodles and simple comic-style pieces) from that time, done in early 2005. She is an original character, whom I still play around with, to this day (she has, of course, been greatly updated and refined). What makes me laugh so much about this picture is how much I emphasised modesty for her - the COMPLETE opposite of what a Neimoidian would want. Not only that, but her hat was designed to replicate hair! I do find it interesting, however, that despite her entire wardrobe coming from my imagination, it actually uses similar patterns and styles to canon Neimoidian attire. |
From 2010:
2010 was my most experimental year. For the first six months, it was really about testing out this new "power" and actually trying to draw what was in my head, myself, rather than rely on others to do it. I didn't have a style developed until about July, and there are actually surprisingly few Neimoidian pieces from this year.
I'm not going to show the romantic Gunray/Haako piece here, but it's on my deviantART, if you're that desperate to see it.
I'm not going to show the romantic Gunray/Haako piece here, but it's on my deviantART, if you're that desperate to see it.
My first proper picture of Rune Haako, done shortly after the Gunray/Haako one, while I had just started into that "YES I CAN!" mentality. I very nearly lost this piece, when my laptop crashed for the first time. |
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There's a good six months between the Rune picture and this one. It took another non-Neimoidian picture for me to develop a cel-shaded colouring style, which I used for a very long time, but this is the first piece which exemplifies the general style I had developed that year. I still draw from it to this day.
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From 2011:
Now that I had a style developed from 2010, I began putting more emphasis on other areas of my works: cleaner lines, some semblance of a background, and more varied colouring. I began pushing myself a bit more with poses. Regardless, my work from 2011, was very much along the lines of one step forward, then one step backwards, until about October.
At the time, 2011, was my most productive year ever. I think I came close to doubling my picture count from 2010. This was during my first year of university, after the cleaning incident. There's a HUGE spike in my pictures from this time, because, frankly, my art was a coping mechanism.
At the time, 2011, was my most productive year ever. I think I came close to doubling my picture count from 2010. This was during my first year of university, after the cleaning incident. There's a HUGE spike in my pictures from this time, because, frankly, my art was a coping mechanism.
Though a very old piece by this point, I think compared with the final piece from 2010, there's a vast amount of improvement. Plus...it's Lott Dod! In a sauna! |
Oh goodness. This was inspired by an epic dream I had, in which Nute Gunray was dancing with his The Clone Wars self and me to "Staying Alive"
Boy I was lazy with hands, at that time. |
Hath Monchar. Part of an individual "portrait" series I was doing at the time, to try and give lesser-known Neimoidians some exposure.
Even though the skill is low, I still rather like this one :D |
Another from the "portrait" series. I don't care what canon says, THIS is Gilramos Libkath. HE was in Episode II, not Rune! Moidy-pants has spoken!
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From 2012:
2012 was a big year for me, in terms of getting published, and getting my work and name out into the Star Wars community. Looking at what work I had to go by, I'm still not sure how it happened. Thanks to the massive improvement process given to me by working on the magazine cover, I really began to take a closer look at the details and composition of my pieces. I began to play with lighting effects, and really putting as much effort into the backgrounds as I did the foregrounds. In the final quarter of the year, I revamped my colouring style, entirely, by starting to add textures (both made by myself and with special brushes on SAI), and broke down the comfort zone I had grown used to. It was also this year that I began to get a lot of community support.
I'm so, SO sorry to anyone this offends, but this was somewhat of an important piece for me. I think, in terms of colouring, it was the closest I'd ever come to anime, and it was the first time I'd really played around with lighting.
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Ehehe, I try to stay out of politics, but I couldn't resist this!
This was the new style I developed during work on the magazine, and since it hadn't been published yet, this was kind of a sneak preview. |
A post-exam quickie, that I'd been wanting to do for a while: my take on hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. I actually use this as my display pic on most websites now! 8D |
The magazine cover!
My first published piece. 150+ hours of work, and the file was so big, it almost broke my art programme. Each set of characters, the background, and tags were done separately. I won't post them here, but I'll leave a link here to the cover's page on dA, where you'll find links to each of the separate elements, if you'd like to see. |
My interpretation of a Neimoidian hero: diplomatic, wealthy, accomplished, and well-read. A gift.
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My second published piece!
Had a lot of help from my best friend on this one, in getting the anatomy right. This was GREAT practice for me, and a good PSA about the differences between Neimoidians and Duros. Published here at JediNews.co.uk. |
A 3-hour quickie I did in honour of Spirit Day, before my podcast. This picture was actually the start of my new colouring style, with a focus on texture.
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One of my most popular pieces. I spent two days working on everything (I think I actually stopped eating during that time!), and spent as much time on the background as the foreground. I had been inspired by a picture of a Sullustan mother and child.
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From 2013:
Although I'm having to balance a university schedule, a master's degree, and an obsession, this year is shaping up to be a very good year in terms of art. I'm now trying to head in the direction of realism. I made my first attempt at the beginning of February, and I was so pleased with the results that I have several more pictures I'd like to try in that style. I've asked for and received some great constructive criticism, and I'm now trying to put that to use, including trying to entirely eliminate lineart from my serious works. I have a few styles I'm playing with at the moment: realism attempts, a cell-shaded cartoony style with thicker outlines and bolder colours (inspired by my Angry Neimoidians piece, and the texture-oriented style, which I'm still refining, and use for requests and the like.
My first ever realism attempt. I've never been so compelled and inspired to do a picture before. I spent a good 36 hours on this, and I'm looking forward to doing similar pieces with Nute and Rune.
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A set of Valentine's cards, which took me FAR too long.
Do feel free to print these and give them to people if you want and/or are crazy enough 8D |
A gift for a friend's son. She insisted on paying me for the file of the Lott Dod piece, so she could have it printed, which her young son was very excited about. I was so touched by this, I made this for him.
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Some Neimoidian-themed eggs for Easter. Last year, I actually painted an egg with Sovereign Beetle Designs (like the middle one, bottom row), at my significant other's house. I'm pretty sure I weirded out his family!
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