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Description
Kinda struggled with this one. It's been so long since I did Leo and Mikey that this felt very foreign to me. The fact that I've been using mostly traditional mediums lately didn't make this any easier, so my apologies for how different this looks from its brothers. I didn't make him look as dark and brooding as I was hoping he'd turn out, but I must say I love how the scarf covers his face. I tried to capture Raph's hidden tenderness in his eyes, protected by a tough exterior. Raph is a character I both fear and admire. I wouldn't want to be in the same room as him (anger/strong emotion triggers my anxiety, and Raph is pure emotion) but if I was in trouble, I'd know I'd be OK if Raph was coming to my rescue. He truly is the fire of his clan. Don't get in his way, don't underestimate him, don't expect him to be anyone other than who he is.

Still, he had a soft side that I adore, and that's why this is a (very late) birthday gift for my youngest brother, Toby. My Tobers doesn't have emotional outbursts like Raph does, but he can come off as unfeeling because he can be so hard to read (similar to Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory). The truth is, though, that Toby is very soft-hearted. That's a strong parallel I see between him and Raph. My favorite manifestation of his sweet side is how tender he was with my hamster, Peppermint, before she passed away. Some nights she was so loud that I'd put her cage downstairs so I could focus on my work. Later, Toby would come into my room with Peppermint in his hands and ask, "Did she get fed today? Did she get to play outside of her cage?" My germaphobe, OCD, stone-faced little brother cared so much about my darling rodent that it stunned me. One night she escaped her cage. A few nights later, when she decided her adventure was over and she wanted to return to her cage, she crawled all the way up the stairs, into Toby's room, into his bed and onto his face. I don't think that was an accident. I think she chose to be found by Toby on purpose. There are many other examples of what a sweetheart my Toby is, but seeing him hold and pet Peppermint so carefully is a memory I'll always hold dear.

Leo's design is based off of Mooncalfe's TMNT comics. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE her work!!!! Go give her love.

Texture from <--- Thank you!

Made in Paint Tool Sai.

Raph belongs to respectful owners.

Description
Kinda struggled with this one. It's been so long since I did Leo and Mikey that this felt very foreign to me. The fact that I've been using mostly traditional mediums lately didn't make this any easier, so my apologies for how different this looks from its brothers. I didn't make him look as dark and brooding as I was hoping he'd turn out, but I must say I love how the scarf covers his face. I tried to capture Raph's hidden tenderness in his eyes, protected by a tough exterior. Raph is a character I both fear and admire. I wouldn't want to be in the same room as him (anger/strong emotion triggers my anxiety, and Raph is pure emotion) but if I was in trouble, I'd know I'd be OK if Raph was coming to my rescue. He truly is the fire of his clan. Don't get in his way, don't underestimate him, don't expect him to be anyone other than who he is.

Still, he had a soft side that I adore, and that's why this is a (very late) birthday gift for my youngest brother, Toby. My Tobers doesn't have emotional outbursts like Raph does, but he can come off as unfeeling because he can be so hard to read (similar to Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory). The truth is, though, that Toby is very soft-hearted. That's a strong parallel I see between him and Raph. My favorite manifestation of his sweet side is how tender he was with my hamster, Peppermint, before she passed away. Some nights she was so loud that I'd put her cage downstairs so I could focus on my work. Later, Toby would come into my room with Peppermint in his hands and ask, "Did she get fed today? Did she get to play outside of her cage?" My germaphobe, OCD, stone-faced little brother cared so much about my darling rodent that it stunned me. One night she escaped her cage. A few nights later, when she decided her adventure was over and she wanted to return to her cage, she crawled all the way up the stairs, into Toby's room, into his bed and onto his face. I don't think that was an accident. I think she chose to be found by Toby on purpose. There are many other examples of what a sweetheart my Toby is, but seeing him hold and pet Peppermint so carefully is a memory I'll always hold dear.

Leo's design is based off of Mooncalfe's TMNT comics. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE her work!!!! Go give her love.

Texture from <--- Thank you!

Made in Paint Tool Sai.

Raph belongs to respectful owners.