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Full Title: Drawing 10 - Happy Valentines Day Dark Magician Girl: My Darling Princess of Spellcasters (2013)

This is my submission for the “Most Prized” contest held by K1ntar (Contest Journal: k1ntar.deviantart.com/journal/… ) & naked-in-the-rain (Contest Journal: naked-in-the-rain.deviantart.c… ).
For me, my most prized possession is the dream of finding and being with the girl who could be Dark Magician Girl. Sadly, at this point, and probably for many years to come, that’s all it is or will ever be…a dream. -_-

This is the very first “New” drawing with Dark Magician Girl that includes an attempted version of my self-OC.
And HEY, I ACTUALLY got it uploaded before midnight of the holiday this is made for! That’s surely new for a change.

(However, it’s not all great, because, upon looking at it, I KNOW I have to make some adjustments to the background part behind the curtains, because it should be darker for the sake of proper lighting…but in the sake of time and getting this uploaded before the 14th is over, I will have to put off that issue for now. I hope it looks okay for the time being… I’ll adjust later and replace this upload then.)

EDIT (2-28-13): I FINALLY got off my lazy duff and spent aaprox. 45 minutes of time, using PSE7 to:
Tediously use the “Brush Tool” to select around the entire background area behind the curtains
Copy the selected area to make it a separate layer
Use the “Enhance” > Adjust Lighting > Brightness/Contrast… and turned brightness to -100

Before anyone criticizes me harshly, I’m going to state right now that:
I know it’s NOT historically accurate; I tried my best just to get it half-way believable
I have never drawn a hugging-from-behind kind of pose
DMG’s outfit, especially the veil-like sleeves were completely guessed
I suck at drawing my self-OC
Something looks off about both faces; but I don’t know how to correct them. -_-
Hands, feet, fingers, & toes are hard to draw correctly
The balcony’s curve was completely free-handed and eyeballed for symmetry
The curtains and their curves/folds as well as the ropes, were completely guessed
I have never drawn a canopy bed, a dresser/desk, nor the tapestry before
The bookcase and each of the 71 books was tediously difficult to draw & color
Even with a ruler, I had nothing but trouble getting the pillars straight and symmetrically placed
The one-point perspective was guessed, and almost resulted in the bedchamber floor having no texture

Also, If you look, you might see a little creature hiding somewhere.
====================================================================

I really don’t know what to say for this part, but I hope the background doesn’t give the wrong impression.

When I think about it, the following story could possibly pre-date some of the other story-like images that I made back on the old account…

The idea/story I wanted to represent here, is thus:
   It is early afternoon. Dark Magician Girl, residing in her bedchamber, of her castle located in the Dominion of the Beasts, decides to get up from her bed, and go out to the balcony to look out upon the majestic landscape that surrounds the palace. As far as the eyes can see, the lush, green trees and plants of the forest, the clear and sparkling water of the small brooks, and all the wonders of nature, surround this other-world palace.
   A dimensional portal that separates the Dominion of the Beasts and the Human World was erected some months back; only those who have purity or heart and/or who hold no ill will towards another, may cross through this dimensional rift. Having passed through the gateway earlier this morning, I’ve made my way to the castle.
   Since the Princess of Spellcasters and I had met some months back, and have spent quite a bit of time together every now and again, the sentries do not try to stop me, and I’m admitted through the gates. I greet those I pass by in the halls, inquire of Lady Valkyria where I may find Dark Magician Girl, and then make my way up the stone stairwell of the tower that holds Mana’s bedchamber at its peak. I very gently open the door to make sure I won’t disturb her if she’s sleeping or resting…but I don’t see her under the canopy veils/curtains. I take a few more soft steps, set down the sparkly red, heart shaped box of sweets, and bouquet of twelve mixed roses; lavender, red, and white, upon the mattress, and look about the room. I’m about to greet the emptiness in hopes that I’ll receive a response, when I catch sight of the princess standing upon the balcony and staring out. Her silky golden hair flows gently in the breeze, as does the gentle silks of her pink dress.
   Very carefully and slowly I walk towards her, hoping the sound of my boots upon the floor will not announce my approach. Once I reach her, standing behind her, I wrap my arms around her, and give her a gentle and loving hug. “Hello princess.”
   She jumps slightly and makes a small startled scream, but upon realizing who it is, she calms and embraces the hug, smiling and blushing gently and softly grasps my left arm with her left hand. “Hi, David.”
   I gently kiss her head and continue to huggle her softly, “Happy Valentines Day, sweetie. ”
   She softly giggles, “Happy Valentines Day. I missed you; I was hoping you would be able to make it here today.” She holds onto my arms snugly.
   “Of course; I did all I could to make sure I could be here for you today, on this special day.”
   We both are silent and no one says a word for long moments, simply smiling, embacing, and looking out across the serene landscape. I then break the silence, “It’s such a nice and warm day Mana, how does a Valentines Day picnic in the forest sound?”
   She looks back and up to me, smiling happily, “I think it sounds like a beautiful idea, and I’d love it.” I give her one more loving squeeze, then release the hug. We then go back into her bedchamber, I surprise her with my sweet and fragrant gifts, she accepts them with a loving smile, and then we go about getting ready for a picnic.
   It was a very enjoyable day with my darling Princess of Spellcasters, and it’s one we will never forget. ^^

Sadly, all of this is just in my head, and therefore, just like every year before, this day of Valentines, is nothing really more than depressing and lonely. Oh well, complaining is not going to change anything, so I’ll just shut up. -^-
====================================================================

Image Creation Description
I should have gotten started on this sooner, but a lack of ideas, motivation, and finding better image references, prevented such. -_-
Nevertheless, once I did get started on it, I made sure to put much attention to detail and was incredible careful; hoping to heck I wouldn’t screw it up somewhere along the way.

While trying to decide if I could make what I wanted, I started by making some small practice and/or test sketches on a small note/message pad. I tried first on January 20, 2013 and the other was made on February 3, 2013.

Following some more uncertainty, procrastination, and being tied up with other things, I finally got to work on making the official sketch. The work on this image progressed as follows:

February 8, 2013
Approx. 1hr. 45min. (minus 15-20min.) (Very early morning hours)
    Started sketch work for DMG & the Balcony
    Managed to get at least a rough draft version of each
Approx. 6hrs. 15min. (minus 30-45min.) (Afternoon to evening)
    Finished and improved upon DMG & the Balcony
    Started & finished sketch work for Myself, Curtains, Rocks in wall, & Pillars

February 9, 2013
Approx. 0hrs. 30min.
    Adjusted/edited Curtains
    Added shading to Rocks in wall

February 10, 2013
Approx. 1hr. 50min. (minus 30-45min.)
    Adjusted/edited my and DMG’s hair shape
    Added first attempted Bedchamber items, thanks to inspiration/ideas from HellionScythe

February 11, 2013
Approx. 3hrs. 55min. (Got called away after 2 hrs.; had to come back to finish)
    Traced lineart on the makeshift light-table downstairs
      (Made adjustments/additions to bed, dresser/desk, bookcase, tapestry, back wall)
    Scanned both sketch and lineart for record purposes

February 12, 2013 through February 13, 2013
Approx. 3hrs. 55min. (minus 30min.) (Started late and worked into the morning)
    Applied color to DMG, Myself, and some of the Bedchamber items

February 13, 2013 through February 14, 2013
Approx. 2hrs. 30min. (minus 15min.) (Later on and in the evening of (2-13-13))
    Applied color to rest of Bedchamber items, Castle walls, Balcony, Pillars, & Curtains
Approx. 3hrs. 35min. (minus 30-35min.) (Continuing from earlier, after resting and eating dinner; worked into the early morning hours of (2-14-13))
    After struggle & failure to make decent bedchamber floor, finally settled & applied color to wooden floor
    Finally decided upon color for Balcony floor
    Scanned the image

February 14, 2013
Approx. 0hrs. 20min.
    Cropped as necessary in PSE 7
    Used Clone Stamp Tool in PSE 7 to do most necessary touch-ups
Approx. 5hrs. 30min.
    Just to get this Image Description typed up, in between taking care of my Baby Dragons. guardianofcliffton.deviantart.…
====================================================================

Credits/Links/References
I had spent time a few weeks back (even before the “incident” guardianofcliffton.deviantart.… ) trying to get references for this image, specifically for the pose. Some references I couldn’t find until much later on, just before I started work on this project.

Some of the images that helped me in particular were as follows:
“Dark Magician Girl” (blackzero04.deviantart.com/art… ) ©2006 blackzero04
    Having seen this years ago already, it was the primary inspiration for the Balcony concept with DMG
The “Manga Creator Page. 7” intro image ( rinmaru.deviantart.com/art/Man… ) ©2011 Rinmaru , of whose accompanying flash game let me make my version seen here: ( guardianofcliffton.deviantart.… )
    Looking at a horizontally flipped version of this image, helped the most for drawing the hugging-from-behind pose
Other images the helped with the pose:
    Horizontally flipped version of this: img3.pcgames.com.cn/pcgames/08…
    Horizontally flipped version of this: static.zerochan.net/Marmalade.…
    danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/6…
    e-shuushuu.net/images/2007-10-… from e-shuushuu.net/search/results/… of which indicates, I’m guessing it’s from something called “Tokidoki Sugar” and is by an artist known as “Masaharu”
ALL image references © Their respectful owners

The helpful inspiration and furthering ideas for making the background items which included the Canopy bed, the Dresser/Desk/Bureau, Bookcase, and Tapestry ©2013 HellionScythe

Fanart of Dark Magician Girl, my self-OC attempt, the overall ideas for this image, and Story in the above description ©2013 GuardianOfCliffton
Dark Magician Girl & All Yu-Gi-Oh!™ Related References are ©1996 Kazuki Takahashi

Please & Comment; thanks.

Description
Please Read Artist Description



Full Title: Drawing 10 - Happy Valentines Day Dark Magician Girl: My Darling Princess of Spellcasters (2013)

This is my submission for the “Most Prized” contest held by K1ntar (Contest Journal: k1ntar.deviantart.com/journal/… ) & naked-in-the-rain (Contest Journal: naked-in-the-rain.deviantart.c… ).
For me, my most prized possession is the dream of finding and being with the girl who could be Dark Magician Girl. Sadly, at this point, and probably for many years to come, that’s all it is or will ever be…a dream. -_-

This is the very first “New” drawing with Dark Magician Girl that includes an attempted version of my self-OC.
And HEY, I ACTUALLY got it uploaded before midnight of the holiday this is made for! That’s surely new for a change.

(However, it’s not all great, because, upon looking at it, I KNOW I have to make some adjustments to the background part behind the curtains, because it should be darker for the sake of proper lighting…but in the sake of time and getting this uploaded before the 14th is over, I will have to put off that issue for now. I hope it looks okay for the time being… I’ll adjust later and replace this upload then.)

EDIT (2-28-13): I FINALLY got off my lazy duff and spent aaprox. 45 minutes of time, using PSE7 to:
Tediously use the “Brush Tool” to select around the entire background area behind the curtains
Copy the selected area to make it a separate layer
Use the “Enhance” > Adjust Lighting > Brightness/Contrast… and turned brightness to -100

Before anyone criticizes me harshly, I’m going to state right now that:
I know it’s NOT historically accurate; I tried my best just to get it half-way believable
I have never drawn a hugging-from-behind kind of pose
DMG’s outfit, especially the veil-like sleeves were completely guessed
I suck at drawing my self-OC
Something looks off about both faces; but I don’t know how to correct them. -_-
Hands, feet, fingers, & toes are hard to draw correctly
The balcony’s curve was completely free-handed and eyeballed for symmetry
The curtains and their curves/folds as well as the ropes, were completely guessed
I have never drawn a canopy bed, a dresser/desk, nor the tapestry before
The bookcase and each of the 71 books was tediously difficult to draw & color
Even with a ruler, I had nothing but trouble getting the pillars straight and symmetrically placed
The one-point perspective was guessed, and almost resulted in the bedchamber floor having no texture

Also, If you look, you might see a little creature hiding somewhere.
====================================================================

I really don’t know what to say for this part, but I hope the background doesn’t give the wrong impression.

When I think about it, the following story could possibly pre-date some of the other story-like images that I made back on the old account…

The idea/story I wanted to represent here, is thus:
   It is early afternoon. Dark Magician Girl, residing in her bedchamber, of her castle located in the Dominion of the Beasts, decides to get up from her bed, and go out to the balcony to look out upon the majestic landscape that surrounds the palace. As far as the eyes can see, the lush, green trees and plants of the forest, the clear and sparkling water of the small brooks, and all the wonders of nature, surround this other-world palace.
   A dimensional portal that separates the Dominion of the Beasts and the Human World was erected some months back; only those who have purity or heart and/or who hold no ill will towards another, may cross through this dimensional rift. Having passed through the gateway earlier this morning, I’ve made my way to the castle.
   Since the Princess of Spellcasters and I had met some months back, and have spent quite a bit of time together every now and again, the sentries do not try to stop me, and I’m admitted through the gates. I greet those I pass by in the halls, inquire of Lady Valkyria where I may find Dark Magician Girl, and then make my way up the stone stairwell of the tower that holds Mana’s bedchamber at its peak. I very gently open the door to make sure I won’t disturb her if she’s sleeping or resting…but I don’t see her under the canopy veils/curtains. I take a few more soft steps, set down the sparkly red, heart shaped box of sweets, and bouquet of twelve mixed roses; lavender, red, and white, upon the mattress, and look about the room. I’m about to greet the emptiness in hopes that I’ll receive a response, when I catch sight of the princess standing upon the balcony and staring out. Her silky golden hair flows gently in the breeze, as does the gentle silks of her pink dress.
   Very carefully and slowly I walk towards her, hoping the sound of my boots upon the floor will not announce my approach. Once I reach her, standing behind her, I wrap my arms around her, and give her a gentle and loving hug. “Hello princess.”
   She jumps slightly and makes a small startled scream, but upon realizing who it is, she calms and embraces the hug, smiling and blushing gently and softly grasps my left arm with her left hand. “Hi, David.”
   I gently kiss her head and continue to huggle her softly, “Happy Valentines Day, sweetie. ”
   She softly giggles, “Happy Valentines Day. I missed you; I was hoping you would be able to make it here today.” She holds onto my arms snugly.
   “Of course; I did all I could to make sure I could be here for you today, on this special day.”
   We both are silent and no one says a word for long moments, simply smiling, embacing, and looking out across the serene landscape. I then break the silence, “It’s such a nice and warm day Mana, how does a Valentines Day picnic in the forest sound?”
   She looks back and up to me, smiling happily, “I think it sounds like a beautiful idea, and I’d love it.” I give her one more loving squeeze, then release the hug. We then go back into her bedchamber, I surprise her with my sweet and fragrant gifts, she accepts them with a loving smile, and then we go about getting ready for a picnic.
   It was a very enjoyable day with my darling Princess of Spellcasters, and it’s one we will never forget. ^^

Sadly, all of this is just in my head, and therefore, just like every year before, this day of Valentines, is nothing really more than depressing and lonely. Oh well, complaining is not going to change anything, so I’ll just shut up. -^-
====================================================================

Image Creation Description
I should have gotten started on this sooner, but a lack of ideas, motivation, and finding better image references, prevented such. -_-
Nevertheless, once I did get started on it, I made sure to put much attention to detail and was incredible careful; hoping to heck I wouldn’t screw it up somewhere along the way.

While trying to decide if I could make what I wanted, I started by making some small practice and/or test sketches on a small note/message pad. I tried first on January 20, 2013 and the other was made on February 3, 2013.

Following some more uncertainty, procrastination, and being tied up with other things, I finally got to work on making the official sketch. The work on this image progressed as follows:

February 8, 2013
Approx. 1hr. 45min. (minus 15-20min.) (Very early morning hours)
    Started sketch work for DMG & the Balcony
    Managed to get at least a rough draft version of each
Approx. 6hrs. 15min. (minus 30-45min.) (Afternoon to evening)
    Finished and improved upon DMG & the Balcony
    Started & finished sketch work for Myself, Curtains, Rocks in wall, & Pillars

February 9, 2013
Approx. 0hrs. 30min.
    Adjusted/edited Curtains
    Added shading to Rocks in wall

February 10, 2013
Approx. 1hr. 50min. (minus 30-45min.)
    Adjusted/edited my and DMG’s hair shape
    Added first attempted Bedchamber items, thanks to inspiration/ideas from HellionScythe

February 11, 2013
Approx. 3hrs. 55min. (Got called away after 2 hrs.; had to come back to finish)
    Traced lineart on the makeshift light-table downstairs
      (Made adjustments/additions to bed, dresser/desk, bookcase, tapestry, back wall)
    Scanned both sketch and lineart for record purposes

February 12, 2013 through February 13, 2013
Approx. 3hrs. 55min. (minus 30min.) (Started late and worked into the morning)
    Applied color to DMG, Myself, and some of the Bedchamber items

February 13, 2013 through February 14, 2013
Approx. 2hrs. 30min. (minus 15min.) (Later on and in the evening of (2-13-13))
    Applied color to rest of Bedchamber items, Castle walls, Balcony, Pillars, & Curtains
Approx. 3hrs. 35min. (minus 30-35min.) (Continuing from earlier, after resting and eating dinner; worked into the early morning hours of (2-14-13))
    After struggle & failure to make decent bedchamber floor, finally settled & applied color to wooden floor
    Finally decided upon color for Balcony floor
    Scanned the image

February 14, 2013
Approx. 0hrs. 20min.
    Cropped as necessary in PSE 7
    Used Clone Stamp Tool in PSE 7 to do most necessary touch-ups
Approx. 5hrs. 30min.
    Just to get this Image Description typed up, in between taking care of my Baby Dragons. guardianofcliffton.deviantart.…
====================================================================

Credits/Links/References
I had spent time a few weeks back (even before the “incident” guardianofcliffton.deviantart.… ) trying to get references for this image, specifically for the pose. Some references I couldn’t find until much later on, just before I started work on this project.

Some of the images that helped me in particular were as follows:
“Dark Magician Girl” (blackzero04.deviantart.com/art… ) ©2006 blackzero04
    Having seen this years ago already, it was the primary inspiration for the Balcony concept with DMG
The “Manga Creator Page. 7” intro image ( rinmaru.deviantart.com/art/Man… ) ©2011 Rinmaru , of whose accompanying flash game let me make my version seen here: ( guardianofcliffton.deviantart.… )
    Looking at a horizontally flipped version of this image, helped the most for drawing the hugging-from-behind pose
Other images the helped with the pose:
    Horizontally flipped version of this: img3.pcgames.com.cn/pcgames/08…
    Horizontally flipped version of this: static.zerochan.net/Marmalade.…
    danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/6…
    e-shuushuu.net/images/2007-10-… from e-shuushuu.net/search/results/… of which indicates, I’m guessing it’s from something called “Tokidoki Sugar” and is by an artist known as “Masaharu”
ALL image references © Their respectful owners

The helpful inspiration and furthering ideas for making the background items which included the Canopy bed, the Dresser/Desk/Bureau, Bookcase, and Tapestry ©2013 HellionScythe

Fanart of Dark Magician Girl, my self-OC attempt, the overall ideas for this image, and Story in the above description ©2013 GuardianOfCliffton
Dark Magician Girl & All Yu-Gi-Oh!™ Related References are ©1996 Kazuki Takahashi

Please & Comment; thanks.