HOME | DD
LucrataNexarii β Gaster Practice 15
#wingdings #gaster #calligraphy #gaster_undertale
Published: 2017-10-31 07:31:59 +0000 UTC; Views: 1183; Favourites: 74; Downloads: 7
Redirect to original
Description
Thoughts: A digital work to test a new technique, and a first effort at placing my longstanding calligraphic/ornamental Wingdings script to digital use.The script, largely spontaneous, reads "Do not point me toward your familiar path. I want what smoke tells of the passion of fire."
While there are certain factors behind the writing, the imagery, mirroring it, bears some symbol which is unclear to me. Note the cranial Void-matter which takes on a smokelike haze, whilst the rest condenses down into something more akin to liquid. While reflective of tears among the eyes, the single extended stroke from the mouth brings to mind a sort of predatory focus, of a being looking for sustenance, or to strip resources from the living (maybe even the remains of sacrifice.)
On the tip of his bony finger, a trickle of more ichor - but of what basis? And what further does it reflect whilst seeping from the anomalous gate in his palm? Even within his chest, his spine bleeds fine tendrils amid the shadows.
To his eyes, a faded and stern hue of green.
One could take from this destruction as much as change...
Don't let go.
Materials: Digital work only.
Notes: Undertale, and Gaster are property of Toby Fox. (Heavily stylized calligraphic Wingdings, my own formulation.)
Related content
Comments: 23
Your style of drawing and sculpting absolutely floors me every time. The muted light gives off an aged feel to the picture, while there is a striking contrast between the lights of his bony features and the shadows on and around him. That fancy script for wing dings really sophisticates it, and the slightly yellowish shading on the bones gives them an organic feel. Keep up with the incredible work!!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you, foremost. (It appears that my previous reply has gone to the Void, unheard and unheeded...?)
Now then, it is interesting that we both take the translation of age in the image, though of what exact traits I did not intend, nor can I quite place. However, the ineffable was ever the place of Gaster, and so that resonates nevertheless. While I wished to keep a slightΒ hue to his exposed bone, the choice there was both for visual variety (often seen as he is gray or stark white, rather than with any hue), but my purpose in it was to reflect the life he once had, and the subtle symbolism as bone as the final framework of any living being, it's... Justice, perhaps a sort of karma, for having lived at all. The joys, the sorrows, all moments compressed into the pane of finality, which stranger beings may view from without. Further one could look at both purple and yellow as duly complimentary, yielding either light or darkness in their ultimate sine of being.
Thank you. I have plenty to learn, but so long as yourself and the handful of other artists appreciate it, I am glad to continue on the journey.
π: 0 β©: 1
You're very welcome! You seem to have mastered packing as much symbolism and subtle details into your work as possible, and it's really intriguing to unravel that process.Β
π: 0 β©: 1
Ah, yes, it's true that I can scarcely make anything that doesn't either have impiled or alternate details woven somewhere into it's content.
And toward Gaster, I see this all as a due reflection of his own ways, and his mysterious multiplicity. Hardly could one define him without finding further threads which one did not notice before. It's a fractal descent into a complex soul.
Though my works and art time are nigh to nothing, I can only hope to continue rightly reflecting these things (or the path toward them) in my continuing effort of depicting Gaster.
π: 0 β©: 1
Your works aren't anywhere near nothing! Honestly, you're probably the one artist I know so determined to thoroughly analyze this character from so many different perspectives. Gaster is definitely a complex being who merits this much attention.
π: 0 β©: 1
Ahh... In the back of my mind, (little attention as I pay to others' work, lacking time as I do, and the great river of which it is comprised, ever-flowing) it is curious to note that. And, somehow, a little lonely. I would have hoped there would be a few more of such inclination like myself. But still, it is good to hear your perspectives, as they tell me what I would have otherwise been unable to see and find for myself.
Now, as to contending with Gaster, he is a complex figure indeed, and I'd stand right alongside you in the knowledge that in equal parts he is compelling and intimidating all the same. I can only hope that through my efforts, whether sculpture, individual exercises, or this glacial comic effort seen elsewhere, that I might be able to carve a proper representation of those potentials. All I have in my armament is a sole, smallish notebook already over 200 pages in notes, and a growing body of staunch literature on the side - all of topics related laterally to Gaster and associated concepts and difficulties which he shall face.
And, in honesty, I would have it no other way, years though it may take me. 
π: 0 β©: 1
I've always pondered at his origins as well. If he's a sort of villain-type, then he's got to be a tragic one, due to his fall. The game only hints at small bits of his character, saying that he had a little bit of an ego, but generally worked for the greater good of monster kind. Even though he's a skeleton monster thrust into an endless void, he can sometimes be very relatable, feeling irrelevant on a cosmic scale or even content to watch things from the sidelines. But of course, this being can be representative of many other concepts, due to his design.Β
π: 0 β©: 1
And invariably, we happen across those unclear threads of his nature which are - for the time, and maybe forevermore - unknown. And so, it makes of his ways a gateway.
This is both the great divide, and at the same time, a spanning bridge; a collective space rich with potential, and writ with plenty of waves in the same pattern, but with ultimately many fine variations. A fine thing to reflect on in it's stillness or movement, and in it's reflections or it's chaos. We will create as we will.
Though, I echo, perhaps as is right, his eternal unknown status. To myself, he is the figure of mystery; not in the blandness of simply being an unknown factor, no, but in the deeper sense that as a liminal being, he will always be one step ahead of one's understanding - the very gravity that impels motion and new insight.
... Heh. So, we see there how I move relative to Gaster. But, that is one side. That is the presence which will be there in the art exercises, in the compelling things, in the spontaneous work that is enigmatic, even to me. The things that relieve the mind and, though sheer presence and entropy, wear the edges from thoughts so peace might have it's reprieve among the gyres of turbulence.
The other side, of course, is the more formulaic and careful. This would be the comic effort I work on so slowly. I would discuss it further, but in it are the factors woven to give Gaster strength and reason - but in themselves are not easy. We know how Gaster ultimately ends up, as he always was and will be. But, the path there is one that I gave what I felt would be most interesting (subtly, in how I quantify that, I don't expect others to take to it, I guess). Some curious little inversions that happened to mesh together in it's overall plan. So... No matter how long it takes, I intend to continue that tale.
Perhaps you will share your thoughts from time to time, along the way. But it will be a long time between steps, I am afraid. Life does not grant me great liberty of time.
π: 0 β©: 1
Right, his nebulous back story makes him much more interesting. Maybe it's that unknown state that cannot be understood that is what draws people to him.
π: 0 β©: 1
This, I am sure, many would profess to.
π: 0 β©: 0
DUDE that wingding style is AWESOME !!!!Β
i love it.Β
i am guesing you drew it... and its not just a font. but if it is. pls tell me how its called!
awesome pic in a whole!Β
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you.
The Wingdings calligraphy is not a font, though I've had some limited requests to make it so - an effort I admit I am not skilled (nor even tried) in doing. Perhaps one day.
Yet for the time being, this specific appearance, ornamentalized as it is, is actually the result of a long line of such efforts, all sequestered in various books or journals.
It appears the evolution of these is nearing a finalized form, yet it still manages to come up with subtle transformations which surprise me. And I have full confidence that will continue, so long as I put it into motion and find myself as curious over the enigmatic words that come forward.
π: 0 β©: 1
Oh well. tbh: that is no problem ^^
I mean, i did some some of my stuff also not from sketch (asked ofc)...
It is an very cool pic in anycase.
But thank you so much for taking so much time to reply ^w^
have a nice day!
π: 0 β©: 1
*HAS A FUCKING HEART-ATTACK FROM JOY*
Oh my gawd, oh my gawwwd. I'm not every sure where to start. The calligraphy is absolutely the height of everything I've seen from you so far. The extra/baroque swirliness of the end-tails and the additional ornamentation on the bottoms is perfect, absolutely. Like I said, nobody would know I'm a secret type/handwriting fangirl but you are so easy to drag it out of me with all of the cool things you've been doing with the WD script.
I don't know if I've even seen your Gaster in that kind of coat, but I really enjoy it. Very clean; it reads to me like something I would see on a upper-class villain from a steampunk novel. I wish I had anything to say about how he's draw, but I have nothing to add that would improve on whats already here. The detail of his spine going down to the rest of his body, partially obscured by his collar, is my favorite non-calligraphic part of the image. Incredibly amazing!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Heh. Well, no, don't go suffering any ill health from my simple works. 
Hmm, unfortunately I am not as succinctly-versed in the proper terminology of discussing type, yet alone calligraphic forms. In a way, that may hinder really examining the stylistic meatgrinder through which I've put this experimentation with ornamented Wingdings.
But, one thing I could say is that I'd deliberately neglected to add proper initial forms, yet alone finial ones (for the most part) in this image. I could certainly bear that in mind for later ones, in time. Actually, herein I'd happened across a new form to the character R, one that, like M, is rather more of a deviation from the 'proper' form, but for the flow of the calligraphy works well with an otherwise difficult character to stylize and have it blend with it's surroundings.
As for Gaster's appearance here, it was meant to be simple, foremost. But second, a reflection on who Gaster was, as much as he is a literally andΒ metaphorically/visually damaged and disrupted in a few ways; which places him in a post-transcendent state.
But, it does bring up one detail that I hadn't mentioned that in and of my ideas, in the middling states of Gaster's time where he is gifted with greater resources though set into the jaws of the position of Royal Scientist, it becomes a habit of his to maintain a purposefully unintimidating or simplistic appearance - quite in contrast to his working appearance, which would often have him set with the orderly (and to him, aesthteic) chaos and design of work equipment, personal tools, and personal protective gear of his laboratory. Further, though I've yet to develop much design toward it, the double-breasted trait on jackets, complex, turn-down collars (or taller collars, such as to mask his skeletal traits), and paneled stitching as his answer to being placed in juxtaposition to other prominent figures in society.
Anyhow, those are really not design skills I have in concept, nor in technique (digital or otherwise), but maybe that will improve with time...
Thank you for your thoughts.
π: 0 β©: 0
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WROTE ALL THOSE BY HAND
π: 0 β©: 1
Greetings.
I can easily say that they occupied time in due proportion to everything else. Though, they have a life of their own in a way that normal calligraphy does not; this is actually the result of a good many entries penned already, long before this, in other books. With their many-fold more strokes, angles, and details, they offer a chaotic possibility of both order and controlled madness which seems... Entirely befitting and reflective of Gaster's own traits. Aesthetics and flow are difficult to properly contain; one element flows into and links with others. The direction is quite unlike normal writing.
But, yes, time they do occupy. And any of their letter forms keep curiously evolving. Even here, there were some small revelations that I will continue for the later progressions. A trek of evolution through written word, and written word being woven by art and one's own hand. Again, perhaps suitable.
Thank you for your thoughts.
π: 0 β©: 0
Thank you.
The font is not a font, per se, but all written with the tablet. The stylization, however is the result of a long time of working with handwritten/calligraphic Wingdings, and slowly having the process evolve.
π: 0 β©: 1
This is the coolest wingdings design I've ever seen. Your drawings are incredible!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you for your regards.
I have actually been working with handwritten/calligraphic Wingdings for a long while, and it's gone through a gradual process of changes over time. Certain letters or stylization and habits will just... Arise, and so they are incorporated into their descendants. There are also certain 'rules' to it, minor though they may be, which adds some further character. Otherwise, given Gaster's dubious or unclear history, calligraphy and art of the written form is not to be overlooked, as I view him.
Elsewise, I have plenty to learn and find peace with in digital media. Having time to return to such practice is a blessing.
π: 0 β©: 0