Deer-beast - Tumblr Posts
Next up on the OC front, this is Lotu. A deer-like beast imbued with the energies of passion, roaming throughout the sacred woods they call home. That chain's not a fashion statement, it's a reminder of their past hardships and loss at the hands of an enigmatic organization that attempted to extract those energies from their body. Suffice to say, it left them… well, so long as you aren't wearing a labcoat if you cross paths, they won't default to anger. Probably.
That's the drawing that Lotu came from. Like Cole, they began as just a random character, with the caption "Let not the fire of passion within you be chained!" After a while, I found the impetus to draw them once more, fielding friends for suggestions on what colors to use.
I haven't figured out if Lotu's sacred woods follow the seasons or are unlatched from time in some way, but either way it's a beautiful place to see. I don't do much with backgrounds, but the forests here are pretty nice if I do say so myself.
Oh, and one final thing: If you see Lotu looking like this…
…you are doomed, in one way or another.
This character was a "bookend" character, you might say—their first drawing on the left was the first one in its sketchbook, and the one on the right was the last! I started the sketchbook off using only various graphite hardnesses but in the end this guy was able to get a little bit of color. Good, because it's kinda hard to discern their saddle when monochromatic.
This fellow's definitely a part of Lotu's world, a younger deer-beast than Lotu himself is... perhaps an explorer venturing into unknown frontiers. As for the name... I'm leaning towards Biscu.
(In case you're curious, the following sketchbook was started off with this drawing.)
Biscu picked up the pace, feeling the ground beneath their hooves shift from sand, to dirt, to grass. Their meeting with Lotu was soon, to train their emotional powers... If they were to be the guardian of their desert home, they had to get a handle on them , and while their fellow deer-beast's powers didn't quite align, the principles were enough to apply Lotu's passion for foliage to his fervor for oasis.
Finally, some more new art! Here we have Biscu appearing once more, exploring the world and gaining more characterization as Lotu's student. As to why someone as young as them has to guard an entire desert? ...Perhaps the answer is the same as to why Lotu has a broken chain around their neck...
Today's character ref is for Lotu! Made sure to catch both their good and furious side for this reference, along with their usual furrowed expression. And yes, I had to emphasize their hatred of scientists in the bullet points. Someday I'll detail what went down in their past to cause such a vile hatred...
Lotu is, undeniably, a gentle and peaceful soul at their core. Every single creature of the forest they call home, be it big or small, is one that would happily call them a trusted friend. Oftentimes, when they're off resting in a particularly sunlit section of the woods, Lotu will find themselves joined by some of his fellow creatures who are similarly eager to take a load off. It's quite an adorable sight to see... ...And it helps to center themselves if the memories of their past bubble up to the surface again, which... happens more often than they'd like to admit. Poor deer-beast's had a rough life. Timelapse of this drawing is below the cut!