Last night, my housemate noticed a stray cat picking through the dumpster near our home just as she got off of work. As it was bitterly cold, we tried to see if we could coax the tiny grey feline into coming home with us. Unfortunately, he was just too skittish. I spent a few hours that evening hoping he curled up in the box and ate the food we left for him, and drew this. I love drawing mundane scenes from everyday life, with the people performing them replaced by something fantastical.

My housemate, whom I've depicted as a wolf with embers of hope crackling throughout her fur, is presently finishing up her last year of vet school. It's so hard not bringing home every stray animal she finds, or every patient in need of a good home. It certainly pains me to know that anyone, human or domesticated animal could be left outside as bitter winter draws near.

Well, I've been sick with a sinus infection-turned-bronchitis for the past month. I've been doing sketches here and there, but nothing I felt I could finish. So, I just decided to quickly color something anyway, as I really need the practice. I feel like I've forgotten so much, so doing any more than a sketch is intimidating. That, with the new school year, illness, and major life decisions, I've just been having trouble finding my muse.

I've finally started to peg down a design I like for Guardian Beast, at least for now. I've had this character since I was about 4-5 years old, but never really found a satisfactory way of depicting him. We'll just have to see how long this new incarnation lasts. He's a blend of lion and bovine traits, with a crown of bull's horns and a muscular reptilian tail. He is covered in fine coppery scales, but sports patches of platinum blond fur. Though he is physically powerful, he is rather shy about his physique and the assumptions people make about him based on first glance. I'll have to get a reference sheet up when I'm better.

SketchbookPro and Photoshop, done a few minutes here and there, about 4 hrs total.