Anna's Artists Chat Thread

[lilmillefleur]

Name suggestions...Luke...lake...nah...
Sandsun...Sun...sand...is that why he was disowned by Anakin??? Did padme name her kid Sand to spite her husband?? My mind is expanding

And Moonfrost...Frostmoon...to contrast?

 

[lilmillefleur]

A Clan of two <3

 

[Amer]

yeah blue-cream tortie point was what I was trying to go for, but I didn't want the orange to be too light colored

Yeah that confused me. I was wondering why it was blue but also orange too so I assumed you just wanted a very bluish black.

 

[Amer]

A Clan of two <3

View attachment 2459323

So, so cute! I really love the forearm patch thingy.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Made a ton of character designs today...I will probably use most/all of them for White Lilacs in some way (I'll have to modify some of them to be fantasy though)
That's Sam and the neighbor on the end there, and Sam's parents on the other end. Not revealing who anyone else is just yet

 

[Amer]

Made a ton of character designs today...I will probably use most/all of them for White Lilacs in some way (I'll have to modify some of them to be fantasy though)
That's Sam and the neighbor on the end there, and Sam's parents on the other end. Not revealing who anyone else is just yet
View attachment 2462344

They’re all so beautiful! And so people! They don’t look too perfect, they look just right.
I really love the girl with the striped leggings. Mum and neighbor are just how I imagined them.

So uhh... how do you draw a black cat? Because the blob on the right is supposed to be one.

It’s How to Train Your Dragon book fan art. You should read them they are really good.

 

[Amer]

Question about White Lilacs. Is it based present times or... when? And where?

 

[Amer]

Merry Christmas! I need help!
The conversation rushes with the Pearl, but the story drags too much when Peregrine is supposed to flitting from shop to shop like a bumblebee. Wait, that’s a great metaphor.
Anyways, here is the latest installment. PLEASE give revision ideas.

Spoiler: Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“I don’t like this,” Gia muttered, picking at the hardened mud on the red feathers that had grown in. Peregrine was hovering in front of her.
Peregrine knew she didn’t like to hide who she was, but tended to agree with Mrs. Leaflow. It was “advisable that you hide your identity as a red canary just a little bit longer.”
“Next thing I know, she’s gonna make me dye my feathers black.” Only two days before, Gia had found out about her status as a red canary. Thinking she was a black canary her whole life, initially the thought of being anything different scared her. But over the last couple of days, she’d warmed up to the idea. First of all, red canaries we’re supposed to be terribly beautiful. Secondly, Gia loved attention. Being special and standing out… she loved all of that attention. Even if it was negative attention.
“Your mom can’t make you do anything,” Peregrine said matter-of-factly. “Both of you know that. And that’s why she begged you to put mud on them. She didn’t make you.”
“Well maybe she’ll beg me to dye them.”
“Come on already! I want to go to the market! Not to hear your complaining.” Every five days, the market happened. Barring the midsummer’s festival, the market was probably the most interesting thing that ever happened during the summer in Peregrine’s little town. And Peregrine had never gone to it before. Compared to the mundanity of his life, he was sure it must be magical. After all, that’s where his mother often bought food, furniture, and knicknacks. Peregrine just had to see it.
“Oh, fine,” Gia said, floating up beside Peregrine.
Peregrine streaked towards the center of his village, which was a spreading oak tree strung with huts, bridges, and flowers. Many woven platforms had been set up, dyed in bright colors. The smell of baked goods and the musical noise of singing performers beckoned him. As he investigated, Peregrine spotted baskets, cloaks, pouches, clay pots, and even objects of wrought metal. Metal was expensive. The only piece of metal to be found in Peregrine’s house was his father’s long knife, which he always kept in a belt around his middle.
Here Peregrine saw not only knives but also pots and chains and even shiny silver medallions, crafted with intricate detail in little silver wire. He wondered who in his little town could afford a trinket like that.
As Peregrine fluttered from one market platform to another, darting like a hummingbird to avoid the birds walking along the little bridges strung throughout the tree, he began to feel dismay at his complete lack of coins. It seemed magical, handing over those flat wooden disks for something valuable in return. But this regret couldn’t hold his attention for long. As soon as he had spotted a gorgeously painted array of pottery, he had completely forgotten about it.
As Peregrine fluttered carelessly between the fragile pottery displays, the potter began giving him dirty looks, so Peregrine moved along to a hut filled with nice wooden furniture, and then a basket weaver’s hut.
He was gazing at a platform piled with baskets of pastries and sweet rolls when he spotted a familiar face at the platform next door.
“Sage!” he shouted, hopping over. “Good morning, sir!”
The elderly bird’s beak curled into a smile. “Hullo there, birdie! I’ve never seen you here at the market before!” Sage was surrounded by baskets full of berries that he had collected.
“Me neither!” Peregrine said cheerfully. He bounced a couple times on his toes. “It’s actually my first time here.” He jumped back as a brown bird suddenly landed heavily beside him. That bird was Gia, gasping and giving Peregrine accusatory glances. Gia who was usually known for possessing the stamina to outfly all of the birds her age.
“WHAT,” she asked, “did you have for breakfast?” She exhaled deeply. “You’ve been dashing all over the market like a wretched dragonfly! I can barely keep up with you!”
“What?” Peregrine asked. “It’s not like you’re my chaperone. Are you tired?” he teased.
Gia huffed. Sage chuckled. “Since it’s your first time at the market, Peregrine, and since I like you more than most fledges your age, I think I’ll give you a coin so you can buy something around here, same as I did for Gia her first time here.” Sage winked. “Don’t tell your siblings.”
“I won’t!”
Sage shoved his beak into a pouch sitting on the ground beside him. “Open your claw.”
Peregrine stood on one foot and opened the other, holding it to upwards as though expecting a piece of the sky to fall right into it.
Sage pressed a wooden coin into Peregrine’s open claw.
“Thank you,” Peregrine said, inspecting the coin. There was a picture of the face of a bird on one side, and the silhouette of a bird on the other. The bird’s face was in profile view, and he had a curving beak, like a falcon. Like Peregrine’s. A scar shaped like an ‘x’ sat upon his brow. “Who’s that?” Peregrine asked.
“That’s Kestrel,” Sage answered. “He was a very influential bird. He called for the establishment of a republic, when the monarchy was oppressing us.”
Peregrine nodded with satisfaction. He was proud to hold a coin with that bird’s face on it.
“Buy whatever you like,” said Sage.
“I will!” Peregrine said, looking at Gia, who was shifting from foot to foot. “Let’s go!” He took off.
“What’re you gonna get?” Gia asked while they flew.
“I don’t know yet.” Peregrine said. “Maybe I’ll get one of those metal medallions. If this is enough for that.” He really wasn’t sure how much a Kestrel coin was worth but he was sure it had to be a lot.
Gia laughed. “Those are way too expensive. With the bit you’ve got, maybe you can get a sticky bun or a little carved trinket. I got one of those myself. Fox-shaped.”
Peregrine fluttered to the lower levels of the tree, clutching his little coin. Both of Gia’s suggestions sounded nice. He’d have to look around some more before he could make up his mind. It was shadier down in the lower levels of the oak, and Peregrine found that it was occupied by more private huts than stores.
Whoosh! A figure cloaked in a black hood flew past his head to one of the huts nearby. It was hard to miss the fact that the feathers beneath the cloak were as red as a cardinal’s. “Did you see that?” Peregrine asked.
“Yes!” Gia said. She was bobbing in flight, suddenly even more excited than Peregrine was. “Let’s follow that bird.” She darted ahead, slipping right through the doorway.
“Into that house?” Peregrine shot in after her.
Fortunately the hut was a nut vendor’s place, and not somebody’s private property, like Peregrine had feared. The vendor looked up from the counter with indifference, but the red canary seemed irritated by their appearance.
She wore a caped hood, and beneath it sat a large satchel, and next to that was a dagger. Like Gia, she demanded respect. Unfortunately for her, Peregrine didn’t take social cues.
“Hi there!” he chirped. “I’ve never met a red canary before. Where are you from?”
Gia inspected the cloak. “You know, the cloak doesn’t make you any less inconspicuous.”
“No, it doesn’t,” the red canary snapped in agreement. “But it usually keeps impertinent fledges from asking annoying questions. Even if I’m a second rate citizen, I’m still a citizen, not a walking encyclopedia.”
“But I’m a red canary too!” said Gia, chewing fiercely at the mud that covered her red feathers, puffing up when they were in full view. “See? And I’ve never met someone of my kind before!”
The canary’s gaze softened from diamond hardness to around more of a topaz level. “Alright,” she muttered. “I guess I’ll give you two minutes for questions. My name is Pearl. What’s yours? Is your friend a red canary too?”
“Nope? Just an impertinent fledgeling!” said Peregrine cheerfully. “I’m Peregrine!”
“And I’m Gia,” said Gia.
“I suppose we can talk here. Pax is a friend of mine.” The nut-seller waved a wing. I know how bad it is feeling like you’re the only one,” said Pearl. “So what are your questions?”
“Okay,” said Peregrine. “Are all red canaries as grumpy… Sorry…” Peregrine searched for the right word. His mother told him it wasn’t very nice to call birds grumpy. “Are all red canaries as strong willed as you and Gia?”
“No. But any that you meet will be. All the red canaries that remain in this forest have to be tough and stubborn. Otherwise they would have left the forest already. Or they would have died in the massacre.” Pearl frowned, then spoke craftily. “Wait, two little chicks like you wouldn’t know anything about that. I’ve already said too much. I should go.” She strode to the door, but found it blocked by Gia.
“Hey! We actually do know about how the black canaries killed the red canaries. You can’t use an excuse like that to give us the slip!” Gia shouted, covering the doorway and causing the light to to shine through her brown wing. “We have more questions! Where are you from?”
“The west side of the village. I don’t go out much, for reasons like this.”
“What do you have a knife for?” said Peregrine “My dad uses his for cutting leaves and grass. Are you a weaver like him? He never said anything about a Pearl before, and he knows all the weavers.”
“I’ve carried this knife since the massacre. I also use it to keep annoying chicks from pestering me with questions.” Pearl grinned dangerously expecting the fledglings to step back, but neither Gia nor Peregrine yielded.
“Are there more of you out there?” Gia asked. Her eyes shone.
“Oh yes,” said Pearl. “My brother shares a hut with me. My cousin lives in this village too. The rest of my family, though, have fled. Those who didn’t die. You’ll find them a day’s flight south of here, completely out of canary territory.”
“What do you do for a living?” asked Peregrine.
“Pottery. Now let me go! Your two minutes are up” Pearl said, pacing impatiently. “I think that’s enough answers to satisfy four impertinent fledglings. I really must get going. I’m in a hurry,” said Pearl, walking to the door with more purpose than before. Gia got out of Pearl’s way, and Pearl flew away west. You should only test the patience of someone with a knife for so long.
“Where do you think she’s going, in such a hurry?” Peregrine asked Gia.
“Probably away from us.”

 

[Amer]

Is it true you’re a red canary?
Pearl: Yeah *casually threatens children with a knife*

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

Merry Christmas! I need help!
The conversation rushes with the Pearl, but the story drags too much when Peregrine is supposed to flitting from shop to shop like a bumblebee. Wait, that’s a great metaphor.
Anyways, here is the latest installment. PLEASE give revision ideas.

Spoiler: Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“I don’t like this,” Gia muttered, picking at the hardened mud on the red feathers that had grown in. Peregrine was hovering in front of her.
Peregrine knew she didn’t like to hide who she was, but tended to agree with Mrs. Leaflow. It was “advisable that you hide your identity as a red canary just a little bit longer.”
“Next thing I know, she’s gonna make me dye my feathers black.” Only two days before, Gia had found out about her status as a red canary. Thinking she was a black canary her whole life, initially the thought of being anything different scared her. But over the last couple of days, she’d warmed up to the idea. First of all, red canaries we’re supposed to be terribly beautiful. Secondly, Gia loved attention. Being special and standing out… she loved all of that attention. Even if it was negative attention.
“Your mom can’t make you do anything,” Peregrine said matter-of-factly. “Both of you know that. And that’s why she begged you to put mud on them. She didn’t make you.”
“Well maybe she’ll beg me to dye them.”
“Come on already! I want to go to the market! Not to hear your complaining.” Every five days, the market happened. Barring the midsummer’s festival, the market was probably the most interesting thing that ever happened during the summer in Peregrine’s little town. And Peregrine had never gone to it before. Compared to the mundanity of his life, he was sure it must be magical. After all, that’s where his mother often bought food, furniture, and knicknacks. Peregrine just had to see it.
“Oh, fine,” Gia said, floating up beside Peregrine.
Peregrine streaked towards the center of his village, which was a spreading oak tree strung with huts, bridges, and flowers. Many woven platforms had been set up, dyed in bright colors. The smell of baked goods and the musical noise of singing performers beckoned him. As he investigated, Peregrine spotted baskets, cloaks, pouches, clay pots, and even objects of wrought metal. Metal was expensive. The only piece of metal to be found in Peregrine’s house was his father’s long knife, which he always kept in a belt around his middle.
Here Peregrine saw not only knives but also pots and chains and even shiny silver medallions, crafted with intricate detail in little silver wire. He wondered who in his little town could afford a trinket like that.
As Peregrine fluttered from one market platform to another, darting like a hummingbird to avoid the birds walking along the little bridges strung throughout the tree, he began to feel dismay at his complete lack of coins. It seemed magical, handing over those flat wooden disks for something valuable in return. But this regret couldn’t hold his attention for long. As soon as he had spotted a gorgeously painted array of pottery, he had completely forgotten about it.
As Peregrine fluttered carelessly between the fragile pottery displays, the potter began giving him dirty looks, so Peregrine moved along to a hut filled with nice wooden furniture, and then a basket weaver’s hut.
He was gazing at a platform piled with baskets of pastries and sweet rolls when he spotted a familiar face at the platform next door.
“Sage!” he shouted, hopping over. “Good morning, sir!”
The elderly bird’s beak curled into a smile. “Hullo there, birdie! I’ve never seen you here at the market before!” Sage was surrounded by baskets full of berries that he had collected.
“Me neither!” Peregrine said cheerfully. He bounced a couple times on his toes. “It’s actually my first time here.” He jumped back as a brown bird suddenly landed heavily beside him. That bird was Gia, gasping and giving Peregrine accusatory glances. Gia who was usually known for possessing the stamina to outfly all of the birds her age.
“WHAT,” she asked, “did you have for breakfast?” She exhaled deeply. “You’ve been dashing all over the market like a wretched dragonfly! I can barely keep up with you!”
“What?” Peregrine asked. “It’s not like you’re my chaperone. Are you tired?” he teased.
Gia huffed. Sage chuckled. “Since it’s your first time at the market, Peregrine, and since I like you more than most fledges your age, I think I’ll give you a coin so you can buy something around here, same as I did for Gia her first time here.” Sage winked. “Don’t tell your siblings.”
“I won’t!”
Sage shoved his beak into a pouch sitting on the ground beside him. “Open your claw.”
Peregrine stood on one foot and opened the other, holding it to upwards as though expecting a piece of the sky to fall right into it.
Sage pressed a wooden coin into Peregrine’s open claw.
“Thank you,” Peregrine said, inspecting the coin. There was a picture of the face of a bird on one side, and the silhouette of a bird on the other. The bird’s face was in profile view, and he had a curving beak, like a falcon. Like Peregrine’s. A scar shaped like an ‘x’ sat upon his brow. “Who’s that?” Peregrine asked.
“That’s Kestrel,” Sage answered. “He was a very influential bird. He called for the establishment of a republic, when the monarchy was oppressing us.”
Peregrine nodded with satisfaction. He was proud to hold a coin with that bird’s face on it.
“Buy whatever you like,” said Sage.
“I will!” Peregrine said, looking at Gia, who was shifting from foot to foot. “Let’s go!” He took off.
“What’re you gonna get?” Gia asked while they flew.
“I don’t know yet.” Peregrine said. “Maybe I’ll get one of those metal medallions. If this is enough for that.” He really wasn’t sure how much a Kestrel coin was worth but he was sure it had to be a lot.
Gia laughed. “Those are way too expensive. With the bit you’ve got, maybe you can get a sticky bun or a little carved trinket. I got one of those myself. Fox-shaped.”
Peregrine fluttered to the lower levels of the tree, clutching his little coin. Both of Gia’s suggestions sounded nice. He’d have to look around some more before he could make up his mind. It was shadier down in the lower levels of the oak, and Peregrine found that it was occupied by more private huts than stores.
Whoosh! A figure cloaked in a black hood flew past his head to one of the huts nearby. It was hard to miss the fact that the feathers beneath the cloak were as red as a cardinal’s. “Did you see that?” Peregrine asked.
“Yes!” Gia said. She was bobbing in flight, suddenly even more excited than Peregrine was. “Let’s follow that bird.” She darted ahead, slipping right through the doorway.
“Into that house?” Peregrine shot in after her.
Fortunately the hut was a nut vendor’s place, and not somebody’s private property, like Peregrine had feared. The vendor looked up from the counter with indifference, but the red canary seemed irritated by their appearance.
She wore a caped hood, and beneath it sat a large satchel, and next to that was a dagger. Like Gia, she demanded respect. Unfortunately for her, Peregrine didn’t take social cues.
“Hi there!” he chirped. “I’ve never met a red canary before. Where are you from?”
Gia inspected the cloak. “You know, the cloak doesn’t make you any less inconspicuous.”
“No, it doesn’t,” the red canary snapped in agreement. “But it usually keeps impertinent fledges from asking annoying questions. Even if I’m a second rate citizen, I’m still a citizen, not a walking encyclopedia.”
“But I’m a red canary too!” said Gia, chewing fiercely at the mud that covered her red feathers, puffing up when they were in full view. “See? And I’ve never met someone of my kind before!”
The canary’s gaze softened from diamond hardness to around more of a topaz level. “Alright,” she muttered. “I guess I’ll give you two minutes for questions. My name is Pearl. What’s yours? Is your friend a red canary too?”
“Nope? Just an impertinent fledgeling!” said Peregrine cheerfully. “I’m Peregrine!”
“And I’m Gia,” said Gia.
“I suppose we can talk here. Pax is a friend of mine.” The nut-seller waved a wing. I know how bad it is feeling like you’re the only one,” said Pearl. “So what are your questions?”
“Okay,” said Peregrine. “Are all red canaries as grumpy… Sorry…” Peregrine searched for the right word. His mother told him it wasn’t very nice to call birds grumpy. “Are all red canaries as strong willed as you and Gia?”
“No. But any that you meet will be. All the red canaries that remain in this forest have to be tough and stubborn. Otherwise they would have left the forest already. Or they would have died in the massacre.” Pearl frowned, then spoke craftily. “Wait, two little chicks like you wouldn’t know anything about that. I’ve already said too much. I should go.” She strode to the door, but found it blocked by Gia.
“Hey! We actually do know about how the black canaries killed the red canaries. You can’t use an excuse like that to give us the slip!” Gia shouted, covering the doorway and causing the light to to shine through her brown wing. “We have more questions! Where are you from?”
“The west side of the village. I don’t go out much, for reasons like this.”
“What do you have a knife for?” said Peregrine “My dad uses his for cutting leaves and grass. Are you a weaver like him? He never said anything about a Pearl before, and he knows all the weavers.”
“I’ve carried this knife since the massacre. I also use it to keep annoying chicks from pestering me with questions.” Pearl grinned dangerously expecting the fledglings to step back, but neither Gia nor Peregrine yielded.
“Are there more of you out there?” Gia asked. Her eyes shone.
“Oh yes,” said Pearl. “My brother shares a hut with me. My cousin lives in this village too. The rest of my family, though, have fled. Those who didn’t die. You’ll find them a day’s flight south of here, completely out of canary territory.”
“What do you do for a living?” asked Peregrine.
“Pottery. Now let me go! Your two minutes are up” Pearl said, pacing impatiently. “I think that’s enough answers to satisfy four impertinent fledglings. I really must get going. I’m in a hurry,” said Pearl, walking to the door with more purpose than before. Gia got out of Pearl’s way, and Pearl flew away west. You should only test the patience of someone with a knife for so long.
“Where do you think she’s going, in such a hurry?” Peregrine asked Gia.
“Probably away from us.”

I like Pearl. Hasn't been in the story for very long, but she already has a ton of character. Gia, too.
(I mean, I like all of them, but still.)

Is it true you’re a red canary?
Pearl: Yeah *casually threatens children with a knife*

Dang it, Pearl, that's not going to give a very good first impression.