This is my second completed / finalized entry for the official VCL July 2k6 art compo (one of my first ones after a 6 year hiatus). This month’s topic is costumes. Being a huge video game fan pays off sometimes, for my second entry I decided to go with the emphasized limbs again (I'm considering making this my regular drawing style) and a game that I feel got really overshadowed. Of course I am referring to Battalion Wars! One of my favourite games on GCN.

Now for little about the costume: Its the outfit for the 'Western Frontier rifle grunt'. I decide to use this because 1. I like the outfit, 2.Green is my favourite colour 3. I thought it up in two hours and it just sort of fell into place. I also altered a few things and got some inspiration form the Advance Wars counterpart (Orange Star army). Other then that the colour scheme is almost identical (my pencil crayon are old and crappy) the gun is completely different, to show more of the face I removed the facemask and put it around his neck and hes not as short or fat as the original character art. As to why its a monkey I don’t know, you don't see enough anthro monkey’s around.

Now for the drawing: It only took 2 hours of straight drawing to get the line art done (I still can't believe I did it so quick!) but a few days to finish the inking and colouring. I also ended up being late for work one day after I got into a real groove and lost track of time (bogus!). All the colouring was done with my really old pencil crayons, I found it to be a real pain in my arsenal gear to colour (now I see why digital colouring is so popular), I'm about 50/50 on how I feel about the colouring. I feel I could have done better but I’m pleased and satisfied with it. No background this time, I'm thinking trying my hand at another digital one but not right now. The title is an alteration of Battalion Wars original name which was Advance Wars, Under Fire. I just changed it slightly, I wanted to homage to the original name but still have it be unique (I like the title I might make a story around AnthroWars).

Overall I'm quite pleased with the finished product. I feel that I'm really improving but I still have a ways to go. Enjoy!

Character & drawing © 2k6 to Leomane, Advance Wars references © Nintendo/Intelligent Systems, Battalion Wars outfit & references © Nintendo/Kuju

*edit*
I may not have won but this became a finalist in the VCL July art compo along with 5 other very promising entries. Heck I'm just honoured that I made it into the finals. And with my first time ever in the art compo none the less. I have new respect for my skills now.