First of all, I want to say I'm very proud of this image. It has flaws, as does everything, but it shows my improvement. I think this is the direction I want to go in the future. I'm still going to do my silly art and comic style, but I really like realism for the more finished stuff.

About realism: I find realism very relaxing, but it's not for everyone. For one thing, more people these days appreciate anime and comic art, which is fine. But for me, I enjoy realism because it's something I can do that I know not everyone does. It takes a LONG. time, but for once I'm not rushing myself (I'm a slow artist,) because I know it takes everyone who does it quite a while to do.

It's a lot like sculpting in photoshop for me. I hate sculpting in real life (bad experience with a teacher,) but I'm actually fairly good at it. Yes, everything is drawn straight into my photoshop with a tablet pen. Building colors and shapes on top of one another is awesome to me.

About the image: I chose my General to do in realism because 1., i've always wanted to try out the realistic image in my head of him and 2., I like him

I did a very quick and sketch bg. I think it works, and he's even holding his Scroll of Bureaucracy (c. )

Things I had the most trouble with were his eyelashes, lips, and stubble; eyelashes and lips because while obviously needed, they're hard to make look right on a guy like Hai, and stubble... just because it's hard XD

While it gave me a lot of trouble, the lower half of his face is really my favorite part. I don't allow any softness in Hai's face except around the mouth area, and it is amazingly fun to see how small things like a fuller lip and soft creases like a dimple can bring character to a face.

I'm not sure why I change up Hai's outfit occasionally, it usually just kind of happens. I've drawn him with the buttons before, but normally they run down the middle rather than to the side all Napoleon-esque I also gave them a more bronzey than their usual gold color, mostly because it fit in more with the atmosphere.

OK, I think I'm done Sorry a bit long-winded.

Oh... PS..... for people who have been asking why I'm later than I said on certain things (those who don't know what I'm talking about skip over,) I'm very sorry, but things have come up in my life-that's-not-on-the-internet. I will try and fix everything tonight, if not so, sorry again. Please be patient with me. Sometimes all I have time to do is take my laptop with me in the back of the car and draw there.

Psst: my birthday coming up the 26th!! Make me happy and congratulate me Sadly it starts on the day of the new school year SO depressing.

General Hai is my Avatar the Last Airbender character. Bryke and viacom own AtLA, but Hai is mine.