Small Nerd
@small-nerd.bsky.social
Aspiring fan artist and fighting game player. Logging my practice with both so I have more motivation to keep at them. I'm not going to talk much.
Being a superpowered cyborg has its downsides, like not being able to get past a metal detector. Surge is *not* getting on a plane any time soon.
I wanted to draw something silly today, and I like the humor that comes from putting fantastical characters in extremely mundane situations.
I wanted to draw something silly today, and I like the humor that comes from putting fantastical characters in extremely mundane situations.
December 14, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Being a superpowered cyborg has its downsides, like not being able to get past a metal detector. Surge is *not* getting on a plane any time soon.
I wanted to draw something silly today, and I like the humor that comes from putting fantastical characters in extremely mundane situations.
I wanted to draw something silly today, and I like the humor that comes from putting fantastical characters in extremely mundane situations.
"Zelda, I don't think this is a pull door."
"Shut up, Tri, I almost have it!"
Recently I played through Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, and it quite often made me feel like I was trying to pull open a push door. So I like the idea that this Zelda's also got trouble noticing things that should be obvious.
"Shut up, Tri, I almost have it!"
Recently I played through Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, and it quite often made me feel like I was trying to pull open a push door. So I like the idea that this Zelda's also got trouble noticing things that should be obvious.
December 12, 2025 at 12:53 AM
"Zelda, I don't think this is a pull door."
"Shut up, Tri, I almost have it!"
Recently I played through Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, and it quite often made me feel like I was trying to pull open a push door. So I like the idea that this Zelda's also got trouble noticing things that should be obvious.
"Shut up, Tri, I almost have it!"
Recently I played through Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, and it quite often made me feel like I was trying to pull open a push door. So I like the idea that this Zelda's also got trouble noticing things that should be obvious.
So lately I've been playing Kirby Air Riders. I'm not usually a racing game fan, but I like this one. That means I've had Kirby characters driving on the brain, so that's what I decided to draw today. I think Susie's the type to show up somewhere in a fancy car and wait for you to notice it.
December 9, 2025 at 11:05 PM
So lately I've been playing Kirby Air Riders. I'm not usually a racing game fan, but I like this one. That means I've had Kirby characters driving on the brain, so that's what I decided to draw today. I think Susie's the type to show up somewhere in a fancy car and wait for you to notice it.
Sage has heard about Silver making trouble for her in the future and decided to take his measure in the arena. Unfortunately, Silver doesn't know who she is. I'm not sure either of them will get much out of this battle aside from some chances to pop off.
December 9, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Sage has heard about Silver making trouble for her in the future and decided to take his measure in the arena. Unfortunately, Silver doesn't know who she is. I'm not sure either of them will get much out of this battle aside from some chances to pop off.
I decided to see what knowledge has actually stuck with me when it comes to drawing people by doing some basic mannequins quickly. Seems to not be much so far, but that shouldn't be surprising. Though I suppose most artists do better with references, so at least I'm not alone in that.
December 6, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I decided to see what knowledge has actually stuck with me when it comes to drawing people by doing some basic mannequins quickly. Seems to not be much so far, but that shouldn't be surprising. Though I suppose most artists do better with references, so at least I'm not alone in that.
I will not learn to stop using low-res pixel art for studies. That said, I do think this one turned out all right. I decided to use as many landmarks as I could think of, which seems to have helped with getting the proportions okay. The face is off, but I can't figure out why. Still, I like this one
December 5, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I will not learn to stop using low-res pixel art for studies. That said, I do think this one turned out all right. I decided to use as many landmarks as I could think of, which seems to have helped with getting the proportions okay. The face is off, but I can't figure out why. Still, I like this one
So it turns out pixel art with a resolution of miniscule by invisible isn't great for doing studies of. Also I think I made Alex too wide, and I definitely don't understand human muscles nearly well enough to draw a dude who's all muscle. Well, you live and you learn.
December 2, 2025 at 9:46 PM
So it turns out pixel art with a resolution of miniscule by invisible isn't great for doing studies of. Also I think I made Alex too wide, and I definitely don't understand human muscles nearly well enough to draw a dude who's all muscle. Well, you live and you learn.
I was advised to go in pretty hard on drawing studies of things I like to learn drawing people. So here we've got Hibiki from Last Blade. I like playing her. I definitely need to put some work into understanding the head and face, but at least hands and shoes look decent for once.
December 1, 2025 at 4:26 AM
I was advised to go in pretty hard on drawing studies of things I like to learn drawing people. So here we've got Hibiki from Last Blade. I like playing her. I definitely need to put some work into understanding the head and face, but at least hands and shoes look decent for once.
This drawing's about as finisbed as I care for. I'm very unhappy with it, and I think it would have turned out better if I had stuck to my usual process for digital drawings. Still, it's good to know that the process I tried isn't for me. I might try this idea again some time in the future.
November 29, 2025 at 2:03 AM
This drawing's about as finisbed as I care for. I'm very unhappy with it, and I think it would have turned out better if I had stuck to my usual process for digital drawings. Still, it's good to know that the process I tried isn't for me. I might try this idea again some time in the future.
Continuing on from yesterday, we have more details than before. I'm very unhappy with what the hands are doing, but I genuinely cannot think of better gestures. I don't think going for a pencil sketch before final lineart is helping me, the brush doesn't erase well and it eats up my time and energy.
November 27, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Continuing on from yesterday, we have more details than before. I'm very unhappy with what the hands are doing, but I genuinely cannot think of better gestures. I don't think going for a pencil sketch before final lineart is helping me, the brush doesn't erase well and it eats up my time and energy.
A bit more alternate history Sonic stuff this time, since I don't wanna forget what I've learned with the Sanics. And I'm experimenting a bit with my process, trying to do a rough sketch before making things look nice. Also a different brush and committing hard to thin lines. Hopefully it all helps.
November 26, 2025 at 11:00 PM
A bit more alternate history Sonic stuff this time, since I don't wanna forget what I've learned with the Sanics. And I'm experimenting a bit with my process, trying to do a rough sketch before making things look nice. Also a different brush and committing hard to thin lines. Hopefully it all helps.
Making a gesture at taking up gesture drawing. Kind of a cliche pose, but I have to start somewhere. The proportions are kind of off, but it could be worse. It's a start, at least. Something short and repeatable seems good for keeping up regular practice, and I do want to draw the human figure well.
November 25, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Making a gesture at taking up gesture drawing. Kind of a cliche pose, but I have to start somewhere. The proportions are kind of off, but it could be worse. It's a start, at least. Something short and repeatable seems good for keeping up regular practice, and I do want to draw the human figure well.
So I just got a Switch 2 and Donkey Kong Bananza. I've been enjoying it and wanted to express that in the only way I know how, silly drawings. This was gonna be DK and Pauline being excited over BA-NA-NA instead of me, but I'm still not confident in drawing human-ish figures, so they'll come later.
November 22, 2025 at 7:17 PM
So I just got a Switch 2 and Donkey Kong Bananza. I've been enjoying it and wanted to express that in the only way I know how, silly drawings. This was gonna be DK and Pauline being excited over BA-NA-NA instead of me, but I'm still not confident in drawing human-ish figures, so they'll come later.
Bad and naughty tenrecs get put in the Time-Out Box to atone for their crimes, as Surge is learning. Mostly this was just me trying to use what I've been trying to learn with perspective in a less boring way. The perspective seems okay, but the hands and arms... Oof.
November 21, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Bad and naughty tenrecs get put in the Time-Out Box to atone for their crimes, as Surge is learning. Mostly this was just me trying to use what I've been trying to learn with perspective in a less boring way. The perspective seems okay, but the hands and arms... Oof.
I wanted to see how I did at rotating shapes in my mind without any sort of guide. Still not great, but at this point I'm getting tired of doing this, so I'm probably gonna try drawing something more... interesting soon.
November 19, 2025 at 5:27 AM
I wanted to see how I did at rotating shapes in my mind without any sort of guide. Still not great, but at this point I'm getting tired of doing this, so I'm probably gonna try drawing something more... interesting soon.
My quest to rotate shapes in my mind continues. I think I've had a bit of a breakthrough with the angles, but I've still got quite a way to go.
November 16, 2025 at 9:58 PM
My quest to rotate shapes in my mind continues. I think I've had a bit of a breakthrough with the angles, but I've still got quite a way to go.
Tangle and Whisper are in a real game now. Love wins! But to participate in Crossworlds, they have to be able to drive, which means going to the DMV. I can't imagine how Tangle passed her license test, but clearly she did. #tanglethelemur #whisperthewolf
November 15, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Tangle and Whisper are in a real game now. Love wins! But to participate in Crossworlds, they have to be able to drive, which means going to the DMV. I can't imagine how Tangle passed her license test, but clearly she did. #tanglethelemur #whisperthewolf
Here we have Honey the Cat, in an alternate universe where she debuted in a sequel to Sonic the Fighters and got redesigned from her original appearance to look cool rather than cute to appeal to the NA market. The big influence is riot grrl. The shirt says "FIGHT ON" as a play on her game's name.
November 14, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Here we have Honey the Cat, in an alternate universe where she debuted in a sequel to Sonic the Fighters and got redesigned from her original appearance to look cool rather than cute to appeal to the NA market. The big influence is riot grrl. The shirt says "FIGHT ON" as a play on her game's name.
Keeping my hand in with Sonic, this time a redesign of a pre-existing character based off an alternate history timeline I have that's unrelated to the one I've drawn pictures of before. Can you guess who this is a redesign of?
November 12, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Keeping my hand in with Sonic, this time a redesign of a pre-existing character based off an alternate history timeline I have that's unrelated to the one I've drawn pictures of before. Can you guess who this is a redesign of?
Shape Rotation continues. I think I should probably find a new way to practice, it feels like I'm just trying to do what I know this particular exercise "wants", for lack of a better term. Maybe rotating something more complicated than a box is the play.
November 9, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Shape Rotation continues. I think I should probably find a new way to practice, it feels like I'm just trying to do what I know this particular exercise "wants", for lack of a better term. Maybe rotating something more complicated than a box is the play.
I continue my quest to become a Shape Rotator. I think double-checking what the different angles and views are supposed to look like has helped, though I definitely need to work on getting the perspective consistent. There's a lot of boxes whose sides don't all go to the same horizon line.
November 8, 2025 at 12:45 AM
I continue my quest to become a Shape Rotator. I think double-checking what the different angles and views are supposed to look like has helped, though I definitely need to work on getting the perspective consistent. There's a lot of boxes whose sides don't all go to the same horizon line.
More shape rotation practice. I think I need to look up some examples of what this is supposed to like, I really don't get how to draw a view from above when the box isn't head-on.
November 6, 2025 at 9:59 PM
More shape rotation practice. I think I need to look up some examples of what this is supposed to like, I really don't get how to draw a view from above when the box isn't head-on.
Today's drawing practice is rotating shapes in my mind. I don't expect to get this down quickly, both because I still have pretty shaky lines and because I haven't really tried to develop an intuition for this before. I definitely did best with a head-on view or 45° angle, but they're still not good
November 5, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Today's drawing practice is rotating shapes in my mind. I don't expect to get this down quickly, both because I still have pretty shaky lines and because I haven't really tried to develop an intuition for this before. I definitely did best with a head-on view or 45° angle, but they're still not good
I spent a while today doing some research on learning to draw better, and I've got some stuff I need to chew on for a bit before I put it into action. In the mean time, line control. And soon I need to stop being a coward and tackle perspective properly. Once I figure out how to make it interesting.
November 3, 2025 at 2:34 AM
I spent a while today doing some research on learning to draw better, and I've got some stuff I need to chew on for a bit before I put it into action. In the mean time, line control. And soon I need to stop being a coward and tackle perspective properly. Once I figure out how to make it interesting.
Next up in my series of alternate history Sonic games is Whisper In The Dark (2007). It's a game with a big focus on feeling the tension of being stuck in a dark hole underground full of monsters, so it seemed appropriate for Spooky Season.
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Next up in my series of alternate history Sonic games is Whisper In The Dark (2007). It's a game with a big focus on feeling the tension of being stuck in a dark hole underground full of monsters, so it seemed appropriate for Spooky Season.