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The art of Once Upon a Pixel photo

Yesterday, a super-secret project that I have been working on little by little over the past month finally came to fruition -- the Once Upon a Pixel episode of HAWP. This was one of the biggest projects I have ever worked on as an artist, game-related or not, and one that I am super proud of. Now, by popular demand, I bring you an exclusive gallery featuring the art of Once Upon a Pixel, which depicted The Tale of the Metal Gear.

Below lies the full sized versions of each drawing, a few of the original sketches, and photographs of the details on the Once Upon a Pixel storybook used in the video (which has some chocolate icing smudged on it in places, unfortunately). My favorites of the bunch are Snake attempting to shut down Metal Gear REX and the fight scene with him and Grey Fox. How about you? Which ones do you like?

And yes, I know I spelled "soldier" wrong on the first page of the book, I cut off the wrong hand on Ocelot, and I left Decoy Octopus out of the Foxhound group picture (Not on purpose! You can actually see him wearing a Snake mask in the sketch version of the image). Cut me a break! I got the codec number right at least!

Credit goes to deathfetish, who created the great paper texture used to give the final versions of the drawings the "old storybook" look.


LAUNCH GALLERY (32 IMAGES)
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45 comments | showing # 1 to 45

Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:03
Magnalon
Thanks a ton for posting this! Destructoid.com: giver of fanservice :D
Bulkmailer's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:05
Bulkmailer
This needs to be printed and binded...and on my coffee table.
Autumn's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:07
Autumn
Haha, the Snake 'torture' scene is great. Neat job Ash!
Aurain's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:13
Aurain
LIQUID!?

Great work :D
Trev's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:15
Trev
My favorite has to be serious infiltration face Snake in the duck tube.
GohanGVO's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:16
GohanGVO
Ocelot tickling Snake should have happened in the game.
JoZo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:18
JoZo
HAHA Typo on "solider" should be soldier. I will always love your cooking mama x wind waker style Ashley :)
Naim Master's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:18
Naim Master
We need a Destructoid wallpaper made by Ashley !
Stahlbrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:28
Stahlbrand
Awesome sauce. Love em.
falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:29
falinter
My favorite ones are the ketchup one and the ducky one.
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:29
Los255
Ashley, this is amazing! Thanks for sharing.
JLanphear's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:34
JLanphear
I HAZ TEH BOOK NOW? And by that, I mean, would it be alright if I printed these and bound them? I needs your permission first. :)
Jonathan Ross's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:36
Jonathan Ross
The torture one is my favorite.
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:37
Monodi
CASTLEVANIA
kauza's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:39
kauza
Is it wrong to be in love with pictures? I'm thinking that it is, but it feels so right.
kefkaesque's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:46
kefkaesque
Thanks a lot, these are so awesome.
psycho terror2's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 15:50
psycho terror2
i don't like them. i could say more, but i'm sure some of you are planning to send me a mail bomb for this comment alone.
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 16:03
DaedHead8
I had no idea you were responsible for the art in yesterday's HAWP. That makes the episode even better.
Ashley Davis's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 16:10
Ashley Davis
@psycho terror2: Why would I do that? Different people like different styles of art. I'm sorry mine doesn't float your boat, but that's the way things are.
Ashley Davis's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 16:16
Ashley Davis
Or wait, you were directing that toward the community as a whole, hahah. Still, my point stands!
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 16:29
Los255
The Psycho Mantis one made me LMAO.

The Snake and ketchup one is another favorite.
ChickenNow's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 16:33
ChickenNow
Thanks for the watermarks right in the middle of the images... They look great... : /
Gimic300's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 16:34
Gimic300
My favorites are Snake in the inner tube and Castlevania. Your style is awesome!
Ashley Davis's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 16:43
Ashley Davis
@ChickenNow: Apologies. I just wanted to protect the images as best as possible. I've moved them to the side. I hope that's better.
RAB's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 16:51
RAB
dude I'll cut you like 3 million breaks, I thought this shit was fucking AWESOME.
Honestly this is definitely one of the fucking coolest things i've ever seen
20 Sided Death's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 17:36
20 Sided Death
I cry because I know that I can't buy this in art/story book form for my own personal awesome.
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 17:38
Topher Cantler
Ducky Snake on a shirt, make it happen. I would wear that every day.
Xipro's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 17:45
Xipro
The inFamous part was awesome.

More videos please =)
ChickenNow's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 18:15
ChickenNow
@Ash: Thanks a bunch!

They're amazing :3
Kabuto Drew's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 18:48
Kabuto Drew
I love the one with snake staring at meryl's butt his expression cracks me up every time I see it
Largo Peligro's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 18:53
Largo Peligro
the release of this art as a standalone thing(I.E. outside of the HAWP episode) pretty much wins you the internet.
MellowBunny's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 20:25
MellowBunny
I can't get over how cute the artwork is!

Ash you're pretty amazing artist.
pixelpunx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 20:38
pixelpunx
Totally amazing!
dipnlik's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 22:20
dipnlik
Said it once, I'll say it twice: make a printed copy of the book happen, pleeeeease! Also t-shirts and wallpapers! :D

And I thought the whole "solider" thing was on purpose!
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 22:20
wanderingpixel
I downloaded that program you told me about, it's tottally awsome, thanks! But if you don't mind could I ask you another question?
I can draw with paper and a pencil, but I have trouble drawing with a mouse. Is there any (cheap) pencil like peripheral that I could hook up to my computer?
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 22:21
wanderingpixel
Also, your a very talented artist.
flaming burrito's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 22:38
flaming burrito
Absolutely amazing.
Ashley Davis's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/10/2009 23:12
Ashley Davis
@wanderingpixel: A tablet may be out of your price range, but they're really the best thing I can wholeheartedly recommend to you.. the cheaper ones are around $60, but they're a bit small. Here is the cheapest Wacom that I've found.

You can probably find older models on eBay for much cheaper though.. try to look there too! Wacom is constantly coming out with new tablets, so the prices on older ones go down fairly quickly. The one I use is a Wacom CTE-440 -- it's small, but works great once you get used to it. I've never used any other brand, though, so I don't know how reliable any others are.

There are also standalone digital pens called Wowpens that are about $30 cheaper, but I can't vouch for them either. You can buy them on Amazon, I believe. I think they work just like a wireless mouse, only they're more pen-shaped.

I hope that this helps! It sucks there's nothing cheaper out there, but I hope maybe you can get a hold of something to help you out! And just to note, you can't get a tablet and start doing awesome drawings with it right away. It takes a little time to get used to the disconnect, since what you're drawing is coming up in front of your face, instead of below your drawing utensil. It's really, really weird at first, but don't get discouraged! You'll eventually get used to it. :)

Also, thank you everyone!
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2009 00:55
Chronic Logic
Remember Metal Gear Awesome? Yea, kinda reminded me of it. Nice children's bookish style to it.
Jack Maverick's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2009 01:10
Jack Maverick
That scene where Grey Fox gets stepped on, it's so adorable and depressing.
Crackpot's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2009 13:11
Crackpot
Awesome! Great stuff as always Ms. Davis :)
NihonTiger90's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2009 14:07
NihonTiger90
Time to make these into T-shirts. They would sell a fuckton. Literally.
Subject2Change's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/13/2009 13:00
Subject2Change
Need these made into prints and sold or something. Would love this to be my first piece of "art" owned.
Bastard Spawn's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 11:46
Bastard Spawn
I am so contemplating using Snake in the ducky life raft as my wallpaper.
Snake peeking at Marill's patooty was hillarious
Nab20's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 01:08
Nab20
Wow superbe travail ! j'adore le style =) La scène de torture est ma préférée :p


great job =)
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