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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.


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45 comments | showing # 1 to 45

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

Great work :D
Trev's Avatar
Trev at 07/10/2009 15:15
My favorite has to be serious infiltration face Snake in the duck tube.
GohanGVO's Avatar
GohanGVO at 07/10/2009 15:16
Ocelot tickling Snake should have happened in the game.
JoZo's Avatar
JoZo at 07/10/2009 15:18
HAHA Typo on "solider" should be soldier. I will always love your cooking mama x wind waker style Ashley :)
Naim Master's Avatar
Naim Master at 07/10/2009 15:18
We need a Destructoid wallpaper made by Ashley !
Stahlbrand's Avatar
Stahlbrand at 07/10/2009 15:28
Awesome sauce. Love em.
falinter's Avatar
falinter at 07/10/2009 15:29
My favorite ones are the ketchup one and the ducky one.
Los255's Avatar
Los255 at 07/10/2009 15:29
Ashley, this is amazing! Thanks for sharing.
JLanphear's Avatar
JLanphear at 07/10/2009 15:34
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
Jonathan Ross at 07/10/2009 15:36
The torture one is my favorite.
Monodi's Avatar
Monodi at 07/10/2009 15:37
CASTLEVANIA
kauza's Avatar
kauza at 07/10/2009 15:39
Is it wrong to be in love with pictures? I'm thinking that it is, but it feels so right.
kefkaesque's Avatar
kefkaesque at 07/10/2009 15:46
Thanks a lot, these are so awesome.
psycho terror2's Avatar
psycho terror2 at 07/10/2009 15:50
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
DaedHead8 at 07/10/2009 16:03
I had no idea you were responsible for the art in yesterday's HAWP. That makes the episode even better.
Ashley Davis's Avatar
Ashley Davis at 07/10/2009 16:10
@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
Ashley Davis at 07/10/2009 16:16
Or wait, you were directing that toward the community as a whole, hahah. Still, my point stands!
Los255's Avatar
Los255 at 07/10/2009 16:29
The Psycho Mantis one made me LMAO.

The Snake and ketchup one is another favorite.
ChickenNow's Avatar
ChickenNow at 07/10/2009 16:33
Thanks for the watermarks right in the middle of the images... They look great... : /
Gimic300's Avatar
Gimic300 at 07/10/2009 16:34
My favorites are Snake in the inner tube and Castlevania. Your style is awesome!
Ashley Davis's Avatar
Ashley Davis at 07/10/2009 16:43
@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
RAB at 07/10/2009 16:51
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
20 Sided Death at 07/10/2009 17:36
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
Topher Cantler at 07/10/2009 17:38
Ducky Snake on a shirt, make it happen. I would wear that every day.
Xipro's Avatar
Xipro at 07/10/2009 17:45
The inFamous part was awesome.

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

They're amazing :3
Kabuto Drew's Avatar
Kabuto Drew at 07/10/2009 18:48
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
Largo Peligro at 07/10/2009 18:53
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
MellowBunny at 07/10/2009 20:25
I can't get over how cute the artwork is!

Ash you're pretty amazing artist.
pixelpunx's Avatar
pixelpunx at 07/10/2009 20:38
Totally amazing!
dipnlik's Avatar
dipnlik at 07/10/2009 22:20
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
wanderingpixel at 07/10/2009 22:20
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
wanderingpixel at 07/10/2009 22:21
Also, your a very talented artist.
flaming burrito's Avatar
flaming burrito at 07/10/2009 22:38
Absolutely amazing.
Ashley Davis's Avatar
Ashley Davis at 07/10/2009 23:12
@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
Chronic Logic at 07/11/2009 00:55
Remember Metal Gear Awesome? Yea, kinda reminded me of it. Nice children's bookish style to it.
Jack Maverick's Avatar
Jack Maverick at 07/11/2009 01:10
That scene where Grey Fox gets stepped on, it's so adorable and depressing.
Crackpot's Avatar
Crackpot at 07/11/2009 13:11
Awesome! Great stuff as always Ms. Davis :)
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 07/11/2009 14:07
Time to make these into T-shirts. They would sell a fuckton. Literally.
Subject2Change's Avatar
Subject2Change at 07/13/2009 13:00
Need these made into prints and sold or something. Would love this to be my first piece of "art" owned.
Bastard Spawn's Avatar
Bastard Spawn at 07/14/2009 11:46
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
Nab20 at 07/15/2009 01:08
Wow superbe travail ! j'adore le style =) La scène de torture est ma préférée :p


great job =)
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