Yokohama and More Anime Club; Epic Weekend Part 1

So I have lots and lots to tell you guys, and to draw out the suspense, I'm going to give it to you guys in two parts.

On Saturday my host dad came back for the weekend (he got home while I was getting my hair chopped...my bangs had grown down to about the bridge of my nose, and constantly flipping them out of my eyes made me seem like I had a tic or something). Since none of us had any plans for the next day (one of my rare, AFS event-free days) he asked if I wanted to go somewhere. My host mom and I discussed some options, and decided to go down to Yokohama for half a day. We left at nine in the morning, and the drive down took about an hour forty-five. I slept for most of it, but before I dropped off one of the last things I saw was Mt. Fuji positively glowing in the morning sun. Hard to top that.

This is where we went in Yokohama. I have to say, even if it doesn't tell from that picture, if I have to move back to Japan...Yokohama would be the place. It is very modern, and the streets remind me of Chicago, wide and open. The red brick buildings, which used to be warehouses, are actually a series of very chic stores. They were having a Christmas market, so I was happy with the most traditional Christmas foods I've seen here. Also reminded me of a smaller version of Chicago's (and forgive me, I'm going to butcher this spelling) Christkindel fest that they have in Daley Plaza.

After we wandered around, we went to Yokohama Chinatown for lunch.

Had these very yummy dumplings that are filled with a broth, so if you're not careful they squirt all over you. Then we had a lunch set: fried rice, wontons, noodles, tofu, and jelly for dessert. Then, pleasantly full, we drove back home.

When I got home, I finished up the two paintings I needed to do for Anime Club (aparently there's going to be some sort of Open House or something and everyone needed to draw two pictures. Here's one:

That is the giant robot Dix-Neuf from the Original Video Animation (OVA--it was never a manga) Diebuster (or Aim for the Top 2, whichever you prefer). Watercolors. Haven't painted in watercolors in a long while, and I am very happy at how the shading turned out. Maybe thirty minutes for the initial pencil sketch and 4 hours for the painting? (Includes the time it took for the paint layers to dry.)

Then for fun, I decided to take step-by-step photos for my second painting.

Initial pencil sketch of Mashu from the OVA The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (or [C]). Time...25 minutes.

I did the red of her outfit and horns first. That in itself is actually two layers: one for the light-red (at the top of her stockings) and a second for the darker red (that does the shading in her skirt). Time: 30 minutes (I was being really careful with it.)

Again, this one is actually three layers later (not really step-by-step is it?). Two layers for the purple: one light, and one dark for her ribbon and at her feet, and one layer for her skin. Also did some final touches on the red shades.

Second, subtle layer for the skin. Two layers of brown for her hair, grey for her shadow (yes, she floats!),  and then I sharpened watercolor pencils as thin as I could to lightly outline her and help hide the pencil lines. Did some subtle shading with them as well, and used them to fine-tune the features of her face (like her eyes and mouth). Then I let the whole thing dry, took off the tape I'd used to keep the paper from crinkling (I really wish I'd figured that out for the first drawing....), and trimmed the paper so it would be even.

Then I just turn it in tomorrow! So that was Sunday. Next time: TOKYO DISNEY!