Inktober comic!
Something fun and silly!
Lately, I've been feeling super burnt out with school and project deadlines. I miss creating silly fun art for the heck of it! So, I've decided to take a little break here and there to make some goofy comics. Since I'm immersed in the world of my graphic novel, it's easier for me to come up with ideas based on my daily life but set in the universe of my book.
These doodles aren't supposed to be perfect. They're just random, silly ideas that may give you a sneak peek into my secret book project!
The Tang dynasty is considered the golden era in Chinese history. China reached the peak of its international influence and financial power. It was the only time in China's five thousand years of history when a woman ruled as an "Emperor" and not as a Queen or Empress. What made his remarkable lady extra special is that she was not of royal blood but was raised in the middle class. Pretty cool, isn't it? Women during this era were free to choose how they dressed, hold official government positions, and even decide whom they wanted to marry, which was rare in ancient times!
Anyhow, we had to come up with new names to fit into this universe. Piglet's now called Lady Lotus Seed, and I'm White Moon Lotus Paste. The names might sound silly, but trust me, they make a lot more sense in Chinese, sort of!! LOL
LOL, I'm still an artist here, so I need a "poetic" pen name. When in Tang, do as the Tang do, so to speak.
When we were looking for a car, Piglet always acted like we were getting the car for her. In her mind, the car is hers, and I'm just her chauffeur! LOL.
Back in the Tang Dynasty, the West Market (西市) was where foreign traders gathered. It was the place to score cool stuff from other countries, like spices, textiles, crafts, food, and exotic creatures. Many artists and creative folks loved to hang out at the West Market to find inspiration.
Good horses weren't cheap back in the day. Most folks used donkeys to get around since they were more affordable. But I always had my heart set on a fluffy cow. I totally would've gone to the West Market to get a highland cow.
There are a few Chinese festivals known for their pretty lantern celebrations - the Yuanxiao Festival (元宵节), the Ghost Festival (中元节), and the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节). The most famous one is the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival. We just celebrated the Moon Festival last month on the 17th. Here in Southern California, there are all sorts of lantern celebrations in different parts of town from September to October, and the coolest events sold out fast!
In ancient China, the Moon Festival was just as popular. Its history goes back over 3,000 years, and it got even more popular during the early Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE). Legend has it that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang started throwing big parties in his palace after visiting the Moon Palace, and that tradition stuck around till today! When Lady Lotus Seed and I time-traveled back to the Tang Dynasty, we were all about feasting our way from the East to the West Market! The East Market was where all the local Chinese merchants and eateries gathered, while the West Market had all tasty imported delicacies and treats!
I wanted to create more Inktober comics but had to meet the deadlines first. I'll cook up more funny comics😉 when I have more free time.
