Bonds Beyond Time

Oil on Canvas
8x10 inches

This is my submission for the Shonen Jump YU-GI-OH! 10th anniversary contest. Postmark deadline was today (1-21-11), and I barely got it done on time.

I wanted to originally submit photographs of my cosplays since sewing is considered an art form too, but I didn't think it'd qualify since the rules said "no digital" (I don't know if photographs of crafted stuff would be digital or traditional?)

So I decided to paint my costumes XD I ended up spending a whole lot more time on this than I expected, and it was a bit difficult to work with due to the size limitations and the fact that oil paints take forever to dry (so there was a lot of wet-on-wet painting going on). I wish I had more time to clean it up, but there was no way it would be finished before the postmark deadline if I had tried. Even after giving myself 2-3 days for the paints to dry, there were still a couple small spots that were a bit tacky when I had to mail it off (ended up having to cover it in wax paper).

I'm so happy to have been able to get this done so I could enter the contest. YGO/GX/5D's are all dear to my heart, and have been a huge influence and inspiration for me. I wouldn't have met several of the friends I have or become the cosplayer I am without these shows and the characters.

Original references:

*note: biggest change was to Yami's setting, which I tried to make more like morning/sunrise. Yay symbolism!

YGO/GX/5D's and characters are (c) Kazuki Takahashi
Costumes made and worn by
Photography references by my roomie's mom, &
Oil painting by