Dominic-Skirata-X

It's been a long time coming, but it's important that I actually briefly explain what it is my Co-Author and I are crafting- so sorry for the wait!

//Star Wars: Clone Wars Chronicles (CWC for short)//

-If you haven't already guessed it, CWC takes place during The Clone Wars. Specifically in the Unknown Regions and will end shortly after Order 66. We've mapped out a lot, even through Galactic Civil War.
-CWC is meant to be an expansive dialogue on the actual combat that took place between GAR forces and any Opposing Forces, so not only the Confederacy but any faction that is deemed hostile to the War efforts. 
-The main characters CWC revolves around are 2 clones and a Jedi as members of the 77th Experimental Blitz Corps (after Geonosis and the GAR disperses their forces), but as the story progresses other characters fall into the mix that impact the outcome of each story Arc (of which there are multiple).
    >Clones:
        >>Alpha-X, "Tal". The first Alpha ARC produced after the Null ARC Troopers. Still deemed unfit after a bout with Jango, he was used as a testbed for the rest of the Alpha-Series ARCs, thus the "X" designation. Saved by Kal Skirata (because I love KT's lore) Oh, and he has an X-shaped scar over his right eye because Jango and the need for me to add edgy factors to the character. Among the many there already are. 
        >>CC-1776, "Hawke". First generation Clone Commander. Also deemed unfit and sentenced to disposal after a weapons malfunction during testing. Saved by Kal Skirata and given his name based on the Mando Shriek-Hawk. He and Tal develop a sibling rivalry growing up.
    >Jedi:
        >>Avon Stratos. Mandalorian heritage. Picked up as a child after a Clan dispute results in the eradication of his family. His master is a Zabrak Woman. Together, he and his master were discriminated against in the order because of their roots- facing many hardships but still chosen by Master Yoda. At the time of AoTC, Avon is a Knight and part of the rescue efforts on Geonosis. There will be a more in-depth origins story arc on his character but that will be a spin-off. The main focus is about the clones and how he as a Mandalorian-Rooted Jedi must lead and salvage the troops under his command to the close of the conflict. Unapologetically unorthodox. I know this doesn't explain much.
-While there are "Main characters", the purpose of CWC is to recount the conflict from the frontlines much like a battle report. This opens avenues for multiple "expansions" centering around what is known as the Unknown Regions Campaign. We made it this way so if there are cool characters we've created, we can focus on them in their own self-contained arc while Tal, Hawke and Avon become side characters. This also allows for the introduction of guest OCs to make an appearance if they wish, but we are aiming to not interfere much with existing canon (such as saying Tal and Hawke were at the Battle of Cato Neimodia or Muunilist. We don't want to dilute existing statistics because it fits our fantasy. We used to think like that, but we don't want to ride on coattails.).
-Geonosis will be the first battle and chapter of course, it's where the war started and where Hawke will make his debut. Along with Avon. 
    >Tal will not be present there because his ARC training isn't complete and the GAR has something else in store. Black Ops. So he'll be busy even while Geonosis is being contained. 
-We mention characters and events from KT's Republic Commando series but we refrain from having them as active characters in the series, except in the prologue and during the initial Geonosis deployment. Hawke and Tal are essentially part of Clan Skirata but that will take a path of its own as the story progresses.     
-A LOT of influence is taken from various media, whether from games, books, movies, anime or even personal experience (specifically from my own ongoing military career). We also use real world events for inspiration and implement them into the story.
-Like everything else, this has been a passion project for well over a decade- a bit before TCW debuted. 
-There are many storyboards we've come up with and we intend to share them- of course, trying to omit spoilers. 
-There will be A LOT of politically incorrect rhetoric in the series, because this isn't a Kathleen Kennedy production- and our characters don't make apologies, thus neither do we. 
-Commentary is always recommended, because while this is our project- feedback is just as important.  

That's it for now, I'll be sure to add more to the journal as things unravel.

If you've stuck around with us since the beginning, we thank you. If you're just joining us and feel like jumping onto the bandwagon for an interesting ride, we welcome you to the 77th!

This is the side of The Clone Wars you're not supposed to see. 

My bad on the radio silence here everybody- between having returned from DragonCon's shenanigans, online school and also a job opportunity in TX, I've been quite busy. That being said, I've created an Instagram for a means of posting my cosplay photos, action figure/model dioramas, and also my impulse draws while I'm at the gym or wherever. So if you're on that outlet as well, drop on by and you might see something I've yet to post on DA! --Not like there's any exclusivity in it, it's just more of an immediate way of me posting art without wafting through what all DevArt demands here (Its painful using the phone or tablet as I dont have the app, and there's a lag in typing, etc). 

So I'll still be active on here, and will be posting my usual quality (in my eyes) content for your enjoyment. And as I say that, I'm reminded that I must update some descriptions! Thanks for your support and patience, all. I'll see you on the bounce!

Find me here! www.instagram.com/ston…

Much like how I explained in the previous journal- it's much easier to section out my "story" if you will, because if I try to cram it all into one post everyone will get lost in translation. So let's begin with one of my top motivations/inspiration for why I art the way I do.

The Military. I love it. I also hate it. But ask anyone in service if they don't hate a certain aspect of being in, because anyone who DOES NOT have anything to hate is a liar or brain-washed and conditioned as some next-generation android or genetically enhanced super-soldier. 

I love the military because I was raised by it of course, but also for the opportunities it has laid out for not only me but others I've encountered. Now as I mentioned in my Origins, my father retired as a Flight Engineer from the USAF after 20+ years. It took him on a journey around the world, a journey that led him to my mother which in turn brought my brother and I to this world. I aspire for something like that, so you bet that as I went through my years of schooling what I wanted to be when I grew up was pretty damn obvious. I was in JROTC all the way through High School, did that rifle-twirling crap along with marching (though I did that in band too- YES. I've been a band geek since 6th grade, played the Trumpet- NO. I did not go to band camp, so those jokes go right over my head.) and wearing uniforms 1-3 times a week. I didn't have too much of a grasp on what I wanted to do in the military though- I knew for sure though that I wasn't going to join any other branch than the Air Force, because as much as everyone gives it crap, I like being a part of the underdog team, and I must say that it feels good to be on the winning team so High-5, me!

So after taking the ASVAB and receiving my score, I was given two pathways (in my eyes) I scored a high admin score, with a mechanical score trailing right behind. I figured, I'm pretty clutch when it comes to administrative work (I was Logistics Commander in ROTC, like that means frak-all now) but it doesn't light a fire in my eye. So I chose the mechanical route, it made sense to me because I want to know how to fix things and be more self-sufficient rather than be an expert with a damn hole-punch and stapler. The mechanical route took me to numerous doors in Civil Engineering, from Water & Fuels Maintenance Systems (WFMS, plumbers basically- though you'd see them working at major Hydroponics plants or even Dams), Electrician (Climbing poles and wiring shit? That's pretty cool, as long as you don't mess up and get disintegrated along the way), Structures (Build shit in a shop environment, Home-Improvement and Extreme-HomeMakeover shit), HVAC (Air conditioning and refrigerating equipment, I would definitely love to have done this if I wanted to cross-train), Heavy Equipment (Operate forklifts, dozers, cranes, etc) and finally Electrical Power Production (We catch airplanes like aircraft carriers do, and we operate high power generators and fix diesel engines). I chose Power Pro because, why not? And I must say, I do not regret any of it. 

Having narrowed down what I wanted, I enlisted in the Air National Guard just like my brother did, I was in a delayed enlistment program for around 11 months because I was still finishing my senior year of High School, so 2 weeks after graduation I embarked on my adventures in the Air Force going through Lackland AFB for Basic Military Training for 8.5 weeks and being immediately sent to Sheppard AFB for training in my specific job for 13 weeks. It was fast times over in Wichita Falls, every morning before class we'd see a badass sunrise from the flightline. What's more, is that the base also trains their pilots so you'd see formation take offs and a badass sunrise. Two words: BAD. ASS. *insert Scandal's The Warrior during each fighter take off. Trust me it fits. If you dont think it does. I will fight you.

After all those months, from then on it has been quite the journey of travels and adventures. I've been to Germany for training, where I had my first beer in Ramstein and visited a District-clearly-not-meant-for-minors in K-Town. Damn good times with even better people (Oh and let it be known that USAF Civil Engineering squadrons are predominantly male, given that we are essentially construction workers). Even had the privilege of visiting other states like Montana's Native American communities, Mississippi, and Guam. But the REAL adventure that I talk about quite often, was my deployment in 2015. 

I was sent to the sandbox mid 2015, but months before that I had to go through quite the amount of training to prepare. It first started with ECAC (Evasion, Conduct after Capture) training back at the base where I was for Basic, Lackland. Basically, the training was a simulation of being captured and interrogated by opposition forces- both men and women were thrown in the same shit if not worse for women. Won't say much besides saying only your name, rank and serial number will get you killed in seconds. Don't be a jackass like the movies make it out to be. The best part I must say, is the evasion portion of doing just as I said. Evade. Imagine trying to escape from a city or compound of people trying to kill you and you have to make it to a certain location to be rescued. Oh- and it suddenly monsoons on you. Best believe I'll translate some of those moments into the book!

After that, we were sent to El Paso, TX for Combat Skills Training, training with units from different states who were going to be with us down range. And let me tell you- New York/Jersey people are assholes. But the right assholes you want with you in a foxhole or shitty situation. The training varied from Combat Lifesaving techniques, MRAP/Humvee convoy operations to various combat drills and radio/rescue operations. Remember, I'm a Civil Engineer, glorified construction worker- but we're a unit designated to establishing bases in the shittiest parts of the world and maintaining them, and we don't always have the luxury of security so we ourselves need to be armed with a primary rifle and sidearm rather than just sit and be a casualty. I learned that in 2015. 

Long story short about the deployment though, I was sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to do my job and then some- dodging mortar and rocket attacks and making sure I was able to catch up on my CrunchyRoll queue. I was also able to build upon my art there.

Oh right, this was about how the Military influences my art isn't it?

My Star Wars pieces are always covering something military related, specifically the clones- because they are obviously military. I use some of my deployment experience to make scenarios for not only Geonosis chapters but others that take place on different planets. I've made some Security Forces clones, Combat Engineer clones (You betcha that it's based on my career field), EOD, Pilots, Pararescuemen, the works! I want to bring the realism of the real-world military to Star Wars- and the best way for me to do that is The Clone Wars Chronicles series I and my buddy are working on. I figured that if there's also others here on DevArt that are military and like Star Wars that they'd definitely like to pick it up as a read- get some laughs, a few tears, and then laugh some more all while being engulfed in the plot we're devising. So yes, the Clone Wars Chronicles is heavily military.


But I think I'll end this installment here, I mean- LOOK AT THE SCROLL BAR. I did not mean for it to go this long, but it'd be the same if you were talking to me face-to-face. The military has taken me on quite the adventure and it's only beginning, shoot- I'm about to head right back to the sand box next year! My art will continue to evolve, enough that my unit actually wants me to design our patch for our uniform- oh boy. 

So from the bottom of my CPU, thank you for your support and I hope this content keeps you around!

Now to start with an IMMENSELY strong motivator, for not only how I draw but how I write! And live...don't judge me-

My passion for Anime/Manga, or basically the Japanese culture in general- stemmed from my older brother's influence. My brother was also more artistically inclined than I, having actually taken art courses going through school. He would draw aircraft and weapons in such detail that I would ask to borrow the pages to put on the cover of my binders (Because that was like the early Instagram back then right?), but the awesome take-aways was that he would incorporate anime characters into them- further piquing my interests. So time went on, more anime began airing on TV and I became exposed to series' like Mobile Suit Gundam, Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, Outlaw Star, Tenchi Muyo, etc. Of course the typical Shonen Jump can be thrown in, but naturally as I've aged, I've grown out of watching series that focus on 18 and below year old characters. Around this time (roughly 2006) I began tracing images and covers from Manga volumes (particularly Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 series), though ambitious they looked like garbage! During this phase though, I was more focused on watching anime and reading manga than I was at trying to draw or use writing elements from the genres. 

But fast forward to NOW.

I've watched SO MUCH anime and read SO MUCH manga, getting engulfed in the cultural themes and storytelling that cannot be conveyed in such a manner that other cultures and media in America can achieve. Looking back on various series' I watched as a kid, I now see the compelling stories and character development carefully administered to craft the masterpieces we know now. You'll see me mention in my pieces familiar elements and references to certain anime/manga because they are the heaviest of influencers in my style and execution of my art. This hobby and passion has inevitably taken quite the amount from my bank account AND my living space, varying from Gunpla, Figma, Nendoroids, wall scrolls, and other cultural artifacts. I regret none of this though- as my hobbies fuel one another and further expand upon my own individuality, so I urge you all to embrace yours and never falter! Because God knows how many of my co-workers and friends question my interests and fail to grasp the concept of wanting to stray from the typical hobbies of sports, hunting and being in debt due to poor spending choices or romantic pursuits. But HEY- feels pretty badass knowing that I've deployed into shit-holes and endured soul-crushing hazardous elements to return to my room at the end of the day and watch anime or build Gundam models. I can execute the mission and return to my own world only to go right back out again. 

Still here? Awesome.

So as I write this journal, I've actually been trying to expand more upon my anime/manga style drawing- currently attempting to master drawing the eyes and distinguish between male and female eyes. This is difficult though, as I've so many art models to choose from- but I fear that I'll only mess these characters up by drawing them myself ( T n T). So I'm cringing trying to draw Mitsurugi Meiya from Muv Luv, Shiina Rikka from the Little Armory series, along with Satou Kazuma (SAINT) from KonoSuba. My friends- I am crying because I feel as though my attempts only bastardize their majesticness- BUT I MUST PERSEVERE FOR GREATNESS! 

What I hope that you learned from this post is relatively simple:
-I love Anime/Manga
-I love Japanese culture
-I am running out of room for my hobbies
-Everything above contributes to my art and writing style
-I am going through Dante's Inferno trying to draw my favorite characters
-These journals may tarnish your visions/expectations of me
-After my next deployment, best BELIEVE I am going to Japan for two weeks
-I regret NOTHING-----except having bought If My Heard Had Wings on Steam, that POS is the censored All-Ages version of a masterpiece Visual Novel and there's no means for me to pick up the english fan translated TRUE version (legally)
-Aren't you glad I spaced these journal subjects apart?

Tell me how anime/manga or other cultural aspects of Japan have influenced a part of your life, I'd love to hear from you all- it's the least I can do for taking up space in your Favorites section XD


And if that's where you'll end reading this for now- I'll see you in the next installment!

My Origins, huh? 

Nothing spectacular to be honest, grew up in a military family of 4 with my father being a USAF flight engineer for C-141's, C-130's and KC-10's- which took us from Washington state, to Japan (a month if not a few weeks after I was born, so I was on auto-pilot and couldn't grasp how awesome Japan was) to Arkansas, California and then back to Arkansas where we retired. Growing up this way, I always had the fascination of traveling the world, especially reinforced with the trips to visit relatives in the Philippines where my mom was from (I'm half Filipino if these words help to reinforce how my DevArt ID reflects). So with that small snippet of info, what can be gathered is this:

Raised into a multi-cultural family, love and aspire to travel, definitely influenced by the military, and I still reside in Arkansas (For now, the cost of living is literally the selling point here).

If you haven't noticed by now, I am pretty terrible at this. But these are the growing pains of an extrovert in reality having inadvertently portrayed an introvert on DevArt for these few years. I swear- if you met me in person I'd more than likely babble as I am now, only to show you my actual art so you don't think I'm BS'ing you. Social media hasn't been my forte, I can grasp its function and capabilities but never fully master it- "Jack of all trades, Master of none" as they say.

But I'll discuss more in the next entries about my influences on my art, which should prove to be more quality than this cacophony of words and punctuation. 


Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I'll meet you in the next entry!