Shiny Things Gallery | Fandom | Kingdom Hearts | Not Impressed
I'd been wanting to do a Chain of Memories Riku sprite for a while, and I also knew that getting to one of the larger talk sprites was going to be a tiny bit intensive, but even pausing about 1/3 of the way through to start (and finish) a Desert Bus for Hope chocobo did not ease how very long it felt that it took. ...Of course it did actually take a long time, too, but--
Part of that is adding an additional five bead colors (14 colors in the original art, 19 bead colors) to distinguish better between hair, skin, and clothing, and also because I wanted the background diamond to be frosted. I don't know, reasons. I also anguished over the eye color even if it is literally three beads, because I am me, and I will continue to lament Riku looking much too tan just because the lighter "skin tone" beads I was looking at appeared so washed out yellow that I was worried he'd turn out looking jaundiced... but when all packed together with black thread, they might have turned out better than the tests. The only way to know is to do it again, and that is definitely not happening without a specific commission. Ah well, I have learned a thing. I also learned that it would currently (October of 2026) take over $110 to replenish all 19 bead colors so welcome to that little factoid that I didn't want in my head either.
On top of that, there are some other assorted techniques in here, some which worked beautifully and some which could use a few changes in another iteration, but I am extremely pleased with the very obviously human-made result regardless. The odd/unbalanced shape assured me that I didn't really want to make it wearable and risk several points of weakness that no thread reinforcement was actually going to help with, so backing with white paper and then mounting it on a thin piece of wood and hanging that seemed like the best idea. The white was partly an attempt to lighten up some of those transparent beads, but also because it really lets all the colors shine through with some extra reflection for SPARKLE. Initially I'd been playing with ideas to have him against a Castle Oblivion pillar or against a save point diamond, but none of the sketches or attempts worked out as well as a plain old white slab, so. Fine, then.
For those curious (Chain of Memory spoilers, I guess), the sprite itself comes from the moment when Riku takes his life (and heart) back to walk his own path.
(Currently available for sale, though I wouldn't mind keeping him around.)
Part of that is adding an additional five bead colors (14 colors in the original art, 19 bead colors) to distinguish better between hair, skin, and clothing, and also because I wanted the background diamond to be frosted. I don't know, reasons. I also anguished over the eye color even if it is literally three beads, because I am me, and I will continue to lament Riku looking much too tan just because the lighter "skin tone" beads I was looking at appeared so washed out yellow that I was worried he'd turn out looking jaundiced... but when all packed together with black thread, they might have turned out better than the tests. The only way to know is to do it again, and that is definitely not happening without a specific commission. Ah well, I have learned a thing. I also learned that it would currently (October of 2026) take over $110 to replenish all 19 bead colors so welcome to that little factoid that I didn't want in my head either.
On top of that, there are some other assorted techniques in here, some which worked beautifully and some which could use a few changes in another iteration, but I am extremely pleased with the very obviously human-made result regardless. The odd/unbalanced shape assured me that I didn't really want to make it wearable and risk several points of weakness that no thread reinforcement was actually going to help with, so backing with white paper and then mounting it on a thin piece of wood and hanging that seemed like the best idea. The white was partly an attempt to lighten up some of those transparent beads, but also because it really lets all the colors shine through with some extra reflection for SPARKLE. Initially I'd been playing with ideas to have him against a Castle Oblivion pillar or against a save point diamond, but none of the sketches or attempts worked out as well as a plain old white slab, so. Fine, then.
For those curious (Chain of Memory spoilers, I guess), the sprite itself comes from the moment when Riku takes his life (and heart) back to walk his own path.
(Currently available for sale, though I wouldn't mind keeping him around.)
