Nightshade (Ekrin)

Before Drawing

If you're here because I sent you commission information, chances are I want art of Nightshade in his Ekrin/"more anthro"-looking form. A lot of the art is kinda outdated stylistically but his design is the same.

Things to consider when drawing him:

• Fluffy cheeks are exaggerated, "poof out", often pointed and upturned
• Skin is dark, not light, if you shade the body you should probably fill those parts in (seems nitpicky but it's a pet peeve of mine, I'm more lenient on non-humans but on human characters it can have the effect of making them seem pale which can quickly get into Bad Territory)
• He has two little eyebrow dots over each eye
• Eyes are black, add splotches of warm dark browns to give them "life" if coloring the image
• He usually at least wears pants, use reference for clothing ideas or just plug "mori kei" into google for further inspiration (however, he lives in a tropical climate so he probably isn't gonna be wearing big frilly dresses or a lot of layers).

Associated Activities

Ekrin is rarely in his "true form" (Eastern screech owl with bobcat ears), generally if you are to draw him in it he will still be a chick (look up "fledgling Eastern screech owl) and will either be inside a hollow in a Southern live oak or will be on the ground in a biome remiscient of Floridian flatwoods/hammock forest. There, he is often seen with Willow-Wisp.

In his fel form, he can be seen doing a variety of things including origami, reading, hanging with friends, tending to his fern houseplants (he collects them!), eating food (no meat), as well as editing clothing. He lives in a treetop house with Ches Eskriya and Willow-Wisp (who sleeps on a hook dangling from the ceiling) in tropical rainforest outside of Jurstati.

It should be noted that Ekrin is internally melancholy and has abandoment issues (that he largely internalizes) due to his past. He, however, tries to act cheery around everyone and feels the need to be the optimistic one in the group.