It all started with the desire to tell a story and some stick figure sketches from another
project. I took
the name and symbol from Bloodborne and started my own thing. No story planned, no greater goal - just a
mercenary
on his adventures.
I studied other works, how they structured pages, designed the first few characters and collected some ideas
for
places and interesting moments.
A year passed and at the end of 2016, I took some cheap printing paper, a few pens and started the first
chapter,
which
was
finished in January, 2017.
From there, new chapters were created regulary, the fourth chapter even
within two
weeks
of intense work.
I created this logo in 2018, so I could print it on a mug during my internship at that time. We were at six or seven chapters, it progressed fast since the quality still was quite low. Each page started with a rough outline which was turned into a proper sketch. After finishing all the sketches, the inking began, which was the most dreadful part since it's monotone and leaves little room for mistakes. The pages got scanned and edited afterwards, which means bringing in the text and greyscales.
During the creation of the first arc a shift started. I planned out more events, a proper story, interesting plot points and soon I was spending more time in this world than our own. Influenced by my beloved works which are dark in nature, the story soon became more mature and grim, a contrast to the initial idea. I tried to weave loose ends, carelessly created by my past self, into a web where every detail needed meaning. In 2019, I updated the logo, a steady indicator of my progress as an artist.
2019 also was the first recline in my output. I still went to school but the end drew near,
it
was my last
proper year. All of this was just a hobby, taking up hundreds of hours per chapter at this point.
A rough plan is
around 8-12 hours per page, with an average of 18 pages per chapter, plus the editing
afterwards. There were times were I worked 10+ hours per day for a few weeks just to finish everything
within
an
artifical deadline. Chapter 11 wrapped up the first arc and with it, things changed.
I graduated in the beginning of 2020 and started getting into digital drawing shortly
after.
Bloodstone became a
digitally drawn manga from this point on. The ability to undo mistakes and zoom in seems like a blessing but
was
a
curse in disguise. I am a perfectionist and now I had the tools to scratch this itch till I started bleeding
out
my
passion.
Another update on my logo followed, cleaned up to perfection. Only one chapter released that
year.
I slowly accustomed to my new pen and paper, crude and thick strokes turned into delicate linework,
filled
with
details. But my hands got slower, yet my head kept spinning, creating deeper and deeper plot and lore. I
reached the
point
where I needed to ask the most philosphical and metaphysical questions - unanswerable.
Mentally I was
prepared
to
see everything unfold, physically I was still stuck within the intro of a much bigger story. The inital plan
of
150
chapters was already cut down to 100 but it didn't change the rate at which I was able to draw images worthy
of
my
own approval - which increased every day.
My biggest inspiration passed away during 2021. Kentaro Miura, the creator of Berserk. All I wanted was
to
continue his legacy, while I, myself, was already struggling. And so I pushed through and created two more
chapters
the same year. I started giving little moments more and more space, letting the art speak for itself. This
slowed
down things even more… but it is important, so incredibly important.
Then, on chapter 15, I just
stopped at
page
six
for almost one year. I was burned out, head and hands in a conflict impossible to solve. I was able to take
shortcuts, I could skip detailled sketches, but it still took almost 15-20 hours per page now. In 2022, I
was
finally
hit by that spark again and finished the chapter.
Another updated logo was created, showing small cracks
everywhere…
my small
cracks.
This is the end. 2023, I started a new chapter, stopped at six pages. It ended with a scene I had in mind
for
many
many years now. One scene out of hundreds, haunting my mind, desperately wanting to be drawn, to be reached.
I knew what was ahead, I knew I needed to give each moment the time it deserves. But every
detail is just another line wearing my body down.
Bloodstone would continue for 20 years if I was able to release four chapters a year... that didn't account
for
chapters getting longer and way more detailled.
It
wasn't meant to be.
I will leave this last page here, as a reminder of my surrender.
In 2024, I had the urge to create another logo. Completely shattered, the main symbol changed. It was an idea. An idea to start something new, abandoning my old ways, morphing a novel and my art into one. It hasn't happened yet, but this logo… it feels like the truest form of Bloodstone.