Sanctuary & Personal Commissions

Sanctuary and Personal Art Commissions

We'll Always Have Art 🍀 Hara Reference Sheet 🍀 Lost in Your Blue Gaze 🍀 Mirrors 🍀 Queue Tees 🍀 Victoria 🍀 Rain 🍀 Workstream Wonderland 🍀 The Fates

Feb. 24th, 21:57 - 24:13 🍀 I Read People for Fun 🍀 Off to the Land of Sweets! 🍀 Have a Happy Sanctuary Christmas 🍀 Rotisserie Rendezvous

'We'll Always Have Art' by RedAceStarz

Date: July 11th, 2024

This art will always remind me of that one VIP Chat conversation that Hara had with Olga and Charlene last June 25th:

Olga: I think Siberia is considered as Asia

Charlene: It’s weird cuz they are not in EU maybe ?!

Hara: Are there people in Siberia? I thought its desert?

Olga: LMAO

Hara: God its too early for this

Charlene: Serbia also Europe ..

Olga: Siberia, not Serbia

Hara: That's funnier

Charlene: Ohh she is right it’s too early for this me read wrong 😂😂😂

I can recall laughing so much that day, and I think that was one of the few times that I actually enjoyed talking to other people. And I thought it must be nice to meet up with both of them someday - but for now, I had to be content with commissioning an art showing what the three of them must've looked like while in front of a camera. In my mind's eye, Olga will be happily posing, Charlene will be the one dragging us to face the camera, and Hara will be the one smiling slightly while doing the peace sign.

I commissioned RedAceStarz on VGen - I have seen their works from Lilly and I think they are perfect for the commission that I have in mind. They also work fast - we started on July 3rd and by July 11th, I was smiling at the art because I think it's almost 1:1, and they were able to capture the craziness of these three that I adore. And so the title 'We'll Always Have Art' is actually me saying that we might not be able to take a 'real' photo now because we are far apart, but we'll always have art.

Hara Reference Sheet by Manduriki

Date: Aug. 21st, 2024

I met Manduriki on an art group on FB and what struck me most is their drawing style - it's very cute and very clean. When I saw that they were drawing really cute reference sheets, I went ahead and reached out to them. Hara doesn't have one, but the ones that I always see looks way too serious and very VTuber-esque. I don't want anything fancy, I just want to see Hara wearing normal clothes - like a normal student.

Manduriki was really kind to provide two different backgrounds (since I can't decide on the color-scheme, as per usual, LOL) and they were kind enough to do the mixing-and-matching of her clothes and style. I have zero knowledge when it comes to fashion and so Hara as an OC looked very...'normal'-ish. But I love that we were able to include Hara's pet penguin on the reference sheet - I think it made the whole thing really cute.

'Lost in Your Blue Gaze' by Banananatsuki

JJX x Ell OC Art

Date: Sept. 10th, 2024

Olga is one of my Sanctuary sisters (I had to make the distinction because almost everyone, as an endearment, uses ‘wife’, ‘partner in chaos’, ‘bestie’, etc, and I think calling my closest friends as ‘sisters’ is the most normal and neutral that I can be, LMAO). I think it was January when we first started talking, though I honestly can’t remember the exact reason why (I’m literally scrolling through our chat history right now trying to figure it out 🤣). What I do know is that I adore her to the moon and back.

She’s one of the rare people who accepted me in all my unapologetic INTJ glory and (hopefully 😂) didn’t get offended when I said whatever’s on my mind. I never feel like I have to tiptoe around her—whether we’re talking about my weird vinegar-drinking habits or her bizarre love for cottage cheese with raisins and milk (bleh). Maybe it’s because she’s an ENTJ that we just click, or maybe we just enjoy endlessly complaining and yapping in the DMs (shoutout to our dumpster fire of a chat, LOL).

I really hate seeing her sad, especially when I feel powerless to do anything about it. I can’t draw to save my life, and I’m not exactly great with emotional words. Whenever I try, it feels somewhat disingenuous, and I hate that. So, when I saw Banananatsuki posting an ad for ‘couple commissions’ in an FB art group, I immediately messaged them to ask for a piece of Olga and her ultimate pixel crush, Gojo.

Banananatsuki was an absolute gem to work with. They kept me updated the entire time and brought their own interpretation of the art, which I love. I usually give very specific instructions, but they still add their creative input - something I really respect because, as the artist, they know what works best. The final piece turned out amazing, and I hoped it made Olga just a little happier when I shared it on the server.

I can’t mail her cottage cheese, but at least I can give her some Gojo art. 😂

'Trick or Treat' by Renjous

Date: Sept. 13th, 2024

Yes, I know, September is a bit early for a Halloween thing. But - I haven’t had a sketch commission, and when I saw Renjous posting samples on an art group on FB, I thought that it was perfect for a Halloween art with Olga and Charlene.

I think their art style is amazing - not everyone can pull off a sketch-style and make it look very clean. They were also kind enough to help with the costumes - as I’ve said, I don’t know anything about fashion, so I just told them to draw clothes that they think will fit the OC’s, and these turned out great!

'Mirrors' by Tableiyart

JJK x Hara OC Art

Date: Sept. 25th, 2024

I haven’t watched one single episode of Jujutsu Kaisen, but I adore Suguru.

My sister collects mangas, and the first time I saw him was when she showed me Gojo. Now, I don’t like Gojo - I think he’s too loud, and people who talk too much are kinda annoying (I’m sorry, LMAO). My sister laughed and told me that I'd probably like ‘Geto’ then, and of course she was right. Later I learned that he’s an antagonist, and one of my closest friends actually asked ‘Why do you like him - he went completely off the goddamn rails!’ And I just thought ‘Well dang. That’s even better.’

I’ve always liked antagonists in stories not because they’re ‘evil’ or because they are angsty, or because they oppose the hero, but because more often than not they have so much depth and complexity. Antagonists (especially the well-written ones) challenge the narrative. They’re not just obstacles, or just there to piss people off - they’re characters with their own beliefs, motivations, or a warped sense of justice that makes them feel painfully human. I think that’s why I like Suguru more than Gojo - he’s almost ‘real’.

Suguru isn’t just a villain for the sake of being one. I think what makes him interesting is that his ideals come from a place of genuine belief - belief in his own 'twisted' version of what’s right. He didn’t start off as someone who wanted to destroy the world or hurt others. He was a sorcerer with strong convictions, someone who once walked alongside people like Gojo and saw the same world they did. But over time, after witnessing endless suffering and hypocrisy, his ideals shifted. You can almost understand why he did what he did, even if you can’t agree with him.

That’s what I love about characters like him. He feels real because he’s tragic. His downfall isn’t just about ‘turning evil’. It’s about how someone can lose faith in the system they once believed in. It’s unsettling, relatable, and makes you question how easy it is to fall into darkness when your ideals are pushed to the breaking point. That complexity - where you can see where he’s coming from but also see how far he’s fallen - is what makes him different and stand out as a character.

To quote my favorite author, Mary Shelley: ‘The history of villains is much more entertaining than that of heroes, because monsters are not born, they are created. They do not emerge from emptiness or darkness of their own accord, but are shaped by circumstances, by the wounds of the world around them. They reflect the depths of human pain, rejection, loneliness, misunderstanding. A hero is defined by his acts of bravery, but a villain is the result of a heart that was once pure and ended up corrupted. Monsters, in their tragedy, show us what could happen to us all, if the world were to turn its back on us.’

This is the second time that I worked with Lei - and as always, she went above and beyond what I expected. For this commission, I can’t choose between a white or a pink background, and Lei has been kind enough to help and send me different versions!

'Queue Tees' by Boomboombat

Date: Oct. 8th, 2024

I don’t play games.

Well, that’s a lie - I love playing games. Back in the day, I was all about DotA and Battle Realms (my one true love). After graduating college, I spent a year-long sabbatical immersed in online games, bantering with people from all over the world - Greeks, Romanians, Americans, and even a few Filipinos. Along the way, I picked up curse words and unfiltered tidbits about their cultures. I was happy and I wish it lasted. But then 2013 happened, and someone I trusted (and loved, unfortunately) hacked into my game accounts, deleted everything I’d worked so hard to build, and even went after my friends’ accounts (yes - I farm for them because world bosses spawn on a specific time that's not very EU friendly). It was devastating. After that, I quit online gaming entirely (I also gave up on relationships. LOL).

Fast forward to 2020: my sister decided she wasn’t going to let me stay away from gaming forever. Animal Crossing New Horizons was launched, and she insisted I give it a shot. I did - and to say that I fell in love with the game was an understatement. That game saved me in more ways than I can count. By 2022, she ‘demanded’ I try Genshin Impact. I was skeptical at first, but the moment I saw Xiao, I knew I was gonna play the game. I adored Xiao to bits - not as a ‘husbando’, but like a son. And then came the gacha (LOL). Now, I have a ton of ‘adopted’ kids: QiQi, Scaramouche, Sigewinne…I even adopted Gaming and Sethos.

Despite all this, I still avoid co-op play with strangers. Gaming, for me, is a stress reliever, not a source of anxiety. I lack the hand-eye coordination and dexterity for high-pressure games, and I’d rather not deal with the fear of looking silly in front of others. Usually, I just stick to playing with my family.

Then, my sister introduced me to PowerWash Simulator and suggested I try it with the Content Creator during one of my redeem time. I agreed - on the condition that I wouldn’t have to run, jump, scream, or kill anything. To my surprise, it turned out to be a fun and relaxing experience. The Content Creator was friendly, a bit chatty that day (I don't know, maybe they were expecting me to want them to talk? I like them quiet, in fact - if they are quiet I don't have to talk in English, which is really good. LMFAO), and decent overall. I didn’t talk much - but I can recall chatting with the Content Creator about their house hunting, about crazy people - people in the server are used to the Content Creator being quiet during redeems anyway and I really don't care to be honest as long as the Content Creator is comfortable, but it was still a refreshing change from the usual movie times.

I stumbled across Boomboombat’s chibi art in a Facebook art group and instantly knew I wanted them to create something to commemorate that co-op game. Their art is so vibrant, and they have this amazing skill to fill a whole canvas with charming little details that make it feel alive, and their characters have so much personality.

Now, every time I look at that artwork, it takes me back to that moment - the first time I stepped out of my comfort zone after 11 years to play a co-op game. It’s funny because the memory is a mix of awkwardness and joy. It was a unique experience, and while I’m still not rushing into co-op games, I’m grateful for that little adventure.

'Victoria' by Tableiyart

Date: Oct. 10th, 2024

Victoria is one of my ‘Alts’. I never use my real name in any circumstance in real life since I don’t trust people that much. I think names are ‘magical’ and giving them out to people who don’t know you is like giving a piece of yourself that you can’t take back.

Funnily enough, ‘Victoria’ was supposed to be my real name instead of R****. My dad wanted it, but my mom said that it sounded so ‘old’ and so ‘old fashioned’. I actually like the name. It sounded powerful, and it’s ironic and somehow I laugh at the idea that I only use this name for ordering stuff online or booking ride-share services.

I wanted to personify ‘Victoria’, and I thought that Lei would be the best artist to do the commission. To say that she worked amazingly on the art was an understatement - Lei’s skills are so commendable: she breathed life into Victoria and gave her so much personality. My most favorite part of the art was Victoria's eyes - I love that Lei was able to create the perfect shade of gold for her eyes. I provided a reference and she captured it 1:1. It was amazing. The first time I saw the finished art, I wolf-whistled. She radiates power, confidence, and it feels like she’s someone who will not accept ‘No’ as an answer. I just muttered ‘Oh my God. This is EXACTLY how I imagined her to look like’.

And once she already had her own art and own personality, I decided to use her as the Mafia Boss’s counterpart in the NSFW art ‘Kiss Me, Kill Me’. I think her personality matches the Mafia fairly well, and it was really exciting to see her having a plot of her own.

'Rain' by Emy Ru

Date: Oct. 20th, 2024

Rain is one of my first ‘Alts’. She’s sweet, she’s very kind, she loves books, and she’s intelligent, intuitive, loves astrology, and extremely horny. Unfortunately, she was one of the first ones to die (as I explained in the blurb under ‘Queue Tees’) - she is an online persona that I used for online games, along with 'Nemesis'.

I feel like 2013 was such a long time and miss her long, black hair, with braids and bangs and all that. When I saw Emy Ru’s arts on an FB art group, I thought, ‘Well, why not.’ I wanted to personify her because I kinda miss her.

Even though I didn’t give Emy Ru much to work with - just some specific hair and eye colors, a general style, and the idea that her outfit should have a Chinese vibe as a nod to my ancestry - they absolutely nailed it. While we brainstormed, we talked about Rain’s personality and her love of astrology, which inspired Emy Ru to include zodiac signs on the lanterns in the piece. This was extremely hilarious for me, especially when I saw the final art and talked about the lanterns - Emy Ru said ‘My mom and dad are both Geminis’ and I was laughing my head off. It was an inside joke that all of my managers from 2014 until 2022 are all Geminis, my ex is one, and my bestest of best friends is one as well.

I really can’t escape these f*ckers, can I? 😂

The finished art truly captured Rain’s essence as an OC. Like Victoria, once she had her own artwork, I felt inspired and decided to make her the Professor’s counterpart in the NSFW piece 'Detention 101'. Why? Honestly, they just fit. They’re both ridiculously horny, and it was hilarious (and kind of fun) to imagine them getting up to...well, ‘classroom activities’.

'Workstream Wonderland' by Boomboombat

Date: Oct. 22nd, 2024

Halloween is just around the corner - and I wanted something that is ‘themed’. I just received the lore art from Shrimpy (‘Past, Present, Future Perfect’), and since it has a more ‘serious’ vibe, I thought I wanted something cute and funny to submit for the community Halloween Showcase #AzeBoo. That’s when I immediately messaged Boomboombat with an idea for a Frankenstein-themed chibi art.

I sent over my references, and, as always, Boomboombat went above and beyond. The final piece was bursting with so much personality and it was so much fun to look at. The theme was perfect, especially with Feline as a ‘mad scientist’ - he just fit the art perfectly!

My favorite detail about the art was the ‘lighting’. The eerie green glow was almost an exact match to the photo reference I provided, and it added such a spooky, atmospheric touch to the piece. I think the only revisions that I requested for the art was to make Feline a bit shorter - the first sketch was showing him taller than Hara, and we also had to revise the halo which should be split into three instead of two. But aside from those, everything in the art was perfect and magical.

This piece ended up being included in the 12-Hour Special Halloween Stream Art Submission under #AzeBoo by the Sanctuary Community on the Content Creator’s Twitch stream on November 3rd. It was such a fun and memorable event, and I definitely enjoyed looking at everyone’s submissions. 😆

'The Fates' by Entako

Date: Oct. 28th, 2024

As a History major, I’ve always been fascinated by Greek mythology in all its splendor and drama, even though I can’t stand Zeus and Hera. When Netflix released KAOS, I was instantly hooked on the plot, and The Fates quickly became my favorite characters.

In Greek mythology, The Fates represent destiny. They determine a person’s lifespan, from birth to death. They are sisters: Clotho is the ‘spinner’ who spins the thread of fate, Lachesis is the ‘allotter’ who measures the thread (or, a person’s life), and Atropos who’s the metaphor for ‘death’, who cuts the thread with her scissors.

I usually ask artists if they have a VGen account since using this platform is easier and is much more systematic - so when I saw that Entako has a VGen, I followed them and I was surprised and fell in love with their banner - it was an art showing a person holding two puppets, and my immediate thought was ‘Oh. I want something exactly like that.’

The concept was pretty straightforward. I was thinking about my 15-year old self holding puppets (my ‘Alter Egos’) and how the puppets personify ‘The Fates’ and I thought that they match well. ‘Rain’ being Clotho, ‘Andi’ being ‘Lachesis’, and ‘Hara’ being ‘Atropos’.

Entako has been amazing when it comes to bringing the vision into life. Entako even asked me which version I’d like - whether the puppet owner has closed eyes or if their eyes shouldn’t be visible to make it more mysterious. I picked the first one because I think the ‘closed eyes’ looks kinda sweet. Entako also captured the puppets’ personalities perfectly, adding detailed expressions that brought them to life, something we had discussed during brainstorming.

I think the only revision that I requested was to make Hara’s eyes brighter (it’s always Hara’s eyes - I like it to have the same, exact, bright apple green shade as the other arts). Entako made the adjustments effortlessly, and the final piece turned out to be an absolute masterpiece. 💚

'Feb. 24th, 21:57 - 24:13' by Oda Reiss

Date: Nov. 9th, 2024

I don’t self-insert on audios - this was a strict, hard, non-negotiable rule for me. Breaking this is tantamount to the universe ending - sounds melodramatic, but it’s true. I’ve always been very strict about setting personal boundaries, and not sticking to them feels like lying to myself, and I don’t like this feeling (at all). It's like one of those games that you play with other people where if you fail you lose, and I guess I'm too 'prideful' to lose to myself. 😂

Back in April or May, I had some amazing conversations with Arctic, Lilly, Nerdie, and a few others on the server about our favorite audios. Those talks are some of my favorite memories because we all share a love for great plots, interesting characters, and solid storytelling. It’s one of the things we bond over, aside from rating and discussing our favorite lines from the audios. During one of those chats, I brought up my favorite audio of all time and I told them about my Top #1 audio, which is ‘[ NSFW Patreon ASMR ] Treated Right By Your BF~ Words Of Affirmation, Humming, Snuggling, Cute Kisses, & More~ [ Dominant Boyfriend x Listener ] [ Sleep Aid ]’ dated Feb. 24th, 2023. It was unbeatable. Unlike the typical spicy content that draws most people in (which is totally fair), this audio felt different - it's normal, almost real, almost ‘human’.

Spicy audios often feel more like fantasy audiobooks to me, almost like those old radio dramas from the ‘90s, but in this case, you’d only hear the male lead (the Content Creator). It's like a re-enactment, and so it's fun to dissect the audio bit by bit, from character personalities, to the script/plot, to the sound effects, and all of the other technical stuff that are involved in the creative process. However, this audio was different. The humming part, especially from 21:57 to 24:13, is something different. I’m usually the one who hums for others, so hearing that part was weirdly comforting for me. Even though I don’t self-insert, I couldn’t help but feel happy knowing that someone else out there might listen to it and feel genuinely comforted, too.

That audio stuck with me so much that I decided I wanted an art piece to remind me of it. When I came across Oda Reiss’s work in an FB art group, I knew they were the perfect artist for the commission. I didn’t want anything flashy - just something simple that captured the essence of the audio. The reference I provided had a hand touching the girl’s face, but as always, I specifically asked the artist to make sure that Azeru's hand didn’t actually make contact with my OC - a detail that is extremely important for me.

Now, every time I look at this piece of art, I’m reminded of why I love that audio so much. It’s not just about the story or the sound - it’s about the comfort it brought me and most importantly, the connections and the conversations it sparked with people on the server whom I grew to love and care about.

'I Read People for Fun' by Encinoxy

Date: Nov. 28th, 2024

Rain has always been one of my favorite OCs since she’s Hara’s complete opposite - someone who doesn’t just observe people but practically dissects their every nuance for fun - their MBTI, their astrological sign, etc. Her personality is layered, sharp, and almost human, which makes her such an exciting character to explore.

When I saw Encinoxy’s work, I knew their art style would bring something truly special to Rain. It felt like the perfect way to capture her somewhat 'mysterious aura' and that playful-yet-intense vibes. Seeing Rain through Encinoxy’s work has been incredible - the result was as fascinating as her character.

'Off to the Land of Sweets!' by Boomboombat

Date: Dec. 13th, 2024

I wanted to continue with a themed-chibi art with Boomboombat since they were really good at it, and I was just debating on whether it will be ‘The Nutcracker’ or ‘Alice in the Wonderland’ for the December art. Funnily enough, there was a holiday art submission where members of the community can enter under #SnowZeru, and so I opted for ‘The Nutcracker’.

I have always loved ‘The Nutcracker’ because of what the doll looked like - it looked so serious but it looks so funny at the same time. I’ve always seen ‘The Nutcracker’ as this bridge between the real world and the dream world, with the ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’ belonging to the dream world, and I've always been fascinated with one of the story versions (I am not sure if that was the Barbie one, but I swear I think it is though…) where the wooden doll turned into a prince.

This piece became even more special since it’s one of my last art commissions for 2024, and Boomboombat told me it would be their final project before taking a well-deserved break. They did an amazing job bringing it to life! I requested some symbolic details that the community will probably recognize, like the penguin and duck on the chair, and the scattered nuts to reference the Twitch streams where people throw nuts at the Content Creator's model.

In the art, Hara is portrayed as ‘The Nutcracker,’ while Azeru takes on the role of the ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’ (or, in this case, the ‘Sugar Plum Angel’). I love the idea of Hara standing behind Azeru, echoing the story where the Nutcracker prince defends Clara from the Mouse King. I wanted it to have the vibe of 'Hey, I'm right behind you to support you.'

Finally, this piece hints at the next part of the lore (assuming I don’t get too lazy to write it, but I probably will be too LAZY, sorry LOL) - an alternate universe showing Hara's male counterpart.

'Have a Happy Sanctuary Christmas' by Nutriti

Date: Dec. 14th, 2024

I realized I didn’t have any YCH art yet, so when I came across this adorable chibi YCH on VGen, I immediately reached out to Nutriti. It felt like the perfect way to celebrate Olga’s birthday. Her birthday is just a few days before Christmas, and while neither the Content Creator nor I could send her physical gifts, having something like this in art form felt somewhat special.

Even though it's a YCH and the process is pretty straightforward, it was amazing to work with Nutriti and they were able to grant the few revisions that I requested, especially when it comes to the characters' eyes, and the final result was way even cuter than I expected. 💚

'Rotisserie Rendezvous' by Kali Lot

Date: Jan. 3rd, 2025

This one wasn't intentional at all - I was busy minding my own business, doom-scrolling to see boomers share posts about stupid politicians on FB, when I suddenly saw the ad from Kali Lot. The art is showing Luffy (from 'One Piece'), holding a damn chicken leg, along with Anya (Spy x Family), two bunnies, and (most likely) an unknown OC. I actually laughed out loud because of the chicken leg, and it reminded me of those times when the Content Creator would sing that bloody stupid song 'Chicken Fry' on Twitch. I thought it was perfect for a New Year art, so I immediately reached out to Kali Lot to ask if they could work on a commission with me.

Kali Lot absolutely nailed it - the final art turned hilarious and feels like the perfect summary of 2024: a little messy, a little absurd, a bit hilarious: Azeru looks ridiculously smug holding that chicken leg, and Hara’s deadpan expression while awkwardly cradling Psyduck (who looks like it’s questioning every life choice that led to this moment, which makes the whole thing even funnier, LMAO) is just chef’s kiss.

It’s the kind of thing that makes you laugh, and then smile because it’s relatable. Like, yeah - we’re all just trying to keep it together on this wild ride to 2025. 😂