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Reblog on Tumblr: bonnyjohn.tumblr.com/post/7776…
Ball Pokemon
Electric Type
We’re here…Number 100! Voltorb marks a milestone in 100 straight illustrations delivered fresh and daily to you all. Of course, I acknowledge this combo streak by addressing the intended and formally announced hiatus to work on another art project, Redesigning Super Mario Bros. in between illustration 49 and 50.
From day one, I planned to go as far as I could, not sure how things would fare between meeting the daily deadline and the personal challenge of tackling new art styles. One thing was certain - if I wanted to be successful with all of this, I would have to learn to move onto the next piece with no regrets after completing each day…Or at the least, keeping the regrets to myself and learning from my triumphs and failures.
All that said, before we get into the work, I just wanted to give a proper shout out to all of you who have been very supporting me all this time! Your kind words and comments make this a pleasure for me! I really appreciate all of you who have my back and take your time to take a look at my work and read the matching wall of text each day. Thanks! :’]
OK! So Voltorb…the “ball” Pokemon, is clearly based off of the Pokeball. According to the Dex, “it was discovered when Poke Balls were introduced,” so that thought is grounded to a degree and not just based on the aesthetic relations. Voltorb actually closely resembles the original capsule designed for the Pokeball, which lacks a button in the middle. For a Pokemon like Voltorb, taking theories and addressing them, by rewriting them or coming up with something new, and then finally incorporating them are fun thanks to the creative challenge. I’m sure you guys know how much I enjoy redesigning Pokemon I dislike…
Yet why is this illustration unlike anything you were expecting!? I’m assuming many of you were expecting a redesign, because I thought I was going to try that too! Actually, I originally had planned to do something detailed and intricate, but decided to pass the first draft for Voltorb to Electrode. The reason why is simple: in a shocking revelation, I don’t really have any issues with Voltorb’s design!
Electrode is who I’ve got beef with. But that’s for tomorrow! Voltorb as a concept on his own is unique to all the other Pokemon around him. That alone is reason to depict him in the way he was originally presented. Let’s take a look back at Pokemon that I really dislike - Dugtrio, Magneton, Poliwrath. What do they have in common? They all are largely unchanged from their previous evos! However, their original forms of Diglett, Magnemite, and Poliwhirl are all very unique to themselves and one another, as is Voltorb when compared to Electrode.
Thus, I chose to go in a minimalistic route for Voltorb, who has a very defined look that is ripe for something abstract. I haven’t used the half-tone effect for a Pokemon illustration yet so I thought it was a great way to make the red to white gradation look a bit more interesting. I eventually added eyes because a floating red orb against white looked a bit too much like the Japanese flag and not a sentient Pokeball.
And that’s all that really needs to be said! That’s one more illustration created in a new style as the challenge dictactes. I really like how it turned out, evolving from a more concentrated design that evolved into Electrode in favor of a design that carries a “less is more” mentality. I don’t always give out hints for the next day’s work, but as I’ve said a few times already, expect something more detailed, and know that my hate for Electrode’s design will look to set things straight in a redesign!
As I said before, thank you thank you thank you so much for being some awesome watchers, commenters, and most importantly, friends to me during this journey. The journey to “paint them all” will soon come to a close! If anyone has the time and wants to look into it, let me know when the last day of the series should be from today, factoring in the fact that I take weekends off from the project. The fateful day should be less than two months away! 
What do you get, if you do this for me, you ask? My eternal love, why of course!
See you tomorrow!
Yours,
Bonny
+ Pokemon One a Day is a series illustrated and curated by Bonny John in an effort to represent the the first generation of characters from the world wide phenomenon that is known as Pokemon. The idea is simple - to draw and share one new Pokemon a day (weekends off!) until every Pokemon from the set is completed. This project is an exploration of fine art styles for learning and leisurely purposes.