About Neo, the OC!

In the ancient year of 2013, I was in the first year of high school and had just started taking a liking to Chemistry. It was in August that I discovered a quirky little book written and illustrated by a Japanese artist named B.Y., which presented the elements of the periodic table personified, with different bodies, hairstyles and personalities that reflected their properties. People that are into Chemistry tend to have a favourite element, and thanks to said book I found the one for me. Dubbed "the world's strongest magnet", neodymium became my favourite element, a decision that would forever change my life!

I was very drawn to its design in the book, which I won't reproduce here for copyright reasons. "He" looked so cool with his pointy hair, confident expression and yellow-and-black body representing a magnet, not to mention the wide variety of essential uses the 60th element has in current technology.

A year later, in August of 2014, the ne0dym was born. I first coined the username on tumblr, and it remains my online handle to this day.

Having adopted him as my "persona" and my son, I got my first commission done by the brilliant siins, who would be a major influence on his design going forward. This first commi was simply based on the original illustration in the book, yet throughout 2015 I continued to tweak his appearance merging elements of siins's artwork with other traits I came to enjoy.

By early 2016, it was time to request an updated portrait, and I consider this the true genesis of Neo, the OC! The two commissions by siins from this period had a few defining features that would become permanent: a hoodie with inverted colours to the sweater, big chompers, pointy ears, and facial hair that would only grow with time. At the end of that year, I commissioned Skelizard to draw Neo's first full-body artwork.

In 2017, a new piece by siins became his canon design. This new Neo looked much like the previous one, except he grew a beard and became even more monster-like. I also commissioned several other artists to draw their take on my character, building a small collection of art pieces of my beloved persona. In 2018, I even got my very own unique Neo plushie, created by an artist I knew from IRL! Many people have lent their talents to Neo in commissions and gifted pieces over the years, and I am very grateful to each one.

In 2019 I received a new siins commission, featuring a full beard and his now-iconic bottom tusks. In 2020, my friend Sidney created what I consider Neo's second canon illustration, so perfectly did he portray my character! In 2023, Rossy delivered a charming piece of Neo in his most monsteriness. And finally, in 2024, I got my first proper Neo icon from siins, as a celebration of a whole decade of having this online identity, and it is no surprise that this amazing artist who contributed so much to Neo's design history really nailed all the details and then put a fresh new spin on it. These illustrations are showcased at the top of the page!

Naturally, I have also drawn my son during all this time, both on paper and digitally! I made some collages of most Neos I've drawn over the years.

---

Here are other Neo artworks!