WEST ZINE: is this $5 stack worth it for Drawing & Painting?
If you’ve ever stared at a blank canvas trying to figure out how to take a beloved character and make them feel fresh without breaking what made them iconic, you know the specific frustration of fan-art redesigns. You want to see the thought process, not just the final render. You want the sketches, the notes, the failed iterations, and the final polish all in one place. That is exactly the gap WEST ZINE fills. It is a $5 digital fanazine dedicated to Monkie Kid, capturing four months of creative work from artist erraday. It is not a tutorial on how to draw, but a curated look at how one artist approaches character redesigns, making it a rare peek into the messy, creative middle of the process.
Quick answer
| Best for | Monkie Kid fans who want to see the full creative journey of character redesigns, from rough sketches to final illustrations. |
| Skip if | You are looking for a step-by-step drawing tutorial, a generic art asset pack, or content focused on other characters. |
| Price | $5 |
| Format | 25-page digital ebook (267 MB) with illustrations and notes. |
| One-line take | A compact, $5 look at four months of Monkie Kid redesign work, perfect for fans who value process over just final art. |
What you’re actually buying
At $5, you are not just buying a PDF; you are buying a window into a specific artistic project. The core of WEST ZINE is a 25-page collection that breaks down the artist’s approach to redesigning Monkie Kid. It includes the final illustrations, yes, but the real value lies in the accompanying sketches and notes. This is the difference between seeing a painting in a museum and seeing the artist’s studio. You get to see the structural changes, the color experiments, and the reasoning behind the redesign choices.
The file size of 267 MB suggests high-resolution images, which is critical if you are a fellow artist looking to study line work or color theory. You are getting 22 pages of actual content packed into a 25-page file, meaning the density is high. There is no filler here. It is a focused, single-character deep dive that respects your time and your wallet. If you have been following erraday’s work, this is the definitive collection of this specific phase of their creative output. (WEST ZINE)
Why it’s on our radar
This offer stands out because it treats fan art with the seriousness of a professional portfolio piece. Most digital art packs are just high-res images with no context. WEST ZINE provides the narrative. It documents four months of work, which tells you the artist put sustained effort into these redesigns. For a buyer, that means you are getting a cohesive body of work, not a random assortment of doodles.
The specificity of the subject matter is also a strong signal. It is not a “general anime art pack.” It is strictly about Monkie Kid. That niche focus makes it a perfect gift for a fellow fan or a personal archive for your own inspiration. The price point is low enough to be an impulse buy, but the content is substantial enough to feel like a premium zine. (WEST ZINE)
One buyer captured the energy of the piece perfectly: “Amazing art, from amazing artist. If he ever drops anything zine or sketchbook of his oc’s or fanarts - My life is his.” You can read more about that reaction in the Gumroad reviews.
What actually matters
Before you hit checkout, keep your expectations aligned with what this actually is. This is a fanazine, not a course. You will not find numbered steps like “Step 1: Draw the head.” Instead, you will find the results of the process, annotated with the artist’s thoughts. If you are a student of art, look at the sketches to understand how the final form evolved. (WEST ZINE)
Check your device compatibility. Since it is a 267 MB file, you will want to download it to a computer or a tablet with a decent screen to appreciate the detail. It is an ebook format, so it is designed for reading and viewing, not for use as a background texture or a game asset. (WEST ZINE)
Finally, consider the character focus. If you are not a fan of Monkie Kid, the appeal may be limited to the general quality of the drawing. But for fans, the redesigns offer a new perspective on a character you already know, which is often more engaging than seeing a character in a standard pose. (WEST ZINE)
Mid-check
If you are ready to see the redesigns and the notes behind them, you can See current options to grab the file.
FAQ
Is WEST ZINE a tutorial on how to draw Monkie Kid? No, it is a fanazine showcasing the artist’s redesigns. It includes sketches and notes that explain the creative choices, but it is not a step-by-step instructional guide. You are buying the artwork and the context, not a lesson plan.
What is the file format and size of the download? The file is a digital ebook with a size of 267 MB. It contains 25 pages of content, including 22 pages of illustrations, sketches, and notes. Ensure you have enough storage space and a device capable of displaying high-resolution images. (WEST ZINE)
Does this include original characters (OCs) or just Monkie Kid? This specific zine is dedicated to Monkie Kid. The description highlights content created over four months focused on this character. While the artist may have other works, this $5 pack is strictly for the Monkie Kid redesigns. (WEST ZINE)
Bottom line
If you are a fan of Monkie Kid or an artist looking for inspiration on character redesigns, WEST ZINE is a no-brainer at $5. It offers a rare look at the process, not just the product, and the quality of the art speaks for itself. It is a small price for a month’s worth of creative insight and high-res artwork. Grab it, read the notes, and see how a character can be reimagined.