#I got art for yall just let me make some lunch and then I’ll post it

[seafoamsol]

Can’t believe sayin that sellin traced artwork is controversial but here we are: a condensed video of most of the traces, w/o having to dig everywhere. Have fun✌️

[artificialqueens]

Blue Neighborhood Series: EASE (Jan-centric) - Mac

AN: Again, nothing I do would ever come to completion without Meggie being my rock and betaing this monstrosity. I love her and I hope yall like this one!

Summary: The students of Eastview Highschool are still reeling from a post by their school drama account. Jan is too busy with auditioning for the school musical to pay much mind to a bit of teenage angst. Jan is too busy in general. But she’s not overworked. She’s totally fine. She can handle it. She has everything under control.

6:00am: Wake Up

Jan’s eyes slowly adjusted themselves to the morning light just beginning to peek through her curtains. She didn’t groan, didn’t add five minutes to her alarm. She rolled up and out of bed.

She pulled the sheet taut where she had messed it up while sleeping and tucked it back under her mattress, doing the same to the blanket. She fluffed her pillows and set them upright, and finally placed her little stuffed bunny in the center of the pillows.

She knelt down to pull the drawers from under her bed. She selected a random combination of shorts and t-shirt before queuing up her morning run playlist. She noted a text from Gigi and about eleven other people.

G: no idea.

G: u sure it’s one of our girls?

J: Looks like our uniform.

7:00am: Shower

Jan didn’t fuss too much in the shower, rinsing herself down quickly, but making sure to apply her favorite body soap generously along her legs and arms. It smelled like peaches and always reminded her of summertime.

She brushed her teeth in the shower too. When she mentioned offhandedly to Jackie one day the older girl had looked grossed out. Jan didn’t mind.

It was more efficient that way.

7:20am: Breakfast

Jan kissed her mother on the cheek as thanks for another delicious meal.

She fussed after Jan, telling her to be safe on her way to school and to text her when practice was over. Jan assured her mother that she would and skipped out the door, bookbag in tow, without another word.

7:30am: Walk to School

Jackie had taken to walking in the morning with Crystal and her weird art friends recently, so it was just Gigi and Brita that met Jan at her door.

Jan greeted them with a warm smile and made it about halfway down her porch steps before Brita launched into her many theories about who on the cheer team was sleeping with a basketball player.

The picture had made the rounds last night. Jan was up doing an online lab for her college chemistry course when she got the notification.

Yes, she had her notifications on for the school drama account. Sue her, but she liked to be in the know about things.

She immediately recognized their cheer outfit and hadn’t hesitated before contacting every single girl on the team to inquire about who was making out with Eastview High’s All Star basketball player.

No one on the team fessed up.

Jan wasn’t concerned per se. It was their prerogative to make out with whoever, but if this was about to be a scandal, she’d rather be ahead of it.

“When I first saw it I thought it might be you, J,” Brita said, turning to shoot a look at Jan.

“Oh my god, Brittany!” Jan shook her head as if it were the wildest idea she’d ever heard.

“I’m just sayin’.” Brita held her hands up in surrender. “My first thought was good for her. She needs some stress relief.”

“I don’t need that kind of relief.” Jan chuckled.

Brita just hummed skeptically.

Jan turned to look at Gigi who was being awfully quiet that morning, “Who do you think it was, Gigi?”

“I have no idea.” Gigi just shrugged.

Jan wasn’t convinced. Gigi was staring at her shoes like they were the most interesting shoes on the planet. She clearly knew something she wasn’t telling them. Jan made a mental note to prod her for details later.

“Well, the tall one was definitely Hall. That’s for sure,” Brita continued rambling.

“Why do you say that?” Gigi asked innocently.

Now Jan was sure Gigi knew something. Everyone with two eyes and half a brain cell knew the person not in the cheer uniform was Hall. Jaida was the damn captain of the team. The most lauded person in their highschool. Everyone knew what she looked like.

Brita looked at Gigi confusedly. “Besides the obvious, it’s her truck in the picture.”

“It could have just been someone else on her car,” Gigi spoke quietly, clearly losing her nerve.

“I doubt it. Did you see how tall the other person was?” Brita shook her head. “No, it’s definitely Hall.”

The conversation lulled a bit as the three made their way into the school building, through the metal detectors, and headed down the hallway to their lockers. All conveniently located next to each other.

When Gigi had asked how that had happened Jan had just shrugged and said that being student body president had its advantages.

As they sifted through their lockers for their books, Jan mused. “But which one of our girls would be sleeping with Hall?”

Brita thought a moment before holding up a hand to count off her fingers. “Well, start with which ones are gay. Jackie, Gigi-”

Jan cut her off. “You don’t have to be gay to wanna sleep with Hall.”

“Okay, true.” Brita giggled.

“For straight girls, you both sure talk about how hot Jaida is a lot.” Gigi gave them both pointed looks, before continuing. “Besides, half the squad is gay that doesn’t help.”

Brita and Jan agreed and gave up theorizing for now as they waltzed into homeroom with their arms linked.

7:40am Homeroom/Announcements

Jan shot their homeroom teacher a smile before excusing herself to the front office.

While being the student body president did have its perks, it also had its responsibilities. Namely, the announcements every morning.

Jan greeted the ladies at the front desk and spent the better part of ten minutes cooing at pictures and videos of their young children that they always insisted on showing her. Jan never minded. It always made them smile and it made her smile, so it was a win-win.

Principal Visage came by a few moments later. She gave Jan a warm smile and ran her through the announcements for the day, handing over the slip of paper with the same information.

Jan took it eagerly and attempted to strike up a conversation with her principal. But Mrs. Visage wasn’t one for small talk and excused herself shortly after the homeroom bell rang. She gave Jan an encouraging smile, though, before disappearing into her office.

Jan readied herself by the microphone and smiled as a couple of students filed into the office to make announcements for their various clubs.

Bryce showed up at 8:00 on the dot and Jan chastised him for giving her a heart attack. Her VP slash boyfriend of two years just smiled. “You know I’d never leave you hangin’.”

Jan didn’t have time to retort before the bell rang. She took a deep inhale and exhale before pressing down on the intercom and putting on her cheeriest voice.

“Good Wednesday morning Eastview High! I hope you guys are ready for the football game this Friday. Get excited! Go Eagles!” Jan paused to look over at the students in line. “We’ve got quite a few student announcements this morning so I’ll let them take it away.”

Jan moved back and allowed each of the line of students access to the mic to plug their after school activity or club. It was still early in the semester so there were quite a few. Jan herself made plugs for both the cheerleading and soccer teams.

“Now to your VP for the most important announcement, lunch.”

Jan turned to Bryce who smiled goofily. “That was a Jan-mazing joke there!”

Jan could hear groans from the nearby homerooms. She just smiled. Early on in their relationship, Bryce had somehow decided that making puns out of Jan’s name was peak comedy. Although, he had a weird grasp on what counted as a pun. She had tried to explain to him that the joke wasn’t funny unless the word already had an ‘an’ in it. He still didn’t seem to get it.

He even got her a necklace for the anniversary that said Janmate. Like soulmate… but… her name.

She took it all in stride though and forced a laugh anyway.

“For lunch we’ve got chicken and pizza-”

Jan spaced out for a bit as Bryce went on about the menu for today. He cracked a few jokes and the ladies at the front desk practically swooned. Jan rolled her eyes fondly. Bryce had that effect on people.

She closed out the announcements with her encouraging quote of the day and a reminder to get tickets to Friday’s game.

8:15 - 12:20: Classes

Jan was taking all AP classes this semester which meant she had to work ten times harder to keep up with everyone else. Yes, she was still in line for salutatorian, and yes, she could probably get As in every class without lifting a finger, and yes, she was taking college courses in addition to her current course load, and no, she wasn’t overworked.

12:25: Lunch

Jan threw her pile of books in her locker with little regard to how they tumbled against each other at the bottom. She grabbed her purse and Gigi’s hand and the two made their way down to the lunchroom.

Jan waited until they were in line, trays in hand, boxed in by students on either side of them before finally asking, “So what aren’t you telling me?”

Gigi tensed immediately and tried valiantly to keep eye contact with Jan, “What are you talking about?”

Jan grabbed a yogurt from the fridge and turned back to face Gigi. “You know who’s in the picture don’t you?”

“No,” Gigi answered too quickly.

Jan wasn’t convinced. “Well, you know something.”

Gigi grabbed two slices of pizza while shaking her head, “I really don’t, J. Honest.”

They made their way up to the register and Jan smiled warmly at the lady running the machine. She gave her a glare in response. Jan paid for her lunch and waited patiently for Gigi to do the same.

Jan knew she wasn’t going to get anything more out of Gigi. They had grown up together and Jan knew better by now than to keep pushing.

But a little part of her did wonder. “Who are you covering for?”

“No one. I’m not covering for anyone!” Gigi exclaimed.

“I know, I’m teasing.” Jan gave a giggle.

Gigi huffed but allowed a small smile to grace her face.

The two sat down at their usual table. Bryce, Brita, and Brita’s boyfriend Bruno all came and joined them a bit later.

Lunch passed in a blurr. Jan half-listened to Bryce talk about the football team and their upcoming game. The rest of her time was spent worrying her bottom lip between her teeth and mentally running through her lines for her audition tomorrow.

1:25-3:30: Classes

The afternoon always seemed to pass slower to Jan. She noticed three times that her mind had drifted off and away from the work in front of her. She really needed to get a grip. And maybe some more sleep tonight.

4:00pm: Cheer Practice

Jan led the girls through another grueling practice.

Ten laps to start, stretching exercises, pyramid clean up, full routine until they got it perfect.

It was nowhere near perfect when six o’clock hit, but there wasn’t time to dwell on that. There wasn’t time for much of anything.

Roll up the floor mats, change for soccer practice, eat a granola bar on the way to the field.

6:10pm: Soccer Practice

Jan had been playing soccer since she was 5.

Her parents swore she came out of the womb juggling. Jan always laughed and told them that was anatomically impossible. Her father then would say she got her mother’s humor.

Practice was fairly uneventful. Tiring as hell, as usual, but it always left Jan feeling accomplished.

8:00pm: Dinner and Homework

Jan was thankful for the light load today. When the spring musical started up, she would really be stretched thin. Luckily for now she only had cheer every school day and soccer three days a week and soccer games on weekends and her college class every other day and being student body president every day and keeping her 4.0 GPA…

It was manageable. For now at least.

Jan scarfed down the leftovers her mother had set aside for her and started on her pile of work. She was usually good about keeping on top of homework, so it only took a few hours to get everything done. She checked in on her college chemistry course to make sure she had turned in her lab quiz. She had.

When Jan looked up it was already 11pm. She sighed and knew her parents and brother were most likely asleep by now. She would have to practice her audition song outside.

Jan hopped in the shower and rinsed herself off, hoping the steam would help her vocal chords and the grime coming off her like a sheet would help her feel better.

She tiptoed down the stairs and out her back door. She walked to the edge of her backyard and perched herself up on the fence, trying to get distance away from the houses so she didn’t bother anyone.

She shivered as the cool air bit at her exposed ankles.

She started humming softly, reaccustoming her voice to its own music. She took her time, running through warmups softly until she felt secure enough. She let herself get a bit louder and heard their neighbor Rock shut her window pointedly.

Jan sighed. She needed to practice.

She kept going, letting the notes extend past her mouth and fill the night air around her. She counted off in her head and hit each beat perfectly on cue with the music forever spinning in her mind.

A window opened from a nearby house, but it was too dark to see who it was or where it was.

Jan kept going, getting into the chorus and letting her control slip and her voice do what it wanted to. The air around her seemed to crackle with electricity and her heart rate increased as she hit the high note and this… this was what Jan lived for.

The crickets, an appreciative audience continued their chirping as Jan finished the last lyrics.

Somewhere, much closer than was comfortable came a soft clapping. It startled Jan at first.

She looked over to see none other than Jaida Essence Hall leaning over Jan’s fence to applaud her. Jan, ever the performer, gave a mock curtsey and Jaida chuckled lightly.

“Hey, Jaida,” Jan said in greeting.

“Hey, Jan.”

They didn’t do this. They didn’t talk like this. Like friends.

Not that they weren’t friends.

They had grown up together.

Although, Jan grew up with everyone in this neighborhood so that wasn’t really saying much. Although they had all grown up playing games in the middle of the street, running around in the heat slick sun and scraping their knees on solid concrete. And that meant a lot as a kid. It still sometimes meant a lot.

“How are you?” Jan asked.

Jaida’s demeanor suddenly changed and she let out a bitter laugh. “Oh you know.”

“I really don’t.”

There was a pointed pause. “No, I guess you don’t,” Jaida mused.

The silence stretched between them and the once calming air of the outdoors suddenly felt stifling.

“I’m sorry.”

Jaida looked up. “Why? You take the picture?”

“No!” Jan shook her head. “But still. I’m guessing this isn’t how you wanted things to go.”

“You’d guess correct.” Jaida sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “You gon’ ask me who it was? Has she told you yet?”

Jan bit her lip. She wasn’t going to ask, no matter how much she wanted to know. “No. And no. No one told me anything.”

“Hmm. Weird. I woulda thought you knew from the start.” Jaida seemed almost… shocked. Like she figured Jan already knew. Like she figured Jan had this dirt on her and oh, now Jan understood what this was about.

“I don’t know who it was. And even if I did, it’s none of my business.” Jan spoke firmly. “Is that why you came down here then? To make sure I wouldn’t tell?”

“No! Well yes, and no.” Jaida looked down at her feet guiltily. “I knew you weren’t the type to go spreadin gossip, but I wanted to make sure.” Jaida looked back up to meet Jan’s eyes “plus I hadn’t heard you sing since we were little.”

At Jan’s confused expression, Jaida laughed a bit, “You tellin’ me you don’t remember when we were growin’ up and you and Jackie would put on these elaborate plays and keep us all hostage til we clapped?”

“We did not keep you hostage!” Jan exclaimed.

“Roxanne nearly pissed herself one time!”

“She did not!”

A voice rang out above their heads. “Did too!”

Jaida and Jan looked up and over to see Rock leaning out her window to gaze down at them.

“Rock, what the fuck?” Jaida asked in between confused chuckles.

“Sorry, I was just listening to Jan singing and I heard my name so I thought- I just thought I’d- I’ll just go now.” Rock made a show of closing her window, but the shadow of her head was still visible through her curtains, making it clear she was still listening in.

Jan just laughed at the ludicracy of it all. She found Jaida doing the same.

It was strange. That after all this time. All the ways life had changed them, they still stood here, laughing in spite of it all.

Jan and Jaida’s eyes met and for a brief moment it felt a bit like lightning. A bit like they were supposed to be here right now. Together.

Jaida must have realized she was staring because she coughed a bit awkwardly. “Well, I should let you get back to it.”

Jan felt her stomach drop at the notion, but she nodded. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah.” Jaida smiled before turning on her heel and disappearing back into her yard. Jan found herself surprised to be missing the other girl’s presence.

She shook it off and went through her song a few more times before deciding to call it a night.

She made sure to shout a goodnight to Rock, who she was sure blushed at being caught out, but returned the sentiment nonetheless.

Jan tiptoed back up the stairs to her room and set her alarm for the morning.

7:22am: Wake Up

Jan woke up like a flash. As if her body instinctively knew something was wrong. The light filtering through her curtains was way too bright for it to be 6:00am. She looked over to her phone and her heart leapt at the time.

She bolted out of bed and threw on the outfit she had laid out the night before. She didn’t have time to do her makeup, a pre-audition ritual she always partook in. She didn’t have time at all before she heard a knock at the front door.

She raced down to see Jackie, Gigi, and Brita all looking at her concerned. She looked a mess probably. Jan tried to give them a reassuring smile and said she’d be right down and she just had to grab her bag and her sheet music.

She closed the door lightly and sprinted up the stairs, grabbing the aforementioned items and giving herself one last onceover in the mirror.

Jan knew this wasn’t the end of the world. In reality, she had only missed her morning run and shower, which was fine. Everything was fine. It didn’t feel like her world was suddenly crashing down around her.

7:35am: Walk to School

The group walked in relative silence. At least for Jan’s part. She was running through her lines over and over and over in her head, while Jackie encouraged her softly and Brita and Gigi talked in hushed tones all the way to school.

Jan hardly even registered the fact that Jackie was walking with them today. When she asked about it, the older girl just shook her head and said not to worry about it. Jan agreed to drop it, if only for the fact that the nerves in her stomach were making it hard to talk.

Jan bid Brita and Gigi goodbye at the auditorium doors. Jackie hung back, clearly sensing that something was wrong.

“Are you okay?” she asked, genuine concern creeping into her voice.

Jan nodded. “Yeah, I just woke up late and it freaked me out.”

Jackie nodded but seemed unconvinced. “Well, you got this.” She gave Jan’s hands a squeeze. “Don’t worry.”

Jan gave her a small smile and nodded.

She did. She totally had this.

She walked into the auditorium, greeted the director and the stage manager and got all the way up on stage before she realized that she actually didn’t have this. That maybe for the first time in her life, Jan really wasn’t going to do well at this.

It was a stupid thought. A silly voice that she could usually shut out.

But now it was the only thing she could hear.

She couldn’t hear the lines being read out to her or the start of her music. Something inside her had snapped and she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread creeping up on her.

As if to further rub salt in the wound, right as she was about to hit the high note, her voice cracked.

Jan wasn’t delusional.

She had known this balancing act would come to an end eventually. She was doing too much. Everyone said so.

But she couldn’t seem to stop herself either. She just had a lot of love in her heart. And she needed to show it somehow.

Or maybe she just wanted to be good at something. So she had tried a bit of everything and when she found that she wasn’t truly exceptional at any one thing she just kept doing everything. Maybe she had been hoping that no one would realize how lost she truly was if she just did everything.

Because Jan felt lost.

And it hit her like a truck everytime she stopped moving. So she hadn’t stopped moving.

She had known this balancing act would come to an end eventually. She just didn’t think everything would come to an end now.

Jan ran out of the auditorium and into someone. She opened her mouth to apologize but a familiar voice cut her off before she was able.

“Hey, I was just gonna come wish you luck-” Jaida took in Jan’s frazzled appearance. “Are you okay?”

Jan looked up at her, tears blurring her vision that much more. “I-I-” Jan could hardly speak, let alone explain all that was wrong with her at that moment.

“What do you need?” Jaida said seriously.

“I don’t know.” Jan’s voice sounded strange in her own head and she couldn’t stop gasping for air. She hardly noticed the crowd that was quickly forming around them.

“Okay, come here, people are starin’.” Jaida grabbed Jan’s hand and led her out the nearest doors and out to the back parking lot.

Jan was still breathing heavily and doing her best to articulate the fact that she still had to go do the announcements.

“Nuh-uh, baby, you gonna stay right here till you can breathe again,” Jaida asserted.

Jan tried to insist that she had things to do, places to be. Jaida just sat her down against the cold brick wall of their high school and assured her that everything was going to be fine. Jan went to argue, but the sight of familiar red curls coupled with unfamiliar dark ones caught her eye.

Bryce, Jan’s boyfriend of two years, came stumbling out from under the bleachers with a petite brunette following close behind him.

Jan recognized her immediately. Dahlia.

Bryce had this giddy smile on his face and looked to all the world like he had just had the time of his life. Dahlia was just laughing at him and clutching the strap of her book bag like it was a lifeline. The pair didn’t see Jan and Jaida at first.

If Jan had any more pride left in her; she’d feel remorseful for yelling at him.

But she didn’t.

She stood up and started screaming at the top of her lungs about how much of a scumbag he was. About how he never really cared about her and was only ever in their relationship for the VP position. It made perfect sense to Jan why he would cheat. And with Dahlia no less. A girl she looked nothing like.

Jaida had to steer her away from the pair of lovebirds or Jan was going to do something really stupid.

“Hey, hey, it’s not worth it.” Jaida tried to speak calmly.

Jan wasn’t having it. She pulled out her phone with every intention of recording her cheating boyfriend and his side chick when she saw a notification from the school’s drama account.

She had been tagged in a picture.

Before she could think too much about it, Jan clicked on the post. She felt dread seeping into her stomach. The picture was of her and Jaida standing awfully close outside the auditorium. Jan’s heart nearly gave out at the caption.

A player on and off the court.

Before Jan could process what the hell that meant her phone lit up with notifications.

She managed to single out Brita’s name from the bunch and opened their conversation. Jan could feel hot tears pricking the edges of her eyes, which only served to blur her phone screen more.

B: y didn’t u tell us u were the one making out with Hall?

That was the final straw.

Jan broke down.

She broke down. At 7:58am on a Thursday morning, leaning against a dirty brick wall with a girl she hadn’t spoken to in years dabbing at her eyes with the edge of her shirt.

[bloodydamnit]

I'm sorry if someone already asked tgis but what are renders? Is it like tracing?

Hey there! Renders are images made with 3D software in a 3D space. So you have the ability to create whatever youd like, control lighting, build something from scratch through programs like Marvelous Designer and Zbrush (and others), and include them in the image you are trying to create. It’s an amazing resource for artists that don’t have a live model or artists that have a hard time visualizing in their head what they are trying to create, such as myself and many other artists. It eliminates the need for photo references (which is completely valid. you are allowed to use them. literally nearly all artists, especially fine artists, do), since you are creating everything for yourself. 

As for tracing, no. 3D renders are an art form all on their own. They can stand alone. For myself, I just use them as assets for the paintings I create even though many times I make a render and I could stop, but I paint them all and add onto them (because there is only so much you can do in a render) during the painting process.

-

Now! I’m going to diverge completely away from this anon and just use a point that they brought up. So this has nothing to do with you anon, but on the general question of tracing because I think there’s a huge misconception about me that’s been spread around. 

Every artist has their own way of working. I went to the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA for short. I was also accepted to Pratt and SAIC) and have a BFA in Painting. I spent all 4 years in at least 2 drawing/painting classes every semester, which came to around 22 hours a week drawing from life (each class being 6 hours, 1 hour break for lunch, and around 6 hours spent on homework). I want to stress that I know how to draw lol. I was the TA in my anatomy for artists class (that I took twice, simply because I loved it so much), which was a class specifically based around drawing the body, using musculature and bone structure underneath as a guide.  

Back then, I was an oil painter and worked solely from life. Which means you look at something, like a live model or a plaster cast, and draw it directly in front of you. 

During the summers, I dedicated each break to teach myself something new. Whether that be digital art, using certain programs, sewing, etc. 

My senior year I spent the entirety of it painting victims who were murdered by the police onto 12in embroidery hoops and even though I highly identify with that since it is part of my community, I needed to take a step back. Which is why I’ve thrown myself into fanart. Because fanart and digital art make me happy when everything else was so unbelievably dark. 

Now, with all that being said, some of you want to consider me less of an artist because I now trace my 3D renders that I’ve spent anywhere on average from 10 - 30+ hours on. I know how to draw, thank you. I don’t bring up the school I went to because oh, look, I went here and got accepted here - but because when I was going to school, your traditional ability meant something (not digging at MICA or any other schools and their processes now. Just that a lot of schools are more accepting of art outside of the fine art sphere. which is awesome). I trace because it makes my life easier. You know that saying? Time = money? Well, my time = my money. And I’m not spending another 6 hours on top of the 10-30 hours I just spent on making my renders, redrawing them. It’s not going to happen. 

I’m not an illustrator and I’m not like many illustrators out there. A lot of you may think I have a style, but everything I do is fairly realistic to a point. I say that because when I draw, I need it to be exact. It’s the virgo in me, I guess. I need the proportions to be realistic and so on and so forth and no matter how hard I’ve tried, I simply can’t be the illustrator that most of yall know and see. I just cant. I’ve tried. I’ve agonized over their styles. I cant do it. All I can be is me. And what is that? When it comes to the figure I’m a realistic artist. It is what it is. I cant help that. And me being a realistic artist, means I agonize over what I am doing. I need it to be exact and if I don’t like something, I’ll start completely over. I trace my renders because it’s a faster way to get where I’m going. It’s literally just a time saver - especially when freehanding it would turn out to be the exact same result. Because I’m anal and I need everything to be exact (I hate that about myself and my art but it is what it is). 

I am who I am. I am what I am. But me tracing my work (like many fine artists, including the old masters - yes. the old masters - do) doesn’t make me any less of an artist. I’m putting in my 10,000. I create everything I make. I’m literally tracing my own art that I could’ve let be, but want to expand upon.  

Now me, personally? I hate my art. I despise almost everything I make and I know that my art isn’t for everyone. Hell, its barely even for myself considering I constantly berate my own work. But I put my everything into my pieces and I’m constantly trying to do better, be better, learn something new, work on something I hate, try a different technique, push myself out of my comfort zone knowing it will fail, and more. I’m nowhere near where I want to be - not even close. 

But me choosing to trace something I already fucking made myself to save over 6 hours of drawing time on top of the however many fucking hours it took to render it and how long it’ll take to paint the god damn thing, doesn’t make me any less an artist. I would post examples of my drawings, but Ive already done that before. they’re somewhere on my page and I’m really tired of feeling like I have something to prove - considering this issue really doesnt matter to the majority of you. 

It matters to me though and I hope that it’s now cleared. 

tl;dr, i know how to draw. i went to school for it and have a bloody degree in it. I trace my renders because they’re already my art, i created them, and I’m not spending another 6 hours over the 10-30 I’ve spent on the render, redrawing them. 

Sorry for this long rant. It really shouldn’t bother me, but it does. It devalues so many amazing fucking artists and their craft that they’ve spent their lives creating. 

Thank you for the question Anon and sorry for using it as a post to rant on lol. 

-BloodyDamnit

[rajasw0rld]

I USED TO WORK A SHIT JOB

Um, not to say I don’t have a shit job now. Well, Im a freelance writer so I guess that’s not so bad. Wait, it’s MUCH BETTER but also for shit pay. But anyway, that’s not the point of the post.

I listened to the Citations Needed podcast episode 118: “The Snitch Economy and how Rating and Tipping Pit Working People Against Each Other” and was bombarded with memories of sore feet, fake smiles, and soul gripping anxiety during rush hour.

Ah yes, my lovely 2 months at Starbucks :)

Yeah nigga, it was two months. Because are you fucking kidding me?? I could not deal with the shit pay and aching limbs. I was on MEDICAL LEAVE from my BOUGIE COLLEGE and now yall expected me to do MANUAL LABOR?!

Tuh, yeah girl I’ll have a venti iced chai with almond milk, please. from the other side of the counter.

Aside from my familiarity with cushy air conditioned “jobs” with 90 minute lunch breaks and ample unsupervised goofing off time, I was sickened by the false morality behind working insane, inconsistent hours for terrible pay, only softened by the false promise of a “tip”.

I used to internalize that false morality, you know? Really feel like a jerk when my depression wouldn't let me get up on time, I would feel like I was worthless and lazy and undeserving of the shit pay I already had to work for to deserve. Work was above everything: health, happiness, safety (yes I’m including safety because I burned my hands on hot coffee a few times. fuck yall). And the fact that work trumped everything was the premise of my morality: I am disciplined enough to refuse everything I know and love in service to my employer. This makes me righteous and upright.

You’ve seen the incentives: employee of the month, bonuses, promotions.

You’ve also seen the negative consequences: written reprimands, embarassing talks with supervisors, constant surveillance on “performance”.

In pursuit of the incentives and hyperawareness of the negative consequences, one would think labor would trump all other things.

But somehow, like in this photo, what we love tends to slip out.

Accidentally; on purpose.

I drew like fuck during those two months at Starbucks. Something stirred in me: I guess the part of me that was being stomped out by corporate capitalism was fighting back desperately through my art.

Or some flowery shit like that.

I don’t know why, but I do know that it made my purpose all the more clear (I mean, for that second of course. the next second I continued my downward spiral helloooo ladies I was unmedicated!!): Even if I tried, even if I refused and threw myself into something else, my art would still be there. Unwittingly, unknowingly slipping out from the depths of my depression undetected, hurled forward by the single desire to become.

What a fucking blessing, yo. That even when I’m in my hometown and living with abusers and experiencing flashbacks of my abuse and feeling like I'm dying everyday, I am creating art. Somehow, I am documenting my experience on this earth.

I am reminded of the Zora Neale Hurston quote: “If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it”.

I didn’t enjoy it, and I couldn’t be silent about it, even if I wanted to.

I guess this is a letter to my scared self, the soul that restricts the body of so much in fear of… what?

I am grateful for my subconscious; that bitch got my back. Now, this hoe front and center?? we gotta get her in line frfr. Coax the bad bitch out of her, let her know its okay and that her art isn’t just needed; it is required. And it’ll come out no matter what: we can accept this and reduce our suffering or not.

So, knowing that my vocation is clear, it gives me a bit more peace in this fast paced, never ending scroll hellscape which bombards us with 12 year old Harvard grad doctors and 75 year old sentient abdominals.

I was looking at the fall leaves on a tree yesterday during my walk to the train: the leaves exploded into a fiery sunbelt overnight it seemed, leaves ready and ripe to die and fall off. Under closer examination, I noticed that the buds of future leaves had already made their home at the base of these dying leaves, ready to return when the time was right.

Moral of the story: whether you fall between tween medical doctor and septuagenarian mass of muscle, you’re still getting somewhere. I’m still getting somewhere. It is my hope that you and I can find some peace in this.

Until next time,

-R

[hanilesofi-blog]

Mirror mirror on the wall,

When I was a kid, I always wanted the perfect family, the perfect grades in school, the perfect fashion sense, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect wedding at the most perfect beautiful venue, the perfect kids 1 boy and 1 girl, the perfect health, the perfect kind of body shape too, the perfect kind of set of clique to be hanging out with where the jocks the nerds the popular the rich the poor the braniacs will actually kill to just sit with me and my crew you know what I mean?

I always envisioned myself to be making it as well and successful for my future. I damn hell, seen it, I damn hell even dream about it. It comes to a point that I was as confident that nothing will ever go wrong in my life. Because I was that, certained. That, determined.

Here I am now after 26 years, sitting infront of my bedroom mirror and looking back at myself. You would be wondering wether I am a famous author now? Or maybe a teacher of a literature subject? Or maybe even a doctor or a lawyer? But hell, none of it was even close.

I flopped in my grades, I rised again when I pursued my Diploma, I got myself entangled with boys and than kept getting my heart broken over and over and over again. I picked up dancing and grew to love it, got deeper into it and committed myself to it, wanted it as my career but than reality kicks in and in the country I am living in Arts is not really recognized as well in America, etc. I mixed with all sorts of people from all different walks of lives, trusted people too fast and gave my all without any hesitations to a point of losing myself and my temple, when I meant temple, its the most greatest and respectable part of a woman, the whole of a woman, a woman's body, well been touched in the ways i never imagined nor was I giving it away to ever have to be the victim, went through trauma and bad anxiety and sucks that I got deeper into a heller pit till I certainly got too strayed to a point I don't even remember who and what I was really living for whereby not long after I went in prison for 6 months seen the other side of the world that I never expected I would ever have to see, met all sorts of people that had their own individual different reasons of their sentences and well when you bumped into an old friend outside or whatever it would be on the normal daily basis kinda questions like "what you having for lunch?" Or "how are you? How's the party coming along? And your new job?" but instead it was "how long you in for?" Or "whats your offence?" In prison you don't get to even see the buildings, you don't get to breathe the fresh air, you don't even get to see the sun from where the rays is shining from, you dont get to eat on a table or take your food from a tray its from a door hole at the bottom like how a dog is being fed for their meals. Sure, you pay for what you did. Whatever shit you did, You gotta face it. I well aware of.

Coming out from prison was a relief yet it was a nightmare, it was scary to not see the trees nor grass at all and you are...finally being able to see and smell that its just refreshing but the challenges are surreal that it seems never ending. Again my heart was as open and ready, I dated and tried, dated and tried, got my hopes up and its still not right. Failed relationships were never ending. It hurts to be honest cause its not fair, you're just in it a 101% because its for fucking love man. But people play you like a card of tricks, this motherfuckers aint got shit on me. But yet they managed to break my heart because I allowed them to.

But I'm gonna stop right here, losing your partner infront of you is 1 thing, being assumed and talked abt is another, wishing you could have done shit sooner is also another beating yourself up about it is also another but taking in every single shit that life throws at you when you're out living on the streets alone is another, the challenges like I said were never ending its like a triumph. There is so much more than just dwelling about whatever has happened they say, certain things I have let go. But when you look back and you start to have that late night self thoughts, you're just overwhelmed with emotions because you never expected shit to be shittier as you grow older.

They say that's life you gotta suck it up, but here is the thing my heart can only, take so much at one go, my heart can love and hate in a split of a blink moment but will my heart be able to take hold and withstand more challenges that would be coming my way in the long run? You know there is so much only one can take. There is points of time where I would consider taking my own life. Have I done it? Yes? Did i try? Yes? Was I suicidal to a point I would google the ways to actually end my own life? Yes? Was it worth it? NO.

This post is only 2/4 of my life that I've faced and there is another 2/4 that I've not shared. Maybe I will? When I am ready. Maybe I'll find my happiness again? Maybe I will be better in time to come? Maybe I will be able to surpass all the bad that has happened to me and change it to a positive outlook of it, only when I am ready, will I be ready to face life as what life will offer me in the future. But for now, honestly, I am tired. Grieving is one thing, thinking of my future is another, numbing this pain inside of me is another, pretending I am okay is another, acting like I am sane and composed when actually my mind is going crazy and I'm waiting to burst, hunger for my passion is another, trying to be strong everyday isnt easy too thats another struggle, you're just lying to yourself you're okay everyday till you actually just believe you are okay to a point that you don't even know if you really are really okay? You see dealing with foul mouths and shitty people is also another? But tryna become a better person by heart and character is also another.

I could type it all out here, leave it on the net for yall to binge to, have a thought or so? and have you in my shoes for a couple of minutes really livin through the shit I went through. Reading could be exhilarating but living through what I went through would be another crazy, and damn this emotions.

Sucks honestly but everyone has their own different stories to tell. Some has it worst too. You could only imagine when you read my post, have you imagined living in it?

Mirror mirror on the wall, I am looking right through my eyes through this mirror, and I feel there is more to come and if god thinks I am strong enough to handle shit, than I shall be strong but I am only human and I need to rest too. I need to easen my mind. I need people to be more positive about life and their perspective of whatever shit they feel or think. I need people to be people. To be the ones with a bigger of hearts and a strong support system.

I am getting so emotional. But I feel a tinge of relief airing it out on my iphone and I hope you readers, reading this, would feel a thing or two and start tryna be able to make a change in yourself for a better change to how you react to situations.

Love, Me.

[seventeen-scenarios-blog]

[FIC REQUEST] Unclear (1)

Prompt: Where you and Vernon meet in the states and become the best of friends! Requested by: @namjoons-expensivegirl Chapter word count: 1,364 Chapter genre: Fluff Warnings: None! A/N: /Throws a Vernon/ Are you offended yet? WAIT TILL YOU READ THIS. Hahaha i really had alot of fun writing this one especially, I got myself buried fantasies that I would meet a celebrity in school :’) Also, i got really inspired by this request, and i’ve decided to make a 5 part series to this story. THERE YOU GO, A VERNON FIC. 

Here’s chapter 1, hope yall enjoy reading it as much as I did while writing it! Cheers! Stay tuned for the rest of it! ^^

- Scooped ✌️

Chapter: 1 | 2

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

 “Come on, what are the chances of meeting a celebrity?” you grunted at your friend Rina, as she went on with her daily dose of “look at my perfect and handsome oppa”.

No offence, it’s not that you hate kpop, you enjoy the music, it’s just the crazy fangirling that is a huge turnoff to you.

“I’m sure we will meet them one day (Y/N)!” Rina exclaimed in excitement, staring at the person on her phone wallpaper which, according to her, is the most flawless human she’s seen in her life. You didn’t need to ask about who he is, or which group he’s from. Your friend has already filled you in with every single fact & detail about this godly being.

“Stage name, Joshua. Real name, Joshua Hong Jisoo. Vocalist of Korean boy group Seventeen. Height, 177cm. Birthdate, December 30 1995...”  

“1995 huh, he’s older than us by 4 years!” You interrupted Rina’s flow of information, earning a glare from her.

“You’ve got to know that age isn’t. I repeat, Age isn’t an issue.. There are some couples in Korea who are like, 10 years apart...”

You discreetly rolled your eyeballs as your friend continued telling you about this Joshua guy, and also about his weird antics, like blowing up a plastic bottle using his nostril. Snorting at that fact, you couldn’t believe that nostril boy is the guy that Rina was head over heels for.

Korea is Korea, the States is the States. You don’t understand how she adapts to this ‘Korean culture’ so quickly. You just kept killed your own curiosity and let your friend continue to blabber on about this obsession.

Hi, this is Pledis Entertainment. 

This is a message about SEVENTEEN’s activities for the year 2017.

We are happy to announce that the recent comeback of “Don’t Wanna Cry”, has gained enormous success for both the group and the company, earning ourselves a sense of pride and achievement.

We would thus, like to grant the SEVENTEEN boys a break from the rest of the activities this year, for them to catch up with their studies, their families, relatives and friends as well.

We hope CARATS can understand that this is exclusively for the boys’ recuperation, and their well-being over their hard work the past 2 years.

We will definitely be back with greater music, greater performances, and a greater SEVENTEEN, in the year 2018.

Thank You.

Regards,

Pledis Entertainment

It was fall, and the weather was starting to get chilly in New York, the bustling city that you call home. 

A new semester had just started, new modules to take, new things to learn and new friends to make. It’s only the first week, but you always find yourself dragging your feet towards the school gates. Today was a Friday, which meant the weekends were near, and boy were you excited, so much for TGIF.

You just closed your locker, getting the freshly bought books you needed for the day’s classes.

“I can’t wait for today to end,” you told Rina, who was on the phone with you, “i can’t take anymore of these mundane classes!”

“Technically, you always doing well in all of your modules even without taking classes! So you’re good to go!” joked Rina.

“Ha, ha. Very funny. Alright i’ll catch you for lunch later, going for class! Bye!”

After hanging up the phone, you accidentally bumped into something as you weren’t looking in front of you.

“Ow..” you said, as you looked up.

It was not something you bumped into, it was someone.

“I’m so sorry! Are you alright?” the stranger said, hands hovering around your arm, making sure to keep some distance but at the same time close enough to be to give you support if needed.

Clumsy me finally strikes on the first week of school, how great, you thought to yourself.

“I’m okay,” you said, not looking up, as you bent down to pick up some fallen books that you were holding onto. So did the stranger. He stood up when you did, and he passed to you the remainder of what you dropped. This time, you looked up as you received the books, expecting yourself to just apologise one more time and run away from the scene as quickly as possible. But instead, you just stared.

Holy shit, how long has it been since you saw such… art?

Art is a really extreme word to describe a person, but his hair, the way they fell over his forehead, a cute strand bouncing out in the center of his head; his eyes, the way they sit perfectly over his perky cheekbones; eyelashes long enough to make all mascara users swoon with envy; thin lips that were tinted in a light punch colour; and his nose, what a nose!It’s not too long and pointy but also not too short and flat, complimenting his overall facial features.

You stared for a really, really long time. You didn’t really realise how long, until the stranger snapped his fingers in front of your face, jolting you back to reality. However in this reality, you clearly heard him, you were conscious enough to answer, but you couldn’t bring yourself to. You were just speechless.

“Hello? Are you really okay? I’m starting to doubt that you are...” the stranger questioned, as he placed an arm on the side of your shoulder. He then reached into his bag to grab a piece of post-it and a pen, and started scribbling something.

He then pasted the note on top of one of the books that you were holding onto.

“I’m on my way to class now, so please contact me if there’s anything wrong,” the stranger said, walking away to the other direction. You just continued staring at him walk away.

The perfect height, the perfect proportions… He even carries around post-its...

What a creep you were.

Once he turned at a corner, you ‘unfroze’ yourself and  looked down at the note that he just wrote.

Vernon, 131-111-222-3333. Feel free to call me if there is a problem.

“Wha…” before you could decipher your thoughts, the school bell rang, snapping you back to reality. You definitely didn’t want to be late for your first class with the infamous Ms Palm.

You ran into class just on time, panting as you did, and settled down into one of the seats left at the back. It was an empty 2 seater desk, and it looks like there wasn't anyone occupying the seat next to you yet. 

“Attention please! Now I’m sure most of you know each other as well as me from last semester, so we do not need formal introductions, am I correct? Yes, good.”

You rolled your eyes, as usual, Ms Palm, answering to her own questions.

“However I would like to introduce a new student, joining you in your studying endeavours this semester,” Ms Palm raised her hand, waving inwards to gesture someone in.

And there he was. What a masterpiece.

You swore you heard a few of the girls at the other corner of the room gasp and squeal.

“Uhm, hello everyone, my name’s Vernon, I’m from South Korea and I’m 19 this year.”

It was like seeing art come to life.

“Thanks for the lovely introduction Vernon,” Ms Palm said, giving him a warm smile.

Why is Ms Palm so… nice? She definitely isn’t being herself. Maybe she got starstruck by Vernon’s good looks too? You thought, and chuckled to yourself.

“Why not you go over and sit next to (y/n) at the back? Seems like the front seats are all filled up.. or you at the front row! Move ov-”Ms Palm instructed, but was cut off by Vernon.

“Ah no Ms Palm, I’m fine at the back!”

“Are you sure? It may not be as conducive...”

“No, really, it’s fine! Thanks Ms Palm.”

And with a few wide strides from Vernon, you found the boy that caught you starstruck a few moments ago, right in front of you once again, as he lifted his right hand a few centimetres away from your face.

“I believe we’ve met, but my name’s Vernon.”

To be continued - Look out for Chapter 2!

[foryourlovebreezy]

70 VIBE SHOOT AND INTERVIEW

ALASIA

  After a night of restless sleeping and worried about the shoot and interview I had gotten up and walked around the suite. I finally went to sleep that morning after breakfast I was quiet I had a lot on my mind. I stayed to myself for the next 2 hours.

  “Lasia come on big mama it’s time to get ready, I’ll do your hair and make-up there” EJ said to me and I nodded. I stood up about to get dressed but couldn’t I’m about to have a Vibe shoot which I've been so excited for, I don’t know what was going on with me but I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t stand I went right to the floor. I was sitting on the floor crying all I can do is just sit here and cry, even though I need to get ready to go. Soon I felt arms around me just holding me tight and all I could do was cry and he’s EJ freaking out and thinks that he is the reason I'm crying and very down, but I can't even explain to him what's wrong.

  Everything, yet nothing... Just life in general right now, but really nothing I think I'm just extremely overwhelmed with baby coming, school, work, relationship, the pressure from everyone I know right now, everyone waiting expectantly for me to go into labor or about opening my own art gallery and not shutting up about it. Feeling fat and not good about myself constantly thinking I'm going into labor but it's always a false alarm. Just want my baby, so done with pregnancy.

  “Lai” Chris said and came to us looking me over.

  “She’ll be okay Chris give us a few minutes she’ll be out in a minute” EJ and I just leaned against him still crying. After a little while I finally calmed down and EJ helped me get dress and he fixed up my face to make it look like I wasn’t crying.

  The whole time he didn’t ask me what was wrong and I was beyond glad about it. Once we was at the Vibe shoot I met with Diana she walked to me smiling ear to ear, she shook my hand and walked me over to hair and make-up…

  “Okay so first you will get your hair and make-up done and then the photo shoot and you can take as many breaks as you want, we want you to be relaxed while here and after the shoot we will do the interview and Carrie Lewis will be doing the interview.. This is Lyn she’s your personal asst for today whatever you need just ask her and she’ll be happy to do it” Diana said and smiled

  “Okay thank you” I said she walked away and EJ started doing my hair first then he got started on my make-up.

  “How you feeling Lai?” Chris asked rubbing my stomach.

  “I’m okay a little nervous but other than that I think I’m fine” I said

“Good that’s good I’m going to check on the girls in a few minutes” he said and my phone went off I took it out my purse and checked it.. I wasn’t ready to deal with August I was still mad at him for the way he was at my party but we texted anyway.

 “Ugh” I said

  “You okay whats wrong?” he asked

  “Nothing just don’t wanna think bout nothing but what’s going on right now you know” I said Chris kissed my cheek and pointed to the room where the girls was.

  “I’ll be back” he said walking away I was sitting there laughing with EJ and Lynn, I was done with my make-up and just got dressed for my first picture, when my phone went off it was facetime and I looked at it, it was August I was going to ignore it but I didn’t I answered it.

“Hey” I said

  FT- Hey sorry to bother you but I wanted to see you and see there you do look beautiful” August said I smiled a little

  “Thank you so what’s up?” I asked

  FT- Nothing I wanna see if you’re free to hang out with me” August said

  “I’m in New York” I said

  FT- Yea I know I’ll be up that way tomorrow to do 106 &park and I wanna see yall if that’s okay” August asked

 “Umm I don’t know what Chris has planned but look I gotta go okay” I said as Lynn helped me up.

  FT- Okay I’ll call you tomorrow and see okay I got go bye” August said

  “Bye” I said waving and ending the call.

  “Alasia hey we are ready for you” Jason said taking my hand walking me to the middle of the floor, I was beyond nervous and I was about to cry. “Ready?”

  “Umm no I can’t” I said walking away and EJ followed me but I got to the bathroom first and closed and locked the door. I was leaning on the door trying not to cry, when  heard a knock on the door.

  “Lai it’s Chris baby open the door” he said I shook my head no. “Baby please just let me in ok” I waited a few minutes and I opened the door and he came in. “You okay”

  “I can’t do it I wanna get my daughters and go home, I’m going to make a fool of myself out there, I look fat I’m ugly” I said he held my face to look at him.

  You got this your beautiful, you’re not going to do nothing but be fucking amazing I will be right out there watching supporting you the whole time I promise” he said

  “You won’t walk away” I said looking him in his eyes.

  “I won’t I give you my word baby I got my phone ready to take my own picks of you” he said then kissed me. “Come on you look beautiful, relax have fun” he opened the door and we went out. “She’s ready first time nerves”

  “I understand when you’re ready” Jason says and he walks me to a seat, and I sit down.

  “Yea this baby is flipping around posing” I said everyone laughs as we start the photo shoot.

  CHRIS

 I couldn’t stop smiling at her and watching her she was doing her damn thing I know her dad would be so proud of her just seeing her making a name for herself and really doing it on her own with her talent. I pulled out my phone and was taking pictures, and posting them as she was changing from clothes to clothes shit I couldn’t be happier for her.

I know she’s nervous but it wasn’t showing in her pictures. After this was done she was allowed to change sit with me and girls have some lunch and get ready for the interview.

[thegoalissweden]

My Trip To Stockholm

I recently took a trip to Stockholm, Sweden for 3 days while managing to spend only $150 USD (1350 SEK) and saw 8 museums. It was a last minute decision to head there but I planned it out ahead of time and really feel like I was able to make the best of my trip! Here is the breakdown:

How To Get There Someone suggested I check out a company called Nettbuss and after comparing their prices to all the other travel companies (flying, train, other bus companies) I realized that it was a great deal. I was able to book a round trip for $26 USD (238 SEK) using the student discount and it took 4 hours to get there. The bus leaves from the train station in the center of Jonkoping and arrives at Stockholm Center.  The bus was surprisingly comfortable. It had free wifi, electrical sockets to charge cell phones, a bathroom on board and seemed to stay on the travel schedule extremely well. I will definitely be using this bus company again, not only because it’s a great price but was a comfortable ride as well.

Nettbuss: https://www.nettbuss.se/sok-kop/innan-resan/biljett-ticket 

Accommodation I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to stay in an Airbnb or a hostel, but I knew I didn’t want an expensive hotel, especially since I would only be in the room at night to go to sleep. I decided on a hostel and used an app called Hostelworld.

I’ve never stayed in a hostel before so I was a little nervous to book a room in one, though I have to say I was happy with my experience. I opted for something in the middle price range at $20 USD a night (360 SEK for 2 nights), a female only 6 bed room and was located near the center of Stockholm where everything was easily accessible. 

I stayed at Generator Stockholm and really liked it a lot! The company has a chain of hostels spread throughout Europe and this one happened to be it’s newest location, meaning it was in great condition and still new by the time I got there. It was an interesting experience sharing my room with 4 other strangers (my travel partner was also in my room). Everyone made an attempt to be respectful of others (ex: turning on lights, loud sounds, being quiet in the morning, etc.) Maybe I got lucky, who knows? 

There’s a restaurant inside the hostel where I ate the best fries of my life. Seriously... the best fries. Of my life. I will forever dream about the meal I ate at that hostel. It was pricey though and I would only suggest eating one meal there unless you have loads of cash to throw around. They also had a lounge and coffee shop which had some seriously delicious morning pastries. I still remember my first bite into that cinnamon roll, it was that good! Overall, I highly suggest this hostel for it’s price, location and quality. i will be using them again without hesitation.

Generator Stockholm Hostel: https://generatorhostels.com/en/ 

Getting Around Town  Stockholm offers an SLK Travel Card option that let’s you buy an unlimited card which allows you to travel on most transit options throughout the city, including buses, trains, ferries and trams. Originally I was going to get the 72 hour pass but decided that I only needed it for 24 hours. This was because many attractions were much closer than I’d originally thought and I was able to walk to most of them without the use of transportation. Don’t let the maps of Stockholm fool you - that water passage is actually a really tiny bridge that takes 3 minutes to walk across. 

My hostel conveniently sold the bus passes at the reception desk for $9 USD (80 SEK) with my student discount, though they can also be purchased at the bus station. However, please note that if you are willing to spend time walking everywhere it’s quite possible to skip the pass altogether. 

SLK Travel Card: http://sl.se/en/fares--tickets/ 

Things To Do I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on this trip because I wanted to prioritize my funds for other locations (sorry, Stockholm). However, this didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy myself! They actually offer a lot of free things to do in the city, including a free walking tour of Old Town and quite a few museums with free entry. I did pay for two museums, including the Vasa Museum (a must see when visiting Stockholm - $13 USD or 120 SEK with student discount) and the Royal Palace which actually included three museums in the ticket price ($9 USD or 80 SEK). I also picked up a free map (they are everywhere in the city, and I mean everywhere) and made an itinerary the night before so that I could plan an efficient travel route and not waste a lot of time wandering around. Unfortunately, the GPS on my iPhone was wrong a lot of the time and I didn’t have wifi so I had to rely on my travel partner a lot to use her Google Maps and data. In total, I saw 8 museums in three days, including:

The Vasa Museum - A 300 year old ship that is considered one of the best restorations in the world because it’s 98% original.

The Medieval Museum - Interesting information about the medieval history of Stockholm. 

The Mediterranean Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities - One of my favorite visits! It has genuine Egyptian artifacts (mummies, Book of the Dead, etc.) and other mediterranean style history.

The Royal Armoury - A collection of clothes and fashion design throughout the centuries from the Royal Palace.

The Hallwyl Collection - This was less of a museum and more of a preserved apartment that is lavishly decorated, but still one of my top favorites from this trip!

The Royal Apartments - Over 30 rooms which have been used throughout the centuries. Even though they all look (and smell) old, apparently important visitors (for example, the Canadian Prime Minister) still stay in the rooms when coming to town.

The Treasury - I wasn’t allowed to take photos inside of this really small museum, so I took one of the entrance. There were only a few objects on display (less than 20?) but all were sparkly and presumably extremely expensive... things like crowns and jewels.

The Tre Kronor Museum - What’s cool about this museum is that it includes a lot of the original building foundation from centuries ago and also tells the story of how half the palace burned down in a fire before it was rebuilt.

Museums with free entry: http://www.visitstockholm.com/en/See--do/Guides/museums-with-free-entry/

The Vasa Museum: http://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit 

Free Subway Art Tour Although I didn’t get to see it, Stockholm is decorated with graffiti art in their underground subway for miles. All you need is an SLK card (see above) and you can either take the subway routes provided in the link or join a free walking tour of the “art exhibits.” I did have a hard time finding out where the tour begins and what the times were, which is a big reason why I didn’t take a look at the art. Maybe next time when I feel like I have more time I’ll just wander the subway systems. 

Art In The Subway: http://www.visitstockholm.com/en/See--do/Attractions/art-in-the-subway/

Free Walking Tour Check the schedule before you plan your trip because tours are not offered every day. I happened to arrive on a day where there was a free walking tour of Old Town in English and made sure I caught it! I wouldn’t say we had the most eloquent tour instructor, but hey it was free and we did get a good introduction of the Gamla Stan district aka Old Town Stockholm. Free Walking Tour: http://freetourstockholm.com/free-tours/old-town-tour/

Photo was taken in Old Town during the Free Walking Tour - it was actually dark out as the tour started at 4 pm.

Food I’d heard that eating out in Stockholm was expensive, and for the most part I found that to be true. I was really careful not to spend too much money eating out there where the average lunch price is $12 USD (120 SEK) and dinner can be $16 USD (150 SEK) or more. I don’t wanna pay that price two times a day! So, I’ll just keep it simple and post a list of tips I found (and successfully used) while researching the trip. My goal was to spend $10 per meal with a $40-$50 USD (450 SEK) food budget. With some discipline, I’d say I was able to achieve this goal. 

Basic rules if you want to eat cheap in Stockholm: 1. The best deals are during lunch. So if you want to visit a fancy restaurant – do it before 14.00. 2. Stay away from Gamla Stan, City and Slussen. You find better deals in other parts of town. 3. Best bang for the buck are often thai food and kebab. Not very swedish, but hunger feels no boundaries. 4. If you ever get close to Ikea – eat there. They practically give swedish meatballs away.

Found on TripAdvisor (https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g189852-i233-k4784110-Budget_Friendly_Low_Cost_Restaurants_Needed-Stockholm.html)

Overall... I’d say that all the museum visits and exploring the city gave me a deeper understanding of Sweden and especially Stockholm. I would suggest waiting until it’s a little warmer out to visit because some attractions were closed in the winter (like the Castles and gardens) and also because it was cold, yall. Still a fun 3-day trip! 

My travel buddy, Cat.