#and this art beautifully conveys their love

[chamoemileclown]

I finally watched Wato's 100 days because of you and oh wow. it got to me good. Now looking at your piece with a newfound understanding.... wow

it makes me incredibly happy when people tell me my art encouraged them to watch something because that’s how i’ve gotten into most of the things i love!! im using this as an opportunity to talk about my own art and the things i really enjoyed about the video so spoilers ahead for this piece under the cut!

you can watch the video here if you haven’t already!

I’ve noticed in a lot of 100 days videos there’s usually a “drag” point in the middle where the cc gets tired or frustrated with their challenge. They might reach a point where they get stuck or grow lonely and the task ahead grows to arduous only for them to pivot and overcome their problems. Wato’s video asks, “well what if you can’t overcome?” and delves into the psychological horror of being trapped doing the same tasks over and over again not even knowing if you’re goals are attainable.

It might be hard for some people to watch because it does drag on, and that’s the point it was not a fun experience for Wato, but it’s so beautifully cinematic. The video does a lot of overlaying, certain scenes fading into others as if time is blurring together for Wato.

some of my favorite shots included these overlays, they’re so beautiful! I think a lot of 100 days videos fail to convey how long 100 days really feels like, often summing things up quickly and cutting down footage but with this video it makes sure to stay and focus on this stuff since that’s where the horror comes from.

I tried to include this with the endermen dotted around my piece!

in a lot of these shots the most noatble thing is the bright endermen eyes overlayed ontop of everything because not matter what Wato does he can’t really keep them away. As long as she’s there the endermen as going to spawn. That’s why I drew him trying to climb out of the frame, he’s trying to escape it but no matter how many times he jumps off one of his hotels to death reset he comes back and he’s still made little progress.

Wato usually wears a matching pink boutonniere and tie but I shifted the color more orange to complement the color pallet a pay homage to Kenadian and his loss early on in the challenge.

Wifies on exists in Wato’s line of sight, his lower half disappearing underneath their outstretched arm because Wifies only exists for his own comfort.

Wato is able to escape, he does so by making it to the nether but he leaves behind Ken and his hallucination of Wifies in the process. like hallucination Wifies said, “well- you can get out of here-“ Wato did succeed at the very end of his challenge, and even after he made it to the nether he flung himself into the lava, going back to death reseting even knowing he had a chance to beat the goal he set out with now.

[perplexingly]

Hey there! Where do you find reference for people being physically intimate with each other? You do all this gorgeous art of people where you can really feel their presence with each other. I want to learn how to convey that kind of embodied tenderness but am having a really hard time finding useful references for it. Do you have any resources or recommendations?

Oh! Thank you so much for thinking so 🙇‍♀️ For references, I don’t think I do anything different than most people — I’ll make a very rough sketch then, then reference different body parts separately by looking up generic terms like “person leaning back” and go from there. However, there are some things that I do that aren’t related to references.

First is that, well, drawing comes very difficult to me and I don’t see images very well in my head, so I do these stick figure-like sketches A Lot; for every drawing or a sketch I post here, I probably made at the very least 5 different variations just to think it through, and only when I have some idea, I begin to search for anatomy references.

Second is that if I see something not working for me, if I don’t like it or have a hard time, I put it on ~30% opacity and sketch on top just tweaking until I find something I like better.

And lastly is probably the most obvious, but I love art, I love to analyze it and get inspired, I go to museums in every city I visit, note down names of the artists I like and look them up again, I take pictures of every sculpture I come across, I visit websites of auction houses to find the less renown artists, if a book has a painted cover I’ll analyze it too (the old Harlequin romance novels used to have these beautifully illustrated ones!).

Sorry if there isn’t any new information here but hope it’ll still be helpful anyhow…

[ryllen]

I mostly consume your TreyJade art(and by consuming I mean that I devour it like a starving scavanger wild animal) and I'm the huge fan of your art style always, but the way you draw Jade while he tries to feign pain or sadness with Trey to get compassion or attention, all round and sobby and small and cute, makes me scream

It's amazing it's cute and just djsivdsjjsjshsiao

He's pretending to be a marshmallow just to trick Trey and you convey it so beautifully and I'm going insane

not the part that he fell in love at least, but jade never listens to anyone but himself anyhow

[needfantasticstories]

“Many places I have been

Many sorrows I have seen

But I don't regret

Nor will I forget

All who took that road with me”

-The Last Goodbye by Billy Boyd

This is an Adjuration by @not-freyja, after 86 chapters, 300k words, and 10 months of joy, laughter, tears, heartbreak and love, has finally reached its end. 

Adjuration is a tragedy that is nothing short of an act of love. That much is clear in the passion and dedication put towards the story, the characters, and the message Freyja is trying to convey. This fic will teach you about love. About death. About the inevitability of existence and why despite knowing it will all come to an end, there is still meaning in trying and hoping and loving each other. In loving yourself. You will laugh, you will cry, you will hope and you will despair as you read this story, but you will not be able to put it down.

It’s hard to say goodbye to something that has been so important to and loved by so many people. So we won’t. Instead, we will say thank you for this incredible journey and the community this fic has built. For the friendships that have been made and the endless inspiration you have given us. Thank you for wanting to tell a story, and for letting us join you around the campfire to listen.

Thank you.

(If you like Linked Universe and haven’t yet read Adjuration, see below for spoiler free reviews of this fic and artist credits.)

This is an Adjuration is the kind of story you fall in love with, the kind of story you think keep thinking about long after you put it down. The kind you keep finding hidden details in after you think you’ve got it figured out. 

The characters are distinct and people with their own voices, motivations, relationships and histories. You’ll have your favourites but love them all. They influence how you’ll see the characters in everything else. 

It’s full of moments where everything clicks and everything before is recontextualised in a way that’s so satisfying and make the whole story very re-readable. A time travel story where all loops are already closed, where you can know but not yet understand what will happen. It’s long, complex, and beautifully, meticulously planned and detailed. It’s clever and considered, funny and heartbreaking. 

A story that whispers ‘it matters’ over and over. It is worth it to love, it is worth it if it doesn’t last forever, it is worth it to give someone a little more time, it is worth it to fight. It’s about loving others and your world and finding grace for yourself. 

It’s loss and tragedy and the cruelness of fate. It is the sacrifice and the breaking. 

Full of heart to both fill yours and break it in the best possible way. 

It’s about love. Always.

By @toyouhellohowareyou

Sometimes, it’s hard to explain to others why art moves us.

I could tell you This is an Adjuration will make you cry, laugh, and sit at the edge of your seat in anticipation. And it’s probably true - I did all of that as I read, often with a coffee in one hand, early in the morning as I got ready for the day. 

But that’s not the reason why I’m writing this.

The real reason is how it followed me during the rest of the day.

You see, at a certain point I realized this isn’t a story about Links going on adventures. Well, it does feature Links, and they do go on adventures, so let’s talk about that for a minute.

The first thing that caught my attention about this book was the characters. Each individual is unique, interesting, and exciting to follow. Not only are the Links individually compelling, but one thing that stands out in Adjuration is how the relationship between each Hero and their own worlds matter, and these connections shift, evolve, break and grow as the plot progresses.

Freyja does an incredible job of bringing together impactful storytelling with humor and heart. This is an Adjuration starts with an interesting premise, and then twists and turns in directions you wouldn’t expect. It’s rich in thought-provoking moments, soft joy and intense action, blended in with carefully crafted time travel and magic.

Adjuration sucked me into the world it builds, combining believable characters with fascinating stories, an unnervingly devious antagonist, plot twists, and lovingly crafted details that slip unnoticed until you’re surrounded on all sides. It made me cheer for characters I feel as if I’ve known intimately for years, made me worry for their safety as I would for that of a loved one, kept me hunting for hints and hidden references, pulling on a thread to try to find the end only for it to twist and loop into itself and show me a completely new side to the story.

Yes, This is an Adjuration is a fanfiction piece that explores the winding river flow of the Legend of Zelda timeline and how the stories of each Hero merge into each other. It also stands out for its heavy emotional content, and it doesn’t shy away from angst and hurt.

But to me, Adjuration is an epic journey that taught me how the choices we make, make us in turn. It’s a tragedy that deals with pain and healing, and it bares naked the non-linear nature of grief. It’s a celebration of the things that make us unique, of our flaws, an essay of the impact of little acts of love. Indeed, it’s a story about love.

I can tell you now, This is an Adjuration moved me. It still does. It has a special way to surface in my mind in unexpected ways at seemingly random times, from something as simple as tossing an apple core, to watching a lightning storm in the distance, or finding a picture of an old friend.

And every time, without fail, it makes me think about love.

By @sunny-porridge

This is an Adjuration is a wonderfully and beautifully crafted story about love, loss, and choice as the various incarnations of Link come together and travel through time. Freyja seamlessly weaves a tapestry of setup and payoff across different timelines and loops, in the best-constructed time travel plot I’ve ever seen on page or screen. Even at its surface, Adjuration is an emotional rollercoaster involving tragedy and the soft moments that make that tragedy worth it. But the deeper you look, the more meaning you can pull from every chapter of this amazing work. This work has made me cry, squeal with delight, and think more deeply about its themes all while having an absolute blast reading it. So in summary: READ IT. READ IT. READ IT NOW. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.

By @life-in-winter

While I love that every chapter is emotionally enthralling, with carefully woven, visceral tension you crave in any good story, yet Adjuration is more than that, and you feel it in the careful weave of each character and plot point. Nothing is lost or unanswered. It's the kind of story that, by the end, makes you stop and take a hard look at your own life. Are you appreciating the now? Are you savoring joy? Are you so wrapped up in fear that you can hardly take care of yourself? Do you know who you are?

This story is more like an external experience. It's riding atop a tsunami. How do you handle that ride, Link?

There aren't enough words to describe how amazing this fic is.

@needfantasticstories

Artist credit

Legend: @gia-d

Hyrule: @bittirsweeteer

Time: @toonblade

Sky: @noorahqar

Warriors: @whitewinterstar

Wild: @weavingstarlight

Twilight: @bluury2

Wind: @thewitchdoctor39

Four: @lunaopus

Red: @peepthatbish

Blue: @glowingmin

Green: @winterfen

Vio: @waterfallstream

Shadow: @deleetrix

Wolfie: @linkiscool333

Fierce Deity: @awildsilver

Ravio: @lele5429

Malon: @tooner-tastic

Dink: @passerinesoncaffeine

[hometoursandotherstuff]

1905 Romanesque stone house is perfect for Goth lovers. It's in Sioux City, Iowa, has 6bds, 5ba, and is listed for $450K.

The front door opens to a foyer with a closet, then an inner hall.

I really like this renovation. The black walls and ceilings just seem to suit this house. A white fireplace stands out beautifully.

Isn't this a pretty room for conversation?

Beautiful. Look at the dreamy window seat.

I love the simplicity of the dining room. The original oak door and molding grace the black wall.

Love the roomy kitchen. The painted floor and the inlaid in the corner where possibly the old stove stood was preserved. I love the stenciled ceiling.

You can pull up a chair here while the dinner cooks or cookies bake.

Two fridges flank a china cabinet. Clever idea.

Simply elegant ground floor primary bedroom.

This art deco vanity is gorgeous. I wonder if it conveys.

While the bath isn't 1905, the color of the later fixtures and tiles were beautifully preserved. What a great job with the matching wallpaper.

Tucked in the hall is a mahogany bar.

Large bedroom with pretty wallpaper and a wainscoting effect.

Look at the handsome colors in this bath. Love this.

Here's a large room that could be the primary bedroom, family room, or even a library. Love the columns and built-in shelving.

The original inlaid floors are wonderful. Look at the pocket doors. The overhead lights tilt toward one another.

Thru the pocket doors there's this sweet pink bedroom.

Oh, look at the shower and pedestal sink in this bath. The baths must've been renovated in the 20s.

I wonder if the the tub or shower was originally in this area.

Very spacious bedroom.

Yet another great bath.

This is nice, an enclosed porch.

Oh, look a secret room. Love this. I think it's the attic.

Wow, look at this attic.

Oh, man, the bath up here is definitely original.

This home is amazing.

Beautiful painted floor on the large deck in the back.

.4 acre lot, so it has a nice size yard.

https://www.redfin.com/IA/Sioux-City/1524-Summit-St-51103/home/130246844

[jaehaeryshater]

“Near the end, [King Jaehaerys] grew certain [Alicent] was his daughter Saera, returned to him from beyond the narrow sea.”

artist: @riotarttherite

I had the great pleasure of commissioning, in my opinion, one of ASOIAF fandom’s greatest artists on this gorgeous piece. I had never commissioned any artwork before and didn’t know what to expect, and this far exceeded my expectations. The attention to detail is beautiful and the overall piece conveys exactly what I was envisioning in my head, so I wanted to start off with a big thank you.

The idea for this art piece was originally a “what if” or AU where Saera either didn’t get caught at the brothel or was brought back from the Silent Sisters as was allegedly Jaehaerys’s plan (or if she had bonded with Balerion and gotten to stay! Would have loved that for her) so she stays in King’s Landing and becomes his caretaker in his old age instead of Alicent Hightower. As his daughter, she would have significantly more influence in being able to “speak for him” instead of a caretaker for another House, so although I do not take Saera as someone particularly obsessed with power, I do find it very interesting to imagine her deciding to cause chaos as the Old King’s mouthpiece. The streets of King’s Landing are burning as we speak! Even before Jaehaerys seemed to succumb to dementia, Saera did appear to have a strange influence over him, so once Alysanne passed away, it only makes sense that Saera would become the person in his ear. Not all that great for the smallfolk or even Lords of the realm, but great for drama and storylines. And Saera, of course! I’m sure she would have paraded everywhere, weighed down by jewelry and the finest wines. Perhaps she would have had a full menagerie, as she appeared to love animals. Definitely an elephant there somewhere.

As this piece was being worked on, however, I did think of a second meaning to the art that I also think is really neat. You could also view this as what Jaehaerys is seeing as Alicent is caring for him. He did believe her to be Saera in the end, as his mind was being lost. His Saera had come back to him, and although I do not like Jaehaerys and think he probably deserved worse, he most likely died happy at that thought, believing Saera was reading to him. So if you prefer to interpret this as viewing things through Jaehaerys’s mind, I welcome you because I love it at least equally to the first idea.

Lastly, the detailings are beautiful so I wanted to touch on them and give them the attention they deserve for the moment. I asked Riot to have a caring but sinister vibe, that she is caring for him for a plethora of reasons but certainly that includes self-serving reasons. I believe this was captured really well! I wanted it to be illustrated that Jaehaerys had lost his wits a while beforehand, so he has a vacant look, and Saera has the keys, showing that she is the real power behind the Crown. She has several expensive jewelry pieces (she has many from her lovers, but she doesn’t bother with them, leaving them to collect dust, only thinking gifts from the King are worthy to wear), but my favorite was one I specifically requested. Her jeweled bodice, which contains replicas of the King’s jewels that are present on his crown. Dare I say, she had her mother’s crown repurposed for herself? The intention is clear, Saera is effectively the Queen now, not in name, but Queen nonetheless. As for the general fashion, I told Riot that my favorite era of fashion was the Tudor era, more broadly 1300s- 1550s. As you can see, this was more than delivered and extremely beautifully inspired by historical fashion. GRRM doesn’t always describe his character’s outfits, and the GOT and HOTD outfits were often lackluster. This was exactly the type of beauty I was looking for. The dragon embroidery on Saera’s sleeves? Mwah!

Anyway, thank you so much for geeking out with me! The Saera/Jaehaerys dynamic is one of the most interesting dynamics to me. There’s simultaneously so little and so much there. It’s complex and layered, I can’t stop thinking about it. If you have been on my tiktok, you may have heard about my extensive theory regarding that dynamic, iykyk. If you ever want to talk about them, absolutely feel free to inbox me. More commission ideas coming this year definitely, at least a couple more of this dynamic, but I don’t know how a piece could be any more perfect <3

[kanmom51]

WHO JM

This is going to be a bit of a ramble of thoughts on my part. It took me around 24 hrs. to take it all in.

Before I start talking about everything, I do want to thank my good friends, you know who you are, with which we had these discussions and back and forth trying to figure it out. Said it once and will say it again: Love you guys!!!

And on that note, let's get to it.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything we got with Who, not to mention the whole Muse concept, the configuration of the album, the order of the songs.

Unlike Face this is less of a autobiographical album. This is more about a concept. We have the connecting thread from Face to Muse through Rebirth (Oh, I'm gonna talk about that song for sure). Then we go into Interlude: Showtime, leading into SGMB and then Slow dance, Be mine, Who and Closer than this in that order. Interlude showtime being the switch from personal (ME) to showtime/performance (US) perhaps. A show themed around love. And an interesting thing happens when you look at the placement of the songs. First of all, Who, the only song JM isn't credited for writing, is last. Then, and this to me is the interesting part of it, the songs go from SGMB having that love, being sure of it, wanting even to help others find it as the first song you hear all the way back to searching for that unattainable love (Who). Starting the story from the end, when love is found, rather than from the beginning when love is being searched for. Starting from the happy ending. And if you do want to link it to his own story (not sure it is, but for funsies) then it's basically going back chronologically. SGMB is the now JM, the happy one who found love, while Who is the JM who didn't even know what he was looking for, or more so Who he was looking for. And if we are already going in that direction than basically going full circle with Face in the sense of Face being in chronological order of things and Muse mirroring it in the sense of going present to past rather than past to present (yes, I definitley did not major in arts and it shows, lol).

Let's talk about Who now.

First thing first, once again, and thank you for that amazing post, I'm going to link to @andy-wm's post right here. Because basically it says most of what I wanted to convey, and as usual, written so so well.

You would think this is all about a guy looking for a girl, right?

NOT.

More so a guy looking for love, thinking that it's in a girl's image. "HER". @andy-wm explained it beautifully. I am going to emphasise a couple of points and/or add to them.

No. It's not just you. Although I do admit, it took me several reads and re-reads to have that eureka moment. When you take in the full picture. It's there.

JM is looking for someone. In his head he thinks it's meant to be a girl. That's what society has told him. That's what is expected of him. That's what makes sense to him. Again, in his head.

And yet, his heart, it's still searching.

And he continues to search but he isn't finding 'her'.

First the use of "think" again. The mind thinking versus the heart finding.

And pay attention to the lyrics: "If every day I think about her..."

Not "Every day I think about her..."

The way I see it, this is again about challenging society's expectations of him. If he's doing it right, if he's thinking about finding 'her' every day of his life, then why hasn't he found her? And the emphasis is on the question why, repeated multiple times.

He's asking why not how. And why do I think that means something?

Think about it for a second.

If he's looking for her every day, thinking about her all the time, wouldn't the question be "how is it that I haven't I found her?" But by asking "why haven't I found her", it feels more so like "am I doing something wrong here? Why isn't this working?" Perhaps because the Who he's looking for, the Who his heart is looking for, is not a "her"?

And this kind of disconnect between what his mind thinks he is looking for - "her", and what his heart is looking for "who", continues throughout the song.

Another thing I noticed, and I don't know if it means anything, is the repeat of the number five in the song.

That second one hit me the first time I heard the song. Why? Why count to five? So random. And yes, I know it could mean absolutely nothing, and yet, it is curious why we get these two fives.

So I went looking what the number five could mean, cause we know numbers do mean something to them.

On my search I found this:

And this is about this piece of art:

The name of that piece of that famous piece of art: "Sun, Moon and Five Peaks".

And this:

The sun and moon are incarnations of yin and yang and symbols of brightness. The five peaks represent the center of the Earth and correspond to the sky and the seat of the king, who is the Son of Heaven. The number five is significant, as it is the midpoint of the decimal system.

Another coincidence?

Then there is what the number 5 symbolises spiritually (not specific to Korean culture):

Was this on purpose? This is one of those things I really don't know. And yet...

But again, we have to remember that this is the only song on JM's album that he isn't credited for being part of the lyrics writing.

And yet, we know that he did sit with John Belian telling him what the story was he wanted him to tell.

We don't know just how much of it is JM and what he wanted to convey, at least with the lyrics. We don't know just how much say JM had in the direction the MV went in, but it does feel like at least some of these things we are seeing are not pure coincidence and are intentional, for example the next thing I want to talk about.

Let's talk about the falling billboard screen for a sec.

The timing of it falling, the WHO without the question mark, the why...

JM is singing, dancing, the storm is brewing, wind blowing, he sings about "her" and then asks: "who is my heart waiting for?"

The dancers split up, and he starts walking towards us and this falls from the sky:

"Who is my heart waiting for?"

It has a blue frame that breaks apart (perhaps symbolising how this love is framed differently or that the barrier that was there between them now broke - yes, pure drivel on my part, but let me have this, I'm really enjoying it, lol).

This is who, is what the screen is screaming out!!!

"keep going" it tells him, as he's walking in it's direction.

But the screen, it's facing us. We can see it, but he can't see it yet.

He is walking in it's direction but still oblivious to what it's showing him.

Another thing I noticed there is that the screen falls from the sky but doesn't collapse or break or topple over. It stands there, strong and stable. Just as strong and stable that love is. The Real love he talks about in Rebirth. And then we cut to the next scene. We don't see what happens when JM comes closer in. Does he see it? Does he see Who?

Thank you @theendiswherewestarted  for sending me the next couple of links I want to address.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 🌞La_93🌜 (@jikook_la93)

This one I noticed myself - the colours of that fire stood out to me, seeing as they were different from other fires on screen.

The Yellow purple that we also got in the poster question mark.

The way the signs are basically around him (the fire, the screen), but he passed them by unnoticed, perhaps because of how he perceives his love is meant to look like. It's a she, not a he, and even if it is on fire or on a neon sign, something he should be noticing, he just doesn't.

The second is this:

I have seen some that noticed this and I admit, it took me a very long time to see the face (some saw a face in smoke in the teaser as well), but I have to admit, it does look like a face. Could it be JK? Idk. Is this intentional? Well, it doesn't look like the actual smoke, it does look like a projection or add-on, so... I guess this one I'm going to leave as a question mark. A possibility.

But this one, I'm feeling the need to go back to this one because this is just WOW...

I am aware there are those that claim it to be another member. All I will say that they are wrong.

Also want to thank @lastride1981 for your ask.

And then the MV ends with this:

You know, if we didn't get the message just yet (which I can assure you many didn't), then let's end it with rainbows. Yes, that is who your heart is waiting for!!!

Nothing JM does is not thought about, is not intentional.

And that rainbow at the end is again one more of those things!!

As I said, not everything is intentional. But a. saying not everything is intentional inherently means some of it is. and b. this is JM we are talking of. The master of layering his art.

This is art. Intended for us to ponder about. It's up for interpretation. Even a song with rather simple lyrics like Who, especially with a MV attached to it and JM being the artist behind the two.

So this here is how I see it. My interpretations. Sharing them with you.

[johntayjinf]

very serene theme that's been stuck in my mind ever since i first heard it

yk, one thing i've slowly come to internalize is that, once you share your art with the world, it's no longer just yours; it's for everyone.

sounds a bit stupid because realistically speaking i still am responsible for arranging and/or writing the songs that i release... but i think people should be free to interpret art however they like, bad or not. you can obviously tell whether or not people interpret a piece of art in bad faith, but i don't think that stops the fact that people are allowed to think what they do.

there have been times where i've tried to change people's minds on why i make specific stylistic choices, but i really should acknowledge that people will interpret it based on their own knowledge and experiences. i feel like i should bring this up because sometimes people don't necessarily see the true intent i want to convey or deliver in a song or my other artistic works, and that's probably for the best. maybe there simply isn't a definitive answer as to what something would truly mean, especially for something so abstract.

people should be allowed to create their own meaning out of the feelings they get from something, though obviously it would be much more appreciated if subjects were handled with more nuance and maturity. people can find their own happiness in their own ways. it's a hard concept to fully grasp, but when you actually slow down and look around... you'll realize that, that minor form of self-expression is a very beautiful thing.

i wrote all that down because this song really just, reminded me about how a song as beautifully written as this one exists in our reality. i personally have never fully played through any pokemon game, so playing gold/ silver/ crystal is out of the question. gameplay just never clicked with me, sorry.

but the thing about this song... or , well, the heartgold/ soulsilver arrange of this song just reminded me of a lot of the beauty in life, despite my suffering.

it's hard for me to have a long-distance relationship, but i am just about as happy as my boyfriend is for us forming a meaningful bond together. his opinions may come off as wacky and kooky and he may be a bit absent-minded; but deep down, i know he really cares a lot about the things he talks about. i've told him many times how unbearable it was watching him squabble with other people about their own opinions, but i still love him regardless. there are times when we respectfully disagree on things so it isn't so grim as i've written it out to be.

i just wished that people would take video games as an art form much more seriously, and when i came to talk to him about it, he agrees with me but simply says he can't do a lot to help the situation; i very much understand that. sometimes we all just have different opinions on things and while that may warrant unwanted conflicts, that's entirely fine.

i like to imagine national park as like, a place that people regularly go to in this universe (no i do not know what part of the pokemon world this is). i like to believe that we'd see different kinds of people here, thus the arrangement reflecting that fact added up with the commentary. you'd never know what you'd learn from other people. the more i appreciate people's perspectives, maybe the more happier i am. like with my boyfriend.

[seiishindraws]

hi! i love your art. i was wondering, is your art traditional or digital? I genuinely can’t tell on some pieces /pos. Also what art program do you use and do you recommend any brushes? I’d love to learn how to convey color and texture as beautifully as u do <3

all the art I post is digital! i just like mimicking traditional media using digital tools. I've already got a post with my brushes if you browse my blog a bit

That being said I do still draw traditionally here and there, and while I'm in school I do 6 hours a week of life drawing in newsprint pads with charcoal. here's some pages from my sketchbook i need to draw in more haha

[kenney-mencher]

Captain Ursine, 30x40 inches, oil on stretched canvas by Kenney Mencher

Kenney Mencher’s Captain Ursine ($2,200) is a bold, evocative oil-on-canvas work that explores masculinity and queer identity through the lens of the bear archetype. You can view it here. With its larger-than-life presence, this painting captures the raw charisma of its subject while inviting viewers into a layered narrative about strength, pride, and self-expression.

The oil paint creates a textured, almost tactile surface, using layering and brushwork to sculpt the figure with depth and detail. The color palette is both grounded and striking, featuring muted earthy tones and cool blues that contrast beautifully with the subject’s warm skin tones. Mencher employs chiaroscuro shading to highlight the subject’s physicality and convey a sense of emotional complexity. The composition, guided by the rule of thirds, places the figure slightly off-center, emphasizing a natural balance while drawing the viewer’s focus to the expressive features and commanding posture.

Queer Identity and the Bear Archetype

Captain Ursine fits seamlessly into the broader tradition of queer art by centering a figure who represents the inclusivity and diversity within LGBTQ+ culture. The painting celebrates body positivity by focusing on a strong, fuller figure—offering a refreshing counterpoint to conventional ideals of masculinity. It validates and uplifts the interests and identities of older gay men, particularly those within the bear community, while creating space for all viewers to reflect on themes of pride and self-acceptance.

The title, Captain Ursine, adds a playful yet commanding layer to the painting’s narrative. The subject takes on an almost mythic quality, blending the contemporary and the timeless. It’s a visual love letter to the resilience, strength, and charisma of queer masculinity, celebrating how it exists outside and beyond societal norms.

Kenney Mencher’s Artistic Voice

Kenney Mencher is known for his ability to bridge classical painting techniques with contemporary queer storytelling. His work challenges traditional narratives by spotlighting the beauty, depth, and individuality within LGBTQ+ identities. Captain Ursine is a testament to his unique vision, offering an art experience that is both deeply personal and broadly resonant.

[brian-in-finance]

Thanks for the message, Anon. 😃

So… 18 links… 🤯. Tumblr wouldn’t let me post your message as “was,” so I followed the links, played a mean game of Copy & Paste and added some pics.

Reading through the reviews on Letterboxd to find the six you chose revealed a few things about the film no mainstream review I saw had revealed. Note to self: think carefully about the viewing company you keep.

Caitríona Balfe from “Outlander” plays the boxer’s girlfriend Caitlin, who exists in a constant state of worry. Understandably. But it’s a dull part for a magnetic actress.

New York Post 8 September 2024

Caitlin (an excellent Caitríona Balfe of “Belfast” fame)… a movie that ultimately doesn’t quite add up to enough, especially when Balfe walks out for too long in the final act. See it for the cast, especially the three leads, but it’s more of a technical knockout than a stunning victory.

Roger Ebert 6 September 2024

Caitríona Balfe (“Belfast,” “Outlander”) can be an uncommonly grounded actress, and she and Bloom create a lived-in relationship that humanizes and creates real stakes for the pugilistic histrionics that surround it. His character’s lack of a name may position him as an everyman, but the little moments of their relationship – glances, raised eyebrows, tilted heads – give his couple a specificity and a shared history in a way exposition never could… film is bookended by quiet scenes between a man and a woman, by beautifully understated performances by Bloom and Balfe.

The Wrap 7 September 2024

The boxer’s wife and business partner (Outlander’s Caitríona Balfe giving more than her role deserves)

The Guardian 6 September 2024

… wife, business partner, and one-time boxing manager, Caitlin (Caitríona Balfe, the film’s secret weapon).

The Playlist 6 September 2024

Despite a trio of knockout performances, The Cut is a lackluster boxing drama… (Caitríona) Balfe gives a thankless role her all as the lone woman in this boys' club. Caitlin has a dark past too, alluding to a struggle with addiction. But we never learn any of her past in detail despite numerous and repetitive flashbacks to Boxer's bleak childhood. Instead, it's left to Balfe to convey it all through Caitlin's stricken expressions and misplaced devotion to Boxer. She even gets a few moments to shine as a fighter herself, training Boxer for his fight before Boz takes over… Balfe is a sublime talent, but she deserves far better material that doesn't rely on her to make up for deficiencies in the writing… Because despite these three strong performances… The Cut has the potential to be something fresh and interesting with three particularly fine actors at its heart.

Entertainment Weekly 6 September 2024

Caitríona Balfe and John Tuturo’s colliding performances gave the film a realistic edge, which makes the audience question their own morals.

Movie Scene Canada (Twitter) 6 September 2024

Caitríona Balfe is equally compelling as a supportive wife and coach to her boxer husband.

Movie Moves Me 6 September 2024

The Cut is it is one of few boxing films that gives the female lead a pivotal role that’s more than a love interest/nagging the fighter to quit. Caitríona Balfe is a tough-as-nails trainer who gets in the ring w/ Orlando & may throw a punch!

Flick Chick DC (Twitter) 5 September 2024

(Caitríona) Balfe is fierce as Caitlin. She’s simultaneously supportive and a fighter. Her verbal spats with Boz are a treat, and she’s honestly the character who best balances strength and emotional maturity.

Screen Rant 7 September 2024

Caitríona Balfe was the main highlight, for me. It's difficult to pull off the role of voice of reason against the hell-bent protagonist without coming off as annoying or making it feel like they're just slowing the story down, but she killed it.

Reddit 6 September 2024

(Caitríona) Balfe (and John) Turturro.. are never less than engaging and believable in their side parts.

IndieWire 5 September 2024

Bloom… gives a great, dedicated, and physically challenging performance — as does the wonderful Caitríona Balfe

Bloom promised us all a stiff drink for enduring this movie and I think that says a lot. (Caitríona) Balfe was great.

The cast is phenomenal. Turturro is marvelous as The Boss, pushing our fighters to their literal breaking point. (Caitríona) Balfe gives a heart wrenching performance of a former addict watching their partner fall into their own addiction.

I think Caitlin's character gets a little bit lost, and she was such a great part of the movie, I wish they did a little bit more with her.

Orlando Bloom and John Turturro are very good but I really think the star is Caitríona Balfe!! She was very underutilized.

Performances are good, especially Orlando's and Caitríona Balfe's. To me she was the standout.

Letterboxd 5 & 6 September 2024

Remember… what distinguishes modern art from the art of other ages is criticism. — Octavio Paz

[moonlitrogue]

(II) Juno’s promise in Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn

~ what their companionship feels like

in your eyes, I see my home, my beginning and my end, where the world is warm and alive. building our days like a garden, in the certainty of care, in the strength of our love.

₊˚ʚ ♡ Juno in Taurus/2H

If love were both the wine and the vineyard—lush, resilient, deepened by time—it would be an exquisite blend of luxury and earthbound devotion. Your partner is smooth yet bold. Because their commitment is mature and deliberate, they take their time choosing their partners. And that's when they meet you - you, were made just for them. Self-made and secure. Beautiful and grounded. They gravitate towards you, like roots reaching out for water. They know how to build a life that's successful and deeply satisfying. And that's what they offer to you, the chosen one. They are your sturdy trellis, grounding your love as it entwines with trust, knowing it's safe and secure. Juno in Taurus is the sacred promise of comfort, material security, and sensual pleasure. It’s the warmth of shared routines, the quiet joy of cozy living, and indulging in each other. Your partner feels like home. Their affection is steady. You can't help feeling attracted to their elegant seduction. They love to savor the feel of your body and you, theirs. They remember your favourite scents, your favourite meals, your favourite flowers. Everything they do is thought out and deliberate - designed to make you melt and tremble with anticipation. They’ll fight quietly but fiercely for what you both have. They live their commitment to you, in ways that are practical, protective, and endlessly romantic.

Juno in 02°, 14°, 26°: exude a sense of wealth, guarded, attractive, can be loyal to a fault, strong (personalized) values related to being secure, strong sacral energy, place a lot of value on arts and creative abilities - attracted to partners with whom they can work/create with

₊˚ʚ ♡ Juno in Virgo/6H

A glitch in their carefully curated solitude, but they'll shyly admit. You are what they silently hoped for. They love through observation, noticing the integrity in how you treat others, how you carry yourself when no one’s looking, and how your smallest quirks weave into something beautifully unique. Soon after, every quirk and preference is filed away, not out of habit but out of love. The way you stretch in the morning, your soft laughter at something they said, the way you hand over the change at the coffee shop, the way your thumb runs over the spine of a book or, the way you melt into them when you hug. Every detail is a beloved thread in the tapestry that's you. They see the world in detailed hues because they seek harmony even in the smallest of things. They treat you with a thoughtfulness that's rare and true. They listen - really listen - to you and then try to smoothen the edges of your world. They relax in your presence, your conversations, your hands brushing through the delicate threads of their existence. An intellectual chemistry that makes your relationship feel youthful, progressive. You are attracted to the understated, the ritualistic, and the graceful way someone explores your space, not to alter it, but to appreciate its every intricate part. The promise of a companionship that's attuned to the delicate rhythms of your shared world.

Juno in 06°, 18° : detail-oriented, expect growth through shared responsibilities, youthful vibe but mature, intelligent and reserved, maybe nitpicky, they have a polished appearance which sort of conveys their competence, cherish their meal plans and will also make one for you with great consideration <3, love holding your hands, feeling your hand in theirs (and everywhere else really)

₊˚ʚ ♡ Juno in Capricorn/10H

They are people who don't rush into things or give into fleeting impulses. Their love grows like the deepening roots of an ancient tree. Drawn to steady endeavors. Much like architects and sculptors, they chisel at life with tender precision to create a lasting legacy. It's also how they love you. Slow, deliberate and purposeful. They take responsibility for you, and they don't mind being the providers. In fact it validates their own existence. Gifted with ambition and drive, they're materially in tune with the requirements of their partner. They've planned their future meticulously - whether it's starting a business, building a home or creating a family. Their intimacy is structured, predictable and secure. Your relationship is further refined by the mutual respect between you two. A veritable team through and through, they're proud and supportive of your unique path and achievements. This relationship can come to be at a later stage in your life, perhaps as a reward to your sustained efforts. You're attracted to their maturity, their decisiveness and their sense of responsibility. They know who they are and where they're heading. It's possible they're someone who's already racked up a reputation through their work and status. Someone who shows up consistently and that's just an innate quality that reassures you throughout. The world may shift and change around you, but in their presence, you’ll always feel grounded. They don’t promise to make life easy, but they promise to walk beside you through every challenge, every triumph, and every ordinary moment that makes up a life well-lived together.

Juno in 10°, 22°: could appear cold before they choose to be vulnerable, have a serious demeanour, approach you professionally, could elevate/ impact your social standing, could meet in late or mature stage of life, traditional ideas about marriage likely.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

★ other Juno posts → I | II | III | IV

[sunshinemoonrx]

I think how successful dragon ball was at rewriting its entire genre in its image obscures just how much of a sports manga it is. or practically a game manga like yu-gi-oh. you know, where the entire arc of the universe bends absurdly towards the characters' past-time.

You might think that doesn't count when their past-time is "fighting", which is a standard way of resolving conflicts that have escalated beyond verbal or legal resolution, but this vastly undersells just how many bullshit magical problem-solving resources the heroes of DBZ have at their disposal, including but not limited to:

Spaceships, time travel, flight, teleportation, the ability to teleport other people by touching them, a magical dragon who can grant you wishes once a year, a backup magical dragon that can also do this (who is on another planet...that they can teleport to), pocket-sized capsules that can contain temporarily-shrunken objects up to the size of a house, a watch that can shrink you, telepathy, a deity on-call (via telepathy) who can see everything in the universe, beans that heal all your wounds, multiple friends who can also heal all your wounds, a room where time passes at 1/365 the normal rate, shadow clones, laser beams that can destroy planets, friends in the afterlife who might let you visit the world of the living again for 24 hours as a favour...

...like, my point is, you give this to most adventure heroes and they're like sweet, tools to solve problems with. But these guys are so beautifully devoted to their sport that they're just like sweet, tools to turn every problem into something I can resolve with an MMA bout.

A Terminator-style warning from the future that robots will take over the planet in three years? Should we use magic to find the scientist and talk him out of it, or failing that just ice him? Bulma actually suggests this, but of course not. Then we wouldn't get to do karate at a robot! We'll just spend three years doing really good workouts so we can spin-kick the T-1000 through a wall, duh.

A magical demon who could devastate the universe is unsealed by a wizard? Should we employ some kind of counter-magic to seal or destroy it? Use teleportation to put it inside a star or something? After all it very specifically has the power "made of magic regenerating rubber, punches literally do not affect it"--ahh, I see, you're using teleportation to lure it to an empty planet so you can punch it harder, using your sway over life and death to resurrect a second guy to punch it alongside you, and then using the magical wish-granting dragon to make you not tired anymore so you can do the ultimate martial arts move (giant ball that kills you).

As I hope my tone conveys, I'm not saying this like it's a problem with the series. I just think it's an underappreciated part of the appeal that this shit is exactly like yami yugi always finding himself in situations where the fate of the world Must be decided via trading card game.

The lads just love sports so much.

[squidthusiast]

can I ask how you learned to render as beautifully as you do? I've been trying to learn how to apply colors for a long while and nothing seems to stick;;

Heya Anon :)

Awh shucks! you think I render beautifully? I’m so touched💖

Rendering, painting & color theory have been a bit of a special interest of mine for a while, so i’d be more than happy to explain & give some pointers!

If there’s a specific piece of mine that made you inquire, feel free to mention it in another ask too. I love showing my thought process and workflow c:

I’ll put the rest of the ask under the cut to minimize clutter meanwhile.

I learnt to render both through self-taught methods and during my college art degree (though quite honestly, not much that I didn’t already know or learn by myself).

Rendering in digital painting/illustration is a process that compounds various areas of knowledge. The main ones that come to mind and of which i’ll talk about are the following:

* Values

* Color Theory

* Light & Shadows

* Edge Control

Having a solid grasp on these fundamentals will greatly strengthen your ability to render and understand how other artists tackle their pieces as well.

Values

I always love to start by talking to people about values. It’s something that I don’t always see beginners learn about, yet it’s one of the main things that makes or breaks an art piece.

Values allow you to control & direct the following: Composition, Contrast, Focal Point, Colors, Distance, Mood, etc.!

So what are Values? In short, they’re the range between light and dark when it comes to both neutral greys and colors.

A handy resource to understand this is the Munsell Color System:

Hue refers to the different Colors on the wheel. Chroma is the purity (strength vs weakness) of a color. Finally, Value refers to the lightness or darkness.

Different colors have different chromatic values; that is, how a pure color appears in a greyscale format.

A 100% red will always be at around 50% grey. With this knowledge, we know that we can’t get a pure bleeding red if we were to paint a light shade of white. It would be more pink than red.

Color Theory

Okay, so we know of values, now what?

Color Theory can seem intimidating, but it shouldn’t be!

Colors have a harmony, a flow. They talk to each other, and once you learn to listen to them you can start creating wonderful conversations.

The following are things I take into account when I am thinking theory:

-Color Harmonies (complementary, triadic, monochromatic combinations, etc);

-Warm & Cool Colors;

-Color Psychology (what moods can be conveyed through color?).

-Color Relativity (how a color is affected by other surrounding colors)

I think the best advice I can give when it comes to studying and applying color (once you have a general grasp of the fundamentals listed above) is to analyze art pieces that you love.

“What attracts you to it? Why do you think it works? What does it communicate in terms of colors? Are there fundamentals that the artist applies (OR breaks?) in this piece?” etc.!

Light and Shadows

So there’s values, there’s color.

Light and Shadows could be confused with Values (black and white right?), but in this case we’re actually talking about lighting!

Values are specifically related to the range between black and white AND the lightness/darkness of a color (chromatic value).

Our eyes perceive volume through contrast, lighting and shadows first and foremost.

Understanding the terminology of light and shadows will give you a fantastic set of tools to ground your drawings in reality, and give it volume regardless of whether it has cartoony proportions or not.

There is one thing I want to also mention: it is important to know about light terminology, but it’s equally important to understand how light affects different materials.

The following terms are great elements to keep in mind if you wish to accurately render different sorts of objects (it’s a non-exhaustive list by any means, but a good start)

- Types of Light (soft, hard);

- Light Decay;

- Specularity;

- Roughness;

- Translucency;

- 1-2-3 value read

This leads us to my final note…

Edge Control

This last topic is more-so a bonus, but i’ve found it really brings a painting to another level when you know how to use it. Knowing how to control your edges will help you better define 3D volumes in your pieces without needing to use lines.

We typically have three types of edges in painting: Hard edge, Soft edge, and Lost edge.

I won’t talk about the last one because I’m still researching and practicing it, but let’s look at the other two:

Hard Edges are typically used when there is a sharp change between two planes.

Soft Edges are the more gradual transition, typically on a smoother surface like a sphere or a soft slope.

Notice how different both examples feel?

Organic shapes like bodies are full of hard and soft edges because of the smoothness of skin and fat, coupled with the harder edges of bones and muscles.

Try to pay attention to this, both in real life subjects and in art pieces. You’ll be surprised to find the variety of edges there are in all sorts of objects and living forms. It takes practice and observation, but it’s definitely feasible to learn.

Resources:

GENERAL STUFF

Marco Bucci (he covers most of what I talk about here & more, huge rec!)

Arne Niklas Jansson - (I stumbled upon this one by accident, it’s old but gold)

Values:

Yuming Li (in general)

Bonekrishna/ Roberto Ribeiro Padula

Anthony Jones (his ‘painting like a sculptor’ video is one of my favs)

Marco Bucci (seriously this guy has solid videos)

Orenjikun - (his reels and video tutorials are so insightful)

Color Theory:

Slawek Fedorczuk

Justin Oaksford

Eyecager

James Gurney blog (+ his book Color & Light)

H3m0cyt3 (A fun way to harmonize color palettes)

Iniro/Eskbl (I own this pdf, it’s best used when you apply each concept in your own exercises)

Lighting Mentor (really good vid about color relativity)

Light and Shadow:

How to Render- The Fundamentals of Light, Shadow and Reflectivity [BOOK] - Scott Robertson

(I think this is the most solid resource you can have if you’re serious about studying this subject)

Color and Light - James Gurney [BOOK] (this one’s a classic)

Proko (if i’m not mistaken, he has some videos that tackle this subject)

Edge Control

Thomas Mahon (he has one or two tutorials that touch on this)

Anthony Jones (even just watching his process videos on youtube helps)

Sinix

Unfortunately it’s somewhat hard to find more resources for this section :(

———

I hope this helps with your question! If anyone has other good resources feel free to link them as well :)

This is just what I can think of for now :P

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Absolutely perfect, gorgeous 1940 home in Bloomfield Hills, MI. 4bds, 7ba, 9,183 sq ft, has a pending sale at $1.899m.

It's been completely restored, I have no idea what it looked like before, but I don't even mind b/c it's so beautiful.

Look at this entrance hall. I wonder if the antique motorcycle will convey, but I doubt it. It's such a focal point, though.

Isn't this impeccable? I'm thinking that maybe this is original wood paneling.

Large, very formal living room.

In the dining room, a fabulous chandelier cascades down from a skylight.

Large everyday dining area and counter next to the kitchen.

Gorgeous floor and a bar in the wall with a wine rack.

The kitchen is flawless. Look at all the counter seating.

Alongside the kitchen there's a home office tucked in a corner.

Love this art deco style sink cabinet in the 1/2 bath.

Very large primary bedroom with skylights.

The en-suite is so classy, it doesn't even look like a bathroom.

Separate tub and shower with a fireplace in the wall.

Finished attic bonus space is huge.

All 7 baths are so beautifully redesigned.

Lovely family with a cozy fireplace and warm lighting in the wood paneling.

Absolutely love this art deco bar and the pink border around the room.

They've got an air hockey table here, but it could be a pool table or whatever the new owner wants.

Ping pong or a home gym space.

The gardens are meticulously maintained. Look at this pond.

Huge patio, enclosed glass sun rooms, and a beautiful pool.

Down the stone steps there's another patio back here.

And, look at this little pond in the trees.

4.15 acres of lush, green land.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3860-Mystic-Valley-Dr_Bloomfield-Hills_MI_48302_M41107-61161

[hyog-blog]

Fangs of Fortune (ep. 18 - ep. 20)

I've just noticed the truly abnormal amount of crying all the characters do in this show (like, it's so pretty I'm not complaining, but poor actor babies, I can't imagine the amount of work and emotional turmoil that went into acting all this out for us to enjoy). God bless them pretty people who cry so beautifully - this is truly an art form!

As Zhuo Yichen wisely mentioned in ep.20 "the sea of suffering is endless" - I think it's an actual motto of this show. Like, how many characters can you make suffer in the course of one episode? Quick answer - many, and then some more.

First and foremost - we lost Li Lun! I didn't expect he'd go so early in the series (checks episode count), well, okay, not too early, but I kind of expected him to torment Zhu Yan till the very end. He was such a poor and bitter meow-meow I can't even hate him despite whatever wrongs he has done. Deeply hurt, wounded, lost, and 'betrayed' by his probably only friend. Never even tried to understand his point of view, just went on hurting and hating and plotting his revenge to hurt Zhu Yan the same way he hurt him, and probably even more.

Whatever happened to them was fate (well, at least at this point in the series), but then he chose to follow the path of pain and suffering. Judging by how toxic his revenge has gotten in the end, he must have really loved Zhu Yan. And the irony of Li Lun joining forces with the very people who caught and tortured demons back then, when he and Zhu Yan parted ways. I mean it was kind of narrow-minded of Li Lun to just ditch his only friend so fast. And condemning the whole of humanity just because a few people are bad apples, well, is the same as condemning all demons because some of them are violent. But still, there are those who aren't. What an epic saga of grief and misunderstanding D:

At this point, Zhu Yan must be the saddest Great Demon in the history of Great Demons. I mean come on, how many more deaths and sufferings can he take? (nope, don't answer that, there are still 14 episodes left, I'm sure the show will surprise me more than once XD). I mean, when speaking about being unfortunate, he has had it the worst in the series (he was just 'lucky' to survive long enough to get some happy days and encounters mixed in there as well). But with a countdown of 1 month hanging over his head, I have a feeling things won't be all sunshine and roses for him (again, and again, and again, ah).

"You don't have a heart, but aren't you living in agony, too?" Spot on, Yichen-baby, spot on. I think Zhu Yan's heart might just be bigger than most human's.

Also, how come Zhuo Yichen has gotten even prettier? I love his new look with hair tied up in a bun, official robes and all. He has also matured. The way he was talking about Zhao Yuanzhou merely being the blade of that malicious force and that he shouldn't be punished for what it did through him - my thoughts exactly! The screenwriters conveyed this message so well and I'm happy that the characters also realize this inside the show (still, I have a bad feeling about how things will end for him).

Bai Jiu being a 'traitor' was a fresh take! Cool plot twist. But this is how this Chongwu camp operates - finds people's soft spots and uses either threats or bribes to make them do bad stuff for them. Luckily, no one got hurt (well, uh, not yet). And Pei Sijing has been working with Zhu Yan all this time, yay))) I never wanted to believe that she was an actual traitor, the girl is too cool (and they have a cute thing going on with Wen Xiao, hehe).

Also, I've noticed how in the course of the last few episodes both Zhu Yan and Zhuo Yichen acknowledged each other's, how should I put it, awesomeness? Zhu Yan calling the other guy a dignified gentleman with a righteous heart, unbreakable will, and a character as strong as gold, and Zhuo Yichen admitting that Zhu Yan was a compassionate and righteous demon and that he didn't want to kill him any longer :3 A little bit of honey to balance out the bitterness, ah.