#and while this isn't getting art i feel like it balances the composition out at least in my head

[kariachi]

I think I have the final stage for this next fakemon done. Now it's just on to figuring out wtf I'm doing with the base stage. Want something that seems the normal precious little fairy-type, but that isn't so different the transition to the more intimidating final stage feels weird. But then, we've got shit like remoraid to octillery and shroodle to grafaiai... I don't know. Right now I'm planning a partial selkie inspiration but I'm not sure if that's quite it...

[animehouse-moe]

Mr. Villain's Day Off Episode 2: Earth Is Formidable Indeed

Unsurprisingly, this episode is more of what I expected from this series, and curiously enough the source of the shortcomings isn't the production. Still, the episode is plenty enjoyable and the new storyboarder for this episode excels at a few things, meaning it's not quite a cut and dry conversation. Of course, that means I've got a good bit to chat about once more.

So, the first episode was boarded by Kunihisa Sugishima, and I raved about their effort and eye for approaching the series. This time around the episode is boarded by Kenichi Nishida, and they very much lack the tools to provide consistent depth and finesse in lighter scenes.

I wouldn't go as far as calling it "bad", or even "lazy" really. Nishida's work as a storyboarder has almost exclusively been on low-value and children's productions in the first place. It's more a mindset of what appeals to and is accepted by the target demographic, because there's certainly pieces that are well done.

It's just that Nishida needs a hand holding his in these moments to provide something good. If the manga doesn't approach the content in a novel format, Nishida's boards will reflect that. If it's creative like this moment, then you'll get good work.

It's a little disappointing to see, but it shows how much Mr. Villain's Day Off relies on higher level staff members. There's not much animation to begin with, so the need for expressive and well laid out boards is very strong. Basically, if we don't have a good storyboarder on an episode it won't be all that incredible, but when there is one the content will really thrive off of it.

One aspect I think that could really help with moving reliance away from specific positions though is composition. The color design is really really great and adds a lot to the backgrounds, but the art is very simple. Because of that scenes can feel really flat if there's not many characters or foreground objects in them.

And in a way, there's some sort of undeniable charm to how much Red stands out in this scene, but I feel like there's more potential if the composition and visual effects were a little heavier in sequences like these. Darkening the sky and color palette some more, bringing out the shadows in the streets thanks to the lampposts, just small details that fill up a scene a bit better than what we have here.

Bringing up the slider on the amount of composition would just help in pulling dependence away from what a storyboarder can create and help bring some more balance to the episodes.

Though for how much I'm complaining about the boards in this episode, there really are moments that are quite good.

I just think that a lot of Nishida's good work gets washed away by their bog-standard efforts that employ nonstop zooming and panning to add variation. It's a bit of a cheap trick and quickly becomes tiring when overused, especially in longer sequences like this one.

Admittedly though, I will say that Nishida's sense of humor does do well in this episode. It's not great, and it's not perfectly consistent, but there are more than a few moments that translate well from the manga under his supervision.

Speaking of translation, I only realize today that the production has been changing around the order of the skits and outings in the series. I think it's a very intelligent change due to its nature but I'm curious to see how it ends up playing out. I say that because while a lot of the chapters are isolated in the grand scheme of things, there's a lot of piece that end up conntected.

Take, for example, the kid with the blue hat. The panda sequence and rabbit petting one are actually separated by a good few chapters in the manga.

The point being that while a lot of chapters feel isolated at a small scale, they tend to become more valuable in the larger scheme of the manga, so I'm wondering how they're going to approach that reshuffling for some of the moments they've passed by so far.

All in all though, this really is much more in line with my expectations for Synergy SP and Shin-Ei. Seeing such disparate episodes so early on though has me very interested in seeing who else we get as storyboarders for this series, as they evidently hold a lot of the production value in their own hands. Though I suppose I'll find out more about that next week.

[braemjeorn]

a long ourank oc presentation because braem is just a writer at heart and soul.

this is honi.

honi is from my fanfic here. would be glad if you read it. would be so happy if you like it. haven't updated it in a while so below are some spoilers for us all(?)

i know. i can't draw the same face. though #Shook is my favourite.

she has longer hair in earlier designs. but then i gave her short hair and thought, oh she looks cooler. like she could be a really cool mom. that's all you need honestly. like why make your ship lovers when you can get kingdom management done with the spiCE that is legal union!

'scuse me. kept the long hair for her younger-tween looks, anyway - wasn't mentioned why in the fic but let's just say that making it to the underworld was life changing. one way or another. she got a scar on her left cheekbone after her twenties (so yeas, i forgot the middle one im sorry).

here's our man because why not. we crave loose hair desha in this house.

im so bad at drawing crowns.

i was keen on the idea of someone to balance desha's personality out, instead of the complete opposites-attract. coz this here is a brash and unapologetic man who mercilessly cackles and taunts bojji and domas at the first meeting. half the fun will be when someone doesn't really flinch at that. tempers him down a bit or countering and riling him up to make firecrackers is what I want to see.

pink ram-lion babies coz why not

honi was nearly engaged before - somewhat more experienced in the field? but things happened and romantic pursuits were shelved before they met. honi acknowledged that he was a man early on in their meeting, but after making up and a few more formal encounters assured her that he was worth being friends with. worth the days-long flight just for a few weeks of teasing, good mead and mushroom pies.

after the winter breakfast but she's still confused.

figuring out she has feelings was a breakdown on a catastrophic level.

but eh, iss all good.

cuties.

not officially engaged but at least the lightning discharge was minimum.

that's all, i guess. some wish-wash, fluffy, alternate-or-future universe musings.

(but then in the manga the ominous naration was like, desha never returned and the underworld fell into ruin *cue queen elinor toppling chess pieces* (overthinking desha's pre-canon shonen arc and how his power is what made him rank 2nd as well as keep order in the multirace, monstrous underworld). in case reclaiming the throne won't work the option is mountain-nymph!honi or passing-farmer-girl!honi. pick.)

(but also the idea that if the canon queen is the persephone counterpart and was on the overworld for her six months deal when the whole season 1 happened is also great. which makes it hilarious if they met during part 2 coz she'd be like 'what tf happened to you?' and heartbreaking if he doesn't remember her. would be fantastic if she's any sort of queen like hiling and stubbornly gets shit done - might have a crisis that she cant find despa or ouken around, or launch some curses to the judge. but I don't know abt canon-queen. only the writer knows what might happen. as long as it isn't some poor excuse of a girl-failure of a villainess miranjo is, I'll be satisfied.)

sometimes i worry if my art will be considered ai work due to my poor anatomy but i swear it's really just a poor concept of anatomy😭 i have so MUCH to improve on digital painting. lighting, shadowing, composition, their size difference—they say the captain is 265 and desha's around the same height in the artbook. honi's like 180 and she's still so tiny! next to him despite being taller than average.

bonus, somewhat suggestive comic below.

double bonus: i think they both agree that domas is a joke and keeping 2000 km distance with miranjo is a must

[lord-shitbox]

part 2 of this ask

📝Process for hurt mezu drawing 

here are the steps i dug out of an art server's wips channel lol

1. initial sketch

2. refine sketch. thats lines now babey. (omitted "the sleeves are KILLING ME WAHHH" stage that led to this)

3. grayscale, to use with gradient map (this is a more polished grayscale than I started with, i dug the working file out to get better images)

4. find nice gradient map (ended up being the same one I'd used for the piece i made right before. the goal is to make what's essentially an underpainting, not to color the whole thing with one map)

5. tweak and add colors that arent in the map with hard light layers & also sneak in a layer for special effect and atmospheric/ scenic perspective while you're at it

6. shading & more finishing effects. pretty much all of the shading was done with hard light layers! the only non-hard light layers I used for the shading were the particle effect layers & like one faint glow layer to fix some values. blood was done with linear burn

✨Inspiration for hurt mezu drawing 

the coloring method (grayscale -> saturated gradient map underpainting -> additive color adjustments) is something I tried out with the piece i'd made right before (the one where gozu is holding mezu from behind) & turned out really well, so I wanted to keep going with it

I also wanted to draw them angstily again because it'd been a very long time. like half a year at least. angsting them is very enriching for my soul so I try to do it regularly, this one was overdue

subconsciously referenced the poses in the initial sketch from this old thing (feb 2021). i love doing this. all my for-fun works recycle old elements in some way. my favorite game is "what old art reminds me of what im doing rn" im so good at digging stuff out of my archives for it. everyone loves when i do this

the gangi-kozou panel also

i went through a "shade in bold red-orange & dark blue with hard light layers" phase in like..april/may of 2021. i still like that stuff a lot so I wanted to revisit it

💚Things you like about hurt mezu drawing

repasting the link there but the sixth image in the process is essentially the final so you can just look at that

the colors are nice!! I'm real happy with using more saturated colors n I think the warm vs cool balance works really well

the sleeves (man being dramatic on the sand meme)

no like fr look at the 2021 piece's kimono sleeves vs the one I just did 2.5 years later. so satisfying

Gozu's expression came out nice

i think the claws and flash lines successfully added Emphasis to Gozu's expression & the piece overall

the poses … the drama …. the brush textures are also good

⏳Things you’d do differently with hurt mezu drawing

add in a liiitle more contrast...aka use a wider range of values. Some lighter lights and darker darks. I miss my 2021 hard neon lighting

a bit more distinction between the characters and the background also

the composition isn't bad but it could be better. Should've thought more about the way the eye would flow around the image in the drafting stage (solid b&w color block thumbnails are good for this)

Moar Sparkles. (I put a solid amount of large & low opacity light bubbles in there & some finer brighter dots especially around the claw stems, but I think more clusters of tiny bright lights on the characters themselves would've gone hard)

💌Some favourite feedback on art

as the wise man Austin Kleon once said: keep a "praise file" of all the positive feedback you get (if you've never read "Steal Like an Artist," you must). so. i am prepared for this question hold on

tastes like sugar glass

multiple people have told me my art is soft & dreamlike

jayce you reblogged my touchstarved art with nice tags on april 10th ive got that saved love uou

umm theres a lot...anytime someone keysmashes or feels emotional because of my art i get happy ,,, lys messaged me about the hurt mezu piece that made me happy also,,,,,there is so much joy in the world

[thyandrawrites]

Challenge question: blue lock or haikyuu? You can only chose one.

Haikyuu, hands down. It's not even a real competition, I'm sorry 😂

Haikyuu has solid writing, stellar characterization, cool character arcs, interesting dynamics between players, unconventional rivalries and friendships, and the dynamics of the matches themselves feel realistic and believable. It's never over the top, and even when there are genius characters, their skill is often backed up by a convincing background / reasoning. Take Ushiwaka. He's a powerhouse because he's a leftie and most players aren't used to facing his leftie shots, plus he has a whole team is catered towards him and making him score as many points as possible, so he was encouraged to make his spikes even more powerful. Or take Kageyama, whose genius is half natural talent, but mostly just the fact that he's been playing since he was a small child and always observing other people's talent. When you compare that to bllk, where geniuses are just... Born monsters... I def prefer Haikyuu. Like. I love Nagi but he's been slacking off all his life. He shouldn't have muscles, let alone have that insane athleticism that lets him do that quick as lightning trap-shot with his back to the net. What the heck did Reo feed him while he was cultivating his talent? Steroids? Lmao

I think the one thing bllk has over hq is the art. Furudate's style is... An acquired taste, but Nomura's is gorgeous and so very expressive too. Even the dynamic scenes are never confusing, and there's something about Nomura's panel composition that gets me hella hyped even as someone who literally hates soccer irl lol. Whereas with haikyuu I often had to pause and/or go back and reread certain scenes to process the action and imagine it fluidly. Bllk doesn't have this problem for me at all.

But in terms of overall writing, I think bllk is quite lacking in comparison. Haikyuu has an enormous cast and none of the characters feel like funny bits, unlike bllk where more than half of the characters aren't fleshed out past that one "funny" trait. The soccer itself is fine, it's entertaining, but the plays are catered more towards sensationalism and "wowing" the reader in comparison to haikyuu, where a lot of the time you couldn't tell which team was going to win before the match even started. In blue lock it's always the same guys who get to score, and everyone else is an accessory to get there, so it's a bit predictable imho. Haikyuu was more balanced there imho, and it had a much wider cast.

Now, don't take me wrong, I love both series but I approached them with different expectations and I like them for different things. Haikyuu was the best sports animanga I've ever followed, and it had some of the best characters I've ever read about. Bllk is a more lighthearted read for me, and I mostly read it because it amuses me. The writing in blue lock isn't super deep, the themes are simple and the conflicts aren't super high stakes, which is refreshing after the letdown that was bnha for me at the end. So I find it a fun manga if you don't expect it to be a masterpiece. Ironically even if the writing is pretty simplistic, I've written more metaish thoughts on bllk than I ever did for hq, so both series had a pull on me, although different

[ambitionsource]

since you guys did the voice casts for the front nine, which singer(s) would fit jack and eric?

Pearl I am so sorry, you sent this 100 years ago lol so forgive me for the delay. As it turns out, shockingly, trying to vocally match older men is a lot harder than the young adults of our main cast LOL. Still, I want to do them justice so I've done the same as I did previously in this post, along with a couple others who have since emerged as more common singers in our ensemble:

ERIC | Eric is the one of the two of them that does have an actual musical theater background, so I do think that makes a difference. His voice would without a doubt be more trained, have a broader range, and probably have more inflection in terms of emotion and emphatic delivery (that's the theater kid edge). I also think that Eric's voice would be deeper than maybe one would assume off the cuff, at least when singing. So as requested, a couple of comps:

Hugh Jackman – This might be partially because we had him perform "A Million Dreams" in Season 2, but I think it fits. Jackman has voice that's like, sturdy and baritone, but it's not overbearing. It doesn't eat up all the oxygen in the room or feel like it's so deep it's coming from the pits of hell. Additionally, I like that he does have a decent range -- see him going for Valjean songs in Les Mis -- so I think that point is important. Example track: A Million Dreams

Christopher Jackson -- Whoop! Didn't see this one coming did we, especially since Jack tends to be the one singing Washington songs from Hamilton... but I do think this tone of voice fits Eric better. Again, it has that rounded, well-balanced, sturdy vocal quality and can emote without a doubt. Example track: History Has Its Eyes On You

Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) -- For a non-Broadway or film take, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver is a fitting enough comp range and tone wise. Example track: exile (with Taylor Swift)

JACK | I think Jack, much like his not-son Lucas, has an edge to his voice that is distinctly unpolished and rough. Even though he's an appreciator of the arts, and works at an arts school, a big part of Jack's whole thing is that he isn't from this world instinctively, and he for sure wasn't honing his range or vocal ability all through his youth. So his early 40s man voice is not Broadway ready, but there's a charm to that as well. I also imagining him having a bit of a husky, Southern quality to the edges of his singing voice because of his upbringing in Virginia. As such, comps to go around:

The Avett Brothers -- Obviously this is a bit unspecific because... there are three brothers in this band and only one Jack, LOL, but you can kind of get the vibe of the like slightly rustic quality, emotive without necessarily being good at channeling emotion, etc. I think this also fits that I picture Jack's singing voice a bit higher in tone than Eric's, and that register works here. Example track: I And Love And You

George Harrison -- I know my Beatles nerd is showing, but I stand by this. George was never the standout vocalist of the Beatles (not that I think any of them were tbh lol, they were much more about music composition and arrangement than like being the best singers ever), but his almost soft-spoken delivery just hits right for Jack to me. Example track: Something

James Taylor -- This is veering almost too much into the twangy territory, but I think it helps serve what I mean by sounding a bit more unpolished and husky while still being more in the baritenor range. James Taylor has had a long career, so there's option abound for sampling, but I went with a cover song from his latest album because he is. Well. Older lol. Example track: God Bless the Child

YINDRA | I would argue Yindra is the most defined singer in our new crop of elevated mains, so she needs a section here. When it comes to her, I want you simply to think of the most talented vocalist you know -- that artist you think is just unbelievably talented and you can't believe they have a range like that. You wonder how they're not a huge star already if they aren't well known. That's Yindra. I feel like there are genuinely so many talented female vocalists that could make this comp list, but since I'm keeping it concise, a top-of-my-head sampling:

SZA -- I think sometimes people think of SZA more as a rap-adjacent vocalist (i.e. more about rhythm and delivery than vocal range, to a degree, which is an equally impressive skill), but I love her voice from a tonal perspective too. Have you heard her jump the octave in tracks from ctrl? An immediately slay. In this case, I will reference one of my favorite tracks from that album and that I think lets her vocals really shine due to the stripped nature of the track. Example track: 20 Something

Tess Henley -- If I haven't made it clear yet by how I slip her songs into the series here and there, I love Tess Henley. She is severely underrated. Why I bring her up for Yindra is two-fold: she has an incredible belt range, and also has a somewhat scratchy quality to her voice in certain octaves that I think is such a unique sound and makes her sound so... authentic and evocative. I think Yindra would have qualities like this too. Yindra's vocal talent is raw, untamed, a force to be reckoned that is bursting out of her -- it wouldn't be polished to pop perfection like Maya. It's just against her nature. Example track: Boomerang

Alicia Keys -- Okay is this a basic answer. Maybe. But I think Alicia's vocal talent speaks for itself, and so does Yindra's. Not to mention, her range alone is blockbuster. Case in point, example track, we all know it's coming: Girl On Fire

NIGEL | Nigel doesn't sing as much as some of the other characters (he's an actor at his core), but he's picked up enough performances this season to warrant mention here. I think of his voice as a gentle, somewhat level tonal tenor, and while I don't have much to say beyond that, a few comps nonetheless:

HONNE -- I can't tell the two members apart so don't ask that of me please lol but the vibes are there. Example track: Location Unknown - Brooklyn Session

Hippo Campus -- Again, don't know who is actually singing here LOL but again, the sound will tell you what you need to know. Example track: Golden

JOSH | Same goes for the above for Josh -- he's not a singer in the explicit sense of the word, so to a degree, his vocals would just sound like some guy. But he's a guy who has a deep, intrinsic understanding of music, and I do think that colors his vocal delivery. He's no Farkle, or even Charlie, but it doesn't hurt your ears to hear him chime in on a tune every now and then (especially when he's splitting with someone like Maya). Comps:

AJR -- AJR are basically just some guys, but some guys who know how to craft a good song, so they're kind of my go-to sound comp for Josh. I also think they sing pretty well about both young adulthood what-am-I-doing-with-my-life angst, and the battles of the industry, so their emotion shines through in that way. Example track: The DJ Is Crying For Help

Glass Animals -- Same sentiments. Example track: Solar Power - Spotify Singles

VANESSA | Unlike Zay, Vanessa is less of a triple-threat than she is more consumed with dance, but we know she can carry a tune competitively. And unfortunately, unless you're going into ballet, it helps to be able to sing to get more performing opportunities that include dance (see: Broadway), so she has most certainly honed those skills. In terms of skill vocally, I would plot her somewhere on the scale between Maya and Riley -- she's more polished than Riley, from all her training and overworking competitiveness, but she lacks Maya's raw natural vocal charisma. But that doesn't mean her voice can't be a showstopper when the moment calls for it. Comps:

Jasmine Cephas-Jones -- The oft overlooked third Schuyler sister of Hamilton, Jasmine has vocals that can cut right through you. I love how much energy and power you can feel in her delivery. Vanessa definitely has that quality. Example track: Little Bird

Normani -- Goes without saying, since we gave her the bop of all bops with "Motivation." And also unfortunate how Normani despite being talented got kind of celebrity eclipsed by a fellow former bandmate (Camila), which is something I'm sure Vanessa would relate to. Example track: Motivation

Billie Eilish -- This one is a bit out of left field, but something about the somewhat flat inflection and lower range (definitely alto) that Billie's voice encompasses has always struck me as a bit Vanessa-like. So I'm including her. Example track: Getting Older

-- Maggie

[musicarenagh]

Getting to Know Fabbro di Chiavi: A Chat About Music and What's Next Hello everybody! Today, we're catching up with Fabbro di Chiavi, the guy behind the awesome tunes you've been hearing lately. His latest track, "Future," is like a breath of fresh air between his last release, "Intangible Part I," and the upcoming "Intangible Part II" dropping later this year. Now, "Future" isn't just another song. It's a mix of different sounds that'll grab your attention and keep you hooked. Fabbro di Chiavi's music is all about blending different styles to create something unique, and "Future" nails it. We're chatting with Fabbro di Chiavi about where he finds inspiration (spoiler: it's everywhere!), his journey into music, and what's coming up next. From classical guitar lessons to rocking out in cover bands, he's done it all. When he's not making music, Fabbro di Chiavi is all about languages, art, and diving into life's big questions. And if he wasn't making tunes, he reckons he'd still be doing something music-related. So, grab a seat and join us as we chat with Fabbro di Chiavi about his latest track, what's on the horizon, and what keeps him inspired. Listen to Future on https://open.spotify.com/track/4hDD89lX8mPpJIoj1TDhPI Follow Fabbro di Chiavi on Spotify Youtube Instagram What is your stage name? My stage name is Fabbro di Chiavi. Is there a story behind your stage name? The name "Fabbro di Chiavi," translating to "Keymaker," symbolizes the idea of unlocking diverse musical possibilities and exploring various sonic landscapes. Where do you find inspiration? Inspiration comes from various sources - personal experiences, emotions, literature, nature, and even scientific concepts. I draw inspiration from the intricacies of life and the ever-changing human condition. What was the role of music in the early years of your life? Music has always played a significant role in my life. From a young age, I was captivated by its emotive power and its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings and moods. Are you from a musical or artistic family? While my family appreciates music and the arts, I am the first to pursue it as a career. Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry? After classical music studies and several years in cover and tribute bands, I felt a strong desire to compose and produce my own music. How did you learn to sing/write/to play? I learned to play the guitar through formal training and self-study. Over the years, I honed my skills through practice, experimentation, and continuous study. What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? The first concert I attended was a performance by Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, a renowned Italian prog band, which left a lasting impression on me. How could you describe your music? My music blends elements of progressive metal, classical, and symphonic rock, creating a unique and dynamic sonic experience. The coexistence of classical and electric guitar techniques is a key element in my compositions. Describe your creative process. My creative process involves exploring different musical ideas, experimenting with sounds and textures, and refining compositions through iterative refinement. I also pay particular attention to each instrument's nature, timbre, and frequency range, leveraging my engineering background to ensure a balanced and audible mix. [caption id="attachment_54767" align="alignnone" width="1333"] My creative process involves exploring different musical ideas, experimenting with sounds and textures, and refining compositions through iterative refinement.[/caption] What is your main inspiration? My main inspiration stems from the human experience - the joys, struggles, and complexities of life provide abundant material for creative exploration. What musician do you admire most and why? I admire almost every musician. Regardless of the music style, there is always something to learn, whether in composition, production, or artistic concept elaboration. As long as I can learn something, I am fascinated.

Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career? Yes, my style has evolved over the years as I've explored new musical territories and incorporated diverse influences into my compositions. From classical to electric guitar techniques, there is always something new to study, and I am currently delving into the flamenco world. Who do you see as your main competitor? I don't view other musicians as competitors but as fellow artists on a shared journey of creative expression. I am always open to collaborations, as music, especially nowadays, is a territory that allows musicians to work together without boundaries. What are your interests outside of music? Outside of music, I am an aerospace engineer. I am fascinated by the world of complexity and enjoy exploring it. If it wasn't a music career, what would you be doing? Well, I am fortunate to balance my music career with my work as an engineer. What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music? One of the biggest challenges in the music industry is navigating the ever-changing landscape of technology and distribution platforms. If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be? I would strive for greater fairness and transparency in the distribution of royalties and compensation for artists. https://open.spotify.com/artist/1cwMpqTuWEXBdk4uD1pCSg Why did you choose this as the title of this project? The title "Future" reflects the thematic exploration of possibilities and optimism conveyed in the music. What are your plans for the coming months? In the coming months, I plan to continue working on Part 2 of "Intangible," targeting its release towards the end of the year. I am also open to collaborative opportunities with other artists. Do you have any artistic collaboration plans? Absolutely! Davide Zanella will be joining me for the "Intangible" Part 2 EP, and I am excited to see who else will join this adventure. What message would you like to give to your fans? To my fans, I'd like to express my deepest gratitude for your support and encouragement. Please, continue sharing the music and the links. Your support means the world to us.

[carrieleblancart]

for the artist asks: 15 and 18

15. How long does an average piece take you to complete?

That would assume any piece is average, haha. It depends mostly on size and whether it's a commission. The sketch paintings I do, I try to do a 6"x6" painting a half hour so that I can maximize the number of paintings I can do at live events. And a lot of the sketches I did for Black Cat October were between a half hour and 45 minutes. And then, there are the more detailed paintings. The painting of Ojoco which is 8"x8" was probably somewhere between 3 and 4 hours, not including the initial sketch which was probably a half hour to an hour. And then I have a couple large pieces that I started in like 2021 that are still not done and I haven't kept track of the time I've spent on them. Some of the digital pieces I've done have been anywhere between a half hour, two hours, etc. Just depends on the amount of details I'm putting in.

18. What are you currently trying to improve on?

Everything, all the time. It's hard to pick one thing, since there are so many things to consider when making a painting or drawing. Shape, color, composition. I'm always trying to improve and try new things. Asking myself, did I achieve what I want in this painting/drawing? I guess something that isn't directly the paintings themselves is organization, time management, and focus. There are a lot of pieces that I've put down a while ago that I've forgotten about and would like to get back to, so I guess that's the organization and focus piece. And trying to get things done in a timely fashion, that's time management and focus. Trying to keep my studio clean so that I feel motivated and ready to paint. Trying to balance between finding /making time to paint, trying to get my art out there via social media and events, keep up with the commissions I do get, and having a day job/career that's unrelated, and taking care of 47 snakes, 3 cats, myself and my home.

[dourpeep]

IT WAS 2AM WHEN I SENT THAT SO I HELD BACK MY SIMPING FOR COLLEGE ALBEDO A LITTLE. tried not to send all my brainrot so I didn't just send a wall of text into your inbox LOL. Some others I thought of were:

- Mona giving astrology forecasts and compatibility readings in this au and Albedo may have asked her about the two of you

- Going to botanical gardens or museums with Albedo but for some reason it feels like a date even when it didn't intent to be. You tug on his sleeve now and then when you see something he might be interested in or even when it's something that excites you, and Albedo can't help but have a soft look in his eyes that he can share this moment with you! Somehow it results in the two of you holding hands - just so neither of you stray from each other of course - and eventually, intertwined fingers. You hear someone say that the two of you seem like a cute couple and you know Albedo heard it too, but neither of you say anything. You feel his hand squeeze yours a little tighter and respond in kind. The two of you are too embarrassed to look at each other but can't help the smiles on your faces.

- Lending Albedo some of your favourite books for pleasure reading and you've left tiny tabs on lines that you like. Perhaps this is before Albedo realizes his feelings so when he reads particularly romantic lines, he wonders if this is how he feels about you. Or did you mark these pages because you feel this way about someone? His stomach is in knots to the thought that you may be intrested in someone that isn't him and he settles for it just being prose.

WHAT YOU WROTE WAS SO CUTE AAA. THANK YOU FOR SIMPING FOR COLLEGE BEDO WITH ME!!

Tugging his hand and not letting go omg . . . you tend to just intertwine pinkies or play with his fingers absent-mindedly that Albedo becomes so accustomed to it so he starts to offer you his hands without a second thought.

WAIT. I gasped at Albedo being a cuddler. He's a little delirious when he first wakes up but you're so comfy that he hugs you a little tighter, asking if you've slept well. You try to reply while worrying about whether or not he can feel your heart thrumming in your chest.

What if Klee is staying with Albedo one night and the three of you fall asleep cuddled up together. Alice comes back early in the morning before any of you are awake and takes a picture. She sends it to Albedo later and he sets it as his phone's wallpaper.

Albedo staring at your lips winded me, thank you.

YES TO THE SWEATERS. I bet Albedo would have the softest and coziest sweaters too! Imagine it being a little cold out and you see Albedo across campus so you bound over to him and give him a hug. You nuzzle into him and mumble out a little 'hello' and say he's warm. You feel his laugh rumble through his chest while he greets you back, wrapping his arms around you

And I LOVE ALL YOUR HEADCANONS! I believe I found your blog around the time you posted Albedo's snort headcanon and it was too much for my heart!! I held tight to that headcanon and never let go lol. I also thought the science + college headcanons you had of him were really nice despite not being necessarily romantic!

Side note: I looked up that lobster fact and that's so cool!!

The Lobster Fact(tm) is my go-to ice breaker and it always fails. I'd imagine it's normally the same w/ Bedo OTL so sad...not many wish to know about potential lobster immortality.

I'm glad that you love the headcanons though!! I enjoy writing for Albedo so so much as you can tell ehe

That being said--if it makes you more comfy to send stuff in a few bursts of asks, I don't mind :DD I'll answer them as usual nodnod

OKIE DOKIE

-

"...Mona, yes?"

"Ah, I was expecting you to come around sooner or later, Kreideprinz."

Really, Albedo didn't mean to stumble upon the Astronomy major, but for some reason the thought of you has been on his mind and the campus' observatory just so happened to be on the way. With the meager hope that...maybe he'd find some sort of answer (in what, he wasn't really sure himself), there she was.

Luckily, she knew just what he was there for.

The moment that she twirls her hand with a wave, telling him that there isn't anything to worry about, the apprehension creeping within his chest at the thought of seeing you next-

disappeared.

It's not often that he turns to less orthodox methods, but he wouldn't lie. Knowing that--at least in Mona's opinion (which tended to be correct, anyway)--the two of you were undoubtly compatible? Something about how your constellations were intertwined...

In fact, Albedo turns a little theory around in his mind. Though based in old folktales, the idea that you gravitate towards those who are made of the very same stardust as yourself, suddenly made sense.

Or, perhaps he was just being hopeful.

-

Little does he know that you most definitely asked Mona about the same thing earlier that day.

-

AHHHHH BUT OF COURSE-

Any of those kinds of places--Botanical Gardens, Art Museums, Aquariums, Zoos, Museums in general--Any place where you're able to utterly lose yourself in your surroundings and look around in awe, really, are your go-to date outing destination!

Usually, it's just the two of you, maybe with Sucrose or Timaeus if it's for a particular class, as well as the occasional Klee in tow whenever Alice is busy with work.

But in this case, fingers interlocked, it's just the two of you on a impromptu trip to the art museum downtown after seeing a promotional banner about a new exhibit. Once inside, you rush along, Albedo trailing close behind with a light squeeze of your hand. The large area used for temporary exhibits isn't far from the entrance, so it's not long until you skid to a stop.

All along the walls are incredibly detailed oil paintings, the thin layered strokes glistening in the light. Albedo takes a moment to whisper to you about how oil paint works.

Due to the thinness of the paint and it's transparency, light passes through every carefully placed stroke, allowing for a unique sort of depth that isn't achievable with other painting media. You smile, the artificial light of the art exhibit making your features glow and Albedo can't help but wonder if you are like those paintings.

So complex, so carefully created in an image perfected with time. Your eyes search his and you say his name and Albedo clears his throat when he realizes he's been staring.

"Do you like this one?"

Ah, you must've assumed he took a liking to this particular painting.

His eyes shift back to it, taking in the sight of the balance of color, the composition, then back to you. He only stares a second longer before nodding.

Whether or not you realize the view he likes is you is something that he dwells on as you both make your way to the next painting.

-

If you had a penny for every time that someone comments on the way you compliment each other, you'd probably be able to pay off your tuition for next semester.

Okay, perhaps not, but the idea still stands.

You're only just at the end of the art exhibit when the security guard wishes the two of you a lovely date. Something about how young love is something to be treasured, something about how the two of you already seem so natural and comfortable in each other's presence.

Before you can mumble out an explanation, Albedo just squeezes your hand, gentle as always, and smiles.

It's a compliment, right? For someone to see how close you are, even if you really are just friends, is a good thing.

Ignoring the warmth that spreads over your cheeks, you smile and turn your head away shyly. Squeezing his hand back, the thought of what it'd be like if you were together crosses your mind.

-

Just as you lend books to him, he lends books to you. Surprisingly, this time it just so happens to be a poetry book--something that you expressed interest in a week ago but ended up not getting.

Within, he's left colorful notes with his neat, slanted writing.

Short discussions (presumably questions to himself) of what the poet must've been thinking, different possible scenarios, are peppered throughout the book. But one just so happens to catch your eye. Rather than a question, it's a statement. Simple, short, and...sweet.

'You carry the aura of the stars.'

The little yellow sticky note pasted beneath a love poem to the night sky stands out. Suppressing a flutter in your chest, you continue reading through the poem book with a few giggles at Albedo's musings until you find a note with most of the words crossed out.

It's entirely unlike him, the way that the dark ink scribbled over the words, making them illegible.

But at the bottom was a continued attempt--one you presume he was satisfied with by the way it lay pristine on the colorful paper.

'You look. I fail to speak.

Your mind, so brilliant as it is I wish to see behind To further appreciate the one I love.

I can only hope one day you shall let me in, So for now I wait patiently by your side.'

Who could he have written this for? You can't help but stare at the poetic attempt, knowing full well that Albedo seldom does something without meaning.

The book closes and you tuck it back on the shelf to ask about later.

-

AAAAA YESYESYESYES I LOVE THAT CUDDLE PILE W/ ALBEDO AND KLEE

Even though Albedo's a grade A student and certified genius (he's adamant in his denial, shaking his head and mumbling about how he just studies hard), he's not entirely a stickler for rules.

Well, that is, Aunt Alice's suggestion that Klee goes to bed by 9.

Instead, the three of you settle in the common room of Albedo's place in a bundle of pillows and blankets at the demands of a pillow fort.

The tv blinks on accompanied by the near silent click of the remote.

"What should we watch?"

Klee always ends up picking the movie. This time, she wants Alice in Wonderland, commenting on how the bunny is like her best friend Dodoco and the blonde girl on screen is named after mommy. Albedo doesn't bother correcting her, even though he knows quite well that dear, sweet Dodoco is a chinchilla.

Between sips of juice and a few mouthfuls of popcorn, the three of you fall asleep, Klee curled up besides you and Albedo's arm draped over you both.

Even when the sun is up in the sky, you sleep peacefully.

So, naturally, Aunt Alice has a spare key just in case something like this happens.

Immediately she's met with the sweetest view--her two kids (she's practically adopted Albedo as her own at this point) and--

Hiding a cheeky smile behind her hand, Alice can't help but sneak a little closer when she spies the way that you and Albedo somehow gravitated closer, his face buried in your hair and yours resting against his collar. Wedged between you with tousled hair, Klee snoozes peacefully.

She snaps a picture, followed by another, and another, and a fourth for good measures before meandering into the kitchen to prep something for breakfast.

Might as well let her three favorite people enjoy the comfort of sleep for a little longer...

You wake up the moment that Klee wiggles her way out of the blankets, nuzzling against the warmth radiating under your cheek.

Nice and cozy. Smells nice...wait.

Eyes fluttering open, you're met with a familiar birthmark and the nearly gone scent of Albedo's cologne.

You nearly pull away until the arm, now wrapped around your waist, pulls you closer accompanied by a satisfied sigh. Ah. You shut your eyes tight when you realize that Albedo's going to be asleep for at least another thirty minutes, resigning to your fate gladly.

Of course, Alice takes the opportunity to snap a few more pictures when you've finally fallen back asleep.

-

YES ALSO ALSO

Speaking of Albedo and sweaters and warm and also the just mentioned cologne. A little fun tidbit--not only are you familiar with the scent of his cologne because he wears it often, but it (in this au) is actually one that you picked out some time back. You probably were at the store together smelling some of the perfumes when you came across one that you were pleasantly surprised by.

Specifically, something that's lightly floral, a little warm but sweet with a hint of earthiness.

The pros? It fits Albedo perfectly! It also kinda sticks well and his place faintly smells of it.

The cons?? Well...you're embarrassed to say that hugging Albedo tends to drag on a little longer than anticipated because it's just such a comforting scent-

Not because you associate it with Albedo or anything-

Ehe

Man I really went to town again, didn't I?? Well, I'm glad that you enjoy my headcanons :DDD Albedo just seems like such a sweet person??? Like endearing in a way that just is...him. If that makes sense.

Brain go brrrrrr

I'll admit that my favorite headcanons for Bedo are mundane and domestic ones though! Like these! Just the little moments where there's nothing really going on except for him and you and ahhhh yesyesyes

Okay that's all-

[vifetoile]

Putting it Together (George's Part)

All right, George As long as it's your night, George You know what's in the room, George Another Chromolume, George It's time to get to work

Say cheese, George And put them at their ease, George You're up on the trapeze, George Machines don't grow on trees, George Start putting it together

Art isn't easy, even when you're hot Advancing art is easy, financing it is not A vision's just a vision if it's only in your head If no one gets to see it, it's as good as dead It has to come to light!

Bit by bit Putting it together Piece by piece Only way to make a work of art Every moment makes a contribution Every little detail plays a part Having just a vision's no solution Everything depends on execution Putting it together That's what counts

Ounce by ounce, Putting it together Small amounts Adding up to make a work of art First of all, you need a good foundation Otherwise it's risky from the start Takes a little cocktail conversation But without the proper preparation Having just a vision's no solution Everything depends on execution

The art of making art Is putting it together Bit by bit

Link by link Making the connections Drink by drink Fixing and perfecting the design Adding just a dab of politician Always knowing where to draw the line Lining up a prominent commission Otherwise your perfect composition Isn't going to get much exhibition

Art isn't easy Every minor detail Is a major decision Have to keep things in scale Have to hold to your vision Every time I start to feel defensive I remember lasers are expensive What's a little cocktail conversation If it's going to get you your foundation Leading to a prominent commission And an exhibition in addition?

Dot by dot Building up the image Shot by shot Keeping at a distance doesn't pay Still, if you remember your objective Not give all your privacy away A little bit of hype can be effective Long as you can keep it in perspective After all, without some recognition No one's going to give you a commission Which will cause a crack in the foundation You'll have wasted all that conversation!

Art isn't easy Overnight you're a trend You're the right combination Then the trend's at an end You're suddenly last year's sensation So you should support the competition Try to set aside your own ambition Even while you jockey for position

If you feel a sense of coalition Then you never really stand alone If you want your work to reach fruition What you need's a link with your tradition And of course a prominent commission Plus a little formal recognition So that you can go on exhibit-- So that your work can go on exhibition!

Be nice, George. You have to pay a price, George They like to give advice, George, Don't think about it twice, George--

Be new, George They'll tell you 'til they're blue, George You're new or else you're through, George And even if it's true, George You do what you can do

Bit by bit Putting it together Piece by piece Working out the vision night and day All it takes is time and perseverance With a little luck along the way Putting in a personal appearance Gathering supporters and adherents

Mapping out the right configuration Starting with a suitable foundation Lining up a prominent commission And an exhibition in addition Here a little dab of politician There a little touch of publication 'Til you have a balanced composition Everything depends on preparation (Even if you do have the suspicion That it's taking all your concentration...)

The art of making art Is putting it together Bit by bit Link by link Drink by drink Mink by mink

And THAT-- is the state of the art

[percymakesgamesnow]

I'm literally so talented wtf subtitle it feels so good to get excited again

Hey Percy. This is a little MESSAGE for you, BITCH. You're so good at what you do like??? "oooh look at me I used to be a compositional wunderkind and then I stopped writing for a year bc I was dealing with life transitions, trade school, and regular transitions oooh I've wasted my potential I'm a shadow of my former self and I'll never amount to anything oooh look at me" SHUT up. You're so good at what you do and you haven't lost a dang thing. Stop imagining yourself at 55, worn and weary walking into a room with a piano and being like "ah I can barely play but here's a little something" and playing the intro to WWS or some shit and when people are like "ah that was good who is that" looking all wistfully into the distance like "that... was me..." as if you've fallen from grace bc you haven't written anything in a while and haven't put out a vast catalogue of music. You imposter syndrome perfectionist bitch you're incredible and just need to finish projects and obtain a work/life balance that allows you to write. It's well within your ability since you're so resilient and talented and take everything in stride and never stop racing towards your goals despite the hurdles you beautiful artist.

Literally I opened my scores folder to listen to some old stuff to maybe lube up my creative gears and what did I find?? nonstop jams. I listened to at least a dozen really great, utterly forgotten about tracks and that was just what my computer was able to handle opening. You're so talented and you have so many songs in your heart and you're literally 22 like stfu "I've wasted my chance" you're a BABY!! you're tryna MOVE OUT and BE A GIRL!!! You're so good and you work harder than anyone I know and you're killing it so be more patient with yourself please! You're talented and prolific as shit, you literally have FIVE HUNDRED files in your scores folder in a rich gradient of complete. "oh but that's counting all my duplicate files like when I apparently needed 10 different files to turn Westward into 4/4 orchestral copies in grade 13" shut up ok that's true but also it's not including all the music you wrote in Ableton instead of Sibelius. You wrote a whole-ass album in high school and even that had unreleased tracks on it bc you're a perfectionist (and you're working on that!! I see that you're doing so good and it's all a process babe!!)

You always gauge your musical self-worth on your Spotify/Bandcamp releases as if you've "only" written three singles and a 14-track soundtrack album (all of which are stellar by the way!) In fact, this scores folder has several dozen completely finished, polished, engraved songs that you just haven't run through EastWest instruments and thrown up on Bandcamp. You wrote a fuckton for school and for yourself and they're excellent. You're prolific as hell and it's just hit after hit so don't you dare say you "used to be a composer." In FACT, don't you dare even feel wEirD when you introduce yourself as a musician at parties, or try to downplay your accomplishments. You do so much and it's all so good and this Raccoon theme has gotten you right back on the wagon again writing stellar frogs, doing rapid aesthetic analyses, and getting excited about musicing in any form. I seriously adore you and your music and you're going to make so much art that makes YOU so happy. Don't even worry about making money or having an audience or ANYTHING. The biggest obstacle right now is not your abilities or time or medication, it's your fear of making a product that isn't perfect / doesn't accurately represent your potential. It's your paralysis at feeling like you have to release stuff so you can use your tiktok to promote it and be a fun influencer musician like you want to be. As soon as you stop measuring your self worth against the number of albums on your spotify, the artistic complexity of your work, or the aesthetics of your process you'll be amazing. You're ALREADY amazing, you'll just see it too. Don't worry about living up to something you've imagined for yourself, just get excited and fall in love; finish projects and spend your lifetime approximating your artistic truth. I promise it will shine through. I love you so much and you're killing it. I'm so proud of you. MWAH.

[zombiiesque]

Nocturne Alchemy Osirian Purnima Perfumes Part One

Originally 3/22/2019

Hey, y'all! It's a gorgeous spring day here in Florida, and I happened to catch a preview from Nocturne Alchemy on their Facebook business page - new Osirian Purnimas are coming! Eeee. I love these - incense is my jam, and to be able to smell like incense? Well, I must be in heaven. There are currently a total of 16 in the line, and of these, I have 11. That's quite a lot, so I'm going to break this up into two parts.

All of the Osirian Purnimas (OPs, for short) have the same base, so from the website: "Each Osirian Purnima includes the original OP recipe in addition to the notes above for each individual perfume. The Osirian Purnima blend uses the most beautiful and exotic of ingredients, including the tuned recipe of Bastet’s Zamsara: An exotic Blue Incense blended into the dark sensuality of aged Kashmir in Mahogany wood and a drop of Santalum Black, Black Frankincense, Black Hessonite, Bastet's Amber and aged Eternal Ankh Vanilla Absolute. This was then blended into Purnima Incense: Blue Coriander, Italian Bergamot, Ambrette Musk, NA Incense Accord, Egyptian Cedar Chips, Palo Santo Chips and genus of three beautiful Frankincense Olibanum Resin: B. Carteri, B. Thurifera and B. Serrata. Solid Myrrh wood is then stirred in and taken out, leaving a trace element of sweet wood within the blend. Intoxicating blend of Labdanum Extract, Benzoin Syrup and Oakmoss stir in the incense ephemeral element to the blend. Five Sandalwood perfume oils swirl throughout the Osirian."

The labels are gorgeous. They're done by Trista Musco, an artist from New Orleans. If you click on my photo up top, you can have a closer look. Little, beautiful works of art, representing each God or Goddess. All the names are from the Egyptian pantheon.

A caveat: The components of this series are delicate due to the very nature of the oil compositions with their finite incense notes of absolute, essential and steam distilled nature. Travel really disturbs them. The impulse is to open them and at least sniff them, if not try them immediately, but they're going to be very off. Whenever I get a new OP, I won't even open it for a week. It's entirely up to you, of course, but I would hate for someone to get the wrong impression and miss out on something special. When they first came out, this was the one request Seth had for us, to please give it a few days, so as to have a proper first introduction. I have also found that giving these a full month aging really changes them. I was a little underwhelmed at first by OP Pakhet, my first choice of the series, and I didn't understand what I was missing. Everyone had rave reviews. So I stuck it away in a dark box, and went back to it about a month after I got it. The change was mind blowing - it was an incredible scent, far from underwhelming! /soapbox

Enough jabbering, let's get to it!

OP BASTET: The personification of Isis, daughter of RA and Goddess of Love. Bastet’s Amber is the underworld helm of this incense perfumed with soft wisps of amber smoke, NAVA ICONIC Rose Oudh brings a smoke and NAVA floral throughout this OP. This, of all the ones I have tried, surprised me. Rose can be a little funky on me, it's not very appealing, but there's a deep, lush, sweetness to this rose, and it's incredible balanced against the incense and smoky oudh. This smells like a dream on me. I think this is probably the first time I realized that I could indeed wear rose, if it is done like this! I had a chance to sniff Iconic once, and it is pretty divine. But it's not something I'll ever own, so I'm happy to have this option. It has a very gothic feel to it. One thing I want to contrast it to is Polychrome, which I recently wore my sample of - Polychrome is more dry feeling than OP Bastet. I think the sandalwood blend, which is gorgeous, is what gives me that impression. This feels more resinous, almost sticky, and with the rose that's a really neat juxtaposition.

OP HATHOR: Her name means the House of Horus. She is the Goddess of beauty, music, dance, motherhood and love. NAVA Leviathan Oudh ICON brings warm amber and soft billows of desert wood to this OP. Hathor is one of my favorites, I find myself reaching for Her often. Let's be honest here, there isn't one of these I've tried that I don't love, but for some reason, She's just so easy to wear, and is comforting. You could wear this with jeans and a hoodie, and pull it off. Of course, it also would go with a little black dress. Hah! There's an easy appeal, is probably what I'm trying to say. And it inspires confidence when you wear it. It's rich, golden resin, smoky wood, bright amber, against the base of OP incense. It's just so beautiful.

OP ISIS: Goddess of magic, healing, birth and rebirth. – With White Amber Resin and Sky Amber as the base of this perfume, the Goddess of magic brings notes of amber and incense with the notes of Eternal Egypt blending into this Goddess Incense. Isis is absolutely gorgeous. Bright, fresh amber. Complex incense at the base. The closest thing I've ever smelled to Leviathan, one of the original Icon series that I've lusted after for years. This makes me think of bright blue days, a little coolness in the air. Of course I would love this, considering how much I love the ambers of Eternal Egypt. This is such a happy scent to me, I cannot wear it and be in a bad mood. If you love NA's amber, this is an absolute must have, in my opinion.

OP PAKHET: Huntress and Goddess that took over in the Middle Kingdom when Bastet became the domesticated cat and Sekhmet became the Lion – NAVA Samar Oudh ICON purrs with resins, smoky wood and elementals of our entire SL Vanilla offerings throughout this perfume. This is the first OP I chose, I had such a hard time deciding what I had to get right away, so I went with an obvious winner. As mentioned above, I liked it, but after I aged it, it absolutely blew me away. Although this is billed as having all of the vanillas, I don't think it's vanilla heavy. I find it very well balanced between the woods, resins, incense and vanillas. It's sultry, yet somehow a snuggly scent.

OP TAWARET: Goddess of maternity, protection and fertility. Black Fig and Frankincense Tears are the bounty of OP Tawaret. There's almost a spiciness to fig notes at times. This fig is dark and delicious, not the green variety. I feel like that fits well with the incense, and the frankincense is just a perfect accompanying note. I was in love with this right away, I've always had a weakness for their figs. It was pretty amazing fresh, if you like fig, and it's only gotten deeper and more delightful with age. This one is pretty straightforward, of all of the OPs I've tried, but that's not to diminish the beauty of it, I think. All of the OPs have definitely have complexity! It's got a lush, sexy feel to it, somewhat akin to Fig Noir Ombre, but they're not dupes - they just have a similar vibe.

OP THOTH: Scribe of the Gods and the God of Wisdom - Ancient Kyphi and exotic Guaiacwood make up this God of knowledge. My second OP. I chose this to ride along with Pakhet, because I've always had a soft spot for Thoth. When I first got this, I have to tell you, it took a while to settle on the skin. Like, a good ten or fifteen minutes. I almost wanted to scrub it, it was so jangly. I didn't know what was going on. But once it settled, holy BATS it was exquisite. I think of all of the OPs, this one seems to fly furthest under the radar, but those who love it, really, really love it, and I'm no exception. I've had this for a few years now, and I'm happy to report that initial weirdness goes away with age. It's quite sexy, and a little dark. The kyphi is intoxicating - it's not your typical wine, this was made according to an ancient Egyptian recipe, I read. The guaiacwood provides a nice balance to the richness of the wine, and the OP base comes in further into wear, a while after drydown. It's a beautiful combination, rich, a little sweet, but tempered by the incense and wood.

I forgot something, and I feel like it's important to add this in. So, the OPs are all quite potent - especially aged. They last a wonderfully long time on me, and they are not in any way skin scents - a little does go a long way. I would start out with a light hand, and if you want more, you can always add to it! Also, I wanted to mention that I wear these year 'round. You might think, looking at the notes, that they're too heavy for spring or summer, and in my experience, they actually do great in the humidity down here in Florida. So give them a try, you might find yourself really enjoying them in warmer weather!

That's it for the first part. I've got five more coming up for part two, I'll try to have it done by the end of the weekend for y'all! Do you have any OPs yet? Which are your favorites, if so? I'm excited to see what the new ones will be, that's going to have me drooling.

Edit: If you want to jump right to part two, here is the link!