#aquamotto

[aquamotto]

Hey, what is your Kofi may I ask? I love the sketchy watercolour style of your art, it feels very nostalgic and comforting!

Thank you so much for your kind words!

I am glad you feel that way about my art because this is partly the effect I am trying to achieve! <3

My kofi is ko-fi.com/aquamotto! But wait a second, first I need to relink my ko-fi account to a different PayPal account! I lost my other one and a new one had problems, too! I will try relinking today and will notify you! My country doesn't allow the full scope of PayPal functions yet such as 'commercial' activities and ko-fi, as I found out, is considered 'commercial'! :|

However, it is maybe possible to buy commissions by directly transferring to Paypal! I will check first though! Thank you for asking! :)

[nevermelting]

Aquamotto’s Music Education, picture #3, “How can I be sure”

It’s been a while since our previous lesson? It’s completely unnecessary because none of you care that much about it but here you go, another piece for your thoughts or lack of them. 

Unlike others, I discovered this song just recently and it’s a bit different from others, with some parisian street music notes in the background, something merry-go-roundish about it and I didn’t know whether I liked it or hated it when I first heard it. From those parisian mime-y, weird notes this picture is born, again,as a love story (hey, all these songs are originally about love!) turned into something not really romantic and honestly, pulp fiction-like.  The line “Maybe you are just trying to use me” combined with carefree french melody creates a feeling of walking on a tightrope between outright paranoia and sweetness, at least, for me. Hence the picture the way it looks now. Maybe I was wrong not to include the Eiffel tower.

©Aquamotto

[madfantasy]

Severus Snape Portrait

Harry Potter has commissioned lots of talented artists to draw the bravest man he ever has known. Reblog and add your Sev portrait💚💖💛💙

Dragged my baby sis @madfable to start up, feel free to mention your peeps to join the wall. And don’t forget to sign it!

Edit: The wizarding artists: @corgi-nub​  (x) /  @jennithedragon​. (x) @snake-queen7​(x) / @a-substantial-trash-pile​(x) / @allthepandasintheworld​ (x) /  @danse-de-macabre (x)/ @snapeislife (x) / @gooseberrygoose (x) / @bluthatesfabrikk (x) / @serosvit (x)/ @nemhaine42  (x)/ @aquamotto (x) @severusevans-snape (x) @stupidbabyhours (x)

[crystalphi]

rules: tag 9 people who you want to know better/catch up with and then answer these questions.

tagged by: @snake-queen7 - thank you so much!

3 ships: I can’t really name 3. I can ship anything as long as the artwork depicting them or the fic talking about them is nice. So I guess that I ship almost everything.

last song: “Monster” - from “Frozen: The Broadway Musical”

last movie: “Slender Man”. Awful movie, I just watched it because Slender Man is... good looking? Kinda? 

current cravings: beef bbq ribs, beer, will to be productive.

current readings: “Artemis Fowl and the Artict Incident”. I actually started it a week ago, but then I got sick and just spent the days listening to “The Magnus Archives”.

Tagging: @melvinarin @rubbish78 @paranormal-shitness @ineffablewitch @riddleredcoats @aquamotto @andyandnormski @lemmesellyourorgans @boxyyy

Don’t feel forced in doing it, of course! 

[aquamotto]

What if I am a king from a prophecy???

Another maniac for you on a manic day. Trying to do the same kind of art on paper I would do on a tablet. (It's difficult)

[aquamotto]

This is the end.

Perhaps it was always meant to be like this. As someone who was born in the country which stood between Russia and its desire for complete power, and as someone who technically doesn't belong to this country as I am a pole, an ethnic minority here, someone who was growing up in poverty, a bullied child from a small town, I didn't have much of a chance in first place. But then I learned to draw, learned English and thought that maybe there is some reason to my existence. I even grew prideful - yes, I really did, thinking myself above my 'unenlightened' countrymen. How foolish I was. When bombs fall, we die just the same. And since my heart disease progressed to a debilitating state, I can't even think of running now from my besieged city. As I am writing this, explosions can be heard almost any second.

It's sad to think that we never progressed anywhere - from my grandma who experienced Holodomor, from my grandpa who was tortured by NKVD. Things remain frighteningly the same. I want you to be as frightened by this as I am: by this lack of progress - not that I am very important but I am a modern person and I wanted to live like a modern person and not just die, die for the same reasons my ancestors did. If I am frank, I want you to be ashamed. Ashamed that there are people who struggled so hard to be on your level - and succeeded but fell victim to universal agreement of complacency, of status quo. I am equal to you and maybe you even recognize my right with 'thoughts and prayers' but never with actions. Or maybe your actions just came too late. Since the air raid alarm is on now, I think so.

But, anyway. I won't scold you or bother you too much, I promise. I know you hate that. I want you to remember me with warmth, I am held hostage by my desire to be liked by you in the end. So I'll say this once: I love you all. I really do. And I also love Poland, which I most likely will never see.

[aquamotto]

Guess who is having a birthday? (With missiles)

On this wonderful occasion, I will post some images that are Aquamotto coded.

Happy birthday to me!

[aquamotto]

Unfortunately, the place we were at can't host us any longer. We will have to find a place to stay at, in Poland, for the next couple of months. We also CAN pay for a stay, but we need reliable people/contacts for that.

Reasons why we won't use normal shelter: we are not very healthy so we'd rather do that than sleep in noisy, crowded places where you can't rest so we are willing to pay as long as the price isn't too high. Both of us also need internet to work but at least that's how you know we aren't some kind of parasites and we do intend to return home. ;)

If you are a woman or a family with mostly women and can give shelter for two people in Poland, with one separate room just for us alone (without other refugees) - write me.

Also, if you simply know a reliable person who rents out relatively cheap apartments (as in paid apartments) - write me too. I know I can find such people online but I decided to go an extra mile to avoid scammers.

Once again, here are our details as refugees:

Two people (Ukrainians of polish ancestry), typical big city dwellers and more into western values than average Ukrainians I guess, so no cultural shocks guaranteed :) If you are curious, we will tell you a story of my polish grandpa's imprisonment in a stalinist labor camp (for being a pole!)

We will speak Ukrainian and very basic Polish (unfortunately, my written English is fluent but my English accent is too thick to be understood :)

We will seek shelters in any part of the country, as long as the place has: reliable host, conveniences (banks, shops, internet etc) and one separate room with a bed that can fit two people. Willing to pay a moderate price as long as it's safe and long term!

For free shelters - female hosts only please!

URGENT!

[aquamotto]

No, we are not done yet.

How stupid it was of me to think we are. Even though I am a refugee now, whose worldly possessions amount to a bunch of electronics and five clothing items, at least what I got in return was spiritual enlightenment. And understanding that I, perhaps, didn't know Ukraine at all. And maybe no one ever really knew it.

Truth to be told, Ukraine is a really difficult country to understand because at times you can confuse its state - which is miserable state of a victim of countless Russian aggressions, Soviet brainwashing and its essence - which is mostly a mystery, because it's actually being born now, with pain and blood, through immeasurable hardships of people who fight.

Yes, no one can claim they know Ukraine completely. How foolish I was to think I do. This is another reminder of how western people - even polish-ukrainian like me can be too hasty in their judgement.

Ukraine is not done. It is being born. It is struggling. Please help it to be born. It is an unlikely phenomenon when something which is deemed destroyed by nearby Empire's ideology and ambition, is actually alive and struggling so hard - to live and to prove itself.

Please give all of your support to Ukraine - to be born and to be free. I decided to celebrate Ukrainian achievement rather than cling to its past.

I am thanking all of our friends in the world who decided to do the same. To Americans, brits, Germans, all of European Union really - and, of course, polish people who were the first to help and were infinitely selfless and forgiving.

Let the ice melt and spring waters flow. Please be patient, you'll see Ukraine's true face soon. It is throwing its mask away at last.

[aquamotto]

My situation

Hello there.

I am afraid I haven’t been very lucky lately.

First, our landowner (we had been renting an apartment for many years) forced us to buy it without warning, basically robbing us of almost all the money we had.

Then, we were ACTUALLY robbed  of a giant sum of money, which we NEEDED for that apartment (risking being homeless, in a fucking PANDEMIC!).

We had to take a lot of emergency loans, some of them a bit...questionable.

But now, for the worst news of all...Because of the legwork connected to the above, robbery especially, I suspect me and mom may have the  coronavirus. I also have to say that we both are very sick people, her with sick lungs and me with weak heart (I had a heart attack in 2019, despite being quite young). 

Basically, this robbery risks to kill us. And I also want to say that we are a small family with not many connections because my dad is a monster who wishes us both death. And we are also living far from homeland, being foreigners here on top of everything.

 If I die, I die hopelessly, in a foreign land which treated me quite cruelly all my life and my mom most likely dies too. We don’t have any friends so I don’t even know who will read our wills if something happens. I don’t know who will know that I don’t want to be buried, or that I was polish, or how I identified. No one will know that I spoke english or what I wrote to you. There will be just another grave on a slavic orthodox cemetery, together with people who never really cared for me, the guys who tortured my grandfather during Soviet times.

Believe me, I have always wanted to be just like you, to do many things. I have yet one important project that I’ve tried to finish at all costs. I was one of you. I still am. I wanted to give you the world, I really wanted to. 

I don’t know what to say. Perhaps I am going to tell you my life story so at least a couple of people knows who I was. Also, I don’t intend to let my projects to go down the drain. If you are interested in helping me make it, send me a message. If situation worsens, I want to know that someone will help me to finish THE ONLY THING that tells the world about who I was. 

Please don’t deny me the last honor, okay? Thank you for your attention.

[snake-queen7]

Thank you for tag @sevyythebeanqueen ~

(*´︶`*)💕💗

•Serpensortia

•Draught of Peace

•Lord Voldemort

Tags

@liivara @aquamotto @crystalphi @snapecentric and all my followers~☆

Potterhead Tag Game!

Tell us your favourite spell, your favourite potion and your favourite character then tag 3 or more people you want to see answer these! I'll get it going!

Colovaria

Liquid Luck

Snape

Tagging: @slyther-bi @elizabeth-baelish @mrs-actor-agent-of-change @half-blood-slytherpuff @sayssnape @blog4snape @myobscureimaginarium @sxvxrxssnape @magicfolk @lizlil @severussnapeimagines @hbprincealice

[aquamotto]

Polish School of Magic or what Rowling gets wrong about Poland

In short: many things. 

The only mentions of polish wizards come from two instances - some Quidditch team  (Grodzisk Goblins) and Hagrid’s visit to Europe (with some goblin mention, again). 

Why goblins, anyway? There is no such creature in real polish mythology. Instead, there are much more Harry Potter-esque things such as: Beast of Krakow, Dragon of the Wawel Hill who is the most famous and ferocious creature in all Eastern Europe. The majestic power of this beast can only be matched with majestic power of its city of dwelling - Krakow, to put it simply, is the city of Polish kings.

Below: Krakow, the city of “goblins”, according to JKR:

But let me guess - goblin invokes this image of rudeness and primitivity that probably comes from british understanding of poles as construction workers and such. It is curious that nuanced portrayal of poor people that is reserved for characters like Snape is not allowed to poles. They are “goblins” but Snape is a “working class hero”.  

 What I will describe below, is my headcanon based on what I imagine Wizarding Poland to really be like, sans goblins and other imperialist fantasies but based on my own observation of Poland as both pole and outsider (because, unfortunately, I am both).

Personality,  culture

Quidditch champion image as rude and loud lads couldn’t be farther from the truth. Polish wizards, much like their friends in neighboring Czech Republic, are wise, eccentric, philosophical and brave people. They have been blessed and cursed with difficult history (Such as Partition of Poland and German and Soviet Invasion) and know very well how to operate in secrecy. In fact, they are the most secretive of all european wizards and if muggle were to accuse them of witchcraft, they would deny the fact to their last breath. In the same time, polish wizards love magic and often risk everything to pursue their next magical experiment. They are prone to be idealistic and live with their head in the clouds, sometimes literally, which can lead to both troubles and brilliant inventions.

Some believe that Nicolaus Copernicus, the genius astronomer who placed the Sun at the center of the Universe, was a polish wizard (painting by polish artist Jan Matejko):

This image of genius, sudden discoveries and epiphanies is valued in Poland to the point that students of Polish School of Magic wear stars indicating their year on their uniforms - to honor Copernicus. 

However, poles aren’t Ravenclaws in disguise - they are traditional, obedient and lawful people at the core and no polish wizard, even the smallest first year, would dare to cheek their headmaster or teacher the way Harry and co. do. 

Teacher - student relationship is sacred in Poland and it’s almost like your second parent -  someone to be treated with utmost respect. This can lead to quite harsh hierarchies in Wizarding Poland. 

Looks

Polish wizards dress modestly, colorful suits Weasley Twins style are not for them. They can sometimes even look monk-like (or medieval knight-like) in appearance. Since Poland is filled with minor aristocracy called szlachta (and I am proud to belong to it, too*) many polish wizards openly wear their coat of arms on their clothes. (*If you are wondering whether I have a coat of arms - yes, I do).

Polish School of Magic uses dark red monk-like hoods with more normal suit under as an unifroms.  Since they want to be the guardians of well respected traditions, it fits them. 

This doesn’t mean that poles are somber, though. They can be playful but in their distinct, “I challenge you” way. They can be competitive and fiery to the highest degree, especially when their honor or honor of their school is involved. They are indeed the most patriotic of all wizards, thinking of themselves as separated not only from muggles but from foreigners too.

Relationship with muggles

Polish wizards do not like muggles very much but unlike Britain, it rarely comes in a form of hostility but rather patronizing and light mockery. Rather than valuing pure blood,poles just think of themselves as superior to muggles in intelligence.They are especially suspicious of muggle disrespect of culture and the past which leads to wizards thinking that muggles are morally and spiritually, rather than genetically, impure. However, there was never an attempt to deny muggleborns education - in fact, they are welcomed with open arms and often even relief - “Finally, another one of us!”. This makes them a bit closer to Grindelwald’s idea of superiority than Voldemort’s one.

Music

Anyone knows Chopin, the great french-polish composer and indeed, poles adore music. To the point that Polish School of Magic considers participation in a school choir mandatory. But highest praise is reserved for those who dare and pick up an instrument (be it violin, cello, horn, piano or something else) to join the School Orchestra. If Triwizard Tournament accepted Poland, they would arrive in most curious way possible - operating the giant musical machine which would look like a church organ mixed with piano and other instruments. The headmaster would play it and the students (dressed in cloaks) would accompany him with some strange melody to make the grandest entrance ever. 

Polish School of Magic

Pictured below: Frombork

Thanks to Copernicus, magical astronomy and astrology are best subjects to learn in Polish School of Magic. Unlike their colleagues in Prague who are obsessed with alchemy, potions and dark arts, poles are more interested in the spiritual so they also value divination in any forms and defense against the dark arts. Since living in a country as difficult as Poland forces you to  always be on your toes, teachers consider it important to teach their students nonverbal magic as soon as possible. They also encourage wandless magic and actually had a lot of luck with it (unlike other european schools). Thanks to a certain WW2 incident, they also offer a superior course of arithmancy (If you know what I am hinting at, well done!) 

Pictured: Frombork Cathedral Bell Tower

Since poles are not very practical people, they don’t teach their students about Magical Creatures at all (aside from a side course on dangerous creatures such as dragons in DADA). This just doesn’t fit their heady aesthetics. Being honest and reliable people, they also dislike transfiguration - something about turning things into animals and other things strikes them as unnecessary cruel and even devilish. Being pious at the core, poles want magic to always come from the source of respect and light. That’s why almost all students leave the school with full patronuses - most common of which is a white eagle, of course - the symbol of Poland. Poles are often so patriotic that even their best memories are linked to their national identity!

Poles are also good at charms and make superb magical duellists. In fact, not many nations can best them in this regard, if any. It is thanks to their wandless magic, wordless spells,  quickness of reaction and harsh discipline (almost military-like) instilled in them in their school. 

Talking about discipline... Polish School of Magic’s discipline is indeed very strict. The school grounds are usually quiet, students know best not to laugh too loud, not to pull pranks or fool around needlessly. Spontanous duels are forbidden. Teachers love their work and always keep an eye on misbehaving individuals. Lazy, incompetent or misanthopic teachers don’t exist in Polish School of Magic. Instead they can be overly strict, demanding, mocking, conservative and overly eccentric. (This one is based on real life experience, everyone.)

Below: Ksiaz castle

 Teachers in Polish School of Magic lean old and getting a place there is very difficult and demands tons of connections. They also lean male but not just because of prejudice (although, unfortunately, such prejudice exists - Poland is a country of soldiers in many ways), because DADA course there is especially harsh and physically exhausting. (Some say it’s because they want to best Durmstrang and it comes with knowing your enemy).

Despite the notes of traditionalist gender roles, female teachers are usually well-respected, even more than male ones. And that’s why many female teachers are quite haughty and have queen-like demeanor.

Below: Ksiaz castle room

But when do poles rest from all their strict training? The answer: when holidays come. Holidays are sacred for poles and many missteps are forgiven during them, rules become slightly more relaxed. 

One of the curiously LESS regulated things in Polish School of Magic is love. While british and american wizards such as Snape may get into a puritanical rage seeing two students kissing passionately, polish teachers would just smile sweetly at them and leave them alone. Girls sending boys postcards is not considered cringeworthy as it is in Hogwarts (I am looking at you, Harry) but natural and enviable. In fact, teachers encourage students to dance together and on holidays such as Christmas, they even overlook duels related to love triangles (a rare case of them approving non-DADA duels). Poles can dance well and you can often find them waltzing in the school balroom in their festive robes. They also flirt well and all this combined with the fact how good they are at duelling, makes them formidable rivals in love for students from any other school, including Beauxbatons, especially considering that Beauxbatons boys lean narcissistic rather than chivalrous.

In the end, if Poland did participate in Triwizard Tournament, I think it would charm everyone with their quick wit, intelligence, modesty, good manners and passionate spirit. 

Quite far from the “Goblin” stuff, isn’t it?

Below: various beautiful views from Poland

[aquamotto]

(Drunk Lupin waking Snape up to ask for wolfsbane he neglected to take before, as always. This intrusion into his personal chamber is certainly beyond Snape's level of comfort.) "Have you lost your mind?..." Snape hissed.

"Many times." Replied Lupin, vacant smile never leaving his lips.

[aquamotto]

Regulus Black is alive and is teaching History of Magic at Hogwarts

(So I couldn’t keep my promise and post sooner! T_T Please accept my apologies, friends. This time of year is rough, very rough due to various reasons, not only those I mentioned but also a flare of my heart illness. Please accept this little gift as a sign of thankfulness!)

Regulus Black is alive. How do I know? I was there, during that accursed war that took so much from us and yet in the end bestowed a final gift: certain someone's return.

 It wasn't a return of the hero or a soldier, but only a poet and that's why it took so long.

 But perhaps maybe that's why in those realms where others break, he managed to survive and return. (With my help) To return through the water and the caves where he was hiding, barely alive.

 Before dying, our dear headmaster Sir Albus Dumbledore left me a note in a tortoiseshell box which gave me a very vague hint in which he didn’t quite believe himself but which I, with God's help, understood correctly -  and managed to find Regulus Black even in the most miserable state he was in. Even though I am not British and graduated from a different magic school, his trust in me as his friend was a greatest honor.

In any case the signs of former struggle are mostly absent from Mr. Black's life now apart from the dislike of swimming and enclosed spaces.

 He is short, always well dressed and full of grace, especially when he tries to make his students feel compassion towards his beloved historical figures, both good and ...interesting. 

Because obviously, he was persistent in learning everything about magical history, of his lineage and in general, to become the very opposite of his brother, who preferred muggles, had poor memory for historical events and lacked the appreciation of poetry apart from song lyrics. However, they are not competing anymore...I think.

 Of course, considering Mr. Regulus Black's literary talent, not long ago he published a scandalous tell-all book 'Fun house: my life as a servant of Voldemort', which shed light on many unsavory details such as messy sex lives of death eaters, Riddle's tradition of having sex with every last one of his men and being seduced by married Bellatrix Lestrange.

 That last part is actually described comically: Sir Regulus Black is Hogwarts's very first openly gay and proud teacher.

[evans-md]

I'm not sure if the others are Snape centric or will apply to the others' taste but here you go (Some of these blogs are underrated so I'm putting them down here because this could just be the motivation they need to keep doing what they're doing)

For the blogs that draw (not limited to) :

@crispy-eggy, @vwikaartt, @severusevans-snape, @hayalee8, @slythersxth, @snake-queen7, @foxyx, @mmad-lover, @blog4snape, @chanccart, @bitterzcotch, @hbprincealice, @danse-de-macabre, @palatefor-strangeremedies, @littl-prince, @mouseinthecastle, @tavsianus, @snapestan, @alinearthp(or @alineartis, I still get confused), and @aquamotto

And blogs that do texts (either theories, headcanons, etc.) :

@puer-heros-est, @potter-n-potions, and @zairiush

Again, there's much more than these, so tag who you can that deserve love and provides that good Snontent.

Do you know any good Snape blogs where there’s no bashing or hating on others? I want positive blog about Snape

Oh boy there are so many but I wonder what kind of content you're looking for, meta? fanart? fanfics? edits? shitposts?

@littl-prince, @ottogatto, @byronicbat, @sneverussape - a few active blogs at  the top of my head that are definitely worth checking out

@deathdaydungeon - if you like quality meta and fics. I recommend checking out the meta tag and be prepared to lose yourself into a rabbit hole of interesting ideas

@scverussnape - gifts us quality gifs among many things

@snapetober - here you can find variety of fanarts created just last month 

@sayssnape - similar to the accio blog but amazingly there's no character bashing

@snapeloveposts - every now and then this blog comes alive and all the creative buffs join in

These are just some of the many blogs that are out there and there are many more, the selection was mostly random / from the top of my head at this moment (so there was no intention to leave anyone out) - so please help out recommending blogs or promote your own! 

(if I recommended fanart blogs in particular they'd be 100+ and we'd sit here all day. fanart addicts anonymous)

[aquamotto]

Lonely Severus in his room during the rain



Commission for "My optional name" on Ko-fi!

I imagine Severus to be a bit of a restless, difficult child who can't sit still when he is stressed. Bit of mayhem with scattered pillows. He is trying to get over something and can't.

Thank you very much!