#artist rambles

[simplydannie]

Words of advice!

Know which social media apps are for you and which ones aren’t, because some can be really toxic! I for one started out on TikTok. Yes I have the most followers there, and the most likes and views! But I have had the most bullying done to me there recently. I find my content is more appreciated in social medias like Instagram and Tumblr! The way you guys engage and ask questions, it really makes my day!! Sometimes I need a wake up call because sometimes I am soooo focused on wanting to get my content more popular and stuff that I loose track of what I’m really doing it for… and that’s for my enjoyment and to the amazing little following I have going on!! You guys are worth more than 1K followers in my book… and I loose sight of that!! I really needed this wake up call!!

Which gets me to my second point! Just because you think you have the most following on one place doesn’t mean it’s the most enjoyable… I’ve learned that. I love my people on TikTok who have been with me and I hope you’re here now on Tumblr and Instagram!! I wanna try and get into Bluesky but one of my biggest obstacles is figuring out the algorithm!! lol crossing my fingers on that. But thank you!! Thank each and every one of you.

Have fun with what you do. Take it from me. Don’t do it for the views and likes… do it because you love doing it! And for the few who love you for it!!! They’re the ones that really cheer you on and just genuinely love your creativity! I know it’s hard to focus on that when you compare yourself to some amazing artists… trust me I know!! I compare myself to so many everyday single day and end up getting really depressed. But don’t. I’m trying my best to fight the good fight and live another day! Fight with me ❤️ Yes appreciate the art of popular artist, but don’t forget to appreciate and love yourself too!! I’m learning too.

I was never meant to be a mainstream person! Maybe just your small underground artist “indie” artist… and I am learning to accept that and be okay with it!

I am me!!!

And you be you!!!

Love you!!

[krowfaced]

↓ Self reflection below ↓

Since I started this blog, I've worked on rekindle my relationship with my art, bit by bit. And I'm proud of the things this blog has motivated me to see through. Making a piece every month for a year has been hard, but I did it and I'm proud. But I must put emphasis on hard, because I'm afraid that my approach this past year has unintentionally backfired.

I've gotten an idea that I must achieve certain things. I don't know what these standards are, but I've felt incredibly pressured by them. Like a blind test where I don't know what I'm up against but I need to pass it. I've been anxious each time I've tried to draw anything because of this undefined standard, and I think I've Pavlov'ed myself into equaling art to froth anxiety. It's nothing too bad, but mixed with my executive dysfunction it makes me paralysed to take action.

And that's not how I want this to go!

So, I need to change strategy going forward. I need to find that thing that brings me joy while making art. I don't know what that joy is right now, because I don't know what that undefined standard that loomed over me prevented me from doing. But I need to find what gives me that joy, that passion, so that I can actually mend anything with my art and not make it worse. That joy could be anything from... new rendering techniques, subjects, moods, characters. It could be fanart or a new style. I don't know what yet, but I need to find that thing that gives me a piece of calm. That's the art goal of 2025.

TLDR; If I end up drawing nothing but potato chips for a whole year, now you know why.

[bludermaus]

Tip to new artists: don't be afraid of making mistakes!

You can only learn by failing! Yes, sometimes it'll look bad. Yes, sometimes it won't be as we envisioned. Yes, sometimes we'll feel so bad about it we'll cry.

But learn from it, what could you do differently next time? What things worked right and what didn't? Don't be afraid to experiment! Experimenting will make you learn new methods and things!

[raideoarts]

Unhappy with *vague hand gestures to everything going on* but determined to keep creating art that makes me and other people happy 💖 I will keep feeding yall and we will make it through this. I thank you so much for your nice comments on my art, they keep me going!

[chroniccraftywitch]

It’s an overwhelming time, isn’t it Fenn?

Please be gentle with yourselves. If something brings you joy, do it. Take the freaking nap. Buy something for your inner child. Go to the humane society and ask if they’d let you love on some fur babies.

For me, I’m indulging in letting myself make what I feel like, and not sticking to the self imposed schedule that was planned.

I have a number of items I want to work on, from Fenns outfit, to her tiny pastel friend taking shape, to bringing to life the large size of frog friends. Making these lil ones is a much needed distraction.

I’ve also been working on some book related projects and letting myself make my characters just run and play. Which, you know, involves yarn, demons, flirting and maybe a murder.

Don’t forget about the discount if you need a lil friend of your own https://chroniccraftywitch.etsy.com?coupon=EMOTIONALSUPPORT

[rielzero]

29-32, design for the act 3 Timeline in Dragon Age 2 when you can encounter Alistair as Hawke. This is what Sparrow looks like, I suppose the outfit's color scheme will be a bit inspired by what he wears in the late game of the Awakening DLC ? All though that armor might be too old by then.. So it's a refurbished or new set.

I might draft a few more outfits for him, but he looks a lil skinnier when he gets older (at least in the face) Cheekbones get more prominent and his hair thins out somewhat. (He cuts it shorter too and slicks it back more.)

I... I can't draw beards very well still, it shouldn't look this awkward on Alistair but more like in the comic. (And Yes they have a height difference.)

Depending on who's penning, he has more facial hair it seems. He probably shaves it from time to time.

[malamilkbeats]

I'm not online a whole bunch as is, especially with my current irl circumstances which hurt too much to get into, and there are few friends I would willingly discuss the topic with.

but

if there's something I should know or be aware of in regards to "harmful parts of the fandom," please let me know. I'm multi-fandom, so I typically used to keep it simple and just post art wordlessly. And THAT WAS SO BORING. I like to make it a point to try and engage outside my comfort zone, and it's been cool so far!

Like, I make content and interact some, but really, that's all I know to do is to make art and meet artists who are cool. I don't know much the rest, don't get into it far, or simply disengage when something going to trigger me/make a spiral. I also have bouts of memory loss, so gentle reminders are very helpful. I write lists and boundaries, but I've lost those too, so I just use my boomer notepad.

That's all!

Much thanks

[angelellipsis-devilofdots]

"i don't support ai, i just use it because it's funny"

ai companies steal from fanfiction writers and artists' licensed work.

ai companies find loopholes in laws to steal copyrighted creations.

every time you use character ai, you're helping it get better so ai can one day produce work that could replace writers.

every time you use an image generator, you're feeding it your prompts and training it so it can replace artists.

ai companies seldom attempt to hide the fact that they're trying to replace artists.

techbros create ai models to replicate professional artists' styles so they can use it for forgery and identity theft (see sam yang's video on his experiences with this).

ai uses up ridiculous amounts of energy and water every single time they produce an image.

this all being said:

artists and writers are not overreacting. our work is in danger of being stolen just for posting it online and there's no way of opting out; our jobs are at stake. ai is part of our world now and we're willing to accept change, but ai should be fair, ethical, and an opt-in system. for fuck's sake, why do ai companies focus so much on reassuring that their music ais use royalty-free music, but the same companies shamelessly steal from artists and writers? the double standard is absolutely evil and it shows that they don't care if they're trampling on artists.

watch steven zapata's video about this and have some sympathy for us. boycott ai and the companies that promote it. i beg you. if you support ai or continue to use it to generate shit, then you should be fucking ashamed. "but i don't know how to draw" learn how. it's the most rewarding, satisfying hobby you'll ever have and anyone can learn. "but i wanna roleplay with ais" write a goddamn y/n fanfiction. that shit is so fun, just give it a try for once.

BE A CREATIVE PERSON INSTEAD OF RELYING ON UNETHICAL MACHINES TO CREATE YOUR FANTASIES. artists have been doing it for thousands of years. stop trampling all over us and telling us we're going to be irrelevant soon just before snapping at us to stop whining.

[frogs-stealing-sleep]

As a ginger picrews can get frustrating

Please stop making my options highlighter pumpkin or anger red that's not my hair color??

I'm not an anime boy

[wantednuzlocke]

Took a few hours to assemble all my loose brainstorm notes for this comic into one master document and arrange them chronologically based on events happening, and... uh... Damn.

The entirety totals at roughly 84k words, or 246 A4 sized pages...

help

[moshieee-but-evil]

God I feel so weird having to study my own body shape much less the uncomfy feeling taking photos so I can use them as refs...

But looking at them does make me realize how little curve I have.

Thanks for slightly less Disphoria genetics???

[pokerninja2]

I redrew my Mario Strikers-style Sonic from a few months ago with some of the new techniques I've picked up since then. New on left, old on right.

Biggest difference is in the shading, specifically highlights and using cross-hatching for the darker spots. I've also noticed that official Strikers art tends to be a lot less messy-looking on the characters face - which makes sense, it's the most immediately recognizable part of a character - so I've been implementing that into my art. You'll notice Sonic's eyes and muzzle look a lot less jagged than the rest of his body.

I was already really happy with the posing so I don't change too much. This was pretty much just me tracing over the old art and giving it some more detailed touch-ups. Really like how the new one came out!

[faunspots]

What I love the most about my ipad is that I can draw while lying on my bed like the lazy fat ass I am

[krowfaced]

The response to my text post has been incredibly heartwarming and encouraging, and I want to thank everyone who both liked and left comments on it! Since I'm a hobbyist, I always draw for myself first and foremost, and I think I've lost the sight of what about it that I should be enjoying. And I'm ready to soul search on that aspect.

I've also had an influx of followers these past few months that I haven't addressed, and that too is nothing short of humbling! I'm not one to strive for a huge following, but I can't deny that it comes with a certain encouragement that makes me want to keep moving forward!

I hope to be hosting a little art raffle like I did last year, as a small thanks for anyone who's been sticking around! So stay tuned for that if you'd like to participate in it :>

[fangemorose]

Trying my best to learn anatomy, something I've been putting off since uh I could hold a pen. But I figured it was high time I put my mind to it, instead of blindy following my intuition™️ when it comes to drawing the human body.

[detective-marshmallow]

Hello all I have a kofi now! I knwo I haven't posted much lately but if you'd like to support me please consider donating! Currently saving a little more money to see my girlfriend and thats a goal on my page rn! Thank you for reading!!