#asks (:

[cosmos-kitty]

Do you have any tips for painting with gouache? like how do you get it to stay a nice solid color over a large swath of paper? and how do you blend it so seamlessly?

Of course, here's a few pointers off the top of my head:

1. I've used gouache for this in the past so it's possible, but the flat backdrop on my latest WIP is actually acrylic! A nifty thing I've found about putting a layer of acrylic down, is that it creates a barrier once dried and essentially makes the paper waterproof. This means you can work in gouache on top without it mixing with the background, and you can wet a section and completely wipe it clean with a cloth/tissue and it won't disturb the acrylic layer underneath. It also makes the paper more resilient, and you don't get as much pilling/tearing from the moisture

To get an even wash it's mostly getting the right consistency, I add just a little water - enough that the paint is less "tacky" as you drag your brush along paper, but not so much that it's runny or translucent. It takes a couple of attempts sometimes!

2. Also for the current WIP that I posted earlier, like the vast majority of my traditional pieces, keep in mind that it's mixed media. So I assume you're referring to the blue-green gradient on the bird and wondering how I got the gouache to blend like that - it's actually colouring pencils! I'll often switch between dry and wet media, even layer them back and forth, whatever makes the most sense to get the effect I want 😁

3. On that note, when you're working with paint, or any medium really, I can't recommend enough having a "test" sheet that you do both before and during a traditional piece. It allows you try out different medium combos, see what shade your gouache will dry into, and catch any issues before it ends up on your artwork. I often see artists being encouraged to just Bob Ross their way through a piece, the idea being that you'll just have happy little accidents that you'll naturally work into the piece - maybe, but you'll also possibly irreversibly wreck your hard work and have to start again. I don't know, I'm just a methodical person I guess, but seeing someone just directly apply something to the page when they're not sure what it's going to do makes me wince - no two art supplies are the same! All of those paints and pens have different chemical makeups, there's an unlimited number of ways what you're using could interact, good or bad.

Since it's already there, I usually reuse one of the leftover failsons from the process of making the wash background, then test everything on top of that. That way you can see exactly what shade the paint will dry on top of whatever colour the background is:

Doesn't need to look good, nobody sees it (usually) and you can also test the thickness of your brushstrokes while you're at it.

Anyway, I hope this helps!

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

I thought of you yesterday because I saw fern growing on a tree (not a stump on the ground, an actual upright tree !!) and I didn't know it was possible ! Granted the tree was covered in moss, which might explain it, but still, how awesome !!! (in the Trossachs park, Scotland).

YES I LOVE THESE

This is polypody fern! Or Polypodium vulgare if you want to be formal. It loves loves LOVES misty and moist environments, so Scotland and Wales have shit tons of the stuff, especially into the rainforests. Fun thing: it's super adaptable in growth sites, so it can be either a lithophyte (growing on rocks) or an epiphyte (growing on trees). And it doesn't care where on the tree it is, either. It works with what it's got.

The rhizome is edible, and was traditionally used in nougat flavourings because of its bittersweet flavour - I remember reading somewhere that the compound that gives the sweetness is 500 times sweeter than pure sugar, if you can extract it. It's also a laxative though, so you win some you lose some (literally)

Such a cool plant though. You were right to bring this to me. I love them.

[runningwithscizzorz]

Hi I was just wondering if you shipped Leshy x the yellow cat and if so what would their children be called? Since the lamb and Narinder's kids are called Shittens. Which is adorable. Meant to be asleep but I can't get this out of my head. Also love your art style. 😊

In my universe they don't have kids since 1. Crossbreeding isn't a thing for mortals, only gods, 2. They're not entirely romantic and neither have a desire for kids (not that they could reproduce anyways but still)

I guess if they had kids, I suppose they'd be uuhhh... Kittapillers? Perhaps I should workshop that haha

[startheskelaton]

Hi, I get a big smile on my face whenever you post Sparkplug. I'm so happy you made her, especially the au's of Sparkplug in Tfp and Tfa. Speaking of TFA, Megatron's a master manipulator in that series...Do you ever think he uses Sparkplug to manipulate others? Like in a 'pulling out pictures of baby Sparkplug and sadly mentioning how he can't be with her because of the terrible Autobots' kind of way? Hope you have a good day!

Absolutely loved this ask, and had to draw it.

He would definitely play on others empathy in order to get more people against the Autobots. However when all is said and done, he genuinely dose miss Sparkplug (but he would never say it in front of anyone, that would show weakness)

[frownyalfred]

The kids talking ab how hal is a pilot and Clark is like I can literally fly

Dick, turning to Clark with a puzzled look: “…that’s cool! isn’t that cool, Jay?”

Jason, not willing to play dumb like Dick: “Bruce likes planes though. That’s why he and Hal were talking ab—”

Dick, quickly: “Bruce likes a lot of things.”

Clark, suddenly crestfallen: “He likes planes.”

[fanghaunt]

The funniest thing to me always is ponies shmokin wheed so any version of this is amazing. Maybe rarity and applejack couchlocked beyond belief

[linkcharacter]

Random but I love how in ur jimblasted comic u make Swansea kind of a jerk. I feel like a lotta fans just kinda water Swansea down to just “gruff dad who’s a softy at heart” so it’s refreshing to see him like, as much of a jerk as he often is in canon. Not that it isn’t fun to see the softer and more parental side of him explored sometimes, and no hate to fans that do that of course, just like. He’s a very flawed guy and it’s nice to not see that sanitized. Y’know? Anyway, have a great day!

Thanks and yeah :)

People forget that Swansea is SO FUCKING MEAN in the game, he's such an unapologetic jerk. But unlike Jimmy who is a jerk and mean with spite and malice, Swansea is mean, but doesn't mean any harm and is self-aware of how much of an asshole he's being, that's just who he is. But of course being rude and mean is unpleasant to others and you can say a lot of hurtful stuff, which Swansea does. Being harsh on others can both be a positive and a negative trait, it all depends on the situation.

I love Swansea and his genuine unfiltered meanness.

[mail-me-a-snail]

if you're still accepting blu requests may i ask for a pyro hehe

she finally finished their bracelet !!

[linkcharacter]

guess who did another comic dub for ya? :)

Babe WAKE UP!!!! another allonnotion comic dub just dropped

[frownyalfred]

is there any version of Batman who looks at another Batman and doesn't think that one is slightly worse? Yes! The ones who think the other is much worse.

If they’re all being honest with themselves in a room with each other, they’re hands down all looking at Batfleck like “fuck, I don’t want to be him, he lost a Robin and then he Lost It™ and tried to murder Superman” and Batfleck’s in the corner shrugging his massive shoulders like yeah you’re not wrong

[hotvintagepoll]

I need you to know that in that final Will Scarlet-off I voted for 1938 because of all your passionate propaganda over the last few months, despite BBC Robin Hood being so so near and dear to my heart and Will probably my favorite character from it. (I am aware it's not a good show, but that's irrelevant.) Justice for 1938 Will Scarlet. You've put in the hours. You deserve this win.

the hot man who everybody looks at funny says THANK YOU

[biggothbelly]

Quickly blowing up like a balloon 🎈 the scale inches closer to 280…. 279.8… we can all thank the 12 pack of Very high calorie Boost I chugged in a few short days. I could really feel it today. My belly bigger and wider… feeling the weight of my gut pulling down on my back. Growing a heavier and slower waddle…. I could barely handle heaving this gut around today. The stairs were my enemy omg. Yet I want to be even bigger.. 300 pounds is getting closer and closer. Most people have a New Year’s resolution of losing weight meanwhile I want my belly to balloon.

[zerosuitsammi3]

No thanks 🤢🤢🤢

[two-bees-poetry]

hi! i love your contrapuntal poems so so much, and i was wondering if you had any advice on how you write them? like what your process is like and how you match them up!

- @cowboy-heart

Hey there! Okay, in my experience, writing two poems and then trying to match them up so that it makes a third one is almost impossible. What I do instead is this:

I write one poem (usually the left side, for some reason), so it looks like this

And THEN I start to write both the second and third poems and the same time

From here ^^ you start to write it diagonally, I guess? Every time you add a line to the right side, it has to make sense both vertically in the second poem by itself, and horizontally in the third poem.

This version of the left side is what I consider to be the "raw" version- all of the line breaks are completely arbitrary

- don't be constrained by these line breaks! make your own! see the difference i made between the first picture and the second picture? "he is our brother;" works better with "he never let me play alone."

Pro tip: semicolons are your FRIENDS because they can act like commas or periods

ta-da! does this make sense?

try it! tag me! enjoy!

[andromeddog]

what do u think about Speirs and Lipton sharing a bed because there is. only. one. bed 😌

i’ve thought about this the regular amount