#i dont even like my finished artworks in general very much

[way2gosuperrstarr]

chat its so over

[lunarleonardo]

You like fanganronpas? If yes, which ones you like? :3

Ohhhh OHH I looove Fanganronpas. The only ones I've seen are Super Danganronpa Another 2 (i couldnt figure out how to play the first one :( i also just havent had much time), Danganronpa Despair Time, and Danganronpa Lapse. lunar ramble incoming

(will try to avoid spoilers for each fangan !!)

DRDT was the first one I saw, probably since I imagine it's one of the most popular, and ohh. I LOOOVE Teruko!! teruko they will never make me hate you. She and Whit are definitely some of my favs,, because. well. Who doesn't love Whit xD I also really like Nico :p I think they're sooo funny just. in general. btw chapter two had me in pieces thanks for asking

SDRA2 took me a good week to watch, and ill admit. i didnt finish chapter 6 (ノ_＜。) I was really sick when I watched chapters 3 and 4, and it didnt help that i was pulling all nighters because i was so hyperfocused i couldnt sleep. chapter 3's trial is unironically one of the most entertaining things Ive ever seen in any dr game AND fangan EVER. Like guys!! what is happening here!! that being said, I sort of knew who the culprit would be cus i was spoiled just a tiny bit, but I was STILL SURPRISED AT THE END cus ohhh my god. the twist. Sora is one of my fav protags ever btw I love yuri and NO not the character Yuri althohgh. he was really funny ill admit. He wasnt creepy in the Hifumi/Teruteru way and i really appreciate him for that. i also laugehd when they found him and he was like "Oh hi guys!" totally normally. dont get me started on... teruya and mikado ...... duuuudee they were actually tweaking literally what were they even doing. This fangan captured DR essence very well and took it a step further in an even more unhinged way, probably due to tbe lack of limitations on monetization n stuff, and honestly I APPLAUD that. i want what they have lowkey

Danganronpa Lapse is the one I played most recently and HOOOLY SHIT do not get me STARTED. ECHO!! ECHOOOO!!!!!!!!!! i was SO HAPPY finding a nonbinary dr protagonist you have no idea. and they were SOOO CUTE </3 DR Lapse is definitely a LOT shorter than any usual DR format and it deviated a lot, but despite that it still felt like a Danganronpa game and everyone there was SO. i was so in love with them. rip lyle you wouldve loved your turn to die. I do have to admit I was a little confused on the ending, but overall I really really enjoyed it. Also Zero was there and that makes it an immediate 11/10 thank you zero for accidrntally making me give you the funniest possible voice for your character

ok so it just hit me..now. BUT!! I have seen a little bit of Cartoons in Danganronpa!! I really really need to watch the prologue and..yknow...actual chapter instead of just watching the class trial and being absolutely blown away by every tiny thing. Theres a lot of characters in there I LOVE and especially seeing DIPPER GOD DAMNED PINES?? IN DANGANRONPA???? AND ERIC CARTMAN?? absolutely peak. funniest thing ever. but also i am so scared for the conclusion of that trial because the suspects are worrying. Also shoutout to Gaz for being the funniest one there . The artwork is so similar to their respective styles but you can still so clearly see a touch of the creator's own style and that really gives the entire fangan its own charm. The voice work!! Incredible. Thats another thing that hit me hard with DRDT TOO!! THE VOICE ACTING!! fuuuck it's sooo good ugh

another one is Ive seen the prologue to DR Mortalis Perpetua. I think it's a REALLY fascinating approach on the danganronpa style and I need to make the time to watch the new eps .. attention span please if you can hear me come back i need you

I love these fangans SO much and I love love seeing fangans in general. It's amazing seeing people's passions come to life, and i get SOO so happy whenever I see one. I adore peoples creativity, and even if it doesnt catch my eye, I still appreciate the passion and work put into those projects ^^゜゜(´O｀)°゜

And honestly? I really want to make my own fangan. I do already have one, a crossover fangan with my girlfriend, but I really want to make one in a video game format. I know I'll probably forget about this in like a month or two, but I have always wanted to try and make games. That would mean, however, I have to teach myself coding... @_@; so Ive been on Scratch. and it's going great (ITS NOT ITS NOT ITS NOT ITS N

if anyone out there has any tips for getting into making games... please help. I have a very bad habit of overwhelming mysrlf ( ；∀；) and i need a starting point lmao

anyway we'll see. I fear I might need to start looking into ADHD medication

[forecast0ctopus]

how do you use references when you draw fanart or figure out how to draw irl characters?? it's just that i've been looking through your art and i feel like you ability to capture a character's idk essence, in vibes + appearence, are just unmatched! they're all so dynamic and like them i just <33

aaa thanks so much!! im glad to hear that since i honestly dont watch a ton of live action? i generally have done a lot more fanart for animated things so thats nice to hear haha anyways though!! i have far too many words that may or may not make sense to say so i'll put how i use references and figure out live action characters below

the main rule i like to keep in my head is that i am drawing the character, not the actor, if that makes sense?

this is all taking arthur as an example, to show what kinds of things i look for!! if i were talking about merlin any other live action character like. bobby briggs or something all the details would be super different haha a way i like to familiarize myself with a live action character at first is tracing which i must preface by saying TRACING ISNT BAD!! its a tool and it just needs to be used correctly. tracing is a great way to figure out a method to drawing things, so its really valuable in studying. im not gonna address using tracing in finished artwork rn bc thats where it gets a little dicey and i would talk about it too much.

i dont really need to do this for arthur anymore but it was a fun exercise lmao

sorry the images are so crunchy i always forget i work on small canvases, anyways in capturing a likeness i like to emphasize and exaggerate a little which features make the character most recognizable to me.

he's got a sharp nose which is bumped at the bridge and a little bit upturned at the bottom. when he's smiling his eyes crinkle a lot and his cheek muscle becomes more pronounced and connects into the corner of his mouth

very square jaw. his brows are thicker near the center and don't have much of an arch. his cheeks are hollowed with neutral expression and the muscles on the sides of his mouth (depressor anguli oris, if i remember correctly lol) are obvious when the corners of his mouth are downturned

the corners of his mouth fold in a lot when he bares his teeth if hes angry or agitated, its a different type of fold when hes relaxed or smiling

his masseter is rather pronounced when he's talking or agitated, and i usually connect the line of it to the line that goes down from the inner corner of his eye. i forget what the word for it is rn but its different from eyebags (though i do like to draw eyebags)

but none of these details work if whatever hes doing in the drawing isnt in character, yknow? like he could look like arthur but he wouldnt really feel like arthur if hes not acting like arthur. idk it s hard for me to put to words im sure u get what i mean enough

body shape and language are also super important to think about, these are some things i keep in mind with arthur - hes shredded but not like marvel movie dehydrated shredded (good for him) - hes very broad and his shoulders slope down because of his trapezius muscles - he takes up a lot of space! he hardly ever curls up or sits with his feet up in his chair. even when hes sleeping hes pretty sprawled out - his "closed off" body language is crossing his arms or raising his left hand to twist his index finger ring with his thumb (worried/thinking gesture) - he moves with a lot of purpose usually and isnt often clumsy (unlike merlin lmao) - he moves his shoulders a lot when he walks (see top left image)

honestly think body language is just as important as facial features if not more, for the purpose of creating personality and character

i probably sound like i think way too much about this stuff which i. i kind of do but not in so many words i dont need this many words when its all in my brain. but yeah thats how i figure out how to draw a live action character i guess? anyways this was kind of a mess haha

[ryemackerel]

do you have any general art tips??

YES! OMGGJJF IM SORRY I DIDNT GET TO THIS SOONER i had this saved in my drafts for a while D: BUT! without further ado, get ready for me to bestow them upon you 😈

- whenever i do full-body character refs / dynamic stuff? i like to start off with the shape of the art first before getting to the guidelines.

following the shapes and making a rough doodle of the dynamics helps me better structure the body language without worrying about the anatomy early on. anatomy is my weakest point when it comes to character designs, so for me, i find it better to start with some random shapes THEN working my way to more complex details.

(some good examples of that :])

- this is just a general preference? but when it comes to art and you hate refining the lineart, making things neat, AND it takes a really long time to finish art (and it bothers you), might i suggest trying a looser approach to art?

heres a prime example of that! in 2020, i used to be very keen on making my art super neat. i even tried making the guidelines as neat as possible which? tbh didnt work out for me a lot. i would find myself constantly redoing the guidelines, then trying my VERY best to make the lines as neat as possible. it took a few weeks to finish these kind of drawings, and it didnt help when i liked the sketch MORE than the lineart. (some art would take up to 15 hours)

over time, i started making my lines looser. i shifted away from making refined lineart and started making the sketches themselves the lineart. my lineart started becoming messier, but i liked how it gave it that more “authentic” look. i stopped worrying about trying to accurately translate the feeling of my sketches to my lineart, and drawing became a lot more quicker. although its a bit more tedious to color (i have to do it manually now), i still like this process a bit more. :]

you could just faintly see the guidelines in my recent art :] sometimes i include the guidelines, sometimes i make the guidelines a different layer. it really depends on how i feel, but i loved doing looser art more. the quackity art took 4 hours, the simpbur-argbur art took 2 hours. :D

- lastly, dont be afraid to take inspo from others’ art!! when i developed my art, i always took small bits of others’ art and incorporated them into mine. as artists, we always copy each other.

not in the way where we’re outright duplicating entire artworks as our own, but in the way where we’re like “oh cool, you do eyelashes like that? i wanna do my eyelashes like that too!” kinda?

for my art, i was always super inspired by how people make super warm art and had this kinda, white background to them. i tried incorporating that into my art style and started loving it :]

pinterest with their photos too? sometimes photos of people wearing cool outfits or random backgrounds help inspire my artstyle. take as much inspo as you’d like from others, don’t be hesitant to be inspired! of course, you’re welcome to give credit whenever.

hopefully some of these help :] feel free to ask questions and ask to elaborate! i just woke up and typed this out while still waking up HAGSHHA!

[ganondoodle]

Hey, I adore your artstyle mate, I loveeee all the vivid colors and the fact that most of it lacks lines?? You doing the hard stuff, but it paying off 💜

can I ask, as I’d like to get into comic making, how long does it take you to finish a a single panel?

Hi!! thank you very much!! drawing lineart is incredibly frustrating to me so im very glad i was able to make the jump to mostly lineless artwork, tho im very much still at the beginning to learn how to do it xD

to answer your question, i .. cant say really, it depends on what is on the panel, and i always jump around when working on a page, i draw half of the very last panel, then jump to another, maybe i see something i want to change right away and work on the third besides i ... dont know anything about panel composition, i think in movies so i play it and try to pause it on a frame that could work as a panel, whichs is probably why it goes alot slower than normal comics, idk how much to skip gndfjknvgfdjk

im by no means an expert in making comics, you kinda have to find your own way of what works for you, i have done many in the past but all failed, i gave up before getting even one chapter done many times

general advice i can give you is, most importantly, dont wait, i know its daunting to start, but you have to start, even if you dont think you are good enough, you will always change and improve anyway, better start now or you might do it never, and remember, when a page is done its done, i know how tempting it is to go back and redo it, but if you start with that it will only lead to an endless cycle of remaking it over and over

a cause that made me abandon my old projects, was partly lack of support/recognition, but mostly that i was forcing myself to things that werent fun, like one i made in black and white bc i thought you had to do it bc color takes too long, but i live for colors, so it drained the fun out of it immediately

the only "rules" i have set for myself is that its understandable, the flow of the action doesnt flip around too much, speech bubbles are aligned in a way that guides you (of course im not perfect at that either and always learn); i dont jump between pages, i jump between working on panels, but i dont start another page before the previous is at least acceptable, otherwise id get ahead of myself and get impatient, just wanting to skip ahead and neglect older pages; and that i only work on a panel/page as long as it has acceptable quality and is fun to draw, when i notice im getting bored or frustrated i finish it quickly as best as i can and move on, otherwise it might drag the entire project down, which is why each panel or page in 'Destiny' varies alot in quality

i can barely look at the first pages .. or even at the last one i made for that matter, but its also fascinating, how much my art changes within even one update which takes me about a month for 4 pages, since i have set my 'fun' rules at least, it used to take much longer (i wish i was faster, and i could be, but i have a job, and have to look out for my health, both physically and mentally, so i take whatever time i need and draw however much i feel like drawing, no rushing)

my progress so far is that i write a rough script, what happens, what dialog, where it ends, and so on, it doesnt have to sound good, god knows mine are shitty xD but its a good guideline, even if rough! then i make a rough draft, basic panel layout, dialog (it always changes fro mthe script, again its more liek a guideline than a rule ;) ) then i start with actually drawing the first page, my art and way of .. art and writing changes incredibly fast (idk if its for the better lol) so .. by that point i redraw the rough draft version of the page if i see how it works better, rewrite dialog too, and even cut stuff from the rough draft

im not done with the first chapter (im slow af lol), but wrote the script for the second one when my hand was injured and i couldnt draw for a month, once im done with this chapter i will draw the rough draft for ch2, then write the script for ch3 then go and draw ch2 fully, at least thats the plan the more time passes the more i know what the next chapters are gonna be, tho i know the important points long before; right now i have the entirety of the first arc sepeareted into chapters, and the end of it all too, but between there its still a lil blurry and im adjusting everytime i think of soemthing better

anyway, sorry for that long ass ramble, its late and i thoguht about this ask bc im trying to get my want to draw back (not feeling well rn nkfdnkd) so i randomly decided to answer it .. probably in the most unhelpful way possible, alot of stuff noone aksed for lol

anyway, sorry, and goodnight uwu

[ask-idv-designer]

Just an advice on promoting your fandom related blog. Dont just start your art post with hate art, thats just all-around rotten vibe. It makes even ppl who dislike that character avoid you

In general i suggest separating memes from finished work or putting them under the cut, usually those clash with people wanting to reblog your post

But ye good luck on stuff 💐

I am going under the assumption that this anon either never interacted with Identity V as a whole or don’t understand Philippe’s lore.

I totally get what ya mean, at the same time the hate art in question was an artwork from my Twitter account I made in response to finding out Philippe is getting yet another skin in-game. That was the context which I forgot to include, which is my bad.

Just a bit ironic looking at this message because a good chunk of the fandom hates Wax Artist, including me.

Why?

Within his lore it’s been shown he makes “art” and studies a very outdated and highly racist form of forensic science where you would tell if someone is a criminal by their facial features. This type of study was obviously abused which lead to wrongful imprisonment or death of many POC individuals.

Philippe actively contributes to such a study with his wax “art” and used his own sister’s image without her consent to help further these harmful views.

They threw away a completely good design and potentially good character in favor of telling a tale of a man desperate to push his racist ideaology for the sake of “putting the real criminals in jail” aka those in the BIPOC/POC communities receiving unwarranted punishment.

I have reason to hate him! I am Puerto Rican. I deal with racism almost daily, and I most definitely don’t want to deal with it in my favorite game or media. Mind you, people use the excuse that Identity V is a horror game and that he fits the time period it takes place, the Victorian Era. With this I raise the issue of how horror media should be enjoyed by all, no matter your skin color, and knowing this man exists in the game is disheartening. That is why most of the playerbase avoids playing him. No one wants to play or interact with a character that contributes to racism as a whole. There are obviously people who still excuse his actions entirely or purposely ignore his actual lore and implications. There are those who acknowledge his extreme flaws and play him regardless due to him being “meta”.

Despite where people stand, I hate him with a burning passion and that art in my previous post was not the first instance where I showed my absolute disgust of his character. I have every right to be upset at seeing a Philippe in a match as a survivor or in Duo Hunter matches, and I most definitely have a right to express it through art.

Just cause I have an ask blog of a hunter oc who happens to be white, doesn’t mean I am nor do I support the actions Netease has taken to develop Philippe as a character. They could have completely rewritten him, scraped him within the design meetings, or ultimately deleted him the moment many POC players actually confronted them of their continued incorporation of racism into a, let’s face it, attempt to make a historical based horror game that pretty much has its lore held up by tape and string with so many plot holes, continuity errors, and slowed updates to the story.

So, I am sorry if it seemed that the art of me just wanting to burn Philippe to the ground sends a “rotten vibe” to you, but I’m going to put this next sentence plain and simple.

I don’t care for racist characters nor do I want anyone who enjoys Philippe as a character to even touch my blog with a ten foot pole.

People before me has made posts about hating a character before, so why question me about it? As for how to run my own blog, it is my decision alone how to format things and I simply don’t care if people avoid me.

Putting this in the nicest way possible, It’s their problem not mine.

I owe people nothing nor do they owe me anything, because in the end of the day this ask blog was made for fun and not having to deal with to explaining the obvious.

So please, if you don’t like it then please scroll and ignore me.

This is the only time I will to explain myself and I will be turning off anon for now because generally posts like these are ripe for more anons who would bring in negativity and anger. So I hope this clears it all up. I understand there is good intentions behind this post, but in the end this is my blog.

- Mod Neon

[meringuejellyfish]

Hiya! May I ask how you plan out your color palettets? They're so vibrant and purple :3

i must start this off by saying that where ive gotten with art thus far has been mostly through bullshitting and just messing around. and i wouldnt have it any other way. like yeah its good to have a basic understanding of color theory and what not but ... heres what i do :^9

most of these apply to digital art specifically ... so keep that in mind

-one way that i sort of got an eye for picking colors was through creating a basic color palette, filtering it to my liking, and working from there.

(layer modes here were ‘lighten’ and ‘saturation’ over that, but thats not really important + the names of layer modes/blending modes/what have you differ from program to program)

i found this to be a lot more enjoyable than coloring a piece with a basic palette and putting filters over it, and like ive said it gave me an understanding of how colors work together in ways you wouldnt expect. any of the colors in the filtered palette may look odd on their own but work well all together. this is just a really good way to start with working with more interesting palettes, and i still find myself doing this from time to time. since most of my focus has been on cooler palettes, ive been thinking about doing this method to get some warmer palettes to work with and attempt to understand those.

-on the topic of filters, theres absolutely no shame in using them to your advantage. filters are cool and fun to mess around with and i dont understand why some people are so stingy with them. even though i dont do the previous trick as much these days i still like messing around with filtering an otherwise finished piece. i drew something recently which looked so much more fun and vibrant after upping the saturation, and typically i like to put ‘brightness’ or ‘luminescence‘ filtering over a drawing. like i said ... just mess around from time to time and you’ll figure out some cool things you can do.

-never underestimate the importance of the color of a background/lineart/any other element of a piece. a colored background can heavily alter the mood of a piece. and if you do lineart, think about changing the color of it (typically i do a dark purple or blue because i think it looks nice :^9) and also consider filling in a subject in a piece with one color before coloring over it with the actual palette, your ‘underpainting’ if you will. even as someone who doesnt use this for painting, i find that this still helps me.

- substitutes !!! think about using blue in place of black, cyan in place of white, and so many other possibilities. and on another note, dont be afraid to use pure blacks and whites in palettes, not everything needs to be soothingly pleasing to the eye. there are no limits to what youre “allowed” to do with art. even though i typically use a dark purple and what not, sometimes i experiment with black lineart, and i find that it looks very striking. just dont lock yourself into a certain way of always doing things

-im sure this doesnt need to be any longer ... final general notes of mine are .. dont be afraid and hold yourself back from trying out “weird” palettes, sometimes an experiment turns out and sometimes it doesnt. the biggest mistake you can make is stifling yourself in fear of making something “bad”, just go crazy. and remember that youre learning even when you arent drawing, consider collecting artwork from others with palettes that inspire you and putting it all into a folder that you look at from time to time, and take note of how others go about things. every artist has inspirations, and mine are a huge part of where ive gotten with art and the things i want to continue to experiment with.

like once said in sonic adventure 2 .... live and learn everybody

[ibitchytimemachine]

VBO Mini Bang Round-Up

I know that I had mini reviews of the art for the @vegebulocracy Big Bang this past winter, but there are SO MANY stories and pieces of artwork for the mini that I just can’t (minus one). What I will say is that the talent and artwork that was presented in this event was just amazing, and I am not sure I could pick a favorite nearly as easily as I did for the Big Bang! One thing that did bother me with SEVERAL of the stories, it the fact that they are broken into multiple parts. Not so much that they are broken up, but the fact that they are broken up in a way that doesn’t have a satisfying close to one part of the story. If you are gonna write for an event like this I think it is SUPER important to bring your story to some sort of conclusion, even if you don’t finish the story, just so people feel satisfied at the end. That is really one of my biggest criticisms of several of the works here. So with that out of the way,  lets jump into the stories! There are probably spoilers below, so beware! (I’ll try to keep them light)

Dive

@rockykelboa

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 13,448

This is a fun little one shot written as though you are watching a movie. I really got a tarantino-esque feel reading this story. The dialogue had that irreverent dark humor feel to it. Nothing was sacred and everything a joke. I really love the way characters interact with each other. The smutty sex scene is steamy and goddamn Bulma is bad…. Also something about the thought of Raditz listening in on them does things to me. I love the twist, and she sets it up so nicely in the story. If you are not thinking about the end game, you probably won’t even see it coming, but little things Bulma does and says throughout the story really set up the twist ending nicely. I feel like the delivery is a bit forced and feels a little out of place. But overall the story is very well written and I am honestly not sure I can give any reasons for anyone to not read it.

Blinded

@scarletraven1001

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 14,765

What happens when blind dates go wrong, and then oh-so right? And then maybe wrong again? This story is funny, sweet, and over all a wild ride. I have said it probably a million times, but I will say it again, I love how she incorporates nods to canon into her fics. And there are so many “easter eggs” in this story. I like how it doesn’t take itself seriously. It’s a dry humor but completely not dark. And Damn does this fic feel like the slowest burn ever. The whole first four chapters happen in one night but never have I needed them to get to the point more than reading this story. She builds the tension in the date night really nicely. Then you get the raging of the end of chapter 4. I know when I read it all I wanted to do was slam my fists against the keyboard. Another A+ story definitely worth your time reading.

Life at the Edge of a Blade

@bearstarseraphffxi

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 20,459

Reading this was like reading the weirdest filler episode ever. The plot is odd but shockingly believable in the DragonBall Verse. I mean if they had episodes dedicated to baseball between universes, I am sure they would get Vegeta figure skating in direct competition with Yamcha. Bear’s characterizations were done quite well. I really can’t think of a character that the author didn’t peg. There were some funny moments too, I remember at least once laughing out loud. There is some fluff between V/B but no romance really. It is a very dry piece, and a lot of the writing feels very technical, but if you like really canon characterizations and if you are interested in reading a piece that could really be a several episode filler for the three year gap, you may enjoy this one.

Within

Blacksheep115

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 11,020

Gosh, what an interesting story! In general I am in love with the interesting ideas blacksheep has in her stories. This is a story that could very well fit in the canon, it occurs during the three year gap and it really doesn’t follow a story about them as a couple, although there are some QUITE STEAMY moments in it (but no sex).Speaking of...I love the idea of Vegeta using his sexual energy against Bulma. You read so many fics of Bulma going after Vegeta and really amping up the sex appeal to get him to do things, but the idea of him pouring water all over himself ‘cause he knows she is watching him and later pinning her and using her attraction for him against her… just A+ and so in character for him. I don’t wanna give away the twist ending cause GODDAMN it is so good and unexpected… and just wow.. You really gotta read it.

#badman

@1vulgarwoman

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 17,319

So I love everything I have ever read from 1vulgarwoman, she writes such fun pieces and I came into this one with images of Heavy Lifting and Fundamentals of Chemistry in mind. I loved the way the plot and the romantic subplot were equally interesting. The world was rich and vibrant, humor was on point. The handling of character relationships and interactions in this fic were done fantastically well. And then the smut scenes. I think anyone who has ever read any of her fics know that when it’s time for the smut, you need to prepare yo’ body cause its about to get real. She does not disappoint, with a STEAMY sexting/Facetime scene and then the last half of the last chapter is just splooshworthy. I will say that talking only about the smut really downplays the greatness of the rest of this fic though, and I would 1,000 percent recc this to anyone.

Z-Men

Super_Saiyanerd

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 8,290

I have some pretty big issues with this piece. As my faithful readers are probably aware, I really have a hard time with crossovers, because so often it is two things I love mashed together, and the spark that makes the things great is lost. That is one of the problems with this piece. It didn’t feel like either a Dragon Ball AU or an X-Men AU. But the biggest issue I have with this piece is scope and flow. This author is trying to tackle too much in the time and word limit provided. We are working on a love story between Vegeta and Bulma, but also the whole of the Dark Phoenix saga. It’s just too broad and because of that the flow is off. There are huge time jumps that don’t make sense, and while I get that we are seeing little vignettes of the story, it is confusing. I would have liked to nix the Phoenix storyline and go with OC X-Men, that are based off of the traits of the Dragon Ball characters. Bulma would make a great Beast for example. But then explore the characters relationships through a much simpler plot than anything Phoenix related.

War Thunder

@jonahwhalesw1

Rating: Explicit

Word Count:24,994

So this is a WWII all human AU. There are some really nice things going on set up for the plot, however it just never kicks in. We are 25,000 words into the story and most of the writing has been about sexual tension between Bulma and Vegeta. Now don’t get me wrong, I like a build up of sexual tension, it really makes the pay off of when they finally kiss or fuck or whatever they are gonna do so much better. I wish that maybe BSV had slowed down the romantic plot of this fic a bit and interspersed more of the other parts of the plot. Or maybe written some interactions that built up their attraction in a nonsexual way. It feels very Porn without Plot to me right now, and it is because the romantic plot is so in your face. I really want to know more about what the war is doing to the community. What kinds of changes in our history does having the Colds on planet and fighting with Nazis? Is there gonna be an extermination of Saiyans? I feel like with some of those war time plot bunnies thrown into the mix the story would feel more vibrant and alive, cause right now it is PWP, but also without porn at this point in the story. It was a fun read, it just left me wanting more.

Elusion

@piccoloisgreen

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 19,550

So, I fucking loved this story. It shared shocking similarities to some of the ideas and themes in my story, which I loved reading about. I love the Bulma in captivity trope apparently. I really dont want to give too much away, but I love the beginning of the fic, this idea that they are instantly attracted to each other and there is no real dancing around the subject and they are just diving right into it is nice. I am not sure if it is because of the word count restrictions, or time limit or what, but I felt like the jump from the escape to the first death was a shocking break. I would have liked to see more of what was happening during those lost years. I appreciate the surprise of the killer, and their abilities, and I feel like it wrapped up nicely, but the beginning of the last chapter felt so rushed and leaves me wanting more information about thought processes and feelings. Overall, a fantastic fic, and worth your time to read.

Healing

@starrcrossrose

Rating: Mature

Word Count:

So when I first read this fic I was amazed at how well Starcross emoted. So many of the paragraphs just felt like being right inside Vegeta’s head as he was descending in this spiral of self loathing. The formatting choices were a nice touch, to show how he is quarreling within himself. I like the idea also of Bulma NOT being so happy go lucky and needing this kind of comfort. She is for all intents and purposes in canon alone so much. Yamcha comes around sure, but her friends are really never around. So she is alone a lot and life gets sad when you are alone. I think she caught this feeling and nuance really well. I really enjoy this story, it follows the timeline of canon pretty well, so if you aren’t super into AUs this is a good choice for you. It is pretty angsty, and with a title like Healing, you probably think it will have a happy ending, but if you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.

A Mermaid’s Tale

DBZVB1991

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 15,740

This is a Book One situation here. And the entirety of this submission is just setting up the intrigue of the story. I had mentioned in the Big Bang that it makes me nervous when I see crossovers between two things I love because so often it is just a mish mash of the flavors of two worlds that don’t go together. I do think that DBZVB1991 worked hard on worldbuilding a believable crossover world between the two. It is way more Dragon Ball than Little Mermaid and I am OK with that honestly.  For most of the fic they follow The Little Mermaid storyline  pretty closely. There are one or two plot bunnies that are different than TLM, but mostly it follows the plot pretty closely. I like where I think it may be going, but really it is so hard to review this properly because the story just hasn’t even really started yet. This is a story that is worth a read, but feels unsatisfying mostly because of how unfinished it is at the moment.

Beatae Memoriae

@ambrosiaswhispers

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 15, 724

This is absolutely an amazing fic. The story follows Vegeta through losing his memory, and it just freaking brings the feels. Tashana really knows how to craft an emotionally charged story, and she brings bits of the canon back in a very organic way that doesn’t drag the piece down. There is a squidgeta cameo in the piece, so if you are into my wiggly boi, you are in luck! The pacing of this story is on point, she nails both sweet family man Vegeta AND feral angry Vegeta perfectly. I wanted more of the interactions of Gohan and Goten with Bra, but dammit I am so glad she didn’t give it to me, cause I feel like it would have damaged the pacing. This story was crafted so beautifully, and it is one that gives you this little insight into their lives and leaves you wanting more - but doesn’t drag on so you get tired of reading. Fantastically done, you really should go read it cause it is amazing.

Captive

@janxangel

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 24,979

SO one thing that I noticed while reading this fic is how BAD ASS the women are in the story. Like good grief, Chi Chi and Launch were just KILLER (Bulma too, but we are used to seeing her be cool)I like that this is a story with no romantic plotline. Like they are working together not because they wanna bone, but because it is the most strategic thing to do. And Janx writes strategy really well. I felt like the fight scenes drug on a little long, and I would have liked them to be shorter and interlaced with more emotion, instead of blow by blow. Plus I think with the word limitations they could have gotten more bang for their buck with some better wrap up. I wish that things had turned out a little differently, the events on Namek were so similar to canon, and I wonder what could have happened differently than canon with this AU. Overall a fun and easy read, if not a little dry - definitely something that I would recommend to someone who is not interested in a romantic plotline.

Revel (In Our Time)

@jadefyre

Rating: Explicit

Word Count:19,979

Ok so this has a full story arc and whoa buddy is it a doozy. Its intriguing, cause there is this wonderful mishmash of all these fantastic post-apocalyptic cyber-punky worlds and it just works really really well together. From the Big Brother aspect of 1984 to the Ghost in the Machine philosophy that spawned so much, it captures that feel of the grey maddening world. I loved and hated the first chapter, cause I thought the whole story would be written this way (which would make a really cool story BTW, just really hard to follow cause you have to really pay attention). I love the world, I love the plot and intrigue and how DARK it is, I love the mini romance, but I REALLY love the twist. I mean you kinda see it coming, but hope it doesn’t happen, but it is perfect cause it closes the story well, and then leaves you NEEDING the next part of the series. Really fantastic job, yall should read this one definitely.

Legends

LeonaHart

Rating:mature

Word Count: 6,172

When the outlines were dropped this was one that i was dying to read. I am super intrigued by this idea of the Saiyan creation myth. I am curious how the Vegeta destruction God and Bulma creation Goddess could come around later as some sort of destined lovers trope. I really liked the nods to cannon (omg buu being the God of Destructions bubblegum is awesome) i wish it was finished, so i have a hard time really commenting much more on it, but i definitely hope it gets finished cause it has such an interesting premise. I also have to say that while I like the story, the writing feels very proper and antiquated. Now it may very well be that this is a style choice because of the story, but I struggled with it a little. 

The Dark Prince

EmbarrassedButKinky (I tried to @superbandanna but Tumblr sucks)

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 18,241

The very first chapter of Dark Prince had me so nostalgic for Obsidian. The demon pact to save the company(world), the ability for Bulma to be taken care of “magically”. Then it splintered into this interesting mix of like… underworld mafia hitmen meets Death Note. I think that EBK is on point with all her references, something she does really well in her fics. I know a lot of people really liked this fic, but it just fell flat for me. Don’t get me wrong, it had some wonderful moments, and wonderfully smutty! It just felt so rushed. It was too insta-love for me, and I wished the development of the Ray betrayal scene, subsequent rescue and the aftermath all could have been developed and drawn out more. I liked this story, but coming from the writer of Stages of a Claim (my absolute favorite of hers, fight me) I just expected this to be a little more developed and polished.

Aspara, Queen of Sadala

@lisac1965-blog

Rating: Mature

Word Count:15,922

I liked this one. It is based off the book of Esther and I wish she would have adapted the story a little more to fit the characters better. Bulma seemed out of character a bit and I imagine her relying more on her own brains and technology to bring people through rough times than a God. I do think this book of the Bible works well as a VegeBul adaptation though, and except for a few things I really think lisa did a good job with it. The flow was mostly really good, I feel like she was battling word count, or maybe time limits cause some things felt so rushed. While I understand she is remaining faithful to the source, I wish some more creative liberties were taken. For example, I would either omit the Zarbon/Dodoria plot line and focus on Ray being the big baddie, he seems to just come out of nowhere as the bad guy and I wish there had been more foreshadowing of him being a douche than just “There are a lot of Saiyans who want to exterminate humans” The story however was very fun to read. Descriptors were vivid and made the world feel more real. The relationship felt forced, but honest - true, cause hell it was forced. The Epilogue of sorts was nice cause you got to see how their relationship developed and grew. Overall a quick, simple read that was fun!

Sanguinary

@ibitchytimemachine

Rating:Explicit

Word Count: 21,309

So this is my piece for the Mini Bang, and since I am biased, I will just tell you a little about the piece. It was inspired by RPG’s like Dungeons and Dragons (and you nerds out there may catch some of the DnD easter eggs I put in there) and epic fantasy. My main thought was, what if Bulma and Vegeta’s roles were completely reversed? So we tell the story of their lives with the idea that Bulma was in the PTO for years, while Vegeta has been living peacefully on his home planet. Not everything is OK on Vegeta-sei though, so trouble is brewing. As with a role reversal story, this is told through the eyes of the opposite person, AKA Vegeta. This is the first part in a trilogy that I have named Surgere et Cadere, and the next installment will be called Imperium. This first part follows us through the story of Vegeta and Bulma’s meeting, and the consequences of her being on Vegeta-sei. I really hope you enjoy my submission!

So I know that I had a top three for the Big Bang, but there are SO MANY fics for the Mini, I am gonna do a top five!! It was really hard to pick these, cause there are some really fantastic stories for this event!! In no particular order, the pieces that I think are the best 5 are:  Beatae Memoriae, by @ambrosiaswhispers, Elusion by @piccoloisgreen,  Revel (In Our Time) by @jadefyre, #badman by @1vulgarwoman and Sanguinary by ME ;P! 

[aseamxatinli-blog]

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[bitchesofostwick]

2018 writer review

i was tagged by my dear friend @veridium-bye​ (thank you love!). i really didn’t start writing fic again until about october, so this is really a review of three months out of this year, but i’m still really proud of what i’ve done!

words written in 2018: 73,770

number of short fics/drabbles written in 2018: 39 (thirty-one of these were OC-tober ficlets, four were art trade/gift fics, and the remaining four were miscellaneous stories for my OCs)

number of fic chapters written in 2018: 11 (three for All of My Walls and eight for A World Alone)

number of chaptered fics completed in 2018: just one! All of My Walls, a three-chapter fic of aurelia hawke and fenris spanning the time between the “a bitter pill” quest through the end of the in-game DA2 events. it was really important to me for two reasons: one, aurelia and fenris are a rivalmance pair, but a lot of rivalmance fics i see are basically...just hate sex? and for fenris, and for aurelia, there are so many more layers and personal history that lends itself to their romance and creates these waves of tension and sadness and anger and heartbreak, but never hatred. i tackle the rivalmance in a bit of an easier (and generally humorous) light in their shorter fics, but All of My Walls is much more serious and i’m so proud of both of them for growing into themselves and each other and slowly allowing themselves love and be loved over the course of that fic. the OTHER reason that fic was so important to be is that it’s the first long(er) fic i wrote in a long, long time, and i consider it my way back into writing. i don’t think it reads as seamlessly as fics i’ve written since then do, but i’m still proud of myself for creating it, and i’m thankfully that it brought me back into the writing world.

fandoms: only dragon age this year! i haven’t touched my skyrim fic since 2017, and i toyed around with the idea of a kotor fic in the spring, but it never amounted to anything.

pairings: mainly ellinor trevelyan x cullen, emilia cousland x alistair, and aurelia hawke x fenris; HOWEVER, i’m eternally grateful to @fourletterepithet (velthei lavellan x cullen), @haloneshiral (letheia lavellan x cullen), @frecklef0x (anon trevelyan x dorian), and @gingerbreton (ysabelle dryden x alistair) for granting me the honor of writing about their OCs and letting me explore the dynamics of other pairings/relationships! writing for others is a really great experience to grow and strengthen your own writing, so i’m really glad i got to do those stories.

proudest achievements: i’m honestly just...proud i wrote anything at all? it’s so intimidating to come into a fandom that’s years and years old and put your content out there for people to see, especially when you haven’t written leisurely in a couple years and you’re really self-conscious of your work, like i am. but i took the leap, and people have been so responsive and supportive, and i’m eternally grateful for the very kind mutuals/readers i have that continue to inspire me to keep going and creating. some more minor achievements include

starting art trades. before doing this, i truly, genuinely did not believe that the brilliantly talented artists i see on tumblr every day would ever value their incredible work as equal to a short fic written by me. to me, it seemed like trading down. it turns out, i was wrong, and i’ve so far traded three one shots for three beautiful pieces of artwork, and as i mentioned earlier, it’s so refreshing and also so beneficial (in terms of writing skill and practice) to write for OCs that are not my own, so i’m so glad to have done these!

forcing myself to write action scenes. if you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve probably seen me complain multiple times about how much i hate writing action (i even made a meme about it that somehow went viral within the writeblr community lol joke’s on them it was made as a result of me rage quitting a dragon battle scene). the only thing i hate more than writing action is writing mage action, because none of my OCs are mages and all of my friends’ OCs are mages and i cannot understand the dynamics of mage combat no matter how hard i try. but, you can’t get better at something unless you practice it, so i wrote plenty of action in an attempt to get better. and i think (hope?) i did.

starting A World Alone!! my pride and joy!! my first longfic!! my favorite OC!! it’s a slow burn it’s an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers there’s tension there’s sadness there’s powerful female friendships there will be love eventually and i could go on about it for forever but instead i’ll just shamelessly plug it here because i love it so much and it makes me so happy.

writing goals for 2019

i would really love to join DWC but so far it looks intimidating to me because i’m worried i won’t be able to sit down for a night and keep up. but i’ll probably do it. i have so many good prompt posts saved in my drafts that i want to do.

more art trades! i have three already planned for the new year, and i’m very excited about them!

maybe finish A World Alone? i’m writing it at a good pace so far, so it’s a realistic goal.

more one shots. i love my longfic (obviously, as i blabbed about it relentlessly above), but i think shorter fics are such great opportunities to really focus in on a singular emotion and delve deep into little moments that are so brief in terms of plot but so big in terms of characterization. there are a few in particular i’m really proud of from this year (x, x, x, x, x, x), but i’m looking forward to more.

tagging friends (keeping it to friends who write, even a little!! any amount of writing is good writing!) @inquisitorsmabari @fourletterepithet @dickeybbqpit @trvelyans @a-shakespearean-in-paris @star--nymph @cullenvhenan @daydreamingdragonage @gingerbreton

[tumblunni]

HOLY SHIT

The leaflet the Integrated Autism Service gave me actually reccommends wearing coloured sunglasses to reduce the problem if you get meltdowns from the bright strobe lights in shopping centres.

I HAD NO CLUE THEY COULD DO THAT!! ive always wanted an excuse to wear them!!!

Also wow autistic Charon headcanons suddenly have at least one point of evidence! Actually in retrospect don't literally all of the pokemon science villains all wear coloured glasses??? Wonder if it was intentional! I mean i know the original creator of pokemon is autistic but i dont know how much involvement he has in the modern games and in character design and stuff. It would be real cool if he added that in as an intentional bit of relateability to people like him! I mean already people have pointed out how "making eye contact equals combat" is a very relateable concept for autistics, and its confirmed that satoshi tajiro created this game because big collecting was his hyperfixation as a kid and he was sad that urbanization meant it was less of a feasable hobby fot modern kids. And he made the game about general monsters instead of just bugs because he knee not everybody agreed with his passion. Thats the same reason pokemon has a team of many character designers even though Sugimori still draws all the finalized artwork for everything. Its right there in the premise for the series that there should be a pokemon for everyone no matter what they like, so i get mad when people shit on pokemon for not all being equally "cool" or "cute" or all animals or whatever. Garbodor is for tumblr user tumblunni, because game freak used their telekinesis to predict my exact hugs! Srsly is a big dust bunny cyborg blob monster how is that not cool!!! Also actually wow the pokedex is kind of a wish fullfillment for autistic people too, now that i think about it! Gathering info on your hobby is super mega fun, and having a magic computer that automatically scans stuff and gives you the info would be so cool! Especially if it couldscan bugs!! Its so hard to identify bugs when theyre so teeny and have such intricate patterns and then theu fly awau just before you manage to finish googling dappled brown moths of great britaon. And there's like fifty of those anyway!!

[mwlihong]

The 12 Groups That Could possibly Get Tremendous Bowl LVI

A number of months back again, even though filling within just for colleague Albert Breers weekly mailbag column, I was questioned through editor Mitch Goldich what the worst prediction Ive at any time designed was. Upon my aged podcast, The Poor-Aspect Podcast with Jenny Vrentas, I performed a persona that was experienced inside the artwork of prognostication, and we experienced finish episodes centered upon the horrendous predictions Identification manufactured for the duration of the yr Raheem Mostert Jersey. Nonetheless seeking again upon it, my worst task could possibly contain been an definitely earnest exertion. Inside August of remaining yr, I wrote a piece upon the 12 groups that could possibly realistically earn the Tremendous Bowl. The moment it arrives toward the artwork of the prediction, this is an great write-up for the reason that it incorporates a extensive runway and the options of currently being immediately anytime yourself record a 3rd of the league are charming positive! Of program, I still left the Buccaneersand Tom Bradyoff the record. By yourself dont acquire specifics for taking the supreme 3 seeds inside of every single convention While, at some point, your self go away the Tremendous Bowl winner out of the blend. Lesson found. Hardly ever question Brady. That, thanks towards the sheer amount of money of guesses I experienced, was the worst prediction Ive at any time designed. This calendar year, Ive reformulated my strategy a minor little bit and incorporate tried using in the direction of tuck all my ingrained biases apart. Together with within just the NBA this yr, I appear to be which include there is a broader all round variety of groups that may well get the Tremendous Bowl, hence nicely adhere with 12. There are 2 quarterbacks within just considerable refreshing areas. Dak Prescott incorporates returned towards hurt https://www.sf4gear.com/youth, in all probability healthy than at any time. Theres a good deal of solution below, which is, sooner or later, why we indication up in direction of spend our life towards this 12 months following yr. Makes it possible for split the comprehensive issue down, workers as a result of employees.Mark J. Rebilas/United states Currently Sporting activities ; Joseph Maiorana/United states of america These days Sports activities ; Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle/United states At present Community 1. Kansas Town ChiefsLast decades end: 142, AFC West winner, shed in the direction of Buccaneers within the Tremendous BowlWhy they can gain it all inside 2021: This one particular doesnt will need a long reason. The Chiefs include the least complicated and greatest flexible quarterback within the NFL, a participant who can punish oneself within plethora methods, and the utmost artistic enjoy-caller within just the league. That reported, I believe we can securely predict a little bit extra having difficulties this 12 months. The Chiefs significantly outperformed their Pythagorean acquire-reduction standards in opposition to 2020, due inside of higher aspect towards a pandemic that throttled the offseason and weighted gains upon present-day, rewarding QB-practice mixtures. This calendar year, theyll be in just a a great deal harder office, giving Vic Fangios utmost gifted safety toward day and Brandon Staley, who, even though defensive coordinator of the Rams, practically broke a heritage for fewest instant-fifty percent specifics permitted within NFL record.2. Tampa Bay BuccaneersLast a long time conclude: 115, wild card, received Tremendous Bowl Why they can get it all within just 2021: It is just about extremely hard in direction of repeat within just todays NFL, When Tom Brady was the past quarterback toward do it and, once again, we are finished stating any kind of question inside the largest participant the league is made up of at any time discovered. Tampas hard, duo-laden function plan punished competitors late in just the period and borrowed properly in opposition to a typical Belichick-ian system that always noticed his groups morph into ability punchers late in just the year. At the moment that theyve held their finish roster, they can acquire upon some of their largest positive aspects and assault the business with a even more different mix of the Brady and Bruce Arians offenses. 3. Cleveland BrownsLast several years total: 115, wild card, shed in the direction of Chiefs inside the divisional roundWhy they can earn it all in just 2021: The Browns have been one particular of the far more healthy groups in just the NFL remaining calendar year, regardless of some evident holes upon the defensive facet of the ball. Whilst its normally not possible in direction of destination as well a lot of specifications upon the shoulders of novice corners and hybrid linebackers, the additions of Greg Newsome II, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Tony Fields II developed them much harder and additional flexible inside of a department that desires thickness in the direction of fend off severe downhill managing, versatility in the direction of activity cell quarterbacks and superior restricted finish engage in, and multifaceted insurance policy expertise for the broad wide range of deep-hazard receivers. Their jogging match is beneath the treatment of Monthly bill Callahan, just one of the most significant offensive line coaches and operate-recreation coordinators within NFL heritage, and functions a deep strong of backs who preserve tension off Baker Mayfield . If Cleveland can produce upon its results in opposition to a 12 months in the past and discover alone as a a little even further competent personnel shielding the go, it could possibly surge in the direction of the meeting championship. 4. Buffalo BillsLast several years total: 133, AFC East winner, misplaced in the direction of Chiefs inside of the meeting championshipWhy they can get it all inside of 2021: Even though the Expenditures may perhaps include at some point forgotten their window Trent Sherfield Jersey, they are even now a significantly very well-coached staff with a stable security and a person of the excellent matchup-dependent offensive coordinators inside of the NFL. Allens power toward scare groups as the two a deep passer and electrical power runner produced Buffalo a constant hazard inside 2020 and will heading do thus once more this yr. Their energy toward opt for aside competition may possibly be observed within the real truth that they had been even now logging a league-most straightforward 0.14 EPA for each engage in ranking upon performs that did not aspect backfield action or any type of presnap window dressing. Allen lets yourself toward quickly line up and engage in challenging soccer. With the addition of both of those Gregory Rousseau and Carlos Basham Jr., the Charges comprise indicated in the direction of all of us that getting a middling stress personnel is unacceptable, specially within the ho-hum AFC East. Immediately after the Buccaneers blueprint, their anticipate is that an overload of trained rushers can enhance a gifted secondary. 5. Environmentally friendly Bay PackersLast many years end: 133, NFC North winner, missing towards Buccaneers inside of meeting championshipWhy they can acquire it all within just 2021: The Packers, together with the 49ers, consist of mastered the Mike ShanahanAlex Gibbs outdoors zone process that properly marries the operate and move video games alongside one another. At the time a course of action such as this is perfected and the roster is created more than it, on your own come to be more robust with the a long time every teach and quarterback fork out inside the offense. However, Aaron Rodgerss lack consists of triggered a little bit of a standstill upon the growth entrance, nevertheless that wont avoid train Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett versus proceeding in direction of recognize significant mismatches towards exploit throughout a inclined department. When the Packers would not create this checklist if Jordan Enjoy have been their total-season rookie within 2021 D.J. Jones Jersey, I believe that they may possibly however be Wonderful plenty of towards contend for, and likely eke out, a department gain if aspects received NFC Eaststyle sloppy. 6. Los Angeles RamsLast many years conclude: 106, wild card, shed toward Packers inside of divisional roundWhy they can get it all within just 2021: Were being advised the addition of Matthew Stafford will generate the Rams a totally choice staff this calendar year, while that continues to be toward be observed. Curiously more than enough, the Rams had been a powerful offensive employees Even though Sean McVay was pulling the puppet strings in just Jared Goffs helmet in advance of the snap https://www.sf4gear.com/elijah-mitchell-jersey. What takes place at the moment, once there is added autonomy and, theoretically, creativeness at the level? At most straightforward, Stafford hits all the throws Goff couldnt, or didnt realize were being there. And that is sufficient in direction of get over the decline of an high-quality defensive coordinator and the perfect basic safety within just soccer past yr. Possibly route, the Rams are all in just, and soon after Tampa Bays surprising Tremendous Bowl surge, its a technique just one is made up of in direction of take pleasure in at the time the prepare and quarterback are equally best-notch. 7. San Francisco 49ersLast yrs stop: 610, ultimate vacation spot inside of the NFC WestWhy they can get it all within just 2021: This is nonetheless a personnel that bullied its course in the direction of a Tremendous Bowl with Jimmy Garoppolo below heart 2 yrs back. The 49ers had been decimated as a result of damage closing 12 months and, as a result of the center of the year, had been extensively unrecognizable against the juggernaut that looked towards be forming the calendar year ahead of. Kyle Shanahan is continue to a sharp head, and even though he dropped a large amount of head electricity upon the training employees this offseason with the departures of Robert Saleh, John Benton and Mike LaFleur, he continue to consists of the proficient Mike McDaniel at his aspect, alongside with offensive line expert Chris Foerster. When some us citizens may well cock their heads at this choose, Garoppolo is sure impressed towards engage in his direction into a further setting up position somewhere else within 2022 and the 49ers far too include the remedy, when they hence decide, toward pull the rip wire upon Trey Lance and introduce a minimal chaos into defensive conference rooms everywhere you go. 8. Dallas CowboysLast a long time conclusion: 610, 3rd position inside the NFC East Why they can earn it all within 2021: With Prescott back again and wholesome, all aspects are prospective. Although the jury is continue to out upon Mike McCarthy sans Brett Favre or Rodgers within phrases of his energy in direction of function an medical procedures and read through a place, the Cowboys include manufactured crucial strides this offseason towards shore up obvious complications. The choosing of Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator may well be instrumental in just lifting the bitter temper still left powering a 12 months in the past. The Cowboys contain a single of the deepest linebacking corps within just soccer, which will support them climate a convention that will verify their electricity in the direction of safeguard the function versus a number of techniques with gifted backs.9. Indianapolis ColtsLast many years end: 115, wild card, dropped towards Payments inside of the divisional roundWhy they can earn it all in just 2021: This is one particular of the greatest thorough groups within just soccer. Need to Rock Ya-Sin choose a stage ahead, aiding the Colts spherical out their secondary as a substitute of basically covering it, Indianapolis might not simply just cruise in direction of an AFC South name however produce some sounds in just the playoffs. The main marvel mark below would appear to be in the direction of be Carson Wentz, however pairing him with Frank Reich yet again guarantees that there will be an offense with further more good tests and balances. Whenever Reich fled in direction of Indianapolis back again inside of 2018, therefore did Wentzs requirements of a somewhat digestible established of progressions driving centre. That triggered negative practices and poor blood, possibly of which are long gone at the moment. 10. Baltimore RavensLast several years complete: 115, wild card, misplaced toward Charges within just divisional roundWhy they can gain it all in just 2021: Taking a talented playmaker including Lamar Jackson assures youll be within the combination no matter of how conditions drop above him https://www.sf4gear.com/terrell-owens-jersey. Very last year was a aggravation, primarily a reflection of some monetary selections the Ravens almost certainly need they might incorporate again, as effectively as some essential roster happenings out of their handle. The additions of 2 skilled large receivers into the plan need to be adequate toward reinforce an offense that uncovered by itself prone in direction of strain , specified the groups inclination in direction of function the ball. Jackson specifications towards big difference his warm map inside obtain towards be seriously thriving over and above what the plan is advertising, and bringing inside of both equally Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman will be a necessary phase inside of that guidance. The Ravens are certainly attempting toward extend the market further this yr, which delivers us in direction of a appealing analysis interval for Jackson, who contains by now stated us thus a great deal. 11. Seattle SeahawksLast decades comprehensive: 124, NFC West winner, misplaced toward Rams in just the wild-card spherical Why they can gain it all in just 2021: This is type of a legacy reward toward Russell Wilson, who, alongside with his cadre of gifted receivers, is with regards to the simply just issue well worth eating religion inside of. Wilsons sizzling get started within just 2020 was stymied at the time the Seahawks receded their programs toward operate a total-throttle passing offense. The addition of Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator demonstrates an focus inside of either melding the move and function game titles which includes the 49ers, Rams and Packers incorporate performed inside the further than, despite the fact that its a prolonged and occasionally challenging technique anytime the offensive line ability lags within some parts. Right until Pete Carrolls safety keeps some of its enamel, although, its challenging in the direction of imagine Seattle virtually profitable the Tremendous Bowl outdoors of some correct Wilson hero ball. 12. Los Angeles ChargersLast decades entire: 79, 3rd desired destination within just the AFC WestWhy they can earn it all within 2021: If there is just one practice who can incorporate a Kevin Stefanskitype impression upon his roster inside Calendar year 1, its Brandon Staley. The safety, which unsuccessful in direction of produce substantially worry and was gouged towards sure dashing offenses in just 2020, will eventually be much better. The quarterback, reigning novice of the 12 months Justin Herbert, is one more tale. Staley is a preceding quarterback who naturally knows the point intimately, despite the fact that his conclusion of offensive coordinator was a little bit underwhelming. Joe Lombardi, inside less than 2 several years as the Lions offensive coordinator in just 2014 and 15, was 19th and 18th within internet yards for every test, respectively. There was no greatest 10 total inside of information, and Lombardi was overlooked when 7 days 7 of that minute year. There are moving in direction of be some not possible things of Anthony Lynns tenure with the Chargers in direction of substitute. For instance, the Chargers were being 8th inside experiencing stress ultimate 12 months because of in direction of a porous offensive line .

[anyeka]

Hi there ania~ It took me quite a lot of effort, but I'm at a point where I'm really content with the pace I'm improving at with my art. But I'm having a hard time figuring out how to make it look less plain and more whole? If that makes sense? I feel great about my work, but it feels like it's missing something. Is there any advice you could give about that? Thank you!

I’m so happy that you are happy with your improvement and art!!! It’s such a simple thing but is a very difficult stage to reach. I’m not sure if you are talking about final illustrations that you are doing or sketches (or just everything you do in art in general), but I’ll take sketchbook examples that can apply to all art.. I’m pretty sure.

1. Smooth line art never fails to make artwork look finished. The smoother your lines, the more ‘whole’ the artwork looks. Unless you’re painting or it is on purpose that it is not smooth. So it’s important that you practice your strokes (but it will get better over time automatically as you draw anything)!

2. Color! If you use your colors right it’ll look so much better. I drew this old man and colored him in orange highlights and colored in a blue background (the opposite color of orange!) so that he pops.

3. Decorative elements: use your imagination. Even the simplest decoration behind what your drawing will complete your art. In this case I drew a guy smoking and used the cloud shaped smoke as decor. (this art looks dirty because the graphite kept smudging. if you want to prevent this, use hairspray! it really works!)

4. Lets say you drew only a character called Lucy and you’re really proud of her, but it doesn’t look finished or enough for it to get to that ‘wow factor’. Don’t be afraid of adding elements around Lucy. Draw her at a scene, in a dream, draw her best friend next to her, draw her again but in a different pose, or even just color her in!

5. DON’T DRAW SMALL. BIGGER IS BETTER.

If you look at other people’s sketchbooks, you can see how their art looks complete too: (smart composition) ( use of lettering and color) (line art is important!) (dont be afraid of drawing big or using the whole page)

[arplis]

Arplis - News: 19 Artists & Makers Creating Unique Outdoorsy Gifts & Art Inspired by a Passion for the Outdoors

Im really excited to share todays post with you, because being an entrepreneur myself, I have a soft spot in my heart for other entrepreneurs who are out there doing what they love and sharing their gifts with the world. I want to provide some alternative outdoorsy gift ideas for you as you begin to do shopping for the holidays. In leu of some of the more traditional hiking and backpacking gifts out there, these outdoorsy gifts are handcrafted from artists and makers all over North America.

Weve reached out to them to not only share their craft and their art with you, but also to share a little bit about their story and how the outdoors has inspired their work. Plus there will be details on where you can connect with them and support their work!

I really hope you love this post as much as I do, and without further ado the creators, the makers, and the artists:

19 Outdoorsy Gift Ideas Hand Crafted by Outdoor Artists & Makers

1) Hook Yarn Carabiner

What do you create and how did you get started?

Hello! I am Ellie and I am passionate about inspiring others to find their creative niche. I design crochet patterns geared toward for exploration and adventure - this includes warm hats, scarves, leg warmers, blankets, and chalk bags! I want everyone to have fun, both creating their makes and then taking them outside! I am a self-taught crocheter and am always eager to learn more. I decided to start a blog last year to share my designs and join this creative community of fiber artists. My silly and bright rock climbing chalk bag patterns are some of my favorite designs.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

When I am not crocheting, I am mountain biking, rock climbing, mountaineering, hiking, backpacking, paddling, and generally spending time outdoors in my local community. I am working to bring an outdoorsy vibe to the crochet world and love creating designs that either reflect the natural world or are for using in the outdoors. I come up with most of my designs while exploring the outdoors; I am always jotting down ideas while rock climbing or backpacking and especially enjoy taking my crochet outside with me. I always bring it along on backpacking trips and anytime I am traveling. I love that playing with yarn does not have to only take place on my couch at home, and that rest days and downtime in the mountains can be filled more creativity and inspiration. Crocheting on trips keeps me centered. It keeps my hands busy during unforeseen inclement weather and calms me when I push myself outside of my comfort zone. My designs are inspired by what I see, feel, and hear in nature, and I love to share them with others and encourage them to also take their crafts outside.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

I post my crochet patterns on my blog, https://hookyarncarabiner.com/, and also sell my patterns and, occasionally, finished products on Etsy and Ravelry, https://www.etsy.com/shop/Hookyarncarabiner. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook @hoookyarncarabiner to see photos of me crocheting on outdoor adventures!

2) Kula Cloth

What do you create and how did you get started?

I started volunteering as a Backpacking Instructor with Washington Outdoor Women almost a decade ago. As a passionate backpacker in my spare time, I was frustrated by the amount of toilet paper that I saw discarded in fragile alpine environments. I read an article about using a bandana as a 'pee cloth', and I went out and bought a small square of microfiber fabric, which was completely LIFE CHANGING for me. I was no longer drip-drying and feeling nasty or hauling in/out tons of toilet paper on my wilderness trips. On the Wind River High Route in 2016, I was taking a photo of my pee cloth in a stunning alpine setting as a joke to send to a friend. Suddenly, I was struck by an idea... "Why isn't that a real piece of gear?" At the time, I was a Railroad Police Officer and I had never sewn anything in my life, nor did I have any experienced in the textile industry. It took a few years to figure out the ins and outs of the product, but in 2018, I launched Kula Cloth as the very first of its kind - a legit pee cloth for all the places you 'go'.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

For me, spending time outside IS the work. I am a better person and I am more connected to myself and my 'why' when I'm spending time in the backcountry. When I'm in the mountains or spending time in the wilderness, I'm not bombarding myself with fear or doubts - I'm tapped into who I truly am and I can naturally allow the ideas and inspiration for Kula to come to me in an organic and fun way. Every single decision or organization that we support or thought behind our product or our events was born on a trail in its infancy. The wilderness is a reflection of the beauty that lives inside all of us - if we can remember that, we can accomplish anything in life.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

You can find Kula at our website, which is www.kulacloth.com or on our instagram page, which is @kulacloth. We also hosted our very first major event this past October, and you can learn more about our events at this page: www.kulapalooza.events

3) At Wild Woman

What do you create and how did you get started?

I am a creator of all kinds. Over the years Ive labeled myself illustrator or painter or graphic designer, but it always changes because there are so many seasons and cycles to creativity. Right now I am in a poetry phase, but recently Ive also been painting abstract oil landscapes.

I got my start five years ago when I began working as a graphic designer. Being self-taught (I went to school for journalism) I learned and developed my visual voice on the job. Shortly into the job, I realized I wanted more artistic freedom, so I quit and started a freelance design business as well as The Year of Making, where I experimented with all kinds of visual mediums every day for a year.

And Ive never looked back!

How does the outdoors Inspire your work?

Nature is everywhere. You dont need to drive to the desert or mountains to experience it. Its right outside your door. It can even be inside your home. And even more, I believe it is a part of us, and we are a part of it. Nature isnt just out doors, it is also inside. All we have to do is listen to tap into its vast wisdom and beauty.

Because of this, I feel a connection that informs every part of my art making. There is an unspoken communication that happens every time I calm my wildly human mind. Even if I can just manage to do it for a second whether through meditation, a walk in the woods, or a whole weekend in the alpine. I often wonder why I dont do it more!

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

You can find my work at https://atwildwoman.com/ and https://amandasandlin.com/, or follow me on Instagram at @atwildwoman.

4) Lindsay Jones

What do you create and how did you get started?

Art was just about the only subject in school that I ever got excited about...that, and gym class. Those were my two favorite subjects then, and if I was still in school, they would still be my favorite subjects now! I ended up studying art in college and went on to graduate school for fine arts where I focused on printmaking, painting, and sculpture.

I've always loved working with my hands. After school, I had to figure out how to actually earn a living doing creative work, and I figured out quickly that fine art was not gonna pay the bills. That's when I started to refocus my fine art skills into illustration, design, and animation. I had to quickly teach myself how to use programs like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and After Effects, so that I could get the work that I wanted. My first freelance work was creating surface patterns for a women's shoe company, and that led into doing more illustrations, animations, and patterns for lots of different types of apparel, and other fun projects.

For the past year or so, I've been working on an illustration series of all of Colorado's 14er mountains which I completed this fall (right on time for the holidays). I've always wanted to work on a series of some sort, and it came to me last year when I was actually working on a different project for one of my freelance clients where I had to illustrate some mountain peaks for a map. I loved how they turned out for the project, so I decided to start working on the 14ers.

How do the outdoors inspire your work?

The outdoors is a really big part of my life. I am a mountain biker/cyclist and I love spending time exploring, regardless if I'm in the middle of the woods or in a big city. For the past 10 years, I've lived in locations that are surrounded by mountains and forests, so it's pretty natural for these things to sneak their way into my artwork. Being outside is what helps me stay sane with the fact that as an illustrator and animator, I am in front of a computer waaaay more than I really want to be.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

Well first of all, thank you so much for supporting independent artists, and small businesses! My 14er illustrations are for sale in the shop on my website www.lindsayannajones.com (Like Indiana Jones!), and you can follow my work and projects on instagram @lindsayannajones.

5) Jitterbug Art

What do you create and how did you get started?

I am an illustrator! I work mainly with watercolor and ink and I have been an artist my entire life. I have always been passionate about painting and creative visual problem solving so I've worked really hard to make it into the career I have today. That included always making art and not letting other peoples doubts hold me back from following my dreams.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

Nature is incredibly vast and beautiful. It is our number one source of inspiration as a society. As an artist that is working mainly within the outdoor realm, I pull as much inspiration as I can from my travels. Things like textures, compositions, color palettes, and interesting shapes all come from mother nature. I love taking road trips because that is when I have my most clear thoughts. I pull over to a rest stop and sketch for a few and then go back to daydreaming. I feel lucky to have been able to align my work with my passion for nature and being outdoors.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

I share a lot of my process and studio practices on my instagram @jitterbug_art . But you will find a lot more of a curated experience of all my creative projects on my website, www.jitterbugart.com. I am a freelancer so the best way to support my practice is to purchase from the shop on my website or share my work with folks that may want to commission me or purchase my work. Thanks again for taking the time to read a little about me.

6) Sarah Uhl

What do you create and how did you get started? (i.e. the "why" behind your art and your business)

I create artwork that carries the themes of cause based stories like my love of the Earth and how we can protect her! Im primarily a watercolor painter but Ive been trying my hand at sewing lately to develop my GREEN LINE- a set of zero waste products. Ive always thought of myself as an artist but Ive only been making art professionally for the past 4 years. Im self taught and think that taking an experimental approach to everything is a great way to go!

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

Mountains have always been my muse. Being outside is what makes me feel most alive and feeling really alive is what inspires me to make artwork! I feel passionately about protecting the places we love and advocating on behalf of the land so most of my artwork is created with that in mind.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

www.sarahuhl.com or on IG @sarahvirginiauhl or on my new blog about going semi-plastic-free waste less :: love more, And for holiday gifts, here is my online shop!! www.sarahuhl.com/shop

7) My Outdoor Art

What do you create and how did you get started?

I paint about women in the outdoors, with a focus on mental health. I created Myoutdoorart (my art business) to inspire more women to conquer their fears and climb the tallest mountains.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

I studied Wilderness Therapy in college, and I am currently pursuing my master's in Outdoor Education. These two fields are rooted in metaphors. I think my work illustrates those metaphors.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

You can learn more about my artwork and the meaning behind it by visiting myoutdoorart.com and on Instagram @myoutdoorart.

8) Lizzy Dalton Art

What do you create and how did you get started?

I make mixed-media work on paper, using a combination of fineliner pens and different kinds of inks and paints. I've been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember, and in college I majored in studio art with a concentration in painting. I started developing my current style around 2014, when I decided to combine my love for art with my other greatest passion, rock climbing. I started to apply my existing love of detail, pattern, and texture to the rocky and mountainous landscapes I wanted to climb.

I started building a business out of my art in 2015. I began sharing my art with the world through Instagram, and soon after began making prints of my art to sell on Etsy. I find that others who love nature and the outdoors identify with my work, and I hope that by sharing my art, I can continue to allow viewers to feel the beauty and magic that exists in the natural world.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

I love outdoor activities that take me to beautiful places in nature rock climbing in particular but also mountaineering, hiking, and backpacking and those activities often inform my art. My favorite landscapes to paint are the rocky, dramatic mountainscapes and prominent peaks that inspire the climber in me. I like to focus on iconic climbing destinations places like Yosemite or Patagonia and I try to depict them through the lens of a climber, capturing the way these places draw us in and ignite our desire to explore and discover.

I find time spent in the outdoors to be meditative and rejuvenating, and in my art I want to convey some of that emotional experience. I love it when customers tell me stories of the trips and memories that my pieces commemorate for them, and I hope that my art can continue to inspire viewers to seek out adventure in the outdoors.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

You can learn more about me and purchase art at lizzydaltonart.com. You can also follow me on Instagram at @lizzydaltonart.

9) Bewildher

What do you create and how did you get started?

When I first founded my brand, my vision was to inspire women to have more fun while pursuing health and wellness. I believed activewear had the power to be wearable inspiration; who wouldn't want to workout more wearing fun and beautiful prints?

I quickly discovered that while I was empowering my female customers, I was inadvertently encouraging the suppression of the female garment employees making my product. 80% of garment workers are women, most earning below the poverty line - YES, even in cities like Vancouver, BC, Canada where we wrongly assume minimum wage means "ethical."

My first solution was to quit, only to realize this served no one, and I began to research how I might inspire change in the activewear industry. I change my business model to align with the values of slow-fashion, with the purpose of empowering all women, including the makers and our mother earth.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

Often, as I trail run through the woods, I think "how devastating would it be to live in a world with no trees?" and I remind myself "how lucky am I to be able to run freely through the forest." This awareness of my local environment, living in Squamish and in close proximity to the oceans, mountains and rainforest, inspires me to do as much as I can give back and help those less fortunate. I use my brand as a platform to help plant trees and educate consumers on where their activewear comes from, often asking them to consider the quality of life of the women who make their clothes.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

Readers can read my story and slow-fashion pages at www.bewildher.com and follow @bewildher in Instagram.

10) Alive Among Mountains

What do you create and how did you get started?

Before I started embroidering, my life was spent either training for climbing or working as a substitute teacher. Since I lived off the grid, I wanted something that I could do when I didnt have access to electricity or wifi. I saw somewhere that there were these kits that would teach you to embroider a design and at the end, you had this nice little complete hoop. After doing that one kit, I was hooked. I started buying more thread, more hoops and fabric, and soon I had my own little art corner in the trailer. I started creating designs and learning more stitches. It didnt take long before I had a ton of hoops made, so I decided to try to sell them on Etsy.

Now I make mostly custom hoops for people for their friends and family. I find that a lot of people get them for birthdays and Christmas, since its a pretty unique gift that, personalized, can mean a lot for someone. Its been almost two years now since I first started, so Im definitely still learning but getting better with every project.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

When I look at most of the hoops Ive made, I find that the colors I use are mostly Earth tones. Theyre the colors I see when I look out my window at the Sierras, or the colors I see out in the Buttermilks. I like the look of the more muted tones in my embroideries. Ive also done a few pieces that were inspired directly from the scenes outside of my trailer. I find that I cant help but try to replicate views that Im constantly in awe of. Since I spend a lot of time outdoors, those tend to be views of the mountains, plants, and random landscapes of climbing areas around the world.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

I have an Etsy where I sell my past work and where people can order custom work. The link is https://www.etsy.com/shop/aliveamongmountains. I also have quite a few customers who just reach out to me on my Instagram, @aliveamongmountains, for custom work.

11) Katherine Homes

What do you create and how did you get started?

I create art that puts a spotlight on threatened species and wildlands. Currently, most of this art is in watercolor and wood format, I paint on a sustainability sourced wood, but also have other means, music being one of them.

Ive been creating art and music since I was very young. My mom has these hysterical recordings of me making up songs when I was about 3 years old. Ive been drawing since I could hold a crayon. I think I just came into this world with a creative mission to protect the natural world.

Ive always had a very strong and intimate connection to the natural world and the desire to protect those who don't have a voice or means to stand up for themselves. My grandmother says its in my blood. My Dads side of the family is partially Cherokee. I was horribly shy when I was young and I was happiest playing outside in the woods with my squirrel, bird and deer friends and these early experiences defined me and the work I do.

Using music as a platform to talk about difficult and complex problems I came out with my first solo album, Speak, in late 2016. I launched it on Kickstarter and needed a way to give back to supporters. So, I put some designs on hats and tote bags and as my album came out my brand slowly started to launch. In a way it was inevitable because it was a dream of mine to use my art as a way to bring attention towards threatened species and using what I think is affordable and functional art lets me do that.

My goal is to use art as a way to draw people in, educate them on these very complex issues and inspire them into positive action without being aggressive or shaming them by saying your actions are killing off the Sea Turtle, and instead saying, this is whats happening to the Sea Turtle, and this is what we can do to help them. The idea has always been to reach the masses, and I think of my products as an easy way to connect to those who maybe arent as aware of these issues, then hopefully being that first step into making positive changes in their lives.

Purchasing a product from KH ensures you have the visual material you need to spark conversation in your communities while also helping our partner organizations continue their work. We are a 1% for the Planet Member and are committed to giving at least 1% of our annual sales to organizations focusing on conservation, bringing compassion into schools, and ensuring we all have access to the wild so we can explore, connect and protect it.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

Everything I paint is inspired by the natural world, from the flowers, trees, and wildlands to the threatened species and farm animals. Im always looking for patterns in plants and watching for subtle changes in color that inspire my color schemes. With what is going on in our world today, I consider most things to be threatened by climate change, overfishing, unsustainable agriculture, so my paintings typically bring in an endangered species, or a species / wildland that is threatened or soon to be threatened.

The other way it inspires my work as the outdoors reminds me to slow down and connect with the wisdom found in the natural world. There are so many important lessons that we often miss because we dont take the time to stop and absorb these often subtle lessons. These are good reminders because my paintings take forever to create, its a slow and mindful process, that I love. The natural world reminds me to surrender and stay present.

I do believe that if we took the time to connect and respect ourselves and one another, wed be able to connect and respect the natural world. I dont think we can do one without the other.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

The website is always a great spot to learn more and support: www.katherinehomes.com. You can also find me on Spotify, Katherine Homes, Album, Speak. We also just got into REI through a test run and would LOVE support there: https://www.rei.com/search?q=katherine+homes. We are selling nationwide, but if you dont see our products in a store you think wed be a great fit in wed love for you to tell us! info@katherinehomes.com ; You can also follow me at Instagram, @k.homes

12) Tra Kaia

What do you create and how did you get started?

My name is Bridget Kilgallon, and Im the founder of a brand called Tra Kaia. We got started out of a frustration with how normal bras fit. As a climber, Ive got pretty big lats, and normal bras and sports bras just didnt fit at all. Plus, theyd fall apart with pretty much any rigorous outdoor activity.

At the time I had two other friends who shared similar issues with ill-fitting bras and so we set out to make something different: basewear. Basewear is a swim-friendly sports bra that was designed for outdoor adventure. In the design process, we realized that one size really doesnt fit all so we developed two styles of our best selling TOURA Basewear Top. We started with the Low Cut: a minimal, form-fitting style for lower cup sizes and muscular body types and later developed the High Cut: the same form fitting style with more coverage and support for larger cup sizes.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

The outdoors inspires us in three ways: function, form, and our brand message.

In terms of the function of our garments, its completely designed based on how it will perform in outdoor environments. The top is versatile enough to be worn on land as a sports bra, or in the water as a swim top. It dries quickly so you can jump in a lake, and get back to hiking. Our fabric is hydrophobic and anti-microbial so you can wear it camping and it wont get gross. The most important part is that it feels like you have nothing on, and never digs into your muscles so you can get outdoors and focus on what youre doing without feeling uncomfortable.

Aesthetically, our brand is inspired by nature. We use color palettes that are inspired by nature, so as to create a look that never overshadows the wearer. We say that if the basewear is the art, the wearer is the frame.

Our brand encourages you to get outdoors and be your outside self. Were all about bringing out what makes a person unique: their natural features, and helping people get more in tune with the natural world around them.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

Follow Tra Kaia on Instagram @terakaia and tag us on your adventures. We love to see where our customers take their #basewear! You can try one for yourself at our website www.terakaia.com

13) Powers Provisions

What do you create and how did you get started?

While I'm a full-time photographer and filmmaker, I call myself a part-time grandma and fill the shelves of my online mercantile, Powers Provisions, with handknit goods and beaded jewelry as well as handcrafted goods from my talented artisan friends. I love making beautiful things with my hands and sharing them with the people I love and the people they love. My art embraces a life of adventure and I hope it inspires others to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Alongside these goods, Kaleigh shares her favorite recipes of her classic south meets the last frontier cuisine, cooking tips, and regaling you with tales of their Alaskan adventures on the blog.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

I often say I love to paint with yarn the colors I've seen in the wild and am inspired by the steely blues and bright whites from Alaskan Glaciers, rusts and golds from the desert of Utah, and autumnal earthy shades from mountains in Maine. All of my goods are crafted for a life of adventure in the outdoors as well, and I encourage folks to wear them well, let the wool felt, and live your best life wherever that may take you!

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

www.powersprovisions.com and @powersprovisions on Instagram

14) Peter W. Gilroy

What do you create and how did you get started?

Born and raised in Taos, New Mexico, I was lucky to have grown up with the mountains in my backyard. I grew up creating, working the summers for my uncle, master goldsmith Phil Poirier. In college, I studied photography, and after graduation I started building custom furniture. I got sucked into the endless work, struggling to find balance between my love for climbing and the outdoors on the one hand, and my creative work on the other. In time, I found my way back to metal, and I experimented with making my own jewelry while working for a tool company, Bonny Doon Hydraulic Presses.

In 2014, I had a pivotal change of thinking. Instead of seeing my two passions as separate, I asked myself: What if I combine my passion for making art with my passion for climbing and the mountains? What if I delve into adventure in all aspects of my life? Since that day, I have been on a journey to bring these aspects together. It is easy to be calm and at peace in the mountains, but how do we share that with the rest of the world? I'm a dirtbag for my art, and proud of it.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

The outdoors is everything to me.

Growing up, I was an overweight, nerdy kid, and through climbing was able to get in touch with my body and learn what I was capable of. Adventures in the outdoors have provided a barometer in all aspects of my life, and helped me through issues of mental health and more.

My work now just feels like a way for me to relive those adventures in the outdoors and dream about new ones, dream about long days traversing alpine ridgelines and climbing granite walls. It is a way for me to celebrate the natural landscape when I am not able to be out there.

Whether it is the subtle details of the texture of granite, the effortless flow that only a hard climb can force us to find, or the amazing views from the top, the inspiration offered by the mountains, and the rock we climb on, is endless. I want to capture the experiences we have outdoors and then bring them forward as mementos, to be savored in all the other moments of our lives.

Everything is made by me, in my small studio, in Taos, NM. I work with American-made machinery and tools. All materials, like stones and metal, are from the best, local if possible, eco-friendly sources.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

You can find me online, instagram @peterwgilroy, and I actually have two websites now, peterwgilroy.com which features my custom and one-of-a-kind creations, and splitter-designs.com which is a new collection of hats, gear, and small jewelry pieces.

15) Static Climbing

What do you create and how did you get started?

STATIC was born in 2014 from an idea to give a new spin to chalk bags by using different textiles and making them larger so you can chalk up easier.

Sewing has always been something I wanted to learn how to do, so for my 24th birthday, my grandparents bought me my first sewing machine. I taught myself the ins and outs of being a seamstress and created my first chalk bag pattern. Three and a half days later I made my very first chalk bag (which is still in my office today).

My local climbing gym, VITAL, put the first chalk bags in their gym and shortly after that I started an Etsy shop. The entire bedroom and kitchen was my sewing shop, and one chalk bag after another I improved the design and learned how to create a company from the ground up.

My boyfriend Duncan saw how passionate I was and created the STATIC logo that is still used today. He quickly became the other half of STATIC helping with the design aspects of the company. After outgrowing an in-house office, we moved into the back room of a climbing gym a few years later and in 2018 we moved into our very own little shop. REI found STATIC on Etsy (a dream come true!), and over the last few years we have been able to make chalk bags for every REI in the country. Our team is still really small, which keeps our environmental impact small by keeping everything in house. All of our fabrics are sourced from family owned companies.

One of the reasons STATIC is successful is because of Duncan, he is the other backbone of this brand. We make up a pretty amazing team together, and I'm really lucky to have not only an amazing partner in life, but one of the most talented designers. It has been the most incredible 5 years growing with STATIC, I can't wait to see what the next 5 years brings!

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

The outdoors has been one of the biggest inspirations for my work. The Artist Series Collection supports local artists and really captures their inspiration of the outdoors through their artwork. The Traveler Series reminds me of always using my falsa blankets while I'm traveling and camping. The outdoors is really the reason why I have a company in the first place.

When Duncan and I aren't working we are always out adventuring with our dog Dakota! Creating a company that has a small environmental impact is really important, so we have worked to source materials that are made in the US and support family-owned companies like our own.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

You can always email me directly if you have any questions, taylor@staticclimbing.com or check out our instagram @staticclimbing. If you want to support STATIC you can check outwww.staticclimbing.com and use the code DREAMSOFALPINE for 20% off.

16) Le Fox Studio

What do you create and how did you get started?

In 2016, I set out to hike The Pacific Crest Trail. Over the course of a five month hiking artist residency, I created over 30 paintings, 40 handmade postcards, and 27 mile markers along the 2650 miles from Mexico to Canada. This adventure has evolved into a more extended studio based project which continues to inform my current body of work. My outdoor adventures among the mountains and valleys of the Pacific Northwest continue to inspire my work and fill the pages of my sketchbooks.

I create work that celebrates and contributes to the protection of the wild places I love to explore through donations of artwork or percentage contributions to conservancies and trail stewards. Using pattern, I create paintings that balance between abstract and landscape to capture the awe of wild places. Much of my work is initiated through bringing a sketchbook on my hikes, which allows a more direct recording of these moments, patterns, and landscapes. These sketches are then brought into the studio where they inform my larger works. Working from drawings and sketches, rather than photographs, allows a more direct transfer of impressions, ideas, and energy of the land into my work.

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

The landscape, patterns within the landscape, color, and the community around trails inspires all of my work. Being in nature, the act of exploring somewhere new, or revisiting a place multiple times are all ideas she explores in her work. Being somewhere new with a sketchbook is always hard for me because its a kid in a candy store situation. As I have developed this process more I have accepted that I wont be able to draw everything in one visit, but that I can always return. This is one of the many reasons I choose to support the conservation of the places I visit. The land will always be there for me, but much of it is under threat which challenges that comfort for all of us.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

You can find my shop at Lefoxstudio.com/shop and my Instagram @lefoxstudio

December 8th

11am-4pm NW Marine Art Works Open Studios & Holiday Market / Portland Oregon

Schedule a studio visit in Portland OR

17) Drawn to High Places

What do you create and how did you get started? (i.e. the why behind your art and your business)

I make watercolor and ink paintings inspired by my time spent hiking, climbing and mountaineering in the Pacific Northwest. I got started because I was so overwhelmed with the magic of the mountains, I wanted a way to capture it. I began taking a sketchbook with me on adventures, and before I knew it, I was painting all the time!

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

I try to capture the movement, energy and life of the backcountry, the feeling of what makes these wild places so special.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation? + A photo of you with your work (or a photo of your work)

My art is available on my website at www.drawntohighplaces.com or follow my adventures on instagram at @drawntohighplaces.

18) Dynamite Starfish

What do you create and how did you get started?

I create art inspired by rock climbing and all the beauty I see in life. I print that art by hand on tees, tanks and other apparel. I also offer stickers, art prints, and other gifts. Dynamite Starfish began because I wanted to share my passion for outdoor climbing and create art that talked about the subtleties of climbing and highlighted our shared experiences that connect us as climbers all around the world.

How do the outdoors Inspire your work?

The outdoors is the whole reason this work exists! After my first few outdoor climbing experiences, I knew this was something I was quickly falling in love with. At first, my art & apparel were all about specific places, and a portion of the profits donated to hyperlocal organizations that helped conserve those areas. Now, we donate a percentage of all profits to the Access Fund, because we believe they do great work across a number of areas and do advocacy work as well as conservation.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

You can visit my online shop and website:www.DynamiteStarfish.com. Im also pretty available and responsive on Instagram @dynamitestarfish. If you want to learn more about the company history and my philosophy, this podcast is a great intro!https://www.wildermindpodcast.com/home/lesliekim

19) Riveted Oak Designs

What do you create and how did you get started? (i.e. the "why" behind your art and your business)

I actually didnt get started making outdoor gear. Im a union stagehand, and some stagehands carry chalk bags for tools and hardware. Typical chalk bags arent designed to hold more than chalk, so they dont last very long. I started thinking that maybe I could design and sew a version just for stagehands, so thats exactly what I did! I bought a used industrial machine and started sewing and selling bags to my coworkers. This worked great until I couldnt keep up with orders, so I created a Kickstarter campaign to fund a production run of these bags. That was the start of Riveted Oak Designs.

I started making outdoor gear because I love to hike and backpack, and I was seeing all of these cottage makers pop up. I figured Why cant I do that too? I started making simple, lightweight accessories and gear and field testing everything myself (or having my husband or friends try out products). Nothing I make is crazy expensive, so folks can have ultralight gear without breaking the bank. I like to think that if I can provide solutions for common issues, such as backpack organization, that more folks will be inclined to go outside and explore.

I also make stainless steel jewelry. Im the kind of person that puts on a necklace or earrings and wont take them off for a month or more. Im definitely a minimalist - I dont like big flashy jewelry. Stainless steel is great because yet can take a beating and its super low maintenance.

I love having my own business because I have control over it. I work for myself and my customers - thats it. I can make what I want to make, and help support the adventures of others by making products that help them accomplish their goals. I have customers that are hiking with my products in multiple countries and carrying them on thru-hikes in the USA. How cool is that?

How does the outdoors inspire your work?

I love everything about being outside in nature, and my husband and daughter are the same way. I work for a huge entertainment company and theme park in Southern California, so being outside in the backcountry is pretty much as opposite as you can get from that! I think we get so caught up in our daily lives that we forget how to slow down, live in the moment, and take in our surroundings. Being outside allows us to do that, and has so many mental and physical health benefits as well. When I work with my hands, its a very similar experience for me as being outside, almost like meditation in many ways. I slow down and focus on whats in front of me, instead of worrying about the future or the past.

When I make my products, I want them to have one of two goals: to help people get outside and experience the outdoors, or to be able to express their love of the outdoors to others. If I cant be outside camping or backpacking, making products that help folks do these things is just as satisfying.

Where can we learn more about you and support your creation?

You can head over to www.rivetedoakdesigns.com, or look for my Etsy shop under the same name. Ive also got a Facebook page and Instagram account @riveted_oak_designs. Im not super active on social media, because I prefer to spend my time outside or making things, but you can definitely get a hold of me through any of these options!

I really hope you all enjoyed this post, and Ive got to give a big shout out to Kate Sedrowski who is part of my team who helped me collaborate and coordinate with a lot of these great artists and makers for this amazing post. She is a creator in her own right. You should check out the series on her blog called, Beacons of Badassery, an interview series shining light on strong women.

A Big thank you to all the artists and makers who contributed their story and love for the outdoors to this blog post. I am so grateful for this and thank you for sharing your work with the world.

If youre a maker/artist with a passion for shining a light on the outdoors in your work, Id love to add you to this list. Please dont hesitate to reach out to me at teamalpine@shedreamsofalpine.com

Looking for more Outdoorsy Gift Ideas? Check Out these Articles:

Best Gifts for Hikers

Best Gifts for Backpackers

Best Gifts for Rock Climbers

Campervan Gifts That Every Van Owner Would Love to Get

Cheers,

Allison - She Dreams of Alpine

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Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/19-artists-makers-creating-unique-outdoorsy-gifts-art-inspired-by-a-passion-for-the-outdoors

[former-cannibal-3]

Tell us about how you got into art.

WOW this got super long, I’m so sorry!

I was given a metric assload of coloring books, glitter crayons and stuff by my grandma when I was a kid. I don’t remember ever starting, it’s just always been like that. Also I really liked Pokemon, like REALLY liked it, like any other small child in the 90s. So I had some established characters to draw, like pikachu and eevee! Those were my fave to draw. Any I just never really stopped.

Luckily my elementary school still had an “art class” back then. For one whole year it had an actual room, but then it was just a little cart pushed around. Nothing really groundbreaking, but since it was fun and I liked it (and was proud of being “better” than everyone else there) it just kept going.  it was really just a bunch of kids scribbling stuff with very little direction.

My art tteacher gave me a book about drawing things realistically. I really read that book and took it all to heart. Except for the grid thing, I thought the grid thing was stupid because all it let you do was COPY a photo, and I didn’t WANT to COPY! I wanted to make my OWN stuff!

I dont remember, but I think it was in first grade, maybe before that? Maybe after idk but it was really early on. I wrote stories about a wolf who’s name was Fear, and she was a pup when the forest she lived in burned down, and she got separated from her pack. So she ended up having to traverse the desert and run into other packs who wanted to use her in different ways (usually as a disposable labor or to watch the pack’s pups while their mothers went to have fun and stuff like that) and she would have to fight them to keep going. And so on. It was pretty in depth but I never actually got them on paper except for some shitty doodles.

Here’s a quick rendition of her from memory I made just now, using some free lineart. It’s probably missing some aspects of her design, but the main thing was that she is orange, had the dark stripe, and a white tail-tip. I know, looks like a fox. Of course my actually drawings of her were crude and done in crayon.

I really liked wolves. A Lot. So Much. I guess that’s probs why I’m a furry?

Similar to that time, like at the same time as Fear, I was makign my own TCG based on my own pet-sim website (heavily inspired by neopets and one gem-creature that i think was on a yugioh card). I made a “functioning” website in front page, it really just made me happy to click through on the previews and do pointless stuff that didn’t actually DO anything because it wasn’t a live website. But it was cool and fun. I made a lot of websites on front page lol. A LOT.

I made custom buttons and graphics in Paint and just came up with all this shit to “do” and ran with it. I also made some sites that were like, just really bad personal homepages. But I was also like somewhere between the ages of 7-11, I don’t remember what age specifically? BUT anyway frontpage is really fun to work with and I basically know all of my HTML and CSS from that and neopets.

What’s really funny is… I never had a home computer! I didn’t have computer until like 2009, and we still didn’t have internet at home until like 2013-ish. I might be off on those dates a bit but you can’t expect me to remember specifics when I struggle to remember things that happened yesterday lol.

Oh yeah I found Jay Naylor art and a comic called Good Cheese and accidentally got into furries bc of it, and yeah some of it was porn and my POOR LITTLE CHILD BRAIN COULDNT HANDLE bahahahahaa im fucking kidding, it WAS porn but it’s cool and I don’t think it really damaged me. I thought it was ~wrong~ but I still printed that shit out in black and white after school to take home with me oops.

Like RIGHT after that I got into Redwall and Serenity Rose. Redwall has this huge roleplay community online, it was really cool. i never had the guts to RP tho, so I just looked at pretty art and tried to emulate it. I made my own OCs and stuff. With Sera Rose I entered my first foray into online forums, the Bubblegum Noir. Where I posted doodles I did. I was also a really fucking obnoxious teenager lol. This was middle school bee tee dubbs.

Sometime in middle school I think my focus shifted a bit from my self-driven and pokemon fuel’d vigor for creating things. I certainly still drew fanart, I got really into anime (kinda, i read loveless and then was smitten by cat eared boys forever after that lol) and started drawing Neopets related stuff by then. (Yes I still plaid neopets in middle school, hush.) I think I scanned some art in to enter into the beauty contest.

Uhm in middle school I was introduced to all sorts of New Cool Tools like BRUSH PENS and stuff! WOAH! But yeah I actually tried to do shit for realsies. I did stain glass cutting and silk screen printing after school. Neato!

In middle school I also had a “running” comic I called My Life Unlimited, and it was like the bizzare megatokyo-esque thing where I drew me and my friends having everyday normal lives. Except my cat was Literally Satan. No I mean like actually, Satan was on vacation in the Real World disguised as a cat, but OFC I found him and was like oh no a poor lost kitty, let me put a collar on him and take him home n feed him. Which, as we all know collars = ownership and eating the food of the land etc etc. Which lead to me owning Satan, literally, who could shift inbetween cat form and human-ish-looking form. Also he couldn’t open the peanut butter once and it became a running joke.

There was this whole plot with angels and demons or whatever and the demons were the good guys and angels were generally manipulative assholes and uhhhh yeah. It was dorky but I liked it. Still kinda do. I dated a “fox demon” in the comic, he had a scythe, it was cool. B3

And uh, I just drew a lot of fanart, fancharacters. My own comic stuff. 

And then I dropped all of it in high school, where I only drew furries and school assigned artwork. It was neato, the only thing I learned was about negitive space, lineart quality and VAGUELY hue and value (but not terribly in detail, and it was muddy and mucky). I made an FA account, found artists like CorrieZodori and ForcesWerwolf, and joined the Hungry Pokemon Forums (as a minor and completely ignoring ALL the rules about being 18 or over.) WHOOPS guess I was into vore. No wait, I joined HPF in… middle school I think? IDEK.

Anyway I started drawing MORE furries and more maws. And back then I was like “only oral vore, mawshots or pre-vore, no stomach internals and NO DIGESTION” but look at me now mom, if it aint Dying I ain’t Buying.

Lots of highschool is a blue of bad decisions and general fuckery. I had a cool AP art history class tho. I don’t remember jack fucking shit, sorry.

And uh… that’s where I am now???

Now I’m actually taking art seriously, and with internet access I can look for tutorials and references no problem. I’ve got a few good art books, but mainly I reccomend one by James Gurney called Light and Color for the Realist Painter. Or whatever, I cannot be assed to google it rn I’ve been typing for like an hour. Maybe two… idek. Also some good youtube chanels, sinix design, sycra, istabrak, bobby chiu and ahmed aldoori, really recommend those for learning!

Anyway I’m more aware of my shortcomings, and working hard to fix them, all while still ejoying doing what I do. Although lately I feel like I’ve gone backwards in quality and launched myself into more stress and difficulty. And I certainly do much less, and finish things less also. I wonder why… :T

UHM I’m not even sure if I answered your question i just kinda went on a tangent oops. Hopefully this is an entertaining read if nothing else?

[pikespendragon67]

Late Birthday Present for writer-of-worlds!

Beginning Commentary: SO, my writing friend, @writer-of-worlds, had a birthday in April. I, however, was too caught up with schoolwork to do anything for them at that time. But now I have a few days off before summer school, I decided to make up for that. Happy late birthday~!

This is a modern AU I came up with a while ago…which was developed because I thought Kaze would look nice in a short-sleeved dress shirt and glasses. If this is interesting enough, I can elaborate more on this.

“You know, Kaze, you seem to be quite distracted today,” the older man with his teal hair in a messy ponytail commented, placing a pile of books down on the closest surface he could approach.

The younger man with the clean-cut yet still relatively long (for a man, that is) green hair, aged to be around his college years, blinked and freed himself from his daydreaming pose.

“Ah, my apologies, Sir,” Kaze quickly spoke, immediately snapping his attention to his boss. “I won’t let it happen again.”

“Come now, Kaze. I may be your employer, but I’ve also known you since you were a boy. If something troubles you, I’m open to chat with you. I’ve yet to reach the level of heartless CEO, after all.”

True, Yukimura’s book shop was still in its mom-and-pop phase of business; he only managed to open it around four years ago. How it was being slightly successful in the digital area is up to anyone’s guess, though.

“Very well,” Kaze sighed. “Corrin’s birthday is soon approaching and I still have no idea what to do for her. I tried buying tickets for one of her favorite bands, but they sold out the second they were released to the general public.”

“Ah, I see. Are there any other performances she might be interested in?”

“Unfortunately, no. …Unless she were somehow into polka music.”

Yukimura chuckled slightly before clearing his throat.

“And I’m certain you’re far past the phase of giving each other gift cards, correct?”

“If it were just a gift card, I feel she’d think I would break up with her. No, I want this to be special, Sir. We’ve been together for a few months now, with this being the first birthday of hers where we’re a couple.”

“In that case, don’t go too overboard so that you don’t scare her off. If you show too much dedication, she’ll think you’re obsessed with her. I’d say hold off on the very expensive gifts after a few years have passed, such as jewelry.”

“Well noted. Do you have any other suggestions?”

“Hm… How about a trip to the observatory run by Professor Izana? I’ve heard he’s quite a romantic, so a tale such as yours could easily get you in.”

Now it was Kaze’s turn to chuckle, a warm smile staying on his face afterward.

“That might actually work. Thank you so very much.”

“Not a problem. …Though, could you please return to work? I know this might be a slow day, but I still want us to be ready for customers.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Once work had finished, Kaze returned to his apartment complex building. Before he entered his own, though, a thought occurred to him.

Would the observatory be enough for her? I feel she should also get a material gift. …But what?

Kaze thinned his lips, but then decided to go three doors down to hear other opinions on the matter.

He gently knocked on the door, to which he was greeted by his four-year-old nephew Asugi.

“Hi, Uncle Kaze!” Asugi exclaimed.

Kaze smiled and got to the boy’s eye level, soon ruffling his black hair.

“Hello to you, too, Asugi.”

“Asugi, I told you not to open the door without asking who’s at it!” A woman with her long, black hair in a ponytail and bangs covering her face gently scolded him.

“I’m sorry, Mom…” Asugi pouted.

She sighed, but then paid attention to the man in question. “Oh, hello Kaze. Saizo won’t be home from the restaurant until later tonight.”

“Sorry to bother you, Kagero. I was actually hoping you could help me come up with a present for Corrin’s birthday.”

“Get her a bunch of candy!” Asugi exclaimed.

“Now now, we don’t want her to get cavities like you would,” Kagero smiled. “How about you go play in your room while I help your uncle?”

“Okay, but I hope I get candy for my birthday.”

With that, the boy closed the door, and Kagero offered Kaze a place to sit on the couch.

“Can I get you anything?” She asked in the small kitchen.

“No thank you, I’m fine,” Kaze replied.

And so, they sat opposite of each other.

“So, what do you need my help in?” Kagero asked.

“Has Corrin told you about anything she’s had her eye on? I assume Orochi must gossip about these sorts of things and you are her closest friend.”

“Then why not approach her?”

“She drains too much energy from me, if I’m being honest…”

“Yes, she does tend to do that. Let’s see… I believe last Tuesday she told me that she saw Corrin walk into Oboro’s boutique during her lunch break.”

“Interesting. …It’s not too expensive there, correct?”

Kagero held a laugh in.

“Fear not, Kaze. I’m sure you can afford her wares on your salary. After all, you don’t have to buy her a complete outfit.”

“Ah…yes. Good to know…”

“…You were planning on that, weren’t you?”

“N-no, of course not.”

He soon looked away from her to hide his embarrassment.

Kaze made note to thank his lucky stars, as the observatory was only fifteen minutes away from town. Professor Izana, although busy with his work, was surprisingly approachable and…quite eccentric.

He’s almost an exact clone of Orochi… Kaze remarked to himself.

As he told his story the good astronomer, Izana looked at him as if he were telling the juiciest gossip, and gasped at the end. He wholeheartedly agreed that Corrin should be treated to a night under the stars, and told Kaze he would clear everything up by next Saturday.

Kaze thanked him, but before he could leave, Izana asked him to go over whether he wanted a laser show or not.

At first, Kaze was confused as he entered the boutique. It was clearly made for women, and he had no idea which item Corrin solely focused on. What if he got her something she would think was ugly by accident? He was half tempted to call Kagero and ask her to go with him so she could give him her input, or to at least get Orochi’s number so he could talk with her about this.

The store’s owner, Oboro, herself eventually walked out to see what was wrong, and he explained his woes to the blue haired woman. She snickered, saying that men tended to be clueless about these sorts of things, but still offered her help. Oboro apparently recalled Corrin looking at a new black and white scarf, but told her that she couldn’t afford it yet.

Ah, now I see. This would match with her hair and favorite headband, Kaze thought.

Fortunately, Kaze actually had the money to purchase said scarf.

Corrin was the kind of girl who preferred sleeping in on the weekend, which made being a light sleeper sensitive to light and sound quite annoying. Such as the case when her phone buzzed on the nearby nightstand. She groaned and pulled her sheets over her head, further messing up her long, white hair, until she remembered:

OH, RIGHT! Today’s my birthday!

Birthday texts began flooding since last night at midnight, with the first sender being her mother of all people. With all the texts, though, Kaze had yet to message her. She was starting to get worried until she got a buzz.

you are free tonight yes?

Corrin squeaked. He was always so formal with her and she thought it was adorable.

yep~! ;3

Perfect. i’ll pick you up at 6. :-)

She had to remember that her cousin and roommate, Azura, was sleeping in the next room and to prevent screaming on the top of her lungs, she buried her head in her pillow and squealed. Corrin couldn’t really explain why she was as excitable as she was now. Normally, she felt more of a mature bond with her boyfriend of seven months, as she did her best to act her age around him, but today she felt like a high schooler all over again.

Azura had given Corrin an iTunes gift card for $50 along with a cute little card with an iguana on it before she had to head off for rehearsals. She received a Facetime chat with her “siblings” (family friend’s children) all the way in Nohr (in order: Xander, Camilla, Leo, and Elise) all wishing her a happy birthday before Xander had to leave for a business meeting. A few hours after breakfast and a quick shower, her stepsiblings of Hoshido (in order: Ryoma, Hinoka, Takumi, and Sakura) had coerced her to eating lunch with them and spending most of the afternoon in the local square.

“We wanted to plan a surprise party, but our restaurant has another party planned tonight,” Corrin’s red-headed older sister Hinoka sighed.

“Yes, one of our shareholders Anna decided to have a family reunion,” the man with the long, spiky black hair named Ryoma added.

“Nothing wrong with that, I’m glad I can spend time with you at all!” Corrin smiled.

Ryoma gave Corrin a commissioned painting of flowers, saying that Kagero had quite an eye when she was serious about her artwork. Hinoka presented a model aircraft, which at first confused everyone until Corrin told them that the two of them bonded over flight shows. Takumi did his best to act like he didn’t care when he gave his older half-sister a copy of the fourth book in The Illusionary Mages saga, one of their favorite series. And Sakura timidly gave Corrin a little pink plush dragon.

After doing some window shopping, Corrin had returned home to relax and continue reading birthday messages as she snacked away on her hidden junk food stash. Azura was a complete health nut, so she had to make sure she wouldn’t get any crazy ideas.

…Speaking of crazy ideas…

babe are we going to a fancy restaurant tonight? Corrin typed.

After a few minutes, a response appeared.

oh no i’m sorry :-(

Whew, I can eat before we go, then.

dont worry i still love you <3 we can hang out after this?

i would like that very much :-)

Corrin laughed to herself, he started typing with emoticons not too long after the two started dating and even after all this time, he was still doing the basics. She couldn’t wait to see how he would react to emojis.

A knock on the door was soon to be heard, and after doing some last minute touch-ups, Corrin took a deep breath and opened the door.

“HEY!” She exclaimed, soon launching herself into her boyfriend’s arms. Fortunately, Kaze was grounded well enough to not fall backward in this surprise attack.

“Happy birthday, dear,” Kaze said after sharing a short kiss and pressing his forehead against hers. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yep, let me just lock the door behind me. So, what do you have planned for tonight, hm?”

“That’s a surprise.”

“Ooh, this is gonna be good.”

Corrin bounced a little, which Kaze found utterly adorable.

Kaze once again made note to thank his lucky stars, as his roommate Silas had agreed to let him borrow the car for this occasion. Silas was a pleasant guy in general, but he was serious about his car. One time, someone scratched it and it took all of Silas’ willpower not to yell at the one responsible.

“Saizo wanted me to tell you happy birthday as well, as he’s busy at the restaurant tonight,” Kaze said as he opened Corrin’s door for her.

“Ah, okay. For a second there I thought he disliked me,” Corrin joked. “After all, Kagero and Asugi actually sent me a video with him not there.”

“He’s never been one for celebrations, if I’m to be honest.”

Because it was her birthday, Kaze allowed Corrin to listen to her favorite station. However, he still preferred a quiet car so he could focus more and be able to speak clearly without talking over whatever music Corrin was listening to.

“We’re heading out of town?” Corrin asked. “Oh gosh, oh gosh.”

Kaze chuckled a bit.

“Don’t worry, dear, I’m not planning anything malicious.”

“Kaze, you’re too sweet to do anything malicious. I’m just getting excited is all.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Plus you have to remember I’ve been taking that self-defense class.”

“I remember, poor Jakob had his back out for nearly three days when you demonstrated your prowess to me.”

Kaze made sure to park a little distance away from the observatory, as he wanted to surprise Corrin as much as he could. He wanted to have her eyes closed until they approached it, but anyone could see the observatory nearly a mile away with how big it was.

“I haven’t seen this place before,” Corrin said. “Is it new?”

Whew, the surprise isn’t completely ruined.

“It is for you,” Kaze smiled, once again opening Corrin’s door for her and holding his hand out for her to hold onto.

They approached the normal-looking doorway and into a slightly dark hallway. Kaze made sure to help Corrin up a spiral staircase, and they soon approached Professor Izana standing in front of his desk and a telescope.

“Welcome, welcome! I’m Professor Izana, but please call me Izana!” He eagerly shook Corrin’s hand.

“Oh, hello. I’m Corrin,” she laughed awkwardly. “Nice to meet you.”

“Very lovely to meet you, as well. Your boyfriend here wanted to make tonight extra special, so you must be quite the special little lady.”

“Uh, thank you…”

Kaze cleared his throat.

“Oh, right! We’re in for a real treat tonight, so please, head back downstairs and follow the light filled hallway to find your seats.”

“He sure is spontaneous,” Corrin whispered.

“Indeed,” Kaze remarked quietly. “Still a nice fellow, though. I promise.”

The two found their seats, which Corrin remarked was like a movie theater, and the dome ceiling slowly opened itself up. Corrin gasped as the night sky revealed itself, a very nice shade of navy blue mixed with a few lighter shades, clear of any clouds, and thanks to the lack of city lights, the stars could actually be seen.

“There’s so many,” Corrin said under her breath.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Kaze grinned as he held onto Corrin’s hand.

“They’re incredible!”

Corrin gasped once more when she noticed a shooting star. The first shooting star of that night, as it were.

“A meteor shower?! I can’t believe that the sky decided to give me a meteor shower for my birthday!”

Kaze was stunned, he certainly hadn’t planned for that to happen. He looked over to the window above him and noticed Izana giving him a thumb’s up.

Is this a special effect, then? Kaze thought.

“Oh, Kaze, this is wonderful!” Corrin exclaimed, soon wrapping her arms around Kaze’s shoulders and kissing his cheek in rapid succession.

“Well, I actually had another gift that I found the other day…” Kaze said as he tried to reach for the gift. Corrin halted after he spoke, and he managed to give her a small pink box with a black ribbon tied on it.

Corrin once again gasped (this must be a new record) as the black and white scarf appeared.

“OH MY… HOW DID YOU KNOW!?” Corrin squeaked.

“Let’s just say I had a friend to help.” Kaze pressed a small kiss on Corrin’s cheek this time. “Happy birthday, my love.”

Corrin felt like her heart could burst right out of her chest with how sweet Kaze was being. She immediately stood out of her seat and sat right on Kaze’s lap to wrap her arms around his shoulders once more and kiss him this time on the lips. …And repeated that action for a few minutes or so.

“Well now I have to find a way to make your birthday as special as this one,” Corrin spoke as she attempted to catch her breath.

“Honestly, you don’t have to…” Kaze blushed.

“But babe, you’re always such a sweetheart to me! Can’t I be a sweetheart to you?”

She gave him a big pair of puppy dog eyes and an overdramatic quivering lip. Kaze couldn’t help himself from laughing softly.

“Alright, I’ll let you do that. But just to let you know, I’ve always thought you were a sweetheart.”