#i enjoy drawing art that appeals to a variety of people

[miibrawlerfeet]

quick daily drawings (day 4 - i think???)

don't stare at him like that, you're making him nervous

[evelmiina]

I'm going to be asking a lot of artists I follow this question, but how did you develop your style? It SEEMS like most people find their style and stick with it forever, just making improvements and iterations. I tend to work in a lot of different styles because I enjoy doing that, though I know there are things I gravitate towards as well. But I wonder what your journey was and how you got feedback and improved while staying true to what you enjoyed?

Hi, thank you for asking. Sorry I cannot answer shortly it is kinda big subject

My style is just tons of little and big things that add up at some point in a way that simply makes sense to me. It is kind of like a personal sandbox or garden I've built and I can see what I can do there, what to add or remove and what to improve on. In my personal work I rarely ask outsiders for feedback but I am lucky to have partner and friends who I trust give me well constructed comments. Less on the style side and more like "that arm is wonky, here's how to fix it". I've never really had problem of being too swayed or persuaded by someone else's opinion on style or visuals and in fact I used to be a bit bad at taking criticism. I'm really thankful to having received kindness and patience even when I'd get sulky and dramatic. I really started to improve faster when I started to respect fundamental drawing skills, and it didn't take anything away from "me" or "my style". On the contrary. It's not always enjoyable to do art. With any work there are parts that are just processes and execution and after the kind of honeymoon period of simply loving creating, or being energized by new project fades, it becomes more about being able to appreciate parts of it and accepting sometimes it's not very fun I think an artist can have multiple "aha" style moments in their life, where they feel like everything clicks and they want to stay in that sandbox for some time. Internet makes it seem like in order to be good/successful artist one has to be a brand and only do this one thing, but it's not the full picture. I follow many artists who seem content in making just one specific niche, but I don't know what other artistic pursuits they have outside internet. I don't know if that style is their heart and soul, or just something that pays the bills. I post variety of things and I'm aware some have much wider appeal and some feel more interesting only to myself. I still try to pursue what feels most honest to myself and it is sometimes scary not knowing where it goes, feeling like I should stay safe and only focus on the successful thing. But I want to incorporate new things and see what comes out.

[amerricanartwork]

I saw your lilypad art post, and I got curious: why do you enjoy lilypad? it's not a common RW ship, so I'd be interesting to hear what about it you enjoy!

Hear me out, guys... I must explain myself before I get onto the Lilypad essay.

I made that original comment because, at the time, I wanted to just get the aforementioned headcanons out as soon as possible. Understand, my reluctance wasn't because I didn't want to talk about Lilypad, but rather the exact opposite: I had so many feelings about it, yet had put so little effort into expressing them in a coherent, presentable format that I just knew it'd distract me for the next week or two if I let it rent too much space in my conscious thoughts. But now that little comment has left me with several people asking me to share those thoughts, and, both thankfully and unfortunately, I simply can't resist indulging in thoughts about the characters I love—!

Keep in mind, I haven’t finished Saint campaign yet, and even then I’ve found like less than half the broadcasts in Spearmaster campaign yet, so there’s likely some extra canon info I may be missing that could add to or change some of what I say here. I also apologize if some of what I write here seems really out-of-character. I try not to let my passion for my little headcanons and scenarios make me disregard the canon, but even so, I might slip and think up some weird things occasionally. Nonetheless, I feel like I’ve got enough of the picture to start confidently enjoying this ship, so I’ll talk about it anyway! 

As always, feel free to add to these ideas if you can! Without further delay, enjoy this 3381-word essay, with a few initial headcanons sprinkled in, on why I adore Lilypad!

Oh, and just in case, if you couldn’t already tell, major Hunter campaign spoilers below.

Quetzalli on Loving Lilypad

I’m gonna start this out with a preface: I can generally find the appeal in a lot of different ships and the art other fans make for them, but for me to ship something enough to actively draw it and make my own headcanons about it and such (outside of, perhaps, gifts for other people), it usually has to contain a variety of “ship tropes” that I personally fancy. Many of my most-favorite ship tropes tend to be the ones that aren’t just cute, but that carry narrative significance and seem poetic in some way, usually because they can facilitate character arcs in the involved characters. The more of these a ship has, or the more ship tropes I can portray it with without it seeming too out-of-character, and the more I like those specific tropes, the better. This principle is a major reason why I’ve gravitated towards Artimand as my main slugcat ship, but for now, I’m going to focus on which of these I see in Lilypad — in canon content, other fan-portrayals, and my personal headcanons — that, as opposed to other iterator ships, has currently won me over.

I’m gonna describe the main general things I like seeing in this ship. Some of them are more due to fandom portrayals than what’s in the canon, but they all play a big role in my current love for Lilypad. 

Synergy

I’ll begin with how I really appreciate just how much synergy Looks to the Moon and No Significant Harassment are shown to have, at least in fan content! I always like seeing pairings where the characters aren’t just romantic, but also work really well together as a team or even just as friends. After all, just because the characters may be romantically in love doesn’t mean they must only show it in explicitly romantic ways. To me, Lilypad strikes me as a relationship where Sig and Moon would make an amazing team in many aspects of their lives, whether it's collaborating on projects, sharing their interests, or trying to maintain order in the rest of their group. And their compliment is just really sweet to me, though I’ll get to that later.

A Shoulder to Lean On/The Lady

One of my favorite ship tropes is “character with a lot of weight on their shoulder who finally gets to lift it off and be ‘normal’ for once when around the other”. I’ve always found it sweet when characters like this, especially ones who are normally very selfless, finally get a chance to indulge and enjoy themselves for once! And once again, this is another thing I imagine in Artimand too, and you could project this onto Trafficlights given Suns’s implied high status, but I think it works especially with Lilypad, given Moon’s role as group senior means she objectively has a lot to manage all the time with no permanent escape from it. Even beyond the whole Five Pebbles rot drama, Moon probably had a lot on her plate just in terms of maintaining order between the rest of the group and setting a good example to the younger generations, especially as the group expanded over time, not to mention trying to find the solution herself. Combine this with how I picture her to be the kind of person who cares a lot about her image as a “proper” and  “dignified” leader, and someone who often sacrifices her own desires to promote the group’s welfare, I just find it really soft for her to have someone to lean on, metaphorically (and in a worm-off-the-string scenario, literally), and who better to go to than her best teammate, who knows the power of a good laugh and will stop at nothing to have fun with those he loves? Not to mention, since I headcanon Sig as slightly younger than Moon (2nd gen, specifically), I just find it rather cute in an ironic sense that the older, more serious Moon is soft around the younger, far more chaotic Sig, especially as Moon would go through the realization that she actually kinda likes this little troublemaker! 

This also comes back to something I mentioned in the tags of that beepsnort post, which is that one of my other favorite ship tropes is “guy who loves/is good at making people laugh x girl who has a REALLY weird/embarrassing laugh”, and that just works so well with Lilypad! It’s admittedly a very headcanon-based thing for me, but given how I’ve already explained my perception of Moon as very proper and serious, I imagine one of the best ways Sig takes the weight off her shoulders is by being the only person who can consistently make her laugh so hard! And with the beepsnort headcanon it’s even cuter, because of course Moon would be super embarrassed every time she even so much as gives a half-chuckle at one of his jokes, because Sig is relentless when it comes to getting the giggles out of her, and he won’t stop until she’s rolling and shaking on the floor of her chamber, her beepy-snorts filling the room! My GODDD I love this trope so much, and for beings who are inherently such workaholics, I think getting to genuinely relax and have fun for a bit, once she gets over the initial shock and embarrassment, would be something Moon would really come to value.

Inverses Attract/The Tramp

I’ve mentioned it in my last Artimand headcanons post, but one of my absolute all-time favorite ship tropes is the classic “opposites attract”, although I prefer the name “inverses attract”. As I like to portray it, the trope not only involves characters who are opposites personality-wise, but those being opposites of the same core aspect, and ultimately helping balance each other out by offering the other half of the equation to each other (hence the name “inverses”). The trope I just wrote about above is how Sig helps Moon to relax and have fun, but as I try to do with all ships, how does it work the other way too? Well, I really like to imagine Sig learning to be more openly serious and dedicated! Don’t get me wrong, Sig is a hard worker (it’s pretty much the nature of all iterators), but given he seems to pretty strongly reject the quest for the Triple Affirmative, I imagine the next problem would be in him finding a new purpose to strive for. And what better new purpose than in standing by and protecting the group senior he thinks he just might wanna be more than friends with?

It already works because Moon, of course, would work to keep Sig in check and make sure he doesn’t go too overboard with his shenanigans. But just imagine how inspired he’d grow over time seeing Moon work so hard to keep the group together and keep them striving for their purpose, even if he doesn’t agree with it. I imagine it’s why Sig’s methods are still rather controlled rather than purely chaotic, and there’s a reason to his rebellion. Thanks to Moon, rather than slaving away at a seemingly impossible solution until his mind collapses with his structure, he’ll use his talents to, at the very least, keep the local group together as long as possible, because even if they’ll all be gone one day, that doesn’t mean they have to go alone!

It’s why I’m also labeling these two tropes together as “the Lady and the Tramp”, yet another ship dynamic that gets me every time! It’s a specific instance of “inverses attract” where the noble, proper lady finds a taste of freedom and courage from the dangerously charming tramp, who from her finds a new sense of purpose and honor! And in my opinion, Lilypad is most definitely the best opportunity for this dynamic among Rain World ships!

The Fated Couple

Slow-burn couples seem to be pretty popular in many fandoms, but what about a really slow-burn? There’s something just so romantic to me about the idea that Moon and Sig, from the moment they met, have always just clicked so perfectly, and have been by each other’s side so constantly ever since, to the point it seems practically inevitable to everyone (except them of course) that they’ll eventually get together romantically. Of course, there are two main roadblocks to their romance being 1.) their whole objective and purpose for being created is kind-of fundamentally opposed to strong attachments like love (I mean, if Karma 3 is Companionship, wouldn’t romantic love be considered the worst example of that?), and 2.) even if they did reject this purpose, being massive immovable structures with the only humanoid part stuck deep inside a box, a budding romance seemingly couldn’t really go anywhere anyway. In fact, because of these roadblocks much of my Lilypad imaginings take place in the ever-popular “worm-off-the-string” scenario, especially since the next couple of reasons for why I like the ship play a lot into the themes I like to incorporate in this story concept. 

However, these issues towards such a romance are also what make it so sweet in the end! Just think of Moon, alone in her chamber, beginning to worry about how she’s actually kinda sorta, maybe, hypothetically, possibly, just a little bit starting to like the carefree and charismatic Gen 2 in the local group as even more than just a work partner and a dear friend, but oh no, that’s indulging in a Karmic Sin, and as group senior she can’t just throw away their purpose like that and set such a bad example to the rest! What’s she gonna do?? And then on the other side, Sig puzzling in his chamber, pining so hard for the group senior yet seemingly unable to confess, because, even disregarding Karma 3 and the fact that giant immobile calculators aren’t about to be snuggling any time soon, why would someone as perfect and powerful as her want someone like him, so dismissive of their core purpose and unorthodox in his methods? Is there even a point in having these feelings at all, when they might very well end up simply fading to dust along with the rest of his structure?

Maybe, they both think, it’d be better to just keep these feelings to themselves and quietly love from a distance. That is, until…

Moon’s Collapse and the Slag Reset Keys

The fourth reason is, of course, the most steeped in canon. It goes back a bit to the “shoulder to lean on” concept, but even aside from that, there is something just so romantic about this on both sides.

Firstly, from Moon’s perspective. There’s no doubt that the collapse must have been very traumatic for Looks to the Moon physically, but I like to think about just how much it’d affect her emotionally, too. I mean, being so painfully destroyed by your own brother, with seemingly nothing that can be done to stop it and no one to help you? And then consider how lonely it must have been in her final moments. The only comfort she does get is from Spearmaster’s visit, and even then she sends him off to go deliver her final words, which has still got to be really depressing. And finally, think about how betrayed she must have felt, trying so hard throughout her operation to help her citizens and the local group and be kind to everyone, only to have it be repaid like this, forced to collapse in on herself, being buried under her own body, unfathomable pain all around, and with not a soul to help her.

So then, think about just how shocking and heartwarming (literally, if you think about it) it must be when that lovable Gen 2, always so playful and carefree normally, is the one to give her a second chance and being her back when all hope seems lost, and using such a unique delivery method no less! I mean COME ON, Sig literally brought her back to life, how could one NOT fall in love with someone who did that for them? It links back to the “shoulder to lean on” idea, in that, for once, someone finally looked out for Moon and gave back to her for all the kindness she gave to the world. Think about this as the moment she truly realizes she’s in love with No Significant Harassment, and how tragic it’d be knowing now, it’s too late to say it. But, even so, if he’s willing to go this far to make sure she’s okay, then maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance her love at least wasn’t alone.

Now, my thoughts about this from No Significant Harassment’s side (which also kinda turned into a mini NSH appreciation paragraph that links back to the earlier Inverses Attract and Lady and the Tramp segment), I think it’s very poetic to see him going out of his way to take his messenger concept, originally used for no more than a trivial prank and at most a very experimental and unfinished alternative communication method, and turning it into a noble last-ditch effort to rescue the one he loves. It doesn’t just clearly show how much he cares for Moon that he worked to save her when no one else did (and if that’s because the odds of being able to do anything seemed very low to the rest of them, that makes it even more sweet) I think it shows off a lot of Sig’s character beyond just being a jokester. Like, I’d seen this kind of personality for Sig in the fandom content before, but this action and the other broadcasts are what first made me truly realize not just that it is based in canon, but that, more importantly he’s not just stupid or unfocused, he’s rebellious. He doesn’t joke around because he just doesn’t care, it’s because he’s independent, he’s got other places he wants to go and plans that don’t fit into what most of his peers are used to. He makes light of the world because he sees what others don’t, and it’s honestly pretty frickin’ funny how blind others can be most of the time (case-in-point: him making a slugcat from a messenger, which no one else thought to do because those creatures seemed too “dull” and “primitive” to ever be capable of such a thing). So think about how significant it must be when he’s openly taking something seriously. This is where that dynamic of the Tramp, and how Sig would benefit from this relationship is really highlighted. I just adore it when the easygoing, carefree character finally finds purpose in their lover, and springs into serious action like they never were before! And it makes sense too given what I said about them not getting together before: seeing Moon collapse would show him directly that even beings as durable as iterators don’t last forever, so if he’s got these feelings for Moon, he’s got to make a move while there’s still a chance! And what better way to show his love than to bring her back when all hope seems lost? Which brings me to the final aspects I’ll talk about here, first of which is…

True Love’s Kiss

Yes, you read that right. The real reason I love the slag reset keys as a plot element so much is not just because it shows Sig’s secret strength of character, not just because it finally gives reward to Moon’s kindness, but because it is a real fairytale come true! 

I know this sounds crazy and probably totally unrelated to Rain World, but think about it! You guys have probably seen Snow White and Sleeping Beauty before, or at least one of the two? Isn’t the whole trope that the beautiful princess, fairest maiden in the land, gets cursed through some means or another to die (or in Aurora’s case, fall into an indefinite sleep), which is only undone when the strong and brave prince, riding upon his noble steed, awakens the princess by giving her true love’s kiss? I already love both those movies on their own for various other reasons, but after my description, is this starting to sound familiar in another way?

I mean, with everything I’ve said about Moon in this post so far, there’s no doubt you could perceive her as the “fair princess”, who through unfortunate circumstances is put to a premature and indefinite death. And there’s no doubt Sig fills the role of the brave prince by working to save her with the slag reset keys, which in this metaphor are undoubtedly the “true love’s kiss” that ultimately conquers all, always longed for, and finally delivered! And hey, given Hunter is the one to carry the keys to Moon, a small yet courageous beast who stops at nothing to meet his goals, Sig even has his own “noble steed”! And even if Hunter is technically the one to actually deliver the green neuron, and the death the “princess” succumbs to wasn’t out of genuine malice towards her, I think the sentiment is still there and the parallel is close enough! 

But yes, as strange as it may sound, the fairytale parallel is the main reason Lilypad resonates with me so much! Those classic fairytale-esque romance tropes and that poetic storytelling found in Disney’s first feature-length animated films has always been dear to my heart, and is even more so now that I’m older and can truly appreciate the beauty of them. So now, even in my fandom experiences, ships that win my appreciation over all others are often those that manage to embody those classic romance tropes and themes as best as possible, and frankly, even Artimand loses ever-so-slightly to Lilypad in this regard! Or, as I also enjoy calling them, “Lifeline”, for reasons that are probably obvious now. 

And it’s even better when you consider…

Some Things Never Change

Another trope I’ve recently begun to love is the idea that some phenomena in the world never truly disappear, but simply manifest in different ways, sometimes unexpected ones. And given the whole Triple Affirmative quest and the Ancients’ mass ascension philosophy, this idea is something I especially love seeing in Rain World content. Even the canon events show this idea, but think about how wonderfully it would work with Lilypad beyond just the slag reset keys, especially taking up that “worm off the string” iterator AU concept some have explored in this fandom already.

Just think about how sweet it would be when Moon and Sig, operating primarily through their puppets now, get to finally hug and kiss and be with each other so directly now! Think of the way Sig would speak to Moon about how, even after her collapse, she's still somehow beautiful as ever, and Moon returning with how even all the trouble the group has faced hasn't put a dent in his charm! And it's even sweeter when you consider it’s against everything their creators stood for! Think of Moon, after everything she’s been through and how much she’s probably changed at this point, now willing to give some of these “worldly attachments” a chance, because you can never truly get rid of them, but she knows better than anyone that you won’t be around to experience them forever, so why not enjoy it while you’ve got the chance? And it’d make sense too, not just for her own benefit, but for Pebbles and the rest of the group’s sake too! She’s always strove to set a good example for them, and since their original quest has left them with nothing but pain and trauma, why not show them that maybe all these attachments aren’t so bad after all?

I just think it’d be really interesting to see Moon joining Sig in that rejection of the Triple Affirmative, and what better way to do that than by finally embracing that love they’ve felt for each other for so long? Because love never truly dies, it just appears in new people. And maybe they don’t have to spend their whole lives as grand iterators, the vast infinitely-advanced mechanical deities who embody perfection in almost every way. Maybe, even just for a bit, they can just be people, falling in love just as their creators did all over again!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

And with that, I think I’m FINALLY done here. HOLY COW, this is easily my longest post yet, and I hope it doesn’t disappoint! Part of the reason it took so long was because I was trying to find the perfect way to express all these ideas without it just spilling out onto the page in some weird half-coherent mess. But eventually I just said “ah screw it, let’s just ramble about this ship and see where it goes!” and my god, did it go far! And I still managed to somewhat organize it, so yay!

But aside from that, thank you SO MUCH to everyone who asked for my thoughts on Lilypad, and everyone who made it to the bottom of this essay! I’ve never really gotten a chance to openly ramble about one of my favorite ships to the rest of the fandom like this, so seeing that some fans, even if it’s ultimately not a huge amount, actually wanted me to do it was such a welcome surprise!

I hope you all enjoyed the drawings and the art! I’ll be around in case someone wants me to write another ship essay or something! And who knows, it’s likely I’ll find more reasons I like Lilypad as time goes on and I see more fan-content and find the rest of those broadcasts! But at least this was a starting point! 

Expect more LIlypad content to come in the future, but until now, thanks again for the opportunity!

[melonchanverse]

KHR OC QUESTION [MURAKAMI SIBLINGS]

i did it! i really liked the questions in this post, so decided to do the same with my characters. it's insanely fun to answer them, always come up with something new sometimes too 😭🫶🏻

@einsatzzz @social-muffin tagging you cause you asked!

General Questions:

1. What is their name? Their pronouns? Age? Gender identity? Sexuality? (if any of that matters lmao)

Name: Murakami Ichiro

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 15

Gender: Male

Sexuality: regular couple? yaoi couple? yuri couple? i see no difference love is love

Name: Murakami Nadeko (Nadeshiko)

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 14

Gender: Female

Sexuality: i may not show it but being attracted to hibari men really be giving me brain damage

Name: Murakami Itsuki

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 12

Gender: Male

Sexuality: no

2. Are they somehow related to another khr character? In what way?

Murakami family is one of the few Yakuza families that Tsuna has encountered in the mafia world. Unlike many other families, Murakami do not have a clear connection to Italian mafia, which means that having their young bosses meet could be beneficial for both sides, as predicted by Reborn. Murakami serve as additional characters that help Tsuna expand his understanding of the mafia world beyond what he already knows and add variety to his already unpredictable daily life.

3. What does your oc look like? Do you have any art of them? Picrew also welcomed! Ai art... Not preferred >:/

picrew for Ichiro, Nadeko and Itsuki!

Also I have this horrible messy sketch with three of them. I need to draw them properly… no idea how Ichiro’s hair works 💀💀💀💀

4. What are their relationships to other khr characters? Pairings you like with your oc? Adopted siblings and parents maybe?

Ichiro: It is evident that Ichiro shares a close relationship with Tsuna and frequently spends time with his inner circle. Ichiro's sociable and communicative nature is well-known to many at school and this includes Tsuna who sees him as a supportive and experienced senior who gives him guidance on life within the mafia (which makes his life more chaotic at times). Additionally, Ichiro has a good relationship with Yamamoto as he frequently assists various clubs in their activities.

Nadeko: Like Ichiro, she is a popular student in school because of her image as a perfect and impeccable student. She interacts frequently with the main cast, although she doesn't necessarily enjoy it. Nadeko appeals to younger children like Lambo and I-Pin because she is kind to them, and she also faces Hibari, who is one of the few people who can see beyond her facade as a diligent student. It's as if she is a predator masquerading as a herbivore.

Itsuki: Itsuki regularly interacts with the main cast primarily due to his relationship with Ichiro and Nadeko. He occupies a middle ground because he typically does not openly initiate communication and has difficulty expressing himself compared to the other siblings. While he doesn't have much interaction with Tsuna, he has formed a bond with Haru, first meeting her through Tsuna. Itsuki shows a knack for interacting with children, particularly Futa, and he likely engages with them more than with others.

5. Actually what's the family situation of your oc? Do they have siblings that's a background character perhaps? (example: sometimes I give Kusakabe Tetsuya a brother)

From their last name, it is clear that the three of them are siblings who share a less than ideal family situation. Raised by babysitters, tutors, and occasionally by their grandfather, their parents are either deceased or disinterested in their well-being. Among all their caretakers, Ryo, their current caretaker and literally everything else, in Namimori, is the most normal. Their grandfather did a fine job as a Boss, but as a parent, he is horrible. The only commendable thing he did was sending them to Namimori to experience a relatively normal life. Unfortunately, this didn't quite work out as intended.

6. Does your oc have a mental illness? Neurodivergencies? Other disabilities? At what age did they get these disabilities if they weren't born with them?

....Yes.... they have..... hahahahahaha.... Let's move on to the next question, otherwise if i take this one apart it's going to take a bunch of time

7. If they had a super power what would it be?

Tough question, there are a lot of superpowers I could give them..... Well, let's say:

Ichiro: Magma Manipulation

Nadeko: Flower Petal Manipulation

Itsuki: Telepathy

KHR Specific Questions

1. What's their flames? And how many flames do they have? One? More? None?

Ichiro: Sky Flame

Nadeko: Storm Flame (predominant); Sky Flame

Itsuki: Mist Flame

2. How do they use their flames? If they have one.

Ichiro and Nadeko infuse it into their weapons, but Itsuki lacked any conventional weaponry. In the future, he would rely more heavily on illusions. He may not be a professional illusionist, but the potential for growth is there.

3. If they don't have a flame, how do they fight? Do they fight at all?

Ichiro: He is proficient with the naginata and can swiftly adapt to using any available long stick as a substitute. However, his skills are not limited to weapons alone; he also excels in hand-to-hand combat, delivering painful blows with precision and force.

Nadeko: Although she is skilled in self-defense techniques, Nadeko's preference is to wield her cherished katana as her primary choice of weapon.

Itsuki: Among his siblings, Itsuki is the least combat-oriented. He only possesses basic self-defense skills, and lacks conventional weapons. In a critical situation, he may have to rely on his quick-wittedness in hopes of evading danger until help arrives.

4. If they can't fight for any reason, what's their preferred method of self defense?

Ichiro: Fight till the bitter end! He embraces the art of never giving up, and is willing to risk himself, even down to the last drop of blood. For him, giving up is not an option!

Nadeko: If she recognizes that her chances of winning are slim, she will attempt to extricate herself from the conflict with any means necessary. Winning is also an option if the situation allows. In the end, it all depends on the circumstances at play.

Itsuki: Prior to developing his illusion-based abilities, Itsuki is generally not inclined towards conflict and will typically avoid engaging in fights whenever possible. However, if the situation truly requires it, he may stand his ground and make use of his wits in an attempt to gain the upper hand.

KHR Character Questions:

1. How much does Tsuna want to protect your oc upon first meeting them? After knowing them a minute, is Tsuna now scared of them or worried about them?

Upon first meeting these three, Tsuna would likely exhibit a desire to shield them from the dark side of the mafia due to their unfortunate circumstances. Following a brief interaction, however, his perception of them would swiftly evolve. He would come to trust and respect Ichiro as a reliable senior, albeit someone who occasionally loses restraint. Nadeko would invoke both awe and fear in Tsuna sometimes, while Itsuki would be seen more as a calm and friendly individual.

2. Does Reborn think they're pathetic or does he have a slight respect for them? If he suddenly appeared out of a wall-hole, how would your oc react?

Ichiro: He has all the qualities that a good boss needs, and is able to help Tsuna grow. However, he still has room to grow and learn.

Nadeko: Takes on more than she can handle. A little pathetic.

Itsuki: Has a lot of opportunities for development and growth. Could become an important figure in the mafia world if he wanted to.

3. Would Hibari Kyoya be able to stand being in a room with them for five minutes? How long do they last in a fight against him?

Ichiro: He’s a pretty outgoing guy, but very aware of which people he shouldn't touch. But he'd love to get into a fight with Hibari. Unfortunately for the rest.

Nadeko: It's Nadeko, not Hibari, who probably couldn't stand it. He sees right through her, which annoys Nadeko quite a bit and he tries his best to provoke her into a fight. Nadeko holds out, but very poorly.

Itsuki: They just sit in silence.

4. Would your oc go off rambling about crytids with Gokudera? If yes, which is their fave cryptid?

Ichiro: Knows about cryptids from Miyako. Has no idea what it is, but would love to hear about it! Again.

Nadeko: No, Nadeko isn't really interested in that, and she and Gokudera have a... Strained relationship.

Itsuki: Not only due to his connection to Miyako, but also because of his personal interest, Itsuki proves to be quite adept at discussing and understanding cryptids and urban legends. Though his primary interest lies within Japanese urban lore, he is still eager to engage in conversations about the supernatural and mysterious topics.

5. Would Skull try to flirt with them? Would he score a date? Pity date or genuine interest?

With a date and flirt i think the answer is clear for three of them and it’s no 😭😭😭

6. How loud does your oc cheer when Yamamoto hits a home run? What if the ball hit them?

Ichiro: His overwhelming support for his friends and family could often make others feel awkward due to its enthusiastic and unabashed nature. Whenever Yamamoto took center stage, Ichiro would be right there in the first row, shouting encouragement with fervor and holding up cheering placards. Will the ball hit him? It's okay! He'll catch.

Nadeko: Her approach to supporting her friends, such as Yamamoto, is somewhat more reserved and composed. She prefers to offer her regards and well wishes beforehand and may only engage in mild cheers during the actual event.

Itsuki: Like his sister, Itsuki tends to take a more peaceful approach to supporting others and, in this case, would simply offer his well wishes and observe the game attentively. Loud cheering isn't part of Itsuki's repertoire, and he doesn't always enjoy such events altogether.

7. Would your oc be able to last an hour watching over Lambo, I-pin and Fuuta? What if they all had sugar beforehand?

Ichiro: Of course! Ichiro, being the cheerful and fun-loving individual he is, would happily offer to babysit the little ones. However, the safety and well-being of the children under his care during such an endeavor is another matter.

Nadeko: The kids generally adore Nadeko, but her approach is a bit more disciplined compared to Ichiro. She's less likely to let them do whatever they wish, and Futa and I-Pin can usually be made to listen to her directions. However, Lambo can sometimes be a bit of a wild card, causing some difficulties when it comes to keeping him under control.

Itsuki: Indeed, Itsuki would also take part in entertaining and engaging with the children, with Futa especially taking a particular liking to him. He has a knack for finding activities to keep them occupied, even managing to engage the excitable Lambo in something other than causing mischief.

8. What food would Sawada Nana cook for your oc? What's their favourite food? Drink?

Ichiro: His relationship with spice is quite remarkable — he enjoys food that's so fiery it challenges even the strongest stomach. If you find your meal for him isn't spicy enough, don't worry! He carries his beloved hot sauce everywhere, ready to add an extra kick to any dish. Interestingly, the only exception is sweets — those Ichiro leaves unadorned with his spicy condiment. So yeah. Poor Tsuna

Nadeko: She harbors a deep affection for traditional Japanese sweets, particularly mochi, dango, and taiyaki. However, she isn't limited to just those options and would happily indulge in sweet cakes or cookies accompanied by a comforting cup of tea.

Itsuki: His true love lies in noodles — he enjoys udon especially, but would also happily consume soba or ramen. His taste isn't restricted to only one type of noodle. Itsuki doesn't have a particularly strong sweet tooth, yet he won't turn down a slice of apple pie. He also loves honey

That's it! I hope it was interesting. Next up will be Kaguya, Miyako, and Kei!

[smenvs3000f24]

Unit 4, Blog #1

The “gift of beauty” is explained in the textbook as the idea that interpretation should give people the ability and desire to find beauty in their surroundings, also enforcing spiritual uplift and the value of resource preservation. I feel this would be a very personal and important aspect of any nature interpretation I carry out in the future as nature, beauty, and art are very closely linked in my mind. As I discussed in the Unit One posts, nature has been a source of inspiration for much of the artistic media I have engaged in, both through attempting to capture the true beauty of nature, and through combining personal interests and interpretations (such as with the childhood sketch I posted in a previous blog entry).

The nuance and range in art depicting nature, even just based on Canada, is very interesting to consider. It can show how perspective, culture, and experiences can shape the artistic process for many people and result in such unique interpretations of the same landscape. The distinctions between the arts of various Indigenous communities, older works from the Group of Seven, and modern interpretive nature art highlight this. I believe this also indicates how important a variety of art is for effective nature interpretation, as some people may connect to one type of art, while others will be unmoved by it. This is crucial to consider as art has a strong capacity to promote interest and emotion related to a subject. Appealing or thought-provoking art could be an important draw for some people to engage with the environment and interpretive experiences to form deeper connections and understandings.

Something that comes to mind immediately when discussing the intersection of art and nature is the environmental art by Andy Goldsworthy. One of his most popular art pieces that some people likely recognize is the glowing tree roots, as shown below, though he does have a fairly extensive catalogue of works.

^Fallen leaves placed surrounding the roots of a sycamore tree (Andy Goldsworthy, 2013).

The idea of his works is one that represents the ephemeral value of nature’s beauty in an artistic lens, effectively combining the discussion topics here. He aims to create art that will exist temporarily within nature, constructed out of nature’s own elements. This is very impactful to me as it demonstrates the beauty that can be found around us if we are able to appreciate it.

I also believe nature itself has such a wide variety of beauty that it can be appreciated by anyone, regardless of what type of beauty they are hoping to see. Whether a person wants a stunning, humbling view such as a massive waterfall or incredible sunset; or a more peaceful view, such as a river or tranquil forest; there will be something each person can enjoy. This can also lead people to want to return to nature interpretation events if the different sights or seasons are advertised as unique experiences.

I am greatly looking forward to reading everyone’s posts and replies on this unit as it is such a personal subject with so many angles to consider.

[x-adoringvoid-x]

🧛‍♀️ - Vampire AU

I had a lot of thoughts for this! It took awhile to figure out exactly what I wanted. I have some more ideas but I think I’ll just add them on to this later when/if I decide to. Also, someone asked for a Romantic Comedy AU…I have no idea what to do for that. I’m so sorry, my brain just isn’t wired like that! I’ll think more about it but I apologize in advance if I don’t have a response to it

Yeah, I don’t know if I’ll ever be happy with how I draw myself. The skeleton face thing was inspired by Hone Onna from Hell Girl! I thought it would be a cool way of keeping the skeleton trait in this universe. It’s ghostly! It’s not a very useful vampire ability though.

I thought about making Hadri a bug at first but it’s hard to deny the appeal of a classic bat vampire. Wings are hard to draw…but they’re fluffy and cute! They can still shapeshift too, since that’s a cool vampire trait.

In this universe, Hadri is sort of that trope of the First Vampire. I don’t have the specifics planned out but they’re an ancient creature that can transfer abilities to others through blood. They’ve turned a lot of other people but they didn’t get the community they were hoping for. One of them stays with them and works as their Tailor but they aren’t really close. Just associates. Hadri lives with him in a big abandoned castle. Every now and then, Hadri leaves to go get more blood.

I’m a normal woman living in town but I don’t really get along with my family so I leave home. I’m not able to take much with me and I realize that I’m woefully unprepared for the path I’m taking. I keep walking, getting more lost, running out of supplies. Eventually I can’t do anything but rest and enjoy the quiet forest. It’s a nice moment. And then I die!

Hadri finds me awhile later. They’re curious why someone would be all the way out here. They scoop me up and take me back to the castle because it’s a perfect opportunity to try something they’ve been experimenting with: raising the dead. And it works! Unfortunately I didn’t get any cool vampire powers but I am alive, so that’s something. Hadri is surprised to see I’m so calm about the vampire stuff and even more that I’m grateful and want to help them. I can’t do much since I’m so weak so the only thing they can think to do is to offer me a role as a maid.

Our relationship is pretty close. Hadri thinks I’m so interesting since they don’t really get a look into human life often. They also think my appetite for blood is funny (I like my steak pretty rare, combined with new vampire cravings I don’t think blood would bother me much). I’m a little scared of them at first but they don’t give me a reason to stay afraid of them so I’m fairly open with them. Honestly…I think they’d fall in love first. I just don’t think this version of me would even be thinking about having a relationship. Hadri would probably not bring it up either for a variety of reasons. I don’t have a clear idea of how we would get together here but it would probably be a ‘feelings accidentally revealed’ - ‘oh hey that would actually be really cool’ kind of situation.

Anyway, I don’t know how I will do things with this but I want to! This is being microwaved in my mind somewhere. I think it’s kind of interesting because my oc universe is usually very Soul based and this is like a Blood based version of that! Except I am also there and involved more. (I have no idea how I’d work myself into the normal canon lol)

Oh also, I just want to mention that I love the DS Castlevanias. I used to just explore randomly on my brother’s completed files. Soma Cruz is really cool! Such pretty art and cool monster designs. I don’t remember much about Castlevania these days though :p

Thanks for the ask! I hope this was interesting to read!

[mauesartetc]

Hi so I wanna know if any good ways to draw humans because when I try to draw them, they come out weird look but at the same time I also find any type of people boring and ugly to draw and I feel kinda bad because it, so if you have any tip to fix this problem I'll be every thankful.

btw I like art, it's really good

(Sorry it took so long to answer this; it's just one of those questions that requires a thorough response.)

Thanks! I guess the first step is unpacking what specifically you find boring about drawing them. But it never hurts to know how to exaggerate expressions. You may have heard the phrase "squash and stretch" in an animation context, but you can also apply it when you're drawing faces.

I mentioned this in a previous post as well, but tilting the facial axis even a little bit will make the drawing so much more lifelike than it would have been otherwise.

It also helps to think of a particular expression you enjoy drawing. I'm partial to forced smiles, personally. It's a fun contrast when the mouth says one thing while the eyes say something entirely different.

In addition, it's okay to "cheat" facial anatomy a bit if you need to. Something I figured out recently is that expressions can have more life and appeal if you draw the mouth before the nose. Mapping out realistic proportions in how the nose relates to the other facial features is all well and good. But of all the features, the nose has the least to do with expressing emotion, so it's okay to de-emphasize it as needed.

You may also be familiar with the "straights against curves" concept, but I find it very useful in making human anatomy more fun to draw, especially for arms and legs.

And I don't know about you, but I've always found the idea of drawing the same pretty face and petite body over and over about as exciting as reading the phone book. Some variety keeps things interesting not just for artists, but for viewers as well.

If you're better at drawing animals, why not draw some humans inspired by animals? That can result in some pretty unique-looking faces.

(The movie "The Triplets of Belleville" is a good example of this, featuring certain characters with a symbolic link to horses and one character who was clearly modeled after a mouse. It also has an intriguing, caricature-like art style in general, making everyone look simultaneously elegant and repulsive.)

You say your humans come out weird-looking? Embrace the weird. That's a great way to set your work apart from everything else out there. Joe Cappa is a prime example of this. His purposefully amateurish and at times off-putting art style is a perfect fit for the offbeat humor in his videos. He's created his own unique flavor of animation and I adore him for it.

Sure, it's important to know the rules of anatomy before you break them, but where's the fun in pressuring yourself to produce a perfect drawing every time? Where's the fun in doing every single thing by the book without leaving any room for play or experimentation? Don't be afraid to get abstract now and then. Think of it not so much as drawing people, but drawing emotions.

Hope that helps!

[niseag-reads]

Knock Knock by Frisson Comics, an observation

I'll come clear before saying anything else about this book: I don't like horror, and this is a collection of horror short stories in the form of comics and proze. I am not the target audience for this book, but I was interested as it was sold to me as a collection of folk tales, and I am a folklorist by academic training. I also enjoy art and supporting upcoming artists, so I don't regret buying this little book.

Over 102 pages, a variety of stories is presented, ranging from single page to 4 pages long. The comics are artsy, and the different drawing styles each have their own ways of invoking a sense of emotion, some of them particularly good at feeling uncanny. The proze is...less visually appealing. Multiple of the short stories are printed in a tiny, thin font that is hard to read to me, despite my vision being quite good. I imagine that to someone with worse vision, this might be an actual obstacle.

Story wise, my dislike of horror will likely be getting in the way of unbiased judgement on the writing. I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. I liked Fever Dream for its unique artstyle and simplistic yet impactful story. I also enjoyed Giant's Toe, which confused me but had a certain air of intrigue about it. The Horoscopes were an interesting inclusion that I found quite an appealing and novel way of setting up a horror story.

The Witch's bothy was the only story I immediately recognised as local to me personally, and I liked this one a lot. It is not often that the stories of selkies are told from a perspective like this, someone not involved in the contract of the Fey but being roped and terrorised in regardless. This is probably my favourite from the book.

The poem The Witch's Hour was not spectacular as poetry, but I wish to mention it anyway as I very much liked its inclusion. Poetry is not a form of storytelling often appreciated in modern fiction, but it is an important form of storytelling in folklore so the inclusion was a nice surprise.

The seller did tell me most of the folkloric stories are from England, so that may be why I didn't find a lot of recognition in the themes, though the inclusion of a story about a wendigo does betray that this is not only stories from the UK, which leads me to wonder about the origin of the other stories. Indeed, I would have liked to have any kind of background for these stories at all, an introduction or footnote of some variety telling me what the authors inspiration had been.

All in all, an interesting little art book that I think some people will absolutely adore. I am not one of those people, but I appreciate it anyway.

3 stars. Recommended for those that enjoy a unique take on horror.

[fragposting]

I've been trying to poke at my interest in fragrances and why it delights me so much more than other forms of art

I suppose objectively I can be considered an 'artist' but I don't apply that label to myself for a variety of reasons, chief of which is that on the scale of 'process' to 'product' maker (no idea if that's a thing outside of knitting circles. Whatever) I'd put myself much closer to process than product, meaning if I don't delight in the making of something there's a low chance I'll make it. Extrapolating from this -> creativity, discovery, and enjoyment are much more important to me than whether the end result is pleasing.

I've known about myself for a loooong time the process/product scale is a big part of what stops me relating to artists - I just see so many of them so stressed out about the product and slogging through the process I question whether they actually like what they're doing.

(Aside 1 - Guessing in some part it's because the people saying these things are just used to letting off a little steam around like minded people; I'm aware I'm well into the minority here.) (Though I can't stop thinking about that one post that said to pick up a hobby you hate more than writing if you want to motivate yourself to write.)

(Aside 2 - I know the antidote to this is to engage with more artists. I hope some people out there enjoy their hobbies.)

Asides aside, what draws me to perfumes and what makes engaging with ones that don't smell appealing or unobtrusive are in large part due to the freedom that comes with differences in how smell is perceived. A perfume on my arm smells different to both me and my friend, and the same perfume sprayed on her arm will smell different to me when I compare it to what's on my skin. And that's not considered a failure of the perfume or either of us - it's just a thing that happens!

'Rules' around what fragrances to wear exist in some capacity, sure, but once you exit the realm of 'what smells good' and enter the realm of 'what I like' those rules fall apart and engaging with the 'process' - the creativity of perfumers and stories behind scents, the joy that comes with discovering a scent I love and finding how it develops on me - encourages me to truly engage in perfumery for what it is and how it moves, as opposed to how it can contribute to the 'product' of a finished look.

And this also makes me think about fashion 'rules', where an obligatory 'what looks best on you is what you feel most confident in! :)' rings hollow in the face of everything that precedes it - what colours look best on you, what haircut to have to make your face look more oval, how to do makeup that makes your nose smaller, what clothes to wear to elongate your legs or slim your waist. These all relate to 'product', where things are done in service of the outcome (Eurocentric beauty standards but don't think too hard about it, it's not racist we promise!).

And of course this is all my experience - there are many fragrances and people who wear them that are more preoccupied with fragrance as part of dress than as an art form and there are many, many people who do great work in using dress as art. It does have to be said though that the latter has more social consequences when you decide to have fun, lol.

[cynicalmusings]

hey Aphros!

hope I can ask you more than one question:

are you a morning person or a night owl?

why do you enjoy art/ painting so much?

Do you have any family relations/ members or not really since you’re a god?

what’s your biggest pet peeve?

what’s one moment that made you think “god, I love this man” (towards Xiao?

Do you actively style your hair, or does it sort of do its own thing?

when did you first start using/ manipulating sea foam around you or was it always there?

Are you able to speak in your dreams? And if so, what does your vouce sound like (since, if I remember well, there was a time you called out to Aphros in a dream/ memory/ hallucination)

thank you for taking your time to answer these questions!

In their bowl, Aphros writes, Hello! Thank you for all the questions! Let me think about them…

Regarding the first question, I am certainly more of a ‘night owl’. Not only is view of Liyue’s landscape the most beautiful at night, but inspiration is easier to find, as well. I don’t really need to sleep either, so I often find myself staying awake for most of the night.

As for the second… They smile, shaking their head. The same could be asked of anybody. Why does art appeal to anybody? Why do people play musical instruments? Why do they make pottery? I believe the answer is that creation is as natural a part of life as anything else. The reason why painting specifically takes my interest is beyond my understanding—but I can say that the ability to capture such a wide variety of sights in mere brushstrokes is something I personally find very beautiful.

Ah, this next one is interesting. My closest familial relations would likely be any other creature which originated from the ocean, but if you speak of blood relatives as humans have, I don’t believe so.

Aphros tilts their head to the side, in thought as they consider the next question. ‘Pet peeves’…? If I understand, that phrase refers to human annoyances, yes? In which case… running out of parchment is always inconvenient. It happens rarely, but the process of making paper is a tedious one. Perhaps I will start purchasing some from Liyue Harbour instead to avoid it in the future.

When they receive the next question, a brief, silent chuckle escapes their growing smile. That is certainly a very blunt way of putting it, they write. I’m afraid this answer may disappoint you, but there is no one moment which has ever struck me more than the rest with regards to my feelings for Xiao. Rather, it is the accumulation of all the time we have spent together over the years which has made us grow as close as we are. It is like asking somebody to name the moment they realised they were ageing, for example: it is such a natural progression that you barely realise it is happening. Though, if I were forced to name a specific moment, it would be receiving his painting of me. I cannot say it was unexpected, given his behaviour around me at the time, but I will never forget the gratitude and joy I felt upon receiving it.

(Sitting beside Aphros, Xiao’s ears take on a deep red tint, and he glances away. Aphros’ smile only widens, warm. As they clear the foam dish to address the next question, their free hand finds his and squeezes it lightly. Xiao squeezes back.)

My hair… I do not put much time into styling it, no. I merely tie it up on occasion and let it grow looser over time until repeating the process. I’m afraid my hair routine is very dull in that sense.

They stare at the surface of their dish for a moment, drawing idle shapes in the foam as they consider. It came naturally, I think, as speech may do to others. It was a means I understood I could use to express myself, so I began to use it in place of my voice.

At the mention of their dream, Aphros rubs their neck. Yes, that is correct. I was calling out in my dream. But ‘speech’ in my dreams does not happen often, and neither does it sound as a ‘real’ voice would. Dreams are often strange in that we think what we experience is real, and the moment we wake, we realised how far removed from logic they truly are. The ‘voice’ in my dreams is more an impression of things I wish to say. I don’t think I would be able to describe its pitch or dictation.

Aphros wipes the foam characters clean before dictating their final message with a smile. There is no need to thank me. I hope my answers were interesting to you.

[masakiastrology]

signs as christmas stuff 💭

So, it is officially July. And I am sure you know what July means? No, not July 4th. CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

So, I'm doing the honors of telling you what Christmas presents you should get each zodiac sign.

Aries

A jacket from their favorite band or artist. Aries almost always have an artist or band they love more than another. And they're not afraid to show off what they like. They don't care what others think, it's their likes, not others.

A planner. Believe it or not, Aries enjoy making plans and doing new projects. With a planner, they can write down important information and make sure they set appointments, parties, and hang outs on free days.

Some new sneakers. Aries love being active, whether it's hiking, playing sports, or going to the gym. So, with the amount of activeness they do, their sneakers are bound to get worn out soon.

A gym or pool membership. As said before, Aries like to be active. If the Aries doesn't like a gym, get a membership to your local pool. If your Aries friend isn't an active Aries, then get them a membership to their favorite game or a gift card.

Taurus

A plant. Taurus are big nature lovers, need I say more? They know how to care for a plant, just like they know how to care for animals and people!

A nature-scented perfume. A scented nature perfume may appeal to your Taurus friends or family, and even remind them of the nature they enjoy.

A plush robe. Taurus love comfort and being cozy. So, what better way to be cozy on Christmas then cuddling up in a plush robe by the fireplace, drinking hot cocoa and watching a Christmas movie?

A candle: And if they don't have a fireplace, get them a scented candle instead! :)

Gemini

A planner or journal: Geminis are very logical. So, their minds are often cluttered with important info, and they tend to forget useful information a lot. So, get them a planner or a journal to write down important info, dates, or assignments.

A set of colored pens: Geminis are very creative, so they probably like to write in different colors. So, get them a set of colorful pens to go with the planner!

A duffel or tote bag. Geminis are probably going to be traveling somewhere after Christmas as they love to travel and go on a vacations. So, why not buy them a duffel or tote bag so they can put their clothes, accessories, and extra items in their?

A book: Geminis are often bookworms. Whether it be something simple, like a magazine or non-fiction book, or something major, like the entire Harry Potter series, all Geminis have some type of story that interests them.

Cancer

New cooking supply(ies): Cancers are very creative. And, almost all Cancers I know love to cook and bake. So, why not get them a new frying pan, oven mitts, baking sheet, or even just some utensils?

A new hoodie: Similar to Taurus, Cancers strive for comfort. They usually like to cuddle up in a hoodie when they get cold.

Art supplies: Cancers love to draw and paint, and art is a huge hobby of theirs.

Movies: Cancers once again like to cuddle up and relax. So, get them a new movie they've never seen before.

Leo

A scarf: Leos love to go Christmas shopping, usually for themselves with Christmas money they get. Why not get them a warm scarf to wear for comfort and style while they go?

Jewelry: Most Leos accessorize their outfits with jewelry, usually earrings or necklaces.

A new video game: Believe it or not, most Leos like to game.

New clothes: Leos love to make new outfits, some give them some new clothes to make new outfits with!

Virgo

Activity books: Virgos have a lot on their mind, and often need to just de-stress. So, get them one of those 'variety puzzles' books and watch them go to town solving them.

Something electronic: Virgos are very high-tech and modern, so they love receiving the latest technology. So, get them something technological. It can be something somewhat cheap, like a camera or watch, or something expensive like a macbook or VR system.

Stuffed animal: Virgos are huge animal lovers and love to cuddle up with a stuffed animal.

A gift card or money: Now, Virgos are often really picky, so make sure to slide some cash or a gift card in their Christmas card so they can buy something they want.

Libra

Makeup: Some Libras love making new makeup looks and practicing tutorials they see.

Earrings: A Libra you know have their ears pierced? They did it for a reason. They did it for the earrings.

A painting to put in their room: Libras are fans of design and high-art.

Headphones: Do Libras like music, TikTok, and podcasts? Yes. Do they like playing it out loud? Not really.

Scorpio

A jacket. We Scorpios tend to go out a lot with friends and family, and since Christmas is in Winter, get us a cozy jacket to wear out. <3

A purse or bag: Based on experience, and me being a Scorpio, we usually carry a lot of stuff with us. Like, just for an hour long road trip, I have my phone, money, eyeliner, lip gloss, my airpods, and a book. And nowhere to put it.

A blanket: Us Scorpios love comfort and warmth. And I love to hide under a blanket and watch Netflix, please.

A customized gift: I love when people give me customized gift because it makes me think 'omg, you really did think of me!'

Sagittarius

A vacation: If you're going on vacation, please take your Sagittarius friend. They're stressed out and really need a break.

A purse or wallet: Sagittarius' cannot live with a purse or wallet to put all their supplies in.

Movies: Sagittarius like to sit back and take it easy most of the time, so what better way than with a new movie?

Exercise equipment: Based on my own experiences with Sagittarius, most of them love working out at home. Not at the gym.

Capricorn

A gift card: Do Capricorns love money? Yes!

A journal: Capricorns have a lot to say, and a lot of feelings. So, get them a journal for them to write in.

Hair accessories: Capricorns love their hair, and they love to style it.

A magazine or a book: Capricorns like to read.

Aquarius

New shoes: Based on my own experience, some Aquarius have a shoe obsession.

A watch: They're busy people who need to keep up with the time.

Earrings: They like jewelry.

A book: They're logical and smart like Virgos, and one way to keep up that logic and intelligence is by reading.

Pisces

A stuffed animal: Pisces love animals and they also love cuddling with stuffed animals.

Bed sheets/a new comforter: Pisces love comfort and style, and they also enjoy a chance every now and then.

Slippers: Comfort!

A poetry book: They get bored easily with novels, but they enjoy short books with poems or various stories.

[k00284075]

Movement Project Statement

My chosen electives for this module were Painting , AMD and PCP.

My project focuses on a combination of movements between women (both platonic and romantic and sexual) along with my experiences as a queer woman and how I move through the world, in particular my experiences of challenging gender and social norms. I took inspiration from, and researched womens and lgbt social movements in history.

Primary research was collected from my own experiences and that of other queer people and women in my life

Secondary Research

PCP and Painting

Tracey Emins and her figure portraits that convery raw female pain

The work of the "See Red Womens Workshops " that were active in the 70s-90s, working with print to assist in social movements.

Louise Bourgeois and her work that documents her experiences being a woman.

AMD

Researched various forms of animation such as motion capture, stop motion and CGI

Referenced my art books for the films Tangled and Spiderman into the Spiderverse to allow me to learn more about what makes characters and backgrounds visually appealing, proportions and composition

PCP: In the screen printing workshops : I used my own experiences of things said to me in regards to my sexuality and used that as a basis for making one of my screen prints. I observed movement and the natural existence of the feminine form through gesture drawing and took the silhouettes and layered them in another screen print to convey the message that all of us are effected/ touched by women around us, they all have an imprint on the people we become.

in the relief/ intaglio workshops: I created a lino stamp of a hand reaching out as I wanted to explore movements of physical touch and the comfort it brings, my favourite image being that of layering the hands in a row which created a visual of a rope which i found to be symbollic in terms of forming strong relationships. When working with Intaglio i continued to work with silhouettes of the female form to create a more abstract image, using colours found in the lesbian flag.

I also researched Lesbian Pulp Fiction which became very popular during the cold war in america, and produced my own satirical novel cover with a digital drawing

Animation: I completes all 5 of the tasks set before us on moodle, which involved the different steps of developing an animation. I researched different forms of animation and learned a lot about the variety in the industry. I developed a short story and with the help of Paul I picked one to storyboard and work on for the remainder of the time in this discipline.

My story was originally about a woman trying on a dress and simply twirling around but I believed it was missing something initially. So i aged my character down to a child who looks to be more of a "tomboy", so that the dress they wear in my animation is intended to look more like a costume and not something they'd naturally wear. I like the changes I made to my story as I was able to create a character with more depth , and a character that mirrors my own feelings sometimes of femininity and how it effects how i move through a heteronormative society.

I made a storyboard, animatic,a character turnaround and designed a background for my animation. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to complete the animation due to the fact I was learning how to use the softwares for the first time.

Painting : In this module I really enjoyed working with a live nude model for the first time in both the drawing an painting workshops. I developed my skills with both charcoal and acrylic paint and it was fascinating, though challenging working with a live model. I attended a tool making workshop where I had the opportunity to think outside the box and make different tools for applying paint, I found it quite challenging at first as I was hung up on making something "good" rather than just having fun and letting myself experiment. Once i had constructed a few tools i used my templates of the feminine silhouettes again and applied the paint following the movement of their bodies

I also worked on an acrylic painting of me and my partner asleep on a bus while travelling together. It shows two aspects of movement, the bus travelling at speed while the two of us have very little movement, as we sleep beside another

[digitalcrews]

Tips For Artists To Promote YouTube Videos In 2023 [New]

1. Use Other Social Media Platforms and Create a Newsletter

It's likely that if you're an artist, you've already posted your work on several social media sites. Using these many platforms to promote your videos while you're first starting out is a fantastic idea. You can also try creating a newsletter to have a built-in list of subscribers you can email when a new video is released in addition to that. My audience has grown since I started my website in 2012, and I can now count on them to watch any new videos I upload to my channel and promote YouTube videos.

2. Work along with different YouTube artists

On YouTube, collaborating with others is a terrific way to grow your audience. In exchange for exposure to the other person's audience, you get to provide some original stuff to your viewers. Collaborations with other YouTube artists have produced some of my best-performing videos. Over 100,000 people have seen the collaboration Aaron Blaise and I did! Just a brief advice for collabs: Keep trying if you can't seem to get any well-known YouTubers to collaborate with you. Contact smaller outlets instead. You're more likely to collaborate on something with another YouTuber who has a comparable-sized audience if you're just starting out. Additionally, you are not required to concentrate on working with YouTubers. Any musician who has a sizable online fan base will direct viewers to your video. Be inventive in how you may collaborate with others and how you can support one another.

3. Be Visible and Steer Clear of Single Camera Screen-Shares

On YouTube, there are many art channels (both large and tiny) where the artist chooses not to display their face. This, in my opinion, is a HUGE error. Building a relationship with your audience is essential if you want to grow it. People enjoy interacting with one another. It is much more engaging to show your face and provide your audience with a personal glimpse into your life than it is to have them merely watch a screen recording of you using Photoshop or making a sketch on paper.Even just speaking straight to the camera can make a difference between someone watching your video/channel only once and unsubscribing to more of it.

4. Take Community Advice, but Don't Let It Control You

It's critical to consider the feedback you're receiving from comments and polls as your channel expands. Some of your most devoted fans will provide this input, so it's a good idea to consider their comments as you work to enhance your channel's content.Don't be hesitant to veer off the beaten road, though. Even if I don't have the most popular material, I still prefer to post interviews since they provide insightful information that I believe my audience should hear. Give and take is involved. Maintain a channel of communication with your audience and make an effort to deliver what they want to see, but remain true to yourself and pursue your own ideas as well.

5. Maintain a narrow focus on your channel's topic while experimenting with various content types.

Prior to expanding your YouTube audience, it's crucial to focus on a single topic. Focus on developing an audience for your stylized digital landscape drawings before moving on to watercolour realistic portraiture. If you're interested in combining diverse topics, make sure the content is sufficiently comparable that providing completely different stuff won't alienate your audience. There are several art channels out there that also broadcast video game replays, which only reduces their audience. Keep your audience together! In light of this, don't be hesitant to experiment with the kind of content you post. You can never be sure what will appeal to your audience. Artists can create a broad variety of videos for YouTube, and you never know which one might become popular there and provide you exposure to a larger audience. I can think of a few that you could try: interviews, sketchbook tours, art challenges, lessons, draw my life, and reviews of art supplies.

6. GIFs, a Secret Weapon

Making gifs from your video after you publish it can be a smart idea, yet depending on your topic, it could not be. A couple of my videos have gained popularity thanks to animated gifs I've created or others who have adapted my teachings into animated gifs. This gif from my course on drawing the pelvis is the one that immediately comes to mind as being the biggest. It has hundreds of thousands of views after being shared on tumblr, reddit, and imgur. My channel and brand have thereby gained greater visibility. I suggest using the website giphy.com if you're seeking for an easy approach to create animated gifs from your movies. You should be able to rapidly create a gif from a clip and upload it on other social media platforms as long as your YouTube video isn't too long. They can also be employed to advertise a brief segment of your video under the YouTube community area.

7. Add Your Name as a Watermark to Your Videos

If your content is good, it will be immediately reproduced, remixed, and so on. You'll be happy that your name or the name of your business is watermarked on the video when that happens. This is straightforward advice that not many people use while uploading information. You may subtly strengthen your brand on the platform by adding a watermark to your video. Make careful to insert the watermark and not the subscribe button that YouTube provides in the bottom right of your video. Even if someone downloads your video, that won't be replicated.

8. Establish a publishing calendar and checklist.

People value reliability. You'll discover that posting frequently and on a regular schedule will result in an average increase in views over posting content haphazardly and erratically. To get YouTube to promote your video within their algorithm, you must have a large audience when it initially goes live. Don't let a lack of organization hinder your ability to develop more quickly. Don't neglect to provide a title and thumbnail as well. A video will do considerably better than one without one if it has a catchy title and YouTube video thumbnail. Make sure that your thumbnail is appealing, that your title can be clicked, and that your description has links to your website, newsletter, and other social media accounts. Additionally, advertise every video you post on all of your other social networks and in your newsletter. Give your video every chance to succeed if you want it to!

9. Let's Discuss Sound

Many musicians put so much effort into making their videos seem amazing that they entirely ignore paying attention to the audio. If your video sounds terrible, nobody will view it, not even artists. Get a microphone for your videos if you're serious about posting to YouTube. There is no justification in 2019 for continue using in-camera audio as the primary audio source for your videos.

10. Create Content That Is Easy to Read

Posting short or long content is OK as long as it's interesting and worthwhile. Is this something I would want to spend time watching? should be your constant question. If it isn't, chop it off. Watchtime is a crucial component for YouTube. It's a red flag that your material may not be watchable if viewers are abandoning your video in droves to watch something else. I frequently observe new art YouTubers who publish an hour-long video of a painting or a sketch they made but receive no views. No one will want to spend that much time watching a video of you drawing unless you're a god of art. A creative person values their time highly. Respect the time of your viewers. Use a time lapse to cut down on the length of uninteresting videos, or better yet, spend more time editing it to include amusing or helpful commentary. Digestible content is shared, which is a terrific approach to get more people to see your videos. Bonus Advice: Avoid nonsense Going back to the first piece of advice, don't post anything that isn't good. People will follow you if your content is of high quality. Your audience will assume that's all you have to give if you upload uninteresting, carelessly edited, or otherwise unengaging content, and they'll go. You might believe that my first video was How to Draw the Head From Any Angle, but you'd be wrong. Because I quickly recognised it wasn't excellent after creating it, you've never seen my first video on YouTube. Killing your darlings and "wasting" the time you spent creating a video hurts, but posting poor quality content hurts you more. Furthermore, the time you spent creating a movie or recording a drawing wasn't in vain; it was a worthwhile learning experience that will enhance your subsequent videos. Visit: Digital Crews Read the full article

[samwisethewitch]

So You Want to Learn Tarot

Tarot is one of the most popular forms of divination, and my personal favorite tool to use when I’m seeking answers. I talked about tarot a bit in my last post, but I feel like it deserves further discussion here since a lot of new witches are intimidated by it.

Before we get into what tarot is and how to learn it, let’s discuss some popular misconceptions.

Tarot is not…

… evil, demonic, or Satanic. This one probably goes without saying, but tarot has a very mystical reputation in pop culture, and some people genuinely believe that it is evil. In the Christian group I grew up in, tarot cards were viewed with the same fear as seances and Ouija boards. So, for the record, tarot has nothing to do with demons, and in fact classic tarot decks contain a lot of Christian imagery. (There are also modern decks on the market that really play up the Christian themes, if that’s your thing.)

… negative or scary. Some of the most well-known tarot cards are those with frightening names and/or imagery: Death, the Devil, the Tower, etc. For this reason, some people think that tarot only contains negative messages or that using tarot cards invites negative energy into your life. Actually, I find tarot to be very balanced between light and dark, with several cards that are purely positive (like the Sun or the World). Even cards like Death or the Tower aren’t 100% negative — their meaning depends on the context in which they appear. While it’s true that tarot does sometimes hit us with difficult messages, this is true of every divination method if you’re using it right. Part of the appeal of divination is that it allows us to see the truth of a situation, even if that truth isn’t pretty.

… ancient. One popular myth claims that the cards are based on the Book of Thoth, an ancient Egyptian wisdom text. In reality, tarot comes from a card game that was popular in medieval Italy — originally, the cards were just entertainment. The use of these cards for divination was popularized by the French in the 18th century. It wasn’t until 1909 that Edward Waite and Pamela Coleman-Smith created the Waite-Smith deck (or Rider-Waite-Smith deck, as it is sometimes called), which established the “classic” tarot symbolism that we all know and love.

… something you can only use if you’re psychic. As I’ve mentioned before, we all have psychic senses, although most of us are not aware of them. However, you don’t have to be a professional medium or be deeply in touch with your psychic abilities to read tarot. Tarot is a tool, and like any tool it has a variety of uses. Your experience with the cards will be exactly as magical or as mundane as you choose to make it. You don’t need to worry about tapping into magical energy you can’t control, or anything like that.

… hard to learn. Learning tarot is not difficult, although it is time-consuming. No one becomes an advanced reader overnight. However, it isn’t actually very hard to learn how to read the cards. Most readers interpret the cards intuitively, which means that how the images make you feel is more important than the traditional interpretation. Being familiar with the traditional meanings helps, but there’s no rule that says you can’t keep a couple of good books on hand to help jog your memory. If you’re trying to memorize all the card meanings so you can just repeat them later, you’re doing it wrong.

Now that we know what tarot isn’t, let’s take a second to discuss what it is. 

Tarot is a modern system of divination using illustrated cards. Most tarot decks contain 78 cards, which are divided into two groups: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana is what probably comes to mind when you think of the tarot: these are the named cards like The Fool, The High Priestess, Death, etc. The 22 Major Arcana cards represent major themes, patterns, and events, so they tend to be the dominant energy in any readings they show up in. The remaining 56 cards make up the Minor Arcana, which deals more with day-to-day life. The Minor Arcana is further divided into four suits, which are each associated with one of the classical elements. The suits are wands (fire), cups (water), pentacles (earth), and swords (air).

If you want to learn to read tarot, the first step is to find a deck that you resonate with. Because tarot cards act as a conduit for your own psychic abilities, you want to make sure that the energy of your deck vibes well with your own energy. You can absolutely order your deck online (and you’ll have a wider selection to choose from if you do), but if picking one out in person is important to you, most bookstores and metaphysical shops will have several to choose from.

Some questions to ask yourself as you’re choosing your first tarot deck:

Are there any themes or motifs you feel called to work with? There are tons of themed tarot decks on the market, from goddess decks to crystal decks to pirate decks. What symbolism speaks to you?

What art styles do you enjoy? You’ll spend a lot of time looking at your cards, so it’s important that you like the artwork!

How does this deck make you feel? It’s best not to choose a deck that makes you uncomfortable, at least while you’re still trying to learn the basics. For me, the decks that I end up working with the most feel like an old friend — comforting and familiar. (Note that some of my favorite decks have dark themes and imagery, but I still find them comforting on an energetic level.)

If you don’t feel called to any one deck, starting with the Waite-Smith deck is always a good idea. Most tarot books base their interpretations on this deck, so it’s helpful for beginners who are still learning card associations. There are several versions of this deck on the market — my personal favorite is the Universal Waite Tarot, because I find it easiest to read. (It’s also cheap and widely available, so it should be easy to find a copy.)

Once you’ve chosen a deck, take some time to get to know the cards. Before you begin reading with your deck, go through the cards one by one and write down how they make you feel, as well as any associations they draw up for you. It’s best to do this exercise before you begin learning the traditional meanings for the cards, so you can capture your authentic first reactions to them.

There are other ways to get to know your deck. There’s an old superstition that says you should sleep with the deck next to your pillow for several nights, so that it can become attuned to your energy. Another option is to meditate with the deck, allowing yourself to feel it out.

Once you’ve gotten to know your deck, it’s time to learn the traditional meanings of the cards. Don’t get too hung up on this part — remember that readings are done intuitively; the traditional meanings are only a guideline, and you may find that the information you receive in a reading differs from tradition. In those cases, always trust your intuition. What the Ace of Wands means FOR YOU is more important than what it means for so-and-so author of such-and-such book. (This is why it’s a good idea to write down your own thoughts and feelings about the cards before you begin studying tarot books.)

The book I recommend starting with is Tarot For Beginners by Lisa Chamberlain. At just over 100 pages long, this is a very brief, accessible, “just the basics” introduction to tarot. The book is just long enough to give you a taste of what reading tarot is like, to determine if it’s really right for you.

Books can be very helpful, especially for learning the traditional meanings of cards, but the best way to learn to read tarot is by doing it. Once you’ve found a deck you resonate with, connected with your cards, and learned a little about card meanings, it’s time to start doing readings.

Start by pulling one card each day. Write down your immediate reaction and any messages that come to you when you look at the card. Experiment with it! Try holding the card in your hands and trying to “feel” it energetically — what vibes does it give off? Does a certain word or phrase pop into your head when you look at it? Do certain images on the card leap out at you? Write all of this down. Once you’ve written your own interpretation, look up the traditional meaning of the card in Tarot For Beginners or another book, or online (the website biddytarot.com has a really great guide to card meanings and is 100% free). If anything you read about the card resonates, write that down as well. The goal here is to see how your initial intuitive reading compares to the card’s traditional meaning — eventually, as you get more familiar with the cards, you won’t need to look them up at all.

As you go about your day, keep your daily tarot card in the back of your mind. How do the card’s messages relate to what happened to you throughout the day? Before you go to bed, write about how you saw the card’s message in your life.

Eventually, you’ll begin to get the hang of reading tarot intuitively. You’ll also begin to develop your own readings styles and your own rituals for doing a reading.

[a-nice-and-interpretive-fanzine]

[ID: A cream-colored banner that says "A Nice and Interpretive Fanzine: essays and art about the meanings we've found in Good Omens." There is a photo of a book page with a key on it behind the banner text. The photo source is rosy_photo on Pixabay. /end ID]

A Nice and Interpretive Fanzine: Information Masterpost

Welcome!

This is a zine for those of us who love the subtle, complex work that is Good Omens, and who’ve enjoyed the thoughtfulness of the fandom as people interpret how the many moving pieces of the story come together, creating a slightly different meaning for each of us.

To put it simply, it’s a book full of the fandom’s own analysis and commentary about the Good Omens TV show, enhanced with illustrations from our brilliant artists.

This zine is analytical in the sense that all the writers are expressing their own nonfiction thoughts and feelings about the show, rather than writing fanfic, but it is not meant to be heavily academic. Anybody who likes to pick apart the series and discuss it should be able to enjoy it.

The zine will contain essays by fans who are passionate about analyzing and interpreting different parts of Good Omens - the characters, the plot, the writing techniques for the book and script, the cinematography of the TV show, the popular content of the fandom itself. Accompanying these essays will be black and white illustrations from our artists.

How are you organizing this process?

May 1-May 15: Everyone submits their application to do writing or art through a Google form. Behind the scenes, I’ll be setting up a separate email and Discord.

May 16-20: Applicants will be screened during this time.

May 20: I’ll email everyone to let them know the outcomes of their applications. The final participants will get a link to the Discord server for the zine (totally optional, of course).

May 21: If there’s any clarification or solidifying of ideas that needs to happen, I’ll contact you and discuss with you by this point. This is also when artists will be matched up with essays.

May 22 to August 14: This will be a period of just working on our essays and art. The Discord chat and Tumblr will be there for support and for exchanging ideas!

August 15: Participants need to email their full works to the zine’s email address by this date. No special formatting is needed; I’ll do that in InDesign.

August 15 to August 31: I’ll be putting the zine together in InDesign.

September 1: Preorders will open.

September 30: Preorders will close.

October 1: The zine order will be placed!

October 15: Assuming all goes well with printing and shipping, the zines will be shipped out in waves starting on this date. If the printing or shipping from the manufacturer is delayed, then shipping will just start ASAP.

Writer Application HERE Artist Application HERE Asked and Answered Questions on Tumblr The Fanzine's Page on Twitter

Read below for more detailed information about the zine in a Q and A format!

What are the specifications for the zine contributions?

For writers, I’m starting with 3k words or fewer per essay (approximately 10 pages at the size of this book). This depends heavily on how many participants we actually get, so it may change!

For artists, I’d be looking at black and white works, 300 DPI, 5.5 x 8.5 inches or smaller. If your art is supposed to fill up the entire page (i.e. no white space), please make it a total of 5.75 x 8.75 inches with nothing too important around the edges to account for bleed during the printing process.

Can I submit an essay to this zine if I’ve already posted it on Tumblr?

Not as you’ve already posted it. We don’t want to just copy/paste the exact thing that hundreds or perhaps even thousands of people have already read.

However, it IS fine and maybe even a good idea to take the same thought from your post and refine it, preserving your same thesis. For example, a lot of Tumblr posts are just us fans jotting down 5 or 6 paragraphs of random thoughts at 2 AM, but some of them are really cool thoughts! Expanding them and turning them into a bona-fide Essay would make those posts into excellent zine chapters. And you can copy small pieces of your own language as long as the whole thing isn’t just pasted word-for-word.

How long do essays have to be? Is there a limit?

With the number of writers we have, I've calculated that each person should ideally keep their essay to about 6000 words. There is wiggle room.

There’s no real minimum for your contribution; some analytical ideas are really good but can be expressed concisely, so it’s okay if your essays only come out to a few pages typed. For reference, with our book size, a page is about 300 words.

What happens if the zine sells a lot and you end up not only breaking even, but turning a profit?

It’ll go to charity. While I’ll ask the participants what they want to do for certain if we do make enough money, my suggestion will be donating it to Alzheimer’s Research UK in honor of Sir Terry Pratchett.

I’m not really comfortable calling this a “charity zine” up front since I simply don’t know if it will raise a significant amount. For the most part, I just want the thing to physically exist, which means breaking even, and don’t want to make it more expensive for buyers than it needs to be to afford the printing costs.

What kinds of essays are you talking about? What could be included?

In short, any analytical thoughts about the Good Omens TV show - and possibly even the fandom as it interacts with the show - are possible inclusions for the zine.

To expand a bit, think about the meta posts you see floating around Tumblr. Often these involve analyzing characters, or picking up on patterns in the plot. Sometimes fans use their own background knowledge to write posts about the significance of certain costume choices or the way music plays into each individual scene. Some posts examine the ways the series approaches gender, while others might discuss ways that the characters present as neurodivergent. That’s how diverse the pool of possibilities is for subjects in this zine.

How does art come into this?

Images will be black and white, to match the bookish mood of the project overall. Images can range in size from a half page to a full page.

I’m planning to talk to the artists and authors and loosely pair artists with essays that appeal to their personal interests.

I know how to illustrate a story, but how do I illustrate an essay?

There are infinite answers to this! I’ve seen some beautiful symbolic artwork in the fandom already (e.g. a number of takes on Aziraphale munching on an apple with Crowley in snake form curving around him), and there are tons of symbolic motifs to draw from, but these are not the only options. An artist illustrating an essay about cinematography, for example, could draw a well-known scene from an alternative angle. An essay about Heaven as a capitalist corporation could be illustrated with a cartoon of Gabriel giving some sort of excruciating PowerPoint presentation. A character analysis could be accompanied by a simple portrait. And on and on. I’m not interested in limiting the possibilities by trying to make a list, but just know that there are many and you don’t have to make it complicated if you don’t want to.

If the writers can reuse their essay ideas, can artists reuse their drawings?

Similarly to the writers, if you already have an interpretive drawing that you’re in love with, artists can use the same ideas and the same fundamental composition that is present in their own existing work. However, it has to be redone in some significant way. Whether it’s taking something you drew in 2019 and redrawing it using an updated style, taking a sketch and turning it into a lined and shaded piece, or redoing a full-color drawing so it presents more strikingly in black and white, it shouldn’t be identical to the thing you’ve already posted.

So how are you choosing participants here?

It’ll be based on what people are interested in writing about (or illustrating). I’ll be looking for people who are passionate about their essays, but I’ll also be looking for variety. It all depends on what people want to offer, so I won’t know for sure what it will look like put together until everyone’s application is in.

For artists, I’ll be trying to figure out whose style looks like it would adapt well to illustrations in black and white, and also who demonstrates an interest in the same subjects as the writers.

If we don’t get a lot of applicants, I’d love to simply include everyone, but I can’t commit to that without knowing for sure how many people are involved.

Do I have to use a formal writing style to participate?

No. You should use a style that makes your thoughts and ideas as clear as possible, but as long as it’s understandable, you can also get a little artistic with it. You can “write like you speak,” though perhaps in a more organized way. You definitely don’t need to worry about stylistic rules like not using the first person. This is not academia.

Is this zine going to center only on Crowley and Aziraphale?

That remains to be seen! It depends on what ideas show up in the applications. There will be a lot of the ineffable partners for sure, but whether the whole zine will center on them or whether there’s plentiful stuff about other characters will depend on what the participants suggest.

Do we have to agree with all your personal interpretations of Good Omens to be in the zine?

No! In fact, I’m assuming that a number of essays will contradict each other, too, and that’s perfectly okay. The zine is a sampler of fan interpretations meant to inspire, not instruct. It’s not “Here’s a fan-made guide on how to understand this TV show,” it’s “Look at all these moving parts and how many meanings we can find in them. What does it mean to you?”

However, there are some basic rules and assumptions by which I’m working here.

I don’t personally have the energy to include essays that are highly critical (“negative”) in this zine. It’s analytical but also meant to be fun.

I’m pretty focused on the TV adaptation. This isn’t “no book analysis allowed” but just that the essays will end up being weighted toward subjects that apply to either the TV show or both the book and the show.

Each writer should focus on making their own points over disproving other fan interpretations. If you’re writing in an expository style, it’s normal for the essay to contain rebuttals to opposing ideas, but these should be minor supporting points, not the heart and soul of your essay. For reference, I’d say the majority of meta I see floating around on tumblr would follow this rule just fine.

Essay ideas that seem to contain bigoted or exclusionary sentiments will not be accepted (no TERFy stuff, for example).

What kinds of editing will go into the zine? Are you going to argue with us about the contents of our writing?

While I might ask you to elaborate on certain points in your writing or clarify your thoughts about your subject, I’m absolutely not here to ask you to change the thesis, opinions, or headcanons on which your writing is based. If I really have a problem with your initial idea, I’ll tell you that up front and politely decline the contribution.

While formatting the zine, I’ll make minor edits if I think I see a typo or misspelling, something small and obviously unintentional. As with any other zine, your content won’t be changed without consulting you.

Is this a SFW zine?

Yes. If people want to discuss sexuality in a theoretical way, like erotic subtext, that would be allowed. There are canon references like Newt and Anathema’s moment under the bed that might come up, too. But there will be nothing explicit, and since these are essays instead of stories, there will be no “action” going on between characters. Let’s just say sex isn’t a forbidden topic, but it will be like discussing it in English class.

As for other topics that could make the zine NSFW, like gore or extreme language, I don’t think they will be an issue. Some dark topics, like abuse by Heaven and Hell, may be discussed, but they will be warned for, and these are not stories, so you aren’t going to see violent actions playing out.

Will there be any “extras” like charms or stickers?

I’m not sure yet. I’m most inclined to keep it simple, because of the nature of the zine, but would be open to including some bonus items if there’s an artist who’s really passionate about it.

With that said, I am pretty committed to making a hardcover edition of the book available, in addition to the standard softcover version.

You’re doing this with only one mod?!

Yes. I personally find it easiest. While I’ve worked on multi-mod projects in other domains and adore all of my co-mods, it’s a little bit different when it’s a project with this many moving pieces that includes real-life components like printing and shipping. Though there are a lot of individual things to be done, I am experienced with all of them, so it’s less overwhelming to just take on the whole project. That way, I know exactly what needs to be done and when, and there are no issues with assigning tasks.

What qualifies you to run this zine?

The résumé answer: in fandom, I successfully solo-modded a large not-for-profit zine in the past, the @soulmakazine2018, and while I can’t speak for the whole fandom, it definitely seemed to be well-received. <3 In real life, I’m a case manager and this involves coordinating and communicating with a lot of different people including my 100-person caseload, budgeting services, and filling out all kinds of paperwork on the fly, all skills that can be imported into zine work.

The practical answer: well, I’m the one who decided to start this project, so if you like the sound of it, you're stuck with me. I say with encouragement and enthusiasm that if you’d like to do a different take on a commentary zine, you should absolutely do it.

[onedoodleaday]

Review of 6 creative prompt books

Can't get enough prompts? I sure can't! I have a horrible urge to buy any and all books I see that have any sort of theme related to creative prompts, and I've amassed quite the collection over the years. 

Today, I'm going to review some of them!

All of the following books are meant to be drawn in directly, which (at least ideally) makes them very satisfying to leaf through once you've worked in them for a while.

I will be making a separate post showcasing how I've personally used each book and link to it here, in case any if them pique your interest and you'd like to know more (coming soon!)

Books I am reviewing:

365 days of art by Lorna Scobie (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▪️ Four out of five stars)

642 things to draw by chronicle books (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five out of five stars)

642 fashion things to draw by Chronicle Books (⭐️⭐️⭐️▪️▪️ Three out of five stars)

Doodle a day by Chris Riddell (⭐️⭐️⭐️▪️▪️ three out of five stars)

Hirameki: Draw what you see by Peng and Hu (⭐️⭐️▪️▪️▪️ two out of five stars)

Illistration by Jaime Zollars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▪️ four out of five stars)

Warning: this is a very long post

365 days of art

By Lorna Scobie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▪️ Four out of five stars

What I like about it:

There's a great variety of prompts in this one. The prompts are mostly simple and straightforward, with space for doing your own thing. Most of the exercises also happen to appeal to me personally. 

The prompts are designed for being able to be completed quite quickly, which makes them very accessible for me, and of course, you can get more elaborate with them if you have the time and energy (I've spent the last five days adding details to fish, just because I wanted to).

The author uses the foreword to encourage you to use the book in whatever way you personally find the most fun, which I appreciate.

Most of the prompts feel like they're focusing on practice rather than results, which means it's open for all skill levels to enjoy.

Criticism:

While I do hold that this book can work for artists of all skill levels, it does have prompts that are meant to teach you something, and while I like some of them, there are some that feel targeted towards either less experienced artists, or artists who has, or strives towards, a similar art style to that of the author. A couple of times, I have felt that my art style did not match the exercise set up, and while I still managed to have fun with them, I did wish there were more space for (in my case) a more realistic art style.

On a similar note, there are sections geared towards calligraphy, and they start at the very basics. While I personally am a beginner, I can imagine that someone with experience would find these bits both boring and redundant. 

I will also mention that the book does encourage the use of different kinds of media, so you either have to be ready to break out some different tools or bend the prompts a bit if all you have is a pencil.

Recommended for beginner and intermediate artists, people who really like prompt books. Good for a little bit of daily practice with many different styles of art. Good for people who like patterns and colours in their art.

Recommended tools: brush pen, water-based paint, coloured pencils

642 things to draw

By chronicle books

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five out of five stars

Of all the prompt books I have, this is my favorite. Hands down.

What I like about it:

This book is just prompts. No hand-holding, no presets for what to do with it, they just give you something to draw and you go from there. All you need is a pencil and your imagination. There are both straightforward prompts (a bottle opener, a spool of thread) and more abstract ones (girlish laughter, head in the clouds) and the variety means I usually find at least one prompt I want to do on each spread. 

The differing sizes dedicated to each prompt make for a really fun and pleasing result.

I also appreciate that this book is completely open to all skill levels, as long as you're willing to give a go at drawing a lot of different things.

Criticism:

While I personally adore the to-the-point, straightforward prompts, I do acknowledge that, unless you enjoy just drawing random objects, you're going to need to add some creativity on your own, in how you incorporate the prompts. I personally like adding either character interaction or to use the object as part of a scene, especially for the things I don't find super visually interesting on their own. I personally enjoy the level of thinking, but I'm sure there are people who don't. 

I also don't know if I would have enjoyed it as much when I was just starting out. I’ve always been quite result-based with my art, and while I think using reference to draw all the different things in the book would be an amazing skill-building exercise, it also sounds like a lot of work.

There are also a handful of pop culture references and prompts for famous people, which I personally prefer to avoid, because those are often based on social knowledge and interest, of which I personally have neither.

Recommended for artists of all skill levels, people who either have a big visual library or would like to build one. Recommended for people who like to draw a lot of different things.

Recommended materials: anything! Can be used with just a pencil

642 fashion things to draw

By Chronicle Books

⭐️⭐️⭐️▪️▪️ Three out of five stars

This one was actually my first prompt book ever! The start of a hoard, one might say.

What I like about it: 

This one is another one by Chronicle Books, in the same series. This one is really fun if you like drawing clothes, and/or your art is character oriented. Of all my prompt books, this one has the best potential for fanart, in my opinion. If you like drawing people and characters, this book is really fun

Criticism:

This one is, quite understandably, more specific. If you like drawing clothes, this one is ideal. If you don't ... don't pick this one. 

I was close to giving this one four stars, but I will withdraw a star for being very specifically tailored to one subject -- this could be a five star book for some people and a one-star for others.

Another thing I want to mention is that this book gets specific. I have to look up what about a third of the prompts mean. I'm okay with that, but if you don't want to do research and don't already know what a jaquard blouse or peplum waist skirt or houndstooth is, this is not the book for you.

Lastly, it has a good handful of both pop culture references and references to different brands, which is kind of alienating to me personally. It also assumes that you yourself care about your own clothes to some extent. And that you have at least one father and one mother. Who got married at some point. And your mom wore a wedding dress. Things like that.

Also my copy is from 2013 and let's just say some of the references have aged very poorly. ("D*nald Tr*mp power suit" being a very notable example. I drew him impaled on a stick. Which was satisfying. But it was very much an act of rebellion so keep it in mind)

Recommended for anyone who likes drawing clothes and the people wearing them, who are also willing to put up with a certain amount of heteronormativity in their prompt books. Some skill level will probably make the book more enjoyable. Clothes are hard.

Recommended materials: Anything! You can use this one with just a pencil

Doodle a day

By Chris Riddell

⭐️⭐️⭐️▪️▪️ three out of five stars

(Note: I own a translated version of the book; this is the danish cover)

Before we start, I would like to note that this book's target demographic is children. I’m not a children, I just thought it looked fun. And I was right! But do keep it in mind.

What I like about it:

This one doesn't take itself too seriously. Which means that in places, it gets wacky. And I appreciate that. It expects a child's untamed creativity and wish to go along with whatever. 

A lot of the prompts are really fun and inspiring for me as an adult. There are a lot of "complete this drawing" sort of things that get me to draw things I don't usually draw. 

It's nice to see a book geared towards children that dares to have a very detailed and complex art style. Whether you personally like Chris Riddell's art style is very subjective, but he's good at what he does.

Criticism:

You have to enjoy drawing along with what the author enjoys. We're talking robots and fairy tales and dancing bears. This book has less room for letting you steer the prompts in a direction that you personally like, which is good if you like to be told exactly what to draw. It is less good if, like me, you prefer your prompt-based art to have space for a lot of your own creativity and preferences. 

I've personally marked down the prompts I want to do with tape, and I'm planning to just plain skip the rest. This means about two thirds of the book that I'm just not planning on using. I'm okay with this! But I want to mention it.

The book also contains quite a lot of 'free days', which I always find disappointing. I came here specifically because I didn't want to make up my own stuff. Please. Tell me what to do, I beg of you.

I will also note that this book assumes that you have some sort of family that are present in your life to the point that you want to include them in your drawings, and that you have at least one friend who wants to partake in certain of the prompts. 

It also assumes cultural Christianity, having prompts for easter and christmas and halloween and so forth, with no other holidays mentioned. It's a little uncomfortable.

Recommended for people who like silly prompts and are very adaptable in their art. Probably really good for younger kids? I was a weird child, so my point of view might be skewed. Decide for yourself if this book is worth getting for you or someone you know!

Recommended materials: something to draw with, and something to colour with.

Hirameki: Draw what you see

By Peng and Hu

⭐️⭐️▪️▪️▪️ two out of five stars

The classic exercise of using vague blobs and turning them into drawings

What's I like about it:

The concept is really good. The idea of having a whole book of printed blobs to turn into drawings is so fun and appealing to me, as someone who loves having things in books. 

I really like that they have certain categories and themes, to make things a little different. I love the idea of having a theme for a whole page of blobs (turning everything on one page into birds, for example), and what made me get the book was specifically that they have pages with just the same blob ten times over, and the challenge is then to make them all into different things.

Criticism:

This book is the marketable brand flavor of prompt books, trying to be what mindful colouring books did, but with another concept, preferably in a way they can copyright. 

They're clearly trying to make pattern-making into a marketable invention rather than something that has been around since, like, literal prehistoric times. This would be little more than annoying and could probably be ignored, if it wasn't for the fact that the blobs aren't even ... random. 

The creativity is killed, because these blobs are clearly made to look like certain things. Which is the opposite of the point, of the shapes-in-randomness exercise. They don't do this with every page, but it is, like. More than half. The page dedicated to faces have defined noses and necks. There’s a beach themed spread and the crabs have defined pincers. 

I had the most fun on the intro pages, where there were no prompts, because that was the place where the blobs were truly random. These were not meant to be drawn on! They were decorations! I just did it anyway!

This is branded to be something that will allow you to be creative, but in reality, it is actually just a different way of playing connect-the-dots. And there's nothing wrong with connect-the-dots, but I was advertised something else and I'm disappointed.

Also, this is personal pettiness, but if you're going to make a gimmick out of every prompt rhyming, you have to actually know how to rhyme. "Gadget" and "uplug it" do not rhyme! Not even by a stretch!

I cannot recommend this book. The idea is good, and some of the pages I did enjoy filling out, but I would have gotten more out of just grabbing a blank sketchbook and adding some ink blots to every page, then started from one end.

Recommended materials: They specifically say that you have to use a pen that’s either blue or black. I used a bright red one just to be a contrarian.

Illistration

By Jaime Zollars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▪️ four out of five stars

This one is a little different -- it is essentially a make-your-own-prompts book!

What I like about it:

This book appeals right to my need to be part of the process, even when drawing for prompts. Basically, this book is all about producing creative lists of things to draw, and then illustrating your favorites.

I love how the author talks you through their process of creating each individual list to suit their own preferences, and encourages you to do the same, to create prompts that appeal directly to you.

I also really appreciate that this book fully assumes that the reader is just as capable as the author. It wants to teach you something, sure, but it doesn't outright assume that you've got more or less experience than the author. They're teaching you one specific way of generating ideas and that's what matters. The author is confident, but humble. I like that.

Criticism:

Honestly, this is a wonderful book. I wouldn't change anything about it. The only reason I subtracted a star is because it falls a little bit outside the category of a prompt book. It's a five-star book for what it is, but if you're just here to be told what to draw without having to make stuff up on your own, this one is not for you. 

I can't just pull this one out, open it up and start drawing -- using this book is a project. I have to do at least half of the work myself, if not more. And I personally have fun with that, but it has to be noted.

Recommended for artists of any skill level, who like to generate their own unique ideas. This is the one I would be most likely to recommend to a dedicated artist, or a professional.

Recommended materials: whatever you prefer to draw with, and something to write with.

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Thank you for reading! 

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