#i need to monetize my art and it makes me not want to make anything

[lemongogo]

can i ask.how u guys practice ur creativity <3 how u practice ur imagination or like.. how u experiment with ur art, how u come to ideas and how u develop them.<3 pretty please <3

[centrally-unplanned]

I will add my voice to the chorus that chronological feed is at this point one of Tumblr's biggest selling points, because chronological is a default form of ownership. I can edit my feed to match exactly my expectations by following & unfollowing who I want, because chronology as a concept is completely scrutable to me. Algorithms are fine as everything is an algorithm; its the lack of comprehensibility and agency most platforms inflict on you that makes them so hostile to users who actively curate what they engage with.

I in fact think Tumblr would benefit from more feed options! I would absolutely enable deviations from the chronology based on the people I follow and the moods I am in - but they again would need to be under my control.

The discoverability problem is real, and I do in fact think that there should be better ways. I don't object to the "you may also like" in the corner for example. In reality Tumblr's search functions are the place to do this; they aren't as bad as many claim but they aren't great, they are exactly the choice-focused place to surface new blogs. Make that tool better and I will find others like me and give them a shot.

But. Another thing that makes tumblr great is the fact that it is 'community' based over 'content' based. I follow the people I follow, and they follow me, because we interacted with each other over time. It is a facsimile of actual socializing; you make a few comments on a post, you build up the courage for a reblog or two, you are discoursing, you tag them on a meme, now you are mutuals. Content creators are not community members - that is a hierarchical relationship, the 'lead' and the 'fan', and is defined by parasocial and weak connections. Tumblr can be more than one thing ofc, I follow some art blogs who never talk to their followers, that is a content-follow. But in the main I don't think most people want their community-based feed structure to be disrupted by attempts to content-itize it.

This is again one of Tumblr's strengths - every other site (besides partially Facebook) has pivoted to content-style models over community-style models due to inherent winner-take-all dynamics and greater monetization applications. But Tumblr cannot chase YouTube, it is going to lose, YouTube already exists. I don't see much of anything in that post that recognizes that, and that is imo a huge mistake.

[cats-artbag]

SwapOut/Webcomic/Twitch PSA!

Hi everyone 👋🏻 Zk here >< or Cats, for older followers

So I've been getting back into doing SwapOut again, but I would like to appeal to everyone who reads and loves the comic. Much love to all of you who's still sticking around 🙏🏻💙 But something has also always been bothering me throughout this journey.

As many of us know, we artists do these comics for free (especially fan comics), starting them out of love and taking a LOT of time and energy out of our lives to continue making them.

And it's amazing how many of you come from translations or comic dubs on Youtube, which are also very well-done and take a lot of effort to make, much love to them too. There is a difference, however.

Monetization.

And I'm not asking for pity! I'm appealing for understanding.

Because some comic dubbers on Youtube are able to earn ad revenue from the videos they upload. From the beginning, we artists have given them the permission to dub our works. But we don't receive anything from it, nor do we usually charge them for using our art (against our better judgement).

We let them use our comic pages in their monetized videos for free. And occasionally these videos receive thousands and millions of views, which I imagine gives a decent amount of ad revenue, while the artists themselves don't usually earn anything from their own artwork, nor do we ever want to put it behind a paywall of any kind. (we like reading free comics too so don't worry x|)

... But doing full-colored comic pages for free eventually gets hard to sustain without any income from it, even more so when we need to give our time and energy to other jobs to earn money for a living instead. We legitimately keep going on our comics purely out of love. Truly, we would LOVE to do our own art for a living. There's things like Patreon but it's only feasible if we're also able to produce bonus content or show BTS, and only people willing to spend money for them can help us, and not readers who aren't able to.

And we understand that not everyone can afford to support us monetarily. And that's okay!

But if you love these comics and want to really help us to keep going, there ARE ways you can easily support us for free!

For example, affiliates on Twitch (like myself) are able to earn ad revenue very early on (they must have at least 50 followers, quite a requirement, but still easier to obtain than Youtube's 1000 subscribers).

(my Youtube, btw. not much rn but drop a subscribe?)

But simply put, if the vast majority of readers from the yt numbers visit and stay for ads on the artists' Twitch streams (remember to have adblocker disabled for the site, if any), they'll be making an actual, physical contribution to the artist themselves, at no cost whatsoever. We earn up to 55% from any ads that run on our stream, so the more viewers, the better!

(this is my twitch on average 8 viewers, with a 3 hour stream. again, the more the better!)

(ofc you can also buy subs to watch ad-free and supports me directly, but i'm typing all this to share the free ways people can support their fave creators ✨)

And even if that doesn't work out, I'd be happy enough to see most of you there 🙏🏻💙 I've been treating my streams as work, so I'm striving not to break the streak.

So drop a follow on my Twitch, and catch the streams when you can! They're great if you need company or background noise, and also great for co-working~

Currently streaming WEEKLY, Mondays, Wednesdays (SwapOut) and Saturdays, 10.30AM EST

(art by @cupcakepaints)

>> twitch.tv/zkcats <<

Anyway thanks for listening to my Ted talk, please share this around for others as well >< 🙏🏻 Artists, make this a reblog chain or something! Promo your stuff!

And apologies for the essay, I wasn't expecting to type this much sdghsgh this itself is not an ad for Twitch or whatev, I'm just a little frustrated with needing to juggle all this.

I was also considering hosting SwapOut somewhere that could get ad revenue, but I wasn't sure where until I realized I can probably earn that from my Tapas now (i think?? sdfhgh up to 70% ad revenue there but i haven't seen any yet) So maybe I'll post there a day earlier than here or something? We'll see. Go subscribe there! Check it out! Reread it! Help ME help YOU!

... Much appreciated ><

[ramayantika]

Since I am newly nineteen now, here are 18 things I learnt hehe

1. Sometimes life is shit but you got to hold on with all your blood, sweat and tears, with hopes still illuminating your eyes in the darkest night, because better days do come. My world did not end when I did not crack those entrance exams and saw the house be so disappointed with me. Another course and college chose me, and I found my calling and happiness.

2. Grinding is needed. Youth demands hardwork if you want to make it big, but listen fucking listen to your body and rest at times. Your dream life will never let you enjoy if you do not have the health for it. Exercise, be hydrated, eat and sleep well. As students, I understand it gets hard at times, but try maintaining a habit slowly. It pays well later.

3. It is okay to not know shit about what you want in life. If you know, amazing! If you do not, good, because life is going to surprise you with some real amazing things. You will find your story. Wait.

4. For young girls, for my younger self, you are amazing, smart, talented, wanted, admired and a beautiful human. You can be anything you want, and no matter what the world says about you, what your family says about you, you absolutely have the power to build and live the life you want for yourself. It's hard, but it can be done.

5. Just because you are naturally a quiet and reserved person, it doesn't mean you are boring, less confident and no fun. You value your energy and people. It's good. You are a good listener and a good observer. People need listeners too and your observation skills do actually help you socially when needed.

6. Just because you are extroverted, it doesn't mean you are loud, cringe and irresponsible. Heck the quiet ones like me need you all and of course we do need someone to keep the party and conversation interesting. But even then, you can absolutely be vulnerable and have someone to share your mind and heart too.

7. Follow your HOBBIES!!!! dancing, painting, singing, writing, sports etc whatever is your pick, keep doing it. You need them. You don't have to monetize it or be so skillful to make a job out of it. You can follow it because you love it and it makes you happy and not because you must make a career out of it. Life gets busy, and even difficult at times. Hobbies will help you take you mind off from difficult things. Do it for 15 mins or 30 or even an hour. But DO IT.

8. For young people, do NOT get into romantic relationships because everybody else is getting in to. Life doesn't comprise of romantic relationships. Learn to build and value friendships, relationships with classmates, older people (relatives, teachers, seniors) and with people near and around you.

9. Money is needed and money does help buy happiness. You get to watch your movies, buy your favourite pizza/momos/biryani, go to your fav cafe, buy books and art supplies, buy that lip gloss or that new shoes model with money. Paisa bhai sab kuch nahi hai yes but paisa bahut kuch hai.

10. Cherish little moments of peace and find gratitude for the things that you have. You are alive, you get to do art, play a sport, read that fanfic on the internet, afford eating at a good restaurant, afford an education etc. There is still so much you need but at least you get to have some good things in life. Some don't and have to struggle immensely for things which we have.

[toomanywatchers]

My Thoughts on WatcherTV

Hi, I am here to put away my meme-making skills to express my genuine thoughts on Watcher’s announcement; WatcherTV. Before I get into it, this is for any of those at Team Watcher who might be seeing this message: Just know we love and support everything you do for us. Y’all truly do not get the credit you rightfully deserve. I hope with this change to a separate streaming platform you guys can create the content you want to make, pull in creators that you’ve always wanted to work with, and share voices/topics that may have not had the chance to shine because of YouTube’s heinous algorithm. I know myself, and many others, are excited to see what WatcherTV brings. For instance, I already watched Road Files and the trailer for Travel Season on the new platform. And guess what? I love it! I just love BTS-centric shows and seeing the vibes established on Travel Season. Along with more Lizzie/possibly-more-sightings-of-other-Team-Watcher-peeps content?!? If this is what holds for the future of WatcherTV- oh boy, do you already have me more on board than I already was.

I also send my sincerest regards too. We all know that the internet can be a negative space with many sharing their uncensored thoughts, and I hope none of you take the hate to heart. I also hope you can take the weekend to breathe, drink some water, spend time with loved ones, and celebrate this huge step you all are embarking on. I am truly excited to see what is to come on WatcherTV will be there with each step to support.

Now to my fellow fans of Watcher. I understand the concern and it is okay to have concerns. It shows that you truly care for Watcher as a company and don’t want anything negative to come about with this decision. BUT on the other hand, spreading hateful messages? Not. Fucking. Cool. It is quite simple to express concern in an appropriate/respectful manner. Remember, this is a company full of living and breathing human beings. Trying to justify “who is to blame” and pointing fingers is just childish. Guess what? No one is to blame, it was a company-wide decision that they all made and spent months upon months to create.

Yes, it does suck to see content that was free for years be moved to a paywall, but remember they are independent artists that have to pay employees, freelancers, locations, and themselves! Have we not been advocating for fair pay among creative individuals when it comes to WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes and then AI art taking jobs away from artists? If this is what the company needs to do to survive while not sacrificing the high-quality content they make for us, then we should give it a shot! Plus with the current discount available, the subscription is not that pricey for the amount of shows they produce! Literally for January and a bit of February, they were uploading 2 podcasts and 2 separate shows… that’s a lot of content! If you have never sat down to produce, direct, write, perform, edit, and all other aspects it takes to make a fine-polished YouTube video, it takes a lot of work!

To add to this, Watcher already makes content that far expands past what is recognized as normal for YouTube. They build individual sets for each show that is produced, and they travel all over the place for Ghost Files and soon-to-be Travel Season. It costs money to produce content and YouTube?- It’s just not how it was years and years ago. Views on long-form content have been dipping and with the over-saturation of sponsorships, I am assuming they are not making enough profit to sustain the business on the current platform. Also, monetization on YouTube has been a killer for many channels because of vulgar language issues and just being demonetized for no rhyme or reason. By moving over to a streaming platform of their own they can continue to create what they want to create, and make it without any restrictions or rules holding them back. Too pricey? Find some friends who also like the content and split the pricing evenly. Only want to watch certain shows? Then make a monthly subscription for the time that show airs. There are many solutions that you guys see as a huge problem, and don’t get me wrong I have my concerns. I shared those concerns briefly in my theory post about them still being a young channel, but I’m also unaware of the actual analytics and revenue that is currently being brought in currently to the company from YouTube alone. 

It’s a huge step that has garnered negative feedback from those spreading hateful messages about the company and to other individuals for supporting the boys *cough cough I see your messages and comments cough cough* is truly uncalled for. I will be taking a bit of a break from my socials as I wait out the storm though if I have the energy, I might stream on Twitch again and talk through this with y’all if you can sit down and have a civil discussion. As for now, it’s your choice if you continue to support. My goal is to continue to make funny little memes, and if I am allowed to I will be working on a crack video pt.2 after Travel Season premieres. Remember to be kind and to put yourselves in their shows. Just the boys even though they are receiving the brunt of the hate, but for everyone at the company.

Your local memester watcherina - Fritz.

[alhilton]

My position on Fan Fiction/ Fan-Make

I've been goaded into actually formulating a policy about this, due to actually finding fan fiction of my work. This is a good problem to have! My policy, here goes -

I firmly believe that fan-creations are a sign of health for any artistic property. I am always flattered when people want to spend extra time in my world and with my characters. There are a few pitfalls here, however, and authors have different ways of addressing them. Here are mine:

Visual Fan Artwork

I am generally delighted by visual fan art (images, dolls, cross-stitch, sculpture, etc) as long as you state clearly in the description where the world and/or characters came from and you’re not trying to sell it without a license. I enthusiastically share fan art when I find it. You do not need a license from me to make non-commercial, appropriately-attributed visual fan art.

Fan Fiction

Text-based fan fiction is a stickier subject. I am not interested in writing in a shared world. My canon is off-limits until I am dead. When my work is in the public domain, knock yourselves out!

Legally, best-practice is for me to pretend not to see fan fiction. I admit that I don’t always do this. However, I am nervous about interacting with fan fiction or linking to it because it is a legal mine-field. I do not want to lose control of my copyrights. (That is my main fear – not that you’ll make money on my work, but that I will lose control of my copyrights.)

Bottom line: if you want me to feel really free to interact with your fan fic and share it with my audience, you need to get a license from me. That license will give you legal permission to create “derivative works.” The license will also say that anything I create that is influenced by your fan fiction is mine alone and I do not owe you money or credit for any ideals that may pop up in my own canon creations due to reading your fan fiction.

If you obtain such a license from me, you are street-legal. This said, I do not promise to read fan fiction, even if you license it. I do not promise to critique it or give writing advice. Fan fiction is a gift to other fans, not to me.

Monetized Fan Creations (here’s where I really differ from other authors)

I am quite tolerant of fans making money in my world as long as you get a license from me first. I’m probably not going to give you a license for text-based stories to be published on retailers. Those have potential to confuse my readers. However, I will happily give you a license for many other kinds of monetized fan creations, including text-based stories in some forms. Unless you are a company, I’m probably not going to ask you for royalties. You can keep whatever you make, and I will happily link your work to my audience.

Examples:

You can sell commissioned artwork of my characters to other fans.

You can sell artwork of my characters printed on merch in places like Red Bubble (t-shirts, mugs, calendars, mousepads, etc).

You can make monetized pod-fic as long as it’s not on retailers and it’s clearly labeled as a non-canon fan-creation.

You can share your stories or art of my world and characters behind a paywall or on a site with advertising as long as it’s properly labeled and my own content is linked.

You can make a game based on my world. (If you are a company or a large kick-starter-backed endeavor, I will ask for royalties, but I’ll be reasonable).

You can make a D&D manual (OMG, please make a D&D manual. I get so many requests for this. I have no interested in making a D&D manual, but I will share yours and you can keep all the money…unless you are a gaming company or a large endeavor with backers, in which case I will want royalties, but I will be reasonable.)

The things you can do are practically limitless. I don’t have time to pursue all the good ideas myself! I just ask that you get a license from me first and link your source material (my books). Email me: abigail.hilton@pavoninebooks.com

If you would like to listen to me talk about this topic at length, you can listen to this podcast episode, recorded 8/31/2024.

[noctilin]

Hi jez!! ive been a long time follower of yours and your art has been a huge help when i was struggling in school. Hope you dont mind me asking this out of the blue but Im graduating soon and i still dunno if the careerpath i'll be taking is one i wanna take for life. I really like art, but im not really good at it, and i dont rlly have the means to "follow my passion". Im curious, do you do art for a living full time, or are you doing art while also having a quote unquote "real job"?

it doesnt really help that my parents arent very supportive of my art hobbies as of now, especially since im not making any money out of it. Money speaks as they say... LOL

hello!! i answered a question similar to this before you might be interested in. but tldr, i draw for a living! mainly freelance illustration.

commitment to art as a career is such a... complicated topic, i won't lie. even more difficult when you don't really have a sturdy support system like you say :( unfortunately, most people don't realize this is or isn't what they want until they take that leap.

personally, at first, it felt good, affirming to earn a living out of my art, it still does, but after years of it, i realized i would rather not monetize my work. it caused me to develop a complicated relationship with my creative process over the years. it often makes me question if i feel fulfilled with what i do, or if i'm only making this a means to survive. it burns me out constantly. even in the present, i have to continuously recondition my own perception of my process. but i'm currently not in a good position to just switch out my career.

i have been incredibly lucky that my art garners interest the way it does, and i make sure not to take it for granted. but i cannot hide how mentally draining it is to draw because i need to make ends meet instead of drawing because of the joy of it.

i like my art, i just wish i could enjoy it without worrying about a hungry stomach at the same time. 😅

i guess the point i'm making from all this is that money as a motivator in a creative field can be a mind killer. some people can do it, but i've rarely met such personalities... so what i'll say is this: if you want to learn and be around creatives, i would encourage going to art school, if you can. but going to art school isn't the end of it all either if you find it difficult to enroll yourself in one. art is accessible to all nowadays! just take a few google or youtube searches and maybe a little trip to the library, regardless if you want to keep it as a hobby or pursue it professionally. i've met a lot of artists who've landed full time jobs in studios without finishing an art degree. it's just a matter of letting your portfolio talk for you, a little bit of luck, and surrounding yourself with people who spark and uplift your creative spirit.

i know this is all still uncertain, but if there's anything i'm sure about, it's the fact that you don't have to give up art to live. art is living. it can still be your hobby if it doesn't end up as your job. and even if it doesn't become your career now, it's not impossible to have it in the future. i hope you find your way and, for what it's worth, congratulations on your upcoming graduation :)!

[loupy-mongoose]

Sorry to bother, I already asked this to Ash-aus but, I wanted to have different point of views

So, do you have any advices for those ( like me ) who want to start a comic ?

First off; as long as you're making your comic for free, remember that the pace of your blog is up to you! YOU drive the blog; not your viewers! I've borrowed and rehashed story ideas from my viewers (always with permission), but ultimately it's to make the story into what I want it to be. Make the story you want to make, not what others pressure you into making!

(I have no say in monetized endeavors as I haven't dabbled in that.)

Speaking on a more personal level, I feel the need to say that I do sometimes feel unintended pressure from my viewers/askers to write things against my comfort zone, or get questions that make me feel like I'm lacking as a writer or doing things "wrong". I do not blame the askers for this, it's just a matter of my own internal feelings, and resisting the desire to please the audience. I write to please myself, and I encourage other writers to do the same.

I think one of the most important things to remember is that you WILL have times where your art doesn't come easy, or just refuses to look good to you. It can be infinitely frustrating, but it's a part of artistic growth, and entirely inevitable.

(I yoinked this off Twitter I refuse to call it X shut up and it's not mine, but I think it's worth sharing. I need to remember this myself from time to time. X3)

Artistic growth is an ongoing, never ending journey. I turn 29 this month, and I'm FAR from a perfect artist despite practicing pretty much that whole time. I'll never be perfect. No one will be. My goal is to create what I want to see. I've come to realize that's what I love about being an artist; it gives me the means to bring the world of my mind--My beloved characters--to life.

Also remember that your interests will likely change as time goes on, causing your story decisions to change as well. It's hard for me to encourage you to outright dive in like I did with my blog, because that is very nerve-racking and could lead to retcons made down the line depending on your age and writing confidence. But at the same time, fear of having your story be "perfectly" thought out can keep you from doing anything at all. I guess I can only encourage you to feel it out for yourself, in that regard.

That's the stuff that stands out to me. So do with that what you will. ^w^

[starry-eyesanddaydreams]

Prompt 12 of @deepperplexity 's Rickmas 2023

December 12: Giver of Gifts

Lionel Shabandar x Reader

Lionel likes so to shower his partner with expensive gifts, but some out of line gossip makes his partner self-conscious.

(Again, taking a chance with something new and an underrated character)

___________________________________________________________

Lionel Shabandar was a man with a reputation for being an ice-cold bastard. But you knew a different side to him. You’d met at the art gallery where you worked. He’d seen you leading a tour group and couldn’t help but listen in as you stopped in front of Monet’s “The Thames below Westminster”, curious at what you would say about it. The way you talked with gentle passion about the artists use of light and subdued colour was entrancing to him and he’d approached you after the tour, wanting to hear more. An invitation to drinks had lead to dating and you’d made your relationship public by being his partner at a gala a few weeks ago. Lionel was many things, and as cold and calculating he could be as a businessman, with you he was affectionate, romantic, someone who loved to share his interests and passions and was eager to learn yours. He was also a lavish giver of gifts. Which lead you to here, sitting on the couch in your apartment on a December evening, while he fastened the most exquisite diamond necklace you’d ever seen around your neck. “Leo, you know you don’t have to buy me things like this, right?” You said, feeling a bit overwhelmed and awkward, “I love them, really. But you’re always so extravagant. You don’t need to be.” “I know, Darling. I like doing it, though.” You silently ran your fingers along the pearl drop pendant, looking at nothing.   Lionel brushed his hand along your arm, “What’s wrong?” He asked, “Something’s troubling you.” “It’s nothing.” You shrugged off his concern, getting up off the couch and heading to the kitchen “I was making some coffee, do you want some?”

Lionel followed you into the kitchen. Something was clearly weighing on your mind, and he hated seeing you so subdued. As you filled the coffee machine, some colourful paper sticking up out of the paper bin caught his attention. It was a copy of the Sun, with a picture of the two of you, taken at a Gala you’d recently attended. Along with the picture was the headline, “Billionaires new arm candy” and a short text making allusions about your relationship around his money and your looks. You turned around, saw him holding the paper and froze. “I thought you hated this trash rag?” he said, dropping it back in the bin, “Is that article what’s upsetting you?” You didn’t answer, but Lionel could see the tears welling up in your eyes and you quickly rubbed your eyes to try and hide them, focusing back on taking some cups from the cupboard. Lionel stepped up behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist, spoon hugging you against him. Your body automatically started to relax when you were pressed against him, he’d had that effect on you from the start. After a moment, you started talking quietly, “Someone at the gallery, fortunately not someone I work closely with, came up to me today and showed me that paper. They said I got a sweet deal, landing you as a Sugar Daddy. I just…It hurt and it made me mad to see people think our relationship is so shallow.” Lionel turned you in his arms to see your face, “I’m sorry, Darling. Really, those noxious trolls will make up what they want to see no matter what we do. But they’re just hollow words from useless gossip peddlers. They don't know anything." You took a breath, “I know. It also just made me feel self-conscious. I mean, you took me to lunch the other day and ended up taking me shopping at Bond Street. You don’t have to do things like that. I love you without all the trimmings.” Lionel smiled softly and held you a little closer, “You know, I think you’re the only person in my life who actually likes me for me. One of the things I love about you. You really don’t care about my money or name. You met a sour old man with an art obsession and decided to give him your heart. I can’t pretend to know why. That’s why I like spoiling you. Why I want to give you everything you deserve. You’re my Lioness, my queen, and you deserve to be treated like one.” Feeling tears prick your eyes again, you pressed your face against his chest, “You make it really hard to be critical when you say things like that.” Your voice was muffled by his shirt. “You live a very different life from the one I’m used to. But, honestly I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it.” You felt him chuckle and his arms wrap around you more fully. You stayed like that for a while before he gently tilted your face up with his hand. He trailed kisses down from your forehead to your lips before leaning back and saying, “Hang the world and their opinions. Come on, Darling, let’s go out.” You smiled up at him, leaning up for one more kiss before heading to your bedroom to get dressed. Lionel grinned as he watched you hurry to the other room. He hadn’t thought falling in love like this was on the cards for him. But loving you was just so easy. You made him happy in a way he’d never known before, and he wanted to do anything he could for you. Anything you would let him do. And he kept a secret hope in the back of his mind, if all went well, he’d be your fiancé by next Christmas.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[cursedcola]

TWST: The Hall Of Mirrors - Baby Update, January 24’

ART:

Guys I don’t think I’m going to be able to put art in the game because I lack a tablet. As much as I want to, it would require making *way* too many images.

So, I’m making the TW game a pure piece of interactive fanfiction as a text-based game only. I’ve poured so many hours into it and I think I would rather go extend the plot/add on details so you can visualize it rather than stress anymore about putting art in. I know I said previously that I was taking time off from it, but I actually spent a good chunk of my free time last month trying to get art to scan in. Twine does not like imagery. No, no it does not.

So I’m just going to take a wee bit more time and make the plot more detailed. I also really want to get back to writing more here >_<

PLOT:

Like I said, I’m taking more time to add in detail. Without art I feel that it needs more to make the visuals pop.

AUDIO:

I haven’t given up on this bit quite yet. Since this is a fan game that isn’t getting monetized or anything, I don’t feel the need to make original music. I’ll see if I can find anything I like enough to fit the vibes

~ On that note, this is the last written update I’m giving. I might post some pictures when I feel it's in a good place, or ask if anyone would like to test the game out (catch any technical errors or bugs)….but yeah, I’m pretty much done now? I think? Hard to believe I’ve slowly been writing this since July. It’ll be weird to not work on it anymore, but also nice since I want to write other things hehe. I will say that this is the biggest thing I have ever made for any fandom, and I hope it's something I can look back on fondly.

(Small rant below about the art because I’m me and my perfectionism demands I offer an explanation)

Like, I did the math and it just isn’t feasible to do with what I have sadly. The game was going to have 15cgs for each route’s climax. I also got a bit crazy and even did base sketches for 15 cga for the after endings without really thinking about how rough it was going to be. You can customize your Mc by their clothing, body size, eye color, hair length and color, and hair type. If I had a tablet then I could make a singular CG as the base, and then basically make a bunch of copies where I make small changes so that the proper combination will pop up depending on the choices you made. It would have took a long time but I could have done it - although using a quick combination showed that there were hundreds of different possible combinations.

I mean, there are 2 clothing options, 4 body types, 8 eye colors, 4 hair types, 4 hair lengths, and i think 6 hair colors if I remember right. I also put in customization features that have you answer Q’s that I can’t predict to edit the cg with. Regardless that’s 2X4X8X4X4X6 = 6,144 possible combinations for ONE cg. That’s kind of rough even with a tablet, so without one is just like…death. It would be 2x4x4x4 = 128 different iterations of the image (as things that are not just color changes that can be quickly altered). That’s 128 versions of 15 images. That’s 1,920 drawings. Even if they were going to be in a very simple artstyle, heck even a sketch, it’s not feasible.

I love Otomes and have always wanted to play one where your customized MC is featured in the cgs. Making a game like that is one of my life goals - but not for a fan game. If I’m doing that then it’s going to be an original work.

I’m sorry for hyping it up and making false promises. I really did want to make it happen for my mini fangame, but this is kinda just my little side project and stressing over it was zapping the fun away. So now we’re going back to plan A and just sticking to a text game >_<

[air-of-the-waterfall]

I've been thinking about it a lot, and I have doubts that leaving the AOAS fandom in response to Neal Shusterman's statements would genuinely accomplish anything.

Having bought the books years ago, I can't change that he's long since gotten that money, but I definitely won't encourage people to buy his books new anymore. The primary issue is that he's refusing to acknowledge the reality of the genocide against Palestinians, so I think the most important thing we can do is refuse to engage in that denial. Not just from Shusterman, but everywhere. We need to keep talking and posting and reblogging and everything else about Palestine. Be louder than the denial.

As for continuing to give him attention from engagement with AOAS, I'm not sure how much some Tumblr posts could benefit him in the long run. Tumblr doesn't have an algorithm or creator monetization as far as I'm aware, so a niche fandom corner with about forty consistent people can't really get back to him financially or publicity wise.

I feel like stepping away from AOAS would be performative and ineffective in doing anything to help Palestine, in which case, why abandon books that make me so happy? The idea of "separating art from the artist" has varying degrees of feasibility and morality, but in this case, I can't find a reason not to. I'm definitely open to changing my mind if there's anything I've missed. I don't want to participate in anything harmful.

@arcofacatboy @thetonethetollandthethunder What do you guys think? (editing because I originally tagged the wrong "tonetollandthunder" whoops sorry!)

[mayhems-cannon]

Show us your oldest piece of art you have on hand.

What is your favourite piece that you have done?

What do you like drawing the most?

List at least one of your “artspirations.”

What do you think you could stand to improve on?

ahh!! this is gonna be a long one! aaaa

Show us your oldest piece of art you have on hand.

i have this old Papyrus drawing from a 2018 sketchbook i filled way too fast. i was really into deltarune back then, and it expanded a little to undertale as well, since there was quite a bit of overlap (obviously).

What is your favorite piece you have done?

probably this one, since i spent so much time "in the zone" doing it. it was an extreme trance, it felt so nice... i suppose it's moreso tied to what i felt drawing it than what it looks like in the end (even if it still looks pretty nice)

What do you like drawing the most?

bodies are really fun for me to draw, but i also really enjoy sketching outside, whether it be in the commute or just standing somewhere and drawing a sculpture or anything.

List at least one of your artspirations.

there's actually a ton! but i guess, here's a few that come to mind:

Francis Xie, because of fucking course (aka the guy who got me into almost everything i'm doing now, from ultrakill the game to actually drawing digitally as a whole)

Milkywaes, with her very cartoonly and self assured drawings!! her works are basically what i aspire to achieve in terms of an alternative art style, she shares it with Yoh Yoshinari as well

Kabi Nagata, for her very raw yet very simple depictions of human emotions

Shin'Ichi Sakamoto, for his eye for keen detail and chirurgical precision, and his use of metaphors for expressing sounds without onomatopeias

Ayami Kojima, for her beautiful bodies and poetic renders

Mossacannibalism, he draws very consistently and always what he wants, i aspire to his level of free spirit in what you wish to draw and in doing it without asking yourself anything else

Kim Jung Gi!!!!

Akihiko Yoshida, who inspired me to go into making art specifically for games

Alphonse Mucha, Renoir, Caillebotte, Sorolla and Claude Monet for the more classical artists

i also just try to look around and observe and assimilate things that interest me, those can come from anything, literally. juice bottle, childrens' books, a graffiti on the wall, anything can be source for study and observation in my book, but maybe i'm just being a little weird. whoops

What do you think you could stand to improve on?

i'd say faces and dynamic shots, panelling as well. faces of literally any kind, i mean. i've stopped drawing faces consistently once i got into Ultrakill and only now am i understanding both how they work and how i never actually knew how to draw faces decently. dynamic shots and panelling go more hand in hand, stuff like two characters fighting or cooler looking pieces. i think i'm not good at drawing pieces that are meant to look cool in a shounen like way, which ties into panelling as well since learning how to panel things include subjects such as fighting or action scenes, but even regular panelling i think is something i really need to work on... ah well

[strangledwires]

Urbz Cut Dialogue [masterpost]

[NOTE: you might see Kiki's face often, but she's just a placeholder. All of these are from different Urbz.]

Darius' dialogues / an alternate beginning?

When using Debug Cheats in the Urbz: Sims in the City, there is an option to show all dialogues. This function mostly shows unused or unfinished dialogues. Which many are from Darius that shows the game might've had a different beginning.

Judging by these, it sounds like the game would've originally start in Darius' penthouse. Instead of will.i.am introducing you to Darius, Darius would've personally summoned you himself. The reason for this? Because he needs a "nobody" to take down a new crew that's been harassing people -- this crew likely being the villains, Kiki, Urango, and Harry. He makes a deal to give you the penthouse if you succeed, it seems he reminds you of this deal, too. So, it's very important to him.

I think this scrapped beginning explains the story better. As much as I love the Urbz, it really does feel like Darius is just helping a random person become famous out of the kindness of his heart. Him initially making the deal to get rid of the villains, it just makes more sense to me for a highly famous guy to help a stranger only if they're helping him.

Dialogues from Urbz

You know those missions where you're supposed to mug Urbz or take their pictures? The ones that are given to you by another Urb? Apparently the "targets" of these missions would've said something about it as well.

[NOTE: I don't really know if these are "unused" or not. However, I've played this game many times and I haven't been able to trigger them in normal gameplay -- even when I'm intentionally trying to.]

Neo Flange acknowledging that Toots wants to tag his face. (Obvs him by the art references)

These are about the same mission from Fergie & Ally. It's harder to say which dialogue belongs to who. But I'm gonna assume it was Ally who called her hat a "dead pink rat" lol! There are more unused dialogues for most of the missions. But I'll just transcript them rather than showing the images to avoid hitting Tumblr's image limits. Plus, they all look the same (sometimes without Kiki's portrait tho) just different text.

Transcripts

"No one, and I mean NO ONE, is gonna take my picture. Are you listening to me? I hope so, cuz that Cash Monet punk never did." - Unspecified Urb referring to the "Paparazzi Panic" mission.

"I just hate having my picture taken. You never know where it's gonna show up. That Cash Monet guy has been trying to snap my mug for weeks now." - Unspecified Urb referring to the "Paparazzi Panic" mission.

"Yo, you know Roxanna? She's trying to get me to change my look. My shirt looks fine, right?" - Unspecified Urb (Loop d. Loop?) referring to the "Style and Substance" mission.

"So, what do you think of my shirt? That chick Roxanna Hardplace is always trying to get me to dress more like her. I think she needs to power down." - Unspecified Urb (String Bean?) referring to the "Style and Substance" mission.

"No WAY am I going to pay that Laruffle loser. He'll have to get someone to beat the cash out of me." - Unspecified Urb (Jet Rockit?) referring to the "Mug People" mission.

"That thug Luke Laruffle has been after me for some cash. Word on the street has it that he's sent someone to mug me. I better watch my step." - Unspecified Urb (Kidd Chaos?) regarding the "Mug People" mission.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't tell Luke Laruffle that you saw me. I owe him some cash and I hear he's sent some thug to mug me!" - Unspecified Urb (Prof. Chewy?) regarding the "Mug People" mission.

"I find I could tell most anything to someone I truly love, especially after a sweet kiss. I wonder if you would fit the bill." - Unspecified Urb regarding the "Love Triangle" mission.

"I never kiss and tell unless I really love someone." - Unspecified Urb regarding the "Love Triangle" mission.

"Ghengis Lincoln is out to get me. You're not a friend of his, are you? You wouldn't STINK BOMB me, would you?" - Unspecified Urb (Sara Tonin?) regarding the "Stink Bomb" mission. [NOTE: Genghis' name is misspelled in the original text. Unsure if this was the original spelling of his name or a mere typo]

"Ghengis Lincoln has it in for me. I beat him arm wrestling and now he's been messing with me, always getting Urbz to throw stink bombs at me." - Unspecified Urb (Polo?) regarding the "Stink Bomb" mission. [NOTE: Genghis' name is misspelled in the original text. Unsure if this was the original spelling of his name or a mere typo]

"That BEAST Genghis Lincoln has the audacity to suggest that he could improve my odor. Do you have the slightest idea what he is talking about?" - Unspecified Urb (Diva Roma?) regarding the "Stink Bomb" mission.

[SPECIAL NOTE: Oddly, these also appear in the Sims 2 Prototype, specifically the M4 20 build]

TUTORIALS & SCRAPPED GOALSS?

"§500" seems like a specific number, so this could've possibly been a scrapped goal.

There's also something from the delivery guy that actually says "obsolete" lol. So, this might've been a cut scenario?

As well as these too. Except, I don't know if these don't appear in the game or if they do, I just don't recall. The "Hey kid, I'm heading over." sounds like it's possibly from Darius. I would assume it's a successful invite urb message, but the "see you at 6:00pm!" seems oddly specific. Therefore, it makes me think this is a cut scenario, too.

The "You lack the money" message I'm also uncertain about -- but I don't recall a moment where this would be valid unless it pops up if you try to gamble with no money? I've never tried that, so it could be the message for that event.

Scrapped tutorial messages that are never seen in the game.

There might be more scrapped dialogues. Sometimes when you run the "show all dialogues" cheat, different messages pop up. And there are also some dialogues that might not actually be in the game, but I'm very uncertain about -- so I'd have to see if I can trigger them or not. If I find any more scrapped Urbz dialogues in this game OR the Sims 2 prototype, I'll be sure to make a part 2! If some of these actually do appear in the game and I'm incorrect, I will also correct myself in a part 2!

Final statement: I really don't know why most of these were scrapped. The beginning makes the story slightly more complex, and the dialogues add a little more character to the Urbz we see. It could be that the developers were struggling to implement these (as this game went through development hell) or in the end, they just deemed them unnecessary.

[snickerzanddoodlez]

HELLO, TUMBLR!

SnickerDoodlez | She / Her | 16

Nice to meet y’all! You can call me any variation of my username! I’m the director of Wordgirl: Rewired, the unofficial fan reboot! (This isn’t just a pipe-dream project- we have already released a few ten-minute episodes!) If that interests you even at all, check ‘em out! And by the way, applications are open!

My other main blogs are @my-silly-little-guys and @crown-of-roses-thsc, for OCs and my Henry Stickmin AU comic respectively! My newest main is @the-only-teruteru-fan, which…tells you all you need to know-

My main socials are Tumblr, Toyhou.se, and YouTube! I also take commissions!

SOME THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME

1. I try to avoid venting on this blog, so don’t worry about that! It will happen from time to time- a teenager with depression, who woulda guessed?- but I try to keep it private! If I do vent, it’s usually just through passing jokes, angsty art, a short post, or words of encouragement I wish I’d heard!

3. My rules and boundaries are few- just keep in mind that I am 16!

4. I’m a huge advocate for cringe! Create that Mary Sue! Be the next Ebony Darkness Dimentia Raven Way! I encourage it! I’ve obsessed over my fair share of Danganronpa characters- who am I to judge?

5. Do not spread hate. While I do think that everyone has a right to express their opinions or beliefs, I do not want anything to do with people who advocate for zoophilia, racism, pedophilia, etc.

6. I’m a Christian, but I don’t often post about it- my relationship with God is between Him and me! However, please don’t let this be a turn-off for you- though you’ve no doubt heard many stereotypes, I do not associate myself with Christians that are hateful or cruel…that’s not following God’s teachings.

7. l ask that current events are discussed elsewhere, as for me and many others, these blogs are places to escape reality. As well as this, please do not message me or send me asks pertaining to charities and seeking donations- though I wish those who truly need it help and support, this just isn't a place for it.

8. I am perfectly okay with people monetizing content pertaining to my creations, so long as the content itself is their own work! As well as this, I’m okay with people translating my work or making creative interpretations!

9. Please send me asks! Please! | need! Social interaction! And to talk about! My OCs! PLEASE TAG ME. IF YOU'RE DEBATING WHETHER YOU SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T, THAT MEANS YOU SHOULD. Although just a warning, I’m not always a fan of tag games! (Basically, I’d say- if you’re tagging me because you specifically thought of me, thought I’d be interested, or the post is about me in any way, please tag me! If you’re tagging me just because I’m a mutual and it isn’t something that I need to see, then I’m going to be less keen. But hey, I don’t really mind!)

10. Reach out to me for….whatever you want! Think I’m cool? Thanks! Got a question? Go for it! Wanna be friends? I’m flattered! I’m pretty open with things!

Oh, and my biggest fandoms right now are~

-Hidden Beneath! (Or the fandom I wish it had, haha!) @my-silly-little-guys

-The Henry Stickmin Collection @crown-of-roses-thsc

-Wordgirl

-Warrior Cats

-Danganronpa @the-only-teruteru-fan

[not-xpr-art]

Art deep dives #4 - Stop asking if AI art is actually 'art'.

ok so this whole conversation has been rattling around my brain for a little while so I thought I might as well finally make another deep dive post talking about it!

as with all my 'essays' this is totally an informal affair without citations, structure or proper academic language, so like... don't expect anything overly serious or researched lol...

(this is a lil over 1k words btw!)

So, in the last few years since AI art came bounding onto the scene like an over enthusiastic unwanted puppy with 9 legs and 12 tongues, the discussion about whether the stuff generated by AI machines like midjourney is actually Real Art has become one of the main talking points. And I'll be honest, I'm kinda sick of it lol

Because, what is or isn't art is kinda unimportant to me lol...

Don't get me wrong, I think that there is a space to discuss what constitutes art (especially in a world where hacks like Damien Hirst are allowed to throw whatever bullshit he wants at a wall or in a tank and claim he's reinventing what art even means and becoming super wealthy and successful off the back of it... Also it wouldn't be an informal essay by me if I didn't complain slightly about Duchamp and his goddamn fucking fountain pfft... my life's goal is to find and piss in that urinal mark my words), but rather that, particularly when it comes to discussions surrounding AI, I find the focus on whether it is or isn't art not especially an interesting question.

Part of what sparked this conversation was a tweet by youtuber Alexander Avila asking the hypothetical about whether if Van Gogh was an AI Dude Bro today and used AI to generate his Starry Night painting, would that be considered art. Now Avila got a lot of shit for this tweet that was completely unwarranted imo (it's literally just a hypothetical, chill out my dudes), but that being said I don't think criticism of the original tweet (now deleted) is unworthy of exploration.

Because the thing is, whether AI Dude Bro Van Gogh generated the same artwork with AI as the Actual Van Gogh created over a hundred years previous is kinda... Irrelevant lol

An important thing to remember is it's not just about it being a work of art that brings value to it... Famous artworks of the past aren't just famous because they're art, their famous because of the cultural history surrounding them!

And it feels remiss to talk about Van Gogh's Starry Night and not mention everything that makes that work important to us today... The fact it's a post-impressionist piece building on the language and techniques championed by the impressionists in 19th century France, in turn a movement that was a backlash against the stuffy archaic rules of the European art academies and instead focused on more expressive, naturalistic ways of painting! His focus on colour and shape are also massively influenced by the works of artists like Monet and Renoir, alongside the move to more mundane every day subject matters! (which can have Dutch genre paintings and still life paintings to thank them for)

It was a far cry from the highly idealised historical paintings that were still greatly valued in that era, not to mention the fact that a lot of the impressionists, and especially post-impressionists like Van Gogh were heavily influenced by Japanese prints that had begun to make their way over to Europe at this time via trade routes! (if I'm remembering my degree correctly the prints arrived wrapped around Japanese ceramics and the like) Japanese art had a different approach to composition, perspective and colour than Western art, and you can really see the influence of Japanese artists in Van Gogh's paintings!

On top of all of this context, you also need to look at Van Gogh himself. Part of the reason why we love his work still is because of the man himself. You ask even the most casual of art enjoyers what they know about him and I'd guarantee they'd tell you that a) he painted the sunflowers/starry night b) he cut off his own ear (it was only a portion of his ear but still) & c) he only sold one painting in his lifetime (something that I think is often disputed by historians but like... we won't get into that here lol).

The mythology behind Van Gogh as a tortured artist is a big reason as to why we love works like Starry Night. We believe we can feel his emotion, his soul even, in the work he created so much so that it still moves us now in the 21st century. Hell, Vincent and The Doctor is one of the most beloved Doctor Who episodes even by people who hate that era of Doctor Who lol!

It's because he was an incredibly talented man that was fucked over by a world and society that didn't give him the help or resources he needed to succeed, because he was a product of all the revolutionary art movements that had happened before him, because he was a product of international trade that massively influenced the way Western art looked... And like, this isn't even to mention the ways in which medium (oil paints, canvas, etc) came about and meant the very specific way Van Gogh painted was even possible, or how the invention of the camera shaped the whole of the art world and the general purpose of art itself at the end of the 19th century, as well as the ways in which colonialisation have impacted our perspective of what constitutes part of the 'Great Masters' as primarily being a bunch of white dudes... I could go on and on lol

My long and meandering point is is that the context as to why we love works like Starry Night has very little to do with the question of it being art.

So what question do I think we should be asking then?

Well, fundamentally I think a more interesting question about AI art in regards to the hypothetical AI Dude Bro Van Gogh generating Starry Night rather than creating it is whether that new generated version of Starry Night would be received the same way, whether it would be as important to us as a society as that original painting.

And the very simple answer to that is: No lol.

AI has no history in the same way humans do. Like yes it has every image in existence, but it doesn't have the same historical or emotional context of those images... So regardless of whether it can recreate exactly what Starry Night looks like down to the smallest brush stroke, it will never have that same emotional impact on our culture and society as a whole!

In conclusion, stop trying to ask whether AI art is 'real' art, stop posing it like some kinda deep philosophical question because it really does. not. matter.

As an artist the reason why I hate AI art isn't because it's 'Not Real Art', but because it's unethical (stealing images from thousands of artists that have no say in it, as well as stealing jobs from artists), and, crucially, really fucking bad for the environment lol

...

As always, I hope you enjoyed my ramblings lol! The tweet that inspired this actually happened literally ages ago, but I was just watching a video by youtuber Hoots where she mentioned it so thought it was about time I expressed my thoughts on the issue lol!

[monstersinthecosmos]

I was asked in that Fanfic Writer Asks thing 💛 What is the most impactful lesson you’ve learned about writing? and I wanted to break it out into its own space.

The No. 1 Most Impactful Lesson is Write What You Want to Read

But I do want to speak about this for a minute because like everything important that I know about writing ALWAYS comes back to this idea, and there's two main points I want to make about it.

Your "VOICE" is about your taste and your ideas more than it is about your technical skill, language, and structure.

People I think stress about "voice" thinking that they need to develop their language and prose and rhythm and all the flowery poetry. I don't think it matters, personally. I think if you have an idea, the idea itself is the thing that drives the story.

Fanfic is awesome to use to learn how to write because it's accessible to everyone, and you get such a wide sampling of skill in one place. And sometimes you can see a really atrocious fic and it kinda teaches you what not to do, and helps you understand what you do or don't like as a reader, but sometimes you also see the good idea peeking through and you can enjoy it anyway. There are fics I ADORE that are so sloppily written, break all the rules, formatted like shit LOL, and I'm still HERE FOR IT because the author had such great ideas.

I'm sure anyone who's learned a second language had learned this, but, I remember when I was studying abroad that the college president welcomed us to the program and gave us this huge pep talk about how like, when you're out in the world speaking a second language, your grammar isn't important. If you can COMMUNICATE, that's what's important. If you can point to the apple you want to buy and say "Apple buy", the person will understand what you're trying to say.

So I think of writing that way, too. Your ideas are more important than your technical skill. Share the ideas. Keep sharing the ideas. The skill will follow when you're putting the time in.

2. Writing for fun is just as valuable as writing for work.

I took a long break from fanfic writing in my 20s because I kinda thought I'd "moved on" and that it had been my teenager hobby. And I had gone to college for photography and becoming a professional photographer really killed a lot of my passion for the art. College really brainwashed me into thinking creativity is a waste of time if it's not monetized, so even though I always enjoyed writing, I spent a few years being hard on myself and thinking it was stupid to waste time on writing fic because I couldn't sell it.

And that's such bullshit?

Because the truth is that, by telling myself "Don't write stuff you can't sell" I just wound up not writing anything at all?

And writing is like, my lil thing that that I do for fun. I can do it for fun. It feels good. It's the space I've made to be creative where I specifically don't have to worry about money, and I value it so fucking much.

I'm sure there are other people who bypassed this life lesson by NOT falling into a capitalist trap LOL but if I can share that, to help others avoid it, I will!

Write what you want to read, because it's fun, because you want to! Because you have good taste and that's your voice! You can be confident and stand up and say "I think this idea is cool so I'm going to share it with you!"

Trust yourself and your taste!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't stress about the technical stuff, it will follow!

(Bonus point #3 is bonus because it's a little more about technical stuff but if you start thinking about write what you want to read WHEN YOU READ it really helps inform how you think about your story structure and pacing. Like when I get stuck on a pacing thing I'm always thinking "Would this bore me if I were reading it? Would I want to be slow burned? Would I want more time spent on this payoff?" etc. I think that shift in mindset really helps when it comes to your story structure!!!!!!!!!!!)