#in some ways im more experienced with digital art and in some ways im very much out of practice

[badlydrawnronpa]

hi anon ty for sending the message! I did look through their blog and they very obviously use AI - I would've published the ask normally to let other people know but I decided against it in the end because after a closer inspection I noticed that all commissions are fake (besides being fake art I mean) and they're not actually scamming anyone because. uh. literally most of the blogs I saw interact with them are empty rp blogs that are blatantly controlled by them and one of the commissions I saw on their patreon was for a defunct ohsc rp blog from 2014??? Which honestly was really funny.

so yeah, they're very much not pulling any money from that, and on top of it all they posted pics of themselves sooooo yeh, not going to blast them on a blog with a big following for trying the 'i dont use ai im a real artist' but ultimately not scamming anyone out of their money. They're also not the best at like... hiding they're using AI because you can see their traditional art in other posts, and the style or experience level doesn't match at all.

I will post some of their AI stuff underneath the read more and point out the inconsistencies tho, to help out other people in spotting out ai shit (esp non artists that might have an harder time figuring things out). If you find out the original user that posted these, please don't harass them, be civil.

BTW I'M SAYING THIS NOW: if you see something I point out and say ''ah, I do that, I'm in trouble" - no you're not, if you actually draw the stuff yourself. You can see when an artist's work (and mistakes!) are genuine. Beginner's mistakes can be made by experienced artists too, but if you look at their entire body of work you can see when something doesn't add up.

to start off, I saw anon calling them out on this one so I'm just reiterating some of the points, but here's some junko 'art' they made

when confronted abt it, they said that the fingers look weird because they can't control their shaky hands and drawing small is hard. anyway if you draw digitally you can zoom in on the canvas and work on a detail as big as you need, so that excuse doesn't hold

this other post was basically what made me just say 'yep thats ai' and it was just the second 'art' post I saw from them

while taken alone they could've been a little harder to spot as AI, with them all bundled together you can easily see they came from the same prompt; the user tried to justify the inconsistencies saying it was because they were 'experimenting' with the design of their oc and gundham's scar but I'm telling you now, no sane artist fully renders four pieces that are basically the same concept while changing the design of the character just slightly in every single one of them. anyway, here's the breakdown of every piece:

another that was way easier to break down because it's so full of inconsistencies the moment you really take a look at it

also let's be real if you render art like that you're not gonna put a bright purple unreadable text on your supposed vtuber "art"

let's end this with the AI "commission" that could be harder to break down as AI if seen in a vacuum now, shall we? esp because our friend, the fucked up melty finger, isn't there

I honestly had to look for a while at this one because if you had shown it to me and I didn't see the other stuff this person posted, I could've just chalked up a lot of these mistakes to human error. Tangents between lines, scribbles for details, forgotten uncolored sections is all normal stuff. BUT we know this person used AI in all the other posts, so we know what to look at:

again, some mistakes the AI does can be also mistakes actual artists do: be sure to check the other art the user makes before throwing accusations

they also posted a fake speedpaint that is so embarassing it made me laugh but if I start pointing out inconsistencies in an AI speedpaint we're gonna be here for a long time, so.

TL;DR AI 'ART' SIGNS:

The classics: hands and fingers don't make sense, there's additional weird lines and they melt into other part of the drawing

long hair strands and other long or flowy elements can suddenly disappear behind objects and not reappear where they should

jewels, intricate details, hairpins and other accessories bend and melt into each other and other part of the design

the resolution of the image is very low and/or grainy - a lot of artists post lower res pieces online, but again: look for a pattern and combos of all the other signs

inconsistencies between multiple art posts, character designs constantly being different, sudden art style changes - while this can also be found with real artists, this is an additional tell of someone using AI, when combined with the stuff I mentioned above. humans mistakes usually have a reason for what they happen, AI makes them because it doesnt understand what it's doing most of the time

[tailsdollr]

your art is really coool! im inspired! do you have any art tips?

Thank you so much and yes I have a bit of knowledge since all the work I have done over the years. However, I understand everyone does things differently. So perhaps not all I will share will benefit you much. Especially if you already knew it BUT I will try give as many I can!

I saw that you mostly do traditional drawing, so I will keep it mainly for that. However I will mention some digital tips but will have them related to traditional in some way.

Pencil types. There are many types of pencils and most depend on darkness or light. I usually have a 0.6 and 0.9 on me. A step further is charcoal however I'm not as experienced in that. Something I often do in case of smearing is lightly dabbing my finger on the art. This can work for many tools but I think a pencil smearing can just be annoying lol. How far you press can be very important too as going to hard can leave lines into the paper that will permanently be there and affect your art in case you wanna erase. I usually go light first then dark then work around. It's okay if it's messy at first if its light as that can be a lot easier to clean.

Paper. Paper is very important to me at least due to how much it can vary. For certain tools, I'd prefer certain types of paper. Always check texture and thickness before buying. Don't just buy random sketchbooks. I've regretted many times of getting paper far too thin or way too much texture.

Texture and thickness all depend on what you'll use on it. Thicker paper can handle wet bases like water, paint, or markers. While thinner paper is much better for pencil. As the more texture the more difficult it becomes to not make a mess of extra that might smear if you're not careful.

If you have thin paper and are using markers, make sure you know when is too much for the paper. It could tear or eat a hole in it if not careful. I don't think it depends on art supplies either. I just think it depends on skill and paper. Like, I would not use Crayola markers on printer paper. But I would on card stock since it's more likely to handle it. Speaking of card stock, it can be really good for just sketching. However I don't think it takes pencil very well depending on it's texture. Since most are usually kind of glossy on top.

Thin paper can also be great if you want to transfer a drawing over. Imagine a digital sketch that you draw over. Thin paper can be used in the same way so I'd never fear messing up when you can easily get it onto something else and start over. This applies to tracing it in digital.

Speaking of tracing, I would not be afraid of using it as a learning tool. I've used references but sometimes I cannot see exactly how to draw that. So I trace and see what it looks like on its own. I don't think using something traced in your final piece is practical or good. But I think learning and guiding yourself with it is an excellent thing and I want more young artists not to be afraid of it.

Poses and certain features can be quite difficult for some. I think the best way to build up on these is to break them down. Like making the person who is doing the pose into very simple shapes.

This like all off the top of my head. If you want to ask something specific like, painting for example, feel free and go ahead! Or need further elaboration I can certainly try!

My biggest art tip of all tho, is to have fun. Draw whatever you want. Make yourself feel happy and don't let others dictate what you do.

I think cringe culture really hurt a lot of learning and growing artists. People who just inserted themselves into stories, made strange aus. They all were just having fun. I let myself not show that I loved things just for others comfort and you know what fuck them!! So what if evil teletubbies is weird?? Why are you upset that I'm having fun!

Love what you love. Draw weird and strange things and never give up on yourself when you feel disappointed.

You will get there with your art. You will if you feel love and passion for the craft.

[reversedumbrella]

your recent terumob comic reminds me of something i experienced when i was their age, however my story ended with us drifting apart. you wrote and drew it the way i see it in my dreams if things were different. it's very nice, even if it makes me a little sad:) i hope they figure it out together in your art. love your style💕

thank you! i'm so glad you can see a part of you in it

im planning on making some more comics, but for now have the boys cuddling during sleepover 2.0

(digital version of a doodle in here)

[mokutone]

your digital art is so nice! i mean this in a nice way, its very refreshing. it's got a certain feel to it that makes it feel different from your usual watercolor, sketches, or inked work, an it's like getting a new shirt that's... just the right texture. that's not to say your usual art isn't the same, the digital art just feelss like a little candy,,, as a reward.

ahhh! thank u, thats very sweet of you to say.

[satoriberry]

Hiii! Can I pleaseeeeee request a s/o who is an artist but they are in a art block or just lack of any motivation and they need help being inspired with Akaashi, kita, tsukishima, and any character of you’re choice :) pls and thank you!

‣ Currently growing: Assisting their S/O out of art block!

‣ Pairings: Akaashi Keiji + Kita Shinsuke + Tsukishima Kei x GN!Reader

‣ Watch out for: Nothing! Happy reading :D

‣ Berry's note: Hellololo!! thank you for sending in your request! Im only doing these 3 cause I cant really come up with a 4th character :] For anyone waiting for their matchups, I'm really sorry for being late. I'm out for school an average of 11 hours a day and im prioritising normal requests rn :(( but since it's almost the weekend, ill work on the matchups!

• Akaashi Keiji:

- I feel like asking Akaashi will send him deep into thought because he wants to come up with a multitude of solutions. Yeah, he's that invested in helping you <3

- If you're experiencing a loss of motivation, he'd first ask you to not force yourself/overwork yourself to the point of burnout (looks after you <3).

- You need inspiration? He's got you. I like to think Akaashi is a pretty creative person (cause he practically is), so he'll come up with things that you could draw.

- He'll imagine stuff for you, and ask you to draw it. It's like mini drawing requests at random times. He could randomly wake up one day and ask you, "Y/N, can you draw me a mug with a cat inside it. I want to set it as my phone background."

- He likes to praise you for your skills even you don't think they're that much. "Wow Y/N, the shading looks so nice in here :)" "That eye looks really realistic" "You're so good at drawing expressions". He assumes that complimenting your art will give you enough energy to get going again.

- If he had to be honest, he doesn't know what's the best way to help. So his go-to method is showing you just how good you are at what you do, and that losing creativity doesn't mean you shouldn't draw.

- Will pose for you so you can draw him. I'm not kidding. Whether it's digital, traditional, painting or whatever, he'll strike a pose out of no where and be like, "Draw me like one of your French girls. Or Japanese boys, to be more accurate."

- It's very outlandish of him, but whatever it takes to help his lovely partner get their creativity back <3.

• Kita Shinsuke:

- Kita has a more logical approach to this, unsurprisingly.

- If he ever sees you blandly staring at your ceiling, your drawing material next to you and a hopeless expression on your face, his first thought is always "Y/N's creativity is running out. Time to assist :)"

- He'll put away your drawing tools, cut up some fruit for you and sit next to you so he can know exactly what's the problem.

- His no.1 solution is taking you on dates. Yeah, that's his best approach. He thinks that spending time together will help you find your inspiration along the way.

- Movies, amusement parks, art galleries, you name it. He takes you to places that feed your imagination.

- If you're the kind that has art block but then gets a fuck ton of ideas when you're not drawing, he's your man. Kita has a habit of always checking up on you by asking, "How are you doing right now, Y/N?" and a lot of the times, he'll add "Have you been coming up with a new art idea? :]". And if you do have a bunch of new ideas in mind, you better believe his notes app is ready so that he could write all of it down.

- Now when you're lost and have nothing to draw, he opens his phone and lists a bunch of things you could draw. Kita always plans ahead <33

• Tsukishima Kei:

-Similarly to Kita, he tries to find a logical way to help you out when you're unable to draw anything.

- Before helping, he'll tease you about it most definitely. In a loving way of course, Tsukishima swore he'll never say that could hurt you.

- No but it's so funny to him. "Just come up with an idea?" is what he always says with a shit-eating grin on his face, thinking he's so fucking funny AHAHAHAHA HILARIOUS

- But, he always has one way to help, and that's by taking you to museums and art galleries. He loves those a lot, and they're "places where the human mind can generate a variety of new thoughts". Yes, he said those exact words when you asked him why he wanted to take you to the new art gallery.

- He takes you there, hoping that the art pieces and statues would give you inspiration. If it works, he'll feel proud of himself but he won't show it, maybe just a tiny smile and a squeeze to your hand (that he's been holding the entire time of course 🙄).

- If it doesn't, he'll tell you that sometimes, you're not always going to be able to do something and that's ok.

- He takes you back home and the first thing he does is find a nice movie for the two of you. He finds those helpful when "his brain isn't working well, it feeds his knowledge". Yes, those exact words again.

- Overall, Tsukishima tries to help distract you from the lack of motivation and inspiration, like a short break from art, until you're 100% ready to draw again. He's more of a "wait until it disappears" person than a "try your hardest to fix it right away" kind of guy <3.

‣ Berry's after-writing note: AAAAA IM SO SORRY FOR ANSWERING LATE T-T!! I got so busy with school and didnt touch my inbox for a good 2 days. I really hope you like these, and thank you again for requesting!!! :]

[tepkunset]

@avatarfandompolice​​​ is a blog that likes to misuse progressive language in attempt to make ignorant, racist posts sound more intelligent than they are. While most of their blog consists of arguing about ‘zutara,’ (which I recently learned is a ship name for Zuko and Katara from an anon), there is also a large number of posts and reblogs under the premise of being “hot takes” on how unfair it is to address racism in fandom and in media.

Avatarfandompolice is very sensitive about people pointing out that Avatar: The Last Airbender is not, in fact, flawless. That a show made by two white men featuring Asian and Indigenous characters and influences is fully capable of getting things wrong. That their western colonial views are influences all on their own, and it shows. Rather than listen to fans of colour point out things like these posts for example: [Link] [Link] [Link], avatarfandompolice has decided that such things must simply be fake, and has made multiple posts complaining it. This is not just regular ignorance, this is wilful ignorance. The dismissal of critique simply because they cannot fathom not everyone being able to handle the amount of issues they are freely educating others on, or people holding the ability to like something overall while also pointing out where it could be better.

It is my firm belief that you should never absorb media with an uncritical eye. If this was the case, if people just accepted everything given to them, then we would never see any progress. We need to be able to look back at something and say here’s what we did right, and here’s what we need to do better with.

The argument that A:TLA was made in 2012 and therefore should not be analyzed with a modern understanding of the world is downright hilarious, too. As if we aren’t taught to write literature analysis on books and plays that are centuries old in school. In particular regards to the whole cop thing... if anyone reading this seriously thinks that hate and fear of the police is just a 2020 trend, you can meet me in the pit. I was four years old when I learned how terrifying cops are. If your experiences differ, let me tell you that does not make them universal. And as for all the 20-somethings talking about it today, well, gentle reminder that as said by avatarfandompolice right here, the show aired in 2012. Little 10-year-old kids don’t have social media, (at least I hope they don’t,) and unless they grew up experiencing first-hand police terror, probably were not aware of it at that age. I do not know why avatarfandompolice insults people's ability to grow and learn. I can only guess it’s jealously from their lack of ability to do so.

Now let’s address their defences of whitewashing, which is easily the most backwards reaching I’ve seen on this issue in a while. Primarily their defence relies on four repetitive “points” —

Fake minuscule percentages to downplay the high prevalence and extremity of whitewashing in the fandom

Deflecting the addressing of whitewashing with rapid-fire fake scenarios and claims of “reverse racism” / “blackwashing”

Claiming whitewashing isn’t real because people only care about it with Katara

Claiming that calling out whitewashing in fandom is wrong because it hurts artists

I have only so much as dipped my toes into the A:TLA fandom, and even I have seen a lot of whitewashed fan art. If you do an image search for fan art, I guarantee within the first couple rows of results, there will be in the absolute least, a few examples. The idea of these artworks not substantially lightening skin is also just plain inaccurate. Just from a quick Google search, this is literally the first result for ‘Avatar The Last Airbender Katara fan art’:

Avatarfandompolice is also hyper-focused on the lightening of skin, and seems to be under the impression that this is the only component of whitewashing. I come to this conclusion because when someone pointed out the equal prevalence of depicting these characters of colour with Western European features instead of their actual eyes, noses, etc., they rip a giant turd out of their ass and scrawl the words “but stereotyping” over it. No, not all Asian peoples and Indigenous peoples look the same. The original poster made no such claim of this at all. Avatarfandompolice jumped to this conclusion all on their own... (which really says a lot in itself). It is entirely unrelated to the point. The point being the erasure of how these characters look, in favour of giving them whiter features. And guess what? This does hurt. But I’ll get to that below.

The lack of understanding of whitewashing is on full display when avatarfandompolice talks about “blackwashing”; the idea that colouring characters with darker skin is just like whitewashing. Firstly, there is no such thing as “blackwashing.” “Blackwashing,” “brownwashing,” etc. does not exist because it is a false equivalency to whitewashing. It is a false equivalency to whitewashing because white people are not even in the slightest loosing representation when a white character is re-imagined as a racial minority, whereas when racial minorities are re-imagined as white people, they are taking away from what is already very little representation for us. If we lived in a world where the statistics of representation were not so drastically disproportionate, then there would be something to talk about. But if you are really wanting to support equality, you should focus on equitably supporting those who actually need it, not white people. As for specifically depicting characters like Sokka and Katara with darker skin than what they have in the show, the same applies, (so long as it’s not racebending them as we really shouldn’t be taking representation away from each other, and the artist avatarfandompolice ridicules above has done no such thing,) because colourism also exists within nonwhite communities as well.

As for the fake questions about cosplaying, the answer is really simple: Cosplay however you want, but don’t make pretending to be a different race part of your cosplay. If you want to cosplay Katara, you can do it without painting your skin darker, aka brownface. If you want to cosplay Zuko, you can do it without editing yourself to look East Asian, aka digital yellowface. The racist history behind this is an internet search away, but I suppose that is too difficult for avatarfandompolice to do.

Avatarfandompolice has made multiple claims that people must not really care about whitewashing if they only call it out for Katara. It is laughable at best, and sad at worst, that this is the conclusion they come to, and not the fact that unfortunately Katara just happens to be subjected to more whitewashing than other characters. I assume this is from a mix of her popularity as well as being a WOC and not MOC. This is not to say that whitewashing does not exist with male characters—not in the slightest. Half the images on this “10 fan art pictures of Sokka that are just the best” list from CBR are whitewashed. Only that across fandoms, whitewashing is more prevalent in female characters, by my observations at least.

Finally—and this one pisses me off the most—avatarfandompolice claims that whitewashing is no big deal, but calling out whitewashing is too harmful to justify. How fucking dare you put the feelings of artists who can’t handle critique of their work (that they publicly share) over fans of colour, who are constantly subjected to seeing our identities and looks not being worth respecting. As if it doesn’t imprint on your mind from a very young age how only villains ever have your facial features, because they’re ugly and I guess that means you’re ugly. As if there is something wrong with you. As if respecting you is regarded as extra effort, and not just common courtesy.

Whitewashing is a form of colourism, which is a form of racism. It is the favouritism, unconscious or not, of white features and the erasure of visible characters of colour. It is not fandom drama. It is not being too lazy to focus on “real issues” because it is part of a real issue. It is yet another part of why fandom spaces are so uninviting to POC. We live in a society that favours lighter skin. Corporations make fortunes from selling products to bleach your skin, products to contour your features away or go as far as surgery, all to meet beauty standards set by and influenced by white colonizers. That does not exist in A:TLA, and that’s called refreshing escapism. But it’s hard to escape that when the fandom constantly reminds you otherwise. It is a perfect example of how the classic “just let people enjoy things” complaint is nothing but disguised racism, because it’s only ever said regarding white fans’ enjoyment, at the expense of fans of colour.

None of the characters in A:TLA are white. Redesigning them and recolouring them as if they are, be it out of accident or intent is wrong. If you get called out for it, apologize, learn from the experience and do better going forward. You’ll also improve your art this way.

Beyond excusing whitewashing, avatarfandompolice has overt racist posts as well. A Black fan said they like to headcanon Katara as being partially Black; “I swear Katara was a sister. Im convinced there ain't no way she didn't have some black in her.” Avatarfandompolice jumps in saying “She's literally an Inuit but ok” as if being an Inuk person means Katara can’t possibly also be Black. The OP never claimed Katara was not Indigenous, simply that they also saw her as Black. Black Indigenous peoples exist. Black Inuk peoples exist. It is overtly anti-Black to say otherwise. But what even is the point of talking to avatarfandompolice about that? You know, you would think in trying to put such a front up of caring about the Inuit, they would do the most basic learning of the proper grammatical use of Inuit and Inuk. (As is the case with a great many Indigenous Nations, Inuit is both the Nation and plural. Inuk is singular. “An Inuit” / “Inuits” as avatarfandompolice has used just makes their dressed-up racism all the more pathetic. It’s similar to as if you said “Chinas” instead of “Chinese”.)

But all this is nothing, nothing compared to the worst post I had the displeasure of seeing. In a single post, avatarfandompolice manages to squeeze in insult against low income people, Mexican people, Jewish people, and Black people in a mockery of financial help posts. Absolutely disgusting, childish behaviour from a place of privilege. As someone who has had no option but to make such a post before, more than once, let me fucking tell you that the embarrassment and desperation when in that situation is unparalleled. It is not done lightly. It is done when you are at the last resort of having nothing but hope that the combined generosity of others will be enough to save you and your family. And what adds a whole other level to the odiousness of avatarfandompolice’s post is that they specifically targeting low income minorities to boot. Because we’re all poor beggars, right?

All in all, for someone who prides themselves in calling others ignorant, avatarfandompolice has to be one of the most obtuse fandom blogs I have ever scrolled through. They are as vile as they are pathetic, and my sincere sympathy for anyone who has been unfortunate enough to interact with them. It has been a while since I so strongly recommend blocking someone.

[freebooter4ever]

Hey, I need some help and I hope you can help me with my (actual) despair..

I adore your art and I got inspired to try out drawing digitally. If I‘m not mistaken you use a tablet for digital drawing, right?

Anyways, I want to buy one and I have no clue what to search for. I tried looking up online what to watch out for, but I guess I thought it‘d be good to get some advice from another person on this. So: What do you think is important about such a tablet ? What works for you? (I know -of course- that what works for you might not work for others, however getting an opinion by someone experienced regarding this sounded like a good idea)

Thank you in advance, maybe you can help me :) and I’m so sorry if this sounds like I’m all over the place, which I think I am (as usually).. {:

This ask is very dramatic, haha! But digital drawing supplies is expensive as hell so I understand ^_^ ! I've actually tried quite a few of the tablets out there over the years so yeah, there's definitely differences to them.

Currently I use a Wacom 2017 Mobilestudio Pro with the highest specs money could buy at the time. I also have an ipad and an ipad pencil. Here’s a convenient photo of all of them from my print shop posts that i used to compare the colors:

Previously I have used a 2014 Wacom Cintiq and a 2011 Wacom Intuous Tablet and a 2007 Wacom Intuous Tablet. My favorite is absolutely my mobile studio. You can see in the photo how small it is. It’s heavy (but hey, free weight lifting!) but holding it feels like a sketchbook. I adore it! It runs some huge photoshop files. And it has 3D capability. I did the entirety of my 2018 portfolio piece INCLUDING RENDER all on this beast. And yes it runs slow if you are taxing its processing power and yes there are some things it just cant do, but for its small size its pretty mind blowing. Basically the Mobilestudio is a laptop replacement for artists, and I low key worship it.

(thats a full 3D scene with 160k poly character, lighting, AND fog all rendered real time on this baby)(in marmoset which sure it got to the point where marmoset was at 99.8% and i had to juggle the lights like crazy but i kept it running!)

I used to use my ipad more because jumping into digital color on that was easier than understanding photoshop. I’m much more comfortable with photoshop now, so I prefer that. But for quick color studies that feel like actually painting the Ipad and procreate definitely wins! The nice thing about the apple pencil thing is that all the functions are completely hidden. Unlike Wacom which is very customizable and particular, the apple pencil is just connect and go. It feels as natural as it can, and I think it would be the best option for a beginner or someone who doesn’t want to invest in something like the mobile studio. @ramilicious was trying out procreate so gonna tag her to see if she has any insight.

The cintiq is the most intense option lol! I loved my cintiq but the only reason we had one was because we were an educational research group at a university and got a discount haha. The small cintiqs are not worth it in my opinion. It’s just annoying having such a small screen and it means you almost have to have a second screen set up for reference. It’s also basically just a smart monitor so you will still have to have a good tower PC (actually wait are PC’s still towers? I haven’t been PC shopping in a minute) to hook it up to that can run all the programs you want to use. I’m biased here but I prefer the mobile studio. The screen is bigger on the largest cintiqs - so more room to draw, which is nice, but it also means you usually need two people to lift the darn thing. (my mobile studio on the other hand fits neatly into my fancy hipster backpack and travels with me everywhere - I used to work in museums and libraries and cafes and boba tea shops. it also serves as a conversation starter. and a way to wow curious kids bc im sitting here casually sculpting an entire 3D person on a screen! wow!)

The cheapest options are obviously the tablets. These are great! You can’t go wrong with wacom - and the Intuous med/large size is the ideal size in my opinion. Depending on your age hand/wrist pain can be a thing. And if you get the tiny tablets and have a big monitor connected to it, the tiny movements in your wrist can cause problems later on. However, my bff in college had a tiny wacom tablet and used it all four years! The only thing to know about the Intuous and other types of tablets with no screen is that the disconnect between hand/eye is something you are going to have to learn. It does not come naturally! I wish someone had told me that when I got my first one in high school. I was so discouraged by how hard it was to draw with my hand on the the table and looking at a cursor on the screen that I didn’t use it a lot. Now of course, decades later (ouch, old age), it’s as easy as breathing haha. It just takes practice. The other nice thing about the tablet is that if you already have like a laptop and a backpack, its really easy just to slip the tablet into the backpack with everything else. My 2007 Intuous got me through all of college, and is still in such good condition that I was able to give it to a friend’s daughter last year who just started high school and wanted something to get started in digital art on. Prior to getting the cintiq in 2014 I used the 2011 Intuous at my education research job - so basically I spent all day sculpting on it for 3 years, and honestly those were the years that really drilled in that hand/eye coordination for me.

I’m actually planning on buying a new mobileStudio pro sometime this year to replace my current one. There are a few drawbacks on this option: the technology is still new, so expect troubleshooting. Sometimes updates to the OS screw with my tablet settings and I have to fight with windows to get it to work at full functionality. It also overheats a LOT - I’m hoping the newest models don’t run as hot. Legit this computer would love me to remain in a 60 degree room at all times. :/ Tragically, I live in Southern California so this is impossible. (The heat was less of an issue in Pittsburgh and Seattle). Over the years my mobilestudio has overheated so many times that the screen actually has color damage in spots. I still find it perfectly usable though, and the computer’s benefits far outweigh the heating issue. But I am also someone who hates the idea of being “tied down” to a place, and the thought of investing in a full computer/cintiq/monitor setup scares the crap out of me when I want to be able to pack up and move wherever my job takes me. \o/

This was probably more information than you wanted, but I wish someone had helped me out with all this stuff when I was starting out <3 ^_^ Feel free to ask any other questions you might think of! Though if you have computer spec questions ironically I am not the person for that LOL I have my go to guy who tells me what’s what in the graphics card / monitor world and I just buy what Han suggests bc he’s obsessed with always knowing the new thing.

Also my dream PC set up is....

UNF. that is a thing of beauty. logo and lights and all. so extra. and so so unnecessary. 

TLDR; If you already have an ipad, get yourself a pencil and procreate and try it out to start. If you want to use an existing laptop or computer to draw, get a nice Intuous tablet and draw draw draw till that hand-table to screen feels natural. OR if you want to go crazy like me get that expensive mobilestudio, take it out in public and bask in the oogling stares of everyone around you like you’re Shuri or Tony Stark and using some Unknowable Magic Technology. (one time my car’s tire popped during the days I was working on my hyper real Gas Pump for my portfolio and I had a whole room full of car guys looking over my shoulder in awe as I sat in the waiting room with my studio pro on my lap and poly modeled the base mesh while my baby fire demon was being fixed haha)

[fandomrouletteburrito]

Talking to the void about the MHA and TRC art im not like an artist whos studying art im kind of self taught and taken a few classes here and there...im kind of new to reading manga so im kind of just a semi experienced person talking

Really just me fangirling and gushing over art

Horikoshis art is amazing. We all know that right and agree right!?

So im just looking at art from old mangas like Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle and you can so clearly tell how hand drawn it is? Like you can sometimes see the small white gaps or breaks in lines and i love seeing that becuase it takes me out for a moment to appreciate!!! The art! That all of this is handrawn, if you know TRC you know its artstyle is very much almost done in a way to look very pretty and aestheticy sometimes. The long whips of clothing, long hair spreading out over panels, nature abundantly flowing, scabbards tie(? I dont know this im sorry but that kinda long string??? Im so sorry) etc. its a beautiful reminder of how much work has gone into this! I am absolutely NOT saying this is a bad thing that we can see small imperfections, Im trying to say i LOVE them so much because it reminds me how much love and effort has been poured into this art that i enjoy!!! And i love that! Because it feels like i get a tiny peak into the people who created this artpiece!

Btw highly recommend Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles esp for the art!

Anyway in the case for MHA i feel like i often FORGET that its also hand drawn? There is a person!!! Drawing the buildings??? Im not patient enough to draw perfect buildings the way Horikoshi and his assisstants can do! Ifs so impressive!! The destruction!!! The characters support gear!!! IMAGINE DRAWING BAKUGOS GAUNTLETS EVERY PANEL!(i could never)!! And Its done in such good quality! You rarely see any like hints or flaws?! Ive always been so impressed by MHA’s art which is very different style from Tsubasa’s and a very different take on manga art from it, and how in different ways their artists shine!!! Think horikoshi even said in a comment in some volume(?) that theres more detail in Stains scarf than what was finally seen in the print version bcuz printing can only get so much detail? Like THINK ABOUT THAT? The art is already so impressive and when you learn theres ACTUALLY even more?! MHAs art does a different thing where its so meticulous in its designe in EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER its incredible!!!

Drawing backgrounds i feel is very difficult because of how delicate it is. Windows need to be the same size, the skys reflection in the windows has to be perfect, you have to think about different angles and views and MHA is set in a city! So the drawings are so full of all the things i personally find extremely tedious (im just not very patient) so its all the more impressive to me.

Interesting to note is TRC was late 90s early 2000s I think, so it didnt have as much of access to digital art to make things easier and MHA does and its a very cool different to see how time has progressed to allow artists to try and aim for different results?

Anyway, i just wanted to talk about art 👉👈

Excuse typos

[aeosedo]

A guide to Tech Witchcraft

Hello lovelies this has been something in which has been requested or talked about among my students on discord, so i wanted to make a guide covering all the information and decided to share it to the public of fellow witches , this is a brief introduction on tech witchcraft an the direction it is going now! 

Technology and Witchcraft: A Guide to Techno Witchcraft

Introduction 

With the day of age we now live, we go to a point where we are experiencing so much progression in the ways things are done, in our day to day life. Witchcraft is no expectation to this rule as witchcraft is constantly formatting and changing everyday through new age magic, While there is still much work to be done, There are some wonderful formulas in which you can use to boost your work through the power of electricity. 

On top of the concepts of technology witches I will also be going over apps in which I enjoy and use, in which can help you with your witchy needs How does it work? Well, To start off I think we need to go back and look at what exactly magic is in the first place. Typically magic explains the manipulation and manifestation of energy through oneself and one's mind. It can be used to content with the conscious and subconscious mind. 

It is idealistically all witchcraft leads to a goal typically under these things , however are also not limited to: 1) self improvement

2) to connect to the divine 

3) to keep or follow a pre existing or new traditions/ lifestyle 

4) Healing 

5) Banishing 

Now keeping this in mind , the tools of magic we use work because they are stored with intent and energy.  All items are charged with energy from one self or divine energy as well. Any items we chose to work with will have energy and intent. Money does not really matter in the situation as long as you can get creative. 

However this in mind there are correspondences with the elements In western culture the elements include: Air, Fire, Earth, Water and Spirit 

In Eastern Culture the elements include : Wood, Iron, Fire, Earth and Water

Correspondence plays about 40 percent of the magic in the situation as long as something matches with an element or deity , and you can put energy and intent in it, it could potentially work. 

We can see the light used in smartphones, computer screens, and so on and so forward the element of fire. In the early days of Greece when we looked at the elements:  Light, Fire, Soul and Temperature were all considered things of fire, if something was warm ( such as the human body) it would be associated with fire. 

For example: 

Typically this is how one of the concepts of medicine started with human temperature, if a person was too hot , they needed water and earth to balance it out ( water and food) so using it in this retrospect works with the light being warm and as well as bright like a torch or flashlight.  Often when a phone uses a lot of energy or a computer when gaming it also gets warm due to all the energy in which is needed. 

Now in terms of Eastern Retrospect, the Metal element represents human advancements and Technology, the original concept was the “ Age of Iron” which was a time of building, machines etc. The Metal element shows the progression in humanity and the ability to create and go. In the Chinese Zodiac this is often empathized with the concept of the Metal Element being referred to as the “ Gold” element.  Gold was typically something used in royal buildings and statues as well as Jade. In terms of eastern retrospect 

Gods of the Technological World 

Now, you may be thinking what kind of god would be willing to work with you through a screen? How is it possible to talk to a deity through screens?

There are gods in which are gods of human communication. Typically they are gods who are associated very closely with the throat chakra. The throat chakra represents the ability to communicate and as you know there are a million and one ways to communicate , one way humanity communications with clothes is through technology. If you're one of the first people reading this you may be reading this through a computer screen!  

It is also worth mentioning even if you do not practice reiki, plenty of elements in western lore and gods focus on the energy of communication and 

It is amazing to think about how men and woman have made it possible for this to happen.

Who are the gods of communication? 

Mercury 

(Mercury is a god in which I work with who represents Communication. The first time he talked to me was through a you tube video pop up in fact! , is was quite a experience )

Hermes 

This is Mercury's Greek counterpart. Hermes is the god of: Communication, Medicine Transportation, Advancements and Commerce. 

Papa Legba 

He is a Caribbean God in Haitian Vodou  which represents Communication Speech, and understanding 

Al-Kutbay

A Nabataean god of Wisdom, Communication and Writing 

Saraswati

The  Hindu goddess  of knowledge speech and creativity 

 Benzaiten (Benten)

The Japanese god who is the Counterpart of Saraswati, She represents the way the universe flows, water, advancements in society such as : Music  , words, speech,knowledge etc 

Nabu

A Babylonian god of wisdom and writing

Nidaba

 A Sumerian goddess of communication writing, progression and learning 

This is just to name a few of the major ones from different cultures.  There are many many more  They are all typically connected in some way with the throat chakra and throat energy systems that focus on communication  and advancements that humans make on earth

With that being said technology has become a part of our day to day lives, one of our main forms of communication and such. Many gods adapt and change as we do, they are the ones who help steer the wheel in the way we go with technology and also more than enough use the energy in which cellphones and computers  naturally generate to work with and manipulate if they need be. 

The more and more we spend with items , our energy naturally ends up on the item, due to this we can fill items, apps etc with intent to help you manifest your energy and help you become the best you , now we can get into the question im sure you may have “how? “ 

First I will be going over some methods in which a closeted witch can use in replacement of items in which they may not be allowed to have at home due to the nervousness of being caught 

Altars: 

Pic Collage

Animals Crossing Towns and Houses 

Playlist via Spottily, sound cloud or you tube 

Draw Sigils Using IBS Paint / Procreate 

ORAS Pokemon Secret Bases 

A good way to manifest energy with pic collage and picture based altars are making them your wallpaper ! , and just spending time there meditating with your device and setting intention. 

The Pros and Cons 

Pros

With being able to draw , and spend personal time and energy allowed for more customization than store bought items, you are putting together the item from scratch which is beneficial. I find video games and such are easier to get your energy over and even  gives you more room for items : ex: getting actual gold bars in real life is thousands of dollars, for one offering to Pluto, however in animal crossing this becomes a reality. 

Cons

It can be harder to get your energy on the items  if you are new to energy manifestation as well as conducting energy, you are also not able to touch your items, or use them in more direct spells: ex: pouring candle wax on items is impossible , being able to carve sigils in your items is also impossible as well as of right now.  However despite this there is in a way more customization, and not everyone uses their altar as a workspace, rather just a place of worship. 

While not all gods are gods of communication, gods can still talk through technology however it could be difficult for them if there are not the right correspondences made in order to make communication. 

Now there is an app coming soon called build an altar, and it could be a nice doorway for more customization  but for now we do not have that option!  the future looks bright however ! 

Even if you have a main altar at home, having a digital altar can be helpful on the go, if you're traveling and with friends or family! 

Grimoires / Book of Shadows 

There are few cons when looking at making a digital grimoire, if anything it can be a saving grace if your handwriting is awful or you prefer to do digital art.  You can easily transport your digital grimoire  on any device and you can also prevent page loss and also it is easier to edit. Some Apps for Grimoires Include : 

Google Docs

Word Press 

Notes App

Pro-create 

Lunar Diary

Tumblr ( you can make private / public books to share) 

Twitter ( you can also make private blogs as well 

You can also put them on a USB when you're done to carry it around and share  , and even divide information like it  pro-tip: Draw Small Sigils with Sharpies for protection / binding spells 

Cons

One thing to consider on this method is  this method: some people feel as if using ink is better for sealing and writing spells as well, and it is more personal with adding energy/ easier to put in energy to your grimoire as well as making binding spells to protect your grimoire, however it all comes down to personal taste nor is it impossible to make a binding spell for your grimoire either. 

Witch Apps 

Even if technology is not your thing here are some helpful apps in which can help you with your journey 

( TOOLS) 

Labyrinthos

This is an app in which you can use for learning tarot, it does an extraordinary  job with correspondence meetings and has small quizzes and is set up like a small academy in which to help you 

Golden Thread Tarot

Golden thread Tarot Deck is a Tarot App in which you can do your daily tarot and do tarot readings and also has spreads and such you can use too. Golden Thread Tarot also sells their own decks which are pricey however extremely beautiful and worth the money if you want a physical deck

Seventh Sphere 

A app by Tina Gong focusing on Lenormand Tarot Divination 

Since Lenormand is a newer form of tarot, and harder form of tarot, it has some meanings in which you could read the cards/ base your interpretations about. 

Co-star 

While this app does not have all the information in a natal chart  it is good to get a general look on your chart when looking at all of your planetary placings and have your chart on the go. There is also horoscopes and you can add and compare charts with your friends 

My Moon Phases 

This is a app used to track moon phases based on your location and shows percentages very good for using it if you want to know what types of moon magic you can use and how to celebrate and manifest accordingly 

Wicca Calendar 

This is a app in which has all the wiccan holidays together in a wheel along with dates and  count out timer to keep the hype of the next holiday coming up 

Stone 

This is an App that helps you identify gemstones and rocks along with their properties and in information about them  

Plant-Net 

This is a app to help you identify plants just by taking a picture of them, and then it takes you directly to their Wikipedia page 

Head Space 

An app for guided meditations and allows you to keep track of your practices with logs and goals. It helps you manifest your energy with professionals hypnotherapists and helps teach lessons on how to meditate and mindfulness. While there is a paid membership it is most certainly worth it for those who love meditation 

 Calm

This is another guided meditation app in which i enjoy, it is cheaper and has more free features , it has nice calming music as well and is made to help rewind and relax 

Down Dog 

A free app for yoga with all different types of yoga in which can help heal and restore 

Spell Work 

Disclaimer 

The biggest issue with being unable to do these is the manifestation of energy, it can take a longer period of time than in real life, until you figure out how to manifest through energy work through technology  some things can not be touched the same way, but i truly believe the soul has no bounds. Gods have made this possible by adapting over millions of years 

Virdi Keep a online garden and water and care for your plants 

Candle Apps 

Some candle apps let you make color correspondences as well 

IBS Paint 

Draw sigils, runes and alchemy symbols and keep them in folders or use them for your grimoire 

Mighty Timer / Timer Time your teas to let them cool down/ Steep! 

Breathing exercises for meditation

Here you can also find more on you tube as well! , One of my favorite hypnotherapist is Micheal Sealy 

Another hypnotherapist i have tend to love recently is Liza and her work can be found here

Hypnosis and meditation are steps in the right direction for shadow work and becoming your higher self  using guided meditations rather free or paid for can show a lot of progress and can be used to heal!

Pins Help manifest your goals by putting them collectively together in a vision board you can also use these for altars and such, making them your wallpaper or printing them out can help you manifest your greenery.  consider meditating in front of your vision boards while working with intent for good results  

There are so many more ways you can personalize your craft and be a tech witch, This is a wonderful place to start though and i hope you were able to take away from it 

Thank you for checking out my guide and I hope it can teach you something ! :D

[lemonlightproductions]

For the New lemonlight peeps who were put on for the indie cover collection, how has joinibg lemonlight been? And to the older people, what’s having the new people been like?

J: The fresh meat are great, they’ve really brightened up the group both in a social way and with the talent they’ve collectively brought, and it’s hard to even really imagine there was a time where they weren’t part of the team.

Alex: I LOVe the fresh meat. They’re all so fuckin cool and funky. I love them 14/10 

Advanced: i love them all but don't tell them 

Ana: new peeps are cool i love em, they all really mesh well with the dynamics we already had going on here!!! 

Psy: It's definitely been wonderful. It really is a home away from home ... Even with J's Gangam Style jokes for me... 

Lizzy: omg hi I’m one of the fresh meats!! LLP is so cool :0 It’s so fun to be surrounded by not only such cool talented people but also people who share common interests with me! It’s so great to blab about digital art, NITW, Undertale, and Rakuen and have someone know what I’m talking about 💖 Anyways I feel so accepted and supported here and it’s incredible, and everyone here is so good and valid

Dani: im one of the fresh nerds and i Love the LLP people. they pass the vibe check. 🥺 ❤️ ❤️ 

Kiera: joining lemonlight is honestly one of the best things i've ever done. the entire crew is so friendly and kind and funny and talented. i'm really honored to get to work with such an amazing group of people. this is also my first endeavor into voice acting at all, so i'm hoping to learn some stuff from the more experienced people. i've only been here for a few months, but i would not hesitate to call these people my friends ❤️ ❤️ 

Cello: The new people are great, fit right in, and it's nice to have new blood every so often to keep things fresh 

Riley: I love the new people. Generally fresh meat is very fun, we get to introduce new folks to our old, stupid jokes, and the family gets a little bit bigger. I love to bully them and they love to be bullied so it all works out very well I think 

Tex: FRESH MEAT FRESH MEAT FRESH MEAT FRESH MEAT FRESH MEAT

Lore: I've been through the process of "seeing new people inducted into an existing team" before, and I was actually a "new member" for the NITW project, so I'm somewhere in between on this question. I think the team is a wonderfully welcoming group of people who blend taking the work seriously with memeing nonstop, and also supporting one another. 

Winter: It’s always nice being able to welcome new faces to the team and meet some seriously talented people! 

Loke: gotta admit i was a bit anxious at the thought of new people, as i didn't want our dynamics to change, but it's been so nice!! everyone's amazing and i'm happy to have them all here :D 

Saix: They are adorable and I love them. 

Brody: mainly just making fun of peoples typos and/or having my typos made fun of

Tobin: ah yes the fresh meat. it's been super awesome, honestly! I knew a couple of the newbies we've brought on already and it's been super cool having some friends from outside the group be brought on the team.

Aidan: i mean, considering i met so many kind people who made me feel at home the minute i got in... id say theyre pretty alright!

[e-102]

im sorry fellow adhd havers this is a multi paragraph post

a lot of people dont know that unprompted criticism (no matter how constructive) can really hurt a child artist. i know that sounds weird and whiny, but please think about if you have only been doing a hobby for maybe a year or two, and youre not very good, but you think you are. youve gotten a lot better since you started and you only see your improvement. 

you put forward something you are insanely proud of and you get random criticism, or maybe even some hate. it makes you ashamed man, the enthusiasm you have for your hobby is embarrassing now, how could you have possibly thought you were good? yeah. maybe your piece sucked. you would've figured that out in another year or so. 

when i was young and prowling deviantart and i had just made my first piece of digital art, i didnt see any difference between myself and pros. because i was a child and i didnt have the chops to recognize my own mistakes.  i dont even consider myself good at art now, but im 19 years old and ive been serious about art for around 6 years, and I miraculously skated past most criticism as a child. im open to it now, i encourage it as well. but im also not an insecure 13 year old. when i was younger those pieces of crit i received (even when i ASKED) were devastating, they made me hot in the face and i wouldn't try to draw anything for weeks afterwards. i know that more experienced artists have pointers and tips, and they really mean well and want to foster good artistic habits in kids, but if you MUST say something please be as kind as you possibly can about it. i get some unsolicited criticism on art i post here, i get it in the tags and i get it in my anons and a lot of the time its not even trying to be constructive. ive had people make snide remarks about the designs of characters i draw when i didnt even design the characters, i had someone tell me not to do commissions because my art style is inconsistent. and guess what? i can handle it. and i can even learn from it, but if i had the same amount of people tearing into me when i was a child as i do now, i would have quit art forever. even adult artists sometimes dont want constructive criticism. sometimes it just hurts to put your heart into something and only get crit. obviously the situation varies, but i feel like a lot of crit is just an outlet to tear down people who you dont feel should be as happy with their art as they are. i dont think constructive criticism or criticism in general is bad, not at all, but it wasnt what i needed to grow when i was a kid. please be mindful before posting random crit, is the person you want to give it too a child? did they say they wanted it? is there a way you can say it kinder? is there something you can compliment about their art too? some kids tear themselves down enough without you. in closing. check out my child art aahahhahahah

NOICE

[vampexx]

I have tried a few times now to write this post but I just couldnt go forward with posting it, thinking its too personal...

But...here it goes...

I have always been a painfully shy, paranoid and self conscious person so being this open is really scary for me to say the least due to my struggles with confidence and self esteem...

And drawing has been something I did for as long as I can remember...and it was something that helped me growing up...

However, ever since high school in 10th grade, I have had almost all my drive and love for drawing drained from me from comparing myself to the other, "better," students in my art class and from my own art teacher who at first, in 9th grade, started as a somewhat positive influence but then the next year being really negative and rude.

I was the student that was told, "youre not done, go back to your seat, keep working," when going to my teacher for advice. When he said this, he would only glance at my work before turning me away. All while the other students received kind, positive and constructive criticism when I did not.

He even addressed me, out loud, in front of the class, regarding my low grade, saying, "the only reason you arent failing my class is because you did your homework last night."

For context: the homework assignment was some drawing exercises...and the reason my grade was low was because, it was towards the end of the year, I had completely given up on myself and my art so I didnt turn in a project. One, because I never cared enough to finish it and two, it was an act of rebellion on my part.

That was the first and only class where I actually had an F-....I didnt even know it was possible to get that low of a grade...but trust me, it is. My math grade was never even that low.

Now, this art class was something you had to submit a portfolio for it to be reviewed so these 2 art teachers could decide if you were accepted into this art program or not. (It was exoensive too, if I remember correctly, it was like $200 per semester, and I did this for 2 years).

And against my own self consciousness, while feeling like I was far less qualified than others, I challenged my self doubt and fear of rejection and tried out anyways...

And a few weeks later, I found out I was accepted. That moment went down as one my top, most proud moments. I was proud of myself for a change.

Only for that to change a couple years later...where the little pride and confidence I had left in not only myself, but my skills in art, just dropped so low.

On top of that, my academic grades while in this art program, were also dropping considerably due to the amount of stress I put myself through trying to meet everyone elses expectations and standards.

My painting and drawing teacher (the nice one, not the rude one) would encourage my love and skill for cartooning, charcoal and shading. My digital art teacher (the one who ended up being so rude to me in the following year), helped me realize my strengths in photoshop and with a tablet. He did praise me a few times, which did help, but it didnt last very long.

My downfall was the art class that I took in 10th grade, with my previous digital art teacher, which was "figure drawing." Basically, it was learning how to draw anatomy and being anatomically correct which I found out very early on, was not my strength....and it was the whole focus of the class for the entire year so I was screwed. My strengths were cartooning and caricatures, not anywhere near anything anatomically correct. I kean, I could draw a skeleton, but when it came to human figures and poses....I dont know why but I had a tough time. So that was the year that things really went downhill fast.

It just took the fun out of drawing and turned it into something that felt too forced.

However, in my experience with this class I learned something about myself that Im actually glad that I did...

Its that art is just a hobby for me. I learned that I hate drawing on demand, in a certain time frame, and drawing what someone else wants me to draw.

I want to draw only on my own terms and at my own pace.

I couldnt see that about myself because I was too concerned with everyone else and their skills in drawing.

A few years after I quit the art program, I really didnt draw all that much aside from little doodles and unfinished sketches on the edges of my homework and class notes. I didnt like anything that I drew anymore.

And when you lose love, drive and interest in something you were once so passionate about....it leaves a gaping hole in you. It makes you feel pointless, like there nothing special about you. Nothing that sets you apart from everyone else. It really is as depressing as it sounds.

I was lost.

However. I FELT FREE. I didnt have a constant reminder from several different people that I wasnt as good. No one to make me feel lesser than someone else. No one to put me down.

As a result, my academic grades improved back to As and Bs (excluding math in the 11th grade, I had like a D).

---

And I realize now that maybe I didnt learn all of this the hard way for no reason. Maybe its to also help someone so they dont have to learn the hard way like I did. Or maybe, its to reach out to those have experienced the same or similar things as me so that they dont feel alone. So that they know that them and their skills are still very much valuable and valid.

Because everyone goes at their own pace, no two people are ever the same.

Anyone can be good at anything.

Now I didnt want this post to discourage anyone from taking or considering an art class. Please understand that my experiences are unique to myself. Art classes are actually very helpful as long as your surrounded by positive and encouraging influences.

Just remember to be careful. Respect yourself and your abilities. Be patient with yourself. Have faith in yourself, dont give up. And last, but not least, know your worth and what you deserve when it comes to treatment.

---

Anyways, so up until a couple of years ago, I slowly started to get back into drawing.

I do love to draw, along with architecture and interior/ fashion design.

Im working to rediscover myself, even though I dont want to do it professionally...

So as I did years ago, I will challenge my self doubt again and try to put myself back out there.

So as anxietal as I am, I want to ask...

Would anyone be interested in seeing something I drew?

Might be an odd question and it might sound attention seeking but Im really just testing the waters....

I will add one little doodle I did the other day just to see....

I know its not that great and thats its nothing amazing but....its something Im proud of...however small it may be.

Im not sure how I feel when it comes to reposting...

I feel like I dont want people to repost it...

In case I ever feel like taking it down...

Idk.

Anyways....Im literally shaking Im so nervous...

But...Im trying to repair some old damage.

Have a miraculous day and thank you for your patience.

Again, please dont repost. At least until Im a little more comfortable.

Thank you

[isa-ghost]

Achievements Unlocked?

The last decade has COMPLETELY shaped who I am now and the fact that it ends today and essentially sends me off into the next one where turning 30 is the end is something I can’t wrap my head around and not just bc it’s barely 9am as I’m writing it. Ten years hasn’t felt like ten years and all the shit that’s happened during those ten years feels like it’s happened in the last like,,, 3.

Basically this is just me going How The Fuck Did All Of This Happen In A Decade and highlighting the big things that shaped who I am now.

Uhhh this is long I’m gonna-

2010/2011 (Shit’s A Blur):

I started noticing aesthetic interests I had.

I developed my love for the outdoors and exploration.

I started realizing vaguely spooky things were really intriguing to me.

I got SUPER into Harry Potter.

Which lead to me creating my first two Ocs.

I started switching from drawing animals/landscapes to drawing people.

I made my first cluster of friends I hoped I’d have forever. (Spoiler alert: only still have one of em).

2012:

I started identifying with punk rock & emo culture/aesthetics.

I made my first cluster of online friends (Spoiler alert: don’t talk to any of em now)

I got into YouTubers.

I got into anime.

I made my first “blog.” It was a Facebook page for a fictional character.

I discovered my favorite band.

I made my first online friend I hoped I’d have forever (still have em so far!)

I met my future wife.

I started roleplaying with Ocs.

Which lead to making more.

I started drawing digitally using bases. Which started my improvement.

I made my own first little community via my FB page.

Which lead to an rp group of more friends I hoped I’d have forever (still got a handful of em!)

I discovered my other favorite bands.

I started using Skype.

I got into more anime.

My parents were officially fully separated. 

Which began the very start of realizing my dad was verbally abusive.

Congrats Isa, You Need Glasses You Dumb Fuck. Hooray astigmatism.

I graduated 8th grade.

2013:

I was essentially forced to move in with my dad for high school.

I started high school.

Officially became total anime trash and started watching them like crazy.

I THINK I hit 100 Ocs at some point this year. Just kept makin them from here.

Met my first cluster of irl forever friends (spoiler alert: only have 1 now).

Learned having Ocs was Not Just An Isa Thing, Holy Shit I Thought I Was Just Weird.

Promptly fell in love with learning about other people’s Ocs.

Realized Wow, I Kinda Can’t Stand My Dad And I Don’t Trust Him.

Had my first boyfriend. *gag* He was nasty.

Experienced my first long distance relationship. It lasted 3 days.

2014/2015 (Shit’s Also Blurry):

Got another long distance boyfriend. First relationship I genuinely liked the person.

I realized talking multiple people through the lowest points of their lives and keeping them from harming themselves was a sign I should maybe get into psychology and do that as a job.

I started getting interested in researching mental disorders.

Realized Okay Yeah, I Lowkey Hate My Dad

Realized I had A Concerning Amount Of Symptoms Of Depression. Fuck.

Realized Huh, Girls Are Pretty Too,,,

My friend taught me about bi and pansexuality. Casually started identifying as pan. Didn’t know shit about LGBT+ stuff.

Was shown a video by my friend. Decided Wow I Really Like This Screaming Potato Guy.

Acquired one more forever friend I still have.

Got slapped in the face by Gravity Falls.

My mom moved out of the rural town I just spent the last like 8 Years Of My Own Character Development In, Dammit

I realized money and finances Fucking Sucks.

Had the,, probably worst year of my adolescence. Angry, depressed, sick of my dad. It was Not Great. Almost started self-harming, only didn’t because I’d be a hypocrite if I did after helping my friends stop doing it.

Homestuck invaded my life around here I think.

Decided I’m Gonna Live With My Online Friends One Day! (spoiler alert: nope).

Was kinda forced by my dad to move out of the apartment I lived in and therefore forced to transfer schools.

Got to meet my future wife irl for the first time. Wow that was,, so gay before we even realized.

Okay Hold On, This New School Is,,, Really Nice.

2016:

New school. New me. New friends. New everything. Fuckity shit fuck.

Okay wait they have an anime club like my other school did we good.

Met another two forever friends that I think really are forever friends now.

Angry Shitty Depression Time Died Down A Little.

Somehow learned about evilsonas. Huh, Does Jack Have One? ... Ok Cool, They’re All People’s Ocs. Meh.

Started learning how to drive. Oh My God This Is Fun.

Lost my second ever pet and was... very confused when I wasn’t as traumatized as I was the first time I lost a pet.

Boyfriend kinda Thanos snapped from existence bc his irl life was hectic.

Experienced what it’s like to have a friend that died.

Wow my irl best friend is hot. ... Okay I Think Boyfriend’s Absence Is Bothering Me. *proceeds to ignore that*

Gets into some more bands.

Knock Knock, You Have Separation Anxiety, Isa.

Finally decided to try out high school things like homecoming. Ooh That Was Actually Fun.

The beginning of the worst end to a friendship I’ve ever had starts. Not Handling It Well.

Discovered Fooster. Cue hyperfixation on new favorite YouTuber and more new friends.

Wait What The Fuck What Just Happened To Jack’s Camera,,,, OH MY GOD HE ISN’T-

HE IS. OH FUCK HE IS. MMMMHELLO KNIFE MAN.

Totally forgets he exists for the next like 10 months.

Realization I Really Fucking Love Halloween.

Discovered what asexuality is and immediately identifies because I thought I was just weird.

Hmm maybe I should start watching this Markiplier guy

Big Sad Times, My Friends Graduated. Next Year Gonna SUCK.

Tried out Dungeons & Dragons. Fuckin loved it.

2017:

Ah fuck I’m a senior in high school this is gonna be a trip.

Discovered I like photography.

Literally where did this school year go it’s so blurry.

Was convinced to end the relationship with boyfriend. He’s still a good bean.

Hey uhhhh online best friend do u big gay.

WE big gay.

Found a book I really like that isn’t Harry Potter, damn it’s about time.

Ok But This Book Really Fucked Me Up, I Love It.

OH FUCK WAIT I’M GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL.

Oh that wasn’t so bad.

Actually had to be PUSHED by my friends to have my first kiss with my girlfriend at my graduation party because I was too busy going [dkasjdjf] about having her physically in my presence at all.

First super memorable vacation. Wow I Fucking Love Traveling.

Got to meet another online friend!! I am,, incredibly lucky about being able to do that, this was like the 4th friend I got to meet.

[That one motion blur conspiracy theorist meme] SABRINA IM TELLING U JACK IS UP TO SOMETHING HIS TWITTER IS FUCKY

Gets punched in the throat with Kill Jacksepticeye on the way home from vacation and remembers how much I fucking love Anti

TIME FOR COLLEGE. I made a mistake.

TIME FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE. Much Better.

Friend I Still Have From High School 1/2 introduced me to Bendy and the Ink Machine. HYPERFIXATION TIME BABEY.

Let’s,,, lets try Tumblr. Jack exists there a lot. And so does good art of everything I’m interested in.

Wait Who’s This Baby With The Mustache, JACK EXPLAIN

Okay there’s More Going On Here, lets get active in the community.

WHY THE FUCK IS THERE SECURITY FOOTAGE. THIS IS SKETCH. THIS ISOH MOTHERFUCKER ITS ANTI

Isa: Become Theorist

The rest is history, really, all stuff I’ve posted about on here. xD

And knowing me I’ve left out other highlighted bits but remembering all of this is,,, really exhausting lmao, I’m surprised I jotted down as much as I did in Relatively Chronological Order.

[crowsent]

👶,⭐,💘, and💻. Love you!!

thank you for ask anon! writer ask game is here if yall wanna send in something. still taking asks for these btw

👶- advice for new writers =

yall this is hella fucking generic but PRACTISE. theres a reason almost literally every writer on tumblr gives the advise of “practise practise practise” and that reason is it works. practise doesnt mean ‘oh just write bc youll automatically get better over time’ it means ‘write bc if you dont, you wont figure out what you need to improve.’ did yall know that i literally had no sentence variation in the past? i started every sentence with [character name] or [character pronoun] and i didnt realise until i was 15/16 and i only realised bc i started writing a lot.

i think there’s a fear of failure with new writers. there’s this lingering doubt of  “what if its not good?” and boy howdy i will answer that question right fucking now. it wont be good. when i compare my current work to my earlier work, my earlier work sucked fucking shit. i spelled soldier with a fucking ‘j’ and i had no idea what the hell a point of view was. and thats okay. whoever tells you that youre going to perfect writing is a fucking liar. there is no perfecting writing. 20 years from now, imma look at the writing from today and im gonna think it sucks shit. writing is a process. its a craft. you get better and better over time and the way you get better is by experimenting w different styles, different genres, different ways of writing.

and the only way you can experiment and improve is through practise. in video games, especially rpgs (which are my favourite kind of video games), you struggle in the early game. youre at a low level, you dont have good equipment, you have a hard time moving to the next area. but the only way you progress is by grinding, gaining levels, and getting stronger. same w writing. if youre a level 1 writer, just starting out, no idea what to do, just experiment. fuck around a bit. write crackships, write rarepairs, write niche self-indulgent reader/character fics. at the end of the day, you should write for yourself. its good and cool if other people like your stuff and validate all your hard work, but at the end of the day, the one who should enjoy your writing the most is yourself.

you WILL mess up and you WILL struggle, but thats the only way you can improve. i struggle with pacing the most. still do. but others might have pacing down pat and struggle instead with word choice or pov or something else. cant figure out where you need to improve if you dont write, so just practise and worry about all the fine print later

⭐️- how do you get your inspiration? =

this is definitely not universal, but i just sit on my bed, close my eyes, and meditate. cycle through all my emotions and thoughts and filter them out. then i just toss everything out the damn window. like. id just meditate for a while, focus on breathing, on experiencing the present, picture a field and a tree and myself and breathe. thoughts fly by and i let them happen but dont focus on it.

meditating gives me some semblance of emotional control bc i normally have none, and it gives me kind of this space. this safe space that only exists for me and me alone. so i use that space to let the world drift away. just me and my thoughts and sometimes, those thoughts end up being good writing ideas. but i usually meditate for a set amount of time. like 15 minutes or 30 minutes so i dont write until i finish meditating.

then when i get out of my headspace, i open up my laptop and see what i remember. thinking too hard about something causes it to muddy up. same with art. in digital art, artists flip the canvas to refresh their eyes, see if there’s anything weird or wonky about the illustration that they normally dont see bc theyve gotten used to it. flipping the canvas is like giving our eyes a jumpstart and lets us see what we could do better. in traditional art, its turning the canvas this way and that or repositioning yourself. meditating is like that. a break. a cleanse. a kind of pause where you dont think about anything and just try to process what you already have. you relax and kind of let yourself float down a river of thoughts and sometimes, a fish would jump out of that river and youd go “hey, thats a good idea. i should try that” so when you get out of the river, youre refreshed and ready to go.

same principle with showers. more ideas come to you in the shower when you dont have anything to write with bc youre not thinking about it. youre not focusing on finding inspiration or motivation so ideas naturally flow through you. you know that feeling when you want to do x then someone comes along and says “hey you should do x” and suddenly all motivation to do x leaves? same w your brain. focus too much on “i should be writing” or “i want inspiration” and its never gonna come. just let things happen. at least, thats how i do it. some people might get inspiration by reading or watching tv. everyones different so if thats not what works out for you, dont feel pressured to try my method

💘- what’s your favorite AU? Least favorite? =

magic au. specifically fantasy au set in like a pre-modern era. shows like avatar where theres all this magic and fantastical beasts and so on and so forth. semi-modern like six of crows and nevernight are great too. i want that magic to be woven into people’s lives. harry potter is okay but there’s like this separation between magic and muggle. there’s this feeling of “magic” but like as a tool. like a spoon or a gun or a shovel. i want magic au’s that are INTEGRATED with the world its set in.

like in atla, earth kingdom people have trains they move with bending while fire nation people have machines powered by heat and steam. both correspond to their bending and makes sense for the world they live in. but if your plot is like harry potter and its less worldbuilding and more action, then there’s this book series called seasons rising (read it. so good) where there’s a bunch of spells but the spells have character. the people using the spells GIVE it character and it feels much more intimate. pokemon does the whole fantasy mixed w reality better. give two trainers the exact same pokemon and by the time that pokemon reaches lvl 50, its gonna have a different moveset, different fight style, etc bc it was shaped by the world and people around it. i like harry potter but tbh it could have been so much better

for the least favourite au, it’s A/B/O i dont like the whole “omegas are only good for breeding hurr durr” and “alphas are violent and aggressive and cant control themselves around omegas” thing and it squicks me out. major squick. i read the original harry potter squick (THAT one. yeah. you know the one) and i still hate a/b/o more. i get why people like it, and there are one or two fics set in a/b/o au that i enjoy reading, but as a whole, i severely dislike a/b/o fics.

the themes are squick, the character dynamics get so messed up, and shipping dynamics (bc a/b/o fics usually have shipping) just get so blown out of proportion. there are so many a/b/o fics that turn ooc or the character interpretations radically change or something else. no hate against a/b/o fans bc yall are amazing for writing/drawing yalls au. there are things that you can only do in this setting and exploring those things can be incredibly fun for people, but for me personally, its not an au i like to visit.

💻- three works of yours that are must reads =

i. dont know what fandom youre in anon or your genre preferences. so ill just rec you one fic for a different fandom each with kind of different genres. ts masterlist is on my side @hufflepuff-deceit and regular fanfic masterlist is on my writing blog @crownonymous 

(BNHA) Viper. its my first serious attempt at fanfic in YEARS and its my baby. currently has 7 chapters, i havent updated it in a while bc im hyperfocused on ts rn, but i love it to bits. its just all of my fav bnha fics crammed into one fic. quirkless kind of villain izuku with stain as a mentor as they work together to bring light to the injustices of hero society and where bakugos bullying has visible and long-lasting repercussions? sign me the fuck up. you can read it on ao3 HERE bc its not on tumblr. kind of fast-paced, has a lot more action scenes than anything else ive written. heavy plot-wise but has a lot of humour and comedy to break things up

(Kimetsu no Yaiba) I Pray To God He Hears You. not related to my other kny fic oleander which is a multichap retelling au. iptghhy is a standalone one-shot and kind of a character study on one giyuu tomioka. i love him so much. giyuu is my baby and i adore him. so of course i wrote a sad fic focusing on him. well technically, the fic focuses on giyuu AND his relationships.  SPOILERS for chapters 130 and 131 of the manga. focuses mostly on giyuu and sabito, but there’s a fair bit of giyuu and tanjiro and urokodaki.  you can read it HERE bc this is also not on tumblr. also deals with heavy things but more emotion-wise since it doesnt have that much of a plot. loss. grief. moving on. survivors guilt. that kind of stuff.  very sad. hurt but with comfort, especially at the end.

(Sanders Sides) Logan’s Birthday Fic: Logicality. just what the title says. i wrote 5 different fics and published them all on logans bday but the logicality one received the most feedback and honestly? the cutest of the bunch. its gonna be crossposted onto ao3 but for now, you can read it HERE on my ts sideblog. theres no plot since its literally just domestic and relationship fluff. and puns. patton is in the fic, theres gonna be puns. nothing but good things and warm feelings bc logan deserves it.

-

thank you so much for such interesting asks anon! i enjoyed answering these. have a lovely day!

[violently-canary]

Hey @anime-freakchow! So first off, thank you! Every artist wants to have a distinct and recognizable style so thats a real flattering compliment to get lemme tall ya that! 💛

This is a common talking point and there are a lot of people that are way more qualified to discuss this than me but you asked about how i developed my style specifically so ill do my best and give my take on the subjekt.

Anyway ill just start out by saying that having an art style isnt what should be someones main priority. Not that it isnt important or not something to care about but ive noticed that i personally tend to start stagnating in my improvment when i get too focused on keeping to a certain style. What im trying to say is to be careful not to limit yourself just because you want to stick to an art style!

Now that thats out of the way i can start talking about what i think is important in creating your own style and what influenses it!

1. Medium

In my experience something that shapes someones art style a lot is the type of medium they're using. Especially if you're a new artist just starting out the type of medium makes a huge difference mainly because thats when you start learning different tecniques to achive certain results. A more experienced artist will already have some prior knowleage on how they like to do things so the effects therefor wont be as strong.

In my case out of the almost 3 years ive been drawing i have spent about 1 year of that time being a mostly digital artist which means that my current style has been very much shaped by the tools i use.

That being said ideally you want a art style to do is exentuate what you are good while still making the things you're not great at look presentable. Ex my thick and choppy lineart starting out as a cover for me not being great at making smooth lines. Its still something i keep doing because i like how it looks even after ive gotten better at lineart, because a lot of the time art is just happy accidents!

2. Taste!

Taste can be everything from what you like to draw to how you like to draw it. When developing a style a good thing to ask yourself is what you like to see in art, yourself and others! I love bright colors so i use a lot of bright colors! I love thick lines so i use thick lines! Really its all about finding out what you like.

Something worth mentioning tho is that somethings look great in other peoples art but just dosent work in my style and thats ok! Totally normal even! There are a lot of artists that i follow and whos style i adore! But would never dream of implementing into my own work.

Finding other artists that can act as inspiration is important! Heres some of my current favorites:

ginfaxxi

tomato_fishball

krooked.glasses

bokubunbun

ghostofcrows

bl00dyn0se

svelagram

3. Goals

Goals can be tricky to make, especially if you're just starting out and while this isnt neccearily necceary to do it can be useful. Now i dont mean that you have to have everything figured out about what you want out of your art but some guidelines can be useful! For example of you plan on making a carrier out of art you might want to go about things a bit differently then if you're just doing it for fun! And your goals can of course change! Its perfectly normal!

4. Practice!

This is really the most important part! Practice and practice a lot but dont forget to have fun!!!

And lastly heres some of my old digital art to show how my style has changed:

I hope this was in some way helpful to you! 💛

[rontra]

do you have any recommendations on how to like. Take In Umineko. I think it looks really cool and I’d like to get into it, but there’s a lot of things that are confusing (like all of the different games, the manga, the anime, ect.) and I’m not really sure where to start watching/reading it. Do you have any advice on where the best place to start is?

HOH BABY NOW THIS IS A GOOD ASK

Basically, a lot of this depends on you and how you prefer to take in media. People are different after all; some people like reading long novels, some prefer comics, u know! So let’s just go over all the avenues and how to get at them, and the rest is up to you!

I’m gonna make this post very long. VERY VERY LONG. IM SO FUCKn SORyr

First, I’ll talk abt what umineko is; then I’ll discuss the various media; finally, at the end, I’ll write down what I typically recommend to newcomers! SCROLL REALLY FAST TO THE HEADERS IF U HAVE NO TIME FOR MY RAMBLING LOL

So…here we goooo

READING UMINEKO: UNTANGLING THE WEB

OR: what the fuck is umineko and why do you want me to read it, diesel?

Since this is a general To Whom It May Concern post: Umineko no Naku Koro ni (Or Umineko: When They Cry, alternatively When The Seagulls Cry) is a murder mystery/fantasy/metafiction visual novel published between 2007 and 2011. I know “murder mystery” and “metafiction” sound pretty boring when you combine them, but trust me–Umineko’s unlike anything you’ve seen, and defies explanation. Still, I’m here to do my best!

Umineko is about a rich and complicated family, and their annual family conference–and the year it goes super duper badly. On an isolated island, in the middle of a typhoon, tragedy befalls the family–on a massive scale! Someone is killing them–all of them–and the only answer that seems to be rising is–

“Beatrice did it.”

But Beatrice isn’t supposed to really exist. Not for real!! No one by that name is on the island. It’s just a story! She’s made up–Beatrice is a legend. A witch who has lived for a thousand years–who loaned the family patriarch ten tons of gold, an insane amount of wealth, in exchange for his soul. Now she’s collecting on that loan, taking everything back, with interest–the lives of the family included.

Is the culprit a human, or not? Does the witch exist, or not?Is the culprit one of the 18 people? Does a 19th person exist? Or…?And, most importantly–when the typhoon passes, will anyone remain alive on the island?

[YouTube: Umineko opening]

I’d super-recommend Umineko if you enjoy: strong characterization, a solidly built mystery (with plenty of smaller mysteries to try your brain with along the way ;) ), complex and nuanced characters, hype magic fights, Logic-Based Combat(???), deep discussions of trauma and its consequences, large casts of characters, Genre Fuckery, coping, Meta™, and milfs Complex Lore

I would, however, NOT recommend Umineko if you are triggered by/can’t stomach reading about: body horror, gore, death, trauma, child abuse, bullying, discussion of suicide, discussion of sexual assault, etc (you can message me for a more complete list of warnings; I’m happy to provide super-specific ones if there’s something specific you’re concerned about, or even give you specific scenes to watch out for. I kept this vague on purpose, but if you message me off anon or via DMs here or at @aceyasu, I’ll be happy to answer anything!)

Overall it’s a pretty dark, emotional story, with a lot of Themes™–but it’s also full of love and genuine heartfelt Feelings. I don’t think any story has touched me the way Umineko has! Of course, everyone’s experience is very unique to them, but I think Umineko has something for everyone (provided, of course, that we’re taking into account the content warnings and excluding people who can’t/don’t want to encounter those things!). The characters, music, story and message–it all has a lot of heart and it all is very important to me as an individual. Obviously no media is flawless, but I think Umineko’s good outweighs its bad…YMMV though of course :p

Also, hype magic fights.

OKAY WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY

Umineko’s story is told over 8 arcs–styled as “episodes”. I use “arc” and “episode” sort of interchangeably! Specific ones I just call “EP#” though. All you really need to know though is there’s 8 of them, of varying length, and you have to read them all for the full story.

Thankfully they’re numbered, am i right?? HAFDmgkdfmg

Each episode has its own focus within the overarching narrative and comes with its own fun mysteries and harrowing developments just for you! yay! But basically, the important thing is that they’re divided into the Question Arcs (1-4) and Answer Arcs (5-8).

Sometimes, to make things confusing, the Answer Arcs are also called “Core Arcs” or “Chiru”. I will use “Answer Arcs” here, but if you encounter those two elsewhere, that’s what they are. :p

ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING UMINEKO

(now that im done YAPPING)

The anime

Generally viewed as a poor product. It’s a bad adaption that fails as a standalone, too, because of the amount of important scenes that are missing. Don’t watch the anime first if you really want to get into Umineko. It’s a fun watch once you know how it’s supposed to go, though :p Covers the Question Arcs only, ends with EP4–so even if it was good, it would only be half the story… press f to pay respects. The opening fuckin slaps though, and all the VAs are solid.

The manga

Each Episode has its own manga adaption, usually done by a different artist (with exception of EP1, EP3, and EP8, which are all by the same artist). Generally solid; gets the most important parts. For people who want to get through quicker, the manga helps a lot.

The primary cost is that a lot of characterization doesn’t get to shine AS bright, as there’s simply no time to get into the nooks and crannies (still a great cast, though). However, the art is usually fantastic–since the artist changes every EP, it’s easy to deal with even if you don’t like a specific one’s style. It’ll be gone by next Episode!

A lot of moments get punched up by the more visual format of the manga. You really get a better sense of the characters interacting physically with one another! You do, however, run into the Scanlation Problem…..

I know, I know–most people, when given the option to, don’t want to pay for things. So when given the choice between fan scanlations and the official release, a lot of people would choose the scanlations. And they’re fine…for the most part…except for the parts that aren’t. Some parts (notably in the Answer Arcs) are…bad. Really bad. Even I can’t really understand it sometimes, despite knowing this story inside out… LOL

If you’re good at parsing Scanlation SNAFU or can’t afford/don’t want to buy it, you can find Umineko on MOST manga hosts! I don’t know which you prefer so I’m not gonna link ‘em hahahafkgmfh I usually use Manga Rock but that’s because I usually am reading on my phone and I like their app. The episodes are all numbered, so it’s pretty easy to find your way around!

On the other hand, if you have a hard time understanding poor translations, reading inconsistent typesetting/fonts, or simply Can afford it/prefer buying media, the manga is being officially released in English by YenPress! As is standard nowadays, you can get them in both physical volumes and digital e-books! However, YenPress’ release is currently ongoing–the first volume of EP8 is slated to release in March.

[YenPress link]

The visual novel

Ah, here we are–the head honcho himself…! This is the original version of Umineko. These are the ones we call “games”, and why we sometimes say u “play” Umineko, but. Really. It’s just reading. They’re kinetic novels. Its literally just reading. So I don’t know why we complicate things like that.

(“if she an .exe, shes a game”, I guess… xD)

This is where the characterization and voice of Umineko really shines! The style is often simple to read, sometimes even comically casual, but it cuts deep when it wants to. Even really simple lines can have a really strong impact–it’s a really pleasant style to read, IMO…pretty easy to understand most of the time, but emotionally resonant all the same!

Reading the VN is somewhat of an undertaking, because of the amount of hours required…It’s a far longer read. Depending on your reading speed and whether or not you pause to think/talk about things as you read, people clock in 100-200 hours to finish it.

But, on the upside–because it has so much more time than the manga, the VN can really get deep into the characters, their dynamics, and their inner conflicts. You really get a deep sense for everyone’s character and it makes most of the cast feel fleshed-out enough that you appreciate all of them to some extent (whether positive or negative :P)

Oh, actually–the original Umineko branded itself a “Sound Novel”….as opposed to a Visual Novel, where the emphasis is on, uh–Visuals–Umineko leans more heavily on audio to create its atmosphere. And the music? Fuckin rips!! The Umineko soundtrack is huge and has tons of absolute bangers. It’s easy to see why it decided to market itself as a Sound Novel rather than a visual novel–the graphics of the original PC version are simple, but the atmospheric sound effects and BGM really shines.

Here’s some enticing tracks to pique yr interest (be careful about the comments/etc though, there’s Definitely spoilers in there xD)[worldenddominator] [dead angle] [dir] [system0] [hope]

The VN nowadays is split into the two halves; if you get EP4, it’ll include 1-3 as well, essentially. Picking up Question Arcs (or EP4) and Answer Arcs (or EP8) gives u the whole 8 episodes. Easy peasy! Because we live in the future now, and retroactive inclusion of past games is just convenient!

There is an official English release now, which is a brand new luxury. It’s even on Steam! Wow! That’s the easiest way to get your paws on the hands-on experience. The translation has been slightly updated as well! Also, they added a new set of toggle-able graphics that are…um…I mean they’re certainly new…#BarelyContainedOpinionAlert

If you don’t want to pay or can’t afford it…uhhh….I used to have torrent links but they’re all dead. :T still, you can probably just find them, if you know your way around torrents. For the translation, you’ll have to either get a pre-patched version of the game, or use the translation group’s instructions to patch it yourself. 

If you can’t do either of those, or just don’t really have a preference, or…any number of reasons, you can also find all the games fully recorded and uploaded to YouTube (with or without commentary)!

As for the links, I’ve got them right h–

Wait–oh, sh–the graphics are bad?!? You think the graphics are bad? Or you think plain reading is boring? Y-you can’t understand what the background image in this scene is even supposed to be? Ah…the post-2007 struggle….

The visual novel, Part Deux: AH, THE JPEGS edition

OKAY SO I SPLIT THIS APART BECAUSE IT*S IMPORTANT

If you wanna spruce up your VN-reading experience, here’s the thing: they ported the game to PS3, with brand new graphics and–get this–full voice acting. Wow! There’s even CGs now…Jeez!

These are NOT the same graphics as the new ones from the official English release! That’s important!

SO, if you wanna spruce up the graphics a bit, or you enjoy voice acting with your novels, you can do that! People took apart the PS3 games and made patches for the PC version to enjoy the new graphics and voices. And now it’s available for the Steam version as well!

[SPRITE COMPARISON: ORIGINAL PC | PS3 | STEAM]You pick your favorite!

ALSO VOICE ACTING! WOW!! Remember how I said the anime got two things right and they were the OP and the voice cast?

SAME CAST, BABEY!!!! They are all excellent and do a wonderful job! It can really add some more interest if you struggle with staying focused on “plain” reading.

Okay so NOW the links:

You’ll have to dig up torrents yourself if you want those, bc its 6am and I’m too sleepy to… uzu

QUESTION ARCS[Physical Eng release] or [Steam page] +[PS3 PATCH]

ANSWER ARCS[Physical Eng release] or [Steam page] +[PS3 PATCH]

YOUTUBE[Non-commentated, with PS3 patch] you can find more just by searching but this one looks good to me :p

RONTRA OPINIONS / SUGGESTIONS

Personally, I favor the VN for most scenes, but the manga for my light casual reading. Y’know? The VN can be pretty…um…dense, at times.

Ironically, I think EP1 itself might be the biggest hurdle for total first-timers. It’s definitely paced as a “part 1 of 8″ for the first solid portion! By which I mean, it really takes its time establishing the cast and their individual situations. Which isn’t a bad thing–especially in the overarching scope of how long the story is–but if you aren’t sure about the premise, format, or if you’ll enjoy Umineko at all, it can be sort of…challenging.

It all really depends on the individual–things like attention span, investment, and personal preferences, imo. Some people just don’t enjoy reading that much text at once! And that’s fine! Some people love it and that’s fine! Some people think the intro is too long, some people think it’s intriguing from the start. Some really like watching character building, and some prefer to see action happening. Either way is fine, so it’s really up to you!

Usually, if someone isn’t sure, I suggest they try EP1 in manga form first, just to see if the general premise entices them; it’s fully possible to jump back and do the VN if you decide you like it! It sacrifices some characterization in exchange for exploring the main premise a little faster.

Similarly, if you just can’t get into the VN–you can read the entire thing with manga too, if you favor action over the deepest character lore. It’s still a good time and a good experience!

Though, in EP1′s favor–if you ARE sure about it, and are able to dedicate your attention to the first 10-13 hours of set-up, EP1 has one of the most rewarding escalations I’ve encountered! If you are able to sit and read a fairly long-winded introduction, you are rewarded with the most buck wild Popping Off you can imagine.

So there’s nothing wrong with jumping right in there with the VN, if you enjoy reading!

However, if you do find that the VN is dragging too much for you, you can go in reverse too–and finish EP1 by manga, then decide if you want to jump back to the VN or not. I promise, the novels pick up the pace too–it’s just getting all the introductions down that can be daunting, when the initial cast size is a staggering 18 people (plus the LORE has to be established too)!!

Just for you–if you want to get into Umineko, but struggle with EP1, I’ll offer my private archive of YenPress manga rips for EP1–read the manga, official english translation, for free thanks to your dealer friend, rontra,You will have to message me about it, though–off anon or via DMs, here or at @aceyasu.

My favorite setups when I play by myself are either Original PC Graphics + Voice Acting, or Full PS3 Patch. I personally really like the original PC graphics, but I understand some people think they’re kinda…um…Rough, to say the least xD PS3 graphics are a close second for me though.

I don’t really like the steam version’s new sprites. Some people don’t mind them, so it’s up to you what you prefer, but I think they don’t really convey the feeling as well as their counterparts sometimes… :/

But hey, everyone’s got their own opinions!

I also prefer the EP8 manga to the EP8 VN. If I have control over someone’s first playthrough, I always push over to the manga for EP8! In my opinion, it’s a rare instance where the adaption is better than its original. People have different opinions on this, of course, but since this section is My Opinions Central, that’s my opinioooon!!! :D

SO BASICALLY MY OWN PERSONAL PREFERRED STRUCTURE IS

->TRY EP1 (jump over to manga if struggling; if enjoyed manga ep1 until the end, hop back into the VN at EP2 and come back to EP1 if you want to later)

EP2-EP7 VN

EP8 MANGA(EP8 VN if desired afterwards, once the dust settles)

But you’re free to do what you want, of course. ;9

And then after that there’s some spinoffs that I didn’t talk about because that’s a post for another time. (There’s a fighting game! It’s packed full of spoilers.)

AFTERWORD

All in all, Umineko is…big. its very very big. it has a huge cast (the final count comes out to like, almost 70 characters!) and a huge story. and huge feelings.

The manga and the VN are the main avenues of getting into it. It’s easier than it looks at a glance; and yet, more daunting than it seems…

If you have the time and energy to pour hours of your time into it, Umineko is a super worthwhile story that tackles genuinely difficult material with a delicate but honest hand.

It clowns up sometimes and stumbles over its own demographic–see: Weird Vaguely Unpleasant Anime-brand Sex Comedy that springs up a lot in EP1, some in EP2, and then largely disappears save for a few dumb jokes here and there–but overall is a solidly built and solidly delivered story about trauma, love, loss, and getting your family ritual-murdered by a thousand-year-old witch who may or may not be real.

And if you have any questions at all (or just wanna talk Umineko), you can send an ask or IM me here or at @aceyasu–you can ask for my Discord too if you wanna really get into it. Or DM me on twitter! I’m happy to answer any question or elaborate on anything you’re confused about. I tried to go over this post quickly, so if I was too vague on something, feel free to ask!

The same of course applies to content warnings; if there’s something specific you’re worried about, I can answer it for you, whether it’s “does [specific thing] happen/appear” or “how much of [thing] is there, i can handle a little bit”! Anything! Of course I want people to read my favorite, but I also more than that want u all to be safe.

I’m very sorry that this post is literally three thousand words long. Umineko’s been my special interest for almost ten whole years. I get chatty! But hopefully my passion shines through and gets you excited!!!

LOVE, A BIG NERD