#keep forgetting to post my doodles. will be uploading a handful
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friend of mine showed me these shirts ("no matter where i go, trouble always finds me" and "trouble", couples thing) and until i play it i am choosing to believe this is what Alan Wake's American Nightmare is like
#keep forgetting to post my doodles. will be uploading a handful#alan wake#mr. scratch#aw2 bodies awan inspiration i guess#im like treading water in this one discord server desperately trying to follow along while everyone talks about scratch like he's the most#annoying ex boyfriend any of us have ever had but on steroids when im mostly used to him like . breathing loudly into the microphone and#chasing you down hallways going I WANT YOUR LIFE. ITS MY LIFE NOW I DESERVE IT#doodle#monochrome#not very good if im honest with you#i dont know how to draw illkka villi's face yet so i am just getting by by just drawing a zillion lines onto his chin#joke
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1 year of Doodlin'
Just wanted to come out here and say that this year has been crazy and absolutely wonderful. Day-to-day it feels slow but looking back on a year since we started our funny sketch account, we've really had quite a ride.
I don't even know how this account survived when we started it by doing a 30 day fricken' art challenge, which quickly became a 25 day art challenge we missed half the deadlines on because we jumbled everything up. But getting to do that really showed us we could make stuff people actually enjoyed! We didn't post too consistently after that, but we're so happy so many continued to stick with us and keep liking whatever we made!
This year we also got to make our own cosplays! We had no idea what to expect going in with them, but we got to attend cons this year and it was personally one of the best experiences of my life! We got to hand out our own buttons, meet our favorite VA's, get so much cool merch, have probably the worst hotel stay of our lives, and someone even did the TDAC theme on violin while in my funny teeth man costume! I'll never be able to forget being in a giant crowd and getting "CAINE!!" shouted at me by little kids I got to do funny poses with for pictures.
We joined a Zine this year, like an actually big project that felt even a little bit professional and somewhat organized! It felt so awesome to be in such a big cool thing with so many other artists, which is really great because we're now in another one for The Amazing Digital Zine!
We also got seen by real famous people this year! Like, the people who inspired us to do so much cool art in the first place! It was so crazy getting reblogged and then FOLLOWED by Jelloapocalypse on here during Christmas List Erased, then just the other day multiple pieces of ours got show on the Black Tabby Games Livestream! Literally cannot believe it! It's just so cool having our stuff considered by people who made the worlds we so enjoy T-T. We even made some awesome friends in the community who are the absolute best.
I know our accounts aren't really big by any standard but I really just want to thank you all for enjoying our stuff and pushing us forwards with all your kind words, I really wish I could comment on all the reblogs without clogging up people's feeds (which is why y'all should comment more, I'll try to reply. Or you guys can clog our inbox, it's fine. you guys can feel free to keep giving us doodle requests, random questions, or tell us anything you like about our art). I can't promise our upload schedule will be anywhere near consistent, except that APARENTLY we just have a maximum energy boost in December, but I just hope we can continue to thank all you guy's support with loads of really unhinged fanart that barely references the source material it was based on!
Thank you guys for so, so, SO much support, we hope y'all have a great christmas and we have another year of doodling madness!
Jam & Kiri
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HELLO THERE PEOPLE OF TODAY AND ROBOTS OF TOMORROW! IT'S ME, CLARK!
Happy National Cartoonists Day, everyone! What, you didn't think my current computer crisis would stop me from celebrating the Holiday, did ya? Actually, it almost did. Y'see, despite this piece being drawn by hand, my computer's scanner wouldn't save the file onto my craptop. My computer's going through a processing error, meaning it's set to stop working any day now. Fortunately this hunk'a junk managed to work just long enough for me to upload the newest Sketch BOOM! Yes my friends, the Sketch BOOM is back! I figured if I could only post one thing for NCD it might as well be something covered head to toe with cartoons. Some pretty well drawn cartoons too, if you pardon me tootin' my own horn. It just feels so good to have drawn something, have it come out looking as good as it does, and to be able to upload it here on tumblr for you all to see. For the record though, screw tumblr's stupid@$$ upload size limit, I freak'n hate websites that do that! It makes me as mad as a blood-cursed Croczilla fighting a sentient mobile home, but we'll get to that in a bit. For now though, let's see what silly sketches managed to make their way onto the page, starting from the top left corner and making our way down.
Don't forget to be on the lookout for the Snow Conies, the tiny sentient species of snow cones that have invaded almost every part of the page! Can you spot all 8?
[1] DID SOMEONE SAY PIZZA? You wanna know what the downside is of drawing at the bottom of the page and working your way up is? You have tiny pockets of blank space that you're unsure what to do with. Such was the case was this corner, having been left blank after drawing #2. For a while I thought of filling the void with a cosmically charged Snow Conie in the same vein at Rosie, but the Cosmic Cutie was already part of the BOOM due to Discord shenanigans. Instead I opted for a Clarktoon that sadly hasn't been drawn in a while, that being the ever-goofy Pizza Monster. No doubt he was lured here by the scent of all the pretzel pizzas I've been eating lately. While he was here I decided to experiment with his expressions, adding more cheek to his smile. Honestly I think he looked better without them. Still, I'm happy to see him here as I hope all of you are. Now if only he'd stop hogging all the grub!
[2] EYE OF THE THERIAN Rosie isn't the only character here due to Discord shenanigans. At the beginning of every month my friend @Foxhatart opens herself up to sketch suggestions on her Kofi page. For the record, those of you wanting to help out another artist keep food in their bellies can click here. With a few of these Kofi slots still left open, Fox came to her friends asking if they had any ideas for pics involving her characters. Not knowing a ton about her characters, I joked that she ott'a draw her half-lemur girl Cath bench press a bus, her freakish strength having become a reoccurring gag via game nights. Funny as the idea was, I didn't expect Fox to actually do it. You can imagine my surprise when this popped up in my inbox a few days later. Consider this doodle a long overdue 'thank you'. Here we see the crazy Cath lifting weights with, of all peeps, Bumper! No doubt the little marshmallow's here for moral support since he can't actually build up any muscle mass. Ghost problems, am I right? Hope you enjoy this silly little sketch, Fox. Next time I'll have Cath bench-pressing your mortal nemesis; a train.
[3] TOOK ME LONG ENOUGH Despite what I said about Pizza Monster, he actually wasn't the last sketch to be included. No, that honor goes to the metal mercenary, the bodacious bot bounty hunter, the anarchistic anti-hero herself; Candy Banger! Much like the aforementioned monster I figured it had been too long since I drew Candy or really any of the robotic cast of 3K. Atop of that, Candy represented a good chance for me to use the stockpile of poses I've saved up from a thumb drive. Using one from a tumblr site called @posereference turned out to be surprisingly easier than anticipated, the only real flaw in the end being how I colored her. This is one of many coloring errors I made on this piece, Candy's hair looking more bluish purple than I had intended. Still, considering I drew her at all, I doubt Candy's complaining. Here's hoping I can draw more of her in the future, otherwise I might be riddled with bullet holes like that wall behind her.
[4] AN AVERAGE DAY AT WHIMSYLAND And thus we've arrived to the first sketch of this compilation given to me by a friend, this one coming from @jackieariane. She and I both suffered during the Chapek administration of Disney, Jart regaling me with tales of when she dealt with rude customers at Animal Kingdom. It reminded me of when my friends AnimatedTigerGirl and RigbyH00ves worked at the Floridan Park too, all three of my companions having a surprisingly miserable experience. All these stories started melting together in my brain until I asked the question; what would happen if Brooklyn Nine Nine was set at Disneyland? Thus Whimsyland was born, albeit originally out of spite towards Chapek. I already detailed all this back in the DUDELZ from the Dumpster I posted earlier this year, but I failed to mention the human protagonist of this story, Wendy. Having been to Whimsyland once in her life at a young age, the young Vietnamese gal with OCD was immediately smitten by the place, vowing she'd someday work there. Spending the rest of her life researching the park and watching Matt Whimsy documentaries on uView, you can imagine Wendy's disappointment when she returned to the Perkiest Place on the Planet to find nothing was as perky. Whimsyland had lost its whimsy. It's here where she met Freddy Fox, the cartoon mascot of the company living in exile over how the house Matt built is being run today. In other words, what I'd imagine Mickey would be doing if he were real. Together these two kindred spirits are set to bring magic back to this wonderland! Overall I'm pleased with how the sketch turned out, though Wendy's face reminds me of my character Sue the Game Genie more than I'd prefer. Also, Fred Fox is way bigger than intended, no doubt I'll be changing that for future depictions of these two. For now though, this drawing has just enough Whimsy for my liking.
[5] CROCZILLA: BLOOD CURSE More Discord Shenanigans! This time it's the result of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign that @burningthrucelluloid somehow roped me into yet again. Instead of robots and dragons set in a medieval fantasy however, this time it's elves and crocodiles in an approximation of the American south. One ruled by Jerimiah Strahd, a ruthless blood-sucking bastard that Alec based off Leonardo DiCaprio's character from Django Unchained. If that wasn't a sign of how crazy this campaign has become, here's an actual moment from the game. The heroic but hesitant human Jason (YoungSamurai18), the loud-mouthed scaredy cat Toby (Mr-Herp-Derp), and the silent but deadly Ed (void-android), and the equally hungry and adventurous Crocie (me, of course) were hunting for a witch named Bubba Lysiga when all of a sudden the witch brought her mobile home to life in order to attack our heroes. Worse still, she put Ed under mind control to attack his comrades. Croc got the worst of it, his HP dropping to 0 due to him falling from the house and getting stomped on by its gigantic set of wooden chicken legs. Did I mention this campaign gets strange? Well it got even crazier when a dark, shadowy entity housed in Croc's body suddenly gave him a recharge, the reptile taking the chance to mix a Heat and Growth potion he obtained earlier to become CROCZILLA! It was a moment Alec was hoping would happen in game and I didn't intend on disappointing. Same goes for this sketch, it mostly going just as envisioned in my head. The pissed off look on my green friend's face, the damage done to the rusty trailer that is the witch's house, the tiny silhouettes of Croc's teammates in said home, the heavy fog, the Earth-shattering roar in the background, it all came out great. Save for one detail. You'll notice that Croc's eyes are black with red irises in this pic. That detail's due to Croc having blood curse abilities, hence the dark entity sharing rental space in his body. As such, you'd think Croc's fire breath would be just as vibrantly red, but sadly that idea didn't occur to me until after I made the fire blue as well as the shine off every surface. Spam it! Still, coloring hiccup aside, I'm mighty proud of this pic! Hopefully so are the rest of the Barovian Bozos that make up my team.
[6] WONDER ZIGGY, CINEPHILE FROM THE PLANET GARBONZA EVEN MORE DISCORD SHENANIGANS! Cut to a few months back and I was restructuring my Discord server, cutting down the multiple move threads it had before merging them all into one. Being the story-driven bozo I am, I quickly wrote a backstory for this thread involving an alien named Ziggy falling in love with the Earth B-Movies he was picking up on his deep space probe. So much so that he came down to our planet only to discover there were even MORE types of movies for him to enjoy! It overwhelmed him so much that he blacked out, awakening the next day having purchased a since abandoned drive-in theater on the outskirts of Clarksburg. Faced with this new impulse purchase, Ziggy followed the oldest piece of wisdom known to man or alien; Screw it. After a refurb Ziggy reopened the drive-in, screening B Movies and cinematic shlock to an appreciative public. And if you can believe it, I typed all of that out after thinking about it for five minutes. My brain is weird like that. All that said, it'd take a couple of RP sessions before I got his personality down, that being an MST3K character if the show were written by Joe-Bob Briggs. In other words, a surprisingly well educated weirdo with a deep love of Hollywood history. It'd take me a while longer before finally sketching him, basing him off the titular villain from Robot Monster, an appropriate design for someone who loves old, cheesy movies. All he was missing was a pink Hawaiian shirt and a cowboy hat. If you think he's strange, you should meet his wife Wanda, though let's save that for a future BOOM...
[7] LOOKIN' SPAM GOOD! What better way to show my friends I care than drawing them in ridiculous outfits? This sketch, the first to be included in this BOOM, is a merging of two repurposed ideas I had for other pictures. The first would've involved the Swedish menace Finjix with a fish bowl on his head much to the confusion of Alec, the recipient of a kawaii make over. I can't remember where the fishbowl idea spawned from but Sir Alec the Adorable came from him scoffing at the idea that I could make anything cute, himself included. Just you wait Alec, I'll get you someday! For now though I swapped out making him uber-adorable in favor of dressing him up like the Wasp from Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the awesome animated show he finally binge-watched on my behalf. Granted I could've drawn him as Maria Hill, the character on the show he deemed the sexiest, but it wouldn't have been as funny. After all, all Maria's outfit is a blue jumpsuit. Far less interesting than Jart's leather jacket, an image that popped into my noggin following her telling me she's learning to ride a bike. That and me desperately clinging onto the back as she gave me a ride, but that would've been harder to draw. Instead I went for the jacket, a fashion statement that would be stupid in real life since she lives in the infamously hot country of Vietnam. Yet even in the face of logic, Jart not only humored me but encouraged me to include this in the final sketch. Thank goodness she did cuz I love how it turned out, minus the green stripes that were accidentally colored black like the rest. DRATS! Not only that but she informed me that she was no longer using her fursona, instead opting to draw herself as a human from now on. DOUBLE DRATS! Ah well, I have more ideas involving 'Trang the Tyrant' as I've nicknamed her, so chances are I'll get the chance to correct both mistakes in the future. It might also give me another chance to draw myself as Super Giraffe, which was what I originally intended to do with my own fursona. Sadly the costume still needs work so instead I opted for my classic Pagonian Wizard robes. Even in the face of all these snafus, I think we all look spam good!
[8] ROSIE STARDUST, SPACE WIZARD Turns out I'm always right even when I'm spewing nonsense. Don't believe me? Plenty of peeps have made that mistake before. Take my friend Alec for example. In the midst of him running the current Strahd campaign I mentioned earlier, I jokingly tossed out the idea of Rosie transporting our heroes out of Barovia and into another universe. A cute 'What If' scenario the Dungeon Master wasted no time in shooting down. Mistaking my silly suggestion as a legit one, Alec explained how unfair it'd be for a god to play a game with a bunch of mortal meatbags. Let the record show that I never declared the sentient Einstein-Rosen Bridge to be a deity. Some alien cultures have mistaken her from one, but Rosie herself would be the first to tell you she's no holy being. Not that any of that mattered. Alec held firm to his statement, Rosie was denied access to any dungeons. For about six seconds before my buddy realized how a depowered Rosie would make a wonderful wizard for a Spelljammers campaign. Fueling this fire was his recent watching of The Owl House, imagining Rosie rocking wizard robes similar to those worn by The Good Witch Azura. Before I could say, "NOW EAT THIS SUCKA," he was leading the charge on my server of peeps demanding I draw Rosie as a space wizard. At first I was floored at the audacity! You shoot down an idea that wasn't meant to be taken seriously only for you to turn around and do so anyway? MAKE UP YOUR SPAM MIND! Then I followed Alec's example and got over it, the idea of Rosie in wizards robes too tempting a sketch not to capitalize on. In the end the only aspect of Azura that made it into the final product was the hat, minus the cute lil' crown. Everything else took cues from the fashion of @cherrysdesigns along with a style @girlofhearts101 turned me towards called whimsigoth. All of which resulting in an costume that gave Alec 'David Bowie Ziggy Stardust vibes'. It's thanks to that comment that Rosie now has a last name. Everyone, say hello to Rosie Stardust, universal explorer and space wizard!
[9] DIREKTOR AND 3D1T0-R Is there a Hollywood equivalent in the Star Wars universe? Some sort of glamorous planet where overpaid alien celebrities are shamelessly rebooting beloved classics for a profit? All while amazing writers are getting screwed out of the earnings they deserve? This was what I asked Alec during his binge watching of The Clone Wars. Surprising me once more, the Masked Maniac revealed that he had asked SIM-N the same question before, the two creating a character called The Direktor for their Monova comics. Her whole gimmick was producing hypnotic propaganda for the tyrannical Twin Emperors, a cool concept that never went anywhere due to the robotroll cutting From Destiny's Ashes short. Being the character man that I am, I decided The Direktor couldn't go to waste. Especially when she'd make such a good villain in the world of 3K and a good addition to this BOOM. After asking SIM-N for the character's original reference sheet I set out to give her a Clarktoon makeover while watching cutscenes of The Second Sister from Jedi: Fallen Order. No doubt Elizabeth Grullon's intimidating vocal performance effected my outcome, the alien movie maker now sporting a streamlined outfit along with a smugly sinister smile on her face. As apposed to her boss, the Direktor's little droid 3D1T0-R hardly changed in the transition. He was a little creepy ball to start and he's still a little creepy ball now. One that was cooked up by Alec according to SIM-N, which makes sense given our pal's passion for film editing. Once the two were fully drawn I decided to test out my shading and lighting techniques in an attempt to make her look more menacing. If the response I got from the others on Discord is any indication, I succeeded. Indeed, this fem fatale filmmaker will fit in phenomenally as a 3K villain. Now the question is to who?
[10] JURAKISS Finally we conclude things with a sketch somewhat prompted by @zernna. Way back in August of last year she was commissioned to draw my cretaceous crusader Saura and her girlfriend Patricia enjoying a delightful day at the pool, a pic as charming as that description would imply. In my comment thanking Ze I couldn't help but laugh at how the two had already been declared a cute couple despite how I hadn't drawn the two together in my own artwork yet. The Alien Artist than demanded I draw 'moar art of them then', prompting me to ask if that was a challenge. She said yes. Though not from a lack of trying, it took me nine freak'n months to meet that challenge. Blame that on me being a picky artist since I have been meaning to draw references of these characters in the meantime. After all, Zerna got asked to draw Saura in other pics without having any color references for the Blue Beast of Fosslin. Fortunately Saura's shown up in a number of previous Sketch BOOMs, now getting to share the spotlight with Patricia here. A Patricia that would've been notably paler were it not for Alec asking if I had any markers that matched Patricia's skin tone. I didn't, but the local hobby store did! Who knew Sharpie made skintone markers? It not only helped me color in the cute Muslim girl here, but also Cath and Wendy later on. Talk about a perfect purchase! Now if only the colors of Patricia's outfit were as satisfactory. Ah well, there's always next time, since I'm pretty sure Zerna's challenge still stands. XP For now though, I hope you all enjoy this compilations of crazy scribblings fresh from my mind. If you didn't, worry not, chances are I'll be making another one soon....
MAY THE GLASSES BE WITH YOU ALL!
#ClarktoonCrossing#Clarktoons#National Cartoonist Day#cartoonist#The Owl House#avengers: earth's mightiest heroes#wasp#robot#Robot Monster#b movie#Pizza Monster#pizza#exercise#Foxhat#Cath#lemur#Therian#Therian Tail#Bumper#ghost#spooky#cute#Candy Banger#Crocie#crocodile#Croczilla#Curse of Strahd#dungeons and drawings#Bubba Lysiga#mobile homes
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trying to keep my pixiv updated kills me but at least it looks nice and busy lmfao
#i uploaded 3 new batches from past months doodles and still feel like i missed uploading some jascbk 😭😭#i should like. remember to upload everythign i drew 1-2 in a month or smth rip#i slap my full stuff on there whenever i finish big mature stuff no prob b ut i keep forgetting to upload all the regular stuff i post here#im drawing rn and was like yea bro wait what about quickly updating pixiv and yea it took me only 2 hours thats a w#sobs into hands#myountalk#personal#tbd
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[CN] Fireworks Event - Lucien
🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for an event which has not been released in English servers! 🍒
Contains heavy references to Whimsical Date!
Previous section: here
3rd Anniversary Masterlist: here
Prior to the Carnival, there were questions posed in the Go See You feature which affects which scenario the player sees during the Fireworks Event:
Question 1: Do you still remember when we went to the amusement park previously? Could you let me know which part left the deepest impression on you?
Option A: Because it’s Professor Lucien, I pick the souvenir store.
Option B: The spinning tea cups of course~
Option C: I liked the fantasy castle.
-
Question 2: Although this is a little sudden, what do you want on a “perfect day”?
Option A: Give me as pleasant surprise.
Option B: I want to return to our most innocent selves together.
[ PART ONE PROLOGUE ]
A familiar ringtone suddenly sounds. I take out my phone, cancelling the alarm I had set early on.
MC: The fireworks display will start in 15 minutes, so let’s head to the plaza now!
I take Lucien’s hand, about to walk forward. However, he pulls me back.
MC: What’s wrong?
Lucien: Even though time is a little tight, there should still be enough time.
Seeing my puzzled expression, Lucien chuckles lightly and pinches my hand.
Lucien: We’ll go to the place you want to go most.
[ Option A: Because it’s Professor Lucien, I pick the souvenir store. ]
Following the crisp sound of a wind chime, Lucien and I step into a souvenir store.
I didn’t expect that he’d still remember my answer from before. A wave of warmth surfaces from my heart.
When I curiously scan through the merchandise on the shelves, a few unusual keychains attract my attention.
The keychains have doodles on them, and are in the shape of alphabets. With a stirring in my heart, I select two keychains featuring the first letter of our names.
MC: The last time we came to the amusement park, we bought two dolls. This time, let’s also bring souvenirs back!
Looking at my expectant gaze, Lucien smiles in understanding, then takes the keychains from my hand.
Lucien: Keychains are very practical. They can be brought around everywhere, and...
He dangles the keychains in his hand.
The pictures on these two alphabets are the same. When I look at it next time, I’ll subconsciously think of you.
Seeing through my thoughts, my cheeks turn red.
MC: ...but this is the one I want!
I take the keychain with the letter ‘L’ from his hand.
Recollecting the experience of selecting the dolls, I deliberately mimic his words, tilting my head and smiling at him.
MC: If these two keychains represent the both of us… keeping this one with me would be more meaningful, right?
Hearing my cheeky tone, Lucien can’t help but chuckle.
Lucien: Looks like MC always learns quickly when it comes to “teasing” me. In that case, the keychain representing you will be in my care.
He pauses, the smile in his eyes receding, replaced with an insuppressible warmth.
Lucien: MC, you...
-
[ Option B: The spinning cups of course~ ]
Sorry, I couldn’t find uploads of this option T-T
-
[ Option C: I liked the fantasy castle. ]
On top of the colourful castle which has a spire, Lucien and I look down at the park’s scenery.
I didn’t expect that he’d still remember my answer from before. A wave of warmth surfaces from my heart.
Gazing at the gorgeous night scenery, I’m just about to say something, but feel an insuppressible itch climbing up the tip of my nose.
MC: Achoo--
Lucien is stunned for a moment, then furrows his brows.
Lucien: Is the wind too strong here? We should head down first to prevent you from catching a cold.
I shake my head in embarrassment.
MC: I’m fine, I’m fine. My immunity is very strong.
Despite what I said, Lucien walks behind me, pulling his coat open and encasing me in warmth.
Lucien: Feeling slightly better now?
The familiar scent surrounds me, and my heart rate subconsciously speeds up slightly. I nod.
MC: [blushing] ...mm. The last time we visited the amusement park, we didn’t get to climb the castle. This time, my wish has been fulfilled.
Perhaps noticing my nervousness, Lucien chuckles softly from behind..
Lucien: Mm. I have to congratulate this little warrior for bravely sending those monsters running.
MC: Hm? You remember that too...
A little surprised, I lift my head and look at Lucien. That was a dream I had in my childhood which I once told Lucien about.
Lucien: Of course. That dream left such a deep impression - how could I forget it?
Staring into his eyes, which are crinkled slightly, the corners of my lips involuntarily curve into a smile, and I continue from where he left off.
MC: That’s right. It was indeed an arduous and long battle.
Then, I pull his coat even tighter over myself.
MC: But in order to see my “little prince”, it’s very worth it~
From behind me, a place I can’t see, the light in Lucien’s eyes flashes slightly.
He suddenly lowers his head, leaning close to my ear, and says softly--
Lucien: MC, you...
[ PART ONE ENDING ]
“Dong-- dong--”
The melodious bell from the plaza drifts over.
Lucien and I look towards the direction of the plaza, which is already filled with people.
Lucien: Looks like the time is just right.
His tone is unhurried, as though everything was within his expectations.
Lucien takes my hand, his action elegant, akin to an invitation.
Lucien: MC, let’s see the fireworks together.
-
Beams of fireworks rise rapidly into the sky, blossoming in the endless night sky.
The colour I had selected is especially bright in the night.
Among the crowd, Lucien and I are standing towards the back, yet we’re able to take in the entire scene.
Suddenly, I tug on Lucien’s hand.
Lucien: What is it?
MC: Lucien, I just made a wish. I wish that on this day next year, we can also spend it like this.
Another firework blooms in the sky. Lucien watches me, blinking gently.
Lucien: That’s all?
MC: That’s all.
Seeing me nod ignorantly, Lucien chuckles.
Lucien: To me, however, that’s far from enough.
MC: Oh? In that case, what’s Professor Lucien’s wish?
I deliberately show that I'm listening with all ears.
Lucien: As compared to a wish, I’m more willing to call it something that will definitely be fulfilled. On this day, whether it’s next year, or the following year, or the year after that--
Lucien: We’ll be like this, spending it together.
Lucien takes my hand, bringing it to his lips and giving it a light kiss.
Lucien: It’s an agreement.
In the next second, a warm sensation descends on my lips.
[ VIDEO OF FIREWORKS ]
[ PART TWO PROLOGUE ]
As the final firework dissipates in the sky, the amusement park starts playing its main theme song.
Although I had heard this melody so many times today, a different emotion surges from my heart this time - it’s a reminder that the amusement park is about to close.
As though he can sense my reluctance to leave, Lucien gently rubs the back of my hand.
Lucien: Come to think of it, I wanted to tell you something earlier, but was interrupted by the bell.
MC: Mm? What is it?
Lucien chuckles lightly.
Lucien: Do you still remember my question from before? Regarding what you’d want most on a “perfect day”...
[ Option A: Give me as pleasant surprise. ]
I nod.
MC: I said that I wanted you to give me a pleasant surprise.
Lucien: This requirement was a little difficult, but I still prepared something, and I hope you’ll be satisfied.
With this, Lucien takes out a gift box wrapped with a ribbon, beckoning me to open it.
Doing as he says, my eyes widen in surprise.
MC: ...it’s so beautiful!
A plant which somewhat resembles a flower rests in the box - on a dried branch, there are countless flickering and dazzling small crystals.
Lucien: This is a flower which has specially undergone chemical immersion. Because it’s been made into an artwork, there’s no need to worry about it becoming dull with time. MC, have you heard of “The Branch of Salzburg”? It was originally a normal tree branch, but as it was buried in a salt mine for a period of time, it was filled with little crystals glistening like diamonds.
Without waiting for my response, Lucien chuckles and continues.
Lucien: To me, this carnival event is like that. Before this, it was just an ordinary event, and wasn’t anything special. But having participated and experienced it with you, it has become precious along with our memories. However, I want to tell you that this isn't all.
He pauses, his voice becoming slightly more tender.
Lucien: Many details in life have become glistening diamonds because of you. Just like the beautiful crystals on The Branch of Salzburg - fine and small, yet resplendent and dazzling. This is a pleasant surprise that you’ve given me. And right now, I wish to convey this feeling to you.
Lucien encases the hand that I’m holding onto the box with into his palm, a pair of deep eyes watching me.
Lucien: I hope that as you compliment the beauty of this gift, you’re able to know...
Lucien: That this is how you’ve enabled me to see the world.
-
[ OPTION B: I want to return to our most innocent selves together. ]
MC: Of course I remember. I said I wanted us to return to our innocent selves.
Lucien: In that case, I wonder if today has satisfied your expectations?
MC: It didn’t just satisfy them - it far exceeded my expectations!
The corners of Lucien’s lips curl slightly, and he scratches the tip of my nose gently.
Lucien: But I don't think this is enough.
After saying this, he takes out a gift box wrapped with a bow.
MC: What’s this? I didn’t expect Professor Lucien to have such a feminine heart.
Faced with my teasing, Lucien chuckles wordlessly, beckoning me to open the gift box.
After opening it, I realise that there’s an antique, hand cranked music box in it.
MC: Is this for me?
Lucien: Mm. Music can regulate the cerebral cortex, and can even awaken a person’s memories, carrying the weight of people’s emotions. That is why I prepared a music box. The melody in it is the main theme song of this amusement park. In the future, as long as you play this melody, you can relive this memory, and feel the state of mind that we have right now.
I turn the handle, and the smooth music flows out slowly. The corners of my lips involuntarily curl upwards.
Lucien: Actually, I found your question very unexpected before, wondering why you’d want us to return to our innocent selves.
Lucien pauses, then continues.
Lucien: Although people often say that innocence will vanish along with the passage of time, that a day would come when we have to bid it farewell, and walk towards maturity...
Lucien: I don't think innocence and maturity are necessarily mutually exclusive. After all, I can always sense it from you.
My heart softens in an instant, but I can’t help but want to tease him for a while. I shoot him a smile.
MC: Professor Lucien is flattering me again. Also, maybe I just wanted to see your innocent side?
Lucien is stunned for a moment, then chuckles. He reaches out to pat my head.
Lucien: That won’t be necessary. Because to me, you're a part of my most innocent side. If you’re willing, I hope to accompany you through “the most perfect day”, each and every day.
Lucien: So, remember to stay by my side always.
[ PART TWO ENDING ]
My heart is brimming with emotions which are unable to be put into words. I subconsciously take a step forward, hugging the person in front of me tightly.
He seems to freeze for an instant. But very quickly, his slender arms wrap themselves around me with the same strength.
I inhale his scent greedily and deeply, my voice trembling slightly.
MC: Thank you, Lucien. For letting me have this most perfect day.
Lucien doesn’t say anything, but he rests his chin on the top of my head.
The lights in the amusement park dim one by one. The surrounding crowd heads towards the entrance in succession. But I no longer feel reluctant to leave.
I know that even though the amusement park may be over, this memory will continue being preserved, remaining in our hearts.
Amongst the clamour of the crowd, we hug each other quietly. When the final warm yellow streetlight is left, I part with Lucien’s hug, offering him my hand happily.
MC: Let’s go too!
Lucien: Mm, let’s go home.
Our palms are pressed together tightly, as though wanting to embed every moment we’ve experienced into the lines.
The light from the path ahead is very dim. But in our hearts, we seem to own the light of the entire world.
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Sketch Maker PRO Review
Sketch Maker PRO Review - Are you searching for even more expertise concerning Sketch Maker PRO? Please review my straightforward evaluation regarding it before selecting, to review the weak points as well as toughness of it. Can it be worth your effort and time and also cash?
Introducing Sketch Maker PRO
The 5 Finest Explainer Videos (& & How to Make Your Own) (Component 3)
Step 2: Recording the Voiceovers
Once you have a manuscript, you'll require a voiceover. Some options are:
Voices.com: This site has a huge network of specialist voice stars to choose from.
Craigslist: Ah of course, old reputable. You can find just about anything on crazy Craigslist, consisting of voiceovers.
Fiverr: Yup, you can obtain a good voiceover for your explainer video clip for simply $5 on Fiverr! You'll possibly have to pay a little bit more than that ($5 is generally the starting price-- some fee by the second, others by the word. Chances are you won't be in the most affordable Sketch Maker PRO price bracket). Still, you aren't most likely to locate a voiceover anywhere for cheaper.
Action 3: Explainer Video Production
There are a number of various paths you can take when it comes down to the actual creation and manufacturing of your explainer video clip. Alternatives include ...
Highlight the Pros: There are some extremely skilled specialist video clip manufacturing business out there that can aid you make an awesome marketing video clip. You'll have some high explainer video clip prices if you go this path-- be prepared to pay out anywhere from $5,000 - $20,000 for a solution similar to this. The advantage is that you'll have video professionals aiding you every action of the means, and you're video clip is assured to look excellent. Trial Duck, Wyzowl, LessFilms, Flikli and also Studio Pigeon are a couple of explainer video business to think about.
Pow Toon: if you're making computer animated explainer videos, have no computer animation experience, yet want to do it on your own on a budget, Pow Toon is the method to go. Any individual with some basic computer skills can utilize this animated explainer video software. It likely won't be a masterpiece, but it's easy to create and free (to begin at the very least). They also have a guide collection to stroll you with building your development.
Do It Yourself Explainer Video with iPhone: That's right, you can movie your very own explainer video clip on your iPhone! This incredible article from Wistia will reveal you exactly how. Do It Yourself recording is a wonderful means to develop cheap explainer videos. For the editing, iMovie or Camtasia are good choices. If you intend to take on a Do It Yourself computer animated explainer video clip, this computer animation toolkit from Salsify can offer you with a lots of terrific animation devices and also sources.
Employ a Freelancer: Experienced freelancers can provide high-quality explainer video clip manufacturing aid at a much lower cost than a huge production firm. You need to be able to find one easily enough on craigslist or various other freelance sites.
Crowd Sourcing: One alternative you may give a go is the video crowd-sourcing business Video clip Brewery. Submit a general job review and also obtain a bunch of propositions from Video Brewery's network of relied on freelancers. Pick one you like and you get on your method! Sketch Maker PRO notes that these explainer video clip expenses normally run someplace between $3,000 - $5,000.
Step 4: Songs & & Noise Impacts
Chances are your animated explainer video and even your online action explainer video requires some wonderful sound impacts as well as music. Some locations to rack up tracks include ...
MusOpen: Supplying totally free songs sources such as recordings, sheet music, etc.
. Free Sound: A data source of Creative Commons accredited audio examples and recordings. YouTube: The king of video clip itself provides some complimentary background songs to make use of in video clip creations.
Audio Forest: Nobility cost-free audio documents consisting of loopholes, sound effects, and a lot more.
Audacity: This free device isn't a source of audio data, yet instead aids you create your own.
Keep in mind to check out the small print carefully on these websites with regards to what is or is not allowed under the audio documents's licensing arrangement. Some are an economical one-time purchase and also aristocracy free, others require attribution, etc .
Sketch Maker PRO Evaluation & Introduction
Maker: Jimmy Mancini
Product: Sketch Maker PRO
Launch Date: 2019-Apr-18
Release Time: 10:00 EDT
Front-End Rate: $18
Sales Web page: https://www.socialleadfreak.com/sketch-maker-pro-review-from-a-real-user/
Particular niche: Video
What Is Sketch Maker PRO?
Sketch Maker PRO is a brand-new Whiteboard Video clip Manufacturer that deals with any type of Internet browser connected to the Internet (Chrome, Firefox, Safari ...) enabling you to develop amazing Explainer Videos in Minutes and all is done on the Cloud!
Sketch Maker PRO Features & Conveniences
Advantages
Use it when you are online
Forget about downloading significant data, installing bulky software program, obtaining intallation mistakes or absence of space. Currently with the brand-new Sketch Maker PRO you just open your Browser (Chrome, Firefox ...) login as well as done; after that you can start creating outstanding Explainer Doodle Videos!
Produce Videos With Different Formats as well as Dimensions
We understand that you may want to produce video clips with differente sizes/dimensions, that's why we developed Sketch Maker PRO in such a way that will permit you to choose your preferred video clip layout 16:9 or 1:1 * (for social networks) or your preferred measurements, 1920x1080 *, 1280x720 *, 640x360 - * PRO PLUS Accounts Only).
Easy to make use of!
Yes, it is so easy to use! You simply select or drag and drop your preferred photos or include some message to the canvas preview and then preview it before developing your video. That's it!
Maintain a couple of Videos Online or Download them
When you crate a video clip, your video is stored on the cloud, after that you will certainly have the alternative to download it, maintain it saved online (restricted area) or delete it. So you can constantly monitor your 'Master Pieces':-RRB-.
Export it in Minutes (Making)
Some 'other' devices on the marketplace make you wait a long, long, time to produce a video clip. Sketch Maker PRO making engine is among one of the most effective as well as fastest on the market, so you obtain Impressive Whiteboard Videos done very quick! (* if your video clip is as well large it will certainly take longer that common, it wil depend exactly how busy the server in fact is, but generally is quick).
Produce Fantastic White Boards Videos in Minutes (Save Time & Cash)
There is no need to pay a designer or a company to do it for you, you simply spend a few minutes and you will certainly get it done! Map out maker PRO will certainly allow you to create fantastic explainer videos, that look professional as well as are done quick! Saving you Money And Time!
Functions
FUNCTION 1: Add the consisted of Images or your OWN photos
We have actually consisted of a number of photos for you to select from, beginning with animated SVG pictures to wonderful looking personalities from various particular niches. You simply need to browse the consisted of classifications and choose the one that fits your specific niche.
And also, we have actually added the alternative to upload your very own pictures or logo designs (Just on PRO accounts), so you can individualize your video clips even more. You just click on the upload switch, post your photos and then they will stay saved on the server (restricted MEGABYTES per account).
FEATURE 2: Include Text
Adding message to your explainer video clips is much more easy then ever before, you just compose your text, click the include switch and also the message will certainly be added to the sneak peek (and also in the future your explainer video clip). As Easy as that!
You can individualize your text by changing the font kind, typeface size and font style shade! Plus the message is integrated with the audio of your video clips so if we include the hand composing impact (consisted of) your video clips will certainly look impressive!
ATTRIBUTE 3: Include the consisted of backgrounds or add your OWN Backgrounds
We have actually included some wonderful backgrounds for you to choose from, there are some great histories however certainly you will have the option to get even a lot more histories (optional).
You just require to go to the background's tab as well as scroll down to have the ability to see all the readily available histories!
ATTRIBUTE 4: Add History Songs Tracks (Included or your own)
Sketch Maker PRO features a few music tracks to contribute to your videos (around 3 minutes each), yet you might have the option to upload your own songs as well.
You'll have the alternative to get monthly songs tracks (optional).
ATTRIBUTE 5: Add Text To Speech * (optional), Add Your Own Audio File or Record Your Voice
Sketch Maker PRO comes with several Human-like Text To Speech voices to add to your video clips (optional).
You'll have the alternative to tape your very own voice using your OWN microphone * or simply publish SHORT audio data * to develop your video clips. * PRO PLUS Accounts Just).
FUNCTION 6: Preview an Slide or All your Animation (Adjustment hands also!)
You can sneak peek your video prior to rendering it. You can preview each slide or all your computer animation on the preview canvas.
Plus you can change the hands made use of, also the pens/pencils the hand utilizes to simulated the composing message could be changed!
FUNCTION 7: Slide Consequences, Allocation, Download Your Video clips!
We've included the option to use some slides effects, even an arbitrary impact is consisted of to enable you to provide your video clips a much more professional appearance!
Inside your account's web page you will have the ability to see your individual information as well as your Allocation per day! We've included a distinct web page to enable you to access all the videos you have actually produced, you can simply download them by clicking the download switch.
Rate & Evaluation
Front-End $17.95: Sketch Maker PRO (PRO Variation).
Produce 48 Video clips per day (2 video clips per hour)
Shop 10 Sketch Videos (Cloud)
Up to 10 slides per task
10 Songs Tracks
20 Backgrounds
144 SVG Characters
199 SVG Path animation images
Publish very own Images/Music/Backgrounds (5mb)
OTO 1 (Month-to-month) $12.95
Develop 96 Videos per day (4 videos per hr)
Shop 20 Lay Out Video Clips (Cloud)
As much as 30 slides per job
10 Songs Tracks Monthly
10 Backgrounds Monthly
50 SVG Personalities Monthly
100 SVG Path computer animation photos Monthly
Submit very own Images/Music/Backgrounds (50mb)
Text To Speech Voices
TTS Summary: 28 Voices/ 11 Languages
OTO 2 $19.95: Commercial Certificate.
Extra coming quickly
Conclusion
" It's A Good deal. Should I Spend Today?"
Not just are you getting accessibility to Sketch Maker PRO for the very best cost ever before supplied, however additionally You're spending entirely without danger. Sketch Maker PRO include a 30-day Money Back Assurance Policy. When you select Sketch Maker PRO, your contentment is guaranteed. If you are not totally pleased with it for any type of factor within the very first 1 month, you're qualified to a full refund - no question asked. You have actually got absolutely nothing to shed! What Are You Waiting on? Attempt It today and get The Complying with Bonus offer Now!
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Hello! I absolutely adore all your Qrow and Summer comics, and everyday I'm always super excited to check and see what you've posted! I was just curious, how do you manage to post so consistently? I'm wanting to start uploading my own stuff on a more consistent schedule, and was just interested in seeing how you go about it. Anyway, please keep up the amazing work, its much appreciated during this RWBY haitus especially! ☺️❤️
Okay, I’m not going to add a drawing to this just because I want to answer you PRONTO.
Thank you so much, by the way! I’ll give you all the information and knowledge my professors handed down to me and what I’ve learned since being a committed artist to Tumblr.
Basically, you have to commit at least 100%. You may laugh, but I’m being serious. View this time you spend as an investment for something better in the future. It is not ‘messing around on the computer’ or ‘just having fun’, it’s your job (that hopefully leads to a paying job at some point). Don’t just say that to yourself, either. Tell other people that if they ask. Own it. It’ll make the commitment that more gratifying.
Ask yourself, “Are you ready to commit yourself to your followers and your art? Are you in, or are you out?” because there is no ‘half-assing’, for lack of a better term, this type of work.
My routine: I get up in the morning, make tea and breakfast, and if I don’t have work (I have a job besides doing this), I hop on the computer, eat, and just start drawing or writing depending on the day and mood. Sometimes I split the day between the two so that I don’t get too anxious or bored with what I’m working on. My butt, however, is glued to my chair unless I need to stretch, use the bathroom, eat, or do any chores.
I’ve mentioned this a couple times before, but I’m obsessive. I live and breathe this kind of work and this amount of output. It gets me up in the morning just to know I can get a sooner start on my art for all of you! I am in a committed relationship, and I make myself give him my time on the weekends and at least an hour out of each day. Sometimes I can’t sacrifice more than that, because to build a career in the art field, it takes energy, time, blood, sweat, and tears. If you’re not trying to make a career, then you have more leeway.
TIPS AND TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Make it a point to post at least once a day. You do not gain a following, fans, or exposure by posting once a week or once a month. If you have a following, then it’s a bit more easy to manage and draw out your time in between submissions. Fans love seeing any of your work! Doesn’t have to be a whole script or masterpiece. Can be a snippet or a doodle. They’ll just be happy you updated.
Engage with your followers/fans. Let them know they’re welcome and safe on your blog to express ideas and just to talk with you. Be friendly and open minded when you do this, but don’t allow yourself to be a doormat if someone wants to push you around. Be firm, be civil, and move on.
Keep negativity from your blog as much as possible. Make coming to your page a positive experience. No one likes to see pages and pages of drama.
No Politics. No Religion. You are here to create, not to debate.
Take requests. You don’t have to always do it, but do it in the beginning. This allows you to also engage with the people who follow you and love your art/writing/work. Plus, you meet some cool, wonderful people in the process!
Don’t be too greedy with ideas. This is a creative world, and while credit should be dished out where it is due, don’t get too possessive of small details. I welcome people to use ‘petal’, ‘short-stack’, and ‘hummingbird’ in the fndm. I could be a mean, scrooge about it and tell everyone to keep their hands off, but I don’t want to do that. If someone wants some of my work or ideas in their headcanon, then great!
Don’t let people plagiarize or blatantly copy off of your work, though, either. You all know what art theft is. I don’t need to explain.
Take a break when needed. This is very important. Don’t push yourself too hard where you make yourself sick. I often forget to feed myself when working and then wonder why i’m anxious, dizzy, and feel sick to my stomach. Usually, I keep trail mix at my desk and a glass of water in between meals, but if you need it, get up, walk around outside, enjoy the day, lay in bed, do what you need to do to feel better. Your followers will understand.
Collaborate! This is one of the strongest tools we have as artists! We can join forces and create with one another! This not only exposes you to a whole OTHER group of people, but you make friends through this process, too!
When in doubt, nothing wrong with looking at references. Every single artist, no matter the skill level, needs references. I use references and images because the human body is HAAAARD. I also need them for inspiration on architecture, animals, landscapes, ect.
Do. Not. Start. Fights. I can’t stress that enough. If you get hate mail in some form or another, read it once then walk away from it. Delete it if you have to. You do yourself no favors responding to that. Be the adult in the scenario. Also, do not look at someone’s opinion online and then reblog it, only to argue and say that person is wrong. They’re called opinion’s for a reason. Just do yourself the biggest favor and avoid that kind of media. I know I have to. There are bloggers on here who are so aggressive and mean about what I like, but I do not approach them because I’m not a moron. No good comes of it.
Push your comfort zone. You do not get better by staying with what you know or with what is easy. Challenge yourself to do something different. Do that every single day. I work on human poses and interactions that make me struggle because after I nail it once, it is so much easier the next time around. I also know I need to push myself with my color theory as well, but that’s another matter entirely.
Color does not make it better! If you don’t understand color theory, study it before you color anything. Watch youtube videos if you must. I try to stay away from color because I feel it is a distraction sometimes. You don’t always need it. Line is hard enough. Get that down first.
If you need to get better at drawing human form, draw naked people. I don’t mean images, I mean take a class (if you can) and go draw ‘from life’. I improved greatly from doing that for just a year in school! You learn through drawing the real deal, not by copying photos. This applies to everything, by the way. Not just nekid people.
Lastly, draw what you love. You will not enjoy this if you don’t adhere to that rule. I’m not talking about commissions, or anything where you get to be paid to draw a certain thing/subject. There will be time for that. No, draw in the style you want that is most fun for you, and draw the subjects you want. Jump around with style. Want to do simplistic cartoon AND anime style?! Do both! No need to limit yourself.
OH ONE MORE THING. Develop your style. You want to be noticeable. When someone sees your art, they know its you. This will take you a while. I JUST found my style after over 10 years of drawing and 4 years of school. Be patient, be true to yourself, and take inspiration from others. It’ll come.
I hope this has been helpful and informative! If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask or message me! I am always open to talk to you wonderful people!
Stay Lovely~
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An E-Commerce Success Story: Lark + Raven on Squarespace
The following post is brought to you by Squarespace. Our partners are hand picked by the Design Milk team because they represent the best in design.
This is the point in the winter where it’s hard to believe that the days will ever be longer and warmer. It’s dark, cold and dreary. No matter where you live, the morning commute in February is not a joy. (Understatement!) If every time you close the door behind you, you’re thinking of how to transition to a working-in-pajamas situation, this post is for you. In fact it was a moment just like that, which inspired LARK+RAVEN founder Ali Macdonald to transition out of the daily grind and into a job as a full-time designer.
After a few years at Jonathan Adler and then a stint at C Wonder, Ali was at a creative crossroads. She had made it as an in-house designer for big New York City-based firms, but she recognized that she was on a career path that would only lead to more managerial positions and she didn’t want to leave her passion for illustration behind. She also had dreams of spending the whole day drawing with her pooch, Dusky, by her side. (There’s nothing quite like sad doggy eyes to make you want to stay home.) So in 2014, Ali founded LARK+RAVEN as a way to give herself an opportunity to do more of what she loved.
When Ali was daydreaming about starting the business, she started doodling her ideas in Sharpie and sharing the designs via social media. Initially, she thought that she’d move to a more serious medium (like oils or water colors), but the happy casualness of the Sharpie stuck and today she uses the marker for everything from her wrapping paper designs to her stationery. Once she had the product design down, it was time to focus on the day-to-day challenges of running a business. From learning the ins-and-outs of sales tax to the best way of shipping products, managing a business was more complicated than Sharpie color choice (that Ali has nailed). Now she’s done everything from illustrating couples for save-the-dates and wedding invites to creating custom pet portraits, and she’s offered to share some her tips and tricks for making an online creative business work.
Let’s start with the product! Can you tell us a little about your design process?
Whenever it’s time to create a new collection of cards, I sit down with a marker and doodle. I keep a growing list of concepts as they develop. The idea is always the hardest part. Once I have one that is solid, illustrating is easy. Creating wrapping paper seems to come to me more naturally because I’m always thinking of composing stories through patterns. Sometimes an element I create for one of my cards may inspire a pattern and vice versa.
How has having a Squarespace website changed or impacted your business?
Having a site has really forced me to step up my presentation and to think about the importance of a cohesive narrative. When I first started, I didn’t give enough consideration to product imagery. My site was full of weak, inconsistent photography that didn’t sell my products well. Once I began utilizing this platform to tell an enticing story through color and styling, I noticed an increase in sales and in business opportunities. I also gained a clearer sense of my brand’s direction in the process.
What are your plans/goals for the upcoming year?
My main goal for this year is to get LARK+RAVEN in more stores. Finding time to do more outreach with all of the custom jobs and orders on my plate has been my biggest challenge. With each new Wholesale account gained, I feel more confident about contacting agencies in the coming months with the hope that one might have interest in representing my line. I also plan to find more opportunities for licensing and collaborations. I just recently updated my personal portfolio of illustrations, patterns and animations (alimacdoodle.com) in an effort to make this happen. Managing two separate online entities has its challenges but I’m finding it much easier to operate in this realm as an artist as opposed to a brand. It’s more work but has allowed me to experiment since I’m not worried about creating content that fits perfectly with my company’s aesthetic.
In terms of my online presence, I’d really like to be more planned in my approach to my shop’s homepage as a brick and mortar storefront. Instead of scrambling last minute to make thematic banners and tiles for holidays and events, my hope is to map out the year with ideas for site updates to keep things fresh.
What have you found to have the most impact when designing your site?
The sliding banners on the homepage have been really effective in directing traffic to specific areas of my site. They serve as a visual navigation and they give me the chance to tell an exciting story about a new product or collection that I want visitors to see.
What template do you use and did you experiment with others?
I started with Bedford but switched to Supply because I preferred the look of the left bar navigation. The rotating banner feature on the home page and the option to add product tiles below were probably the biggest factors in persuading me to make the change.
How does the e-commerce portion of the site interface with what you do in person/physically?
I’m always uploading artwork and retouching photos on my computer so when an order comes in, it’s really a seamless transition to printing out shipping labels and packing slips.
If you were starting the business today, what would you do differently/the same?
I would start smaller than I did in terms of product assortment and quantities. In the beginning, I was so focused on creating a large collection. I wanted to make my shop look full, and I was trying to produce enough content for my first trade show. I would have preferred to take the time to create a modest collection that made me proud. Though I’m happy with what I’m creating now, I didn’t have this same confidence at the start because I didn’t love everything I was making.
And speaking to an earlier point, I would have used my name for my company. It just makes certain aspects of custom work, such as collaborations and licensing, so much easier. Every time I’m hired to do a portrait through LARK+RAVEN, I’m faced with the dilemma of not knowing how to sign it. While I do like that I have a separate outlet for experimenting creatively, I’d prefer to work under one name that can be used as a signature on a product and also on an illustration.
What advice would you give someone who wants to start an online shop?
You’re going to be doing a lot of shipping! Using web-based software like ShipStation will make fulfilling orders much easier. Also, familiarize yourself with your responsibility to charge and collect sales tax. You will to want to set that up on your site when you are ready to open shop.
Did you have any failures that you’d like to share that you think people might be able to learn from?
Not insuring a box of over 300 handmade greeting cards with lined envelopes that got lost in the mail. I learned my lesson!
Any other advice for starting a business/ecommerce site that you’d like to pass on?
Don’t forget to copyright your work. I do it every season before I add new products to my site.
Make your next move. Make your next website using Squarespace. Squarespace offers online store templates and domains to help you get your business off-the-ground! And when you use coupon code DESIGNMILK at checkout you’ll get 10% off your first purchase.
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