#realism/'correctness'

[monster-noises]

Anyone out there got a solution for when you're feeling really stuck with your art and everyone and their mother tells you the solution is to do studies and figure drawings and other such things but even just thinking about doing those things makes you Spiral and want to Kill Yourself?

[wherenightmaresroost]

the problem with ai isn't that it's ai it's

evil companies pushing ai to devalue labor and creative products.

misconceptions about how ai works, leading to people attributing it an intelligence and sentience it does not have, which feeds into

misinformation, the decrease in effort needed to create disinformation, and the sudden increase of skill needed to spot falsified info. 3a. this includes content creators using ai to flood searches with low-quality articles and inaccurate photos, people not being transparent when they use ai for their images, and things that make it harder to do casual research online

lower threshold for doing hard work that polishes skill, leading to over-reliance on a very flawed tool.

the tool itself isn't the problem. it just exacerbates things that were already problems before.

[chulippi]

l4d2 and everything’s the same except ellis likes TOOL

[imactuallyacartooncharacter]

This one is not as good as my most recent ones, but that's because... I GOT A DRAWING TABLET!!! AND A COMPUTER!!! I spent the whole day learning how to use, and I think this turned out really good for my first day using the tablet to draw :)

I'm so excited SBXKANXKANXK of course, the tools don't make the artist, but I feel like now I have the opportunity to learn even more cool things and explore my art in ways that I haven't before and AAAAAAAAA THIS IS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like, I used to draw when I was a kid and sometimes as a teen and it was never a frequent habit, but I went YEARS without drawing ANYTHING!!! I literally picked up on it again this year, and I wasn't planning AT ALL on taking it "seriously", even though it's only a hobby I wasn't expecting to actually get better and start drawing almost every day, and now it's one of my favorite things to do ever!!! This is so cool!!!

By the way, this is from my post-apocalypse au!!! Gonna make another post talking about it once I digitalize the other characters as well :)

[tevintersnakes]

None of it is posted here but looking at my art from end of last year/start of this year of my bg3 OC and shaking my fist aggressively over the fact I'm getting too attached to moving towards realism.

anyway, here's Kettle & dnd!Antyllus from 02-Oct-23

[zekkopunks]

if you have a unique art style tidbit and someone says its weird DON’T LISTEN TO THEM!!! PLEASE!!!

[baylyx]

a lil lazy susan i finished a couple weeks ago

[scarapanna]

hey! this is chance & here’s this week’s prompt. what websites or resources do you use while you write or develop a character/story? what do you think of them and would you recommend them?

This is a really good and interesting question!

Most of it is actually based on what I come up with on my own story whise, whenever I don't know what story or interests to give a character I usually brainstorm a few ideas I havent used yet to find what fits best.

For character design I usually take different kinds of animals and reference them for looks and color palettes (The funny fella in my pfp was based off of a bearded vulture for example), I go on Pinterest for these as there's lots of material to work with and some really nice pictures as well.

However if a character is heavily affected by something or has gone trough some form of trauma I use multiple medical websites and sources to be as accurate as possible since these kinds of subjects are rather delicate and complex to tackle, wikipedia is handy but the more correct information the better (an example of this is this silly little mossfly here)

Regarding the sources themselves id say Pinterest is good for color palettes or designs, while for stuff related to physical traits or mental health related information wikipedia is a good basis but more websites should be integrated in this kind of research to get a better understanding

[al-mayriti]

hi <3 i remember i was obsessed w this test a couple of years ago and asked all of my friends to take it so we could compare results. Now that it's back on my dash it seems silly not to ask the moots to take it too (if you want to ofc)

AAAH i love tests!!!!!

you might say... i'm a dreamer

[s-soulwriter]

Things Real People Do in Dialogue (For Your Next Story)

Okay, let’s be real—dialogue can make or break a scene. You want your characters to sound natural, like actual humans talking, not robots reading a script. So, how do you write dialogue that feels real without it turning into a mess of awkward pauses and “ums”? Here’s a little cheat sheet of what real people actually do when they talk (and you can totally steal these for your next story):

1. People Interrupt Each Other All the Time In real conversations, nobody waits for the perfect moment to speak. We interrupt, cut each other off, and finish each other's sentences. Throw in some overlaps or interruptions in your dialogue to make it feel more dynamic and less like a rehearsed play.

2. They Don’t Always Say What They Mean Real people are masters of dodging. They’ll say one thing but mean something totally different (hello, passive-aggressive banter). Or they’ll just avoid the question entirely. Let your characters be vague, sarcastic, or just plain evasive sometimes—it makes their conversations feel more layered.

3. People Trail Off... We don’t always finish our sentences. Sometimes we just... stop talking because we assume the other person gets what we’re trying to say. Use that in your dialogue! Let a sentence trail off into nothing. It adds realism and shows the comfort (or awkwardness) between characters.

4. Repeating Words Is Normal In real life, people repeat words when they’re excited, nervous, or trying to make a point. It’s not a sign of bad writing—it’s how we talk. Let your characters get a little repetitive now and then. It adds a rhythm to their speech that feels more genuine.

5. Fillers Are Your Friends People say "um," "uh," "like," "you know," all the time. Not every character needs to sound polished or poetic. Sprinkle in some filler words where it makes sense, especially if the character is nervous or thinking on their feet.

6. Not Everyone Speaks in Complete Sentences Sometimes, people just throw out fragments instead of complete sentences, especially when emotions are high. Short, choppy dialogue can convey tension or excitement. Instead of saying “I really think we need to talk about this,” try “We need to talk. Now.”

7. Body Language Is Part of the Conversation Real people don’t just communicate with words; they use facial expressions, gestures, and body language. When your characters are talking, think about what they’re doing—are they fidgeting? Smiling? Crossing their arms? Those little actions can add a lot of subtext to the dialogue without needing extra words.

8. Awkward Silences Are Golden People don’t talk non-stop. Sometimes, they stop mid-conversation to think, or because things just got weird. Don’t be afraid to add a beat of awkward silence, a long pause, or a meaningful look between characters. It can say more than words.

9. People Talk Over Themselves When They're Nervous When we’re anxious, we tend to talk too fast, go back to rephrase what we just said, or add unnecessary details. If your character’s nervous, let them ramble a bit or correct themselves. It’s a great way to show their internal state through dialogue.

10. Inside Jokes and Shared History Real people have history. Sometimes they reference something that happened off-page, or they share an inside joke only they get. This makes your dialogue feel lived-in and shows that your characters have a life beyond the scene. Throw in a callback to something earlier, or a joke only two characters understand.

11. No One Explains Everything People leave stuff out. We assume the person we’re talking to knows what we’re talking about, so we skip over background details. Instead of having your character explain everything for the reader’s benefit, let some things go unsaid. It’ll feel more natural—and trust your reader to keep up!

12. Characters Have Different Voices Real people don’t all talk the same way. Your characters shouldn’t either! Pay attention to their unique quirks—does one character use slang? Does another speak more formally? Maybe someone’s always cutting people off while another is super polite. Give them different voices and patterns of speech so their dialogue feels authentic to them.

13. People Change the Subject In real life, conversations don’t always stay on track. People get sidetracked, jump to random topics, or avoid certain subjects altogether. If your characters are uncomfortable or trying to dodge a question, let them awkwardly change the subject or ramble to fill the space.

14. Reactions Aren’t Always Immediate People don’t always respond right away. They pause, they think, they hesitate. Sometimes they don’t know what to say, and that delay can speak volumes. Give your characters a moment to process before they respond—it’ll make the conversation feel more natural.

Important note: Please don’t use all of these tips in one dialogue at once.

[theonewhopoops]

I don't know how to voice my opinion on this other than: this is very "but it's okay to wear makeup if you want!" on a post saying "I really wish there wasn't immense societal pressure for women to wear makeup and all the damage done by the surrounding mentalities"

This is "I wish there wasn't immense societal pressure that forces artists into small, easily digestible boxes that chokes them of style and life and joy and replaces those aspects with More Widely Marketable Trends and encourages them to trade interesting dynamism with excessive and lifeless polish"

"I wish there wasn't such a disregard for life and joy and passion that artists pour into their work that leaves them feeling like they have to focus solely on finishing skills rather than drawing what they find fun and engaging - leaving them desperately trying to 'compete' with the 'quality' of other artists just for the chance to be seen or appreciated or, in some cases, paid for their work."

And then the reply is "but doing that is fine too!"

Just like it is not a moral failing to wear makeup, it is also not a moral failing to make art that looks the way you want it, or improve on skills and styles you like better. The issue isn't in the act itself, but the external pressure that sucks the life out of anyone who doesn't do it and wears them down subconsciously whether they realize it or not.

It is akin to the art school teacher that needlessly states "no anime." It is the relative that says "but nothing you're drawing is real. I wish you would stop drawing cartoons." It is the classmate that says "what the fuck is that? What a freak." It is the mainstream media that looks exactly like the one next to it and the one next to the next one.

As an artist who was pressed and pressed and pressed over the years to stop drawing what I want and draw instead of what is "preferred," I know this feeling well unfortunately :\

nothing sadder to me than when an online artist posts a side by side of the same picture from 5 years ago / redrawn this year, and the first one is fluid and energetic and full of character, and the second one is flat and static and clean to the point of sterility

[striped-ibex]

first drawing is mid 2022, redraw is late 2023 !!

[aviculor]

Another thing that really stands out about The Substance is that it wholeheartedly kicks realism to the curb for the sake of Artistic Vision. It snows in LA just for the sake of showing the passage of time. An exercise program airing on morning network television is basically softcore porn. A New Year's special also airing on network television has topless dancers. The instructions you receive alongside The Substance, for the medical procedures you have to perform yourself, are just flash cards that say shit like "do this every week" without ever saying what or how. Nearly every man seen is a satire where the only reason Monstroso Elisasue makes it to the stage is because the security guard didn't notice the starlet was actually a walking teratoma since she glued a cut-up poster to her face. The poster wasn't even of the correct identity.

[practically-an-x-man]

man my sfx instructor is super talented and amazing at what he does

but he also is the type to just hover around while you're working and offer constant critiques, which is incredibly stressful for me

[teaboot]

I swear, every time I see you reblog someone's art, it's always this super detailed, clearly a photograph. And then OP's comment is something like "oil on canvas, 3 years to make". Your reply is all caps, large bold text WAIT THIS IS A PAINTING?!?

No other art reblogs from you, just this specific genre. But this could also be confirmation bias on my end.

You are absolutely correct, and I can explain!

In an age so thoroughly used to photography and film, and as an artist who dabbles in realism myself, I find that we often take for granted the measure of skill one needs to hone in order to create an image which is so easily confused with reality, and the speed at which we scroll on by puts artists specializing in hyperrealistic work at an extreme disadvantage- by using my blog as a platform to highlight this genre, I hope to encourage others to slow down, read captions, and form a greater appreciation for what we so often scroll right past.

A solid 95% of the OTHER art I love on this site is specific to various fandoms that I don’t wanna flood yall with, which often ISN’T realistic, so it goes on my side blog. (If you are a fandom blog that posts your art, this may be why I follow you.)

You don’t see what you don’t notice, and yes, confirmation bias is strong.

[doppel-doodles]

That illustration is making me want to slam my head against solid concrete, Art block said no, and I know when to pick my battles so fuck it we ball-

A normal post about Matthew Hallard from Poppy Playtime

I briefly mentioned this in the Jack post, the fact that I didn't think I had anything new or particularly interesting to say on Matthew as I always thought the Fandom had a lot of the bases covered.

But the more I actually thought about him, the more I wanted to talk about one thing in particular:

Let's talk about Doeys tape.

In game we find a vhs tape recorded by Doey, talking about how he almost ditched everyone in favor of running away, ultimately deciding to go back for them instead. It reveals a lot about how he truly feels about the responsibility that has been given to him.

I think it was so important to include this and the reason why is quite simple:

It humanises Matthew for me.

Why I point him out specifically is due to reasons I mentioned in my other analysis, Jack's control is mostly passive, Kevin only really comes to the forefront when he feels like there is a threat to assess or deal with and it has been confirmed that Matthew is the oldest of the children as well as having been a leader of sorts since he was still a human child, so in the tape it's basically him venting.

Which is great as it makes something crystal clear: He is not a perfect saint.

Matthew is a teenager who has been parentified from an incredibly young age, places immense pressure on himself, is suffering from more burnout than a college kid and not to mention the horror that is his current existence and life-

He doesn't WANT this responsibility, he only takes it on because nobody else will or can.

And nobody even thinks to ask him ONCE how HE is doing, no,no it's him who has to do that, he is not allowed to have breaks.

For godness sake he literally tells us in the tape that he is recording it because he feels like he can't talk to anyone about his problems!

The toys- The children having someone like Doey or more accurately Matthew is not a guarantee, it is a privilege but it's a privilege Matthew needs to!

And you rarely ever see kind characters COMPLAIN about having to be kind all the time, truly looking after everyone else drains you, it's exhausting to fulfill the needs of others, more often than not you'll have to put aside your own and when you really pull the shit end of the stick you get more complains then appreciation for your troubles.

It is such a CHORE and I think a character struggling with being so selfless actually can have such a massive impact instead of just being able to handle everything, it's that tiny bit of realism I love.

Despite how exhausted and miserable Matthew was over being stuck in this position in the end he turned back. Because he loves his friends that much, and he should get massive props for that.

And to think he still did so much but didn't think anything he did was good enough is just painful, like no honey you are enough, more than enough-

Also Poppy having once been the leader makes you think that maybe Matthew might have been hurt the most by her disappearing.

Like her leading was the closest thing to a break he ever got- and then she just up and disappears?? And it's all up to him now? Not to mention the concern? The worry??

Boy it speaks volumes that he doesn't seem to display more hostility towards her considering Poppy doesn't even EXPLAIN herself on why she left or why she couldn't come back.

He is even civil in discussing the fact that she demands for them to be okay with being blown up(also correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Poppy also include in her plan that SHE will get to live? If I heard that I would be flabbergasted.) But that's something I should discuss in another post.

For now that is everything I have about my boy, if you want to see what I have to say about other characters here is Kevin annnnnnd Jack, plus some extra stuff on Doey