#source: my art teacher that sometimes i think about

[greenapplebling]

Damian: Richard

Dick: Hey, little D. How was school?

Damian: One of my teachers told the girls to "never date cops bc they're all cheaters"

Dick, a cop: Uh-

[in-sufficientdata]

ID: Bluesky post by Ro Salarian (@RoSalarian.bsky.social):

I often wonder if abusive people are drawn to the arts, or if a certain amount of notoriety just makes people turn to shit. I am involved in a lot of different art scenes, and every single one has a whisper network about some big names who nobody feels they can address directly.

Kelly Barnhill (@KellyBarnhill.bsky.social) quotes this on July 10, 2024 at 6:47pm EST and responds:

Sexual predation is clearly not limited to the arts, and so-called "whisper networks" exist in every profession. And ultimately these networks always, always fail. They don't reach the most vulnerable and they don't ever remove the offender or prevent future harm. end ID.

At the source, the thread continues:

When I was growing up, I had a friend whose house had a bad stair - a nail sticking up on one side, and on the other side if you stepped wrong, the whole tread could flip up and send you flying backwards. We had to be told to avoid that stair. It was dangerous. We couldn't forget.

The trouble was, it looked like every other stair. Sometimes we did get hurt. This went on for years. Finally, one of the other parents in the neighborhood was like THE CHILDREN ARE GETTING INJURED and the whole "rule" of avoidance, of letting people know, was thrown out. They fixed the stair.

Now, this was dumb, of course. Who just has a stair that looks like every other stair but is boobytrapped in this bonkers way? Well, lots of people, as it turned out. And this wasn't so bad, as injuries go - a skinned knee or the occasional puncture wound.

Imagine if they had a stair that was, say, secretly filled with bees. Or poisoned. Or a one-way portal to one of the various realms of Hell. And it was there, like any other stair, looking benign. Maybe it was even fancied up - attracted the eye and tickled the fancy. A rock star stair. Well.

It's problematic, is my point. Leaving a danger in plain view is problematic. Simply relying on a network of people warning people and washing our hands of the whole affair is problematic. And worse, it abdicates responsibility. This is not how grown-ups should behave.

Part of the problem stems from the Myth of Male Genius - organizations twist themselves in knots to protect their access to whatever Male Genius they've tied their careers to, be they philosophers or physicists, conductors or or inventors, teachers or hotshot attorneys. We've all experienced this.

And while it's [notallmen] or [notonlymen] or whatever tagline you want to throw at me - yes, I know, and yes, I agree, and yes I'm certain that toxic and predatory women exist and have also harmed but I honestly can't think of any at the moment - it all stems from a central problematic fallacy:

Here's a toxic fallacy that I'd like to see dismantled: that genius is rare. That it must be protected at all costs. That it must be allowed to misbehave because the misbehavior is tied to genius in some fundamental way that none of us can understand because we are not geniuses. WRONG.

For every "rockstar author" or "rockstar artist" or "rockstar scientist" or "rockstar academic" there are a thousand others who are just as talented, just as transformative, just as consequential. And by ascribing godlike abilities to those who are more ordinary than we'd like to admit, we allow the person on that pedestal to become unglued from consequence and unhooked from the ties that are supposed to bind us to one another. This is a moral injury and an injury of empathy as well. So it's bad for the "rockstar". And holy hell is it bad for every person they injure. And worse, what about the "genius" of the victims? What about the dreams deferred and the paths upended because the world they've entered has decided to make itself unacceptably dangerous, unacceptably callous. A busted stair in the middle of the ascent in some young woman's career, left for no reason.

Here's what I know: genius isn't godlike or magical or even that rare. Genius is cultivated, nurtured, supported, delighted in. It happens in the context of a myriad of tiny boosts, too numerous to count and too subtle to name. It is as common as breath, and just as precious.

The reason why predatory men are lauded, protected, demurred to, is because we've told a story to ourselves that their genius is special, and have allowed ourselves to believe that the only way to become special ourselves is to bathe in its light, regardless of consequence.

Let's be done with that story. Cultivate more lights. Be the light.

And also? Let's fix that fucking stair, shall we?

[sysmedsaresexist]

Hello. I know I've sent in messages before but very very rarely. But recent events have caused us to have a question. Just this week, we got officially diagnosed with D.I.D and recommended the idea of getting a psychologist for the first time in my life, besides a psychiatrist. Two of my alts say they can't be serious but the other three think they are bout the psychologist and we are nervous. I saw you talking about disorganized attachment in your latest posts and was wondering if you could tell me more bout what that is because it sounds like I may have experienced that and I'm trying to understand myself and us more from others with experience with D.I.D and similar disorders. We hope that makes sense! We are still very new to all of this. Thank you so much for your time. - Us

First, congrats!!! Try to come back and tell us what therapy and the interviews are like! I'm certain my followers would love to hear about it. It's scary, I'm so proud of you ❤️

Disorganized attachment is both very complicated, and quite easy to understand. I just reblogged a couple old posts about it, but this will be shorter :)

This is my favorite image to describe it!

Note that disorganized attachment (DA, from here on) is linked to low trust in self AND others. All of these types of attachment have shown strong links to different types of disorders, but DA is most associated with dissociative disorders.

The most important thing I've learned is

Even well-meaning, well-intentioned, loving parents can cause DA

DA can be hidden trauma, its relation to neglect is much stronger than originally thought, and neglect is a lot harder to spot and understand than straight up abuse.

A quick note here: DO NOT play trauma Olympics-- with yourselves, with others, on this post, nothing. Trauma is a personal reaction to events, abuse, or neglect and can occur in response to literally anything. When it comes to CDDs, we're looking at cumulative responses resulting in psychopathology, and you don't get to decide what was enough for other people.

It's their reactions.

Mind your own business.

So, all that said, DA is about the child being both fearful and reliant on caregivers. They want to both flee to and flee from caregivers. When a caregiver is unpredictable, the child has a difficult time establishing a consistent view of the caregiver, and of themselves. In other words, the caregiver is both needed, and someone to be avoided, and the child may not understand what makes them a “good” or “bad” child, as the caregiver’s behavior is often confusing and unpredictable.

I'm going to throw out a couple examples here:

Parent A has yelled at you, and you're scared to go to parent B and talk about it - neither parent feels safe but they're your only source of comfort

You're hungry, but parents scold you for eating too much - you're both scared to ask for your needs and yet reliant on their abilities to meet them

Sometimes parent is attentive and kind, and sometimes very dismissive - you never know what you're going to get, but when they're dismissive, it kills your drive for things you thought you enjoyed - sometimes parent puts your art on the fridge and sometimes they throw it in the trash, and maybe that particular piece was important and you'd expected better reception

Parent gets physical when they drink but at school, parent is a model citizen and teachers and other students always tell you how lucky you are

Parents are openly homophobic and you think you might be a little gay - they're good people otherwise (you think), and maybe if you just keep that part of you down...

Parent struggles with their own mental illness and you never know what kind of reaction they'll have, but you treasure the good memories and hold out hope you'll see that side of them again, despite the many letdowns

Parent doesn't let you keep anything to yourself, it's to the point you want to avoid them as much possible, only seeing them for meals

Parent is... mean. Just flat out mean, and they'll tell you no one will listen to you. There's no point is trying to find help with other caregivers-- teachers, babysitters, friends. It's just you and them, against the world.

The start of DA is typically formed in infancy when a parent doesn't respond properly to their child. Missed feedings, not enough skin time, mixing "cry it out" with giving in, ignoring cries for food or changing. These first attachments in infancy set the tone for all your attachments going forward. Meeting needs and milestones help the brain develop in a healthy way. If some of these milestones are missed or slowed, you tend to see psychopathology of some kind as a result. Various future relationships are likely to be affected, and more often than not, you respond to your own children the same way-- a type of intergenerational trauma.

And this is only the grey areas. We haven't touched full and proper abuse and how that can affect someone.

The result of DA is that a child will try to push memories and feelings about their caregivers down so that they're not bothered-- they can interact with their caregiver, whatever mood they're in or whatever happened yesterday.

If you just kill your feelings, parent's outbursts don't hurt as much. If you just don't think about what they did to you, you can put on a smile and get through dinner.

This is, in and of itself, dissociation. A rejection of feelings or memories. DA on its own isn't very likely to cause a CDD, but with additional trauma, it's... oof.

Children with DA and suffering from abuse “are likely to generate two or more dissociated self states, with contradictory working models of attachment,” in order to handle their confusing relationship with the caregiver. This can go in several directions, not necessarily a CDD, but it becomes much more likely.

So, the child needs to maintain a relationship with the caregiver– they have no one else to turn to, so the child can develop dissociation as a way to make sense of themselves, and to maintain a child-caregiver relationship. They may “forget” the abuse, or deny it. “It is an adaptive and defensive strategy that enables the child to function within the relationship, but it often leads to the development of a fragmented sense of self.” This fragmented sense of self may or may not develop into something worse– namely, BPD and DID based on severity, frequency, and whether there was any sense of reprieve (i.e. a child can avoid the worst of dissociative symptoms if one of their parents was more supportive, because it helps them build some positive attachments).

I really hope this helps!

Good luck, come back soon!

[stvharrngton]

a lesson in romantics; lesson one

summary: a multi-part series where reader is the new art teacher at hawkins high and the history teacher, mr. harrington, takes a shine to the new girl. mutual pining ensues on their road to love 🥀

a/n: so here's the first part to the series! i hope you all enjoy <3 it takes place in the early 90s where steve and reader are in their mid-late twenties. disclaimer: i have very limited knowledge on the american school systems or how they work lmao so i'm sorry if it comes across as british-y sometimes but i'll do my best to be as authentic as possible :^) also special shoutout to @inkluvs who originally gave me this idea 1635272 years ago and @onceuponaoneshot who inspired me to actually start writing it hehe

characters: steve harrington x fem!reader, robin buckley

word count: 1.3k

warnings: none, just some introductory stuff, steve being a flirt

taglist: @inkluvs @dukesmebby @sweetbabygirlsworld @kennedy-brooke

SERIES MASTERLIST

HAWKINS, FALL, 1992

September. Fall semester.

A new town. A new school.

Hawkins’ newest resident and Hawkins High newest teacher. You’d spent the last month settling into your new home - a small apartment, nothing extravagant but it was enough for you.

You looked forward to the new start, to get back into the classroom. You loved to teach but the prospect of a new bunch of kids always made you a little nervous.

Making your way into the teacher’s lounge, you quietly said your hello’s to the fellow teachers you had met at orientation a couple days earlier. You silently went about making your morning coffee when a bickering pair burst through the door, a petite girl with a dirty blonde bob who you vaguely recognised as the music teacher and a taller guy, with pretty brown hair and a patterned tie slung around his neck.

You caught his eye as you turned to see the source of the disturbance, a soft but cheeky smile donning his lips. He struggled to keep up whatever conversation he was having with the girl he strolled in with as he finally tore his eyes away from you. 

The blonde followed his eyeline to you, she smirked followed by a roll of her eyes. She swatted your mystery co-worker on the chest, followed by a hushed, “Steve! Are you even listening to me?”

He wasn’t. She knew he wasn’t. But at least your mystery co-worker had a name now. 

Steve. It suited him.

“You’re such a boy.” She groaned, waving him off before going off the mingle with some of the other teachers.

Steve responded with a laugh as he swanned his way over to the kitchenette where you were stood. “First day?” he asked calmly as he grabbed his regular mug from the cupboard above your head.

“Oh, uh, yeah—“ you stammered, caught a little off guard. 

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath, “I never even introduced myself. I’m Mr. Harrington. History.” He said with much more candor, holding his hand out for you to shake.

You accepted the hand shake, making a mental note at how much bigger his hand was than yours. “I teach art.” You said, after telling him your own name, “Am I supposed to call you Mr. Harrington, then?”

Any confidence and swagger he was sporting crumbled, his cheeks flushed with a pink tinge, “I’m such an idiot,” he confessed with a chuckle, fingers combing through that pretty brunette hair, “I’m Steve. You can call me Steve.”

“Nice to meet you, Steve.” You grinned, a toothy smile that made Steve’s heart thump in his chest. A smile he would be thinking about for days to come.

“Well, I better get going. Minds of the youth to shape and all that but I’ll see you around, yeah?” Steve said, grabbing his coffee cup as he gestured to the door that led to the school halls. 

“Sure,” you nodded, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear, grabbing your own warm flask. You couldn’t help but let your tummy go all fuzzy at Steve’s kindness, a smile creeping its way onto your lips.

“Have a good first day, newbie.” Steve joked with a wink before he called out to his friend as he walked out the door, “Buckley! Are you coming or what?”

~

“You’re crushing on the new art teacher, aren’t you?” Robin blurted out.

Steve cursed his best friend under his breath, thanking whatever God was up there that school was yet to start and the hallways were empty. 

“I’m in my late twenties Robin, I don’t get crushes.” Steve waved her off, “I mean, sure, she’s pretty cute but besides, we’ve only exchanged two sentences.”

“Oh, come on, Harrington!” Robin chortled, hand on her stomach as she bellowed in the hallway, “That has never stopped you before.”

“Now you’re just being ridiculous,” Steve hushed the girl with a roll of his eyes, “anyway, why didn’t you say hi to her? Not very nice of you, Buckley.” 

Steve desperately tried to get the attention off of himself, his free hand perched on his hip as he brought his mug of coffee to his lips. His eyes narrowed at Robin over the rim. Like always though, it never worked. His friend far too persistent for his liking.

“Because, dingus,” her tone exasperated now, “I met her at orientation. You know, the thing you didn’t bother showing up for?”

They arrived at the door to Steve’s classroom which was one block over from Robin’s. He groaned audibly at Robin’s comment, “Come on, Robs! I told you I had a migraine,” he muttered as he fished his keys from his pocket, “you know, years of head trauma takes a toll on the ol’ noggin.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she began to turn on her heel to make her way to her own classroom, “it was your loss anyway, Stevie,” Robin teased, a playful undertone to her voice, “‘cause she looked way cuter the other day.”

Steve scoffed at the younger girl, simply not giving her a response, before he closed his classroom door behind him. He slumped in his desk chair as he wondered to himself how he was going to get through the day without his thoughts trailing to you and your smile.

~

You’d never been so glad to hear the bell ring in your life. You enjoyed your first day, sure, but it was a little overwhelming to say the least. A lot of new faces and names to learn and remember, a thick new syllabus you had to preach to these kids.

A sigh of relief fell from your lips as you gathered your things and locked your classroom door behind you. As you made your way towards the teachers parking lot, you dug through your purse for your car keys as you fell face first into someone’s firm body.

It was like a scene out of a movie. The papers and books that were clutched in your arms went flying across the hallway, your purse and the contents of it spilled all over the floor. A total cliche. 

A string of curses tumbled from your lips as you apologised over and over to whoever it was you bumped into. You both knelt to the ground to gather your things when you finally looked into the eyes of who it was.

A pretty set of brown eyes were staring back at you with a coy smile on the lips of their owner. You could only laugh back at him.

Of course it was Steve. 

“I’m sorry,” you giggled, scooping up the stray papers, “I’m a total klutz.”

“Don’t sweat it,” he reassured you, handing you back what he had gathered of yours, “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“Right.” You nodded.

You stood back up, papers and car keys safely in hand now. Steve placed his hand on your shoulder, giving you a light squeeze, “You good?”

Plunging the butterflies in your stomach back down to their depths, you squeaked out a reply, “Yeah, yes. Thank you for not getting mad at me.” 

“You kidding?” Steve asked all shocked, tone light and playful, “Can’t get mad at the new girl on her first day. That wouldn’t be very ‘nice and welcoming co-worker’ of me, would it?”

You giggled as you nodded, eyes darting to the floor, unable to meet Steve’s inviting gaze. You gestured to the nearby door with your car keys in hand, “Well, I better get going.”

“Oh! Right, yeah, of course—“ Steve stuttered, waving you off as you made your way to the door, “Hey! A bunch of us get together at a bar downtown after the first Friday of the semester if you wanna join us?”

“Oh, um,” you pondered, “I guess that could be fun.”

“Great,” Steve spoke, “I’ll get you the address. See you tomorrow?”

You nodded as you felt a blush creep on your cheeks. It wasn’t a date. It was not a date, you knew that, but you couldn’t help but wonder what Mr. Harrington would look like in casual clothes.

“You betcha.”

[dandelion-wings]

PLEASE share those extraneous details you cut from the Lisa whump we need the lore/headcanons

I liked a lot of them, so, sure? XD A lot were embedded in other parts, so I'll post those parts in full with the extra/parentheticals highlighted.

First, not parentheticals, just the easiest things to chop out of a section that was already prose-heavy when I was trying to also convey urgency. Also a potential theme (learning vs. teaching) that I found interesting enough to chuck wholesale into my fic ideas document for later exploration:

"So when Alice designed her Theater, there was enough resin in it for this to revitalize? Like a tree in a Domain?" Jean asks. Even in the midst of the calm that she refuses to let become terror, Lisa feels a spark of pride. She may not be Jean's teacher in the way she is for Razor and Klee, but seeing someone untutored make connections between the information they're given and what they already know will always give her the same joy. "Yes," she says, in the same tone she would to one of those students, "very good.

and

Two years of helping seal Hermanubis, over and over, until it stopped breaking through to overwhelm Cyno and he could develop his own control. She'd done a great deal of research in those two years. Along with all the other learning she'd been doing at the Akademiya, of course. Sleeping two hours a night, working through every meal, walking about with a book in hand so as not to lose a single second in which she might be able to absorb more knowledge.... An unsustainable pace, but one she had sustained for longer than might seem humanly possible. Even then she had eventually burned out. (She sees herself in Jean, sometimes, young and determined and convinced that if she just keeps going, eventually she'll reach the breakthrough point where all the hard work at last becomes *easy*, and all that sacrifice is redeemed by what she gains.) Only after that catastrophic emotional crash had she learned the joys of relaxing, the delights of taking it slow. And the satisfaction of teaching, so much more rewarding than all that learning had ever been. The pursuit of knowledge requires constant sacrifice; *sharing* knowledge demands nothing, only doubles what is given. She had left her notes for Cyrus when she left the Akademiya, and he and Cyno far surpass her now in their expertise on this subject.

I had a whole thing going about "Vision users die young," based in part on a lore theory that I think I picked up from @chrysoula about Vision-users being (ultimately expendable) ways for Celestia to control/process elemental power, but also 50% a dig at the Genshin devs for refusing to give me any playable Beefy Grandpas or Tough Old Women. I pulled it out because all the references for it were an easy thing to rip for pacing:

Very little magic in the modern era doesn't rely on the elements. Even when scholars speak of "old techniques," they're talking about herbalism, which still involves the elemental affinities of certain plants, or tapping the leylines, which remains an occasional if dangerous recourse for those without Visions but had been much more common when Visions were much more rare. They were, before the Cataclysm. (The Akademiya quietly suppresses discussion of *why*.) But there are even older techniques from before the establishment of the Thrones, some still practiced in Liyue and Inazuma under the guise of traditional healing and martial arts, that draw on another source entirely. Her own lifeforce isn't a price Lisa *wishes* to pay. But it is one she knows how to. And it's one Celestia would always have demanded from her, anyway, for that Vision she's so ambivalent about. (People never seem to notice that they've never met a Vision-bearer who isn't *young*. Lisa has done her best to avoid exerting her power, to avoid paying that price into Celestia's coffers. She doesn't miss the irony now.)

(Jean was predestined to die young the moment her Vision appeared, but she'd been taught long before that to accept it as an honor, if in Mondstadt's defense. She would begrudge Lisa the chance to serve more than she would the risk.) (Lisa was predestined to die young the moment her Vision appeared, and she had recoiled from her fate as soon as she realized that truth. She has no desire to rush towards annihilation, even on Mondstadt's behalf.) (Practically, rationally: if they share the work,  *both* of them have a better chance.)

(I do headcanon Lisa as the oldest Mondstadt character by at least 10 years, but mid-to-late-30s is far from old, just puts her that much closer to this theoretical fate.)

and (from Lisa accepting Jean's aid, which happened after the paragraph above in 1.0--moving that to earlier in the ficlet was the other major revision between it and 1.5, and was the reason I wrote that post about twisting Lisa's arm yesterday. I couldn't make her first thought believably be "fine, I'll do this solo" without upping the stakes with something like "Klee's stuck in that," which is a method I already used in the last promptfic, and Jean volunteering way earlier was IC for Jean and fixed that neatly). This whole bit's cut material so I won't color-code here:

Finally, just a bit of speculative magical (and "we don't talk about this in front of Celestia"-themed) worldbuilding that made this paragraph way too chunky:

Sumeran seals tend to use threes (for Dendro, Electro, and Pyro, they say; not for certain trio in their past), Liyue prefers sevens (all seven elements at once grant stability; certainly, with all the adepti also in that court, it has nothing to do with two ruling gods and five generals), and Inazuma likes fives (they're far too secretive to even give their justifications, let alone the historical context behind). Khaenri'ah was emphatically locked into pairs (too gnostic to admit the world has three parts), and Fontaine has a terrible, unstable tendency to use just one anchor-point (that Lisa hopes will change now that it's nearly wiped them out). Mondstadt doesn't have a sealing tradition in the first place as far as the Akademiya is concerned, but Lisa knows better. What else are the Four Winds?

[princess-of-the-corner]

. https://www.tumblr.com/princess-of-the-corner/753150315348590592/all-these-well-off-kids-most-of-them-white-45?source=share

Heck, money rarely even plays into Chloe getting away with stuff, at least in the first three seasons. Her father abusing his position as mayor does occasionally let her do stuff through him like cancelling the music video. But we know Andre will clamp down on that stuff the moment it impacts 'him' & even then it seems to be used fairly rarely unless I miss-recall?

Honestly I think the reason Chloe avoided punishment sometimes is cos her actions were outside of school jurisdiction (Ripping up Rose's letter, embarrassing Kim on social media) or like, just verbal spats which don't seem to get anyone punished.

Generally the school just seems to not have much interest in discipline at all, which if it is a school for the upper class isn't even surprising.

Like the principle doesn't want anything to come from Alya & Nino breaking into Chloe's locker; he only acts on it when threatened with the mayor.

Most teachers don't seem to do much about Chloe's behavior but we also see them not do much about other students acting out. The most the art teacher did to Alyx for mocking Chloe till she ran off was express mild disappointment & then she went back to what she was doing.

Granted he could be operating on a "Modelling good behavior and minimal conflict" style of teaching like Madame Bustier but its very convenient that its mostly teachers with those preferences that seem to get hired.

Their scary science teacher is the exception but in the first 3 seasons we know she was fine telling Chloe to "Deal with it" and Chloe... Well just dealt with it.

As it is, given how far Lila had to go to get Marinette potentially expelled, frame her for cheating, theft & assault, as well as making such a big spectacle in front of everyone for it.

I think that Damocles just tries to avoid irritating any parents by penalizing their kids unless one raises a sufficient fuss (Lila) or basically pulls a "My parent is more powerful than their parent" card on him (Chloe)

Yeah its.

As mentioned: Punishing students seems to be so fucking low on the list of things to do for the staff.

Damocles doesn't punish Alya for breaking into and taking photos of the stuff in Chloé's locker, until Chloé plays the 'my dad, the mayor' card.

Lila had to do a LOT to expel Mari. The only times we see Bustier handling situations involves either sending the kid(s) to the principal's office('Ladybug', 'Origins') or pulling the most emotionally-charged one aside to cool off(best interpretation of 'Zombizou')

Even Mendeleiev, the harshest of the teachers? While she rudely shuts people down and roasted the hell out of Nathaniel, her biggest play is still 'send the kid to the principal'.

And we're not even going to touch the destruction of property and horrific violation of the Piss Window™ that Mari never got punished for.

[kimeoshi]

why didn’t I think about taking screenshots from games- ughh-

Is it ok though? To take inspiration and merge hairstyles together? I don’t want someone targeting me and attacking me for something stupid like that you know? Inevitably I know I can’t really worry about that concern very much, but I’ve certainly tried to take inspiration already, my problem however is that to me, it always looks to close? Artist to artist, have you ever ran into that problem?

I feel like it’s such an amateur question, I’ve been drawing for years and years, even ever since I was a kid, and yet I still run into that problem- I know artists always, to some degree ‘copy’, my worry is that if it looks far to similar you know?

Flamingo anon 🦩

Yes, it's more than okay to! It is not an amateur question, do not worry. Hairstyles aren't owned by anyone, and artists take inspiration from various sources freely.

If you are concerned about tracing, it only becomes unethical once you start tracing over other artist's work without permission, that is to say, if you plan to post it publicly. I do not condone studying other people's art through moderate, controlled tracing, such as trying to copy the artist and observe their methods, then overlaying their work to correct yourself as your personal teacher. As long as it is a personal study, unposted, it is completely fine!

For instance, I really struggle with drawing faces, which is why i always put multiple references beside my canvas and try to replicate them. Sometimes, I do trace— more accurately examine— drawn faces of my favourite artists' work as a personal study and I find that overtime it just sticks on you, you start to intuitively 'get it'. It won't exactly look like that one admired artist's face and it is still uniquely yours.

Ultimately, you, as an artists, are an amalgamation of ideas or styles which you have ever liked and observed in your artistic journey.

Don't worry about making things too similar to the reference. That is how you learn after all— by practicing and observing how objects behave in space. I know it tends to be a touchy topic, but even professionals use a myriad of references, unapologetically.

[wendigho]

Every time I see AI art discourse I think of my new media teacher in college talking about remix culture.

I think about how much I love collage and how much it inspired me to keep going with art because sometimes all I can do is cut and paste.

I think if taking a few tracks I loved from a downloaded album and learning to use audacity to make something new.

I think about how much capitalism kills art.

So much so that we can't even agree that it's more messed up that life could be ruined by sharing creative energy.

No one will engage with the fact that maybe, just maybe, it's messed up that a form of creation even has the possibility to make artists unable to live.

It makes me sad when people say it's theft, abuse of other's work, lazy... It's art.

It's as much art as when I'm drawing, painting, cutting up magazines, folding zines, making a mix tape, over painting a thrift store find, making book art.

The issue is it shouldn't be paywalled, it shouldn't be censored, or centralized. Just like the Internet itself honestly.

Human beings should all feel free to create and remix any fucking thing they want.

The AI algorithm is not the problem, it is as it has always been, capitalism.

Don't want to lose your livelihood to a machine? Consider those who would use that machine against you in the first place. Side with free open source systems that do not generate profit. Actually consider why the problems exist and stop scapegoating and dismiss real actual tools for artists who are not traditional.

AI can make lovely stuff, I use it for references and to speed run sketches sometimes. I can input my art into certain things and run variations to find new directions for a sketch. I can visualize ideas, I can make something.

There's no reason anyone should be opposed to that.

But then, people hate collage too. People hate Tumblr gifsets and image posts made from screenshots. Those old composite gifs are "cringe" but they also took a hell of a lot of work. Just stitching together a fantasy.

[beautifulpersonpeach]

BPP,

First of all, I love your blog. I am so happy to see you active.

Second of all, I agree with that anon about finding Jimin fascinating. I have never been this intrigued by any other celebrity. I find him different but I don't know why. He is good looking but so are other idols. I mean it's Kpop. Most have to be good looking to make it. It's just such a weird thing. Like you can't help but notice him. Everytime I watch a BTS related content, he is the first person I notice. He isn't even my favourite but my eyes will instantly see him before anyone else. He also somehow leaves the strongest mark in any mvs or performances or even simple content. It's weird. I don't get it.

***

Hi Anon, 💜

I saw your ask come in days ago, just as I was logging out of the app and felt a bit bad because I knew I wouldn't have any time for Tumblr for the next few days. Lately, I've actually wanted to remain active here, but life keeps getting in the way. I know it's not a big deal but I really am thankful that so many of you understand that I'm active here only when I can afford to be. 💜

On to more interesting topics, yes to everything you said about Jimin. There's no other member I write about here more than Jimin and it's something I don't ever feel like apologizing for because that man is infinitely captivating.

It's rare to see someone who recognizes exactly what he is, as young as Jimin did. There are many points over the years that Jimin has done something, and it registered in my head that this man is different. It's human to be a bit self-indulgent, to be a little self-absorbed, a little self-deception is a very natural mechanism that sometimes shields us from other people's projections and malicious intent. And so it struck me as almost inhuman in how acutely aware Jimin was to recognize his need to be seen, heard, in the most audacious format available to him as a 13 year old boy in Busan, South Korea.

His depth of self-knowledge, indicative of his unusually high intelligence, is at the source of his magnetism and charisma. In my opinion. You can see it in his eyes and it amplifies his already unnatural beauty.

I recently started speaking with a Jimin-bias on Twitter and we've become good friends. She described Jimin like this (and I've linked in sources):

"Jimin of BTS is the man who wrote a detailed essay that convinced his parents to let him study dance over science or law, who landed an esteemed dance and martial arts scholarship, who went against his teacher (Lee Hwa Sung’s) wishes of going the more secure route excelling as a professional modern dancer given his talents, to instead pursue his dream to become an idol, who called his dad once a month as a trainee of a nearly bankrupt agency saying “don’t worry dad. Even if I don’t make it this way I’ll make it another way”, who debuted as main dancer and lead vocalist with what is now the biggest group in the world despite having the shortest training period in Big Hit’s history and one of the shortest training periods in all of kpop to date."

*

That is one reason I am ecstatic about FACE. The music itself is one thing and we'll deal with that when we get there - I may or may not like the music (though given what he's released so far, the fact he's in BTS, and him working with RM and PDogg, I doubt it). But the subject matter of FACE: Park Jimin, would interest me even if I was on my death bed with only 10 KB of data available for me to use one last time.

*

I'm not very good at explaining what I mean, but I hope those who love him don't take offense when I call Jimin a freak. Because that is what I'm absolutely convinced he is. I don't know how else to express just how beastly I think he really is. Looking at him for me is like looking at one of those lenticular prints that shift into different things depending on lighting - like you turn your head one way looking at Jimin and you see a panther, turn your head another way and you see a dove, turn yet another way and you see a snake. And each animal is the most perfect expression of its form. He hones every quality he expresses with a meticulousness that scares me sometimes, because every example of that sort of personality I've seen in music has burnt out or passed before 40 (Prince being the only exception). The rapline have an identical quality but they seem less volatile than Jimin to me for some reason.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I'm excited about FACE and Anon when I saw your ask come in days ago, I suspected you were fishing (lol), but also I love Jimin and will take every excuse to talk about him. It's also way easier to talk about him than it is to talk about Yoongi, Namjoon, and Hoseok for me lol.

Speaking of which, it goes without saying that Jimin's evolution in self-awareness is also a result of his relationship with the rapline in BTS, as well as some other members. Jimin's comments about how he relies on those three, of what he thinks of their characters, and about how those three have assisted and influenced him, are consistent with how I see them too.

Back to Jimin, he's a once in a lifetime personality and there's nothing wrong with admitting it.

(Me too, Jungkook. Me too.)

Make sure you've pre-saved FACE, stream On The Street, and stay hydrated. 💜

[stinkytrashman]

do you have any tips on how you paint? I've been wanting to learn to paint digitally, but I feel like whenever I try it comes out looking flat 😭

my biggest biggest biggest tip is contrast. I used to hate hearing how important contrast is but lowkey now that I do more with colours I realize how far it can get you. Varying your values is super important, and if you’re doing a colourful piece but you think something is missing, or it feels flat, just quickly invert it to greyscale, and then you can see what places need to be darker or lighter. If you aren’t the best with figuring out lighting, reference are your best friend. Can’t find a good ref? Take some yourself! I do this sometimes, and I feel cringe as hell posing with my iPad flashlight but it’s worked for me lol.

And the thing about shadows: don’t be afraid to paint with black. All of my art teachers tell me not to paint with pure black, to do a darker version of your main colours, like doing black is taboo or something- but for styles like mine- where I really like dramatic lighting, I do enjoy slapping on a few black shadows. I will transition from my mid tone to the black with darker shades of my main colour, but the end result will be the darkest black shadow. With shadows too, I find the closer something is to the light source, the harsher the shadows are, and the father away, the lighter they are, but if you’re not sure if that will work for your piece, check a reference.

one last thing, before I go in and fully begin to render/paint, I always throw on the colours in roughly the areas where I want them to go before I commit to it, because sometimes I’ll notice it’s off, and I can fix it before I’ve done any real progress. This part is super easy to do digitally, not so much on paper, so take advantage of it.

These are kinda the main tips I have, and I hope it helps a little!! Toodles poodles

[fleaworld2]

Hi guys my name is Vincent

I've always really liked writing. It's always been a natural impulse of mine.

Yea, I was one of those neurodivergent kids who used fiction for escapism and stole narrative devices to mold their trauma into some kind of meaningful narrative. Fucked up, right? But basically I always read a lot in order to dissociate and escape from shit. Before I got a phone or into drugs and substances, that was my main source of escape. Reading and making up stories.

So yeah. Now I'm 20 and I know I should write. And I've been trying to.

Ok, not to brag or anything, but since I was a kid, I've been gotten in at least five different writing contests. I've won like 800 dollars from placing first in those contests. My community college English teacher told me one of my plays was the best she's ever read. This is all really awkward for me to mention because it sounds super egotistical.

Everytime someone likes something I make, I feel genuine surprise. So like, being praised for something so feverently by adults is really weird for me. It kind of freaks me out, like oh shit. I don't want to have potential. Like, just let me be a chain-smoking fuck up like God intended. But from what I'm reading that's probably the learned helplessness that comes with early childhood development altering emotional trauma.

So hi. I'm Vincent but I guess I'll be fleaworld2 here. I'm transgender and mercilessly depressed and anxious and ADHD and flea ridden. I'm 20 years old. I want attention. I write sometimes, about like... me and my weird tranny life I guess. And maybe other things! Let's find out together.

I'm kind of scared of the internet and people and everyone but I'll be a good boy and smoke a lot of weed and try to post now and then I promise. It's just sometimes I feel narcissistic thinking or writing or making art about myself at all, which is stupid, but, again. Weed. weed is the answer to everything at this stupid stupid point in my gay little life.

[sionwritingco19]

building a routine that works for you. mental health + daily practices.

life with a mental illness can feel like navigating a stormy sea in a paper boat. the waves crash, the wind howls, and sometimes, just staying afloat feels like a victory. in the midst of this chaos, establishing a routine can be a lifeline, a steady beacon guiding you through the roughest waters.

notebook to start planning<3

but here's the thing: a "one-size-fits-all" routine for mental health doesn't exist. what works wonders for your friend with anxiety might leave you feeling overwhelmed. the key is to build a rhythm that resonates with you, that complements your unique needs, condition, diagnosis and quirks.

so, i got rid of the time slot schedules and embraced the art of mindful routine building.

i started creating and building routines ensuring productivity and space for healing as well.

in 2018, when i was just 19 years old i was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. after much research, prayer and meditation, i finally realized and accepted that doing things for myself and honoring my needs was okay, not only okay, but necessary.

i also had to come to terms with the fact that self care is not selfish. here are some tips to get you started:

this book helped me so much, i could cry just thinking about the first time reading it. soooo good. impactful. stays in my heart forever.

m o m e nt s by me.

know yourself or get to know yourself better if you don't: before diving into habit-creation, take a moment for introspection. what are your triggers? what activities leave you feeling energized and grounded? when are your most productive and relaxed hours? i personally feel most creative in the early mornings. understanding your own internal landscape is crucial for crafting a routine that truly supports you.

start small: don't try to overhaul your entire life overnight. begin with one or two small, achievable habits that you can gradually integrate into your day. maybe it's a 10-minute morning meditation, a daily gratitude list before bed, or a short walk in nature during your lunch break.

celebrate the WINS: remember, progress, not perfection, is the name of the game. acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. completing a single task on your to-do list or simply getting out of bed can be a monumental victory on some days, i know i get it.

listen to your body: your body is a wise teacher. pay attention to its cues. if a particular activity leaves you feeling drained or anxious, adjust your routine accordingly. tt's okay to say no to things that don't serve you.

embrace flexibility: life is unpredictable, sometimes so should your routine. allow space for adjustments and spontaneity. i love writing all of my todo's in the middle of my journal instead of a planner. and i allow myself grace. i accept that i definitely wont get to all of my tasks in one day, but just the fact that its written down, means IT WILL GET DONE. if a surprise event throws your schedule off track, don't beat yourself up. simply pick up where you left off and remember, the goal is to nurture your well-being, not become a slave to a rigid plan.

find your tribe! : surround yourself with people who understand and support your journey. having a community of like-minded individuals can be a source of strength and inspiration. share your experiences, offer encouragement, and celebrate each other's victories.

your mental health deserves a routine that feels like a warm hug, not a cold shower. unless you like cold showers?? experiment, explore, and most importantly, be kind to yourself. building a routine that works for you is a journey, not a destination. so, take it one step at a time, listen to your inner compass, and let your well-being be your guiding star.

don't forget the power of creativity! infuse your routine with activities that bring you joy. whether it's painting, dancing, writing, or playing music, make time for things that spark JOY and re analyze the things in your life that STEAL your joy. you're not alone, and with a little self-compassion and a willingness to experiment, you can build a routine that becomes your anchor in the storm, guiding you towards calmer waters and brighter skies.

i create new routines and habit trackers monthly. most months look the same, but occasionally, depending on my schedule, appointments, overall energy and mood, i adjust to fit my goals and projects. i have a lot more that i can share with you about this topic, even curated and specific routines, but this is just the beginning. i look forward to diving more into this with you, but for today i hope you feel inspired to dig deep and think about what YOU would like your daily life to look like. - Shay @sionwritingco19

[jeannahas]

MIDNIGHT MUSINGS-

Martial Arts and Drama

Having woken up die to intense and unexpected sorrow and lamentation, I have a few thoughts.

I’ve posted a little bit about this before, but one of the unfortunate side effects of training in martial arts is that it comes with *Drama* almost no matter what you do. No matter how much you try to avoid it, and sometimes BECAUSE you try to avoid it. Speaking from experience in that last one- (cue haunted expression)

It makes sense why this happens though if you think about it for a bit. You get a bunch of usually VERY competitive people, get them together, and teach them to fight. hOWEVER- I don’t think that’s the source of the drama- it just excaberates it. I personally think most of the drama actually comes from the fact that Hate is usually born from a place of Love. We develop a strong love for our students, teachers, schools, and associations, and several layers of trust as well. So, when someone in our school does something that attacks us personally, when a Master we’ve trained with does something so blatantly cruel or manipulative that you cannot ignore it, it feels like a much stronger betrayal than such a thing would feel from other services. When another schools attacks you, or another master insults your students, our love for our school and students drives us to defend them- to protect our tribe, our people, and builds aggression and rivalries.

So, a deep love built over the course of years or decades becomes soured- grudges are built, rival schools are formed, and due to the fact that many martial arts extol determination and not backing down as virtues, the chances for reconciliation are…. Greatly reduced, with these rivalries frequently lasting well past the lifespan of the two masters, with their entire schools or traditions regarding each other with distaste.

And this has consequences- short and long term. I have friends- former- who I don’t really speak to, because we sided with different masters when things came to a head back in ‘21, and it has consequences now as well- we (speaking of myself and the masters I sided with) left an association, which left us cut off and isolated, very much in the organizational hard mode. If we wanted a tournament, we had to organize it- if we wanted a black belt training, we had to set it up, and if we wanted other schools getting involved, the best we could do would be to invite them and move on from there. Hope they came. Often, some did, and we were able to maintain those friendships.

There is some awkwardness now that I’ve been promoted to Master as well- drama deepens. For example, my brothers can still attend the high level trainings with my old association- however, I cannot- having left the association, in their eyes I do not exist, and it wouldn’t surprise me if I walked through the door in civvies and they straight up asked me to leave.

Naturally, there is some bitterness there inherently, but ties back to my OWN choices, and due to the traits I’ve cultivated over the years, I find it HARD to see another way things would have gone. My own mistakes as a manager of my old school’s location led to schisms and rivalries, led to people leaving because I didn’t process their information correctly, usually, but that still led to strong and VEHEMENT emotion. We INVEST in martial arts, and that makes those emotions run DEEP. So, when fallings out happen, they hurt, and they hurt like dragging a knife through your soul.

Some things have impressed me though- the Art has not changed for me- it is still my deepest passion and the best way for me to re-center and calm myself. It is still a key part of my identity, and I still hold to and follow the teachings of my first Grandmaster, using his precepts and advice as an aditional guideline to my actions. I deemed my leaving as the only way I could follow my original Black Belt path honestly as levels of corruption and favoritism / nepotism were exposed where I lived, and I couldn’t in good concious say I upheld my moral obligations of what I promised to BE as a black belt at the same time as my oath to not leave the association- the cognitive dissonance was REAL for a while.

I don’t think I’m trying to get anywhere specific with this- nostalgia, mourning what could have been a bit I suppose, and trying to decide how to move forward after personal me mistakes set you back about as far as you can go, but I’m still training, gearing up to start teaching again as I’ve recentered, and I look forward to opening my doors to new students again. I do this because I know how it’s helped me, and I want to help other people, and that will remain my focus.

[justanotherrpmeme]

Inspired starters

"You know, I've been thinking a lot about people who inspire me lately."

"There's this incredible artist I've been following. Their work is so inspiring and original."

"I recently read a biography about a scientist who dedicated their life to environmental conservation. It's truly inspiring."

"It's amazing how individuals can make such a significant impact on the world."

"I've been following this athlete's journey. Their determination and resilience in the face of adversity are truly inspiring."

"Sports can be such a powerful source of inspiration and motivation."

"Have you ever come across someone who inspires you on a personal level?"

"I met this teacher who is incredibly passionate about education. They've inspired so many students to pursue their dreams."

"I've been following this entrepreneur who started from scratch and built a successful business. Their journey is so inspiring."

"I've always admired leaders who lead with compassion and empathy. Their ability to bring people together is inspiring."

"Leadership is an art, and those who inspire through their actions are truly remarkable."

"There's this musician whose music speaks to my soul. Their talent and creativity are incredibly inspiring."

"Music has a way of touching our hearts and inspiring emotions like nothing else."

"You know, sometimes the most inspiring people are those who face challenges with unwavering positivity and grace."

"Books have a way of expanding our minds and inspiring us to dream."

"I've been lucky to have mentors who inspire me to grow and push my limits. Their guidance has been invaluable."

[the-sour-patch-crew]

It's always fascinating finding out people have us blocked that we have never interacted with. Overall, I like to think we've never been antagonistic towards anyone in tags. Never attacked anyone. Never harassed. We've been very civil, even in our disagreements (that I recall at least). We have a few side blogs, and not many people have the main account blocked, so I always find out only after I go to make a comment and then see what accounts are greyed out. Silly little bonus feature of side blogs.

So

Is it because we sometimes have syscourse?

Is it because we are endogenic or identity as mixed origin?

Is it because we support all forms of plurality?

It's an amusing game. People may block for so many reasons, but those are the three main things we can think of. It's particularly amusing when people love or agree with things on our side blog but apparently hate this account. Extra funny.

If it's because people think we are toxic or out to get systems and corrupt singlets and poison traumagenic systems, then I feel quite awful for someone living in such a fearful and distorted outlook on life and others. Well, if that was the case, then why is our popular side blog not blocked? That blog is all of those things and very loud about it. But also, my partner is a DID system. I am very, very aware that multiplicity is not a silly little game. To say I spread misinformation and am bad for CDD systems blows my mind when I spend every day supporting one. What happens on Tumblr is pointless at the end of the day because what *really* matters is the support and understanding I give to them. We are a living example of how STUPID syscourse is between endogenic and traumagenic systems. Get the fuck off of social media and actually spend time supporting eachother instead of fighting.

Oh! Mayhaps it's our age. It's always interesting when it's our age. I promise we are not creeps and are quite safe to be around. Siblings, work, friends, and online communities have made me very aware of what is appropriate and how to coexist amongst a wide age range of people. I wanted to be a teacher once, and still would love to be an elementary art teacher. I promise I don't bite.

Maybe it's our fictives. I know some people cannot stand their sources or them as individuals. Which again is quite sad. Ashe and Alastor are both amazing people. I dont think I've met a single person who didn't like Ashe once they got talking with her (minus like two assholes that were ultimately voted as assholes by the entire server lol). I point her out because she's been here the longest and I owe her a lot so yeah I kinda play favorites a bit. Because I honestly love her. I say this with all the love for Al and the newest member. They aren't hurt by me saying that. They get it. Honestly, I don't think Al cares enough to be offended.

Maybe it's because I'm a furry. People always hate on furries. But that's okay. People hate on anyone who is different from them. Its why the furry, queer, and alterhuman community are so tight-knit. I'm just a silly fox in the end.

Is it because I'm critical of behavior and use of terms by people who kff or are transid? Is it because I'm thiiiiis close to being that "awful" trans guy that would still classify himself as a lesbian if only I could stop shifting gender representation every few years?

Is it because I'm working through trauma and people think that suddenly makes me being endogenic a lie? Is that the proof that people need to hate me? You hate systems with trauma and you hate systems without it. There's no winning.

Is it because I promote daemonism? *GASPS*

I'm not mad at being blocked. The internet hates and blocks people for so many reasons. I block a specific group of people every time we see them in the tags. I do it because I TRY to live by the motto if I have nothing nice to say I shouldn't say it at all. I also apply this to thoughts. If I see posts that constantly make me think shitty things about people and they aren't actively harming me or the people I care for, I block them. Because placing that into the universe is kinda fucked, even if they never would know about it.

I don't NEED people to like me. But I'll admit it's been a HUGE hurdle in my life. Trying to not care about what others think about me has always been a major issue growing up. I think everyone and anyone can relate to that. There's a saying I try and keep to and its how I'm going to end this post. [GRANTED this post has been an intoxicated, headache fueled rant at 2 in the morning. We all know how things get around 2 and 3. That's when shit gets fun (no it really doesn't I just want to sleep please) ]

[firstdivisiongirl]

hii can i get a male match up please for tokyo revengers :) im a she/her - sorry if theres quite a bit here D:

- i like animals especially red pandas and i also like bugs too. i also sometimes like to read both manga and actual books, i like any theme but when it comes to manga i either like shonen or stories like goodnight punpun/ a girl on the shore

im very enthusiastic towards music, i listen to any genre. i can go from heavy mental and rock, to goth, to something like lana del ray where i feel like i need to be in the rain with red wine, to calm/ smthin indie, sole crushing, and then scene. theres a whole lot more i could add. lemme also add in midwest emo.

- i cant exactly pinpoint what i dislike aside from the wind because it messes up with my hair, i swear if the wind was a solid id have it knocked down immediately. though I also tend to get annoyed by people that don't use common sense.

- my hobies incule art, i have a lot of sketchbooks and majority of my lessons are done by doodling and getting told off by my the teacher cause i dont pay attention, but i still carry on. i also like to make jewelry such as bracelets/neclases, their mainly beaded but their still cute to wear and i like to make bracelets for close people

- (just for extra info here →) im mentaly unstable and have severe attached issues as well as issues with family on every aspect. id like to get better, however i just end up going down a loop hole so i cant/dont which makes everything much harder than it needs to be.

- my energy gets drained QUICK so im mostly a listener rather than a speaker when it comes to social interactions, however i do have my days where i can be jumpy and almost euthoric and talk like my life depends on it with a lot of excitement

- also i can get sudden motivation that i end up reorganising my room, one day it'd look that then after 4 months itd look like this. i tend to do spontanious little things here and there when im in a good mood and that includes in dying/cutting my hair. also ive pierced myself 6x with thumb tacks and their all healed very nicely. i have 9 ear piercings in total.

- never was much of an academic person in school, but i tend to be smart outside of it and i find enjoyment in observing people and using my own thoughts rather than finding sources

- i wont call myself shy, maybe at first sure but as i get comfortable i can go all out and i dont mind in making the first move as long as i get the same energy back, otherwise if that energy isn't given then ill forget all about them.

- i can be extremely clingy when i want to be, i hold back in latching onto someone on a daily basis. i wanna hold someone's hand, be on their back like a bag, and just overall connect soles. im touch starved and overall I can be very affectionate physically, though I'm awful at using my words for affection.

Hello! There isn’t too much. It’s actually a good thing. That means it’s easier to pick because I know more about you. It makes the match more accurate. So let’s go!

You Got…

Izana Kurokawa!!!!!

Boy is all about loyalty and keeping those he loves around!! So you wanting to be clingy, is perfect!!!

He’s a leader so he would do all the talking for you

Very patient (we saw his like 8 year plan to take down Mikey lol) so if you are struggling with anything, he’s there for you.

Would play music for you on his guitar. I think indie rock probably.

Idk why but I also called him a human red panda. The reason his because he looks cute but is a menance like red pandas.

At home dates or concerts! I hope you like the matchup!!!