#the simplistic style is so good too

[sivon-acidwyrm-collections]

Thank goodness this exists because I can still create more awesome fellows!! Loving it, I have already made these three just so they can be my ocs later heeheee!

There aren’t many pieces of the pn2 character. sorry

Instead, feel free to convert the pic as you like

enjoy

[getosugurusbangs]

do you think that now's the time you should let go?

[hasarjunadoneanythingwrong]

i think some of takeuchis art is really good and some of it is bad. is that an acceptable stance or is having a non-dichotomous opinion considered passé/wishy washy

[fearlessstateofmind]

Ooh Great post!

Even Akufo's involvement asside I found the framing/casting of the people in this scene deeply fascinating as a choice the show made because it's also just no longer the case that most premier league clubs are owned by local-ish businessmen who have done well with massive social climbing types like Rupert is meant to be.

We are like two steps on from that reality having gone through smaller time russian oligarchs and Chinese and American businesspeople to the current situation where the heavy hitters are American hedge funds, middle Eastern oil companies, and more than one team that's effectively owned by a very rich gulf country...Rupert's type of rich is no longer the establishment in this space and hasn't been for like 20 years it's gotten a lot more wealthy and largely a lot younger. (The russian oligarch presence is alluded to but as an outlier amoung them?)

And, Rebecca's 'but remember when you all grew up as kids enjoying football' doesn't work at all in that situation - even to the suspension of disbelief on this working on people this was true for etc. Because the current ownership crop (in the premier League and increasingly in contental Europe and the lower leagues) largely didnt get into club ownership for this reason but purely because it was the most profitable business decision.

for ted lasso fans who aren't football fans, the akufo league subplot was pretty directly inspired by the april 2021 announcement of a proposed european super league founded by 12 of the richest clubs in europe competing in a closed group against each other plus 8 other teams tba.

the enterprise was cancelled very quickly after its announcement, but the differences between how that played out in ted lasso and the story as it played out in real life are.....hmmmm interesting choices to say the least.

the esl wasn't proposed by a cartoonishly villainous ghanaian billionaire. it was launched by a c-suite of white european and united states billionaire businessmen/team owners. - real madrid president florentino pérez spearheaded the proposal and claimed CEO position with andrea agnelli (owner of juventus), joel glazer (owner of man u), john henry (owner of liverpool), and stan kroenke (owner of arsenal) making up the rest of the proposed executive board. -these five are worth $2.3B, $13.5B (agnelli family), $4.8 (glazer family), $4B, and $12.9B, for a total of 37.5 billion dollars.

the esl proposal was formally announced on 18 april 2021 and by 21 april all 6 epl founding clubs had publicly announced their planned withdrawal from the league. this wasn't because of a rich white lady giving a heartwarming speech to a room of other rich people, it was because of a mass movement of working class fans denouncing the move as the capitalist greed and exploitation that it was, with some calling for fan ownership of clubs entirely:

i get using real events as inspiration and adapting them to fit a narrative purpose within the story, but i think it's worth it to know what the story line was based on, especially considering the specific racial and class changes that were made reframing the villains and heroes of this particular story.

[tiamathh]

Walk Walk Fashion Baby

Hi girlies new year new style ykwim anyway this is a pac that i have been wanting to make for a long time but i was like idk how many ppl will like it etc but now idc about all that i want to have fun so here it is!! Have fun and stay hydrated. muah <33 also my paid readings are open there are a few slots (15) if anyone's interested xx ciao <3 like and rb if you like xx

Masterlist / Paid Readings + FB / Tip jar

Pile 1

Hi pile 1! You need to try that classical, timeless, style, i know it can be annoying to look at all the beige and muted tones but its so much more than that like, picture this, a tailored blazer or high-waisted trousers that fit like a dream. tbh I am also getting pearls for some reason so maybe adding neckklaces as accessories can be something you are interested in to incorporate in your style next year. Start with a simple white shirt, a fitted black dress, or a pair of cut jeans. Then you can accesorise with delicate gold bracelet, a black bag, or a string of pearls again with the pearls they are calling for you right nowww.

Moreover, another style you can incorporate is just as sharp, and elegant so like the whole academia aesthetic, regardless of light or dark that doesn’t matter but what I am trying to say is, clothes with shape. Like cinched wastes and just clothes that create shape for you are like something you really should give thought to. It’s about being comfortable but also looking effortlesss while doing it all, I think basics like camis, just plain shirts/tshirts are something you need more of in your closet because theres so many ways to style them other than just for formal wear. Like one style inspo is literally Proncess Diana cannot get more elgant than her istg, enjoy muah <33

Pile 2

Y’all this is my pile you guys are my PEOPLE ok to begin with you need to stop being afraid of colour and looseness like not everything has to be tight and fitted especially just because the microtrend world says so. Experiment with “loud” colours and different textures, things you may have thought are “odd” and don’t look good, because trust me the way it can all be pulled together is crazy and so much fun!! Layer, the most important part, stack rings and bracelets and go for those colours that lowkey hurt your eyes because fashion is about colour and pattern and texture and taking all of it out of fashion just makes it dull imo.

Start with a bright coloured tshirt, maybe something like yellow, then layer on, very “indie kid” aesthetic like the high saturation stuff. Mixed with that I am also getting maximalism to the MAX layer layer layer, stack stack stack you should look like a walking apparell store (kidding) seriously though if you have been feeling like you want to experiment with something like this and oxidised jewellery and mixing different styles mainly because all of your wardrobe is mismatched (me) then go for it because I promise it will come out looking way better than you may have imagined. 

Pile 3: 

Ooo I love this, okay so very romanticised, very coquette but not really, this is also the pile which will look so good in pastels in lighter colours. All I am getting in my head are those pictures of people on picnics in their flowy outfits and dresses looking so pretty and at peace, bows and dellicate bangles, just a very dainty aesthetic im thinking light fabrics and romantic fashion like lace-trimmed dresses, pastel skirts and floral prints, very fairytaile-ish. Ruffles or embroidery too and just magical overall. Also the complete opposite of pile 2 here, minimalist aesthetic may suit you a lot so try it out next year!

I am talking about keeping it simple, not too much with the accessorising and maybe a staple or statement accessory piece that goes with everything and anything you wear. Also for some of you with this simplistic style, you may have to be pushed to try on something more glam too like a bold red lip when it comes to makeup, like be bolder with your makeup experiment with more purples, pinks and reds while keeping the outfits simpler. 

All Rights Reserved tiamathh©® DO NOT PLAGIARISE, REWORD, STEAL!

[lumalalu]

i really do love rune factory's ridiculous skills. i think it's kind of genius actually even though we like to make jokes about there being a "walking" skill and an "eating" skill

i like the eating one especially bc what it does in game is every skill level you raise increases your RP and HP, as well as some other misc things depending on the skill. if your character sleeps every night (skill up!), eats every day (skill up!), and farms/exercises (skill up!), their general stamina and health also increases. it turns "taking good care of yourself" into a game mechanic with actual rewards.

this has tangible benefits too like in the beginning of the game you lose a lot of RP doing basic tasks. the more you take care of your character, the more complex things you can accomplish - like dishes. which then come with their own unique buffs like oven dishes buffing your vitality. which, these things then also apply to party members when you give them dishes. iirc they even get special stat bonuses for dishes they like?

it all makes the actual rpg part of it feel blended into the farming sim aspect of it, and thats something that i feel is lacking in stardew valley and stardew valley-likes, bc they just sort of graft on a simplistic combat style onto a farming sim. and thats one of the reasons i really wish people would play rune factory and like really study how its mechanics work, bc they really do work so well for a farming sim/rpg hybrid. and also i like it lol

[turtleblogatlast]

I honestly love the clothing styles of each of the turtles in this show and I love how these styles really incorporate their personalities as well.

Like, obviously Donnie has the best sense of style, yeah? Think that’s something pretty agreed upon here. Everything we see him put together is very meticulously crafted and clean. That goes with his personality because Donnie is a very meticulous person in general, and he knows what he likes very, very well, and knows how to flaunt it in turn. Him commenting on colors he enjoys or disapproving of outfits that the others see no problem with also shows how he just generally has an eye for this kind of thing. He doesn’t just know what looks good on himself, but also what looks good on others - and I think this ties into his love of gift giving too. Donnie also has a flair for making sure that his things have his “mark” on them, and his clothing is no exception. All that he wears and how he wears them screams “Donnie.”

Mikey is really fun because his styles are honestly a pendulum between super simplistic and incredibly out there. And often, you’re going to see a lot of color or patterns to both. And in my opinion I think that all reflects really well on Mikey’s character - he’s got a colorful personality but even more than that he’s incredible sure of who he himself is. Mikey’s style, I feel, is less what looks good as clothes and more what sparks joy in Mikey himself. His bright stickers he wears are a testament of that! He’s comfortable in his own skin and his style reflects this perfectly, whether he goes for a more out-there look or a more toned down one.

Now, for Leo. Okay, I think I’m actually in the minority here I feel because Leo’s style isn’t really that bad? Hear me out- if you actually look at what he wears, try taking out, like, one accessory. Suddenly, that outfit works! He even manages to put together many good outfits in the series, but his “bad” ones are the ones that tend to stand out, alas (just like how his mistakes tend to be big ones oop-) Basically, my personal look at him is not that he’s inept at styling at all, but that he has a “too much” gene. And like everyone else, this sense of style is completely like him, too. Going too far to impress when all he needed to do was slow it down some to think things through. (And funnily enough, a lot of his outfits take random aspects from his brothers too - “nothing without them” huh?)

For Raph, I feel bad for him since pretty much all of his clothes are inevitably going to be ripped, but he makes them work pretty much each time. Like Leo, Raph tends to go more sporty with his looks, but I also noticed that his stuff often goes in that in between of comfy, cool, and cute. His pajama suit in particular comes to mind in terms of “cute” as it’s more something you’d see younger children in rather than older kids, and I think it can be a subtle nod to the fact that for all Raph tries to seem older, he’s still just a kid too.

I could probably go on, but these are just all off the top of my head - I love how the boys’ personality’s come out in so many different ways.

[galoogamelady]

Hi!! I love your work!

Do you have any tips on how to stylize hands?

Thank you <3 I hope you’re feeling better!

I don't have a moodboard of hands I really like but I think it's a good idea to study what details you enjoy on your favorite styles. For example: I really like how in MHA they often don't draw the nailbeds, just the part of the nail where it starts separating from skin. I think it's really tasteful and simple, yet realistic, so sometimes I do this too:

My other example would be to pay attention to details and lack of details. Sometimes this can add to the funny factor too, like when a simplistic cartoony creature has an extremely realistic looking hand. But anyway here's my quick brainfart on the matter:

If you're gonna draw long nails, you better watch some nail videos to learn the ideal shape and weight etc. of them. It's so easy to make them look like dog claws or nasty old crone hands! Sorry, this turned into my personal nail drawing preference lol

I don't have any very smart advice on drawing stylized hands beyond "use real life / 3D reference still" and "practice until it looks ok" :') Pay attention to which way the individual shapes bend. If you don't study real hands and only copy other artists' hands, you might learn a few wrong things (but I guess this applies to most real life studies).

Oh and I'm feeling better now, thank you! ^^

[knightmareaceblue]

A redraw of the group photo from the Nether hopping arc! I wanted to get in more practice drawing the characters in this specific style, and also see if I can fix some issues with their designs that were bugging me. I... mostly succeeded on that 2nd part?

Some notes regarding these CG designs (plus some headcannons):

-Red's outfit frustrates me, because I like it a lot without colour, but once I start trying to add colour it always ends up looking off. The current colour scheme is fine, I guess, but I'm a little torn on whether or not the colours suit Red, and not making him too close to the other colour schemes present (which I like a lot more).

-Red's outfits will often have animal motifs designed into them. Usually cat, rabbit, or pig, but they have all sorts of animal clothes.

-Though it can't usually be seen due to not drawing them with their hood up often, Red's hoodie has cat ears. The reason I don't usually draw the hood up is because I like drawing his hair too much.

-Red will alternate between gloves, bracelets, and, post AVM season 3, a yellow headband and armbands.

-Under the hoodie Red will usually wear a tank top or crop top. Though it can't be seen in this photo, the arm holes for the hoodie are incredibly large, so Red's top can sometimes be seen when lifting her arms or looking at them from the side.

-In general, I do like Yellow's outfit. It suits her personality well and has some good colours. My primary concern is that it may be too... plain? Stereotypical? Basically, that it's too stereotypically 'nerd' to be interesting. But I can't come up with anything better, so this'll be her default outfit for now.

-What I do like on Yellow, however, is the hair. I think the short hair with a singular braid is really cool. A nice mix of neat and practical and stylish, especially mixed with the glasses.

-One issue I do have is with the boots. All the shoes in general, actually. They all look so samey, especially Blue and Yellow's boots. This is a pretty simplistic style I'm drawing in though, and I don't want to make anything too complicated. Why do shoes have to be so stupid?

-I used to have the same problem with Second's outfit as with Red's - particularly, with their shirt. However, that's when I realized that Second is an artist, and can change their shirt design at the drop of a hat. So, now the shirt has a different drawing on it regularly. Second will try to use all their friends colours in their designs. If they leave a person off, it usually means their either consciously or subconsciously upset with that stick. If they don't draw on their shirt at all and leave it blank, it usually means something's up with them.

-I also added leggings from the previous design. It felt right.

-Both Second and Chosen dislike shoes. I will not elaborate, but Second's tolerance is better than Chosen. He can handle it for short periods of time, but is usually grumpy and will kick them off first chance he gets.

-I like to imagine Second using her large, poofy hair to put things in, the same way she'd put things in their inventory. I also like to imagine Green is low-key horrified by this, while Red, Blue, and Yellow will also use her fluff to store things. Sometimes without Second even noticing.

-Second carries the belt with them in their hair in their inventory and will put it on before fighting/platforming so their oversized shirt doesn't get in their way. Otherwise they prefer to have their clothing loose and flowing.

-Everyone has a multicoloured accessory. Second was the one who started it with his bracelet, then the others wanted some too so Second drew up more for the gang. An anklet for Red, an armband for Yellow, a belt for Green, and a neckerchief for Blue.

-Green may just have the best outfit of everyone here. It's sleek, it's cool, it suits them, and it's easy to fight in (with an easily striped jacket if need be). I also added a lil choker.

-I don't think I expressed this before, but I didn't like Green's previous hairstyle. Something about it irked me, but I couldn't place what at the time. Now I know it'd needed more on top, haha.

-Blue's outfits tend to be more on the practical side, since they do a lot of manual labour, but with bits of fun and whimsy added in. After AvM Season 3, she trades her funny socks for long funny socks and fun stockings.

-The original intent was for everyone to have a different type of hair, but Blue's and Yellow's ended up a lot more similar than I'd hope. The idea was for Blue to have really thick hair, but it's hard to tell. Might think of something else later.

-Anyone who wants something different can go to Second and ask. They all have their own things they like, but they're all willing to try almost anything, with very little exception.

Feel free to let me know your thoughts. I think I really like these character designs I came up with. :)

Original pic used for reference:

[prncssie]

ONE ⎯⎯ ★ m. list

you’d think when you’re all moved out of your childhood home and sitting on the cool wooden flooring of your own apartment, you’d feel all grown up. granted, you are grown up. however, there’s just something so different, so special and sacred, about enjoying a glass of cheap red wine and listening to the soft sounds of frank ocean, pinkpantheress, and other various artists humming from your red beats pill. this space is entirely yours. it’s your space, filled with the scent of toasted vanilla beans and marshmallows roasting over a fire.

it’s as neat and cluttered as you want it, polaroids of your old life plastered against the walls, floors freshly mopped, dishes cleaned and put away. the air practically buzzes with opportunity, with optimism and hope for the future. you can see it now, your name credited at the end of the newest blockbuster, only after successfully landing a lead role and hitting it off with your co-actors. you can taste it, your dream come true. sweet like syrup, dancing across your tongue with a honeyed sapor. it’s everything you could have asked for and here, in this new city, it’s just within reach. of course, first, you’d have to land a role.

still, that isn’t exactly you’re biggest focus right now. in just a couple hours, you’ll be starting your new job at the local diner. it isn’t something you’re nervous about perse, but there’s nothing particularly enjoyable about a fresh start. your new uniform hangs in your makeshift closet. the stone gray curtains are pulled back to reveal the crisp edges of the baby pink retro-style dress. it’s a cute, little thing. pinstripes from top to bottom, a flare skirt lined with soft tulle, a quaint white apron to match. you’d think it’s something you’d get out of the sexy costume section of spirit halloween. yet, it’s something you’ll be putting on for almost seven days out the week. it’s position in your closet symbolizes something to you. a glowing emblem of promise. it may not be the best item you own, or even the most practical but it means the most and that’s something that matters.

a single corner of your mouth twitches upwards. your brown eyes find themselves wandering towards the simplistic blinking clock on your desk. it’s 12:30. it’s late enough, you think, for you to crawl beneath the thousand count thread sheets stretched across your bed. you toss your head back, downing the rest of the savory wine in a couple of gulps. you practice your newfound freedom by leaving the glass right there on the coffee table and make your way towards your bed. your muscles strain and tremble after minutes of sitting in the same position for far too long. they sing their praises once you reach your plush mattress and bury yourself beneath the sheets. 

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ★

“oh my gosh, hello!” the sing-songy voice spouts from a gorgeous dark haired girl, tinted a shade of red resembling a plum. she looks sweet, sharp eyes, a cute round nose. she smells sweet, like a ripe apple spiced with cinnamon on a nice autumn day. she grins at you with glossed pink lips while shoving a notepad within her apron pocket. “you must be the new girl. welcome to bop and bite, darlin’. my name is cherry. braxton told me we’d be gettin’ a new hire today.”

her infectious glee is enough to bring a pleased look to the surface of your face. there’s a bit of a southern twang that weaves through her words. it makes you tilt your head in curiosity but you don’t ask. instead, you run your hands along the skirt of your pressed uniform and grin back. “oh, i’m ⭐︎. it’s so nice to meet you. are you going to be training me?”

“oh, no. mrs. glen’s gone’ be trainin’ you. she’s super sweet. a real sugar pie. there’s this whole seniority thing and she has really good scores so,” cherry turns away from you, facing her distorted  reflection in the mint green countertops. they’re shiny enough to strain your eyes, reflecting the bright yellow lighting directly into your face. she bends over the open space and, what you’d soon learn as classic cherry fashion, rakes her fingers through her hair with a black elastic held tight within her teeth. “don’t worry, honey. you’ll be in great hands.”

you watch her tie her hair back, looking over the countertops at the empty booths and unoccupied bar stools. perhaps you’ve gotten far too dressed up compared to everyone else but really, can you be blamed for that? you half-assed makeup routine usually consisted of a light layer of a light layer of concealer,  a smooth line of eyeliner on the lower lids, blush, highlight, all the works. you just thought, since it is your first day, why not leave a good impression with a sugared face and an even sugared smile. there’s a second, just one, where you wonder if you went a little overboard, but those thoughts are dissolved the moment cherry looks up at you, placing a soft hand on your forearm.

“you know, you’re as pretty as a peach. you’ll make some real good tips workin’ here, i think. they love a real doll face.” she squeezes your arm before turning and leaving you to your own devices.

you stand there for a moment, glancing around the colorful room. that’s the thing with new places. it’s fun, it’s cool, it’s a change of pace and exciting, but it ends there. you don’t have roots, not yet at least. it causes more breaks in your productivity then you’d like. it’s occupied with nothing but silence and conversation where you can. like any other person, you fill that silence by pulling your phone out of your pocket. the plastic case is cool against your hand and you tap the tempered glass to display your lock screen. it blurs and shifts upon the sight of your face and you’re welcome, unfortunately, by a text message. not one you’re looking forward to.

mom: When are you coming back home? This is a waste of time and you know it

you roll your eyes the moment the words register in your brain. it doesn’t come as a shock to you, not really. if you were going to be honest with yourself, you knew it was going to come soon. the arguments about your decision, their displeasure at your desire to pursue an acting career, them insisting you couldn’t afford to live on their own. of course, they’re right. you can’t. that’s why you’re pulling doubles at bop and bite in hopes of having enough for rent and spare time to make it to casting calls, even if it’s for another mundane background character.

you click your tongue against the tip of your mouth, deciding it’s better off not to respond back than informing her that you are, still, very serious about your commitment. even if it meant you had to live in a somewhat cramped studio apartment until you could afford something better — which will probably be never. at least, not any time in the future that you can see. your thumb swipes against the glass, clearing the message from your screen and hopefully, your brain.

you drop your phone back into your apron pocket by the time the presumed mrs. glen makes her appearance. she looks sweet, as cherry said. a smile, salt and pepper hair, seasoned wrinkles. she wears her uniform all the same, thin frilly socks and little heeled mary ones clicking against the hard floor tiles. her thin gold bracelets dangle as she keys herself in to the register. her hair is pulled tight, flipped ponytail swinging as she saunters.

mrs. glen glances at you, eyes scanning along your frame. you pique her interest. you and you’re . . . smallness. your small personality, the small amount of space you take up. perhaps it’s because you’re in an unfamiliar place but you don’t stand as bold as someone who would need to work here. “you move here from somewhere? ⭐︎, right? you have that newcomer thing about you.”

you are a bit more jittery than you realize or even care to admit. it’s embarrassing how you stumble to turn towards her, hands interlaced in front of your body and palms facing up. “oh, yes ma’am. i moved here from a small town. i actually just settled and everything yesterday.” your curls, tied back neatly in two, spring and bounce in place. you’ve taken great care to wash, detangle, moisturize, and stretch them to have the prettiest impression you possibly could.

“mm, i can tell,” it’s meant to be nothing, words just tossed out into the air but mrs. glen misses the slight twitch of your eyebrow, “anyway, you’ll be following me around today as my shadow. once you get the hang of it, you’ll be taking drink orders and making them. it’s a slow process. customers are picky; they want a particular service. we open in five minutes so stay close. yes?” this time, she faces you. her eyes, dark like sweetened chocolate chips, hold you where you are.

she’s stern, you can tell by the way she just stares at you, expectantly. cherry said she’s “a real sugar pie” but in this moment, you feel more like she’s firmer than a pine knot. “yes ma’am. i’ll be right beside you.”

[werecreature-addicted]

Would the sparkling vampires have been reacted to differently if written by a better author? Possibly

I feel like the main reason (imo) for why the sparkling is hated on so much though is that the reveal of it just feels so ridiculous. Like edward claiming he’s a monster or whatever and then proceeds to reveal his shimmery 6 pack is….unconvincing at best

og tags on this post for anyone who hasn't seen it

Excellent question anon. If you think about it there are a lot of silly things we associate with vampires.

Exhibit A: the classic widow's peak black hair and dramatic cape

look at it with fresh eyes and imagine seeing this for the first time, goofy. silly even. but this style of vampire was iconized by Bella Ligosi's performance as Dracula in Dracula 1931 which is of course very good and a staple in vampire cannon as well as just culture in general. It's good and it's old which lends it an air of authority. whereas Twilight is new(ish) and bad so it's artistic changes and creative choices are fighting an uphill battle already, add in the fact that Vampires Sparkling is a little ridiculous and you can see why so many people dismiss Twilight's vampires outright.

This post is so long continued under the cut

Now I am a Twilight fan and I think Twilight is very bad in a lot of ways, the two ideas are not mutually exclusive. Twilight however is a fascinating case study in cultural knowledge and mythos. Stephanie Meyer informally did very little research about Vampire Cannon, if you can call it that, before writing Twilight (link to an interview where she mentions it) so instead of being carefully constructed world-building based on hard rules and strict internal logic, the vampires are kind of loosely defined shadows based on the broadest understanding of what a vampire is. They're dead, they drink blood, they don't go out in sunlight. Some other popular vampire staples go addressed but dismissed as myth (garlic and having no reflection) but then things like The vampires in Twilight don't have fangs and have weird additional supper powers sometimes go just completely taken for granted and not really expanded upon in a satisfying way.

This style of world-building and magic system has a tendency to chafe against readers who have a more in-depth context for vampires and Meyre's more simplistic writing style makes the text come off as juvenile and perhaps a little dumb.

All this to say the sparkling vampires are not handled super well. It is a very large jump from what most readers would expect to see from a vampire story and it is handled inconsistently at best in the text itself. Meyer describes the vampires in the sun both as A beautiful glittering like that of a diamond, and a reflection of light so intense that it looks like the vampire is being burned alive in the sun.

these two conflicting descriptions coupled with the again simplistic and juvenile writing style makes it seem more like a mistake you should roll your eyes at rather than an intentional complexity to read into. I'd argue that Bella sees this inhumanity as beautiful and alluring while Edward sees it as a curse and a reminder of his monstrous nature and therefore disgusting. That being said I don't fault anyone for not wanting to read that deeply into the vampire glittering and instead see it as the author trying to have her cake and eat it too, something Meyers does frequently throughout even just the first Twilight novel.

Not even to mention the movies.

Exhibit B: this is the skin of a killer Bella.

This is prima facie hilarious and stupid. the juxtaposition of the soft glittering effect and the chiming sound in this scene coupled with the seemingly unwarranted disgust is so fucking funny. which is not the tone this scene is going for. it's supposed to be tense, it comes off as corny instead.

Then there is the hate mob that dominated Twilight discourse when it first came out. I will not get into how much of that hate was warranted, what I'm interested in is how much of a cultural impact it had. There was, at least in the beginning, a large group of people who hated Twilight and would hate anything that came from it simply because it came from Twilight. These people grabbed onto the sparkly vampire thing and made it what it is today, these people were never going to be won over by any artistic liberty no matter what.

So to answer your question, I think that if a writer with a more in-depth understanding of vampires and a clearer vision of the magic system wrote Twilight with a more mature tone and more time given to expanding on just the vampire's powers and limitations, and the movies followed these hypothetical books more closely AND if there was never an anti-Twilight coultral movement. then yeah maybe Vampires sparkling wouldn't be seen as the dumbest shit ever.

thank you for coming to my Twilight Ted talk.

[hairscare]

That'd be helpful, I wanna draw fanart

after many grueling hours they are finally done! ofc their outfits change but these ones give a good idea of how they dress. some design notes and inspiration underneath. im gonna redo their bio sheets at some point soon too so look out for that

in order of the height chart:

dumois: i wanted to make her look kind of like a little kids nursery and also incorporate her astrology interest into her design more so i gave her more charms in her hair and a cute quilt-inspired victorian nightgown. oughh shes so cute i love her sm <3 i think her colors turned out a lot more comprehensive compared to her old design where i threw a bunch of different purples at the wall and they kind of looked bad. now shes so prettyyy and i think the naptime sleepy cowsheepgirl aesthetic has definitely been captured

zubi: their fashion is usually the hardest for me to conceptualize because its like a weird mix of beachy clothes and emo rave... i think this outfit turned out good though, and i really like that the pops of coral/salmon evoke the beach while the dark fishnets evoke deeper dark water. i also almost gave them longer ponytails (think like miku has) bc i thought it would look pretty in water but i decided not to bc everyone else besides gaglug has long hair and i think the weird hair they have now has a good unique silhouette. i also turned their fins the other way so that they would actually be helpful in water

paezel: hes finally buff!!!! the crowd goes wiiiiiiild. he also has his pact tattoo on his arm (its supposed to look like a plant bc thats maeves thing) i feel like the tail kind of went from bovine to almost dragonlike but i actually really like that. i dress him like in the second spongebob movie when theyre in the apocalypse and i love it. not much else to say but i think he definitely looks a lot better

aureus: ok so her design turned out so elaborate that i had to go back and redo the designs i did before hers (dumois, lumiloriol + zubi) so that they wouldnt look lame asf which overally definitely helped their concepts. aureus is supposed to be way more over the top than everyone else but still i mean i cant let the others be flops. shes soooo pretty though i used a reference for her rococo style and it definitely helped a lot. my princess my darling i love youuu

lumiloriol: i usually try to keep their clothes kind of simplistic to highlight their own natural beauty, but i did give them the scarf kind of thing and the train for some layers. for lumiloriol i usually take a lot of inspiration from gothic art especially john martins paradise lost art (because of course) and i definitely feel like i was able to incorporate it. i also think they look super androgynous which i loveee bc angels usually are... they really do look like a fallen angel even if they technically are a step removed

concupiscence: connie i luv uuuuuuuu <3 concupiscence has gone through a lot of different inspirations over the years but ive settled into a britney spears/paris hilton smashup for him and so i based his outfit on various outfits both wore in the early 2000s. shes also got the striped tongue now which i decided to give her a while back bc i think its a fun addition to her design, reminds you that shes a creature. my girly <33333

gaglug: yeah um i got rid of four of its arms... they were making the design wayyy too busy and hard to draw. now it has funny little weird grubby arm thingies though so its okay its still buggy. umm not too much to say here since it doesnt wear clothes but i do love its bug hooves so much :)

anyways i love you my silly 400 year old 20 year olds

[3liza]

Fired on Mars is alright, I especially appreciate any that it's (so far) non-space opera sci fi on a major network, an extreme rarity, especially since the Expanse turned into another ghost alien fuckaround because American audiences are too stupid to deal with realistic science fiction and think "Star Wars" qualifies. but it's really struggling as an "adult animation" production. I'm not sure if this was pitched as a live action or not but it doesn't have any reason to be animated except budget. not sure what else Max network has going on these days but you can't help but see a real show with proper production sort of superimposed on top of the simplistic and frankly boring animated backdrop. that's a real shame. they tried to split the difference by styling the drawings very buttoned-down, but it has none of the design sense of even Rick and Morty and it isn't funny enough for the writing to stand on its own, so theres just not a lot to hold onto.

the serious plot that kicks in at episode 5 reminds me a hell of a lot of the recent walking simulator, The Invincible, an adaptation of Stanislav Lem's story by the same name, with a really good surface of Mars sequence and excellent soundtrack, so I hope that's the direction the show is taking now.

it makes me think about the actual logistics and expense of filming something like this with practicals and some CGI. one of the benefits of doing something like realistic space station or mars colony stories is that you can build an incredibly cramped set and film everything on it, Cube-style, because these colonies would be modular and extremely cramped, just like NASA infrastructure is now. you could really go crazy styling a very beautiful set or soundstage that was only a few connected rooms and corridors and then just recycle them intelligently. outdoor shots in the local desert, composite out any plant life, roads, or gas stations, grey out the sky. Fired on Mars has blue sky and big cumulus clouds and initially I wasnt sure if that's referencing some sort of atmospheric control by the colony or if they screwed up or if it was focus group/producer meddling, but I looked it up and the actual Martian sky is more complicated than I assumed:

Since Mars is roughly 1.5 astronomical units from the Sun, the amount of light on the surface is about half that on our planet. Under low illumination conditions, our eyes shift sensitivity towards blue because we change from using color-sensitive “cone” cells to color-blind “rod” cells. This is known as the Purkinje effect. Hence, the first astronaut to land on Mars would probably describe its sky as even bluer than one might expect.

so anyway I think the show is ok. I stopped after watching episode 5 to write this, since this episode has taken the show in a much more interesting direction than I saw in the previous four. maybe it'll pleasantly surprise me

[nightghoul381]

Bound Together ~ Jude Jazza x Reader

Posting this one as another Happy Birthday celebration for @judejazza I love you!!!!!

Genre: Fluff CW: none WC: 2k

“Juuude!” you shout, bursting into his bedroom. It’s dark and you nearly stumble over the corner of the rug as you make your way over to the couch where he sits, reading.

When he doesn’t acknowledge you, you throw your arms over his shoulders and whisper in his ear, “Pssst, Jude… guess what…”

Letting out a quiet huff, Jude slips a bookmark in between the pages and closes the book, setting it on the table in front of him. The next thing you know, firm hands are wrapped around your upper arms and you find yourself tumbling over the back of the couch and onto Jude’s lap.

“You’re so loud,” he grumbles, looking down at you with no hint of the annoyance he’s trying to feign. You smile up at him and move to sit up, only to be held down against his taught legs.

“Juuude…” you whine, squirming in his grasp to no avail. “I wanted to show you what I got us.”

“That’s the last time I let Liam take you anywhere,” Jude sighs, his grip finally relenting and allowing you to sit up.

“Just how much did he give you to drink?” He added, cocking his head in concern.

“Oh, just five,” you reply happily, digging your hands into the pockets of your jacket.

“Yep… Last time.”

“Ooh! I found them!” you shout, pulling a couple of tangled chains out of your pocket and holding them up triumphantly.

Jude just looks at you, as though expecting an explanation.

You frown at the way the metal links seem to grab at each other while you’re attempting to untangle them, mouth twisting in a disappointed pout. Your fingers aren’t behaving either, each time you think you’ve found a good point to free the knot you’re working on, your fingers just seem to pull it tighter.

“Dammit,” you mumble, trying to get your eyes to focus more clearly.

Jude suddenly gets up from the couch and stalks over to the windows.

“Hey, wait! I’m almost done,” you insist, disappointment welling in your chest. You’re trying to keep your head from spinning when a sudden cool breeze blows past your face.

“Just opening the window, princess. Ought to help sober you up.”

With that statement, Jude reclines on the couch, closer to you than before and he offers you an open palm.

You reach out and return the high-five, or at least so you thought, only for Jude to scoff and grab your other hand, relieving it of the bundle of chains.

“Oh…” you giggle, feeling the crisp night air settle your nerves and bring you some peace as you watch Jude’s long fingers meticulously unwind each chain until both are completely free of each other.

“Necklaces?” He asks, glancing over at you.

“Mmhmm!” you declare proudly, “I saw them paired together at a cute little vendor’s stall and they said that they bind lovers together when shared. So I got us some! I made sure it wasn’t something too cutesy and girly, so you can still look cool, and we can match now.”

Jude stares down at the silver chains, simplistic in style, yet elegant and refined. You wait for his reaction with bated breath, only to exhale sharply when he doesn’t respond promptly.

You feel heat creeping up your cheeks—he must think you childish for wanting to wear matching necklaces. Why would a businessman like Jude ever wear a necklace?

You let your head hang, trying to mask the disappointment and shame that’s gnawing at your every nerve when you feel the gentle brush of fingers against your neck. The next moment, cool metal hangs around it.

“I… Jude, you don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to, I know it’s a stupid idea. I should never have—” your words are silenced by the firm grip of fingers turning your head to face him.

“It’s not stupid.”

“But it’s childish and you’re a man who has an image to maintain…” you start to protest, but the stern, pointed look that Jude gives you shuts you up instantly.

“If this little chain will make ya happy, it’s not stupid. You went outta your way to find something that would suit me even. Plus, it’ll be nice to be able to do this,” he smirks, hooking a finger under the chain and giving it a firm tug. Your lips meet briefly and you feel the tension in your body begin to melt away as his familiar smokey scent washes over you.

“Put it on me.” Jude’s command is quiet but you know better than to refute him, taking the metal, now warm from his hands and fumble to get the clasp secured.

When he sits back, the look on his face is heart wrenchingly tender and you feel your breath catch.

“I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, binding yourself to me forever like this,” he grins, flashing you a smug look and letting his fingers continue to toy with the chain at your throat.

You nod your head excitedly, reaching your arms out and wrapping yourself around Jude, pressing kisses to his cheek and neck and chest. “Tch… Princess, you’re leaving lipstick marks all over my shirt,” He mutters, lifting your face to meet his gaze. The gentle affection so clear in his expression gives you all the reassurance you need to know that he’s not upset with you.

He helps you sit up before getting to his feet and offering you his hand once again.

“Come on, it’s bedtime.” You reach out and take his hand, letting him guide you over to the bed.

When you’re seated on the edge he begins to take off his shirt, tossing it haphazardly away. He slips into the bed and motions for you to do the same.

Happily, you oblige, ridding yourself of your jacket and dress before giggling to yourself.

“What’s so funny, princess?” Jude asks, cracking one eye open from his reclined position on the bed.

You reach down and pick up his discarded shirt, pulling it on and turning around with a flourish.

“Ta-da! I’m Jude now.” Jude lets out an uncharacteristic bark of laughter, shaking his head and hopping up before making his way over to you. “Well, Jude. It’s bedtime, and this Jude wants to hold his girl while he sleeps, so I’m afraid I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.” Jude’s voice is low and husky, sending a shiver through your body.

His hands slip around your waist, and he leans his head in. “You’re my princess now, right?” he whispers.

His warm breath ghosts over your lips and you let out a small squeak in reply. He smirks briefly before closing the remaining distance, pulling you close to his body and capturing your lips with his own.

The heat of his body draws you in, prompting you to cling to his arms. Despite how eager you are to deepen the kiss, Jude continues to move at a slow pace, savoring your mouth as though committing it to memory.

When you finally part, he rests his forehead against yours, rubbing his hands up and down your arms tenderly.

“I love you.”

His whispered words are nearly faint enough to miss but you wrap your arms around his neck and kiss him briefly in response.

“I love you too, Jude.”

Lifting you into his arms, Jude moves the both of you back over to the bed, pulling the covers up snugly around you before doing the same for himself.

Once he’s settled on his pillows, he reaches out an arm, inviting you to move closer. You lay your head against his chest, the beating of his heart lulling you into a trance like state.

Absentmindedly, you move your fingers to begin toying with the silver chain resting against Jude’s collarbones. There’s something about seeing the necklace against his bare chest that makes your head feel light. The metal is warm under your fingertips and you feel the soft rumble of laughter followed by Jude’s murmur.

“Are ya happy, princess?”

You hum happily in response, pressing a kiss against his chest and then letting out a contended sigh. Jude’s arms tighten around you and you feel his breath ruffle your hair before his lips press against you.

“Me too.”

~Four Days Later~

Today marks the fourth day in a row that you’ve seen Jude around the castle but haven’t seen the necklace you had bought. You tried to not let the disappointment show, but of course, everyone else was able to tell right away that something was wrong.

“You were so happy a couple nights ago, did something happen?” Liam asks that morning. He’s sat next to you in the dining hall, shoveling forkfuls of his omelet into his mouth between questions.

“Nothing happened,” you hurriedly reply, picking mindlessly at your own breakfast.

“You do realize you’re not hard to read, right? Maybe I can help you learn how to school your expressions a bit better if you don’t want people to know…” Liam muses.

Your attention turns to the door as it’s thrown open and Jude strides in confidently, Ellis at his heels. As your eyes meet his, you quickly look away, avoiding his gaze. You knew it was no use, you could already hear Jude’s scoff before slender fingers tug at the chain around your neck and you feel your patience snap.

“What are you doing?” You growl, glaring up at Jude pointedly. Taken aback, Jude gives you a dubious look before sighing.

“Figuring out what the hell crawled into your bed and died. You’ve been moping and avoiding me all week. Speak.”

“No thank you,” was the only reply you afforded him, instead shaking off his grip on your chain and leaving the room.

How could he not realize what was making you upset? Sure, he may find it childish and stupid, but he could at least have told you he wasn’t ever going to wear it. Your mind is racing as you stalk into Jude’s room, heading for the end table he surely would have left the necklace on.

However, you’re not able to find a trace of the gift anywhere in his room. You hear the door click closed behind you and swift footsteps approach you.

“You lookin’ for something, princess?” Jude grumbles, staying a few paces back and granting you the space he knew you would need right now.

“I was going to take the necklace back since it was a dumb idea anyway. It’s just a useless object collecting dust so I figured I could at least get my money back for it,” You choke out, trying desperately not to let your emotions take control.

“That’s what you’re mad about?” Jude asks, his voice is laced with genuine surprise and when you turn to glare at him you see him shrug out of his jacket.

Slowly, his hands move up to his shirt and begin unbuttoning the top few buttons. Tugging the collar to the side, you see the familiar glint of silver against his pale skin and feel your breath catch.

“You’re wearing it?” You whisper incredulously, fingers trembling slightly with confusion and relief.

“’Course I’m wearing it. Kinda pointless for you to be the only one wearing part of the set.” Jude’s words, while cold, are clearly full of affection as he watches you tentatively walk toward him.

You reach out a hand and feel the metal, warm from his body heat, and you let out a breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding.

“I ain’t giving it back, princess. A gift’s a gift and this is mine. You’re bound to me forever, remember?” Jude murmurs, fixing you with his deep amethyst stare.

“I…” words escape you and all you can think to do in that moment is wrap your arms around him and hug him closely.

“What am I gonna do with you?” Jude sighs, chuckling softly as he embraces you, holding you against his body and smoothing your hair with one hand.

Taglist: @judejazza @aquagirl1978, @themiscarnival @abundance-pathchooser @xbalayage @maries-gallery @randonauticrap @queengiuliettafirstlady @candied-boys

[chiscribbs]

Apocalypse Future Donnie Concepts

I wasn't actually planning on posting these until I had a definitive final design to share alongside them, but- It's probably going to be a while before that happens and I feel bad for how inactive this blog has been lately. I've been working on stuff, but only in-between projects, and none of it is really ready to post. So, here's a little something to prove that I am still alive. ❤

Donnie's design is so hard to update. It's just...so good in its simplicity??? Every element feels necessary to his character - so figuring out what to keep, what to get rid of, and what to change slightly is a definite challenge. It's even harder when we're given so little (canonical) information about what role he played in the Resistance and what effects the Krang Apocalypse may have had on him...including how long ago he was killed in relation to the movie. Or how he was killed, for that matter.

So, I'm playing around with some potential ideas and trying to get something that feels right - feels like Donnie, but if he had to adapt to the apocalypse (while also trying to stick to the show's simplistic, shape-heavy style, so nothing too terribly detailed or complex.) I'll share a few of these ideas below, for anyone who's interested.

(Also, yes - I know the spot-goatee is in no way an original concept, but I have a deep affection for it and had to include it in my design.)

One of the concepts I'm considering is giving Donnie a prosthetic leg, something to sort of parallel Leo with his Robo-Raph arm. But in Donnie's case, he probably lost his leg long before Raph was killed or maybe even before he built the robots of his family (maybe this serves as the inspiration or catalyst for the idea.) My working theory is that he was attempting to detonate a mine field full of some Krang dogs and something went wrong which caused him to get caught up in the resulting blast. He was lucky enough to keep his life, but lost his leg and probably some of his hearing in the process. Naturally, because it's Donnie (and because they're living through an apocalypse), the leg will be more than just a prosthetic limb - it'll have some kind of weaponry or technological capabilities built into it. Just haven't decided what that's going to be yet, lol.

I'm also toying with the idea of him creating some kind of "Ninpo Protection Device" - something to act as a defense mechanism against the Krang's mystic-cancelling (or, more accurately, locking) abilities. He's testing it on himself before green-lighting it to be used on his brothers (which, obviously, never happens.) The problem is I can't decide how to visibly convey this idea, I was thinking something along the lines of one of those medical aid devices that become permanent attachments to the user's body. But most of the visible parts of his body are covered in natural armor, save for his limbs and head. So figuring out the best placement for a thing like that has been a little challenging.

I was considering giving him a mechanical hand along with/in place of the robotic leg, as well. Reason being - he works primarily with his hands and almost never wears practical protection gear (another thing I tried to partially remedy with the addition of the gloves), so if any part of him is going to be lost, his hands would be the logical first choice. I also think there's a poetic element to the guy who relies on his tech becoming more and more "mechanical" himself (but only in the physical sense). It would also imply that there was a time when he couldn't work as efficiently on his own as he normally is able to, due to having one less hand, so there was likely an adjustment period wherein he had to lean into his mystic abilities (and the aid of others around him) far more than he's used to doing. A little background character development for him, because I love that kind of stuff.

These are about all of the definitive concepts I have for him at the moment, but obviously, I'm nowhere near having a finished design just yet. So, all of these could potentially be scrapped or tweaked in the final version.

If you read this far - kudos! And thanks for your interest! :>

[silver--scar]

hello can you show me how to draw pips and his boyfriends hair :3 I can't draw hair ;-;

Sure thing! I'm not good with guides, but I'd still love to help!

I don't make guides often so this is very messy. Also, I am assuming by 'boyfriend' you meant Damien, as they are paired together the most from what I've seen, but my apologies if I'm wrong!

The guides themselves are pretty self explanatory, but I can add bonus stuff here!

To keep things short, think of Pip's hair like he has a hair care routine. His bob cut is smooth and bouncy, so there isn't much shape aside from the bunched up hair under his cap and the ends, as well as making his hair sort of lumpy or curvy. Also, I've added bangs as he has a tiny fringe under his hat, as seen in newer model like this one!

As for Damien, his hair in the show is rather smooth as well, as seen here.

But he has some spikes like in the bangs or the top of his head! I just added a few more because it's fun, while still trying to keep his original shape (sort of (⁠;⁠ŏ⁠﹏⁠ŏ⁠)). Like keeping most of the hair flat against his head until it juts out in low spikes. I also took the liberty in making his sideburns sharp too!

In 3/4ths, the only differences really are some bits of hair that hides behind the head, or other parts that shift along with the face as it turns. Overall, it stays the same. And since it's a cartoon art style, you can just flip which way the hair is facing when a character turns.

In side profiling, the hair either drastically changes or stays the same.

For example, Pip's bangs are always swooped over his eyes, no matter which way he's facing. But with Damien, the bangs do not change a direction. They simply phase through the top chunks of his hair and become a bit like one piece. All in all, the only thing you have to worry about is not putting the sides of the hair too far back. Always try to keep it in the middle or ahead of the middle. Otherwise, it looks like they're balding or have a mullet/swooped back hair. Just draw your shape, make some adjustments, and erase the head lines that hides behind/under the hair!

And there's not really much else! My art style is pretty simplistic, but always keep in mind that MY WORD IS NOT GOSPEL. Obviously, you don't have to draw this way! Art is a progressive element, and the way you create will always change and morph. Even I will change the way I draw over time, including characters' hair, clothing, etc. Do what you think works for your art or makes you happy! Search up some helpful guides or videos on YouTube to help you get a better understanding of what you want to draw. It takes a whole lot of practice to get used to the different elements in art, but it pays off, I can assure you! My art certainly didn't look the way it does now back when I was a teen.

Regardless, if this guide has left you confused, don't be afraid to ask any more questions! I would love to help out any way I can!