#this counts are art right? haha

[alchemiclee]

ayaka, plastic figure fix/repaint!

I decided I wanted to get into 3d figure painting because I have a huge urge to paint figures. I bought a resin printer and all the stuff that goes with 3d printing. I even joined a patreon/discord to get files for figures.

in the discord, someone posted their blog story of their process for repainting some cheap plastic figures. they advised it's a good way to practice when you first start out painting because these figures are cheaper than resin printing. I liked the ayaka figure they got, so I went to aliexpress to find one for myself.

if you're interested in their blog post, you can find it here. they go into more details than I do in some parts, if you're interested in that! (and more pictures since tumblr has a limit)

read my adventure below⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇

she came in the mail with a few broken pieces, but nothing a little super glue probably won't fix. (at the time of writing this, i'm realizing I forgot to purchase glue...) generally she's pretty decent for a cheap plastic bootleg of this impossible-to-get garage kit figure:

the painting inconsistencies are where I come in to get my practice. the broken pieces can be fixed later.

her bangs in the front are top long and cover her eyes so i'll have to figure out how to cut those. the hole for the umbrella is way too small, so I need to figure out how to fix that. but I will focus on painting first.

her eyes are the best painted part. I won't have to mess with those luckily haha. she is clearly supposed to have socks/tights on from the way the model is made and based on the original figure design. I need to paint the leggies! there's a few very small details on her clothes that need some extra added paint. there's some details missing like the little flowers which I will try to add. lastly, the umbrella is a plain blue blob. I plan to add some color and paint flowers onto it before I glue the broke rod back on.

first things she needs to be dismembered! plastic figures aren't the hardest to take apart, but is still a struggle, at least for me it was. in the blog post I shared above, the person used a welding heat tool to get her apart. I don't have anything like that, so I used hot water for the smaller parts (hair, ribbons, vision) and a hair dryer for the legs. you need to soften the plastic/melt the glue to pop things free! I held hair dryer on her butt against the connection point of the legs for 30-60 seconds on highest heat and lowest power, then wiggled the leggies until it cooled down. repeat a few more times until I could twist them and pop them free. unfortunately, the shoe wouldn't come off with either method, so I ended up having to cut it off with a knife. as long as I line it up and glue it on straight, it should be fine. hopefully 😅 the leggies were really stubborn, but with careful heating (while trying not to bend any of the super thin pieces, like the skirt. which also got heated up in the process) I managed to gently twist them off eventually.

the leggies!! they're free!!!!!

now she's ready for painting!

i did the first coat of paint on the legs and a few of the details on a twitch stream to try to test out a painting setup for future painting of figures, as well as test if my VOD tracking I tried to set up worked.....both kind of went wrong 😅 I also broke a few things along the way.

I tried to set up using a tripod with my DSLR camera for high quality video stream. I downloaded a thing enabling me to use it as a webcam. my large tripod was too big to fit in my tiny desk area, so I switched to a smaller tabletop one. somehow, the screw to that tripod broke off in my camera as I was screwing it on.....I have no clue how to remove it. I can no longer use a tripod 😭 I had to set my camera on my desk and have a side angle that made it hard to see anything I was doing on stream. I also had to keep my hands in one place when I like to move them around as I work. it was quite uncomfortable, haha.

the lighting I had set up was too bright, but it was my only option. it's a photography light box with its own built in lighting—very white and very bright. I folded the box so all the flaps were folded in except the one with the lights on it. I had that one sticking straight up at the back and placed a plastic cover over the folded part to paint on. it helped stream see and i could adjust the setting on my camera to keep it from being overexposed, but since my eyes don't have camera settings, I couldn't even tell where I was putting white paint because it was washing it out too much. when I inspected it in another light away from the overpowering white one, I realized I had more paint on it than I thought.

it wasn't the best setup, but it wasn't the worst. I added some silly little things on screen to make it more fun 😆

I managed to finish the first leg coat, do the little hair wrap things (not sure what their called. the white and gold things) and a couple small details on her clothing (fixed some of the gold lines for example because they weren't fully finished)

unfortunately, my VOD tracking didn't work so my video got dmca flagged and twitch decided it shouldn't be published so I decided to just delete it. my stream died after the first 20 minutes survived because my stream died and none of the music in that got flagged, but I didn't actually paint anything within that time because I was trying to make sure my setup was working decently. the painting lasted around 2 hours I believe. then my camera died!

I have decided not to stream the rest of her painting and do it in my spare time. I will work on fixing the VOD tracking. the camera setup is too much of a hassle and I can't charge it while it's in use. I didn't know what else to try until I found (and ordered) a cool overhead mini lamp that also holds your phone so I can basically have a movable desk light and/or use my phone as a webcam for streaming or record video for a time-lapse at the same time! so look forward to that!

between that first painting attempt and the next session, I got another figure in the mail. this one is a mini resin figure and I will have a separate post for her! (link soon)

back to painting ayaka.

my cool desk lamp came in the mail! you can find it here (not sponsored/affiliated! just like the cool lamp. i got the MINI version because small work area) i played with my streaming stuff and turns out they added an easier way to vod track the way i want, either before or after my failed attempt, i'm not sure. i found a way to stream my phone camera to my streamlabs! things are easy to set up for figure painting streams!

I added some details to her clothes and cleaned up some small spots. I added flowers and other small details to kind of match her original outfit. for some reason I decided to add some makeup to her. her mouth looked a little funny so I added some lip gloss and try to make her smile a little more. not sure if that came out well or not 😅 to finish, I did a thin layer of some blue in her hair to give the solid blobs of plastic some subtle variation and also slapped on some sparkly metallic paint to brighten it up a little.

the umbrella was way top plain, so I painted the under side pink and tried my best to paint cherry blossoms on top. i've never been top great at draeimg or painting flowers, so they're a little odd, but it's good enough.

I don't really care for the flowers that came with it, so I planned to add some mini fake flowers. in the end I decided to just use them as well instead of throwing them away, since I needed something to keep the fake flowers more stable. they are a decent filler. the fake paper flowers add a bit more to it, making it feel more full. I have more flowers coming in the mail, so I may add a but more.

I gave up on the plastic base she sits on that goes on the top of the glass. I couldn't get it to stay in place or stick to glue, so she's just sitting inside the glass now, directly on top the flowers, which actually makes her more stable!

I didn't go too adventurous for my first practice paint, but she's better than she was, and I learned a bit from this that I can now apply to 3d prints!

and she's now complete and ready to go live on my shelf!

[artilite]

"Do you know something?"

[biblically-accurate-dca]

if you met an alternate reality version of yourself that was better than you in every single way would that be fucked up or what lol

[undercoverangell]

updated my design for penelope a little :3

[humming-fly]

Bit of a funny year for art! Definitely some feast and famine months in there, with June having basically nothing shifting over to July which was my most prolific artfight season to date haha - a bit more style experimentation this year than in years past which was fun!

[thesilliestcryptid]

it’s mid but whatever the silence of the lambs x longlegs poster!!

heavily inspired by @/godsplatter’s hannibal x longlegs posters

[silverware-is-interesting]

um. billy is breaking it down?

...what? what do you mean that's not what it's called??

i realized that i don't draw things related to bbu NEARLY enough knowing that I've Had Enough of You was my number 1 song on spotify last year. 417 times just in half a year on JUST spotify, if you were wondering. that's a bit over 23 hours.

i think i'm gonna try to do little simplifications to dimitri because; despite how much i like him its hell to draw. why is it the only character with gradients (that i can think of off the top of my head)? i get the chimera would be more complicated, but does he need gradients? (not intended to be an insult to the design btw; i just feel having that much going on might be a bit jarring visually, and hell to replicate)

[asksableye]

(@watchful-lady-of-shadows) Osseth had tried to fit in front of the camera, she really did! But it seemed no matter when she tried the camera and device it was attached to just couldn't capture her full form. Dismayed but not beaten, she decided to just stick her large head in front of it as much as possible. All the Sableye would see is her large snout and parts of her silver plates, but it would have to do.

“Hello!” she greeted with a chirp. “It’s been quite some time since I’ve spoken to mortal pokemon of other realms! I see you are taking care of an egg. I do hope the little one is well! I must ask, however, how is it you plan to care for the little one? Have you gathered the general materials necessary to care for a child?”

OF COURSE I HAVE! I GATHER FOOD FOR MYSELF EVERY DAY, I'VE GOT A NICE SAFE SHELTER, WHAT MORE COULD THEY NEED?

[Conny's smile drops into a face of contemplation, quickly turning to something of horror as he glances around at the dumpster he lives in.]

...

ACTUALLY... NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT...

I. MAYBE. AM. LACKING. IN THINGS. THAT I SHOULD. HAVE. GOTTEN. MAYBE. JUST A LITTLE. I...

DON'T KNOW WHAT JUNIOR'S GOING TO HATCH INTO. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT. EXACTLY. THEY NEED.

BUT I'M SURE I'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME AFTER THEY HATCH TO GET EVERYTHING THEY COULD POSSIBLY NEED!!!!

... right?

[cryptidwithacopiccollection]

Because in the light, you are untouchable.

(flickering gif/possible eyestrain below the cut)

[strawbkiwijuice]

that feel when you turn the villain into the damsel in distress...

[jackalopedaily]

Jackalope Daily Day 302!

[ladychandraofthemoone]

Traintober Day 7:Refreshment

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN DAY!! Have some girlfriends on a date 💜🧡

Bonus their server/waiter/Nia’s little brother:

In my human au, I hc Stuart/Peter Sam would occasionally help the refreshment lady on his free time and I made him a bartender in one of my other aus. He totally helped with the matchmaking and setting up the date. 💚💚

[keii]

I really should stop looking down on my traditional sketches because I can't emulate this kind of feeling in my digital art.

[mintjeru]

keeping myself busy by posting wip screenshots

[rebornofstars]

Hi @la-sera! Your artwork is so intricate and just absolutely stunning, and has inspired me to continue creating for this fandom. I admire you a lot, so I wrote this short piece for you as part of the Fan Joy July challenge based on your artwork. I hope that’s okay!

Legend lifted the torch. Flame danced over the wooden pallet and the body laid out across it: agonisingly, gut-wrenchingly still. Legend forced his eyes away from the light and down. If he squinted through the tears he could almost pretend that the body was just sleeping. That the jumping firelight was a healthy glow in the body’s cheeks; that it masked the rise and fall of a chest. He smeared his wet face across his sleeve, and cupped the body’s face with one hand. “Hyrule…” he whispered. The traveller’s body was cold and quiet, the same as it had been every other time Legend had called the kid’s name. Each time, he felt the same half-second of desperate hope. Of longing. Of denial. “Hyrule… please. Please.”  Each time, his heart was torn apart anew. Legend sniffed. The kid looked peaceful in death. The creases on his brow were smooth. Twilight had laid a spare tunic over the mangled stomach and closed his eyes, just before they lifted him onto the pyre. A gesture of respect for the d— Legend felt more tears escape him. Hyrule was dead. He was dead.  He was dead. The thought was earth-shattering. “I’m b—burning,” he forced out through wet sobs, “your b—your body. Just like you—you made me promise.” He felt a steadying hand at his back. “Do you need help?” Twilight asked. Legend squeezed his eyes shut and shuddered silently. “No,” he lied. “N—no, I’m—good.” “We have to be quick,” Twilight reminded him. “The monsters are approaching. They’re still—” “I know,” said Legend. He brushed his thumb gently along Hyrule’s skin, even though he knew the kid would never feel it. Smooth and cold. Like porcelain. So easily broken. “I know. His blood.” The memories of that fight would be burned into his eyelids forever, red and bright and hot like the flaming torch he held. Hyrule being pinned down by a horde of monsters. The way he arched away from the knife, begging, pleading. The knife as it slid through his skin like butter, and the dark blood that began to bubble out of the cuts. The way it pooled in the hollow of his abdomen. The endless gushing as it coated the monsters’ hands down to the wrist.  Legend blinked the stark images away, hoarse screams ringing in his ears. He tasted bile. How was he supposed to walk away now knowing that he’d failed? That the kid had been ritually sacrificed in the worst way possible? Died seeing his worst fear realised? “I’m sorry,” he choked out, and lowered the torch. The bloodstained clothes caught alight. Hyrule was never going to finish the story he’d been telling Legend to pass the time while they trekked through the endless woods. He was never going to cast another spell or swing a sword or introduce them to his princesses. One day, Legend would forget the way the corners of his eyes used to crinkle when he laughed. “I’m so sorry.”

Fan Joy July Masterpost

"burn my body"

Hyrule dies in his Hyrule. The monsters managed to sacrifice him to resurrect Ganon.

Legend wants to grant Hyrule's last wish: burn my body.

[soyoursoulisgreen]

5, 11, and 30 for the artist ask meme!

5. Estimate of how much of your art you post online vs. the art you keep for yourself

It's increased over time! Well, actually, it's been a bell curve, kind of. Maybe more like a roller coaster lol. Obviously before I was online I wasn't sharing any of the stuff I drew; I drew for about seven years before posting anything - casually, for my own entertainment - and then for a while I was posting almost everything in some form or another; if I didn't post the original doodle, it was because I cleaned it digitally! But I got pretty burnt out on that haha - it does still come and go in cycles lol. Nowadays I probably keep back about 30% of what I draw? Although it can be hard to quantify - if you upload to an audience of zero, is it actually online? Haha ♪ Or an audience of one! Just because it's shared using the internet as a middle man, does that count as "posting"? :0 I don't know! I think it's an interesting question tho!

11. Do you listen to anything while drawing? If so, what

Yes! It really depends on what I'm drawing; my go-tos are always Reddit story readings since I don't have to think too hard about picking one, they last a while, and they keep my auditory brain occupied while my hands and eyes are busy. For a couple days of Requestober, especially the Portal/Stanley Parable days but also the song prompt, I was listening to themed stuff - GLaDOS lines, Narrator lines, the aforementioned song haha. I hate having to stop to pick the next thing! It makes editing my footage harder and throws off my flow :P

30. What piece of yours do you think is underrated

A lot of my Law Abiding Citizen stuff probably - LAC is such a good series!! I wish more people would see it/were still into it. We're few, and I was late to party, but my love still burns! If I had to pick just one thing tho, I think it'd have to go to one of my Just Desserts comics - I cried while drawing it initially, and I still think Charm's transition from her smiling-crying face to her angry-crying face is so well done ♥