#watching a practice composition video

[wall-eye]

So much of art is just understanding the science of where people look and why

[lunavagans]

Drew a moment from my fix-it fic (link for those interested in the context for this), and DAMN. I have a lot of thoughts about it, most of them very proud ones :D was very unsure about skipping the flat colours entirely at first, but it turned out for the better. Focus was supposed to be on the light and shadows interacting at the hand, after all…

… which is also why I cut out his face. Have the sketch with it, anyway.

LASTLY, GUESS WHO ENROLLED AT THEIR LOCAL UNIVERSITY??

[dazzelmethat]

OH … those artist teachers/YouTubers weren’t lying about ‘do thumbnails’ and ‘draw like a painter’ advice..

[swampjawn]

If you wanted to animate an object spinning really fast, there are three main embellishments at your disposal. You could add smear frames, you could add doubling, or if you wanted to get a little crazy with it, you could have that object bend and stretch to really emphasize the inertia of the motion.

Or you could do all three at the same time!

I didn't want to like Zenshu at first.

Saying I'm not a big fan of isekai as a genre would be an understatement, so I was straight up peeved when I found out that what I initially thought would be a flawed industry's unflinching look in the mirror made by THE studio that has become the symbol of the Japanese animation industry's broader problems with overworking and underpaying, this was just gonna be yet another in a long line of paint-by-numbers escapist power fantasies in a genre that was tired from the moment it was born, just like yaboy, sleepy to the max if you know what I'm saying.

And this recreation of a scene from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), (which was one of the first breakout roles for anime legend and Evangelion director Hideaki Anno) certainly helped soften my attitude towards it, but a series of references to old stuff wouldn't be enough.

(both versions trimmed here)

But its tribute to classic anime and animation in general goes beyond just references.

This absurdly over the top modernized version of a magical girl transformation animated by Keisuke Toyoda (豊田 桂祐 ) feels like it contains all the possibilities of animation and imagination in just 3 preposterously dense cuts. There is just WAY too much going on here at once, in a way that feels very self aware.

Every color you could imagine, lighting from three different directions, what looks like three different layers of effects and sparkles, countless compositing effects, what looks like some sort of 3D particle simulation in the background,

this psychedelic background art that seems to represent Natsuko's blood vessels, a bit where you can see what it took me several episodes to realize are Natsuko's actual blood vessels and skeleton through her body,

and… some birds of course.

Most of the main elements are animated on 2's, but there are so many layers -- the timing of each offset from the rest -- that it almost feels like the whole thing is animated on 1's because there is practically no single frame where at least something doesn't change.

It's really an assault to the senses that contrasts hilariously with the mundane action of actually sitting down at a desk and drawing. There's even a little death note reference thrown in there to poke fun at this contrast!

And fully committing to the sailor moon bit, they repeat this stock animation in almost every episode. While it's no masterpiece plot-wise, it is at least more than I expected on that front too, but that's more than I can get into here. I talk about that some more and a bunch of other stuff in this video, from which this post is an adapted excerpt! Go watch it and comment, "wow sWIMP John, I used to like your videos but you've really fallen off hardcore. Go back to making magic school bus AMVs. Unsubbed."

[seospicybin]

SEOSPICY PREVIEW.

CAM: CHAPTER I.

Hyunjin x reader. (s,a)

Synopsis: Struggling to make ends meet as an art student, Hyunjin never expected his quiet neighbor to change everything. Rumored to be an adult content creator, you offer him a deal—help you with your content, and you’ll help with his financial troubles. What starts as a simple arrangement soon blurs into something more, pulling Hyunjin into a world he never imagined.

Preview under cut!

...

You grab your laptop from the side table and place it on the coffee table in front of you, opening it up with practiced ease. “Okay,” you say, “before we get into details, I think you should see what you’re working with.”

Hyunjin nods hesitantly, watching as you pull up your page on Lustre. The sleek layout fills the screen, and the first thing that catches his eye is your profile picture—a sultry but tasteful shot of you draped in soft, golden light, wearing nothing but a loosely tied silk robe. Your bio is playful, teasing, with a winking emoji at the end. Then, you scroll down.

Hyunjin’s eyes catch on the rows of thumbnails displaying your content. His face heats up instantly.

There are suggestive selfies, carefully posed yet intimate—close-up shots of your lips slightly parted, your fingers toying with the hem of a lace bralette. Some photos show you in bed, bathed in dim lighting, the sheets barely covering your bare skin. Others are more artistic, using shadows and colors to frame your body in ways that feel sensual but not overtly explicit.

Then there are the videos. His breath catches slightly when he sees the previews—short clips of you adjusting the straps of your lingerie, slow movements of fabric sliding down your shoulders, the flicker of a smirk before the video cuts off.

He clenches his jaw, eyes darting anywhere but the screen.

You notice immediately. “Are you blushing?” you tease, tilting your head to look at him.

“No,” he lies, voice tight.

You lean in slightly and playfully bump his shoulder with yours, amusement dancing in your eyes. “You are.”

Hyunjin huffs out a breath, staring at a random spot on the wall. “I just—” He gestures vaguely at the screen. “I wasn’t expecting to see… all that.”

You chuckle, scrolling through the page like it’s the most casual thing in the world. “You’re gonna have to get used to it. If you’re taking my pictures, you’re gonna see a lot more than just thumbnails.”

Hyunjin swallows. Hard.

You watch him struggle for a second before laughing softly. “Relax,” you say, nudging his knee with yours. “I promise I won’t bite.”

Despite your teasing, Hyunjin keeps his gaze locked on the laptop screen as his mind starts to drift. It’s not just the content that has his heart hammering—it’s you. The way you carry yourself, the way you look in your photos and videos. Confident. Beautiful. Completely at ease in your own skin. He wonders if you always look like that, or if it’s something you turn on for the camera. Either way, he can’t deny how stunning you are.

He clears his throat, pushing those thoughts away before they can take root. “I like your content,” he says, trying to keep his voice neutral.

You turn to him, raising a brow. “Oh?”

Realizing how that might’ve sounded, he quickly shakes his head. “I mean—! I didn’t mean it like—” He nervously rubs his lips. “I just meant that… you have a distinct taste. And you actually did great with the artistic elements. The lighting, the composition—it’s impressive.”

A slow smile spreads across your lips, and it’s different from the teasing ones you’ve given him before. This one is softer. Genuine.

“Thank you,” you say, and Hyunjin feels a strange warmth settle in his chest.

He likes the way you’re smiling at him. Not in a way that’s meant to seduce or entertain, but like you actually appreciate his words. It makes him want to say more. To let you know that he really does admire what you’ve built for yourself, that there’s something captivating about you beyond the content you create but he thinks it's best to keep those thoughts to himself.

Your expression shifts, the playful teasing fading as you prop a hand under your chin. “So, what do you think?” you ask, tilting your head slightly. “Any ideas for new content?”

Hyunjin exhales, leaning back against the couch. “I don’t know… What do you usually do to prepare?”

You shrug. “I plan out the concept first, depending on the theme I want to go for. Then I figure out the setup—lighting, camera angles, outfits, or props if I need them. Once that’s done, I shoot everything myself, edit, and post.”

His eyes widen, surprised and impressed all at once. “You do all of that alone?”

“Yeah,” you say simply. “It’s a lot of work, but I’ve gotten used to it.”

He watches you for a moment, considering. “Then… why do you suddenly want me to work for you?”

A small smile tugs at the corners of your lips. “Because I like your art.”

Hyunjin blinks, confused. “What?”

You lean back into the sofa, your eyes flickering with amusement at his reaction. “I saw some of your paintings before.”

That catches him off guard. His brows furrow in intrigue. “When?”

“When you moved into the building,” you admit. “I saw a few canvases when you were carrying them inside. I didn’t say anything back then, but I could tell they were good.”

Hyunjin grips the can in his hands a little tighter. No one’s ever said that to him before—not like that. Sure, his professors give him critiques, and his classmates throw around compliments in passing, but no one has ever told him they like his art in such a simple, assured way.

And it’s not just empty flattery. You didn’t even need to say it. You could’ve just left it at needing a photographer, but instead, you told him you liked his work—like it meant something to you.

A strange warmth spreads in his chest, unfamiliar yet comforting. He clears his throat, willing away the feeling before it shows on his face. He keeps his gaze on the table, pretending to focus on the laptop screen.

“So… what exactly do you want me to do?” he asks, keeping his voice steady.

You smile knowingly, as if you already saw through him. But instead of pushing, you shift back to business. “Let’s start by figuring out a new concept together.”

...

Full fic will be released this Friday, April 4th. Or you can read it early on my Patreon:

[mooomuzan]

— drinks or coffee? ; jjk men & bllk men ; first date hc

rooftop dinner ( gojo & kaiser )

they would take you to the fanciest rooftop dinner imaginable, the kind where the menu doesn't even have prices. "Don't worry, babe, it's all on me," they'd say with a grin, ordering the most expensive champagne just to impress you.

spending half the night teasing you, leaning in too close and smirking every time you get flustered. But when the conversation deepens, he surprises you with his insight and how intently he listens to you, even leaning forward slightly as if hanging onto your every word.

as the evening ends, they make sure to call a car for you, but not before gently brushing a strand of hair behind your ear and murmuring, "I had fun tonight. Let's do this again."

tucked-away coffee shop ( megumi & rin )

would take you somewhere quiet, like a late-night park stroll or a hidden coffee shop, both avoiding loud crowds like the plague. Trying to act cool and uninterested but side-eyeing you the entire time, making sure you're enjoying yourself.

awkward at first, hands shoved deep into their pockets as they avoid meeting your gaze, still noticing the little things about you, like how your eyes light up at certain pastries or the careful decoration or how you instinctively fix your hair when you're nervous.

by the end of the date, they'd walk you home in silence, the cool air filled with unspoken tension. When you thank them, they just nod, but the slight redness on their ears would give them away.

arcade ( yuji & isagi )

they'd love the idea of an arcade date, practically bouncing with excitement as they lead you inside. "Let's try everything!" they say, grabbing your hand and dragging you to the nearest game. While Isagi would be a mix of competitive and adorably nervous, especially when you beat him at a few games, Yuji would be hilariously bad at most of the games but doesn't care, laughing along with you and celebrating every small win like it's the greatest thing ever.

they insist on winning you a prize from the claw machine, muttering, "Okay, one more try," about ten times before finally handing you the plushie with a triumphant grin.

by end of the date, their cheeks would be flushed from laughing so much, and as they walk you home, they keep glancing at you like they can't believe you're real.

netflix and chill ( toji & nagi )

now there would be a shift in dynamics here! while Nagi would be too lazy for anything fancy outside, inviting you to his place to chill and play video games, Toji would just enjoy the casualty of staying in, wine and takeout.

of course, Nagi would be surprisingly good at making you laugh with his dry, offhanded comments about the game, and he doesn't even complain when you beat him. Toji, on the other hand, would be casual and teasing, but there's a warmth to the way he makes sure you're comfortable, throwing a blanket over you when you get cold without saying a word.

as the date winds down, they'd lean back on the couch, watching you with a small smile and muttering, "You're not half bad, y'know." For them, that's practically a confession. (bonus points for Nagi being casually touchy but never crossing boundaries.)

art museum ( nanami & sae )

for them, a quiet art museum date is ideal. They'd walk beside you in contemplative silence. When you linger too long at a particularly confusing abstract piece, they'd raise an eyebrow, saying "I suppose art is subjective," with a small smirk, letting you enjoy it without judgment.

their answers to questions about the art are minimal and to the point, like "It's fine" or "The composition's balanced." You find it frustrating but charming in a way.

before you leave, Sae'd hand you a small print of your favorite piece of art, his usual nonchalant attitude masking the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. "I notice things," he says with a shrug, but the subtle warmth in his eyes betrays him, while Nanami would let you browse the gift shop but insists on paying for whatever you choose, slipping the cashier the money before you can protest. When you thank him, he responds, "It's nothing," but you can see the soft smile hiding behind his usually calm exterior.

[gingerteafairy]

𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓹𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷

Love potions work and don't require magic. You just a charming bartender with a sugary smooth talk. tags n warnings: smut/mdni, bartender!alex x fem!reader, temperature play, licking, little dry humping as usual, drink kink, drunk sex. word count: 4.3k masterlist

@ikkyfics that video inspired the hell out of me, thank you for being my friend, this is for you. a little nasty, but it's a gift

It was your first time in a pub. Since your teenage years, you’d fantasized about it, maybe influenced by the romantic movies you watched. The space was small but cozy, with an almost secret charm, as if you had just discovered a cave filled with new sensations. The woody scent of the furniture blended with the perfume of alcohol and cologne, creating an inviting atmosphere.

You walked in, adjusting your outfit—perhaps a little too sophisticated for the occasion. You made your way to the bar, the sound of your heels softly echoing against the floor. The place wasn’t crowded, and you sighed in relief when you found an empty seat. You sat down, crossing your legs, the fabric of your clothes gliding over your skin.

Your gaze wandered around the bar, landing on one of the bartenders. He shook a cocktail shaker with skill, and the emerald liquid poured smoothly into the customer’s glass. It looked delicious; you found yourself making plans to try it later. The girl grabbed her drink and moved to a corner, leaving room for the curly-haired bartender to approach.

“Good evening,” he greeted you, his voice full of natural charisma. A charming smile played on his lips as he threw a towel over his shoulder. “What can I get for you tonight?”

“Good evening…” you replied, hesitating. The drinks you’d researched online vanished from your mind like locked characters in a game. You bit your lip before admitting, “Well… it’s my first time in a pub. I don’t know what to order.”

He raised an eyebrow, a playful sparkle in his eyes. “Lucky for you, it’s not crowded tonight.” With a corner smile, he quickly crouched down to grab something under the counter. “Here, this is the menu. If you want, I can make a few for you.”

“Would you do that?” you asked, your voice clearly full of expectation.

He shrugged, his response casual. “It’s fun. Look.”

Before you could answer, he was already in motion. You watched as he grabbed bottles and utensils, his movements precise and agile. There was something fascinating about the way he worked—like an alchemist mixing unknown potions, each ingredient transforming right before your eyes. The vibrant colors, the shine of the alcohol under the bar lights… it was almost hypnotic.

When he finished, he lined up six glasses in front of you, each with a unique color and composition.

“Mojito. Margarita. Negroni. Martini. Piña Colada. Cosmopolitan,” he pointed to each one, and at the end, he touched his own chest with a smile. “Alex.”

You laughed, surprised by the confidence with which he included himself on the “menu.”

“Are you on the menu?” you asked, raising an eyebrow, intrigued by the boldness and precision of his flirting.

“Does it bother you?” He tilted his head slightly, his eyes locked on yours as he dried his hands on the towel over his shoulder.

“No… just surprised.” You ran a hand through your hair in an automatic gesture, twirling a strand between your fingers.

“Years of practice in front of the mirror,” he joked, drawing an easy smile from you. There was something magnetic about him—an effortless charm that made everything around feel lighter.

“I recommend starting with the Piña Colada. It’s smooth, sweet, tropical.”

You stared at the decorated glass, the creamy tones looking inviting.

“Sounds interesting.”

“If you want something more refreshing, the Mojito is a good choice. Balanced, not too strong. Doesn’t hit you right away.” He chuckled, sliding two glasses toward you.

You made your choice and took a sip, your eyes widening at the burst of flavor. A satisfied sound escaped involuntarily from your throat, and Alex smiled with evident amusement. You wanted to drink it all at once, but he snapped his fingers in the air.

“Slow down, sweetheart. You don’t want to get a hangover on your first adventure.”

You laughed, setting the glass on the table, your tongue running over your lips to catch a remnant of the drink.

“Sorry, it’s just so good.” You grabbed a napkin to wipe the corner of your mouth, his gaze following your movements.

“Second round.” He leaned slightly forward, like a host about to reveal a prize. “Something stronger and more sophisticated. Margarita and Cosmopolitan. The best of tequila and vodka, with a fruity touch.”

“You make it sound so good,” you smiled, reaching for the next glass, ready for the next experience.

“It’s because I love Cosmopolitan. I know, it’s cliché. Sex and the City. But I put a double shot of vodka in mine.” He joked defensively, watching you sip the chosen liquid more gently this time, paying attention to every note.

“It’s strong,” you commented, lowering the glass and setting it on the table, feeling the warmth of the alcohol spread through your chest.

Alex raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “You haven’t seen strong yet.” He picked up two glasses with darker colors and placed them in front of you. “Espresso Martini and Negroni. Dry, strong, citrusy.”

“Wow, you convinced me.” You laughed, impressed by his ability to make even a drink choice feel irresistible. Grabbing one of the glasses, you brought it to your lips more cautiously this time, allowing the liquid to burn slightly down your throat before swallowing.

"Yes. Just a second." He moved away casually, going to attend to a new customer—the woman who had just arrived at the bar.

You should just stick to your drink, but for some reason, it bothered you. There was no reason to feel a little pang in your chest, but you felt it anyway. A subtle bitterness, like an echo of that drink. Dry, strong, citrusy.

You shook your head, pushing away foolish thoughts. He was just doing his job. Deluded. Yes, definitely.

When Alex returned, his eyes scanned the glasses and landed on you, noticing that the level of your drink had dropped considerably.

"Someone really liked this drink," he joked, crossing his arms, the work towel still hanging on his shoulder.

You shrugged, feeling the warmth of the alcohol beginning to blur the line between rationality and impulse.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, watching you with a mix of amusement and caution.

"A little dizzy," you admitted, resting your elbow on the table to hide the slight instability.

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head with a half-smile. "Too bad... I was hoping to have some fun with you."

The words escaped before you could filter them. "You still can."

Maybe it was the alcohol loosening your tongue, or maybe it was just the Alex effect on you.

He chuckled softly but shook his head. "I don’t like taking advantage of others." The smile he gave was polite, genuine. He grabbed your empty glasses and turned, walking to the back of the bar.

He was ethical, too. Men like Alex had been extinct, you were sure of it. But then, just before disappearing completely, he stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"You know, you seem like a really cool person," he said, spinning the glass in his hands, thoughtful. "I have a solution for this."

"What?" You leaned slightly over the counter, intrigued.

"I’ll get like you," he said, grabbing an empty glass and mixing some drinks without even consulting a recipe. He brought it to his lips and downed it all at once. "My shift ends soon. By then, I should be starting to get a little tipsy."

You widened your eyes, letting out a surprised laugh. "Oh my God. You really are amazing."

Excited, you reached out to grab another drink, but he was quicker and moved the glasses out of your reach.

"That’s enough juice," he joked, swapping the drink for a pitcher of water and pouring you a glass. "Drink this. It’ll help."

"Fiiine…" you grumbled playfully before bringing the glass to your lips.

You weren’t sure if it was the alcohol or the magnetic effect of Alex, but you spent a long time smiling like a fool. You tried to hide it, covering part of your face with your hand whenever your gazes met. But it was useless. He noticed.

Every now and then, he’d take another small sip, just enough to keep him present at work, but noticeable enough that his energy started to shift. He laughed more, cracked more jokes. He became even more charming—if that was even possible.

When his shift finally ended, you felt a little more sober. He, on the other hand, was starting to look visibly cheerful, his posture relaxed and his smile more effortless.

"How’s it going?" He asked, circling the bar to meet you face-to-face.

You looked up, realizing just how tall he was.

And, up close, even more handsome.

"Wow, you’re gorgeous," Alex murmured, leaning in closer, his eyes scanning your face as if he wanted to memorize every detail.

The proximity lasted only an instant before he pulled back, letting out a nervous laugh and running his hand through his curly hair. "Oh my God, sorry. What am I doing?"

You laughed, the effect of the alcohol and his presence making everything easier, lighter. You grabbed his hands, feeling the warmth of his skin against yours.

"No. Come closer again."

Alex paused for a moment, as if processing your words, then smiled, interlacing his fingers with yours. Slowly, he brought your hand to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on your fingers. His soft laugh filled the space between you, and he tilted his head slightly, fascinated by the way a lock of your hair slid to the side with the movement.

"Come with me," he said, pulling you by the hand.

Without hesitation, you followed him, crossing a side door that led to a narrow staircase lit by dim yellow lights. He stumbled on the first few steps, laughing at his own slip, and you laughed too, holding his hand tightly until you reached the top.

Alex unlocked a door with a key, stepping inside first and glancing around before making space for you.

"Where are we?" you asked, surveying the cozy environment. It was small like the bar downstairs, but much more organized.

"My place," he smiled, spinning the key in the lock before tossing it into a bowl on a table.

"Above the bar?" You raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Family business. I’m taking care of it while my parents are away." He stretched, his t-shirt riding up slightly, revealing a strip of pale skin and a provocative waist before he moved closer again. His hand found the small of your back, tracing a slow path to your waist.

"You’re full of surprises," you smiled, feeling a shiver where his fingers glided—firm, yet gentle.

He tilted his head, studying each expression of yours with that intense gaze. The flush on your cheeks gave away the warmth of the alcohol in your system, but there was something more there—something genuine.

"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?" he asked, his thumb giving a lazy massage to your waist.

"You did at the bar," you murmured, looking up and noticing how close your faces were. "But I still don’t know how to respond to that."

"Respond like this."

The whisper came before the touch. Alex closed the distance between you, his lips finding yours with the same softness as the Piña Colada you had tasted minutes earlier. But there was something more in his kiss—a mix of all the drinks in the world. A sweet, warm, slightly intoxicating touch.

And you wanted more.

The kiss slowly broke, neither of you wanting to leave that moment.

"Do you always kiss like that, or just when you’re drunk?" you joked, your face breaking into a smile that turned into a carefree laugh.

"I think getting drunk makes me a little desperate," he laughed, pressing another kiss against your lips. "I think I slobber a lot when I’m drunk. Is that bad for you?"

"You think you’re slobbering? Then I must be a fountain," you laughed, not hesitating to steal another kiss from him, using his arms as support to lean in.

“I like things a little wet.” He teased with a sideways smile and you knew exactly what he was talking about, judging by the hoarseness of his voice. “Have you ever had drunk sex?”

“No.” You said, feeling your heart race at Alex’s implicit suggestion. “Actually, I’ve never done what I’m doing now. Going up to the apartment of a bartender I just met.”

“Fuck.” He laughed, leaning his head against yours with more force than he planned, groaning in pain, smoothing his forehead. “My God, I must be really drunk. Sorry.”

“No plobrem. Pro. Prob. How do you say that word?” Your laughter became loud as you massaged your forehead. He took your hand away and kissed the spot, as an apology.

“I don’t invite a drunk to my apartment either.” He expressed, with an amused look through his brown eyes. “I enjoyed the experience with you. When I saw you I thought you were pretty, but in fact you’re ugly. No. Wait. It's the other way around. Beautiful. You. I thought you were beautiful. Holy shit. Forget everything I said now.”

Your bodies swayed with the sweet melody of laughter filling the room. Paying closer attention, it was noticeable that the bar still existed downstairs, small murmurs crackling beneath the floor and the firm chords of Glenn Miller sounding muffled from the speakers downstairs. You stifled your laughter. Alex did the same, trying to camouflage the smile that still insisted on marking his face.

“When I saw you arriving, I thought of offering you Love Potion.” He pondered, starting to sway his body to the light rhythm of Moonlight Serenade in a dance so eloquent to the melody of the song.

You inhaled deeply his perfume, the lingering scent of the extra shot of vodka in the special Cosmopolitan. “What made you think of that possibility?”

“Well… the first reason is because I love that drink. It’d be a perfect cliché to give you a love potion.” He beamed, lowering his hands to your hips to guide them closer to his pelvis, making you feel his aroused state discreetly. “Vodka. Peach liqueur. Cranberry juice and prosecco.”

“It looks delicious.” You hummed, your mouth opening slightly at the sensation of the light friction between the tissues. “And the second reason?”

“The drink is pink.” He smiled widely, laughing even before the answer that would follow was so comical and erogenous. “I would ask you nonchalantly: you know what else is pink? But I thought that would be sexual harassment.”

“You really think of everything, don’t you?” Your smile widened as you closed your eyes, waiting for Alex’s next kiss. His lips met yours with an almost lazy softness, as if he savored every second of the contact.

“I think about a lot of things.” He murmured against your mouth before pulling away just enough to watch your face. His thumb slid across your cheek, tracing a distracted path. “My mind never stops. I actually thought of something else for tonight while you were drinking.” 

His husky, casual tone sent a shiver down your spine. Alex placed one last peck on your lips before turning and starting to walk towards the kitchen. “Come here.” 

You followed him without hesitation, watching his every move as if trying to decipher his thoughts. He opened the refrigerator and began to take out some ingredients, his eyes focused on what he was doing. Rum. Strawberries. Lemon. Sugar. His shirt was slightly wrinkled, his hair messy, but still, he seemed to own every space around him. Washing his hands quickly, Alex grabbed a lemon and cut it in half with precision. Without a juicer, he improvised, holding the fruit over a glass and using the palm of his hand as a sieve to keep the seeds from falling out. The juice dripped slowly, the citrus aroma mixing with his already intoxicating smell.

The strawberries came next. He picked up a pestle, crushing the berries at the bottom of the glass with a controlled movement, his fingers firm around the wood. The sugar was added next, dissolving into the red mixture before he finally topped it all off with the amber rum.

You didn’t even realize you were biting your lip until Alex grabbed a few ice cubes and dropped them into the glass, the sound of the ice clinking against the glass. He looked up at you, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth when he noticed your expectant expression.

“Let’s head to my bedroom.”

His voice was low, almost an invitation, almost an order. Alex placed a hand on your waist, his touch warm even over the thin fabric of your clothes, and guided you to the bed without rushing, without letting go of you for a second.

When you reached the bedroom, he left the glass on the dresser, the ruby-colored liquid shining under the low light. Then, he turned to you, stopping for a few seconds to simply observe. His gaze traveled over every detail of you, as if he wanted to memorize your image.

He approached you again. This time, the kiss came slower, deeper. His mouth slid over yours with an almost torturous patience, his tongue tracing lazy paths, while one of his hands went up to the back of your neck, his fingers sliding through your hair. It was a kiss that felt like a long sip of something strong and addictive.

He pulled away briefly, his hands tugging at the hem of his own shirt before pulling it over his head in a carefree movement. The fabric slid easily, revealing skin warmed by the soft light of the room. Your eyes instinctively scanned his silhouette, watching the way his muscles moved beneath his skin as he tossed his shirt aside.

For some reason, that made you move too. Your fingers found the hem of your dress, and without thinking much, you pulled it up, feeling the fabric slide against your skin before falling onto the bed. Alex smirked at your gesture, but didn't say anything. He just picked up the glass from the dresser, bringing it to his lips for a slow sip. The clink of ice against the glass echoed through the room, and for a moment, your eyes fixed on the way he tasted the drink, the way his lips curved around the rim of the glass. 

Without looking away, he handed you the drink. The glass was now in your possession, the citrus and sweet aroma arriving before the liquid even touched your mouth. The fresh and slightly burning taste of rum slid across your tongue, the touch of the cold drink contrasting with the heat that your body was beginning to feel. 

A sudden need to settle down better took over you. As if the mattress was silently calling you, as if that moment demanded more surrender. Without hesitation, you lay down, feeling the weight of the bed adjust to your body. Alex just watched, his expression softening for a second, before leaning over you, his eyes filled with an intensity stronger than the rum itself.

“People do that at parties. It might be a little gross, but I’ve always wanted to try it.” He whispered against your mouth, his dark eyes fixed on yours as he pulled the dark jeans off your body. 

“What do they do?” You dared, biting your lip in anticipation, the excitement screaming inside your body. Alex bent down to kiss you quickly, smiling against your mouth before lifting a little and picking up the glass. 

He caught the ice in his mouth, keeping it in his cheek, returning with a lascivious look to your body. Leaning back down, you understood what that meant. The cold sensation spread to your neck. The ice locking an indescribable sensation in your collarbone. You couldn’t help but gasp, a shiver running down your spine as Alex began to slide the ice over your breasts, pulling your bra to the side. Taking the ice out of his mouth, he licked your nipple with his cold tongue, closing his eyes to memorize the sensation. There was no way to describe that feeling, you just allowed yourself to enjoy it, punishing Alex’s curls in your fingers.

“Was it bad?” He asked, standing up to glimpse his flushed, uneven face.

You bit your lip, wetting it before you started to speak. “No, it was… intense.” Your voice was thin as a moan, certain that Alex could see how wet you were and not just from the ice that was melting on your sternum.

“Wanna try?” He suggested, biting your shoulder.

“Yeah.” You purred, finding the strength to get up from the bed, sitting on your knees. You grabbed the glass and poured the sweet liquid down your throat, stopping for swallowing before savoring how it felt in Alex’s kiss.

You took the ice in your mouth and did the same step, sitting on Alex’s lap, his thick erection covered only by the thin fabric of his navy blue underwear. Placing the ice on your fingers, you slid your icy tongue down Alex’s flushed neck. He groaned, pulling your hips onto his lap, forcing them down.

Placing the ice back in your mouth, you went down to his chest, kissing the spot and sliding back down to his jaw. He grabbed your thighs in a stronger movement, not taking another second of teasing and kissing your mouth.

You broke the kiss quickly to remove the ice and kiss him hungrily, enjoying the hot and cold sensation. Alex pulled his cock out of his underwear impatiently, opening the drawer on the side of the bed and pulling out a condom, rapidly taking it.

Sliding the plastic around his cock, he pulled your panties to the side. You adjusted your position so he could stuff himself inside you. He pushed inside, groaning loudly when his entire length was inside your warm walls.

“Fuck, you’re so hot.” ​​He whimpered, pulling his hips back and forth, his eyebrows knitted together as he looked at your sexes touching between the forgotten fabrics. “Your pussy is so damn good.”

He threw his head back, his fingers buried in the soft flesh of your bum. You leaned forward, humming as you felt the thickness touch your spot. Your eyes watering with overwhelming pleasure. Alex opened his eyes, grabbing the glass from the dresser again and pouring some of the drink on your neck, licking the sweet skin hungrily. You moaned louder, your hands going straight to his brown hair, pulling it with trembling hands. 

“Alex. God— This feels so good. I can feel it on my— Fuck.” You couldn’t finish a single sentence, your system only focusing on Alex’s cock abusing your needy pussy, swallowing the entire length without complaining. 

“Kiss me.” He pleaded and you nodded, chasing his sweet lips, sometimes breaking the kiss with uncontrollable moans and pants, his hands sliding and squeezing harshly between your neck and breast, incapable of controlling his body. 

“Alex— Alex…” The name escaped, like the only anchor at the moment, your eyes cloudy. Alex’s tongue circling yours, his hips starting to move against yours, the smacking sound of flesh echoing through the room. 

“That’s it. That’s it. Fuck, doll. If you keep talking like that, I’m going to—hmmmm—come too fast and not even enjoy your pussy.” He whined, the tip of his cock sensitive against your cervix, his balls starting to betray his approaching climax. “So perfect. Shit.”

“Yeah? Then come.” You begged kittenish, your hips uncontrollably moving against him, forward, sideways, backward, up, down. Your body screaming for orgasm you knew it’d be hard like any other you had before. “Alex—”

“Gonna cum, gonna cum.” He warned, embracing your shivering body, grounding his feet on the bed and starting to force his hips up and down harder. “I’m so fucking close.”

“Alex, please don’t stop. Shit, i’m cumming.” You whimpered, burying your face on his neck, loud moans tearing from your throat as he fucked your pussy without the slightest mercy, moaning nonsense in your ear, babbling brainless as he engorded your cunt. 

His thrusts became more uneven, out of rhythm. He shutted his eyes, your walls squeezing his cock making him roll his eyes and spill out the pleasure.

“Oh, Alex. No. Alex, it’s too much.” You protested, your thighs aching and shaking from the position. Alex kissed your disheveled face, prolonging the sensation even more.

“Shhh. Hold on—just a little longer, love. Hold on for me, go on.” He groaned, grabbing your hair, one last thrust being given as he felt the cum all released. You were still moaning when he was slowly stopping, feeling him soften inside you. “That’s it… That’s it, so good for me. You take me so well.”

He kissed your face, moving your messy hair to kiss you more intensely, a long, loving kiss. You reluctantly got off of him, feeling the emptiness return as he stood up and went to the bathroom to discard the stuffed condom. He came back to bed with a damp towel, drying the remaining liquid that was still on your neck and the sweat from your face.

“Better?” He asked, leaving the towel aside to lie down next to you.

“Yes. It couldn’t be better.” You smiled, settling into a caring hug in Alex's arms.

“Good. I guess the love potion worked.” He joked, pulling a sheet to cover your semi-naked bodies. “Although that wasn't a Love Potion. It was a Strawberry Daiquiri.”

“It worked. I loved it. Thanks for all the drinks.” You grinned, seeking Alex's contact closer, while he left gentle kisses on your forehead, turning to the side to hug you freely, letting the tiredness and the drink envelop you both in a deep and well-deserved sleep after so many experiences in the same day.

[nikonladyz4]

Rollingstone Article about Jimin - Well Written.

Jimin, the birth of a muse 

New

13 hours ago

BY. Isak Choi

Only those with their own stories can become the main characters of the stage. Jimin's story becomes even more ecstatic in his second solo album [MUSE] (2024). The title song <Who> entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 31 weeks (as of March 4, 2025). Jimin is writing a new history for K-pop by repeatedly making reverse runs on the Billboard main chart, which is the dream and symbol of success for all musicians around the world. The 31-week entry is the longest entry record for a K-pop soloist, tied with PSY's <Gangnam Style> 12 years ago. Even though it was released during his military service and there was no full-scale promotion, Jimin left his own mark with his sweet and commanding vocals and performance.

The title track of his first solo album, [FACE](2023), <Like Crazy>, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart as soon as he debuted. Following Kyu Sakamoto's <Sukiyaki>, which became the first song by an Asian musician to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1963, Jimin has renewed the top spot for the first time in 60 years as an Asian soloist. With two solo albums that he personally led from composition to performance and visual creation, he proved his clear presence as an artist and his outstanding intuition to continue to survive as a superstar in the competitive global music market.

But the real reason [MUSE] is special is not just because of its high score. In this album, Jimin shows courage to face, determination to confront, and strength to overcome. In an era overflowing with stimulating and temporary topics, Jimin has returned to the basics and solidified his own world by burning with a pure and pure passion for music and the stage. Poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote in <On Music>, "(Music) is something that is in our deepest self and goes beyond us and breaks through." Jimin, who has started a new chapter as a soloist, has been playing music that powerfully goes beyond himself throughout. That is why his presence flows into the deepest self and creates an unforgettable resonance. This infinitely human narrative makes Jimin's stage even more splendid.

​​

The birth of Jimin

If you ask, 'What kind of musician is Jimin?' I would like to introduce this anecdote. After he finished preparing to release [MUSE], he practiced on stage every day with a microphone, even though he could not perform for at least two years before enlisting. He probably would have to start over from the beginning to wake up his muscles in order to precisely implement the performance of <Who>, which he meticulously perfected by watching the rehearsal video over a thousand times, after his discharge. Nevertheless, Jimin persistently focused on the essence until the very last moment. The reason he was able to quietly head towards the fundamentals without being distracted by the fluctuating reality is probably because Jimin is a person who sees far ahead. A person who knows what to do and where he is going is never trapped in the present.

Jimin once said about his first album activities that it felt like "peeling off my skin." This raw expression lets us guess how unfamiliar and intense the atmosphere must have been for him as a veteran singer and a rookie soloist standing on a new stage. For over 10 years, he must have experienced his life completely changing as a singer and as a person before he became 'Jimin'.

Jimin is a gambler. His life has been a series of battles with the reality before his eyes and with himself, and most of them seem to have been successful. However, Jimin's way of winning, as seen in [MUSE], is clearly different. Until now, he had accepted reality as an opponent to compete with, and had achieved extraordinary victories in a world of fierce competition and proof. He expanded this fierce journey and determination into music and included it in his debut album [FACE]. He created the world of soloist Jimin through a narrative of overcoming the emptiness and irritation of reality that makes him shaken by alcohol and winning freedom and purification. However, in [MUSE], harmony stands out more than confrontation. He absorbed and embodied the vivid reality he experienced while producing and promoting his first album and used it as a driving force to break out of the shell. This may be the reason why the intro title of [MUSE], which took a whole year and four months to complete carefully and purely, is 'Rebirth'. The fact that he started producing his second album during the latter half of the recording of his first album and ended up creating an album with such a different approach proves how rigorous he was in the process of reinterpreting his music and life, and how quickly he is growing as a musician.

The rebirth is proven on stage. Performing the title song <Who>, he shows his transformation from BTS Jimin, who has the power to "eat up the stage," to a conductor and protagonist. In a performance centered on theatrical movements designed with live performance in mind, he intersects with numerous characters and creates sparks of relationships and emotions. His role as the protagonist and leading the breathing of the stage is so precise that it brings about catharsis. Jimin's vocals, which have a special tone and texture that sticks in your ears, have long been likened to 'stardust', but in [MUSE], they go further and show explosions and orbits. The rebirth of soloist Jimin shows how much effort and attempt he made to be honest with the belief that 'singers speak through the stage' in a new reality where he has to reset the expressions and movements he has become accustomed to for 10 years.

The official activities of the title <Who> can be said to be all about the stage of 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' in the US, which was filmed in advance before enlistment. The performance time is 3 minutes and 12 seconds. It is a short time to watch a couple of short videos that you can't remember anything about when you turn around. However, Jimin's stage leaves an impression and aftermath that will never evaporate. This is because it contains all the time he went through like a war to complete [MUSE]. Including this stage, the music video, and the dance practice video, Jimin watched the rehearsal video over 1,000 times for just three shots to complete the elaborate performance. He spent a long time of 1 year and 4 months creating an album whose promotion is uncertain before enlistment. This is probably because he knows that the 'class' of music is only the challenge to surpass oneself and the 'layering' of absolute time. Art is history contained in a moment. [MUSE] contains Jimin's determination to capture the infinite without being confined to the reality of limited time and unfamiliar crossroads.

The Birth of a Muse

If you can see the direction of soloist Jimin in the production process, you can see the world in music. [MUSE] is made up of scenes of colorful emotions that only Jimin can describe. Like an omnibus film, this album, with each story and point of view different, tells the story of absolute joy like a carnival, a sad emptiness like the shadow of a big city, and persistent love that spreads through the whole body like awe, with Jimin's expressiveness. If the first album [FACE] was black and white music that swept from the abyss of Jimin, not as an idol, but as a human being, [MUSE] contains a feast of love and inspiration that he explores and expands as an artist. The ecstasy and confusion, passion and drama that these vivid colors and contrasts create is Jimin's world.

The biggest reason Jimin's music feels so colorful is probably because of the tempo. Before his solo activities, he expanded the sophisticated and bold rhythm and expressiveness that he showed through his performances to the entire album. Just as Adagio (very slow) brings sadness and Fortissimo (very loud) brings excitement, tempo in music leads to emotions and narratives. Jimin's solo album has unique emotions that ripple from his own speed, gliding, jumping, and exploding across the stage. In contrast to [FACE], which focused on establishing his identity with music with a unified mood, [MUSE] changes the musical and narrative genres of each track as if he were going on a fun adventure. This time, Jimin shows his competitive spirit, completing the emotions of each track with careful interpretation and expression, and proving his wide spectrum as a musician. In the music that started from the resonance of his origins, you can feel not only the emotions of Jimin as a being, but also his muscles and temperature.

The first track, <Rebirth (Intro)>, which sings of the joy of love with a fairytale-like sensibility, encapsulates Jimin's world. The first album [FACE] showed Jimin's Birth as a soloist. In the second album, he moves on to 'Re'birth. This song captures the moment Jimin opens the door to a new dimension called [MUSE] and takes his first step. The sharp gaze that faced the abyss of the self in [FACE] changes into a light of wonder and optimism, like an innocent being that just hatched from an egg and looks around the world with curious eyes. The black and white world where ash and fire burned becomes a fresh garden full of spring flowers. <Rebirth (Intro)> captures the peak of seasonal changes from [FACE] to [MUSE], and lets Jimin immerse himself in the mystery of life called music. The Muse in Greek mythology is interpreted as a being that gives creative inspiration. The 'muse' in [MUSE] refers to the mysterious world of creative inspiration that Jimin swims in.

<Rebirth (Intro)> is similar in form to the first track <Face-off> from the first album in that it encapsulates the theme of the album, but in essence, it is connected to the double title <Set Me Free Pt. 2>. This song contains a narrative of liberating the self suppressed by fate and being reborn as a new self. In the music video, Jimin, who was locked in a circular prison and danced a primitive dance and yearned for salvation, finally achieves freedom and enters the world of light. <Rebirth (Intro)> is the story of Jimin being liberated from that circular prison. The "pitch-black me" expressed in the lyrics enters the world of [MUSE] for "true love" in order to be reborn and "sing while making eye contact with you." The main character of [FACE] was the 'past me'. In [MUSE], it evolves into 'the present of you and me'. Through the connection of these two seemingly disparate dimensions, Jimin's true world as a musician is born. As a side note, the development where you and I emerge from the pitch-black past and find ourselves shining is quite romantic.

The pre-released song <Smeraldo Garden Marching Band> is a serenade dedicated to his fans, his other muse. It may be a bit complicated, but [MUSE] has two axes of 'muses'. The muse as creative inspiration explained above, and M'US'E, which embodies the 'fans (US)' within 'Jimin (ME)'. This song was inspired by the Beatles' <Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band>. You can see the influence in the long title that ends with 'Band', the track video that was filmed live with live sound, and Jimin wearing a black suit, which is the first thing that comes to mind when talking about Beatles fashion.

However, what is essentially connected to <Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band> is the 'Lonely Hearts Club'. The Lonely Hearts Club refers to an advertisement posted on a bar bulletin board in search of a special someone to fill the loneliness. <Smeraldo Garden Marching Band> is a song about someone sitting alone at a bar table in a big city on a dark night, drinking beer and looking around, and leading them by the hand to 'Smeraldo Garden'. The background of the track video is reminiscent of the Alpine meadows in the movie <The Sound of Music> (1965). In a fairytale-like world where children sing and dance, pollen flies during the day and fireflies light up at night, Jimin sings with love and blessings like a wedding singer. The featuring of Loco, who expressed honest love, is added to convey Jimin's heart of wanting to gift perfect happiness to his fans through music.

In fact, the real pre-released song on this album is the last track, the fan song <Closer Than This>. Released right after Jimin's enlistment, this song conveys a warm message that he will always be by his fans' side, like the moon, his symbol, even at night and during the day when the moon is not visible.

<Slow Dance> sung with Sofia Carson is the only duet song that has been included in Jimin’s solo album to date. “What if Jimin, who has a high and soft vocal range, sang a love ballad between a man and a woman?” If you’ve been keeping an eye on his journey, you’ve probably asked yourself this question at least once, but Jimin has come up with some very interesting results. <Slow Dance> is a romantic band-sound R&B song about a man and a woman in love holding hands and dancing together, vowing to be together forever. When you listen to the song, you imagine a young couple dancing leisurely, looking into each other’s eyes in a warmly lit dance hall among many people, as if they are the only two people in the world. As the main character of this classic scene where the man leads and the woman gives in and dances in pairs, it was inevitable that Jimin would have to think about the role he should play as a male vocalist. The answer he, a romantic Busan man, found was perhaps to be the one who loves more. Jimin savors the lyrics more gently and delicately, conveying the fullness of love. With the sweet harmony of Sofia Carson's soulful vocals, the song creates a very modern and sophisticated mood despite being a classic story.

Sofia Carson's dreamy voice reminds me of the lover's cruel whisper in <Like Crazy>, "I think we could last forever. Trust me." <Slow Dance> is like a happy lucid dream that Jimin in the <Like Crazy> world struggles in the vast loneliness and doesn't want to wake up from.

<Be Mine> follows the lineage of Jimin's 'know-what' songs. It is an Afrobeats song with a lyrical Latin melody that contains a faithful courtship to share love from sun to sun on a tropical island with a hot temperature. It was as popular among fans as the title song <Who>. This is probably because it accurately captured the wish of 'I wish he would do a song like this once'. <Be Mine> is reminiscent of BTS's solo song <Filter> included in [MAP OF THE SOUL: 7] (2020), which is the ancestor of the 'know-what' lineage. It is a seductive and sophisticated Latin pop song, and it received an explosive response that literally turned the fandom upside down when it was performed at a concert. The passionate climax unique to Latin melodies, the exotic percussion sounds that hit deep into the heart, and the unpredictable development are a perfect fit for Jimin, who has a special sense of rhythm. But while <Filter> focused on expressing a seductive atmosphere, <Be Mine> is dedicated to expanding Jimin’s strengths as a vocalist into the genre. Jimin’s solid voice, which adheres to a tight and realistic sound, creates a groove and gives a refreshing and cool feeling.

Sexiness is probably the charm that Jimin can express most easily and overwhelmingly. That is why Jimin is wary of a seductive mood in his solo album. Although <Like Crazy> contains seductive lyrics, it feels like a means of self-defense to hide an intense lack. <Be Mine> is the song that Jimin finds easiest, and therefore requires the most complicated thinking. Fortunately, Jimin seems to have found the answer to how to handle his special weapon.

The title <Who> is a song about emptiness. Emptiness is a longing for something that cannot be reached, a longing for something that has already been lost before it can be had, and yet a completely contradictory emotion that remains absent. Jimin is good at expressing complex emotions. This is because he has an outstanding talent for separating and embodying even the smallest beats. Also, his delicate and unique vocals create unique resonances depending on the composition and harmony, just like an instrument. The spectrum of emotions that he can convey is wide. However, the reason why <Who> has ranked in the upper ranks of the Billboard Hot 100 chart even after 7 months of its release and has broken countless first and best records is not because he has the exemplary conditions to express emptiness. It is because he deeply understands that emotion. <Who> is filled with the despair and wandering, patience and maturity that he confessed in [FACE]. And true music always captures the hearts of the audience.

The music video is reminiscent of the night streets where the main character time-leaps into the future at the end of the movie <Back to the Future> (1985). In a street full of flashing neon signs, screaming protesters, and gusts of wind that can blow away cars, Jimin dances as if he can't hear anything and acts out his loneliness in the crowd. The reverse performance in <Like Crazy> makes his loneliness even more fateful. In <Like Crazy>, Jimin is trapped in his own darkness and rejects all those who reach out to him, so he becomes alone. In <Who>, he approaches first. The pair choreography, which is the climax of the <Like Crazy> performance, where they dance as if facing mirrors but end up not being able to touch each other, is reversed, and he breaks the barrier and goes inside. However, he is unable to find 'Who' in the end, and is left alone in the night streets, completing the emptiness.

Jimin's vocals are particularly outstanding in this song. As a song about an active journey to find 'Who', he shows off his singing style that is as if he is speaking firmly. Jimin controls the chaos of tension and pleasure where sharp guitar riffs and synthesizer sounds boldly collide with his powerful and unique vocals. At the climax where he exclaims refreshingly, "Who is my heart waiting for (Who is the one my heart is waiting for?)", he explodes with the pain of not being able to find 'Who', adding a sense of realism to the song's narrative. The retro sound of early 2000s pop style combined with Jimin's unconventional vocals also allow one to feel an interesting sense of the times. He even released an acoustic version remix recorded right before his enlistment, breaking all the attempts he had made as a vocalist through <Who>.

​

The Birth of a Game Changer

For a solo singer who started out as a group member, the second album is more important than the first. The first album shows identity, and the second shows direction. In less than two years, Jimin has released two albums that are like his alter ego, in which he personally participated in the composition and arrangement of the songs. Not only has he solidified his own identity and direction, he has also achieved unprecedented commercial success. While making ample attempts as a soloist, he has also expanded the group’s narrative by incorporating symbols of the BTS worldview, such as the Smeraldo flower, as the main concept. And despite all this, he is only 29 years old. As a new game changer in the global music market, Jimin’s future is limitless.

[bc-jpeg]

hello i love your art so much, do you perhaps have any tips on character design bc yours are so distinct to me? thank you <3

tysm, anon! I'm glad you like my designs, since you decided to ask me for tips <:D

actually, I don't consider myself very skilled in creating character designs, and I don't really feel like i’m focusing on this in my work, but from the outside view I really like watching this area in my favorite media. I don't know if I can give really working tips, they may not be suitable at all for your creative process and character vision.

here I’ll talk more about creating a design based on an existing image, like minecraft skins, where everything is shown in a very minimalistic way originally and you just have to work from it.

I try to focus as much as possible on the feeling of "is this thing actually suitable for the character or not?", trying to create some kind of composition in the overall design of the character so that everything is in its right place. and that's it, I guess..

I don’t like frequent themed designs that changes every arc/season/smth. in my opinion, yes, it can be beautiful, but it doesn't work at all in my head. some characters TEND to change clothes frequently, sometimes it's literally a character feature that explained by the plot, but it’s not for everyone, I feel. instead, I try to change the original design a little bit for various occasions. especially when you have a base of specific items of clothing, it's a lot of fun to try to keep the same clothes, but changing the shape, details, etc.

I don't like changing the canonical design much, for me it feels wrong by default. but it's still fun to adapt things to your own vision, the main thing is not to get carried away. these frames of the canon makes you think outside the box always, I love it.

logic and practicality are also important to me, simply because that's how I live my life. I’ll obviously choose something practical and comfortable for a daily physical work or a survival games, rather than something fancy. BUT at the same time, I want to do some ordinary practical details fancy still, because it's interesting in the context of practical design.

this doesn’t mean that I’ll assert every detail only on the logic basis, but most often it is so. I like the thinking process itself, how I can adapt a thing so that it works in design both visually and practically and works for the character’s essence.

+ personally, I really like asymmetry in designs, it looks interesting

therefore, I will probably highlight from my entire answer:

— focus on your sense of character, but do not forget about logic and practicality, it’s so useful sometimes.

— try to analyze the character as much as possible so that you can convey many features through their design. shapes and colors are the ultimate basis.

— often look at the design in full picture, so you don’t get some overloaded parts, otherwise the whole design falls apart

[sources with universal advices from professional character designers who have been in their industry for a long time will be useful here, you can find many videos on this topic on youtube]

— references. save as many references as you want, scroll through the pinterest feed at least once a day, there are many unexpected details that can be used to create a character design. artbooks for various media are a very cool thing for this, I dream of a collection of such books.

— if I work on something from scratch, it’s easy to draw a multiple versions of the same design, with some changes, just to see which of them is working the most. also always trying to analyse each of them, “what I like about this version? and what about that?” and etc. after the time you can find a perfect combo of each criteria you like from every versions.

— sometimes also you just have to give it a time, if you doubt some parts of the design.

I tried to think on something more to add here, but for now that’s it-

[elderwisp]

𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘ non-sims interests 𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘

thank you for the tag @living-undead and @changingplumbob ahh, now for the lore drop

��˙⟡♡ Dark Fantasy

But not the AI generated bs, I love watching movies from the 80s that created these whimsical worlds using practical effects. The mixture between mediums was always so impressive! Some of my favorite films are Labyrinth, The NeverEnding Story, 1981 Clash of the Titans (I believe it’s considered to be in that genre), and especially Dark Crystal! I was so happy when Netflix made it into a series and honestly heartbroken when it was cancelled. I also enjoy dark fantasy artwork, I bought these books from the 80s that teach you how to draw in that style and I hope that with time I can be able to apply those skills!

⋆˙⟡♡ Mythology

I had to talk about it I HAD TO- My favorite moments in my youth were visiting the public library and checking out mythology books, travel videos or world history books. The first was Egyptian mythology which sparked an interest in being an archeologist and then came Greek mythology. I think it’s part of why I love writing so much because of all of the great tragedies and comedies. There was always a God linked to a reason why something was happening!

⋆˙⟡♡ Traveling

Traveling was really rare growing up, unless it was a trip to Mexico during the summer and winter breaks. So I would watch a lot of travel shows to pretend I was visiting as a kid hehe! However once I turned 21 I stared going on solo trips and I think that quite literally changed something in me. My time in Seattle was probably the most romantic thing in my life and my time in Santa Fe was the most inspiring. I do wish it was more accessible but I think especially being an American, our focal point of the world is so narrow because everything is so centralized with us. I think of Europe and how it’s a one hour train to another country and that’s such a beautiful thing!

⋆˙⟡♡ Music

I’m not sure if I shared this story on my blog, but I grew up in the pentecostal church so media unless approved by the church was strictly prohibited. I didn’t actually start listening to music until my brother snuck me an album by the Killers (Hot Fuss u will always be famous to me). In the beginning it was mostly the beat of the instruments that I enjoyed, but I think as of late, it’s been the whole composition of a song. Especially when an artist is trying to communicate to you through every end from the quippy lyrics to the use of certain vocals, sounds, beats to elevate what they’re trying to put down. In a way, it’s become it’s own version of storytelling to me or even an autobiography for the musician/musicians

⋆˙⟡♡ Writing

I was gonna try and include something else but writing feels so attached to me that the years I went without it, I was genuinely the most unhappiest I’ve been in my life. I like to daydream a lot. I love to tell a story. I want to publish a book or an actual comic. These are all things that are deeply rooted in desire and so I want to work towards having those things! I think when everything feels complete on my blog, I’d probably take a step back from storytelling and focus on that although I’m really happy that I’m able to come here and put something out there. I think oftentimes I get in my own head about not being good enough but then I have to remind myself that why should I take away a moment of happiness? Writing will through and through be the pinnacle of my interests ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )

i tag: @lynzishell @allfrogsmatter @simbleleven @abcdefhifluvu @alxandergoth

@venriliz @madebycoffee @daniigh0ul @flovoid

[windvexer]

Hi Chicken, has there ever been a time when a spirit took on a random appearance for you - whether through dreams, manifestation, or something else - but the spirit themselves didn't choose the said appearance? For example, the same guardian spirit may appear one way in dreams and another way when conscious? As in cases when they aren't intentionally changing their appearance (or using glamor)? Hope this makes sense.

I don't know if I've had this direct experience. Here are some things I believe about the appearances of spirits:

Many spirits do not have a single discrete form the way physical beings do. A "raven familiar" may primarily take the shape of a bird, but perhaps can also take the form of a person, of a chimera, or of a mist or smoke (that is, inorganic things).

Spirits can choose to present a shape to you, but I believe that whether or not a person can perceive any given form has to do with their own abilities and the strength of that connection. Depending on the practitioner, it may be easier for them to see/project forms that are not necessarily inherent to the spirit.

Therefore, I believe it is possible that a spirit can have many forms, some of which may be easier to reveal under certain circumstances (perhaps dreams versus astral travel), but I also believe that as practitioners we may project appearances that spirits can then 'puppet' or walk into, like one of those FNAF costumes.

This is just complete UPG but here is the model I use that explains such things for me:

Beaming information directly into someone's head is difficult, especially complex information like the detailed appearance of a spiritual form. (Obelon the Fox-Man's true form, a red fox with the head of a man and his tail is a whole snake)

In many cases, it's easier for something already in a person's mind to be called forth and activated. This can result in simple mashups, constrained by your mental models of how things fit together. (Obelon initially appears as a vulpix with a lizard tail)

In cases where a near approximation exists in a practitioner's mind, that may be 'called up' like a thoughtform that the spirit can use for communication, like providing a fish with a robot aquarium suit they can pilot on dry land. (I watch a lot of desert conservation videos so it's easy for Obelon to appear to me as an endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox)

Practitioners can greatly facilitate Seeing spirits in dreams, travel, and trance experiences if they actively work with the spirit to create a detailed understanding of its appearance; once their form is in your thoughts (thoughtform, even) it becomes much easier for them to consistently appear to you that way. (Making a mood board with Obelon of composite images that correctly show his form, so I can imprint it clearly in my mind and replace the simplified vulpix)

Practitioners of skill, those talented in psychism, those who undertake rituals of connection, and those who fortuitously connect during moments of power may more or less easily receive clear and accurate visions of the appearance of their spirits.

If connection is difficult, and no strong thoughtform of the spirit is available, random mashup appearances are possible and can over time become associated with that spirit, thus becoming a self-fulfilling form. (In a dream Obelon appeared as a ginger woman. I learned it was him and now sometimes I dream of him in that form)

Because ability to for the practitioner to connect differs between waking state, dreams, and altered state of consciousness, it is reasonable for me to see how a spirit could more easily be perceived as their true form while you're in a state of connection you have practice in, yet appears randomly or disjointedly while trying to contact you in a state of connection you have less experience in/control over.

Ultimately the ability for the spirit to appear as they are to a practitioner lies at the intersection of the practitioner and spirit's abilities to connect with each other. A part of this includes the practitioner's own skills in areas of trance, psychism, dreamwork, and so on. Another part of this includes the spirit's focus and insistence on appearing accurately.

Even a powerful or correctly-connected spirit may decline to force their true appearance into a practitioner's awareness. In my experience, some spirits will very much care to be perceived as their true or chosen form; others will not care.

Many spirits have multiple forms or can choose any (or nearly any) form.

Making it a project to understand and build a mental model of a spirit's form is both an act of respect and a genuine sorcerous act to deepen connection and facilitate acts of communication.

Therefore, when having trouble seeing or identifying any particular spirit and you cannot yet figure out how they are 'supposed' to look, it's possible to immediately solve the problem by simply choosing a respectful form for them and assigning it to them, letting them take this thoughtform as their own skin as they choose (perhaps providing a selection of 2 or 3). Once the spirit has this skin to pilot, communication may improve by leaps and bounds, opening the doorway to actually figuring out their appearance.

(A decent way to 'blind' build a thoughtform is to apply correspondences of the spirit. Maybe you know they are a water spirit so you choose forms of a blue fish, a blue-tailed mermaid, and a blue-skinned person to provide them with and see which they prefer. This would be a better selection than three humans who are all different shades of blue).

[Anon, I hope this helped - not sure if it actually answered your question]

[sofoklesk]

The Amity of Amity Park Server

For your prompt @ave-aria I decided to rewrite the Boxed Up Fury in a chat-like format

Read also on AO3

--------------------------

CONNECTING…

CONNECTING…

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

WELCOME TO THE AMITY OF AMITY PARK SERVER

RUN BY TF

--------------------------

@/Kwan-tum started a new thread in #comunity-events

Kwan-tum

Guys there are free sandwiches being handed out at the east park

DashingThruMyEnemies

What!? Omw save me some bro

BALANCEYOURLUNCH 🍖🥩🍪🍏🥬

But there were no scheduled food-involving events!!! 😮😮

I need to approve of the sandwich composition!! 🥪

Do NOT eat them before I can check if they are healthy for you!! 🙁

DashingThruMyEnemies

(user send a video)

(video ID: a young man in a white-red jacket munching on a sandwich with a pleased look on his face)

BALANCEYOURLUNCH 🍖🥩🍪🍏🥬

HOW DARE YOU NOT RESPECT MY DIETARY INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’M COMING TO GET YOU UNDISCIPLINED BRAT!!!!😡

pharaoh (¬ ₃ ͡¬)

did you have to, Dash.

did you really have to.

friendly-neighborhood-ghost-boi

You did this to yourself, I’m not dealing with it

DashingThruMyEnemies

WHAT!! No! please Phantom don’t leave me with her

She’ll eat me aliveisjfeusdhf

Kwan-tum

(user send a video)

(video ID: shaky footage shows the underside of a table, red tablecloth draping almost to the ground and hiding the person recording.

Screams can be heard in the background, accompanied by a voice shouting about healthy meals and respect.

Camera lowers below the tablecloth and we can see a figure in a white-red jacket sprinting away across the park, chased by a monstrous meaty creature.)

The thing is she approved the sandwiches first

And then started chasing Dash

You really won’t help him @/friendly-neighborhood-ghost-boi ?

friendly-neighborhood-ghost-boi

No.

GothRepublic

Honestly, he had it coming.

Also how did the lunch lady get access to the chat again @/pharaoh (¬ ₃ ͡¬) ?

pharaoh (¬ ₃ ͡¬)

ghhhhh on it…

TheRealWes

who was handing out the sandwiches again?

DashingThruMyEnemies

Who cares! Come help me!! Please!!!

friendly-neighborhood-ghost-boi

Still no.

--------------------------

@/Pauli-the-queen started a new thread in #comunity-events

Pauli-the-queen

Hi y’all! I’m at the mall right now and guess what 💅

I got these amazing shoes! 👠👠

(user sent a photo)

There is this lovely shoe salesman is giving out free samples!

Star 🌟

Really? For free?

Pauli-the-queen

I found it hard to believe too, but yes

MadelineFenton

Yes, I got a pair as well😊

They pinch a little bit but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?

ParadiseLost

Do they happen to have some for men as well?

Pauli-the-queen

Don’t know, maybe? I was mostly in the high heel section. 💅

MadelineFenton

They do Mr. Lancer, I got a pair for my husband as well.

Jazz-and-Swing

What about me and Danny? Did you get some for us too?

MadelineFenton

There was a ghost attack sweetie, I couldn’t stay for too long.

Jazz-and-Swing

Typical.

danny-boi

can you please not do this in a public server

Pamela-Manson

@/Pauli-the-queen sweetie do you know if they have some D’orsay flats?

Pauli-the-queen

Yes, they do

In black, red and blue 🩷

Pamela-Manson

Thank you ❤️

TheRealWes

why are there people randomly giving out free stuff today?

who was that salesman @/Pauli-the-queen ?

hello???

--------------------------

texting in #casper-high-chat

x_DALE_x

@/Kwan-tum @/DashingThruMyEnemies where the hell are you!?

I’m still waiting for your asses to show up for the practice.

Kwan-tum

We uh

Might come a little late

We are on the other side of the town right now

x_DALE_x

what?!?

DashingThruMyEnemies

Cut us some slack Dale

I almost got killed by a meaty ghost monster

Also consider my laps run

x_DALE_x

how long till you loosers get here??

Kwan-tum

We are in the east park right now

Hold on

Oh hell

x_DALE_x

what is it??

DashingThruMyEnemies

SHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT

AGAIN

(user sent a video)

(“Guyyyys! Report to ghost watch! We are too busy running away!”

Shaky footage is telling of chaos around the boys. The colors seem a bit off in the background, as it is customary for recorded footage taken during a ghost attack. For a while nothing much can be seen, as the poor quality video is shaking too much.

The duo reaches a tree and takes cover.

“Is that Boxy?” Kwan can be partially seen over Dash’s shoulder, confusion evident on his face.

The camera turns over the panicking crowd of park-goers and zooms in on a glitchy figure floating in the air monologuing about something.

Bats are flying everywhere, and a strange box the suspiciously discolored ghost is holding started spewing snakes and frogs.

“Why is he so red?” he continues off-screen, “And how did he get so many animals crammed inside of that thing?”

“That’s what you’re worried about!?” responds his friend, “We need to get out of here!”

The ghost in the video strikes a dramatic pose and yells loud enough for the camera to pick up, “I’m the sherif around here, and now it’s time to meet my deputy – of death!”

Suddenly, a massive ten-headed hydra/dragon comes out of the box he is holding and starts wreaking havoc at scale. Screams of terror can be heard from all directions as the video feed glitches and starts shaking again, cutting out soon after.)

x_DALE_x

SHIT

--------------------------

texting in #ghost-watch

x_DALE_x

(user forwarded a video)

GHOST DRAGON IN EAST PARK

Along a shit ton of ghost animals

And Boxy?

GothRepublic

Phantom and the Fentons are working on it

Anyone who can PLEASE VACATE THE AREA

Also @/x_DALE_x it’s a hydra, not a dragon.

Am I seriously the only person who knows something about mythology around here??

Pamela-Manson

Sammikins, I do not think such a distinction is important, they are all just mindless monsters!

And I hope you are keeping out of the fights, do NOT forget our deal sweetheart. ❤️

--------------------------

texting in #local-news

Studio4Offcial

@/lance-thunder-the-best-weatherman🌩️ have you seen what’s happening in #ghost-watch ? People are counting on us to report what’s happening.

lance-thunder-the-best-weatherman🌩️

I am a weatherman!!!

I will not report on ghost activity again!!!

Studio4Offcial

Get. Out. There.

Larry will await your arrival at the north gate with a camera ready. Remember that your paycheck is counting on you as well.

lance-thunder-the-best-weatherman🌩️

!!...!

Fine.

(user shared a livestream link)

(The livestream starts with an animated Studio 4 News logo that fades away to reveal a blonde man in a suit standing in the ghost infested East Park, with a giant green hydra chasing screaming people clearly visible in the background.

“Things are out of control in Amity Park!

Snakes, frogs, bats and one ten-headed monster are wreaking havoc and overseeing it all appears to be a ghost with inferiority complex who just wants attention!

Well, he certainly got mine! This is Lance Thunder repo-,” his voice was drowned out by an explosive ectoblast that missed his head literally by a hair.

He appeared too stunned to move for a second but once the fact that he nearly died again caught up to him he started to scream and ran off picture.

Whoever was holding the camera did their job, however, and turned to show the poor guy banging at the Studio 4 doors, begging to finally let him in.

The stream ended shortly after.)

BobTheCitizen

I LOVE YOU LANCE

Nicky-1stThunderfan

Great reporting as always!! ❤️

Thank u sm for keeping us informed!☺️😙

--------------------------

@/GregorHU started a new thread in #phanclub(run-by-Pauli)

GregorHU

Phanton just saved my life!

I thought I was done for when that dragon started breathing fire

But then he came! And froze its breath!

I managed to get away thanks to him, he shall forever be my hero

Pauli-the-queen

Finally you get it!

Phantom is amazing in everything he does, of course he is a hero!

Can you still see him?

GregorHU

Yes, he just made a protective dome of some sort

I think that is Foley and Manson under it

Pauli-the-queen

You mean SAM?!

Why does SHE get to be saved by the ghost boy and not me?😑😠

This is so unfair!!

Actually, @/Pamela-Manson isn’t that your daughter in danger? 😮😮😮

Pamela-Manson

Thank you for bringing this to my attention Pauli, she will be in a world of trouble when she gets home. 😤

Pauli-the-queen

Of course, I worry greatly about my friends 😢

GothRepublic

I WILL kill you, Paulina. Slowly. And painfully.

Pamela-Manson

SAM!

--------------------------

texting in #ghost-watch

TheRealWes

(user sent a video)

(High quality video, apparently taken with a telescopic lens and with minimal picture shake. The person recording is at an elevated position, presumably on a roof and we can see Danny Phantom floating through the air, leading a ghost four times his size towards the town centre.

It is not one of the regular specters, but rather a four-armed lady dressed in ancient Greek chiton and fully armed. Even through the lens she emanates power and authority.

When they reach the Box ghost in the center of all the chaos they seem to have a short conversation with him, but he must have said something to anger the lady because when she yelled him down the camera picked it up despite the great distance.

“Your box? YOUR BOX? THAT IS MY BOX!”

Though ghost fights are notoriously hard to capture on camera, the person recording obviously knew what they were doing, and delivered the short yet violent showdown in top sports programme quality.

“You command NOTHING, and you do NOT STEAL FROM ME!”

The Greek woman then took the box from the beaten-up Boxy and somehow sucked all the invading creatures (including the hydra) back inside.

She patted the ghost boy's head in a gesture of praise and proceeded to grab the box ghost by the ear.

Once she turned to leave the video cut to black.)

Star 🌟

Why do you have such good camera? Do you spy on people with it?

danny-boi

He does!

I caught him once looking into my windows with it! :/

I’ve been leaving my blinds closed ever since.

Star 🌟

That is so not cool Weston!

TheRealWes

W

WHAt

IS THis what

…

Just you wait Phantom.

Just.

You wait.

--------------------------

The next day

--------------------------

@/Ishiyama started a thread in #help-a-neighbor

Ishiyama

Can anyone with plumbing expertise please come to Casper High today or tomorrow? Some of the snakes from the invasion yesterday got stuck in the pipes.

BobTheCitizen

On it 👍

[meltypancake]

miss maymay…. begging for a few tips on perspective because my fish brain finds it so hard to understand despite watching so many tutorials and i love how you set your pieces up composition-wise with all the diff angles!! i hope you have a lovely day whenever you read this 🫶 thank you for sharing your gorgeous art!

ANON UR SHO SWEET...!!! i've had this sitting in my inbox for a bit bc i was mulling over what tips i could possibly have...bc frankly i am still very much a perspective noob too HAHA

i don't feel like i could explain it very well, so i must direct you towards people who would do a much better job at that🥹🧎meet me again in 2 years and i hope i will have gained enough skill to provide more tips!! 🫡🫶

perspective for comic book artists by david chelsea great for beginners! explains everything in a comic book format

this fantastic post by devin elle kurtz on how to practice visualizing 3d space!!

the proko video series on perspective

framed perspective vol. 1 & 2 by marcos mateu-mestre this one goes into many of the technical aspects (though i would recommend it more if you've already gotten a foothold into perspective)

[jellazticious]

Do you have any recommendations for art references and or video's that might help me improve as an artist? Your art style is really inspiring to me and I'd love to get better at drawing because I haven't been on that grind recently of doing so!!!

Honestly your best bet is learning the RULES of art instead of the process, at least that's how I did it

I find it easier to NOT do the things that make it wrong than to learn ALL the things that make it good

There's like a million different ways to make art appealing but a lot of them typically avoid the same mistakes. It also makes the learning process customizable for you

To anyone else other than Gongus, I wanna say first that this post is heavily catered to cartoonier art styles but the links are for general art. I will also be laying down a lot of the things I learned from college (multimedia arts course)

Alright, first of all try to dabble up on some character design rules, here's a video that teaches it and a channel that has a series with critiquing people's portfolios

(she's not really insulting the portfolios btw, the thumbnails are just click baity)

Then also learn about the 12 animation principles because it can still be applied to non animation art like comics and stuff

Get yourself some line of action crammed in there. Regardless of art style, a lot of people struggle with stiffness, line of action is the counter attack to it

Optionally, if you're gonna learn line of action then you're gonna be doing gesture drawings to practice it. I suggest going to @adorkastock for reference images

Next up, color also have rules so here's the basics

I only linked that so you can smoothly transition here wjsndndm

But YEAH color fuckery is an underrated art cheat, you can get away with art that looks good without shading if you know how to toy with the colors right

Trouble making thumbnails?

Photography as an art form has got your back. Composition techniques can be applied to the drawing sort of art

Here are my personal tips now skskksks

1. Use your inspirations as reference. I got a sense of solidity when I saw the reference sheets for Wander Over Yonder and copying stylistic aspects from DST, TF2 comics, Clone High, and Pizza Tower.

SPEAKING OF TF2, I also wanna throw in this video about it's character design and other visual aspects (you'd only wanna watch the first half, the rest talks about the characters writingwise)

2. Another thing I do with references to make it easier is draw it at least two times. First time to trace it (directly or eyeballing it. You can also do with skeleton sketch or not but preferably give it a skeleton), then the second or third or fourth is to make it slowly morph into your style.

This will give you a sense of solidity, teaching your hand the traits that should be kept or exaggerated

3. If it looks like ass or you don't like it then that's okay. You DON'T have to post EVERYTHING you make. Sometimes you will feel like you draw a character you've always drawn wonky and that's because you just need to do warm up doodles.

I have SO MUCH sketches that I haven't posted and will never post because they're warm ups. Y'all think Pepperman is hard to draw? Y'all think I draw him good? I have good news for you, I fumble his face more often than not AND THATS OKAY

4. ANOTHER niche technique is to learn the keyboard shortcuts and other functions of your art program. Do not underestimate how much time that can spare you. It's gonna be tricky to find or get used to but it's gonna be so worth it

I learned you can alt+G on Krita one day and it makes a folder for your layers, total game changer. I can move layers at once instead of the old one by one with precision

5. Final note is to do the opposite of everything Vivsiepop does, it does not matter if you like her shows or not because time and time again critiques of her art and writing style breaks SO MANY RULES without UNDERSTANDING why they exist in the first place.

Art is like architecture, you need to know how to make a basic house before going straight for the fucking manor from Hello Neighbor 💥 or else you're never gonna figure out why the living room collapses everytime you flush the toilet

Anyway eeee, that's about everything I can teach, hope these help and if there's anything else to ask or add on, please do so!

[cupcakeslushie]

I have a question and you might’ve been asked before, but animation, do you have any tips for beginners? Love your content btw 🥰

Even tho my degree is in animation I must be honest…😬 nowadays I very often don’t have the patience for anything more complicated than animatics. So I’m trying to stick to tried and true advice lol…

Probably the biggest tip would be that, yes the beginner exercises may be boring, and not look very cool, but they are essential to getting those skills you need down. The flour sack exercise, the wave principle—doing squash and stretch, and timing studies to really nail the way that movements should “flow” properly. These are absolutely necessary skills to master if you want to make fluid animations.

Planning is also another important, but sometimes overlooked aspect of animation. Some ppl (read:me) wanna just jump straight to animating. But planning in those first simplest stages really helps save you headaches in the later stages, when things are getting more complicated and all over the place. Storyboarding helps you plot your timing, choosing where key shots will go, camera angles, pacing ect.

And speaking of camera angles. STUDY STUDY STUDY cinematography! Something doesn’t have to be animated for it to be applied to animation. Perspective is a massive beast to tackle once you start storyboarding and unless you want boring shots and stagnant compositional framing, you need to learn all the ways you can frame a scene and your characters! Idk if you’re up for watching some horror movies, but those are a great source to pull from, as they tend to always frame, pace and even light their shots in really interesting and dynamic ways!

It’s also great to practice with free programs before you spend money on things like a subscription for photoshop or any other fancy software. Most interfaces are similar enough, that beginning with something free like Rough Animator or Blender can give you some good practice before you commit!

That’s all I can think of right now! And sorry if that wasn’t exactly what you were looking for…if you want me to try to give more specific advice on something just drop me another ask—I’m willing to keep rambling on!

Lastly, just few good videos I have saved!

Good traditional habits for digital animators <- basically Toniko Pantoja’s whole channel is a goldmine of knowledge!

Drawing figures in perspective

Every Frame A Painting is also a great channel for breaking down film/composition/writing—there’s a video for virtually every aspect of cinema

-Chuck Jones -the evolution of an artist

-Akira Kurosawa- composing movement

-Satoshi Kon- editing space and time

[mellozheist]

hellooo!! first of all: I ADORE YOU your art is amazing and your animatics are so gorgeous and inspiring!! I'm sure you've already been asked this question but I couldn't find an answer so I figured it couldn't hurt to ask again: what program(s) do you use to animate? What's your process like?? I've been wanting to try and learn to make my own but I have no idea where to start and I figured I should ask a master :P

ello! I appreciated your kind words :D

sorry about the delayed reply, I thought I could have drawn my process out for you but it turns out I don't have enough time so here I go

I use Clip Studio Ex (still on ver.1) only Ex can do animation If you considering buying it

CSP Pro can only animate 12-24 frames which is difficult to work with

I wish to get back on Toonboom but I'm hella out of practice (It's a good program tho, though just not so friendly with beginners)

My process is to find inspiration first, for example

when I do fan animation/animatic like Hermitcraft or Life series

I just listen to the audio or songs on a loop until I have a rough idea in my head of what I want to draw

(When you start something, Just use the idea of "What you want to draw/express" not what others want to see, Just make sure you're having fun, and we can figure out along the way later)

TIP : If you don't feel like starting making animatic right away, I suggest you make other kinds of art for that Idea first, like some sketching art, illustration for catching the vibe you want to go for, or just character design as a reference! :D

after that, make rough sketches, It doesn't have to be pretty, just do a quick sketch so you won't forget the vibe and energy (it can be on paper, I recommend using a pen instead of a pencil cuz you won't have to delete and redraw, just make a new one, it's quicker)

I make re-sketching sometimes to fix composite or make a better pose sometimes, timing and spacing are also very important to make the movement smooth

I make a line of action guide for some difficult movements sometimes

When I do Lineart I just open all the videos to watch while head empty cleaning Lineart

There are many more processes for professional animators

I recommend you check out videos, there are tons on YouTube

here's some that I learned from