#been trying to push myself a bit more and a bit more consistently with art and I'm very happy about it tbh...

[randomyuu]

the way it follows you home, the stories i never told

My guy Vox once again graced us with lovely Goyuu fanfics, and the way it follows you home, the stories i never told, made me go FERAL.

Time travel? Two Gojou Satorus? Double affection for our sunshine Yuuji? Yuuji sandwich? What feels like possible continuation of (you'll whisper, serpent tongue) what you fear you have become???

FUCK.

I need to stop indulging my imagination too much. I should’ve been content with writing long-ass comments but noooooo, my brain goes “you gotta draw it”. DAMMIT VOX, YOU AND YOUR DELICIOUS WRITINGS HHHHHH

So… usually I should’ve picked a favourite scene that is within my drawing capability, but I just… love all three chapters??? So I made a questionable time investment? I can’t stop??? Help???

This is probably the most ambitious fanart project I’ve ever done so far. Fair enough, considering I might combust if I keep these welled-up emotions inside from reading Vox’s Goyuu fics. Fuck.

Fic info:

Title: the way it follows you home, the stories i never told

Author: @voxofthevoid

Pairing: YuuGoGo. Future!Yuuji, Future!Gojou, Teen!Gojou

(idk why I laugh writing YuuGoGo. I’m beyond help)

Currently, it is 3 chapters out of 8. And it’s gonna be NSFW chapter 4 onwards, so don’t forget to read the tags first, folks!

The drawings are under Read More, because I have lots of thoughts surrounding each chapter and drawings. It’ll be hella long if I didn’t hide it here. It was a mess down there. A combination of hours before, during, and after I read said fic. I’d say good luck finding the art among the sea of jumbled words but… you’ll find them easily. Don’t worry about it haha

SPOILERS FOR ALL 3 CHAPTERS! I highly recommend reading those first before diving into these drawings!

Also for the comics, read from right to left please!

From here on, I will be referring to the Future!Gojou as Gojou and the teenage one as Satoru.

Overall, drawing all these is fun! Really fun! This project pushed me quite hard, forcing me to test my limit (because I rarely draw this much back to back). Since this is a combination of drawings and comics, the coloring style will not be consistent. In a way, I want to try some brushes I never get to use, as well as try out my new graphic tablet. Drawing these got me giggling because I was finally able to let loose during line art. It's much easier to do so, and sometimes I just get to reread the fic and giggle to myself for the nth time.

CHAPTER 1:

Whooo. Whooooooooo—

Ok, ok, the premise is just that good. It intrigued me, fascinated me, and I just… oomph. I cannot refuse a Time Travel Yuuji Sandwich. Sign me up.

Honestly, there are two scenes that are just… a bit too clear in my mind when reading this chapter. That would be the one I drew above, and the other is when Yaga called Gojou to come outside of the class. I love, loooove how Vox wrote Satoru’s POV. And when Yuuji fucking giggles?

I lost it.

Can you imagine, drawing Yuuji grins, with shiny stuff, maybe some sunlight, just purely happy and indulging Gojou?

Help me, for I am drowning in my love and adoration for Yuuji.

Page 2 is an experiment on using harsh black as shading (kind of?). I really enjoyed colouring Yuuji, and drawing those buffalo skulls! I wish I can grasp the concept of contrast a bit better tho :v

CHAPTER 2:

This is probably the only chapter where I picture still images instead of comic panels. A bit like those cool chapter covers in mangas. The one I really, really want to draw is the scene with Satoru on the table. Can’t pass the opportunity to highlight Satoru being a brat, albeit a really cool brat.

Cool idea drawing always proves to be a challenge, because of course my artistic skill just so happens to be below the requirement. Thank you, Sketchfab, for the chair and desk’s perspective otherwise I’m screwed lmao

The second scene that I want to draw the most is this:

Gojou is one step away from climbing Yuuji. Also, I have a bit of a problem picturing a man pouting that makes him look crazy instead, so please have Gojou pouting adorably instead. Because, as Yuuji said (with love), Gojou is (also) a brat.

This is possibly my favorite art in this project, after Yuuji's in Chapter 1 page 2. It's clean because I don't have to draw background, and I was having a fun time drawing Yuuji. And Gojou's squishy cheek as well.

Oh, actually, there is a “manga” scene in this chapter. It’s when Yuuji said, “I love Satoru.”

I just—

AAAAAHHHHH YUUJIIIIIII YOU AND VOX ARE GONNA BE THE DEATH OF ME. That secure relationship between Yuuji and Gojou? Satoru’s description of how Yuuji’s smile could blot out the sun??? Not me screaming 💀 I also see bits of hints of possible co-dependency, though I could be reading those wrong, but either way I’m good. Secure and possessive relationships are fun to consume hhhhhh

But yeah. There are too many wholesome Yuuji smiles in this fic, and I… I am not confident enough to draw genuine happiness. It’s too much for me ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿

For this chapter, another reason why I chose these two scenes is just because I want to try and draw cover-worthy pictures of Yuuji and Satoru, and Yuuji and Gojou (cough)

CHAPTER 3:

We start the chapter with Nanamin. Ah, Nanamin. I forgot what his teen self looked like and was surprised to see his design again lmao

I want to draw Yuuji and Nanami scene because… I just want to, I guess. I have never drawn him before (Yaga as well) so that's an interesting challenge. I got two ideas on how I want to draw it. One is a bit painting-esque, and the other one is like another chapter cover. In the end, I chose the cover one because I want to emphasise the difference between teen!Nanami and the Nanami from Yuuji’s original timeline, and how the watch feels like a connection between the same (yet not) person. It’s a bittersweet feeling? In a way?

I’m not really good at explaining my intention ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿

I love Yuuji’s answer to Nanami's question.

AND FINALLY.

A Yuuji SandwichTM scene.

And oh B O I do I love it. Have I told you I like every chapter? I probably have. But this one? Satoru’s curiosity, Yuuji’s on-brand self-deprecation, and Gojou come strolling down to show more of Yuuji to his mini-self. I want to draw this whole scene, from Gojou finding them, feeding Yuuji snacks, bitch-slapping Satoru into the backroom, to Yuuji growling. Them trying to hide a boner from Yuuji’s growl got me cackling so hard I LOVE IT 😭

I love it all. Please love Yuuji in my stead, Satoru and Satonyan :3

Oh! Also! 40-finger Yuuji sounds really, really cool! I’ll be happy with whatever Vox will give us in future chapters, but 40-finger Yuuji… possible scene with this timeline’s Sukuna… my god. The action! The drama! The bloodshed! One can only hope.

However, as much as I love that whole scene, it’s still too much for me :”) I’m still not yet confident in delivering the humour and action. Also my already-long drawing plan had my brain groaning in protest so I can’t push my luck :'D

When Gojou said "He looks sweet, but he's a bit of a beast", I kept picturing Yuuji staring innocently, but there was an edge to his look. As if the moment Satoru looks away, he will pounce. But in the end I just stick with innocent-looking Yuuji because I accidentally drew his eyes that way and I want to keep it in lol

Since Satoru points out how soft and cuddly Yuuji is, I also want to draw soft Yuuji :v

And the last one… is the last scene. For some reason, I read that both Gojou and Satoru share Yuuji’s lap and was having a frustrating yet fun time figuring out how it’s… physically possible, without having their butts on the ground because they both are not small at all. As I lined the art, I reread it again and… perhaps I read it wrong? Satoru is beside Yuuji, and not on his lap? So yeah, this one might be the least accurate, but hey, at least you can view it as a crack drawing or something :v

AAAANNNDDD I HAVE EXCEEDED TODAY’S BRAIN CAPACITY OF FORMING WORDS

Have I told you I love this fic?

…I probably have.

Have an amazing week (❁´▽`❁)*✲ﾟ*

#yuu's art #jjk-fic-fanart #jjk ship #jjk-ship #五悠 #goyuu #goyu #5u #gojou x yuuji #speedrun this bad boy of a project in 3 days #from planning #now I can sleep in peace

[beesmygod]

I saw your answer about art experiences. How do you feel things from literature? I am consistently disconnected from things I try to feel from, like I read The Glass Menagerie and it was good, even, but nothing came of it, and usually it is so much less than that.

I thought it might be something like Having A Coke With You, where the art is superceded by real human relationships — and I actually did understand Having A Coke With You for a while, and it was kind of incredible, but now I look at descriptions that resonated me not two months ago and they're just empty. I don't think having friends did that.

I just want this to be me, I want to feel things so much, especially without looking on it from a consumer's perspective (cf. rayne fisher-quam's standing on the shoulders of complex female characters), which I feel is hindering all of this. I feel like I'm missing out on one of the great experiences of life, the connection and meaning that comes from art.

I watched Greg Guevara's video on art experiences, where he said that everyone is overstimulated and spreading out their art experiences into meaningless social media bits, and I don't know how to change that. I saw a play today and I didn't understand it and I was bored, even, and it didn't change me. I needed it to change me into someone who loved it.

I read Anna Karenina in eighth grade and pushed through it and it was a comfort book and I related to Levin but I don't think I understood it, even (I don't have the book anymore). My friend – I have a bad habit of comparing myself to others, I know, but it's relevant – reads Crime and Punishment and feels things. I couldn't even get through the first part of War and Peace.

I'm sorry for the scatteredness, I write on my phone and I find it difficult to organize my thoughts here. I'm sorry for sending this to you, and I hope you feel free to delete it. Lastly, I'm sorry if you cannot answer this, if this is outside your experience.

i have a weird framing and personal philosophy about this subject that i hope does not come off as unsatisfactory to you but bear with me. i'm pretty sure i know this feeling; this is the feeling i get when i'm exposed to the wondrous, marvelous beauty of unspoiled nature. i could not give two shits about the glorious national parks of this genuinely gorgeous country despite my family dragging me all over the continental US for summer break as far as the family van would take us. i have seen some of the most spectacular sights this country can offer, from the grand canyon to the redwoods of california to the devils tower to yellowstone and so many more. and i tell you i stare at it dead-eyed like a fish. i know i should be feeling something, everyone else is. but when i see old faithful erupt all i could think about was how i could see water at home. absolutely 0 spiritual or emotional connection. even landscape paintings leave me cold. i can appreciate and understand the aesthetic value in what i'm seeing, but its like it stops at my eyes and never penetrates my brain.

but i have just accepted that there are things i simply will not be able to experience in my lifetime. this has always been the case for me being less than 5 ft tall with most things in life, but dont read that as self-pitying lore dropping. because the secret is that it's not really that big of a deal to not be able to do things. i might have 0 memories of yellowstone that aren't "insane thing that happened to us" but as an adult i can pursue things i actually do like instead of trying to force myself to FEEL something my brain isn't wired for.

maybe your relationship with reading is the same. you understand literature's grand purpose in the wide tapestry of history or whatever and have seen people have rapturous moments of artistic connection with specific books, but that experience is completely foreign to you. you can even read a book and enjoy it, like how i think the prismatic spring IS pretty fucking sick, but whatever ethereal feeling youre supposed to feel never materialize. thankfully, i promise you that its not a big deal. and now i never have to visit a national park again until i force my children to go see them because it's good for them or whatever. i can sit at home and experience art i DO get that feeling from.

anyway, in short: read things with no expectations of how you're "supposed" to feel about them and just enjoy a pretty good story. keep throwing yourself into artistic pursuits you do enjoy and feel connected to. and try new ones! you never know what will activate your brain

#long post

[sunglassesmish]

some advice to not losing motivation to make art, because seriously the motivation is the entire battle. it doesn’t matter how good any individual image you make ends up being, you have to build resilience to things not turning out exactly how you’d like them to. 1) draw things you like. pretty much exclusively. if you want to draw misha every day, do that! you will find a way to make each try interesting enough to keep yourself creating. i’ve learned to draw a lot of specific and tedious things (guitars, wings, cars, etc) because of a specific person/character i was especially interested in at the time. i don’t mind so much when things don’t turn out, because i got to spend time engaging in that interest. 2) do not sweat about ‘style’ even a little bit, it’s kind of a myth. particularly when you’re first starting out, the concept of a ‘style’ can be daunting, and you wonder: why doesn’t my art look consistent or have a particular point of view like this experienced artist? and the truly is simply that you cannot box your creativity in that early, you are confined by the constraints of your skill. when you settle into the mechanics of it, your art will automatically start to look like ‘yours’! 3) try 1 new thing with everything you make. whether that’s a new pose, new subject, new tool, new technique, or a new place to sit, it has helped my growth a lot to (within the motivating comfort zone of my favorite things!) push myself artistically in small increments. if you try everything at once it is immediately overwhelming (this is why it’s so easy to quit as soon as you start) but gradually introducing elements and experimenting at an easygoing pace has been so so rewarding for me and helped me grow much more than any sort of rules or drills or criticism. 4) find a person you trust, who builds you up consistently, and share your new endeavor with them. they will almost certainly be excited for you and hype you up about it. this will be important for the days when things don’t turn out how you wish they would, you have someone to say that’s okay and point out something good about it anyway! i hope these tips help some and aren’t too overwhelming 💜 i’m very excited for you and i really believe you can do this and have a great time with it!

this is one of the most thoughtful asks i’ve ever received. thank you for imparting me with your knowledge and trying to help me, i’m answering a bit late but i’ve been following all the advice you gave me and i’m so grateful to you for it.

#anon #ask

[i-like-anything-water]

Really relieved to here you are still posting Chloenette, but either way, I'm going to (Slightly) dial back by including other stuff: Idea 1: Wenclair goes on a double date with Chloenette. Wednesday and Chloe talk about how two "bad girls" like themselves ended up dating a pair of sweethearts, while Marinette shows off her fashion design skills to Enid.

Idea 2: Chloenette, but Chloe and Marinette switch financial situations. Marinette is still nice, but incredibly rich and a bit disconnected from "regular" problems. Chloe is now struggling to get by, and has a big chip on her shoulder about her lot in life.

Idea 3: Chloenette AU where Chloe secretly practices martial arts and enters illegal matches on the streets as a way to vent her frustration and aggression... and somehow ends up with Marinette as her manager as illegal fighting groups begin wanting to recruit her.

I can never give up on any of my ships. They're too precious, ya know?

Idea 1: It starts off with compliments. Their girlfriends are amazing and they want everyone within a ten meter distance to know about it because that's just how they are. They're Addams, it runs in the blood.

The compliments started to get more specific until it had words like 'well my girlfriend is' until the two are just trying to one up each other by trying to compliment their girlfriend that it's more like waxing poetry.

Marinette and Enid are watching from the side as Chloe growls while Wednesday crosses her arms. The two girls sigh as their other halves try (and fail) to intimidate each other.

"You wanna go get ice cream and watch the latest TWICE videos?"

"OMG, yes!"

The two leave and chat as they buy ice cream, Marinette showing some of the designs she thought of when she saw the latest videos and Enid getting excited and gushes on how "so cute!" and "they should totally wear that!".

When they come back Wednesday is already at Chloe's back trying to headlock her. Chloe had transformed to her werebear form and was swatting at Wednesday like a bug.

Idea 2: Reminds me slightly of my Fake Dating AU. Marinette knows she's lucky to be born with wealth and money at her disposal. She doesn't take advantage of it (well, most times) and would rather have her own earnings. Alya teases her how she can be a bit clueless at times regarding financial problems.

She tries to help people as much as she can but Chloe was not most people. She's offered to help the blonde by covering the cost of their paired up projects but she's only met with an indignant huff and a sarcastic reply of, "Don't worry. I'm sure splitting the expenses won't get met out of this place easily."

It's not like she can really blame Chloe. Sure, she was a brat but she was also dealing with a lot of problems. Most problems Marinette haven't had in her sixteen years of living.

It's been eight months since the other girl begrudgingly accepted her (consistent) friendship and well...

"Dupain-Cheng," there's a warning in her voice but Marinette decided it was time to maybe push a little. See how far she can go this time with the blonde.

"Bourgeois," she says it like a tease, her lips turned upward, "Let me pay for our coffee? Come on, just once!"

"You're an insufferable brat."

"Thank you, you taught me well."

"Oh, fuck off. I don't need your money. I can pay for coffee. I'm not a charity case, Dupain-Cheng."

She'd usually give up by now, especially when Chloe uses the 'I can pay for myself and I hate your pity' line. But, she has a plan...

"I know you can, but I also know you want to buy that pretty yellow blanket for Pollen..," she honestly didn't know who Pollen was but guessing from Chloe's stories, it was probably her pet.

A raised brow, "So?"

"So, let me pay for our coffee this time. Get the blanket for the lil fella."

"Dupain-Cheng -"

"Or you could repay me later." Please say yes please say yes please say yes-

"Okay." Yes!

Marinette grinned, "Great! There's this newly opened Japanese restaurant I found and I know you love sushi. Repay me by going with me?"

Chloe's eyes widened, her mouth slightly parted. Her face colored pink as she looked away from the blue haired girl.

"F-fine."

Idea 3: Chloe wasn't sure why she trusted Alix when she said she found her a competent and trustworthy manager for her preferred...hobby. work? lifestyle? honestly she didn't know what to call it but she loved doing it.

She was expecting a stoic stranger, maybe a woman who's seen a lot of things in life to not be worried or deterred about Chloe's job(?). Someone who can come to her matches and strike up deals and competitions with other people while keeping everything professional. She was expecting a coach and a manager.

She was not expecting Dupain-Cheng of all people. Reminder to self: kick Alix's ass next time you meet for brunch.

Marinette, to her credit, did not: stumble, stutter, fluster, speak Adrien's name for the entirety of the conversation, called Chloe a brat or tell her she was lost and she was actually a manager for the build a bear right next to Chloe's favorite diner. So, points for her.

Chloe was still Chloe though. "You seem to be lost."

"And you seem to still be difficult."

A scoff, "Fuck you. Alix is probably laughing at me right now. How did she even get you into this mess? Did she tell you she was looking for someone to manage a newly opened boutique while staring at the boy next store across the street?"

Marinette snorted, "No and I do not stare at the 'boy next store'. That's just rude."

Chloe smirked, "You didn't seem to mind staring at Adrien."

"I was thirteen."

"All I'm hearing is you have a type."

The shorter woman's eyes crinkled in amusement, "Oh? And what is my type, Bourgeois?"

"Nice, perfect, and blonde."

"Hmm, you're right about one thing."

"Perfect?"

"No," Marinette leaned up against her and Chloe felt her breath hitch, "I like them blonde, but I also like them dumb and difficult."

Lol I think I made them too long xD. Thanks for the asks!

#chlonette #wenclair #asks #k7l4d4 #chloe bourgeois #marinette dupain cheng #wednesday addams #enid sinclair

[veilantares]

Fringe Flower

Flower power contained though it burns so bright, masked machines refrain from unleashing it's might

Masks and voidpunk style characters have been my bread and butter for a decent while now, these really lean into my strengths and interests, and works well for the rather limited time I've had to draw things the last year or so... Its my attempt at drawing what I want to see more of, what I want to see from other people, and to some extent, trying the most challenging art I can so I can see how I can push certain shapes and forms even further

The downside is that while my armour detail gets increasingly more intricate, I've had less time to practice expressions, poses and faces. That kinda stuff tends to be what I really like in other peoples art so I'd be interested in improving it myself... though I'm wary of the fact that sometimes I may appreciate something, while not being passionate of making more of it.

I certainly really like plenty of anime for example, but almost never draw straightforward anime fanart. Theres always so much of myself in there that its hard for it to still reflect the original characters

Other stuff like my creature (like, monsters, not humanoids), vehicle, or landscape design are a bit left behind as well, but I've somehow excused myself on those, you can't do absolutely everything after all, and I have enough elements of the first two in my current pictures that it feels like if I want to, I can make a pivot to pieces about those with elements form my current art

On my instagram, which is the best archive of my art as the moment (as I rarely delete art there), the earliest post is on the 27th of January 2020, so I will soon hit three years of consistently making art, so the thought of how to take things further and give a sort of "signature" to my progress has been on my mind a bit more I suppose.

Perhaps this post highlights some of my thinking in more detail, but I'm doing all of this with the understanding that making art at all is at least some minor progress, rather than not making art, where its almost like the work is stalled.

#veilantares #digital art #my art #art #illustration #OC #mech #mecha #biomechanical #voidpunk #knight #character design #creature design #monster girl #monstergirl #cyborg #warrior #poem #original character #demon girl

[eternalglitch]

Hello! I wanted to say that your fic is one of the first that inspired me to try and commit to my own art. I've been actively trying to do more art and writing and it's been fairly enjoyable! Thank you ^-^ I wanted to ask, though: how do you avoid becoming burnt out? There seems to always be so much happening at any point in time that even when I want to create, I can't. /genq -🍏

You are welcome!! I hope you find endless enjoyment in creating things.

Honestly, I think burn out is somewhat inevitable. Everyone will have periods where, no matter what you do, words and art just will not seem to want to flow.

You really just have to learn exactly what the signs of burn out are so you can catch it early on as well as how to manage it for you specifically, because everyone has different patterns. Some of my friends tend to be able to create a TON of art super quickly in huge quantities and then have to take a long break as burn out hits hard and fast. I tend to be a more slow and steady type, and I have to rest in small increments along the way to get rid of burn out as it starts to creep up before it's a big problem for me.

There's pros and cons to both types of people; I do think a lot of neurodivergency can incline people to have that first type with the aid of hyperfocusing, but it's not exclusive to that. You can also try and make yourself a more slow and steady type for a more consistent output by forcing yourself to work a little bit every day regardless on if you are inspired or not, which will help train your brain to work through any kind of blocks (but do note that I am neurotypical so if that's not your case and trying that is frustrating, I would seek advice from other creators! I'm sure they have better tips about that than I would.)

If you try working through burn out, just be careful not to push too far; sometimes burn out is burn out and if you ignore it too much it will get bad enough that it cannot be ignored. You can often tell the difference on if you're just frustrated about the quality of your output or if it genuinely feels soul draining to even try making anything.

Just like breathing, after exhaling you have to inhale. If there's truly nothing to be done when burn out appears, I set creating to the side and go consume art and and read books myself, or explore minecraft with friends. Burn out will eventually pass, so just take it as a sign of a much needed break and enjoy it!

#glitch answers #writing advice #I can only speak to my own brain patterns for things like this ^^ #which school made me study under a microscope like a bug to figure out how to pass classes

[broodsys]

venting abt creative woes feel free to ignore <3

it has been really hard for me to post art, both drawing and writing. it's not just about engagement/lack thereof or abt concrit or about anything in particular. i just get so caught up in comparisons and breaking things down and wanting to be objectively "better" at it and idk if i'm even enjoying it anymore.

sometimes i think seriously about stopping? i'd still create but. just for me. idk.

and im having mixed feelings about fandom in general. idk. it's late at night and it's been dark for too many hours and ik that's putting me in A Mood(tm) but it's still been! hard! and i get sad and frustrated and self-conscious all the time

it just feels like im out here putting my ugly shit next to everyone's polished pretty pieces. and ik, ik, two cakes, i've been trying to internalize that, but it's hard right now. i cannot stop thinking about the pretty fics ive read and i cannot stop being so fucking envious of them and it feels gross! like i should just appreciate them? they're lovely, mine doesn't have to and shouldn't be a replica, etc etc, all these things i know intellectually, but... ugh.

and it's extra frustrating bc i know ppl like my stuff, esp my writing. they do! they've said it! ppl who have no cause to lie to me, strangers, etc. but i just can't feel it and im so... envy demon has a fucking hold of me lmao.

might be circling back to the going too fast/pushing myself too hard thing again. but i've just been dealing with the constant undercurrent of severe frustration with everything i attempt. i try to shake it off but idk, if it's this consistent...?

ugh. idk. i've been going back and forth on this for a while. do i push through? do i try to drop my standards? do i just keep all my stuff to myself? unknown.

like, no matter what im finishing my bigfic. for me. but idk. should i even bother posting it? it's not... it's not about engagement. it's about the fact that i feel like the whole thing is just kinda... an embarrassment? like i cannot stop looking at it thru the most critical, least compassionate version of a potential audience and it's fucking with me so bad. when im writing i enjoy it, i think it's cool, i think it's good. but then i post it and after a while im just so embarrassed. i still think it's good! but it's still also embarrassing! i've worked hard for years to learn to trust my audience, to not spoon-feed them every bit of information and then follow it up with a quick confirmation just to make sure they're getting it, but now i feel like i'm being drawn back into that.

i read it. i've reread it a few times, in fact, for pleasure and not for editing. i love it? but im also so embarrassed by it whenever im not like... actively reading it. it's just disheartening.

idk. it's my personal baggage more than anything ig.

anyway im genuinely not asking for my ego to be stroked here or w/e, just- this has been weighing kinda heavily on me for quite a while. it's very frustrating.

[reejindeed]

Would you say Art is something people are just born with the natural gift or it’s a talent you can acquire with proper dedication and resources?

The older I get the more I realize how little talent matters in the grand scheme of art. I'm a firm believer that at any stage in your life, a person can become an artist. Talent plays a very miniscule role in that.

It IS about having the focus and drive to pursue it consistently.

A person who consistently works on their craft will far surpass a person who relies solely on their talent. I've seen this happen so many times in my life... Consistency outweighs talent every time.

Intentional consistency was also something I had to learn. The only reason I draw the way that I do was because as a kid, it was an obsession for me and I knew I was good. AND I was encouraged.

But when I first got into college I still drew a lot, I just prioritized what was comfortable vs. what I could have been learning. For a little while there I just lived in what was comfortable and kept expanding that side of things. It wasn't until my professor (who became my mentor throughout college) warned me about being "naturally talented" and how, kind of like the hare, you get too comfortable and stop advancing. It took me a bit for that to really sink in, and eventually I started pushing myself to try to become a more well-balanced artist.

Even now there are things that I'm still teaching myself.

Also please don't think I'm implying because I went to college I think people need to go to college to become an artist. You absolutely do not need it. I got very lucky and really enjoyed the experience, but it's expensive, oftentimes wildly inaccessible, and definitely not for everyone.

I DO think it can be helpful to take online courses (if you can afford it) or to consistently ask for critique from people who know what they're talking about, like a portfolio review. That kind of feedback is invaluable, and I think learning how to critique your own work (and other people's work) from an unbiased position is an incredibly important skill and language to learn.

#asks #text post

[annah-kitathryne]

6 and 17 for the ask game :]

6. What are dome of the best and worst parts about being online/ a creator?

Some of the best parts are the communities I have found myself in. The friends that I have made, and the safe spaces that have been made. Honestly, it was access to so many different ideas and opinions that allowed me to find out some of who I am. Some of the worst parts are that it really has only been recently that people are truly concerned about children being online. Sure, there were computers that were the devil and ads back when I was really small, but it's only recently that people talk about just how bad online spaces were even a couple of years ago. Not that it's gotten truely better, but more people talk about it and take it seriously.

Best parts about being a creator? It's how I can create whatever I want. It's how my brain makes an idea, and I can do whatever I want with it. It's how I'm able to share it with so many different people. However, some of the worst parts is because of online spaces can become a sort of telephone. A game of misinformation about media and characters and warp spaces into unrecognizable things. It makes it hard to engage when you know just how much has been changed.

17. Name 3 things that make you happy.

1. Reading. Reading was the first window into something bigger than me. Books for the longest time were the only consistent escape from the confinement of right in front of me. I love reading for fun, but I also love reading to analyze what I'm being shown. Is it good? Is it bad? What's being presented to me? Does it have an agenda? I love reading a pass time but also as a goal to understand.

2. I actually really like teaching people. Giving someone new information or ways to get new information or challenge the information they have. It's also teaching me. How I consume and learn isn't the same as others. How can I find a way to present the information I have in a way that someone else understands. I was part of a buddy system at my first school where, from 4th to 8th grade, I spent an hour with the kindergartebers and helped them with different things. Reading, math, art, sometimes we would be asked to give a lesson. I taught a couple of different kindergarten classes on different bugs, how to use water color paints, and organized a story time. I could never see myself as a full-time teacher, though.

3. Friends. I didn't exactly have people lining up to be my friend for the majority of my life, and I have only recently met people both IRL and online that I like to call friends. Friends push me to try new things and get out of my comfort zone, and provide the sort of net I need if something goes wrong. I've gotten a bit more confrontational as I've made friends because I trust that someone will be behind me or reach out a hand to help me back up. In a way, friends have allowed me to be a bit more of myself. Along the same path, I would do anything for my friends. I would go up to bat for them or try to find a way to help even if I can't do much. I try to remain present in people's lives so that they can have someone to rely on. [Even if I need to be poked every once in a while to remember to message back.]

#ask game #melo tag

[doverjazzghost]

it's the new year's post!!

I'm not putting this under a read more bc tumblr keeps changing the website and idk where the function even is anymore. 2023 was actually pretty good! I had some huge huge growth/good developments in a lot of areas of my life: - I started voice lessons in March and working on singing has been really rewarding. Experiencing music in a different way has been challenging and it's wild feeling like a beginner at something musical again. I even did a vocal audition and sang solo in front of other people, which was a huge anxiety step for me. -My other music stuff has been going really well! I had one of my arrangements played live and 3 of my other arrangements have been recorded and mixed into tracks (2 of which were mixed by me). I also performed with a Real Professional Orchestra as a vocalist which was wild. - I finally got medical help for my headaches. I just though multi-day headaches were normal? at least for me?? but I had a lot of friends push me to go to someone about it and I guess a really effective migraine medication was developed in 2019? It's taken away 90% of my headaches and a lot of brain fog and ambient pain and it's wild to me that everyone else's lives had been like this. -I have travelled (a little bit). I still have a bit of anxiety around travelling, but I managed to go to DC, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts and I went to 3 conventions. - My anxiety has been a lot better around driving and being out in public. - I didn't get sick at all this year! Which seems like a small thing but after the year I had last year, I am VERY grateful for that. The goals from the 2023 post: -have a symphonic arrangement I've made be performed live Yes!! Also going to have another piece performed in May 2024 and probably December 2024 -actually do it, actually travel this time Yes. I didn't get on a plane, but I did car and train travel. Also booked a trip for me and the geef to Canada for April next year and that is Real Travel. -go back to working on my anxiety and agoraphobia Yes. It isn't really fully gone (bc I think it never will be) but I am in a much better place with that. I am buying groceries in person lol. -finish this Dnd campaign lol Yes! The campaign wrapped in November? Starting a new one early 2024 and I am actually writing this one for pray for me -be more proactive in reaching out to people Kind of? I can maybe only think of 2 or 3 examples of me inviting people to do things but at least that's more than 0 lol. -focus on craftsmanship in the things that I make Eeeehhh. I actually didn't make a ton of art things this year. I did 1 cosplay, some accessories, and a few crochet plushes. I am trying to research more and I think I'm more comfortable in taking apart and re-doing thing until they're right but I definitely think I can push it more.

The goals for 2024:

Still try to reach out to people more both talking and hanging out!

Use my phone less (especially watching less short form video lol). I have already been working on this but I want to commit harder.

Work out more consistently. The really good headache medicine gives me a little fatigue which has made working out harder.

Push myself to learn new techniques re: art, cosplay, music

Get a new job. Things Have Changed at my current job and I'm just not feeling it anymore. That is the post! Happy new bear!! ฅ՞•ﻌ•՞ฅ

#2 feels 2 furious

[5hehzada]

100 hyeops (for real this time)

some (a lot) thoughts below

the first one is from june of last year, so this is over a year's worth of trying to draw the same face.

i think it's kind of funny because i'm still not very good at capturing likenesses, but i'm definitely running into a little bit of same face with my art where i keep drawing hyeop's nose + lips on other's faces. oops. i need to be more careful about that, and learn to draw a better variety of features, humans are so different don't accidentally shoehorn yourself!

but i digress, since it's the same face i think it's easier to actually see the changes in my art? i think my lines are a lot more consistently neater, which is something i've always struggled with. i know i just said i'm not good at capturing likenesses, but there's a difference between the first row and the last so i'm definitely getting somewhere with this.

i've never been good at making myself do studies, like it's hard to draw stuff just because "it's good for you", if that makes sense? so this has been my way of forcing myself to look at an image and learn how to actually draw the things i'm bad at. these are cropped down to faces, so you can't tell, but the way i draw hands has drastically improved since i got into drippin. i still get lazy about it sometimes, but for the most part these actually look like hands?

like these would have been good hands for me, from 2022 but b4 i got into drippin?

the hands here aren't like, very detailed or anything but drawing this many hands would have been honestly unimaginable for me last year?

other things i've been trying to force myself to get better at are drawing faces at certain angles? figuring out how to actually use the liquify tool when painting helped a whole lot, because it's so much easier to liquify and then fix it, instead of trying to paint over several times and still getting it wrong? white cloth, black cloth, shoes, trying to figure out textures a little bit better too, i have a loooong way to go with understanding clothing folds but i think i'm finally making progress with that too...

last year, i kept drawing less and less until i had an entire month where i didn't draw at all. it got really hard to draw, and drawing more than a waist-up or even a headshot was a serious challenge, so this has also been a good way to push myself into much more consistently drawing full bodies.

drawing drippin fanart, or more specifically hyeop, is probably like a crutch for me? it's easy to fall back on, this is probably where my comfort zone is right now. but i don't think that needs to be a bad thing, because what's important is that i'm still drawing something, and i'm still learning how to draw things? i'm having fun, and it's easier to keep my drawing motivation up

anyway, hm, i'm not sure how long i'll stay this invested in drippin, but i want to take full advantage of wanting to draw fanart until then LOL ... if i make it to another 100 fanarts, i wonder if i'll have improved more by then HMM!

i feel like i talked so much here, i might not have anything to say at the end of december once it's time for the year in art meme lol........

[bvannn]

Weekly Update July 28, 2023

Still a zombie from work, but trying to work on it. Trying to get better about exercise and whatnot, sleeping too. That being said I’m still doing art stuff

TRGA: this week I finished reimporting the assets for my next effects test, and have a bulk of the test animation done. I realize that one of the problems I’ve had with animation thus far is timing, though I am already improving, and will get a better sense for it when animating to audio for the final project. Even if this new effects test works, I will likely have to create and import assets for Tim and Emile’s hair, as hair is unique to each rig and requires a good number of sketchy lines. That should hopefully not be too bad, though. I might also have to throw some assets together for feet in the future, but for the current project the only one who shows their feet is Jon, so I’ll just do his, see if they work, and then try the same strategy for the others. Again, it should not be too bad, as I’ll only need top and bottom pieces for each foot, possibly only for one foot if I can get away with flipping them.

Artfight will be coming to a close soon, I have queued up the last of the e pieces I have done, and will be doing the same for the pieces I do tomorrow (and Sunday, if I do any on Sunday). I’ll also try to do an appreciation post for all the people who drew my characters, since it was surprisingly a lot! Thank you all so much!

Writing stuff is chugging along slowly, once an outline is done I’ll chop it up into pages and start thumbnailing it, rather than trying to script out specific panels or whatever. I don’t know where I’ll throw the finished comic but I’m not going to worry about it until closer to being finished.

Next month I will try to focus on music a bit more. I’ll throw together some covers of video game tracks, then if all goes well I’ll chip away at a medley I’ve been working on. I still don’t understand how uploading audio to tumblr works, since I see people do it with funny one off shitposts all the time but last time I tried to do it for myself it wanted me to make a bandcamp or Spotify or whatever account which I’d rather not do unless I’m able to produce passable quality music semi-consistently. Until then, anything I do make will go on my Newgrounds! Once I’m able to do animations or music consistently I do want to make a big push for newgrounds content, because I do think it is a really cool site, but I need to make something worth pushing first. So I’ll keep chipping away at it.

#weekly update

[amouress16]

My 2022 Animation Overview

This last year was my first year getting into animation. While I’m not fortunate enough to be able to afford college to go the professional route of this kind of art career, I am lucky to have the support to try and push my way in as an amateur anyway. So now here I am, with eleven months of self teaching experience under my belt.

I started back in February with this one here. My first ever animation (and first ever copyright strike, yay for youtube’s auto flagger not knowing how fair use law works ;u;). I’ve been lucky that this one is only one of two of my animatics that I’ve been able to spot a mistake in post upload.

This one was a shorter one that I managed to get done in only a couple weeks, and probably the one I’m least proud of at this point from it’s lack of substance. Still, every bit helps me learn, and it was still cute.

And now to my most popular animation so far! I was very happy so many people liked this one, especially since Vincent is my favorite character in VTSoM, I got to have a lot of fun making it- I’ll definitely be making more Vincent centric ones. Like the one I have in the works right now... ;)

Ye ol classic meme animatic, The Hole. Everyone who watches meme animations for their fandoms has seen some variation of this one. This was mine. This was where I started using more repeat “assets” (read: drawings) for the sake of consistency and saving myself time, for the first time.

And another classic meme approach, vines. I plan on making two more of these for VTSoM in particular, but I will keep them spaced out since they’re a little more exhaustive to make. A lot of unrelated scenes with so many different characters being drawn out over two or three months is, well, a lot!

And finally something from a different fandom! ...listen, I am a fnaf fan on tumblr, Sun and Moon brainrot is par for the course here. This particular animatic was another short one that came after two months of bad art block and life stress and me getting sick back to back. I needed a simple thing to come back with. Not to mention, I got an art tablet as a gift during the holidays, which was a major upgrade for me, so I had to learn (and am still learning) to use a totally new animation program! Thus, this silly little thing.

And that’s all for ‘22!

If you read through this whole thing, thank you! I know I don’t really post my art as often as some folks so it’s harder to tell, but I do work hard and near constantly on creating things. Lately that’s been largely animations, so I don’t have a whole lot of time for other things. And while I’d love to do this all for free, we do live under capitalism and I have to be able to pay for vet bills and groceries. So if you’d like to and are able to yourself, please consider checking out my Patreon! I post weekly updates of my animation progress as well as occasional random WIPs and sketches. Anyway, thanks again, and happy 2023!

#ames rambles #artists on tumblr #digital art #2022 retrospective #I meant to post this before 2022 ended but lo and behold I got sick again. so have it now ig #not gonna add fandom tags on this one cause I don't wanna bother people looking through those tags #should I tag this as a long post? i dont think it is but maybe it will be on mobile. lmk if I need to

[chainsmokespens]

GPT’s King Crimson

SPOILERS: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Vento Aureo

There’s a stand—a sort of psychic supernatural ability—in JJBA: Vento Aureo called King Crimson. It’s primary and most distinctive ability is to remove fragments of time, to skip ahead to the end of a process. If you have to climb a staircase, you can activate King Crimson from the bottom and you’ll be at the top a second later. It’s a power that’s all about the results.

This isn’t the first time I’ve written an article in my miniscule corner of a site that’s not my own. It’s one of the most uncomfortable parts about what I hope to make my career. But, it’s necessary. I’ve always known it was necessary, but I could never bring myself to stick with it. I’d bail. The results never came fast enough.

I’ve spent years studying and learning how to be a better writer. How to build better stories and tell them in more entertaining ways. I’ve looked into how to build a platform. I tried being a critic and abandoned it because the ability to observe something doesn’t translate into writing skill. I’ve joined and abandoned writing groups because of the writers’ overwhelming selfishness, a predisposition to sell to readers before entertaining them, a devotion to one’s own education and opinion as doctrine, and other reasons. I’d try to go where the readers actually are, posting writing prompts on Reddit for instance, and get drowned out immediately.

And with every setback I’d drop it all. I’d focus on my day job, doing a bit of studying over here and a bit of worldbuilding over there. I’d cringe at my work and close my accounts. Or I’d disappear for months on end only to come back and give it another shot.

And now A.I. is ramping up.

As it stands, they don’t have the level of craft necessary to supplant artists. The greatest danger comes from how they’ll swell the midlist. Anyone who reads regularly knows how it feels to be disappointed by what you’d hoped would be a good book. The onset of A.I. will only ramp up that frequency. It’ll be harder than it’s ever been to get one’s foot in the door of the creative world as an indie author.

I only have myself to thank for my complacency.

So much wasted time. Ego, perfectionism, resistance, whatever you want to call it, I just couldn’t summon what was necessary to do what it takes. I couldn’t find the strength to believe in myself or my skills. My track record showed me that I didn’t have it. That I’d never be perfect.

But, telling stories is the only thing I truly want as a career. There’s the Dionysian satisfaction of writing a journal entry, getting your thoughts and feelings pouring our freely from the tap onto the page. There’s the Apollonian satisfaction that comes with constructing an outline, strengthening the consistency in a world, or focusing for hours on end while you study the hard skills of writing. Then there’s storytelling, where it all comes together in an ouroboros of pleasure.

The world doesn’t need my stories. I just need to tell them.

Hayao Miyazaki was watching footage of an A.I. in early development. The presenting team said they would hope it develops the skill of a human artist. Miyazaki would later say, “I feel like we’re living in the end times. People are losing the ability to believe in themselves.” Everything you interact with is there because someone was able to make it exist. And that someone could’ve been anybody, could’ve been you.

The bestselling author, the renowned artist, the beloved chef.

But people don’t believe in themselves. They can’t turn their envy into a compass that points them to their desires, only seethe from the shore at those who had the will to push out to sea, and thus receive the praise they long for. Outside of a classroom, they can’t practice the patience to develop skills. And when we feel weak, the perpetually left-brained see opportunity.

Art as a commodity. No more of the blissful release of the Dionysian or the logistical intricacies and satisfaction of the Apollonian, but a result. Fifteen minutes between conception and end product, ready for sale the same day, so the “creator” behind it can scrape up their earnings. Integrity, ethics, reception, or reputation be damned. They got theirs and they’re done. The dopamine kicks in when the check clears.

Circling back to JoJo, in the same plotline a character has a conversation with a cop who’s investigating a robbery, checking a recycling bin on the opposite side of the street where the crime was committed on the off chance that he’ll find the perpetrator’s fingerprints.

“It’s my job,” the officer says.

He’s pressed further, presented with situations in which, regardless of his search, the perp still goes free, and is asked what makes him keep working so hard despite those problems.

The cop says, “I’m not just after the result. When all you want is the result, you start to look for shortcuts. And if you take the shortcut, you might lose sight of the truth. You’ll become less motivated. I think the most important thing is the will to find the truth. As long as you have that, even if the suspect gets away this time, you’ll get them eventually, right? Because that’s what you’re after.”

This isn’t the poignant article I hoped it’d be. It doesn’t resonant like I’d have liked it to. My study was for speculative fiction, not essays, so I can feel in my bones how this is lacking, though I’m ill-equipped to repair it. But I’ve often heard it’s better to start before you’re ready. And life has taught me that, in truth, you never will be.

I’ll seek the truth. And I’ll seek those who appreciate it. Even from my insignificant, quiet corner.

#spoilers #jojo part 5 #no one asked #ai art #ai writing

[martintmedina]

2023 A Year in Review

Another year come and gone and this one was one for the books! Amazing year and it delivered in all areas. I stepped it up in all areas of my life and really leveled up across the board.

Of course I couldn’t have done this all myself so I gotta give a major THANK YOU! Thank you to all the wonderful people in my life, my family, my colleagues, my friends, and everybody who supports from around the world. I’ve felt so much love this year and so much support which means the world to me especially because the love is genuine.

To really summarize this year I have to say this was the most successful year yet. I’m really proud of all the work that I put in personally and professionally and I’m very grateful and blessed. I’m hoping to carry this momentum into 2024. I leveled up in my career and I've really been enjoying streaming lately and hope to keep pushing that more into the future with martystream.com going strong. Always finding new ways to improve and new areas to expand my abilities.

I was planning on traveling a lot this year because I worked straight through 2022 in Miami. I followed through with that plan and this year I did a lot of traveling even hitting three major trips for work with the first one being to the Super Bowl. That Super Bowl trip was a whole adventure especially coming after another trip going snowboarding in Steamboat Springs, and it was my first time in Arizona. In Arizona I explored a bit and got to know to know the city a bit thanks to the homie Andrew for showing me around and the hospitality while I was in town. The party we worked for the Super Bowl was also off the chain such a sick party was super lit and went super smooth. I’m already really hyped for next year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas and hopefully a great opportunity for work presents itself there.

Another new place I explored this year was Texas where I went to Dallas for the opening of the new Komodo. Great weekend with the team all around there, openings are always exciting and this year we had 3 amazing ones just with the Groot team in Dallas for Komodo, Miami for Casadonna, and Vegas for FBLV. Trying to stay consistent with my work wherever I am and in whatever situation presents itself I realized is what keeps me working hard and consistently booked. Like I said in another yearly recap, nobody can do what I do how I do. I’m keeping that attitude and working to be the best me that I can be instead of trying to compete I focus on working to be the best I can be.

An unexpected trip was going out to Italy which was a great adventure. It honestly was pretty unexpected but the opportunity to move to Italy arose and I was absolutely so blessed to be able to explore Italy with the family and reconnect to our roots. There’s so much more of Italy that I still have yet to discover but will be exploring it more soon. Next summer I hope to do a lot more traveling in Europe as well, and hopefully manifest some new work opportunities out there for the summer.

After getting back it was straight back to work with the Casadonna opening and Halloween right after before jumping straight into the busy season for work. Once I was back from Europe work picked up quick and it was time to grind. Particularly these last couple of weeks of the year have been a blur with work going nonstop. Art Basel, Vegas, and the holidays are a wild roller coaster to end the year on. The work out here really is nonstop, but this year I’ve really made it a priority to find time to reset and properly recover when I’m pushing myself extra hard. Especially with my first time in Las Vegas after Basel these last couple weeks were also an incredible adventure. Truly these last couple weeks of the year have been kind of crazy. As I get older, I need to stay wiser plan ahead, be careful, have fun, but most importantly, just enjoy the moment. I’m always trying to stay focused and maintain discipline.

I’ve also managed to stay consistent with my fitness program and diet, shoutout to Derek once again we been at it going hard. I’ve been playing soccer with the boys too which is great, really missed playing and we used to have to run some great games in Brickell rooftop during the Round Two days in 2019. I also ripped some golf and hit a great round to wrap up the year the other day. I also dialed in my food intake a little more, in cleaning up my diet to stay more focused on my goals I tried out prepping my meals and in the process discovered some great recipes, some bomb restaurants, and took my smoothie and sprout game to the next level. Still got a ways to go but we’re clearing the road and revving up the engines.

I’m so grateful and blessed for everybody in my life, all the wonderful opportunities, and all the incredible memories. I’m constantly learning and exploring and my hunger and work ethic are only growing by the day. I’ve made time to read more, learn some new languages and I hope to keep pursing that well into the future.

I’m really excited for next year. I’m setting my goals high and hoping to crush them. I’m so blessed I get to live life on my own terms with no worries. I tell my friends all the time that I do what I want to do everyday and it couldn’t be more true, I wake up and spend my time how I want. I’m going to keep doing that and answering to myself because that freedom coupled with focus is an unstoppable combination.

-martín

check out the other editions of my yearly recap:

https://martintmedina.com/yearinreview

#2023 year in review #2023 recap #2023 #martyblog.com

[angelthemerman]

I havent been keeping up with drawing everyday, despite posting trying consistently. I took a couple days off from doodling, and in an attempt to get back into things, I pushed this out last week one night.  I'm really happy with her tbh, I've been focusing on improving my lineart a bit more lately, thickness and shadows in certain areas.  Thanks to everyone who's been consistently supporting me lately, and interacting with my posts! I underestimated how much it'd take to get back into posting frequently, with that said, I'm pretty proud of myself regardless! I hope to keep things going and hope to see you all along side me :>  Art & character (c) me, @angelthemerman Chimereons are a species made by Seel (c) @/ground-lion Do not repost, trace, or copy my art.

Posted using PostyBirb

#artistontumblr #art #animeart #pencildrawing #characterart #freelanceillustrator #illustration #illustrationartist #illustratorlife #cartoonart #characterillustration #characterdesign #ocdrawing #artofdrawing #drawdaily #chibiart #chimereon #cs #closedspecies #cham