#is it a thing to cry on your tablet and scream at photoshop? because i definitely did | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

wolfstarlibrarian · 3 years

Text

Welcome to the fifth installment of Beyond The Shelves!

This month’s creator spotlight is on the truly unique and amazing @mlim8. Mel has brought new life into fandom with her stunning art and comics that can make you laugh and cry. She's also the artist behind the Padfoot you can pet on the Librarian's home page (desktop) and the Moony gif on the Help Desk page. Now let's get to know this incredible artist!

Name: Mel is fine :D (she/her)

Where can people find your art?/Support you?

I'm only on Tumblr! @mlim8 (I tried getting a Twitter but I got confused so it's an account in limbo~). My Wolfstar/HP Masterlist is here (links only work on mobile)

What's your favorite thing about Remus & Sirius?

I'm a biggggg sucker for the 'childhood friends' trope. As well as pairings that scream mutual pining, but on the other hand, can be pure fluff. I like pairings where the couple can play off each other, can support each other, who might not always see eye-to-eye but have also been with the other for so long now, they know what they’re doing to make sure they still work, because in the end, they LOVE EACH OTHER. Somehow, Remus and Sirius can tick off all these different boxes and I love them for it uwu And then, there’s also just so much mystery about them in the books and therefore, so much freedom to interpret them, given how little we actually have to go on - it’s so cool to see them in an assortment of AUs, tropes, canon, non-canon fics and see them fall in love over and over and over again… So ultimately? I guess my favourite thing is that it’s so damn obvious how in love they are with one another that the Wolfstar fandom is as big as it is :)

What do you think your signature style is?

I think I’m known for fanfic comics, cute fluff, and my chibi style. You will also see a blush on my characters’ cheeks like 98.9% of the time. I can’t help it… it belongs there lol

What inspires you?

Fanfics, usually. I actually came back to drawing on tumblr because of some beautiful fanfics that I couldn’t get out of my head and needed to draw them. Afterward, it would be songs, videos, memes, conversations with friends, posts from friends, etc - it’s not difficult to take something and go “Do it again, but as Wolfstar.”

What advice would you give new artists?

I guess some obvious ones would be to practice, practice, practice. Use references and 3D models, they help so damn much. Video tutorials and other art tutorials are there to help you make things easier, there really is an endless pit of things to learn and techniques to master. Some other things that people might forget: drink water, do stretches for your wrists and neck, get up once in a while to get blood flow in your legs. But most importantly, even if you want to practice a lot, don’t forget to TAKE. BREAKS. Your body and mind will thank you.

You also don’t need anything super fancy to draw: traditional art is just as valid as any digital art (more so because you don’t have a CTRL+Z function and it drives me insane, so power to you!!). Cheaper $50 art tablets can do what you need them to, as long as you know how to use it. With art programs, there are tons of free ones that you can get your feet wet before committing to any expensive programs (I’ve used Paint Tool SAI for years in the past and I know artists that use FireAlpaca and GIMP with amazing results as well :D)

Lastly, and this is gonna be a hard one: Don’t compare yourself (or your progress) to other artists. People take years (decades??) to make art that they love and develop a style/technique that they’re proud of and it’s not worth the stress. You’re only in a competition with yourself and that’s challenging enough already!

What do you use to create your art?

I use a Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch - it was a birthday gift from waaaay back that I’ve had for a decade now :’)

For art programs, I’ve been using Clip Studio Paint for about 8 months now and I use Photoshop for stitching larger GIFs together uwu

What's a favorite piece you made and why?

Oh my God, how to decide… there’s been a ton that I’ve been proud of but my favourite (spelling with a u because I’m Canadian, eh) would be the recent Candy Heart Post I did a couple weeks back now. Just a lot of love and effort went into it, not just the art itself but trimming the song, all the editing and timing of each frame. I wanted so hard to tell a story and I think it came out the way I wanted it to :)

Pick one of your own pieces/AUs and give readers a little note about it. What inspired it? Why is it a favorite?

Okay, so this is probably an obvious one for those that have been on my blog for the last few months - but I have an AU called ‘Rembus and Hunter AU’ that is about an incubus demon, Remus, and a Demon Hunter, Sirius. The demon, affectionately called Rembus, is surprisingly sweet and adorable. In short: HE IS BABY. And when Hunter comes to the Village of Gryffindor to get rid of him, he learns that there’s more to demons than he’s known through the church and his family.

It’s just a really stupidly cute AU, despite the premise, and I’m so excited to share their story with everyone (one day, haha I’m a slow artist -)! Here’s Part 0 (the info card), if anyone is interested :)

It was created when I came upon an outfit ( similar to what Rembus wears) and thought “Okay, but Incubus!Remus.” - and that’s it. That’s usually how my AUs come about. The smallest inspiration and I spiral out of control with a backstory. This AU was fleshed out a lot with the help of Whippy, who was great to bounce all these ridiculous ideas off of lol

Make sure to check back later today for a list of works and recs from Mel herself!

#beyond the shelves #creator spotlight #mlim8 #wolfstar #remus x sirius

155 notes · View notes

seekerofsigns · 7 years

Photo

“Will I Be Better Now?” Part 2 of the Make It Stop series If you like what you see here, please share or reblog!!! Art © seekerofsigns | signoffyre Please request permission to use any and all works.

Notes and description below the cut. ALSO A SIGNAL BOOST REQUEST.

Notes: Normally, I’m all about posting the positive side of non-hetero love. Post the pictures of kissing and holding hands and hugging and beautiful LBGT+ families. Show your PRIDE.

But in the current climate we live in, especially regarding the man who holds the second highest office in our nation, I feel it is important to remember that this above is still a thing. There are still kids out there being bullied into taking their own lives because they love differently than what has been screamed at us is the norm. There are kids being forced to live a lie. There are kids who exposed their truth only to be vilified and abused. The Vice President of our nation has advocated for conversion therapy. Elected officials still campaign for the removal of protections put in place to help and protect kids like me, all in the name of “religious freedom.”

I’ve known too many who have lost the battle of love in all its many forms vs. ideology and dogma that tells them they are less, an abomination, unworthy. I’m lucky myself that I survived my attempts at making the hate and shame thrust upon me stop. I’ve been the kid crying late at night begging for it all to go away, for me to be normal, because I was taught that what I was went against nature and the holy law of God. I went through the self-harm and the escapism of drugs and alcohol so I wouldn’t have to feel.

I came out on the other side of that with so many scars, both literal and metaphorical. Even now, when I’m mostly free of the environment that created such a mindset, I find myself tripping over guilt and a need to hide away at the damnedest times. It’s almost like a version of PTSD. I’ve been coerced into revisiting the site of most of my abuse through familial obligation and the anxiety and terror and fear still hit me like a Mach truck every time. I could write a novel of the lasting damage I carry, the horrors I experienced, all for trying to be true to myself and true to love. The second novel could be the road to recovery though.

The world is changing, and attitudes are adjusting. It’s so incredible to watch younger generations make such strides in inclusivity and equality. It brings me to tears watching the youth of today constantly bring about change and a more open, diverse, and powerful world. But we’re not there yet. Not as long as there are still kids out there driven to the point of no return. Who choose a permanent solution to what should be a temporary problem.

I am a single “parent.” I’m not actually a parent, but these wonderful humans came into my care, and they mean the world to me. They may not be mine biologically, but I do my level best to take care of them and provide them with a home where they know they are loved completely, that they are accepted, and that they are free to express themselves however they like. My two teenagers are encouraged to grow, and learn, and make their own choices. I guide as best I can. As for the beautiful baby girl...there’s never a single solitary doubt that she is adored, and cared for, and is so precious. We constantly get told how smart and happy and amazing she is.

But there are so many kids who don’t have that loving, supportive environment. We can’t ever forget about them. That’s what this piece is about.

I’m not the greatest artist. I know that. But I love to create, whether through pictures or words. And I just hope whatever message I’m sending reaches someone who needs to hear it.

Love is the way.

A huge thank you to my fantastic brother-in-law for being my model. Likeness used with permission. Painted over the course of several days in my free time.

SIGNAL BOOST REQUEST: As I stated above, I’m a single guy with three young people in my care. I’ve been self-employed as a consultant for quite awhile, and worked for one big client until recently when my contract was abruptly terminated due to shifting business model reasons. I didn’t have any other clients as backup, as the client I had kept my schedule quite full and provided enough for my little family to live off. I am in the process of searching out new clients or finding sources of income while I search out those clients, but I have a family to take care of and a roof to keep over our head.

If you enjoy my work, you can find prints on ArtPal. Or pure unbridled generosity and kindness can be shown through GoFundMe or PayPal. Any little bit at all helps, and my family and I would be incredibly grateful. Thank you so much in advance for being a light in our world!

And of course, please share!!! It means so much to me!

Tools: Photoshop 7 and Wacom tablet

#seekerofsigns #signoffyre #lgbt #lgbtq #LGBTQIA #gay #lesbian #transgender #bisexual #pray the gay away #lgbt rights #religious freedom #religious oppression #conversion therapy #discrimination #artists on tumblr #art #digital art #digital painting #emotional abuse #physical abuse #mental abuse #suicide #lgbt suicide #Christianity #abuse #child abuse #bigotry #gay conversion therapy #make it stop

14 notes · View notes