that1weird-art-blog

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An old soft proofing tutorial of mine that I’ve been getting requests to post again.

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Yumaki and Hotsauce

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these always remind me of the duwang bros, but even though they’re delinquents, I can’t picture either of them being able to smoke without getting lectured by the other

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Ishizuka Saburou 石塚三郎 (1877-1958) - Basket for cats - Niigata 新潟, Japan - 1910

Source Twitter @oldpicture1900

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Liquid dog

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in my sophomore year of college this guy made these items which quickly became a craze across campus. i myself bought one of his sweaters, which says “GOOD AND DEAD” across the chest and “ARM PAIN” along the sleeves. he showed up at 11 pm on a bicycle to deliver the goods in the dead of winter, wearing a metal t-shirt tucked into khakis. his facebook screen name is an indecipherable series of symbols. i have no authentic way to credit him but i want to share his art with you.

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Christine (1983)

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I had to Google “dora trampoline lightning” but I found it. This is it. This is the funniest image on the internet. Everyone can go home. It was fun while it lasted.

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How to Start a New Language

1. Research: Be sure to look up the basics about any language before starting, such as the amount of speakers, countries, alphabet, origins, family, etc. This will give you a basic overall grasp of the history of your language and will help you know what to expect. It’s also super helpful if you happen to be stuck between two languages but can only learn one!

2. Duolingo: Goes without saying; this is a free and interactive app/website that gives you upper beginner/lower intermediate language skills (A2/B1 CEFR). It also allows you to fully suss out your language and if you end up hating it, then at least you haven’t spent a fortune on books yet!

3. Write: Start writing from day one. Yep. Day One. Even if you only know three words, three verbs, and three pronouns, that’s twenty-seven entire sentences that you can now write! Keep a journal, a diary, write your shopping list or about what you had for lunch, a conversation with a friend, your language goals, books you want to read or have read, anything!

4. Goals: Learn one phrase, three grammar points, and five new words every time you study your language. After that, set whatever goals you want! You learn only what you choose to learn. If you want to be fluent/C1 level after three months, then go for it! Equally, if you want to learn just enough to become a beginner/A1 after three years, then that’s okay too!

5. Aural: Don’t underestimate the importance of listening! This is a big one, because it doesn’t matter how quickly you can translate texts, or how easily you keep a diary, if you can’t listen to a slow speaking video in your language without blanking, it’s only going to get worse. Look up videos, podcasts, music, anything that will help you improve your listening and pronunciation skills, as well as get a grasp on how natives speak!

6. MiscHours: Small moments throughout the day when you do nothing mind draining: These are what I like to call Miscellaneous Hours. Brushing your teeth, showering, sitting on the bus, waiting for the elevator, lying in bed at night waiting for Metamorphosis to carry you away… These are moments you can take advantage of, either by running through language rules/vocab in your head, or talking outloud to yourself. if you don’t know a word, make a mental (or physical) note of it and look it up later!

7. Numbers: Learn numbers before you learn how to count and learn how to count before you learn how to tell the time. Most people skip the basic one, two, three, when starting a new language, and honestly I don’t blame them, but numbers come up so so often in everyday life that it’s crucial for you to master them early on!

8. Watch: Find a tv show in your target language and start watching it from day one, using subtitles in both your chosen language and in your native language! Yes, you won’t understand a single damn thing in the beginning, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you start to pick things up just based on context alone. Search for kids youtube videos, change your netflix language settings, or download extensions like this one!

9. Dictionary: Find a good online dictionary before you start anything. Preferably, find one that also gives the grammar behind verbs/nouns. For a lot of languages, the gender of nouns are difficult to remember, so learning whether a word is masc./fem./neu. from day one is important!

10. Read: Find children’s books in your new language, either online or a physical copy, and start reading. At the start, you’ll underline pretty much everything, but soon you’ll start to guess the meaning of words based on context, and as words appear again and again, you’ll subconsciously begin to learn them! It’s an easy way to pick up new vocab and see grammar rules in action!

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It’s for you.

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The Deep

Stop motion animator Adam Pesapane uses man-made objects to portray deep sea creatures.

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The symbolism of flowers

Flowers have a long history of symbolism that you can incorporate into your writing to give subtext.

Symbolism varies between cultures and customs, and these particular examples come from Victorian Era Britain. You'll find examples of this symbolism in many well-known novels of the era!

Amaryllis: Pride

Black-eyed Susan: Justice

Bluebell: Humility

Calla Lily: Beauty

Pink Camellia: Longing

Carnations: Female love

Yellow Carnation: Rejection

Clematis: Mental beauty

Columbine: Foolishness

Cyclamen: Resignation

Daffodil: Unrivalled love

Daisy: Innocence, loyalty

Forget-me-not: True love

Gardenia: Secret love

Geranium: Folly, stupidity

Gladiolus: Integrity, strength

Hibiscus: Delicate beauty

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

Blue Hyacinth: Constancy

Hydrangea: Frigid, heartless

Iris: Faith, trust, wisdom

White Jasmine: Amiability

Lavender: Distrust

Lilac: Joy of youth

White Lily: Purity

Orange Lily: Hatred

Tiger Lily: Wealth, pride

Lily-of-the-valley: Sweetness, humility

Lotus: Enlightenment, rebirth

Magnolia: Nobility

Marigold: Grief, jealousy

Morning Glory: Affection

Nasturtium: Patriotism, conquest

Pansy: Thoughtfulness

Peony: Bashfulness, shame

Poppy: Consolation

Red Rose: Love

Yellow Rose: Jealously, infidelity

Snapdragon: Deception, grace

Sunflower: Adoration

Sweet Willian: Gallantry

Red Tulip: Passion

Violet: Watchfulness, modesty

Yarrow: Everlasting love

Zinnia: Absent, affection

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Wounded…

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Good Traits Gone Bad

Exploring good traits gone bad in a novel can add depth and complexity to your characters. Here are a few examples of good traits that can take a negative turn:

1. Empathy turning into manipulation: A character with a strong sense of empathy may use it to manipulate others' emotions and gain an advantage.

2. Confidence becoming arrogance: Excessive confidence can lead to arrogance, where a character belittles others and dismisses their opinions.

3. Ambition turning into obsession: A character's ambition can transform into an unhealthy obsession, causing them to prioritize success at any cost, including sacrificing relationships and moral values.

4. Loyalty becoming blind devotion: Initially loyal, a character may become blindly devoted to a cause or person, disregarding their own well-being and critical thinking.

5. Courage turning into recklessness: A character's courage can morph into reckless behavior, endangering themselves and others due to an overestimation of their abilities.

6. Determination becoming stubbornness: Excessive determination can lead to stubbornness, where a character refuses to consider alternative perspectives or change their course of action, even when it's detrimental.

7. Optimism becoming naivety: Unwavering optimism can transform into naivety, causing a character to overlook dangers or be easily deceived.

8. Protectiveness turning into possessiveness: A character's protective nature can evolve into possessiveness, where they become overly controlling and jealous in relationships.

9. Altruism becoming self-neglect: A character's selflessness may lead to neglecting their own needs and well-being, to the point of self-sacrifice and burnout.

10. Honesty becoming brutal bluntness: A character's commitment to honesty can turn into brutal bluntness, hurting others with harsh and tactless remarks.

These examples demonstrate how even admirable traits can have negative consequences when taken to extremes or used improperly. By exploring the complexities of these traits, you can create compelling and multi-dimensional characters in your novel.

Happy writing!

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cutest thing about human biology is how they get sleepy after eating. sorry brain is offline due to digestion, check back later