#I’m experimenting inking and different shading things

[tanglepelt]

Sometimes you just want to draw young Danny and cujo 🤷‍♀️

[itsclydebitches]

Post-canon universe where Mary ends up becoming a tattoo artist.

It starts when Ed winds up visiting the Bonnet household. Maybe he went there after Stede’s “death” only to learn that the Gentleman Pirate is out looking for him. Maybe this is post-reunion and they’ve just popped by to check on the kids. Whatever the reason, Ed ends up hitting it off with Mary and is particularly enamored with her art studio because holy shit you did the lighthouse painting!

He needs a version of that on his body. Now.

And Mary is like, I’m sorry, Mr. Blackbeard sir, but the human body is a slightly different canvas from what I’m used to and I’ve never—

But Ed is already waving her off. You think pirates know what the fuck they’re doing either? Nah. You get a buddy sloshed on rum, promise him it’s gonna look great, tattoo something on his ass, and then keep out of reach when he first sees it in a shaving mirror. It looks like shit. Of course it does! But then you do it to someone else and it looks a little less shitty. Then again and again until hey, that’s some talent right there! So go to town. Can’t look any worse than what Izzy first put on his back.

By this point Ed has hopped up onto a table and pulled a kit seemingly out of nowhere. He’s also got his shirt off—this is fine—and Mary has to admit, some of his tats really are awful. Not all of them! But enough that she can precisely pick out where some drunk sailor was trying out a needle for the first time. And yeah, she could easily justify this through fear, telling herself that it’s not like she can say no to the intimidating, legendary Blackbeard. Dating Stede or not, the guy could slash her throat in an instant. Actually, dating Stede is a mark against any mental stability.

The reality though is that it isn’t fear that convinces her. Mary just looks at the spots of crappy ink and thinks, Fuck. I could do better than that.

So she does. 

Mary might not know tattooing yet, but she’s got an eye for art and she picks up the mechanics quickly. At her request Alma brings in a bottle of something far nicer than rum—casting an interested look towards the pirate that reminds Mary, with a trickle of worry, that she always was her father’s daughter—and they spend a surprisingly pleasant afternoon with Mary experimenting and Ed commenting on her paintings. Is that flower a vagina, Mary? Yes it is, god, no one else gets that!

Mary tattoos a lighthouse onto Ed’s arm, entwining it with one of his tentacles. It’s nothing fancy, but Ed leaves the Bonnet household pleased as fucking punch.

Which means, of course, that a few months later Stede shows back up (in a terrible disguise) begging her to give him his own lighthouse on the opposite arm.

Stede Bonnet, are you really asking for the symbol of our now defunct marriage after you left me, came back, came out as gay, and then had the gall to fall in love with the most dangerous pirate on the seven seas?

…Yes?

Yeah, alright, fine. Get on the table.

Mary has been practicing since she last saw Ed, discovering that she loves the permanence of tattooing—putting her art on a moving canvas; a part of someone’s very identity, not just their home. Though it’s hardly considered good form in their community, she even managed to find a tutor after promising Doug that she wouldn’t fall in love with this one. Or if she does, she’s not going to throw him over for the new guy. You should really talk to Stede’s friend Lucius, Doug. He has fantastic ideas about the whole thing.

Stede tells Mary all about their lighthouse fuckery while she works and she finds that this story is a damn bit more romantic than their awkward wedding vows. In the end, this lighthouse is far more detailed than Ed’s, with steadier lines and a bit of shading, and Mary can’t help but think that it fits their personalities quite well. Stede is so happy he forgets himself and plants an exuberant kiss on Mary’s cheek. She just laughs.

From there other members of The Revenge show up when it’s safe for them to sneak into town, all of them wanting ink from a member of their Captain’s family. Their family, now. After she’s given Jim a pair of crossed knives and Oluwande a small orange tree on his back; Frenchie a recreation of his lute and the Swede the notes of his favorite song, word starts to spread to other crews. Wherever The Revenge goes they show off their ink. Even when they don’t, Mary’s developing a style that’s noticeable in any tavern or seedy alleyway—far nicer work than what anyone else has got.

The first time an unknown pirate shows up on their doorstep in the dead of night, Mary very nearly stabs him with one of the knives Jim gifted her. She whisper-yells at the poor bastard about manners and coming during business hours, really, what is wrong with you? After a sheepish apology, she brews an obscene amount of coffee and inks a child’s portrait onto the man’s arm. It’s by far the most challenging tat she’s done to date and somewhere around 4:00am, bleary-eyed and energized, Mary thinks that she’ll never want to do anything else again.

More pirates come after that. Doug worries. Mary reassures. As a compromise, she starts taking clients while her widow group meets. The presences of nine or so women who have nothing to lose—alongside Evelyn glaring from the corner—is more than enough to keep even the toughest ruffian in line.

Which isn’t to say that every client is a good experience. Oh no. Mary learns and more importantly, she listens, figuring out which pirates have beef with an ally of The Revenge, or who would sooner sell out their own than part with a single coin. On the truly worrisome visitors, the ones who do nothing to endear themselves during the long session or any of the repeat visits, Mary adds a small flower to their designs. Just her signature, she assures them, but everyone on The Revenge knows that it’s a message: don’t trust this one, watch your back.

Most though are surprisingly pleasant to spend time with. Sweethearts just dealing with a fair bit of trauma, as her ex-husband might say. When they thank her and try to press purses into her hand, Mary just shakes her head. It’s not like she needs the money. Instead, she draws out promises that they’ll do right by The Revenge and its co-captains, should they ever cross paths. When her family visits, Mary hears many tales about the crews that unexpectedly assisted during a tough raid, offered a good deal on supplies, bought them all drinks when they came into port.

Mary is the laughingstock of the town. She’s the woman whose husband ran out on her to become a criminal and then didn’t even have the decency to stay away, instead dying in a thoroughly tactless fashion. She’s the woman who gave up a lucrative painting career to instead take up a lowlife’s art form—if it could even be called such—with all manner of scoundrels calling on her. She’ll end badly, wait and see.

Mary is beloved by the pirate community. She’s the darling of Blackbeard and the Gentleman Pirate, more than capable of holding her own with both. She’s the woman whose ink you want etched into your skin—always safe to visit, always compassionate, and unspeakably talented. She’ll go far, wait and see.

Of course, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Mary teaches Louis how to draw and makes Alma promise that she’ll finish her education before following her father to sea; she takes Doug to bed each night and with his encouragement visits Evelyn many afternoons. She’s happy.

Shockingly, so is everyone else. Mary isn’t entirely sure what to make of the waspish man who shows up on her doorstep one afternoon, but he’s easily recognizable based on Stede and Ed’s descriptions. Israel Hands has just three tattoos: the ace of spades to mark his time in the Navy, the swallow for a well-traveled pirate, and a lopsided cross on his cheek that Mary almost asks about, before thinking better of it.

He wants a fourth tattoo. A lighthouse on the back of his neck.

It’s been a long time since Mary first started tattooing. It’s not that she forgot about her previous lighthouses, of course not, but any additional meaning doesn’t register as she works up a design to show Izzy. After all, he’s a sailor. A pirate. Most of them want something to connect them to the sea and there are only so many objects that do that.

The placement is a bit odd though. Mary warns him that he’ll have to keep his hair short for the tattoo to show, shaving the fine hairs regularly. Izzy just grunts and mutters for her to get to it. Mary doesn’t realize the significance of him allowing her to hold a razor to his neck, in his blind-spot no less. At this point, she’s considered an extension of the only two allowed to do the same.

This lighthouse is perfect. After years of work Mary is easily able to navigate the muscles in Izzy’s neck; the thin scar that—she shivers—is just a little too close to his jugular. Mary knows how to make her art catch the eye when Izzy stands tall and how to keep it from looking absurd whenever he twists his head. She doesn’t know this man well, but Mary senses that this piece should be meticulous and detailed, not a single line out of place. So she pours everything into the image, holding Izzy steady with a grip he doesn’t flinch from.

It's only months later, when the family comes back to visit, that Mary realizes what she’s helped accomplish. Izzy stands between his two captains and from the back she sees that all the lighthouses are balanced, like the top of a nautical star.

Oh, Mary thinks as Ed slips a hand onto the small of Izzy’s back; Izzy leans his shoulder into Stede’s. There it is. 

[artthemasquerade]

The Berlin Coterie at a Toreador party

It's been a while since I've posted art on here! XD I've been really busy with things and writing my current devilman fic, but I've finally gotten around to do some art for the Vampire the Masquerade campaign: Berlin Fugue, which is set in 1920s Berlin. The Coterie from left to right, Maddalena Puttanesca, a Puttanesca(Hecata) which part of the Giovanni clan bloodline, Elif Bulut, a Toreador who is the youngest member of the coterie and her sire, Tomas, is the host of the party and she invited her coterie mates to accompany her, Simone Reiher, a Tremere and Nicolaus Everhart, who is a secret Caitiff pretending to be a Brujah. Things at this party have already gotten interesting, for one the party has both Kindred and Kine(the humans who have no idea that they are a vampire party) and Tomas lets his guests decide to choose between eating the mortal food along with their mortal guests or drink a mixture which has some of his vitae (Which would give them a level one bond) in it and would allow them to temporarily have the third level Auspex power of share the senses and they could use it to experience another person's senses. 👀👀👀  Everyone but Simone took the mixture since she has the Tremere bane (before the fall of Vienna) of suffering double of the blood bond level and drinking the mixture would've gotten her up to level two instead of one! And we're discovering a lot of interesting gossip at this party and I'm looking forward to seeing more in the next session when we continue the party :D

Maddalena Puttanesca belongs to @qwib

Elif Bulut belongs to @cthylla-rlyeh

Simone Reiher belongs to @devil-latte

Nicolaus Everhart belongs to me

I was trying something a little different with this piece, I focused more on the inking details and playing with a simpler shading style and I'm pretty happy how it turned out :D  

Btw if you like what you see and want a commission drop me a direct message on tumblr, instagram or a note on deviantart

[nothingtoseeherebyeexx]

hi I'm sorry if if this is weird or something but you're my favourite artist and I love ur art sm and I want to be as good as you are (or at least a little good) but I don't know where to start, and I was wondering if you had any tips? (Sorry for bothering you, I hope you don't mind)

hii <33

ty for all the compliments and dw bae, you’re not being weird at all lmao xx

i want to start by saying that i’m very very flattered, but art is sometimes tricky bc i’m rarely satisfied with the results, and sometimes the disappointment leads to art blocks or breakdowns, which are completely normal.

so, my first tip would be: even if you don’t like your art, keep drawing. you can take breaks of course, but remember that improvement comes with practice!!

second tip: copy. a lot. wether it’s a real life picture, a painting, somebody else’s art, try to analyse the piece, think about what you like about it, study or trace the general shapes, and try to replicate: it will help you develop your own art style. (i used to copy the drawings from the books i read as a child, i had a whole folder of them. in this phase, sharing on social media is often debated if you use other ppl’s art so i advise against that)

once you know what you want your art to look like, watch tutorials. i think trying different styles can further help you with stylistic choices, so even if you want a more cartoonish art style, watching a couple of tutorials about realism can help with the understanding of anatomy, which doesn’t hurt.

however, i think most ‘do this’ and ‘don’t do this’ tutorials you see on tik tok or ig are bullshit. ‘don’t use pure black for lineart!!!” comic book artists use black. ink is black. there are shading techniques all revolving around black lineart. it’s not a matter of ‘don’t do it’, it’s more of a ‘do this if you want this effect’.

experiment, try many many things. i went through millions of art styles, making (sometimes subtle) changes: i went through a more real-ish style to full on anime, and now i’m copying realistic paintings.

life is too short to settle for a single art style.

[dont-worry-honey]

OK

WHICH ART MATERIALS DO YOU USE?!

LIKE, HOW DOES YOUR PEN.. PEN LIKE THAT. THE LINES ARE SO AKHSOWHSIWHISJW

AND YOUR COLORS ACTUALLY COLOR

Please. I need to know.

Hi!! So I’ll be very honest I don’t use anything fancy!

So here’s the list and a funny story along with them! (You’re getting the whole experience)

INKING:

STA Pigment Liner Pack. (I found one in the street and I liked it so I went to look for more online. Almost died for picking up something from the street counter: 1)

- Pros: Waterproof! (For a while) And since it’s a pack, they come with many different sizes

- Cons: after some time the ink does erase a little, and loses its waterproof….

Sharpie Permanent Marker Ultra Fine (I was in desperate need for new inking pen.)

-Pros: Doesn’t ERASE!! Very strong pigment. Water proof. Lasts!!

-Cons: smell…

COLORING:

Royal & Langnickel 18 watercolors: (I just wanted to have something to do in school since I never had much work to do)

Pros: Very Travel Friendly

Cons: idk!! I’m not a watercolor person !! It’s the first time for me!!

Aenart 36 Dual Pens: (I was gifted this from the school!! The embarrassing part was that I sleeping when it all happened. They stormed in the classroom with a camera in my face saying: “YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED.” I practically jumped out of my chair! Apparently my teacher bought it for me!<3)

Pros: MANY COLORS!! VERY PRETTY!! White marker is perfect for shading white!! (I know nothing about shading)

Cons: none I love them

Staedtler 10 Triplus fineliner: (no story)

Pros: very fine! Very pigmented!

Cons: I don’t remember… maybe don’t put them near watercolor if not dried or applying?

Crayola Color Pencils: (I do not have a full pack. The ones I have are from elementary. I’m currently in college.)

Pros: I like them :) very affordable

Cons: idk! Maybe a professional knows…

Imperial Color Pencils: (I only have ONE! It’s the red one. Almost died for picking up something from the street counter: 2)

Pros: The red one is very nice! Very pigmented!

Cons: idk… I don’t have the full pack…

U Brands Gel Pens 30 Count: ( I got this from a secret Santa! A YEAR LATE. A YEARR!! So when I received it I was very pleased. The year wait was worth it)

Pros: many colors!! Glitter!! Metallic too!!

Cons: does NOT dry fast. Need to wait for it to dry or it will smudge everywhere. The white gel pen doesn’t work well. Get a special one for that! (Someone told me here which one but I already forgot….)

PROCESS:

So ofc sketch first!!

Inking: I use the STA pen for face and face shape. Since I draw Fukase (mostly), I use it for his face markings too. (After erasing sketch, I advice to touch up anywhere you used the STA Pen) For the Sharpie Pen I use it for the the rest. Background, body, clothes, etc.

Coloring: First I go over it with my watercolors. I put them down before I put down the markers. For example, I use the watercolor first for Fukase’s hair. Then I use the Staedtler Pens to get that bright red! For clothes (or anything else) I use Aenart Markers. For the background, I put my crayola/ imperial color pencils on top. Depends on the feeling I want. Then I usually like to outline my drawings with the U Brands Gel Pens. When I tell you I put glitter on all my drawings, I put it on ALL my drawings!! I LOVE SHINY!!

Conclusion:

I really hope this was able to answer your question! I’m pretty sure most of the things on my list are affordable! I also hope my process was able to help explain how I make coloring… well coloring (English is not my first language I apologize. I suck at my first language too, though). I also hope you enjoyed the bonus stories (I didn’t want to make this whole thing boring). If you have any more questions I’ll be happy to answer them!! Also THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I never thought someone would actually like how I color since I struggle big time with it,,, I’m self taught so I have no idea of the art basics of coloring.

Anyway, thank you so much again!!

- Honey

P.S. Due to legal reasons, not sponsored.

[sixty-silver-wishes]

Since you reblogged the “what is my art style trademark” post: Your art is very uniquely exaggerated, with the expression eyes and poses. Your art also reminds me a bit of those spooky themed fairytale books that I grew up reading, I could imagine your artwork in an illustrated Grimm’s fairytale adaptation. The way you shade, especially the face, is also very distinct as well, especially the way you shade the nose. Your art is very lovely and I’m always delighted when I see it on my dash

aw, thanks! I actually started doing my inking/shading technique as far back as high school, when I was really into Victorian literature. I got inspired by the inking techniques you see in a lot of 19th century illustrations. I was OBSESSED with Sweeney Todd then, and I think the original illustrations for “The String of Pearls,” the penny dreadful the musical was based on, really kicked this off. Here’s an illustration from the book, next to a high school drawing I did of Mrs. Lovett in the musical:

This is where I kind of picked up the shading technique of using a ton of really thin inked lines, which I still use today.

Exaggerated expressions are some of my favorite things to draw, and this comes from a few different inspirations. Obviously, I love German Expressionist art and films, but another influence, of all things, is Spongebob. The gag of grotesque extreme close-up shots disturbed and fascinated me as a kid, but as I got more into art, I became obsessed with the idea of getting that perfect expression to convey incredibly specific emotions, whether in a comedic or dramatic context. I love just getting really gritty into the details and intensifying shading around the eyes. Usually in a drawing like this, I’ll draw the eyes first once I have the basic guideline down, and build around it with shading. Eyes are my favorite part of character drawing- oftentimes, I want them to be the most striking part of a piece. And of course, I also love working with shape language.

Other big inspirations for me are Junji Ito, Jhonen Vasquez, Brett Helquist, and Edward Gorey. You can probably see Vasquez the most in how I do eyelashes- I like to give each character that has them a unique eyelash pattern or shape. Eyelashes are a great way to add characterization; there’s a lot of diversity you can get out of them- how many lashes are on the top, bottom, or sides of the eye, how long they are, what shape they are, etc-

I also want to point this out in my disney princess sketches; many of their eyelashes contain a nod to the character or emphasize their expressions. Snow White’s point up to emphasize cheerfulness, while Sleeping Beauty’s point down and are droopy. Moana’s are shaped like waves, Rapunzel’s like the rays of a sun, and Ariel’s like fish tails:

Anyway, thanks so much! I'm happy that you mentioned the Grimm's fairy tales; I've been thinking that I would love to illustrate a children's horror project, and I think that would be a great place to experiment! I actually have a book of them on my shelf, so maybe I'll read a few and try illustrating some :))))

[focsle]

Not sure if anyone asked you this, so if someone did I apologise, but how did you get the hang of inking?

This is going to maybe sound pat, but lots of practice. I’ve drawn hundreds of comic pages over the years and, if we break them down into panels, that’s thousands of individual drawings…which gives me a lot of opportunities to work on the skill, and I’m always still learning!

Going to Weather is digital, but it’s the first comic I’ve done where I wasn’t inking traditionally. Everything I’m doing in it now is translated from how I work with traditional inks. I’d recommend practicing with traditional ink because it gives you the opportunity to try out all kinds of different tools to find what sings to you: crow quill pens, microns, rapidographs, brushes, dip pens, etc. The Winsor Newton Series 7 Kolinsky brush is a really nice one for inking, though quite pricey. And my absolutely favorite inking tool are Japanese G-pen nibs, particularly the Zebra brand. They’re really stable and have a great line variation for a nib. I’m ride or die for Zebra G Pens--super versatile tool. But everyone has their favorites.

Practice textures! My favorite professor had many-a-mantra, but one of them was ‘it looks like this, it feels like this’, thinking that as you’re rendering something, render it with intention. The bark on a tree is going to look different from a knight’s armor, or someone’s hair, or a wheat field. Think about how you could best convey what something feels like through your linework.

Also practice different kinds of shading. Try some straight linework with nothing but the line weight to imply light, some stippling, some hatching, some ink washes, some stark black and white chiaroscuro. Try experimenting with how you might render different colors, using just the black ink. It can help you find the ways you like rendering things, and help your brain process light and tone with something that’s just black and white. I learned a lot while having to render sunrises in greyscale for GTW, for instance.

And also look at the work of other artists! It’s helpful to see how others use the medium to do what I mentioned above. I’m most inspired by 19th century engravings, ranging from illustrations to just like…drawings of furniture in the Sears catalogues of Olde before photography did it all. And some artists I personally find very inspirational and masters of the kind of inking style that appeals to me are Bernie Wrightson, Charles Dana Gibson, Rockwell Kent, Henry Clarke, Aubrey Beardsley, and Edward Gorey.

Happy inking!

[scarlet--wiccan]

The captain marvel art (in the part where it’s definitely wanda) is interesting because her skin tone isn’t that different from Carol’s (it’s not so much one is darker or lighter they just have different base tones. In one panel I think Carol is technically darker where their faces aren’t that detailed with lights and shadows) but it’s still easy to clock wanda as a WOC because of her other features (most notably her dark curly hair, a defining feature of hers since the 1960s, I wish people wouldn’t ignore that)

Wanda’s gotten some pretty good art but I’m really into stuff that like, even if it were in black and white you can tell she’s a brown woman

I hear what you're saying. Pina draws Wanda with more of an aquiline nose and, as you said, dark and curly hair. Even without color-- and I am guessing that the hair was filled in black on Pina's inks-- Wanda's features are clearly distinguished from Carol's. I hate to say it, but that's also more effort than a lot of artists would make. Things are getting better, but not that much better-- look at all of Sunspot's recent appearances.

And speaking of things that could be better, yes, Wanda's overall skin tone reads as brown, but it's several shades lighter than her appearance in Scarlet Witch. As I've noted, Wilson's coloring is wildly inconsistent on that series, but if we treat Wanda's appearance in neutral lighting as the default.... well, look for yourself.

Granted, Wanda and Carol are floating in a very brightly-lit space on this page, but I think we all know from experience that shades of brown tend to constricted to a light tan in many comic books. While artists are definitely giving her brown skin in most current series, like the new Avengers, it is definitely lighter than it was at the start of the year.

[oddosprey]

I love your ink drawings! The details and textures are so nice. Do you mind if I ask, what materials did you use for them? Did you draw the gray first or the black? I love this style, but every time I try, the pen bleeds or the markers bleed, or both. You've inspired me to pick up the pen again, but I'm scared to make a "bleeding" mess!

Thank you so much anon! I’m glad you enjoy them :D

I use a mix of things. The fine lines are done with a Pentel Technica pen (a gel pen, usually a size 3 or 4, sometimes a 6). With a pentel pocket brush pen to block in the heavier shadow areas. Recently I picked up some felt tipped pens called “Zebra Fude Sign Brush Pens” that come in a few sizes (they’re what I’ve been messing around with lately). The gray is a gray copic marker, but can be any gray marker.

Obviously, not all of these are necessary for a sketch lol, I just stream of consciousness mess around when it comes to materials. But different sized markers or brush pens can help with putting down line weight or save me from cross hatch shading darker areas with pen. So I do like having at least one marker of some kind on hand.

And yes, I do often sketch things out with the gray copic first! Sometimes I dive in with the gel pen first though, it’s fine enough that the marks can be scribbley and still read.

I will say, aside from the copics, none of the other materials I’ve listed off so far should bleed through to another sheet of paper. The technicas are gel pens and the brush pen and felt tip markers feel like their ink is made to sit on top of the paper. Obviously going too heavy in an area on thinner paper could potentially lead to bleed, but I’ve yet to encounter it with just pens and fine points. (I don’t wanna lead you astray with bleeding ink tho, anon, I get the concern)

Here’s a photo of what I use:

This is a mixed media sketchbook. You can see that only the copic ink bleeds through the back of the page, but doesn’t impact the one behind it. Sometimes paper is paper, I am an art gremlin, and I embrace the chaos and just draw on top of the blob on the back of the page anyway.

Seriously though, mixed media paper isn’t necessary, any paper can do the trick. If mixed media sketchbooks are a bit too much, you could always throw a piece of torn out sketchbook paper or printer paper behind a page to try catching ink. Particularly if alcohol based markers are creating issues. :D I have plenty of strathmore sketchbooks with ink drawings in them. The pad I use currently is a stilman and birn: epsilon series and that’s just for portability and because I find the shape fun to use.

Hope this helps! I ink sketch to wind down sometimes, so it’s lead to some experimenting with tools lol.

[wanderingnork]

After thinking on it for a while, I finally have some things to say about Hellraiser (2022). Enough ink has been spilled on the subject of gender and sexuality in the context of this franchise, so I’m not going to go there. Besides, where these movies touched me weren’t in those aspects of my identity. Instead, they hit a different facet: autism.

Note: everything I have to say is specifically geared at my personal presentation of autism. As the saying goes, if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person. Some things may resonate with other autistic people, and they may resonate with people who have other neurodivergences, but really...this is a personal consideration. (You’ll also notice I’m not using person-first language in this. I prefer “autistic person” for a plethora of reasons. I’m aware that’s not for everyone, but that’s what we’re going with here.)

Also I’m going to talk about sex a bit, and self harm, so proceed below the cut with care.

On to the movie.

In a nutshell, for people who’ve never seen these movies, the main plot is centered on a strange puzzle box which, when solved, opens the way for beings from another dimension--the Cenobites--to emerge. The ultimate sensualists, the Cenobites seek greater and greater sensations, discovering all of the ways that the body can experience the world.

We have such sights to show you.

Usually, the sensations are pretty damn painful. Torturous, actually. There are a lot of chains and spikes involved. The Cenobites themselves engage in extreme body modification and pain, often leaving themselves unable to speak or perpetually screaming in agony whenever they move. Being taken back to their home dimension is a guarantee of an eternity of torture which, to the Cenobites, is nothing less than the greatest ecstasy. You might not see it that way, but good luck: it’s not like they give you a safeword.

Despite all this, over and over, people seek out the box and solve it, hoping that they’ll be given the chance to experience this for themselves. Sometimes they regret it. Sometimes...they don’t.

And the odd thing about all of this is that, when I see those movies, I find myself empathizing not with the hapless petitioners, but with the alien Cenobites.

They’re generally a lawful bunch--I’d give them lawful neutral, if I had to use a D&D alignment chart. The box, to them, represents a contract. To solve it is to sign the contract, even if you didn’t read the fine print. (Really, how different is that from accepting the Terms of Service without reading it?) They are determined to fulfill their half of the bargain, and trying to run only incites pursuit. However, at least in the new Hellraiser, it’s possible to make a bargain that doesn’t sell the soul of the person who opened the box. The contract still has to be fulfilled, but in this case it’s paying the price of other souls as sacrifices in order to receive a final, incredible reward from the Cenobites.

“Incredible,” let’s note, does not mean the same thing to them that it generally means to us.

Although they often have shades of malice in their actions and words, and have no qualms about being absolutely brutal to the people who open the box, they seem to genuinely believe that they are doing the right thing. Or perhaps the virtuous thing. To their minds, they are introducing people into higher ways of being--those ways just happen to be horrifying. The Cenobites themselves live in those ways. In their perpetual agonies, they find exaltation.

Which, in some strange ways, resonates with me. You see, I--like many other autistic people--am a sensory seeker. In order to regulate my emotions and body, I engage in physical sensations to help me. Some of those, like rocking in a chair or playing with a pen, are totally benign. Some of them, like biting my nails to the quick, are worrisome. Some of them, like hitting my head or biting myself, are dangerous. But to me, in a way that no one else can quite understand, those things--despite being painful--feel right. They regulate the world. They help me see clearly when the world is overwhelming.

I also experience pain in a very, very different way than many other people. I am hyposensitive to pain. A headache that makes another person insensate gets a weary shrug from me. I’ve fallen down more flights of stairs than I care to count and every time I’ve been more startled than hurt. I rarely notice if I bruise myself by walking into something. And so on, and so forth.

But other experiences, sensations that many people find pleasurable, are sensations that can trigger catastrophic meltdowns in me. A noisy party full of joyful people. Pretty clothes with lace or velvet. Going for a run. The strong scent of a meal or a candle. A hug. Any of these can set me off to the point of screaming, crying...and, sometimes, hurting myself. Because the pain...is centering. It brings me back to myself as the world implodes.

Now obviously I try not to do the dangerous stuff! I don’t want a concussion or an infection, thanks. But the fact remains that I pursue sensation in a way that many non-neurodivergent people just plain don’t understand. And I am far, far from the only autistic person who does this.

It’s not been thoroughly studied by any means, but there’s a huge body of anecdotal evidence that autistic people really like BDSM and other forms of high-sensory kink. Reports usually talk about the security of pressure in bondage, the enjoyment of strict rules (on both sides of the equation), the anchoring sensation of pain, a highly controlled sensory environment.

Without getting into the deeper details, yeah, I’m very much in this group, for all of the above reasons and more. There are certainly things I find too disturbing, and thresholds I’d rather not pass, but the fact remains that many things people might find terrible are things I appreciate. It can be centering, calming, meditative. I’d maybe even call it ecstatic, sometimes.

How very much like a Cenobite that sounds.

And it seems that they’re not unappreciative of the overwhelming nature of the world in general. During a key sequence of the newest Hellraiser, we see the moment that the Cenobites emerge to claim a victim. Before their arrival, he experiences a catastrophic sensory overload. The world spins and whirls around him and he can’t keep his feet. Lights become obscenely bright. The hum of fluorescent lights becomes unbearable. By the time the Cenobites make their appearance, the victim is already in a world of overwhelming, agonizing sensation. Later in the movie, we see other people--less dramatically--experience the same thing when the Cenobites approach.

I had to cover my eyes during that sequence, because it was very, very much like what experiencing a sensory overload is for me.

To open the puzzle box is to invite in the unimaginable. To invite contradiction and dissent into your very experience of the world. In all their dreadful glory, there’s an element of raw, visceral humanity to the Cenobites. For all that they’re truly alien to all human experience, sharing no morality or even reality, it’s the common ground that creates a jarring familiarity.

Doesn’t that sound familiar, to anyone who knows what it’s like to be autistic.

I have such sights to show you.

It’s so common to hear autistic people say that they feel like an alien, a monster, a robot--something not human, something stranded in a world that isn’t their own. Famously, the children’s show Arthur flipped the metaphor and portrayed the autistic character as an astronaut on an alien planet. But the feeling--the sensation--of being a stranger, an outsider, remains. And it’s often on the common ground that the most terrifying things happen. It’s the common ground that led me to try to mask, to hurt myself in deep and twisting ways, because I thought I could be like the rest of the world. Instead, I only discovered a whole new world of pain. Can’t say I enjoyed it. But I doubt that the Cenobites enjoy their own torment in ways that we would recognize as pleasure.

But here’s the kicker, for me.

The end of this Hellraiser implies that there are some sensations that a Cenobite can never experience. In their final lines, they drive home the suffering that comes from a life of loss and regret. The words on a page just sound cruel. In the delivery, though...there’s a sense of what might be envy.

Can something that doesn’t share in the emotional experience of humanity ever truly experience regret, a uniquely human sensation?

Or is that sensation something that even a Cenobite, the ultimate seeker of greater thresholds to cross, can never experience?

Can I, a person who experiences emotions in a strange way, muted in some ways and explosive in others, ever truly experience sensations in the way that so much of the rest of humanity does?

Or is that sensation that I can never truly experience?

I don’t know. I’d like to think so. I’d like to think that my emotions, despite being on a different wavelength, are in the end part of a shared human experience. But I don’t know for sure, and--by the nature of human experience and my autistic experience in particular--I will never know. It’s a worry that haunts me frequently, just by living my life, and to see it reflected on the silver screen was moving. It forced me to ask a question of myself:

If I opened the puzzle box, would I find myself with more in common than the monstrous, alien Cenobites than the ordinary humans I love?

[banchagu]

thank you for the art asks!! i compiled the answers below

1. how would you describe your style?

Aside from anime-inspired I guess I’d say it’s pretty……….. “straightforward”. What that means exactly idk but it seems right to me

2. what’s your favorite thing about your style?

I still have a long way to go in terms of putting together really unique color palettes, but I do think at this point I can reliably pick out something effective, or at least cohesive

3. what’s your least favorite thing about your style?

I’ve noticed I lack a consistent brush/look for non-painting stuff, if that’s one? I love experimenting the most, but it would be nice to have a default to fall back on. Also I draw irises way too small sometimes LOL

4. favorite thing to draw?

I really really like theatrical, character-focused? kinda stuff with interesting imagery/symbolism… that and little comics + scenery + anything that pushes me out of my comfort zone, especially composition-wise. I’m still too self-conscious to really post any of these that often though, if at all :’DD

5. least favorite thing to draw?

I’m not confident enough in my anatomy skills yet so I feel awkward trying to convey attractiveness/beauty/grace LOL maybe one day

7. show us a WIP

Sorry but I’m the type to lose 100% of my motivation on something as soon as I share anything about it AJDKJNFJKN

8.  what’s the most fun and the least fun parts about your process?

I like the very beginning – sketching mindlessly/spitballing ideas, throwing down colors, working out a mood, etc. – and the very end stages (of painting) where it’s just a matter of rendering out tiny details. I also love shading!!!

Do Not like sketching for line art/lining in general, although that’s gradually getting easier… I think

9. show us a finished piece right alongside the sketch

(side note every time I see this set I’m always just baffled I didn’t draw Lou and Minnie looking further in the past for their piece too….. Why………… there’s actual backstory and everything……………..)

10. how many different sketches do you usually have until your piece is finished?

Honestly it can go up to ~10 and they usually look worse each time!! I’m starting to find, for me, the less planning and fussing over prep for a piece, the better. Doing otherwise has just built up my expectations for it (which I can never reach anyways) and curbed my enthusiasm to see it through (the most important part!)

11. show us the last thing you drew

13. how long do you usually take on a piece?

If we’re just talking high-effort/polish pieces, it can take 1 – 2 months, sometimes longer. I draw ““seriously”” pretty irregularly though, and with a set limit of hours per week (to manage burnout/RSI stuff 😭), so those are factors to consider. Also painting goes way faster!

16. favorite media to work with when drawing traditionally?

I like messing around with acrylic, even though set-up and cleaning is such a hassle. I love watercolor and ink too! Hoping to actually become comfortable using a g-pen someday sniff

[kainaatwasim]

3RD WORKSHOP

Here I started off by painting train tickets onto some paper and experimented with different textures. As the image clearly shows a variety of train tickets with different patterns linking back to my ideas of my journey. I used orange and yellow pain to create the base of the ticket and used different strokes with the brush such as swirling the brush around, dabbing, painting straight line, basically experimenting with different brushes and strokes. I also used black ink to create the text that on the ticket but without any Typography. To do this I used a smaller/ thinner brush and experimented with it. I really like how some of these turned out as I like certain textures, also some old them I didn’t really like as I wasn’t happy with the out come.

Eventually, I learnt how to use the heat press. I got a white piece of fabric, placed that down onto the board and applied the painting onto the fabric facing down. Then I placed parchment paper over and slid the board under, I pressed the two buttons and waited 1 minute for it to be done. The outcome of this was really nice and far from what I had imagined it to be as the colours were more vibrant. Some of the colours got mixed up and created a light orange shade rather than yellow. One thing I need to improve is to try and keep them the same size as they are all different from one another. Also I would try and keep neat edges for the next work shop. After experiencing the workshops, I have an idea of what I’m initially looking for my final piece. However, I still need to continue experimenting to get a clear vision. This links back to the research I need to do in order to add to my progress.

[azuisreading]

Sistah Samurai by Tatiana Obey

This is no revenge story. I ain’t got time for that. I’ve got errands to run and things to do and barely enough time to make it home before sundown. I don’t care why folks are going around stealing ink. I don’t care why the monks are acting kinda strange. I don’t care that everybody is expecting me to save them. I might be a Sistah Samurai but those days playing hero were back when my knees didn’t ache, and I wasn’t the only one left. So leave me alone. All I want to do is get home, drink some green tea lemonade, and enjoy my peace. I’m not asking for much, so why are all these demons daring to get in my way? I am not the one. Not today. Sistah Samurai is an Action Fantasy novella that is an homage to the anime, Afro Samurai. Both works feature a feudal Japan-inspired setting that is rife with anachronisms. In the words of Samuel L. Jackson, “Is that a motherf—ing RPG?”

Review

Meeting Tatiana was one of the brightest things that the Universe could have done for me. After her duology, I knew I would want to read anything she writes. After coming into contact with her, I knew I would want to keep in touch for as long as possible. Even when we both knew that I wouldn't be the best reader for her new novella, she let me be part of her ARC team. And if I wasn't grateful enough then, I am now.

Sistah Samurai could be the story that changes your life.

It’s also exactly what Tatiana says it is: a love letter for her people. Yeah, it’s destined for a certain audience, and though I am not part of it, I felt the love and the embrace as if I were. So that’s not an obstacle for you to not get it. Everyone should have and everyone should read Sistah Samurai, only to feel and experience that kind of feeling.

It has a lot, and I’m not kidding when I say it. A LOT. The words are telling you a story while the background is weaving another, though both of them are related and intertwined and it would be hard to tell them apart. I loved it. I loved both, I loved the hundreds of thousands of different stories that are flowing together in this short novella.

I loved the protagonist and how she was annoyed at everything and everyone but was unable to ignore them anyway. I loved how I knew some things were about to happen and how uncertain things slapped me in the face. I had a smile even in the saddest moments and my heart was always filled with the love that was coursing through every word. I love how I couldn’t foresee things and how those things came hugging me from the back.

What I didn’t love, though, was that it finished when I wanted to continue knowing and reading more, and this is a weird part because that’s also something I love. How it got me to want to know more and read more even when the story was finished. And like I told Tatiana when I reached her to talk about this story, I also love the sense of reality that kind of ending gave me, because that’s usually how real life feels sometimes, when you don’t get to know what happens next, when that’s the end you get about another person. It grounded me. (But she knows I’m totally up if and when she wants to dive into this universe again.)

This is a story about love and that was the only emotion I felt while reading, so I recommend you that, if you are trying and looking for a story like this, you read this one.

Phrases that I liked so much that I marked them while reading

«Tamashii ink is an extraction of a person’s soul, they say. If so, the color of mine must be blackity black black black.» — Chapter 1.

«I see you looking at me. I know what you’re thinking- this girl done left her glasses at home, but she sure did remember to grab her shades. Well, yeah, ‘cause they make me look like a baaaad motherfucker. So mind ya business.» — Chapter 1.

«They called me Sistah Samurai, but in truth, I was just a tired woman tired of being tired.» — Chapter 2.

«The only difference between me and everybody else was that I’ve got a katana to help me row, but most times, it didn’t keep me moving forward none.» — Chapter 2.

«I wore a faded and lived-in black kimono while everyone else in the village had already donned their spring yukatas. The bright floral prints decorated the streets like spring shower rainbows, and I shoved through those rainbows like a thundercloud.» — Chapter 2.

«Her mouth dropped open in awe as she stared at me, as if my halo of hair marked me as some sort of goddess worthy of worship.» — Chapter 2.

«Straight lying out of his neck. I debated if I should call him out on it, which led to another uncomfortable silence. Even the little girl, who was looking between us with some confusion, blurted, “Just ask her out already.”» — Chapter 2.

«There used to be a street that led straight to my favorite restaurant, but someone had plopped a house in the middle of it and that street didn’t exist anymore. Instead, I took three right turns, passed underneath a roughshod bridge, navigated through a hybrid bakery-tailor-barbershop monstrosity mishmash to reach the plaza that had been five steps from where I started if I could walk through walls.» — Chapter 3.

«Too often, it was so easy for time to get away from me.» — Chapter 3.

«I returned to my now cold ramen. The son, at behest of the chef, brought me over a steaming bowl of ramen. Bless him.» — Chapter 4.

«Desperation made monsters of us all.» — Chapter 5.

«If the demons were ever to breach the gates while I was away, I had no doubt that this restaurant would be the only building left standing… and the inksmith’s shop. Probably. If the old man didn’t forget to activate his talismans again.» — Chapter 5.

«Let him try, but the more intention he used, the faster his ink would fade.» — Chapter 5.

«The metal melted around the fire, and I kicked the door the rest of the way open, except the blasted thing slammed against the opposite wall, and rebounded back to shut closed in my face. With a huff and roll of the eyes, I gently pushed open the door.» — Chapter 5.

«Finally. Someone around here had learned some manners. I just didn’t understand why I had to be the one dishing out the lesson. I didn’t have the time to go around educating folks. I didn’t have the time to correct every ignorant word that fell from the mouths of people who didn’t care to change. Nor should I always have to prove why my existence deserves their respect. But then… there are those days when your patience wears thin, and the cuts are too many to ignore, when you’re too tired but not tired enough, when you’ve had enough of the bullshit and the tomfoolery, and you’ve reached that magical moment when you’ve manifested the ability to make time. Someone’s got to teach these fools- Never disrespect a Black woman.» — Chapter 5.

«I should have been left the village by now, but of course I couldn’t leave well enough alone. I just had to get involved. Now look at the time.» — Chapter 6.

«I should have tried harder. I should have stayed. I know that, okay? But I can’t go around saving everybody. I’ve lived that life before. I’ve got to take care of me and mine. So leave me the fuck alone.» — Chapter 7.

«I was so tired of you annoying the shit out of me all the time. “Leave me alone,” I demanded. “But you’d be so lonely without me.” Lonely my ass. I’d rejoice the day I’m free of you.» — Chapter 7.

«I was tired of leaving behind loose ends because I didn’t have the time to tie them.» — Chapter 7.

«Of all the days for this to happen, why today? It was as if I started off on the wrong foot this morning, and I have been unable to get my groove back. No point wasting time and complaining about it, though. You’ve been complaining all day. Shut up. If you’ve got a problem with it, then you can get the fuck out of my head. No one likes a backseat driver.» — Chapter 8.

«I had been doing so well this morning blocking you out, until… […]. I guess we all have our triggers.» — Chapter 8.

«I wished I understood where they came from. The Sacred Order of Brotha Monks theorized that the demons are pulled from other worlds, embodiments of nightmares and traumas so intense they fray the line of reality and impose physical manifestations on the adjacent worlds around them. All I know is that I want all these other worlds to deal with their shit, so I don’t have to.» — Chapter 8.

«I’m still here. Fuck you. One day, I’ll figure out how to exorcise you, too. I know I failed. I know I made a mistake. I know I should have been there. I was a Captain. I should have been holding the line. The only way to cleanse that sort of shame was through hara-kiri, but I sure as fuck was not dying and giving you my soul. Are you living just to spite me? Hell fucking yes, I was.» — Chapter 8.

«Would nothing go right today?» — Chapter 10.

«But when push comes to shove… You do what you gotta do.» — Chapter 10.

«The lieutenant’s fire blasted against my summoned shield. The loser- whoever’s talisman ran out of ink first. I sure as fuck knew it wasn’t going to be me.» — Chapter 10.

«I squinted at a sudden glint of light around the warlord’s head. What was that? Okay. Fine. If I survived this, I promised to never leave the house without my glasses ever again.» — Chapter 10.

«I didn’t know if I wanted to live, or to die.» — Chapter 11.

«Who was left to scream into the void and say that we were here? To declare that we were more than the soldiers the world forced us to be. We were women, and mothers, and sisters, and cousins. We were teachers, and healers, and innovators, and warriors. And we went down fighting.» — Chapter 11.

«I thought about my Sistahs—who deserved more respect, more dignity, more love, and certainly more life than the world ever gave them.» — Chapter 11.

«It was a risky talisman, but I wouldn’t have trusted it from anyone else but her.» — Chapter 12.

«The bodyguards stumbled back and dropped their katanas. Ah. Now they were fleeing. But I was faster.» — Chapter 13.

«”Men hope while women carry the world.”» — Chapter 15.

«Why do I always have to be strong all of the god damn time?» — Chapter 16.

«”And I choose to no longer carry their deaths. Instead, I choose to carry their love.”» — Chapter 17.

«Time was cruel and it was brief. It was merciful and patient. It was fragile and easily broken. It was bright and way too fast. Cherish every god damn moment. ‘Cause spring would not last.» — Chapter 19.

«Finally, to all my fellow black girl nerds, I hope you feel seen. It’s about damn time.» — End Credits.

[flowersbydesign1]

4 Professional Paper Flower Decoration Techniques To Master In 2023!

Hey there, fellow flower enthusiasts! If you’re reading this, you must have a soft spot for beautiful blooms, just like me. I’m no botanist, but I’ve spent years perfecting the art of paper flower decoration. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a professional decorator, I’ve got some exciting strategies to share that will make your paper flowers truly blossom!

As the owner of Flowers By Design and one of the best flower decorators in Bangalore, I have experimented with these strategies and brought them for you to try!

Why Paper Flowers?

First things first, why paper flowers? Well, they’re versatile, long-lasting, and customizable. Plus, they don’t wilt or wither away like their real counterparts. As an expert in flower design decoration, I’ve found that paper flowers are perfect for weddings, parties, home decor, and even heartfelt gifts.

Choosing the Right Paper:

The foundation of any successful paper flower project is the paper itself. The type of paper you choose will impact the overall look and feel of your creation. For delicate, realistic petals, I recommend using crepe paper. Crepe paper is not only easy to shape but also holds its form beautifully.

Tissue paper, on the other hand, is fantastic for creating fluffy, voluminous flowers. It’s lightweight and adds a soft, dreamy quality to your arrangements. Cardstock, with its sturdiness, is great for structural elements like flower centers or leaves.

To work magic with paper flowers, you’ll need some essential tools. Start with a good pair of scissors — sharp, precision scissors make cutting intricate shapes a breeze. Don’t forget floral tape, hot glue, and a sturdy craft glue for securing petals and leaves.

Investing in a set of quality templates can save you a ton of time and effort. These templates can guide you in cutting perfect shapes every time, ensuring your flowers look consistent and professional.

Mastering Techniques:

Here’s where the fun begins! There are various techniques to create stunning paper flowers, and each method offers a unique result.

1. Folding and Cutting: Simple and effective, folding and cutting petals can create a layered, realistic look. Try experimenting with different petal shapes and sizes to achieve your desired effect.

2. Curling and Shaping: Curling the edges of your paper petals adds dimension and a natural curve. A round-tipped pencil is perfect for this. Shaping tools, like ball styluses, can help create realistic creases and curves.

3. Dyeing and Painting: Don’t limit yourself to plain white paper. Experiment with watercolor paints, ink, or even spray paint to add depth and color to your creations. Blending techniques can give your flowers a lifelike appearance.

4. Adding Details: Think beyond just petals. Incorporate stamens, pistils, and centers to mimic real flowers. Using tiny beads, wire, or even quilling paper can achieve exquisite results.

Designing Your Arrangement:

Once you’ve mastered the art of creating paper flowers, it’s time to think about how to arrange them. When designing an arrangement, consider the color palette, flower shapes, and sizes. Create contrast and balance by mixing different elements.

For a striking centerpiece, use a combination of large and small flowers. Add depth by including various shades of the same color or complementary hues. Don’t forget to incorporate greenery and leaves to break up the blooms and create a more natural look.

Longevity and Care:

One of the fantastic advantages of paper flowers is their longevity. To keep your creations looking their best, store them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Dust them gently with a soft brush or use a can of compressed air to remove any buildup.

Embrace Your Creativity:

Remember, there are no strict rules in paper flower decoration. It’s all about expressing your creativity and making something that speaks to you. Feel free to experiment with different techniques, colors, and styles. The more you play around, the more you’ll discover your unique floral design signature.

Sharing the Love:

Finally, don’t keep your paper flower mastery a secret! Share your creations with friends and family, or even consider selling your designs. You’ll be amazed at how these little paper wonders can brighten up someone’s day.

So, there you have it, my fellow paper flower aficionados. With the right paper, tools, techniques, and a sprinkle of imagination, you can create stunning paper flower decorations that will amaze and inspire everyone who sees them. You are now on the track to creating the best flower design decorations using just paper! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Happy crafting!

[posttitta]

Vortex download

#Vortex download update#

#Vortex download Patch#

I certainly guaruntee the quality of the file and its performance. Menu bar is divided into five sections: Home, Games, Friends, Profile, Settings. Main screen displays your most recently played games, menu bar at top of screen provides access to all of features of platform. Interface Interface is clean and easy to use. Should there be any issues with opening the file or using it for its intended size, please reach out to me at so I can help you with what you need. Vortex download has excellent support, is constantly expanding its library of games. I hope y'all can understand that downloads are non-refundable. NO REFUNDS ON DOWNLOADS, MY LOVELY MAPPERS For most of them, this was not much of an issue. According to early Map Testers, you'll notice a difference between pen brands/kinds in terms of smearing. This is available in the Docs & Downloads section above.

#Vortex download update#

Note: A firmware update is needed for your Vortex before you can use the Vyzex Vortex software.

#Vortex download Patch#

If you dive in fresh off the press, so to speak, you're more likely to see smearing-especially for yellow and the lighter shades. The Vyzex Vortex patch editor software allows both beginning and advanced MIDI users to easily achieve the full potential of their Alesis Vortex keytar. To avoid smearing or smudging of the ink as you color, give your printed download time to dry. Real-time simulation and visualization software for system-level modeling of mechatronics and mechanical equipment. I have limited experience on how those will go for ya, so please try a different paper or method if at first you don't succeed. Early Map Testers have yet to report an issue with print quality-but since I obsess about these things, I felt compelled to mention it. Vortex Studio is CM Labs’ advanced suite of real-time simulation and visualization software, a high-fidelity platform for fast-paced, user-centric mechanical prototyping, streamlined product design and deployment of immersive virtual experiences for human-in-the-loop testing, immersive training, and enhanced marketing experiences. You can try printing on "normal" paper, cardstock, photo paper-whatever you like. With the downloads, it's totally up to you. When I offer you the Creative Progress M aps, I know exactly how it looks and how different pens will perform on the prints and canvas. MAYBE OBVIOUS, YET IMPORTANT POINTĪs you are able to print these on a variety of paper/printers/inks, I'm unable to guaruntee the "end result" of every method you use to print your download. Designed for instant gratification and/or repeated use this is everything you love about the 90 Swirl Vortex, just as a download so you can print it at home.

[mainsspice]

My story isnt over yet tattoo

MY STORY ISNT OVER YET TATTOO SKIN

It was supposed to be an interpretation of the Gemini zodiac sign - a huge double-sided head on her back, which must’ve been painful for her - and we could only do one head the first day. I’ll say the person that ghosted me for a month without completing her tattoo. I’ve tattooed over 50 people, so let’s see. What’s the most challenging tattoo you’ve done so far? They tell you to tattoo down their ribs and spine, no fear. Women would get painful tattoos for their firsts and take it like champs. I’ve tattooed someone on the back of her ear, and she said it didn’t hurt. Also, for first-timers, start with small to medium tattoos on less painful places like the arms. They’ll need to come back and get it touched up. People pick at it, not knowing that spot will end up not having as much pigmentation as the rest of the tattoo. Tattoos are open wounds, so they tend to itch while your body is trying to cover up the skin. What’s the most common mistake people make after getting a tattoo? She was using aloe vera and completely derailed from my aftercare instructions. I tell people they can’t go to the gym or go swimming until their tattoo heals, and they just do what they want instead. After ghosting me for a month, she texted me saying it was hurting. When I tattoo people, I text them every day within the first two weeks, but every time I’d text her to show me the tattoo, she’d weasel her way out of it. The customer ignored my aftercare instructions. Some of here work Ever messed up a tattoo? You just have to be confident and finesse it.

MY STORY ISNT OVER YET TATTOO SKIN

I quickly learnt that fake skin is nothing compared to the real thing. But my partner had done the line work and I just had to shade it in. My confidence peaks everytime this happens. It’s very intimate when someone leaves their house and says they want to pay you x amount of money to permanently mark them. Everybody’s skin and healing levels are different needles and ink react differently too. It’s a new learning experience each time. He was just waiting for me at the table and giving me his body. I was so excited, my heart was going off in my chest, and this person had no idea what was going on. In a little under a month, he was tattooing someone and had to leave, so he turned to me and went, “You’re up.” Wow, that was bold! How did the first time feel? He asked if I was serious, and that’s how it started. I went there with plans to get a tattoo but ended up telling the tattoo artist - now my business partner - to teach me. It happened when I moved to Abuja in late 2020 my friend was getting tattooed and asked me to come to watch. I’ve been a tattoo artist for almost two years. Give me all the tea on your tattoo journey But ask me to take a 20-minute walk now I’d rather die. I used to be an athlete with the strength to throw a discus. Outside my 9-5, I’m a tattoo artist and body modification enthusiast. I don’t want anybody to be able to remember me, so I can up and go whenever. My name is H, I like to live almost anonymously.