#feels good to make something that isnt just a pencil sketch

[casualcatastrophesincorporated]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[idorukiss]

Heres a sorta drabble/headcanon of sorts of how I picture MC's relationship with Rafayel would devleop~ I'm not much of a writer but the brainrot is real and im working on making similar ones for the other boys too!

1,051 words || You can also read it on ao3

‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙ Xavier ・ Zayne ・ Sylus

There have been many different things in Rafayel's life that inspired him when it comes to his art, But nothing took control of his heart so intensely as much as you have. Like a whirlpool you shook him to his core from that first meeting, and all he wants to do is capture you on his canvas for eternity.

It really was quite the blessing with how willing you were to become his bodyguard- not only can he keep you within arms reach but you can also protect him from all the shady people after his life. Like killing 2 birds with one stone, except you were so much stronger and beautiful than any stone he’s ever set eyes on before

He absolutely felt like a flirt to you at the start with all of the compliments and casual physical touch between you guys, He just loved to say how amazing you are while enclosing you in a deep bear hug. It was strange at first you'd admit, but it never felt like he was trying to make any passes at you or act like he was expecting anything in return. Perhaps that's just how he acts with people he trusts?

When Rafayel isnt painting, you two spend a lot of time outside finding inspiration all around. He usually has a sketchbook with him scribbling away anytime he sees something interesting- the landscapes, pretty flowers, or even a parfait you guys got to share. You’ve seen some of these sketches as he works on them, it always amazes you how much detail he can capture with so few lines.

He never let you fully flip through the sketchbook however, claiming all sorts of reasons why, like that the drawings were scared of the sunlight or you had to go through many trials to be worthy. It was obvious how much he cherished it and you respected his wishes, though it would be nice to reminisce on some of the good times you guys had together again. Though its not like your phone wasn't filled to the brim with photos already

Late one night, you stop by his place to make sure he didn't need any motivation to finish a painting for a deadline set the next morning. You have confidence he could make it in time, he always did, but you want to help him as best as you can otherwise. When you arrive you spot a stunning completed painting and a Rafayel sleeping on the sofa below it- both stunning as they're illuminated by the moonlight.

Taking it upon yourself to clean up his supplies a little, just enough to not be a walking hazard of course, you spot his precious travel sketchbook on the floor. Surely he wouldn't mind if you took a little peak in it, you'd love to see how he finished the last landscape you guys saw before he locked himself up to work. As you flip through the pages you see so many familiar sights from your time together so far, but scattered around them filling maybe even more pages was many drawings of a person. Of you. All surrounded by hearts and little notes about things you've said.

When did he have a chance to draw all of these? Is this how you look to him?? Questions race your mind as your face flushes at the image of him intensely scribbling in the sketchbook as you dance around the beach being dumb. You decide to grab a pencil and add your attempt of a sketch of him in the back, signing it with a little heart of your own. It’s nowhere near his skill level but something that captures how you feel, and maybe he would get a chuckle out of it once he spots it.

You don’t realize when the casual acts of affection he started out with turn slightly more romantic- going from linking arms together to holding your hand, and you swear you feel him press little kisses on the top of your head every time he wraps his arms around you. But you don't hate it, in fact it makes your heart flutter every time you realize it

Rafayel often messages you at the most random times to meet him somewhere, usually it was because he found a stunning view and wanted to share the experience with you. Sometimes he would even show up at your apartment to whisk you away, and every time it filled you with joy. These dates and every moment you get to spend with him fill your heart with so much warmth.

One particularly warm night you were woken up by a call inviting you to the beach near his studio. It was worth crawling out of the bed at an ungodly hour, not only for the view but for him. While you were admiring the waves, he couldn't keep his eyes off you as a cautious pinky is hooked around yours. Two faces flush as you look at him, it lasts for only a moment before its interrupted by your watch.

Your face falls as you read the notification “It looks like I got a last minute mission in the morning…I guess this means I have to head back already.” As you take a heavy step to start walking away he reaches out to stop you with a pleading look on his face “Wait, don’t go yet” “Rafayel…. I’m sorry, I really am. This night- everything was wonderful, it really was” “Can’t you just stay the night?” He wraps his arms around you, nuzzling his face into your neck “Please just stay the night, I don’t want you to leave.” Your heart flutters as you wrap your arms around him in return “Okay, I’ll stay for you my sweet painter”

He is the most clingy man you’ve ever met, constantly torn between wrapping himself around you while peppering every inch of skin with kisses and diving headfirst into hundreds of paintings with you as his muse. His studio would be covered in nothing but paintings of you if he didn't have to focus on his commissions.

He sculpted out a place in your heart that held him, and in turn you've devoted yourself to him- loving him with every fiber of your being

[melissa-titanium]

i think your art is very beautiful //. !!!!!!!!!!!!!uhm what app slash program do you use or recommend ..

EV E Y BOD Y SAY. THAAAAAAAAANK UOU <33333 HELL O U SWEE TBEAUTIFUL THANG. IIIIIIII!!!!!!O K OK.

iam severely biased because i use csp and i Fucking Love CSP but. i have used lots of different art programs & can just share my experiences. my choice from top being first to bottom being absolute last

CSP ; i mean, like, legally speaking -- it costs money. but. like. you know. arr mateys and all that. smirk. VERY good program, super extensive & i believe its industry standard? one downside for most people ive seen is that it is. like. incredibly complicated & visually overwhelming. like this is my personal setup

BUT ALSO GOING INTO THIS MORE.,.. the interface is like. 100% customizable. you could completely get rid of every single thing on here except for the brush and colorpicker if you wanted. like it is completely customizable just do whatever the fuck u want forever ALSO ANIMATION FRIENDLY BLESS i do all my animations here!!! . i really like it because there is an entire asset store with people making dedicated brushes and models and textures etc etc & also its just. it has a nice feel to it :)) its hard for me to describe well but i love csp. my babygirl

MEDIBANG PAINT: i have not used this in . quite some fucking time so forgive me if some of this is outdated. its not like. NEARLY as customizable as something like csp or photoshop (ewww) but it works like. pretty fucking well honestly. the brushes all have a very nice feel to them and it's a very far far reach from csp in terms of like. Set up BUT its free and has a lot of pre-made brushes to pick from :) ... unfortunately theres no way to import stuff unlike csp and ps so ur stuck with things made within the app or downloaded from the cloud i think otherwise tho i think it has a very nice interface :)) NOT animation friendly tho. sigh

FIREALPACA: FREE... also you can animate in it but its fucking insane. better selection of brushes than medibang but im not a big fan of how it feels + it was super laggy for me when i used it....

KRITA: same as above p much but a smaller brush selection ... IBISPAINT: free! big fan of the brushes (+ theres a LOT of them) & even if the interface is a little confusing for me its pretty simple & would be good for sum people i think :) PROCREATE: $5 last time i checked? fuck procreate honestly. one of my least favorite programs & i used it for 2 years so i would know. it gets a LOT of popularity because its aesthetically pleasing and. YES the feel of the brushes is nice i will not lie but the shit hiding behind such a simple interface is the fact that there is literally. so few options/so little customization. very laggy, brushes are EXCLUSIVE to procreate & even if there's a wide selection if you want to move to a different program its gonna b a nightmare having to use totally different brushes. animation feature is fucking terrible, there's a seperate app made by the same people i think? and i havent tried that one but ive heard its good :)) regardless. procreate isnt BAD but it has an incredibly simple interface, ipad/iphone exclusive, only really works well with an apple pencil (which is already pretty fucking expensive on top of an ipad if you dont already have one LOL !?!?!?!?!?!?)

PHOTOSHOP: fuck adobe! expensive as hell + ia m generally just not a big fan of it or its interface... its not bad per se but i wouldnt reccomend it to anyone who hasnt Already Used It

THERES . PROBABLY MORE IM FORGETTING like i could say sony sketch & gimp and shit but i dont have enough experience with them 2 really say. regardless i hope IHOP;E ANY OF THIS MADE; SENS;E[ ;34TEORTUDOIG

[thespectralkitsune]

Most common signs of AI generated art

This is a guide for people who might not be ENTIRELY certain how to spot AI generated art. Based on me finding a… totally handrawn piece on Pinterest. Totally.

Here’s the original picture. Looks nice, right? Ehhhh, I beg to differ.

Now, this probably isnt everything wrong with it, but lets at least go over the basics.

Firstly, this is clearly MEANT to be Sora’s kingdom hearts 3 outfit. Without looking at a reference, it’s mildly convincing. However. We have the power of the internet on our side.

This shows us many details of the outfit that get fucked up, because an AI won’t understand to draw it correctly.

The shoes and gloves are the major indicators. The shoes dont have a Diamond print on them. And one glove has a yellow band, while the other has this strangely present grey mark instead.

The box itself is surprisingly accurate, I’ll grant that.

Now, onto a more common offender. If something doesnt have a reference beforehand, this one will probably be the first thing to clue you in.

Dear god Sora mutated.

Now, unless we have someone in the audience with two thumbs and 5 1/4ths of a finger looking for representation, I don’t think this is very accurate to anyone.

Next on the chopping block, these chains.

Now, they look great. If we don’t look too long or too hard. The connections are more fucked up than the american average literacy rate, and that middle chain is floating midair.

Ai is usually not very good at anything being held by a character. Including, apparently, bindings.

The purple line shows how I suspect the anatomy is trying to go. That back arm is pretty funky, but this is close enough, I feel.

It looks half-decent, until we look at this.

Poor Sora’s foot is either clipping into the backrooms, or amputated. This is something that an artist of this supposed skill level should catch nigh immediately, but this is ai. It doesnt care.

Remember how I said the box was decent earlier?

No.

The lineart is clipping into itself. Yet again, something that should be caught in the sketch phase.

Also, these nonsensical petals.

(I ran out of images, so go back up.)

The one on the leg is lines in black, the one on the head is lined in dark yellow, and the rest is lined in whatever i feel like at the moment.

This photo ‘looks pretty’, but there’s actually so much wrong with it, i filled up an entire post.

Fuck AI, it uses too much energy and pollutes our planet just to make trash content like this. You want to draw? Go use a pencil and paper. Gonna take too long to learn? Start. Today.

[lazy-ahh]

no, thank YOU for this response, i wasn't even expecting to get one and this was so sweet <3. and i do get it, art is sooo. ugh sometimes. but im proud of you for pushing through!

GOD, I GET IT. i hadn't even LOOKED at a sketchbook in months and randomly out of nowhere i get some primal urge to draw something, and ofc it looks nothing like i wanted it too and then i delete it. its not even unexpected at this point, this cycle has happened so many times. BUT recently ive not been doing that yay! im not sure if this happens with you, but i get struck with a random image that looks SO GOOD in my head, and when i go to draw it, it just.. looks bad. AND IT DOESNT EVEN MOST OF THE TIME, I JUST GIVE UP BEFORE I CAN ADD THE COLOURS AND SHADING TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD. u might be my twin, bc everything u described in that reply is literally me. maybe we're just too much of perfectionists HAH.

but after sending that ask i stalked ur art dump (as you do ofc) AND OH MY GOD. ur damian sketch was SCRUMPTIOUS even as just a sketch. and ugh. that jason you drew?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

thats my thoughts on it. but genuinely, its a really beautiful piece, i love it!!

never apologise for rambling at me, as you can see, ill just ramble right back. and i get it about validation, i read ur reply and i was like THANK GOD SOMEONE ELSE STRUGGLES WITH THIS TOO. ill have a bunch of perfectly normal sketches and ill just.. rub them all out (when i was younger i even used to tear out the pages </3 wish i could go back and stop myself honestly)

as for the stuff i draw.. lately ive been trying this new method that makes me not want to rub everything out immediately. i go on pinterest and save a bunch of nice looking photos and when im in the mood, i go ahead and draw one of them! i find its a really nice way not to run out of inspo or motivation bc well theres so many photos on pinterest. its usually ppl in various fun-looking poses.

ive acc been trying to get into digital art (WHICH UR AMAZING AT <3) and.. jeepers it is HARD. i did sort of give up and go back to my roots of pencil and paper (ive never drawn digitally like ever lmao) and focus on traditional art instead. i feel like if i get confident in that, then i would be more confident with digital art, yk?

sorry for all the unsolicited talking, this isnt like proper advice, i just find that when im down abt my art or my writing or anything creative, some positive reinforcement works really well!

thank you for ur kindness as well! u were acc one of the first ppl to reblog my post, idk if u remember, it was one abt damian wayne. and u were the FIRST to say anything in the reblog (idk if im wording that right) and i cannot tell u how much it encouraged me. it was literally my second post and i was really grateful so i just.. followed u lol, but im happy i did! i think writing and art can be quite similar at times, and im glad i could make u at least feel a little validated, u really made me happy after all!

dude, everything you said is SO REAL. sometimes i’ll just be going about my day, minding my own business, and suddenly this perfect image pops into my head—so vivid, so cool—and i have to draw it. but then when i actually try? yeah… it never looks the way i imagined. and same, i don’t even let myself finish the messy sketch phase; the second it doesn’t match what’s in my head, i delete it because it feels hideous. even though, logically, i know that’s how art works—it’s not supposed to be perfect right away. but pushing past that mental block is so hard, so i’m seriously proud of you for managing to push through! and yeah… maybe we are just a little bit perfectionist.

and thank you so much!! the jason piece was such a journey—it was my first real attempt at colouring and rendering, so it took forever. but i’m glad i was in a good mood that day and didn’t let myself obsess over it being "perfect" right away. i literally love the jason piece even if it was a practice one. and the damian sketch… ahh, i’m so happy you liked it! you’ve honestly motivated me to try finishing it, so maybe i’ll actually update it soon.

and yooo, i do the pinterest thing too! i love browsing for poses or just studying other artists’ work to see how they handle colors and shading. anatomy has been kicking my butt lately, though—i get so frustrated with it that i’ve had to take a step back. maybe i’ll revisit it when i’m less annoyed with my own hands, hahahah.

i totally get the digital art struggle, too. when i first started, it felt so unnatural compared to traditional. there’s just something about pencil on paper that’s irreplaceable. but now? ironically, i struggle more with traditional art because i’ve gotten too used to digital—the layers, the lasso tool, the undo button… it’s hard to go back. whenever i doodle on paper, i find my fingers tapping on the paper to undo my mistake 💀 but there’s no wrong way to learn! whether you stick with traditional or dive into digital, it’s all progress, and both are totally valid.

i’m really glad we got to talk about this! you’re so right about positive reinforcement—it makes such a difference, no matter where you are in your art journey. and not just in art too, just in general honestly. and wait, you wrote that adorable damian wayne physical affection fic?? UGHHH, i LOVED it so much. it’s been living in my head rent-free for weeks. until now, i would still think about it here and there believe it or not. the sweetness in it inspires me and just makes me smile not gonna lie. even though it was short, it was perfect—the way you wrote him, the subtle warmth of it all… i can’t believe i didn’t realize it was you! i’m so happy you reached out, and i’m honestly honored that i could encourage you even a little. you absolutely deserve the love, though—your writing is wonderful!

[codybees]

I LOVE THESE SKETCHES OMG ok so I wanted to tie more into the canon because the Gray tribe descended from wolves in the game and so basically Travis IS part doggy which is why he probably really likes the taste of meat like the bologna

But I was like mmmm PARTLY ISNT GOOD ENOUGH so I draw him with sharp teeth and some slight canine instinct and it's so fun and adorable. Like he bites through pencils and shirt collars and shit (and bedsheets 😳)

But for this one I was like whatever I'll just turn him into a wolf-human hybrid for the sketch but I also think of just actual BIG wolf Travis and he sits by Larry and licks him and he's like a big fluffy pillow and he sleeps on his back lol 😌💙 and he sits with his front paws crossed sometimes like how in human form he crosses his wrists or hangs his hands down

He wags his tail and wiggles his ears almost all the time but he HATES IT because Larry and Sal very much notice so they know that he's happy, excited or content when they're around. Sometimes he tries to sit on his tail so you can't see it but it just... Wags between his legs instead...

Larry should make him wear a collar and muzzle for.... research...... To keep Travis from scratching and biting him so much when they do stuff..... And he growls and yips and he's loud with it

Grooming can get annoying though as well as fur shedding, when in full wolf form Travis can't do it himself so Larry does it but they both enjoy it, as much as Trav doesn't want to really admit it. In his hybrid state he can do it but there's still some parts where someone else has to do it. His fur's real soft and Sal and Larry realized how much he likes cheek/chin scratches so they tease him about it by doing it constantly

He also really likes tummy scratches but that's sure to get Larry a few scratches on the face out of embarrassment

He likes going outside and looking at stuff. Not just hunting animals down for food but just... Looking at stuff. Bugs, water streams, birds. It makes him feel less like an animal and more like a human to be able to appreciate the things around him that calm him down

In hybrid form when he tries to put on clothes/take them off he rips holes into them with his claws but he wears them anyway 💀

And he doesn't get along well with Gizmo when he hangs out with Sal because he can smell something off about him, probably the fur on his clothes or maybe just his vibe. As much as he wanted to get along with Gizmo it's hard to do so

This might be way too much but I just love thinking about wolf trav 😔💙

a concept ive had in my head for a WHILE

gray wolf travis

its very hard to draw his fur but i persisted as much as i could :clown emoji:

[gearfoeging]

Hey! I was wondering if you could write something about a player that has a habit of biting their lips sometimes until they bleed? Its for any or all of the scribes whatever you feel really. Hope you have an awesome day

K but I actually do this all the time and it sucks! Also, I'm still getting used to writing down fics as apposed to just thinking about them so it turned out a little shorter than intended. Hope this fits what you where thinking, and you have an amazing day too!

Edit: again I was originally gonna write for all the scribes, but I had an idea for Mags first and then it just sorta kept going?? So here we go, Magnificus fic! I'm still open to doing the other scribes with this concept and this one isnt super long, but I figured it was getting too long to put the others in here.

"Just a little blood."

It was a bright and golden evening, light from the sunset spilling in through the windows of Magnificus' tower. It was the perfect setting to de-stress. In front of his canvas he stood, paining in silence, while you sat sunken into the collection of pillows and blankets you had piled under the window. You were tired and stressed, and the old wizard had a specific sort of quiet collectedness to him that you had been craving for the past few days. When you had come to visit him this afternoon in need of silent company, Mags simply handed you a small sketchbook and pencil and offered somewhere quiet to collect your thoughts; find some peace of mind.

So now you sat, cozy and warm, the stress and exhaustion of the last couple days easing off of your shoulders bit by bit. Your lip was still raw from having chewed on it all day, but hopefully the distraction of a pleasant atmosphere and the scratch of pencil on paper would keep you from breaking the skin.

It seemed that wasn't the case.

you had gotten so caught up in the rough sketch you were working on that you hadn't noticed how much your teeth began to absently worry at you lip until a sharp sting made you flinch. Mags paused his work when he heard your sudden shift, and peared over at you to see what had been so startling. What he saw was the slightly pained squint of you eyes and your hand partially covering your mouth.

"Are you alright?"

You jumped at his voice, snapping your gaze up to meet his. Perhaps you weren't as relaxed as you thought...

"Uh, yeah! Yeah, I'm alright... just..."

You looked back down to your fingers, now stained with small red blotches, and Mags followed your gaze.

"Is that blood? What happened?"

His voice was still calm and even, and he set down his brush, making his way over to you.

"Uh, it's just a little-" you had done this before, you didn't want to make a big deal of it. "-I bit my lip is all. Nothing serious."

He nealt down next to you, gently pulling your hand away from your face so he could see the injury.

"Now how did you manage that?"

You glanced away and shrugged

"Sorry. Bad habit."

Now that had been a surprise. Usually you acted as a neusence to him: leaning on him while he worked, pestering him with silly questions, making a ruckus and draining him of all his energy. He had actually gotten quite used to it. Despite your mission to annoy him day after day, for some time now he found your presence a reliable constant, and had even begun to find you endearing; charming in you own strange way. Occasionally you where sweet and gentle, bringing him fresh home baked goods, or dragging him outside when he locked himself in his tower for to Many days. But you where never so small and apologetic, shaking and stuttering. You had seemed a little off today but he figured you where just tired.

"Are you alright my dear?"

You met his eyes again, but this time a tinge of confusion swirled in you. He usually referred to you by your name, sometimes 'menace' or 'pest' or bother', but never 'my dear'.

"Yeah... uh, like I said, it's just a little blood."

You gave a quick, lopsided grin that didn't convince him you where at all okay.

"Of course, just a bit of blood. But are you alright?"

On repeating the question and giving you a moment to think it over, you seemed to realize what he was asking. As soft 'oh' escaped you as your sight drifted down to his hand that he hadn't pulled away and you where now holding. A moment later a deep, weary sigh that carried far to much weight deflated your chest and shoulders.

"It's, um... I'm alright. Just, stressed y'know? Few nights ago I didnt sleep much, insomnia, then I was overthinking everything and making myself anxious and so I didnt sleep much that night and... it, just sorta' made it self worse."

Magnificus never took you for the type to get anxious over nothing, you where always so bubbly and cheerful, a spark of fire and warmth in the dark. But he supposed everyone had bad days here and there, he had simply never seen yours.

"Hm, well that won't do."

He stood, slipping his hand out of yours, and turned to make his way to the back room.

You sputtered in confusion.

" I- you-... but-.... um, what?"

"What kind if tea do you like?"

He didn't even pause at your stuttered, incomplete question, simply continuing his pace to the doorway that lead to the small room he used for storage.

"Uh..."

Then he did stop a few steps before he slipped out of view to the other room and turned just enough you fix you with a expectant gaze.

"......green?"

It came out as more of a question but he took it none the less and disappeared into the back room.

You sat there for few moments, completely lost in the Mage's sudden act of what you could only assume to be kindness (or perhaps pity) before a small quirk of a smile tugged at the edge of your battered lip. It still stung, but less now, and the bleeding had stopped.

You might have to get stressed more often if it meant a soft magician and a free cup if tea.

[softforloki]

Ahshd what about. loki x new, youngest avenger(~23ish?) whose day job is being a fashion designer but has chlorokinesis like isabela from encanto agsggds,, i hope this isnt too hard to work with or something,, have a good day and may both sides of your pillows and sheets be cold

Dude, Isabela Madrigal has me in a choke hold. I’m pretty sure I’d do anything for her.

So a fun fact about me is that when I write the Reader in formal wear, they’re always wearing a suit because suits are gender neutral. You and Loki get to be suit buddies.

Summery: The pressure is on when Loki asks you to make him something to wear for an upcoming party. Naturally, it has to be perfect.

Warnings: None, really!

Word Count: 1,627

Masterlist

Tailored to Perfection

“You’re sure you want me to do this? There are plenty of other with more experience.”

“I’m quite sure they’d all run in the opposite direction if I dared to approach them.” Loki scoffed with an eye roll. “Besides, I’ve seen your work. I know you’ll come up with something perfect.”

“I don’t think you realize how much pressure you’re putting on me.” You smiled, not taking your eyes off your sketch pad. 

“I’ve watched you take down heavily armed men in seconds.” Loki deadpanned, his eyebrows raised to his hair line. “I once witnessed you throwing a man against a wall with vines, and then use them to bind him to a pole. I feel as though you’ve worked under worse conditions.”

You swallowed a retort, knowing he’d only tease you for it. It was true, you’d handled yourself in many a dangerous situation as an Avengers, but this was different. You were an up and coming fashion designer- your work hadn’t yet been recognized by anyone of consequence. Loki had asked you to design him something for one of Tony’s ridiculous parties, so it would be the first time that someone so recognizable would be wearing something you’d made to an event with countless people. You’d seen how tabloids and people on the internet would rip apart celebrity fashions at any given opportunity. The idea of dressing Loki in anything less than spectacular at what would technically be your big debut was horrifying.

Also, it was Loki. 

You and he had.... something. Officially, you were friends and colleagues, but you knew damn well that friends didn’t shamelessly flirt or gaze longingly at each other. It was clear to everyone including yourselves that you were more than friends, but no one said anything of it.

Perhaps the rest of the team thought it was just a running joke that you and Loki would eventually stop finding funny. The way you frequently daydreamed about kissing Loki breathless seemed to indicate otherwise, though.

“So, green is our main color, and we’re accenting with black and gold.” You sorted through your collection of colored pencils, plucking out every green you had and holding them out to him. “Pick a shade.”

Loki surveyed your assortment, before selecting a jade green and turning it over in his fingers. “This one.”

“Lighter than you usually go for,” You remarked, taking the pencil back and setting it aside. 

“Perhaps I’m going for something different.” He replied simply, a smirk playing at his lips. “Besides, wasn’t it you who said I looked good in lighter colors? When Thor made me wear that absurd yellow sweater?”

You felt your face heat up. You remembered the incident clearly. You’d only ever seen Loki sporting cool shades of black, gray, brown, or green, but the sunshine yellow of the sweater had been a gorgeous counterbalance to his jet black hair. You’d been mesmerized.

“So you’re trying to impress me, is what I’m hearing.” You fired back, coloring a block of the jade pencil on your paper for reference.

“When am I not?”

You looked back up at him. His smile had shifted from teasing to what could only be described as soft. Hie eyes burned through your own, and you quickly refocused on your sketch pad before you spontaneously combusted.

“Is there anything specific you have in mind for this, or do I just get free rein?” You asked, finishing the outline of the suit. “Because I know you said regal, but there are a lot of angles we could take with that.”

“Nothing terribly over the top,” (Words you’d never thought you’d hear him utter) he conceded. “The color will be eye catching as it is.”

“Wouldn’t want to steal Tony’s thunder at his own party,” You mused, taping your pencil to your chin thoughtfully. 

“On the contrary, I can’t slip away while he’s not looking if all eyes are on me, now can I?”

“I suppose you can’t.” You sighed, matching his flippant tone easily. You forced yourself to look back up at him, but kept your eyes stubbornly away from his face as your idea came into focus. “What if we had a gold chain draped over your chest from your blazer? We could make it so the ends can be attached to the lapels, and it would lay just on your on your clavicle.” You drew a line arced downwards over yourself with your finger from one shoulder blade to the other to illustrate your thought.

“Interesting. Can I see?” Loki gestured to your pad.

You quickly sketched your idea across the lapels of the suit jacket, and passed the drawing over. “I can pick out a few different shades of yellow and gold if you want to play with color.”

He examined the drawing, lips pursed in consideration. He met your gaze, his eyes sparkling. “I love it. It’s perfect.”

“That’s the first sketch, though!” You sputtered.

“I don’t care, this is the one.” He insisted.

“At least let me come up with a few more ideas, for my own sanity. You might change your mind.”

Loki handed the sketch pad back to you with a heavy sigh and a dismissive wave of his hand. “Do what you must. It’s your craft, I suppose you know it best.”

His attempt at flippancy was a valiant one, but you didn’t miss the smile tugging at his lips, or the way his eyes still gleamed with excitement. 

“We’ll meet back Friday, I’ll have a couple more sketches by then.” You suggested. “I’ll see if I can pull some fabric samples for you to look at, too.”

Loki leaned forward in his seat across from you, taking your hand in his own and kissing the knuckles. Despite him having done it nearly a hundred times over, it still made your poor heart skip a beat. “I’ll be counting the seconds, darling.”

. . .

You were pleased Loki had let you talk him into other options, the final product was much better than your original sketch.

He’d let you hang not just one thin golden chain from the lapels of his blazer, but several. They hung low, artistically looped around the buttons. You’d even affixed one to the shoulder, pinning it in place with a diamond encrusted sunburst.

The color of the suit and the jewelry were just the right amount of gaudiness for Loki. You’d worked so hard to perfect his outfit, you’d had no time to prepare something special for yourself. At the last minute, you took a simple crisp black suit that you hadn’t worn in years and covered it in flowers.

It was one of the times that you could put the beauty of your powers on display, rather than the functionality. You sprung blue salvias from the seams of your jacket, and white gardenias burst out where buttons would’ve been. You sent stems of edelweiss and iris twisting together down your pants, and on impulse, you grew a sprig of fern from your lapel.

Satisfied with your handiwork, you took one last look in the mirror, nodded to yourself, and left your room.

Loki was waiting in your living room, twisting one of his chains around a slender finger. He’d insisted you accompany him as his date and that he’d pick you up at your apartment. You heard his breath hitch when he saw you. You felt as though the air had been stolen from your lungs, as well.

“You look lovely,” He breathed, his eyes never leaving yours.

“So do you,” You replied in a voice barely louder than a whisper.

“I had a brilliant stylist.” He winked, and slowly came closer. Your toes were touching and you had to tilt your head up to keep his gaze. He was so close, you could smell the expensive cologne he’d only started wearing after you’d told him how much you’d liked it. This was not unusual, Loki often liked to invade your personal space to throw you off guard. Unlike all the other times, though, this time he didn’t crack a joke how easy it was to fluster you and step away. This time he placed a hand on the side of your face, and leaned in even closer.

“Is this alright?” He murmured.

“Yes.” You immediately responded. “God, yes.”

With your consent, Loki placed his lips firmly on top of your own, and kissed you so deeply it made your head spin. You tugged on one of his chains, pulling his body closer to your own, and curling your other hand around the back of his head.

He held you gently, careful not to crush your flowers as he kissed you the way he’d only done in your dreams. His fingers flexed around your upper arm, as if you’d disappear if he loosed his grip for even half a second.

When you parted, he lowered his head to nose at your neck. “You have no idea how long I’ve been longing for this.”

“I could say the same thing.”

Loki pressed a kiss to the crook of your next, sending tingles down your spine. “Come then; we have a party to attend.”

“Do we have to?” You nearly whined.

“If we don’t how will anyone see your fabulous work, my dear?” He laughed, but you could hear the thickness in his voice. “We needn’t be there long, anyway. Stark merely asked that we put in an appearance.”

“Fine,” You huffed, tracing a hand over his lapel, coaxing a gardenia that matched the ones you wore from the fabric. “Let’s go then.”

He glanced down at the bloom with affection, then turned his gaze to you. “In a moment,” And he kissed you hungrily.

You ended up being fashionably late.

[husbandohunter]

hello! could i please request a fic where the reader isnt confident in their own looks and albedo helps them gain confidence with his sketches?? sorry i dont have very good ideas so you can change it around if you like-

feel free to ignore though ^^

True Beauty [Albedo x Reader]

Synopsis: To the eyes of an artist, there is no such thing as the unsightly.

Genre: Fluff

(A/n): Oh nonnie don't apologize, there is no such thing as bad ideas. This is ART (haha i derived the theme from your ask to this story) oh btw I did both narrative and bullet >.> Wordcount_0.8k

--------

 • Albedo wouldn't notice how insecure you are with your appearance, frankly he's too busy since they're not what attracted him to you in the first place. 

• (Consider he isn't aware of his OWN attractiveness. This man draws hilichurls for a hobby. Needless to say, appearance is merely just a physical form when his mission is to discover much deeper meanings.)

• But he is very observant. Albedo notices how you'd grab a mirror every 2 minutes and checking if your hair was out of place. Or watching you constantly powdering your face with makeup. It makes him feel….anxious. Like there is something wrong.

• Soon you tell him why and he's just so confused. As much as you both know he doesn't get the concept of appearance, Albedo still dislikes the bad habits you cultivated through your insecurities.

"Starlight, please refrain using these cosmetics from now on, I fear that it may irritate your skin."

• He's not good with emotions thus the only methods Albedo familiarizes himself with are acts of service. Provides alternative remedies such as a soft lotion made of Cryo slime condensates. Women often adorn themselves with precious jewels to feel pretty, uses his alchemy to create multiple for you to wear. Maybe you need some encouragement, a boost of morale. So…why is it that you don't believe him when he says "you look lovely today"

• He thinks of many ways to cure your anxiety, but so far none of them have been effective. Though the chief alchemist will never leave problems as they are. Especially when it comes to your own well-being. 

~~~~~~

If one were to gaze at the world through the eyes of an artist, all they can see is the beauty that carries within.

Within the cracks of ancient ruins as the buildings from old civilizations have long been forgotten. Within the barren wastelands where no life, not even a flower, could bear witness to it's cruel environment. Within the scars hidden deep in human hearts and marring the surface of their fragile skin. Yet despite it all, the artist believes that everything was still so beautiful.

"Are you sure about this?"

And you were no different from his philosophy.

"I don't see the problem. Hold still, you're fidgeting too much," Albedo remarks. He kept himself in a perfect stance with one clipboard balanced between his folded arm. Albedo was in complete focus, silent as if he wasn't there to begin with. The only noises heard were the satisfying strokes coming from his pencil tip and the harmonious sounds of nature sung by the birds and leaves rustling against the wind. 

It flies past your face. You felt strange. So often have you've been covering your skin using powder and pigment that when without them, you immediately thought a part of you was missing. Being this exposed to the naked eye, like having no clothes worn, you couldn't help but shiver when the breeze hits you again.

Though the man called your lover didn't simply leave you as it is. He came to you, asked you, would not take an answer any less than a 'yes'. He tucked a cecilia behind your ear and placed a garland atop of your head, handing you a bouquet to hold before instructing you to sit down as he carries away into his own work of art. Albedo shows his affection in subtle ways being a subtle man himself. Though, as small as they may be, you knew for certain that their meaning was much deeper than what they appear. 

"I'm kind of curious, what is it that you see Albedo? What do you see in me?"

Albedo knew the answer, he always does. Finalizing the last of his detail he tells you the truth, "As alchemist, we strive to create the perfect replica using the basis of life's very core."

You sweatdropped, "…Uh-huh," Where is he getting at?

"Allow me to demonstrate," he takes out a thin branch of a leyline, "Awakening life, breathing new life into fallen leaves. All of this is a process gone through understanding the fundementals derived from organic forms."

"….."

"However we can never capture the same essence of something created naturally," he lets the branch fade away from his fingertips, reducing to nothing but golden dust. Albedo spoke in a tone that was almost distant. His eyes far away, "It's impossible."

You watched the alchemist rise from his stool while making his way to your side. A homunculus and a human. He sat on the soft grass, adjusting himself to a more comfortable position, "Do you believe me now, Starlight?"

Taking the clipboard out of his grasp, you marvelled at his artwork.

"You are your true essence, something no one can take away from you, not even my drawings. To me, that is what I find the most beautiful."

[irondad-creator-awards]

WINNERS LIST - NO ART

As requested by Anon, here’s the full list of winners for ease of reading.

 1. THE ONE THAT MADE YOU GASP! — A story which had a plot twist you didn’t see coming. Something that caught you so off guard that you had to stop a minute and take a breath before devouring the rest. What’s the story for you?

Winner — If They Knew All About You by MsHermia — @mshermia

Runner-Up — Identity Theft by KitCat992 — @kitcat992​

  2. THE MULTI-CHAPTER YOU COULDN’T PUT DOWN — A story which kept you up all night or calling in sick for work so you were free to read. Who’s the culprit?

Winner — A Parent Apparent by happyaspie — @yes-i-am-happyaspie

Runner-Up — Come My Darling, Homeward Bound by Iamirondad — @i-am-irondad​

  3. THE ONE-SHOT THAT THAT HAD YOU HOOKED — Some writers can cram more greatness into less words than a 100k monster. What’s the one-shot that did it for you?

Winner — 5 Times Peter Sleepwalked And The 1 Time He Pretended He Did by losingmymindtonight — @losingmymindtonight

Runner-Up — Petey And The Hermit by eccentric_artist_221b

  4. THE BEST THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES — A drabble can pack in all the goodness that you need in a coffee break read. What’s that story for you?

Winner  — S.O.S. (Somehow Obtained Son) by madasthesea — @madasthesea​

Runner-Up — F.R.I.D.A.Y, When Did I Get A Son by iwritesometimes

 5. THE BIODAD THAT TOUCHED YOUR HEART — Some of the greatest stories flip canon and make Tony Peter’s biological father. Be it baby Peter taking his first steps or Tony dealing with the fact his son is following in his superhero footsteps as Spider-Man, which is the one you loved most of all?

Winner — Happy Hogan Never Forgets A Face by Jen27ny — @jen27ny​

Runner-Up — Hardest Lessons (Softest Results) by mainstreamelectricalparade

  6. THE ONE WITH THE FIELD TRIP — The field trip trope is one of the most popular in the fandom. What’s the story that you think pulls all the elements together to make it great?

Winner — Peter And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Field Trip by by cazei — @cazei​

Runner-Up — Peter-Man - Oh, F*Ck - I Mean Spider-Man by Orphan-Account

  7. THE TIME AFTER TIME ONE — There’s some great time travel stories out there, but which is your favorite?

Winner — Whatever It Takes by StarryKnight09 — @starryknight09

Runner-Up — Be Careful What You Wish For, You May Just Get It by Savana_Marlark

  8. THE ONE WITH ALL THE OWIES — Another massively popular Irondad trope is hurt/comfort, and there’s some amazing stuff out there. Which is the one that you love most of all?

Winner — A Beautiful Lie by RayRox360 — @a-beautiful-lie-blog​

Runner-Up — A Peter Parker Problem by Spagbol99 — @spagbol99​

 9. THE ONE THAT HURTS SO GOOD — We all like a bit of angst sometimes, so what’s the story that you wanted to hide from but you had to keep reading to get to the happy ending?

Winner — Ain't My Blood; Still My Boys by parkrstark — @parkrstark​

Runner Up — The Room Where It Happens by Notapartytrick 

 10. THE ONE THAT SOOTHES THE PAIN — What’s the story that you go to when you need a pick-me-up after the angst?

Winner — 5 Times Peter Made Tony Laugh Out Loud by grilledcheesing — @upcamethesun

Runner-Up — Instant Kill Mode by Isnt_it_pretty_to_think_so —@isnt-it-pretty-to-think-so-tr

 11. THE ONE WITHOUT A HOME TO GO TO — There’s some wonderful homeless Peter stories out there, so which is the one you were blown away by?

Winner — The Third Option by Uncertainty_Principle

Runner-Up — The Lost And Forgotten by Lizcraz

 12. THE ONE THAT’S A WHOLE NEW WORLD — There’s lots of imaginative AUs in Irondad fic. Whether it’s Steve and Tony as baseball players or Pepper being Peter’s mom, which one is your number one?

Winner — I Love You More Than Anything Series by  iron_spider @iron--spider

We have two runners-up for this award —  A Soul's Best Friend by  Superherotiger & Why Can’t The Past Just Die? by  Enchantingwriting

 13. THE TWEAKING THE SETTINGS ONE — There’s things we all wish we could change in canon — *cough* Endgame *cough* — so which canon divergence does it for you?

Winner — Built From Scraps by peterstank — @jamepotters​

Runner-Up — When Peter Forgot What Day It Was by goldenambedo

 14. THE ONE YOU GO BACK TO AGAIN AND AGAIN — Some fics deserve a re-read or ten. What’s the story you go find yourself going back to?

Winner — 5 Times Peter Fell, And Tony Caught Him. And The 1 Time Tony Didn’t by eva7673

Runner-Up — Child’s Play by spicyjarvis — @spicyjarvis

 15. THE SERIES THAT SWEPT YOU AWAY — Some of us love to go on a long ride with a series, so which is the world of multiple stories that you binged or waited anxiously for each update?

Winner — We Forgot Peter by inkinmyheartandonthepage — @inkinmyheartandonthepage

Runner-Up — Hydra’s Not A Home by Tempestaurora — @tempestaurora

 16. THE IN-PROGRESS ADVENTURE — What’s the story that has you checking your email each day, hoping for an update?

Winner — If You're Going Through Hell, Keep On Going by baloobird — @baloobird​

Runner-Up — Peter's Hitchhiking Guide To The Time Heist by Randomsketchez

 17. THE COMPLETE FIC THAT YOU CHERISH — Whether or not you’ve got the patience for an in-progress or not, there’s a wealth of complete stories you can devour at leisure or all in one coffee-fuelled binge. What’s yours?

Winner — The Guardian by Emily_F6

Runner-Up — Good Publicity by Bergen

 18. THE ONE THAT GAVE YOU ALL THE LOVE — We all love Irondad, but some stories come with bonus bonds that give us just as much. Do you have a Peter & Bucky, or a Peter & Steve working alongside which delivers all the found family goodness?

Winner — Astronomy In Reverse by Pansley

Runner-Up — 5 Times Happy Hogan Nearly Had A Heart Attack Because Of Peter Parker by TheSpyderAargon

 19. THE PROLIFIC WRITER AWARD — Irondad has some amazingly prolific writers. Which are the ones you’ve subscribed to get at that fic-wonder goodness of 10 works or more?

Winner — inkinmyheartsandonthepage — @inkinmyheartandonthepage

Runner-Up — Emily_F6 — @justme--emily

 20. THE NEWBIE — New writers are joining the fandom all the time. Who’s the newbie (posting for 12 months or less) that’s delivering the good stuff for you?

Winner  — spagbol99 — @spagbol99

Runner-Up — Winterturtle

 21. THE OG — Who’s the writer that’s been around for a while (12 months or more) that keeps you captivated?

Winner — iron_spider @iron--spider

Runner-Up — parkrstark — @parkrstark

 22. THE WILD CARD STORY — The story that does (or doesn’t) fit into the above categories but you believe deserves the prize. Which one is that for you?

Winner — Wrong Number Kid by Blackshadow030930

Runner-Up — The Case Of The Tyrannical Two by ironfamjam

 ART 1 — DIGITAL MEDIA - Who has those PhotoShop skills, who makes the best mood boards? We have some wonderful artists in the Irondad fandom, and we’re here to celebrate them. Who's your favorite artist?

Winner — @spidey-art

Runner-Up —@kitcat992

 ART 2 — SKETCHES  — Who has the skills with the original medium of art in sketches? Whose pencil can create the characters we love best?

Winner — @broskepol

Runner-Up — @dchanberry

 ART 3 — CARTOONS — Chibis, Manga, Anime, who can create the very best?

Winner — @yes-i-am-happyaspie

Runner-Up — @mjscorner

 ART 4 — FANVID — Some of the greatest creators are the ones that match the music to the mood, find the perfect scenes to make us laugh and cry. Who does that for you?

Winner — Tony Stark & Peter Parker (Adoption Au) || Home By Andrea D

Runner-Up — All My Life || Tony & Peter (Father/Son Au) By Akapotatogirl

 ART 5 — BEST IRON FAMILY FANART — Who can create those feeling of Ironfam with their art? Who captures the characters we love in that iconic family.

Winner — @peterokii

Runner-Up — @moonestaly

 ART 6 — MOST HEARTBREAKING FANART — Art can move us to tears. Who captures those moments and brings tears to your eyes?

Winner — @monireh

Runner-Up — @cottoncandyofterror

 ART 7 — BEST HURT/COMFORT — Who captures the pain of the moment best for you?

Winner — @tonystarkissist

Runner-Up — Chocolala

 ART 8 — THE WILD CARD ART— The art that does (or doesn’t) fit into the above categories but you believe deserves the prize. Which one is that for you?

Winner — @rhymewithrachel

Runner-Up — @Iwritedumbshit 

[princeanxious]

Longish artist/writer rant/vent aimed at my ADHD under the cut bc I needed to get this off my chest-

Rip to every idea I have that my brain demands I make a reality when in the past year I've maybe managed to doodle something at least once a week and maybe managed write something to posting levels of completion once every full moon

Like. If I had it my way I would have whole chapter updates for at least three different major fics each week, and it would rotate between nine major fics each week at least, and be posting one-shots for random one off ideas whenever they came to me.

I spend so much time thinking up of tons of au ideas because i genuinely enjoy them and doing it, and it hurts so much that I am unable to keep up with my creativity no matter how much I want to. Im well aware of burn out, and thr fact that that kind of schedule is pretty unattainable and would result in burn out, but like.

If I could just pick up a fic/chapter that Ive planned out(because ive got a list, and tons of different notes for ideas I want to create but just can't manage to slow down enough to keep focusing on it) and once a week write even just a paragraph, heck, a sentence, or finish a small silly art piece or a doodle, I'd be doing better than I am right now.

This frustration isnt even born from the aspect of 'gotta keep creating content for approval' thing that it usually is, either.

Its a genuine frustration born from the inability to just get my stupidly scattered brain back together. Creating these things, writing them out, drawing them out, I have so many ideas that I want to explore even just for myself to enjoy!

Im pretty sure my brain wouldn't give me countless au prompts, fic ideas, drawing plans, and animatic ideas rent-free every week if I didnt genuinely enjoy exploring it.

I know that I'm not gonna get to explore every idea, but the fact that I have a good number started already that still cling happily to my brain even if its been literal months or even a year since I've posted about them, the fact that they and so many others are so present in my brain and let me get as far and writing the ideas down or getting to the sketch phase, and then whatever it is in my brain that kept nagging me to writing out for the happy chemicals and excitement of sharing it as well as just having physical existance and evidence of an idea that I worked hard on, something that I'm proud of and just.

Like a whisp ungraspable of smoke, that energy or motivation is gone?

And even tho its gone my brain is still screaming at me to continue it, we still want to work on it, we still have so much left undone, we cant stop now! But we cant.

Its like opening a door long enough to feel the breeze or wave at a dog passing by, but trying to open the door all the way to follow and explore only triggers the door to shut tight.

Its like trying to figure out how to get to the other side of a very tall wall. We know that we cant reach the other side of the wall, we have in the past, but sometimes it only makes it grow higher. We know how to do it, to get through the wall, but we know that it takes time and effort and a very specific amount of work to break down the wall, and we know that trying to do tedious tasks that are boring to our brain like that simply creates another wall. Sometimes we're lucky, and we can climb the wall with a burst of energy and ride that energy for all its worth to get to the other side, but then it leaves us exhausted, and climbing the wall will not be an option again for a time.

Its a frustration born from the fact that I know whats wrong with my brain, I do, Ive spent so much of my life with adhd, depression, and anxiety, I've had to learn whats wrong because thats the only way to know how to tackle the issues that they bring.

Its the frustration that despite knowing whats wrong, I still cant make myself face the wall like I know I should. Knowing about it doesnt stop the issue, using effort to adress it does.

And that's where I am. Stuck inside our head, with a creativity in constant flux, and more often than not inability to pick up a pencil to draw, or pull up a keyboard and write. Staring at the wall in our head with the familiarity of being lifelong acquaintances.

[ankhisms]

the always wonderful shelley @shanheling tagged me to do this thank u so much!! i think that everyone i wanted to tag has already been tagged to do this but if you feel like doing this feel free to consider urself tagged by me!! im putting this under a readmore bc its long and i ramble a lot

the piece i was tagged to explain my process on is this oc piece! unfortunately i have a habit of deleting my original clip studio file once ive finished my art and saved it as a new png file, so i dont have the file to show the sketch and different stages of this piece. but I still can go through my general process and talk about how i did that piece!

1. planning

honestly i think about the art that i want to do a lot, and in this last year or so ive thought about the art i want to do more than ive been able to actually create and finish that art that i want to do. for my planning i tend to do a lot of different thumbnail sketches for the art im thinking of

these are some examples of thumbnails, a lot of times ill do thumbnails just on pencil and paper and with some of these theyre done quickly with my fingers on my phone note function on a day where i was feeling too bad to get up and draw on paper but still wanted to get the thumbnail ideas down. two of these are for the same songxiao piece that i still havent finished and i have more thumbnails digitally on clip studio for the same piece, i do a lot more thumbnails when a piece isnt working the way i want it to and theres times where ill completely scratch a thumbnail or a sketch and start over in order to do more thumbnails because i dont feel happy with some aspect of it.

two of these are small gouche painting thumbnails for two pieces i did maybe a month or so ago, i did the thumbnails and then tried to expand on them digitally and im wanting to do more thumbnail paintings like this in the future because it was fun

for the piece of my oc trio it was based off a series of ask prompts i got for a few different outfit prompt memes i had reblogged, so i based their outfits on the ones in the meme. when im drawing figures i tend to try and get the movement down in the poses when im sketching, i do several rough sketches of the pose before beginning to start setting down lines (if im doing lineart at all because sometimes i dont like doing lineart and do a more lineless painting kind of style). i really try to get my art to convey some kind of emotion, in the oc piece i wanted it to feel fun and like youre seeing three best friends while theyre out on the town having a fun night

2. creating

this is the only real example i have of a piece in the middle of being filled in and created, this piece is one that im really not very happy with & have had lying around for a while and ill probably scrap it and try to come at it from a different perspective at some point. but anyway it still shows what i do, i lay down a kind of neutral gray color underneath my final sketch/lineart if im doing lineart in that piece and then i start picking out the colors that i want for the piece and kind of setting out a pallette for myself. i dont do this color pallette thing 100% of the time but i do it really often, especially if im working on a commission or a larger piece where i know theres going to be a lot of colors or if its a piece where im not sure exactly what color scheme i want so laying out the colors together helps me kind of decide what kind of scheme i want. i am sooooo picky about my colors in my art i am genuinely obsessed with colors in art and there are times where i really have to stop myself from working on something forever just constantly adding more colors or putting little tiny changes and gradients in the colors.

after ive got the colors i want down i tend to try and block out parts of the piece with the base color for that section, and then i start to paint with the colors that i want to go on top of that base color from there.

once im satisfied with the colors/shading/rendering and everything ill go back and look over things and will fix things that look off or sometimes completely redo segments if they dont look right to me. when i was younger and mainly doing digital art using my phone and my fingers i would use a lot of filters and overlays on top of my art once i was done, and honestly im glad to not be doing that anymore because i dont think it made my art look any better. i do color adjustments and sometimes will put on a color overlay or a layer to emphasize the shadows and the light in the piece, but i try to keep those layers to a minimum and like i said before i have a tendency to obsess over the colors and ill spend a good amount of time in the color adjustment tool of clip studio and then ill just decide "actually it looks fine as it is" so yeah!

3. posting

i feel like i dont have a lot to say here gbfm i mean i honestly have a lot of thoughts about the relationship between artists and social media and how social media changes our views on art including our own art and how we can feel like we constantly need to be posting new art and just become content machines churning out new stuff. but ill save that rant for another time. i used to be really concerned about how many notes my art would get when i was younger, and i dont at all blame anyone who still is very concerned about that bc it sucks when u work hard on something youve created and then you dont get a lot of recognition for it, but honestly within the last two years or so i feel like ive begun to have a lot healthier relationship with posting my art. i really just post my art on my art blog, reblog it to my main blog, and then thats that yknow! i do really appreciate any and all support people give me, it means the world to me, but for me having the mentality where i dont need to post all the art i make and i dont need to be posting every day or every week or every month even has been a lot healthier for me because then im not constantly asking myself why didnt this get notes is my art awful??? and yeah i just kind of post it and my brain goes okay were done with that art we gotta make more

ive honestly been struggling a lot with art thru the pandemic and if youre reading this and have been struggling with creating in any way recently or even before the pandemic, please know theres no shame in having trouble creating and it doesnt make you bad at whatever it is u create!

thank you for reading this, feel free to consider urself tagged by me again if u want to do this!! love u all

[pinkplantmakesstuff]

Do you have any tips for sketching / lineart? (also for drawing characters any way that isnt 3/4 view neutral expression? It's the bane of my existence habit wise and you're amazing at it!)

Ahh ty! Sorry this took a few days, I ended up taking some screenshots because I’m not great at explaining things!

Lining Stuff and sketching

So generally I use Paint Tool Sai, and have one brush I do almost EVERYTHING with! (Well technically 2 - the sketching one is just the same but thicker) I think its a brush I tweaked a LONG time ago so I can’t remember where it came from. It’s fairly smudgy so I keep my lines separate from the colours if I want them to be sharp and clean.

For my proper drawings I tend to keep the brush small and zoom in to about, 125-150%, and depending on my mood I turn my stabilizer up! 

I think the most important thing for me however, is to have confidence in my lines when drawing! I’d rather the line is slightly incorrect after one long stroke and move on, then spend ages drawing one little bit repeatedly, or using lots of little lines and just getting angry at myself. You can always erase bits when your finished and go back! I use this tip when drawing on any software, and find I do much better lines when I just go for it! And of course practice, the more you do lines the more confident you’ll be trusting in your hand.

For sketching I use a nice chunky brish and focus more on the mood/expression, I often forget to add things (Like Pépin’s flowers in the example) but that’s all stuff I can add in lining. To me sketching is just to get the vibe down, and I like nice chunky lines and just going for it!

Non-3/4 Angles

Ahhh I’m glad you like my attempts at angling and expressions too! I still fall into the trap of a 3/4 a lot, but it’s good practice to vary it up. I 100% recommend playing with 3d pose software if you can!

(These aren’t very extreme examples I’m afraid (And one of them again is a 3/4 sliiightly top down looks XD, I wanted something easy to do.)

When using 3d software I can pose it and change the angle to what I want, then I just sketch roughly over that, changing it to what the character is, and then remove the 3d model entirely and refine it, sometimes redoing the sketch again. I more often then not reference photos and stock poses (Such as Senshi Stock!).  Using photos is super important, and I also take my own goofy photos to use as reference too!

Referencing is VERY important, I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil and oh my gosh my doodles and drawings when I don’t take the time to at least glance at a photo do they look a bit wiggly!

More often then not I don’t use 3d models and just stick to referencing photos, but it’s a super easy and useful way of getting used to figuring out angles and poses, and I still set up scenes if I’m really struggling! There is nothing wrong with tracing over a 3d scene you’ve, you’ll be completely changing it anyway as you work on it more.

It’s ALSO super handy to make sure your characters are distinct. Both Pépin and Alec were drawn over that default head just as an example, but I tried to still make them different from each other.

Expression wise I’d say just play with them! I actually think my expressions could use more work, as I don’t tend to push them very far and tend to go for more subtle looks, but it is something I enjoy doing! Honestly a mirror is SUPER useful, and pulling faces and feeling how your own face moves is a great tool!

I think overall confidence is very important! I draw for myself rather then anyone else, and whenever I stop enjoying working on a picture I move on! Alongside practising and referencing, trusting myself and having a nice time is how I mostly draw! 

I hope any of that was useful, I’m a very rambly person 😅 I still have a long way to go in my own art too, and still trying to find what I enjoy doing art wise after three years of animation and realising that that wasn’t for me!

[gophergal]

😳😳 I promise it wasn't meant to be this long I PROMISSSEEE

Anyways here you go for the fic written with a random character of my choice <3

———

Gopher giggled as they reblogged the post. 

'Reblog if you dare someone to write a fic about you and a character of their choosing...'

It was sort of silly, but the idea of being inside of a fic seemed pretty entertaining. They also knew some damn good writers and knew they would come up with something good. All they had to do now was... sit and wait.

Gopher could be patient, but eventually they had their limits. An hour passed by and, after refreshing their activity page about a thousand times, they decided that they would rather waste their time on something more important than just prowling around on Tumblr. 

...and that something important was sketching Michael again. They pulled out their tablet and pencil, set up their computer, and got to work. They drew until their eyes burned from the blue light illuminating off their screen. A yawn caught in the back of their throat and just then they finally took the opportunity to glance at the clock in the corner of their screen. 

1:28 AM

Damn, they hadn't even realized they had been drawing for that long. No wonder they felt so tired... They glanced back at their drawing and worried at their lip as they considered their options. Head to bed— or continue. Though the prospect of passing out on their nice warm bed sounded amazing, there were a few more details they had yet to fill in. Their hand made the decision for them, moving forwards and penning at the dark tablet sensors. 

Their eyes felt heavy, lids staying shut every time they blinked. 

Just... one more... line...

They tried to encourage themself, but their mind was slipping already. Before they knew it, they had passed out on top of their tablet, face pressed against the cool screen.

"Excuse me... sir—" They were awoken by a voice calling out to them, one they didn't particularly recognize. Their eyes slowly opened and they squinted as they were blinded by bright hues of red and gold. "Ah, you're finally awake."

Their brows furrowed and a hand came up to lazily rub at their eyes. After the sleep had been rubbed out of them, they finally opened their eyes and took in their surroundings. They soon came to the realization that they weren't on their couch anymore. 

They were sat in a booth, covered in a deep velvet cloth that felt way too expensive for their tastes. Red was the main color of everything in the room. The booth seats, the carpet, even the walls followed the same crimson pattern. The only thing that wasn't red were the shiny gold prices put in place around the room to accent it, and the large golden chandelier that hung right in front of the stairs that lead to their seat. They were amazed, and confused.

Even more confused when they caught sight of the man who had been trying to wake them. A pale man, tall, and with a very nice trim tuxedo stood before them. He had long raven hair that was pulled back in a neat ponytail and handsome chiseled features. The thing that was the most concerning to them, though, was the eyepatch that seemed to be carefully placed over his left eye. 

His hand had been placed on their shoulder, and it appeared that he had been trying to shake them awake for a while. A polite smile came to his features. 

"Are ya alright? Ya've been passed out here for a while." They looked up at him with big doe eyes. They... they couldn't believe what they were seeing. They had to be dreaming. Right? There is no way they couldn't be dreaming. They were currently sat in front of a fictional character their friend Goro had been simping over for the past few months. There was no way this wasn't a dream!

"I... who are you?" They managed after a moment. The man pulled his hand away from their shoulder and instead smoothly moved into a curt bow. 

"Majima Goro. I'm the manager of the Grand." He answered. They sucked in a breath, now even more confused. They cursed themselves for not knowing more about the Yakuza series, would have made the situation a bit less awkward maybe. 

"What's... what's the Grand?" They muttered out their question, and Majima glanced up at them with a confused look.

"Ah... it's a cabaret club. You're... in it right now." He explained, furrowing his brows. 

"Oh... yeah." They pretended to understand. This definitely was a dream... but for some reason everything felt so real. They could feel the soft velvet against their skin as they sat up, they could smell the overhang of booze and nicotine in the air. It made their nose wrinkle with disgust. Plus, how could they appear in a building that existed within the game if they had never known about it. It... didn't make sense. 

"You're a foreigner, yeah?" Majima spoke again, "Did ya get drunk n' pass out in the booth? I don't remember ya being here last night." 

"I don't remember being here either. I actually don't know how I got here." They admitted, and he shot them a surprised look. 

"Well... as far as I'm concerned, customer is king. I don't mind ya bein' here as long as ya don't cause any problems." He finally said. Gopher nodded in agreement to the conditions. "Ya remember anything before ya got here?"

"Yeah... I was at my house drawing and then all of a sudden I was here."

"At your house?"

"Yeah. I live in America by the way." They assumed they must now be in Japan. Majima shot them a surprised look. 

"That... really is a long way away. And that's all ya remember?" Gopher nodded. Majima looked puzzled. Before he could give his two cents on how exactly they must have ended up here, he was interrupted by Gopher's stomach giving a loud groan of disapproval. 

"Ah— are ya hungry? I guess if ya came all the way from America ya would be hungry, right?" He looked just as confused as they felt, "Ya can order somethin' if you would like." 

"I would but I don't exactly have any money on me." Gopher admitted. 

"It's fine. It'll be on the house. Whaddya want?" He offered quickly. They paused for a moment at the question. 

"Whatever you have." He nodded at the request.

"I'll be back, then." He bowed again and headed down the stairs. It really was a beautiful building. It was strange to think that he managed it all. But that wasn't the subject at hand.

There had to be an explanation for this. It didn't feel like a dream at all. In fact, it felt quite real. Everything was nailed down to the last detail, almost as if it had been carefully written by someone on the other half of a screen... It was strange. It didn't make sense. 

"I wasn't sure what ya would like so I brought ya a fruit platter. Ya can pick and choose what ya like. We ain't exactly git sustainable food cause we ain't a restaurant y'know, but it'll do." He announced as he walked back up the steps, tray in hand. He placed the tray in front of them, and it held all types of fruit. Some they had never even seen before. They pick and chose their favorites and began to eat. 

"Thank you." They almost forgot to mutter. Majima just nodded. He stayed standing next to the table, almost awkwardly. Gopher finally realized after a few moments that the rest of the cabaret club was completely quiet other than them. 

"If it's a cabaret club, shouldn't there be more people here?"

"We were goin' to open, but then I spotted ya. I didn't want to open and leave ya stranded in here, thought it'd be best to check up on ya first." He admitted. Gopher was almost surprised by his politeness. 

"Well, thanks for that. And the food." Majima just nodded curtly. 

"Any ideas as to why ya ended up here?" He questioned. 

"Not exactly. Just... fell asleep and then I was here. It doesn't make much sense." Majima hummed thoughtfully for a moment and glanced up at the perfectly painted tan ceiling. After a few moment his eye moved back down to theirs. 

"Maybe ya should go back to sleep? If it brought ya here, it might also get ya outta here?" He offered his insight.

"True. But that seems too easy." He shrugged.

"You'll never know till ya try it." Gopher nodded along with agreement, setting the plate aside.

"True. I guess I could try it..." They yawned and spread their arms out across the table, laying their head in their hands. An overwhelming wave of tiredness suddenly crashed over them. It was almost as if Majima had casted a spell on them, forcing sleep to overtake their body. 

"Ya look sleepy already."

"Yeah..." They muttered, eyelids already fluttering shut.

"Well then don't let me disturb ya."

"Majima?" Gopher piped up, their voice barely a whisper.

"Yeah?"

"It was nice meeting you." A few moments of silence passed. Gopher was sure they must have fallen back asleep at that point and he had already vanished, but after a few moments his voice came in crisp and clear. 

"It was nice meeting ya too."

Gopher woke up in their room.

****

Bro, I love this. I will admit, the “Ah, you’re finally awake” made me stop and think, No no, this isnt a fucking skyrim meme in disguise is it, and thankfully it was something So Much Better! THANK YOUUUU GOROOOOO

[myhaireatskids]

would you ever do a tutorial on how you color your edits? i love your shading

thanks a lot! i can try doing that rn!

note: the program i use is firealpaca which is free though i would imagine other programs have similar functions

lets use this sketch:

remove things you don’t want using white, there are often if not always small specks on the paper in pencil drawn images like these so try your best to get rid of mostly them best you can

okay now mess with the contrast ( on firealpaca: filter > levels ) a little thing like this should pop up, just mess with those triangles on the top row until youre satisfied

okay now heres the part that made editing sooooo much easier than it was when i first started! go to edit > extracting lines and boom thats a transparent image baby! ( make sure the background is solid white for this )

select the outside using the magic wand

select > inverse ( theres still little flecks, just erase them pfft)

on a separate layer fill in with a solid color

deselect and put the color on Protect Alpha

and youre good to go from there!

other simple tips:

if you want the lineart to be darker duplicate the layer and lower its opacity

if you want the colors to look less dull start by making the lineart something that isnt pure black (even a tiiiiny bit of color can make an image feel more alive)

if y’all want advice on anything else id be happy to give a shot at another tutorial!

[mou-comics]

do you have any tips of improving on digital art? I bought a wacom tablet a couple months ago but I barely use it anymore so my art isnt improving on that front and its annoying me. Its to the point where im thinking about not buying a new sketchbook until i have a habit of using my tablet. But its just so hard to use, and even when i get the pencil down i dont understand how to color and how people even begin to get better at that... idk just feel discouraged

it’s annoying, but it’s the same as getting good at traditional art. if anything, it’s like starting over again; I thought it would be easy to translate my traditional art into digital art but that isn’t the case. It’s learning a whole new medium; I would have the same trouble trying to make marble sculptures or write a song. 

Some things I tried to get used to digital art:

- I made my lineart completely in traditional ink, then scanned it in and tried coloring it with flat colors digitally, then eventually trying shading and highlights.

- Sketch an idea out on paper, take a picture or scan it and use that as your first layer in digital art. For me it was easier to do lineart or something over a sketch I did traditionally than a sketch I did digitally.

- Going off of the point above, if it’s hard to start a piece on the tablet, plan your compositions in pencil first before making the “final” piece digitally. The best part is you have the freedom to try a bunch of different styles and colors digitally, that you wouldn’t have been able to in traditional art. 

- Experiment with different pens/brushes, and mess with the opacity and width and color and everything you can. I didn’t like sketching digitally until I started using a certain pencil tool with a blue color (irl, I like to sketch with blue color pencil so that translated to digital). So, you may find you only like working with certain settings. 

That’s all I really have since I’m still pretty new to digital art. I don’t think you have to “punish” yourself by not drawing/getting a new sketchbook until you’ve reached some skill level on the tablet. I’m still very uncomfortable with digital art but after struggling with it a bit I think I’ve put myself on the right path. I wish you the best, and I hope that you keep doing art even if it’s not digital!