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bigmacbushcraft · 2 years

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Canadian Canoe DIY Painter Mod

Canadian Canoe DIY Painter Mod - How to fit an excellent and inexpensive Painter/Grab Loop system.* You will need: - The obvious item on the list; a Canadian Canoe ;) - Hand Drill with 3/4" wood drill bit. You will be much more in control using a hand drill and stand less of a chance to damage your canoe. - 4 x White Plastic Boats Through Hull Skin Fitting Thread 3/4'' BSP. I bought mine here: https://www.seascrew.com/browse.cfm?s=1732202 - Waterproof Marine Spec Silicone Sealant or Epoxy. Whichever is your preferred option. - Acetone (for cleaning) and some old cloths. You could use methylated spirits or white spirit if that is what you have available. - Approx 1 foot of 3/4" or 19mm internal diameter good quality rubber hose. (Garden Hose will normally fit the bill). - Some fine emery cloth or sandpaper. WARNING!!! You will also need to be able to purposely drill holes in a perfectly good boat, a step too far for some folk I know :) How to install: (see images below) - There are so many opinions on where Painters should be placed that I'm not even going there. Mark your canoe wherever 'you' would like your painter holes to be. Make sure it is in the same place all round. If you are not sure search around online to see where others place them. - Using the 3/4" (19mm) Wood bit and the hand drill drill out the holes all round (4 of them). Please measure twice (at least) and cut/drill once. - Clean up the edges of the holes with a little fine sandpaper or emery cloth. - Check the fitting goes through your holes and the washer and nut fit nice and snuggly. If you have to force it use the emery/sandpaper to make the hole a little larger. Best to check often to prevent you making it too big. - Once you have snug fits all round you can prepare your canoe for glueing/sealing around the holes. - Clean the inside and outside surfaces around the holes with acetone. - Using acetone the areas should air dry themselves. You can now run some sealant/glue around the rim of your fitting and around the flat of the internal washer. - Push the fitting through the hull and put the washer and nut on. (glued/seal side of the washer towards the canoe of course) - Tighten the fitting until the fitting and washer/nut are flush with the hull then wipe away excess glue/sealant using an old cloth. Clean the surface with acetone if necessary. - Cut a small length of hose that will fit over and between the bow painter fittings. The length will vary depending upon the make/model and size of your canoe. - Apply some glue/sealant to the hose and push onto fitting. (see images below) - Clean off excess glue/sealant with an old cloth. Before the glue/sealant dries, make sure the holes and tube are not obstructed and are clear. - Install your own preference of painter/grab loops. - Make yourself a nice cuppa then step back and admire your work and the fact that you now have a very secure/waterproof setup for adding painters/grab loops and you have saved yourself quite a few quid. Disclaimer*: You may follow this guide and drill holes/ make mods to your canoe at your own risk. Please be aware that Big Mac Bushcraft accepts absolutely no liability for any mistakes or errors you may make or any injuries you incur. As always, be safe out there :) " order_by="sortorder" order_direction="ASC" returns="included" maximum_entity_count="500"] - Canvas Bushcraft Messenger Bag - 100% heavyweight cotton canvas - 16" W x 11 1/2" H x 4 3/4" D - Adjustable shoulder strap - Enzyme-washed for a cool retro look - Antique brass slider & D-ring - Large flap with magnetic snap - Side & zipped exterior and interior pockets - THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED FOR SALE TO, OR USE BY, CHILDREN 12 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER Bushcraft Long Sleeve T-Shirt: - These quality long-sleeve crew neck shirts are 100% cotton (pre-shrunk) & are soft and durable to keep you warm - Our graphic tee designs are professionally printed, so your unique design will make anyone smile with funny artwork - Treat yourself, or make this long sleeve shirt the perfect gift for Father's Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, retirement, or for no reason at all! - Fit is unisex standard (size up in doubt) - Machine wash cold inside out with like colours. Tumble dry low - IMPORTED *Disclaimer: As with any DIY project, unfamiliarity with the tools and process can be dangerous. Projects on this site should be viewed as entertainment only. This website and the owner, will not be held responsible for any injury due to the misuse or misunderstanding of any DIY project. All DIY projects are purely “at your own risk”. If you are at all uncomfortable or inexperienced working on projects yourself (especially projects involving dangerous tools), please reconsider doing the job yourself. It is very possible on any DIY to damage your property, create a hazardous condition, or harm or even kill yourself or others. All information at this website is for education and entertainment purposes only. This website, its owner, and its employees, as well as any partnering websites are not liable for any damages that arise out of your access to our books or websites, whether they be direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, or punitive. Read the full article

#CanadianCanoe #canoe #canoepaintermod #canoeing #DIYPainterMod #painter

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night-0987 · 4 months

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A Cat-lover's Manifesto of Modern and Cozy Cat Shirt

For any proud cat lover, repping your cat obsession should be done in style. Step up your cat-themed wardrobe with a fun, comfy cat shirt. Whether you have one kitty or ten, these playful shirt let you broadcast your feline affection.

Occult cat shirts come in a wide range of designs, from subtle to bold statements of cat love. goth clothing Check out this guide to find stylish,comfortable cat shirts to add fetching feline flair to yourlook.

Classic Graphic Tees

Nothing beats a classic graphic tee with an artsy cat print or illustration. Go for eye-catching all-over cat prints, a big strange cat face graphic, or a coolly drawn motif. weird shirt Graphic tees sporting artsy cat images are versatile staples for any cat wardrobe. Choose soft fabrics like cotton or poly-blends for ultimate comfort.

Pop Culture References

Blend your cat and pop culture obsessions with cat shirts featuring music, movies, or meme references. goth clothing Find tees sporting famous cat characters like Garfield or Hello Kitty. Or get tops with images of cats photo shopped into movies, bands, or artworks for humorous designs.

Minimal and Subtle

For an understated, satanic cat style, choose minimalist cat shirts with subtle motifs or outlines. demon shirt Opt for tees with a small cat silhouette, a linear drawing, or micro-patterns of cats. Simple cat faces or paw prints also add refined, low-key design details.

DIY Options

Improve your creative style by making inexpensive tees yourself. Get a plain shirt made of canvas and decorate it with fabric paints, iron-ons, heat-transfer vinyl, or even rhinestones tocreate a one-of-a-kind clothing item for you. exorcist shirt And if you don't want to, you can accompany yourself with printable iron-on transfers by using your own photos or paintings.

Fabric and Fit Tips

Select fabrics that tend to feel soft and breathable, from cotton to cotton-poly blends or rayonfor nice coolness. Nicely fitted or flowing lines give good form. cat shirt Scoop necks or V-necks with short sleeves ooze casual elegance. Focus on quality construction based on the durability theme. Pretreat the fabrics so as to increase softness and control shrinkage. Follow the given instructions to prolong the life of your cat's shirts.

Make the world know it with your style

Embody your cat obsession with a cat shirt in a light-hearted and trendy outfit. If you have feline-related humor, wear graphic tees with jokes, sassy sayings, animal prints, and apparel dedicated to a certain breed. occult cat Through an array of design choices, you can discover cool and cozy cat tees that let the whole world know about your cat craze. Then, become that lady or man you have always wanted to be in a vibrant cat shirt that is unique to your tastes. Show your cat pride and get noticed as you wear these cute shirts. Part of the cat lover's collection, they're perfect for you!

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prurientpuddlejumper · 2 years

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Redbubble Review: Laptop sleeve

I am genuinely surprised at how good the print quality is here?? Considering it's a coarser canvas fabric, the details are all great! Even where detail is lost, it doesn't look *fuzzy*, everything is clean and crisp 🥰

The inside is a velvety soft minky fabric. Should be gentle on screens I imagine.

Cons:

The print is only on one side, the other side is black :(

The foam padding is thin and not dense. This is not a nice memory foam/neoprene padding, it's lightweight foam, so I doubt it offers a ton of protection to your device if you drop it. But, considering I was just gonna leave my chromebook on a shelf without any protection otherwise, it's better than nothing 😅

#redbubble reviews

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ibblescribbles-archive · 4 years

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Hi! You work a lot with prints and that stuff so i wanted to ask you if there are important things i have to take into consideration when printing? I recently test printed a 2000x2000 piece (i think that's around 6 inches) and at 300 dpi but for some reason the colors look off? It also looks like when a picture has a lot of noise, like the colors don't look very smooth, maybe it was because of the printer but i don't really know

Hi! I’m not an expert when it comes to print making by any means but I’ll try to let you know what I know!! gonna put it under the cut since it got quite long!

I’m not sure about the noise, if your piece was at 300dpi and looks smooth digitally then it should translate over to print just fine! That’s only if your drawing was //drawn// at 300 dpi and not converted later. If that’s the case, then it might be an issue with your printer! If you’re using a local place like Staples or OfficeDepot, or using a bad quality printer at home then you’re likely to get a low quality print that will have some grain to it! It is possible to make nice prints with a printer at home, but you have to consider the paper and print settings. Settings for printing a black and white document on printer paper are gonna be completely different from printing a full color image on glossy photo paper!! dfkljfsd that might be a little obvious, but I wanted to mention it jic since I don’t know where you printed your test! Also, if your canvas was originally around 6x6 inches and you’re trying to print it bigger, you’ll run into the same loss of quality. I always reccomend drawing bigger than you plan to print (or at least at the same size for bigger cavnases) since sizing down is better than sizing up! As for the colors, what you’re probably noticing is the difference between RGB and CMYK! RGB refers to the colors we see on monitors and screens, while CMYK refers to actual print colors. When you try to print RGB colors, especially bright neon-y ones (or sometimes specific hues like purple), they often come out looking more desaturated or in a different tone than the original art piece as the printer ink cant make the exact colors. CMYK basically just refers to the ink cartridges in your printer! A lot of artists use programs like Photoshop (and maybe Clip Studio?? idk) to convert their pieces to CMYK as they work in order to see how the colors will transfer over irl. Some prefer to simply work just in CMYK as it makes it easier and there are no nasty surprises after printing. Personally? I kinda just ignore it sdksdfjkl, the printer I work with for my prints converts my artwork from RGB to CMYK better than when I try to do it myself with a program, and I’m satisfied with that. Printers tend to convert things to CMYK automaticallys, and personally I find my art comes out brighter than if I convert it to CMYK beforehand. So its really a matter of preference, but once you adjust to the initial shock of having your colors changed, its not a huge deal imo (my very first print ever had a neon pink background and you better believe i was so disappointed when it came out looking grey af sdfkjlldfks) I know some home printers are pretty good at replicating RGB colors. My friend had like a 5ink cartridge printer and she used it to print stickers and they turned out a lot brighter. So, that’s a possible advantage to making prints at home if you’re willing to invest in a nice quality printer. Lastly, bleed is very important. Full bleed refers to when the artwork on a print goes to the very edge. Without full bleed your art will have a border around it. Its important to make sure your art doesnt have important text or graphic elements too close to the border as they could potentially get cut off when cropping the print. Every printer will have their own specifications, but most will recommend that you work with a canvas that is slightly bigger than the size you are printing in order to account for bleed. Ex: If you want to make an 8.5″x11″ print with full bleed, you’d wanna draw on a canvas that is a quarter inch bigger all the way around (or whatever the specification that you printer requires). So you’d draw on an 8.75″x11.25″ canvas instead, making sure that important details dont touch a 1/2 inch safety border around the whole print. (The safety border includes the quarter inch that gets cut off and then another quarter inch inner border just in case.) I know all of this might sound confusing and overwhelming but its really about trial and error. Take advantage of ordering sample prints/soft copies before you order a bunch in order to ensure that your print turns out nice! Once you get the hang of it its really not that much work to format! The company I use is called CatPrint, and while they have their ups and downs, I’m familiar with working with them and their quality is usually pretty good. If you order from them, please use my referral link as it helps me out and will get you $10 off your first order!

#FAQ #sorry if there r any typos i dont have time 2 proofread this rn but i hope this helps a little!#Anonymous

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thedenimdentist · 3 years

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Flame Panda: worth the hype?

Introduction

For those of you who are pretty invested in handmade, hand welted, MTM boots, Flame Panda needs no introduction. In fact, if you aren’t already familiar with this small boot making family out of a small village in China, then maybe you aren’t actually the boot enthusiast you believe yourself to be. lol just kidding. But really, for anyone interested in high quality, beautifully built boots, Flame Panda is a brand worth looking into. Their main source of advertising and business is through their instagram @flamepanda11, which is run by their Peng. They're still a relatively small family owned business, but they’re following is growing exponentially (and for good reason).

I would go more into the background of their business and what they have to offer, but nothing I could write would compare to the information covered by Jake @almostvintagestyle on his blog: his review of his beautiful chunky monkey boots and an interview with Peng himself. So, if you’d like more background information on what Peng and Flame Panda have to offer, head over to his blog. Otherwise, on with the unboxing/review!

Ordering Process

As with most boot brands out of Asia lately, Flame Panda boots can be ordered via DM through his Instagram @flamepanda11. Unfortunately, there is no website or catalog listing all the patterns, leathers, or customization options he has available. Luckily Peng is very helpful and open to discussion regarding your MTO boots. He takes an active role in creating you the best boots possible, giving constructive input and suggestions rather than just mindlessly giving you whatever you ask for. Peng knows his materials and abilities best, and has a solid grasp on how to combine the two to create a quality product that meets both yours and his satisfaction.

The following are the exact details I requested regarding these black boots:

Model: 6 inch boots

Last: 181 last

Upper leather: black Maryam horsebutt

Upper stitching: black

Hardware: 5 copper eyelets, 2 quick hooks, 1 eyelet

Toe design: brogued cap toe, unstructured

Welt construction: 270° 2 row stitchdown (beige)

Lining: kangaroo

Midsole: single leather midsole

Edge finish: natural edge

Sole: black Dr. Sole half sole/heel

Heel design: incline curved

Sizing

For those of you who haven’t read my reviews before, my feet are stricken with large bunions on the pinky sides of my feet. As a result, picking shoe sizes have always been extremely difficult. (See my previous reviews for details). Below I’ve listed my sizes for all the other boot brands I own.

Thursdays - 10.5

Onderhoud - 45E

Benzein - 45E

Red Wing, Iron Ranger - 9.5EE

Truman Boot Company - 11EE

Viberg (1035 last) - 10.5

In trying to determine what size I would be in his boots, I sent Peng all the following images/information:

As many helpful measurements I could think, with images of how I took those measurements.

I also informed him that I wear this thick, memory foam orthotic in all my footwear.

And lastly, I provided him with a photo and the dimensions of the removable insole of another pair of boots that fit perfectly (in this case, my Onderhoud derbies). I also took photo of how my orthotic relates to these insoles, as well as a photo with my ugly foot. (TMI? Possibly. But I’d rather provide too much information than not enough, and it definitely paid off.)

Now that I think about it, I don't even know what size Peng ended up making for me. Regardless, these boots ended up fitting perfectly. This goes to show that Peng really knows what he’s doing, and can size you appropriately if given enough information.

Price & Shipping

For this particular boot in black Maryam horsebutt, Peng charged $685 USD including global shipping. I purchased these boots on 6/29/2020, and was quoted an unusually specific 95 day wait time. However, I didn't end up receiving these until 12/29/2020. While this is significantly longer than expected, Peng kept me up to date in his progress via Instagram DMs, so I never felt forgotten. (He told me that he and his family were moving locations during this time and production was running behind schedule. I didn’t mind, as I COVID was keeping me home majority of the time and didn’t have any reason to wear these boots anyway.) These days, I believe his wait time is closer to six months (which still really isn’t too bad for MTM boots).

Unboxing

Securely packaged, with tape as no object.

A box inside a box. A nice touch, actually. A lot of other boot companies simply ship the single boot box wrapped in butcher paper and tape, which often results in some minor box damage. In this case, the outer protective box took all the beating during transit, leaving the actual boot box in pristine condition. While this doesn’t have any affect on the quality of the boots themselves, it’s a good demonstration of the care and thought that Peng puts into all aspects of his products. He really holds himself to a higher standard, and I appreciate it.

Another reason to love Peng. He typically includes a small gift with every boot order! In this case, this nice little wallet.

In addition to the complementary thinner, cheaper single boot bags that most boot companies provide, Peng also included a larger canvas drawstring boot bag with a screen printed logo.

These boots came with three sets of laces. They were pre-laced with some standard width, flat, waxed cotton laces. Included in the box were two additional sets of laces: a pair of wider flat waxed cotton laces, and some round waxed cotton laces.

360 Degree View

Left boot:

Right boot:

Sole:

The Leather

The black Maryam horsebutt Peng used on these boots is absolutely gorgeous. The leather feels very substantial and hefty, and has a very nice sheen. The horsebutt also has a very subtle marbling and grain that shines through from certain angles. It’s a little difficult to capture in photos due to the deep black coloring of the leather, but you can take my word for it. These are incredible.

From what I’ve seen, I believe Peng is one of the best in the business when it comes to hide selection and clicking. He is extremely picky when determining what portions of each hide he actually uses on his boots. For instance, here is an example of him picking apart a hide, circling all the imperfections that he plans on excluding during clicking for boots.

youtube

This critical eye for detail increases Peng’s overhead considerably, as a significant portion of his leather is filtered out as unusable and unfit for boots. While this does increase the cost of his boots relative to other smaller boot brands coming out of Asia, it is also a big reason why the leather on his boots consistently break in and age so well. I have yet to see a pair of Flame Panda boots that have any unsightly creasing or loose grain, and I’m sure my pair will be no exception.

The 181 Last

Here’s a closer look at the tope shape of the 181 last. It’s got a nice almond toe shape without going overboard with pointy-ness. The outer sweep of the toe box has a more gradual, soft curve than the Onderhoud last, and even more so the Benzein Kujang last. It’s a clean and strong shape, with more of a sophisticated vibe than your typical work boot.

Outsole

Nice and clean outsole stitching by hand, with no overly wonky stitches.

The Liner

I chose to have this pair fully lined with a warm brown kangaroo leather. This makes the upper feel even more robust and structured (especially noticeable around the ankle/shaft of the boot), and gives them a bit more of a luxurious feel when on foot. (Also, note the half gusseted tongue. I highly prefer gusseted tongues over the standard floppy tongue. I specified during my order that I wanted a gusseted tongue, so I’m not 100% sure this tongue would come standard. Might be worth asking when/if you do order a pair for yourself.)

The Brogued Cap Toe

This is my first boot with a brogued cap toe. While I still think I prefer plain toes on my boots, I do like how this brogued cap looks here.

270 Degree Stitchdown Construction

Peng is probably most known for his 360° storm + embedded eversion welt. However, it is on the chunkier side, and I felt it would take away from the clean, sleeker look of this boot. Thus, I opted for double row stitchdown construction, which I think turned out quite nicely.

Peng’s welt stitching is very tight, parallel, and uniform, with a higher stitch count. Esthetically, I think it looks pretty similar to the 270° veldschoen stitching on my derbies from @renavgoodsco (seen at the 12 o’clock position below).

12 o’clock: Renav 270° veldschoen

2 o’clock: Truman 270° stitchdown

4 o’clock: Ostmo boots 270° custom welt stitching

6 o’clock: Benzein 270° veldschoen

8 o’clock: Role Club 270�� flat welt

10 o’clock: Onderhoud 270° veldschoen

Inclined Curved Heel

If you haven’t been able to tell already, these are not the inclined curved heels (aka woodsman heels) that I had initially requested. While this is a pretty significant misstep on Peng’s end, I actually don’t mind too much. For low block heels, these appear to have been executed very cleanly, and it does complement the rest of the boot pattern quite nicely. If I had been dead set on having woodsman heels on these boots, I could see this being more of a dealbreaker.

Upper Stitching

Overall, the stitching on the upper is clean and tight, with a very uniform stitch count. There are a few spots where there are a few mis-stitches, which I will point out later. For now, here are a few macro shots to appreciate Peng’s stitch work.

One area on the upper where the stitching isn’t exactly perfect is along the left cap toe. As you can see below, there is one spot in the broguing pattern where it gets a little too close to the double row of stitches, and the thread actually tore into the brogue hole. Functional issue? No. But just something small I noticed.

A second spot that might be considered less than perfect is this stitching on the right boot, where the quarters meet the vamp. It looks like there may be an extra stitch in the vertical line extending beyond the horizontal stitch. This is seen on both the inside and outside quarters, and only on the right boot. (I included a pic of the stitching on the left boot a few photos back, where you can see the stitch lines come to a perfect T.) Again, this is being extremely nit-picky, and has no real bearing on the durability or quality of the boot itself.

A third and possibly the (relatively) biggest stitching imperfection was this loose thread on the front corner of the inside right quarter. It appears as though the end of the thread came out of the stitch hole. I later trimmed the loose thread and singed it with a lighter to prevent it from progressing, but there is still an empty stitch hole in the leather where the thread once was.

While we’re on the topic of imperfections, there is also a little bit of what appears to be black polish smeared along the brown welt of the right boot. Not a big issue, nor is it even a stitching or construction issue. Again, just thought I’d point it out to be thorough.

On Foot

First off, I would just like to praise Peng for absolutely nailing the fit of these boots. My feet are ugly and stupid, and sizing any footwear has always been a nightmare. However, using just the measurements and information I provided above (since getting measured in person was not an option), he still managed to build a perfectly fitting boot for my imperfectly shaped feet. I’ve worn them a few times now, and I’ve had zero pain whatsoever.

That being said, these boots are by far some of the stiffest boots I’ve ever worn—in a good way. I can tell these will require a good amount of wear to really break them in and have them relax and shape to my foot, but I’m looking forward to it. (Note, I’m in no way saying that this extended break in period will be at all painful; rather, just that it’ll take some time for the upper leather and sole to soften up.) These boots feel like tanks, and lacing these up make my feet feel invincible. I felt like Steph Curry wearing double ankle braces when I first tried walking in these, but the shafts are slowly starting to break in and roll with wear. The soles were also initially very rigid (like I was walking on planks of wood), but are beginning to flex more as I continue to wear these. Also note that I had these built on single leather midsoles! I can’t even imagine how stiff these would be if they had 1.5 or double layer midsoles (which are a quite popular request, from what I’ve seen on Peng’s Instagram).

Conclusions

I know it’s still early, but I can confidently say that these Flame Panda boots are one of the highest quality boots in my collection. They are definitely the most robust, and despite a few minor finishing issues, the level of cleanliness and finishing by Peng and his family is unmatched by the majority of boot makers worldwide (at least from what I’ve seen on Instagram). Other than maybe Goto-San of White Kloud (@show_goto), Peng is one of the best at not only sourcing beautiful leathers, but clicking as well. I have yet to see a pair of his boots with any unsightly creasing or grain, which gives me the confidence to recommend him to anyone who may be interested in purchasing a pair of these, or any of his other boot patterns.

I apologize if this has started to sound like a sponsored or endorsed advertisement, but I genuinely love these boots, and I believe Peng is a great dude who deserves the recognition he has been receiving lately. He is super generous and genuine, easy to talk to (albeit sometimes slow to respond, with the sheer volume of DMs he now receives), and is constantly striving to improve his materials and skills. And with a personality and passion like that, how could anyone not want to support him? These may have been my first pair of Flame Pandas, but they definitely aren't the last. (In fact, they’re already not. lol)

Anyway, hit me up via Instagram if you have any questions about Peng, Flame Panda, or anything else denim/boots related. Also, follow along over there to see how these stunning black Maryam horsebutt boots age with wear. I’m excited to see how they break in, and so should you. Ttfn!

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breanime · 5 years

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Quality (Part Two)

Request by @kind-wolf: Ask for requests and you shall receive! 😉 I would absolutely love a sequel to "Quality". Like maybe the next time they're overseas and about to go home, Billy’s again nervous because this time he wants to ask the big question 💍 Idk. I just thought about that immediately after I read the story back then. If you're not inspired and can't write it, that's ok too! ILY ❤ Also: Your new ink is great! 😍

Thanks for the request, sweetheart! And thank you--I love my tattoos!

*gif not mine*

“You put in your PTO?” Billy asked you, smiling as he leaned closer to the computer screen.

You smiled back, and Billy wished he was with you, wished he could feel that smile against his own. “Yup,” you answered, “as requested, even though you still haven’t told me what you’re planning.”

“You’ll see,” he said back, “Five more days, and you’ll see.”

He and Frank were coming off of another tour and were currently in France awaiting their flight back to the States. As much as he liked being a soldier—a Lieutenant now—Billy really enjoyed this in-between time. He wanted to go home to you, of course, but he’d be lying if he said it wasn’t hard. He always felt a little off when he came home from active duty, like he needed to practice being a civilian again, and he felt guilty as hell bringing his shit home to you. So, he appreciated the time between active duty and going home, liked that he was able to talk to you and have time to come down from soldier mode before he got to you. Especially now. It was almost insane to him, thinking about two years ago when he wasn’t even sure if you’d be at the airport to now; living with you, telling you he loved you, being loved in return… It was a crazy turn of events—the best kind of crazy.

Which is why he bought a ring in Paris.

“Usually, when you get home,” you said with a smirk, “We don’t leave the apartment for the first few days…”

“Oh, we’re definitely doing that,” Billy assured you, “But I’m gonna take you out, too. Show you off.” Get down on one knee and ask you to be with me for the rest of our lives. “You get that package that I sent you?”

“The one with 300 American dollars stapled to the teddy bear?” You asked back, eyebrow raised. “Yes, I did. I told you about sending me money—”

“Yeah, yeah. But this is a part of my plans,” he said, “I want you to get your hair and nails done, okay baby? And buy something pretty and lacy that I can tear off of you.”

You rolled your eyes, still smiling. “I don’t get why you like to spend money on lingerie when you just ruin it the first time you see it.”

Billy grinned wolfishly. Not a day went by that he didn’t think about your body pressed against his, your mouth on his, the way you sighed and moaned when he was touching you, inside you…the look on your face—devilish and scandalized—when he tore off your lingerie, devouring you with his eyes and hands and mouth. “Ruining it is kind of the point,” he answered.

The two of you talked for a little while longer, alternatively flirting and discussing your plans and making arrangements for his arrival, before Billy had to go. Your “I love you” rang in his ears long after you’d hung up, and while he knew your words were true, he also hoped you loved him at least half as much as he loved you. He hoped you’d say yes.

“What if she doesn’t say yes?” He asked hours later. He, Frank, and Curtis were in the hotel bar, having a few well-earned drinks before they had to head to the airport and hop another plane. Neither of them was drunk—the hooch in Afghanistan was way stronger than anything he’d get in France or the U.S—but it was nice to sit and drink like regular guys.

“She’s gonna say yes,” Frank said, not missing a beat. He and Billy had this conversation at least once a week since the thought of proposing popped in Billy’s head…over a year ago.

“Y/N is absolutely crazy about you, Russo,” Curtis added, “She’s definitely going to say yes.”

“Yeah, but…” Billy rotated his neck, a nervous habit he’d had since childhood. “But what if she doesn’t?”

“In what world would that happen, Bill?” Frank asked, leaning back in his seat.

“It’s possible…”

“Show us the ring again,” Curtis prompted.

Billy took the black, velvet box out of his pocket and popped it open. The diamonds glittered in the light, shining almost as brightly as your smile. That was why he chose it; it glittered like your smile, it gleamed like your pretty eyes, it was almost as beautiful as you. Almost.

“Oh yeah,” Curtis said confidently, “She’s gonna say yes.”

“Hell, give me a rock like that, and I’ll say yes.” Frank added, eyes wide even though he’d probably seen the damn thing nearly every day in the last few weeks as Billy’s nerves grew worse.

Billy laughed back, tucking the ring back into his pocket where it was safe and secure. “That’s why you’re my back-up, Frankie. If things don’t work out with Y/N, I’ll just marry you and make Curt my side chick.”

“I’ll be expecting a ring, too,” Curtis said, “And a candy thong.”

“Well now I want to have Curtis for my side chick, too,” Frank mused.

Billy laughed again, letting his friends distract him with their nonsense. In five days, he’d be back with you, and he would take you out and romance you, get down on one knee, and ask the only woman he ever loved to spend the rest of her life with him…

…or he’d just keep the ring in his pocket until you were both old and grey. He still wasn’t sure.

As the days approached, and Billy got closer and closer to New York, he wrestled with the idea of proposing. Originally, when he’d come to the conclusion that he wanted to marry you, he’d pictured himself taking you out to a nice dinner and giving you a big speech before he asked. Then he thought about doing it at home, in case you said no, so he could nurse his wounded pride in private, but that thought depressed him, so he tried not to dwell on that. He thought about doing it at Frank’s place; Maria always had a nice barbeque with family and close friends a few weeks after they got home, but the thought of you rejecting him there, in front of the only people he cared about, was way too terrifying for Billy. The thought of you rejecting him was too terrifying. But Billy was a pessimist at heart, and he couldn’t think about proposing without thinking about the worst-case scenario. It was almost enough to keep him from proposing at all, except… the best-case scenario—you saying yes, becoming his wife, becoming Mrs. Russo and maybe one day even bearing his children—God, that simple possibility was so damn appealing, he had to chance it.

He needed you.

He sat next to the window on the plane back to New York, staring out at the clouds and thinking of you. Frank was next to him, knocked out with his head on Billy’s shoulder, and Curtis was in the aisle across from them, reading a book and listening to music. Billy had his headphones in, too, but he wasn’t listening to music. He was listening to voicemails.

“So,” your voice was clear, “Remember how I was bragging about you to Gavin because his boyfriend’s a model and he’s always insufferable about it? I showed him a picture of you—and I probably shouldn’t have, but he needed to know! Like, his boyfriend looks like an uncooked noodle with a whole tomato for lips, or like, like that monster from Monsters Inc—have you seen that movie? Did they let you watch movies during your sad childhood?” Billy chuckled to himself as he listened. You had found a way to hook his cell to his email and had gotten into the habit of leaving him rambling voicemails on days you weren’t able to talk. He saved them all on his phone, his email, and a separate USB, and listened to them religiously. “Anyway,” you went on, “Remember the week before you deployed? And we went to the wine and canvas and you kept being unnecessarily sexy and whispering all those dirty things to me while I was painting? Of course you do, you pervert. Remember how I got all obsessed with painting and we bought a bunch of supplies and took them home because I, after one session at a wine and canvas where we painted a sunset and I turned it into a horror movie scene, was a natural expert? And we brought all those canvases and paint and wine and tried to paint each other? Well, I showed him the picture of you after we got into that red paint-blue paint fight, you know the one where you were shirtless, and had my hand prints all over your chest and your hair was all messy and you were smirking at me and you looked so hot? Yeah, I showed Gavin that one.” The smile was evident in your voice. “Man, that was a good night. I don’t think my legs stopped shaking for hours after… Anyway—Gavin agrees that you’re way hotter than his boyfriend, and has asked if he can borrow you for a night. I declined on your behalf. Mama don’t share.”

The next one played immediately after. Billy loved this one, your voice was soft and sleepy, and he always imagined you in bed, wearing one of his shirts hanging off of your shoulder, no pants. He loved you like that, soft and sweet, a picture that was for him only. He closed his eyes as he listened, imagining you in real time talking right into his ear. “I miss you, baby. I went to that café you like, the one with all the paintings of professional, artsy cats wearing people clothes, and it made me miss you more than usual. I love you. I know you’re doing good work, and I’m proud of you, but I miss you. Do you remember when we went to Miami and ended up doing it in an alley behind the club?” You laughed, a musical sound that Billy wanted to hear for the rest of his life. “My knees were so scrapped up after that.” You sighed. “I miss you so much, baby. I dreamt of you this morning. I love you, and I hope you’re safe. Talk to you later.”

The next message was short, but it was exactly what Billy needed to hear. “My mom called asking about you again,” your voice sounded irritated, “She went on and on about how it wasn’t fair for me to wait on someone who was thousand of miles away, and how you were ‘a nice enough man’, but you’re gonna hurt me and blah blah blah… I tried to ignore it, and I even tried to tell her about your idea for the security business, and how you, Frank, and Curtis were going to partner up and stuff, but she just… Ugh,” you sighed, “She was just committed to being negative, and…” Another sigh. “She just doesn’t get it. I mean, she married my dad when she was 17 because she got pregnant, and when he left, he took all her notions of love with him, and… I mean, I get it. I felt that way too, you know? Like love was a lie, a waste, a weakness, but… Then I met you. And the way you make me feel, Billy… I know love is real. I know you love me, and I love you. And yeah, this… This is hard, loving you and being away from you, not being able to talk to you for days at a time, worrying about you… It’s so incredibly hard, Billy…” There was a pause. “But you know what? It’s worth it. You’re worth it. And if I had to do this for the rest of my life, waiting for you to come home, talking to your voicemail until you got a chance to write me a letter or send me an email or whatever… I would do it. Because I’d do anything to be with you. Anything. And I’m sure Mom’s gonna bitch for a while longer, but she’ll see. You mean everything to me, Billy…” There was a brief pause, and the sound of cloth shuffling. “That’s Mom on the other line. Talk to you later, baby.”

Billy opened his eyes as the next message (you updating him on your latest TV obsession Love After Lockup), and stared at the clouds. You loved him so much. You were willing to go against your mother just to wait around for him. After that day, when he’d called you back, you cried on the phone with him, and he’d tried his best to soothe you, wishing he could hold you in his arms and kiss your tears away. After he’d gotten off of the phone with you, Billy had called your mom, and a few weeks after that, he called her again and asked her for her blessing to propose. She’d given him her blessing and promised not to ruin the surprise, and Billy had sent her a picture of the ring when he bought it. She called him crying, overjoyed, and called him “son-in-law”. Thinking back on that, and your voicemail saying how much you loved him, Billy knew what he had to do. He closed his eyes and slept for the rest of the flight.

Billy, as always, walked a few feet behind Frank and Curtis as they walked off the plane and into the lobby. And, as always, Maria and the kids tackled him in hugs; crying and laughing. Curt’s brothers were there, and they greeted him with hugs and laughs as well. There was a small crowd watching from the sidelines, cheering as the vets reunited with their families. Billy frowned; he hated having an audience like that, it made him feel like an animal in a zoo.

“Billy!”

The sound of your voice muted everything around him; the laughing and crying and cheering all melted away. The people melted away, the crowd and his brothers alike. All there was, all that mattered, was you. You launched yourself into his arms, and Billy held onto you tight, taking in your sweet scent, the concrete feel of you against him, the sound of your laughter and heavy breathing as you said his name over and over. No matter how many times he did this, he would never get tired of this moment, the reunion. He pulled back and kissed you, an act that he knew he’d be able to do for the rest of his life. Your eyes were still closed, and he reached out and ran his thumb over your bottom lip. You opened your eyes, and he wanted to drown in them, wanted to wake up and go to sleep to those eyes staring at him until the day he died. He never wanted anything more in his life—and Billy had spent almost his entire existence wanting and coveting and desiring, so that was saying a lot. Now he knew, all that time wishing and wanting, he’d been wishing for you. And now you were here: his dream come true. He stepped back from you, eyes focused on you and you only…

…and dropped down to one knee.

Your mouth fell open, and he could see tears shimmering in your gorgeous eyes. His vision spread, he could see Frank, kneeling on the ground, arms around his kids, grinning widely as Maria stood behind him, practically jumping up and down. Curtis had his phone out, getting it all on video. The crowd was still on the edge of his peripheral, but you were the center of his attention. Billy reached out and took your hand in his; your hands were soft, recently manicured like he’d asked, and his brain supplied an image of your hand with his ring on it. He had to make that happen.

“Y/N,” he said, taking a steadying breath as he took out the ring, opening it and feeling his heart race as your eyes widened at the ring, “will you marry me?”

“Yes,” you breathed out.

That was all he needed to hear. Billy jumped up and crushed you to his chest, kissing the side of your neck. His heart was pounding. He heard shouts and cheers and clapping, and normally, he’d be embarrassed and probably irritated at the attention, but right now all he could feel was relief. You said yes. You were going to marry him. You were going to be his wife.

You pulled back and kissed him, long and hard and slow, and Billy wanted to rip your clothes off and take you then and there. In fact, he wanted you wearing nothing but his ring for at least the next 72 hours. That in mind, Billy, grinning from ear to ear, slid the ring on your waiting finger, kissing your face as he did so.

“I was so nervous,” he whispered against your lips, still smiling.

You were engulfed in a huge group hug before you could respond, Maria, Curtis, Frank and the kids wrapping you in their arms and giving congratulations and “I knew it”s all around. As you all walked out of the airport, hand in Billy’s, ring proudly displayed on your pretty finger, he felt, for the first time in his life, like he was a complete man.

He bent his head so that his mouth was by your ear. “You’re really gonna need your time off now,” he whispered.

You grinned up at him. “Don’t I always?” You put your hand up, admiring the ring. “I can’t believe I’m going to be Mrs. Billy Russo.”

Billy glanced over at Frank, who shot him a proud smile. He turned back to you, his fiancé, his future wife, and saw his entire future standing next to him. “Well, you know,” he shrugged, smiling, “quality over quantity, baby.”

*******************************************************************************************

Please let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!

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#billy russo x reader #billy russo imagine #the punisher imagine

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smb3 · 3 years

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Christmas is a weird time for me

I usually love it but this year I’m spending it alone and I’m reminded of just how many bad things relating to Christmas have happened to me even in the last like 10 years.

One year I picked six people that were really close to me and made pixel art canvas prints from my favorite NES games we’d played together. It was arduous finding somewhere that wouldn’t ruin the quality of the image, getting good sizes and I ended up emulating all the games to make sure I got consistent colors. I put handwritten notes in each about how much they meant to me and how I hoped they’d always be a part of my life, I couldn’t even tell anyone what I was getting anyone else for Christmas since so many were getting the same thing. This was like eight years ago? It was the most heartfelt thing I could think of. Right now I only talk to two of the six still and one of those two said it got damaged and he threw it away.

Four years ago my best friend and roommate told me that he was going to see his sister for Xmas, not staying at home like I’d thought. I didn’t have money to go home to see my family so I asked if I could join and he said he’d see if he could check. He did. His sister said there was “no room”. Looking back I just think he wanted to be away from me. My family ended up flying me to see them but I had to rely on a less-good friend (surprisingly) to drive me to the airport and it led to me being assaulted by her. When I got there I told my mom about what happened and she just... didn’t even react. Imagine being sexually assaulted and telling your own mother and she just doesn’t react at all.

My favorite Christmas is the only other one I didn’t spend with my family and spent with my then-partner and their family. It makes me so sad to think about how things went later on to the point that I don’t even know where to begin to express myself. They’ve since tried to apologize but the more I think about what to say, the more upset I get about how for years after I tried to be so good to them only to have them treat me so poorly and sometimes just plain insidiously. People sometimes say “you’ll always have the memories!” but sometimes things relating to those memories make them too tainted to be fond. It’s like loving a food that gave you food poisoning once, it’s hard to think about how tasty it is without thinking of how horrific it made you feel.

I’m fighting with my family and by that I mean that my family is fucking awful and I finally told them that I don’t want to be treated like that. When they objected, I finally put my foot down and my mother fucking flipped out. I could have gone home for Christmas, god knows they aren’t seeing anyone but they’re just... not worth it. It’s not worth it going to see them just to appease them, it’s not worth it even for free gifts and food and to see my friends that live in that town. Last year I took time off work to go down and one night I went to see a friend and got back late. I came in almost completely silently and my grandmother still threw a fit, screaming to herself about me that I just abhor the thought of being there. I told myself I’d get a hotel if I went this year but I’m unemployed and honestly, it’s not worth it. My mother plays soft, nice and innocent after being a total fucking dickhead to me and I just don’t think I’ll ever get through to them that this isn’t normal. It’s not a normal way to interact. I’m sure I should call them tomorrow but who knows if I even will.

I wish I’d stayed in contact with the rest of my family so I at least had some family to talk to during the holidays but it’s been so long now I don’t even know where I’d begin. I heard Ash is going to open up about his dad, maybe I should try talking to mine too, though I have a feeling that would make me feel even more empty.

My roommate offered for me to go with her to her family’s for Christmas but I just knew it’d feel so performative that I didn’t want to go. Alone is better at least this year but maybe next year I’ll be able to see friends. I just have to keep reminding myself that I’m not alone because I’m unloveable, just that the state of the world is horrible. It’s hard to remember that you’re not a bad person when you’re often the scapegoat for other people that can’t deal with their own bad behavior.

Oh, also a couple years ago I had to drive back home ON CHRISTMAS to go to work the next day and hit a deer and it was horrible.

#shitscram

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themodernpackweb-blog · 4 years

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New Focus in the Bag Market - Reusable Bag

Anya Hindmarch's trendy "I am Not A Plastic Bag" design makes enormous gains in popularity, which sold out of London stores just hours after being released. The aim of the design is simple - to encourage people not to use plastic carrier bags. The simple bag has become a symbol of ethical intent - and a very fashionable one at that. The popularity of this bag should be proof that consumers are willing and excited to have some non-plastic reusable alternatives. Hindmarch told the media: "I hate the idea of making the environment trendy, but you need to make it cool and then it becomes a habit."Reusable Fabric Options - No More Plastic Bag String bag: This bag is completely lightweight yet able to carry a lot of groceries. The best thing about it is its ability to stretch, so just when you think you've fit all that, you can still throw in that last stuff. Meanwhile, the problem with the string bag is its lack of structure when loading and also the perception that it could be unsanitary, especially when it comes to food. Lightweight Nylon: The cool thing about this alternative is that it fits in with the current system for bagging groceries at the check-out counter. It is a more durable but still lightweight material compared to the plastic bag. But again it lacks structure when loading.Heavy Duty Nylon: This bag is made to last a lifetime. Tote bag often made of this heavy nylon. It resembles a traditional paper grocery bag with some added handles; it stands nicely on its own for easy packing. However with that durability and quality of materials come a not-so-compact package. It folds similarly to a paper grocery bag.

Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. The thing is, they all have the potential to save thousands of throw away PGBs from plastic bags.Supplementary to Typical Leather Handbag or Designer Bag At first blush, the trend of reusable shopping bags would seem at odds with the explosive growth of high-end handbags. But it turns out that some consumers are eager to walk around with a $1,000 Coach purse on one arm and the Coach shopping bag it came in on the other. Until recently, high-priced, top-of-the-line imported handbags were a status symbol. But today, designer goods have flooded the market, are no longer as exclusive as they once were. Every woman needs a leather handbag or a designer bag, but they also need a practical bag, such as a tote bag or shopping bag for holding many stuff that their leather bag can't handle, such as A4 document, a cup of coffee, lunch box, some big accessories... For example, last summer in 2007, many women in china are choosing straw bags for their reasonable price, their suitability for the summer season, and the possibility of matching them up with many different styles. The best of all, it is nature and reusable.Pattern and Style Choice

Environmental friendly people want to be associated and seen with natural fabric bags. Available in soft and natural hues, some bags ooze class and concern. Multicolored patchwork bags, printed bags, embroidered and embossed bags are everyone's favorite. In bag related trade shows, lots of design elements and latest fashion trend is revealed. Certain bags are cute, featuring a corsage, embroidered beads, or braided ribbons as decoration, while others are more flashy, featuring rhinestones, of are inspired by classic Asian styles, with wooden beads or sea shells. There are bags for all outfits and occasions. Some women at fireworks festivals and other summer events this year prefer carrying straw bags. Some bags can be paired with dresses for a softer, more feminine look, but they also go will with slightly mannish short-sleeved jackets and pants sets and suits. Anyway, versatility is an appeal. We are now pleased to see all kinds of reusable bags step into the market and become a focus. Bag manufacturers have sensed this trend and making actions.Popular Items - Straw Bag, Tote Bag in Green Design Tote Shopping Bag - Big and Practical Big is the fashion. Bags get bigger with cooler weather because you have more to carry (umbrellas, wraps, hats). Nearly every woman has at least one tote bag, whether it's for a day at the beach, a picnic, browsing at the flea market or just a day at the mall. After all, a good tote bag is very popular - an absolutely indispensable item. Because canvas tote bags come in a variety of designs and styles, you can match them with coordinating sandals, a t-shirt, gym clothes, or your favorite dress. You can make a bold fashion statement with these versatile bags. Tote bags can replace traditional plastic and paper shopping bags. After you use the tote bags for groceries, fold them and place them near the door so you can pick them up next time on your way.Straw Fashion Straw handbags combine colorful and funky designs with the latest trends for natural looks and environment-friendly statements, carrying a unique appeal to consumers. Compared to the conventional leather and fabric handbags, they are much lighter. The use of natural grass also fits in with the trend for environmental protection, while many handbags even come as "natural" straw to accentuate their appeal - and probably even enhance health requirements for the product. Trend or Demand for Future Reusable Bag Industry The reusable bag is still the bag of choice for most occasions under the prevailing theme about environment protection. So people would strive to make it better, and the solution should be a bag that is, (I mean many kinds of bag suited to different occasions):

1 Easily folded flat, both for storage at the checkout counter and for refolding for the return journey;

2 Relatively inexpensive to produce, so the supermarket and grocery stores would use it in greater amount not worrying about their cost control.

3 Made of durable, sustainable materials that give the bag structure but also keep it lightweight;

4 Easy to carry, possibly in different configurations (traditional handles, over the shoulder, etc);

5 Has an appropriate strategy for end-of-life disposal when it is finally properly disposed of after a lifetime of good use.

6 Not only durable and long lasting, but also attractive, comfortable and classy. The last point means that the reusable bags can also be connected to "fashion". When you think of the "I'm not a plastic bag" craze though many western countries recently. Alluring Business Potential for Reusable Bags in this Eco-friendly Market Atmosphere Use of recyclable and reusable bags has now been promoted as a lifestyle. In cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, customers have begun treating eco-friendly bags such as nylon bag as an indispensable accessory that can be reused for weeks, even messenger bags for women months, to carry laundry to the cleaners, books to the beach or lunch to the office.

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magma-paint · 6 years

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Tutorial Tuesdays--Getting Started

Tutorial Tuesdays is a new block on my blog in which I give art advice and tutorials for anyone looking to improve their art. But before we get into the good stuff, a quick obligatory background.

I know it’s tempting to look at my art and the art of people you look up to and come to the conclusion you’ll never get to that level no matter how hard you try, but it is possible to get to that level. You just gotta practice regularly and before you know it you’ll have it down-pat.

These posts will be pretty long, so to save Dashboard space, I’ll put the meat of things under a Keep Reading link so you can visit them in full. Alright, with that out of the way, are ya ready kids? Let’s go get some art tools!

I only say this because I’ve seen people make fantastic things with very limited materials and people with some of the finest tools but don’t use them to their full capacity. Again, it’s not what you use, but how you use it. When I talk about art tools, I’m mostly going off of what I use since those are the tools I’ve worked with a lot.

Pencils. Your most basic writing and drawing tool. For sketching and drawing, I use a 0.7 mm mechanical pencil with a good eraser. It’s quick, it’s convenient, and I often stick it in my ponytail when I’m not using it so I have easy access to it. They’re also pretty cheap. For commissions and grayscale shading, I use drawing pencils that come in various hardnesses. The hardness of your pencil will be noted by a number and a letter. A pencil with an H stamped on it will be harder, won’t smudge very easily, and has a very light load when the graphite is on the paper. A pencil stamped with a B will be softer, smudges very easily, and has a darker streak on the paper. The number on the pencil following the letter lets you know how hard or soft it is (4H is a very hard pencil, 8B is a very soft pencil). Your typical No. 2 pencils from school are in the HB category, which is middle of the road. You can find them individually at art stores or in packs. Walmart in my town offers a package of 6 drawing pencils bundled with two animation colored pencils, two markers, and an eraser for about $9. Pretty good deal. Speaking of...

Erasers. A pink rubber eraser will do you just fine, though make sure your pencil has a nice one on it for finer details and while you’re drawing. You can use a kneadable eraser if you have one, they’re squishy, you can mold them to how you see fit and they don’t leave any crumbs to clean up, but I’m not quite fond of them.

Markers and ink pens. Let me tell you, once you use a pen like one of these, you’ll never go back to ballpoint, which often has far too many broken lines to be practical to use and make your lineart look like trash. I use a Fine Tip Sharpie Pen, preferably in the no-bleed variety so the lineart doesn’t sink into the opposite side of the page. Recently I’ve been using Brush and Bullet tip Prismacolor Scholar markers for comics and good drawings. They’re a bit erratic to use at first, but it takes practice.

Colored pencils. Now these are my go-to for coloring since they give a wide range of color, combinations, and effects. For best results, I stick with Crayola or Cra-Z Art since the color tend to remain consistent from box to box and you can get a big box of them for a pretty good price. Prismacolors would be nice, but they’re pretty expensive and I don’t quite like the feel.

Sharpeners. Electric ones you can just keep at home, but for on the go I recommend a small manual one you can throw in your bag. Bonus if you get one that has a shavings catch so you don’t have shavings making a mess of your space.

Ruler/straight edge. You’ll want one of these for comic panels, perspective guidelines, and, well, straight lines, though in some cases you might want to practice making straight lines without the use of it. I use a metal one, but a plastic will do you good as well.

And now, the most important thing of all, your drawing canvas!

For starters, I recommend you get yourself a good sketchbook. Nothing too fancy, just one of those spiral-bound ones ideal for sketching. For your really good art, copy paper will work just fine. Really any kind of paper (or even cardboard!) will work but I implore you to avoid using loose-leaf notebook paper. I cannot tell you how much it hurts to see something so beautifully drawn wasted on lined paper. Not saying you can’t doodle in your notebook and show off something silly you sketched, but if you’d count a drawing as your magnum opus, your drawing probably deserved being on blank paper where it can shine.

I was considering making this an entry for Digital Art tutorials, but I’ll put these here just in case.

I do a lot of digital art using my HP laptop built with a touch screen. It can’t stream for sh1t but it runs single player Steam games alright and I use it for homework a lot. Before this, I had a desktop computer and used a mouse. I would like to own a Wacom tablet in the future, but until then this setup is nice enough. Remember, it’s about how you use your tools, not the quality of tools at your disposal.

Now this is a scanner that’s used only for pictures/documents. You can’t print or fax anything with it, but it’s good for just pictures. I own an HP printer/scanner combo, but it is pretty finicky and no longer prints. Alternately, you can just use your cell-phone camera to take pictures of your finished piece, but I do not recommend doing so for comics unless you’re giving previews of one panel.

For my programs, these are the three that I use:

Good for doodles, already on your computer (probably), and I use this program to make authentic looking Homestuck drawings (like, you could mistake it for being an actual panel in Homestuck).

My primary art program. Operates much like Paint Tool SAI and photoshop. Very good for general art and comics.

Still learning this one, but it’s just like Medibang and is equipped with tools for animation.

And yes, these three programs are downloadable for free. I do want to try out Clip Studio Paint EX, but the cheapest I can get it is $80 when it goes on sale during the holidays. Normally, it costs $250.

Next time, we go over some drawing basics and some tips that will save your sanity while sketching. Stay tuned!

#tutorial tuesdays #art tutorials and refs #sh1t magma-paint does #getting started #art supplies #art software

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