What do you call that? Revealing some of my local lingo...
| lingo |
proper wording |
explainer |
| vari nasti |
variegated nasturtium |
too long to type otherwise, but I also love the crass label but it's just a cute plant |
| flowflow |
flower |
sounds more endearing despite being longer |
| marigo |
marigold |
shorter AND cuter |
| matchy matchy |
matches |
sounds more endearing despite being longer |
| crunch |
crotch |
because of Momga |
| shrump / shrumplets |
shrimp / shrimplets |
more silly and cute |
| poss |
opossum |
shorter and monosyllabic, though I know possums are usually the non-North America ones... |
| no daijoubu / no DJB / no 大丈夫 |
not ok / not fine |
uttered by my non-japanese-speaking Friend while in Japan in response to a Japanese person asking "daijoubu?" |
| WHYST / WHOMST / HOWST |
why / whom / how |
probably from internet ; used for dramatic emphasis |
| SIN |
did a bad thing / mistake |
ToulouseTime's videos about worms/woerms on strings ; used for dramatic emphasis |
| binch |
bitchy + grinchy |
Probably from internet ; these people exist and need a label |
| adding -zo to words with finality, like "byezo" "gonezo" "donezo" |
(self explanatory) |
IDK I guess it's more fun |
I'm sure there are more but I just can't remember them!
Speaking of flowflows, I HAD TWO POPPY FLOWFLOWS!!!!!!! The seed germination rates (iceland mix) are dismal so this is a rare success story. Matchymatchy with the chamos~
The other one is more orange. The white one already lost its petals by the time this one came out. The petal translucency is so lovely~
On the topic of languages, I get mixed up with words and don't know how to spell and pronounce a lot of things. Perhaps the simultaneous learning of 4 different languages while growing up (note: I have retained none of them) added to this confusion.
Canada uses a lot of similar words and spelling and pronunciation to UK (fun colonial history) and US counterparts, but not always. Similar story with Canadian vs France French (more colonial history).
HTML code uses "color" while I use colour (neighour, labour, rigour, etc.). Most of my clients are based in the US, so everything I write for them usually has to use US-spelling.
Yet there is still some stubborness to revert back to non-US spelling when I can, but more often than not, I forget which spelling is the Canadian one, like specialize (US) vs specialise (UK). I default to using the "z" version more but sometimes it's an aesthetic choice.
Some of my other Canadian friends were talking about the old ABC alphabet song, and how the Canadian pronunciation of "Z" (zed) does not rhyme in the song like Zee (tee, you, vee, double-u, ex, why and zee) so I use Zee more often.
Some US clients could immediately tell that my white Canadian colleagues spoke very Canadian.
With me, they usually say that they only clue in when I say specific words, like Proh-cess vs Praw-cess.
I think due to my work, I got used to using variations interchangeably, and it just depends on the context and what flows out of my mouth (mouth...feel?), haha. Also, my parents' first language isn't English, so most of what I know came from TV and others in my class. A lot of TV in Canada was from the US as well. I feel like the average USian doesn't realize how much of the rest of the world has bent backwards for them due to $ economic and war power $.
A long time ago, I also had a harsh transition between being in French immersion, then going back to English studies. What do you mean , in math are now . but , are still used to denote THOUSAND numeric unit? Where are all my extra letters for scientifique and gouvernement? What do you mean apostrophe isn't pronounced la-pohs-trof? Yes, I have uttered "a-pohs-trof" in an English sentence and people thought I didn't know English. Our food/product packaging here is also dual language, and I constantly commit these pronunciation sins💅🏻.
(I have retained very little French and am just an anglophone)
Anyway, when I meet multi-lingual people, I am always impressed. I can't keep things straight in one language, let alone multiple. There is something so neat when a person can switch their language/speech rhythmn/tone in the same breath. I often wish I had kept up/retained all those languages from my youth, but I have too much learning on my plate already!
The heading image vibe I was going for was something that seemed simultaneously in conflict yet harmonious. I guess that's how I feel about words and languages.
- Outlines: Mitsubishi prussian blue
- Paint: ShinHan PWC Premium Watercolour (probably, they're halfpans a friend filled for me from tubes)
- Paper: Stilman and Birn alpha
- Brush: Escoda versatil 6
Tarot readings
Maiji offered to do some tarot card readings in exchange for pifo donations, so I jumped on to ask about what stuff I might include in future comics/zines!!
Can't wait to figure out stories with a rider delivering a baby, which is the key to the OTP's success 🤣. 🏇🏻🔑👼🏻🫂💰💰💰💰💰💰❤️
Fanarts
As noted in MKISA I became even more of Akame and Watase friendship (headcanon) fan after drawing my comic, so when I found out their bdays were 2 days apart, I knew I had to draw both...! It's fate!!
I don't draw gals super often (let alone colour drawings them!?) so adding makeup is always a bit surprising to me because it makes a big difference (I'm more familiar with the big difference from zero to full facial hair drawing, haha).
Akame has a good relationship with unhoused and encampment folks, so I wanted her to celebrate with them. My thought was that they'd pool money to buy a lot of conbini desserts and then feast together after the bday -haver picks their top choice! Her hat and the confetti are made out of aged newspapers (texture from a public domain image)!
Watase...was hard to draw too. I looked up CIGAR and BUTANE LIGHTER stuff for this. SOFT YELLOW FLAME? BLUE FLAME?! $1.5k + lighter? No big deal!
Ok I did actually spend too much time thinking about whether to use a standard bic-style lighter (because presumably a Watase family member is using it and is not made of money) but eventually I landed on the fact that they probably keep a fancy lighter around for fancy occasions and guests. It took me a really long time to figure out how to draw that flip-hinge cap in "perspective."
I felt like no underling would dare mess up Watase's hair or play tricks, so he doesn't get a hat, haha.
I didn't intend to make a series outta these bday fanarts but it has sorta become one. Shishido's bday is at the end of Aug so I think I'll end it there...
Fishlips
They're level 42 now. Their bday is in October! I put them in the chess tournament for a several months in hopes that they'd get more intelligence points, but they're still baby...!
Reading/looking
There's Yuri Comic Jam Itch event coming (April 1-June 1 2026). I wanna draw some YURI!
Fable, a guessing game for living creatures (somewhat similiar to Anthropeum) but there's a timer and a progressive "zoom out" from micro-macro zoom out of a photo.
Hoopoe, one of the birds that were mentioned from playing Fable that I have never heard of. Such fun plumage and head feather shape!
A tool that measures your digital line drawing accuracy and speed. I am very bad at this. It also gives you a summary of which angle/directions of line you are best/worst at...
Akane-banashi #16: I now have some of the Shiguma lores...!! I like that the whole school really loves their master (sob), reminds me of Yakuza fams, haha...
10 Dance #8: I lost the plot, but ok, we're back to the actual main relationship and the actual 10 dance competition...
Hirayasumi #9: too many lovely and relatable small moments in this comic
Nina the Starry Bride #18: the Beast God situation...felt rather anticlimatic. I didn't understand...
I tried Kraft Dinner cheese ramen.......as a person who enjoys both of these separately, the combination they created, is not very good.
Brainrot report
Yamaguchi is playing a fresh fish shop owner in Match Monde, which is a live action movie adaptation of the comic (same title) by Horiuchi Shogo. I like the slightly unhinged knife-wielding bloody uncle energy he's giving in his role, haha. So confident in his fighting that he's taking a smoke break partway through hehe. It's having its North America debut at Big Bad Film Fest in California.
When I got my place I really wanted the first impression to be an artsy/creative person lives here (haha) so I thought I'd share some of the art I have on my walls.
To help orient here is a general floorplan of my place. I'll walk about 4 walls/zones (pink):
- Entryway
- Gallery wall
- Switch wall
- Living room
1. Entryway
This is the first thing you'd see when you enter the door.
- A - my own photo from Rockies that I had printed giclee to test a printer
- B - Amy Talluto
- C- Jeremy Miranda
- D- my own DIY blobs stuck on with painter's tape...
If you're wondering why D is not centred to the wall, it's because it's centred to the console table, which can't be centered to the wall width because of the laundry door that opens outwards into this hall...
I remember trying to stick with neutral natural colours. These 2 pieces are stuck here because I don't actually know either of these artists, personally. Also they are very accessible pictures, relative to the next wall...
(yes, I have yellow bags with Sally and Trally on them)
2. Gallery wall
When you turn the corner from the entry hallway, this is the next wall. This wall has art from people I've interacted with personally at some point in my life, though I have completely lost touch with some of them.
Most of these are original one-of-a-kind art / limited run prints.
(sorry the plastic glare is so bad for some HAHA)
I went through a few iterations of this wall. One was manually taping pieces to the wall, which looked nice and orderly, but often flew off (I think this area gets more air flow/traffic). So I tried this hanging string thing, which is OK but looks very disorderly, haha. Sometimes the things on string flip over too, which is an excuse to look at the art and flip them back around the right way.
I think maybe my most ideal setup would be to have that full wall be like a pin/corkboard and I can place and move art as I please. (or I guess I could just punch directly into the drywall...). I still have bazillion art pieces from friends I could put up...........I'd love to cover the whole (upper) wall.................
3. Switch wall
Since there were already 2 different switches here, I thought to add art around them and make them into an installation...which is just chaos
- A - my own DIY marbled paper (using Platinum Carbon Black pigmented fountain pen ink on the back of failed HWA covers)
- B - Jocelyne Allen (I think it was promo for "You and the Pirates"?!)
4. Living room
Probably the room you've seen the most of since it's where I do most of my personal reading/drawing.
- A - improv cotton fibre art by me...that is actually hiding an unused cord extender plug that was originally there for a mounted TV from previous owner
- B - Winnie the pooh test print out that I just decided to put up, haha
- C - Alan Cheung/Fatlundraw (WaHaYeah sketch group)
- D - PetaStudios (ecoprint)
- E - DIY coaster kit from Craft Club
The colour scheme of this room is mainly yellow/terracotta/wood/green! IT WAS ORIGINALLY PRIMARY COLOURS (red/blue/black) but then I changed my mind as I accumulated more and more yellow things (haha).
- F - weird fibre/paper art by me...
- G - Nancy Nickolson
- H - latch hook kit of wolves that i turned into poss HAHA
- I - Crosstitch kit/pattern from someone.......
- J - public domain photo I printed of poss taxidermy?!
There are vaulted ceilings and it's really nice to see the sky and clouds outside of the top picture windows. they're like pieces of art themselves!
There amount of light is both good (for plants) and bad (I'm getting burnt / screen glare). Also it's like a greenhouse effect in summer, so it's boiling inside...
I have some handmade ceramics and furniture too:
- Reeree ceramics planter/plate and plant pal
- 2 living edge side tables and stools by woodmakers in ON
- 2x counter height chairs by a local woodmaker in AB (but I had a bad exp with them... :S)
- low table/stand is custom made to spec by a local woodmaker in AB (great exp)
I opted out of getting a sofa/couch, but got an even more $$$ (yells) single-seater Nychair X Rocking (terracotta) designed by Takeshi Nii after waiting years for it to go marginally on sale (it was worth it). If it had brass base it would make my heart sing even MORE but it is just silver steel. I convinced another frugal friend to get it and they also love it (after years of waiting because it's a big cost). The rocker itself is on hand-blockprinted cotton cloth from India!
There are more arts in other nooks and crannies (I have a lot of knick knacks), but those spots are very messy ahhaha.
It's always interesting to visit an artists' website a long time later and find out they're doing a completely different genre/style of art or going by a different name and gender.
As for the header image, I drew/painted it with the theme in mind, but no clear plans as usual (bc of aphantasia-leaning).
I associated tour with something that moves and circular motifs. The colours are the ones that occupy most of my living room decord. The straight edge polygons are like the walls (?).
- Outlines: Prismacolor col erase terracotta (20053)
- Paint: ShinHan PWC Premium Watercolour (probably, they're halfpans a friend filled for me from tubes)
- Paper: Stilman and Birn alpha
- Brush: Escoda versatil 6
Fanarts
Another LAD/Yakuza July baby...I have drawn Zhao maybe...3x in my life, which is mostly in Yakuzine so this is the first time...in COLOUR!
Since he's an accomplished chef/gangster himself, I thought that he might like to go to dimsum style meal. Selfishly I just wanted to draw foods I like!! Custard buns!!! Though I prefer the non-yolk ones. That mango pudding/jello fish (with either tapioca / beans?!) is not really dimsum; I think it's something I've really only experienced at banquet/weddings.
I wonder what sort of Chinese heritage he has. I don't know enough about Chinese region cuisine to decipher it myself, but his name is romanized using Mandarin pronunciation. For the BG I used a birthday greeting that included a character in his name, 天天开心 (which translates to something like "happy every day").
I always wonder how he handles his grip with all those chunky rings. Candles + confetti = fire hazard, but decided to ignore my logic.
August has 3 other Like a Dragon Gaiden characters (Akame, Watase, Shishido!!) and Yamaguchi Yoshiyuki's (actor for Tsuruno)...
As for the print version of MKISA, it's stalled because the professional printer sent prints with these sorts of weird artefacts around only specific spots, and I haven't heard back about why this is happening yet.
It's sad because that's a lot of wasted useless prints/paper!!!! (plus $) If anyone has clues, LMK. It's a flattened CMYK PDF at 300dpi+ and mostly happening on some patches of skin tone and not others?! Other areas on the same page printed smooth and fine. Extremely bizarre (haven't seen this sort of error in my 20+ years of sending stuff to print).
Next up is Haou / Overlord Genealogy (also mentioned in the media log below), which features the same actors that have model-likeness in LAD/Yakuza.
I've never been good at drawing cute SD/chibi things, but the boy's interactions with these ragged/rugged men was really cute.
The director and antagonist is played by Ozawa Kazuyoshi (小沢和義). He's the younger brother of Ozawa Hitoshi (小沢仁志), aka Kuze from Yakuza 0.
I drew these one after the other but wanted to keep this one looser / rougher because I think it suits the character/vibe more.
I feel like V-cinema/Nihon Touitsu might be the thing that would motivate me start learning Japanese HAHA...
I've heard good things about Wagotabi w/r/t gamified learning (though competition/gamifying is never a motivation factor for me to get stuff done, but the format seems interesting since it might feel more implicit/passive). I recently found out about different types of ikemen and fujoshi. I don't consider myself hardcore weeb or fujin, but I guess I'd be a Turtle type rotten person. I feel like as I've gotten older, the point is to try to expand horizons and be more accepting of more variety of things.
Fishlips
A wizard...! Going to cast a kiss spell on you...?
Listening
Acknowledgement by Nicholas Payton, Butcher Brown.
Tons of videos from ARIatHOME (twitch link) (he DIYs improv bgm/beats while walking outside and makes improv music with randos on the streets).
Reading / looking
Rurupoi dropped a mega watercolour/mixed media sketchbook comparison post a while back! I thought of it again when I was doing my painting, haha. We both have the same glue gripes with Stilman and Birn sketchbooks.
Coyote/Osteophage writes a lot about indieweb and online communication and culture. Recently wrote a post about bubbles.town. IMO the tool is not made for me and it was made using Slop. But Osteophage's post reminded me that I should probably share/link to more stuff that I think is interesting from my RSS, and foster a wee bit more of communal reccs! Coyote also has a post about pillowfort's comment culture.
My RSS reader, feedbro (extension on my browser) stopped loading new feeds for the past few weeks so I went looking for another reader. A list by Schoeneh is here. I am aghast at how some of these RSS readers take up gigs of space to install. The one I just tried (Liferea) is less than 10mb HAHA.
I found this list of ethical-foss/open-slopware in case anyone wants to scrutinize/avoid projects' AI-involvement to my degree (ha). Sadly Bludit (the blogging CMS I'm using here) and Joplin (which now has built in AI chat...even tho it's turned off by default) are on there now :S.
Other recent tech-ish horrors: micro.blog, mullvad, framework laptops...
I laughed at the recent bearblog discovery feed shenanigans...
Kevin Smith Books: for those who are into DIY zine/sketchbook/bookbinding, Kevin Smith has a whole series of books with instructional diagrams on doing it WITHOUT ADHESIVES! I found vol II at the library, but wish I could get more...and get my own copy (you can purchase from the website but it's USD and shipping from US...IDK how tariffs would affect it).
Making art with the insides of security envelopes - I've also been intrigued by the pattern designs inside security envelopes...do they ACTUALLY work?!
1-percent warrior (2023 / 2024 EN):
A legendary action star finds himself up against two feuding yakuza gangs when he starts filming his next movie on highly disputed turf.
Stars Sakaguchi Tak (who I saw in Bad City and Tokyo Dragon Chef as cameo). They threw in an unexpected twist at the end, which ultimately didn't change much in the grand scheme of the plot, but leaves the audience with a pretty different impression about the protagonist. Interesting choice.
Blue Box #20: is she gonna winnnnnnn? Dad was more reasonable and less severe than I expected.
A Bride's Story #3-9: GRANDMA GOAT!! I was not really into the TWINS but I think that's because they're probably too extroverted (and naive/more selfish) and there's TWO Of them. Pariya is so awk/cringe (positive) hahaha but I'm glad that Umar can appreciate. Amir and her fam are full of...babes. Vowed-sisters bathouse arc must've been Kaoru Mori's dream arc to draw, maybe the animal ones too... haha.
Same Kaoru Mori, same.
Brainrot report
Where I yell about my current hyperfixation for actor duo, Yamaguchi Yoshiyuki and Motomiya Yasukaze. I did not have a heartthrob teen/tiger beat or idol phase. I am in my "admire 50+yo person making low budget indy films with action and heart" phase.
Gokudo Sweets #3: variety show where these yakuza-vibe guys try out sweets and desserts. great ep hahahaha. I'm certain their target audience are the Ninkyo joushi. They went to Shin-Okubo this time. I love that they got the official narrator from Nihon Touitsu to join up for the intro, and how they were worried about entering such a cute place (purikura oshikatsu DIY goods store, Pippi) (IG😭) while looking like yakuza that might get arrested hahaha. They make oshikatsu goods for each other hahahahahahaha. THEY PUT ON GLASSES FOR THE PURIKURA 👓🤓😍!!!!!! Then they had some really refreshing looking food at Cookie 594 (IG😭). Given the heat waves going around the world, shaved ice looks really good.
Nihon Touitsu #17: in awe at all these old men swearing up to Himuro for no clear reasons other than HONOUR and VIBES... like you didn't wanna join Kyowa clan but you'll join Himuro???? You've been mad/salty about suspecting your sworn bro was killed by Kyowa but you're still joining???? Logic????? (it's fine I love it).
NT also released new merch for 2026 but nothing really caught my eye (a lot of plastic/poly stuff). I've been keeping an eye out because I do want to support this low budget indie but turned a bit more mainstream production because they seem to have a lot of Heart.
Overlord: Blood Genealogy #1-5 (~2016-2017 forever incomplete):
Naito Shinjuku is a Yakuza family that follows a tradition of hereditary succession. A gentle young master, Washio Taiga, is set to inherit, but is just a primary student. He is taught how to survive by one of the clan members, Toki Reiji, so that when the time comes...
I finally watched the rest it even if it's not a completed series and has the worst "official" machine translation, and also rewatched the first episode as a refresher.
The beginning of the hilarious gun choreo; a small gif is linked here because I want to entice more people to watch it (CW: bloody gun headshots, though it's not really graphic IMO). I love the unrealistic dramatic action, haha.
Reiji re-adding his tie clip after waking up 💘, Yamamoto trying to peel potatoes with his fingers because he is a himbo yakuza who has never washed/cooked potatoes...🤣!
Ogawa (played by Norimasa Fuke) character had a really strong presence. Too bad we'll never get a real ending. It was nice to watch this after digging more into NT, because I recognize even more of the same actors.
I also like the theme song, 夏の少年1984 by ROGUE (YT link).
(I also forgot that the library gives access to Kanopy, a different streaming platform, which has a bunch of other V-cinema-like treasures)
Leave a comment if you want!
I'm making my own August blogging thingy (like how I made up tamagOCTOBER for tamagotchi).
Join me if you want (chill)! It's called AUGBLOG!
Loose inspiration topics that you can take or leave and use however:
- Tour (e.g., of your pencil case, bag, closet, sketchbook, favourite garden/cafe/location, your workspace/room/OS desktop, your favourite spoon, your methodology/process, etc.)
- Call (e.g., from an animal? a person? A nickname? A phone? etc.)
- Scrungy / scrungo (e.g., are you scrungo? What about your pet? A plush? Lifestyle? etc.)
- Slow (e.g., something you like to do slowly, a slow thing you hate, your love for sloths/turtles/slow loris, etc.)
The usual smattering of updates
I decorated a mosaic glass tile lamp! It doesn't really sit on the base straight because I prob left too many beads around the rims, haha.
Wrapped up my gifts! 4 of us signed up (incl me) so my goal was to draw a pic for each sign-up-ee!!
Laridian's OC Gunnar. The character is in a post-apocalyptic setting (Fallout??) so I went with a everything is on fire and darker grunge look, but of course I was like hmm yes back lighting!
cry's OC Laurens. This one has a deliberate 90s CG aesthetic to it, haha. IDK if anyone remembers the photoshop cloud filter and lens flare filter...I actually redid the cloud bg a bunch of times to try to get closer...it was no walk in the park.
One of the organizers, PineAura, drew me squishy flowery field Unopaque :D (I love)!
Laridian drew Unopaque with Laurens (2 artists' OCs in one!) and the story is so funny (I love)!
Like a Dragon brainrots and MKISA
Tsuruno's birthday was July 24~
I didn't really get to draw much happy Tsuruno in MKISA so I tried to make up for it.
Even though I finished MKISA I still have deep thoughts about these characters, so if I am going to draw another fancomic, it's (maybe) going to be called OH! YA? JEEZ... and have more OYAJI moments (Watase). They're born in the 60-70s so I figure they would've used giant walkie talkies at some point...?!
TBH I have to pry myself away from this project HAHA. Why do I have so many comic/zine ideas...! URGHHHHHHHHHH
I started production for the print version of MKISA in more earnest (thanks for filling the interest form)! For a hot second I thought "maybe I'll sign-up for a new paypro and put up a shop again" and then I heard the latest US-CAN tarriffs situation hitting mid-August, and was like NAH. Trades it is...
The current print run is 100% determined by "how many sheets of cardstock do I have" which was roughly enough for 9 (haha) copies because I had a bunch of mis-cut/prints. I have 3 different coloured yellow cardstocks, and this print run is mostly comprised of the brightest stock.
After printing all the covers, I found a mistake, laughcried, and am singing "LET IT GO ❄️ LET IT GOOO ❄️" (from Frozen) to myself.
For the interiors I made more edits to fix my extremely obvious lettering and ballooning sins that I did not perceive during the honeymoon phase (which is now OVER). There are probably more things that I could torture/update, but GETMO (good enough to move on).
I went to the library again to print the colour pages, but it was a BUST! This time the printer put mysterious consistent-pixel-pattern all over the print! It's way too inconsistent! So I gave up. I'm used a professional printer in BC and will see how things come out. There is a part of me that looks at this misprint pattern that feels ouu looks kinda cool as a texture, but it wasn't what I wanted, haha.
I'm preparing a detailed progress post about the book production later, when I get the prints! Though it's not really that hard or mysterious, it's just...time consuming.
Animal
Black and rufous sengi how can they be so colourful?!?!
So many animals named things they are not actually (elephants, shrews, moles, etc.).
I also have zine ideas about THEM...
Reading / looking
Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan #5: his drawings are always incredible...what angst lore family past does Uramichi have...give it to me...!
IDK how this joke lands in Japanese, but PP is definitely funny in English.
The Ancient Magus's Bride #20: a series that really needs a recap at the beginning...! So many age gap relationships and mysterious beings popping in and out. Selfishly I wish the lore and cast were less expansive so I could keep it all straight. The new devouring mage is so ominous...actually I think 90% of the characters are sus in their own way.
How I make pages (Titan Comic) : Lan shares full steps on how he makes a comic page! Go read the comic online too!
Brianna Tosswill is a local artist (printmaker, letterpress) who is so deep in handmade art (linocut reductions!! bookarts!! sculpture!! installations!!). So much good process and inspo stuff in her library and I hope to own some of her work in the future!
Ametora: this was informative and interesting to see how it all came about, but also has zero impact on my life/craft (I think!?!), haha, so I wonder how much of it will stick. I wish there were more in-situ photos...
Brainrot report
Yamaguchi's birthday is soon! So many summer babies.
More teasers about Gokudo Sweets #3 are out. GLASSES...PURIKURA!! Flash photography interviews. Yes. I'm still impressed they have their own jingle theme song.
Some people think of vacations as a time to do new/exciting things, I prefer to think of vacation as relaxing, chilling, and some comfort with familiarity. My favourite vacations are staying home and doing arts/crafts/reading 😂. Saving money...
I know that some people love traveling far for vacay. I'm not one of them (haha) now (?) ever (?). I was wondering why, maybe:
- there was a period of my life where I had to do so much business travel, so the thought of being on an airplane and being in airports for extended periods with people coughing/sniffing around you, is highly unappetizing.
- I'm not even a large or tall framed person and it's uncomfortable to be on planes for a long time (esp as this bod gets older).
- I don't really remember much about where I've traveled and what I've done (despite having visited many countries) because of my really bad autobiographical memory (SDAM), so I haven't developed much wanderlust.
But if I do travel I would prefer it to be paired with something more art/craft-oriented, like how VAWAA and Ace Travel Camps (tho these are beyond my budget). I love the idea of going into someone's studio workshop and learning and doing a casual project with them (vs a formal artist residency). I tend to remember these crafty adventures more. Within Canada (a huge country) there is probably opportunity to do an art/craft adventure, without dealing with uncertainties of language differences. I've been casually making my own art retreat list/plans.
When will I get to meet a real opossum though?! Maybe my next travel goals should be to meet one. (Drawn with Memileo Impasto brush in Krita.)
Eyemask
With the abundance of summer sunlight I made myself a new eyemask to match my quilt top. Around 8 years ago, I slept super well, but now I sleep super unwell and the rising sunlight always wakes me up.
Originally it was just 2 layers of cotton (flannelette and quilting) with 1 layer of cotton batting inside. But I held it up to a light bulb and it was still too see through. I added a 4th layer of brushed back bamboo jersey scrap in the middle. I put loops on the outside so that I could change the elastic later if the elastic stops being stretchy. This particular elastic is pure natural rubber and cotton. I made it extra large coverage and only my nostrils show 🐽. I bet it looks ridiculous but I can't see myself, soooooooooooo 🤷🏻. For the pattern, I put the sheet against half my face while looking in the mirror (without glasses on, and I'm severely near-sighted). I used a pencil to loosely mark out the face landmarks.
It reminds me of a huge reusable menstrual pad, haha.
OC fun jamboree
This is being hosted by the OC fun community on Pifo! It's an OC-exchange (multimedia art/craft).
I drew GramophoneTurtle's OC, Mother (biased towards drawing suit characters~).
GramophoneTurtle drew Possy dumpster diving for pillows! So cute!!
OC bday: Jake
Catching up on these since I was laser focused on finishing MKISA in June/early July.
Jake's was in June. We haven't seen much of him in captain mode since that's more of a HWA Arc 2 thing. Although he has a resting neutral face, I think he's quite expressive (despite how he tries to hold back).
Another example of idk what i'm doing with these colours and brush strokes but it's the same brush as the poss pic.
OC Qs from penbrydd
If Jake is not already a villain, what would push them into it?
Jake would be the worst villain...he's too soft. You'd have to be really toxic and mean to him/his friends/community. The worst he can do is PVP kill your character in video game space???
Where did Jake go to school as a child?
He went to preschool in Hong Kong but immigrated to Canada shortly after. Elementary/HS was Toronto. Core HWA storyline is in Alberta, so his Univ days are in there.
What is Jake's favourite thing about their own appearance?
He has a lot of image issues, so not much. He likes his piercings! He is proud that he's been able to bulk up because he used to be very thin.
How does Jake act, when they're upset?
He cries/panics.
Given a choice of any animal, what would Jake have as a pet?
Raccoon...since he has Wacou (his childhood plush).
How does Jake feel about heights?
Fine with it! His loggersport event of choice is the springboard chop (which involves climbing partway up a log).
What are five things Jake dislikes?
- rude/cocky people (esp. gamers) and bullies
- awkward/hard conversations, which often includes talking about himself (and his feelings, haha)
- dog-eared books
- uncertainty
- eggplants
OC bday: Cardigan
Cardi's (SitM) bday was in July. He's another character that I have never thought of colours for until now because he only existed in B/W, so I only know he has lighter toned hair/eyes/skin. I guess he's a blondish guy now (this is a colour I avoid using because I don't like colouring it hahaha).
What's he trying to hide? He has a lot in common with Fake, which is why they get along, but he's a bit more intense/passionate. A navy suit is a standard one, but I never really want to colour one that's plain navy. Bring back burnt pumpkin orange!!!!!!
OC Qs from penbrydd
Does Cardi's have any totally useless skills?
He has so many. He has lines/quotes memorized from his favourite shows/characters and will recite them at opportune moments.
Are both/all of Cardi's eyes the same colour?
His eyes are the same colour, hazel-y, another decision made only because of this picture.
What is Cardi's weapon of choice?
His pointed words that pick at your weakness. He is physically weak.
What culture, region, or style of food does Cardi prefer? Is it one they grew up with?
No. He is a "stealth" weeb, so he loves Japanese things.
Has Cardi ever caused problems by adhering to their morals, convictions, or code of honour?
Right now he's causing himself problems (overwork/exhaustion) by adhering too hard to his sense of duty and quality.
Is Cardi sentimental about certain possessions?
The image tells the answer...
What things has Cardi done even though they didn't want to?
He's been mean to Mason, which deep down he probably doesn't mean to do, but it's that "saying mean things for attention" sort of compulsion.
Balcony garden
I had a lot of weeding to do. The good news is that the marigolds and lamb ears have taken!!
The marigolds will be flowering soon (I can see the buds!) so I'll take more photos again later~!
The success rate for the nasturtiums was really low even though I chucked 20+ seeds in. Only 2 sprouted whilst surrounded by these other mysterious things (I think they're weeds). It's always easy to see them because they have fun round leaves.
As usual, my chamomile self-seeded from previous years and have returned~
There are peanut shells on my balcony so I think someone around the neighbourhood must be feeding the magpies. I accept your garbage.
Fishlips
playing a song for bun
Listening
Got really into this full recc list of Jazz from Glasgow.
Reading/watching
Very good spoon by Ìgbèsànmwà (ivory- and wood- carving guild) artists
Fandom as a Psychological Shelter: When Idol Worship Becomes an Escape from Existential Anxiety
I'd Rather Make Ripples, Not Waves: AetherAnne on keeping a smaller audience online
Last Quarter #1-2 (end): didn't know what this was about but starting to understand the intrigue of Ai Yazawa's writing style. Everything came together nicely in a sort of understated way. NOICE. I wonder if she's a Plotser.
Lost Wolves of Yellowstone: I haven't watched IMAX or been to the Science centre in a really long time. The documentary is about (mostly) Canada wolves (that came from Alberta!) that were transported down south to US to repopulate Yellowstone park. I thought it was interesting, but maybe this version of the film was cut for a younger audience, because I would've wanted more and longer info about the longer term impact... (they mention it while the credits are rolling) and how they ended up finding all this archival footage...and maybe more about Mollie herself (upbringing??). Wolves are so cute eleganty yet also very wild.
Kaoru Mori anything and something: incredible, such beauty back/butt/undersides of women that show deep appreciation of female form without necessarily going raunchy (FWIW there is no shade either way). I love how much freetalk there was ahhaahahha and random fishes appearing.
Indeed...Kaoru Mori is a cultured person. Can't believe I didn't read her stuff earlier. If there was a "comic" equivalent of the absolute cinema meme, like absolute mangaka I use it for everything Kaoru Mori. Glasses appreciator??? Such unabashed indulgent works...paired with incredible afterword/freetalk?! BEST!!
We should all aspire to be Kaoru Mori. When is Kaoru Mori going to draw GL so she can just draw double the women in romantic sexy situations?! I can live without more herbivore guys.
Emma #1-5 (end; Yen Press version): while there are some tragic aspects, I'm glad that the overall heart of the story was a positive one! There were more supportive characters than I expected. NGL the sexy german couple stole the show for me HAHA. I would read more spin-offs for them. Also the lusciously illustrated Squirrel oneshot...?? Yes please.
The versions I had were 2-in-1 hardbacks and I wish the library had the solo vols, because my hands were getting tired holding up the books.
A Bride's Story #1-2: Amir ...wanna marry me...?? I thought I had way too many patterns to draw, but this is on a entire different level/plane of existence. Please observe these joyous lambs.
How do we relationship #14 (end): didn't realize this was the last book! It's a very open ended ending. I'm glad Miwa cut her hair again...!
Fool Night #8: I really liked the last chapter in this vol about the oil painter spiritflora. Reminds me of some conversations I've had with friends about what we hope to have done with our dead bodies. I rather become green mulch fertilizer, but it's not legal in Canada yet. There are some hydrolysis-related things that are legal and still lower enviro impact though.
Move Slowly and Build Bridges: it's about the fediverse, though moreso about Mastodon. A lot of lore...some of which I see first hand because I follow both the author and some of the folks mentioned over there (and some Slop sympathizers blocked...).
Firefly Wedding #6: Kotaro ultimate wingman!!!!!!! Though I always feel bad that these character types never get da gorl. I wonder how much reformin' will happen with Shinpei.
Hirayasumi #8: oh no... Nat...
Gokurakugai #5: Utsu has her delulu charm. Nei...what is going on?! I am into this seemingly gruff but prob has tender heart angry guy, haha
Tokyo Aliens #10: the more I read this the more I'm not sure why I'm continuing either haha (maybe in too deep now).
What's next...
Resources (?!)
Online zine imposer for saddlestitch books
CSPenguin-installer for installing Clip Studio Paint 4.X/5.X on Linux in a more streamlined fashion. You still have to open terminal to run the scripts, but the video tutorial makes it more palatable! It's made by artist/dev Eninabox.art (who also has a blog) that aims to simplify the process.
Note: I haven't tried it myself because I'm on CSP 1.X, which isn't supported, but I'm glad the option exists for others, especially since my own CSP on Linux only works 10% of the time and is super buggy and was confusing to "install".
Full silicone molded-guy-6-six bods to go with the boobalicious chest: I'm not a cosplayer so I'm sure this is old news, but these body-moding things are very fascinating to me. They also have fabric arm/back/leg muscle suits. Normal looking shoes that have a hidden platform inside of them to make you taller. Wig caps that can also give you a jawline lift. The before and after shots are pretty incredible haha.
I finally added filters to my RSS feed reader (Feedbro) to get rid of stuff that I didn't want to read (mostly from bigger news sites, some specific politicians and sport event stuff). Highly recommend if you haven't done it before. Inevitably some things escape the filters, but that's OK since I mainly wanted less of the same BAD BAD news about the same ppl/events across multiple feeds.
Brainrot report
Creepin' Yamaguchi photos in this Engine article that is an overt car advertisement (and ignoring the car).
Ch.5 IS HERE!! 20 pages, so much work, so much ALT to write!
I also bound the zine for myself! It has bonus content! EVEN MORE freetalk! I forgot how to do kettlestitch and had to watch a tutorial. Last time I did it was for HWA several years ago?
If you're interested in your own copy (non-committal), I have a form here. This is mostly so I know whether or not to even print more copies...for this rarepair from a person (me) that nobody knows about.
I went back to the library to print colour pages and the center margin was even worse than last time. Oh well! Scrappy forever! The automated print payment system overcharged me for an extra copy that I never asked it to print, but I do not have enough self confidence to go up to the staff to say...
"Excuse me your machine payment is wrong, see I only have this many copies printed."
Gestures at my fandom drawings of older guys getting bloodied and beaten up
...and ask for a refund, so I considered it a donation to my local library for giving me access to copious Kaoru Mori books. I was paranoid that the prints would turn up at the machine long after I was gone. What if a kid picks it up!? What if my weird fanart scars them?! Then it occured to me that I saw kids playing FPS games when I was there, so drawing violence and some blood should be the least of my concerns.
Even if you have zero interest in reading this fanzine, you should look at the "incredible" zine photoshoot hahaha.
Bah! So little social life!!!!!! So many chores neglected!!!!!!!!!! I have a lot of catch up to do.
