Tuesday

[clevermanka]

Fanart: Found you. Zhao Yunlan surrounded by various Shen Weis. Z1L/BY derivative collaboration!

This look on Zhu Yilong is killing me.ngngngngng. I love how confident he looks in this video.

Twitter thread on how Tumblr has changed fandom interactions.

I share these thoughts on why I'm no longer interested in most western media.

Monday afternoons a friend of mine hosts a Zoom session where we all art together and I spent two and a half hours on the FMP portrait. It really helped to have people chatting around me, be able to show off how I was doing and cheer on the progress of others. Managed to kinda-sorta do some shading and highlights with the acrylic paints--a first for me! It turned out so well I'm not going to airbrush texture over the top of it. So great to have islenskr on the call who'd worked with acrylics and could give me some tips.

I love art days with other people. If I could do that every day this week, I'd be able to finish it by the deadline! Except last night I realized I still gotta photograph it or find a graphics program that'll let me stitch scanned images together. Forgot I don't have access to the resources I did last time I did a large portrait like this. I can take it somewhere to get scanned, but my copy of Photoshop doesn't work anymore and I (once again) gave up on learning GIMP. We'll see if the friend who does amazing photography is available (or if her equipment is available) to help out on that. 🤞

Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the amazing network of local people I still have surrounding me, even after all this time I've been too ill (and lately, too isolated) to maintain most of those connections. It's not quite the social circle I used to enjoy--I had fifty people show up to my 40th birthday party!--but the ones who remain are so, so good. And I'm doubly-blessed with the wonderful support of y'all on the internet.

Feels good to have people care about me. Feels good to be feeling a little better.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

Yeah, the open-ended TV show model is to the detriment of story crafting. Some of my favorite western TV shows (Babylon5, A:TLA) also had defined endpoints to work towards.

[clevermanka]

Yeppppppp. CAPITALISM SUCKS.

[goss]

a Zoom session where we all art together and I spent two and a half hours on the FMP portrait

That sounds fantastic! :D *cheers you on*

I share these thoughts on why I'm no longer interested in most western media.

SAME. I have lost all interest (and confidence in becoming invested) in shows that just string you along with no real planned ending. :/

[clevermanka]

I would love to organize a group art time for a small group of my mutuals here, but my energy levels aren't reliable enough for me to host.

[goss]

I've never done a group art session outside of attending an art class. Not sure if the Zoom thing would work for me, but before the pandemic, I was invited to join a group who do regular art sessions involving nature drawing while hiking. Which sounds pretty appealling *NOW*, though I turned it down at the time. *facepalm*

[clevermanka]

Years ago, a group of bellydance friends had regular Sunday Craft Days where we'd go to each other's houses on a rotating basis. For a while I had random art days with friends when my health allowed, but it had been years since the last one, even before COVID. I recommend it, even only occasionally. Artists are often seen as solitary recluses. I think about how that's not always the case historically, though--going all the way back to cave paintings, but also the group studio model where masters would train people, or the salons of the pre-Raphaelites where they fed off each other's ideas.

Love thinking about all the social activities I'm going to jump at once it's safe to do so. I'm gonna be so tired but #WorthIt.

[goss]

Yeah, I definitely get the appeal of interactive art making. :)

The fannish community has provided this for me to a limited extent, especially in terms of learning new techniques, bouncing off ideas and drawing inspiration. <3

[clevermanka]

I'm normally pretty equal in my introvert/extrovert tendencies, so it's hilarious to see how a year of isolation has swung me so hard toward the SOCIALIZE NOW side of things. 😆

[shipperslist]

Ohhh the thread about GoT vs Untamed made so much sense. Thanks for linking!

[clevermanka]

You're welcome!

[islenskr]

I am so glad I could help with the acrylics! It was lovely to see and chat with you, and I agree on the positive stuff coming out of arting with other people, even virtually. I am looking forward to next Monday!

So I had the whole Photoshop CS6 on my work computer until Apple announced that they weren't going to support 32 bit stuff anymore, and so when I updated to the newest OS, I lost it. Sigh. I did some research for a replacement and found Affinity (https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/). I know it's not something you can afford at the mo, but maybe the free trial? I also have no idea how easy or hard it is to stitch photos together, but I'm given to understand that if you are proficient in Photoshop, this is not hard to use. (I am not proficient, so this is always a struggle.) A little googling and I see that there is a 10 day free trial and a 90 day free trial in the google hits. Here's the 90 day one: https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/90-day-affinity-trial/

(FWIW, I thought GIMP was stupid hard to learn. I figure you have to be a programmer to really understand it.)

[clevermanka]

It was wonderful to see you, too! The deadline for this piece is Sunday so if by some miracle I make it, you'll be able to see the finished piece next time we meet! Here's the original image of what I'm working with.

GIMP is terribly written! It might provide good results for those who can figure it out, but lord what a shittily-designed interface. I wouldn't say I was proficient in Photoshop, but the few things I knew how/needed to do, I could do well. Thank you for the Affinity suggestion. If the photography option doesn't pan out, I'll give it a look.

[khellekson]

Yessss to art, care, and feeling better.

Keep your feet warm!

[clevermanka]

It's been so nice the past couple days. I turned off the heat, even! (although the heating pad came out again last night for my back)

[trobadora]

This is a VERY good look on Zhu Yilong!

Thanks for linking these twitter threads too! About the open-ended TV shows, I liked those a lot better when they were more episodic. Something arc-heavy needs a proper ending.

[clevermanka]

Yes, exactly. I miss episodic television shows. Leverage is the last one I saw that did it well, and there was a long dry spell where there just wasn't any good episodic shows that weren't sitcoms. This hybrid we've got now is a storytelling abomination.

[kazoogrrl]

The "one and done" nature of most kdramas really works for me, and I have a hard time committing to most Western shows. I will say, I'm sad about the cancellation of Kim's Convenience, it was supposed to have one more season and the writers decided to call it quits (their prerogative!) and the cast seemed really stunned (and sad and angry) about it, especially since it doesn't give any resolution to parts of the story.

I like art days with people in theory, but when in-person it either stresses me out trying to host people/gather materials to take elsewhere, or I take my knitting which I always screw up because me + knitting + socializing = disaster. I find Zoom so exhausting I avoid it for most socializing. I do like if someone has gathered materials together and invites folks over to make things, a friend used to do a card making gathering once a year.

[clevermanka]

The sudden ending of Kim's Convenience made me glad I didn't connect with it when I tried watching a while back. Bullet dodged for me, but what a sad thing for the fans.

Themed art days are fantastic! A card-making event would be so much fun.

[riventhorn]

That was an interesting thread about Tumblr's effect on fandom. I'm not sure I buy the argument completely, but I do think it's true that fandom has become much more accessible/easily found as the internet developed, and that probably has had an effect on how younger people interact with it. Although I feel like kink shaming has always been a thing. And also that in the past, slash relationships in and of themselves came in for a certain amount of vitriol. I remember when it was common to warn that your story contained a same-sex romance. Now that is basically a non issue and so more focus goes on the kinks.

[clevermanka]

Agreed, I don't think any single angle encompasses the evolution of something as huge as fandom as a concept. Tumblr was definitely a major catalyst, though, and as much as I love it, I can't deny it can be an absolute garbage fire.

Now that is basically a non issue and so more focus goes on the kinks.
Or the never-ending ~drama~ of the people with Very Firm Opinions On Who Tops.
/o\

[riventhorn]

lolol, that's so true.

[naye]

People are having many thinky thoughts to share and I love it. I also love the bounty of art and photo shoots we get. <3

Glad arting went well, and hope you can get the material you need!

[clevermanka]

Hurray for communal creation feedback loops!

I put in another two hours today which wasn't as much time as I'd hoped, but it was all tiny little fiddly work and whew. Might get back to it after dinner but wow my eyes are a lot older than the last time I did something like this. 😆

[nnozomi]

Those clear-framed glasses, oh dear. (Also how is this the same man who was all adorable puppy-eyes in fuzzy sweaters not very long ago.)

Your art-together Zoom time sounds lovely! ♡

[clevermanka]

Also how is this the same man who was all adorable puppy-eyes in fuzzy sweaters not very long ago.
His infinite variety, I tell ya...

And thank you! It was very inspiring. I put in another couple of hours today, although it was such fiddly, detail stuff it doesn't look like much. 😭

[kimboo_york]

Oh that art session sounds amazing! It's truly wonderful to have other people around like that to bounce off of and be motivated by!

I'm not a GIMP wizard but I have been using it for years, so if you ever have a question always feel free to hmu!

:::I share these thoughts on why I'm no longer interested in most western media.

Thank you for sharing that, it really resonated with me a lot. I keep peeking at western shows that are popular right now and simply cannot dredge up an iota of interest. It's one reason I long ago swore I would never watch a show that wasn't closed canon -- the one exception to that I made was SPN, which at the time was set to only have five seasons and then END. I was so betrayed! Ugh. I mean, I LOVE long meandering, winding, complex plots! But only if they are GOING somewhere! Untamed is such a good example of that, it is all over the place with plot development and wild side stories (hello, Yi City, pls feel free to cut my heart out of my chest) but it is still about WWX's journey, self-discovery, and relationship with LWJ that has a firm resolution. Even the pieces left dangling (WWX and JC's relationship, for instance) still fit snugly in the framework of the overall arc.

As a writer I love to swing all over the place too - it's how Wolves of Harmony Heights got to be so massive - but I still want a solid thru-way with the plot.

...gosh, I need to get back to writing again...

[clevermanka]

Oh my gosh THANK YOU for the offer to help with GIMP. I'm absolutely going to take you up on that because as badly as my art style scans, it photographs even worse. Provided I get it scanned by Saturday 🤞, I'll hit you up on how to stitch the damn thing together (something that would've taken me like five minutes in Photoshop damn it). I guess I should, uh, reinstall the program, too.

I long ago swore I would never watch a show that wasn't closed canon
*fistbump*
The only unfinished shows I've watch in years are ones by Michael Schur (The Good Place) and Dan Levy (Schitt's Creek).

[kimboo_york]

Glad to help! Actually it should take you 5 min in GIMP too! But as you've mentioned, the GIMP interface is NOT intuitive. Have I spent hours screaming about needing to do one small thing and eventually finding out it's just THAT obscure button OVER THERE that I overlooked forever? Yes. Yes I have. >.<

My problem these days is we use Adobe products at work so I am constantly flipping between Photoshop and GIMP, Premiere and DaVinci Resolve, Audition and audacity... *head desk*

[clevermanka]

Thank youuuuuuu.

And that sort of switching is so annoying. And yeah, I believe you about the "what do you mean that's where they hid that option?" UGH.

[yaaurens]

Ohhh art zoom sesh sounds so much fun! I feel like I haven't art'd in such a long time.

GIMP is... a pain, to say the least. I use it, barely, but mostly because it was free and I didn't need a lot of functionality for what I was doing, so I didn't need to learn how to do a lot of things.

Will you be sharing your completed portrait when you're done? I would quite like to see it!

[clevermanka]

I hope you find some time to art soon if you want!

Ugh GIMP is the worstttttttttttt. Seriously, one of the worst-designed (if not the worst designed) programs I've ever used. Or tried to.

And yes, definitely I'll be posting pics! Might even put it on AO3, idk. I'm probably gonna put some process pics up tomorrow because I worked on it a lot today and I'm tired and achy and need some cheerleading to keep me motivated.

[yaaurens]

Oh, I've had the time to art, I just haven't had... the will? The creative juices? The... energy or interest? It's been kinda sucky, really.

I look forward to seeing your work!

[clevermanka]

Ughhhh having the means but not the internal resources is awful. I hope your muse returns soon, and well-rested.

[brandywine28]

It's a cherished wish of mine to live and die without ever once uttering the phrase "kids these days" in any kind of crotchety manner, but these Tumblr puri-teens. They're making it hard, man.

[clevermanka]

Oh, god, SAME, my friend. HARD SAME.

[seascribble]

I'm glad you're feeling a little better, bb.

[clevermanka]

ME TOO. It's SO GOOD.

[mekare]

I am happy for you having a great network locally. That‘s so important! I am slowly building one here but of course noone new is added right now. Collective Zoom arting sounds great.

Thanks also for the link on Tumblr‘s influence on fandom and the western media one. Both interesting and with AHA moments.

[clevermanka]

I'm so grateful for my local group of friends. It's small but mighty. I hope you're able to bolster yours soon!

[tinny]

I love how confident z1l is in that interview, too - although I still think *all* of their glasses are butt ugly. *sigh*

The thread about fandom culture is extremely interesting! Thank you!

I share these thoughts on why I'm no longer interested in most western media.

I wouldn't say I'm no longer interested (says she who hasn't watched anything but cdrama in two years *cough*), but BL is definitely a genre that western media is lacking - or at least not putting as much focus on as Asian dramas. I hope they will wake up to that fact sometime. (Because I honestly do prefer non-censored media, if nothing else.)

I love art days with other people.

Yay! This sounds like such a great time!

[clevermanka]

Group art days are very good.