Due to being unsatisfied with previous efforts and "scrapping" them, I've decided to try again, and now feels like a good time to start.
Sitting and watching the world fall apart shall be my motivation this time around. Wars, madness, and destruction. Nearly all humans seem to be catching and sometimes even embracing the new virus.
What is the catalyst?
Do you feel like these are your final days as well?
Do you still trust the world and your surroundings? What about the people? And when you feel like there's nothing left, where do you go? Who do you turn to?
Them?
Does an endless stream of wrongs ever make a right?
Of course I don't expect to get any answers. And destruction by force is a given in this world, because people.
Though I'm not in the business of hurting others and maybe you aren't either, it's easy to see how some become satisfied with destroying lives.
For me it's easy to feel my own pain and that's usually enough, especially when that's the only feeling left coming in naturally at the time. Can look around, see a world falling apart, and maybe not feel so alone after all. Gotta pull those positives out somehow...
If this was your final day, as the world crumbles around you, did you spend it lifting someone up?
Or did you push them out of the way?
Regardless, everything becomes a little more clear, but the end result can never truly be considered positive.
Yet it all looks so good on paper.
The hero.
The survivors.
Once there and when viewing the world through that lens, how could one possibly be wrong? They're now better than everyone and nobody's left to see how sinister they've become since it's only heroes and survivors left congratulating one another for a job well done.
The individual mind swells.
Once again running out of room. All their mistakes from the past are forgotten. The cycle repeats but this time it's the heroes and survivors turn to take it on the chin. And, of course, it's a shared planet; no escapes.
In a position now where everyone gets pushed down, all by natural design of course, and nothing can change for them. Riding that wave directly into the rocks. Stunned. All heroes and survivors. All afraid to talk and can no longer walk the walk.
Far too late to take corrective action for they never saw the need. How can they possibly be wrong? And the ringleader is in hiding?
Unfortunately
I don't have the answers and I don't think I care enough about the world to want to fix it.
All I am in this moment is an artist bullshitting my way through the creative process. Trying something new and enjoying the freedom to just, do.
Previously I used pareidolia as my guide; going with the flow.
Today, some thoughts about society were transformed into cheesy illustrations. The words were converted into props. Once again, by simply going with the flow, I've created the basics leading up to a cartoon character that wouldn't exist if I did this any other way. Started with a blank digital canvas and had no idea where I was going until I got there.
And as you can see...
This is turning into an absolute disaster. It can both see and smell now, at least. But would a nose that looks like a mouse that didn't know how to grow a tail properly actually work?
And we can't even get answers because his mouth is stapled shut.
I'll keep trying, I guess...
As you can see, I'm not finished and I'll get back to work soon. Just wanted to stop to tell you dude was looking kind of pale and it was burning my eyes.
Time for more of the same...
Patches McMouseface
Couldn't think of a better name.
I just realized I'm becoming annoyed with this post. Don't even know how I managed to get this far. Feel like it should have been thrown in the trash hours ago. Then noticed I'm only at about 675 words, giving me plenty of wiggle room to mess around some more.
I'll admit I find it difficult to focus and I'm lacking in the energy department. Have you ever felt like you've spent a lot of time and energy on a project, only to receive the opposite of expected results?
Hmmm. I better stop thinking and get back to work...
And there we have it.
Both a hero and a survivor, looking stupid nonstop.
Conclusion
I have no idea how I managed to get this far and still find a way to somehow tie it all together. I'll admit I feel slightly impressed, in the sense I accomplished something.
Unfortunately, that's probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever made.
So I think I'll scrap this one.
Time to start over.
To be continued... ?
Yes it will...as far as looking perfectly fine. Mine is a normal looking nose, and it doesn't work properly. I'm hoping when this cold is over with that it will again, but just ignore that point.
Those are not staples - that's entirely too morbid for me to accept. It is a zipper. He is a doll. He has an old shaggy rug for hair. He is very well loved by the child that owns him, and the weird old creole grandma that made him most definitely did not add any odd pins to him before decided he made a decent child's toy.
Speaking of children related stuff. My kids went trick-or-treating this week, and at one house were given a bunch of stickers. I discovered later on that most of them were appropriate - cute little sloths and bright pink colored random other happy animals - and then I discovered my son had a sticker in his bag that said "Keep your dick beaters off my tools" and it had a hand holding a wrench with a big no-no circle with line across it. I'm not certain that my son even read it (he is not interested in stickers), and it seemed to have left no impression on him, as though it went right over his head. Yay! I'm going with the belief that someone accidentally added it to the cutsie sticker pile...
And I don't really know why I am telling you this story, other than it happened this evening and popped into my head, and I haven't talked to you in ages. So there you have it.
I thought about drawing a zipper. You'll notice those "staples" are all identical. Placing them closer to together, I could have made a zipper. This was far more efficient/lazy. Your story about it being a doll reminded me of the one I had to make in school when I was a kid. It had brown hair and the button eyes. Didn't even think of that until now. I must admit my mom did most of the work and I kept all the grades.
That sticker does sound out of place. When I was a kid, we were afraid of apples and would never eat them but I'd always make sure to keep the sticker. Those stickers on apples were "cool" when I was a kid.
This was the first Halloween both my kids are adults, on their own, did their own thing. That's what made this one special or different.
It has been awhile and I'm always happy to see you.
Sign of a good mom in my book. With all the kids that have parents that just don't care and help with nothing, I'm sure the teacher was happy to look the other way when she saw your project. I just recently started relinquishing any sort of control on projects. The kids are getting old enough to put something together that isn't total crap I guess. Ha. Maybe it is somewhat a pride thing for moms too - we can't send out kid among their peers with a poster board that looks like someone spilled orange juice on it...
Ah, years past, when people gave something out other than candy, even if you were scared to eat it. Now days its just gmo filled sugar and stickers not appropriate for children. Ha. That's cool you liked the apple stickers. Kids are funny like that - they will find joy in a gift. Kind of reminds me of the adult version of that, which in my case would be seeing a book has arrived in the mail, and I know what it is, but I get to open the package. The package is sort of exciting like that apple sticker.
How was Halloween without children? Fun or blah? My sister (whose kids take off on their own) gave away over a hundred hot dogs and a bunch of fireball shots as a kid-free Halloween in her front yard. And apparently it was great. That is another big change from when we were kids - nowadays a bunch of houses give adults alcohol. Maybe that's just an American thing, idk. Americans are finding ways to make it an adult holiday I guess. I had my first taste of Fireball (not at my sister's house - apparently Fireball is popular on Halloween night) and it was gross. Tasted like Robitussin. It was Robitussin flavored Jello in a little plastic cup which apparently you are supposed to drop into your mouth in one disgusting gob of congealed cough syrup, or otherwise hopelessly stab at it with your tongue, which feels almost as inappropriate to be doing in front of children as that sticker I found in my son's trick-or-treat candy. Frankly, Fireball Jello shots are a horrible invention. Anyway...
Nice to chat with you as well. That paragraph up there is massive and I'm compelled to condense it like any decent person would, but I'm not going to, because inappropriate stickers and cough syrup alcohol exists in this world, so clearly things are imperfect.
That fireball stuff. Tried it recently for the first (and last) time. It reminded me of those tiny red heart candies, cinnamon flavored thingamajigs. Next time I want that flavor I'll just go for those candies, since me and alcohol don't mix well. And if it's becoming popular to hand out tiny bottles at Halloween, I won't even need a costume. Would be cool if they handed out Keurig pods. Then maybe I could enjoy it again.
As for them growing up and moving on, it's just something you get used to. Blah isn't the right word. I'm sure they were out having fun, enjoying their lives. I didn't do anything special and I haven't been feeling well. Sat alone and tried to finish a scary Halloween mask/cartoon character in time but I guess that project will be late. I'll even show you but it's nowhere near being finished...
It can be discount decorations or whatever. Or perhaps I can repurpose it and slap on a Santa hat. Or maybe wait until next year so I don't ruin someones Christmas with imperfections.
And I'm fine with the rambles. Gives me a reason to ramble in return.
Alcohol and I do not mix also. I'm old. Apparently I've been old my entire life. Congrats, you are old now too. It really is a congratuations, because I sure as hell don't want to be a 20-year-old again. I just recently (at 37) started noticing some fine lines at the edges of my eyes. I thought people were closer to 50 before lines started setting in. Now I stare at everyone's skin and evaluate it. Apparently most of us around 40 do start to get something. And then you see the random 60-year-old with amazing skin. That will not be me. I'm going full crone by 65 I'm quite confident. You should too, whatever the male version of crone is. Crones have faces that are pieces of art. I'm talking wind-blown distant Mongolian mountain tribe wise woman (or man) heavy wrinkled face. It's going to be great.
Speaking of faces of art - you've got there forehead split-tail merman with a case of the creepy-crawlies in the bags under his eyes and the angry gnome faces in his cheekbones. That was my initial diagnosis - the guy needs a really heavy anti-creepy night creme to smooth that all out. But, I think really there is a strong ocean theme. I see a sea dragon on the edges of each cheek, blowing bubbles up toward the merman's domain. Some sea birds pointing their long beaks into the temples; and then there are the voluptuous mermaids in the bags kissing the backs of the dragons. Its kind of The Little Mermaid, only the adult version.
Those lines take some getting used to. I remember noticing them in the mirror the first time thinking, how did I not notice this? Don't even think about them now. They can go wild. It's all good.
I didn't even notice those angry gnome faces. The end result, if there is one, may or may not include them. The character on the forehead will be more pronounced. Still a lot of work to do on this one. That bumpy texture is taking awhile and there are still more layers of it to apply. Call it defective creme. Not sure what to do with the eyes yet. And yeah it was ocean or swamp kinda thing. Still plenty to do and that might be all we ever see of that one but, it's possible I might finish it, too.
I will keep an eye out for forehead merman ;)
Gee, you're sounding like I feel at the moment. Lacking in the energy department? EVERY fucking day. I get it. I can see through the BS fog most days. Some days I choose to pull on my ignorance is bliss persona just to remain somewhat sane.
While those around me are happy to dance in this pretentious farce they believe to be "living the good life".
I would write posts about it, but it wouldn't appease the masses, so I too, keep my mouth shut like Patches McMouseface because what other choice is there really?
I liked him better before he got cancelled though 😉
In the previous post people came along to add depth, like what you just did. That's helpful. I truly had no clue where I was going with this.
You are a great artist and the deftness with which you drew every line along with your reflections is highly commendable. You shouldn't have wiped it away.
Maybe it was a mistake, but that's how we learn.
It sure feels like I've woken up on a totally different planet. The only thing for certain is that the 'rulers' will get richer and the 'common' folk will get decimated. War benefits no one but the moneylenders. I can relate to Mr. Patches as for the most part I keep my mouth tightly taped. You did good
Once the 'common' folk are decimated, the 'rulers' become the 'common' folk and can no longer rule.
Exactly. I never quite got the point of someone planning to rule by blowing up everything and everyone.
Haw :(
On the plus side (and there's always a plus side in an equation if you know how too look!)... I learned a new word from this post! :) ...
so on the plus side (although I don't take sides that often)...
I learned a new word from this post so thank you for
takingspending the time.pareidolia - who knew?
Hey... imagine if that 👆 is how we saw life, huh?!
This would be summink! 👇
Be Happy. Despite anything around you. It's everything at once so just focus on what you need to, when you need to would be my suggestion.
And don't forget to dance, godsdammit!
Brought that word to light two posts in a row, and several times in the past. That phenomenon can be fun to play with when creating art. It can also push one to the brink of insanity. Can even manifest mass hysteria. It's good to know about these things. Makes combating the negative impacts at least, possible.
Yeah... or to sanity in full :)
Gawds... the mass thing. Terrifying. That's what scares me most about we humans! 😬
And yes. Knowledge really is power! Self knowledge arguably the most.
p.s. I like your art. 👍
If something that isn't there causes one to stop what they're doing or even become afraid, maybe they're living the full experience, but they're not getting anything done.
And yes, scale it up to contagion levels; frightening. History proves that well enough.
Yep.
But with phobias, they use "exposure therapy" or summink to get folks accustomed to their biggest fears slowly.
Over time... people stop being afraid of whatever the thing is.
Perhaps we should just learn to walk into and sit with our fears long enough for them to abate?
Death is the big one. Of course.
I reckon if you smack that one in the nuts most of the rest fall away.
You know that psychology thing where they say: "Don't think of a white horse." And then the only thing the brain can think of is a white horse?
I'm suggesting that ignoring and avoiding things actually increases the fear and problem possibly. Since it must be the same dynamic and mechanism.
Surely?
This is Fight Club and V for Vendetta by the way. This is the main message. The deeper message. Brilliant, really
But we got stuck on the isms and misconstrued it. Again :|
I've learned death is not frightening. Not even a little bit. What we're actually afraid of in that moment is hurting others. You feel their loss of love and connection, quite naturally. One can be as ready or carefree as they want, even by choice, but you can't take them, their fears, and how they feel out of the equation.
Well you're a rare one.
That's for sure! :)
A keeper, in fact.
I'm considering having "Nothing" tattood on my other forearm, btw. It's far cleverer, and more accurate, than the dragon tattoo I was gonna get that I thought was "me".
Lords and ladies. Slap me on the wrist when that ego rears its head (again), please. 😬
Dinner time here now. Thanks for the creativity and inspiration.
I'll be back
Yeah everything is going to hell. There are answers but no one listens. Damn And chugging a beer does not make it any better.
Alcohol makes everything worse. I hate that stuff.
I've started pieces that seemed worse to me by the time I finished. That guy looks ready for Halloween though!
I hope you will find your energy soon...
This post has been manually curated by the VYB curation project
It seems I've somehow stumbled into a way of both failing and succeeding at the same time with this post.
That's quite an accomplishment 😂
Doesn't feel like one.
It is a fact that in every part of life a person should learn the way you are learning and we are also learning and especially the behavior of people teaches us many things and they teach us. They are used in life and once a person cheats on the person he trusts, he never does it again and you have made a beautiful picture in the end.
In World of Warcraft, there is a Boss whose name is Patchy. He lives in the basement of a warehouse. He reminded me of your art before you named him, so it made me laugh and be a tad surprised.
well this is Patchwork but not the one I was thinking of......
I think this is the right dungeon but not the right guy either.
But you brought back happy memories to me, so for that I will Thank YOU with a HUGE smile on my face!!! It is all one can ask for really.
I wasn't familiar with that character until now. Never touched that game.
Might be the first time I've ever said, "You're welcome, for the memories." Even though I have no clue how I put them there.
your art did :D
Isn't art amazing!!
and if you ever play it play The Classic WoW not the newest retail version.
I have not played in years and years but they were good years!!
Every artist, almost all the time just starts from nothing, barely processing what they're creating. But you've written something really reflective to go with it so big ups to you.
Keeps the blood flowing to the brain.
Patchy could have been the star of his own horror show 😀😀
Tis the season, I guess.
It is, I have a skull on my doorstep whose eyes glow when people approach. Wooooooo!
Cheaper than a security system.
Yes, that and the fetid sausages that hand out of the windows keeps us free from harm
lol
Sometimes I feel like I am alone in this world. I am faced with so much trouble and trial that I feel like giving up when it seems there is no support and love from friends and surrounding. Does it happen to you also?
Yes, that happens to me. To the point love and support might be there but is no longer recognizable.
Exactly. It seems you are living in another world entirely
MMhmm. It does. Making the environment incredibly difficult to navigate.
Rinse repeat.
Should I do a part 3?
Hells yeah.
Thank you for your witness vote!
Have a !BEER on me!
To Opt-Out of my witness beer program just comment STOP below
It's so unfortunate about the state of the world today and like you rightly said, it's falling apart and it will appear like the malady that has no remedy, a jagged situation. I think it is the basis for this 'scar face' image. Pondering on these has made you reflective. It's a beautiful one simply expressing your innermost wranglings.
Even once it's all put back together, will still be far from perfect. Yet that's always been enough for everyone. Hopefully they don't forget.
It is said that true growth comes from difficulties... this is what we do when we don't get what we want. We pick ourselves up and move on.
👋
I agree. Already working on part 3.
He's got a checkmark nose so I'd definitely vote for that guy. Hero and survivor? Take all my money.
It's free.
Ahh this post reminded me again what a shitty world I live in. Thank you, man haha.
I didn't understand how things unfolded from the beginning to the end either and I didn't expect a face to show up. Looks like we'll have to start all over again...
A shitty world but you still managed to say thanks and laugh. A sign it's not totally gone.
Wow impressive how just with a pattern you made an art 😍 real Artist
I didn't think it was impressive, though I'll still say, "Thanks."
But impressive for those who don't know how to draw in this way , who aren't the artist
Understood. That's a perspective I'll keep in mind more often.
Hmm, looks like amirl and one of his troll accounts, g-dog, graced you with a typically vitriolic, valueless and nonsensical comment on this post. Well worth ignoring.
I hope you're well man. 😊