Everyone says NEVER TRACE!! THAT'S ART THEFT! Ok but we can do a little crime in the name of Learning.
Trace to learn, not to earn.
I like to take my own photos, but you can study whatever you want. Link back to original photos, and don't post copied artwork unless the artist is dead, cool with it, or both.
As always with learning, start every sketch with the intent to throw it away (trash for paper, quitting without saving for digital) This takes the pressure off and lets you make Bad Art, which is very important.
Start with a photo of your subject in a nice/neutral pose with all four feet visible. (so not like me)
Freehand copy it. Try not to stylize, focusing instead of matching proportions and pose. Don't get too detailed!
It's ok if your art looks terrible and has broken legs. I've drawn LOTS of deer so I have a leg up. Everyone's art sucks in their own eyes and here's where mine went wrong:
Either lasso-distort (recommended for beginners) or redraw a copy of your first sketch with your reference behind it (scaled to match the main body of your sketch)
Put the original and modified sketches together and compare the differences. Write it down if you want. This shows you where your eyes saw things the wrong size, so you can correct for that next time.
After learning about both deer and yourself, try freehand copying again.
Marvel at your newfound knowledge and skill!
but there's always room for improvement
You can stop here and move on to your real drawing, Or do another freehand-fix-compare cycle. I actually overcorrected my "draws heads too big" and veered into "heads too small."
Another note on tracing: Learning HOW to trace is more important than anything you could learn By tracing. Draw the Anatomy, not the outline. In real life, things don't have outlines, they have bones.
These are from the same shoot which is extra useful for consistency. The lines are minimal and follow where the animals joints are, and only important parts are drawn.
You won't know what Important Parts means right off the bat, which is where in-depth study comes in. You need to do learn the hard parts to do the easy parts right.
Next up: how to study bones and muscles.
Please excuse that it's, like, 3 in the morning where I live...
I wasn't aware the entirety of this drama CD wasn't translated (only track 3 by user ancestralmask, right here!), so I wanted to give it a go.
The official title is quite long: ニトロプラスダイレクト特典 ドラマCD「ウイルスとトリップは碧島のヤクザだが、普段は一体何をしているのか…… その日常をちょっとだけご紹介」
Or, in English: Nitroplus Direct Bonus Drama CD — "Virus & Trip are yakuza of Midorijima, but what do they normally do...? Introducing: a glimpse of their daily lives!"
Virus: "Salutations. I'm Virus..."
Trip: "And I'm Trip!"
Virus: "As I'm sure you all know, we are the so-called yakuza of Midorijima."
Trip: "That's right~"
Virus: "That being said, a sole question remains: what exactly do we usually do on the island?"
Trip: "A question like that... I don't understand why we need to answer that at all."
Virus: "I agree, but today, I'd like to take this opportunity to share a bit about a situation that happened not long ago."
Trip: "Fine by me."
Virus: "Well then, let's begin right away. And... start!"
*Virus & Trip are casually walking down the street; the sound of cheering can be heard vaguely in the background.*
Virus: "Well then... where should we go today?"
Trip: "Let me think... hm?"
*They stop their stroll as the bantering voices from the background grow louder, indicating there is a large crowd in a nearby alley.*
Avid Rhyme Fan: "Hey! It's Usui! A Rhyme match is gonna start!"
Trip: "Over there... oh, a Rhyme match. Do you think it's in that alley today?"
Virus: "Good grief... whenever a Rhyme match starts, a flock of idiots simply cut loose and show no restraint."
Trip: "As much as it is bothersome, it IS interesting to watch."
Virus: "And it IS an excuse to skip out on work... new plan; let's go, Trip."
Trip: "Yeah, yeah."
*They walk over toward the crowd of excited Rhyme players, watching the spectacle. Usui is already on the field, preparing the match for the crowd.*
Usui: "NOW, THE FIRST ROUND IS ABOUT TO COMMENCE! EVERYONE, ARE YOU READY TO GET EXCITED?"
*The crowd of Rhyme fans cheer, while Virus and Trip silently keep watching.*
Usui: "GAAAME... START!!!"
*The Rhyme match begins as the crowd keeps the hype going.*
Virus: "Hm... for now, there aren't any problems. It's quite peaceful, actually."
Trip: "Remember the guy we caught yesterday that was acting up? What happened to him?"
Virus: "I let him go. Even though I just gave him a gentle threat, he kept apologizing, over and over. He was like a broken record; it was getting annoying... so eventually, I made him pass out."
Trip: "That's what too much Rhyme can do to someone, huh? Things get worse when Rib's involved too."
Virus: "Once someone plays Rhyme all the time, they fall into the myth of them being the strongest person alive, invincible from anything and everything..."
Trip: "Is that so... hm? Hey, is that...?"
Virus: "Ah... it looks like trouble has come at last."
*During the match, a fairly vocal Ribsteez player approaches the area.*
Rude Ribsteez Player: "Hey!!! Quit playing Rhyme here! Don't you know it's just a bunch of nonsense, you big-headed nerds?"
Avid Rhyme Fan: "Tch, who do you think you are? You're just some loser who goes out of his way to ruin everyone else's fun."
Rude Ribsteez Player: "Really? It's not my fault that me and my fellow Rib guys can't seem to read the room, given there's NOTHING to read in the first place!"
Avid Rhyme Fan: "What did you say?!"
*The avid Rhyme fan and the rude Ribsteez player were at each others' throats at this point; calmly, Virus claps twice to get their attention.*
Virus: "Alright, alright, that's enough. This is becoming quite a nuisance, so could you please cut it out?"
Rude Ribsteez Player: "Tch, what?"
Avid Rhyme Fan: "It's the yakuza..."
Trip: "That's right, we're the local yakuza."
Virus: "We're your friendly, neighborhood yakuza. It would be very troublesome if conflicts like this ran wild on our lovely island, don't you think?"
Rude Ribsteez Player: "... Hahah, YOU'RE the yakuza? Why should I be worried; you guys are buddies with us Rib guys, aren't you? Look at you, thinking you can get everything your way just by using violence."
Virus: "You're technically right, but, hey, rules are rules. Trip?"
Trip: "Mm."
*Trip casually walks over and lifts up the rude Ribsteez player without any trouble, making him unable to leave. He struggles for a bit, clearly agitated.*
Rude Ribsteez Player: "Gh—! Let go of me!"
Trip: "Nah."
Virus: "No need for the pointless arguing. You don't want us to expose you as a pathetic little brat in front of everyone, do you? Hm?"
*Trip's grip tightens on the rude Ribsteez player, causing him to slightly groan in discomfort.*
Trip: "Tell them you're sorry, then I'll let go. Come on, spit it out."
*His grip begins choking the rude Ribsteez player, making him struggle to breathe.*
Rude Ribsteez Player: "Gh... ack... I-I'm sor...ry...!"
Virus: "I can't seem to hear you."
Trip: "Say it clearer."
Rude Ribsteez Player: "Ugh...! Haugh—! I-I'm sorry...!"
Virus: "Alright! You did such a good job~"
*Trip lets go of the rude Ribsteez player, who gasps for breath, followed by rough coughing. Some of the Rhyme fans are watching in silence, even though a Rhyme match continues in the background. Virus takes notice and addresses them without missing a beat.*
Virus: "Ah, sorry to have disturbed you! As long as you behave yourselves, you all have nothing to worry about."
Trip: "Right, right."
Virus: "Now then, don't mind us. Feel free to continue your Rhyme match."
*Virus & Trip are again walking down a road, presumably a different one from before.*
Trip: "Where should we head to next?"
Virus: "Good question... oh?"
Trip: "Eh?"
Virus: "Over there... it's Aoba-san!"
Trip: "Oooh!"
*Both walk toward Aoba's direction, who doesn't notice their presence until they call out to him.*
Virus: "Aoba-san!"
Trip: "Yoo-hoo!"
Aoba: "Oh, it's you guys."
Virus: "Today must be our lucky day, bumping into you like this."
Aoba: "What're you talking about? We see each other pretty often."
Virus: "Nonsense; any day we see you is a lucky day, Aoba-san. Anyways, are you working right now?"
Aoba: "Yeah; delivery in progress!"
Trip: "What was the name of that store? Heijitsu?" (平日 = heijitsu: meaning weekday, regular workday, non-holiday, etc.)
Aoba: "It's Hei-BON." (平凡 = heibon: meaning mediocre, humdrum, ordinary, etc.)
Trip: "Right, right, that's it."
Virus: "We're also in progress, patrolling our turf."
Aoba: "Your turf, huh? So, how's that going? Are you guys keeping the peace in the Old Residential District today?"
Virus: "Ah, it's been good, somewhat. As usual, though, Rhyme and Rib players can't seem to get along and see eye to eye."
Aoba: "Hah? Did another fight break out?"
Virus: "They've been nonstop; now that I think about it, I can't recall a day where there HASN'T been a fight."
Aoba: "Has it gotten THAT bad?"
Trip: "Especially lately."
Aoba: "It must be tough work for you guys... Take care of yourselves, try not to get hurt, okay?"
Virus: "Thank you for worrying about us. Ah, but it's fun when we patrol sometimes."
Trip: "Like that one cake shop."
Aoba: "A cake shop?"
Virus: "There's a new one near Delivery Works, towards the end of the street. A young couple is running it."
Aoba: "Eh?"
Virus: "If you have any spare time one day, we can go there together."
Trip: "Let's go~"
Aoba: "Three guys going to a cake shop together...? Don't you think that's... a little embarrassing?"
Virus: "Not at all. Even men like us want to eat delicious things, so there's nothing to be ashamed of... don't you think?"
Trip: "Right, right. I ate a 'Pink & White Fluffy Heart♡Love Sweets!!!' cake the other day. It looked delicious."
Aoba: "The name sounds like it caters more toward women..."
*Despite Aoba's tone, Virus lightly chuckles at his response.*
Virus: "Aoba-san, it's a date, then. Let's go one day together."
Aoba: "Hahah, yeah. I got it."
Trip: "I'm looking forward to it."
Aoba: "Yeah, yeah."
Virus: "Well then, we didn't want to bother you during work for too long, so we'll take our leave."
Aoba: "See ya, then!"
Virus: "Yeah, see you."
Trip: "Bye-bye!"
Virus: "... Alright! That's all for your small glimpse of the daily work of Virus & Trip!"
Trip: "That's all~"
Virus: "Well, even with all that, we do a lot of other things as well. But for now, this is what our lives look like."
Trip: "That's right."
Virus: "That being said, let's meet again someday. This has been Virus and—"
Trip: "Trip."
Virus: "It's been fun!"
Trip: "Bye-bye!"
yaoi jesus and yaoi lucifer
MRI of a neuroscientist kissing her 2-month-old son offers a modern, unforgettable take on the classic mother-child portrait. They're curled up inside a 3 Tesla MRI scanner, surrounded by its loud beeps and bangs. Despite the noise, the baby sleeps soundly on his mom's chest, allowing for a clear image of their brains. Capturing this took several minutes, and even a millimeter of movement could blur the scan.
For some, this image highlights the delicate nature of human life; for others, it symbolizes the timeless connection between any mother and child. The contrasting brain structures-smaller, smoother, and darker in the baby-make this moment even more fascinating. [x]
in a parasocial relationship with the sea
Hello everyone, donations have been slowing down on Eman's GFM and she is still far from reaching her goal. Please consider supporting Eman ( @imanhy-blog ) and her family, as not all of her family has been able to evacuate and the struggle does not end for those who were able to leave. No matter how small, even a dollar can go so far if enough people contribute, please consider helping Eman:
Recreation of a realization i had today
HAPPY DOROHEDORO SEASON 2 ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE!
musk is going to die in a Tesla explosion in 6 months after sticking his nose where it doesn't belong and we will never get a conclusive answer on whether it was a CIA car bomb or just a normal Tesla malfunction
you will miss this in 40 or 48 hours. twitter will smooth your brain down like a river stone, and you will find yourself longing for a social media platform that hasn't meaningfully changed in a decade. you don't know I'm posting about you in real time bc Sarah has timestamps switched off. I'm not dead, Grant. Grant, let me out of the casket. Graaaant,