#create for fun and joy

[gritsandbrits]

Ins & Outs of 2023 💜

I know we're halfway through the year but change doesn't have an expiration date. I've been inspired by seeing lists made by other people so I take a crack at writing my own!

Outs:

Traumadumping/Sending me long rants in my inbox: Now I'm not saying you can't talk to me if something troubles you, I'm always open for a shoulder to cry on. But I am not a therapist. Also, if I'm talking about fandom stuff I don't need textbook long rants about the dangers of white feminism/liberalism/centrism/politics/whatever when I'm talking bout be like, Bratz or Transformers 😅. Half the time it is really not that deep, overly long rants clogs my inbox and honestly, I find them uncomfortable. It seems less like a conversation and more like a grudge post so if your feel that strongly you be better off making your own post. I am just one person!

Calling everything cheugy/ soulless: most of the time cheugy is just a word use to crap on things women likes. Also just because you don't vibe with a certain piece of media doesn't make it soulless, sometimes you don't need long rants or explanations. It's okay to dislike something without putting people down. I personally see this term so much it's becoming as overused as Mary Sue

Respectability Politics: most of the time the people who you work to try to earn respect won't give you that. Some noses need to be broken (metaphorically speaking). It's not being rude you're protecting your space.

Aesthetics: what I mean by this is following trends JUST to follow a trend even if it risks landing you in financial hot water. Or breaking down varied styles based on barebones idea (like there is more to Y2K than a belly shirt and shiny pants). Also not everything needs to be an aesthetic. Speaking of, Shein Hauls. Don't do it! You'd be better off saving on something that's actually worth the money

AI/NFTs: I don't need to explain this one

Beige: Going back to Aesthetic, beige has a connection to it. I know it supposed to give off clean vibes but everything being beige/gray/greige with nary a drop of color in sight just makes me sad :(

Recording People In Public: unless you have permission (or outing a potential Karen) don't do this. You could put someone's life in danger and it's just super rude in general. Getting a popular tiktok isn't worth harming others.

Cringe Culture: I admit I am guilty of participating in it back in my teen years. But now that I know better I realized I was being so sacred and insecure I wanted to be like everyone else...which is being a bully. It made me miss out on fun events and creators I couldve enjoyed if I had taken my head out my ass. Plus I'm not exactly Picasso myself, so who am I to judge. You don't know what an artist is going through sometimes the cringe is their outlet. As long as it's not hurting anyone why should u put people on blast for having fun?

Brand/Studio/Fandom Wars: I think we're at that stage where they have good and bad (and neutral) points. Everything is not always about conflict who makes the better movies/products. I find it reductive and sometimes it gets too far and innocent people end up getting dragged into a war they didn't ask for. Plus artists who work in rival companies/brands do support each other. We can enjoy media without pitting them against each other all the time and honestly it's just obnoxious stan behavior. Looking at you Cartoontwt.

Now it's time for the INs!

Creating for fun&joy: Yes it's okay to be upset if your art or stories aren't getting as much attention as you like, but that doesn't mean no one enjoys it. There's always one or two persons who loves your work! In general it's important to have fun and not let algorithms and "get rich quick" consume you. There is room for fun. Also don't make spite your entire motivation or else you'll end up with a Sonic Omens/ BlueyCapsules scenario. Take it from me: I may hate Cars 2 and Shrek 3 but I love those franchises too much to let interesting ideas go to waste. I have fun with the creating process, making picrews of Gwynn and Rhodanthe and self indulgent stories of my carsona and Finn.

Thinking For Yourself: You do not need to peddle someone else's opinions just bc they're popular. You don't need to jump on bandwagons, you can watch or read media and come up with your own conclusions. Practice Discernment and expand your horizons beyond watching that one review.

Self Inserts/OCs: back to cringe culture what helped me break out of that is making my own OCs. I love making OCs and Self inserts, it helps me get comfortable with designs and writing, everyone has a unique OC and have fun with them. Plus the ships are so cute everyone has a funky selfship or oc x canon

Color/Wearing what works for you: A pop of color helps to make your outfit stand out, and wearing what you want even for a couple of hours helps with your self esteem. Again everything doesn't need to follow an aesthetic or a trend as long as it suits your tastes (and budget)

Buying Products That Work: Don't just buy things just to have them decorate the shelves half the time bc they're cheap & not good for your body. Same with clothes buy something that lasts not because it goes well with a tiktok. Sometimes it's okay to spend a bit more on a product if it truly works for you. Also DIY can be VERY miss (the charcoal & glue peel off masks come to mind) so just get something specifically formulated for you

The Curtains Are PINK! Yes I wrote that in pink 💁 but essentially learn to value critical thinking. Learn to handle - and give - constructive criticism. Yes there are things that aren't that deep but that doesn't mean anything is unworthy of discussion. There's a lot of value in analysing media, and it helps you from hopping on bandwagons of misinformation

Working On yourself: doesn't need to be therapy (btw don't use BetterHelp) it can be anything: writing your feelings out in a diary, making vent art, trying new things, talking to someone you trust, stressballs, fidget toys. 2023 is the year of healing; it is VERY important to know how to FEEL not just shove down your emotions or take it out on someone. We're all adults we have a responsibility to initiate our positive change.

And I guess that's it! That's all I have of my Ins and outs for 2023

#ins and outs #2023 #create for fun and joy #gb asks

[radioactive-earthshine]

NGL I have STRONG opinions about digital releases omitting the letters to the editor section of older comics. I feel like the letters are a part of comic history and should be aggressively preserved.

#look i was a weirdo and loved the letters so much #so much #so fucking damn much #i still to this day mourn that we don't have them #sometimes the editors would publish blatant aggressive criticism and promise to do better on some things #it was rare but it did happen in a handful of things involving stereotypes #also there is queer history in them such as in superboy and the ravers where people wrote in about hero #asking WHY he was not interested in women and this editor had to so professionally explain that he was GAY and where they stood on it #you also got to read queer readers writing in about these queer characters and the JOY in their words is priceless #also sorry but geoff's letters are fun and stupid at the same time and are a huge insight to what his hcs were #he LOVED tiny krypto so much it likely inspired him making dex starr bc he loved the idea of a small overly powered animal #not saying that was the main reason why ofc but it is interesting that he created dex after praising that mean little mutt #i say with the most love #my venting #my rambles

[beif0ngs]

a silly floaty bouncy little rubber boy~

#One Piece #opgraphics #Monkey D. Luffy #Joy Boy #*mine #my son #my sunshine #he's so fun to watch!! :D #like he's really just here to spread joy and have a good time~ #and i tried to create a seamless loop on the colored gifs so i hope it looks like it's on a perfect loop

[anna-scribbles]

• metamorphosis cover master post •

this was an exceptionally fun project for an exceptionally beautiful work. if you haven’t read metamorphosis yet i truly don’t know what else i can do to convince you. thank you @peachcitt for going insane with me every tuesday night all summer and for the constant stream of suggestions for how to make these covers More Devastating, Somehow. metamorphosis summer may be over but i will never be normal again <3

#not that i ever was normal. but #my art #ml #miraculous ladybug #metamorphosis #adrinette #ladynoir #vicebug #ladrien #sorry to marichat. there is fake marichat #mariviolet #? #i don’t know #peach you’ve created too many sides to the lovesquare i can’t keep track anymore #anyway i really really love how these have all turned out. honestly. i was never that into illustration before but #this project has helped me find a lot of joy in it #i’ll cherish these for a long time and it’s fun that some other people liked them too :)) #happy metamorphosis summer #[redacted] fall :^) ? #cant elaborate on that ​i’m sworn to secrecy you’ll have to bug peach. #i love this story goodnight #oh also this is not the last of my metamorphosis art plans. you didn’t hear it from me but there might be an animatic in the works someday #i think my favorite covers are umm. #chapter 12 i really like a lot actually. i think it looks really interesting #chapter 13 i think the poses are really dynamic which is hard for me #and chapter 7!!!!!!! chapter 7 my beloved omg. i loved drawing that one #oh chapter 5 also. i like the composition and ladybug’s expression #and i do love chapter 16 :) i worked hard on it #sorry for tooting my own horn for like ten minutes ksndkdnf i just worked really hard on these and i’m fond of them #if anyone else has favorites i wanna hear!!!

[tobias-fell]

"we should bully fanfic writers more when their work sucks" hi, I'm a person who doesn't even write fanfic here to say you're an asshole. fanfic is free, it's someone's hobby, they're doing it for fun, and if you don't like it you can just click the back button instead of being a little bitch

#fanfiction #it's fun to criticize Real Books but. the thing is. the authors are never going to SEE that criticism unless theyre specifically looking #for it #and they're at least making money off their story anyway #fanfic writers? 1) a lot of teenagers and 2) even the ones who aren't... they do it for fun #they do it for FUN because they WANT TO and it brings them JOY #they do not gain any money from it tho. all they gain is their joy. and when you go into their comments or ask box or whatever #SPECIFICALLY TO BE A DICK #you are taking away the thing that writing fanfic creates #grow UP.

[lunar-wandering]

I genuinely think so many people have forgotten the fact of "there are no toxic fandoms, only toxic people".

When fandoms get big, of course the amount of people u want nothing to do with is also gonna get bigger.

Youre not meant to combat them. Youre not meant to talk about them and expose others to them.

Youre meant to block them at the first signs and continue to enjoy your experience interacting with other people.

Kill the weeds, don't let the seeds spread, reap your wheat and enjoy your bread.

#this post brought to you by #me yet again seeing a 'x fandom is awful and toxic' #whilst ive experienced nothing but joy + made most of my current friends through said fandom #im part of that fandom. youre part of that fandom. that fandom brought us together. #you would insult something that created something so beautiful? #just because theres some assholes ALSO in it??? #i just. i cant STAND it #its such a fucking generalization #im so fucking tired of 'fandoms are bad' mentalities #yes theres some assholes. most of us dont want them here either #yes theres people being 'cringey'. leave them alone theyre just having fub #fun #fandoms are a COMMUNITY #of people brought together via a common love of one thing #we praise fanfic and fanart for being so creative #but those only truly exist because fandom does #u cant love one and then blatantly insult the other #jeez #im just. i get so depressed when i see those takes #its like. sometimes some of these takes really just give 'people cant have fun anymore' #and other times i see a 'fandom bad!!' take and im just like #u do understand fandom is a community that YOU are meant to build right? #its like how people tell people to curate their dashboard. fandom is the same #block the people u dont like. dont engage with drama. dont make callout posts. #(if u must u can PRIVATELY inform your mutuals if theres some asshole in the community) #fandom is meant to be FUN. A discussion of what people love and an exchange of arts #not continuous arguing over what hcs are correct and stuff #just. god. fandoms arent awful. thats like saying all humans are bad. #just block the assholes. let people have fun. and enjoy yourself. #those are the three rules of fandom.

[brother-emperors]

I adore how you manage to tickle these very intimate emotional moments from tiny detached throw-away sentences describing historical events. You're a master at filling in the deeply human blanks of history. I hope to one day be as good as you are at extrapolating emotion and nuance and momentary life from the often very broad strokes history is written with.

a couple years ago, I got ahold of M. L. Clarke's The Noblest Roman: Marcus Brutus and his Repuptation, and the way the book closes rewired something forever in my heart

it shifted my focus from being a spectacle enjoyer to wanting to sit around these figures like machiavelli writes about doing and ask them questions and see what reply is given, which also made the political spectacle more interesting

and a huge part of it is that one of my favorite genres is romance, and erotica is fun too. its a genre that is character heavy and reliant on intimacy and I LOVE character driven narratives. my favorite kind of stuff from my other two beloved genres, horror and mystery, tend to be focused on character moments, driven by internal and external arcs (OCN's the Guest, you'll always be number one in my heart forever and ever).

even though I'm doing circus stuff with historical figures, the fiction aspect of it is HEAVILY influenced by those genres because that's a lot of what I read and also enjoy writing. I'll never be good at writing dense political fiction spanning across a huge world (the thought of attempting anything on the world building scale of ASoIaF makes my brain hurt, and Im also not interested in doing that), but my god will I pick a guy and spend months in his ribcage imagining situations and wondering what he liked to eat for breakfast.

this was!!! really nice to read!!!!! thank you so so much, anon

#ALSO I AM ROOTING FOR YOU! i hope that you have fun and find joy in creating narratives!!! #the journey getting to where you want to be is the most fun part #im constantly in awe of Priest and every time i re read one of their novels im like. GOD. that's where i want to BE #ask tag

[dinodogs]

honestly its so fucking sad how hard the whiterose community has degraded. Its to the point I'm pretty actively making whiterose content, I've written entire 10k word fics, drawn entire scenes, and started entire animatics I've just never shared with anyone outside my friend group because so many of you are just insufferable.

And I enjoy making this content. I'm genuinely having fun, the only time I'm not is when I have to deal with other whiterose shippers.

And I'm not the only one. My best friend (@grimmgrinningghouls he is okay with me tagging him) has been making whiterose content for years without showing anyone. this man has like 100k words worth of fics and dozens of artworks he's also just never shared because the community is that bad.

Another friend of mine who's asked not to be tagged wrote an entire fanfic and never even shared it outside me and two other friends.

Its just so, so incredibly sad there are so many talented people creating content for whiterose and this community is so insufferable they just...don't want to share it. Like seriously thats fucking sad.

#gonna get shit for it but #whiterose #rwby #and its not even like. a ton of ppl its like a handful of super active creators who just suck #and its not like im not making and share rwby content. im pretty actively doing that too #its specifically whiterose content that I'm just. ugh. #I'm happy. I'm having fun. I'm enjoying creating and its sad that a community has gotten so toxic- #I can't share that joy with others

[yorshie]

Burn Out is so scary. If there’s one thing in this silly trash pile you take to heart, I hope it’s this:

Your worth is not based on what you create.

There is no timetable you need to adhere too

There is not linear structure you have to follow.

Fandom and creating are suppose to be Fun. At the end of the day, as much as the gratification of others Feels good, I hope you are creating/writing for you first. I hope you get excited about what you’re creating, no matter what anybody else says.

#thinking about this a lot lately #as I scramble trying to finish art and tattoo maps so I can ✨show✨ ppl #but then I remind myself to breathe. #that even if it takes weeks/months to complete it doesn’t matter #what matters is I have fun. #I try not to stress a lot. (is always stressed) but as someone that does art professionally #the last thing I want is for the joy to be taken out of my fanart or fanfiction #and when i see others go radio silent after the burn out of ALWAYS having to create #it makes me sad #so please if you make something #be selfish and make it for you first

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

fuckfuck fuck i need to make more physical crafts i need to create tangible things that i can hold with my two hands and put it somewhere i can See It and think Wow. I Made That.

#finished my little rudimentary earring holder & one of two arm warmers #MORE!!!! MORE!!!!!! I NEED MORE #maybe... maybe ill go get myself a new little plant and a pot to decorate. a little guy for my windowsill #ohhh i could uh! i could make like a little scrapbook thing and put in there all of my favorite things that ive drawn.... #a little egotistical Perhaps but!! on days where i feel like shit and like my art sucks i could flip through that! #and say 'huh. not too bad actually' #plus it just sounds like a fun craft. i could get stickers and stuff. washi tape. glue flat objects on. add teeny doodles #i just. i need to create more i think thats whats wrong with me lately #i feel such Peace and Joy when i make physical things #i wonder if id like book binding... #no no thats for future me who has a job and an Income to get interested in #that would be fun tho! ive always wanted to try it. #and if i do i'd Really want to do that thing where people take a fanfic and make it into a physical book #that would be so fun... #i could have my favorites on a shelf! with permission of course! #absolutely unprompted #yk when i start to feel that Despair i really just gotta think about what physical things i could create #what art things i still have to discover and attempt and enjoy #today has sucked But! i will take the car tomorrow and by fuck i will do Something #a new plant friend. yeah. i need something alive in my room #and this weekend ill go to michaels and get myself washi tape so that i can secure my posters to the walls #bc my poster tack Is Not Working! #i wonder if our printer can work on cardstock... i wonder if its been Set Up yet i havent seen her #maybe ill make some more tiny vases today. i have clay still... #OH OH i could make small amigurumi keychain things... #*spoken with clenched fists and gritted teeth* there is still so much to discover and delight in in this life #the walls in this house are bare and cold but if my stepdad allows I Can Spruce It The Fuck Up #ohhhhh crochet tapestries... i could probably do that too... #i cant wait to pick up crafts get bored two days later and drop em and i say that sincerely!

[mister13eyond]

talking to a friend about getting back into art and i think the #1 most important piece of art advice i could ever get or give is just "figure out what is FUN to you"

like i think there is sooooo much emphasis on how to build SKILL in art but a lot of it really treats art like a job or like video game grinding, like it's this thankless job that you have to work at in order to reach a Threshold and i know it's not EASY to make yourself have fun but like

imo a solid 70% of the reason i create art is because the Act of Drawing is fun to me. it's fun problem-solving and planning and putting down lines and playing with colors and tools. it's fun to depict little scenes in my head or to create outfits or to find ways to fill the canvas. never forget that creating can be fun. sometimes it's hard and sometimes you have to battle through your own blockades to get there but the ultimate goal should always be to ENJOY it, to find what you enjoy doing and then do it forever. improvement will follow enjoyment.

i think especially with all the debate about ML image generation it's more important than ever to embrace FUN. if you're only focused on the end result it's so easy to get in your own head- to think about what doesn't look good or what skills you don't have yet or to compare yourself to other artists. but photography didn't kill the art of drawing and AI won't either because, simply put, there will always be people who want to do the physical act of making art because it's fun to do! using paints and markers, splashing colors around, doing shitty pen doodles, using the symmetry tool in your art program to do abstract mandalas that are just squiggles formed into patterns. do art like you're 5 and you've been handed markers to pass the time. do art like you're bored in class and you're keeping your brain entertained by drawing stick figure comics in the margins. do art like an absent thing, do art because it satisfies your brain. the goal is not to make something beautiful and perfect, the goal is to make something because your hands need to make and your body needs to make.

#i know and love so many people who have intense anxiety about their ability to create art and who are so hard on themselves about the result #and i think that's a REALLY easy thing to feel because creating is also vulnerable & physically difficult and there is SOOOO much to master #but i think for me the people who churn out 300 colored pencil front facing hands behind their backs oc doodles on lined notebook paper- #are the ones with the right idea. they're the ones i aspire to be like #i'm not saying i never struggle either bc tbh #as someone with depression and adhd there are times where the Act of Having Fun is simply not possible #sometimes i CAN'T enjoy things because my ability to feel joy is locked behind a barrier of my mental illness #so i don't think it's an Easy thing to do by far and I don't think you can just Magically Make Yourself Happy And Having Fun #but i DO think that experimenting in a low-stakes low-pressure manner until you find something that clicks in your brain helps #doing things for the sake of doing them is the only way to figure out which ones WILL be fun to you #not all of them will. some things will feel like a slog #but i think you have to look for the passion before you're able to face the slog #if you jump right into the parts that are Hard and Challenge Your Limits it's easy to spin your wheels and get stuck #but if you focus on the super small stakes and the things that are thoughtless and focused more on Sensation- #the sensory experience of mixing paint or the scratch of pencil on paper or the smooth way a specific pen makes lines- #then you can lose yourself in the physical aspect of it FIRST #and then once you've started really ENJOYING those sensations you can start learning new ways to use them #because now you have the drive to want to do more #now you have the desire to find new ways to apply this thing you like doing #long post #even longer tags #art #drawing #artists #art advice

[ramenwithbroccoli]

really sad that ukulele became that coleen ballinger/2020 cringe/can't-play-guitar instrument in the public eye, because they're really nice! small and portable! easier to start for absolute begginers! you can play songs you like by alternating guitar chord charts! the instrument has it's own history and varying techniques of playing it!

beautiful girl uke deserves more love from the world

#ramblings #it just makes me sad sometimes #how it became the 'cringe' instrument for some people #like. NO #it's an instrument! a way to play and have fun and create art #do you hate joy. do you hate seeing people happy #ukulele

[agena87]

The second time Wolfgang and Malcolm met; when Mal went to sign up Joy for some art classes. The little girl had already shown some talent for drawing and painting, even at the young age of four, and expressed her desire to learn more to become an artist when she grew up. Mal, being the awesome dad that he is, never refuses her anything (though he tries not to spoil her). When going to meet the art teacher, Malcolm actually didn't know the name of said teacher, he just had been told by Max that there were courses for kids on the week-end at a certain art studio, and that it was the best teacher in town who held them. He was pleasantly surprised to see Wolfgang there, since he had been on his mind since their first meeting at Lucas and Max's wedding. Wolfgang was just as happy to see Malcolm, who he had found quite nice and interesting when they had talked during their first meeting. He was even more happy to see Malcolm wearing a more casual (and quite fitting) outfit (Luna hadn't been at Mal's that day, and hadn't bitch at him for wearing "hobo clothes"). Both men (well, a man and a Wolfie) ended up speaking for two hours while Joy explored the studio. And Mal left with the promise of a future coffee (friendly) date with Wolfie.

#wow i actually edited the hair for once #and i played a lot with blender's proprierites and values #i actually created my first window from scratch (glass and all) for this #i know it's some rather basic shit but i never tried it before #i also got better with the shadows i think (i also played a bit with stuff in blender for this) #anyway #my babies are on the road to looooove (luna who?) #to be fair neither luna nor mal are really happy to date each other #their relationship is more business than anything and had been pushed by both nancy and jacques after mal's wife died #fun fact: joy HATES luna (not 'cause she misses her mom because she doesn't even remember her that much - she was just 3 when her mom died #but because luna is really not the maternal type and don't like children - she's not mean or anything #she just doesn't how to act with a - very opiniated - little kid) #ts4 #sims 4 #ts4 render #render #sims 4 render #sim: wolfgang munch #sim: malcolm landgraab #oc: joy landgraab #story: well met

[hiddenmoonbeam]

There's something about sharing your story ideas and having someone else be interested too that's so encouraging and inspiring!! And it truly means so much 🥹 I was telling @polaroidcats about my unnamed fairytale fic last night, and after almost two months of no writing or drawing, I'm excited about creating again 💕

#of course it's understandable i haven't been in the mood at all while grieving #and it's still difficult but creating brings me joy and it was so fun to talk about #thank you cat yet again for being so encouraging <3 😭🥰 #unnamed fairytale fic #cat tag

[leafeonb]

i need to draw... sorry about the kill and revive patrick gif i love it it has to be here

#lulu.txt #ive been thinking about doing random oc comics of not plot stuff but just random interactions or thoughts #i like doing comics and sequence art its fun... 🫰 i miss doing those every once in a while i remember this oc comic i made #a few years ago that i unfortunately threw away and dont have photos of bc i forgot to do a backup but ok its not about that the #comic was kind of sweet from what i remember maybe i should remake it... #there are so many things i want to drawwww *throws things around with psychic powers* but first of all. ocs the world 👍 #genuinely love ocs you create a character and a world for them and interactions then there is the joys of hearing about your friends ocs and #they become also so important to you :-) everyones ocs are like celebrities to me #on another note i feel like these two ocs become more emotionally constipated at every reboot of their story it is the funniest shit ever

[heymrspatel]

you proposing to me over fuckin' patty melts?

@gallacrafts zine collab with @you-are-so-much-better-than-that 💙✨

#i worked with chrissy to create stickers and tattoos and this is by far my favorite sticker! #i really really really hope you all love them too! we had so much fun making these for you all! #also i can't explain to you guys the absolute JOY it was to receive my own drawing in sticker form in this zine! i'm beside myself! #myart #shameless #shameless fanart #gallavich #gallavich fanart #getting gallacrafty #zinecontent #shamelessnet #ian x mickey #ian gallagher #mickey milkovich #artists on tumblr #drishlook #bricomesee #userlizliz #jessielook #art #fan art #yums