I'm looking for things like art progression memes and similar where people show how their art has "leveled up" over time. I'm hoping this will help to dispel the myth of natural inborn talent, so, I'm especially interested in stuff from when you were just starting vs where you are now (But even if you don't have anything from that far back, it's all good!)
If you have an example on your own blog that you'd like to share, please submit the link either via [submit] or [ask box]; I'll reblog it from you directly.
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I find these kinds of videos relaxing and motivational. Also, sometimes just watching the process, you can learn new things.
There's something magical about watching a scribble go from "ugly" stage to masterpiece. It's reassuring for when your own work enters that "ugly" stage.
<<이 원리대로 그리면 캐릭터 얼굴이 이상해진다고 느끼는 분들을 위해>> 눈에서 귀까지의 거리는 옆에서 볼수록 길어집니다. 정면에 가까운 반측면에서는 거리가 짧은게 맞습니다. 실사체와 캐릭터 그림체 상관 없이 얼굴을 각도별로 그릴 때 도움이 됩니다~
<<For those who feel a character's face looks odd when drawn using this principle>> The distance from the eye to the ear appears longer the more the face is viewed from the side; conversely, it is correct for that distance to appear shorter in a near-frontal, three-quarter view. This tip is helpful when drawing faces from various angles, regardless of whether you are using a realistic style or a stylized character art style.
(Translated with Google Translate; take it with a massive grain of salt)
This is a screenshot; the image is larger at the source: [Link].
Some tips and tricks I’ve seen on Tumblr, on Pinterest or have learned the hard way while writing. These are pretty basic but sometimes basic is good!
Realizing they can feel the person touching them. Maybe they’re not touching but they can feel the warmth.
Accidentally saying something flirty and both of you freeze. Or saying something flirty and the other person panicking and running away
Eyes dropping to lips. Eyes looking them up and down. Eyes unable to look away. Eyes unable to make contact without blushing. Eyes are you best friend.
Mirroring. When people have crushes or like someone (or want someone to like them) they do what is called mirroring. If character 1 crosses their arms and character 2 has a crush on them, have character 2 cross their arms too.
New Girl taught me about toes. If their feet are facing you, they want to stay. If their feet are pointed away, they want to leave. I’ve found its not always true but its something you can mention or use.
Unable to stop smiling. Unable to stop laughing.
Touching the other one when you laugh. Touching them to move them out of the way. Touching them and not moving your hand away
Hugging them when you see them. Sharing a bed. Trying to be near them at all moments.
Looking at their lips and fantasizing about kissing them.
Watching others interact in some way with them or how they act around them and being super jealous, wondering why they don’t act that way with you.
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First: First of all, establish the very basic shape by using isometric guide
Secondly: Cut a few edge on the main shapes into some minor shape and edge around it.
Thirdly: using hard brush to create edges
Fourth: go deep inside and work on those extra details on edges of the rock by using round hard brush and brush by Mr–Jack. Remember: Blocking in value first before go into details of edge
Fifth: Choose focal areas by lasso tools and using color dodge to add highlight
Sixth: Using Ctrl + U to create basic color
Seventh: Using Ctrl + B to add color for the high light, mid and shadow make sure you add some complementary color to counter the major colorNow go to into modification for the rock
Eighth: Grass - Use rough brushes to create a dark layer of color, then add a lighter layer of brush on top and finally add one extra layer of darker layer of color on top. Doing this give the thickness feeling for the grass
Ninth: Snow - Using rough brush ( very bright blu-ish color ) to create snow. Combing with smudge tool to make some soft edge for the snow.
Tenth: Lava - using the brush by Mr–Jack with dark orange and work on those dark edges of the rock. Then using color dodge tool to create highlight. Note: Make sure the light on lava reflect on the rock.
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OCD Stereotypes to Avoid Writing (with Explanations!)
In writing, one of the easiest things to fall into when writing about a character with a disorder, disability, or group you aren't a part of is stereotypes.
They're easy to do by accident and sometimes we do it because we didn't know we were even playing into a stereotype.
So, I've accumulated a small list of stereotypes to avoid while writing your character with OCD 😊
OCD is a cleaning disorder.
OCD is not a cleaning disorder! It's a disorder that follows the cycle of:
Obsessions
Anxiety
Compulsions
Temporary relief
Repeat
The contents of the actions aren't what make OCD OCD; it's the thought process, cycle, ritualistic compulsions, anxiety, and obsessions that do.
There are many different subtypes of OCD, though not everyone has a subtype. Subtypes are not part of a diagnosis; they're more of what we use in the community and use to identify our reoccuring obsessions. A lot of people have subtypes, but some do not! A person 100% can have OCD and have no common theme or subtype.
OCD themes or subtypes are common themes a person's intrusive thoughts and obsessions have. Usually a theme is attached to something a person with OCD values, like being clean or being a good person, and then attacks it.
OCD is ego-dystonic, meaning that thoughts don't align with that person or their values. That's why they're intrusive; they cause distress and the person getting them does not want or agree with them.
A few examples of other OCD subtypes are:
Harm OCD
Magical thinking OCD
Postpartum OCD
Responsibility OCD
Sexuality OCD
And so so so many more (this is a very small list compared to all the subtypes there are!)
Looking into different subtypes can help you determine how your character's OCD shows up and can even be a great way to reflect on what matters to your character. Plus, you'll have a consistent theme to focus on.
If you don't want to write a subtype, then just make sure your character follows the cycle of OCD! Not everyone has a subtype.
As a note, writing a character who does clean as a compulsion is completely okay! However, contamination OCD is the most represented form of OCD and seeing other subtypes would be very nice and thoughtful!
OCD is an action disorder without internal workings.
OCD is not a disorder defined by actions alone. The thought process is where the actions stim from!
This partly goes along with the "OCD is not a cleaning disorder."
One of the reasons why OCD started to be labeled as a cleaning and perfectionism disorder was because people didn't see the person with OCD's thoughts and only saw their actions. They assumed OCD just means doing cleaning or perfectionism related actions that aren't caused by complex thoughts; this is incorrect.
The actions that people see are caused by intrusive thoughts and obsessions, and they're called compulsions, which take many forms (mental and physical).
Showing and representing those obsessions and intrusive thoughts is vital to writing OCD, not just including compulsions that happen for "no reason".
When writing a character with OCD, it's of the upmost importance to show their inner workings, thoughts, and show why they're doing something instead of just showing them performing an action without reason.
OCD is a tiring, complex, and mentally distressing disorder that is never just soley actions without thought.
Compulsions are only visible.
OCD compulsions are not always visible!
There are mental compulsions that are actually very common and a study even showed that 53% of compulsions are mental ones!
A few examples of mental compulsions include, but are not limited to:
Counting and repeating phrases in one's head
Arguing or trying to neutralize an intrusive thought
Reviewing memories or events in the past
Problem-solving repetitively
Punishing and berating oneself repetitively
Adding mental compulsions is a great way to make your character more realistic. Also, it's not enough to only have them do mental compulsions a few times; compulsions are repetitive and it's important to show them be re-occuring.
My character has OCD but it doesn't impact their life.
OCD always has at least a mild impact on a person's life if they have it!
Giving a character OCD but never bringing it up or showing it can come off as dismissive. Representation doesn't feel like representation when that disorder doesn't impact their life.
As a small caveat: Your character could have gone through therapy and recovered from mild-severe OCD, minimizing their symptoms, but even then, it would still have at least a small impact on their life or they'd have flare-ups!
It's not enough to say they have OCD; their struggle needs to be shown too!
End Notes
Feel free to ask any questions in my inbox :D
If anything here seems incorrect, please comment and I can correct that.
Note: I made a few edits to this post on 11/25/2025 to re-clarify a few things!
My blog is about writing characters with OCD, C-PTSD, and other mental health issues!
