Exlimixia

I now sport a classy z at the end of my name

This is my new home! If yall can reblog this or even make an @ post I would absolutely appreciate it!!!!

I understand the appeal of tutorials. You want to learn something in a quick and easily accessible manner, have someone break it down step by step how they do something.

However, my problem with art tutorials since their inception but exarcebated with youtube, tiktok, instagram, etc. is how much that "accessibility" is in reality watering down and removing the nuance of the topic, repeating the same basic terminology and concepts and refusing to look deeper into things. How many times have you seen a color theory tutorial talk about the same terms (analogous, triad, pick contrasting colors, 60-30-10 rule) and come back feeling like you learned nothing new? Or a shading tutorial that went on about light source, what colors to use, etc.

This is why I'm telling you, the person reading this, that you need to let go of the art tutorial and start reading art books. Because the reason all this advice is the same is because they're all repeating from artists who learned from artists who learned from artists who learned from those books, and in the jump from interpretation to interpretation, actual explanations on why things happen and why certain phenomenons exists have been replaced by "do this" and "do that" and "don't do this".

Interested in that so called loomis method? Read loomis' books where he pioneers it. Curious on how colors and light work in a canvas? Most of that is sourced from James Gurney's Light and Color.

These books can look daunting, but you will learn a lot more by accepting their size and long explanations as they are, to go into the science of why things work this way, instead of looking at tutorials removed from their context and presented as random factoids.

Hi, hello—it’s been a while. I know I’ve long left this place for the most part, & tbh this post is only being made here out of necessity, as I don’t really intend on being present here—y’all know I’m most active on bsky under the same username (estrelladeishtar) as well as active on instagram w the same name—

But, that aside… Getting to the point of why I’m here:

I’m not really a fan of divulging personal life matters, but unfortunately I’m left with no choice. A lot has started to unfold in my personal life ever since last year, circumstances that escalated to a point where, for the sake of my own life & future, & my physical & mental wellbeing, I have to move out. One way or another it has to be done, & there’s a lot of reasons why (covering those in a bit), with the aim being to leave Texas behind & move somewhere up north (especially with Texas not being the best for me as someone who is lgbt+ & disabled).

However, building up the funds for moving out & across state lines has been very difficult, especially considering my resources keep being siphoned from me against my will, & the fact the job I’m in is also damaging to my health which has also messed with finances—especially as someone who is disabled.

I have been able to plan out a roommate situation with someone I hold very close to me at least, which is definitely gonna help with moving & will ease some of the financial burden…

But even in spite of this, the initial move still needs to happen, which… Obviously, funds are needed for that to be possible in the first place, which currently is the main complicating factor in this panning out.

Hence, the reason for this post, as this is a call for help in being able to raise the necessary funds to make this possible. I’m providing a gofundme link below, & while normally I would have kept this on just my bsky, getting any momentum on donations has been extremely difficult. Which... This move is important, as it will help me get out of a living situation that is nothing but detrimental to me to put it lightly, in addition to allowing me to heal from this place & furthermore, actually have more of a chance at having a life I want.

The link to the main donation pool (gofundme) is here, with all the details on the reasons behind why (which I apologize for the length of the post on the site—

(I also have screencapped the details of the gofundme & attached em to the bottom of this post under a read more)

I know times are tough right now, so I understand if donations can’t be made by everyone—but at least sharing this would be immensely helpful & appreciated, as it can help in outreach for potential donors & For those wondering why not I offer commission work: Its explained in the gofundme, but I'm in a period of burnout so severe (thanks to... everything going on) that I literally only go to work & sleep to recover (chronic pain makes it harder) atp, not to mention my tablet is busted completely & I have no way of being able to reliably take on comms atm.

I am actively trying to make this happen & have been for a while, even with current circumstances not being the best... But any & all help would be appreciated & I am forever going to be grateful for it seeing how I’ve essentially been pushed to having to do this— I didn’t want to have to, but no other choice right? & While I do keep most updates on this on my bsky & the gofundme site, I will try to at least make an update on how it goes here if its an important one or not. & Thank you for your time in reading this as well, & for sharing for those that do.

(& As a final note & as mentioned before, below I’ve screencapped the details I wrote out on the gofundme on reasons why. Shoved under the “read more” below just to not make the post too lengthy.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10969491/chapters/222290076

There are many things you’ve come to learn about Grillby since you met him. He’s stubborn in his own way. Kind to a fault. Surprisingly chatty, once he’s comfortable. He loves jazz music, hates needless noise and is firm about keeping his things neat and tidy.