the Kobb Cave

Learning is part of the process, being a little frustrated is part of the process, and each thing you make is wonderful because you made it exist! It's in the world because of you! It's uniquely you and no one else can replicate it exactly the way you do it.

I think of how we all exist on this earth for a limited amount of time, but the things we make will be left behind and it will touch the lives of people we'll never meet.

My partner's parents went to Italy one year and talked about how there were preserved sketches and unfinished sculptures done by Michelangelo. And I was losing my mind because yeah there's the amazing Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David but his works in progress also exist! To see his process! To imagine that he also felt frustration? joy! to know he made so many WIPS before he eventually made the works hes widely known for.

I keep thinking did he have days when he thought those were crap? Which ones made him realize what he wanted to do in the final pieces. And to me the disconnect between myself and some super famous long gone artist I've never met drops for a bit and I yell THATS A PERSON WHO LIVED! THEY DID CREATIVE THINGS WE STILL DO TODAY

I think about the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave. did they feel happy creating these paintings? did their children watch? copy them? There's so many animals drawn over and over again, were they also doing their own art process that way? Was that a form of practice? Farting around and having fun? 👀

To know the need to express oneself through creative works has lasted for years and years and years is AHHHHHHHH 😭💕💕💕 It has endured! People's creativity has endured. And these days can feel so hopeless but the love to create can still persist despite it all.

Fascists will try and convince us none of it matters or that specific types of art are superior over others. "Let AI do it for you" but it can't do things like you can. It's just a stupid machine made by rich morons who have no souls. Its nature is to steal because their nature is to steal.

And you?

12 HOURS LEFT OF PREORDERS 🔥

There's no time to hesitate, the final day of preorders is here! You may not have another chance to get the best Raph merch and book out there, so go to our store and order NOW!!

🛒 Preorder here!

🐢🖤 a preview of my short story for the red & rude zine!!

huge thank you to @kobbers for creating the spot art! ;o; it's wonderful, and i can't wait for y'all to see how it frames the page, too.

i'm so grateful and excited to have been a part of this zine, and to work with this team again--as well as meet all the other creators. all of you knocked it out of the park; thank you so much for having me!

PREORDERS ARE OPEN until May 24th!

COVER REVEAL 💥

Raph in all his mighty splendor! This is the best cover EVER!! All made by the amazing @shellsweet, of course~