☺Random Things

Happy first day of Summer (North Hemisphere)! I'm once again hosting Splotch Summer. We are in our fifth year!!!

If you're new to Splotch Summer, I release a random paint (or ink) marking, a blob, or a splodge, if you will, and then I ask for people to use their imagination or pareidolia to see something new. Draw what you see or something inspired by my splotch and share it! Pretty simple, and a nice exercise for creativity for me personally!

and i wondered if you use/have learned any particular techniques for compositions? i've tried studying how rule of thirds/golden triangles/whatever the hell apply to compositions i like, but i didn't learn from it in a way i could reliably use

Thanks! When it comes to composition, the main things I think about are bias and how to lead the eye.

Our brains like bias in images. Something that splits the canvas 70/30 is more visually interesting than something that splits it 50/50. That's why we often aim to divide the canvas into big, medium, and small shapes, and why those shapes look better when there's significant difference/bias in their sizes. The image on the left below has more contrast between the size of its shapes, and so feels more visually interesting than the one on the right:

When it comes to leading the eye, it tends to move along lines/edges, and it tends to move towards the points where lines converge and intersect. You can use this to guide the viewer's eye through your piece to your focal point. For the same reason, having too many lines pointing in random, unrelated directions, can make the piece feel disorganized and unclear.

For example, you can see how much clearer the location of the focal point is in the upper composition here than it is in the bottom one:

It's true that the upper one is pretty unsubtle, but you gotta know how to make it work unsubtly in order to make it work subtly because the subtle stuff is just the unsubtle stuff in disguise.

I'd also recommend keeping catalogues (folders on your computer, powerpoint presentations, however you like to store images) of art that you like so that you can use them for reference, inspiration, and studies. I keep a composition catalogue and a color catalogue among others.

Sidenote, Edgar Payne's book, Composition of Outdoor Painting, is a great resource for learning about composition:

As Pride Month comes to an end, I just want to remind you that July is Disability Pride Month and there's a flag and everything!

Charcoal Grey: Mourning for people who have died due to ableist violence, abuse, suicide, and illness

Red Stripe: Physical disabilities

Gold Stripe: Neurodiversity

Blue Stripe: Emotional and psychiatric disabilities

Green Stripe: Sensory disabilities

Hi! My name is Laurel and I am putting together a small Siuaraine fanzine to not only celebrate this beautiful couple that deserved happiness, but to also raise money for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.  This zine will feature fanart and fanfic from some of the amazing and writers in the fishwives fandom. This is just an interest check right now to see how many people might genuinely be interested in a printed copy, so I can figure out a realistic print run. If there’s enough interest, I’ll move forward with preorders afterward.

This idea was inspired by @imacone after she did her recent Siuaraine zine to raise funds for charity, and with her blessing, I wanted to do something similar. It’s been over a year since the show ended, and I thought it would be nice to have a celebration of the fishwives, as I know this couple means a lot to a good number of us.

This is just an interest check right now to see how many people might genuinely be interested in a printed copy, so I can figure out a realistic print run. If there’s enough interest, I’ll move forward with preorders afterward.

Just to be transparent: this zine is not for profit. All sales will first go toward covering production and fulfillment costs, then contributor copies will be sent out, and anything remaining will be donated to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. No mods (me) or contributors will be paid beyond their contributor copies.

If you’re interested in purchasing a copy, please fill out this form. Your response will really help me with planning!