The Toaster - art blog of strudeldoodlearts

Currently working on a batch of pride month gummy bear digital stickers. I'm experimenting with how I want to color them, but the general shape and line art is done.

Still taking it slow while balancing online courses, people wanting to hang out for the summer, housewarming parties, and various house projects that have been dragging on due to communication/other logistical blahs. Clutter makes it harder to think somehow.

link here

have fun

Long post ahead!

In my previous post, I wrote about posting less and making more time for my friends/family. During this time, I was wrapping up some Kofi exclusive content (which is a post for another time!) while thinking about how a lot of my time gets eaten up transferring files from PC to phone and then opening up the Instagram app in an attempt to make a reel or optimize a post.

Around this time, I ranted out loud and found myself in one of the most doomed doomscrolling moments I've ever experienced. It dawned on me that IG could be listening. At this point, I was quite fed up with how Meta apps have evolved as of late and that I really wanted to minimize my time on Instagram. So instead of talking about the recent Kofi uploads to focus on how to transfer files (to both my PC and to this blog!) I contemplated announcing my Instagram leave.

This ended up not happening. Instead, I spent last week sick with a sore throat and thinking about the small group of followers (some who know my IRL) who probably wouldn't come over to Tumblr to see what I'm up to. No longer having my art as accessible to them made me sad. That, and, there's the convenience of being able to open the app IRL and just show someone what I've drawn digitally in the recent weeks.

So I decided that starting from now, I'd just post a lot less. And more laconically.

But my efforts to save, glaze, and transfer some older images were not in vain. I took a nice little trip through memory lane. Yes, back in the days I drew on my Galaxy Note 4 phone, uploaded directly to Instagram, and got a dopamine hit off of the growing feedback. Back when the algorithm wasn't so screwy.

Here are 12 of my favorites:

I generally treat my art page as a place for one of many hobbies that allow me (and others) to escape from reality while also vaguely alluding to it (because inspiration from the real world is inevitable).

Admittedly, I have been reducing the frequency that I post. It's a tad harder to outrun reality these days, no?

But aside from that, I have also been studying more skills in hopes of safeguarding my career/financial future (outside of art). I have also been trying to be more present with my friends and loved ones in an active attempt to shaddap that one voice that goes, "What if this is the last time you see them???"

Ya that's it that's this week's post.

Ever eaten out somewhere only to get a dish that was smaller than expected?

My partner sent me a picture of a sandwich that was around 20 dollars that modestly filled up a small plate. The timing I received that picture was perfect because I was wondering what comically-small dish to draw for this picture. That being said, I had to change the concept from modern dining to something else, since the food was more lunch-themed. Hence "the little things."

A colder rainier day today! But on the brightside, it cleared up in time for food festival plans and the like.

Y'know when you spot faces in random things, or when you stare at a light source for long enough (in this case, a fire) and then you start seeing colors?

A silly comic that I drew based on a fortune cookie image I saw on the internet somewhere. I've been looking forward to drawing more spontaneous ideas like this after posting [[disintegration]] things, ahaha.

While I have some plans for traveling next weekend, I don't foresee it interfering with posts for this week.

Lately I've been watching The Comic Bang. Even got a discounted month of iQiyi specifically to watch it. Kinda takes me back to when I started this art account; I was watching Month Girls Nozaki-kun (which is an adaptation of the same manga that the The Comic Bang c-drama is derived from).

Aand [[disintegration]] is a wrap! So here are two designs based on my favorite visual elements from this drawing series.

Don't start a series of digital paintings..... only to drag it out with a few more pictures than expected.... only to DOUBLE the amount of pictures and then expect yourself to make EVEN MORE THINGS related to it once the fixation has worn off.

This isn't reverse psychology :D

I lack the mojo to continue drawing more [[disintegration]]-themed things. But I think the insanity and prolonged creative process was my (recent-ish) past self's idea in an attempt to make the series and theme more unhinged.

But now I'm just tired. I already figured that fueling art through "suffering" isn't my style. And it doesn't even suit my current life plans!

So TL;DR I'm only releasing the sketch notes (exclusive) and two digital stickers (one is free!) on my Kofi page this week.

Instead of working on Kofi goodies as planned today, I ended up keeping an eye and ear open on tornado warnings in my area.

Normally, the place I live doesn't get them. But the warnings were serious enough that students were being pulled out of school early, and it was somewhat unsettling that the weather app seemed to understate the warning beyond intense rain.

So I wrapped up at my remote work earlier today and will be taking it easy. Last thing I want is to be interrupted by a power outage while working on digital stickers/walls/exclusive posts and whatnot. A friend of mine recently had their power flicker on/off consecutively within an hour. Nope, not taking my chances! Scheduling this post now before it gets crazier.

Imagine getting through 1 of 2 and then celebrating... only to remember 2 of 2 while writing down the schedule.

Emotions are energy in motion, and the energy's a rollercoaster. TTwTT

while missing that one hour of sleep. ;w;

I enjoyed my little stroll. I met up with my partner who surprised me with a ube coconut macchiato drink that's been available at Starbucks.

The ube and milk combination was better than expected. The ube foam alone tasted similar to the foam on caramel macchiatos. I was a bit irked that a good amount of the coconut topping was stuck to the top of the lid, so I had to scoop some out to taste it. Not quite astig amazing but a pleasant drink to welcome warmer weather.

I would probably order it again but with coconut milk as the base. (I heard they usually make it with 2% milk.) And with an extra shot of coffee.

at the time this post is posted, I will be celebrating a long-time friend's birthday (Finally! After 2 cancellations due to weather/sickness!) after enjoying some parkour shenanigans.

And everything will proceed as planned. This includes a planned art break for the week! Need some time to digest, think about Kofi goodies, game with friends, pursue some "mini-hobbies" (or rather, learn how to stitch up/reinforce a few bags hanging on for dear life).

[[disintegration]]