#yaaurens

[image 1: digital ink-brush style illustration of Shen Wei/Heipaoshi from Guardian, in a reversible composition reminiscent of the design of a court card in a playing card deck. One orientation shows Shen Wei, eyes closed, a necklace with a rounded pendant floating just above his slightly-cupped hands. The reverse shows the masked Heipaoshi ("Black-Cloaked Envoy") with his sword extended above his head, pointed behind him, and his black hood billowing and framing his face. Organic, inky lines whip about the figures, creating the sense of ink trails, billowing fabric and wispy shadow, cloud, or wave-like forms.

images 2-3: very rough scribbly sketches of the above composition]

A commission for yaaurens of the two identities of the “Black-Cloaked Envoy” from the Chinese SF/fantasy-danmei drama 镇魂 (“Guardian”)! I haven't seen this series myself, but I learned a great deal while working on this, and it’s epic. I haven’t done a flippy reversible composition in a while, and it was awesome to get to draw such a fantastic character who is so perfect for a brush-style illustration!

It was really fun to conceive the image in a way that would show off what I call his super cool flippy-back sword move (I am not very good at naming moves) and lots of wispy brushy flowiness.

Thank you so much yaaurens for this opportunity to create this very special piece for you!

Post office bounty! 

Upper left, a jar of Raye’s Moose-a-maquoddy Molasses mustard from C (not sure if you wanted your handle listed, given the postcard listed a location -- LOVE that postcard btw). I have encountered Raye’s mustard before but not this flavor and I love sweet mustards so I’m excited to try it out!

Meanwhile upper right, @shirokou sent me some lovely enamel pins (the blue crab is on my bag for traveling!) along with a beautiful ring -- you can’t see it too clearly there, but it’s made from the handle of a silverware set, and it looks great on my thumb. :D Dearborn also thoroughly enjoyed playing with the bag it came in while I did this photo shoot: 

And some lovely cards (including a BUNCH of holiday cards) from various folks. Top image, clockwise from upper left, some beautiful autumn trees from @alltangledupinblue, a fantastic tableau from Gorey from @yaaurens, sparkly gnomes from @bookfanatic, even sparklier peace and hope (and Hanukkah wishes, thanks!) from Nightshade Zombie, and warm wishes (plus some awesome embroidery patterns) from @traykor. I loved the “have you hugged your cat” sticker too. 

Bottom image, again clockwise from left, some gorgeous images from the Book of Kells from C; I love that my tumblr could be considered a form of comfort fic :) A Bah Humbug from @froofie (hi Biscuit!) and some Hos from Celtprincess13. The Matryoshka eggs are actually a current card (as in, NOT sent in December) from @scifigrl47, and the Grinch who stole Hanukkah candles gave me such a laugh, from Josh and Kris, while in the center is a photo card (hence most of the image being obscured) from the Hutt family.

So cute!

Thank you!

scifigrl47 reblogged your photo and added: “I hope no one minds my increased productivity posting! Made a second...”

LLAMA LLAMA LLAMA LLAMA

MUSHROOM MUSHROOM

fool-errant replied to your photo “I hope no one minds my increased productivity posting! Made a second...”

are oyu goingto make the different parts of the llama different color inks?

The blankets will definitely be a different color. I’m thinking maybe an ombre on the head that resets on the body. Part of doing the head separate was honestly to decrease on the risk of shifting as I lay it down but I would like to take advantage of it in color.

zorilleerrant replied to your photo  “I hope no one minds my increased productivity posting! Made a second...”

oh man, if you did this in like a warm brown on lunchbags (paper colored that way, anyway) it would make amazing stationary, if you ever wanted to handwrite someone a letter about a llama

happy birthday! :D

yaaurens replied to your post “HEY HOLY CANNOLI IM 23”

happy birthday!

mmonger replied to your post “HEY HOLY CANNOLI IM 23”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY~!

madspades replied to your post “HEY HOLY CANNOLI IM 23”

Happy birthday!!!

armoredsoftie replied to your post “HEY HOLY CANNOLI IM 23”

happy birthday!!

acastleintheair replied to your post “HEY HOLY CANNOLI IM 23”

Hap birth!!!

Post office bounty! Still working my way through the holidays.

Clockwise from top left, the fun abstract orange dot on the landscape is from @alltangledupinblue, and has the caption “Well....that happened” on the back, which is a very appropriate holiday greeting, I feel. The two old-timey fellows regarding a Creature is from @yaaurens, and I have indeed given the Cryptids many skritches in your name. 

@scifigrl47 loves to send me odd postcards, and what’s odder than a stoned monkey eating peaches? Sci also sent me the very smug Holiday Kitty next to the monkey. 

I love the O Come All Ye Martians card, which is from R (not my R, but an R) in Washington State; I love the design on the front, because at first it looks so ordinary AND THEN. :D (Thanks also for the fun mushroom stickers on the envelope!)

Franks A Lot is from a friend A; LET’S HAVE A GREAT 2020 -- WAIT. 2021. Let’s not do 2020 over again.

“Dogs of Hanukkah” from Kris & Josh cracked me up (you guys always do) and here’s to a better 2021 indeed. 

Sam, that is 8 hot dogs. Please do not be consuming 8 hot dogs in one sitting (because if you do it I will want to do it, and that much hotteth dog would probably kill me)

I CANNOT EAT EIGHT HOT DOGS, that would kill anyone. I was going to cut them into bars like brownies and bring them to a potluck with dipping mustard! 

figtreeandvine replied to your photo “isitasandwich: Woven Pretzel Hotdogs. No, it is not a sandwich....”

I can see how I'd make one, but I can't figure out how you would serve or eat one. Cut it into squares? Strips? Which direction for strips?

See, I think bars, and then just for extra absurdity you eat them off china using a knife and fork. Possibly while wearing evening gloves if that’s your thing. 

yaaurens replied to your photo “Iconique. [Description: a close up of Polk showcasing her whiskers,...”

Sam. Sam. I literally reached out and booped her snoot on my laptop screen. The power of Polk compelled me.

That’s her favorite kind of snootboop, because it means nobody is touching her nose. She’s very particular about her nose :D 

pheylan13 replied to your photo “Iconique. [Description: a close up of Polk showcasing her whiskers,...”

I love that she has both black and white whiskers. Matches the nose freckles.

She used to have all white whiskers and just one black whisker, but yeah as the freckles have spread, so have the black whiskers. :D 

peoriarhetoriapeoria replied to your post “In my old job, when I worked for a different kind of nonprofit, I...”

I'm glad you've got a trained team member. I used to have to deal with anything of the sort myself, and against my call duration metric

POST OFFICE BOUNTY! Man, glitter was BIG this year. Clockwise from top left: 

The stockings are from @sarsypan, and I’m so pleased I can bring you joy! 

Glittery trees are from Luci and Jade-cat, and the cryptids thank you :D 

There’s a little dog behind the trees -- I always try to hide human faces, but Sam and Alaska, you are both ADORABLE. 

The glittery flamingo is from @froofie, thank you for the good wishes! 

The origami flower is from Kim and James, who are delightful humans. 

The owl patch, “Pacific” postcard, and text below it are from @yaaurens -- thank you, I love the weird eldritch patch (and the support for 826!) and will put it on my patch bag in the new year. 

The lovely snowflake card is from  @ekfiler (I think? I’m bad at handwriting) and I love the Star Trek stamp you put on the card! 

There’s a small photo that’s part of a larger card, which are from K and D -- you know I love you guys and I’m so looking forward to seeing you at AB! 

ANGRY CHRISTMAS CAT is from @geekgirl76, and thank you, I love it! I try to make it look as easy as possible :D 

“Merry Whatever” with an adorable dog, along with the brown Holiday card, are from @innytoes and Deeks -- who always compliment my mail carrier, which is awfully nice :) 

And the blue-green Season’s Greetings, last but not least, is from Sarah -- I’m so glad I continue to bring you joy! 

Thank you so much, guys -- your cards always warm my heart and make me feel connected to the larger fandom community! 

Stay tuned -- photographs of packages to come! 

Also: