|| May 28 '19

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Oof... I suck at keeping up with things.

Well, to start things off on an art-related note, this here is a piece I worked on in one day and took up what I'm guessing is 7-8 hours. That one day I worked on this digital piece was 5/27/19, and that goes to show how much I can accomplish when completed rushed near the contest deadline. I'm so responsible.

Yeah, I know the signature doesn't say the 27th, but I quickly went back and made a few adjustments to the piece— mostly just to add the signature I forgot to add as well as shading in the eyes.

Oh, what contest, you may— or may not— have asked.

Well, this is my very first entry into @_Music-Is-Art_'s 15th Art Contest. Oof, man, it's been such a long time since I've entered into a Wattpad art contest. That was probably 2-3 years ago.

Damn, I feel old.

There are three categories/prompts, and I was assigned Mermaid. Yeah, although I have another subject in this image, I technically did follow the prompt UwU

The little "story" I have goin' on here is that the girl has these magical pearls to help her breathe underwater, and she decided to go explore the ocean. She went deep enough to the point where she unexpectedly encounters a mermaid. The merpeople don't live near the surface and remain near the benthic or deep pelagic-benthic, far away from human reach. The stylized sea nettles aid in hinting the fact that the two main subjects are in deep, dark, open waters.

I had a lot of fun coloring and adding the folds to the dress, and it kinda resembles a medusa shape— mostly the main body (if any y'all take oceanography, then ya know what I mean by medusa). Also, this chapter title— KNEESLAPPER ecks dee.

I am really proud in drawing the mermaid in that position, since I've never done that before. The tight braid was quite fun to do, especially seeing the effect when I colored it in a gradient. I also like how I planned out the details of the mermaid using fins knowledge from oceanography. Man, that class surprisingly contributed to art for me. Wowza :U

I should've made it more obvious that the pearls are significant to the girl's survival in the ocean, but I was crunched for time and ideas. In addition, I could've done a better job in cleaning up the shading and pushed for more depth, but I'm still trying to learn how to use Medibang Paint Pro.

It's free, just to remind y'all :V As one who uses Photoshop, I find it kinda intuitive yet confusing at first but quickly adjusted. I like how easy on the eyes it is, 'cuz ya know, dark mode.

Okay, this ends the artistic segment of this chapter. If you don't wanna read more into some personal things goin' on in my life, you can stop reading at this point. If ya wanna continue, well, carry on then.

I'm terrified of college. I'll obviously be leaving my home, and none of my friends or family will be going to my college or be near me. I'm staying instate (not gonna say what state nor school), so I can visit home easier compared to a few people. I dunno what classes will be like, and, with my concern over my body shape and weight, I'm so childishly afraid of my future diet, exercise habit, and the Freshman 15.

However, one of my main concerns is keeping in touch with my boyfriend. I— agh, I sound so teenager-y it hurts— but I don't think I'll be enjoying my summer as much as I want to this year. I'll be leaving the country in two weeks, and he'll be entering into his school much earlier than a regular student— aka while I'm out of the country. Although I can use a VPN to keep a stable connection to keep using Discord video/voice chat with him, it's gonna be 6 months before I physically see him again, which is Thanksgiving break, and we don't know yet if we will have the same/similar Thanksgiving break schedule.

The last times I'll be able to see, hug, etc. him is his, my school's, and a friend's graduation parties. I know being overly attached to your partner isn't healthy, but I am gonna be so alone. I knew this was gonna happen way before we started dating, but I guess the prospect is really driving itself into my brain now that I'm so close to entering my summer break and college.

Dang, it also doesn't help that the major I wanna study and go into the profession will take around 5 years in college for me while he and my siblings will take around 4.

I guess the healthiest mindset I could think of at the moment is cherish the time I have with him right now and just update each other on whatever and try not to step into or close to the obsession area.

I dunno how to currently end this, so I'm just gonna stop typing. Hope y'all have a significantly better break than I might have.

P.S. I will be using Wattpad while I'm outta my country. I may not look like I'm active, but I'll mostly be reading or commenting whatever.