It's extremely strange being in a flux period where I'm not going back to full-time school in January... I have one more online class to polish off, then I'll be done my degree. 6 years in the process, and even more time than that spent in school. More of my life has been spent in school than out of it.
I'm in the process of madly submitting resumes to any job that's close and full-time, I'm not being fussy about what. Flipping burgers, stocking shelves, I don't care much tbh, I just need to work!
Me and my mate are in the process of moving him from the UK to here in Canada so we can start our life together, and so I'm waiting for that to go through as well.
In addition, we put my childhood dog of 13 years down in early December, and so now it's just me and my mom rattling around the house, which is also strange.
I'm trying to fill my time as best I can, which means lots of art! But, at the same time, I'm not liking not having something to do in any official capacity.
Being fresh out of school is weird. Mega weird. But I'm gonna make the most of it!
Journals106
Newest
Telegram channel for my art!
1 min read
Find it here:
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Moving Galleries to Inkblot
5 min read
TL;DR link: https://inkblot.art/profile/Aurasyr
Keep reading for my reasoning.
So, all this AI crap has been slowly weighing on me. I'm lucky in the sense that my career doesn't rely on my art, so I have been spared the existential dread of having my living taken from me, but I have so much empathy for those who are in that position. If that's you, know that I will always stand in solidarity with you. dA and other sites have been so far short of encouraging, and artists deserve better.
Given how the site implosion has turned out, and the stance each alternative has taken, I've decided to transition my focus from dA to Inkblot. Even before the AI-pocalypse, a friend had told me about Inkblot, and I joined as a beta tester back when it was still on Kickstarter. I'm really impressed with how the site is taking shape, and though it's not perfect and updates are still being added, I think it has the most promise. Since they've stated AI art won't be allowed to be posted, that's what has reassured me. I'm also drawn to its layout and general aesthetic. The migration will be slow, but I'll crack away at it for the next little while.
I browse dA all the time. I look through the popular stuff, everyone I watch of course, and sometimes the DD's. With the influx of AI art? The heart is gone. If I can't be sure an actual human put their time and sweat into each image? I honestly don't really see the point in browsing the wider community anymore. And that breaks my fucking heart.
I joined this community when I was 15. I'm 28 now. I made good friends here, some who I still keep in regular contact with. Everyone who used to watch me helped my art grow in so many ways, and provided encouragement I didn't necessarily get elsewhere. I also had my share of bad and unfortunate encounters, but the positives always overshadowed the negatives in a landslide. dA was my way to take a leisurely stroll down the world's art gallery, gather inspiration, and return to my craft feeling revitalized and optimistic.
That's all gone now. I see AI humanoids with too many digits, dragons that look like something out of one of my nightmares, human faces that look like creepy dolls crafted by someone who has no idea what the rules of anatomy are. I don't wanna see that shit. I want to see the world that someone pulled out of their head, with all the creatures and characters to match. Machines don't dream, and it shows.
As for my own art, I feel less and less safe leaving it here. My first account will remain untouched, since I lost access to it and can't delete it (yes I've contacted support), and truly? I don't think the art on it represents my style anymore. It hasn't for a long-ass time, but I want to keep it up simply for posterity. The friends I made there mostly have left the site, and it helps me remember the good times when I see the little network I had access to there. People don't really respond like that to art anymore, at least not online, and certainly not enough to build a personal relationship. This isn't just me either; even the more popular artists I knew may have 500 faves for 1 comment. I know people have less energy reserves these days, but correspondence is what helps an artist grow. If something someone has made moved you, say so! I promise the artist will be thinking about it all day.
My work has likely been chucked in the AI meat-grinder already, but I don't want anything new to make it in there. If I can help it, my growth will not be stolen by some robot to puke up visions for people who lack the consideration to investigate the original source.
I think a lot of why artists are pushing back against AI, along with the other core reasons, is that it's an attack on community. Someone who ordered a machine to spit something out based on keywords and multiple choice selections can't explain why a symbol is in there, or why they chose that light exposure to highlight that colour, and what that means to them. There's nothing to talk about, no process to explain. It's the difference between Wonder bread and a handmade loaf of bread that your grandparent made you, fresh out of the oven. There's just nothing there.
I mourn the "old internet" and old dA. This place was happenin' once. But with the departure and disapproval of some of the community's foundations, like BenWooten and Drachenmageir? You know shit's fucked.
Anyway, I'll still use my account to interact and participate in community with those who choose to stay, but my gallery will slowly move to Inkblot.
Link again for those who made it this far: https://inkblot.art/profile/Aurasyr
Keep those creative fires burning, everyone. They'll never replace us with robots, not really. We'll keep each other going.
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Eclipse Conundrum (I'm staying!)
3 min read
Well, I've witnessed one total solar eclipse in my life, and just like that one, this Eclipse seems, unfortunately, inevitable. However, it'll take more than that to shake an old vet like me. I actually like the new bigger thumbnails, but I absolutely hate how the notifications are set out. I feel like I can't find anything anymore x_x But, I guess I'll have to get used to it.
I've been here since early days, logged on for the first time when I was 14 or so. I'm now 25, and so many people have come and gone. Pretty much everyone that used to watch me in the old days has either moved on to other platforms, or slipped away into other passions, but if any of them happen to read this, I've never forgotten you. I thank you for shaping my early days as an artist, and if you ever want to contact me again, you're more than welcome! It's not uncommon for me to not talk to friends for long stretches of time, but I can always pick back up right where we left off
And I also thank everyone who stayed as well, notably Lingondraken and Raz-Zyrak - thank you for consistently commenting on my pieces! It means a lot, and lets me know people still look at my art for more than a couple of seconds XD
Even if appreciation is the last reason I do art (I haven't posted the vast majority of it), it is nice to have!
I also have hopes to establish this account as more of a professional profile, so that people interested in commissions can find me easily and see what I've got. So, when I have the time and energy, I'll start on that.
However, if you want to find me elsewhere, or keep in closer contact, throw me a note for details! I don't consistently post on social media, so that's sort of a lost cause, but there's other platforms I can be reached at, namely Telegram and Instagram.
Keep you and yours healthy in the tide of the plague, and here's to the future!
I've been here since early days, logged on for the first time when I was 14 or so. I'm now 25, and so many people have come and gone. Pretty much everyone that used to watch me in the old days has either moved on to other platforms, or slipped away into other passions, but if any of them happen to read this, I've never forgotten you. I thank you for shaping my early days as an artist, and if you ever want to contact me again, you're more than welcome! It's not uncommon for me to not talk to friends for long stretches of time, but I can always pick back up right where we left off
And I also thank everyone who stayed as well, notably Lingondraken and Raz-Zyrak - thank you for consistently commenting on my pieces! It means a lot, and lets me know people still look at my art for more than a couple of seconds XD Even if appreciation is the last reason I do art (I haven't posted the vast majority of it), it is nice to have!
I also have hopes to establish this account as more of a professional profile, so that people interested in commissions can find me easily and see what I've got. So, when I have the time and energy, I'll start on that.
However, if you want to find me elsewhere, or keep in closer contact, throw me a note for details! I don't consistently post on social media, so that's sort of a lost cause, but there's other platforms I can be reached at, namely Telegram and Instagram.
Keep you and yours healthy in the tide of the plague, and here's to the future!
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Flux Period
3 min read
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Making a Comeback
1 min read
Since I started university 6 years ago, I haven't been all that active around here. That, combined with networking mostly on tumblr and with friends I already had contact with elsewhere, led to me disappearing from here. Now that I'm polishing off the last of it though, I'm much more free!
But, I'm going to change that! Starting now, I'll be posting more of my works, because it's not that I haven't been drawing, I just haven't been posting. And now that I have a tablet that can talk to my laptop, more digital art can happen too!
So, to old friends, I'm happy to be back! To new friends, don't be afraid to come talk to me
(And, on the off chance anybody would like to commission me, throw me a message. Depending on what it is, we'll negotiate a price! It won't be anything over $70 (CAD) for anything singular.)
But, I'm going to change that! Starting now, I'll be posting more of my works, because it's not that I haven't been drawing, I just haven't been posting. And now that I have a tablet that can talk to my laptop, more digital art can happen too!
So, to old friends, I'm happy to be back! To new friends, don't be afraid to come talk to me
(And, on the off chance anybody would like to commission me, throw me a message. Depending on what it is, we'll negotiate a price! It won't be anything over $70 (CAD) for anything singular.)
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