#ceramic Incense Burner

"la-la-la-la-la" i went off for a few days due to depression episodes. i’ve never had one that was emotionally turbulent in which i did nothing but scream, cry, throw things and want to just wither in a little corner. i wanted to hide from my feelings and problems because i never felt more out of control in my whole life. i never felt more afraid of myself. so yeah, this piece is to highlight those moments from the past few days (which have recurred every month.) watercolour and dip pen.

Some pieces I had finished finally!

It was true that Nicaise's complexion wasn't quite as clear as it had once been, between his slight stubble, and the temporary imperfections that inevitably heralded the transition from childhood, and the way the Akielon sun had peppered his otherwise pale skin with constellations of freckles over years of exposure. His lips were also no longer quite as pouty as when he'd been fifteen. In general, Nicaise's youthful roundness had sharpened. It had left his jaw more angular, and his cheekbones prominent enough to cast slight shadows that sharpened his face. They emphasised his eyes, which were no less huge, or any less blue, framed behind long eyelashes that were dark even tonight, when he hadn't bothered painting them after the exertions of the hunt.

That was all just part and parcel of Nicaise now looking more like a man rather than a boy, in Nikandros's opinion. He looked different, but certainly not lesser than before to anyone who didn't prefer unripe, doll-like features. Nikandros knew that Nicaise was painfully aware of how men with such preferences did exist. Apparently, those courtiers might be among them. But Nikandros definitely wasn't. Nikandros kind of wished that he could claim that he didn't find the signs of Nicaise's maturity attractive, because it was Nicaise, but Nikandros wasn't a very good liar when it came down to it.

"You're more appealing now by far than when I first met you," Nikandros assured Nicaise.

Nicaise met his eyes, not quite hiding his surprise. Or his hopefulness. "Yeah?"

It sounded like he was asking for more than Nikandros's confirmation of what he'd just said.

Despite himself, Nikandros heard himself saying it anyway. "Yes."

From @justanotherdaylikeanyother's Inevitably Ensnared (Chapter 8 specifically,) which I enjoyed immensely from start to finish (and honestly, the entire Veretian Flytrap series deserves a read.)

I actually had a lot of fun illustrating a scene from here and just really love being able to illustrate an older Nicaise (I had a little too much fun with the freckles but whatever, it made up for screaming at rendering drapery. Chiascuro helped with the background though.) In person, the eyes were done with a bit of colored pencil to make the blues pop!

Emergency Commissions

Opening up emergency sketch and light painting commissions. Prices will be anywhere from $20 for sketches to $40 for small watercolor paintings with a queue of five slots!

Sad boys, sad girls, give me sads

#ceramic terra cotta bottles - missing three which needed to be fired

Working on things, forever happy with myself

another piece from a dream. i dreamt that i was trying to kill myself by going underwater and purposely filling my water with lungs. in the end i was having second thoughts and wanted to swim up to the surface, but i was too far down to really be able to. so yes. watercolour and dip pen

Waiting for this to dry and then I can add the eyes later #wktd

#ceramics woo