Ame's Art Desk Art Process ASMR: Mara's Heartbreak

Here you can watch the development of Mara's Heartbreak, an image done for #drawMermay2023

Ame's Art Desk: Kirsty full seal form (Selkies' Skins Character Art)

This is character art for Kirsty McKay, a half selkie/half-human-witch from my Selkies' Skins books and short stories. Here she is in full seal form hunting fish, her hunger distracting her from her original purpose. It's ok, it wasn't anything pressing. It's still counted as exercising the form to keep her muscles built up! Unseen in this image is the ring mark on her left ring "finger" she gained in her adulthood after marrying David Valnarius. With that in mind this could serve as an image of her at any time after she gained the twining woad color markings on her left wrist that stay with her in any of the forms she's managed to learn to take or are inherent to her.

This was done as someone close to me (you know who you are!) had been asking for more selkies and Kirsty art. I hope that you and he both enjoy watching the time-lapse process of creating this piece. I've not chosen a recording program yet for trying to capture things in real-time, although I have been considering trying to use a camera and boom.

This was done on my iPad with my iPencil in Procreate. I haven't unboxed the special grip yet which I plan to do a test and review of. I'm still recovering from Tax Season.

The manuscript for book two, Selkies' Skins: Temple and Skinquest, is still being finished before final edits will take place. The first book of the series, Selkies' Skins: Castle and Well, is available on Amazon and many other platforms. I have several other books available as well so feel free to check out my Linktree or the other links below to find them.

Sorry, I'm not the Teresa Garcia from the news channel that I keep finding when I run a curiosity check on my name. I'm just the Teresa Garcia author that writes under my name (not a pen name) and illustrates under Teresa Amehana Garcia and LadyRainStarDragon or LadyRainStarDrago. It would be interesting to meet the news lady though. That must be an interesting job.

Art Posting: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/art/KirstyHunting-958584327

Music: Open Sea Morning by Puddle Of Infinity

https://www.linktr.ee/Amehana

Ame's Art Desk: Mushroom Sticker Art

There are other mushroom pieces I will do for a sheet of mushroom stickers. I don't expect I can afford a booth at the local Mushroom Festival this year or get items produced in time for this year. I am focusing on being able to afford my yearly booth at the Lumberjack Fiesta in McCloud and need to double-check how much I owe for this year's calendar ad (only one of the two ladies involved in calendar expenses has contacted me so far). However, perhaps the sheet as well as Lumberjack-related sticker art will both be ready and printed by that time.

The first one played around with in this video is inspirited by the Blue Oyster mushroom. The second is taking extreme liberty with the Inky Cap mushroom.

These are done in Procreate on an iPad (9th generation) using an iPencil (1st). The first one used mainly the studio ink brush in the inking. The second focused on using the waterbrush from the calligraphy set.

Before anyone asks why so much more time was spent on the first it is because I became dissatisfied with the colors. And style. And picky.

Music: "Magic Moon - Restless heart (rnb beat mix)" by RobbH 

available at https://ccmixter.org/files/RobbH/32463 

2011 - Licensed under

Creative Commons

Attribution (3.0)

https://www.linktr.ee/Amehana

When AI Art Becomes Exploitative and Unethical - interesting video

The above is an interesting video by Illiminaughtii discussing AI art, and also touches briefly on the uproar when Deviant Art included (all, originally) artists' work on the platform in the AI training set. Now, an artist has to opt-in to allow their work to be used by the training set, but at the start, it was all included by default. As an artist on Deviant Art, I was among the concerned and was relieved when they switched to being allowed the choice. However, there were many who deleted their work before that happened.

I believe it can be a useful tool, especially if the person continues to rework the piece created by whatever AI art bot they are using. However, it should be up to the artist as to if they allow their work to appear in the training set. There should also be some effort involved.

Signal Boost: A Personal Piece of Space Art Kickstarter

Have you ever wished to own a piece of space? Eleri Hamilton is doing a small run of space art for Kickstarter backers. Her pieces are beautiful and one of a kind works.

A Kickstarter project only gets done if the goal is met. If the project does not fund you do not get charged, but also the run doesn't get produced. Her goal is $1000 US, and she has a project budget posted.

Check it out. http://kck.st/2T1nwQt

New Thing! Selktember will start in 2020.

Selktember prompts

Selktember is similar to Mermay, Inktober, and Drawlloween. I have not seen any prompts lists focusing on just selkies, so I felt it time. Selktember will contain a prompt for every day in September and can be used for poetry, art, stories of any length, or even music clips. Whatever your mode of creative expression, use it! Post to your favorite place for your works and then tweet the link. Please use the tags below to help others find it.

The first official Selktember will start in 2020

You'll be able to find the prompts when it is time to start by visiting the Selkies' Skins webnovel archive at https://teresagarciaserials.weebly.com/selktember.html or here on the publishing blog.

@amehanaarashi (so I see it directly) #Selktember #Selktember2020

Here is my art from last Inktober as a Youtube flip book

Please notice that some days are more detailed than others. It is ok if you are not on point every day or only have time for "simple, but finished." The point is to explore your own creativity. It's not a competition against each other.

Illustration Process demonstration: Watercolor brush pens (layer 1)

The above video is an illustration technique demonstration using watercolor brush pens. This is ONLY the first layer. I was unable to record the following layers. A video of a full process watercolor will be done at a later date with a different work.

I needed to soothe myself and needed some brain tingles. I've been wanting to use my watercolor brush set more so I decided I would somewhat simulate the feel of Chinese brush art with modern tech. Elements I included are water lily, strata rock, rushes, tree stump, lake grass, ornamental goldfish.

This is the finished result after passes with a waterbrush for blending and then going back with the brushpens for more detailing.

https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/art/Lily-Fish-Pond-Waterbrush-marked-799865515

Later I will make this available as a poster in Second Life and I think it suitable for a print in our analog world as well. It is currently available as a print in the DeviantArt store, just follow the link from the work in my gallery.

Mythical Minstrelsy Volume Three available now on Smashwords

Mythical Minstrelsy Volume Three by Teresa Garcia is now available on Smashwords. This collection of fantasy #Art #Poetry and #ShortStories spans the year of August 2017 to August 2018. http://ow.ly/rlsQ30ousjY Volumes Two and Three are to port to Amazon as well after conversion.

For the curious the cover art incorporates Second Life Photography done in the Nisa parcel (part of the Dreaming Twilight group) in the sim of Ontario by myself (Teresa Garcia) via Amehana Ishtari/Arashi. The figure is "Maria Lightwatch" as represented on my main account. The singing stones have since been relocated to one of the other parcels controlled by the group. Each of the Dreaming Twilight parcels represents another country and/or world in the Dreaming Twilight universe/multiverse/world. Visitors are welcome and encouraged. One can expect to find either Maria or her lute featuring in cover art for this series of anthologies.

Mythical Minstrelsy Volume Two available on Smashwords

The long awaited second volume in the Mythical Minstrelsy anthologies is now available on Smashwords. I have not yet gotten the Amazon Kindle version set up and uploaded yet, nor the print. Volume three I hope to have ready to push later this year after I get the cover ready. Long term Patreon Patrons will be sent the appropriate years in ecopies for their support.

Maria Lightwatch, a three tailed kitsune character of mine is the mascot and "official tale teller" for this series. Each book is a collection of that year's art, stories, meditations, and poetry, not including installations of the Selkies' Skins series or illustrations done for children's books. Each year's anthology will therefore be of varying lengths but will mostly tie in with mythology or folklore in some fashion.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/933783

Latest commission: D&D Dragonborn Paladin for John Krauss

Grease Coakes (author John Krauss) asked me to do some art for one of his D&D roleplay characters knowing very well of my love of dragons and fantasy. This is what came after he told me about his dragonborn paladin character. Thank you for having me be the first to do art for this particular character.

This commission fell under my "fantasy character" special. I executed the piece on a 5.5 inch by 8.5 inch leaf of mixed media paper using a mechanical pencil, pink eraser, Prismacolor color pencils, Walmart special color pencils, a metallic color pencil set I picked up in Hot Topic a year or two ago, silver, gold, and white gel pens, and a grey Sharpie.

Commissions Info: www.deviantart.com/amehanarain…
Books I've Illustrated for: www.deviantart.com/amehanarain…

Organization Updates on a few things.

Deviant Art Gallery and Second Life

My (Teresa Garcia) DeviantArt Gallery has been rearranged so that each media that I work with has a folder. There are still folders for such things as people, mountain scenes, foxes and the like for those looking for examples of particular items. I do not yet have folders for the particular styles that I work in for art beyond the media types there. However within Second Life the main outlet for THG StarDragon Publishing in the main building of the Nisa parcel in the Ontario sim does have a display up with art styles. This display when clicked leads to my gallery. The new outlet in the Neighberry sim also has a display up. There are two slots left to fill that I need to choose examples for or create newer examples for.

What I do in Second Life for the publishing company is combined with an avatar modding, clothing, and spiritual items shop as when I first started Arashiryuu Productions inworld I had noticed a niche that needed more items. That first "I'm not finding a lot of Shinto related things, I shall have to make some for myself I suppose" eventually is what led to "I could bring THG StarDragon Publishing inworld since there are notecard books, maybe I'll eventually get into other book forms within this virtual world platform." Not all of the books are ported into this world and this method of publication.

A new addition to the Ontario/Dreaming Twilight shop and the Neighberry shop will also be a board linking to where to get the books I've illustrated (next to my art samples since I take on commissions). After a recount of prims in the Trotsdale sim's market area shop cart I will likely place one there as well near the small sample board.

I am going to be closing the Saddlewood location once the rent on that shop runs out. In the real/analog realm (not room) I'm still operating out of my house.

Second Life outlets

Dreaming Twilight (Ontario, Main Shop): http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ontario/245/155/58
Trotsdale: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Trotsdale/99/200/24
Neighberry: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Neighberry/47/76/22

Current Projects

I am working on the preliminary linework for a children's book entitled "Minnie's Decision" by Patsy E. Stackhouse, which I hope both the publisher and author will enjoy as it is one going through PenIt! Publications via my illustration contract with them.

I am still working my way through getting the audio for "The Ian's Realm Saga Trilogy" by D.L. Gardner finished. This is to be published independently as per my last conversation with her.

There is always poetry to be doing, I need to catch up on my goal for that. The poems get posted to my Patreon, but I need to see what needs catching up in my D.A. regarding poetry.

I intend to work more on Selkies' Skins: Temple and Skinquest. My vacation did not have much writing time. I was rather busy with other things and very firmly in an analog world. There were people there. *chuckles*

I am still open for editing and/or layout projects. I am still open for publishing projects. I've not done much in the way of work the last couple months due to having to devote most/all of my waking hours to undoing what happens when one works on projects so much there is not time to do laundry/clean. I need to pay for a dryer repair and bills somehow. Nose back to the grindstone it is.

Additional

I'd like to remind other authors and illustrators that have THG StarDragon Publishing projects that if you have done other things on your own or with other publishers please do NOT feel shy about letting me know so that I can get links to your additional work put up. Getting the information for the main site updated (oh... that means I have to find the file for the whole site and do code...) and working with the webmaster (the ever so wonderful Rowan Wookey, who is also a very good friend) to have that updated again and additional pages added is one of the goals for this year as there are some adjustments to implement.

"The Starr Family's Ice Cream Creation" is available

I notice that the latest children's book I illustrated has been posted on that publisher's website as available. In this sweet story a family explores the world of ice cream in search of new flavors and even goes to Italy as part of their search. It was a fun one to color and one with gave me a good place to implement some color techniques I had been wanting an excuse to use. I will point out that I did not do the text layout on this cover piece.

In this short children's tale we meet the Starr Family. They love ice cream so much that they go on adventures to find new flavors. Each member has a different idea. This even includes a family vacation (and a little implied romance for mommy and daddy) to Italy.

"The Starr Family's Ice Cream Creation" by Barbara Kurtz and illustrations by Teresa Amehana Garcia.

PenIt! Publications

You can get it now at the Publisher's Catalog page or on Amazon.





If you click the link above to buy off of Amazon I get a very small bonus from Amazon. Such purchases help me out as I was paid a per illustration fee and so collect no royalties of of this particular work. If you'd like to tip me after you've read the book please feel free. There are a few ways you can do so.

Tips and Support

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana

Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana

Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon

Looking for where you can find my own books or art?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia

DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com

Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com/ Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet.

Illustrations, cover art, or cover art WITH book text included available

(as not everyone prefers to do their text layout themselves)

Commissions Info: https://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com/journal/Commissions-Stuff-for-SL-and-in-General-566657935

Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com

Unboxing: I'm Not Just A Tree

Podcast: Moey's Big Back Yard

https://www.facebook.com/WJOB.1230/videos/1767849013260723/

Do you remember the dog book I illustrated for? You can meet the author in this podcast. I am so ecstatic that the interviewer termed the art as "whimsical" as that is exactly what I was aiming for.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1976212340

Spotlight: Oscelot Haalan

Oscelot is a woman of many talents. She does poetry and short fiction, and sometimes she even posts it or has something she will allow me to read on the Youtube channel. She also is wonderful in Second Life setting up worlds to explore with Dreaming Twilight (formerly the group responsible for the sims of Nisa, The Ibex Empire AKA Ibexia, Qwhildrasil, Thessalia, and Exmoor) in the group owned parcels currently located in Ontario.

In addition to this she makes gorgeous scale mail items, clay jewelry, and other widely assorted crafted knickknacks. I encourage you to check her out at her Patreon. (Plus, if she knows there is more traffic there I can keep her motivated at being more in the public about her projects. Shhh. I'm going to get long distance pokings and Cat Glares.)

Oscelot Haalan's Patreon

She also has a Youtube of her own, and I wish she would do more readings.

Press Release: Astral Sector Alpha Art Fair June 25-July 3

I forgot to post this here on its own, although I remembered to submit it to Bixyl Shuftan (as Amehana Ishtari, my Second Life legacy name) for the SL Newser.

Press Release: Astral Sector Alpha Art Fair June 25-July 3

Astral Sector Alpha is holding an art fair June 25th to July 3rd.

Astral Sector Alpha, also known as ASA or the Astrids, is a community of artists of different stripes that originated in Second Life, although not all of the members are within Second Life. They also have a Discord presence and do live readings every other Saturday over Discord (as not everyone can successfully use SL voice reliably) starting at 6 PM SLT and gather in world for camaraderie during the reads. ASA's goal is to nurture each other's creativity and to provide a good grounding for artists, writers, and other creators to grow within and draw encouragement from. Members are encouraged to start their own projects.

ASA has worked with several small libraries in the past to provide reading exchanges and art/writing contests, including with the Trotsdale library. Amehana Ishtari's past writing workshops and a Haiku anthology between cooperating Second Life libraries, available for free on Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/542449 are examples of the sort of projects that members launch.

Art of several types is on display at the current art fair, things represented are visual art in the form of drawings and photograpy, jewelery, images created in blender, textual offering to be read either by the author or by volunteers, and "glitch photography" which is a new art form developed by Danielderv Resident, which has even had an article published about it in a university level publication. The building itself was created for the art fair.

For inworld readings of the content in the fair, readings will happen from the 30th to the 3rd at 5 PM SLT to ensure that all that was submitted has a chance to be shared.

This art fair is also intended to kick off a weekly magazine format. For more details about that particular endeavor talk to Danielderv Resident.

Calm Ocean (69, 196, 3821)

Illustration Share: Queen of Glass

It was time to do a fully human figure again. May I present the Queen of Glass. I don't have a story for her or a set character as of yet, but at some point I might. I did this merely as an excuse to work with the human form again, even though humans are not my favorite.

This is sized down from the original so that it will upload on my internet connection to my DeviantArt gallery. The inspirations for this are Grinmir-Stock's "Sigrid 14" and a simplified version of the stained glass inspired dresses sewn by Creel in "Dragon Slippers" by Jessica Day George. This is not a character from Ms. George's works, just something that I wanted to draw as it was time to practice humans again. The Queen of Glass currently hides her bench, but I imagine it as having stained glass insets.

I especially enjoyed the fur trimmed cloak for some reason.

Executed on 9 x 12 inch 80 weight paper with mechanical and color pencils.

Ink Drops and Paint Drips: A Collection of Haiku and Thoughts

The latest ebook released by THG StarDragon Publishing is "Ink Drops and Paint Drips: A Collection of Haiku and Thoughts" by Members of the ASA/Project Catfort and Trotsdale Libraries.

FREE on Smashwords

This booklet is the result of a joint project undertaken in the Second Life sim of Computer, at the amphitheater on the Astral Coalition parcel. Some of the members of two Second Life libraries, the ASA/Project Catfort Library and the Trotsdale Public Library, met to undertake haiku writing workshops. Amehana Ishtari / Arashi (author Teresa Garcia) read selections from “Seeds from a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey” by former Zen monk and English teacher Clark Strand. The participants then discussed the readings and practiced writing haiku (and some near-haiku) together to create this booklet. Some of the poems are more frivolous than others, a few not suitable for publication in a General rated publication have been removed from the main text but will be available inworld in the ASA library since it is located within an M rated sim. Some of the more interesting text discussion is also provided at the end of each session chapter. Timestamps are left intact to record when a particular poem was put into local chat.

Selkies' Skins: Castle and Well print cover reveal

The art for the print edition's cover was delivered to me on the 17th, St Paddy's day. There have been a few complications at home that slowed getting the text elements laid onto it...but it is ready and the proof will be on the way very soon.

For those that would like a poster version of the artwork without the bookcover's textual elements, it is available on Zazzle to purchase for $19.90. Proceeds from any sales of the poster art will be split between myself and the artist, Samantha Buckley.
http://www.zazzle.com/kirsty_the_half_selkie_and_lady_maras_rage-228898304578051264