Hey everybody! How is it going? Life's been hectic, so I ended up not being on social media a lot. (Classic introvert social withdrawal - if you know, you know). I'm planning to be online more regularly, but can't promise anything 😊 Bye~

Oh, I can't wait to update to Cosmic Alpha 6 tonight!!! Beta will be available soon (says the blog). Excited 🦾🦾🦾 #Linux #OpenSource #Rust

Over the weekend, I installed the new COSMIC OS by System76 on my 15-year-old laptop. I loved PopOS, and this new OS is impressive too! It's sleek, clean, and offers more customization than standard Gnome. I’m tempted to install it on all my devices (but gotta stop myself!!!). #Linux #OpenSource

Still working on my personal projects and the #CloneTrooper calendar concept. Progress is slow 😅, but I'm getting closer to completing the base. Some adjustments are needed as the bottom third of the helmet looks too empty, yet I don't want to add too much detail.

Another busy week here, at some point I will catch up with everyone and post updates!!! If you're in #Vancouver, it'd be cool to meetup for any of the events below 🦾 Wed, Feb 19: Vancouver Game Dev Series Thu, Feb 20: Type Brigade No. 55 Sat, Feb 22: French Screen Reading at Studio 16

I attended a free boxing class today and it was intense! I expected basic activities like shadowboxing and punching bags, but my martial arts background didn't prepare me for an hour of blocking punches and getting hit by my own wrists/gloves. I have newfound respect for the sport 👊

I've completed the Boba Fett Train Like a Trooper Series! It was fun, especially the dynamic kettlebell moves. I'm starting the 212th Battalion series now, and hoping the Jango Fett series is out after! I share my #Workout on Hevy: https://buff.ly/3Qker1t

I'll be going to my first #Linux meetup today! Not sure what to expect, I tend to stay out of developer circles because it's all over my head 😅 But it looks like a cool community with Q&A's and support time built into the meetup. Hoping for the best 🦾

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Nothing special happening here, we're resting from last night's opera extravaganza. Maybe I can whip up a nice homemade dinner for my wife 💖💖💖

We are going to see the opera "Flight" tonight! (https://buff.ly/41cDPMQ) Apparently a movie is based on it - or vice versa? I don't know, but excited to go see it!

Passport update! It's already in my hands!!! Only took two weeks instead of 4–6 weeks. Good ol' Germany being efficient 🦾🦾🦾 Now I only need to get my PR card renewed, and I can travel again. I'm so freakin' excited!!! 🎊🎊🎊

the struggle

It was @shicaraweibelvo.bsky.social birthday on the 9th!!! We painted our first figurines, went to hot pot at Cho Cho's (Metrotown) and had breakfast the next day at Yolks in Vancouver. No pictures... we had too much fun 🤣 Such an awesome weekend, happy birthday 🥰🥰🥰

I teach various #Branding classes and always recommend this website: Branding Style Guides (https://buff.ly/3qxzVJ4). To download, you need to create a free account (using an email alias like SimpleLogin). My faves are National Geographic, Tokyo Olympics 2020, and Discord. Go browse!!!

Another cool website I've found is "Interface In Game", a collection of video game #UI (https://buff.ly/2wPbT6s). There are screenshots and videos of game interfaces, which is fascinating if you're researching #GameInterfaceDesign for a project. Or just another rabbit hole to get lost in 😅

I believe!

I just came across the coolest website: https://buff.ly/3G77bBI If you're looking for an #OpenSource alternative to most apps, you'll be able to find it here! 👀 I've been browsing for hours...

This was already 5 years ago, I miss K/DA 😭😭😭Riot, please give us new music this year! I'm a huge Evelynn fan girlie, this was for a fan contest held holiday season 2020. Probably my first time trying out cell shading... and yeah, I suck at it 🤦‍♀️ #KDA #FanArt

Great job by Ruben (@rubenbolling.bsky.social).

First trailer for the remastered version of "Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust" movie by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. In Japanese cinemas February 28. On Japanese blu-ray March 26. www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2lz...

A Mr. Freeze watercolor-style experiment I created in Blender some time ago, inspired by the incredible work of Ben Harvey. #b3d #watercolor #batman

This.

This was such a cool piece, and I'm so mad I lost the physical original, all I have is this photo. First time trying out #Watercolour seriously instead of painting with acrylics. I've been wanting to get back into painting, but I don't want the mess that comes with it 😆

I did this piece on a live stream a long while back (I kidnapped @shicaraweibelvo.bsky.social Twitch stream overnight). I have no clue about digital painting, I just swish together the minimal traditional knowledge that I have 😅 Made in #Krita

Starter Packs, you ask? 🍁 Canadian Creatives 🏒 Canuck Creatives 🏖️ Nova Scotia ❄️ Canada and Far North Nordic Network 🖌️ Multi-genre Artists and Authors 🪶 Mythology, Paganism, and Shamanism. Please check them out via my profile, follow members, suggest others (some openings are still available).🙏

It's a pretty busy week for me, so I'm just gonna dig up old projects that I've never really shared before. This was a memoir for a friend after their fur baby had passed away. (We miss you Cedric 💗) #Illustration #PetPortraits

Just a bit of #StarWars nerding over here, but I've fallen into the treasure trove of clone trooper illustrations! Basically all named clone troopers have a poster made for them, so cool 🦾 (clankers too, if you're on the side of the Separatist) Check out FALLENV3GAS' work: https://buff.ly/3Q6B9db

Finished three books in January, one ahead of my 2025 goal! 📚✨ 1) The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish Vol. 2: 3/5 2) Splinter of the Mind's Eye: 2/5 3) Pathless Path: 3/5 I'm tracking all my reading on Bookwyrm: https://buff.ly/3CiQTXD 💙📚 #BookSky

Completed my first month of daily posts, inspired by Austin Kleon's "Show Your Work." It wasn't easy, especially with employment work I can't post. So, I'm concentrating on sharing inspirations and thoughts instead. On to February 🦾

Just some thumbnail sketches trying to figure out calendar layouts for desktop / mobile and trooper helmet proportions. #StarWars #Layouts

I made #DragonAgeTheVeilguard charms

I'm thinking of creating a calendar series for some #StarWars clone troopers and was searching for inspiration. I discovered this little project from 2022 - it made me so happy making it and looking at it for a month. Does anyone else still use wallpaper calendars?

Was I asleep during school in Germany or what? Why is a German booklet from 1899 mainly in the Latin alphabet with rare Sütterlin, while a 1930s fairy tale book is all in Sütterlin? I'll be researching this myself as well, but honestly, I thought it'd be the other way around. German in the thread.

Going to the German embassy today to hopefully get my new passport applied for. This pile of documents is freaking me out, I hope I've got everything 😬

I'm trying to read more German, and I found the German Archive of Book Industry & Commercial Graphics (@designreviewed.com 🙏). The content is a bit tough to read (it's like they couldn't print photos in 1899 🤣), but the typeface ads are worth it. This one reminds me of Ghost's cross logo.

I'm exploring decentralized social media options like #Mastodon or #Pixelfed. Is anyone else finding it difficult to find connections on those platforms? If you're on any of those sites, please consider following me 😊 🐘 https://buff.ly/40Kv5xa 📸 https://buff.ly/3E2XTYU

❓DYK #Adobe has official textbooks for all of their #CreativeCloud apps. Tutorial style chapters with lesson files. Easy to follow, these books are a great alternative if you prefer not to solely rely on YouTube courses.

"Terrible things are happening outside... poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared." ~ Anne Frank, 13 Jan 1943 (attached photo was colourised)

I was going through the mess that my "Creative" bookmarks folder is, and found some absolute treasures!!! ✨ First Treasure: Freehive / Ryan Gorley Graphic & web design, video/animation, and product rendering, all done using 100% #FOSS apps, no trace of Adobe! Super neat!!!

I have a lot of goals in 2025, but everything is driven by building a fulfilling future with my wife (@shicaraweibelvo.bsky.social), growing personally, and growing my creative business. So that, hopefully, we can have a peaceful and purposeful future together (and an ocean view apartment 🏖️)

More good news! "District of North Vancouver ditches X (formerly Twitter)." www.nsnews.com/local-news/d...

it’s becoming increasingly clear the goal of the far right is to defund and buy up every source of reliable information until there is no more objective reality to counter them

This year, I’m finally leaving a job that doesn’t align with my values. It's given me some prestige, but it's not worth the internal struggle. 2025 is all about proud, meaningful work that actually adds value. 🦾 What are you leaving behind?

I’m inspired by bold, balanced designs: thick lines, geometric shapes, and vibrant colours. I love art that tells uncomfortable stories, challenges opinions, and reimagines old tales. This year, I want to dive more into that! 🎨✨ #BoldDesigns #ArtWithPurpose

My 2025 goal: meet amazing people and build (or join) a creative community where everyone feels valued. I'm breaking out of my introvert shell with daily check-ins, monthly networking, and connecting via hobbies! It's a scary goal, because I like being a hermit 🗻 #CreativeConnections #NewAdventures

One thing I wish I knew when starting in #GraphicDesign: You don’t need formal education, but you DO need a strong portfolio and connections. Portfolio: Learn design principles, practice, and get feedback. Connections: Build genuine relationships, they lead to the best projects. #DesignTips

Another illustrator who’s inspired me greatly is Andreas Preis (@andreaspreis.bsky.social). I discovered their work in 2019 while researching a book cover and absolutely love how they mix geometry with natural subjects. Bright, textured, and all lines and shapes 🤯 #Illustration #Inspiration

I saw Alanna do her thing (nerd out over type) on Wednesday for Vancouver's Ladies Wine & Design. I had such a great time! 1) Realizing that I knew a few things (that'll keep the imposter syndrome a bay) & 2) Learning more in 1 hour about type than I did in 1 year of design school. Thank you 💗