This is such a superfluous thing, but it’s shocking to see how many music visualizer apps on iPhone seem to require a subscription to a music service in order to “work”. #DAPs made by FIIO and Sony have this as a feature, but meanwhile I have to pay $11 a month to have the lesser of this:

Believe it or not, this is one of the first things I’ve drawn this year in #Procreate. I came across some photographs of a tuxedo cat dressed up as a #Palico costume from the #MonsterHunter series and just couldn’t resist drawing them up in my #sketchbook. 🖌️ - Manga-ka by #Frankentoon

🎶 Hey, hey, whaddya say? Take a look, it’s #portfolioday! 🎶 If you’re looking for an artist with graphic novel sensibilities with strong organic linework, I’m your guy! I’ve designed a mascot, characters, music albums, posters, comics and I’d like to do even more! #hireme www.brentonbarnes.com

My wife @gillianfbarnes.bsky.social is currently working on a novel that I was lucky enough to read the first pass on. It was a good idea then and it’s an even better one now that she’s had time to focus on it. #bluepit

I’m glad that my daughter is watching and enjoying #sesamestreet, but let me ask the parents something. Do you exist, working and minding your own business, when all of the sudden from out of nowhere you hear: 🎶 LETTER OF THE DAY / WHICH ONE’S THE LETTER OF DAY 🎶 tenor.com/lA70nLLhgMp....

Q: “It’s been three months. What have you been up to?” A: “Well, with my return to social media, I’m here to tell you that it’s time to reject humanity and return to monke with a cassette player.” 🖌️ - Sketch Kit by #frankentoon #sketchbook #procreate #masterstudy #sonywalkman

#PiDay is almost over, but its never too late to acknowledge the song “Pi” by Hard N’ Phirm. It’s also never too late to acknowledge I learned about this song from #YTMND and this band did an amazing country western melody of Radiohead songs called “Rodeohead”! youtu.be/XanjZw5hPvE?...

… And last night, I drew up Bert’s long time friend. (Because everyone needs one and my friend suggested to draw him next.) Did I spend too much time on this again? Possibly, who’s to say? 🖌️ - Sketch Kit by #frankentoon #sesamestreet #artistsky #sketchbook #digitalsketchbook

Since my daughter has been getting into #SesameStreet, I thought it’d be fun to draw up an iconic character in my digital sketchbook. Admittedly, I may have spent too much time on this but when you’re having a good time… 🖌️ - Sketch Kit by #Frankentoon #artistsky #sketchbook #digitalsketchbook

In my pocket of the universe, it often feels like no one talks about anything they’re enjoying. But do you know what I’m enjoying right now on audiobook? THE SHADOW GLASS is an (auditory) page turner of modern fantasy that I’m sorry I slept on for the last three years. #booksky #theshadowglass

I’ve been using #Procreate for quite some time and do my best to keep up with updates and features. Their worst feature? Page Assist. I ❤️ the idea of sketchbooks in Procreate, but one layer to do anything? Get out of here. I just found out today you can GROUP layers while using Page Assist.

If you’ve got quite the collection of #Kindle books, you’ve got six days to download them using a Kindle app on your computer and back them up. This is as good as a time as any to consider alternative marketplaces that provide DRM free copies of ebooks. #ebooks #drmfree tinyurl.com/y7ztxhxy

A real life romance moment between @brentonbarnes.bsky.social and me. #RichardLinklater #BeforeSunrise #CobraKai #CobraKaiNeverDies

Despite having my Liene Photo & Sticker Printer & Cutter since mid-January, I wasn’t able to take it for a test run until this evening. What did we test out? How about !black and white #DavidLynch heads? So far, I’m impressed. I can’t wait to use this more and I’m glad I kickstarted it!

I just finished watching #TheSubstance with @gillianfbarnes.bsky.social. This was the cinematic equivalent of being dragged across rough terrain laced with glass and debris and flipped over to be dragged back the way I came. They DO NOT make movies like this very often and that’s a GOOD THING.

Ah yes, remember from 2002 - 2010 when owning the full spectrum of Copic Markers was an illustrator’s dream for the ultimate art supply? I remember when these were SCARCE and your options were either to import it or purchase at an anime con. #artistsonbluesky #copicmarkers #digitalartists #memes

On that same note, @lecinenerd.bsky.social I have a story to share with you about “The Secret of NIMH”. This past Christmas, my wife and I found that film on DVD in perfect condition at a Savers. She insisted we show it to our two year old daughter, as its one of her favorite films. (1/??)

When it comes to podcasts I listen to, #thirtytwentyten has a three month back log I need to catch up on. I’m catching up with this year’s episodes and in this strange and uncertain times, it is a source of ABSOLUTE JOY thanks to its hosts Chris Antista, JR Ralls and Diana Goodman.

ME: *sits at desk and works* Just focus. Just focus. Don't look around. Do NOT look around. THE NEWS:

“You know what would be a good idea? Actually cataloguing the artists and albums in my music collection to Spotify so it’s fully represented.” He thought one day. It was a task he had put off for years, taking full advantage of the platform was a recent development.

Nobody: The perfect manga doesn’t exist. Suzushiro: Hold my beer… #mangasky #comicsky

As I suspected, screen tones did in fact do this drawing of #DavidLynch some good! 🖌️ - Beat Tones by @truegrittexture.bsky.social #artistsonbluesky #artistsky #madeinprocreate #procreate

Decided to draw up the dearly departed #DavidLynch in my Procreate sketchbook with @truegrittexture.bsky.social’s The Rusty Nib’s Crumb Nib & Super Dry Brush. Toning will do this some good and it may be a good excuse as any to try my new gel plate coming in & testing my new Liene Sticker printer.

Last night, I cracked open Patrick Horvath’s “Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees”. While I love the idea of a Slyvania/Calico Critters-esque town experiencing a murder, I have to wonder how many stories we need with a serial killer protagonist in a post-Dexter world. #booksky #amreading

My first completed book of 2025 was an unexpected surprise: #TheMothKeeper. I was drawn in by its cover and premise of community and responsibility. Then I was sucked in by its artwork, page layouts and visual storytelling & calming atmospheric story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #booksky #amreading

"It's cold, snow and ice are on the ground and I have to drive slowly to work across untreated rural roads. What would be the perfect soundtrack?" Inspiration comes from unexpected places and you don't find great music, it finds you instead. #musicoftheday #davidlynch #crazyclowntime

In case you weren't aware, #CriterionChannel has made "David Lynch: The Art Life" available to watch for free since his passing. I've been meaning to watch this for some time and it was fascinating and transfixing to hear stories from David Lynch & work on paintings. tinyurl.com/mwy2v7um

I meant to say this yesterday, but pour out a cup of coffee and have a slice of cherry pie. We lost one of the greatest directors of our time. David Lynch was a true artist in every sense of the word and the world is a less interesting place without him in it. #restinpower #davidlynch

A friend of mine asked if I’d be interested in creating a profile picture for their DJing profile on Instagram. I offered to take it on and took it to the next level. She got a full blown illustration to add to her gallery to promote herself! #artistsonbluesky #illustrator #artcommissions

I got seventeen days into #Whamageddon before I made a trip to WHAMHALLA this year. My co-worker’s radio did me in when I recognized the soft guitar at the start. I didn’t tell her about it, so everyday was WHAM! Roulette from 8:30 - 5 PM. Believe it or not, she didn’t know about the game either.

I’m trying to find more time in the day to get back to making quality pieces like I used to… But sometimes all you have time for is your daughter’s Crayola Crayons and the jumbo newsprint drawing pad to help with entertaining her.

Anyone on BlueSky playing #Whamageddon for the season? I’ve been a yearly participant since I learned about it from the #LaserTime podcast. It’s been four days since it started and I’m still safe… for the time being.

On another note: despite becoming a father two years ago and very used to the daily routine, I still take for granted how much time I have to be creative on a day to day basis. And that’s if I don’t want to abuse my much needed sleep schedule (which, sadly, I often do).

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been working on a commission for a friend’s DJing Instagram. Since I like to show and not tell, here’s a preview for you. 🖌️ - Chromagraph by #truegrittexturesupplyco Made in #Procreate #illustration #illustratorsonbluesky

“What’s better than ONE FREDDY? How about THREE FREDDIES, B*TCH?” With today being the anniversary of #NightmareonElmStreet, it felt fitting to bring this #ThreeWolfMoon parody out of the archives, circa 2017. #LasertimePodcast’s Lizzie Cuevas was a huge help with this one, as it was her idea!

I know it's been awhile BlueSky, but did you know Wes Craven's #ANightmarreonElmStreet is having its 40th Anniversary today? It's one of my favorite film series and for #WomeninHorrorMonth in 2015, I paid tribute to NOES with "Nightmare of Nancy". For older work, its too good not to share again.

We may not agree about politics or religion,,, but we can all agree that we want Mike Tyson to knock out Jake Paul

“You look like a GOOD KITTY.” #Procreate Sketchbook Warm Up 🖌️ - Blocky Charcoal by #FrankentoonStudio

Here's a great question for everyone: How many redundant data devices do you have lying around your house? As in you're not using them but they're there for... reasons. At this moment, I'm counting two external hard drives and two USB flash drives. Three of these devices are from my college days.

When you've had social media in your life for as long as I have (imagine if you will, creating Twitter posts with a T9 flip phone), joining and using a new platform like BlueSky is an... unusual experience. Especially when you've been accustomed to a somewhat offline existence for so many years.

Q: Who's this Brenton Barnes character? A: I'm an independent illustrator who's working on getting his groove back. If you like independent comic art from the aughts and like experimentation, the odds are strong that you'll like what I make.