(no subject)

 "Why (do) you create, and do you create differently for different purposes?" (e.g. 'vent art' vs kink art vs dayjob art) - flowersforgraves

 

Oh, absolutely, and this is a fun question to pry into how many different art headspaces I have; not something I've thought of consciously from this angle, so it's a treat to me as well. Let's see ...

• monetized works (design for the dayjob, paid illusts)- almost a separate bucket from everything else, in that the creation doesn't stem internally as it does from a project brief, deadline, and a capitalistic exchange of mental effort in exchange for cash. Nothing inherently bad about this as there's many experiences here I've enjoyed - Little Foolery's 10 year anniversary piece would be one I'm still very proud to have done, and happy it exists. However, I wouldn't call this "art" either as there's often a fundamental disconnect between what drives the effort versus what drives me as a meatbag. Maybe they like my style, maybe we're good friends and both want to see a happen - and voila, so it happens.

• "Art" (What is art?) something that's maybe more unique to my art experience is the entire endeavor got started with me drawing my Muse, as I've alluded to briefly before. I use that word because it's the only way -in the past fifteen years- that arguably captures the sheer consistency of where the "flow" comes from, mixed with a little old school creative tradition that would frame it for most folks. Almost - not quite divine, but an anchor, a focus, an other that you don't question. It's not as readily apparent in say, kink art or story art like I elaborate on down below, but it's the lodestone I always go back to when feeling empty and directionless. (personally i'd also love to see the definition of "muse" change in popular culture from cis white man who idolizes a beautiful woman aesthetically to a much more varied and lived interpretation. doin' my part there ...) 

kink art - interesting piece of trivia: I only started drawing erotic/kink art in 2017-8. like many, I was a little ... shy? hesitant to dabble in it before, and also quite honestly didn't really have much experiences with works or moments that touched my id beforehand. i think it's telling that a lot of the kink creatives I know have reported that kind of "switch flipping" instance where they didn't start drawing erotic art until they felt more sure of themselves. I joke that alucard/integra as a ship from hellsing is what pushed me to start exploring this vein of art, which is true - but they were also a vehicle for me to start playing with power dynamics which I've always loved and yet didn't have an easy playground to mess with it.

it's kind of another essay altogether, but i find kink art very intertwined with how I see power in life experiences (and find joy in it) along with what leather is for me. I don't mean 'power' in a social justice sense (i uh, don't care for large parts of the strict ideology used there, personally, me n' any kind of ideology don't mix), but more of a dollop of spice and recognition in unexpected places ~
 

story/collaborative art - IRON CROWN (webcomic), and zines such as SAFETY OFF would fall under this category; where the main "drive" is separate from the Muse, or money, but the overarching themes of the story or aesthetic experience tie back into what I want to see more of in the world. usually, again, there's a heavy emphasis of messy power tilts.