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Yet Another Simon Redesign

Micey Leave a comment

I redesigned Simon (again)! He originally had this short-sleeved silk dress shirt, but I got tired of doing all the clothing folds and texturing. So hello blue rashguard! I’ll probably simplify the shirt even more, maybe mess with the colors, but I prefer the silhouette much more. Here are my concepts + some casual and Halloween outfits.

I also added some purple to his skin and face. The tips of his fingers have become purple as well, leading to a gradient to his skin tone. That is because I modified his backstory to include botched mithradism due to family issues. It illustrates his sometimes-toxic and self-destructive nature better. He has become more of a grotesque beauty.

OTM #37: Diner

katelynski Leave a comment

During fall break, I went home to see my family as I usually do. It was super relaxing and peaceful, and great to see everyone again. In a cartoonishly funny coincidence, though, I got invited to the same diner three days in a row. It’s one of my boyfriend and I’s favorites, and every time I go there I get the same thing – I can’t help it, the spinach and feta omelette is so good! Funny enough, the server was also the same each day. I was certain she’d recognize me, embarrassed about how silly I looked. On day two, I was saved; she either didn’t recognize me or chose not to acknowledge my repetitive eating habits. But day three, she brought it up. Even though she was sweet and happy about it, I felt like I was in a second-hand embarrassment scene in a sitcom. Right after calling me out for coming again, she asked for my order, and I avoided eye contact as I ordered the same thing for the third day in a row. Embarrassing. But so good. It was worth it.

S3 Scribble #3: Jubilee Street

Sydney Braun Leave a comment

“I am alone now, I am beyond recriminations,”

Fall Break was a wonderful staycation spent with friends as well as with my brother, who is now a freshman at the University of Michigan. Most notably, I went with my brother to see Nick Cave in concert at the Masonic Temple Theater in Detroit. In summer 2020, which I spent at home due to the pandemic, my love for Nick Cave’s music and friendship with other fans was a very bright spot in otherwise dark times. I became a superfan, and my family was dragged along for the ride by virtue of proximity.

“Curtains are shut, the furniture is gone.”

Seeing Nick Cave perform (and perform many of my favorite songs) live seemed like a full-circle moment for me. “Jubilee Street” is one of my favorite songs of all time (I encourage any music-lover to check out the “Live in Copenhagen” version of the song) and hearing it being performed live in front of me as I watched Nick Cave play the piano was surreal. There he was, the artist who creatively inspired me during some of the most hopeless days I can remember, right in front of me, this time under completely different circumstances. He was not wearing a mask; neither was I. I became a fan of his in high school and now I am in my senior year of college, living away from home yet still fortunate enough to enjoy the show alongside my brother. 

“I’m transforming, I’m vibrating, I’m glowing,”

It is fascinating how times change. Scary, yes, and stressful, but reflecting on where I was when I first began listening to Nick Cave and comparing it to where I am now, I am so incredibly impressed by and grateful for how far I’ve come. While I may constantly be hoping for more from my life, I realize that I have plenty of time, and my evolution up until this point is something worth celebrating. After the concert, I had the privilege of meeting Nick Cave himself, and he gave me a hug. I think that healed a piece of me that has been waiting for that moment since 2020. I realized once again how his music makes me feel like everything is going to be alright, as I know it will be. I think I may need to incorporate more Nick Cave into my life again, and I will start with this quote from one of my favorite books – his very own “The Sick Bag Song:” “Stop now! Let it go! You are completely enough!”

“I’m flying, look at me now!”

Listen to Jubilee Street by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCGyhMyH2GE

The Indian Artist, Final Year: Welcome Back!

Riya A 2 Comments

Good afternoon! I hope that you are all doing well. My name is Riya Aggarwal. I am a senior majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with a double minor in Art & Design and Sociology of Health and Medicine! If you are new to arts, ink., welcome!! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to indulge me and read what I have to say.

Last year, I presented a newer “Revamped” column where I made the transition into combining my love for art with my commitment to medicine. As it is my final year at the University of Michigan, it is bittersweet for me to present the last iteration of my blog: The Indian Artist, Final Year.

After 3 wonderful years of growing with and expanding The Indian Artist, I am exciting to wrap up the column by reflecting on my undergraduate experience, talk about the exciting next chapter of my life, and continuing to stay true to my Indian heritage and roots. I am in the process of finishing up my biggest art piece to date and cannot wait to share it with you all!

Once again, thank you to new readers for joining me and to all returning readers for continuing to tolerate my subpar writing! I will be posting weekly on Sunday evenings this year. Please feel free to reach out to me or comment if you have any questions, concerns, or thoughts! If you would like to see my work, please feel free to check out my website and follow me on Instagram.

Until next Sunday,

Riya

Instagram: @riya_aggarwal.art

Website: https://theindianartist.weebly.com/

Wolverine Stew: Aimless

clydemg Leave a comment

I have a headache

I treat it with two ibuprofen pills

And drink them down with bean broth from the garden back home

Mixed with tattered bits of veggie bacon

That I took back here in a Tupperware container

The ones with light blue lids that pop when you press them on

Never thought that would remind me of home

But still makes me smile

And all my thinking of silver hands and standing stones

And jumping with banshees to avoid the last stair of the fire exit

That only goes down and not up for some reason

Lets me get out of that feeling of my face being wrong

The hair glued to the scalp

And the air feeling too still 

And I don’t mind the mosquitoes

Putting a bump on each of my right fingers

Because I get to wander and look at mushrooms and cobwebs

And send pictures and recorded rivers to Mom and Dad

Smiling at the texts they send back

Because I like to share the earth in photos

And at night, when I don’t need to write about headstones

(One of the few times staying up ‘til 1 AM feels good)

I’ll spend them watching Bella Lugosi and listening to jellyfish lofi

But this time, I don’t laugh alone

Words flowing between like a two-stream-at-least river

And that will always be enough