Another year, another valentines post. I got my valentine doodle done and......that was it. I had no idea what to post with it. I dug up Valentines doodles from previous years to share (and so they flavor this edition). I started and deleted about four different essays, trying to decide on some topic worth exploring. But nothing felt right. Because look, we've all got a lot of life coming at us at the moment. For me, it feels like the world is moving too fast toward a future none of us signed up for. So! Since its Valentines day, a day for love and general good vibes, I want to put all that aside for a second and just let the good in. I'm taking a page out of the book of Miley and buying myself flowers....well, maybe not flowers per se, but a treat all the same. Something to feel good for a minute.
I downloaded Procreate Dreams, the new Apple animation software.
I love animated movies. I always have. I always will. 2d, 3d. I love it. I admire the talent and skill and creativity it takes to be an animator. Had I known in my younger years that this was a career path people could actually pursue, I might have done it. In an alternate universe, maybe I am one. I hope so. But in this universe I'm just a story geek with a curiosity about all things animation so I am going to treat myself with Procreate Dreams and tinker with my doodles and see if I can bring them to life.
Pictured: A glimpse at my animated movie dreams
Procreate Dreams is made for traditional 2d animation, which is the only kind of animating I know anything about. And by know anything I mean, very very little, but I'm interested and I've taken online courses for no other reason than I'm interested. That's love. I'm not studying, reading and learning about this stuff because I am working towards doing anything with the knowledge. I'm not gearing up to monetize or launch a new career. I'm just interested and that's it, that's all. When I play with software like Flipaclip, or Procreate’s built-in animation tool, and now Procreate Dreams, it’s for no reason other than to play, to experiment, to have fun with drawing. I'm just learning for me. With no agenda or ambition. Just a love of the medium.
So this Valentines day, I've downloaded Dreams and I'm excited to put on Netflix, make some popcorn and dive in. ‘Cus yeah, I can buy myself flowers.
What sort of flowers are you treating yourself to this Valentines day?
Doodle
What I’m working on
Same ol’, same ol’. I wrote about the struggles I;ve been having with my current projects here but I’m relatively unstuck now (thank goodness) so I’m just chipping away.
Also! Chapter 1 of the follow up to Zombie Shark Highway, Lava Cat Cruise Ship is coming on Friday!
When luxury cruiseliner The Silver Queen finds giant, parasitic saber-tooths onboard, it's up to the captain's son to save both the ship, and all of humankind.
I will be posting chapters every Friday until its done, with paid subscribers having access to the downloadable ebook. If you haven’t read Zombie Shark Highway, not to worry! Lava Cat Cruise Ship is a stand alone adventure. While the two stories occupy the same universe, their stories are not related (well, except for the zombification stuff). Watch for it in your inbox, Friday!
What I’m reading
I put down Chokepoint Capitalism a while ago because I was on a fiction spree, but I’ve returned to it and am absolutely fascinated. Great book to help understand the state of things for creators in a capitalist world.
Stacks to Share
Are you worldbuilding at the moment? This post about worldbuilding in the opening pages of The Matrix by
was my favourite read of the week. Highly recommend.And this post by
about love notes from famous writers is a great read for those warm valentines feels.Happy Valentines day!
Your "favorite read of the week"?! I love that my Matrix piece got that reaction out of you. Thank you for sharing it!
My valentines will consist of eating a decent steak, properly seasoned, with some Guinness. Cheesecake for dessert and I’ll watch The Notebook lol. That’s my romantic film for the year b