All righty, I've quite a bit to cover as regards my 2021 update as well that which will take place leading up to it, but first ...let's look at this card. ^^
I did not buy him, but I knew he would be worth sharing here, hence I took a photo to use as a reference at home. :3
This skunk has a very ...retro style to him---could pass for mid-century Disney if he were slightly more round (less angular). Also, I'm unsure what the skunk's tail is pointing at, way off to his right. I'm also unsure why it's solid white on top (despite his back having gray-and-white striping) and black beneath (given his chest/underbelly is white). Still, he's cute enough. ^^
I drew the skunk with my Zephyr pencil, then delineated him via a Ruwe 'Quiz' pencil ...because the skunk seems to like flash cards (it's a bit of a stretch, but whatever). :3
N-E-way...
Per my interpretation of the feedback I've received, it would seem most are in favor of me going ahead with my Maia's Tears project.
However, mixed within that favor is a bit of apprehension, which is expected (esp. given how vague I've been regarding the details of the project---I've said very little about its plot and characters other than it's extremely violent---it's not my usual cute and cuddlesome fare).
One watcher in particular had much to say. I'll cover some points of their message here, and respond accordingly.
WATCHER: "I figured given the choice between more of the same and something new, more people would be interested in something new. It seems however that you have garnered a certain expectation from your watchers for cutsie lighthearted stuff and that some of them would like it to stay that way. Or put another way that some watchers would like you to continue to make the content that they like and know you for"
Mhm. This is among the reasons I've made a big deal about this. I know Maia's Tears (MT) is a sharp deviation from my usual mess. Moreover, working on MT would entail a drastic decline in production---once I begin this thing, I won't be uploading often (understatement). I suppose my thoughts returned to that very brief period in which I decided to make some uncensored Timmy art for Pixiv. The art was effectively the same as I'd always done, save Timmy faced the other direction. That ...did not end well (more understatement!) ^^;
Basically, I'm hoping to avoid a repeat of history here.
WATCHER: "We can come to an artist looking for specific things, and there is nothing inherently wrong with that, but may I suggest an alternative. Be open to being taken places you wouldn't otherwise go, along with the artist. If art is about exploring someone else's experience, then why not go for the ride"
Ideally, but I cannot ask or expect anyone to look at anything one doesn't want to see. :3
WATCHER: "I agree with you its a shame to have done all this work and have it go to waste. I also sympathize with your sense of "wanting to do something of value" or just finish something you've worked on a long time"
<3
As it is, I don't think I have much artistic identity; there's no one thing I do particularly well, or even often.
If I'm known for anything, it's for my medium (traditional) and my format (ACO/ACEO), but those things are too broad to mean anything if they are the only descriptors. Like, I'm not (say) a Brony or Pokemon artist; I'm not an enthusiast for any particular series or franchise. I don't have a 'brand' per se (aside from 'One-Cent ACEO', but wtf is that, right?). I want to create something uniquely mine. Alas, much of my youthful creativity has been beaten out of me---all that remains is MT. Thankfully, MT is a pretty hefty thing, as it has a (mostly) developed world and large cast of definable, original characters.
As for my present stuff,
Gene and Tasli are generic, and I'm too depressed and weary to write (good) stories for them---fun tales of water gun fights, trying to catch Santa Claus or eating too many cookies, etc. One needs to be a cheerful, fun person to even want to write such things. I can't---I begin, but lose interest almost immediately. :(
As for Timmy ...there's obvious reasons I cannot do anything with that. Moreover, the art has served its purpose and (so) the character is (effectively) dead now.
Continuing ACO isn't enjoyable, particularly because I'm not skilled enough for my art to escape the garbage can the day after I die, and the thought/reality is always there that (eventually) copyright law will catch up to 'fanart' and take it all down. Even my Gene and Tasli stuff wouldn't be immune from that, thanks to my stupid decision to include Mimi (AotLK) as a character (additionally, the best Timmy arts feature Pikachu OCs).
I just see it all as ultimately pointless (so why persist?).
WATCHER: "If you really want to go forward with this project you have to find some way to cordon it off from the rest of your work. You have to give people the ability to opt out to some extent. You could do that by putting it all exclusively in an MT folder, or by making another account and giving those interested the link. Mainly you don't want to make people feel like your shoving it down their throats"
It would be hidden behind maturity filters, even the 'safe' pieces (since it would all be one work). I cannot manage more accounts---I need to stay on my Marten/Chippy accounts in order to answer 'where-are-you?' notes from those who don't read descriptions (ok, wishful thinking there---not many would care enough to ask) XD. ^^
WATCHER: "As to the moral issue, my advice is not to solely consider the raw content. Yes it contains violence, but to what end? Many watchers have said that they don't personally care for violent, gore, content. I feel similarly. I tend to find that gore stuff on this site unpleasant. But it's not so much the violence itself that's upsetting per se, it's more the context"
The gore/violence is integral to the story---it's not there to shock anyone, and it's certainly not a fetish thing on my end. On that note, I'm likely to describe most of the carnage through text rather than draw it (if I truly wanted to shock and surprise, I wouldn't have issued a warning at all). :3
The main reason I've emphasized the violence is if I didn't, others would do it for me.
WATCHER: "Okay last thing was the format ...I mean I'm sure a long form comic would be really cool but I know that's way too much work and as you said you'd never be done in your lifetime ...I'll only point out that I think there is a clear preference for visual content over written content on this site. But if you have no other way to present your story than a hybrid approach is probably the best way to get more readers invested in your story while having a project that is manageable"
I plan to upload the segments as illustrations, but most of the image would be writing (on tablet paper) with small, relevant pictures decorating them. There may be some sequential 'comic' panels, but those would appear at the top of their respective pages, with descriptions/story written in pencil beneath. :3
As for the more immediate future... I'm not going to ignore Christmas. I will be making holiday-related ACO and possibly some comic-quickies between now and the end of 2020. MT will begin in January 2021, with its first batch of stuff being uploaded some weeks/months after (providing the Lord allows me to live so long).
