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Dragon-Face

I'm inactive.
104 Watchers109 Deviations
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I continue to be humbled by all the support my artwork has received. Now, as I look through my gallery, the pieces I was once very proud of make me cringe, yet these same pieces are still being favorited every day. I'm honored. Thank you, to all of you!


Looking back, it has been something like seven years that I have no longer been creating art. I honestly and sincerely cannot believe that, and it hurts. It really does. Art was such a huge part of my life for so long, and I've lost that spark for nearly a decade.


A couple of days ago, I decided that enough was enough. I went to the library (which thankfully had very diligent COVID-19 protections!) and checked out a bunch of books on human and animal anatomy. My goal is to re-teach myself how to draw people and animals so that I can once again be inspired to put my ideas on paper -- without cringing.


Since that moment, I've been wondering if I should revive my DeviantArt account. On one hand, I avoid social media sites because I'm prone to internet addiction, and I'm also rather embarrassed by much of the artwork I posted here. It makes me cringe to think someone could find me through my modern artwork and then find a bunch of disproportionate Danny Phantom or Fullmetal Alchemist fanart from my teen years in my gallery. But on the other hand, that art is a part of me, and people know me by that artwork. I feel the need to push myself to overcome the embarrassment.


I'm not sure what I'll do, but I do know that it would be a wonderful experience to document my growth as an artist on the internet, be it here or somewhere else. I've already been sharing some sketches with my friends, and the feedback I've received has been phenomenal.


In the meantime, are there any old faces out there? Anyone I know still using DeviantArt?

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A Check-In

3 min read
I wanted to start by saying that I'm humbled by how many favorites I continue to receive on my fanart, even years after I left deviantART. Distance has revealed the errors in my art -- what I once thought was pretty impressive, I now regard as fairly average -- so seeing those favorites continue to pour in, day after day, is such an honor. Thank you all!

Why am I here, though? I have a weird complex about abandoned accounts -- I always worry about those people, whether they're still alive, whether they're doing okay, etc. So, considering that my last journal entry was in 2013, I thought it'd be cool to give an update and assure you that I am very much not dead!

On that note, I want to emphasize again that if you want to find me on the Internet, rodoviel.tumblr.com is the place to go. It's a Supernatural blog -- sorry if you don't like that show! -- but it's really the only Internet presence I have right now.

So what's been going on with me?

I finish my first college degree in a month. Yep. Terrifying and exciting at the same time. I have no plans after graduation -- really my only plan right now is to take a break and read the Bible a lot. But let me tell you, these four years have been full of so much work that I need to just be for a little bit. My brain's in no place to start a career. It's good work, though. College has changed me so much.

I still haven't gotten back into art. Ironically, my burnout has gotten a lot better, but now the problem is that I don't have a lot of time. I decided about two years ago to change my focus to writing, so I've used my precious free time to focus on writing instead. I still keep art in the back of my head, and I'd like to take the pencil back up one day, but...college is just not a good time to do that. I have too many demands.

Even if I did pick art back up, though...I'm not sure I'd come back to deviantART specifically. 2numagirls and I had a conversation about this a year back -- anyone ever hear about the deviantART-Hot Topic controversy? As it turns out, deviantART is not a very copyright-safe place to post art. deviantART basically gets to do whatever it wants with your art without compensating you. And there's some other stuff I could mention, but what it boils down to is that I no longer feel like dA is a safe and professional place to share art. If I ever did pick up the pencil again, I might move permanently to Tumblr or another platform. I don't know.

[EDIT]: Some research has revealed that it wasn't deviantART's fault that the fanart got stolen, it was Hot Topic's. That's something I'll have to consider!

So will I ever come back to deviantART? We'll see. But I'm in no rush. For now, I want to finish the race I'm already in -- college. Then we'll talk art.

I hope everyone's doing okay! I'm sure things have changed so much, it kind of excites me to think of where all my watchers might be now!
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Well, hello.

4 min read
Is anyone out there? I'm half-afraid that I'm writing a journal that no one will see!

I've been very diligent about hiding myself on dA recently, but for some reason, I felt motivated to write a journal today. I'm not even sure why. I guess a part of me misses you all.

Well, I'm still alive. I hope nobody was actually worried about that! My life has simply entered a drastically different chapter recently. Maybe I'll tell you all one day what's going on, but I'm not in the mood for a long, anecdotal journal entry right now. Just know that things are actually...good. They're honestly, truthfully, good. I'm happy - happy like I never thought I'd ever be able to achieve.

The main reason I've found happiness is that I found Christ. I became a believer about a year back, and...the change it has wrought on my life...well, God is great, and I will never doubt His existence or His power to provide ever again. I wish I could put into adequate words what this last year with Him has been like, but I don't think I'll ever be able to. All I can do is try to say it and hope someone will listen.

If anyone misses me, I have a Tumblr you can follow - rodoviel.tumblr.com . I'm actually extremely active over there. If you ever wanna talk, just send me an ask or a fanmail sometime - I'd seriously love to speak with you.

I want to write about what's been going on in my life, but right now's not the time. Maybe if the mood ever strikes, I'll come back and write a lengthy journal. I feel like y'all deserve to know, because you were all such wonderful figures in my life that I honestly haven't forgotten and still think about from time to time.

I just...need more time. deviantART was a leech in my life for the two years leading up to the day I decided to leave, and leaving the site has honestly been therapeutic for me. I didn't even realize how much stress it put on me until I left. I think I was forcing myself to be someone I'm not. Now I don't have the constant pressure of needing to be the artist, or especially not the artist trying to live up to the expectations of a hundred people, and it's a huge relief. I've been healing from my art burnout, and more importantly, I've accepted that it's okay to have art burnout. I've also accepted that it's okay for art not to be my chosen path in life. For so long, I was holding myself up to the expectation that I should want to have a career in art, but somewhere along the way, I finally accepted that it's not my passion. I'm doing other things now. Of which I'll talk about one day~

In a perfect world, I would be back to drawing right now and would have returned to dA with new pics. But, this world isn't perfect, and I'm still stuck in my burnout. I do sincerely hope for that to change one day, however. Art may not be my passion, but it is definitely something I have held dear to my heart for a long time~

I hope y'all are doing well, I really do. I wonder what it's even like around here. Are you all still here? Man. I'm keeping you in my thoughts c':

[EDIT]: Oh, and real quick, something I forgot to say - I actually do log on every few weeks to see how things are going, and I'm honestly touched by all of the comments and activity messages filling up my inbox. It's kind of funny how I moped about being unpopular for so many years, and now that I'm not even using dA, I'm finally getting a favorite per day. XDDD Seriously, though, it means a lot to me that even if I'm not still around, there are people in the world who are enjoying my art. Thank you all. Seriously. I love you.
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Scratch That

1 min read
If you read the journal I posted moments ago, I changed my mind about it. I decided that I don't wanna ask for that yet because I don't know how active I'll be in the next few months, what with college and everything.

Sorry! Go back to your normal lives!
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53 From the Soul

12 min read
Um. Hi? I've been really distant from dA lately. To be honest, I feel a bit estranged from the art world in general. I think I still have lingering negativity toward art that's leftover from the depression and god-awful stress I experienced during the Spring semester. But I'm getting better, and I find that I actually have a bit of a drive to draw now. I've started a simple piece of Danny fanart that's almost done. Hopefully this is the road to recovery. I think doing art that is for me, and only me -- not for some stupid assignment -- will be very therapeudic, if I'll only open my heart to it.

But anyway. Enough of this sadness! I stole this tag from :icon2numagirls: because I haven't done one of these in way too long and it looks interesting, haha. So here we go!

:bulletpink::bulletpink::bulletpink::bulletpink::bulletpink::bulletpink::bulletpink::bulletpink::bulletpink::bulletpink:


Instructions: You should know these by now.

1: What do you put on hotdogs?
Nothing. I love my hotdogs in their pure, untainted form~ (a.k.a. "plain," haha) Although I like to eat the cheese-filled ones every now and then, or put cheese on top.

2: Do you say "anticlimatic" or "anticlimactic"?
"Anticlimatic." I'm Texan, so the southern speech has kind of rubbed off on me, and I leave out a LOT of consonants when I talk ;; I think I say my T's maybe 10% of the time, haha.

3: Do you check flyers before grocery shopping?
Nooope. Mostly because I don't pay for it, so I don't have to worry about the money. Although come to think of it, perhaps I should start, given I'm a poor college student and all....

4: Blue, black, or some other colour pen ink?
Black. Plain and simple. Black.

5: Do you use your parking brake?
I drive a manual transmission, so I have to use it. But the habit is now so strong that whenever I drive an automatic, I do it anyway. Kind of scares me not to....

6: Look to your left. How many framed pictures are on the wall?
None. You chose the wrong direction, the doors to my bathroom and my closet are to the left...*lame.*

7: Do you know how to play chess?
Yup! I never actually play it, though. Not really my thing, plus there's no one to play with.

8: How often do you clean the interior of your car?
Every time I get back home. I don't ever leave things in my car. It's a pet peeve of mine, leftover from all the times I rode in my mom's car, where there is so much crap on the floor that you don't even know where to put your feet.... Speaking of which, I wanna get it vacuumed this week, a lot of grass and leaves have accumulated on the floor and seats >_@

9: Do you ever read the last few pages first?
Ohhhh no. Never. I like the surprise. Sometimes, if I have a feeling I know what's coming, I'll even use my hand to cover up the next few paragraphs so I won't be tempted to glance down.

10: Ever fallen in the shower?
Ummm...I probably have, but I just can't remember doing it because it's been so long. I think I might have fallen a couple of years ago, while I was dancing in the shower. I do that a lot XDDD" Once my parents asked me what I had been doing, because they heard my jumping all the way in the kitchen....;-;""

11: On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to swear at other drivers?
1. I'm a very calm driver, and I'm proud of that fact.

12: What's the worst thing you've ever called someone you care about?
Good question...probably "coward."

13: Do you have a Snuggie?
Nooooope. I have so many blankets already, I feel like it'd be wasteful to get one XD"

14: Are you allergic to anything?
I have very sensitive skin, so there are a number of strange things that will make me break out in a rash. Among them are metal, the material school desks are made out of, certain species of grass, and tight-fitting clothes. I'm also allergic to an ingredient present in most lotions, but I have yet to figure out what that ingredient is. Pretty much the only thing I can use for dry skin is petroleum jelly.

15: Do you have any TV shows on DVD?
I have a couple of Fullmetal Alchemist DVD's, but I never watch them 8D""

16: How many times do you hit the snooze button before finally getting out of bed?
I used to never hit snooze, but after the horrible events of last semester, in which I was maybe getting 5-6 hours of sleep a night on top of being depressed, I now hit snooze up to 6ish times. I hate it.

17: Ever driven away in anger?
Nope. Actually, I never thought about that one....

18: What's your favourite freezie colour?
Huh, I've never heard those called "freezies" before. In Texas, we just call them popsicles. Or maybe I'm the only one who calls them popsicles and I just haven't noticed? Haha, but anyway, it's red.

19: Are you a vegetarian?
No, but I really want to be one. I want to become vegetarian before I graduate from college. The only reason I haven't yet is because other things have been on my mind.

20: Do you have a garbage receptacle beside you? What's on top?
Nah. The closest one is in the bathroom.

21: Do you cross out your mistakes or erase/whiteout them?
I cross them out, even if I'm using a pencil. I love writing with pens, and I also try not to erase lines when I'm sketching, so it's just become a habit.

22: Ever torn something up that you instantly knew was too important for such treatment?
I don't think so.

23: Do you think that things will get better?
Always. Optimism is more valuable than people think.

24: Do you have an unpopular opinion? What is it?
I absolutely refuse to play Call of Duty. I think it's a horrible game, because it treats human wars like they're games to be enjoyed. No. Just no. There is nothing fun about war, and we should not for one second think that. Don't even try to argue with me on this one.

25: What's your favourite quote?
Oh man, I've read so many wonderful quotes in my lifetime, and I can't possibly hope to remember them all. When I read quotes, it's not normally the words I remember, but the lesson I learned.

26: Did you/are you going to go to prom?
I went to prom! It was loads of fun ;D a bit lonely because I was dateless and surrounded by people who had dates, but tons of fun nonetheless. I remember showing up in high heels, and I gave up on them only an hour in and spent the rest of the night barefoot. I hate high heels with a passion, haha~

27: What's the most physically painful thing you've ever experienced?
I fell out of a tree and injured my spine once. So. Much. Pain. For. So. Long.

28: What's the most emotionally/mentally painful thing you've ever experienced?
Good question. There are a couple of things.... I think the worst is the tension I've had with my mother since I was 11. I lived in her house after she and my dad divorced, and that was a horrifying place to live -- it was filled with rotting food, flies, animal feces, and trash. She would also smoke inside the house, despite the fact that I literally choke up and can't breathe whenever I breathe in tobacco smoke. She didn't care that she was putting my brother's and my health at risk, or that I came to her crying about it every few days.... She only cared about herself, her cigarettes, and her computer. As a result of all this, I developed depression and phobias, which only served to make the experience worse. And when I finally put my foot down and said that I was going to live with my dad, she made it hell for me, attacking me emotionally with guilt and pity.... Things are much better now, but that's a battle that has never quite subsided. It's definitely one of the worst mental games I've ever experienced.

29: Have you ever legitimately saved a person's life?
No. Although, you never know if you're the person who made the big difference in someone's life. I believe that, even if I didn't save someone from death, I've saved people from situations that could have lead that way.

30: What's your favourite book genre?
Fantasy adventure!

31: Did you like "Gigli"? Be honest.
Never watched it =O

32: Have you ever walked out of a movie at the theatre?
Yeah. I can't remember the name of the movie -- Fast and Furious maybe? -- but I was watching a movie with my bro and my mom, and both of them got bored halfway through, so we left.

33: Do you peek between your fingers during the scary scenes?
Yes....

34: What was your reaction to Tatum getting killed whilst stuck in the pet door in Scream?
I don't even know what you're talking about man.

35: Do dogs like you?
Yeah!

36: Would you say that you project an air of authority?
Dude yes. ALL THE TIME, I'll be shopping at a store and people will start asking me questions because they think I'm an employee. I'm also usually the person who takes charge of projects and stuff, and my partners normally just sit back and let it happen. So I guess something about me just gives off that aura ;-;"

37: Do people listen when you speak?
Yes...I hope so....

38: How are your elbows? Are they okay?
Yeah. They feel okay. Yeah.

39: What is one thing that you do exceptionally well? Be honest.
Fine artsy things, like drawing, writing, music, and coming up with creative ideas.

40: Do you use torrents?
I used to when I watched FMA, but not anymore.

41: When was the last time you paid for music?
Probably about threeish months ago?

42: Are you addicted to technology?
...The answer I WANT to say is no, but uh.....

43: Pick a person (you don't need to give their name). How do you feel about them? Be as honest as you can get yourself to be.
Kelsey, I just want to say that I haven't given you enough credit in the past, and I'll forever regret that. Looking back, you're the one friend who's stuck with me since the beginning. So many friends have come and gone, but you're still here, like a faithful dog. Even when things got funky during high school, and I wasn't as nice toward you as I should have been, you still considered me a friend and stuck to that notion like glue. You've always been there. And I am such an idiot for not realizing that. Here I've been, chasing after lost and hopeless friendships bound to only last three years at the most, and here you are, seven years strong and not showing the slightest notion of giving up. That is truly amazing. I love you, man. So much. Don't let me ever take you for granted again, mm'kay?

44: Do you check your computer's dictionary for the definition of words you'd otherwise feel confident about using during in-person interactions? Just to be sure?
Yeah. XD" I want to be absolutely certain that I'm using the right word if I ever doubt myself.

45: How heavily to you rely on spellcheck and autocorrect?
Never. I'm a beast at spelling.

46: Have you ever gotten into an argument on the internet? Did you win?
Ohhhh, yeah. OHHH YEAH. I've won some and lost some. And to all of you I ever had an argument with, I'm sorry. Please forgive me.

47: Do you pause movies/TV shows if you have to go to the bathroom or the kitchen, or do you just let them keep playing?
Normally I don't have the option of pausing, because I use cable to watch most television shows and movies, but in the rare instance I do have the option, I jump on it.

48: If you use a regular alarm clock, do you have it set to music or that obnoxious beeping?
I use my phone to wake up, so I have to select a ringtone~

49: Peter Pan?
Can barely remember anything about it =O

50: How often do you fall up the stairs?
Very rarely, which is surprising consider that I naturally take stairs at a run.

51: Do you pronounce "anti" as ant-eye or ant-ee? (Example: "That scene was very anticlimactic.")
"Ant-eye." It bothers me when people pronounce it "ant-ee"....*twitch.*

52: Do you pronounce "via" as vee-uh or vie-uh? (Example: "We can get there via Tremont Street.")
"Vee-uh." Who in the world says "vie-uh?!" What?!

53: How often do you forget to close your parentheses?
ALMOST EVERY TIME. ALJSDF
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A Check-In by Dragon-Face, journal

Well, hello. by Dragon-Face, journal

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