It's StaciaJoy's birthday week!
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StaciaJoy

Womanly snark at maximum level
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Bare Bones Collection by StaciaJoy

"BARE BONES is a collection of poetry, prose, and freeform writings by author/illustrator Stacia Joy that peels back the thick skin of expectations, self-preservation, and societal norms in an attempt to honestly communicate what life with depression and PTSD is like; a glimpse through the stark lens of rediscovering emotional fluency that reveals the juxtaposition of pain and beauty in its rawest form."


Yes, I am finally beginning to share publicly the writings that have helped me process, and are currently helping me process, living with PTSD and the repercussions of (now mostly healed) depression. It's time. Silence doesn't change anything. 

Feel free to read along and either find camaraderie in your own battles, or walk a little way alongside the fighters, learn, and become an ally. 

Read the collection here: barebonescollection.wordpress.com
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This summer, the job that allows me to pay rent and buy food while attending the Rhode Island School of Design is reducing my hours because No Students = No Customers = No Work For Me To Do. 

I was pretty much just affording rent and food with that job - living paycheck to paycheck. I am seeking other jobs, but then so is every other youngster staying in the school's area over the summer. Chances are slim, and my income is cut in half. I'm kind of treading water as to how I'll make up that lost half. I hate to sound like I'm whining, but I could really use some help. 

Thus: I AM OPENING UP COMMISSION SLOTS AGAIN! 

And I've decided to offer them in color this time around because I've stumbled across several things that I really want to experiment more in with regards to how I color, and what better way to experiment and push myself than creating stuff for other people?

Full-color pieces similar to those below would be $30-$55:

The Mountain Cossack by StaciaJoy I Have Never Loved Someone by StaciaJoy

Simpler pieces like this one below would be $15-$30:


Ermagersh by StaciaJoy
Variables of price would be the number of characters, complexity of designs and poses, and complexity of coloring. If you're interested, please message me here on DA, or shoot me a line at SJAisling@yahoo.com! 

Thank you so much! 
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Logged on today to discover that :iconthebrassglass: had given me a three-month premium membership! Thank you so much, dear! I appreciate it, and the encouragement and critique you've given me on my work, so much! 

You all should go check out the gallery of :iconthebrassglass:, too, if you like beautifully rendered characters, the French Revolution, or traditional mediums. Go, go, check it out! There are things like these lovelies there:


Saint-Just, Emissaire by TheBrassGlass




The business of looking for a wife by TheBrassGlass

xo, Stacia Joy
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In the past few months I've seen quite a change in the evolution of my style, not only in lineart and character design, but in my use of color, as well. I thought those of you who've asked me where I learned certain techniques from would like to know who's influencing my work the most of late. As it so happens, all three of them are here on DA:

:icongoldentar: has been formative in my lineart's recent subtle changes in both simultaneously simplifying and roughening, as well as my change of my coloring style from everything-is-blended-to-a-satiny-finish to slightly more graphic layering, focusing more on local color and letting most of the lineart - which really is my stronger suit to begin with - do most of the talking about detail.

Commission - Sveri by GoldenTar   Sketch Dump 03 by GoldenTar   Filipek by GoldenTar

:iconnicholaskole: has been very formative in my exploration of color and light within compositions lately. His handling of both these elements in the Maleficent storybook's illustrations has been quite inspiring to inspect, not only for their own sake but for the strong roles they play in his compositions. His angular, shape-oriented character designs for the Dawngate Chronicles have also influenced the simplifying of my own linearts - and stepping away from trying to attain rendered realism has never been so lovely and relieving.

Maleficent - The Encounter by nicholaskole   Maleficent: The Cliff by nicholaskole
Dear, Steadfast Voluc by nicholaskole


:iconlosenko: only recently popped up on my radar when I was scrolling through watercolor pieces here on DA, and I couldn't be more pleased that she did. Each of her illustrations are very strong composition-wise, filled with beautiful flowing motifs and rich with designs and cultural details (most of her pieces have to do with Russian culture or fairytales) and absolutely glow with color. Even in the short time I've been in the know about her work, it's already influenced my love of (sometimes very) limited pallets, and sparked me to try and work traditionally a bit more, as well. 

- Phantoms - by Losenko - The Magic hat - by Losenko

- Snow Maiden - by Losenko- Rubi - by Losenko

Please do swing by these three artists' galleries and check out their art for yourself! I'd also love to find out about what artists are currently influencing your work and helping you learn new techniques or styles. 

xo, 
Stacia Joy 
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Digital painting is something I admire, and hope to achieve success in sometime soon, so lately I have been scouring DA for work that inspires, motivates, and plain old impresses me with mastery, composition, dynamic, or story. All of the artists whose work I mention in this feature are wonderful creators and craftsmen, so I strongly urge you to check out their full galleries, follow them, and give them some comments and faves to support them!

Gladiator vs. Lion by :iconmiguelcoimbra:
This was given a DD a few years ago, and it is well worthy of that distinction. Personally, I admire the composition, especially the placement of the statue looming over the fighting pair below - good visual storytelling, that. The use of light and contrast to guide the eye is also beautifully done, and I love the way it's used on the gladiator. A major thing I learned from studying this piece was the completion of the background, in particular the crowd: not all the details are there. Just suggestions. The viewer's eyes sees the suggestions, and fills in the rest of the blanks. As someone who tends to overwork pieces, this was great for me to see. 

Hairful by :iconlittleulvar:
hairful by littleulvar
 All of littleulvar's works display a skill with brushwork that I'm currently enduring seventy years of sworn servitude to achieve, and Hairful is no exception. In this piece, I learned again of the power of simplicity, letting the raw brush strokes suggest detail to the eyes. One brush stroke I really like? The one indicating the middle of her collar bone. It's one brush stroke, and yet it gets the job of describing all that anatomy done. Beauty. The use of color is the other thing that keeps me coming back to this piece. When I was young, my mother dressed me in purple a lot because she loved it. I then spent my tween and teen years loathing purple. But recently I have discovered the magic of it when used in art - particularly in shadowing, and Hairful is another reminder of just that.


Aviator Portrait by :iconzaraalfonso:
Aviator Portrait by ZaraAlfonso
In Aviator Portrait, what catches my appreciation the most is the rendering of the face - it's not hyperrealistic, nor simplified, resting in a sweetspot. The little aviator's nose is actually what really gets me. It's delightfully executed - shadow, highlight… very three-dimensional. And adorable. Also, contrary to popular opinion that, being very curly haired myself, I was born with the knowledge of how to recreate curly hair in art… I actually struggle with it. I have therefor spent quite some time studying Hirukio's handling of it here, and learned quite a bit. Finally, I admire the softness of this piece - proof to me, for the third time, that a piece does not have to be rendered to the enth degree to be successful.

Crone by :iconwildweasel339:
Crone by Wildweasel339 
It was difficult deciding which of Lane's pieces to use in this feature, as I find many things in each of his works that I want to emulate and imitate. But I settled on this one, mainly for its use of light, both direct and reflected. The reflected light bouncing up into the crone's face is beautifully warm, rich, and friendly amid the paler, softer colors of her surroundings and the whiteness of her hair. Another thing I devour Lane's art for is his ability to make a digital painting look convincingly traditional. His tutorials on sharpening your strokes and his process step-by-steps are invaluable. I highly recommend you investigate them, and though I could go on and on about the genius in Lane's work, I'll just be quiet now and let it speak for itself.

Owl Griffin and the Flying Ship by :ironRobtheDoodler:
Owl Griffin and the Flying Ship by RobtheDoodler
This piece is more in the vein of the work I do now, and the work I expect myself to achieve within the near future. Rob works with exquisitely-executed traditional lineart, and digital color laid overtop. A simpler coloring technique, perhaps, than the artists I featured above, but very successful, nonetheless. Look at the level of realism the three dimensionality achieved in Owl Griffin and the Flying Ship with such a simple color job! (Hah. I sense a pattern being thoroughly preached to me: SIMPLIFY) The result is crisp, clear, and successful, and many, if not most, of Rob's similar work is no different. If you enjoy owl griffins, comics about land sharks, or mech armor, check out his gallery. 

So there you are, a small taste of the digital artists who have been influencing me lately. Again, please support them with a visit to their gallery or a comment or two if you appreciate their work! Also, please share with me the digital artists that you have found influences your work, too! Networking is the best. :) 

xo, Stacia Joy
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Featured

BARE BONES - a collection by StaciaJoy, journal

Well This Is Awkward - COMMISSIONS! by StaciaJoy, journal

In Which I Spotlight TheBrassGlass by StaciaJoy, journal

Current Art Influences by StaciaJoy, journal

Feature: Digital Painting by StaciaJoy, journal