[Video Description: A simple, black and white animation of Ahab genderbent as a woman. She is a chubby and buff older Persian woman with long hair in a low bun, and scars over her face, including a lightning scar over the left side of her face, a scar over her lip, and a forked scar over her nose. She wears a simple, collared shirt and holds onto a rope, as if climbing the rigging of a ship. She sings out for a whale, her voice commanding and gruff at the end. After the note ends, she grins widely. End ID.]

in honor of the 'Kill The Whale' album that anon sent me on my main blog and also lesbian visibility week, please have a very quick animation that is much less intended to be a good animation and much more intended to be me being category 10 homosexual about this woman.

i have a looooot of thoughts about how Ahab is portrayed in that adaptation (genuinely fascinating. much to say) but the most important thought is that her voice actor is incredible. Ms. Ahab.......... 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳uhm. yeah. im gay thanks everyone for coming

NATIONAL HOLIDAY TODAY BTW

[ID: An edited screenshot of a Tumblr post. The first part reads: "people who celebrate album birthdays are annoying pass it on." The second part reads: "FUCK this post and happy birthday Moby Dick or The Whale by Caleb Hayashida." End ID]

[ID in Alt Text]

strolling in fashionably late to the two year anniversary of the greatest musical adaptation of Moby Dick of all time, Caleb Hayashida's 'Moby Dick or the Whale'. I've been thoroughly enamored with this album for over a year now and it only felt right to do a tribute for its birthday :)

now, go do yourself a favor and listen to Sea Fever 💙💙

some notes about the details I added under the cut!

Some notes on this as a tribute!

Firstly, as always, my Ishmael design is stolen from the beloved @pocketsizedquasar :3

Secondly, the primary songs captured by this piece are meant to be 'Interpretation', 'Whiteness of the Whale', and 'Whaleman's Hymn'. Interpretation is primary, since that song refers directly to the painting at Spouter Inn, and Ishmael's attempts to interpret it. (Aside: it's a brilliant song that foreshadows chords repeated during the chase, it confuses and delights the listener much like book Ishmael's ramblings do, and it odes to the album itself being an interpretation of a novel. also it's a bop. I fucking love it.) The whale in the picture is, you guessed it, the whale song. That one I felt was important to center as Hayashida himself intentionally put that song at the center of the album as a focal point for the rest to follow around (and for the narrative to break inside - give it a listen, the end is incredible). It's literally the centerpiece. And finally, the lyrics are from Whaleman's Hymn, the gorgeous ode at the end of the album.

Ishmael is also posed as both moving and stagnant in the center as a reference to the cyclical nature of Hayashida's album. It ends with the same lyrics it begins with ("I must be out to sea"), and so here, Ishmael meant to be caught in the space between both of those songs. Moving and yet unable to move from where he is.

The watery effect was particularly inspired by Drifting, as that song fills me with an immense sense of peace and gives me the feeling of laying down at an aquarium watching the light of the water dance around. It also helps make the mood of the piece a bit more dynamic, as the looming painting, dissonant colors, and heavy shading all feel a bit foreboding, and the water effect both enhances that by giving an unnatural feel, and subdues that by communicating a semblance of peace and muting the colors.

The oil effect and jagged colors of the piece itself are references to the official album cover art! The flaming harpoon's colors are mimicked in the red light at the top of the painting, and the bright teal/white is mimicked in the whale at the bottom. They're also positioned over each other, just like on the album cover.

The painting itself is also supposed to be reminiscent of The Chase, in all its chaotic glory. Hayashida has an INSANE stroke of genius with that song where, at a certain point, two different time signatures overlap to show the whale opposing the crew/Ahab. The blend is so smooth that it's easy to miss if you aren't looking for it, and yet so brilliant that it makes you anxious for the buildup and final clash. The saturated opposing colors are supposed to be something of a nod to that, as well as the nature of the painting being a sinking ship and a white whale lol

So, yeah those are my notes! :D thank you for reading and definitely give this masterpiece a listen!! 💙💙

[ID in Alt Text]

strolling in fashionably late to the two year anniversary of the greatest musical adaptation of Moby Dick of all time, Caleb Hayashida's 'Moby Dick or the Whale'. I've been thoroughly enamored with this album for over a year now and it only felt right to do a tribute for its birthday :)

now, go do yourself a favor and listen to Sea Fever 💙💙

some notes about the details I added under the cut!

Some notes on this as a tribute!

Firstly, as always, my Ishmael design is stolen from the beloved @pocketsizedquasar :3

Secondly, the primary songs captured by this piece are meant to be 'Interpretation', 'Whiteness of the Whale', and 'Whaleman's Hymn'. Interpretation is primary, since that song refers directly to the painting at Spouter Inn, and Ishmael's attempts to interpret it. (Aside: it's a brilliant song that foreshadows chords repeated during the chase, it confuses and delights the listener much like book Ishmael's ramblings do, and it odes to the album itself being an interpretation of a novel. also it's a bop. I fucking love it.) The whale in the picture is, you guessed it, the whale song. That one I felt was important to center as Hayashida himself intentionally put that song at the center of the album as a focal point for the rest to follow around (and for the narrative to break inside - give it a listen, the end is incredible). It's literally the centerpiece. And finally, the lyrics are from Whaleman's Hymn, the gorgeous ode at the end of the album.

Ishmael is also posed as both moving and stagnant in the center as a reference to the cyclical nature of Hayashida's album. It ends with the same lyrics it begins with ("I must be out to sea"), and so here, Ishmael meant to be caught in the space between both of those songs. Moving and yet unable to move from where he is.

The watery effect was particularly inspired by Drifting, as that song fills me with an immense sense of peace and gives me the feeling of laying down at an aquarium watching the light of the water dance around. It also helps make the mood of the piece a bit more dynamic, as the looming painting, dissonant colors, and heavy shading all feel a bit foreboding, and the water effect both enhances that by giving an unnatural feel, and subdues that by communicating a semblance of peace and muting the colors.

The oil effect and jagged colors of the piece itself are references to the official album cover art! The flaming harpoon's colors are mimicked in the red light at the top of the painting, and the bright teal/white is mimicked in the whale at the bottom. They're also positioned over each other, just like on the album cover.

The painting itself is also supposed to be reminiscent of The Chase, in all its chaotic glory. Hayashida has an INSANE stroke of genius with that song where, at a certain point, two different time signatures overlap to show the whale opposing the crew/Ahab. The blend is so smooth that it's easy to miss if you aren't looking for it, and yet so brilliant that it makes you anxious for the buildup and final clash. The saturated opposing colors are supposed to be something of a nod to that, as well as the nature of the painting being a sinking ship and a white whale lol

So, yeah those are my notes! :D thank you for reading and definitely give this masterpiece a listen!! 💙💙

[ID: A doodle page for the Malevolent podcast, featuring several sketches of Arthur, John, Kayne, The King in Yellow, and Yellow. More detailed description in ALT Text.]

Bringing y'all my mid-season 3 Malevolent arts because this podcast has a grip on me. Featuring my Kayne design because I have SOOO many thoughts about that freak <3 his voice sounds a bit similar to Arthur to me and so I thought it might be fun if he was mocking the lads by wearing Arthur's face. As of s3 we have no idea wtf Kayne is supposed to be, anyways, but altering his form doesn't seem to be a power that's off the table. Also the concept of John not recognizing Arthur's face on a happier, less scarred form makes me want to throw up :) hope this helps!

we are approaching that time once again! are you ready to battle?

submissions for our 3rd fat oc battle will open starting april 1st! keep a reminder and when it opens, you can submit your characters here! they'll be open until june 1st and the round will begin a week or so afterwards, be sure mark your calendars!

[ID: A traditional drawing of Arthur Lester from the chest up, portrayed in an animated gif followed by three stills of the gif frames. The drawing depicts Arthur as a midsized white man with disheveled dark hair that hangs over his face. He has a straight nose, eyebags, some stubble, and wears a brown button-up shirt, also disheveled. His face is pointed right at the viewer, his jaw slack in shock, as his eyes go entirely black. John is portrayed as a huge set of yellow teeth that circle Arthur entirely, as if about to devour him. Yellow drips from the maw of the teeth and from Arthur's shirt. Text frames the teeth, reading: "The King in Yellow". The gif fades from a bright version of the drawing to one bathed in shadows with only the outlines and text visible. End ID.]

yeah I'm still not over John speaking his (former) name for the first time, that changed the entire trajectory of my DNA. malevolent is SUCH a podcast <3

[ID: Several drawings of Arthur Lester and John Doe from Malevolent, from the chest up. Arthur is portrayed as a midsized white man with short, disheveled brown hair that is hanging partially over his face. He has some stubble and wears a brown sweater over a gray button down. His eyes are yellow.

The first drawing shows Arthur in profile with a neutral expression, with John depicted as an audio wave over his head. The second drawing depicts John as a floating disembodied mouth with sharp yellow teeth. Arthur has his eyes shut and yells: "You tried to kill me!!" to which John yells back: "Get over it!!"

The third drawing shows John as disembodied teeth again, this time making a confused expression as he says "Why are you so happy. We almost died." Arthur is smiling, his hair swept out of his face as he answers: "I get to move forward. It's brilliant!" The final drawing depicts John as a large negative black space in the shape of sharp teeth, with the inner maw bright yellow. He is large enough to entirely surround Arthur as he yells "Arthur, RUN." Arthur gasps in horror and looks back over his shoulder in panic. In his eyes there is a small audio wave where his pupil should be. End ID.]

listening to malevolent 💛 this podcast makes me want gnaw off my arm 🥰

been experimenting with some designs for these two. I picture Arthur very clearly but still debating how to depict John 🤔🤔

Oh, what about Gerry and 13?

💖

[ID: A traditional drawing with watercolor colors showing Gerard Keay crawling out of the Skin Book. He is a pale, thin man visible from the waist up, where his body begins to emerge from the pages in a pool of blood. He slouches forward, his dark hair hanging over his face. He is unclothed and his exposed skin is raw and bloody, with eye-shaped tattoos visible over his joints. Around him, various hands reach towards him, some touching. One is notably pockmarked and holds a zippo lighter. The background is a dramatic dark maroon, and the color immediately around Gerry is a bright red. Text on the image reads: "Choice is just a fable for the weak." End ID.]

13. The Chase - Caleb Hayashida

hi i fully forgot to post this so WHOOPS but this combo was SOOOO fun to mash up. Gerry of TMA and the literal climax of Moby Dick in song form is not a pairing I would've picked but the lyrics are soooooooo tasty when I get real sad about it. Oh Gerry my friend Gerry.

thank you again for the request An!!! :D

Build a Cowboy Round 6!!

Weeeeeeelcome back gamers, i am once again bringing you beloved boys. This time: hair!!! 🥺

[ID: Four drawings of a chubby and muscular Coahuiltecan Payaya man from the back with various hairstyles. He has straight black hair. The first man has his hair in twin braids down his back starting from the same origin point. The second man has his hair in a single braid down his back. The third man has his hair loose over his shoulders with a small braid on the side. The fourth man has his hair cut shorter, at collar length. End ID.]

hello gamers! I am soon to be between jobs and going to open up 4 comm slots to start off! 💙💙

[ID: Several images advertising commissions on a purple background.

Image 1: "@mossy-rainfrog commissions! Will draw: Original characters, real people, nonsexual/artistic nudity, fan art, some gore, some erotica. Will not draw: Mecha, vehicles, hyper-detailed scenery."

Image 2: An example of an original character drawn with lines only, flat colors, and then full colors, each with prices listed. TEXT: "Lines - $20 bust - $25 half body - $30 full-body. Flats - $25 bust - $30 half body - $40 full body. Full color - $30 bust - $40 half body, $50 full body. Note: Sketch and lines will ALWAYS be traditional, and pieces with color will always be digital unless otherwise requested.

Image 3: "Add-ons: Additional characters are 50% of base price. Complex props an additional $10 each. Background options (simple color shape is no extra fee): - Simple prop background +$10. Simple background setting +$25. Complex background +$40."

Image 4: "How to order: DM me on tumblr @mossy-rainfrog or email me at [email protected] with the type of commission, subject(s), and descriptions or references (the more the better!). Will send a preliminary sketch, after which I will send a PayPal/venmo invoice. Excessive changes (more than 4) will incur an additional fee of $10. After such, 50% refunds will be available up until completion. Turnaround time will be 1-3 weeks depending on complexity. Updates will be sent with lines, colors, backgrounds, or other piece milestones! :) Final product will be a PNG file sent via email."

Image 5: "A note on potential spicy commissions: As with all other commissions, I reserve the right to not draw anything I don’t feel comfortable with! I’ll tell you right off the bat, that includes incest, pedophilia, bestiality, assault, etc. NSFW commissions will ONLY be considered if requested by adults!! These will work the same as other comms, but likely will involve a bit longer of an initial conversation (just for comfort <3). ( I’m not exactly putting a portfolio for these on main, BUT you can see my nsfw work over on my side blog:

@mossy-rainfuck :3)"

Image 6: "Terms of service: Payment after initial sketch in USD. Cancelled commissions after confirming the initial sketch will be refunded 50% (up until completion). These are for personal use only! These works are NOT to be resold or used for any sort of commercial use. For personal use, credit should be linked back to me. I reserve the right to decline any commission request for any reason. Thank you!! :3" End ID.]

Build A Cowboy Round 5!

Hi good evening sorry for vanishing OK SO i mentioned in the tags of my first poll that this cowboy is not just going to be a vaguely historical cowboy, but from a Very specific time frame, because of the fic that his partner Javi exists in. That being said, there is a lot to unpack here with this! The time period exactly is 1841, the setting is Texas (because I am texan and we are predictable) and oh my god this is one of the most insane times for a character to be from texas 😭

Our cowboy will have in fact lived through the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821), the Texas Revolution (1835-1836), tx's CRINGEFAIL attempt at self governing, rapidly approaching our annexation into the US in 1844-5, and then coming right up on the fuckign CIVIL WAR in 1861. These guys deeply understand the concept of "get me the fuck out of the interesting times, im sick of the interesting times". im so sorry cowboys, you can blame Herman Melville for this.

anyways yall didnt come here for a history lesson but you are in fact going to get one because i am insufferable first and an artist second :) and also as a note, race and backstory are always intertwined things but Especially when it is fuckign 1841 so. yeah exercise caution, there will be discussion of racism, medical close-calls, and anti-indigenous genocide. PLEASE ACTUALLY READ THE BACKGROUNDS BEFORE CHOOSING ONE! you dont have to read the sources. those are just there because i have autism. 👍

DETAILS BELOW THE READMORE BC I GOT WAYYY TOO WORDY⬇️

BACKSTORY A: Black Cowboy fled Texas* to Oklahoma with his family after the revolution, now travels up the trade routes breaking wild horses, passing along abolitionist messages, and assisting refugees. A miracle baby surviving a cleft lip with limited surgery and sustained permanent hearing damage as a result, he took up the trade of horsebreaking with flying colors, keeping right up with his older brothers. A sharp shot, keen eye, and a talented horseman, his best trained horses help him identify sounds that he otherwise can't hear. Loosely familiar with PSL, but primarily used a mix of lip-reading, localized/community generated sign growing up.

* After the US aided Texas in staging a coup against Mexico and declaring independence, an ordinance passed in 1836 that fully banished free Black people from the region unless they had personal pardon from Congress. This ordinance was not passed without pushback, and it changed shape and restriction over the years as people of color such as Joseph Tate, John and Charity Bird, Diana Leonard, Allen Dimery, and more all fought for their right to their own lands and lives. The law eventually settled into what was known as the Ashworth Act in 1840, which allowed free Black people to stay IF they had been residing in the state before 1836. It certainly wasn't the victory many had hoped, and even though many free Black persons in Texas were granted pardon to stay, like the Ashworths who the act was named after, many others were forced to leave after their allotted time was up, and were threatened with the future of slavery should they return. thank you texas history for being a vile piece of shit 👍

BACKSTORY B: Mexican/Tejano Vaquero from West Texas whose family has been ranching and cattle driving for decades. Has no interest in moving post-revolution, fuck you very much. If the borders are going to cross his family without asking*, then there's no need to cross them back. Technically lives with his family, but spends extensive periods of time away from home on cattle drives. Steady-handed, steadfast, quick to keep his herd safe. Miraculously survived a cleft lip as a baby and sustained permanent hearing damage** as a result, but that didn't stop his father from teaching him everything he knew, nor our man from taking to it like a fish to water. Knows more about cattle driving than you will ever forget.

*Some brief notes on the borders shifting and alienating people in their own rightful land.

**There was no official sign language of Mexico until the first Deaf school was established in 1869, but he and his family likely have a community-based one that works for them.

BACKSTORY C: Coahuiltecan (specifically Payaya)* cowboy, farrier, and leatherworker. Picked up the line of work as family was pushed to assimilate, one of the few still claiming Coahuiltecan identity at this time**, and has made a good living for himself and his sisters with it. Like the others, miraculously survived a cleft lip as a child but sustained permanent hearing damage as a result. Knows Plains Indian Sign fluently, and also relies on the direction of his horse for picking up sudden sounds before he can spot them. Tries to keep his work as local as possible to avoid separation from family for long, and whenever that is necessary, makes sure to come back soon.

*Note: Coahuiltecan is a term referring to several northern-Mexican and southern-Texan autonomous groups with distinct cultural differences. However, since Spanish and French colonizers lumped these groups together, an immense amount of distinguishing knowledge has since been lost.

** Also note: the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation is still very much around today (check out their site!) but nearing the mid 19th century, people at least claiming/listing this heritage on legal documents dwindled immensely for a variety of reasons.

Build A Cowboy Round 5!

Hi good evening sorry for vanishing OK SO i mentioned in the tags of my first poll that this cowboy is not just going to be a vaguely historical cowboy, but from a Very specific time frame, because of the fic that his partner Javi exists in. That being said, there is a lot to unpack here with this! The time period exactly is 1841, the setting is Texas (because I am texan and we are predictable) and oh my god this is one of the most insane times for a character to be from texas 😭

Our cowboy will have in fact lived through the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821), the Texas Revolution (1835-1836), tx's CRINGEFAIL attempt at self governing, rapidly approaching our annexation into the US in 1844-5, and then coming right up on the fuckign CIVIL WAR in 1861. These guys deeply understand the concept of "get me the fuck out of the interesting times, im sick of the interesting times". im so sorry cowboys, you can blame Herman Melville for this.

anyways yall didnt come here for a history lesson but you are in fact going to get one because i am insufferable first and an artist second :) and also as a note, race and backstory are always intertwined things but Especially when it is fuckign 1841 so. yeah exercise caution, there will be discussion of racism, medical close-calls, and anti-indigenous genocide. PLEASE ACTUALLY READ THE BACKGROUNDS BEFORE CHOOSING ONE! you dont have to read the sources. those are just there because i have autism. 👍

DETAILS BELOW THE READMORE BC I GOT WAYYY TOO WORDY⬇️

BACKSTORY A: Black Cowboy fled Texas* to Oklahoma with his family after the revolution, now travels up the trade routes breaking wild horses, passing along abolitionist messages, and assisting refugees. A miracle baby surviving a cleft lip with limited surgery and sustained permanent hearing damage as a result, he took up the trade of horsebreaking with flying colors, keeping right up with his older brothers. A sharp shot, keen eye, and a talented horseman, his best trained horses help him identify sounds that he otherwise can't hear. Loosely familiar with PSL, but primarily used a mix of lip-reading, localized/community generated sign growing up.

* After the US aided Texas in staging a coup against Mexico and declaring independence, an ordinance passed in 1836 that fully banished free Black people from the region unless they had personal pardon from Congress. This ordinance was not passed without pushback, and it changed shape and restriction over the years as people of color such as Joseph Tate, John and Charity Bird, Diana Leonard, Allen Dimery, and more all fought for their right to their own lands and lives. The law eventually settled into what was known as the Ashworth Act in 1840, which allowed free Black people to stay IF they had been residing in the state before 1836. It certainly wasn't the victory many had hoped, and even though many free Black persons in Texas were granted pardon to stay, like the Ashworths who the act was named after, many others were forced to leave after their allotted time was up, and were threatened with the future of slavery should they return. thank you texas history for being a vile piece of shit 👍

BACKSTORY B: Mexican/Tejano Vaquero from West Texas whose family has been ranching and cattle driving for decades. Has no interest in moving post-revolution, fuck you very much. If the borders are going to cross his family without asking*, then there's no need to cross them back. Technically lives with his family, but spends extensive periods of time away from home on cattle drives. Steady-handed, steadfast, quick to keep his herd safe. Miraculously survived a cleft lip as a baby and sustained permanent hearing damage** as a result, but that didn't stop his father from teaching him everything he knew, nor our man from taking to it like a fish to water. Knows more about cattle driving than you will ever forget.

*Some brief notes on the borders shifting and alienating people in their own rightful land.

**There was no official sign language of Mexico until the first Deaf school was established in 1869, but he and his family likely have a community-based one that works for them.

BACKSTORY C: Coahuiltecan (specifically Payaya)* cowboy, farrier, and leatherworker. Picked up the line of work as family was pushed to assimilate, one of the few still claiming Coahuiltecan identity at this time**, and has made a good living for himself and his sisters with it. Like the others, miraculously survived a cleft lip as a child but sustained permanent hearing damage as a result. Knows Plains Indian Sign fluently, and also relies on the direction of his horse for picking up sudden sounds before he can spot them. Tries to keep his work as local as possible to avoid separation from family for long, and whenever that is necessary, makes sure to come back soon.

*Note: Coahuiltecan is a term referring to several northern-Mexican and southern-Texan autonomous groups with distinct cultural differences. However, since Spanish and French colonizers lumped these groups together, an immense amount of distinguishing knowledge has since been lost.

** Also note: the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation is still very much around today (check out their site!) but nearing the mid 19th century, people at least claiming/listing this heritage on legal documents dwindled immensely for a variety of reasons.

Build a Cowboy Round 4

Alright alright kicking this one off overnight so I can work on the results during a normal hour but lol anyways and now for the most important part of any character i make. stealing their able-bodied privilege <3

[ID: Five traditional sketches of our cowboy with various disabilities. He has nondescript facial features but a detailed fat and muscular body. He is shirtless and wears a cowboy hat in all of them.

Option A shows him standing with one hand on his hip and the other arm with a limb difference, ending about at the elbow. Option A is labeled "limb difference". Option B shows him from the back with a raised scar between his spine and shoulder blade. B is labeled "back pain". Option C shows a close up on his face smiling, and one of his eyesockets is empty beneath his eyelids. C is labeled "partially blind". Option D shows him gesturing towards his ear and frowning. D is labeled "Hard of Hearing/Deaf". Option E shows another close up of his face, smiling with a cleft lip that extends into a mark up his cheek. E is labeled "cleft lip/birthmark". End ID.]

Build a Cowboy Round 3

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ok we've got a short trapezoid going so far. legend material. but alas, what orbs shall he gaze with 🤔

[ID: Four traditional drawings of a single eye looking off to the side. Eye A is a dark brown, barely distinguishable from the pupil. Eye B is a rich, warm brown. Eye C is a lighter, cooler brown. Eye D is a warm brown with a green sectoral heterochromia section. End ID.]