July 2026 log

August 04, 2026
personal art thoughts

After last month's update, I think I want to do try monthly logs. I don't know if it'll stick around, but if it does I'll likely make some changes to the now page so it doesn't get redundant.

July overall was a pretty average month? I guess average is better than bad things.

Artfight: Team Comedy

The yearly tradition continues. For the uninitiated, Art Fight is a yearly art gifting game where you post characters you want drawn, get sorted into teams, and during July you draw other people's characters for points.

This year was stronger than the past despite everything imo. I think a large part of it was having more positive things in my life this year (its almost as if having a community I feel safe in has a positive impact on mental health. A mystery to certain crowds).

Throughout the month, I drew 20 pieces! More than the past three years. I also added an artfight gallery to my site, since I figured with me having done so many pieces it's about time I have a dedicated page here. (Art Fight Gallery)

I'm unsure about participating in the future. Mainly due to constant site-related drama, and the current state of the web making me wonder of events like these can exist going forward. But I feel if it had to end here I at least ended on a bang.

Here's some highlights from this year;

a green and pink canine with a chain chomp head, leaping towards the viewer. It has black striped legs, a skull mark on hit's leg, and leopard prints on it's tail and neck fluff

CH41NZ for Automat0nAngel / lunarluxia

A platinum blonde woman wearing a jacket with holes trimmed in it, a tube top, shorts with star markings, a belt chain with large charms on it, and stars on her face. She's leaping and showing a peace sign

Calypso for akit0ss

A binturong gjinka with large paws for hands, grey and black hair, and a large tail. He's wearing a jacket with spots, a green shirt and an apple amulet. There's specks of grey in his fur.

Amadu for Chowmelon

An anthro bird with a toucan-like head, orange tipped wings, blue arms and legs, and two antennae-like features on her head fading to blue. There's stars throughout her feathers, and she's holding a book in one hand and casting stars with the other

Magella for mymulnd

A dark green velocoraptor with orange stripes on its shoulder and nose. He's wearing a bandana and a tank top, biting on a dog tag, and holding a gun with buttons mimicking a IIDX controller.

Duel (CBC/AU) for Noxioustides

Ultra-rare Round 1 Trip

A confession; despite being in the arcade rhythm game community, I've only done one arcade trip this year as of writing. The place I used to frequent hiked their prices to the point it's not affordable anymore (Also, I had a pretty passive aggressive interaction about... let's just say preservation efforts last year. Maybe my anxiety is reading too deep, but something felt off).

I went to Round 1 for my birthday. I was considering a museum, but forgot to buy passes. So Round 1 it is. I don't go often because my nearest ones a long drive with tolls. Usually just once for my birthday, and one to transfer my IIDX play data to the new version. I was very rusty on IIDX, and ended up spending more time on Pop'n music. I'm still suprised Pop'n even got an official US AC release, especially with the less-than-ideal shipping situation here.

I think I do want to pick up popn again. But I think I'll just be a gameplay only fan for now (the en Pop'n fandom is a little too 'dramatic' for me). I still consider IIDX my main though. I'll probably pick up BMS again to brush up too.

Also I need more people to witness DDR Stomp. This is a ticket game version of DDR, and feels more like a shitpost out of Bemani Twitter than a real cab 😂

Photo of a Dance dance revolution Stomp cabinet. It's a ticket game of DDR where you just stomp on arrows to gain more tickets

A comic?

The ideas still brewing, but I'm thinking of starting a 4-panel gag comic. It's shorts that take place in my OC universe, Doverhill and would be released as I feel like it.

The reason I'm going 4-panel is because I feel it'd be easier to upkeep. I don't have the energy to do comics like I did in college, so outside of special projects I think it'd be good to try shorter formats. It's the reason I see Incorrect Siren's House Quotes as a proof of concept, since those were stripped back for the sake of being easier to output.

The only heads up is I'm likely gonna be more 'opinionated' with these strips. I don't want it to be devoid of comedy, but I feel I should be less subtle going forward in terms of satire.

Job and Money on the mind

I don't think I can push off job hunting much longer. But seeing multiple peers and mutuals be unable to land a job from months to over a year makes me feel uncomfortable. Like all I'd do is make myself miserable with the inevitable rejections & make my already fragile mental health implode. (I feel I need strong emotional support for this, but I don't have people in my immediate life that can do that right now...)

I've been considering trying to re-open commissions again in the meantime, but I never landed any the last few times I've tried pushing. And honestly, I'm not sure if it'd be for me? I'm thinking about opening trades first to at least test the waters & brush up on communication skills w/o money at stake.

Honestly, I just want some pocket change to I can leave the house more often.

Other things

  • My Linux issues were because in one update, the driver was upgraded to the wrong version & I just needed to swap to the recommended one... I feel like this image a lot;
tomodachi life screenshot of a Mii sitting at a picnic table with a pride flag, captioned - They're recommending a pride flag, as it apparently helps with causing niche linux problems
  • Played Emily is Away for the first time. It's been in my Steam library for years. The ending made me sad, and contemplating the relationships I have and had.
  • Got to go to a family gathering. It was for my aunt's wedding anniversery. It's nice to be able to catch up with people.
  • I feel I should pick up language learning again. I'm not sure if I want to continue Japanese though. A mix of lack of practical use outside of fandom, less practice material (tarrifs & high shipping, social media's decline, many 'alternative' sources getting struck), and generally not liking the community for it (it feels more like a min-max orientalist club than a community for actually studying).
  • Have been finishing up some animes that were in my backlog for years now; Gurren Lagann and Beastars. Gurren Lagann was ok, but I feel like I would've enjoyed it more when I was younger & more into fast-paced stuff (and was a little less jaded). Noticed as I got older I'm gravitating towards dramas & slower paced works. Beastars fits the drama part & I've been enjoying the later seasons.
  • I'm looking to cull off some more craft projects. Main one on my mind is my Nix cotton dolls I forgot about. I'm barring myself from running off & getting new materials until he's done. I think constant craft store runs caused them to take so long (and to go way over budget).