2022 Year In Review

 A bit of a different format for the year in review this year, as it has been a lot of fics and not as much other stuff, but busy nonetheless. Here is the post wrote for the M.S. Illustration patreon, that also applies to all you lovely readers here. Thank you for being here and supporting all the silly fic ideas that are come up with at the odd hours of the night, the good the bad and the ugly realistic portrayals of disability in forms that sometimes hit a little close to home, and all the rest of the chaos that occurs.

With love, from the disability diaries team- Max, Sarah, and Jack

Continue reading for Max's yearly patreon year in review post:

 

Happy weird time between the holidays and new years, I hope it's treating you all well and you had an enjoyable holiday!
Since 2023 is in only a couple of days I thought now was a good time to wrap up the year with some thoughts and looking ahead ideas, and to of course say thank you for all the support. It has been a bit of a rough year between school, the ongoing pandemic, getting diagnosed with an ultra rare (but thankfully rarely life threatening) cancer, and life in general. That said, at the end of it all this year allowed me to really grow in a number of ways, in art, in business, and as a person, and your support through it all means a lot.
Looking ahead to next year I've had a few ideas and they can be summarized in what I think my words for the year will be:
1. consistency: I found that the patreon mail themes were a little all over the place last year with printer issues and other things arising at unneeded times, so this year patreon mail has been all made up and ordered in advance to better plan the themes, Januarys mail went out today and feel free to shoot me a message if you'd like your tracking number, I'm rather excited for it! I also found that getting back into writing on a consistant basis was something I really missed, and that even doing silly mini fic ideas provided by friends in the small hours of the morning ended up helping my mental health, I'm planning to participate in flash fiction february again in 2023 and have a number of fics, character references, and longer stories queued up on my writing blog for next year as I continue to slog through my prompt lists for this year which I'll continue to finish up in the coming months.  Doing inktober and swordtember was a different kind of consistency that burned me out a little, so in 2023 I might chose one or the other, or do only a few prompts based on how I feel
2. experimentation: This past year I experimented a lot in a number of ways, with product ideas (the advent calendars ended up being my most popular product and that was done on a whim!) with table layouts for my first real farmers markets, with what I might like to do post college with majors and minors and all kinds of changes there, and with art and trying new mediums. I discovered I hate oil paint unless it's digital (and that I am most likely allergic to it) and traditional art school type classes aren't my thing, but also that I am in fact semi capable of painting landscapes when I put my mind to it, and find things that are interesting to paint and not...a bunch of laundry tubes curled into weird shapes. Over the years I've amassed a collection of art supplies and next year I want to give myself the freedom to experiment, to play, and to even make "bad" art if I so choose. Not only will it hopefully help improve my skills with certain mediums and subjects, but it should hopefully clear some space in my art space, which is tiny as it is.
3. exploration: Similar to the last word, I want to give myself freedom to explore and try new things, last year I moved halfway across the country (and am prepping to go back in a few weeks!) and that opened a new world and perspectives I'd never seen. While I am not fond of the open hill-less plains of the midwest (or their lack of bagels) it has been an interesting experience and place to explore. I'd love to explore a new place or two, near or far if possible, and try something new- even if it is just showing up to a club I've never been to, or setting foot into the campus gym to try and work off some of the steroid weight and get even a little stronger. I'd like to explore ways to interact with and build this community as well, as it has grown little by little over the past year, and would love to hear any and all ideas, I've been thinking about maybe a stream or two?

If you have read this far just know I appreciate you and am so excited to see how this community can grow and evolve next year, thank you for being here.

Until next time,
Max

2020 Year in Review

Well, it’s that time of year again, we’ve somehow almost made it 365 days around the sun and oh boy was this a monumental year. Most of it was spent joking about how with economic collapse, a pandemic, dictators rising in the world, and more it’s definitely the 20s for sure! If I were to ever recap a year, this is absolutely the one to do with all the crazy things that happened, so without further adieu, let’s get started!!

January:
I wrote the 2019 year in review that you can read Here
We had an ever so cheerful chat about prognosis that you can read Here
I decided to actually start to write more frequently on this blog again and have so many WIPs and scheduled posts still to do since I had finished the first semester of senior year
I finished applying to colleges and got some decisions!
For the first time in awhile I participated in an art friend’s draw this in your style (that was pretty out of my comfort zone!) that you can see Here
Since the Witcher is one of my favorite series I made a sticker design, and my first animation with everyone’s favorite bars, Jaskier! You can view that on my Instagram (please give me a follow I’m more active there and I really appreciate the support) Here
While not being a very big Harry Potter fan I decided to do a little painting of Ginny that I then turned into a digital painting! You can see it on my Instagram Here  And on my redbubble  Here
I opened commissions! If you’d like custom art please feel free to reach out! You can view the information about commission pricing and such Here
For the first time I submitted my art to an auction, and it sold! The auction was for the bushfires and did quite well. You can see the piece that was entered Here
I launched my own Australia fire relief project and was able to raise about $30 for bushfire relief. I still have a couple of stickers left over if you’re interested! You can see the cute koala I created Here
After on and off work I finished another character design for my comic, you can read about her Here

February:
Instagram shadowbanned me so I took the time to improve my sketching and took a trip to NYC during February break. You can see what I did during my two weeks of being shadowbanned Here
I made a huge inchstone and walked around NYC BY MYSELF and went to see a friend who I hadn’t seen in over a year and a half! Also got a ton of cute stationery :) and are lots of good food
I redrew a sketch of Anna that I made when I was just starting to learn to draw, you can see the much improved re-drawn version on my instagram Here
I reposted my commission info on the blog so all you you could see it. You can see that post and the accompanying commission information Here
The fellowship and I took an excursion for lunch a couple of times when classes got canceled and had a lovely time just hanging out before coronavirus took over the world

March:
I celebrated my birthday in Quarantine, you can read about that Here
I compiled a list of handwriting tips for children with disabilities, you can read my tips (many from personal experience) and tricks for writing Here
I participated in March Meet the Maker on Instagram for the second year in a row, you can see my favorite post (and all the rest) on my Instagram from the month of March Here
Finally after a solid couple of years I finished my entire Morrowind painting series project and posted them all together, I’ve linked my favorite but please check them all out, I worked so hard on them! You can find my favorite painting in the series Here
After months of waiting I had my neuropsych evaluation and had a horrible headache for the two days after the testing was completed, and therefor missed my last two real days of school :(
Coronavirus intensified in the US and Massachusetts closed down

April:
School reopening was canceled, school moved to online learning with no April break
After getting back into the swing of writing I posted a short domestic fluffy drabble, a super cute short read! You can read it Here
Schools were closed for the remainder of the year, you can read about my thoughts on it Here
I finished up posting my Morrowind series, you can see the final painting Here
Since quarantine wasn’t finishing up anytime soon I decided to paint baby Yoda and Mando just for fun along with a few other paintings that have become personal favorites you can see it Here
I posted the first page of my comic!! You can read it Here

May:
After a lot of procrastinating I finished 2 silly Morrowind comics. One can be found Here
With a lot of help from staff a graduation parade was planned for June 6th with a ceremony in July
I started writing a lot more due to the quarantine and finished a number of WIPs and posts which will be posted at some point eventually
I finished illustrating my first book in remembrance of a little girl who passed away from cancer in february of this year for her family

June:
The graduation parade happened! Which can be found
It was official, I’ve been sick for 6 years. You can find my thoughts on that
I launched my art website/shop, you can visit it  here 
America and the rest of the world finally started to change the ways of systemic racism though there was a bit of civil unrest and borderline chaos at times as it coincided with a pandemic that was by no means over
I lost my summer job and had to navigate unemployment for the first time

July:
I wrote even more, and worked more on updating this post, as well as going through the archives and getting rid of some older posts that are not really relevant any more 

The pandemic showed no signs of stopping nor did protests and discussion about racism in the US

School officially decided we would start remotely after a previous attempt at putting together a hybrid model of schooling. International students who were unable to leave campus would be allowed to stay

August:

Due to severe dehydration and abdominal pain I ended up in the ER not once, not twice, but three separate times, including two days in a row because of a less than ideal resident who sent me home with no fluids.

School started remotely on August 24th and I officially began college after a couple of days of very boring remote orientation

September:

Classes picked up and math is absolutely not my strong suit

We celebrated Deaf Awareness Month with a special etsy shop update and charity sticker/print

I spent most of the month doing classwork or calling doctors offices about continued abdominal pain

October: 

A much awaited halloween shop update

I participated in TES Inktober 2020 you can find them on my instagram @thedisc0panda

Midterms happened as did many more doctors appointments

I miraculously passed math

November: 

The United States had an election

I explained how I passed math, and the question of if my technical failure at math was due to a lack of knowledge or a math related learning disability, or perhaps both

I finally finished some fluffy borderline sin for friends? Also binge watched the Mandalorian season 2 while friends were home on thanksgiving break the first time we had gotten together in some way shape or form in about 9 months

December: 

Finals happened and now we are off on Winter break until February with January term being optional I plan on taking a class on Digital Design Fundamentals

The annual holiday fic post feat Anna and company, Valan hates the cold

I shared my culture paper that talks a bit about how disability has shaped my culture and the way that I experience the world around me

The COVID19 Vaccine was approved for emergency use in the United States and hope was finally in sight in the new year, but with holiday travel as expected cases get worse before they get better. Nonetheless, the holiday season was a welcome time of happiness

2020 was arguably the worst year for the world on the whole that I have ever seen, here's to hoping that in the new year things will begin to get better and we can begin to heal as a people from this exceedingly dark year.

Until next time,

Max

Who...are you? (Kad)

Kad meets Mark and Landon looking at memes after accidentally wandering into a school

“What an odd place” I think to myself wandering through a foreign landscape. I’m not exactly sure how I ended up here, I think that potion might have had something to do with it. The landscape seems to change rather suddenly, going from rainforest to desert in almost immediate succession. The sun begins to set over the desert sand and I notice a building up ahead, though rather dilapidated, it’s better than being outside all night. I headed inside to look around. 

Unsurprisingly, the building seems to be empty with the occasional light on and tired looking people sitting at their desks poring over seemingly endless amounts of papers…I’m happy I never took a desk job. I hear laughter up ahead and see a light behind a closed door. There’s two voices instead of one and I silently make my way to the door before knocking on it. “Hello?” I ask softly “Is someone in there?” The door opens suddenly and I’m pulled inside, the next thing I know I’m pinned against a wall by a tall thin man with wild eyes and flame red hair. Not unlike Adriana in a way. 

“LANDON?!” The other person shouts “Stop it let him go!” My eyes now adjusted to the new surroundings make out another man sitting in a chair, the tall man releases me reluctantly and goes back to sitting down mumbling something. “Who are you?” The smaller man asks. I fumble with my words but eventually introduce myself. “I’m Mark. This is Landon.” Mark and I shake hands while Landon just glares “What are you doing here?” He asks “It’s past school hours.” That explains the desks and stressed out people, it’s a rather delaptiated school. If I worked here, I’d be stressed too. “I got lost.” I explain how I ended up here, wherever that is and eventually made my way to the school. “Well we were just looking at memes at the moment until my boyfriend gets here with dinner. Care to join?” Mark pulls up a chair for me “Uh...sure? It’s not like I have much choice.” I sit and Mark searches something on his computer. “Marks a bit of a meme expert.” Landon says “And surprisingly good at the flamenco.” Mark kicks him lightly in response and pulls up a website. “Anything you like in particular?” I think about it a moment “I like cats, and dogs, animals in general.” Mark pulls up a tab and we scroll through amusing ourselves until there’s another knock at the door. “It’s open Steve!” Mark tells the person knocking and the door opens again. “Kad this is my boyfriend Steve.” Mark gestures to the man holding a bag. “I hope you brought enough for everyone.” I go to say something but Landon interjects “It’s ok, I have my own stash of butter and salsa.” I give Landon a while rather impolite, completely understandable confused look. Butter and Salsa? “Oh yeah I can see Mark forgot to mention Landon’s weird eating habits.” Steve says setting down the bag of food while Landon hisses and gives him a look as if he were stabbing daggers into him with only his eyes. “I hope you like Thai food.” Steve says opening the bag and handing out utensils “I’m up for anything as long as it isn’t straight butter.” I reply. No wonder that guy’s a little crazy, with a diet like that I think to myself as Landon breaks out his stash. 

“Kad? Kad! Where are you? Kad?! Come out come out wherever you are!!” I hear a familiar voice yell from down the hallway, Lucie must be looking for me. I open the door and wave “I’m in here! Hang on a second!!” I throw away my now empty plate and thank Steve for the dinner. “My friends are here, looks like it’s time for me to head home, it was nice meeting you all. And uh, Landon…Maybe try some different food combinations that don’t involve butter.” I grab my jacket from the coat hanger and bid them farewell before closing the door behind me and meeting Lucie down the hall. “Where have you been? I’ve been here for hours.” I explain, Lucie shrugs “Took us awhile to get the portal open again. They’re finicky things, as you know. Come on, Adri is waiting for us by the door.” I follow her until we meet up with Adriana. “So How was your day?” Adri asks in a singsong voice “Well I got somehow thrown into another world but I saw some memes and got free food, so at the end of the day all is good.” Adriana nods, seemingly impressed “Time to go home then, now that’s you’ve eaten and seen some memes?” I grin “Absolutly.” Adriana walks with us outside and a bit away from the now nearly completely empty school, and conjures a portal back to our own home. We step through one by one, Adri being the last as the portal closes behind her. “Well you know what they say; all’s well that ends well.” Adriana says as we walk home. The statement is true enough at that. 

Follow me on Instagram (I’m more active there!)

If you wonder where I tend to disappear to for long periods of time in between blog posts the answer is Instagram! I’m much more active there nowadays as it takes less energy to take a picture than write a blog post and it’s helpful with portfolio building as well. Here’s a long list of some of my favorite illustrations from my art account ( @thedisc0panda ) and some that haven’t been posted yet but will...eventually. Happy scrolling! Tell me which is your favorite in the comments ❤️

Inktober 2018

Hello again,

Sorry for my absence of late, I have been busy juggling doctors appointments, schoolwork and make up work, a weekend job, and inktober! For those of you not familiar with inktober it is where you draw something with ink once a day for the month of October. The rules have been toned down as of recent years where many art mediums can now be used as well (including digital art which remains controversial) as a pencil under-sketch, and catching up for missed days is alright now also. There are many different prompt lists to choose from besides the official one made by Jake Parker the creator of the challenge, this year I participated in Inktober following the prompt list by a stationary brand called Mossery Co. as it was a bit more inspiring and interesting than the official list. Without further adieu here are the 31 days of Inktober I participated in! ...Some turned out better than others which is expected. The last photo is not from the inktober list I was following but from another list that I happened to like the prompt for, Day 12: Mask. Did you do Inktober this year? Will you possibly participate next year? If you did take part I'd love to hear what you did! I even included a little bit of deaf awareness into mine for the prompt sign since deaf awareness month was during September.

Materials used: 

Copic sketch/ciao/original/wide markers

Prismacolor brush/chisel markers

Sketchbook from my local bookstore (days 1-18)

"Authentic" Sketchbook (Cheap student grade sketchbook my art teacher gave me before school ended days 19-31)

Higgens dye based drawing inks

Daler-Rowney Pearlesent ink

Bic michanical pencil

Faber castell Pitt artist brush pens

Fabriano Watercolour cold press pad

Ecoline liquid watercolours

Micron Pens

Uniball Signo white gel pen

Blick studioillustra/tor markers

Winsor and Newton cotmann sketchers box

Princton round brush sizes 2,6,8,10

Fabercastell dustless eraser

Speedball pen holder + nibs

Scotch Washi Tape

Copic multiliner 0.5

Yes I used a lot of tools.

Yes they were all necessary.

If I happen to disappear for a little longer its due to life being hectic and term ending. Hearing aid update to come...Finally good news five years waiting!

Until next time,

Max