Comments

I didn't mean your backgrounds were bad or minimal by any means. I meant the matte comment more figuratively - in that a lot of writers tell a story a very specific way because they think it helps cover inadequate writing. They use a lot of adjectives because they think that's "atmosphere"... But if you take out adjectives, if you take out dialogue, is there still a compelling story being told? Not can a story be told from what's left, but did the writer build enough story to survive having those things removed? Even without a stitch of dialogue, the original Jurassic Park is still a nail-biter. Your stories are the same way, in that the reader can pick it apart, pull out huge chunks of it, and it still tells a story I want to hear. So it's like moving the camera during a matte shot - bad writing can't survive the slightest poking or moving.

You do characters, and everything is in service to them. The world, the environments, the politics... all in service of framing compelling characters. That's awesome because they're amazing characters. If you did stories about global politics, your priorities would be different. Speaking for myself, I almost don't care what you do with the characters because I love watching them in new contexts. Martin will always be Martin, no matter the story, because you know your characters and can always be true to them. It's... A writer being able to pull off a multiverse story where all the alternates are also fully realised characters instead of "Spider-Man, but with a funny hat or goatee". A good craftsman knows their tools well enough to use them in unconventional ways - like, hypothetically, training an AI on your own art, to expedite the parts of creation that are less interesting, instead of using it to generate images (and all with the exact same art style for some reason), creating a Patreon, and making $2.15 from gooners while pretending to be an artist. I think a lot of stupid people would see your use of AI as "cheating", and those people simply have zero understanding or appreciation of actual art. Fucking Worhol used a photocopier to literally create an art "Factory". And he didn't even draw one naked boi on a teddy bear.

I think it's a disease of artists who didn't just come up aping manga artist, they never grew past that to create their own thing... And they never stopped to examine what they were copying. A good artist can make a picture with a couple brush strokes. Economy of media tends to create better art - the whole nothing left to add vs nothing left to take away argument. It's constantly like a magic trick where I'll see an artist create a piece I already saw, and a detailed building exterior is a couple lines or a few strokes. They're not painting a building because rivets are boring. They're showing you the "soul" or "impression" of a building, and letting your brain fill in details, which is what separates an artist from a draftsman. Bad artists don't see how to make something complicated into something easy. Anyone can build a birdhouse, a craftsman does it with a minimum of materials and waste.

The other side is someone like Masamune, his backgrounds are painstakingly hyper detailed - down to spokes in discarded bike wheels - but that's the story he's telling. The world Deunan lives in has impact on the characters and story, so he puts detail into them. He's also an insane person who watches German SWAT training videos to get a single panel perfect... But I'm convinced Masamune is an android built only to make the best manga.

All of this is because I'm not a craftsman with language - in fact I suck at it - so it takes me this long to explain a compliment I made because I'm worried it was mistaken for a critique.

All to say that I come to you for your art, the way you do it. I don't come to you for Patric Nagel art and I won't summon his spirit to write illustrated stories about flexible fembois - and one is no more or less good than the other in any respect.

I'm going to shut up now and stop rambling.

One of your big strengths in your writing is atmosphe. It's not something a lot of writers can or will do. There's a lot of "...this person said this, that person said that, and they're in a bar, by the way" or way too many adjectives used for everything. You'd think they would sense a problem when every noun also comes with a minimum of three descriptors - "...and then a tired, haggard, exhausted Jim climbed exhaustedly into his messy, unkempt, bed and ran strong, calloused, firm, fingers through his unwashed, oily, matted, hair...".

They have environments that are just backgrounds in a cheap movie - not good or substantial enough to tolerate the characters interacting in any way. The camera can't move or you'll notice it's a cheap matte. It completely puts the reader outside of the story because it forces a third-person perspective no matter how it's written.

You set a stage in a given environment, then notice how your characters would interact in that environment. The sun and the rocks are just as much characters as Remy is because they have impact on the story. And you do it without a thesaurus and a crippling need to prove how smart you are to the reader.

I loved and ill shut up now.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you need some muscle to balance the rubber, or maybe even enhance it. I always love when you bring a little beefcake to the table.

I really thought I'd left feedback on this... You're trying to get me to accept Lichard, I just know it. This has been some of your best lore building (including in the comments) that now I really want to read more. It's also not fair that you're doing your damnedest to make him beautiful.

This is decidedly awesome. Even the pic... he is hauntingly beautiful. Sheesh.

Delicious gender fluid...

This one is just unfair. There's something about Martin where he looks beautiful in old pinup style pictures. Like, I'm sure at least one Hairforce plane has Martin painted on the nose... But the lighting, fur, and general composition is a very '70s style and you made it beautiful instead of corny. It's a simple photography trick to use fur as a tactile cheat because you're a physical creature, your brain immediately tries to fill in physical sensation to translate and this kind of portrait gives it a roadmap. There's also something primordial about furs and incongruity, like using them to convey softness instead of ferocity, still gives you a sense of some wildness just under the surface. Combined with the Harry Langdon halo backlighting and you instantly have a portrait of an innocent angel that also knows how to fuck.

And that kind of thing is probably what I love most about your work. I don't know how much of an art historian you are, but it's super clear you've consumed a ton of art and photography and understand them. It's one thing to say I love Martin's fat cock, but this picture can be critiqued from strictly an art appreciation standpoint, and it holds up without a problem. Anyone can draw a cock, but you know how to make one that is breathtakingly beautiful because you know your craft.

This picture is the one I wanted to see bigger, and I was right. I love the design work on the bodysuit. The seams running down the front, the flame looking pattern running down each side... Those legs! And I always love a callback to Don't Turn Around. I love that one just as much as when it was new, and this one improved on it.

Sorry. I never know what to say when a piece is really good because there's so much to compliment and bring attention to. I'm also super biased because it's Martin... but I think these might be (at least some of) your best Martin pics. I can't stop looking at them.

I think you made me fall in love with Martin all over agains with this one. A) I'm a sucker for a Tommy Wilde reference, and this is a good one. B) Those lips should be illegal...

But it's the "mistakes" that sell this. The slight crook of a tooth, one eye is slightly more open... those are the things that sell realism. I could stare at this all day because he's just beautiful.

I think my browser was messing up, and I didn't see these originally...

The satin shirt against his skin is a sensuality cheat, but why not use it if it works? Because it does. The eyes are really what kills me here. I can stare into those eyes forever. Good lord, he's beautiful.

From garbage monsters to contortionist battles of Helm's Deep... Jesus. That was legitimately gripping to read. And that butt needs a nibble. Like a salt lick.

One, you killed me with the description of him twisting himself. I thought he was going to twist from the top. What you describe is hypnotic, even to read. Seriously. I want you to know how well you wrote this. It's equal parts the way old sports writers could put you in a pitchers shoes through every single detail in every nanosecond of a perfect pitch, and the kind of truly beautiful erotica you're aaster at. It's a weird comparison, but it's the best way I can put it. And then the picture to accompany it is equally amazing. It's equal parts ridiculous and believable. I love them both.

Oh! A new character! And a new story! And a whole new crazy mcguffin for supernatural fun!
I think my favourite part is the feathers over his beautiful butt. It hides and accentuates just enough without going to far to either. I really like where you're going with this. It's like a Stargate / Crystal Skulls kinda thing, but it's actually good.

I only paid attention to the picture at first, and there's something seriously uncanny about it... I wasn't expecting an actual photograph remastered with AI.

Please, share more of this stuff. It's really fun to have a passionate person share their passions. I'm not a train spotter, I don't know one train from another, but I've seen videos from some of these guys and their glee is contagious. I can watch hours of someone going on about something I don't really care about just because they're excited enough for both of us.

I legit did a spittake when you got to "Beltimore". I'm hoping they don't have the same atrocious accent. John Waters is the only one who gets away with talking like that. And you're the only one who gets away with such charmingly goofy dialogue.

This is just fun and I love the idea of a society that can't go too far afield because they all share a passion for contortion. A lowly stevedore can achieve the same results as someone rich because it doesn't really require a lot of equipment. It's like it cinches your society together... I'll see myself out.

Is sleeping coiled up like sleeping with curlers in? They both improve body...

I really enjoy these cute vignettes. They're like delightful tea sandwiches. And, again, you deptict relationships really beautifully.

So you made actually erotic H.P. Lovecraft, and not that Cliver Barker bullshit that's erotic but in a nightmare way.

I really, really, really want more of this. All this world building in this series is just

*chef's kiss*

Getting into the darker stuff, and exploring exactly how contortion gives abilities in this world... I would watch a totally vanilla show about contortionists in some scenario that highlights it as a power or something, just because that's how fun creating works - mash up two incongruous things. Mash up opera, wizards, and scifi to get Star Wars. These stories are really unique and good, the art is brilliant, and it's a new high water mark for your lore.

That's... wow. I don't know how I feel about it effectively removing the barriers for entry to calling oneself an "artist". The only one left is valuing human work more. You've proven over and over again that you know how to sketch a line or two, so I don't view this as anything other than a new tool...

It's like, being able to draw really well automatically helps bump up your storytelling ability a bit because it makes you conscious of details and when something isn't working. You also appreciate it because you appreciate how hard drawing is - I don't think any serious writer or artist is delusional enough to think the other is easier. Now take someone who never had to learn anything more than telling a computer what to draw and write... it's not even the argument over tablets and digital art, this is "creation" where you don't really know or have much input on what the final result is. I have zero interest in consuming anything that person "creates" because it's all dogshit. I'd much rather read something poorly written by a really good artist than an AI.

The only complaint I have is exactly what I've been complimenting - you're holding back a little and it's frustratingly awesome. I always compliment your faces and this is no exception... except I can't stop looking at that chest or those legs. Good lord.

The story was a brilliant little bit of lore. It's that blend of sexy and sweet you do so well. It's almost a cliffhanger just because I need to know what the next story is. It's like a really good anthology.