Mrs. Smith

Art Teacher, Illustrator, and Graphic Designer dboutonsmith on Instagram & Reddit

[dboutonsmith]

I drew Soap from Call of Duty Modern Warfare III.

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#art #artist #draw #drawing #design #characterart #callofduty #soap #callofdutymodernwarfare #codmw #codmw3 #callofdutyfanart #characterdesign #characterconcept #portrait #videogames #activision #sledgehammergames #codsoapfanart #fanart #sergeant #coalition #military #soldier

[dboutonsmith]

I started a painting of Jessy from #duskwood a while ago, and I may still add Richy or Jake in the background later.

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@dboutonsmith on Instagram

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#art #artist #painting #paint #watercolour #watercolor #duskwoodfanart #everbyte #everbytestudio #duskwoodjessy #jessyduskwood #redhair #redhead #pretty #germany #smile #pretty #beautiful #friendship #friend #friends #portrait #pink

[incorrectnessduskwood]

Dan: Which one of you was going to tell me that tea tastes different if you put it in hot water?? MC: Y- you were putting it in cold water?? Jessy: Dan. Answer the question, Dan. Dan: Yeah??? I thought people just put it in hot water to speed up the tea-ification process. didn't realize there was an actual reason. Dan: Plus you think I have the patience to boil water? MC: You don't have the patience to microwave water for 3 minutes?? Jessy: Why are you putting it in the microwave to boil it? MC: Do you think I have the patience to boil water on the stove? Jessy: It takes less than a minute. MC: Is your stovetop powered by the fucking sun??? Jessy: How long does it take you to boil a cup of water on the stove? MC: Like seven minutes?? Jake: Just stick the mug on top of the stove on medium heat and it boils in like 2 minutes… less than that if you use a saucepan! Jessy: Why are you putting the whole mug on the stove?? On medium heat?? Jake? Your stove is enchanted! MC: Every single person here is a fucking lunatic. Cleo: Do none of you own a fucking kettle?!

[dboutonsmith]

🩷 This is so cute and fun! I may need to think about making comics out of some of the genius writings of @incorrectnessduskwood some day!

[agorejessstone]

How Hira Changed My Life - DRAMA

At just 29 years old, I was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer.

As the eldest daughter of a lower middle class American family, I was responsible for more than just my education growing up. While I was an avid writer, reader, dancer, artist, and vocalist, I was never given the same opportunities as my siblings. When they were being totted off to this practice or that recital, I was forced to focus on my homework, and whichever sibling was not old enough to attend.

That's not to say I didn't get to play a sport or join a club here and there, but overall, I was heading down a path of self destruction. A people pleaser, avidly ignoring all the issues I'd acquired along the way, in pursuit of other's happiness.

There is nothing quite like a near-death experience to make you reevaluate your life.

6 years ago, I beat cancer, or at least, began my journey into remission, where I remain for the time being. I decided that it was time to put down the dish rag, quit all but one of my three jobs, and get to know myself better. I'd carried the need to be the caretaker in to adulthood, and the effects were devastating.

I set out to write and publish my first full length novel. I'd written plenty before, but I never had the time, energy, or confidence to publish. In July of 2021, I published my very first novel in a six part series that I am still working on today: Legend of the Sylph, but that wasn't all I wanted to do.

In 2016, I'd started a podcast, during my diagnosis, I'd been forced to focus on my health, and put that podcast on hold. Fond memories resurfaced, and I decided it was time to try again. Heiress Anonymous was born as a faceless online artist, with a heart of gold, and a lot of stories to tell. I even included a weekly advice section, and things were going pretty well.

Until my youngest brother took his own life.

Being one of the only siblings that I was close to, and only 19, that loss shook the very core of our family, and it nearly defeated me a second time. Struggling to keep my depression and bipolar under control, I did the only thing I thought I could do.

I got help.

During my inpatient therapy, I spent a lot of time reflecting on what made me happy, so that when I left that place, I could find something, anything, that made me happy. I'd lost myself so long ago, and I was tired of putting on a mask, dealing with everyone else's needs and desires, while neglecting my own.

Again, I started to do things I was passionate about.

I ran an online game, after Duskwood's completion. Each month, I'd write a new story, and a team of artists would help me develop a location map, clues, and characters for up to 30 people to play. It was the most fun I'd had in a while.

During this time, I was also playing other immersive games. Mystic Messenger, The Seven Endgame series, and The Sign. During my playthrough of the Seven series, I happened upon some... rather cancellable translation errors. In a moment of "Please don't cancel the only games I enjoy", I typed up an email to Reality Games, the developers, offering to scan the rest of their games for similar issues.

I was surprised when my wonderful friend Mel emailed me back, offering to let me test and correct The Healing, their upcoming title.

I accepted right away.

Then I had a thought... What if I took the team I'd been working on games with, made an actual game? Astro Hollow was born. (Hopefully we'll be completed by 2025. It's not easy now that I have such a small team.)

During The Healings production, I asked if there were any unfilled roles. After knowing me for some time. Mel suggested Hira, and the rest is history.

Reality Games Fandom group was started on FB.

There, I met many great fans.

And some not so great fans.

One of them stood out to me. Stefi, who plays Ina.

She came to me as a fan, but we became fast friends. Similar to some of the others. She expressed her desire to become a voice actress, but was hesitant. I spent weeks, months even, building her up, encouraging her, offering to help coach her lines, etc. I introduced her to the group. Let her mod the RG Fandom so she could learn the ropes and get used to fan engagement. I even invited her to co-host a podcast on my twitch. Things seemed to be running smoothly. Until she decided that she was too busy to steam, but with the German meet and great looming, and her insistence that she go, I wholeheartedly understood. I offered to hold her place on the podcast, until she had more time.

Tongue Tied Games and I had chatted before on reddit. Imagine my surprise at how small the world is, when I found out he played Charlie! We streamed together for the first time about a year ago, and we just clicked.

Preston and I became fast friends as well. (Cedrik - The Sign EN) His sense of humor is the stuff of legends.

I met all sorts of nice people.

I'd forgotten how dark the internet can be, with all the light surrounding me.

I hadn't stopped to think about the fans, and how this could easily turn into an introverts parasocial hellscape.

For months, I tried to be the bigger person. I ignored the whispers, the rumors, the disrespect, but something happened that made me realize that if I don't stick up for myself, no one else will.

So here I am, explaining how one of the most important turning points in my life, has become the darkest of times.

A fan, whom I will not name, and whom I've never had a conversation with, immediately disliked me. For the past 8 months, I've tried and tried and tried to figure out who or what or why this happened. They don't seem to know themselves. But to anyone that would listen, I was "mean". I didn't "value my friendships".

I was so dead set on not disrupting the community I loved, that I didn't even speak up. Ina was one of those people who turned their back on me. And when I asked them why they'd take their word for it, after everything I'd done to support them, after vouching for them, suggesting them for the role of Ina, after coaching them, letting them edit with me, introducing them to the group, supporting them, teaching them, sharing with them, both professionally and privately, I could not fathom this turn of events. In fact, I had not even considered it as the catalyst for her quitting the podcast.

It wasn't until a very dear friend of mine, nearly took her life, because she was bullied by this very same member (I'd give you there name, but honestly, I suspect there are many many names they go by) that I'd finally had it.

See what I mean? I'm quick to defend and protect other people, but I'll let others tear me apart before I disrupt the peace.

I reached out to my mods, and let them know what was happening. They were appalled, to say the least. One even tried to mediate, but of course that didn't work out. There was nothing to mediate.

This was a para social nightmare.

Growing up, being sickly, I'd never found myself beautiful, but in recent years, that has changed. Health and happiness have made me a better person, physically and mentally. - Imagine my surprise when I was edged out by women who were intimidated by me, in a group that I was part of, long before most of them.

Imagine consitently helping others, and being forced to step back for a few months, only to come back to someone new, determined to make themselves "Queen" or some shit. I truly still do not understand it.

I've tried countless times to figure it out, but in the end, these are people who want to keep someone to themselves. Who flirt with a stranger online, thinking they know them, but chastise anyone else who dares to do the same. I'd seen it. I'd recognized it. I choose to ignore it.

FFS - I've got someone I care about already. Who in their right mind would intentionally ruin that for someone they've never even met? Someone they don't know? That's just a silly thought to have.

It has to be jealousy....

Do you know how many times I've been told that, and chose to ignore it, because I cannot fathom what there is to be jealous of?

After I shared my story with mods, the universe answered with a call of it's own. Message after message from others within the community, who'd been wronged by this person. Who'd felt unwelcome in the community. Who'd been attacked, bullied even, out of the groups. I was shattered. A near death, a dozen victims.

I reached out to the group owners, and cleaned up my own, but no one made a move to correct the behavior.

"I'm hands off."

"I don't want to get involved in the drama."

Is that what being an "influencer" is?

Should I be reaping the benefits without any of the responsibility?

No. I refuse to let people suffer, because I don't want to speak up.

I was scared, truth be told, because I thought if I just ignored it, it would go away. By time I realized that wasn't the case, so many other people had been influenced by this persons word. This person, whom I'd never had a conversation with. This person, who I'd promoted their "fan art". This person, who was continually looking for excuses to hate me.

This person, who clearly knows nothing about me.

And yet, this person was going to win.

I haven't said a word in 8 months.

I've blocked and removed myself where ever I can, but this person, these people really, still haunt me. The horde gets larger every day I stay silent.

The one who said they weren't feeling the podcast, took the name I had for the post finale of Orphans, and the people I had invited, and did their own, but I knew that was happening, and said nothing.

Until someone came to me and asked me, "Weren't you the reason that Stefi joined the cast as Ina?"

I replied yes, and the flood gates opened.

Stefi was a fan.

She came to me as Hira. Said she liked the character.

We started to chat. Became friends.

I encouraged her to email her audition to the team.

I reached out to the team and told them to give her a chance.

I coached her lines from the first few episodes.

I GOT HER THE ROLE AS INA.

She now gives credit to TT.

If you don't believe me, I have the podcasts still up on YouTube, where we talk about it in detail.

At first, I was sure that she was being manipulated.

Part of the reason that I was adamant that she join the team, was who she is as a person.

She's LGBTQ and on the spectrum. It's very important to me, especially after all of my struggles, to make sure that everyone finds something they're passionate about and doesn't let anything hold them back.

For months I thought she was being taken advantage of. Manipulated. But this was absolutely heartbreaking for me.

Imagine how shattered I was, when someone from the German fan meet up, said she's been telling people that since the German Fan Meet and Great in AUGUST 2023.

I feel used.

I'm at a low I'm not sure I can recover from, especially because she continues to say and do things just to get at me. I've done what I can to block and move on, and I continue to leave communities I cherish, because of these ghosts.

It's like I'm Sandy, but for real this time, and trapped in that Orphanage.

I'm leaving most names out of this on purpose, but I'm setting the record straight on how Ina came to be part of the community. I'm so sick and tired of supporting people from behind the curtain, and never getting any credit.

Now, I love working for RG. This has nothing to do with the company itself. Cast will be what cast will be. I love voice acting. I love writing, so even the editing process is fulfilling, but man I still had a lot to learn about how selfish the industry is. How competitive. How jealous and manipulative people can be.

Watching people argue over someone they've never met. Someone they've never seen. Someone they don't know.

Watching them gatekeep the communities they stay in, running off anyone who isn't an OG.

Kind of defeats the purpose of supporting that creator, when you're driving good people out.

I'm really starting to wonder if the internet isn't going to be our downfall.

If we'll ever truly understand the effects of parasocial relationships.

While I love the work I do, and many of the people who follow me, I cannot condone gatekeeping, lying, manipulation, cheating, stealing, copying, and outright bullying.

Stay in your lane.

At the end of the day, you don't know me.

Very few of you do.

You don't know her, him, they, them.

You just don't.

Speaking or acting on the behalf of others, lying about the people who helped get you where you are, no matter how you feel about them, is just plain messed up.

As with everything else in my life, I've learned a lot here.

I love voice work.

I love editing.

I love reading and writing.

I love playing, making, and streaming games.

I don't love parasocial relationships.

They fascinate me, until they piss me off.

Obviously this is NOT all of what occurred here. There are plenty of screenshots, and stories, but the bottom line is that I'm being pushed around, and I'm tired of staying silent. I work too hard, and help too many people, while barely being able to lift my head up to do so.

I've had it.

If you want to join a discord community where bullying, will not be tolerated: https://discord.gg/C6Edjk3AhX

Please remember. Just because you recognize their face and you know about them through the internet, does not mean you KNOW them. Please treat actors/streamers as human beings, but also as "entertainers". Respect their privacy, and stay in your lane. Do not speak on their behalf. Do not bully their followers, even if they are extremely hands off, or they expect the community to police. You can easily turn one of the BEST things that's ever happened to someone, into one of the worst.

The results can be deadly.

[dboutonsmith]

Please support this author and her epic story. Written by Reality Games actress, @missgorejessstone (Instagram, Reddit, Tumblr)

Legend of the Sylph: Temple of Capricorn: https://a.co/d/cCmBnXZ

Buy on Amazon. It's $25 for the hard cover, $20 for soft, and then free with prime on kindle, or $10 without prime.

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#support #author #supportsmallbusiness #story #legend #sylph #legendofthesylph #capricorn #anime #adventure #lovestory #friendship #friends #epic #realitygames #hira #sandy #orphans #thehealing #amazon #epicadventure #magic #temple #writer #writing #book #bookstagram

[dboutonsmith]

"I can see right through because I am broken, too, in all the same places as you..." Having empathy is being able to understand others in a deeper way, and to feel what they feel. To connect with them on a deeper level. To build a relationship, to bond. To love in a special way, and let them know that you understand. That you can feel as they feel. Good, bad, happy, sad.

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#killswitchengage #iambrokentoo #empath #empathy #emotions #sad #happy #art #artist #friendship #pink #dark #darkness #drawing #draw #painting #watercolor #design #illustration #girl #cry #smile #originalart #original #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #selflove #iloveyou

[dboutonsmith]

My watercolor portrait of Dan Anderson, the most loyal friend and most handsome man in Duskwood. 💪😎🌹💋

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@dboutonsmith Instagram, Reddit , and Tumblr; @everbytestudio

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#duskwood #duskwoodfandom #duskwooddan #duskwoodfanart #art #painting #watercolour #watercolor #drawing #draw #everbytestudio #handsome #germany #everbytestudio #love #friendship #jackdaniels #boyfriend #illustration #beard #longhair #originalart #portrait

[dboutonsmith]

#iamjake If you can only see...

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@dboutonsmith on Instagram, Reddit, and Tumblr

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#duskwood #duskwoodfandom #duskwoodfanart #duskwoodjake #hacker #hackerman #dark #hoodie #blueeyes #love #art #design #painting #watercolour #draw #watercolor #drawing #romantic #original #originalart #duskwoodgame

[dboutonsmith]

My watercolor portrait of Dan Anderson, the most loyal friend and most handsome man in Duskwood. 💪😎🌹💋

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@dboutonsmith Instagram @everbytestudio

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#duskwood #duskwoodfandom #duskwooddan #duskwoodfanart #art #painting #watercolour #watercolor #drawing #draw #everbytestudio #handsome #germany #everbytestudio #love #friendship #jackdaniels #boyfriend #illustration #beard #longhair #originalart

[dboutonsmith]

In honor of an awesome artist I admire I recreated their main character in my own watercolor style.

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@dboutonsmith on Instagram

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#art #design #originalart #original #drawing #draw #watercolour #watercolor #cyberpunk #android #dragonball #dbz #woman #beautiful #punk #tech #technology #colorful #pretty #rainbow #artistsoninstagram #badass

[dboutonsmith]

A watercolor portrait of a beautiful sleeping house cat, a gift for my friends.

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@dboutonsmith on Instagram

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#art #artist #design #painting #draw #watercolour #watercolor #drawing #originalart #watercolorpainting #cat #cute #cutecat #sleep #cozy #beautiful #prettykitty #pretty #calico #happy #friendship #pink #iloveyou #artlover

[dboutonsmith]

I am super proud of this, my Very Best watercolor painting I've done so far!

My portrait of our best friend, Charlie and the bounty hunter, Oni, hiding in the shadows (voiced by Tongue Tied ). Game characters from The Healing by German Mobile Gaming company, Reality Games. 💚🧡

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@dboutonsmith on Instagram

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#original #originalart #originalartwork #art #design #fanart #illustration #drawing #draw #painting #watercolor #charlie #oni #onimask #mobilegames #realitygames #videogames #character #characterart #cartoon #puppet #darkness #english #germany #french #bestfriends #friends #brothers #tonguetied #youtube

[dboutonsmith]

A color pencil and watercolor pencil portrait of my dear, lush friend, Flo. Queen of metal, coffee, and one heck of a mad hatter. I love you my gorgeous friend. 💛😘💛

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Of @florence_elizabeth_h by @dboutonsmith on Instagram

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#originalart #art #artist #artistsoninstagram #artlover #portrait #design #illustration #metal #rainbow #hair #pretty #beautiful #woman #friendship #friend #lush #color #uk #british #mother #hope #love #loveyou #bestfriends

[dboutonsmith]

A color pencil and watercolor pencil portrait of my friend, Ris. Always supportive. Always sharing her love. Thank you. 💙💐 @mishanym

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#originalart #art #artist #portrait #watercolor #watercolorpencils #colorpencil #draw #drawing #smile #friendship #friends #happy #glasses #gorgeous #woman #girl #indonisia #gamer #loveyou #iloveyou

[dboutonsmith]

Another color pencil and watercolor pencil portrait. Isn't he handsome?

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@dboutonsmith on Instagram

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#art #artwork #artist #artistoninstagram #originalart #handsome #beautiful #smile #hair #illustration #design #iloveyou #friends #iloveart #blonde #browneyes #sweden #swedish

[dboutonsmith]

A color pencil and watercolor pencil portrait of my friend and fellow artist, Joakim. Through darkness seek the beauty and enter the light.

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In Instagram: To @art_by_princesss By @dboutonsmith

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#originalart #art #artist #portrait #colorpencil #watercolor #drawing #draw #beautiful #handsome #smile #beauty #blueeyes #rainbow #color #design #hope #love #loveyou #iloveyou #friends #friendship

[dboutonsmith]

In honor of our good friend, tonny_hacker (formerly Jake Hacker on Instagram), I drew his portrait. Thank you, Tonny, for supporting my art and for always supporting our friends. 😘🌹

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@dboutonsmith on Instagram, Reddit, and Tumblr

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#originalart #drawing #design #portrait #illustration #art #artist #artistsoninstagram #artlover #hackerman #ethicalhacker #friendship #friends #cute #smile #happy #loveyou #snakebites #piercing #man #winter #blue #blueeyes #prettyeyes #handsome #family #ever #coder