Nerd, R.D. @rdnerd - Tumblr Blog

There are some things you can disagree on and still be friends. Pineapple on pizza. DC v Marvel movie franchises. Dogs v cats.

But fascism and trying to dictate how others define themselves or live their lives? Yeah, no, that's not on the list.

leebrontide

I want to tell a story to the artists and would-be artists out there.

When I was 19, I made a large oil painting of the nerd I would eventually marry. I poured all my attention and care into this painting. It's the only art I have from back then that still holds up as a work I'm proud of today.

I entered it into a judged show at the local art center. It got an honorable mention. I went to see the show with my beloved model. One of the judges came up to talk to me, and highlighted that all the judges really liked the painting. It would have placed, except, you see, the feet were incorrect. They were too wide and short, and if I just studied a bit more anatomy-

I called over my future wife, and asked her to take off her shoe. Being already very used to humoring me, she did. The judge looked at her very short, very wide little foot. Exactly as I'd lovingly rendered it. I would never edit her appearance in any way.

The judge looked me in the eye, and to his credit, he really looked like he meant it when he said "Oh I'm so sorry."

Anyways the moral of the story is that all of those anatomy books that teach you proportions are either showing you averages, or a very specific idea of an idealized body. Actual bodies are much more varied than that.

So don't forget to draw from observation, and remember that humans aren't mass produced mannequins. Delight in our variation. Because it's supposed to be there.

leebrontide

Allright if 20,000 people are going to post a story about a painting I did of my wife, then I am going to post the painting itself.

For those calling for justice, the same painting won a contest at my college (my university professor had met my model), and the university bought it from me and hung it up there for over a decade, square little feet and all. Then, the library underwent renovations and a librarian I am thankful for forever went through heroic measures to track me down again even though I'd gotten married and changed my name, and offered it back to me. And now it hangs in our house even though my wife doesn't ordinarily want to look at paintings of herself and I don't normally want to look at paintings I made. We both have a soft spot for this one.

factsinallcaps

ON THE SHOW "SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS," THE KRABBY PATTIES THE TITULAR SPONGEBOB MAKES PROFESSIONALLY ARE, PER THE SERIES CREATOR, VEGETARIAN. THIS IS BECAUSE NICKELODEON HAD RULES FOR THE SPONGEBOB PRODUCTION TEAM AGAINST DEPICTING FISH AS FOOD FOR OTHER FISH. SOMETIMES THEY BROKE THIS RULE

factsinallcaps