A little bit of everything thats somebody out ther

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You don't have to suffer the tedious process of filling in your line art manually or paint bucket filling all those little areas. (I mean unless you just enjoy doing it that way) Have this time saving tip!

I use Clip Studio Paint for this tutorial but many other programs have these same tools and shortcuts!

Work smarter not harder!

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How to show emotions

Part III

How to show disappointment

swallowing hard

low, monotone voice

clucking their tongue

rubbing their face

shaking head

clenching hands

sighing

frowning

pursing of the lips

slumped shoulders

looking away

scowling

How to show relief

exhaling deeply

tension in their face going away

closing eyes for a moment

tentative smile

eyes brightening up

small giddy laughter

putting hand on their breast

joyfully tearing up

looking up

How to show desire

gaze dropping down to the other's lips

opening mouth slightly

small smile around the eyes

eyes widening

pupils dilating

biting lips

following them with their eyes

inhaling deeply

licking lips

How to show tiredness

closing eyes

slowly opening them again

long sighs

yawning

no eye contact

head lolling to the side

closed mouth, neither smile nor scowl

not moving a lot

doing everything slower

staring off into the near distance

How to show confidence

prolonged eye contact

nodding to show they are listening

putting their shoulders back

holding head high

leaning forward

standing tall

smiling openly

Part I | Part II

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Types of Candle Magick

Types of Candle Magick:

Elemental Candle Magick (European)

Representation Candle Magick (North American)

Elemental Candle Magick:

Focuses on the flame. Multiple candles are typically used in a ritual to represent quarters (directions) also used to represent different elements or colors. Typically used to represent the element of fire and bring that energy into a working. The color, the scent and the size does not really mean much in the European tradition. Plane white dinner candles are used most often, but it could be any type of candle, what is important is the element of fire. The elements in European style candle magick is very significant. When someone sits down to do a European style candle magick, there is typically a lot of chanting, a lot of rhyme and rhythm. and repetition. Often it's the idea of channeling your energy into that flame so that flame will release that energy into the world to receive a magickal response.

The element of fire is the most active element of them all. It's has very specific properties and associations that really aids spell work and ritual, it's the element of action. It's the element of doing, of progress, of power, of passion. So a lot of people will use the element of fire in specific spell work to aid this energy and intention. So if you want to do a spell to get yourself motivated a candle spell is likely a much better option then an earth based spell. A spell for passion is probably much better done with a candle then with water. A lot of people will choose to use candle magick in specific instances rather then doing it all the time. So you'll find elemental practitioners will specialize in certain elemental workings for different intentions. So this draws even more on the idea that you're using the element of the candle; the flame, the fire, rather then the candle itself. In European witchcraft the candle is kind of non important, that's why people will often re-use their candles in European witchcraft.

North American Candle Magick:

This candle magick is more representational, it's a very tactile form of candle magick that works less with the chanting and repetition and trance work that you see in the European candle magick, and more with the representation and symbolism and like attracts like.

Representational magick, it's the idea that like attracts like. if you undertake a working with items that represent what you're trying to achieve, it's believed that you'll assist in manifesting it faster.

In representational magick there are many layers to think about. So what kind of candle do you want to use? The maine two are often 7 day candles or 5 day candles. They're designed to symbolize what you want to represent.

Figures:

Figural candles are figures of what you want to achieve. They're used to represent your goal your desired outcome. The most common are skull candles, they're used to represent the mind. They're great for domination work, and head work. Male and female candles are used to represent individuals. Either you or someone else. They act as a doll a poppet that you add into a working to represent an individual. You also have shamrock candles that are designed to attract good luck, heart shaped candles to attract love, and Gargoyle candles to attract protection.

Colors & Scents:

Now we have the color of candles which represents what you want to achieve. Each choice of color is specific for that working. The scent matters too, for instance if you want love you choose rose, if you want goodluck you'd choose lemongrass. It depends on what you want to achieve.

Candle Size:

Another thing that goes into representational candle magick is the size of the candle. The smaller the candle is the less energy it can store and the less time it burns for and the smaller the results. The bigger the candle the longer it burns for the more energy you can put into it and so bigger the results might be. Also a technique with this style of candle magick that you will charge one candle with your energy, you'll fill it to the brim with energy and you'll burn it down once a day everyday for certain ritualistic days, for example 5 days or 7 days. If you have a 5 day candle you'll charge it then burn it down and release the energy everyday to manifest your results.

Energy work:

People will often carve things into the candle such as their affirmation and dress it with oil that represents their intention. They'll cover it with herbs that represent their intention or put powder on it, and charge it with their energy for however long, maybe hours to weeks and months, then you burn the candle all the way down to release that energy. That includes your 5 day candles, your 7 days candles, your figural candles. You want them to burn all the way down to release all of that energy. Don't forget you can pre-charge your candles for specific days in the week, month, or year.

Blowing out or Snuffing?:

Can you blow out a candle? You can blow out a candle if you're solely using it for the element. Once you thanked the element for assisting with that working, then you can blow it out like normal. In representational magick it is believed that if you blow out a candle then you are blowing away the energy and intention that you have put into it. So it is important to snuff the candle in this case.

Reusing Candles:

Can you cleanse and re-use candles used in a ritual? You can in elemental candle magick as you've only worked with the element, and not the candle itself. Where as in representational magick if you have chosen a candle specifically for protection, such as a black gargoyle candle that is carved with sigils, symbols, and representations and dressed with protection oil, and protection herbs, and sprinkle sachet powder on it for protection and you spent 21 days charging it with energy and it's surrounded by crystals, then you'd never want to take that candle and use it in another ritual as you've put a specific energy into that candle.

What to do with the remains?:

Candle remains in elemental magick are typically taken and remelted down into a brand new candle, or throw it in the trash. In representational magick, it is believed that how you treat the remains of the candle affects your working. So typically practitioners read the candle wax or their flame or how long the candle took to melt down, or the placement of the candle wax and the shapes the candle wax has created. The idea that the candle remains holds energy is very important. You'll find a lot of practitioners won't remelt down candles to create a new one, because each bit of candle wax has it's own lingering energy. I would then cleanse the candle remains if you melt it down to create a new candle. Otherwise take the candle remains and treat it with respect, and they will do with it what is required with it for that particular working. For example a banishing working, practitioners will often get rid of the working by throwing it in a trash not on their property because you want to remove that person or situation, or throw it over your shoulder at a crossroads. If it was to attract something then maybe take it to your front garden and bury it to attract it into your life. If it's to keep something around then bury it in the back garden as you want to keep it in your life. Some people add them into sachets or mojo bags later on. If you do want to throw it in the trash then at least cleanse it before doing so, as it's important to treat that energy with respect.

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Incense Meanings

Acacia: Burned with sandalwood to stimulate the psychic powers.

African Violet: Protection and to promote spirituality within the home.

Allspice: Attract both good luck and money.

Aloes: Attract good fortune, love, spiritual vibrations, and strength.

Althea: Protection and to stimulate the psychic powers.

Amber: Love, comfort, happiness and healing

Ambergris: Burn for dreams and aphrodisiac

Angelica: Protection, harmony, integration, insight and understanding, stability and meditation

Anise seeds: Meditation and emotional balance incense.

Basil: exorcise and protect against evil entities such as demons and unfriendly ghosts, and to attract fidelity, love, good luck, sympathy, and wealth. This is also an excellent incense to use when performing love divinations.  Also burn for concentration, assertiveness, decisiveness, trust, integrity, enthusiasm, mental clarity, cheerfulness, confidence and courage

Bay: Facilitate the psychic powers, and to induce prophetic dream-visions.

Bayberry: Attract money and also burned for protection, happiness and control

Benzoin: Purification, astral projection, clears negative energy, emotional balance, eases sadness, depression, weariness, grief, anger, anxiety and to attract prosperity

Bergamot: Money, prosperity, uplifting of spirits, joy, protection, concentration, alertness, confidence, balance, strength, courage, motivation and assertiveness

Bistort: Burned often with frankincense as a powerful incense to aid divination.

Bracken: Burned in outdoor fires to magickally produce rain.

Cardamom: Mental clarity, concentration, confidence, courage, enthusiasm and motivation

Carnation: protection, strength, healing, love and lust

Cedar: Purification, to stimulate or strengthen the psychic powers, attract love, prevent nightmares, and heal various ailments, including head colds.

Cedarwood: Healing, purification, protection, money, balance, grounding, clarity, insight and wisdom

Chamomile: Harmony, peace, calm, spiritual and inner peace

Cinnamon: Protection and to attract money, wealth, prosperity, business success, stimulate or strengthen the psychic powers, and aid in healing.  Also burned for stimulation, strength and lust

Citron: Burned in rituals to aid healing and also to strengthen the psychic powers.

Citronella: Cleansing, warding off, healing and exorcism

Clove: Dispel negativity, purify sacred and magickal spaces, attract money, and stop or prevent the spread of gossip. Also burn for pain relief, intellectual stimulation, business success, wealth, prosperity, divination, exorcism, protection, eases fears, improves memory and focus

Coconut: Protection

Copal: Purification, uplifting spirits, protection, exorcism, spirituality and to attract love.

Cypress: Strength, comfort, healing, eases anxiety, stress, self-assurance, confidence, physical vitality, willpower and concentration

Damiana: Facilitate psychic visions.

Dittany of Crete: Conjure spirits and to aid in divination, astral projection, especially when mixed with equal parts of benzoin, sandalwood, and vanilla.

Dragon's Blood: Dispel negativity, exorcise evil supernatural entities, courage, purification, attract love, and restore male potency. Many Witches also burn dragon's blood for protection when spell casting and invoking. When added to other incenses, dragon's blood makes their magickal powers all the stronger.

Elecampane: Strengthen the clairvoyant powers and scrying abilities-divination by gazing.

Eucalyptus: Healing, purification and protection

Fern: Burned in outdoor fires to magickally produce rain. Also used to exorcise evil supernatural entities.

Frankincense: Dispel negativity, spirituality, purify magickal spaces, consecration, protect against evil, exorcism, aid meditation, astral strength, induce psychic visions, courage, protection, attract good luck, and honor Pagan deities.

Fumitory: Exorcise demons, poltergeists, and evil supernatural entities.

Galangal: Break the curses cast by sorcerers.

Gardenia: Peace, love and healing

Ginger: Wealth, lust, love and magical power

Ginseng root: keep wicked spirits at bay, and for protection against all forms of evil.

Gotu Kola: Burned to aid meditation.

Heather: Conjure beneficial spirits, and to magickally produce rain.

Hibiscus Flowers: Attract love, lust and also for divination.

Honey Suckle: Attract money, happiness, friendship and healing

Horehound: Burned as an offertory incense to the ancient Egyptian god Horus.

Hyacinth: Happiness and protection

Jasmine: Attract love and money, and also to induce dreams of a prophectic nature, purification, wisdom and astral projection

Juniper: stimulate or increase the psychic powers, and also to break curses, exorcism and hexes cast by evil sorcerers. It is also burned for calming, protection and healing.

Lavender: Induce rest and sleep, and to attract love-especially of a man. Also burned for cleansing, healing, happiness and relaxation

Lemon: Healing, love and purification

Lemongrass: Mental clarity

Lilac: Stimulate or increase the psychic powers, and to attract harmony into ones life.

Lotus: Elevate mood, protection, spirituality, healing and meditation

Mace: Stimulate or increase the psychic powers.

Mastic: Conjure beneficial spirits, stimulate or increase the psychic powers, and intensify sexual desires. The magickal powers of other incenses are greatly increased when a bit of mastic is added.

Mesquite: Magickal powers of all healing incenses are greatly increased when mesquite is added

Mint: Increase sexual desire, exorcise evil supernatural entities, conjure beneficial spirits, and attract money. Mint incense also possesses strong healing vibrations and protective powers.

Musk: Aphrodisiac, prosperity, courage

Myrrh: Burned (often with frankincense) for purification, consecration, healing, exorcism, and banishing evil. Myrrh is also aids meditation rituals, and was commonly burned on alters in ancient Egypt as an offering to deities Isis and Ra.

Nutmeg: Aid meditation, stimulate or increase the psychic powers, and to attract prosperity.

Oakmoss: Money and attraction

Orange: Divination, love, luck and money

Patchouli: Attract money, love, growth, mastery, sensuality and also to promote fertility.

Peppermint: Energy, mental stimulant, exorcism and healing

Pine: Purification, and to banish negative energies, exorcise evil supernatural entities, and attract money, as well as to break hexes and return them to their senders. Also burned for grounding, strength, cleansing and healing

Poppy seeds: Promote female fertility, and to attract love, good luck, and money.

Rose: Increase courage, induce prophetic dreams, house blessing, fertility, healing and attract love. Rose incense is used in all forms of love enchantment and possesses the strongest love vibration of any magickal incense.

Rose Geranium: Courage and protection

Rosemary: Purify, aid in healing, prevent nightmares, preserve youthfulness, dispel depression, attract fairy folk, and promote restful sleep and pleasant dreams.

Rue: Help restore health.

Sage: Protection against all forms of evil. It is also burned to purify sacred spaces and ritual tools. Plus it is great for promoting wisdom, clarity, attract money, and aid in the healing the body, mind, and soul.

Sage Brush: Aid healing, and to banish negative energies and evil supernatural entities.

Sandalwood: Exorcise demons and evil ghosts, conjure beneficial spirits, and promote spiritual awareness. Sandalwood incense is also used by many Witches for protection, astral projection, healing rituals and in wish-magick.

Solomon's Seal: Mainly as an offertory incense to ancient Pagan deities

Star Anise Seeds: Stimulate or increase the psychic powers

Strawberry: Attract love and for luck.

Sweetgrass: Conjure beneficial spirits prior to spell casting.

Sweet pea: Friendship, love and courage

Thyme: Purification of magickal spaces prior to rituals, to aid in healing, and to attract good health.

Vanilla: Attract love, increase sexual desire, and improve the powers of the mind.

Vervain: Exorcise evil supernatural entities.

Vetivert: Break curses, exorcism, for protection against black magick and thieves, money, peace and love.

Violet: Break curses, exorcism, for protection against black magick and thieves, money, peace and love.

Willow: Avert evil, attract love, and promote healing. It is also used by many Witches as an offertory incense for Pagan lunar deities.

Wisteria: Protection against all forms of evil.

Wormwood: Protection against all forms of evil.

Yarrow: Courage, exorcism

Ylang Ylang: Love, harmony and euphoria

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Herb and Flora Properties

A

Acacia: Exorcism, banishing, money, love, to be burned for alter offering, aiding in psychic powers, meditation, protection                                                                          

Acorn: Strength, money and wealth, protection

Adam and Eve Roots: (TOXIC) Attract love, happiness

Adders Tongue: Healing, divination

African Violet: Protection, promote spirituality

Agaric: (TOXIC) Encourage fertility

Agrimony: Protection, banish negative energy-entities, reverse spells, break hexes, promotes sleep, psychic protection, returns spells to their senders

Ague Root: Protection, break hexes

Alder: Whistles entice the Elemental earth, water magic, strength

Alfalfa: Abundance, prosperity, money, anti-hunger, frugality, providence, place in the kitchen

Alkanet: Repel negativity, attract prosperity, purification All Heal- Mental powers

Allspice: Money, luck, healing, prosperity when burned, courage, magickal power, love, lust

Almond: Prosperity, success in business ventures, money, wisdom, love, anger management

Aloe: Protection, luck, money, repel evil, healing, beauty, success, peace                          

Aloes, Wood: Love, spirituality, money, protection  Althea - protection, psychic power, attract good spirits

Alyssum: Protection, calm anger

Amaranth: Healing, protection, healing heartbreak, invisibility Amber: Healing                                      

Ambergris: Lust, sex Anemone - health, protection, healing

Angelica: Protection, exorcism, remove curses and hexes, healing, visions, wards off negativity when sprinkled around the house, increases life energy bringing warmth of Fire element, wards off negativity when sprinkled around the house                                                                       

Anise: Divination, psychic awareness, joy, dreams, luck, love, enthusiasm, Winter Solstice, entices the spirits to aid in spells

Apple: Love, healing, garden blessing, buried in the garden on Samhain as food for the departing spirits, to be shared with one you love,  immortality, happiness, luck, broken heart, spirit food, the goddess 

Apricot: Love

Arabic Gum: Purification, spirituality, protection

Arbutus: Exorcism, protection    

Arrowroot: Protection

Asafetida: Purification, protection, exorcism

Ash: Prosperity, protection, healing, love, wands, leaves for prophetic dreams, sea rituals, longevity, peace, luck, purification, study, enhances magic, besom

Aspen: Protection, eloquence, anti-theft

Aster: Love                                                                                            

Astragalus: Fortification, Strength

Avens: Exorcism, love, purification, Exorcism, purification, love

Avocado: Beauty, love, lust

B

Bachelors Buttons: Love

Balm of Gilead: (TOXIC) Love, manifestations, ease a broken heart, protection, healing, love

Bamboo: Protection, luck, break hexes, wishes

Banana: Prosperity, fertility, potency

Banyan: Luck, happiness

Barley: Healing, protection, love

Basil: Exorcism, love, protection, prosperity, wealth, repels negative energy, sympathy, wealth, flying, courage, business, fertility, healing relationships, ensure faithfulness on masses  

Bay: Psychic powers, protection, healing, purification, strength, wish magick, wisdom, good luck, fertility, banish negativity, energy, insight, divination, victory, prosperity, employment, mental power, burn for psychic powers 

Bayberry: Employment

Bean: Love, protection, exorcism, wart charming, reconciliation, potency                                                                  

Beech: Creativity, wishes, fertility, balance mental health

Beet: Love

Belladonna: (TOXIC) Visions, astral protection, divination

Benzoin: Purification, prosperity, astral projection, confidence, protection

Bergamot: Success, money, confidence, protection, prosperity, employment, unwanted advances

Be-Still: (TOXIC) Luck

Betony: Love, healing, burn at Litha for purification, protection; place under pillow to be rid of nightmares; sprinkle around doors to ward off despair, psychic awareness

Birch: Purification, protection, exorcism, cleansing, beauty, catalyst, blessing, health, besom, beginnings

Bistort: Fertility, psychic powers

Bittersweet: (TOXIC) Protection, healing, broken heart

Black Cohosh: Courage, love, protection, potency

Black Hellebore: (TOXIC) Invisibility, exorcism, astral projection

Black pepper: Courage, protection

Black Snakeroot - Love, lust, money

Blackberry: Healing, protection, prosperity, money, pies for Lughnassadh

Blackthorn: Returns evil to it's sender

Bladderwrack: Psychic powers, protection, money, water or sea spells, wind spells, travel,  psychic Clarity

Bleeding Heart: Love

Blessed Thistle: Protection, animal healing, abundance

Bloodroot: (TOXIC) Love, purification, protection

Bluebell: Luck, truth

Blueberry: Protection

Blue Cohosh Root: Courage, balance, protection 

Blue Flag: (TOXIC) Money, wealth, success in business

Bodhi: Wisdom, fertility, protection, meditation

Boneset: Protection, exorcism

Borage: Courage, psychic powers, carry leaves for protection

Bracken: Protection, healing, fertility, prophetic dreams, rune magick

Brazil Nut: Love

Briar: Add to tea for clairvoyant dreams, protection

Briony: (TOXIC) Mage magick, protection, money

Bromeliad: Protection, money

Broom: (TOXIC) Divination, wind spells, purification of the circle, hung indoors for protection

Bryony: (TOXIC) Pleasure, reveal secrets 

Buchu: Prophetic dreams, psychic powers

Buckeye: Luck, divination, money, wealth, prosperity, gambling

Buckthorn: Protection, exorcism, wishes, legal matters

Buckwheat: Protection, money

Burdock: Protection, healing, wards off negativity, purifies, protects (washing floors or dried root on red string around the neck), happy home, clears space & holds the space safe, spirit of north

C

Cabbage: Luck

Cactus: Protection, chastity

Calamus: (TOXIC) Luck, protection, healing, money, purification

Calendula: Stress management , opening to the 3rd Chakra, helps energy move outward from center of body extending in all directions

Camellia: Prosperity, wealth, luxury

Camphor: (TOXIC) Healing, divination, chastity, past lives, prophetic dreams, purification, psychic awareness, unwanted advances

Caper: Lust, love, potency

Caraway: Protection, lust, healing, mental powers, repel negativity, psychic healing, vitality, energy, magickal power, anti-theft

Cardamon: Lust, love, burned in love spells and in love sachets

Carnation: Protection, strength, healing, altar offering to the goddess, strength

Carob: Protection, health

Carrot: Fertility, lust, vision, the God aspect

Cascara Sagrada: Protection, money, legal matters

Cashew: Prosperity, money, communication

Cassia: Psychic awareness, spirituality

Castor: (TOXIC) Protection, repel negativity

Catnip: Love, beauty, happiness, power, courage, positive cat magik, friendship, joy, anger management, depression management, familiars

Cat Tail: Lust

Cayenne: Exorcism, healing

Cedar: Healing, purification, money, protection, cleansing, courage, stopping sexual harassment, prosperity, aura field and space

Celandine: Joy, protection, happiness, escape, legal matters, depression management

Celery: Lust, psychic powers, mental clarity, concentration, peace

Centaury: Snake removing

Chamomile: Purification, tranquility, money, sleep-rest (tea), love, luck, meditation, prosperity, incense for the God, gambling, hex breaking, legal matters, peace, dreams, dexterity, protection

Chapparal: Fire element rituals, Protection, Spirit of South 

Cherry: Love, divination, burn chips at sabbats, creativity , victory

Chestnut: Love

Chickweed: Love, fidelity

Chicory: Favors, frugality, remove obstacles, invisibility, frigidity, liberation

Chili Pepper: Fidelity, love, break hexes

China Berry: (TOXIC) Luck, change

Chrysanthemum: (TOXIC) Protection

Cilantro: Health

Cinchona: Protection, luck

Cinnamon: Prosperity, success, spirituality, healing, lust, protection, love, psychic powers, passion, power, dreams, strength, astral projection, courage, money, purification, personal empowerment

Cinquefoil: Money, protection, sleep, prophetic dreams, purification, lust, prosperity, divination dreams 

Citron: Healing, eaten to increase psychic powers

Civet: Love, lust, sex

Cloth-of-Gold: Animal communication

Clove: Protection, exorcism, purification, love, money, mental clarity, burn for wealth, wards off negativity, counter spells, cleansing, divination, luck, depression management, psychic awareness, prophetic dreams, happiness, gossip 

Clover: Success, protection, money, exorcism, love, fidelity, consecration, beauty, luck, youth, healing, faeries, prosperity

Club Moss: Protection, power

Coconut: Purification, protection, chastity, Water

Cohosh, Black: Courage, protection, potency, menopause

Coltsfoot: Love, psychic visions, healing, wealth, prosperity

Columbine: Courage, love

Comfrey: (TOXIC) Money, root or leaves for healing, carry for safe travel, protection, stress management, safe Journeys (Worldly or through Meditation) , Winter Solstice 

Copal: Love, purification, exorcism, protection, spirituality, earth element, sets sacred space, allows guides and guidance to come

Coriander: Love, health, healing, protection, longevity

Corn: Divination, protection, luck, money

Cornflower: Psychism

Cornsilk: Water element, stimulates flow

Cotton: Luck, healing, protection

Cowslip: Youth, healing, treasure finding, luck, love, psychic dreams

Crocus: Love, visions, wisdom

Cubeb: Love

Cuckoo-Flower: Love, fertility

Cucumber: Healing, fertility, chastity

Cumin: Exorcism, protection, prevents theft, fidelity, love

Curry: Protection, exorcism

Cyclamen: Fertility, protection, happiness, lust, broken heart

Cypress: Healing, protection, comfort, longevity, peace, sleep, liberation

D

Daffodil: Love, luck, fertility

Daisy: Love, lust, Luck, depression management, faeries and elves, happiness

Damiana: Divination, love, lust, sex magick, dreams, visions, psychic powers, opens door between worlds

Dandelion Leaf and Root: Purification, divination, wishes, calling spirits

Date Palm: Potency, fertility

Datura: (TOXIC) Protection, sleep, break hexes

Deerstongue: (TOXIC) Lust, psychic powers, gossip management

Devil's Bit: Love, protection, luck, exorcism

Devil's Shoestring: Protection, luck, gambling, power, employment

Dill: Love, lust, seeds draw money, leaves for protection, flowers for love

Dittany of Crete: Manifestations, astral projection

Dock: Money, healing, fertility

Dodder: Love divination, knot magic

Dogbane: Love

Dogwood: Protection, wishes

Dong Quai, Slices: Health, vitality, fire element rituals

Dragons Blood: Power, protection, exorcism, potency, love, courage, fortune, catalyst, magick power, strength, purification, stimulates action of other herbs in incense blend, stimulates movement of energy

Dulse: Harmony, lust

Dutchman's Breeches: Love

E

Ebony: Protection, power

Echinacea: Strengthening spells, health, strength, wards off negativity or undesirable energies

Edelweiss: Invisibility, bullet-proofing

Elder: (CAUTION: SEEDS ARE POISONOUS, TOXIC)  Money, wishes, theft protection, exorcism, healing, prosperity, sleep, wards negative thoughts when used as wind chimes, blessings, do not burn the wood of elder for it is sacred to Hecate, see fairies in the trees at Litha, flowers used as an alter offering, berries for esbat wine, flowers added to candle spells directed at hecate during the new moon, cleansing, offering

Elderberries: Prosperity, protection, sleep, joy, visions, banishing, energy, ancient wisdom, contactwith elementals, invoke magic

Elderflower: Purifying, healing

Elecampane: Love, protection, psychic powers, anger management

Elm: Protection, love, attracts elves

Endive: Love, lust

Eryngo: Peace, love, lust, traveler's luck

Eucalyptus: (TOXIC) Healing, protection, joy, purification, air element rituals

Euphorbia: (TOXIC) Protection, purification

Eyebright: Joy, psychic powers, mental clarity, mental ability and clarity, visions

F

False Unicorn Root: Connection to magical realm, contains energy and intention

Fennel: Protection, exorcism, healing, purification, virility, sacred to the God, hung over doors at Litha, strength, courage, money

Fennel Seed: Stimulates movement

Fenugreek: Prosperity, wealth, money, mental powers, clearing

Fern: (TOXIC) Money, wealth, eternal youth, protection, outside for rain, luck, riches, health, exorcism

Feverfew: Protection, wards sickness, wards accidents in traffic

Fig: Divination, fertility, love

Figwort: Protection, health

Fir: Health, prosperity, birth and rebirth 

Flax: Luck, money, protection, purification, beauty, psychic powers, healing, health, initiates flow

Fleabane: Exorcism, protection, chastity

Forget-Me-Not: Mental powers

Foxglove: (CAUTION: POISONOUS, TOXIC) Faeries and elves, lust, grow in garden for protection of the house and yard

Fragrant Bedstraw: Love

Frankincense: Exorcism, purification, protection, spirituality, power, meditation, blessing, concentration, banishing, courage, divination, healing, love, purification, consecration, sets sacred space, sets safe space for guides to come in, spirit of east or north

Fumitory: Money, exorcism

Furz/egorse: Burn at Ostara for protection and as a preparation for any conflict

Fuzzy Weed: Love, hunting

G

Galangal: Protection, legal matters, lust, health, money, psychic powers, break hexes, energy, strength, courage

Gardenia: Love, peace, healing, spirituality, psychic awareness

Garlic: Protection, healing, health, exorcism, lust sacred to Hecate, flowers for altar offerings, cloves for protection, anti-theft, wishes, relief from nightmares

Gentian: Power, love, break hexes, wishes, theft

Geranium: (TOXIC) Courage, abundance, health, love, protection, fertility

Giant Vetch: Fidelity

Ginger: Love, money, success, power, aphrodisiac, psychic ability, apathy, lust, good health, magickal power, fire element rituals, brings into existence, bringer of the manifestation, 3rd chakra vitality, inner strength, stimulates flow of energy, spirit of south

Ginseng: Longevity, sexual potency, protection, healing, love, lust, wishes, beauty, vitality, fertility, desire, encourages a long lasting affect, strength

Goat's Rue: Healing, health

Goldenrod: Prosperity, money, divination, luck

Goldenseal: Money, healing

Gorse: Protection, money

Gotu Kola: Meditation

Gourd: Protection

Grain: Protection

Grains of Paradise: Love, lust, luck, money, wishes

Grape: Mental clarity, money, fertility, garden magick, happiness

Grass: Psychic powers, protection

Ground Ivy: Divination

Groundsel: Health, healing

Gum Mastic: Magickal power

H

Hawthorn: Happiness, fertility, powerful wands, protection, chastity, fishing magick, faeries and elves, purification, business, depression management, purity, cleansing

Hawthorne Berries: 4th chakra strength and vitality, love, contentment

Hazel: Luck, fertility, protection, wishes, nuts strung on cord in house or ritual room to invite the help of plant fairies, used for wands, healing, anti-lightning, love, aphrodisiac, wisdom, divination, mental powers, intelligence, inspiration

Heather: Luck, protection, red to start or end an affair, white for protection, purple for spiritual development, use at samhain to invite spirits to visit, rain making, spirituality

'Heliotrope: (TOXIC) Exorcism, prophetic dreams, healing, wealth, invisibility, money, spirituality, prosperity, psychic awareness

Hellebore, Black: (TOXIC) Protection

Hemlock: (TOXIC) Astral projection, diminish libido, power, purification, charging, alignment

Hemp: Healing, love, visions, meditation

Henbane: (TOXIC) Love, luck, divination, invisibility

Henna: Healing, health, love, change, dying material

Hibiscus: Love, lust, divination, 5th Chakra

Hickory: Legal matters

High John the Conqueror: (TOXIC) Strength, confidence, health, love, money, success, happiness, break hexes, increase strength, legal matters, anointing, victory

Holly Thistle: Purification, break hexes

Holly: Protection, luck, dream magic, anti-lightning, balance, dreams, enhances magic, holiness, consecration, beauty 

Honesty: Money, protection

Honeysuckle: Protection, money, psychic powers, confidence, broken heart, luck, happiness, healing, depression management

Hops: Healing, sleep, stress management, opens the channel in and out of the body in relationship with the universe 

Horehound: Exorcism, healing, purification, protection, mental clarity, balance, banishing, opens air element within body & in the world, opens channel for clear communication

Horse Chestnut: (TOXIC) Healing, money

Horseradish: Exorcism, purification

Horsetail: Fertility

Houseleek: Love, luck, protection

Huckleberry: Protection, luck, dream magic, break hexes

Hyacinth: (TOXIC) Business, court cases, sleep, depression management, love, protection, happiness

Hydrangea: Break hexes

Hyssop: Healing, protection, purification, wards negativity, prosperity, money, banishing, dragon energy

I

Indian Paint Brush: Love

Iris: Purification, wisdom, courage, reincarnation, spirituality, happiness

Irish Moss: Luck, money, protection, opens throat, opens channel for clear communication

Ivy: (TOXIC) Divination, protection, healing, fertility, love, fidelity

J

Jasmine: Divination, love, money, prophetic dreams, sleep, prosperity, spirituality, visions, confidence, broken heart, astral projection, business, court cases

Jimson Weed: Protect against evil spirits

Job's Tears: Luck, wishes, healing

Joe-Pye Weed: Love, respect

Juniper: Protection, love, exorcism, health, anti-theft, banishing, peace, wishes, aphrodisiacs, sets sacred space, spirit of north

K

Kava Kava: Lust, protection while traveling, astral projection, visions, luck, visions, protection, love, opens one to receiving guidance and guides

Kelp: Wind spells, psychic powers, protection, connection to divine source through the physical and spiritual, unity, life-force strengthening, spirit of center

Knotweed: Health, binding spells, protection

L

Lady's Mantle: Love, self control

Lady's Slipper: Protection

Larch: Protection, anti-theft

Larkspur: Protection, health

Lavender: Protection, call in good spirits, love, sleep, longevity, happiness, peace, healing, burn for purification, peace, use in bath for purification, burn at Litha as an offering, psychic awareness, chastity, liberation, menopause, childbirth, grief or loss, youthful vigor, stress management, travel, anger management, attracts elves

Leek: Exorcism, love, protection

Lemon: Purification, love, friendship, longevity, cleansing, healing, peace, success, broken heart, anger management, devotion

Lemon Balm: Love, success, healing, depression management, aphrodisiac, soothe emotional pain after relationship ends

Lemon Verbena: Protection, purification, love, power, beauty, youth, happiness, peace, mental and emotional balance, summer solstice

Lemongrass: Psychic powers, mental clarity, lust, repel snakes

Lettuce: Love divination, sleep, protection, chastity, luck

Licorice: Love, lust, fidelity, aphrodisiac, meditation, harmony

Life-Everlasting: Health, healing, longevity

Lilac: Eorcism, protection, purification, beauty, love, peace, psychic awareness

Lily: Protection, exorcism, repel negativity, truth, break love spells, strength, purification, breaking hexes

Lily of the Valley: (TOXIC) Mental clarity, happiness, insight, depression management, peace

Lime: Healing, love, protection, cleansing, happiness, purification

Linden: Healing, protection, luck, love, sleep, bark for protection, leaves and flowers for immortality, good fortune, youth, attraction, longevity 

Liquid Amber: Protection

Liverwort: Love, protection

Lobelia - (TOXIC) healing, love

Loosestrife: Peace, protection, harmony, purple restores harmony and brings peace

Lotus: Protection, spirituality, love, lock opening, liberation, mental powers

Lovage: Love, attraction, cleansing, purification

Love Seed: Love, friendship

Lucky Hand: Protection, luck, money, travel, employment

M

Mace: Psychic powers, mental clarity, divination'

Maguey: Lust

Magnolia: Fidelity, past lives, peace, sex, broken heart, beauty, wisdom

Mahogany, Mountain: Anti-lightning 

Maidenhair: Beauty, love

Male Fern: Luck, love

Mallow: Love, protection, exorcism

Mandrake: (TOXIC) potency, exorcism, protection, fertility, money, love, health, protection, catalyst, prosperity, divination, increase psychic powers, aphrodisiacs, cursing enemies, building, banishing, protection in the subconscious, unconscious and underworld,

Maple: Money, longevity, love

Marigold: Prophetic dreams, protection, legal matters, marriage spells, enhanced psychic powers, pick in full sun, business and legal matters, clairvoyant dreams, mixed with water and rubbed on the eyelids to see fairies

Marjoram: Protection, love, happiness, health, money, depression management, prosperity

Marshmallow: Healing, friendship, boundaries, love, protection, strength, emotional balance'

Masterwort: Protection, strength, courage

Mastic: Psychic powers, lust, manifestations, love, magick power

May Apple: (TOXIC) Money, prosperity

Meadow Rue: Love, divination

Meadowsweet: Love, divination, peace, happiness, harmony, 3rd chakra

Mesquite: Healing

Milk Thistle: Creativity, protection, dispel, transformation

Mimosa: Love, protection, prophetic dreams, purification, past lives, visions

Mint: Exorcism, protection, money, lust, healing, travel, alter offering for helpful spirits , love, luck, anger management, dreams, abundance, prosperity, rejuvenation

Mistletoe: (TOXIC) Healing, protection, love, fertility, health, exorcism, hunting, success, catalyst, lust, liberation, sexual potency 

Molukka: Protection

Moonflower: Liberation

Moonwort: Love, money, divination

Morning Glory: (TOXIC) Peace, happiness, depression management

Moss: Luck, money

Motherwort: Balances within, self empowerment, 2nd chakra

Mugwort: Astral projection, strength, psychic powers, protection, prophetic dreams, healing, divination, rub fresh herb on crystal balls and magick mirrors to increase their strength, pick on full moon night, clairvoyance, purification, sex, renewal, fertility, clearing, sleep, visions, opens one to the teachings of the subconscious and unconscious self, 6th and 7th chakras

Mulberry: Protection, strength

Mullein: Exorcism, health, protection, courage, love divination, calling spirits, dreams, opens life energy flow through the body

Musk: Purification, sex

Mustard: Fertility, protection, mental clarity, health, money

Myrrh: Spirituality, purification, protection, healing, exorcism, wards negativity, burn for purification and consecrations, banishing, sets sacred space, ancient wisdom

Myrtle: Peace, money, love, youth, fertility, sleep, healing, prosperity

N

Narcissus: Peace

Nasturtium: Healing

Neroli: Love

Nettle: Exorcism, protection, healing, lust, abundance, 3rd and 6th chakra, banishing, stress management, gossip management

Niaouli: Protection

Norfolk Island Pine: Protection, anti-hunger

Nutmeg: Protection, money, health, luck, fidelity, break hexes, burn for prosperity, love, psychic awareness, relief from nightmares

Nuts: Fertility, prosperity, love, luck, use for tips on wands, gifts, communication

O

Oak: Protection, health, money, healing, potency, fertility, luck, the God, wands, burn leaves to purify the atmosphere, acorns draw money, burn wood for good health, acorns draw money, power, balance, prosperity

Oak Moss: Court cases, money, protection 

Oats: Money, offering to the god, stress management

Oleander: (TOXIC) Love

Olive: Healing, peace, fertility, potency, protection, lust, victory, spirituality

Onion: Exorcism, healing, protection, purification, money, prophetic dreams, lust

Orange: Love, divination, luck, money

Orange Bergamot: Prosperity, success, energy, joy, friendship, success, prosperity, psychic awareness, peels for love, incense for good fortune  

Orchid: Love, psychic powers

Oregon Grape: Money, prosperity

Orris: Divination, protection, love, prosperity, money, clairvoyance, sex, psychic awareness

P

Palmarosa: Hhealing, love

Palm Date: Fertility, potency

Pansy: Love, divination, rain magick, mental powers, strength

Papay: Protection, love, wishes

Papyrus: Protection, wisdom, self-insight

Parosela: Hunting

Parsley: Purification, protection, lust, love, fertility, prosperity

Passion Flower: Peace, sleep, friendships prosperity, increase libido, popularity, anger management, stress management

Patchouli: Money, fertility, lust, break hexes, incense for drawing money, earth, underworld, business, confidence, court cases, love, desire, prosperity, protection, success, sex, enemies

PAU D'ARCO: Fertility, wards off negativity, clears

Pea: Money, love

Peach: Exorcism, love, fertility, wishes, longevity, broken heart, youth

Pear: Love, lust

Pecan: Money, employment, prosperity, dreams, discipline

Pennyroyal: Exorcism, consecration, strength, protection, peace, healing

Peony: Exorcism, protection, purification

Pepper: Exorcism, protection, use in amulets or grow for protection, wards negativity

Peppermint: Purification, sleep, love, healing, psychic powers, divination, money, apathy, exorcism, insight, lust, menopause, clears energy and space

Pepper Tree: Protection, purification, healing

Periwinkle: (TOXIC) Protection, money, love, lust, mental clarity

Persimmon: Healing, luck, changing sex, insight into others

Petitgrain: Protection

Pilot Weed: Protection

Pimento: Love

Pimpernel: Protection, health

Pine: (TOXIC) Protection, exorcism, money, healing, fertility, brush outdoor ritual area with a branch to purify and sanctify, burn for cleansing, needles in money spells, spirituality, gambling, dreams, cleansing, banishing, purification, prosperity, employment, birth, rebirth, strength, life and immortality 

Pineapple: Luck, money, chastity, hospitality, protection

Pipsissewa: Money, calling in good spirits

Pistachio: Breaking love spells

Plantain: Protection, healing, strength, snake repelling

Plum: Protection, love, healing, self-confidence

Plumeria: (TOXIC) Love

Poke: (TOXIC) Courage, break hexes

Pomegranate: Divination, luck, wealth, wishes, fertility

Poplar: Money, astral projection, success

Poppy: Fertility, love, sleep, money, luck, healing, invisibility

Potato: Healing, image magick, astral projection, separation, foundations, earth energy

Prickly Ash: Love

Primrose: Protection, love

Purslane: Protection, love, happiness, luck, sleep

Q

Quassia: Love

Queen of the Meadow: Power, protection

Quince: Protection, love, happiness

R

Radish: Protection, lust

Ragweed: Courage, faeries and elves

Ragwort: Protection

Raspberry: Healing, visions, protection, love, alleviates labor pains, spirit of center, spring equinox

Rattlesnake Root: Protection, money

Red Clover Blossoms: Abundance, love, money, protection, success, summer solstice

Red Root: Clears energy, dispels

Rhubarb: Health, protection, fidelity

Rice: Protection, money, fertility, rain, blessings, weather magick

Roots: Protection, divination, power

Rose: Beauty, protection, purification, love, psychic powers, healing, divination, peace, luck, courage, catalyst, sex,  sleep, prophetic dreams, anger management, love divination, abundance, attraction, prosperity

Rose Geranium: Protection

Rose Hips: Healing, luck, call in good spirits, abundance, strength, fall equinox ceremony

Rosemary: Exorcism, protection, healing, love, lust, mental clarity, sleep, youth, burn for purification, wards negativity, love, blessing, consecration, cleansing, strength, wishes, dreams, beauty, theft, healing, psychic ability, spirit of south, grow to attract elves, blessing

Rowan: Protection, success, psychic powers, healing, power, wands and amulets for knowledge, incense of leaves and berries for divination, fires to call upon spirits for help, grow for protection of the home, inspiration, wisdom, enhances magic, attracts faeries 

Rue: Exorcism, protection, purification, break hexes, health, mental clarity, healing, blessing, consecration, use in altar oil, love, money and wealth, gossip management 

Rye: Love, fidelity

S

Saffron: Love, lust, healing, strength, happiness, psychic powers, wind raising, depression management

Sage: Purification, protection, wisdom, longevity, wishes, health, immortality, intuition, divination, luck, prosperity, money, spirituality, menopause, psychic ability, clears, inner guide, longevity, vision

Sagebrush: Exorcism, protection, purification, joy, peace

St. John's Wort: (TOXIC) Exorcism, protection, courage, strength, happiness, health, love divination, burn at Litha to send away negativity, wear for invincibility, willpower, gathered at Litha, power, stress management

Saltpeter: Unwanted advances  

Sandalwood: Protection, exorcism, purification, wishes, healing, spirituality, full moon esbats, wards negativity, spirit offering, luck, sex, banishing, astral projection, business, success, mental powers

Sarsaparilla: Love, money, inner strength, grounding, purification

Sassafras: Money, health, healing

Senna: Love

Serpentaria Root: Love, aphrodisiacs

Sesame: Money, success in business, lust, happiness, gambling

Shallot: Purification

Shamrocks: Faeries and elves

Shepherds Purse: Sleep, depression management, healing

Skullcap: Peace, love, fidelity, stress management, anxiety management

Skunk Cabbage: Good fortune, legal matters, legal matters

Slippery Elm: Halts gossip, aids verbal communication and development, enemies, friendship, ends disputes

Sloe: Exorcism, protection, banish negative energy/entities

Snakeroot: Money, luck, break hexes, love, lust

Snapdragon: Protection, break hexes, exorcism, prophetic dreams, prosperity, gossip management, money and wealth

Solomon's Seal: Love, exorcism, protection, an offering to the elementals for their aid

Sorrel, Wood: Healing, health

Southernwood: Love, lust, protection, faeries and elves

Spanish Moss: Protection

Spearmint: Healing, love, mental clarity

Spiderwort: Love

Spikenard: Health, fidelity, love, luck, strength, wisdom, mental powers

Squill: Protection, money, break hexes, business

Star Anise: Psychic powers, luck, good fortune, spiritual powers

Stephanotis: Lust

Stillengia: Psychic powers

Straw: Luck, attracts fairies, do not burn magik infused straw, it will bring ill-fortune, used as an image to protect an area, image magick, fertility 

Strawberry: Love, luck, joy, broken heart

Sugar Cane: Love, lust, prosperity, sympathy

Sumbul: Psychic powers, love, luck, health

Summer Savory: Mental clarity and strength, mental powers

Sunflower: Wisdom, health, wishes, fertility, happiness, friendship, prosperity

Sweetgrass: Calling in good spirits, bringer of positive energy, clears, seals In, burned after white sage which clears, spirit of east

Sweetpea: Strength, courage, friendship, chastity,  truth, love

T

Tamarind: Love

Tamarisk: Exorcism, protection

Tangerine: Magickal power

Tansy: Healing, health, longevity

Tea: Strength, courage, prosperity, riches, health

Thistle, Holly: Purification, hex breaking

Thistle, Milk: Exorcism, protection, healing, strength, break hexes, snake enraging

Thyme: Purification, courage, psychic powers, sleep, wards negativity, burn for purification, and healing spells, love, renewal, youth, divination, prophetic dreams, faery folk, romance

Ti: Protection, healing

Toadflax: Protection, break hexes

Toadstool: (TOXIC) Rain making

Tobacco: (TOXIC) Healing, purification, offerings

Tomato: Protection, prosperity, love

Tonka: (TOXIC) Courage, love, money, wishes, luck, friendship, prosperity

Tormentil: Protection, love

Trefoil: Decorate alter, protection, luck, when taking one, leave a bit of ginger or milk poured into the ground as payment to the fairies

Trillium: Love, luck, money

Tuberose: Love, lust, peace, psychic awareness

Tulip: Protection, prosperity, love

Turmeric: Purification (used with sea salt), fortification, strength, clears aggression

Turnip: Protection, endings, banish negativity

U

Uva Ursa: (TOXIC) Psychic powers

V

Valerian: Protection, purification, love, sleep, prophetic dreams, peace, sex, friendship, anxiety management, self esteem

Vanilla: Love, lust, mental clarity, money, confidence, attracting people, magickal power, prosperity, success, wishes

Venus Flytrap: Protection, love

Vervain: Sleep, protection, purification, love, money, peace, healing, gather/burn at Litha, altar offering, brings riches, creativity, wards psychic attack, youth, chastity, astral projection, unwanted advances, anger management, prosperity

Vetch, Giant: Fidelity

Vetivert: Love, luck, money, break hexes, wards negativity, anti-theft, exorcism, wishes, peace, protection, prosperity, divination 

Violet: Protection, healing, love, lust, luck, wishes, peace, sleep, insight, visions

W

Wahoo: (TOXIC) Courage, success, break hexes

Walnut: Health, mental clarity, wishes, infertility, spirituality, travel

Watercress: Healing

Wax Plant: Protection, power

Wheat: Money, fertility, prosperity

White Willow Bark: Healing, blessings, binding, sacred earth connection between human and earth and spirit, protection, spirit of east

Wild Lettuce: Love divination, protection, sleep, opens to the deeper consciousness, attunes to deeper meanings

Wild Plum: Healing

Wild Yam: Fortification, grounding, release, 1st chakra

Willow: Protection, healing, love, burn bark with sandalwood for divination, vitality, energy, ending pain, moon magic, wishing, spirits, death passage, besom, inspiration, pyschic energy 

Wintergreen: Protection, healing, break hexes, strength, good fortune, opens channels

Winter's Bark: Success

Wisteria: Spirituality

Witch Grass: Exorcism, happiness, love, lust

Witch Hazel: Protection, chastity, healing, beauty, unwanted advances

Wolf's Bane: (TOXIC) Protection, invisibility

Wood Betony: Love, purification, protection

Wood Rose: Luck

Wood Sorrel: Healing, health

Woodruff: Protection, money, victory, add to Beltane wine to clear away barriers, success, changes, psychic awareness, prosperity 

Wormwood: (CAUTION: POISONOUS, BURN IN WELL VENTILATED AREA, PREFERABLY OUTDOORS TOXIC) Exorcism, protection, love, psychic powers, calling spirits, protection while traveling, evocation, divination, scrying (stronger when combined with Mugwort) at Samhain, sacred to the moon, good luck, clairvoyance, divination, safety in cars

Y

Yarrow: Hhealing, divination, exorcism, protection, courage, love, psychic powers, happy marriage (wedding bouquet), wards negativity, defense, protection, gather at Litha, happiness, fidelity, broken heart, prophetic dreams, spirit of south, clears, stimulates movement

Yellowdock Root: Clears stuck energy, fortification

Yellow Evening Primrose: Hunting

Yerba Mate: Love, lust, fidelity

Yerba Santa: Protection, healing, psychic powers, beauty, clears channel to divine life force

Yew: (CAUTION: POISONOUS, TOXIC) Yule symbol for death and rebirth, used for dagger handles, raising the dead, psychic awareness, spirits

Ylang Ylang: Insight, love, past lives, peace, sex, visions

Yohimbe: (TOXIC) Love, lust

Yucca: Protection, purification, transmutation

[politijohn]

The world stands with Ukraine

Tbilisi, Georgia

St. Petersburg, Russia

London, England

Paris, France

Thessaloniki, Greece

Rome, Italy

Berlin, Germany

Tokyo, Japan

Montenegro

Mumbai, India

[politijohn]

Warsaw, Poland

Lebanon

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Istanbul, Turkey

New York City, United States

[politijohn]

Toronto, Canada

Vienna, Austria

Binnish, Syria

Dublin, Ireland

Barcelona, Spain

Melbourne, Australia

Riga, Latvia

Tel Aviv, Israel

Copenhagen, Denmark

Bern, Switzerland

[politijohn]

Sarajevo, Bosnia

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Tallinn, Estonia

Stockholm, Sweden

Helsinki, Finland

Reykjavík, Iceland

[fthgurdy]

Even symbolic support is not meaningless; with every such gesture you are preventing the claim that no one cares, no one opposes, no one disagrees, no one minds.

[tnerdbean]

Know what I’m salty about?

In all my art classes, I was never taught HOW to use the various tools of art.

Like yes, form, and shape and space and color theory and figure drawing is important, but so is KNOWING what different tools do.

I’m 29 and I JUST learned this past month that India Ink is fucking waterproof when it dries. Why is this important? Because I can line something in India Ink and then go over it with watercolors. And that has CHANGED the ENTIRE way I art and the ease I can create with.

tldr: Art Teachers: teach your students what different tools do. PLEASE.

[spookyscaryscouticus]

WAIT INDIA INK JS WATERPROOF ONCE IT DRIES????? THE ENTIRE REASON IVE AVOIDED MARKERS MY ENTIRE LIFE IS BECAUSE JNK BLEEDS AND YOURE TELLING ME INDIA INK IS

F U C K I N G W A T E R P R O O F

[theshitpostcalligrapher]

yall calligraphers out there this is extremely fuckin important if u wanna get into illumination shenanigans because i swear to you there will b discoveries like these^

heres some of mine, pls take with a grain of salt im a total gotdamn amateur:

a lot of the time, the ability for colored ink to bleed will vary wildly WITHIN A SINGLE BRAND OF COLORED INKS. my cobalts bleed like fucking CRAZY compared to my reds, which, when u reference manuscripts that tend to put white ink ON TOP of either red or blue… you see where shit gets real and real annoying. 

u can buy an aeresol, fully transparent workable sealant for like 5-10 dollars at your local art store. when i realize a piece ive been working on needs a color on TOP of a bleed happy ink, i give it a layer of this stuff. trouble is it CAN warp the paper so its important as soon as it dries to use heavy things (paperweights, books) to counteract the paper curling.

ink solvent, like koh i noor’s rapido-eeze, is only compatible with SOME inks, but will work on most acrylics. If you happen to be working with sturdy vellum that you have pre-sealed, it can be possible to literally use ink solvent to wipe away your calligraphy mistake like a goddamn bounty commercial

[sarahlumweejee]

Shit I Learned Working At Dick Blick: 

WD40, found at your local hardware store, will remove Sharpie marker from almost any hard surface. 

 Acrylic inks will show brush strokes in large areas but are waterproof and quick-drying. 

 Acrylic gouache is vivid, fluid, dried matte, is UTTERLY opaque on black paper, handles exactly like watercolor, and is waterproof. 

Putting an oil painting in the sun will turn the yellowed portions back to their original white and wont hurt the painting. 

 Cheap acrylic paintings will bleach out if left in the sun - get UV protectant spray or varnish. Nicer acrylic paints are less prone to sun bleaching, but they still do. Plan accordingly. Oil paints are much less prone to this. 

Solvent-based markers blend together MUSH MORE SMOOTHLY than alcohol-based markers. 

There is an acrylic paint medium for literally every effect you can conceivably think of (fabric paint medium, gloss medium, fluid medium, sand medium, fast-dying/slow-drying medium, etc.). 

 If you’re going to buy student-grade paint to save cash, buy earth-tones (burnt sienna, ochre, etc.); they are made with cheap pigments already, and you wont tell a difference. You WILL tell a difference between student-grade and artist-grade bright colors (all yellows, blues, and reds). 

If you’re working with markers but aren’t using marker paper, you need to switch. Markers don’t blend on printer paper, they just layer (even expensive markers). 

If you want a glass palette for paint mixing but don’t want to shell out the cash, buy a giant picture frame at Goodwill, take the glass out, and electrical tape it to a piece of foam board the same size for stability. 

 Hog bristle brushes are for oil paint, sable brushes are for watercolor, and synthetic brushes are for acrylic and oil (but not watercolor because synthetic bristles can’t absorb water). 

 If you’re going to splurge on any aspect of your creation, splurge on the paper. Get the good stuff - crappy markers/paint/pencils look good on good paper, but not the other way around.  (There is more, but these are the big ticket items)

[stoneybaloneyskeletony]

Some more, also from working at Dick Blick:

- Palette knives are for mixing paint and TRUST ME you want to learn how to use them. When you mix with your brush you loose paint and it’s hard in your brushes.

- DO NOT FIX YOUR ARTWORK WITH HAIRSPRAY. If you’re proud of your work and want to keep it, buy the actual spray fix. Hairspray is not archival in the slightest and will damage your work.

- On top of that, be careful how you store your work. Newsprint is handy and cheap, but also not acid-free and it will yellow your paper. Foamboard? Matboard? Also not always acid-free (but you can get them acid-free).

- There is no food-safe paint. Period. There are lots of ways you can decorate pottery that aren’t glazes, but only glazes are food safe (and even some of those aren’t).

- Also not food safe: Polymer clay (sculpey), air dry clay, oil-based clay, ceramics that have not been glaze fired, oil pastels, sharpie, glues of any kind, or mod podge (even the ‘dishwasher safe’ kind).

- Don’t even get me started on mod podge. It’s not consistent. It’s not archival. It’s not a sealant, it’s a glue (setting aside some of the weird hyper-specific ones they make that I’ve literally never seen in real life).

- If your glue isn’t archival or at least acid-free, don’t use it in your artwork.

- There are so many different kinds of paper out there, just go try them. But also make sure you know if it’s acid-free or not (it probably is).

- Marker paper is usually 15 to 20 lbs. News print is usually 30 to 35 lbs. Tracing paper is usually 25 lbs. Rice paper can range from 20 to 50 lbs. Printer paper is 20 lbs. Vellum paper is usually 48 to 55 lbs. Sketchbook paper is usually 50 to 60 lbs. Drawing paper is usually 70 to 80 lbs. Cardstock can range from 50 to 110 lbs. Charcoal paper is usually 50 to 65 lbs. Pastel paper can range from 70 lbs to board. Bristol paper can range from 50 lbs to board. Mixed media paper can range from 90 to 140 lbs. Printmaking paper can range from lbs 90 to 300 lbs. Watercolor paper can range from 90 to 500 lbs.

- The heavier and rougher the paper is, the more it will absorb. If you’re using a paper too smooth for your medium it will take forever to dry and may smudge. If you’re using a paper too light for your medium, it will warp and curl.

- If you’re working heavily with water, you need to stretch your paper (aka seal down your edges of the paper to a hard, water resistant surface). If you don’t like doing that because it’s a hassle, buy a watercolor block instead of a pad/individual peices.

- If you’re working on a thicker paper, and make a mistake that your can’t erase or cover- you can scrape and/or cut it out! With a really sharp exacto knife, you can very CAREFULLY remove the top layer of paper fibers on most paper.

- DO NOT USE ACRYLIC AS BODY PAINT. It’s plastic.

- If you paint with oil, buy a silicoil jar. It’s the best $10 you’ve ever spent.

- Acrylic paint is basically water-based plastic. It will basically fuse with anything plastic (like a plastic palette), and will not stick to anything oil-based.

- Acrylic paint and house paint are not the same thing and you cannot mix them together. Acrylic paint is made from a water-based acrylic polymer, and house paint is almost always latex and can come both water-soluable and not.

[auressea]

@pamelab has this amazing reference crossed your dash yet?

[wastelesscrafts]

Saw your response about masculinizing wardrobes and wondered if you could also speak on feminizing a wardrobe? Particularly t shirts? I've cycled out most of my wardrobe already but some of my old boy t-shirts have sentimental value.

Feminising your wardrobe

As said I'm not very experienced with masculine styles, but feminine styles are more up my alley so let's see what I can do.

Gender, style, and home decor:

First of all, if you've got shirts with sentimental value you could always just frame them and hang them on your wall as decoration, cut out the print and sew it onto a different garment, use them to sleep in, or turn them into things like pillows so you can both use and display them.

Secondly: our society associates certain fabric shapes with certain genders, but those associations are kind of random and prone to change. There's a lot of variation in ideas about gender, both on an individual level and a cultural level. In the end, how you decide to dress is no one's business but yours. As long as you feel like you when you wear your clothes, it's all good!

You also don't necessarily need to alter a shirt to make it look more feminine. Wear it over a dress, pair it with leggings, tuck it into a skirt, add a belt or a necklace, wear an underskirt to make it look like a dress, combine it with a cute cardigan, tie it into a crop top,... I really like girly fashion and wear shirts from the men's part of the store all the time. Vice versa works too: one of the manliest dudes I know rarely shops in the men's department and he always looks bad-ass in his frilly blouses. It all comes down to personal style.

Altering shirts:

Masculine shirts tend to have more rectangular cuts while feminine shirts tend to have some shaping at the sides, generally speaking (though this isn't always the case, especially as fast fashion is moving more and more into boxy cuts to save on fabric). This shaping emphasises the waist and flares out at the hips. Because of this, I'll mainly be focusing on achieving a similar type of shaping in this post.

One alteration you could do is to add subtle curves to your t-shirts to achieve the same effect. Turn your shirt inside out, then trace your desired curves at the shirt's side hems with chalk. You can do this by either draping the shirt on yourself or a dress form, or by tracing a different shirt that fits you well. Sew those curves, then try on the shirt again to see if you like the look. If you don't, get a seam ripper and start over. If you do, cut away the excess fabric and finish off your new seams. This probably won't work with tight-fitting shirts, but anything with a loose cut ought to be fine.

(Image source) [ID: four drawings of t-shirts. The upper two show the front and back view of a common masculine shirt: the cut is boxy and the shoulders are wider. The lower two show the front and back view of a common feminine shirt: the cut is curved at the sides and the shoulders are smaller.]

You could also open up the side seams and add in diamond-shaped inserts at the sides. The extra fabric will flare out over your hips. This is also a great way to upsize a tight shirt.

(Image source) [ID: side view of a person wearing a gray shirt. Light gray diamond-shaped fabric has been inserted at the side seams.]

Ruffles at the waist, also known as a peplum, also emphasise the waist and hips. Ruffles or gathered fabric at the chest level do the same for your bust.

If your shirts are longer/wider than you want them to be, you might be able to make ruffles out of the excess fabric. If not, you can always use scrap fabric or sacrifice a second shirt to make a flounce.

(Image source) [ID: before and after picture of a black tank top with white stripes that's been turned into a peplum top.]

If you've got a shirt with a very loose fit, adding an elastic waist or a drawstring waist could also work. By gathering the fabric at the waist, you create a silhouette with a fuller bust and fuller hips.

You can achieve a similar effect by wearing a boxy item with a belt, or by tucking them into the waistband of a skirt or a pair of pants.

(Image source) [ID: a gray strapless top with black ruffles and drawstrings at the bust and waist, made out of two t-shirts.]

If you'd rather not emphasise your waist, a dropped waist also looks very feminine. This means the gathers sit at your hips rather than your waist. If your shirt ends at your hips, you can create this look by sewing a row of ruffles to the bottom hem of your shirt. You can always lengthen or shorten a shirt first if you want to alter it.

(Image source) [ID: a gray upcycled t-shirt. A white lace ruffle and a strip of brown and black striped fabric has been added at the bottom of the shirt to create a dropped waist. A red flower sits at the side of the top of the ruffle.]

Basically, if you want to emphasize a body part or alter your silhouette, adding extra bulk usually does the trick. This is a really old technique: for example, those hourglass figures that were popular in Victorian times? That's not just a corset. That's bust padding, hip rolls, and very frilly blouses. Victorian waists look tiny, not because people were thinner or tight-laced their corsets, but because of the waist's proportional relationship to the (often padded) bust and hips. A more modern example is the push-up bra or shoulder pads.

If you don't want to mess around with shaping at all, you can always lengthen your shirts to achieve a boxy dress or tunic, or make them shorter and turn them into crop tops.

(Image source) [ID: a long gray t-shirt with a ruffle added to the bottom, turning the shirt into a dress.]

(Image source) [ID: six photo's showing how to cut up a sleeveless top to achieve a wrap-around crop top. The bottom half of the shirt's back is removed, after which the front, which is still its original length, is cut open.]

DIY skirts:

Your shirts don't have to stay shirts if you've already got plenty of them. You can turn t-shirts into skirts, and the same goes for button-up shirts.

(Image source) [ID: DIY skirt from shirt: a blue button-up shirt with white stripes has been turned into a knee-length a-line skirt that buttons up in the front.]

If you still have any pants around you don't like any more, those can also be turned into skirts. There's a wide variety of ways on how to do this, but the easiest one is to open up the inseam and add in extra fabric between the legs. If your pants have an elastic waist, you might not even have to add extra fabric.

You can also cut your pants right above the crotch, make ruffles out of the legs, then sew the ruffles onto the crotch's bottom edge to create a miniskirt.

(Image source) [ID: a four part diagram showing how to turn a pair of pants into a skirt. First cut open the inseam, then overlap the crotch parts and sew in place. Cut your skirt to your desired length, then cut two triangles out of your leftover fabric and sew them into place below the crotch.]

(Image source) [ID: a handmade skirt. The upper part consists of a cut-up denim jeans while the lower part is a flounce made out of leopard print.]

Conclusion:

This post is not exhaustive, just some ideas you could try.

Please note that I don't really have a personal sense of gender identity, so any advice by actual trans people will be infinitely more useful than anything I could write.

[i-usedtobe-normal]

[chanceyknits]

every stitch, depicted and demonstrated

This database holds a ton of useful materials for embroidery! many different types of stitches in various difficulties, all incredibly useful!

[purple-fox-for-luck]

@wastelesscrafts does that look useful?

[wastelesscrafts]

[ID: an embroidery database showing 24 stitches of the chain stitch family (chain stitch, whipped chain stitch, double chain stitch, magic chain stitch, lazy daisy, Russian chain stitch, long tailed daisy, feathered chain stitch, Basque stitch, petal chain stitch, reverse chain stitch, heavy chain stitch) and the blanket stitch family (blanket stitch, buttonhole stitch, whipped buttonhole, double blanket stitch, closed blanket stitch, crossed blanket, buttonhole wheel, buttonhole wheel cup, rosette of thorns, buttonhole bar, barb stitch, mirrored blanket).]

That’s an amazing resource! Thanks for the tag.

[writingadvice365]

Story/Character Arc Writing Resources

How to Write a Compelling Character Arc

Character Development and Finding Nemo

On Simple Story Arcs

9 Steps to Building a Strong Plot

3 Questions to Help Solve Plot Problems ~~~ ~Grand List of Writing Resources~

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Masterpost: How to write a story?

Compilation of writing advice for some aspects of the writing process.

How to motivate myself to write more

How to get rid of writer’s block

Basic Overview: How to write a story

How to come up with plot

How to create a character

How to make a character unique

How to start a story

How to write a prologue

How to write conversation

How to write the last line

How to write a summary

How to write a book description

How to write romance

How to write emotional scenes

How to write yelling

How to title fanfiction

How to use songs in a fanfiction

Introducing a group of characters

Large cast of characters interacting in one scene

Redemption arc

Plot twists

Fatal Character Flaws

Good traits gone bad

More specific scenarios

Slow burn

AU ideas

Favourite tropes

How to create quick chemistry

How to write a bilingual character

How to write a character with glasses

How to create a villain

How to write a polyamorous relationship

How to write a wedding

How to write found family

How to write forbidden love

How to write a road trip

How to create and write a cult

How to write amnesia

How to write a stratocracy

How to write the mafia

Criminal past comes to light

Reasons for breaking up while still loving each other

Milestones in a relationship

Platonic activities for friends

Introducing partner(s) to family

Honeymoon

Date gone wrong

Love Language - Showing, not telling

Love Language - Showing you care

Giving the reader butterflies with your characters

Reasons a couple would divorce on good terms

How to create a coffee shop atmosphere

How to write enemies to lovers

How to write lovers to enemies to lovers

How to write age difference

How to write academic rivals to lovers

How to write modern royalty

Arranged matrimony for royalty

Paramilitary Forces/ Militia

Inconvenient things a ghost could do

A Queen’s Assassination Plot

Crime Story - Detective’s POV

Evil organization of assassins

Evil wins in the end

Causes for the apocalypse

Last day on earth

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee!  And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[scvrllet]

ೃ⁀➷ writing resources

An ongoing list of writing resources I tend to come back to while writing. (None of these are mine)

Last updated: 09/07/21

Tips On Introducing Backstory

Fantasy Guide to Writing Architecture

Muggle Technology Through the Ages:

How To Foreshadow

How To Write A Realistic Argument

How To Write An Apocalypse

How To Make Your Story Scary

How To Make Your Writing Longer

Humour in Dialogue/Narrative

How To Write Close Platonic Relationships

How To Write A Kiss

Writing Intimidating Characters

How To Write Teasing In A Romantic Relationship

Resources For Writing Sketchy Topics

Resources For Writing Injuries

Symptoms of dying that aren’t coughing up blood

Tips On Writing Time Skips

Tips On Writing Flashbacks

How To Write Falling In-Love

Cheat Sheet For Writing Emotion

Writing Pain

Writers Guide: Hand to Hand Combat

Body Language Cheat Sheet For Writers

Fainting and losing your consciousness for writers

How To Write A Fight Scene

Writers Guide: Guns

Words For Skin Tone | How To Describe Skin Colour

How to write passages like film effects

Words to use instead of “said” organized by emotion/intention 2.0

[wastelesscrafts]

Hello! Your post on Visible Mending just crossed my Dash and I'm very interested in it! I can only really do basic hand sewing (Haven't tried to get fancy) and I ended up buying a pair of pants with manufactured holes in the knees. I don't like them but the pants are comfortable (And were decently expensive) Which might be the best way to mend away these holes with one of those tecniques?

I'm happy to hear my post on visible mending has inspired you!

Mending knee holes in pants:

There are multiple methods you could use to fix holes in the knees of pants, depending on the type of hole.

Simple rips:

If it's a simple rip (no missing fabric or damaged edges), you could use a ladder stitch to close the rip. You'll still see a line where the rip sat, but at least it'll be closed. If the look bothers you, you can always add some embroidery to hide the seam. You don't need amazing embroidery skills to do this: there's a lot you can do with a basic straight stitch or running stitch.

If you have a sewing machine and some fusible interfacing handy, you could also try this invisible denim repair method by Goheen Designs.

(Image source)

Holes:

If we're talking actual holes, as in missing or damaged fabric, a ladder stitch won't suffice. You'll need to add extra fabric to replace that's been lost.

Take a look at this tutorial by Wren Bird Arts on how to patch up a hole from the inside of your garment. She explains how to do this both by hand and by machine.

The only stitch you need to know to follow this tutorial by hand is the running stitch, although I would also recommend a blanket stitch or whipstitch to finish off your raw edges. By reinforcing these edges, you'll prevent the fabric from unravelling. This will make your mend last longer.

If you decide to use this method, you'll need to find fabric that matches your pants if you don't want to draw attention to your fix. You could also go the opposite route and use a contrasting fabric or even a bit of lace to make your mend a design element rather than just a fix.

(Image source)

Sashiko, a type of traditional Japanese embroidery, is another method you could try. Check out this sashiko tutorial by Soluna Collective, or take a look at the links on sashiko in my visible mending post.

(Image source)

If you want to get really creative with patching, you could also make custom patches in any shape or fabric you want. Sew them on with a backstitch and finish off the edges with a whipstitch or blanket stitch.

(Image source)

You also could try darning, which means weaving extra fabric over the hole. Tumblr-user Delicatefury does a great job at explaining how to do this. You'll need an embroidery hoop and embroidery floss (or something similar) for this. Darning can be tricky, so if you've never done it before, practice on fabric scraps first to get the hang of it before you start working on your pants.

(Image source)

Conclusion:

There are plenty of ways to fix up holes at the knees of a pair of pants. Have fun with it!

If you're scared of putting that first stitch into your pants, remember that you probably won't really wear them anyway until you've fixed the thing that bothers you about them. So even if you mess up, you won't have lost much. Plus, most mends can be undone or covered up if you don't like the final result, so you can always start over. :)

If you're looking for inspiration, check out Pinterest or take a look at the following fixes:

(Image source)

(Image source)

(Image source)

(Image source)

(Image source)

[introvert-unicorn-deactivated20]

Words to describe facial expressions

Absent: preoccupied 

Agonized: as if in pain or tormented

Alluring: attractive, in the sense of arousing desire

Appealing: attractive, in the sense of encouraging goodwill and/or interest

Beatific: blissful

Black: angry or sad, or hostile

Bleak: hopeless

Blinking: surprise, or lack of concern

Blithe: carefree, lighthearted, or heedlessly indifferent

Brooding: anxious and gloomy

Bug eyed: frightened or surprised

Chagrined: humiliated or disappointed

Cheeky: cocky, insolent

Cheerless: sad

Choleric: hot-tempered, irate

Darkly: with depressed or malevolent feelings

Deadpan: expressionless, to conceal emotion or heighten humor

Despondent: depressed or discouraged

Doleful: sad or afflicted

Dour: stern or obstinate

Dreamy: distracted by daydreaming or fantasizing

Ecstatic: delighted or entranced

Faint: cowardly, weak, or barely perceptible

Fixed: concentrated or immobile

Gazing: staring intently

Glancing: staring briefly as if curious but evasive

Glazed: expressionless due to fatigue or confusion

Grim: fatalistic or pessimistic

Grave: serious, expressing emotion due to loss or sadness

Haunted: frightened, worried, or guilty

Hopeless: depressed by a lack of encouragement or optimism

Hostile: aggressively angry, intimidating, or resistant

Hunted: tense as if worried about pursuit

Jeering: insulting or mocking

Languid: lazy or weak

Leering: sexually suggestive

Mild: easygoing

Mischievous: annoyingly or maliciously playful

Pained: affected with discomfort or pain

Peering: with curiosity or suspicion

Peeved: annoyed

Pleading: seeking apology or assistance

Quizzical: questioning or confused

Radiant: bright, happy

Sanguine: bloodthirsty, confident

Sardonic: mocking

Sour: unpleasant

Sullen: resentful

Vacant: blank or stupid looking

Wan: pale, sickly

Wary: cautious or cunning

Wide eyed: frightened or surprised

Withering: devastating

Wrathful: indignant or vengeful

Wry: twisted or crooked to express cleverness or a dark or ironic feeling

[somebodyoutthere13]

My having too much free time, while I was in hospital after surgery. A tiny picture of our favorite, aged-up Parisian heroes.

It's for my newest chapter of my story "Happiness" over on AO3 and Fanfiction.net

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[artmagine]

Top 12 alternatives to Photoshop for digital painters and illustrators

Hello there!

Yes, we haven’t done this in a while… but our inbox and chat are swamped with questions on the subject, so this article was very much needed.

it’s a simple list of art apps, but we know you love those :D

Enough with the intro, here it is, a list of twelve art apps you may want to check out.

ArtRage is an art program for beginners and professionals. With its minimal interface, it’s easy to keep the essential tools at hand without stealing space from the canvas. Panels can be moved around and tools can be customised. We all know how important it is for digital artists to be able to modify brushes!

Pros: easy to use; friendly interface; essential tools from professional apps available; available for iOS, Android, Windows and Mac

Cons: it may get sluggish with big files and when using big brushes, but performances also depend on the running machine; limited selection of editing tools if compared to Photoshop - ArtRage is more of a painting program rather than an editing one.

Paid

ArtRage Lite is a different version at a cheaper price, mostly for beginners, but also for professionals if they need the essential.

Now free, Sketchbook is the famous app created by Autodesk for various platforms.

Pros: clean, friendly interface; easy to use; professional features; autosave feature

Cons: lack of official tutorials; doesn’t offer as many tools as other apps (it’s down to the essential); paid subscription in Adobe style for Enterprise License

Free and paid

Black Ink is a powerful little program few actually know, but there’s a reason: this isn’t your classing drawing app. What’s cool about it is the vast selection of special brushes, completely non-realistic, and definitely able to boost your creativity.

Pros: vast selection of customisable brushes; excellent performance

Cons: not very easy to use; non-intuitive interface

Paid

This is probably the most complete software for painting, drawing and animation. It was originally known as Manga Studio, but with its updates and addition of features, it became Clip Studio Paint. 

This doesn’t say much about the quality of the features themselves considering the affordable price (if you haven’t used the app yet, that is), but among graphic apps, this one is the top seller.

Pros: professional features for illustrators; layout tools for comic/manga artists; 3D reference models; customisable tools; various sales with special prices

Cons: the interface may not appear intuitive at first; the program may lag (again, performance also depends on the running machine)

Paid

GIMP is the famous open source image editor originally created for GNU/Linux and available for OS X and Windows. 

Best known as Photoshop’s main competition, this is a manipulation program for both beginners and professionals who love design.

It offers many professional features, making the program a powerful tool.

Pros: professional editing tools; supports different formats; supported by different platforms; active community

Cons: in spite of the simple design, many options are hidden and it takes time to discover all the features; slow startup

Free

Krita is an open source painting app created by artists for artists.

Pros: easy to use; intuitive interface; great brush workflow; brush stabilizer; customisable brushes; general good performance; very enthusiastic, although small, community

Cons: it may be slow or even crash depending on the running computer and the app’s version; very few editing tools compared to Photoshop

Free

MediBang Paint is a free and light app for drawing and painting, perfect for manga and comic creation.

Pros: vast selection of brushes; cloud sharing; friendly, minimal interface (non-desktop app); also available for iPad, iPhone and Android

Cons: requires an account to use all features; non-intuitive interface (desktop version)

Free

Mischief is a sketching app with essential tools, useful for brainstorming and ideation.

Pros: infinite drawing canvas; friendly interface; easy to use; cheap pro version

Cons: few updates; offers only the essential (but that’s the point); no editing/adjustment tools

Free and paid

Corel’s jewel, Painter is the most famous software that offers digital tools able to give a traditional feel to brushes and canvas.

Pros: different selection of media; many professional features; PS-friendly

Cons: certain brushes may work slow; not easy to use at first; the software may crash (this is the most common report); pricey

Paid

Paintstorm Studio is a professional software for digital painting. It’s focused on the use of brushes and blending, which makes the software a little gem in the digital painting field.

Pros: good brush workflow; brush stabilizer; “close gap” feature; customisable interface and tools; professional features; affordable price

Cons: non-intuitive interface (desktop version)

Paid

Procreate is the powerful drawing app for iOS. 

With the very sensitive Apple Pencil, Procreate is so easy to use that many artists chose the iPad over the most famous graphic tablets.

Pros: friendly interface; makes it easy to organise files; excellent brush workflow; customisable brushes; video recording; affordable price

Cons: hidden features; only available for iPad

Paid

SAI is a simple app for artists who want to focus on painting and drawing. 

It’s well known for its good pressure support and its essential tools for manga artists, but SAI can be used by any kind of artist who wants to paint.

Pros: easy to use; friendly interface; light software; customisable brushes; tons of (non-official) tutorials

Cons: limited selection of tools, even basic ones; limited canvas sizes and uses; it might crash from intensive work, especially with big canvases and brushes; supports only RGB colour mode; lack of support

Paid

HONOURABLE MENTION

Many call this app an advanced PaintTool SAI, and for a reason. FireAlpaca offers almost everything PTS has and more.

Pros: friendly interface; brush stabilizer; lineart selection; customisable brushes

Cons: no colour slider; limited brush control; although more advanced compared to PTS, the features are quite basic.

Free

We hope you’ll find this list useful. 

If you think there are other apps that should have made this list, don’t hesitate to let us know!

Thank you and peace out,

G&M

Other articles:

10 inspiring and helpful YouTube channels for digital artists

6 inspiring Art Podcasts for digital artists

7 amazing Photoshop extensions and tools for digital artists