Wore a couple modified shirts recently and someone asked “how?” so my illustrator background made me draw this because work was slow ✂️ Featuring examples at the end— drawn in Procreate.
I looked this up because I had to know what it’s from. It’s a film called The Gay Deceivers (1969), and it’s about two straight men who, seeking to avoid the draft, claim to be gay, but then have to keep up the pretense when the army places them under surveillance.
The man in the red cardigan in the clip was played by Michael Greer, who was openly gay himself - unusual for the time. He actually worked closely with the director and rewrote much of the film’s dialogue to reduce the homophobia and make it more realistic. As a result it’s quite progressive for its time, having a gay character, played by a gay man, living in a happy same-sex relationship, which is more than a lot of media offers us today.
So my grand parents died and I did a drawing for there funeral
Honestly, it's a very sweet story.
My no. No. No met shortly after world war II in Croatia. No no decided that he wanted to" go to the other side of the river and meet a good Italian girl because Croatian girls sucked."
The first girl he asked to dance in the promenade stepped on his foot and he knew that he was in love with her. She was my Nona. They were together until the very end. They moved not only countries but continents away from their Homeland and started a new life in Vancouver, Canada.
They personally had two grandchildren and I was able to give them two great-grandchildren which they were lucky enough to not only meet but be old enough to see that my eldest was going to graduate this year and see his grad photos.
Unfortunately though, time and health do not hold out for everyone. My Nona was a sick woman by the end, missing organs and she was in a lot of pain,And so was my No-No. Not only was this proud man who used to fight for Tito feeling broken and trod down by time and his own medical issues. But he cannot stand to not be with his love.
About 6 months before their passing my dad had gone on vacation and while he was away in Italy, my nonno fell and broke his arm.
As a result, family drama ensued. I offered to stay with them as I am self-employed and so it was very easy for me to go out there even though it is the other side of the lowerman Land from where I Live (which I was more than happy to travel. Honestly everybody acted like the travel was the worst thing in the world and how could I ever want to do that? It wasn't that big of a deal people watching on public transit. It's kind of fun and honestly I was getting offended by the end of it about how everybody thought that I was going. So so far out of my way to do the bare minimum for a family member)
Honestly though, those visits while stressful and scary because I was very concerned that one day I might wake up at their place and have them both be passed in my sleep. It was also really nice to be able to actually get to know them as an adult. Not have to worry about the little kid perceptions that they used to have and really hear the stories that I thought I had heard all of which I didn't and it was nice. It was nice to hear about how they felt about each other, how they felt about everything.
During this time, a lot of true colors were shown true motivations and true intentions by a lot of people, which, while unfortunate always happens in times of death.
Ultimately though my Nona and nono made a decision and they made that decision together. You see my No-No couldn't live without my nonna. And so when she became eligible for MAID he requested it as well saying that either they can help them do it together or he will do it on his own. This Revelation was really heartbreaking for my dad. He didn't want his dad to do that to himself. But he also didn't want to lose either of his parents, let alone both in one fell swoop.
After some talking though, he understood that one. This is very empowering decision for both of them to make a true taking your life in the hands kind of moment. But also heartbreaking and fucked up.
In the end on March 25th my Nono took my nona's hand while they both sat in their chairs side by side and he told her "together forever"
I'm no fan of my stepmom but I am a fan of a smart choice in a hard moment. She took a photo of their hands just before the cloth was put over them by the nurses.
Together forever
Those two walked hand in hand into death like it was their wedding day. Happy and joyful of the new adventure they were about to take. And I can only find solace in that
As service preparations were being made and family drama continued to build, my dad asked me if I would do a drawing of the photo because he didn't want the photo itself at the funeral as that was a little triggering and jarring but he wanted The story to still be available and untold.
This was the hardest piece of art I've ever had to make. I was taught to draw realism by really looking at it and spending more time looking at your subject than you do really at the page. I had mourned them over and over the last few months as their health had declined. I felt like I was almost out of tears. It took me so long to get the drawing done. Like way too long. But through tears and sobs I finished
Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of it framed with my signature in the corner, but I couldn't bring myself to take photos of it at that point
It went over really well at the funeral and as far as I know my dad still has it. I'm really glad I did the piece honestly. But art is a cathartic and art can hurt and oh this one hurt
She was a favorite of her previous owners. So much so that she lost her arms. She reminded me of a little spider or a fairy and so I decided to make a curio.
Hay, so Its getting close to Yuletide And this year for my nieces I'm making advent calendar
Becouse I'm a over achiever like that.
Also my eldest nibling has kinda hit the "dolls and stuff for my doll is kinda mid" part of adolescence. Never fear. I have a plan, turns out the eldest who is getting into anime and stuff. I'm going to do this
And for the little nibling she gets doll stuff!!!
Now I made a set of the doll stuff for elder sibling but I'm going to hold in to it for now. Mum knows I made it and can ask for it whenever to finish the set so both girls match
So far I've made
Night gowns
And outfits consisting of t-shirts and jumpers with vintage trims
Hay, so Its getting close to Yuletide And this year for my nieces I'm making advent calendar
Becouse I'm a over achiever like that.
Also my eldest nibling has kinda hit the "dolls and stuff for my doll is kinda mid" part of adolescence. Never fear. I have a plan, turns out the eldest who is getting into anime and stuff. I'm going to do this
And for the little nibling she gets doll stuff!!!
Now I made a set of the doll stuff for elder sibling but I'm going to hold in to it for now. Mum knows I made it and can ask for it whenever to finish the set so both girls match
So far I've made
Night gowns
And outfits consisting of t-shirts and jumpers with vintage trims
Hay, so Its getting close to Yuletide And this year for my nieces I'm making advent calendar
Becouse I'm a over achiever like that.
Also my eldest nibling has kinda hit the "dolls and stuff for my doll is kinda mid" part of adolescence. Never fear. I have a plan, turns out the eldest who is getting into anime and stuff. I'm going to do this
And for the little nibling she gets doll stuff!!!
Now I made a set of the doll stuff for elder sibling but I'm going to hold in to it for now. Mum knows I made it and can ask for it whenever to finish the set so both girls match
So far I've made
Night gowns
And outfits consisting of t-shirts and jumpers with vintage trims
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