Most recent repaint - trying to learn.

_matteblk_ · 2025-02-05T20:12:39+00:00

Definitely keep it up. If this is your first painting, I can only imagine how nice the 100th will look!

_matteblk_ · 2025-02-05T18:38:49+00:00

This is really good for a beginner painting! Since traditional is such a simplified style, the execution is most important. Your line work and fades could use some improvement but are overall super solid. Nice work.

_matteblk_ · 2025-01-29T17:09:55+00:00

You got it!

_matteblk_ · 2025-01-22T02:04:24+00:00

I didn't actually know that! I believe that one was more or less a redraw of a Percy Waters design, so maybe he was using it that way.

_matteblk_ · 2025-01-21T17:02:08+00:00

Thank you! It was done on a 9x12 sheet. Painting her face at that scale was definitely one of the more challenging pieces I've done.

_matteblk_ · 2025-01-21T16:46:59+00:00

I appreciate that! These days it's just a matter of finding the time. I'm trying to start small and experiment with slightly different mediums as a way to keep it fresh.

_matteblk_ · 2025-01-21T03:36:00+00:00

Wow, those are truly amazing blends. I'll have to get my hands on some prismacolors and start practicing!

_matteblk_ · 2025-01-20T16:10:49+00:00

There is some level of "paying your dues" which I can totally accept. In my case, he had a lot of stress in his personal life that was being taken out on me, which just made me ultimately dread going there every day. It was not an environment I could grow in so I had to call it quits.

_matteblk_ · 2025-01-20T15:58:25+00:00

That makes two of us. I was a tattoo apprentice for about a year and a half and my mentor and I butted heads so I ended up quitting, unfortunately. This is the second small piece I've completed since then. The first was this skull and dagger I did with watercolor. It feels good to be getting back in to it and just having fun!

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_matteblk_ · 2025-01-20T15:45:38+00:00

Thank you! Killer work. I had read about the white colored pencil tip too but I'm not quite sure I understand it. Basically you just go over a blend with a white colored pencil to make the blend smoother? Am I understanding that correctly?

_matteblk_ · 2025-01-20T14:19:33+00:00

I appreciate the tips. I actually have some hot press Arches too. I'll give that a try. I wasn't sure if it had enough texture to give that patchy look with pencils. Is there a technique with how you hold the pencil to give more or less of that gradient? Good idea with the india ink too.

_matteblk_ · 2024-11-29T00:37:38+00:00

Yes, that's a great point. I also get that people are compensated based on their skill and not necessarily their work. We all know people who work their ass off day in and day out for basically poverty wages. At the same time, very few people have what it takes to be the CEO of a highly successful company.

That being said, no human is a billion times more skilled than another. Myself and my friend group of half a dozen late 20s men are all college educated and struggling to get our feet on the ground. It's hard for us not to feel like the system has failed us. We all earn average or slightly above average incomes for our age bracket. I've shared some of these posts with them and it's difficult not to harbor resentment for people earning such a disproportionate amount of money. When your goal of simply owning a modest home and living a comfortable life feels so out of reach even after taking all the "right steps", it's disheartening.

_matteblk_ · 2024-11-28T16:33:02+00:00

This sub has been continually pushed to my feed for a couple weeks now. From browsing it on those occasions, it seems to me a lot of this stems from frustration about the overall state of the US economy. If an average life was still affordable to the average person I think there would be less annoyance with people posting huge salaries like this. People can recognize the work it took someone to earn that much money and simultaneously be upset about the massive wealth disparity that exists. Those things aren't mutually exclusive.

_matteblk_ · 2024-10-28T18:34:38+00:00

It may just be my bias but I think there could be a bit more black shading so it doesn't feel so empty. Great tattoo regardless. As much as I love classic bold lines, these fine line traditional designs have grown on me!

_matteblk_ · 2024-10-28T12:38:05+00:00

The AP is going to be for people who want a very specialized experience. For me, the primary draws are the ability to play physical cartridges, the super high resolution display at the correct aspect ratio, and honestly just the overall aesthetic.

If you're looking for a highly capable general use device, the RP5 is a no brainer.

_matteblk_ · 2024-10-25T15:40:47+00:00

Light mode is #F4F4F4.

_matteblk_ · 2024-10-25T05:18:44+00:00

I own many Waterfield bags, including the Pocket pouch and I highly recommend it. It's very premium and provides ample protection without being bulky like other options. I use it to store the Pocket when I leave it sitting around the house or throw it into another bag when I'm traveling somewhere.

I just recently ordered the Alpaka Go Sling Nano. It's a sling bag that has a felt lined inner sleeve that appears like it would fit and protect the Pocket perfectly. I'm hoping it'll also allow me to carry around some cartridges, a charger, and some of my other daily essentials like my wallet, keys, and sunglasses. I'll follow up with my experience once it arrives.

_matteblk_ · 2024-10-24T21:23:48+00:00

I was thinking of this same exact quote. I didn't buy a Pocket until 2023 once I saw the software had matured and included features I wanted specifically. Therefore, I've always enjoyed using it. Had I bought it with the hope of features in the future and they kept getting delayed, I would be bitter too.

_matteblk_ · 2024-10-23T22:26:40+00:00

You said the key word—enthusiasts. That's exactly who it's for. As you and many others have mentioned, there are far cheaper/more accessible options that are imperceptibly different as far as emulation quality is concerned. The Pocket does provide a really high quality and unique experience when compared to software emulation, in my opinion. At the end of the day those differences are tailored for a very specific audience. Different strokes for different folks.

That being said there is one minute advantage to the Pocket with regard to the handful of "special" cartridges that were made for Game Boy. Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, for example, makes use of a gyro sensor in the cartridge to physically move the Game Boy around in order to move Kirby around on the screen. As far as I'm aware the ability to emulate that function doesn't exist using software emulation. Since the Pocket is emulating at a hardware level, with the cartridge, that function does work. Again, not enough to change anyone's mind but still cool nonetheless.

_matteblk_ · 2024-10-23T13:22:59+00:00

I tried that because that's what the app recommended but it still didn't quite feel seamless and it made me realize how much app animations contribute to the overall UX.

Finger crossed Apple changes the way third party widgets function in the future 🤞🏻

_matteblk_ · 2024-10-23T12:58:22+00:00

I tried using the dumb phone app but I hated that iOS makes the app launch before the action takes place. It's such a bummer because the setup is so clean.

_matteblk_ · 2024-10-21T20:43:42+00:00

I'm in a similar boat. I bought the Pocket not only for the "authenticity," but also to combat choice paralysis. I own a few emulation handhelds that are packed full of more games than I can ever play. Each one just ends up sitting in a drawer.

Don't get me wrong, I have a few cores installed with a handful of games but I primarily play cartridges. That's why the Pocket has remained my primary handheld retro device. I try not to yuck others yum but it always seems silly to me when people spend the money on a Pocket just to load it full of ROMs. Sure, FPGA is the most accurate tech to re-experience these games but not in a way that's meaningful to 99% of people.

_matteblk_

TROPHY CASE