Tag: art

Black Lives Matter Product Roundup

Posted on by possumpaperworks

Black Lives Matter Product Roundup

Howdy! I had a bunch of brilliant ideas for this week’s roundup, but while I was trying to decide what to do, I thought of the movement that’s been on everyone’s mind lately, the Black Lives Matter movement.

Without going in to too much detail, the recent protests have made me do a lot of thinking. I’m white, and while this has not been my first consideration of my own privilege, local action has made me rethink a lot about the world I live in. I support the BLM movement, and I hope to continue to learn about what can be done to fix the fundamental issues in American society.

For the moment, what I can do is share the works of Black artists, and ask you to support these artists! All the works I’ve selected come from Black-owned businesses on Etsy, which means the max amount of money goes to those artists or the charities they support. 

With all that said, here’s the Black Lives Matter Product Roundup!

black lives matter product roundup

1) Scotch and Tea, Black Lives Matter Postcards

These postcards were what inspired this roundup. My mom asked me to look for BLM postcards on Etsy, and while these are more art than mass-mail, I absolutely love these designs. In other timely design, the artist also has handmade face masks and stay-at-home Pride gear.

2) Mosaic Pop Art, Black Lives Matter T-Shirt

This design is beautiful. Simple and to the point, but elegant. You can also find it on Mosaic Pop Art’s shop as a sticker, as well as many other cool pieces. Net proceeds from this art go to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

3) Black Girl Magic Gifts, Black Lives Matter Sticker

Gold glitter background. Fantastic Afro-sporting woman. What more can I say? I love it!

4) XO, Nicole Designs, Juneteenth Button Pins

If you’re looking for a small way to show your support and/or Black Pride, these pins are beautiful and to the point. There’s two other designs, and you can pick three or get all six.

5) 38ktgold Artistry, Power to the People Art

Art or protest sign? Guess that’s up to you to choose. I love the bold basic design of this painting. The artist also has a bunch of other colorful artworks available, but during June 100% of proceeds from this work goes to organization Assata’s Daughters.

6) Breathe Live Explore, Black Lives Matter Art Print

Gorgeous. The colors bring me so much joy. Again, the artist has multiple other lovely Black-centric designs to check out, so make sure you do!

If you’re looking for other ways to financially support the Black community, Autostraddle and TIME have great resources. Most online marketplaces like Etsy have made lists to promote Black sellers, and if you can, buy locally as well! And remember, even if you can’t do much financially, listening to the needs of Black folks and POC (especially if you’re white), learning, and educating are free and vital.

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For more product roundups, click here.

Otter Product Roundup

Posted on by possumpaperworks
possum paper works product roundup

Heads up! This post contains affiliate links. For more information about what an affiliate link is and what they mean for you, see my privacy page.

Otter Product Roundup

Welcome to the otter product roundup! Today we’re looking at the slickest little water cat, the otter.

ollie the otter at zion

Ollie, my otter friend from Seattle, approves of this topic fully. This is a semi-blurry otter pic of Ollie at Zion National Park last summer, hanging out by the river. He claims it’s his natural habitat (but the one time he got wet he was not pleased).

If you need some otter action (and who doesn’t), there are live feeds available from the Georgia Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium , and in my neck of the woods, Maymont.

Here’s some cool otter art!

otter product roundup

1) Glitter Punk Jewelry, Land and Sea Hugging Otters Pin

AAAHHH SO CUTE. I love the night sky behind the hugging otters! Glitter Punk Jewelry has a bunch of other cool pins and artworks available with cuddling animals. Check them out!

2) Tartankiwi Patterns, Otterly Adorable Quilt Pattern

If you’re looking for your own otter art to make, check out this quilt block pattern! Make your own otter posse quilt! I mean, look at that face, how can you resist? 

3) Sophie Corrigan, I Love You Like No Otter Print

Adorable. This is not the only otter art from Sophie Corrigan, and she sells over numerous different platforms. There’s a wonderful otter jotter notebook, but that looks like it’ll be out of stock shortly.  Sophie’s also got other punny works, like my personal favorite, the “Tom Waits, Patiently” print.

4) nvdesign, I Just Really Like Otters, OK? T-Shirt

I just really like otters, okay? And these otters are beautiful.

5) Mark Wheeler Photography, Otter Print

Look at this otter! So slick! So focused! This otter is going places, I tell you what.

…like back in the water.

6) alenaz, Otter This World Sticker

This sticker is otterly amazing (sorry)(not).

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Check out more product roundups here!

If you’re still hungry for more art to shop, may I recommend my own lines of notebooks on Etsy and my work on Society6 and Redbubble? Your support is much appreciated and helps keep this blog running!

Writing Tip #2 – Inspiration From Music

Posted on by possumpaperworks
notebook writing tip 2 taking inspiration from music possum paper works

Welcome to the Possum Paper Works Writing Tip Rodeo. Today I’m discussing how I take inspiration from music in my writing, and how you can do the same!

Writing Tip #2 – Taking Inspiration from Music

I love music. I always have and always will. When I can’t find the words to write, turning on the right music almost always helps get me started.

Sometimes I make connections between the music and a specific set of scenes. Sometimes I have songs that are distinctive to certain characters. Regardless of the situation, it’s rare for me to work on a project and not find music that inspires my writing.

If you’re looking for an easy way to find a little inspiration, use music!

“I would say that music is the easiest means in which to express, but since words are my talent, I must try to express clumsily in words what the pure music would have done better.”

The Right Music

For me, the “right music” varies greatly from project to project. For example, “Only The Good Die Young” never fails to remind me of a set of my characters, specifically a gay Catholic cop from Virginia who loves Billy Joel. Often the song reminds me of his friends loudly singing that song at his wedding.

Similarly, pretty much any Hozier song makes me start to picture a different character. “Work Song” especially puts images in my mind instantly of that character dancing. The scene inspired by those images actually became an important part of the plot once I considered it.

There are also songs that I associate with more general plots and relationships rather than specific scenes or characters. Those songs might never appear in the story, but still provide me with the perfect mood to write. Turning them on instantly begs me to return to the worlds of certain characters.

The right music will be different for you too. Don’t limit yourself to what you think should be the right song. If you’re into crunchy remixes of video game tracks, use those! If you like rare 1920s recordings, go for it! What music you like will make your writing as unique as you are.

Using music for inspiration

Chances are you have songs that you love and that already inspire you to write. That’s great, if so! If not, don’t despair.

An easy way to find music that suits your writing is just to listen to your collection. The genre doesn’t matter. It may help to listen to songs with lyrics, but if you prefer music without words you can listen for other aspects of the song! A cheerful piece might make you think of a scene of frolicking in the springtime, while a dark and deep song might pull you to investigating the forest at night.

The main thing to do is listen to the music with your mind active. Find the phrases, lyrical or musical, that evoke something in you. Research the musicians involved. Listen, don’t just hear. Be a part of the music.

If you’re looking for a fresh idea, lose yourself to the music. See what you find in the ebb and flow of the chords or the ramblings of the singer.

If you want to expand on a world you already know a bit about, see what connections you make from the song to your world. What do the lyrics say about your characters? What does the beat say about your plot?

There’s not one right or wrong way to incorporate music into your writing, so don’t hold back. Find out what feels best for your work and embrace it!

Using artwork also works!

Not the musical type? Find a piece of visual art you love! How you find inspiration from the work is similar to with music, just with colors, subjects, or moods instead of lyrics and chords.

Art museum websites are great for this. Most have searchable databases of their pieces. MoMA, The Met, and my hometown VMFA all have great collections with photos online. Check out your local galleries and museums too! You never know where you might find art you connect with.

Do this now!

1. Listen to 5 songs you like, stopping if you find the perfect song before you finish all 5.

2. Analyze the song that speaks to you the most at this exact moment. You don’t need to understand music to do this. Just find what resonates with you the deepest.

3. Connect the lyrics, musical language, or tone from one song to your characters, plot, theme, or whatever feels best.

4. Using that song, see what other connections you can make. Build some of those connections on the spot. That reference to the songwriter’s heartbreak in the rain? Fit that into your own story somehow. That springy march of the drums? Put that beat into your character’s steps. Get as weird as you want. It’s your story!

To alter this exercise for art, pick only one or two art pieces you like to start with but follow the same basic procedure.

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Other writing tips can be found here.

Need a place to put your writing? Check out my line of notebooks on Etsy!

For your pinning pleasure:

summary of "do it now" section

Opossums – Product Roundup

Posted on by possumpaperworks
possum paper works product roundup

Heads up! This post contains affiliate links. For more information about what an affiliate link is and what they mean for you, see my privacy page.

Opossums – Product Roundup

Welcome to the first Possum Paper Works Product Roundup! In this series, I’ll choose one topic (usually a word or phrase) and find neat pieces on Etsy, Redbubble, Society6, and wherever else artists and creators sell their works for your perusal and support.

Today our theme is the mighty nocturnal warrior: the opossum. At home in both the country and the city, the opossum is both a danger to humans (so many teeth, kind of jerks) and a boon to us (unlikely to get Rabies, kills unwanted things).

At the hands of the artists in this post, possums have become symbols of country pride and of punk rebellion; they are cute and cuddly and ready to fight you.

With that in mind, here’s six cool opossum artworks!

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1) Juniper Moon Folk Arts, Happy Boi ‘Possum Pin

Look at this happy little cowboy hat boi! So much joy. I love the works that JMFA put out. Country possum punks are my favorite possum punks.

6/15/20 Update: Autostraddle did an article on JMFA, proving that country possum punks are the best kinds of possum punks. <3

2) Sharpie Harpy, Resist Normativity Prints and Sticker

When this came out on Etsy I just about died. I first saw Sharpie Harpy art on a trip to Asheville right after I started my shop, and I loved the work and quickly followed the store on Etsy. I have not been disappointed. Recently I was gifted one of their works, the Orville Peck relief print bandana and I absolutely adore it. I cannot recommend this artist’s work highly enough.

3) Dipped In Ink Crochet, Timothy Opossum Crochet Pattern

I named my crochet opossum from Dipped in Ink Crochet Paulie, and the pre-made possum is not currently available, but you can still pick up a PDF of the pattern for Tiny Timothy the Opossum! If you’re not into crochet, there’s tons of other nerdy and cute characters available.

4) Possum Paper Works, Possum Paper Logo Sticker

It’s me! This is the official Possum Paper Works logo, available on a sticker just for you! Your guitar case, laptop, water bottle, or  your sick 1950s Chevy Bel Air looking drab? In the east coast version of a classic Portlandia sketch, put a possum on it! Disclaimer: I cannot be blamed if an opossum appears in your kitchen because of this sticker. Opossums do what they want.

5) Saint Duke, Deviant Art Print

I just dig this, what can I say? I know I said earlier country possum punks are my favorite, but this dude is pretty cool too. He kind of looks like a vampire possum. Which is a bit redundant, I suppose, with the nocturnal thing and the teeth…regardless. Very cool art.

6) Sive Lobanova, Opossum Trash Club T-Shirt

I, too, identify as the trash.

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Check out previous roundups here!

If you’re still hungry for more arts to shop, may I recommend my own lines of notebooks on Etsy and my art on Society6 and Redbubble? Your support is much appreciated and helps keep this blog running!