Hello,

I was thinking the other day that I don't really have anything about me on this site. Considering I've been here pretty consistently for the past sixteen years (jesus christ) I figure I should have something of an about me page. So here is that.

I'm Jack, I've been on Newgrounds since 2009. I started taking drawing seriously around 2011 - 2013 and by 2015 was positive it was something I wanted to pursue. I've worked doing small local commission work pretty much my whole adult life. I regret not pursuing more structured pathways in an art field, but honestly considering the state of the art industry at the moment I don't know how much stress that would have saved me. I do, however, wish I was more driven ten years ago to branch out into animation/motion graphics/ and was more project oriented in general.

I think I'm best known for my ink work, that seems to get the most feedback/interactions here anyway. I enjoy it a lot, plus it's both financially and time economical to only work with black ink. I wish I had more time/space/presence of mind to do more oil painting, as well as a better set up to make lino prints more efficiently.

My personal favorite art pieces of mine are

There are more that can go here, but those were the ones that came to mind

I've been an Art Moderator here on NG for a while, since like 2015 or 2016, and have been a Forum Moderator, for like two years(?) that was mostly out of convenience since I kept getting tagged in the Art Forum but had no forum powers. I am very reluctant to use those mod powers for anything beyond locking/deleting spam threads, but you know sometimes they gotta be used.

I think the main thing I struggle with in art that I've been slowly working to improve on is portraiture, as well as just general improvement on gesture and weight in figures. I need to be more disciplined with studies and there's no other way around it. Hopefully I'll get my shit together on that this week.

I like punk rock music, and try to go to shows as often as I can. My favorite live bands have been Bad Religion, FIDLAR, The Distillers, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, there a lot more but I'll be here all day. I enjoy running around into people in mosh pits. If you haven't I highly recommend it.

I also like slower indie stuff like Alvvays, Feist, and the Beths; As well as various vaporwave/futurefunk and I've been on a City Pop kick lately from those two. I have two friends who are really into EDM, particularly 'riddim' and occasionally go to the smaller shows in LA with them, pretty cool stuff overall, great shows, but not really my jam as much. My current listening rotation bands are: The Bobby Lees, Sorry Mom, Penelope Scott, Pat The Bunny, and Mommy Long Legs.

I like to read, I generally read on the bus/train, but I haven't been taking public transit lately, and I don't currently have a book to read, so I think I'm a month deep without reading. Awful. My favorite authors are Ursula K Le Guin, Philip K Dick, and when I can ignore his weirdness with women characters Haruki Murakami.

I like videogames, but haven't kept up much with new stuff. It feels like the stuff I want to play and the stuff that's being made just aren't the same. The indie stuff looks cool, and I always see stuff I want to try, but between the cost, and the amount of time I have + feeling guilty about not using all my time to draw. Just fell by the wayside. I still regularly play NES Tetris, Galaga, and Bloodborne though.

I'm not huge into sports, but I play in an adult roller hockey league, and will watch pretty much any hockey game if one's on, and will watch Baseball if The Dodgers are playing, but otherwise really do not care much to watch sports.

I've been tired and demotivated lately. Unfortunately I've had the time to keep on what's going on in the world, and it's difficult to not feel a mounting sense of dread for just about all aspects of the present and future. I used to be really good at not doomscrolling at all, but I've been losing that war with the comfort of wasting away. which is probably a big reason for writing this News Post. I've been thinking I need to be more intentional with my thoughts lately, and this is as good a way as any I suppose.

When I'm able to work through it though it does feel great. I don't consider drawing to be an escape, if I were to dig deeper, it's more of an affirmation that I continue to be me, and do my thing -- despite it all.

My favorite alcoholic beverage is a Midori Sour with an egg white in it, my favorite beer is a Cherry Sour, I forgot which brewery it's from but the bar that had it no longer has it, close runner up: Asahi.

There's a lot more I can say, but I have other things I should be doing right now.

Feel free to Ask Me Anything in the comments.