New material

I’ll upload new stuff whenever I can. Probably not stories, sorry; maybe more drawings. I’ve been drawing more as of late, just haven’t gotten around to scanning them yet. They’re mostly manga art, but of a different sort. You’ll see. They’re kind of nice; more original, for once.

Stories

I know you’re probably waiting for more stories… I mean, that’s what this website was supposed to be for, to begin with. But let’s, um, take things one step at a time, okay? As a writer, I can only do so much; I can’t write multiple stories all at the same time. That’s crazy, I think, even for the already-published. I’m already working on one, so I can’t work on another, much less about ten or five more.

Also, I’ve made a few extra commitments…and I have no intention whatsoever of giving up any of them. They keep me sane, I think, and happy, even when busy. Mostly happy.

Writing

I haven’t given up on writing. I just started doing new things, or rather, old things that suddenly become new, because it’s been ages since the last time I paid even the slightest attention to them. I’ve started connecting more with others, resolving a lot of my personal issues, and trying to make things work better, for me and for everyone else. It’s a little vague, sorry, but the point is, I’ve been trying to live more, I guess. Enjoy life more.

I MIGHT blog more. I don’t know. I’m maintaining a few other important stuff, so I still won’t promise anything, but given present circumstances, I really think I might just end up blogging more. It depends on the content. If *I* can say it, I’ll post something about it. If I can’t, it goes unsaid, or on my other stuff. We’ll see.

I hope you guys are doing well. If you have anything you still want to tell me or ask me, there’s always the ask box up there^. Or if you want something more private, there’s always my email in the Dylan Balde page. I’d really love to hear from you every once in a while.

Balde, Dylan
“Carroll and Dylan I – Jabberwock and Tumtum”
2010

Balde, Dylan
“Carroll and Dylan II – Jubjub and Bandersnatch”
2010

Sorry about the slow updates; I’ve been busy.

Here’s something I did for my freshman college Literature class barely two years ago – supposedly my versions of the Jabberwock, Tumtum Tree, Jubjub Bird, and Bandersnatch, from “Alice in Wonderland,” I think. (Or is it “Through the Looking Glass?” I don’t really know; please correct me if I’m wrong.)

I’ve never really read either “Alice” or “Looking Glass,” so I apologize in advance if the depictions aren’t what they’re supposed to be. This was done in class, and I was caught off-guard (the professor only had us read the Jabberwocky poem), so…

You understand, right?

-o-

I actually *do* have new drawings to show you – this one I’m posting is an oldie, so sorry – but I still have to scan them and there’s, um, no scanner where I am right now. (Sorry. My mom just moved into this flat. The original owners don’t really have one, I think.) I’ll scan them as soon as I get home. I did a lot of good stuff, I think – some Jughead, a lot of original manga art, and a bit of Evangelion, Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Black Rock Shooter. I uploaded camera shots of some of them on my Twitter account if you want to see them, but the quality is so poor I suggest you just wait for the scanned versions. Obviously, they’re going to look a lot better.

Also, I’d like to apologize if my previous posts seem a bit–cold– Well, I’m not really sure if that’s the right way to describe it, but at that time I wasn’t in very good shape and I’d been having a lot of issues… I don’t want to drone on, but you get the point. If my writing is any indication, yes, I’m okay now.

-o-

I also want to take this time to thank those few people who still support me even if sometimes…things look, um, bleak…as well as those people who I don’t really know [that well] but still take the time to say they support me and believe in me and all that stuff.

I really appreciate all the kind words. No matter how small they are. Maybe some of you didn’t mean them quite that much, but I don’t really care; it’s better than nothing.

Balde, Dylan
“Greek Lovers I”
Date Unknown

Balde, Dylan
“Greek Lovers II”
Date Unknown

If you were my classmate in high school (not quite certain which year, but this wasn’t done in my freshman year, so it doesn’t really matter), you may have already seen this.

It…is not my best work, given what I’ve accomplished thus far, but when I was fifteen/fourteen I was very proud of it and I remember my mom was also proud of it.

Does it look familiar? I actually copied the forms from Disney’s “Hercules.” I remember it was very difficult to do, because the images were moving so fast and I was drawing straight from the TV screen… It was also very hard to figure out when to pause at the right moment, and at which angle. Imagination, as I recall, had played a vital role… Most of what you see now was something I’d figured out for myself – including the exact position of the statues (I was copying from Meg’s garden scene.) and the correct shading of the figures.

The drawings themselves are not entirely something to be proud of; I believe it is the work behind them every one of them that makes them, at the very least, worth looking at.

P.S. Regarding updates – I am still occupied as of the moment. But I will try to update whenever I can.

I’m wondering…is this different from commentaries? O.o

- Juan Angelo T. Custodio (follow-up question to this question)

 -o-

I suppose they’re…related. But author commentaries, as far as I know, usually only come *after* the story’s been published and even then, they don’t necessarily talk about EVERYTHING…

Some authors like to talk about their work. Some readers like to hear authors talk about their work. I’m not saying what I said [in my previous post] is gospel; it depends on your personal experience as a writer in relation to your own readers.

I personally don’t like author commentaries and other similar media. When an author tries to explain his or her story, it feels like spoonfeeding… In some ways an insult… (because the author doesn’t let us readers think on our own) And in many ways, it ruins the “magic” of the story. My personal belief is that readers are entitled to make their own conclusions based on what is given to them by the author; understand characters in light of their own personal realities. We are all different people; it is only natural to look at one story and have about a thousand different interpretations. Authors are allowed to do whatever they want, say whatever they think is important, but I don’t believe they are expected–or encouraged–to dictate how their readers should think or feel, or what kind of experience they’re supposed to have. That is for every individual reader to decide.

Talking about my stories instead of just telling them worked against me. This is why I prefer to stay behind those boundaries.

Tell me more about Authorial Boundaries. I googled, but mehh, nothing specific. >.> Why do I ask? Research. :3

- Juan Angelo T. Custodio

 -o-

It means not saying more than what is expected of you.

As an author, you are expected to only tell your story, nothing more. If you go beyond that (e.g. talk about how you wrote it, how it relates to your life, why it matters, why you wrote it, little trivia tidbits about your characters that were never mentioned in the story, the list goes on), you start overstepping your “authorial boundaries” and therefore annoy people.

Possible consequences include turning off readers (both current and potential), ruining your career, and coming off as both compulsively self-obsessed and impressively pretentious.

…

Your job is to write a story, not write about it. You get readers based on what you write, not on who you are.

Remember that your story always comes first, your characters second, and you as an author third. Do you read to hear about a story? Or do you read to hear the story itself?

“Who you are” is not part of your job description. It’s only “What you do” that matters.

Balde, Dylan
“Adam @ 10″
February 2012

I have drawn plenty of original art… Many I’ve decided not to post online for…copyright purposes. This used to be one of those pictures.

His name is Adam. He is 19 years old, but this is him when he “was” only ten. He used to be a character in one of my unfinished novels; he was a good character to write, but unfortunately, as of now he is of no use anymore. His character has already evolved into someone better, including his looks and his overall design. Which is to say, I no longer have sufficient reason to keep this drawing from being posted. So here it is.

This is the first time I’ve posted him…so obviously you’ve never seen him before.

Also, if you know Evangelion’s Shinji Ikari, you may have noticed that he looks a bit like him… It’s a coincidence, though; I wasn’t copying from Shinji’s model while I was drawing this. You must understand that, because Shinji and I are so eerily alike, I tend to draw all my characters in a way that reflects his most common expressions… Or my expressions, for that matter. I will be posting another drawing soon–a manga self-portrait I did only recently. “She” looks a bit like Shinji, too… But also another coincidence. I was copying from my own photo.

This is the last drawing I will be posting…at least for the next two weeks. I’ve been drawing more as of late, so most likely the next drawings will be newer… Most likely.

Balde, Dylan
“Rebuild Asuka”
December 2011
(original art by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto)

Another drawing you may have already seen–

I am a BIG fan of Hideaki Anno’s Asuka Langley-Soryu from the Evangelion series… I consider her an inspiration and an enormous source of personal strength…more than you can possibly imagine. I especially love Asuka for her performance in “End of Eva” against the Mass Production Evangelions; as hard as it is for me to watch and re-watch that scene, I can’t possibly deny her enormous will to survive, and her unbridled confidence and optimism about winning, despite the odds obviously being against her.

Freaking badass.

So, a few years ago, Studio Khara (Gainax’s successor) kickstarted the Rebuild of Evangelion series–a tetralogy meant to remake the original Neon Genesis Evangelion (including the two movies that followed, “Death and Rebirth” and “End of Evangelion”) and condense it into a much more cohesive (and generally “understandable”) story. The first two movies–the only ones released so far–are sights to behold: the animation is flawless, the voice-acting Oscar-worthy (especially that of Megumi Ogata who plays protagonist Shinji Ikari), and the story just beautiful, as always. Of course, this is Hideaki Anno were talking about, and naturally, I expect nothing less from a genius like him.

In the second Rebuild film, “You can (not) advance,” Anno decided to rework Asuka–made her a bit more anti-social, but at the same time, paradoxically easier to reach out to. In many ways still the same Asuka, but a little different, also. From Asuka Langley-Soryu, she became Asuka Shikinami Langley–what the name change was for, I’m not really sure. Perhaps to distinguish this new Asuka from the old one?

Anyway, this is a drawing of Asuka Shikinami, as seen in Rebuild of Evangelion 2.22: You can (not) advance. As far as I’m concerned, I have no complaints about the changes; she is the same Asuka I’ve looked up to in NGE. As long as the strength is there, she will always be the same Asuka to me.

Credits to the legendary Yoshiyuki Sadamoto for the amazing first drawing. (I copied this from one of the drawings he’d made.) I can give you the link to the original art, but I’m not really sure where it is anymore… You can find it somewhere in the official Studio Khara website, though.

FYI: I have posted copies on Twitter, DeviantArt, and Facebook…but primarily on DeviantArt. Here’s the link, if for some reason you’d like to see it there.

Balde, Dylan
“Chris Colfer”
April 2010

You may have already seen this posted on my (szedylan) Facebook account. This is a portrait of Glee actor Chris Colfer when he was still starting out on Glee… I was a fan of him…and I still am. I respect and admire the way he reaches for his dreams; the way he yearns to make up for a high school that had–unfortunately–let him down.

Balde, Dylan
“Jessica Balde”
May 2010

I won’t be as active in the next few weeks – particularly next week – so I figured I’d post extra this week, just for you guys. They’re all drawings; I hope that…won’t be a problem.

I’ve decided to post four pieces of art before the end of this week – two I’m quite certain you’ve never seen before and two you may have already seen (if you’ve been looking through my accounts without telling me). For today, I’m posting the first drawing I’m pretty sure you’ve never seen–a portrait I did of my mother, Jessica Balde, as a gift for Mother’s Day about two years back. Given that Mother’s Day is already nearing, I figured it would be fitting for me to “repost” this.

I’m still trying to figure out a gift for my mother this coming Mother’s Day. I hope you haven’t forgotten to prepare for yours, as well.

I actually read and LIKED your story about Dylan (sorry forgot the title), the story you said you were going to post every Wednesday. I don’t know why the other chapters got delayed/deleted/discontinued/whatever. Anyway, see you around! Remember, MAGIS

-Anonymous

-o-

I actually already explained why I had to take it down in a previous post. If you want, you can read that, or you can read what I’m about to tell you right now, which I think is a better explanation.

I’ll be honest with you, okay? I hated that story. I thought it was a mess; I still think it was a mess. And I don’t regret ever taking it down. However, I am genuinely glad that you liked the story, that you actually survived through two crappy chapters without wanting to wring my neck and shish-kabob my head on a stick.

That said, reason number one: I canceled “Hermes & Jung” because I thought it was crap. Because I wasn’t at all proud of what I’d written.

This part is difficult to explain… A lot of writers will tell you that their career ultimately depends on what their readers like. On what their readers say. On what their readers expect from them, from us. I’m not saying that’s false; it’s actually very, very true. Without your participation, without your support, we writers can’t earn a living. We might as well starve. But we’re not all about the readers. Many of us–most likely all of us–primarily write for ourselves. We write because we want to, not because we want to be praised, or read, or adored. We write because it’s important to us. Because it’s what we want; what we feel we must do with our lives just to be happy. That said, if our resulting product doesn’t reach our intended expectations, we have no qualms–no qualms at all–about taking it down.

It’s like getting a job. If you really want to be happy, you don’t get a job just for the heck of it. You have to genuinely like your job. In the same manner, if you want to sustain your happiness, you don’t just get a job you like; you get a job that earns and makes you happy.

My heart wasn’t in “Hermes & Jung.” I think that’s the simplest way to put it.  Writers all have a story they’re meant to write; a story they must write. “Hermes” wasn’t that story.

The second reason is a bit minor–I canceled “Hermes & Jung” because it was supposed to be a murder mystery and I didn’t know crap about writing murder mysteries. To simply put, I was trying to write well outside my supposed genre, which really isn’t very smart.

The third reason is more practical. Back when I was still trying to write “Hermes & Jung,” I was already busy working on another novel, an earlier one I already, “supposedly,” finished way back in December 2011. I was struggling, you see; to be quite honest with you, I was actually undergoing a crisis…of sorts. Sometime during Christmas, I announced about my “first finished novel,” which is true; I did actually finish my “first” novel. But when I was editing it months after, I got really frustrated with it. I started second-guessing it, doubting the potential it supposedly had. The editing took ages and of course, I was getting hugely desperate. Nothing was working, the story became utter crap, and I was practically dribbling with anxiety. It got to the point that I started–for the very first time–second-guessing my own craft, the path I consciously decided to take. I second-guessed my writing; I actually considered giving it all up for something else, maybe History or whatever. Besides probably senior year from two years ago, these last couple of months was obviously my lowest point. I think I was actually mildly depressed.

Of course, as is probably obvious, I got over my crisis and am now gleefully back on my feet. But you understand, right? Why “Hermes & Jung” disappeared? The pressures of having to finish one novel was already so great that it crippled me half to submission. Two novels just made it worse.

In my previous post, I mentioned only three reasons. This time, I’m adding one more, something I did mention in that post, but wasn’t able to properly emphasize on.

I canceled “Hermes & Jung” because of you–of you guys, who I didn’t realize (but somehow knew) were reading. I was concerned about your standards. I figured that since I didn’t like the story–and neither did my mother, who just happens to be editor–you guys probably hated it as well. I didn’t want to shortchange any of you, so for your sake (and mine), I took down “Hermes & Jung.”

If you’re curious, “Hermes & Jung” eventually evolved into a screenplay of sorts–more slice-of-life than mystery. Something about Japanese bentos. It’s currently on hold.

By the way, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Just so you know, you’re my first Q&A post; congratulations! Also, I really am sorry about “Hermes & Jung”; I honestly didn’t think it was good enough. I just didn’t want to disappoint you. *bows* I’m sorry.

I still don’t know who you are (although I have my guesses), but yeah, sure; I’ll see you around next semester.

Dylan

Besides that, ever since I started internalizing all that Deepak-Eckhart stuff, talking about myself past the usual 140-character Twitter limit has become impossibly difficult to pull off, not to mention I now actually find it repulsive. Oh, don’t get me wrong; talking to yourself–and only yourself–every so often is perfectly all right, at times even therapeutic, but if you do it in excess, it becomes horribly narcissistic. You become compulsively self-involved, sometimes without even realizing it.

I spent my last two websites talking incessantly about myself. I honestly don’t want another repeat.

So… Maybe I can try something else. Just a few days ago, I started two new projects that involved a lot of networking and writing. I put up a kind of a blog thing, but not really a blog; just something different for a change. Something I don’t usually do. I can’t discuss it in detail though; I do, I might just end up ruining what made both projects special. To cut things short, I learned something new about myself; something I didn’t know I can actually pull off. In both projects, people ask me questions–really random stuff–and I answer. It’s quite the experience. I mean, I have Formspring, but this felt…a little different somehow.

Secondly, if you’ve been checking my Twitter account as of late, I’ve been very active–surprisingly active, actually. I met a few new friends (I think), and I discovered the beauty of online role-playing. More than that, reader-based posts.

Tumblr

Just a few days ago, I ran into a few online role-players. They role-play on Tumblr, where people ask them all sorts of random questions, kind of like an online Q-and-A. It’s quite entertaining to watch; I myself asked a few, actually. What’s really cool about these role-players is that they really answer everybody’s questions. They don’t miss a beat. That’s very good publicity in itself, because if people know you’re always going to keep updating, they will keep coming back for more. They will keep asking.

Also, it encourages interaction and I just love interaction. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but silent audiences really piss me off. If you like what you see, at least say something. Or at least give some kind of hint that you appreciated what we created. Writers (artists, in general) are one of the most easily discouraged people on this planet. If you don’t respond, we feel alone. Unappreciated and forgotten. If you must know, even the tiniest bit of feedback – a smile, a small comment, or a share – makes us happy.

New feature: Ask Dylan

I’m not saying I’m switching to a Tumblr account; it’s too late for that now. I can’t afford to start all over again, from scratch. I’m way too busy for that. Also, my mom will kill me – after all, we paid for this domain.

That said, I’ve decided to install a new page–an added feature I’m hoping you guys will like. Starting, well, after I post this, you’ll see a page up there (^), along the header, that says, “Ask Dylan.” Once you click on that page, you’ll see a link to my Formspring account. And then you can ask your questions – give your comments – from there. If you need longer space to write, you can always “ask” another question – submit another entry. Just be sure to specify that it’s part of your other, previous question, so I won’t get confused.

If this sounds crappy to you, well, I’m sorry. Blame WordPress. It doesn’t have an Ask Box feature. I know; pretty lame, isn’t it? You’d think with all their obvious competition, they’d put one in.

I have other alternatives, of course; I can have you email me, tweet me, or Facebook me (if you happen to be my “friend”), but I’m guessing some of you will want to be anonymous about your questions. I know for a fact that a lot of people inevitably become silent audiences simply because they’d rather not be identified. They want to be able to ask and say anything without other people knowing who they are. So, I figured Formspring seems like the better option.

Of course, I can always create a Tumblr account, but given that I’m only after the Ask Box, I probably shouldn’t. It already sounds ridiculous: a completely empty Tumblr page with only an Ask Box and a “Submit” Box as official content.

So… Just to *warn* you though, I won’t actually update a lot on Formspring. All the stuff I want to say and need to say I’ll say them here, on fried magikarp. This is what I created the website for.

I’m sorry if it still sounds crappy. Maybe you’re thinking I should just make a Tumblr page and get the whole thing over with. But like I said, I don’t have the time to update too many websites at the same time; handle too many projects simultaneously. I’m already juggling three online accounts–my Twitter page, this website, and my Facebook account–two unknown but really time-consuming online projects, university (I’m starting my junior year this coming June.), career plans (I’m graduating in two years.), and my “work.” THAT’S heavy. Really; given all that I try to accomplish, I’m surprised I’m still sane.

Blog

This doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t be blogging anymore. I might. If I have the time or if I feel like it. BUT. Again, again, I don’t want to make any more promises. For both our sakes. If I want to blog, I’ll blog. If I don’t, I won’t. It’s as simple as that. But the Ask Dylan feature stays. As long as you ask questions, I’ll answer. Compared to the blog idea, this is more workable. At least I’m not being forced every so often to think of new topics to post, just so to keep this website going. For once, I’ll let you give me ideas.

I sound like some kind of lazy prick. But if you know what I’m going through–which I think you do–you probably understand I’m just trying to make this all work. It’s hard, but I’m trying my best. You have no idea how much pressure I usually have to put up with, so please, try to understand.

Thanks. I’ll be waiting for your questions.

Well, to be quite honest with you, I’ve been “busy,” so you have to understand that for the next couple of weeks, updates will be relatively slow both here and on my Twitter account, and if you’re my “friend” on Facebook, there, as well. If you’re wondering, I’m in Singapore as of the moment, on vacation, but not really on vacation, considering that I’m still “working” and everything. Not that I’m complaining. It’s fun. Stressful at times, but fun.

I’m sorry if you’re disappointed. No, I’m not being sarcastic; I get it, yeah, some literary website this is turning out to be. First Hermes and now this. Well, just to remind you, everything in this world is a trade-off; to get something, you have to give up something else in exchange. That’s how things work. I had to give up a lot of things that were important to me just to get where I am now…and I’m giving up more of them as I go along. It’s hard for me, too, you know; to not update. Sometimes I feel like I’m shortchanging you guys… And for that, I’m sorry. But I’m not disappointed. I know what I’m doing.  After all, everything happens for a reason.

Cryptic otherworldly wisdom aside, I’ve decided to make it up to you guys by “installing” a third, supposedly nonexistent, upgrade: blog posts. Starting–well, I really don’t know when–I will be adding a new category to the list–BLOG. Something more informal, more current, just to keep things going while I’m working. I initially preferred to be more “professional” about this website–meaning, I wanted to just post stories and art, not really blog posts–but “desperate” situations call for equally desperate measures. Anyway, it’s still writing, after all, just a little less formal, that’s all. And who said blog posts aren’t literature, anyway? As long as it’s readable, as long as it’s entertaining people, it’s literature, in my opinion.

I’m actually a little sensitive when it comes to blogging; I used to do it in the past, but I always ended up ranting in every post, pouring out my darkest, most negative, and usually not-well-thought-out feelings about this cruel, cruel world, and then turning off loads of readers, myself included. I can link you to my previous two websites, but I probably won’t. I don’t want to push you guys away; you’re too important.

That said, I don’t know when I will be posting my first actual blog entry. I’m usually freer during weekends–freer to write blog posts, anyway–so I might blog every Saturday and Sunday. I can’t promise anything (because the last time I did, everything instantly went to hell), but I will try to.

Don’t worry; my weekdays are all booked, so technically, I’m forced to blog during weekends. Might actually post something after all.

By the way, don’t expect any new stories anytime soon–I’m really too busy to write anything remotely related to a story other than the one I’m presently, heatedly working on. That said, it’s probably best to stop expecting what won’t happen anytime soon. Do you want me to make the same mistake twice? No, didn’t think so. I can post old stories, stuff I’ve written in the past but never really posted, but they’re too personal. Good, yes. Publishable, yes. Something to be proud of, yes. But reader-friendly? No. They were written ages ago when I was still angst-y and teenager-y, emotionally wrinkled like a prune, at a time when all I believed and held onto were my recycled emotions. When I’m angry and bitter, I say the meanest things about people I don’t like. Which is natural, you say; we all do that every once in a while. But I said the meanest things about some people who actually read and patronize my work, and my blog, and my website, and my posts. People who ended up supporting what I do. So I can’t post them. Posting them would be social suicide. Some things are better left untold.

That’s it. Same protocol as always, guys. If you have any questions, any comments, or if you want to tell me I suck or whatever, just say something right below.

Dylan

Balde, Dylan
"Spidey and Family"
2006
(original art from Marvel)

Credits to my half-brother Duane for teaching me color theory when I was thirteen.

See, before he came around, everything I drew was in complete black-and-white. I never really drew in color, not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know how to. Before I met my brother, everything my crayons touched turned into preschool drawings. All I really knew were primary and secondary colors; for me, the words “hue” and “shade” did not exist. At least not until this drawing came along.

I met my brother for the first time when I was in my second year in high school; he basically taught me how to stop “living in black-and-white” and how to stop applying color like a four-year-old. He taught me color theory.

As it so happened, he had his sketchpad with him when I met him, and he gave me a demo. He had this beautiful, inked drawing of Alexander the Great with him–something he’d made–and he showed me how to apply color on the spot. He showed me how to apply shading, how to do shadows, how to mix colors, and how to properly take advantage of the entire color wheel.

When I got home, I made my own “Alexander the Great”–it wasn’t a masterpiece, not by a long shot, but I was getting there, I think. I was learning, after all, and as long as I’m learning, I can always make things better. And I did.

“Spidey and Family” was my first real attempt at properly applying color without my brother having to constantly make corrections and look over my shoulder. The proportions are bit off and my foreshortening skills obviously suck, but I think the color is just beautiful. That’s why I’m proud of it; that’s why it’s memorable. This drawing was a milestone in my artistic life; this was the first time I actually started drawing a bit like a professional.

Balde, Dylan
"Time Rip"
2012
(original art by Akira Toriyama)

Let’s see… That’s Hanfu Gohan in the middle, Future Gohan to your left, and Teen Gohan to your right. Basically, just Son Gohan from Dragon Ball Z.

Now, I don’t want to have to explain who he is, because as far as I’m concerned, the guy is basically general knowledge. He shouldn’t even need an introduction. But, if in the unlikely event that you still can’t remember him, well, Gohan is Goku’s son. And Goku is the chief protagonist of the Dragon Ball series. If you don’t know Goku, well, I think it’s about time you commit metaphorical seppuku.

This was drawn with a black whiteboard marker on a whiteboard, if that wasn’t already obvious. I apologize if it looks a bit rough, not to mention lazily drawn, but personally, I think it was a very good doodle (compared to my usual ones which are actually a lot less professional-looking), so I thought I’d post it.

Doodles are doodles, guys; if they were any prettier, we wouldn’t call them doodles, would we?

Balde, Dylan
"BJ"
Date Unknown

This is Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. Well, supposedly.

It doesn’t really look like him, but…well…I thought it was good for a first try. Besides, I was sketching with a ballpoint pen. A ballpoint pen. THAT’S HARD.

You ever try not using your eraser? Not using your pencils? For once? Most accomplished artists can go weeks without an eraser–I usually can’t. Most usually can’t. So, you should probably cut me a bit of slack for this one.

If you’re an artist yourself and you still haven’t tried sketching without an eraser, you should definitely try it sometime. It’s good practice. Drawing chiefly with a ballpoint pen kind of teaches you to do things right the first time. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but every time you use your eraser, you usually just end up ruining the paper you’re drawing on, not to mention the drawing itself. Drawing without a pencil and an eraser enforces creative discipline. Saves you the time, the frustration, the eraser, and the paper. It’s like linguistic brevity without the words.

Balde, Dylan
"Johnny"
Date Unknown
(original art by Mark Bagley)

Johnny Storm, Ultimate version.

If you don’t know who Johnny Storm is, look up The Human Torch. If you don’t know who The Human Torch is, check the Fantastic Four. If you don’t know the Fantastic Four, then there’s definitely something wrong with you.

Did this when I was around 13 or 14. I was trying out inking for the first time.

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SANDS by Dylan Balde

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A/N: I’m sorry if the sudden cancellation of “Hermes & Jung” [potentially] turned you off, but would you rather I write one crappy chapter after another than stop the whole thing altogether and save you the misery of having to read through every one of them? No, I didn’t think so.

Anyway, this – and the other stuff I’m about to post in a while – is to make up for “Hermes & Jung.” This is not a mess; other people actually liked reading this. And I’m actually very proud of it. I hope you will be, as well. Again – about “Hermes & Jung” – I’m sorry. I really, really am.

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SANDS

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the imperial extraction by Dylan Balde

-What happens when aspiring Sith Lords, impacted wisdom tooth extractions, psychic dentists, and actual Sith Lords get together.

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A/N: I usually don’t do comedy, but considering what I’ve published so far, I thought I should probably make an exception. I can understand how it feels to have to read two highly depressing stories one after the other – it’s not the nicest feeling out there. True; sometimes it can be therapeutic to cry or choke up every once in a while, to remember the unspoken pains of your past, but if done in regular intervals, it can be a little unhealthy.

“the imperial extraction” was written sometime seven months ago, for Western History class. The actual extraction occurred even before that – about five months prior. Obviously, this was posted primarily to offset the last two entries.

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the imperial extraction

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SNAPPED by Dylan Balde

A/N: I have a knack for writing highly depressing stories. In short, you know what to expect. (This was posted initially on my previous blog, not to mention submitted to my English professor, so you may have already seen this. This is for the benefit of those who haven’t.)

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SNAPPED

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KIRBY by Dylan Balde

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Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4 – end