Thank You, But Please Don’t Call Me ‘Talented’

Hello friends. No pond friends today, though I thought I’d draw Amina and Gen together because this is going to be an art and discussion post. 🥰

Before I begin, I want to make it very clear that I have appreciated every single compliment and praise that I have ever received about my art. I am acutely aware that the support that I receive from everyone in this community has inspired and motivated me to continue my art, and has been integral to my growth and exposure as a small artist.

No matter their content, I understand that compliments and praise come from a good place and mean no ill intent. Therefore, if you have ever expressed your support for my work, liked my work, retweeted my work, shared my work – thank you. Please, please know that I appreciate you, appreciate your support, and am grateful.

On Praising ‘Talent’ and What ‘Talent’ Means

“You’re so talented!”

“I wish I had your talent!”

Friends, let’s talk about the word ‘talented’ and how we use it to praise an artist’s work.

Descendant of the Crane Fanart Wallpapers!

“Long time no see, friend!”

You’re at Gen’s garden today. He had told you to visit some time ago, because he had a surprise for you. (And also, secretly, he missed talking to you!)

“I had an amazing encounter, friend. When I was outside the Pond collecting some herbs for Varian and flowers for Xiaolong, I saw a beautiful crane standing in the clearing!” he recounts, his eyes lighting up.

“I was so scared to move, but the crane came up to me and looked at me. We exchanged a smile before they flew away.”

Gen smiles at the memory. “I was so inspired, like when Varian gets a costume idea, so I wanted to share some of my produce that reminds me of the crane that I saw with you!”

Hello friends! I hope all of you are well and are looking forward to a wonderful and restful weekend. 💛

Yesterday, I was struck with a pang of inspiration — it’s a moment where I get this incredible and striking image in my head that compels me to just create. I don’t often get these, but when I do, they send me into this state where I can draw for hours without pause.

Merry Pond-mas From Your Friends at The Pond! (In Which They Open The Presents YOU Gifted Them!)

Meet the Pond’s newest inhabitant

What’s this?

It’s a Corgi Christmas at Gen’s Art Garden!

“Excuse me, friend.” You look up from the book that you were reading and see Xiaolong looking up at you, trying to hide a big smile that she can’t seem to contain. (She never had a poker face.) “I’m sorry to bother you, but Gen needs your help with something.”

Oh dear! You wonder what Gen needs help with? Well it can’t possibly be bad, because Xiaolong looks absolutely thrilled and has a little jump in her step as she beckons for you to follow.

You follow Xiaolong to Gen’s corner of the Pond. Up ahead, you hear some yelping and yipping – sounds you don’t ordinarily hear at the Pond. When you approach, you see that Gen is surrounded by – oh my! a litter of puppies!

“Hello friend,” says Gen, who is working together with Varian to keep the puppies together. “We found these babies who were lost in the forest. And with the festive season so close, we want to find homes for them. Can you help us?”

You pick up one of the puppies, who had escaped Varian’s grasp, and hold it in front of you. It is wearing some tinsel and a Christmas hat.

“I thought they would be much more adoptable if they were festive themselves, so I made them some Christmas outfits,” Varian says, looking rather pleased with themself.

“But Varian, can’t we keep them all?” asks Xiaolong, who is cuddling a puppy, cheek-to-cheek, as tiny as she is. “They are just so cute…”

Varian exhales loudly, readjusting their hold of the puppies in their hands. “Xiao, we all voted on this. We cannot adopt all of these puppies!”

Xiaolong looks up at you, her eyes big and twinkling and pleading. “Friend, can I adopt one pleaseeeeeeee?”

Well, you don’t know about that. But you think you can help find these babies a new home.

Welcome back to The Quiet Pond, friends!

With the Christmas season fast approaching, I wanted to share with you the product of an idea that I’ve had for a long time: Christmas corgi wallpapers! As you know from my previous Corgi Wallpapers post, all of you know how much I absolutely adore corgis. (One of my life aspirations is to pet and cuddle one, which has yet to happen! I know, it’s a crime.)

Welcome to Gen’s Art Garden! (Look! Gen has corgi wallpapers for you!)

You realise you have seen a lot of Xiaolong, but you really haven’t seen a lot of the other inhabitants in the Pond. You tell Xiaolong this and that you’d love to meet Gen the Tortoise Apothecarist, and her face lights up with a big smile.

“I’m so happy that you want to get to know the others more, friend! It makes me so happy when my friends want to meet and be friends with my other friends! Follow me!”

She jumps up from her spot, and waddles over to the other side of the Pond. Here, the plants are bigger, brighter, and you see tiny plant beds. The beds look clean and tidy (clearly Gen takes great care of his garden!), but there doesn’t seem to be any plants in sight.

As you approach, your footsteps crunching along the earth, Xiaolong gently hushes you. “Ssssssh. The seeds are sleepy. Gen just planted the baby plants this morning and they’re going to do their best to grow! Maybe Gen has something to share from his last harvest?”

Over there, you see Gen the Tortoise Apothecarist tending to some little sprouts. When he sees you, he retreats a little bit into his big purple shell, but he gives you a small and tentative smile. You guess he is still a little shy.

“Hi Gen!” says Xiaolong, waddling over to stand next to Gen the tortoise. “Say hi to our friend. They wanted to come and meet you!”

“Hello,” says Gen in a low and small voice. You say hello back, crouching down so you don’t tower over him. “I thought that you might be coming over… so… I prepared some gifts for you, friend.” He blushes a little. “I hope you will like them. Though, if you don’t like them, you don’t have to take it home. That’s okay. I understand.”

Xiaolong gives Gen an encouraging smile, and gives you a big grin. “Gen, you put so much care into your garden. Of course our friend is going to love them! And I know you put an extra little bit more magic to make sure that these flowers for our friends would grow well, right?”

Gen nods, his green head almost inside his shell. (Gosh, he’s so shy! Maybe he needs some encouragement.)

“I think they’re beautiful, Gen. Thank you so much, ” you tell him. “Do you think I could have a closer look?”

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening friends! Welcome back to The Quiet Pond.

Thank you all so much for your patience while The Quiet Pond was down. I’m so happy to be back, and to thank you all for your support, I want to share with you all some wallpapers! 💛