Knocking on the Wrong Door: An Autistic Family's Experience with Charity Guilt

Okay, so this isn't my usual canvas. My corner of the internet is usually filled with the satisfying tapping of my Apple Pencil on the iPad screen, the mesmerizing dance of brushes blending in Procreate, the quiet focus of bringing imagined characters to life with digital strokes. Politics and heavy social commentary? Not really my usual palette. I prefer to let the pixels speak.

But something happened today that’s got my digitally-inked fingers itching to type something out. It was a knock at the door. Standard enough, right? Except it wasn't a delivery of new sticker paper. It was someone holding a clipboard, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, representing a charity for people with disabilities.

Now, hold on a second. I believe in helping others. Truly, I do. The world needs more kindness, more support for those who need it. But this encounter left a really jagged edge on my day, and it’s been looping in my thoughts ever since, like a glitch I can't quite smooth out.

Here’s the thing: I’m autistic (with a side of ADHD). My partner is autistic (also with a side of ADHD). We’re raising an incredible, wonderfully autistic child (ALSO, with a side of ADHD), we’re both recovering from childhood trauma, and we just got a new puppy. Our lives, while filled with immense joy and love, also come with their unique set of challenges – sensory overload that can feel like a corrupted audio file, communication differences that sometimes need translating like different file formats, the constant navigation of a neurotypical world that wasn't exactly designed with our processing power in mind. We’re often running on low battery, advocating for understanding, and simply trying to create a supportive and predictable interface for our family.

None of us even ever frequent the grocery store, since the lights, the sounds, the smells and the stimulation are too much for all 3 of us, and we all end up drenched in sweat.

So, when this well-meaning charity representative of Cerebral Palsy Alliance started their spiel about donating to help people with disabilities, a knot tightened in my stomach. It wasn't the cause itself – again, I believe in helping. It was the presumption. The unwavering assumption that I, as someone living in a house with my own disabilities, with a son who has attended a special school and now is home schooled, should automatically have spare funds to contribute. And when I politely explained that our resources are currently focused on supporting our own family members with their disabilities, the shift in demeanour was palpable.

I was interrogated about my “work” and my partners work. I replied multiple times about how I have a low demand lifestyle need, and how I home school my Autistic child.

Suddenly, the bright eyes seemed to desaturate. There was a subtle but unmistakable air of disappointment, even… dare I say… guilt-tripping. "Your neighbours have been so kind, surely, you wouldn’t want 10 month old babies with disabilities, not get the support they need?" they pressed, their tone implying a certain lack of compassion on my part.

This is where my digital artist’s soul, usually content with rendering light and shadow with meticulous precision, felt a surge of righteous energy. How dare they? How dare they stand on my doorstep, completely unaware of the daily realities within these walls, and try to make me feel guilty for prioritizing the needs of my own disabled family? It feels as jarring as an unprompted software update in the middle of a complex illustration.

It’s a cruel irony, isn’t it? Being pressured to donate to a general fund for disabilities when you are already living the reality of disability, pouring your energy and resources into the specific needs of your loved ones. It feels like being asked to contribute to a shared cloud storage when your own hard drive is critically full with essential files.

I understand that charities need funding to do their vital work. I truly do. But there has to be a more ethical and considerate way to approach people. Door-to-door tactics, especially when coupled with subtle guilt-tripping, feel like an intrusive pop-up ad, and in this instance, deeply insensitive.

Perhaps instead of these broad-brush approaches, charities could focus on raising awareness and understanding of the diverse layers within the spectrum of disabilities. Maybe they could consider the very real financial and emotional bandwidth faced by families already navigating the complexities of disability within their own homes.

I’m not saying don’t donate to charity. Not at all. But I am saying, please, let’s be mindful. Let’s not make assumptions about people’s situations based on a fleeting doorstep interaction. And let’s definitely not try to guilt-trip individuals who may already be carrying a significant processing load of their own.

My digital art is my way of communicating, of making sense of the world. Today, my words are joining the conversation. Because sometimes, the most important colours are the ones that paint a picture of empathy and understanding. And that’s a masterpiece we should all strive to create.

Sprinkle Some ✨ Kawaii ✨ on Your Chats: Diving Deep into Emote Design!

Hey Sweethearts!
If you've ever felt the urge to express a burst of joy, a tiny tear of sadness, or a mischievous wink in your online conversations, you know the power of the humble emote. But have you ever stopped to think about the magic that goes into crafting those adorable little pixels?

Well, buckle up, because today we're diving headfirst into the delightful world of emote design, specifically through the lens of kawaii and chibi styles! As someone who absolutely loves creating these bundles of digital cuteness, I'm thrilled to share some insights and maybe even inspire your own emote adventures.

What's the Big Deal About Tiny Pictures?

In our increasingly digital lives, emotes have become a vital form of non-verbal communication. They transcend language barriers, add personality to text-based interactions, and help build a sense of community. A well-placed kawaii face can soften a potentially harsh message, while a chibi character expressing excitement can amplify the joy of a shared moment.

And let's be honest, who can resist the charm of a big-eyed, rosy-cheeked little figure expressing exactly what you're feeling? That's the magic of kawaii and chibi – they're instantly endearing and universally understood.

The Sweet Spot: Kawaii and Chibi in Emote Design

For those unfamiliar, kawaii is the Japanese concept of "cuteness," often characterized by large, innocent eyes, soft features, and pastel colors. Chibi, on the other hand, is a style of caricature where characters are depicted with oversized heads and small, simplified bodies, emphasizing their adorable features.

These two styles are a match made in digital heaven for emote design! Their inherent cuteness makes them perfect for conveying a wide range of emotions in a visually appealing and easily digestible way, even at a small scale.

My Journey into Kawaii Chibi Emotes:

When I first started designing emotes, I was immediately drawn to the expressive potential of kawaii and chibi. The challenge of capturing a specific emotion in such a condensed format, while still retaining that signature cuteness, became my artistic playground.

Here are a few things I've learned along the way:

• Exaggerate the Essentials: In chibi, the eyes are the windows to the soul – make them big, sparkly, and expressive! Similarly, focus on key features that convey the emotion. A slight tilt of the head, a tiny pout, or wide, joyful eyes can speak volumes.

• Simplify, Simplify, Simplify: Emotes need to be clear and recognizable even at small sizes. Ditch the intricate details and focus on clean lines and bold shapes. Think about the silhouette – is it instantly identifiable?

• Color Palette Power: Kawaii often embraces soft pastels, but don't be afraid to use brighter hues for emphasis or specific emotions. Consider how the colors will look against different chat backgrounds.

• Storytelling in a Single Frame: Even without words, an emote should tell a tiny story. What's the character feeling? What are they doing? A subtle action, like a tiny wave or a blushing cheek, can add depth.

• Think About Context: Consider where the emote will be used. Is it for a gaming stream, a casual chat group, or a professional platform? The style and expressions might need to be tailored accordingly.

• Iteration is Your Friend: Don't be afraid to experiment! Sketch out multiple variations of an emotion before settling on the final design. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most effective.

From Sketch to Screen: A Glimpse into My Process

My own process usually starts with brainstorming the specific emotion or action the emote needs to convey. Then comes the fun part – sketching! I play around with different poses, facial expressions, and chibi proportions until I land on something that feels just right.

Once I have a solid sketch, I move to digital software where I refine the lines, add color, and ensure the emote is crisp and clear at various sizes. There's a lot of tweaking and adjusting to make sure every pixel contributes to the overall cuteness and clarity.

The Joy of Sharing the Cuteness:

There's a unique satisfaction in seeing my little creations bring joy and expressiveness to people's online interactions. Knowing that a tiny drawing I poured my heart into can help someone connect with others is incredibly rewarding.

What are your favorite emotes? What emotions do you think are best expressed in a kawaii chibi style? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

And if you're an aspiring emote designer, don't be afraid to embrace the cuteness and start creating your own little sparks of digital joy. The world always needs more kawaii! ✨

Feeling inspired? Go and design your own emotes now! And don’t forget to check out my shop while you’re here to pick up some cuties today!

Leave a comment for your input on my next blog, feedback on this one, or just to say hey!

Creating Art and YouTube Content: Should You Create for Yourself or for an Audience?

As artists and content creators, we often find ourselves torn between making art for ourselves and creating content for our audience. In today's post, we'll explore the pros and cons of both approaches and discuss how to strike a balance between the two.


Creating for an Audience: Pros and Cons


Creating content for an audience can have its benefits.
Here are a few:


⭐ Short-term benefits: When you create content for an audience, you're making things that they want to see, which can lead to short-term gains in views and engagement.
⭐ Faster growth: Creating for an audience can help you grow your channel faster, as you're providing content that resonates with your viewers.
⭐ Community building: Creating for an audience can lead to more engagement and community building, as your viewers feel seen and heard.



However, there are also some downsides to consider:


⭐ Burnout: Creating content for an audience for an extended period can lead to burnout, as you're constantly trying to produce content that meets their expectations.
⭐ Lack of creativity: When you're stuck creating the same type of content to appease your audience, you may start to feel bored and unfulfilled.
⭐ Pressure to interact: Creating for an audience can also lead to pressure to constantly interact and respond to comments, which can be overwhelming.



Creating for Yourself: Pros and Cons


On the other hand, creating art and content for yourself can have its own set of benefits:


⭐ Maintaining passion and creativity: When you create for yourself, you're more likely to maintain your passion and creativity, as you're making art that resonates with you.
⭐ Autonomy and freedom: Creating for yourself gives you the autonomy and freedom to express yourself authentically, without worrying about what others might think.
⭐ Innovation and growth: When you create for yourself, you're more likely to experiment and try new things, which can lead to innovation and growth as an artist.



However, there are also some potential downsides to consider:


⭐ Limited appeal: When you create for yourself, your art and content may not always resonate with your audience, which can lead to fewer views and engagement.

⭐ Inconsistency: Creating for yourself can also lead to inconsistency in your content, which might confuse your audience.

⭐ Difficulty connecting with audience: When you create for yourself, you might struggle to connect with your audience or build a loyal following.



Finding a Balance


So, how can you balance creating for yourself and creating for your audience? Here are three bonus tips to help you grow your audience in the art niche:


⭐ Experiment and take risks: Don't be afraid to try new things and take risks in your art and content. This will help you stay inspired and attract new viewers.

⭐ Engage with your audience: Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and interact with your viewers on social media. This will help you build a loyal community and understand what they want to see more of.

⭐ Stay authentic and consistent: Above all, stay true to yourself and your artistic vision. Consistency is key to building an audience, so try to upload content regularly and maintain a consistent style.



By striking a balance between creating for yourself and creating for your audience, you can maintain your passion and creativity while also building a loyal following. If you'd like to support a small-time artist like myself, consider purchasing stickers and prints from my shop section. Your support means the world to me!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to share your thoughts on this topic in the comments section below!

Tips for Aspiring Digital Artists: From Beginner to Beyond - by Candy Gerhardt - Artist at Candy Hearts Art

Dreaming of creating stunning digital art on your iPad? You’re not alone!

What if I told you, all that’s standing in your way, is you?

One of the most user friendly art programs in the world is called “Procreate”. You’ve probably heard of it. The programs title itself is a clever play on words since “procreating” is creating life, whilst you could also be a “pro” at “creating”, and, I mean of course, your art, should be your baby.

From Procreates sleek design, and welcoming user interface, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular in modern times amongst artists. There are many helpful features such as importing a private reference piece if you don’t want to share your secrets with the world, to tapping the screen with two fingers to undo something.

You can also double tap the side of your apple pencil with your index finger (or pointer finger if you prefer) to easily switch between brush tools from paint brush to eraser, and back again.

Learning features like these will make creating your artwork a breeze! There is also such thing as a clipping mask, which is a feature that allows you to paint within the boundaries of a layer.

Imagine a colouring in book, and you don't want to colour outside of the lines, clipping masks are that but digital. This feature is a favourite among many emote artists, cell shading artists, and cartoon artists. Knowing the tools is just the start, though.

I can tell you some of my scheduling secrets for creating better art within a few months.

Intrigued?A lot of artists will tell you that you need to draw every day to improve. This might be their experience, but it hasn’t been mine, and in fact, that would lead me into burnout.

What if I told you, that small incremental consistency was the key? I manage an art business, I home school my child, I have trauma so I need to work on self care as well as cooking, cleaning, and managing a household.

I need to do all of this, and still come up with new content for posting on my social media, etsy and my website.

I spend honestly, about an hour a day on marketing. But the real secret is, I only do art maybe one or 2 days a week. Sometimes I follow tutorials. I paid $39 for an excellent tutorial on 21 draw and it has really levelled up my anatomy skills.

However, be careful, selective, and do your research before doing any paid courses. Some of them are preying on artists.

Anyway, my big secret? I do art for maybe 2 days a week at 2 hours per art session. That’s all! I just keep doing it every week, on whatever day works for me. The rest of that time? I spend engaging on my social media, reposting old content. Less is more.

This schedule may or may not work for you, it depends where you are at in your art journey. In the beginning, I drew a LOT.

But if you’re a seasoned artist like me, and you want to improve, but you don’t have hours and hours a day to do it, this has been an amazing schedule.

I have time with my family, time for myself, and best of all, when I’m doing art I am actually present and enjoying it, rather than forcing it.

So, whether you're just starting your Procreate journey or looking to refine your existing skills, remember that progress isn't about perfection – it's about finding what works for you.

Experiment with the tools, embrace your own pace, and don't be afraid to challenge the 'rules.' You've got this! Now, grab your iPad, open Procreate, and let your creativity flow.

And if you’re looking for some custom brushes to get you started, or some cute stickers to decorate your workspace, be sure to check out my shop!

Article by Candy Gerhardt
Artist at Candy Hearts Art