The Deeds of AbyssalEros. Activity Report 2021 – Part 1

It’s been a long time since I’ve written an activity report. And don’t worry, I’m not going to write a multi-page pamphlet. At least, I hope not.

In fact, it’s been so long that I don’t even know where to begin. So do I just start where I think it would be a good place to start, or where it almost came to a messy end?

I think I should start at the possible ending, though.

However, I need some introductory explanations for that.

As you know, I’ve only recently – though recently, as I was shocked to realize the other day, is actually the wrong adverb – taken up digital art, namely using 3D assets to render images.

Since I have a full-time job (even though I hate my job abysmally, as it just makes you dumb and drained), I have pretty little time to devote to what’s really important: My hobbies.

Of course, my most important hobby is my girlfriend, and in order not to upset her, I naturally have a few things to do at home, like our nameless protagonist of “A Very Small Business” once had to do, besides the obligatory cuddling.

If we add an average of 5 to 6 hours of sleep, I have no more than 6 hours a day to indulge in my hobbies. But, of course, that is if my nerve-racking work hasn’t completely worn me out.

Most of the time, it’s not even these 6 hours that I can muster.

But why am I telling you all this?

The answer is that I try to put as much as I can into this meager free time to improve myself and my skills, but I regularly get to the point where self-doubt gnaws at me about whether I’m imposing too much on myself and that my digital works are just bad.

My self-doubt got worse and worse in the last quarter of the past year until I was on the verge of saying goodbye to digital art completely in December to focus only on writing.

Of course, this also affected my mood and made me quite discontented. And this also led me to stop working on the visual novel “Books Make Dreams Come True,” although I only still had to render the images for the last 2 or 3 chapters. But more about “Books Make Dreams Come True” another time.

My girlfriend, Farra and Grabiobot, and other good friends, especially Willibrordus, eventually managed to convince me not to give up.

Moreover, in the meantime, I was also able to locate the main sting of my self-doubt and consequently pulled it out of my flesh.

I made the mistake last year of posting my images on Slushe as well, but since they don’t match their usual subjects, I misinterpreted the disregard I received there through their feature system.

Since I left Slushe behind in December and was able to give myself enough confidence again by reworking old images (e.g., the image series “A Photo Shooting with Rose“), I’m also doing much better.

This is to say that as soon as possible, I will continue working on “Books Make Dreams Come True,” and from then on, my priority will be this project.

Well, here I have already reached the second page of text and have not nearly dealt with all the topics that would have to be addressed. But I think I have annoyed you enough for today.

See you soon, and thanks to all of you for your support.

Sincerely yours,
AbyssalEros

Happy Halloween 2021

Today is the day — or better, tonight is the night of the nights!

Under the presumption that Halloween derives from the old Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the winter, this festival lasts from sunset to sunset, as this is how Celtic days began and ended.

According to mythology, Samhain is a festival for the dead, as it is a time when the ‘doorways’ to the Otherworld open to allow supernatural beings, including the souls of the dead, to come into the world of the living.

It was a time of great bonfires and offerings. Offerings to appease the Aos Sí, the spirits or fairies of the Otherworld, with food and drink, to ensure the people and their livestock survived the winter. This liminal time also allowed dead kin to revisit their families, who offered them hospitality in their former homes.

Usually, the Aos Sí are pleased with the typical offerings of food and drink, but some expect to share more intimate moments with the living, especially those that feed on sexual energies.

So be ready to appease the Aos Sí properly when they come to ride you!

Sincerely yours,
AbyssalEros

I did not (fore)see it! Or Third Place in the Invisible Human Contest

I have not expected to win another contest — making third place once more — so soon again, or ever again. I am awestruck that my humble digital art skills can meanwhile create images that many people like. Thank you all! Fiery hugs from the blazing pits of the Abyss for all of you! (Do not worry, the fires only hurt if I wish so.)

My contest contribution (#24) is called What makes humanity disappear … and can sadly only be seen like all the other beautiful images on the Invisible Human Contest page if you have a Renderosity account.

However, as usual, I will publish my image later on, after they made their community post, on my Renderosity Gallery and my DeviantArt page.

Sincerely yours
AbyssalEros

“Return of the Witches” added to Stories Page

Last weekend, I finally found the time to make the final changes to the German version of my Costumes, Cauldrons & Concoctions contest story Return of the Witches, with which I made the first place at Renderosity’s Annual Halloween contest last year.

I had to do this long-neglected task, as I needed to apply the last-minute changes that I had done to shorten the English text under the 1.000 words limit. Otherwise, the German and the English versions would have been slightly different.

Meanwhile, I have uploaded both language versions and incorporated them into my stories page.

While I know that this year’s Halloween is still far away, I hope you will nonetheless enjoy this creepy little story about wicked witches.

Sincerely yours,
AbyssalEros

One out of Three or Third Place in Renderosity’s 3D Dolls Contest

As you know, I recently partook in three contests that Renderosity held.

Meanwhile, all the winners are announced, and I am happy to tell you that I made third place in one of them: 3D Dolls Contest.

Sadly, you need an account to see all the lovely images, but take a look and enjoy them if you happen to have one. And do not forget to look at the other two contests and their winners: My Greatest Catch Contest and Pin-Up Poster Contest.

Sincerely yours
AbyssalEros

About Dolls, Pin-Ups, and My Greatest Catch

As you probably know by now, I regularly partake in Renderosity’s contests, either in words with my stories or with colors with my 3D artworks.

I hugely enjoy competing with all those fantastic artists while honing my skills and getting better with what I do.

Recently Renderosity has held many contests that are now up for voting; the results will be announced around Valentine’s day.

Continue reading “About Dolls, Pin-Ups, and My Greatest Catch”