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Z

Z

@asturlavi.bsky.social

290 followers 140 following 200 posts

smartest idiot around | iraqi-american | business contact: [email protected] | http://patreon.com/asturlavi | https://linktr.ee/asturlavi

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Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Apr 8

Hello #PortfolioDay!

I'm Z, a middle eastern artist who specializes in anything fantasy related and I enjoy telling stories through illustration.

I'm open for illustration and character design work this year, so feel free to reach out!

👁️‍🗨️: linktr.ee/asturlavi
📩: [email protected]

Reposted by Z

aquila 🍉 writing comms now open! @belllmonts.bsky.social · 22d

Hello! I've finally decided to take on some writing commissions! These will be open indefinitely and I've included a form with more detailed information ❤️ Likes & shares are much appreciated!

forms.gle/aa3zWRLpaUW9...

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 22

halfway through now and wondering if this was deeply influenced by count of monte cristo since the revenge plot is so ridiculously similar + edmond dantes/the count and heathcliff are the pinnacle emo gothic boys. man, can always rely on 1800s gothic novels to deliver

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 21

reading wuthering heights for the first time (it was marketed heavily as romance and i'm not the biggest fan, only realizing i was MISLED), and heathcliff is such a well written character i'm absolutely obsessed

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 21

i think it's always within the subtleties whenever an author impresses me with their writing. how a character responds to certain actions, albeit small, informs so much of the environment they live in i.e the thorough analysis of how heathcliff is treated vs his adopted siblings

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 21

reading wuthering heights for the first time (it was marketed heavily as romance and i'm not the biggest fan, only realizing i was MISLED), and heathcliff is such a well written character i'm absolutely obsessed

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 21

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 21

people REALLY love making fun of middle eastern countries and then turn around to adopt the very policies that is turning MENA people insane lmao. like what in the fuck happened to who cares what people engage with as long as it's not harming anyone
AND THAT'S LIKE. 90% OF YAOI TOO.... KILL ME

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 21

we often enable (and sometimes worsen!) harm by ignoring it or not vocalizing our complaints. a blackout is simply giving them what they want: to push those they don't want out. we are supposed to be doing the very opposite of this and be as obnoxious as we possibly can

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 21

just to piggyback on this: change isn't made through silence because your absence will not be noticed if you're not directly funneling money into their pockets. you do it by making your presence (and your grievances) known by wearing them down. that is how change is made time and time again

angel💀 @sabattons.com · Sep 21

I'm not participating in a blackout because the point is moderation and others want me and those like me gone, and I would much rather continue to occupy the space I helped build rather than give everyone a chance to feel how much "better" it is without me. why wither when you can be a thorn.

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 20

but would u see me differently if i were like. Field, this is the best thing i ever watched. i love seeing demon refugees getting bombed
and as always, u know where to find me 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 20

rubs my eyes, why do people so desperately want the puritanism of religion that i barely escaped from! that was a depressing past that i never want to go back to!!! what the hell is going on in this world brother

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 20

as a huge fan of the gothic genre and how it delves into forbidden topics, it's just disappointing to hear about this overall. you're not protecting anyone by doing this, you're simply ostracizing an already marginalized group that continues to face more and more censorship

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 20

already saw the moderation team for this site fumbling the bag from a billion miles away. disappointing to see the decisions being made here, but not entirely surprised. just extremely frustrating how depictions of problematic elements in fiction are becoming more and more limited

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 19

thank u for placing blind faith in me even if i will inevitably fail u one day by recommending something like the dmc anime (no i'm still not over it). and y'know, you're Not Wrong there... mostly of nawfal, which i hope one day you'll come to love him as much as i do

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 18

also field i know u have joined me in more than one hells but this is a desperate call for help where this illustration hides the 100000 sketches i've drawn of the characters. great game that was very loosely inspired by arabian nights with some of the most chaotic characters imaginable

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 18

THANK YOUUU i think i had a good 100 mental breakdowns in this piece while i strayed far far away from my initial thumbnails

Reposted by Z

michiums @ akumufest 10/25! @michiums.bsky.social · Sep 17

HAPPY 5 YEARS OF HADES!!! I’m super excited for Hades 2, supergiant is one of my favorite game studios ever and their games have helped me thru rough times!!! still have these companion sticker sheets I made last month!

michiums.bigcartel.com/product/eter...

#hades #hadesgame #art #stickersheets

Screenshot of stickersheet featuring all of the companions from the first hades game along with nectar

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 17

world is awful so i'm indulging in illustrating a few things for myself here and there even if i'm confident it'll get no traction, but i promise i'll be back to posting fairly consistently once i find my footing in this chaotic ass job market

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 17

and as per tradition, a version without the magician's hand and closeups

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Sep 17

what tale will you tell?
#SultansGame #苏丹的游戏

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Jul 24

guess this was an inevitability seeing what happened to tumblr and its war against sex workers, but it still doesn't make me feel any better about it. we're regressing to a period where anything deemed "sexually promiscuous" should be demonized and targeted. we're regressing tremendously

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Jul 24

so this censorship against nsfw works of any kind huh.......

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Jul 10

it's just always inspiring to see how resolute people are outside of the arab community to rally behind this and finally see the truth beyond the curtain of propaganda and lies that the american ruling class desperately continues spreading, especially when this was unfathomable when i was a kid

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Jul 10

also once again, i hate to get sappy and melodramatic but the only reason why i don't descend into a doomerist spiel is because of other marginalized individuals who continue being stalwart allies to the palestinian cause and not falling into the same traps as... other prominent figures

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Jul 10

damn, weaponizing the suffering of marginalized people against a whole genocide sure is a Take

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Jul 10

THANK U FIELD, can't finish a really good game without dedicating an illustration.. and lune side eyeing verso just Waiting for the moment he turns on them (as she should)

Z @asturlavi.bsky.social · Jul 10

that and there seems to never be an acknowledgement towards the racism that arabs have faced and continue to face in america whenever the suffering of the marginalized is brought forth to the conversation. like you think we don't understand the fears running through the country right now??