Mark Simmons
@toysdream.bsky.social
Bugs, robots, comics. Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. He/him.
Let's play! Introduce yourself with five animals you've seen in the wild:
Tarantula Hawk Wasp
Velvet Ant
Grey-headed Chachalaca
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Coyote
Tarantula Hawk Wasp
Velvet Ant
Grey-headed Chachalaca
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Coyote
Introduce yourself with five animals you've seen in the wild:
Praying mantis
Great egret
Snapping turtle
Bald eagle
Humpback whale
Praying mantis
Great egret
Snapping turtle
Bald eagle
Humpback whale
Introduce yourself with five animals you've seen in the wild:
Moose
Kangaroo rat
Ptarmigan
Spider Monkey
Bighorn Sheep
Moose
Kangaroo rat
Ptarmigan
Spider Monkey
Bighorn Sheep
December 7, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Let's play! Introduce yourself with five animals you've seen in the wild:
Tarantula Hawk Wasp
Velvet Ant
Grey-headed Chachalaca
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Coyote
Tarantula Hawk Wasp
Velvet Ant
Grey-headed Chachalaca
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Coyote
Happy Krampusnacht! Let's celebrate with another round of figure drawing tips. This time, I'm pondering sketching crowd scenes. (1/3)
December 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Happy Krampusnacht! Let's celebrate with another round of figure drawing tips. This time, I'm pondering sketching crowd scenes. (1/3)
Reposted by Mark Simmons
Yay for the science, but also, this preview photo beautifully captures the uniquely weird silhouette of these gorgeous animals.
Do striped hyenas have a sweet tooth?
Yes, yes they do.
Here's the first record of honey consumption by a hyena, caught on a camera trap in Kenya:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
🧪🌍🐾🍯
Yes, yes they do.
Here's the first record of honey consumption by a hyena, caught on a camera trap in Kenya:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
🧪🌍🐾🍯
December 4, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Yay for the science, but also, this preview photo beautifully captures the uniquely weird silhouette of these gorgeous animals.
A pictorial retrospective of Claude, the @calacademy.bsky.social 's beloved albino alligator. First, some sketches from 2014-2015... (1/2)
December 3, 2025 at 7:39 PM
A pictorial retrospective of Claude, the @calacademy.bsky.social 's beloved albino alligator. First, some sketches from 2014-2015... (1/2)
Reposted by Mark Simmons
We plan to hold a public memorial in the near future, but in the meantime please share your memories of Claude and messages for his dedicated animal care team at [email protected] or to California Academy of Sciences, Attn: Digital Engagement, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118.
December 2, 2025 at 10:22 PM
We plan to hold a public memorial in the near future, but in the meantime please share your memories of Claude and messages for his dedicated animal care team at [email protected] or to California Academy of Sciences, Attn: Digital Engagement, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118.
Sad news. But it was lovely seeing the entire city - especially little kids - come out to celebrate Claude's 30th hatchday this year. I know there's a nice hot rock waiting for you in the next world.
It's with heavy hearts that we share that Claude, our beloved albino alligator, has passed away at the age of 30. Claude brought joy to millions of people at the Academy and across the world during his 17 year tenure. We will miss him dearly. 🤍
December 2, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Sad news. But it was lovely seeing the entire city - especially little kids - come out to celebrate Claude's 30th hatchday this year. I know there's a nice hot rock waiting for you in the next world.
Reposted by Mark Simmons
I LOVE THESE REVIEWS in no small part because the inclusion of Ignorance and Want is part of the review rubric, as it should be, always
CHRISTMAS CAROL VERSIONS: A TRADITION WITH REVIEWS.
1.) A Christmas Carol (1997)
1.) A Christmas Carol (1997)
December 2, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I LOVE THESE REVIEWS in no small part because the inclusion of Ignorance and Want is part of the review rubric, as it should be, always
Once again, the Secret Spy Notebook proves its value! This was a quick trip to San Francisco's famous Dickens Fair with family, but I managed to do some quick little sketches. I might go back and spend a day drawing it up all fancy-like.
December 2, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Once again, the Secret Spy Notebook proves its value! This was a quick trip to San Francisco's famous Dickens Fair with family, but I managed to do some quick little sketches. I might go back and spend a day drawing it up all fancy-like.
As I idly threatened, I've begun the process of updating all the graphics in my Gundam production history pages so they look better (much better!) on phones, tablets, and fancy high-resolution computer displays. Behold the upgraded "Z Gundam" page!
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/z...
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/z...
Gundam Unofficial: Z Gundam Production History
www.gundamunofficial.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM
As I idly threatened, I've begun the process of updating all the graphics in my Gundam production history pages so they look better (much better!) on phones, tablets, and fancy high-resolution computer displays. Behold the upgraded "Z Gundam" page!
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/z...
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/z...
I was just randomly reminded of this unfinished 24-Hour Comic I started way back in 2019. (I only finished the first 13 pages, but I had the whole thing plotted.) I guess I've been snarking about techbros for a while.
December 1, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I was just randomly reminded of this unfinished 24-Hour Comic I started way back in 2019. (I only finished the first 13 pages, but I had the whole thing plotted.) I guess I've been snarking about techbros for a while.
Reposted by Mark Simmons
Doodles for Hong Kong (for @kobayashimaruu.bsky.social)
Carnotosaurus
Carnotosaurus
November 29, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Doodles for Hong Kong (for @kobayashimaruu.bsky.social)
Carnotosaurus
Carnotosaurus
I'm going to have to put off my next drawing tips installment until after Thanksgiving, but it'll be about drawing crowd scenes, so I've been practicing in my little 4x6" secret spy notebook.
November 26, 2025 at 9:46 PM
I'm going to have to put off my next drawing tips installment until after Thanksgiving, but it'll be about drawing crowd scenes, so I've been practicing in my little 4x6" secret spy notebook.
Reposted by Mark Simmons
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Aw heck, while I'm indirectly replying to people: I enjoyed hearing @mecha-tho.bsky.social and @ninagonzalez.bsky.social taking a break to enjoy 1983's "Aura Battler Dunbine" in a fill-in episode of their never-ending Gundam podcast...
November 24, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Aw heck, while I'm indirectly replying to people: I enjoyed hearing @mecha-tho.bsky.social and @ninagonzalez.bsky.social taking a break to enjoy 1983's "Aura Battler Dunbine" in a fill-in episode of their never-ending Gundam podcast...
Since I was just pondering this: I feel like people are less likely to jump into conversations with strangers. (Case in point, I'm quote-reposting Ben's comment rather than replying directly like a normal person.) Perhaps we're all just burned out and gun-shy after years of social media experience.
Since we're talking about it, my bluesky experience:
- Got as many followers as I had on twitter in half the time
- Have a similar amount of positive interactions, and far fewer negative ones
-I'm mostly talking to the same 10 people though, so I see how mass mobilization/outreach is harder here
- Got as many followers as I had on twitter in half the time
- Have a similar amount of positive interactions, and far fewer negative ones
-I'm mostly talking to the same 10 people though, so I see how mass mobilization/outreach is harder here
November 24, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Since I was just pondering this: I feel like people are less likely to jump into conversations with strangers. (Case in point, I'm quote-reposting Ben's comment rather than replying directly like a normal person.) Perhaps we're all just burned out and gun-shy after years of social media experience.
Reposted by Mark Simmons
What might be my favourite fossil has been just published by Kiat et al. 2025. Years ago I saw a pic of this Anchiornis specimen in nat geo article and I audibly gasped.preserving not only the feathers but also the original patterns as well. I made this drawing on the spot. Maybe its time to do v2.0
November 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
What might be my favourite fossil has been just published by Kiat et al. 2025. Years ago I saw a pic of this Anchiornis specimen in nat geo article and I audibly gasped.preserving not only the feathers but also the original patterns as well. I made this drawing on the spot. Maybe its time to do v2.0
And I'm finally done with my comprehensive update to the First Gundam production history! Took me seven months, but it's literally tripled in length, with lots more source translations and better-quality art. "The next is... in expectation of your heart."
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/f...
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/f...
November 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
And I'm finally done with my comprehensive update to the First Gundam production history! Took me seven months, but it's literally tripled in length, with lots more source translations and better-quality art. "The next is... in expectation of your heart."
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/f...
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/f...
Now for a second round of figure drawing tips! This time, I'm following up on a throwaway reference to "the trademark shapes of body parts"... (1/3)
November 21, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Now for a second round of figure drawing tips! This time, I'm following up on a throwaway reference to "the trademark shapes of body parts"... (1/3)
The ultimatemark.com website finally gets a facelift (and content updates)! This format should enable me to update the graphics whenever I have new stuff to show off.
November 19, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The ultimatemark.com website finally gets a facelift (and content updates)! This format should enable me to update the graphics whenever I have new stuff to show off.
Reposted by Mark Simmons
THREAD.
The definitive list of the absolute best interdimensional portals I have photographed on walks in the British countryside.
1. Gateway To The Land Of Leaping Dogs.
The definitive list of the absolute best interdimensional portals I have photographed on walks in the British countryside.
1. Gateway To The Land Of Leaping Dogs.
November 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
THREAD.
The definitive list of the absolute best interdimensional portals I have photographed on walks in the British countryside.
1. Gateway To The Land Of Leaping Dogs.
The definitive list of the absolute best interdimensional portals I have photographed on walks in the British countryside.
1. Gateway To The Land Of Leaping Dogs.
I've been dragging my feet, but it's time to update the portfolio website. Somehow I never got around to putting this 2019 SF Zoo poster on there...
November 14, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I've been dragging my feet, but it's time to update the portfolio website. Somehow I never got around to putting this 2019 SF Zoo poster on there...
I wanted to do some little tip sheets on quick-sketching people from life. So here you go! First, an introduction to my outline-centric approach -- I'll get into technique points later. (1/3)
November 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I wanted to do some little tip sheets on quick-sketching people from life. So here you go! First, an introduction to my outline-centric approach -- I'll get into technique points later. (1/3)
Added a couple more poses. Now it's time to clean up the model sheet...
November 8, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Added a couple more poses. Now it's time to clean up the model sheet...
And here's a rough character model sheet from the comic project. Not necessarily a major character, but she's in a lot of the initial pages.
November 7, 2025 at 10:55 AM
And here's a rough character model sheet from the comic project. Not necessarily a major character, but she's in a lot of the initial pages.