Tristan Elwell
@tristanelwell.bsky.social
Artist/Illustrator/Educator
Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Winner, Hugo Loser
I make pictures of spooky girls and cute cats
https://linktr.ee/Tristan.Elwell
Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Winner, Hugo Loser
I make pictures of spooky girls and cute cats
https://linktr.ee/Tristan.Elwell
Pinned
I just found out that somebody is posting really hateful, racist emails spoofing my website email address. This is public notice that if anybody gets something heinous purporting to be from me, with an email address @ my website URL, I most definitely did not send it.
Just a reminder that, while there are legitimate reasons to criticize Pantone’s choice for Color of the Year, “white is not a color” isn’t one of them.
December 4, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Just a reminder that, while there are legitimate reasons to criticize Pantone’s choice for Color of the Year, “white is not a color” isn’t one of them.
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
It’s infuriating to me that I need to evaluate media to determine whether it’s AI generated now. The great “time saver” technology wastes incalculable time and energy for people who want to retain their grasp on reality
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
It’s infuriating to me that I need to evaluate media to determine whether it’s AI generated now. The great “time saver” technology wastes incalculable time and energy for people who want to retain their grasp on reality
I have no idea who she is (was), but I think she's great!
November 28, 2025 at 8:06 PM
I have no idea who she is (was), but I think she's great!
Congratulations to @zaraalfonso.bsky.social!
I’m really excited to share that I won the Frank R. Paul Award for Best Magazine Cover Art! My painting Stasis, a self-portrait about invisible illness, was featured on the cover of Uncanny Magazine Issue 58 🖤
#art #painting #portrait #illustration
#art #painting #portrait #illustration
November 26, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Congratulations to @zaraalfonso.bsky.social!
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
I was explaining this to someone else but, people who use AI Keep thinking it makes them "just as creative" as a real artist.
But they haven't even cultivated their IMAGINATIONS.
They don't even have the well of *ideas* to pull from
Even just THINKING CREATIVELY is a skill you need to develop
But they haven't even cultivated their IMAGINATIONS.
They don't even have the well of *ideas* to pull from
Even just THINKING CREATIVELY is a skill you need to develop
November 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I was explaining this to someone else but, people who use AI Keep thinking it makes them "just as creative" as a real artist.
But they haven't even cultivated their IMAGINATIONS.
They don't even have the well of *ideas* to pull from
Even just THINKING CREATIVELY is a skill you need to develop
But they haven't even cultivated their IMAGINATIONS.
They don't even have the well of *ideas* to pull from
Even just THINKING CREATIVELY is a skill you need to develop
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
what does chatgpt say?
I HAVE NO IDEA! How cool is that??
I HAVE NO IDEA! How cool is that??
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
what does chatgpt say?
I HAVE NO IDEA! How cool is that??
I HAVE NO IDEA! How cool is that??
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
Every DCD album is a collection of flawlessness. There are - to ME - some weaker songs, but they're all wonderful on a spectrum of joy.
THIS is my favorite from Spleen and Ideal, because the Siren, the Prophetess, the Oracle - Lisa Gerrard - absolutely tears a hole in my heart with her voice.
THIS is my favorite from Spleen and Ideal, because the Siren, the Prophetess, the Oracle - Lisa Gerrard - absolutely tears a hole in my heart with her voice.
November 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Every DCD album is a collection of flawlessness. There are - to ME - some weaker songs, but they're all wonderful on a spectrum of joy.
THIS is my favorite from Spleen and Ideal, because the Siren, the Prophetess, the Oracle - Lisa Gerrard - absolutely tears a hole in my heart with her voice.
THIS is my favorite from Spleen and Ideal, because the Siren, the Prophetess, the Oracle - Lisa Gerrard - absolutely tears a hole in my heart with her voice.
How shocking, that computer programs, made by computer programmers, should be halfway decent at computer programming. If LLMs were as incompetent in their creators' area of expertise as they are at EVERYTHING ELSE, they never would have seen the light of day.
"LLM search results are even worse."
it depends on the subject
I work with computer programming, and LLMs are very reliable in this field ... also, it's possible to learn *a lot* with LLMs
it depends on the subject
I work with computer programming, and LLMs are very reliable in this field ... also, it's possible to learn *a lot* with LLMs
November 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM
How shocking, that computer programs, made by computer programmers, should be halfway decent at computer programming. If LLMs were as incompetent in their creators' area of expertise as they are at EVERYTHING ELSE, they never would have seen the light of day.
Knowing things is a curse and makes life uncomfortable. Lots of people would rather not deal with it.
This is also how I judge the History Channel. If it’s about a topic I know, I spot at least one lie per minute watching the History Channel, so it’s horrifying to think how many lies I’d be swallowing without knowing it if I watched about a topic I don’t know.
LLM search results are even worse.
LLM search results are even worse.
Saw an interesting piece of advice recently: ask the AI search engines for an answer in a field in which you are very knowledgeable.
The results will make it clear just how much they get wrong, and how brazen they are about it.
Now, apply that to every subject in which you are NOT an expert.
The results will make it clear just how much they get wrong, and how brazen they are about it.
Now, apply that to every subject in which you are NOT an expert.
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Knowing things is a curse and makes life uncomfortable. Lots of people would rather not deal with it.
I have to defend my peers and say there’s still amazing cover work out there if you look for it. But none of us are Jean-Léon Huens!
I have said before and will say again that it is such a loss that we no longer get covers of this caliber for fantasy books.
This art is by Jean-Léon Huens. These covers are for the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. They lit my imagination on fire as a kid.
This art is by Jean-Léon Huens. These covers are for the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. They lit my imagination on fire as a kid.
November 25, 2025 at 2:37 PM
I have to defend my peers and say there’s still amazing cover work out there if you look for it. But none of us are Jean-Léon Huens!
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
TRUMP [after spending 5 minutes with Zohran]: surplus value, it’s a very wonderful thing, very wonderful, and they’re stealing it. Can you believe that?
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
TRUMP [after spending 5 minutes with Zohran]: surplus value, it’s a very wonderful thing, very wonderful, and they’re stealing it. Can you believe that?
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
Predestination
November 22, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Predestination
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
Here's the cover illustration I did of 'The Bloodweaver' by @cnkuster.bsky.social , for Podium Publishing!
Out June 2026!
Out June 2026!
November 22, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Here's the cover illustration I did of 'The Bloodweaver' by @cnkuster.bsky.social , for Podium Publishing!
Out June 2026!
Out June 2026!
Cosigned
You can make art.
The biggest step isn't getting good at art, it's being willing to make art that doesn't match the idea of "good art" in your head.
Making a lot of imperfect art is an essential step toward making perfect art; a counterproductive goal you shouldn't have anyway.
Just make art.
The biggest step isn't getting good at art, it's being willing to make art that doesn't match the idea of "good art" in your head.
Making a lot of imperfect art is an essential step toward making perfect art; a counterproductive goal you shouldn't have anyway.
Just make art.
November 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Cosigned
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
#BoxOfBooks day!
From Subterranean Press, Constituent Service by John Scalzi.
It's the rollicking adventures of a community liaison person in a city ward filled with alien immigrants. Great jacket art by Tristan Elwell. Unguents anyone?
@subpress.bsky.social @scalzi.com @tristanelwell.bsky.social
From Subterranean Press, Constituent Service by John Scalzi.
It's the rollicking adventures of a community liaison person in a city ward filled with alien immigrants. Great jacket art by Tristan Elwell. Unguents anyone?
@subpress.bsky.social @scalzi.com @tristanelwell.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 2:44 PM
#BoxOfBooks day!
From Subterranean Press, Constituent Service by John Scalzi.
It's the rollicking adventures of a community liaison person in a city ward filled with alien immigrants. Great jacket art by Tristan Elwell. Unguents anyone?
@subpress.bsky.social @scalzi.com @tristanelwell.bsky.social
From Subterranean Press, Constituent Service by John Scalzi.
It's the rollicking adventures of a community liaison person in a city ward filled with alien immigrants. Great jacket art by Tristan Elwell. Unguents anyone?
@subpress.bsky.social @scalzi.com @tristanelwell.bsky.social
I just pulled this off the shelves for reference, anybody else have a copy?
This was the book that introduced me to Virgil Finlay and Hannes Bok.
This was the book that introduced me to Virgil Finlay and Hannes Bok.
November 21, 2025 at 5:08 AM
I just pulled this off the shelves for reference, anybody else have a copy?
This was the book that introduced me to Virgil Finlay and Hannes Bok.
This was the book that introduced me to Virgil Finlay and Hannes Bok.
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
When I arrive at the party
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 AM
When I arrive at the party
Reposted by Tristan Elwell
“Worried that people will think you’re an uncultured boob? Buy my critique of capitalism for only $100,000 (guaranteed to appreciate)!”
November 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
“Worried that people will think you’re an uncultured boob? Buy my critique of capitalism for only $100,000 (guaranteed to appreciate)!”
Hmmmm...
Process — Jeffrey R. McDonald
www.jeffreyrmcdonald.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Hmmmm...