Laura
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barklaart.bsky.social
Laura
@barklaart.bsky.social
320 followers 80 following 160 posts
Aussie artist, she/her. Talks too much about drawing, gardening, foraging, knitting, vegan baking, poetry, sci fi, gaming, nature in general etc

tumblr: elbarkla, reddit: lauras_art_account
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barklaart.bsky.social
Character concept: Millennial Grinch. He hates Christmas because he works retail.

He attempts to sabotage the store on Christmas Eve. Because FUCK consumers. But instead, he accidentally starts a strike and becomes a labour hero. He finds a community, heart grows three sizes etc

#grinch #art
Digital illustration of the Grinch working customer service. He's drawn in a loose sketchy style, resembling a low-effort How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Grinch stands behind the counter, slouching and scowling. He wears an eyebrow piercing, a nametag that says GRINCH, and a T-shirt that says "GAY APPAREL" (corporate-mandated holiday t-shirt). The store is obnoxiously decked out for Christmas, with a Santa-themed maneki-neko, fully decorated Christmas tree, and a garland of red tinsel along the ceiling. Even the point-of-sale system on the counter has festive stickers behind the monitor. A speaker blasts Christmas music, specifically Cliff Richard's "Mistletoe and Wine". The lyrics read "...Chriiiistmas time.../...Mistletoe and wine...". Sparkles and music notes decorate the scene.
November 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
barklaart.bsky.social
omg. he looks like a vampire aristocrat on Tinder. are we sure he actually deciphered those Mayan scripts? maybe he just remembered them
photograph of Soviet linguist Yuri Valentinovich Knorozov holding Asya, his beloved Siamese cat. The picture is a front-on bust shot, cropped in close to show their faces. Yuri appears to be in his forties. He wears a buttoned shirt, necktie and dark blazer. He has a handsome, masculine, VERY stern face with heavy brows, piercing eyes, strong cheekbones and downturned mouth. His hairline has a widow's peak. His dark, full hair is slicked back from his forehead. His striking appearance contrasts with the relaxed, tender expression on his cat.
November 20, 2025 at 6:04 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
yet another female researcher whose contributions went unrecognized 😔. justice for Asya
text from the Wikipedia profile of Yuri Knorozov, reading: Knorozov listed his cat Asya as a co-author on his work, although editors always removed her. He would always use a photo of himself with the cat as his author photo, and got annoyed when editors cropped her out.[34] Asya is featured on his monument in Mérida. My post is a joke. It highlights the real oppression of women in science by humorously suggesting Asya was suppressed for her gender. When she was not a real scientist at all. She was a cat.
November 20, 2025 at 5:41 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
drew a character based on a milky flower spider (Zygometis xanthogaster) in a mandarin tree! Such an elegant arachnid <3 #art #spider #spiders
Digital art of a character based on a milky flower spider (Zygometis xanthogaster) in a mandarin tree. An abstract border based on orange leaves surrounds the piece. The reference photo (taken by Nell Buckett in 2025) is in the top left corner. The photo depicts the spider, a female with large spherical white abdomen and brown markings, clutching a small green fruit and splaying her long skinny legs. To her right, taking up most of the canvas, is a human character inspired by her. The character is a woman in a pseudo-Victorian gown with huge white skirt and fitted bodice. She wears a white silk brocade jacket, decorated by white mandarin branches. The jacket nips in at the waist beneath her brown belt, then flares into ribbons representing the spider's legs. Each "leg" ends in a brown chevron border, mirroring the spider's chevron markings. These markings (in addition to spots) are also around the lower skirt of the dress, which appears to be hand-painted silk, and in the jacket's pointy brown collar. Under the jacket, her bodice is buttoned up to the chin. Her skin is unnaturally white, except for red lips, pink rouge on her cheeks, and a yellow triangle painted on her forehead (representing the spider's eyes). She has a beauty spot beneath one eye. Her expression, hidden in shadows, is friendly but sinister. Her white hair is swept into voluminous liberty rolls that mirror the shape of the spider's pedipalps. Behind her ears, strands of hair are angled like spider legs. Her left hand rests on her skirt. She wears several gold rings and long brown nails. The posture is relaxed, but the hand is claw-like; dangerous. Her right hand, also with rings and long nails, holds a parasol that rests on her shoulder. The parasol is green and represents the tiny mandarin.
November 19, 2025 at 3:34 PM
barklaart.bsky.social
God this is devastating. 😔 these kids never had a chance
Excerpt of the article link upthread: At a Loss for Words - How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers, by Rachel Sender for APM Reports. Excerpt reads: It was clear to Goldberg after just a few months of teaching both approaches that the students learning phonics were doing better. "One of the things that I still struggle with is a lot of guilt," she said. She thinks the students who learned three cueing were actually harmed by the approach. "I did lasting damage to these kids. It was so hard to ever get them to stop looking at a picture to guess what a word would be. It was so hard to ever get them to slow down and sound a word out because they had had this experience of knowing that you predict what you read before you read it."
November 12, 2025 at 9:33 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
love the storytelling
The corner of, presumably, someone's study. The room has plain beige walls and plain beige carpet. To the left is a white storage rack(?); to the right, the base of a lamp. The room is plain but tidy - no dust, and the floor appears freshly vacuumed. In the centre of the frame is a wastepaper bin: white-painted mesh, lined with a plastic bag. An entire damn laptop is shoved in the top, comically protruding from the rim. It's only rubbish now. Perhaps it always was. Someone snapped this shot to prove a point.
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
Yes!! What a great surprise, my bestie and I were sure you wouldn't cover it 🧡

(screenshot proof. the chat was "derailed" shortly after:)
Discord screenshot with two participants, "green" and "orange". Green: I was Todd would [cover Life of a Showgirl] but I don't see him doing it, he tends to skip a lotta the big/obvious stuff these days in favour of his historical serieses Which, fair, but sometimes I want a good old-school Yell At Bad Thing vid lol Orange: Yeah I understand and don't expect him to The Todd of 10 years ago probably would have Discord screenshot with two participants, "green" and "orange". Green: [Todd has] evolved and stayed the same, like a crocodile or crab or something [Todd this is a compliment to be clear, we love your simultaneous consistency and improvement, how you managed both I don't know] Orange: Still in the shadows better camera set up though Was thinking about Train the other day
October 30, 2025 at 2:17 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
Obligatory:
Tumblr post: a series of Silent Hill screenshots (interactable objects with the player character's commentary), followed by tumblr comments. Screenshot 1: Picture of kitchen sink. Dialogue: "I don't feel like washing my hands right now..." Screenshot 2: Shower head. "This is no time to be taking a shower." Screenshot 3: Washing machine. "It's a washing machine. I don't need that right now." Screenshot 4: Bottomless pit through the bathroom tile. "Enter the hole? Yes [or] No." comment one: I thought this was an art piece as a metaphor for executive dysfunction comment two: it could be
October 22, 2025 at 2:21 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
Enjoy the show! 💗 Please accept my most frequently-shared Columbo screencap (great for updating your friends on your projects):
Screenshot of Columbo, the television detective, with his grubby hands all over (I'm guessing) the suspect's beloved typewriter. He says to a man in the foreground (presumably the suspect, probably a writer): "This writing is not as easy as it looks!" Columbo is a master of backhanded comments.
October 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
barklaart.bsky.social
There's my art warmup for the day! Cheers for the photo 😊🌼
Digital illustration in a watercolour + pencil style. The background is a blend of soft colours: yellow, orange, pink, purple, cyan. In the centre is a happy boston terrier's face. She has brown markings, big eyes and a wide mouth with her tongue out. Surrounding her is the text "ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY TO BE AMYDOG", decorated with two daisies.
October 16, 2025 at 9:46 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
my favourite:
Photograph of a freshwater lake or pond. Smooth, blue water fills most of the image. In the centre, the front wheels of a submerged shopping trolley break the surface. The wheels hang down from their casters in a sad, lifeless fashion, like the paws of a starving dog begging for scraps. Blades of grass watch on from the bottom left corner.
October 16, 2025 at 5:03 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
Today in my garden: first ladybug, first pupa 🐞🐛
Photograph of a bok choy stalk after the plant has gone to seed. Many bok choy plants with vibrant yellow flowers can be seen in the background. The garden is sunny. On the stalk, in the centre of the frame, is a ladybug with unusual colouring: mostly black at the front, with a spotted red section on the back. It shell is bright and glossy in the sunshine. Below the ladybug, a caterpillar pupa hangs in the shadow beneath a small leaf, forming a dark angular silhouette.
October 14, 2025 at 4:08 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
It's giving the Hollow (everyone go watch Scavenger's Reign thanks)
Scavenger's Reign screenshot of the Hollow, a bastard who looks like a human baby crossed an axolotl or something
October 11, 2025 at 2:20 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
He looked so regal in that pic, I had to draw him! Hope that's OK. I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. He looks a beautiful boy who probably purred really loud 🌸☘👑
A digital illustration of an incredibly fluffy cat, drawn in a watercolour-and-ink style. The colours are pastel with lots of yellow, aqua, and cool pink. The cat sits facing us, his bushy white chest contrasting with brown tabby colouring, giving the air of a wise white-bearded king. He has white paws and a white blaze on his face that covers his cheeks and nose. His long, bushy tail curves behind him, adding drama to the seated pose. A gold crown with red gems floats above his head like a halo, sending off radiant lines in the background. He sits on a fluffy white cloud. Around the image is a stylised frame, decorated with red clover (state flower of Vermont) and in the centre, the subject's name: FERGUS.
October 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
Such a cute image I had to use it for art practice/warmups, thank you for sharing it 💚🐑
A cosy, storybook-style illustration of two little boys jumping on a trampoline. The trampoline is in a big grassy field with yellow flowers. Two pairs of boots lie in the grass below. Around the trampoline, three sheep watch the boys with serene curiosity, as the forms of other sheep fade into the distance. Beyond the field are distant farms and forests. The boys have joyful faces and their baggy shirts swing around them as they jump. The sky is blue with scattered, fluffy clouds. It's a beautiful day for friendship
October 8, 2025 at 8:42 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
sketchbook studies before bedtime ✍ #art #drawing
A sketchbook page of many human faces, drawn mostly in pink and purple ballpoint pen. The faces have different angles and expressions; that's what I'm practicing
September 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
barklaart.bsky.social
Been in a horror mood lately I guess
#art #ocean
A digital illustration of an underwater scene. The colour palette is dark, mostly blues and green with pops of orange. In the midground, a diver straddles a giant Maori Wrasse with a saddle, swimming towards the divers in the foreground. Three smaller fish follow the wrasse. The mounted diver holds a lantern and looks concerned. In the foreground, two divers hide behind a temperate coral reef. One looks panicked, either by the crack in his helmet or at the human skull in the opposite corner of the reef. The other waves to the mounted diver, trying to warn them of the danger behind. At the back of a scene, sea monster the size of a bus looms before the dark cave opening. The monster resembles a huge axolotl with angerfish teeth, lionfish-inspired dragon wings, two arms with claws, and a long snakelike body receding into the darkness. Only the eyes and claws are illuminated as it reaches out to snatch the mounted diver.
July 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM
barklaart.bsky.social
the inspiration, per a challenge with a friend: these exact two images. Art's a lot of fun 😁
July 9, 2025 at 3:32 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
Drew some new art!! Turned out really well but it had the stupidest inspiration lol #art
A post-apocalyptic illustration with horror overtones. It is rendered in black, orange, and murky greys and browns. In the foreground, the silhouette of a decaying skeletal deer missing its forelegs stands on a dead tree to inspect its two leaves, the only sign of normal life. Its antlered head, a skull with traces of flesh hanging from it, stands out against a giant orange moon in the background. Behind the deer is an industrial cityscape - a chain-link fence, the rubble of fallen buildings, a crane, and mysteries factories and warehouses.
July 9, 2025 at 3:31 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
and bonus:
A comic of a grey kitten in a rainbow sweater saying: "HAPPY PRIDE! I know things are scary out there right now. But we believe you, we love you, and we'll make it through together <3 "
June 8, 2025 at 3:14 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
Happy pride 💜♠️ #pride #asexual #art
A digital pride illustration in the colours of the asexual flag. It has a folksy, cosy style, with ink lines and watercolour-style rendering. A happy panda in an Icelandic sweater eats a slice of cake at a table, sitting in an antique wooden chair. The table also bears a white rose in a bottle - the panda is having a romantic dessert date for one. The tablecloth is decorated with diamonds and spades. In the background is a purple curtain pulled to the side. Bright stars decorate the piece. The decorative border has quilt-like shapes in addition to the four suits: diamonds, hearts, clubs and spades.
June 8, 2025 at 3:12 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
spaceship close-up (I drew a perspective grid for the lil guy!)
Prior image cropped to show only the spacecraft. It's a smoothly curved shape with white on top and black below, the sides decorated by orange stripes and a line of strange alien symbols (the craft's name, perhaps)? On the upper deck, looking through the tinted glass dome, are thee people - two yellow three-eyed aliens with tentacle hands, two green-skinned and pointy-eared humanoids, and a human with a moustache-like hairstyle on their forehead. All are excited or otherwise enjoying the view. The pilot is a women in gold and orange uniform with matching headset.
May 9, 2025 at 10:53 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
New art for April! (I'm late!) It's hard to be a sci-fi fan in the age of the technocrat dipshit, but I'm not gonna let them have it 😁 #scifiart #art
A digital illustration of a misty planetscape shrouded in yellow haze. In the foreground, a small spacecraft flies across strange alien trees growing from the rusty red earth. The trees are mushroom-shaped but appear fleshy and prickly, like aloe or another succulent. From the throat of some trees issue gigantic globes of pollen, rising all the way up to the height of the spaceship. A variety of space tourists, both alien and human, admire the pollen from the spaceship's upper deck. In the background, a mountain rises against the green sky, yellow clouds and two crescent moons. The mountain, red and spiked, hosts a great domed city of skyscrapers, connected to two smaller domes with transit tubes. The silhouettes of huge spacecraft are visible in the sky around the city.
May 9, 2025 at 10:49 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
Hope you don't mind fanart! I needed a muse for a warmup, and your photos are so inspiring 🍓🌿🌼
Digital illustration in a classic storybook style. A cream-and-gold dog with floppy ears, chest curls, and long curly tail sits among springtime foliage (strawberry plants, native sage etc). He has an innocent, trusting expression. The text "Springtime for Indy" sits below, for all seasons and climates were made for him to enjoy.
April 18, 2025 at 5:26 AM
barklaart.bsky.social
my favourite thing is this quote from John Marshall (the article itself wasn't archived, boo, so I got this from the film's Wikipedia history)
April 2, 2025 at 2:19 AM