trying something different posting-wise bc i been feeling different lately idk. not long out from finishing university and haven't had much energy for art. might start posting some of the more graphic design type projects i've been working on lately (like a custom CD case for The Idol soundtrack. yes that show. i liked it, it's fascinating :D) but. we'll see. re: this piece, if someone were to ask me what's one album I could loop through forever and never get tired of it, it's The Weeknd's Kissland. i love cyberpunk as a genre as-is, and pairing it with lyrics that capture a particular point in time for me is going to make the world of the album weirdly comforting to listen to as someone who places themself decidedly not in Kissland!Weeknd's shoes. Out of the entire tracklist, Professional lately has been one song i have been looping repeatedly and can now say i have learned off by heart lyrically. Professional as a track not only feels like an opener to the album, but also like Abel reached into my head and pulled out a lot of my own sentiments around like. fame and recognition and the pursuit of those things. how it changes ppl. how hollow it is. The track i think puts my thoughts to words better than i ever could - what's a somebody in a nobody town? what's fame and recognition and legacy worth in a place where none of that ever matters? it's a unique track in that it really does feel like it prompts the rest as a response almost. The idea of trying to be larger-than-life in a cramped space, and the hollow artificial look of holograms started to float around in my head. The mermaid came about bc of the idea of ending up in the deep end and questioning if it was all worth it. can also give "fish outta water". I was really inspired by the work of lazaro45ive (the 3D artist who recently did work for Rina Sawayama's new makeup brand). He builds these beautiful cyberpunk cityscapes that feel really oppressive and mechanical yet really sleek in a way that appeals to me. I also looked at Cyberpunk 2077's Night City as well for inspiration for a towering, cramped feeling. And of course, Blade Runner 2049. The scene :3 we all know it. ended up using both Clip Stidio and Affinity Photo to make this - Clip for the artwork, Affinity for colour correction and text work. you can see the pre- and post-Affinity versions. worked on this basically all day? kind of kept me in a trance most of the day. not even my latest obsession with Uma Musume could break me outta my stupor, it was crazy. btw Rice Shower my goat 🫶. #theweeknd #kissland #xotw #digitalart #cyberpunk #csp #affinityphoto