This has been a public service announcement.

Last year, I took some super basic calligraphy classes — obviously, I’m no expert (and let’s be real, I haven’t exactly been great at putting in the practice time), but I’ve been wanting to do a piece like this for ages! If there’s anything that gets me going, it’s flowers and swear words.

For the record, I don’t think there’s any phrase I’ve repeated internally as often as I have this one. I know I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, and I truly try not to be, but I also know I can be a lazy bum who’s easily distracted and has an acute inability to get anything done. So this message goes out to me and to everyone else out there who needs a delicate nudge in the right direction.

✨Prints and other stuff available in my Etsy shop!✨

Risk Factors and Prevention of Skin Cancer

The sun doesn’t care what season it is, it’s always putting you at risk for skin cancer. Use preventive measures, such as wearing sunscreen or protective clothing, year-round to lower your risk of developing life-threatening cancer.

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✦ Like my art? Consider supporting me: Ko-fi. For custom art for personal use, view my Commission Info. For graphic design/art for business purposes, i.e to make profit from reselling the work as a product, using it for advertising/promotion, etc., view my Contract Details on my website: emilylaj.com/contract-details. ✦

[ID: An infographic about the risk factors and prevention methods of Skin Cancer. Both sections are on top of a half-sun, with risk factors sun being orange and red (more intense), and prevention’s being yellow and orange (less intense). Risk Factors. Indoor Tanning: 1 session increases risk of life-threatening melanoma by 75%. Sunburn: 5 or more doubles risk of life-threatening melanoma. Skin Type: Every skin type can burn, but fair skin is most easily burned. UVA/UVB Exposure: A high UV index will burn unprotected skin faster/worse. Genetics: Some are genetically predipositioned to get sunburned. Atypical Moles: Those with 10 or more have 12 times risk of melanoma. Red Hair: 1.5 times risk of basal cell carcinomas and 12 times squamous cell carcinomas. Prevention. Sunscreen: SPF 30+, apply 30 min prior, reapply every 2 hrs. Protective Clothing: Dark/bright colors and densely woven fabrics. Car/Home Window Film: Look for the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation. Annual Skin Exams: Visit your physician yearly for skin exams. Monthly Self- Exams. Anything new, changing, or unusual, immediately visit dermatologist. Healthy Diet: Eat daily recommendations of vitamins C, E, A, and pink, selenium, beta carotene, omega 3-fatty acids, lycopene, and polyphenols. End description.]

Drawtober 2021

Prompt 6: The Grande Finale

This is your last chance to see the wonders of the Dark Carnival.

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✦ Like my art? Consider supporting me: Ko-fi. For custom art for personal use, view my Commission Info. For graphic design/art for business purposes, i.e to make profit from reselling the work as a product, using it for advertising/promotion, etc., view my Contract Details on my website: emilylaj.com/contract-details. ✦

[ID: A curtain is separated in the middle by one hand on the left and one on the right. Everything described after this is behind the curtains. At the top is a cracked mirror, with a screaming mouth, bloody handprints, and eyeballs reflected in them, warped by the cracked glass. In the middle, emerging from the darkness, are two hands hovering over either side of a glowing crystal ball. Beams of light and stars erupt from the crystal ball and pass through the Fortune Teller’s fingers. In the crystal ball, a person stands, wearing a brimmed hat, a mask with crescent moon eyes and smile, a jacket with a long, eyeball-and-star-patterned cape, a striped long-sleeved shirt, overlapping-circle-patterned tights, and riding boots. Their head is tilted back with the cape flowing up behind them as if just landed from a jump. One set of arms are extended upward. The third arm is wrapped over their stomach and the fourth arm is behind their back, bowing. On the bottom left, a clown (bald with pigtails) peers out with a sharp-toothed grin. On the bottom right is a clear jar, and inside the jar is a fairy with their hands extended out, touching each side of the jar, and one leg lifted parallel to the ground. They are looking straight at the viewer, wearing a blank expression. They are wearing a tank top and pants overlaid with a sheer, long-sleeved, fit-and-flare dress spattered with leaves. Hanging off the jar is a small, eyeball creature with seven legs. The words, from top to bottom, read in all caps: “The Grande Finale. Your last chance to see the wonders of the Dark Carnival.” End description.]

Drawtober 2021

Prompt 5: Side Shows

Oof, the art block with this one.

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✦ Like my art? Consider supporting me: Ko-fi. For custom art for personal use, view my Commission Info. For graphic design/art for business purposes, i.e to make profit from reselling the work as a product, using it for advertising/promotion, etc., view my Contract Details on my website: emilylaj.com/contract-details. ✦

[ID: A person with long hair, wearing a dotted, sleeveless shirt and solid-colored skirt, stands in front of of pillar, with floor to ceiling mirrors on either side. Their image is reflected four times in the mirror, two showing each side of the person, and two showing each 3/4th view of the person. From the person outward, the mirror is cracked in six major sections, and in each section is an image broken up from the cracks. From top to bottom and left from right in an arch, the images are: screaming mouth, bloody handprints, eyeballs, screaming mouth, eyeballs, and bloody handprints. The words, from top to bottom, read in all caps: “Side Shows, Introducing: The House of Mirrors. Only at the Grand Finale.” End description.]

Drawtober 2021

Prompt 4: The Ring Master

They command the stage.

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✦ Like my art? Consider supporting me: Ko-fi. For custom art for personal use, view my Commission Info. For graphic design/art for business purposes, i.e to make profit from reselling the work as a product, using it for advertising/promotion, etc., view my Contract Details on my website: emilylaj.com/contract-details. ✦

[ID: A person stands in the center, wearing a brimmed hat, a mask with crescent moon eyes and smile, a jacket with a long, eyeball-and-star-patterned cape, a striped long-sleeved shirt, overlapping-circle-patterned tights, and riding boots. Their head is tilted back with the cape flowing up behind them as if just landed from a jump. One set of arms are extended upward. The third arm is wrapped over their stomach and the fourth arm is behind their back, bowing. The words, from top to bottom, read in all caps: “The Ring Master, they command the stage. Only at the Grand Finale.” End description.]

Drawtober 2021

Prompt 3: Fortune Teller

Would it be worth it?

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✦ Like my art? Consider supporting me: Ko-fi. For custom art for personal use, view my Commission Info. For graphic design/art for business purposes, i.e to make profit from reselling the work as a product, using it for advertising/promotion, etc., view my Contract Details on my website: emilylaj.com/contract-details. ✦

[ID: Emerging from the darkness are two hands hovering over either side of a glowing crystal ball. Beams of light and stars erupt from the crystal ball and pass through the Fortune Teller’s fingers. Inside the crystal ball is a skull with smoke billowing out from the eye sockets and mouth. The words, from top to bottom, read in all caps: “Fortune Teller, find your fate. Only at the Grand Finale.” End description.]

Drawtober 2021

Prompt 2: Living Curiosities

Snakes, surprisingly fun to draw. Still scared of them though.

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✦ Like my art? Consider supporting me: Ko-fi. For custom art for personal use, view my Commission Info. For graphic design/art for business purposes, i.e to make profit from reselling the work as a product, using it for advertising/promotion, etc., view my Contract Details on my website: emilylaj.com/contract-details. ✦

[ID: A pair of hands extend from the left with a two-headed snake wrapped around them, with the top snake pointed up, turned to the right, and displaying its fangs. The bottom snake is upside down, calm. The hands are holding a clear jar, and inside the jar is a fairy with their hands extended out, touching each side of the jar, and one leg lifted parallel to the ground. They are looking straight at the viewer, wearing a blank expression. They are wearing a tank top and pants overlaid with a sheer, long-sleeved, fit-and-flare dress spattered with leaves. Hanging off the bottom hand is a small, eyeball creature with seven legs. The words, from top to bottom, read in all caps: “Living Curiosities, you won’t believe your eyes. Only at the Grand Finale.” End description.]

Drawtober 2021

Prompt 1:Send In The Clowns

Hurricane Ida might have wrecked my house but that won’t stop me from participating in my favorite Halloween tradition.

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✦ Like my art? Consider supporting me: Ko-fi. For custom art for personal use, view my Commission Info. For graphic design/art for business purposes, i.e to make profit from reselling the work as a product, using it for advertising/promotion, etc., view my Contract Details on my website: emilylaj.com/contract-details. ✦

[ID: A curtain is separated in the middle by one hand on the left and one on the right. A clown (bald with pigtails) on the left peers out with a sharp-toothed grin. Another clown (bald with horns made of hair sticking out of the side of their head) crouches down in front and to the right of that clown, half of their face hidden by the curtain. A third clown behind the other two is enveloped mostly in shadow, but their wide, opened-mouthed, and fanged smile can be seen. In the background there are many toothy grins scattered around. The words, from top to bottom, read in all caps: “Send in the clowns, and prepare to scream and laugh. Only at the Grande Finale.” End description.]