For my latest pride flag cutout art series, I wanted to try something more ambitious. Instead of having a single theme for the pattern, I drew seven different layers of the world: 

1. Outer space, with planets, comets, moons, and UFOS.
2. High sky, with birds, wind, and clouds.
3. Low sky, with treetops, dragonflies, and butterflies.
4. Ground level, with flowers, grass, and other graceful plants.
5. Underground, with tree roots, bunnies, and mice.
6. Shallow water, with sea stars, sea horses, and vividly pattered fish.
7. Deeper ocean, with jellyfish, octopi, eels, naked sea butterflies, larval lionfish, and ctenophores. 

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I'd initially planned to keep all the cutouts fairly simple, but as I so often do, I wound up getting more and more detailed. I went overboard with the butterflies and dragonflies, and I went absolutely apeshit with the fish, haha.

For those who are curious, I created this by placing a layer of black on top of the color layer, then erasing holes in the darkness, allowing the colors of the flags and the pastel rainbow background to shine through.

​I also added spots and shimmers of white to give it brightness and texture.

I hope you enjoy the result!

If you like this art enough to wear it or decorate your home with it, click "Read More" to see some of your options!

​I've decided to get back into doing #SlapDashSat on Twitter, and I like the excerpts I came up with for it this week. I think they set the setting, tone and characters for my upcoming novel, Upholding the Covenant, pretty well.

Here they are:

1.

"I know why you're here," the Imperial ambassador said tersely. "You want to convince Karushra to rebel."

"Their allegiance is their choice," Orennian replied smoothly. "Give the same respect and protection the Empire always has, and they'll make the right choice."

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2.

The Path-Guide accepted his offer graciously, then ordered that it be divided into two bowls. "By tradition, the guest eats first."

An act of cunning practicality, disguised as generosity. Any who sought to poison him must be prepared to poison themselves.

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3.

A Charishi kitten bounded past Orennian on all fours. The Wandering Days, he recalled from his studies; pre-bipedal kittens went through a phase of independent exploration, with every nearby adult responsible for their safety. The child of one was the child of all.

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4.

Screams split the air, and Ambassador Orennian lunged into a run.

He had to find the source before it was too late. He wouldn't be like the Imperial military, who ignored Charishi in distress.

He flung open the flap of the tent... and found a woman giving birth.

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​5.

Ambassador Orennian strode slowly through the streets, head high and chin level. With every step, his back was ramrod straight, his posture perfect, his measured movements careful and smooth.

They had to be. If they weren't, the kitten on his head might fall off.

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If you want to stay up to date on all the new excerpts and developments for Upholding the Covenant, be sure to follow me on my social media channels!