iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

And, sometimes, #Nature comes to you. Meet Ralphie the #Raccoon. I was able to capture him and release him back into the wild.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

My favorite #spider has gone missing now for five days. Hopefully she has just sought shelter from the coming storms.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Race-based slavery, indigenous peoples genocide, Jim Crow, internment/concentration camps, anti-immigration laws, race-based voter suppression…I live my country and served it for decades…but how does American immigration policies shock anyone? Until we address our past, this is what we are.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

#Autumn is (supposedly) just around the corner. The land, oppressed by scorching heat, cries out for it…

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#Israel, you have every right to live in peace. You were born from hatred, betrayal and #genocide that were inflicted upon you. What do you think that your employment of these same things will birth in #Palestine in general and #Gaza in particular? #Peace. #Mercy. #Equality. #Love.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Random Thoughts About #GrowingOld It’s not so bad. #Retirement is not a checkout anteroom. #Learn new skills, new hobbies, new adventures. Investigate life, #Nature, the flow of the year. Live like there are no responsibilities. Drink it in deeply. Likely, it’s not coming around again…in this life.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The red farmers say, "This isn't what we voted for." My mother, at 11, would disagree. The grandfathers and great-grandfathers of these farmers help popularize the American concentration camps like the one my mom was sent to. The years have not changed many of these farm families. #bluedotfarms

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Our “pet” Yellow Garden #Spider, “Anansa” survived the tropical storm though she did have to relocate. #Nature #watercolor #sketch #NatureJournal #art ?

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Went for a walk. A car with flashing lights stopped half a block ahead of me. It was marked “USIC”. First thought— #ICE. I am a US citizen and multi-decade veteran. Those things don’t matter now. Life in #Trump ‘s #America. We live in a #policestate. Truly #FreedomAin’tFree anymore.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

It’s September 1st. I can see #Autumn from my front porch….

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Well this timeline truly sucks. #DollyParton and #TimCurry taken within a day of each other while the #MangoMussolini walks freely to spread his discord and hatred. Do we need any further proof that there is no such thing as universal justice?

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

“If learning were profaned by extending it to all kinds of people one would see more men capable of raising doubts than resolving them and many would be better able to oppose the truth than defend it.”—Cardinal Armand Jean de Plessis, Duke dr Richelieu, c. 1638 MAGA and its influencers….

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Sometimes #Nature appears to be cruel. One of the pollinators that we invited into our yard with native wildflowers ends up as a meal for our Yellow Garden #Spider “Anansa”. I guess everyone needs to eat, even in this economy. #drawing #sketching #NatureJournal #insects #arachnids #art?

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Two days in the life of #Nature and my #NatureJournal. The #butterfly was a gift of #Obon, perhaps letting us know that Ox, Lola, Jack and Harry are fine. All of these things I encountered in walks around the neighborhood. Nature is all around us, even in our fortresses of solitude….

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

We have erected a number of artificial constructs to keep #Nature at bay and to sever our link to her. But she always sends heralds to call us back and to remind us that she is still there. #butterfly #toad #flower

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Greet the dawn?? Feck the dawn!!! As for the rest of you…yeah, yeah, happy #Caturday. Whutever.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Julie is ready for #Obon. She also wishes you all a happy very early #Caturday. #Watercolor. #sketch #art ?

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Happy #Caturday from Julie II d’Aubigny, Maréchal de France et Paladin….

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I planted Evening Primroses five years ago. Each summer they died back until autumn. These year I watered them each morning and here they are. If nurturing helps plants survive summer heat, how much more can we do by helping folks in trying times?

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Our boy Ox (Ushi-Wakamaru) passed away a year, month and day ago. His favorite place is now a Gulf Fritillary #butterfly haunt. I think he would be pleased. I miss him more than any words can express. #Dogs steal our hearts away. #watercolor #art #sketch #drawing

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

A rest from #watercolor #butterflies. We have a family of #cardinals living in our front yard. They hang out a lot on the fig tree.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Yet more #butterflies and #Nature. The first one captured the color but lost the delicate details. The second used a wash to do the opposite. I find #watercolors still a tricky #art form. But I think I can #NatureJournal with them.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

We now return you to your previously scheduled summer swelter (yes, the rains are done) #summer #summerheat #weather

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

If you leave them treats they will come. Happy belated #Caturday.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Almost done with “The Backyard Butterfly Project”. Celebrating with a mango-pineapple daiquiri. #watercolor #butterflies #Nature #art #mixology #daiquiri

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Made some, for me, breakthroughs over the last week and a half and I begin to see improvements in brushwork and color distribution. Not perfect by any means, but I’m drinking a bit of celebratory wine anyway. #art (?) #watercolor #Nature

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

It’s a rainy day here in Central Texas…so, #watercolor #flowers. This morning’s walk in the light rain was refreshing and the Spring-like temperatures are encouraging a second flowering season. #art (?) #Nature

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

One of the joys of living in a large community of retired hippies is that hey teach their grandchildren the joys and freedoms of artistic self-expression. I have watched this grow over the months of morning walks with great pleasure.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

In the midst of #LindseyGraham taking a dirt nap there were #butterflies. Could not do the foreshortened wings in the bottom one well. #Drawing work for future #naturejournal entries.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

I am deep in thought. Do not disturb me, peasant. I am enjoying the pitter patter of the rain outside. Julie d’Aubigny wishes you all a happy #Caturday.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Sometimes art happens by accident. Removing pits from cherries and prepping mint for a Cherry Smash gave me a thistle flower. Better art through #mixology.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

A World of the Mundane Imperfectly Captured But it’s fun and I do learn something each time. #cats #butterfly #watercolor #art #nature

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

The struggle with #watercolors is real! Here we find a Question Mark #butterfly perched on a lichen and moss embossed branch. #Art and #Nature overlap even when our skills are not quite adequate to capture it all.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

When I was (much) younger, I thought that the Cold War was the fight I was born to fight. Now I am old and I am tired. But #Fascism has come here and I cannot sit in the sidelines and let others fight alone against it. I know I am not alone. And I am thankful. #Trump #America #4thofJuly

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

There not being a lot to celebrate on this 4th, I decided to have a Festival of Artistically Bad Trees. Feel free to celebrate along with me! #art #watercolor #trees

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

I look at the real #artwork that you guys post and I feel…behind the curb. My #art is young (unlike me) and bears all of the faults of youth. Yet, I feel obliged to call out into the Abyss for likeminded, if immeasurably more advanced, folks…. #watercolor #nature

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

It’s been a long #Caturday…. Just going to rest here a moment.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Tomorrow will be the 1 year anniversary of the passing of my #dog Ox (Fujiwara no Ushi). I did this #watercolor cartoon of him in samurai Valhalla (which does not exist). I miss him very much. Loyal, faithful, protective, adventurous and the best walking companion.

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

It’s #butterfly and #caterpillar time of the year. Texas Crescent adult and three Black Swallow caterpillars.

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Reposted by Pencils, Paints and…Swords

marikosegawa.bsky.social @marikosegawa.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

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Pencils, Paints and…Swords @ioannes-tzmisces.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

@thetavernknight.bsky.social , why are both Marcelli and Di Mazo backweighted in their guards? I see where this is advantageous fianconata and inquartata counterpunching. But shifting weight forward, even if leading with the sword would seem a dead giveaway. I know, basic knowledge…

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