Mark Simmons
toysdream.bsky.social
Mark Simmons
@toysdream.bsky.social
Bugs, robots, comics. Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. He/him.
Reposted by Mark Simmons
Today’s xkcd made me cry.

In a good way.

xkcd.com/3172/
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Aw heck, while I'm indirectly replying to people: I enjoyed hearing @mecha-tho.bsky.social and @ninagonzalez.bsky.social taking a break to enjoy 1983's "Aura Battler Dunbine" in a fill-in episode of their never-ending Gundam podcast...
November 24, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Since I was just pondering this: I feel like people are less likely to jump into conversations with strangers. (Case in point, I'm quote-reposting Ben's comment rather than replying directly like a normal person.) Perhaps we're all just burned out and gun-shy after years of social media experience.
Since we're talking about it, my bluesky experience:

- Got as many followers as I had on twitter in half the time
- Have a similar amount of positive interactions, and far fewer negative ones
-I'm mostly talking to the same 10 people though, so I see how mass mobilization/outreach is harder here
November 24, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Reposted by Mark Simmons
What might be my favourite fossil has been just published by Kiat et al. 2025. Years ago I saw a pic of this Anchiornis specimen in nat geo article and I audibly gasped.preserving not only the feathers but also the original patterns as well. I made this drawing on the spot. Maybe its time to do v2.0
November 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
And I'm finally done with my comprehensive update to the First Gundam production history! Took me seven months, but it's literally tripled in length, with lots more source translations and better-quality art. "The next is... in expectation of your heart."
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/f...
November 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Now for a second round of figure drawing tips! This time, I'm following up on a throwaway reference to "the trademark shapes of body parts"... (1/3)
November 21, 2025 at 1:08 AM
The ultimatemark.com website finally gets a facelift (and content updates)! This format should enable me to update the graphics whenever I have new stuff to show off.
November 19, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Mark Simmons
THREAD.

The definitive list of the absolute best interdimensional portals I have photographed on walks in the British countryside.

1. Gateway To The Land Of Leaping Dogs.
November 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
I've been dragging my feet, but it's time to update the portfolio website. Somehow I never got around to putting this 2019 SF Zoo poster on there...
November 14, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I wanted to do some little tip sheets on quick-sketching people from life. So here you go! First, an introduction to my outline-centric approach -- I'll get into technique points later. (1/3)
November 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Added a couple more poses. Now it's time to clean up the model sheet...
November 8, 2025 at 1:05 AM
And here's a rough character model sheet from the comic project. Not necessarily a major character, but she's in a lot of the initial pages.
November 7, 2025 at 10:55 AM
So! I've been working on an original comic project, and it occurred to me that I can repurpose the character and mecha poses from the page layouts to make some model sheets. Since these roughs are based on comic panels, they're pretty perspective-y. Now to refine!
November 7, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Almost done updating my production history of the 1979 "Mobile Suit Gundam" TV series and movies. It's taken me most of the year, but all I have left to do now is the final "Gundam III" movie! Here's the section on the movie production:
www.gundamunofficial.com/production/f...
Gundam Unofficial: Mobile Suit Gundam Production History
www.gundamunofficial.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Birthday bugs, hosted by Stephanie "BeetleLady" Dole and featuring a cast of dozens of two- and six-legged friends.
November 3, 2025 at 10:55 PM
From this month's rent cover letter, a little seasonal greeting from me and Julie. Hope it was spooky for you!
November 1, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Speaking of bristly butts on ceratopsians, I see Adam Savage got a preview of some new models under construction at @amnh.org. Evidently Moab Giants hasn't completely sated my interest in life-sized dinosaur replicas.
youtu.be/JC6kCWmJe20?...
Adam Savage Meets a Triceratops AND Mosasaur in PERSON!
YouTube video by Adam Savage’s Tested
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I always love bristly tails on ceratopsians, and this is such a nice Halloween-y color scheme!
Just a weird little guy.

A new illustration of Protoceratops andewsi.
#SciArt
October 31, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Mark Simmons
It's finished!! "My Avian Neighborhood": in total almost 100 hours of work in the span of 27 days to complete. So very proud of this one, it's going to be hanging in its first show over the next few months. Thank you to everyone who cheered me on, the species are in the alt text of the image! ✨
October 13, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Haven't been able to devote proper attention to Halloween this year, but if we're posting favorite vampires, here are a couple that spring to mind. Delighted to see folkloric shroud-chewing depicted onscreen at last.
October 31, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Reposted by Mark Simmons
New dates on fossils from New Mexico reveal a community of dinosaurs that were thriving right before the asteroid strike, including 80-foot-long, 30-ton giants like Alamosaurus. I’ll tell you more in my latest for NatGeo. 🧪
New evidence reveals dinosaurs were thriving right up to the moment the asteroid hit
Newly dated fossils from New Mexico challenge the idea that dinosaurs were in decline—and suggest instead they had formed flourishing communities.
www.nationalgeographic.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:14 PM
A lovely T. rex model sheet!
And the concept sketches. Heavily referencing @arvalis’s animated Rex render for this. I spent way too much time on them, but they were just too fun
October 22, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Mark Simmons
Apex

One of my favorite comms I’ve drawn, what a blast
October 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I've been translating some classic material about the "Mobile Suit Gundam" movie trilogy so I can finally wrap up my revamped production history. First, the 1980 magazine interview in which director Tomino first floated the idea of a multi-part movie version:
gundamunofficial.com/production/f...
Gundam Unofficial: Mobile Suit Gundam in Animage
gundamunofficial.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:41 AM
"No Kings" march sketch time! There are a few pages of these, so I'll share them two at a time. The first thing I saw when I showed up in downtown SF was a pair of inflatable dinosaurs, which seemed like a good omen. (1/3)
October 19, 2025 at 9:08 AM