Shrink to Fit.

Video of the Week: Hello

2012-01-18T21:31:00.003Z

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;Brinf</p>
Hello from ant1mat3rie on Vimeo.
made by Matthijs Vlot. www.mattatjeoorlog.nl

appeared on cinema.nl/cinematv

Video of the Week: Murmuration

2011-11-06T01:27:00.005Z

Amazing. The director Sophie Windsor Clive, captured the magic of this with the music perfectly. The tune is from Nomad Soul, which is also called Murmuration, presumably after this video (download it and donate here).

Song of teh Moment: Que Que - Dillon Francis & Diplo feat Maluca

2011-08-13T13:58:00.001+01:00

Aaaaaah, I can't stop laughin and dancin to this at the same time!!?!!1

So why the riots?

2011-08-09T18:49:00.009+01:00

Looking at the news, there seems to be mainly 3 theories:

A sub-community versus the Police
The Poor versus the Police, the Politicians, the Rich, apparently
Children versus Adults

I certainly think no.1 was the initial catalyst. But no.2 is underlying itch of what these people have been wanting to scratch for a long, long time. But I stand back and look at the bigger picture, and the base reason I see is no.3.

For every disobedient child there are more than enough adults that can teach them sense. If only each of us "grown ups" had the courage to stand up to these little terrors rather than just avoid the issue and let them do what they want... Then maybe, just MAYBE they would to a have a society to look up to and respect. Who is the child really? Those kids on the street, or us sitting scared in our houses?

That was my FB status last night, while the rampage was going on, borough after borough. It got a few Likes, some friends agreed, some not so much. One said the police are being too soft, have been for ages, to get the guns out and shoot these kids down. I don't think he was being 101% serious, as his shop was attacked, all windows smashed... Mindless hate can just breed more mindless hate. I answered:

Fuck the police, They're just following instructions. They're easy to blame. It's us, the everyday citizens that need to make this society stronger and better respected.

I do believe we leave too much to the authorities. I'm not saying we should become like the authority. But I do think we need a stronger, tighter London community, to give children a society to both respect and aspire to become a part of. They are lost and need a guide. We need to disrupt and destroy our inane, silent bystander public. We've become numb - See the docile cow effect on the underground. Our ignorance of the unadulterated noise they make on the upper deck at the back of the bus, and the weed they smoke during it...

They have no respect because we choose to ignore, not see, stand there, walk by. We have given the impression that we don't care. That we don't want to get involved. That we fear them. And that is our weakness - showing our fear. But the only reason why we fear, is perhaps because we've become a little lost ourselves, we just don't know what to do or how to deal with it.

We need to realise that we are older, bigger and stronger, unite and stand up. Last night, the Turks and Kurds had the right idea. Right now, they are apparently doing just that in Enfield.

So thankfully, hate can also breed positive things too. Much respect to all those who decided to counter the recreational looting with recreational restoration, to both our city and our spirits. They've bullied our city into the ground. Never let them see you cry. http://twitter.com/Riotcleanup

I can see the 2nd wave happening now - Be safe everyone! Remember most of them are just lost children, following their friends, and most likely needing a hug, or worse, incapable of receiving one because they never did.

Keep up to date and voice your opinion on this FB page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Supporting-the-Met-Police-against-the-London-rioters/152937041453243

Song of the Moment: 2010 Hiphop Mix by Daniel D

2011-07-13T20:12:00.000+01:00

I was prodded about this a month or so a go, but I've been listening to him while working lately, and it's truly an inspiration to hear. A culture clash of music here. Go listen.

Kreayshawn- Gucci gucci (Gravy Tron-Grimblee Sawg Cut)

2011-07-04T21:03:00.004+01:00

I posted this on my Facebook a little while a go, but I'll post here as well. I do like the original, but this? I'm truly on a dubstep phase atm...

Kreayshawn- Gucci gucci (Gravy Tron-Grimblee Sawg Cut) (FREE DOWNLOAD) by Grimblee

(It says "free download", but the limit's been reached I'm afraid! Google around and you can find it though.)

Through retail, we got materialism. Through internet, we're losing materialism?

2011-05-25T23:58:00.004+01:00

"We have evolved with an inner bias which gives us a high readiness to pay for tangible, scarce
things which we can hold and own outright — while we tend to undervalue those things which are
ethereal, abundant and enjoyed communally." - Rory Sutherland Original article (posted 23rd April 2011)

I don't usually post excerpts (now a new tag) of what I read randomly on the internet, (usually just single
sentences under my Quote of the Day tag) but I think I will starting from today. With the internet now in
abundance of most of our lives, I think there's a whole lot out there that just doesn't get seen to. Twitter helps,
yes. But I hardly post here lately, so why not (and there's no character limit!)!

So... Through retail, we got materialism. Through internet, we're losing materialism? Time will tell.

So ask yourself: Do you value your terabytes of MP3 files as much as your CD collection?

DVD Review: Summer Wars

2011-03-06T23:17:00.009Z

Want to know why I gave it a mahusive 9 out of 10?

Check it out over at Otaku News here. :)

And I didn't even know it was done by the same peeps as
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time before reviewing it! (My bro loved that anime!)

Support 'Bruv... You Having a Bubble?' and get my artwork on some cool merchandise!

2011-02-24T02:23:00.016Z

I've done some artwork for the film project Bruv... You Having a
Bubble? from Robert Bertrand. And to support it's upcoming, they are
offering my artwork on some tasty perks - a t-shirt and a poster with
the concept art (see a preview on the small box on the right here) - with
artwork by yours truly, and costing a minimum of $25/£15ish.

And of course, all money goes towards the production of the film.
So it's all love! Check 'em out! :)

http://www.indiegogo.com/Bruv-Are-You-Having-A-Bubble

No Face makes Smile for London Top 50!

2011-01-12T21:47:00.002Z

I go to this cool London drawing club every now and then. Each session we have a task.
One of these tasks was to collaborate on an animation together to submit to
Smile for London - a great idea to lighting up the typical grey faces on the Tube!

Most of the club have minimal or zero animating experience. We were throwing ideas
around for hours. Then finally decided on using a digital camera to take each shot as
we sllllooowly drew one piece of art, taking turns. The result is below...

No face from The Cartoon Heart Club on Vimeo.

And we found out recently that we have made the top 50! :D

Great news! I believe the list is to be cut even shorter however. But alas, making
the top 50 out of hundreds of entries is a pat on the back!

We've also been invited to the launch party at the Museum of London tomorrow
night, so I'm preparing lots of my pre-sketched bizzcards to throw at people.

Happy New Year - the one moment we speak to us

2011-01-01T12:57:00.001Z

Happy!
It's about 40 minutes after midnight, and I overhear my brother speaking to his friend on the phone. She's usually quiet and keeps to herself. However, there she was yelling "Happy New Year!!" to people across the street, passers-by, and of course they replied.

New?
In this cold city where we don't look eachother in the eye, let alone speak to eachother, this is the one moment we do. Have we become so paranoid of ourselves, it takes the one chime of the same clock, of the same calendar, to finally know we share something in common, and thus communicate without fear of rejection or agitation? (I suppose the alcohol helps a great deal as well.)

It's not just a celebration, it's communicative release.

(And for the rest of the) Year...
So shake hands with your neighbour, brothers and sisters. It'll be mere moments until we climb back into our reclusive shells once again.

Happy New Year!

My Contribution to the Global Guard Dog Jam!

2010-10-12T18:15:00.029+01:00

What's the Global Guard Dog Jam?
Bill Plympton is remaking his Oscar-nominated short Guard Dog—with your help. He’s calling it the “Guard Dog Global Jam” and he’s asking seventy animators to re-animate one shot from the short. Animators can use any style or technique as long as the dog character is recognizable and the length of the scene remains the same to keep the soundtrack in sync. Details about “Guard Dog Global Jam” are posted in a downloadable document at Plymptoons.com. Animators can begin choosing shots, most of which are between 2-4 seconds long, on September 1st, 2010. All participants will receive a piece of original art from Guard Dog. - CartoonBrew

Edit: Watch the YouTube video for a compilation of the finished scene! (Can you spot mine?)

I was initially informed by Mike, who I originally collaborated with other artists on NOTLD: Reanimated last year (available to buy now in the US).

"'Flicker Frame' animation is when each frame is rendered by a different artist in a different style/ media/ motif. The layout must remain unchanged for the animation to work but besides for that the sky is the limit with how those frames can be rendered. My scene is near the beginning when the girl laughs mechanically. It is 102 frames long which means room for 102 artists to participate (feel free to suggest it to others)." - Mike Schneider

I would highly recommend getting on the infamous FB and looking over the other frames taking part! It is astonishing how many art styles and varied emotions are being included. Oh, the beauties of the internet...

With my contribution above, it took me 1-3 hours to complete, the deadline was extremely tight for me. I wanted to involve something with a recognisable manga-twist, so I hope I've been successful. With the colour pallette, I made it a little bit extra *kawaii* compared to what I usually use... Refreshing, actually! (Afterwards, I developed a craving for Lovehearts, Chewits and general Haribo) :)

And you know what? It feels really good to be involved in an animation, without having to actually animate for once (it is sooo a time consuming)!

Want to take part?
Visit Mr. Plympton's website to download the full rules and regs sheet.

Here is an example of the "flicker frame" effect with another animation:
Johnny cash - There Ain't No Grave - The Johnny Cash Project Part 1

I guess a term for it would be 'collaborative animation'.

And the effect it has on the eye, on the mind, is indescribable. It's like... you are constantly reminded that there is more than one way to look at something, even though that something happening, is the same thing. Everything and one thing at the same time. Like rays of sunlight and its spectrum of colours - you can only see the rainbow through the rainfall. Although with the above, the rainfall is YouTube. And going deeper, Youtube could be called a 'collaborative society', on a global scale - Which makes no sense, but perfect sense at the same time!

*Thinks it's time to go home* (Is still at the office at 9pm!)

Mind-Blowing Colour Competition!

2010-09-15T21:56:00.005+01:00

Color is one of the strongest elements of design. Color attracts the eye and can influence
emotions, moods and judgment. The right color choices can help communicate a message
and greatly increase a design’s chance of success.

Behance and Pantone invite you to participate in our “Mind-Blowing Color Competition,”
which recognizes creative minds that push the boundaries of color in their work.

Rules

Submit any project from your portfolio that exemplifies mind-blowing color.

Only one entry per user is permitted.

Submissions will be judged on how colors are used in the piece, how they impact the design, and
help communicate the intended message. Judges will also be looking for innovative color
combinations and bold use of color that adds to the work’s appeal.

Awards

GRAND PRIZE
“Pantone Studio Plus – Design & Play”

Pantone PLUS Reference Library (14-piece set)
Fashion+Home Color Specifier
Fashion+Home Guide
Color Cue 2.1
ColorMunki Design
Color: Message & Meanings
Set of 6 Pantone Mugs
Set of Pantone Notebooks
Weekend Stay at Pantone Hotel in Brussels (Hotel Only)

Total Value – Over $2,500

1ST PLACE

"Pantone To Go”
Pantone Essential with Effects
Pantone Solid Chips Coated & Uncoated
HueyPRO
Pantone Notebook

Total Value – Over $800

5 x 2nd PLACE PRIZES
“Pantone PLUS Essentials Kit”

Pantone Essentials

Total Value - $329

Submission Period

September 13th - October 13th 2010

Visit Behance for more info - good luck!

Out now! Big Eye Ben

2010-08-31T09:00:00.007+01:00

I'm delighted to announce that today

marks the release of my first ever book!

Illustrated by me, story written by the wonderful Neil Irani, Big Eye Ben is about a big-eyed boy who suddenly has to adjust to wearing glasses. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Eye-Ben-Neil-Irani/dp/0956143059/

It's been up on Amazon for pre-order for a while, but I still can't get over the fact I have a book on there, it's surreal! I want to

thank Neil for choosing me, and I look forward to working with him even further in the future.

I guess I'm still a bit speechless lol. But what I really want to

say is that this is just the beginning. There's just so much more

I'd like to show you. So please - Watch this space!

Sketch of the Day!! / Finding Inspiration Lost

2010-08-30T03:04:00.041+01:00

All this weekend, from Saturday, today and through to tomorrow Bank Holiday Monday, I am sleeping, eating drawing (and repeat)!

Out of all the sketching I've been doing today though, one stands out for me.

Don't ask why!!! I just can't help but smile at it... Yes, that's a snake.

Finding the Inspiration Lost

And you know, I was thinking - I found myself losing spirit when on my 10th of 16 sketches. And I was hating it... like "Why? Gah. Why??". I had a nap, got a tea, ate lots of cake and chocolate (thanks, Lesley!), went back to it. Realised it was because I didn't like the drawing in front of me. But it was going for everything the client's criteria said. "What's the problem? Damn, what is it??" Perhaps it's all the pressure... I have less than 2 weeks to turn these pencils into inks then into illustrations.

Nah. I just didn't like it.

And if you don't like your work, then it's likely other people won't right? Well they might do, but if you don't, what's the point? In the end, you'll only be working for something you don't enjoy doing... You'll be turning your hobby into what every other job is to you - A grind.

So I re-did the parts of the drawing that I didn't find.. y'know, with that thing. Inspiration bubbled up inside again.

Am I over-thinking this? *checks watch* Anywayyy, if the does client likes it, I'll be colouring it.

Will update here once/if this is so! (then maybe you'll get the joke with the snake!)
EDIT: Final version for client below... I'm not happy with the colouring and sparse linework, but, the client was, and I was exhausted so, meh?

PS: With all this talk on inspiration, I've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately.

I'll recommend one on this particular subject, voiced by the brilliant Raul Aguirre Jr.!

Man VS Art Episode 21: The differences between Bad, Good, and Great Art.

Inception: True to its name

2010-07-17T18:35:00.058+01:00

(This post may not be 100% spoiler-free - mm, it's about 99.5% lol)

I have gone ahead and put a promo image as my profile picture on Facebook (not done that ever) because I am in absolute wordless shock and awe, of the movie experience that is Inception. My jaw's on the floor and only actions could describe, so I made it my face.

I watched it last night, the day of release, without knowing anything much. I just saw a glimpse of a trailer saying something about Leo being the man who goes into dreams. The film had also gotten some widespread hype, which I had tried to avoid, as always.

Anyway, I'm not going to review it or anything. All I can tell you is that I've spent the last 3-4, maybe 5 hours on and off surfing Inception reviews, the official websites, forums... As if trying to grasp at what I had just witnessed. Trying to make the dream, real. I even came across a prologue comic, which was quite cool (see image left) - I'd probably recommend reading it after seeing the movie for the first time though, that way you can work off your own judgements, without influence... No seed planted...

I think I'm going to be on and off reading Inception reviews all week, all month, maybe all year. Sharing the experience with others trying to figure out Chris Nolan's (the director) exact message. I've been on IMDB 'yessing' and 'no-ing' the reviews I agree and disagree with throughout today. And I'm going to try getting a seat for it at the IMAX next week too - which I've never been to as of yet, so Inception will be the perfect film to christen that!

Anyway, to sum it up, Inception, which means 'beginning', 'commencement', lives to its title. A trawl of the internets will show you that. With this movie, I think inception means having 'an idea'... and the film has done just that to all of us who have watched it. It feels more like I've witnessed it, rather than simply watched it. And with the transitions from dream to reality, one could come to multiple conclusions of what really happened. No doubt Inception will have people in question and debate for years to come.

Word of warning before you go and watch it: Makesure you get your food, drink and toileting done in advance, man! Seriously, the movie packs the punch and wastes no time. Blink, and you might miss it! (And gawd, I hate it when the person in front of me gets up in the middle of a great film! Luckily it didn't happen this time - The film's worth holding your pee for yes!)

Off-topic: And speaking of IMDB (this is totally random and surreal), but my name is on there now, as of the last week or so! All thanks to a contribution I made to the NOTLD:R project last year..! Isn't it amazing how the small things can turn out? A very BIG hand to Mike Schneider for bringing the animated collabo together! It's been an amazing success!

Flash of the Week

2010-07-14T20:49:00.003+01:00

A unique take on Tetris... Don't play whilst drunk.

http://www.firstpersontetris.com

(You'll feel drunk afterwards anyway?)

Event: 'How Beautiful Ugliness Is' Exhibition

2010-06-01T23:53:00.002+01:00

A group exhibition of works exploring the concept of ugliness

Andrew Lacon ● Charlotte E Padgham ● Daisy McMullan ● Elizabeth de Monchaux ●

Ellen Angus ● Gabriela Fabrowska ● Giles Hinchcliff ● Heidi Kayla ● Ina Dorthea Thuresson ●

Ivan Riches ● James Saint Claire ● Jane Sacco ● Jane Skinner ● Kerry Clark ● Linda Ayres ●

Marcus Orlandi ● Maru Rojas ● Mayou Trikerioti ● Mia-Nelle Droschler ● Paul Morris ● Philip

Wong ● Pilar Camino Acon ● Ricardo Sleiman ● Richard Zeiss ● Robert West ● Sarah Crew ●

Sue Skitt ● Tamar Lev-On & Dotan Bahat ● thickandtastyxxx ● Yara Tschallener ●

Private View: Friday 28th of May 2010 - 6 pm to 11 pm

Exhibition runs from: Friday 28th of May 2010 – Thursday 24th of June 2010

Gallery Opening Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri: 11 am to 6.30 pm

Sat: 12.30pm - 5.00 pm

Last day of Exhibition: Thursday 24th of June: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm

What is the voyeuristic impulse behind our attraction to the gruesome and the horrible? Where does the magnetic appeal of the sordid and the scandalous come from? Is ugliness also in the eye of the beholder?

'How beautiful ugliness is!' is a forthcoming exhibition of works by a group of artists at Red Gate Gallery exploring the concept of ugliness, the monstrous and the repellent in visual culture and the arts. This provocative exhibition explores in-depth our present day notions of the horrid as well as darkness in art and literature.

Apparently beauty and ugliness are concepts that imply each other, and by ugliness we usually mean the opposite of beauty, so all we need to do is define the first to understand the nature of the second. This exhibition aims to lead us on a surprising journey of expressions of all things ugly, investigating mankind's unspoken fascination and fear of the sordid, vile, coarse, repugnant, horrendous and grotesque. The down-side of beauty lets one discover a vast and often unsuspected iconographic vein. This exhibition endeavours for visitors to consciously face ugliness with the hope that they will discover: 'How beautiful ugliness is!'

Official website: http://www.redgategallerylondon.co.uk/2010/05/elemental-inscriptions/

Call for Entries: Aesthetica Creative Works Competition 2010

2010-05-26T13:27:00.003+01:00

Call for entries...
Artwork l Poetry l Fiction

Win £500
plus other prizes

Art and culture magazine, Aesthetica, is inviting all artists, writers and poets to submit their work for the Aesthetica Creative Works Competition 2010.

Now in its third year, the Creative Works Competition is dedicated to celebrating and championing creative talent across three disciplines: 'Artwork & Photography', 'Poetry' and 'Fiction'.

Three winners, one from each category, will each receive £500 prize money and the winners and finalists will be published in the Creative Works Annual. Other prizes will also be available.

Closing date: 31 August 2010.

For more information, visit
http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/submission_guide.htm

Call for Entries: LGBT and Queer Artists and Talent

2010-05-03T03:00:00.002+01:00

For GFEST - Gaywise FESTival 2010 - London's LGBT cross art festival for all

Call for Submissions is announced for GFEST in the following three strands on : www.gaywisefestival.org.uk

Short Film Screenings (inc. artists' films / videos) - direct link : submit your work » http://www.gaywisefestival.org.uk/filmscreening.php
Visual Arts Exhibition (inc. 2D & 3D) - direct link : submit your work » https://www.gaywisefestival.org.uk/artsexibition.php
Variety of Performance Arts - direct link : submit your work »https://www.gaywisefestival.org.uk/performance.php

DEADLINE: 2 July 2010

GFEST is organised by arts charity Wise Thoughts and is now recognised as London's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) cross-arts festival for all.

Niranjan Kamatkar - Artistic Director & GFEST Team

WISE THOUGHTS organises GFEST - Gaywise FESTival - London's LGBT cross art festival for all

www.wisethoughts.org / www.gaywisefestival.org.uk

+44 (0) 20 8889 9555

CDJapan now stocks vidja gamez!

2010-04-23T14:34:00.011+01:00

After that disappointing news years a go, about my favourite shop Lik-Sang going down because of some PSP-related legal dispute (yes, one handheld brought an entire shop down to close), I'm thankful shops like CDJapan are still around.

They don't supply what Lik-Sang had in variety (from chocolates to noodles and multimedia), but they're well on the way now that they are supplying video games!

I bought some music CDs from CDJapan for back when I used to "DJ" (as if, I've never scratched, only faded volume and pressed pause/play constantly).

And nothing's ever been lost in the post. Or taken more than two weeks to arrive.

They also have a reward/points/loyalty thingy. And their prices change constantly, often getting lower.

If you ever need the latest Japanese music CDs, DVDs and now, vidja games, I'd recommend shopping there.

Call for Entries: Art Against Knives are looking for Artists and Illustrators

2010-04-22T13:08:00.010+01:00

Art Against Knives are looking for Artists and Illustrators.........

Your work will be featured in a short viral film about AAK to be used in collaboration with Honda, Lovebox and other exciting events.

Please get in contact if you are interested or know anyone who might be... Email us at: info@artagainstknives.com

Deadline: Friday 23rd April!

Shopping Get: OTACOOL 2: Worldwide Cosplayers

2010-04-15T13:39:00.014+01:00

I don't even like cosplay that much. Or do I?

I have never bought an item featuring cosplay. Never taken part in it. Never had a tag for it before this post. But I've always enjoyed being the cat on the fence. And the girls in this book are gorgeous! There's even a Filipino cosplayer in there (my heritage) of which I've never seen before.

Plus I'm a bit of a fan of Danny Choo's work, I trust his judgement!

Pre-ordering this tomorrow via J-List @ $24.00, which isn't bad, standard art book price.

OTACOOL 2: Worldwide Cosplayers

- There's also the OtaCool Mascot Design Competition going for it right now... Cosplayers and illustrators, gogo!

In other shopping news, I'm getting my new glasses today..! My very first "designer" pair... o_o

EDIT: Okay so I forgot to check the specs of the book. Upon receiving it in the post, it's a lot smaller than I thought it would be! Still recommended though.

Design Calvin Klein's next perfume bottle - win up to $6000!

2010-03-22T13:41:00.003Z

A great new contest has launched on eYeka for Calvin Klein

Design the bottle shape of the next Calvin Klein fragrance for guys and for girls, and win up to $ 6,000 !

The brief is very open, since this is the first step of many to come: create the shape of the bottle. A simple, iconic shape to be decorated by the consumers at a later stage.

Graphic design, 3D cad drawings or even hand-drawn sketches on a notebook / post-it are fine. Do not concentrate solely on rendering and quality, but really on the main idea for the shape.

Prizes:

Bottles for guys:

• 1st prize: $ 2,000

• 2nd prize: $ 1,000

Bottles for girls:

• 1st prize: $ 2,000

• 2nd prize: $ 1,000

Deadline: The contest is very short and ends on April 5th, so go go go!

Click here to participate

Good luck!

Art-Through-The-Mail-Campaign (Exhibit, USA)

2010-02-07T09:21:00.004Z

Create 3 handmade postcards, post them to the address below, and receive any money you make on them (minus the cost for mailing the money to you). The Refuge takes no commission.

Simple, eh?

Also, if they don't sell? Make sure you include a self-stamped & addressed envelope, and it will be sent back to you after the exhibit.

Deadline: 1st April, 2010 - Any submissions that do not arrive in their temporary post box on or before this date will not be accepted (me being in the UK, I'd give myself 1-2 weeks mailing time).

Address: Lebanon Art Factory, P.O. Box 1552, Lebanon, PA 17042, USA

Make sure these details are on the back of each postcard you submit...

Artist name
Title
Medium
Selling price
Return address

More details over at the official site.

Who's ready to invest in a HD 3DTV?

2010-01-11T03:09:00.022Z

The answer is not many people.
At least for the next 2-3 years... A bit like HDTVs were about 2-3 years from today.

Ubisoft said late last year that "3D Gaming Will Be The New Stereo Sound".

I say "After experiencing and shooting things in 3D (Avatar) briefly at Eurogamer a few weeks a go, I have to agree with Ubisoft.

For those that haven't experienced it yet; Imagine actually "feeling" the distance between yourself and your enemies. Rather than just shooting the enemy on the upper left of the screen, you will be shooting an enemy on the left side about 10-12 metres away... That's my best way of describing it. And it's fookin' amazing."
(Copy/paste of my comment over at Kotaku last November.)

And I still think that. But will game devs go for a 3D format that's so prone headaches and asks for a special TV that will cost a bomb for a good while. Also, with current games being converted into 3D through the HD3DTVs (gasp) themselves - Is the 3D experience enough to make our current "flat" gaming seem a bit rubbish? And even still, what of the headache effect? Will our brains evolve around that? Will 3D glasses be as common on coffee tables as our mug stains and remote controls? Will LSD be a thing of the past? I suppose, the ultimate question is: Do we need to become any more immersed?

Everyone seems to be raving about 3D at the CES10 event at the moment, but I don't think 3D TVs will be anywhere near affordable anytime soon. Of course, technology goes down in price as it gets more and more popular and the upgrades arrive. But I'm impatient!

What's another nice idea?
Incorporate 3D experiences into the arcades instead. The arcades have been less crowded since consoles at home now offer equally good-looking gaming experience, and online of course. Maybe 3D arcade games could give it the reboot it needs?

Financially, I think it's wiser to have 3D gaming as an option at the arcades, rather than have it installed at home and expect yourself to use it every time you want to play a game. This whole 3D thing could be a gimmick of short life, reserved primarily for 3D cinemas, and yes I perhaps gaming arcades (HEAR ME DEVS!).

Or maybe not. I'll admit I am excited with being able to play GoW2 in 3D one day (which is console only). But I'm not ready to leave flat-gaming behind either. Saying that, I also wish for 3D exclusive games to not exist, ever - Always have a with/without option.

Looking back before the comeback...
On a separate note, to think we touched on 3D back when I was too young to understand (well sort of, I had The Simpson's 3D Colouring Book). Now that gaming is at the forefront, it's making a huge comeback... And I'm happy that I'm now grown enough to understand what the hell is going on :)

Also, Happy New Year everyone. ^^ With all that 3D stuff first happening in the 90s and coming back now, perhaps it's a sign... The 90s were better than the noughties, right? All that "new millennium" hype had a lot people disappointed (and broke).

Let's forget the noughties ever happened. Bring on 2010! ;)

"Many a false step is made by standing still"

2009-12-16T14:40:00.010Z

Sayge's Fortune #20, picked up from Elwynn's Darkmoon Faire in World of Warcraft.

Many may think this ironic as WoW is a video game viewed to be addictive and turn people into
hermits. I'd like to make a point, that that is a stereotype and does not apply to everyone...

On other news, I should start posting here again, after a half-year hiatus, and give an update on
what I've been up to! I have been busy with working two part-time jobs, getting some school
experience and being a bit of an activist. Progress on my GN is also going well, as the characters
begin to carve out themselves every week.

In the meantime though, I wish all my friends and family a good winter holiday,
and I'll see you in 2010! Hope you all get something you've always wanted! x

EDIT: The quote was originally quoted by a Laura Randolph Lancaster, which she told to the
better known Patti LaBelle, of Lady Marmalade fame.

Creative ideas needed to give Death a good name

2009-07-24T14:37:00.006+01:00

Dying Sucks.
It leads to Death.
The Ultimate Downer.

This is the general consensus about this inescapable “end-of-life phenomenon.” It is a consensus The Lien Foundation hopes to change.

One mind at a time. With your help.

But before you get all Dr. Kevorkian on us... We’re NOT talking about ending it all. Suicide. Assisted or not.

We’re talking about a radical shift in attitude. A new mindset.

A challenge of extreme proportions.

We’re dying to be surprised by your creativity!

- http://en.eyeka.com/partner/life-before-death (video/animation comp)

(This is probably one of the most interesting competitions I've seen in a long time. There's prize money too! I'm going to try and plug more comps like this from now on. - rhoda)

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep"

2009-06-29T02:41:00.005+01:00

- Scott Adams, of Dilbert fame.

Read quote from Art Slam, where mix media artist Lucrecer continues with; "What you may see as a mistake is likely just the beginning of something big". And I totally agree! She also wrote this interesting article on Soul Stirring and Second Chances, which I stumbled on through Alltop - Which I highly recommend for keeping up to date on almost any subject.

Anyway, if you ever feel slightly lost on where you're going, I recommend reading Lucrecer's article. That and Danny Choo on the subject of destination. Hell, I know I've needed it lately!

Wish I caught this when I was in New York!

2009-06-26T14:10:00.004+01:00

Nope, nothing fashion, food or typical holiday-related stuff. It's an art-house video!

A satirical representation of Heaven and Hell, by Marco Brambilla (exhibited in 2008, installed in 2009). I caught this on YouTube through someone's blog.

The original has been formatted on blu-ray, and has been given a home over at The Standard Hotel in NYC - See a better quality version over at Marco's site (not full-screenable tho, aww).

I knew that E in GCSE Maths would creep up on me!

2009-06-23T20:24:00.028+01:00

Yes, an E, I know... I was a very arrogant kid, I only pushed myself on the subjects I liked. To prove that matter, I got an A in English, English Literature and Art & Design, to make a point!

I may have kept it secret from people for a while, but I applied to do a PGCE in Art & Design for September 2009 entry. Yesterday I got my letter saying my application was unsuccessful. :( I applied at Greenwich University and Goldsmiths University. Greenwich rejected me for my lack of C grade or above in GCSE Maths, which is understandable - I applied as a second choice to Goldsmiths, as it was the only other one with vacancies (and forgetting that not all Unis do maths equivalence tests!). Goldsmiths however, even though I fulfilled the basic requirements, was unsuccessful without explanation. So I'm re-thinking my strategy.

Going over what I have:
First of all, why could I have been unsuccessful with Goldsmiths? I have a BA in Digital Art and Digital Animation, and experience in the freelance creative field. I thought about it, and realised "darn!". How could I not see it. I studied my BA at a lackluster school, Thames Valley University, which is very low on the league tables (around 110). Goldsmiths is much more prestigious (at 44). My reason for choosing TVU? Because in 2002, they were the only Uni (in London) that did a BA in an animation-related subject (like Digital Art). Today though, animation is everywhere, which annoys me slightly.

Going over what I don't have:
Work experience within a school. Though I didn't think this mattered that much. As a friend said, I could learn as I go. The PGCE course does require you to spend time in actual classes, after all. I also lack any real freelance experience. Most of my work up to now has been for friends.

But why do I want to teach?
My plan, since graduating in 2006, wasn't really a plan at all. After just about finishing my BA in Digital Art and Digital Animation, I felt depressed. I had completed a course that had shown me parts of the subject I really didn't want to be involved in. I felt confused, and drifted for a while, trying to find myself. Freelanced here and there, got bored with it, was becoming more and more unsatisfied with it. I've mostly dabbled in graphic design. Playing around with paper sizes, resolutions, colour codes and vector points? I don't think I want to do that for the rest of my life. But I did find I was more akin to comics and illustration, and found a drawing style to be satisfied with.

I eventually found myself, understood that my creativity burns off improvisation. And realized finally, where I felt comfortable, something I could do for the rest of my life - Talking to young people about my favourite subject. In recent months, that subject is gaming (I work part-time in a games shop). Funny, that I saw it through working part-time in retail and customer service all these years! I used to hate them, they're loud, disrespectful, and think they know it all. But it was probably out of jealousy more than anything, and realizing that I'm not a kid anymore. But as I matured, I remembered that I used to be just as loud and annoying on the bus as they are. They are people, and I think society deems them too much as gremlins. I don't like that.

Anyway, as I said in my personal statement in applying for the PGCE; I feel I shine when speaking out to a live audience, inspiring them, rather than working behind a computer monitor.

Of course, there is a lot more to my life decisions than what I mention above. But I might as well write an autobiography if I'm gonna do that!

Anyway, I really feel teaching is the path for me. To be ultimately sure, I must sought out to take...

Plan from now to throughout 2010:
...Taster courses in teaching, retake Maths, a short course or two in art, volunteer working with young people. Keep sketching everyday. Keep freelancing, here and there. Finish my book. Apply again for the PGCE next year.

For too long, I've worried about what people think of me, of what I've achieved compared to everyone else. But I tend to avoid the rat race. I'm on the later side of 20, and I've had some great life experiences. And I've been foolish, but I can't help but be a hedonist by nature. Time to stop thinking about other people, and just think about me.

I won't give up!

/cheese

YouTube is a Mix of Minds as it is. How about Remixing it?

2009-06-19T01:29:00.036+01:00

ThruYou is a musical remix project, sampling YouTube musical vids, and remixing them into one big song:

ThruYou's creator Kutiman, is certainly not a bad musician alone neither (his MySpace).
He also edits each video he has sampled from to a perfect tee (like above's) and each is a joy
to watch. It is literally, watching harmonious internet poetry in motion. I thought it was even
cooler that he "remixed" a YouTube screencap for his video page, he has credited everyone
whose video he uses - All of which are unrelated to each other. He's simply browsed YouTube
like any one of us, and cherry-picked the sounds.

This is creativity, powered via the Powers of the Internets, powered by you, in joyous aural
harmony. And it's fucking beautiful. Stuff like this, and more to come I say. As the internet
becomes a more comfortable place, people create in it.

Ooh, the Power of the Internets...
Speaking of which, earlier today I came across a cool internet tool called TwitterFountain -
Which basically rounds up any tweets and Flickr images with the same tags, and displays them
all in one gulp. And with things like these new Eyefi SD cards (which can basically send your
photos straight to the internet after each take), you could set up a TwitterFountain on a large
HDTV and it would double up as a perfect ornament/toy for any tech-trendy party.

(*copy/pastes/remixes slightly*)
This is creativity, powered via the Powers of the Internets, powered by you, in joyous harmony.
And it's fucking beautiful. Stuff like this, and more to come I say. As man becomes more familiar
with his territory, he finds his niche and builds upon it. Web 2.0, now I see you....

Update: Also found out via Kutiman's wiki where you can download the entire remix album
featured above, for free of course, at his mirror site thru-you.org - My music for the week :)

"It's true we don't know what we've got until it's gone..."

2009-06-13T12:50:00.010+01:00

"...But we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives."

As quoted by my friend Kaycie, via MSN notes.

Sketch of the Day - My Rush Job Background! Plus NOTLD:R Contribs!

2009-06-05T19:54:00.044+01:00

A reset back to what my blog looked like before - It's much less busy nao!

Sketch of the Day!
Also a new background image! A rush sketch, with equally rushed colouring.
As rushed as it looks though, I spent about an hour fiddling around with the
colours. The sketch itself though, took under 10 minutes, I think.

There are two versions (for now!), the first one being my blog pref. The second
being my fave for say, a t-shirt design perhaps... :)

Wallpaper of the Month!
I've also done a wallpaper version for you: (1680 x 1050)

It's a mess? A creative mess! = Good, right?
It's first steps to a style I'm working on.
Next time will be better ^_^

Recently Animated...
And to update what I've been working on lately, here are 2 of 3 of my NOTLD:R contribs:

Excruciatingly short, I know ^^;

One day, I hope to get started on my own full, beginning to end, short animation, around 5 minutes long. In the meantime, collaboratives have been a great warm-up! The third of my 3 shots is in progress as I type.

In Other News: E3 2009
So, E3 has just finished. Surprisingly, Nintendo seemed to have taken a step down, which is a welcome gesture, as they owned the last E3 as well as most of the market. While Microsoft introduced their new Natal motion sensor toy for the 360. Sony, I think, gave the best show, with PSP Go, and a surprise Final Fantasy XIV announcement.

So more on to my list of To Watch & Maybe Play... Starred are the definites!

Alan Wake* - Looks like what Alone in the Dark should have been, with more psycho-thrils.
Assassin's Creed II - You can swim, fly and shoot things now! More flexibility than the first!
Avatar - It has a modern war look for a setting, only with brightly coloured dragons...?!
Bayonetta* - The fact the protagonist is strangely sexy, mystifies me. I think I can forget about playing that muchly delayed DMC4 play now.
Brutal Legend* - It's funny, it has metal, and Jack Black!
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Trailer looks promising. I only hope they get this one right... Series is in need of saving.
Dead Rising 2 - You're playing as a jock this time, looks like it'll be more funny than the first!
Demon Souls - Apparently a very, very hard game. Been a while since that's been said about any next-gen games.
Dragon Age - It's by Bioware, it has knights and ugly orcs that look like they came out of Gears of War, always fun to kill those.
Edge of Twilight - It's steampunk/Fable looking. And I have never seen blood fly like that before.
Endless Ocean 2 - I never played the first, but I heard it was great. Also, I've recently been snorkeling for the first time... I want to re-live!
Final Fantasy XIII & XIV - Lightning is looking like a real female Cloud!
Golden Sun DS - Never got round to playing any GS ever. DS is collecting dust too.
Just Cause 2 - the first wasn't so hot, was it? The sequel though, ooh.
Left for Dead 2 - Too soon for a sequel, maybe. But I didn't buy the first anyway, which I'm happy for now.
Muramasa The Demon Blade - It's pretty, looks a lot like Odin Sphere on the PS2. I wonder how far they can go with Wii?
Quantum - Apparently an FPS, only this time the walls transform around you, meaning you're on the move, a lot.
Scribblenauts* - "I FUCKING TRAVELED THROUGH TIME AND JUMPED ON A DINOSAUR AND USED IT TO KILL MOTHERFUCKING ROBOT ZOMBIES." (link) And it has the ability to summon God, as well as a time machine and almost anything you want. All for saving the star in each room! The limit is in the database and your imagination...
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories - Waving around the Wiimote in the dark, as the torch in the dark, in the game! Could be truly scary.
Splinter Cell: Conviction - Been waiting a while for this! I've missed playing Sam Fisher. Plus, I haven't played a good stealth game in years.

But MAINLY....

*The Last Guardian!*

Just to point out, I think the textures on the boy are still being working on:

Next to the adorable Vulpix/Falkor
/griffin cutie, he's too bright, right?

Then again, in ICO it was its style, having the characters a little brighter and bolder against a detailed backdrop. It does make things, among the massive architecture, easier to see.

I played Shadow of the Colossus through, but only briefly did I play ICO (as I had already got started on SotC). So, considering the essence of TLG is similar to ICO, it could be my chance to experience whatever magic everyone else did back in 2001. Or close!

Now, to save up for for that PS3...

2nd edit made on 10/06/09 - Added comments and more games added to list!

"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser"

2009-05-01T12:46:00.006+01:00

- John W. Gardner (American Writer and Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, 1912-2002)

Saw this quote via David Risley's tweet. A fine quote if you ask me, and if you're creative, something you can definitely understand. I then thought of the times I'd be drawing on paper, and sometimes think there's an Undo button - a sign that I use Photoshop a lot!

*Ahem*

"Life is the art of Photoshopping without an Undo button." - Rhoda Villegas

...Nah, doesn't quite hold the same charm does it? X3

Highlights from The Daily Draw! 2

2009-04-21T16:59:00.007+01:00

More from the past month and then some, as posted on The Daily Draw blog! Click a pic for the obligatory blog post.

And it's working. Drawing everyday, with incentive - Knowing that there are other artists in it with you - Is giving me confidence with my drawing more than ever before! I am amazed to have just been able to keep up since day one. And only just! (I have been late to work a few times, just to post pictures up on the Daily Draw!)

I notice a lot of my work is black & white though. Actually 98% of it is. I need to work in colour more. And on hands! As me and fellow Daily Draw ninja Kaiki, lightly discussed.

----------------
Listening to: Maaya Sakamoto - Easy Listening - 01 - Inori
via FoxyTunes

Highlights from The Daily Draw!

2009-03-16T13:48:00.009Z

These are my faves from the daily sketches I've been doing for the past couple of weeks.

Click on the image for the obligatory blog post. ^^

I'm taking part on The Daily Draw blog!

2009-03-04T16:52:00.009Z

A little motivational incentive here, set up by the lovely Willie Hewes. Basically we draw a sketch every day, within a limit of 15-30 mins. We then schedule these sketches to be posted up on the The Daily Draw blog exactly a week later.

Everything has just started, so I haven't posted a sketch every day as of yet. But once I'm warmed up, it should be great.

I think it's a brilliant idea, because I fail to draw regularly. Knowing there are others doing it too, and you're in it together kinda thing... that's a nice feeling. I will be posting a few, but definitely not all my Daily Draws here, so if you like my artwork, please visit The Daily Draw regularly! :)

My first DD post, scheduled for posting on the Monday just gone, is called Super Sudden Responsibilities.

Call me slow but...

2009-01-15T23:01:00.008Z

Well, all my commissions up to now have been
found through friends, word of mouth, or through
adverts. And so it may very well continue!

However, I want to start taking this freelancing
gig an extra bit seriously this year. Here are my
fresh from ze print business cards, ordered
through VistaPrint. All intentionally designed to
be as plain as the nose on your face, because, I'm
celebrating this step forward in networking by
drawing a quick sketch on each of them. All
two-hundred and fifty!

Happy New Year BTW :¬)

Faves 2008!

2008-12-30T23:50:00.021Z

MY LIST 2008

(IN PROGRESS... Maybe, as I remember them...)

MOVIE
The Dark Knight (Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart)
Burn After Reading (Brad Pitt lol)

MUSIC
Album - Metallica (Death Magnetic)
Single - Creator -Vs. Switch and FreQ Nasty- (Santogold)

RESTAURANT
Meze Mangal (Lewisham)

BAR
Bar Story (Peckham)

EVENT
Gay Pride (Brighton)
Video Games Live (Royal Festival Hall, London)

ACTIVITY
Skydiving from over Petersborough!

GAME
Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)

BOOK
I Am Legend (by Richard Matheson)
Scott Pilgrim 4 (by Bryan Lee O'Malley)

GADGET
iPod Touch

On my first blog (www.cham.anime.org.uk for about 5 years or so), I used to do a favourites list
each year. So I'm doing it again, more for myself than anything - I might want to taste or watch
something again in ten years again. I can't rely on my absent-minded memory!

Club Nintendo is officially awesome!

2008-12-28T01:10:00.020Z

After sticking with Nintendo VIP/Club Nintendo since I got my Gamecube
(2002? 2003?) and disappointingly having a whopping 7000 stars expire
suddenly earlier this year, I log in today to find something to finally gratify
my off-on membership there...

SUPER MARIO GALAXY ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK Platinum Edition!! :)

Awesome game, awesome soundtrack, 2 CDs, better than standard... & free?

(Now it's feeling more like Xmas!)

On other news with CN, members can now have their own individual profiles,
with Wishlists and even on-profile music, that plays whenever someone visits.
I also read somewhere that CN is about to hit to the US as well, finally, so it
must mean the fan club is doing well to expand - Bring on that DSi, I say!

----------------
Listening to: Emiko Shiratori - Epona no Uta "Lon Lon Ranch"
via FoxyTunes

Merry Christmas & Bring on 2009! Lions! iPhone games! Zombies!

2008-12-24T10:15:00.052Z

LIONS!
No time for any Xmassy fan arts, or Xmas cards like last year, even (I think I hand-made some for friends at the London Anime Club last year). Unless you want to imagine the guy below is wearing baubles around his neck. He's not tho! Hell, I even finished a very un-Xmassy lion yesterday - It was part of a last minute design entry for the Cannes Lions T-shirt Grand Prix :) I can't preview anything here until winners are announced, but it's "kinda like a manga lion" according to my friend AK (and I wasn't intentionally going for a "manga lion", just a fucking stylistic lion!). It can't be helped then... the manga-style is forever imprinted on my hands. What a fucking shame. :)

TIGERS!
(Well not really, but one of the characters does have Tony Tiger's smile? no?) Also this a bit late but, about the iPhone game I was commissioning art/anims for in my last post. It's called PunchPunch Revolution, a reflex game where you have to touch marks on the screen fast enough to hit the enemy A.K.A. my charies before you're K.O.'d first. It has actually been available to buy at the iTunes App Store since October (link opens iTunes). I've posted this news late, because my plan was to update the graphics first. As, unfortunately, the game has already received some negative feedback; One guy even thought my art featured in the game was stolen off the internet, haha! As the artist though, the game still looks incomplete and perhaps a little rushed. But I have been asked to draw extra frames and backgrounds as well, so there will be an update somewhere down the line. If you have an iPhone, hey it's only *59p* at the moment. But as I said, I'm not satisfied with this first release, so don't cuss! Images of one of my favourites on the right - He looks cool enough close-up, but on an iPhone's screen? Let's just say I think I've learnt a few lessons, and next time I may try drawing pixel by pixel!

BEARS!
(Well, zombies really. But bears have a limp kind of hulking walk, a bit like zombies, don't they?) I am contributing a scene to the Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated collaborative project, organised by Mike Schneider. One of my shots can now be seen on the temporary gallery. I'll be working on it over the Xmas holidays - I'm very excited, cuz I haven't animated in such a long time! I recommend anyone, no matter how experienced you are with animation, to contribute! It's a great classic of a zombie flick, and the final feature is planned to be shown all over! I'm loving the nostalgia I'm getting from the other artists' work. In fact, the whole project feels very "retro", pseudo-shoddy, cheesey-cool, props to Mike for setting this all up, I wish him all the best with it.

& XMAS! OH MY!
As with most freelancers, I have a back-up job. Mine is in games retail, and at this time of year, AGH! I'm loving the exercise, fighting through crowds to get to the stock room, wishing people off with a "merry xmas" and goodbye... Only with the customers I connect with though, some are just in too much of a rush to socialise. Most though, have been standing in our queues for about 20-45 mins, so have gotten comfortable (or uncomfortable?) enough to actually smile, lol. I think the way the recession has affected most of us, is a sort of depression instead. But because we know we're all in it together, we're more humble towards eachother. Or it might just be the Xmas magic, I dunno. It's harder to observe people at this time of year, because, well...

Yesterday it was manic, from an introvert and extrovert perspective. I was having fun keeping my energy levels up - I missed breakfast, so when I got in I heated a quick one at 9:15 . The crowds started flocking at around 9:45. It was like a train had come in, and the stop was Gamestation. At about 10:30, bang, my period hit, unexpectedly once again! I had to rush around for paracetamol and nabbed ibruprofen, panicking, because the pains I get can be fucking apocalyptic, even double-checked with my colleague, who has a biology degree and should be working in science, if it was okay to take them both simultaneously. I was getting a bite of my quickie-breakfast whenever I went into the back room, which is where the stock room is, so thankfully, it was a lot. By 13:00, I was feeling kinda light and bouncy (a painkiller high?). By 14:30, I was feeling tired out but surprisingly placid. By 15:15, I was sent on lunch, feeling almost plastered at this point! I went next door to see what my brother was doing (he works in the shop next to me). He had but a pound to beg from him, so 15:35 I went back to my shop and took a 25 min (maybe?) nap. Woke up to my alarm! Feeling refreshed! I had about 10-15 mins left, so I went to Wimpy across the road, bumped into my bro again, who was like "what's wrong?". I responded by stealing that pound off him after all, he then said "whoa look at that queue", the queue at the cashpoint, next to the Wimpy actually, which is exactly why I resorted to stealing change all day/week (I sneakily did not pay back £3 I owed my manager for lunch the day before). Rushing into Wimpy, cackling inadvertently to my bro who bulked over to that ATM queue, plussing my change, I ordered a cheeseburger and a huge chocolate milkshake. Rushed it down me, but carefully. 16:15 I'm back to work and feeling like I'm ready to rock!

I was just a little fascinated by how uplifting a little nap on your lunch can be. I had a burst of energy! I'd recommend it to anyone feeling slushy at work. A nap and some crave foods will get you back to ice. :)

On the subject of Xmas, a few people have bought me presents, so now I feel obliged to buy them presents back, dammit. My plan was to not buy any presents and put the money towards my holiday plans, but looks like that won't happen until January now, boo. Speaking of which, I have to go put up the Xmas tree now, yay! Only now, because it's Xmas dinner tomorrow, and it's not gonna be one without the tree up. Only now, because my mother won't celebrate Xmas... other than with us on the day, heh. It's a funny old world!

I'm off to put up that tree, do some last minute shopping, gift exchanging and then I'm off to Winter Wonderland (I hope "London's first ever rollercoaster" is worth the ride!) :D

Have a great Xmas y'all!

----------------
Listening to: Garbage - Stupid Girl
via FoxyTunes

Song of the Moment & Early video of iPhone works & Video Games Live!

2008-10-25T10:20:00.041+01:00

Why can't I stop listening to this song?

And I've heard of Keane, but I don't really know their music. I think it's
just the 80's flex in both the music style and the video itself. Plus, I've
had a thing about "spirals" before, though I'm not sure Keane mean it in
the same sense. Or do they?

Here it is:

And!

There's this iPhone game I've been freelancing graphics and simple
animation for, its developer has just posted an early video on YouTube:

The character is supposed to get hit as you hit him, but I guess he's
still working on it. He has posted the video mainly for crit at another
community. Go, Jason!!

You can't really see the character, so here's a hi-res closer-up preview:

On the left is the final. On the right is the first version I came up with, which was too clean-cut looking for the client. He said "think Fist of the North Star", which I guess meant just dirtier and grainier looking. Success, he liked the final version, as well as the following two characters (will gib details when game's on sale!).

I think I paid too much detail to it though. A lot of it just can't be seen on the iPhone's lickle 220 x 480 display. But, I'm fairly inexperienced with pixel art, so this has be a vital learning step! It's been confirmed I'm being commissioned to work on his next game, so I have ganbatte edge for the next. :)

Speaking of gaming! VIDEO GAMES LIVE!!

Go listen to a video of this live tour right while you read the following!

I had a date with the Video Games Live concert yesterday, gaze at my not so great phone photos! I've always been curious about it. I love orchestral music anyway (I won't say classical, I love the contemporary stuff more). And this was a live orchestra playing games music! And what a fantastic bunch of segments - Halo, Zelda, World of Warcraft, Mario, Tetris, Final Fantasy 7 - even a full segment of One Winged Angel for the encore we clapped ages for..! The composer, Jack Wall even moved his face towards the camera with a psycho face expression, did the audience laugh! There were loads, it was freaking magic! Just as games are, touching us in a special place (for those that take it seriously enough), the music is oh so important! I have purchased games for their music (namely Baiten Kaitos, Megaman ZX, Sonic Rush) and have not been disappointed - they are, almost literally, interactive music videos. Really hard to understand if you don't play games.

My only personal, and tad, slight disappointment was that there was no Sonic like last year's, which is my own fault for missing, but who knows for next year? Whatever they have to play, it's at epic standards. I was really amazed when WoW's score came on. I mean, I know they've played it before, but actually being there, having just started playing WoW itself a month or so a go (don't judge meee! ), it was magical, I was speechless. I felt honoured to have started the game in time to fully enjoy the live score.

The guys that run VGL, awesome composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall were great hosts, they communicated to the audience fantastically, and seeing as we are all gamers, we all have that strange rapport anyway. What really stole the show though was Martin Leung, with his superspeedpianism. And playing the Super Mario Bros. theme blindfolded?! I could not believe my eyes, dude. He doesn't talk much. Plays piano like a super fast car, smiles like the morning sun, but, all he did have to say was "I like London". :)

There was even a very good Guitar Hero player performing Sweet Emotion on the stage's big screen for everyone! There was a GH booth outside, and the guy most impressive (Tom, his name was) got on stage to perform an almost perfect surpassing 250,000 score on Sweet Emotion for us. :) He got a prize for himself as well, of course, I think it was the 360 itself, with thousands of Ocremix tracks loaded on the HDD.

Such magic. So much fun. Gasp. My heart could explode out of my chest.

There was just too much. Just listening to another recording of Martin Leung's Final Fantasy Melody, which he did play last night. I have never seen anyone play like that, let alone tunes I'm so so heartfelt with. I kept grabbing my date and swooning "this is so cool!" (shame he hates FF.)

I have to go now, before my heart explodes! I have to support this unique experience with YouTube offerings until next year's... ugh. (And it is unique, the videos just won't do it any justice, forget about any kind of gig you've been to before, okay?!) Then again, yesterday only marked the very first day of the London Games Festival, hehe. I will be at the Eurogamer thing next Wednesday to play Street Fighter IV and Mirror's Edge, and Gears 2... If you're in London, you should definitely pick out things to go for at the festival! I can't believe I missed it last time.

Commission or Competition? And photo picks!

2008-10-04T12:21:00.022+01:00

I didn't get my fashionable entries ready for the UT Grand Prix in time (deadline was on the 21st September). Boo!

Surprisingly enough though, it wasn't because I was feeling uninspired and lazy, but because I was offered a tasty commission. And in times of short notice and desperation, I was forced to choose. I chose the commission because it's the path that offers money, guaranteed. Alas, I have another competition of which to better my entries for next year! And perhaps, then I will also improve my timekeeping as well.

Creative timekeeping is such a bitch, innit? Speedy-fast-draw your art for someone else, only not being able to make it "your own", because it's all speedy-fast-draw. Will the client know/care if it's perfect it or not? Probably not. Yes it's not supposed to be "your own", it's "for them". But then, if you're giving out what is personally to you, half-assed work, then how is your creative identity carving itself right now?

I'm still learning I suppose. As I get to know my methods better, I will no doubt improve on the time thing. But it's been almost two decades so far, so I reckon I'll always be going back to the artwork 10 or so times until I know it's right! The quality versus quantity argument seems so constant, with me.

Anyway...

<--- I was browsing some stuff this morning. How dignifyingly goth-loli is this photo on the left? It's beautiful, right? The catwalk's dramatic lighting, the roses along that catwalk, and the flamboyant Burlesque-esque dress... Man, does she look cosy! Looking deep into the photo (clicky for original version), I imagine that model walking up behind her is some important twist character (e.g. ex-lover, future-lover, murderer). Not many fashion photos will do that to my imagination!

These were taken at Paris Fashion Week (last week), (C) Rex Features.

And just check out the hair on this one on the right. How Nordic! --->

I admire both of them, because of the expressions of the models and the OTT levels of both images. If animé were real-life, it should look and feel a bit like this.

Funnily enough, both were part of the Worst of Paris Fashion Week article, by MSN Life & Style. I disagree with a few of them being "bad". But dude, sometimes I had to agree with them!

Wallpaper of the Month!

2008-09-23T11:52:00.014+01:00

Just a quick cut/paste & filter job this time, of a motorcyclist mecha-suited army of... mecha!!1 o_o The Power Rangers/VR Trooper-esque design is commission-based. But as any artist should, I have reserved the rights to having them displayed on my portfolio. And with this particular piece, as a personal desktop. ;)

Title: The Fog of War

(Was The Illusion of Flight,
but the clouds started to fog!)

----------------
Listening to: Evanescence - Tourniquet
via FoxyTunes

"Growing up means admitting you're getting old. That's like welcoming death..."

2008-09-20T15:34:00.016+01:00

(Couldn't fit the whole quote up there, so here's the story.)

An angry old man scolds a boy for being so eluded, and tells him
to grow the fuck up, basically. The boy then says, boldly, proudly:

"Growing up means admitting you're getting old.
That's like welcoming death.
And while I don't fear death, I don't welcome it either.

I will never "grow up".

- SCRYED, Chapter 31, volume 4, page 92.
Art by Yasunari Toda & story by Yosuke Kuroda, 2001.

I haven't read the manga itself yet though. I was flicking through
for reference purposes (thanks for the hookity uppa Mark^^). And
well, this page's powerful words jump me on the way. I was like, O_O!

So remember ~~kids~~, age is just a number. You're only as old as you feel.

On other news, hey I came a happy 3rd in the PSU Thanks Festa,
so thanksuu again to everyone who took their sweet time to vote! :)

----------------
Listening to: Amy Winehouse - Monkey Man [*]
via FoxyTunes

Final Fantasy VII, we'll wait for you no matter what!

2008-09-17T16:39:00.025+01:00

Given Nobuo-san's very interesting FF7 remixes on both the shiny Final Fantasy Remix compilation and Black Mages III album, a fan can only wonder if it's a clue to a FF7 remake's development. It might not be, but I can't help myself! For the record, both CDs are awesome, I have to recommend buying both. The Mages are more rawk, with their incredible guitar riffs and solos mixed with electronic beat, as usual. While the Remix is more techno and experimental electronica. But both albums have that nostalgic videogame-y edge that makes them both inspiring to listen to while drawing! Even giving your char' designs Cloud-ish hairstyles by mistake, oops.

I was a stubborn little arroganté with Final Fantasy VII. Not being able to afford a Playstation when the game first came out in 1997, and feeling the burn from Playstation kicking the dust in my poor Sega Saturn's bruised face, I was a teenager growing biased, for Sega against Sony. For Sonic against Mario, too. For Sonic, for Sega, for Sonic. Only to slowly realise/give-in-to my foolishness, seeing as the 3D Sonic games were kf#i)s4\fh#saj1A;wloxgr, while FF7 and Super Mario 64 were very good indeed. By 2005, I was religious Sega/Sonic fan turned agnostic, with a love for all consoles and the games they babied up.

Part of my conversion, was thanks to Square's lovely 3D character development and design. I only decided to finally play FF7 3-4 years a go because a certain Advent Children was coming out, and was looking very pretty. Boy was I surprised! FF7 struck me down and out of reality completely. I did not care that my housemates came back from work tutting on passing through the living room, seeing me in my pyjamas since the morning last week when! I was drooling for more and dabbled with the rest of the series over the years (FFX just months a go). But 7 is the only FF game I've somehow not been able to stop playing until the very end. Something about how the narrative and game mechanics meld... is superbly done. Even though I didn't totally get the whole Zack/Cloud deal (at the time). Even though I wished I could have taken down all three of those giant robots before sending Sephiroth to the life stream. If there's a remake, at least I can be given another chance, eh?

I still believe FF7 PS3 is very real, and an announcement comes closer by the day. I haven't been searching up the news on it lately though, so don't flame me if I'm missing something. I also reckon it'll appear on the PS3, exclusively - & it will be its angel!

Anyway! Back to drawing...

Oh, speaking of drawing, there's two days until voting on my PSOW entry ends -
If you're a Sega fan and like my work, please sign up & vote! :)

Song of teh Moment!

2008-09-10T23:29:00.019+01:00

I was feeling down while drawing today. Possibly because I just wasn't getting this picture right much at all. The usual artist's block, I guess! But during my brunch and a brief trawl of the Tube, I came across one of my favourite battle themes (nostalgia, rejoice!) and then followed up its author to this pretty, little feel-good track, currently displayed at the top of his/her profile.

It's Hitori bocchi from the game Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana's soundtrack, composed by Ken Nakagawa:

FYI, this is a vocal version of the game's "snow town" theme, an album exclusive (another on the "To Buy" list!), and is not available in-game . I actually didn't like the song that much on first play. She (U-mi) was a little too husky at first. But listen again, and she just gets prettier. There's even this tiny jingle in there that reminds me of Sonic the Hedgehog's Greenhill Zone. It's a little Xmassy towards the end as well, but that's a given, seeing it's a "snowy town" theme of an RPG I haven't played yet (but wanna!).

Anyway, thank you Underworld23, for posting your "Top 100 RPG Battle Themes" array of vids, inc. the better version of one my faves, Skies of Arcadia. And for posting this luvverly tune. It reminded me to update my PC's music with more Japanese compositions and re-inspired me like I needed. I have now finished all my pencilling, am finalising the inks, and looking forward to a good night's sleep :)

EDIT: I did finally get that picture right. You can now find it up on SamuraiScoot.com, baby. :)

PSU Thanks Festa Global 2008 Entry!

2008-09-05T10:18:00.036+01:00

With some very, very, very last minute tweaks and random changes, it
turned out a little different from earlier. For the Phantasy Star Universe
Thanks Festa, Global (details at the PSOW forums). A big thanks to the
lovely Arika for running this comp and motivating me to draw once more!

Title: Everyone Has Another Side

I've got to say, rushing can be bad (that's me every morning!). But sometimes,

and only sometimes, it can bring out something good in you that you might not
have done if you were "going to plan". *Last Rush Magick Attack CRASHH!*

I think this "crash effect" might have rubbed off on the picture's layout too! Amid
this last min' K.O. special move, also, I left a flaw line at the top, and I even forgot to
sign my entry with my name. (Bad habit) Anyway! On with the next competition...

EDIT! (10/9/08)

My entry made the Top Ten! :) I didn't win the grand prize unfortunately - A Bamboo
Wacom tablet! Boo! But I still have a chance to win some in-game items from the prize pool. ^^
If you are a fan of my artwork & gaming, you can vote for me by signing up and voting here!

----------------
Listening to: Dizzie Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me
via FoxyTunes

Waving Goodluck to Siobhan Donaghy!

2008-08-25T18:52:00.042+01:00

I'm just listening to Siobhan's free MP3 from her official website....

Mmm, dreamy, spiritual... euphoric?

GET IT WHILE YOU CAN!

It's free, official and doesn't include torrenting.

I've always had a thing for the Sugababes since they first started. Their debut single Overload, was made of awesome. A white/black/asian girlband, around my age, with a good song, good video, pretty cute, great! With Overload, for me, it was Siobhan's voice that stood out. It just strung a different chord compared to Mutya and Keisha. Together, they worked! Then Siobhan left, and nobody really knew why. Since then, the 'Babes have been gi-jilly-jolly. Why did one leave a band verging on success? As I was listening to the Sugababes singles album the other day, I wondered what happened to that girl ...

...Only to learn that Siobhan was only just ditched earlier this month, "For lack of commercial success" by her Parlophone label. (?!) Hell, I didn't even know she brought her own album out. Talk about lack of promotion! No wonder she didn't do well. ("No radio support" really doesn't help.)

I feel a bit sad for her. But I did listen to all the tracks on her website's playlist, and I can't say any of them pricked my ears. Except for a couple of the last ones, Ghosts and Goldfish (kinda Utada Hikaru, but only kinda). She has got a lovely voice though. Perhaps it was just bad direction? The wrong music, the wrong image, at the wrong time. Maybe even for Siobhan, it's wrong age. The music sure has depth, but the lyrics don't so much.

Ghosts is the name of her last album, and is the free MP3 you get by registering over at her site, so again, get it while you can. It's very pretty, ambient, bass-y and uplifting! Makes me wanna go far away places, kinda thing. With all the cancellation, I'm so glad I got to listen to it in time (before Parlophone went and took it all down!).

Right now, the term "ghosts" is sad but beautiful, like a lot of things in this world. It's the song she decided to give away for free, and for me, the song she is singing out on. Now, she has become a "ghost" of the music industry today. No offence to Siobhan, of course. Surely a better label/producer will pick up on this ghost's resurrection. I would like to know how she's doing in a couple years.

Good luck, Siobhan! (Don't give up!)

----------------
Listening to: Siobhan - Ghosts
via FoxyTunes

Wallpaper for the Month! (& fuck you Wordpress...)

2008-08-23T23:46:00.027+01:00

Hey! I CG'ed, actually followed a tut, a book, everything, for the first time ever!

The book didn't help much with the details in depth, but it was definitely some nice visual guidance, so thanks Jared Hodges and Lindsay Cibos! But mostly, thank you oh Power of Internets, and Kawaii Hannah (v.talented CG anime artist from Australia) whose style I really like.

I have tried CGing before, but it wasn't really trying. I was just jumping in there, seeing what I could do with what I knew (which isn't a great deal!).

I was using Kawaii Hannah's tut mostly for guidance on the hair, and still doing that now so...

...it looks no where close:

The image is for the PSU Thanks Festa 2008 Global, in conjuntion with that game I play sometimes, Phantasy Star Universe. It is my desktop wallpaper right now, partly for reference.

SPEAKING OF COMPETITIONS! With the Neo Competition mentioned last post-ish, unfortunately I only managed to finish it properly half an hour after the Post Office shut (I am annoying when I can almost never let anything go half-assed).

So I sent it by Next Day Delivery the next day (which was the day of deadline), fingers crossed, hoping a thoughtful soul would let it pass as an entry anyway.

But a week later, no word, no win. "Nice try", I thought.

Here's a preview anyway:

I guess, I'll have to send it in for next year - in colour, ya ^^

--- The above is a copy/paste job from my creative blog, (of which may never be updated again, doh!)---

"Fuck you Wordpress..."??

Yes, fuck you Wordpress. Nothing personal o' course, it's just my frustration typing here. I am sick of one, little open or closed HTML tag fucking up an entire post. Sometimes the whole blog. Hell, I can't even see where the problem is this time, as such, after 3-4 tries of re-edits, you gotta let it go. Especially when you know the competition kicks its ass. Especially after 3-4 years.

I appreciate Wordpress as freeware, I really do/did. But I've been using it for 3 or so years with no real improvements. And there's other freeware that works better. I never, if rarely, seem to have coding problems on Blogger or Livejournal (which I had only commented on until now, but meh, counts!) But on Wordpress, it's with almost, every, entry. You ever use WP and find one unclosed HTML causes it to automatically create 4 or 5 closed ones? Thus tearing the post apart because the blog doesn't know what to do with itself. Frustating shit, dude.

So! It's a shame, as I have been posting mostly on my creative blog, which is of Wordpress birthright. Of course I tried to sexy up this Blogger of mine with the shady Wordpress man, but she's off the market. Despite the support, the "Import Blog" on here isn't in sight, for some reason. ~~But I'll try it some more later.~~ Nvm, same prob there.

I'm tired of having two blogs anyway. Don't know why I even bothered with the idea...

----------------
Listening to: Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
via FoxyTunes

Signature for the Month!

2008-07-31T17:37:00.000+01:00

Made it for use on the PSOW forums, it's my main char' looking daydreamy in the game Phantasy Star Universe, which I re-activated today. Yes, the graphics card is rocking! |)
I wanted a very natural look, like something a real photographer would take. Ironic that (and I love irony), because it is in fact a video game, and entirely unorganic.

Preview of Submission for Neo 2008

2008-07-31T17:34:00.002+01:00

Also, I just about scraped it. I think. My entry for the Neo Magazine Competition 2008 was posted yesterday morning!

It looked quite different in the final - Fingers crossed. :)

Stuffage…! (before I start animating!)

2008-07-31T17:09:00.000+01:00

So! Now that I am ready to animate, before I start anything, I would like to plug some of my older works for those who haven't seen them.
Some of my old Uni animations, a couple just uploaded on my YouTube:

Baseball Dance A very big, colourful, spinny ball... and won't be a baseball at all!

Experimental 3D: 4-Person Uni Project Group project, using music and Maya.

Rei, Fei & Kei: Part 1 Final project, unfinished but still a pass.

If you decide to watch them... Thank you! ^_^

"The Problem With Communication is the Illusion that it has been Accomplished"

2008-07-26T20:16:00.007+01:00

- George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright, 1856-1950.

Most likely, the reasons behind this complicated, messed up world is mis-understanding and mis-communication. And because, well, our brains don't have the capacity to contain and divide its many histories. Forgiveness is forgotten. Revenge rests upon pride. History repeats itself.

Mmm. Don't I sound like a doctor? |)

Thanks to Rafolanfranco for teasing my curiousity with who "GBS" is, and to Trevor Gay for putting it to rest. I found the above quote more moving, instead of the initial ‘Some men see things as they are and say 'Why?' I dream of things that never were, and say, 'Why not?' (2nd place prize!)

Mark Curtis X Bex Paul: Limited Edition Print!

2008-07-22T19:28:00.021+01:00

Cambridge photographer Mark Curtis has released a small collection of prints. One of the images is in limited edition and features the talented model Bex, a good friend of a good friend of mine (Lucy! "Excuse me!" lol).

I'm loving its dark, disturbingly grimy backdrop against the model's beautiful, clean-cut, classy ballroom attire. The overall image seems quite lonely, but regardless it does have a dangerously seductive quality.

She's dressed up, but why is she in there? What is she thinking? Who did it? Or did she deserve it? Bex's expression seems to say that she "saw this coming", deserves it and regrets whatever she did wrong. And it looks like she won't be coming out of that room anytime soon, "but it's okay, I'll accept defeat (for now)", heh. Do I see vengeance in those eyes? Think I'd have to see the actual print to see, really...

It's £150, with a mass of framing types to choose from:
http://www.art247.com/Print/15014

Dumdum de-de dum... Procrastinate... dumb...

2008-07-22T13:01:00.001+01:00

So I purchased a better wireless adapter, by D-Link. Waiting for it in the post now.

In the meantime I have been downloading & installing various games on to my brand spanking new PC; Age of Empires Gold Edition (old skool!), Seal Online, Phantasy Star Universe: AOI (WUWTDBP*), World of Warcraft 14 Day trial (WUCDBP**), Shaiya, Sims 2 and the Open for Business and Nightlife expansions.

And GOSH, Sims 2 is just huge! I just want to start running a club right away and start building it! Get the Sims boogying - BUT IT'S JUST LONG! Or so it looks it. I will give it a go when I have more patience.

I've also installed a couple of animating programs to start playing with once I have my comfortability***; Plastic Animation Paper (2D) and Anim8tor (3D), both completely free - I will do a more informational post later.

(Another thing on my mind; This blog gives less editorial freedom than Blogger. Kinda tricky, and a tad disappointing. - Edit: I'm talking about my old blog here, which this post was copied from)

* Waiting Until Warcraft Trial's Done Before Playing
** Waiting until Comic's Done Before Playing

"Perfection Takes a Touch of Madness"

2008-07-17T20:48:00.004+01:00

- SEAT TV Advert, Channel 4 @ 20:48 today

Call for Entries: Deadline extended to 31 july 2008!

2008-07-17T18:42:00.008+01:00

onedotzero festival

SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 31 JULY

call for festival submissions for 'onedotzero adventures in motion' 2008/09 international tour

the deadline has been extended to receive submissions of work for the 'onedotzero_adventures in motion' 2008/09 international tour.

the tour launches with onedotzero_buenos aires in september 08, onedotzero_ch in zurich in october 08, reaching london in november 08, with a three day event at the prestigious bfi southbank, followed by an extensive global city tour.

the festival is a great platform to gain global recognition and showcase your work alongside that of creative luminaries. we are looking for the most innovative and visually adventurous moving image work from all over the world. as ever, it's free to submit, and we welcome entries from all levels, including students and up-and-coming talent.

submit your music videos, motion graphics, animation, motion typography, generative / processing, narrative shorts, documentary, experimental works, street art in motion, interactive, installations and live audiovisual. this year onedotzero invites work and proposals for categories surrounding new theme 'citystates', an engaging exploration of city life.

deadline extended to 31 july 2008!

free to enter ----> www.onedotzero.com/submissions

Good luck!

Wallpaper for the Month!

2008-07-15T16:47:00.002+01:00

A quick wallpaper I made, in celebration of my new PC, the upcoming SF4, but really, just Chun-li.
1024 x 768 only:

This is non-commercial fanware. Use don’t abuse i.e. sell to any dodge wallpaper salesmen for monies you don’t deserve. Chun-Li belongs to Capcom, don’t ya know?

BUILDING MY ANIMATOR PC! - Part 3a: Last Level

2008-07-15T12:06:00.001+01:00

Got the VGA-DVI converter for my housemate's old monitor (Thanks Nick A.K.A. Morster!), who also hooked me up with a free kettle lead from work - one that originally came with an Xbox 360 (thanks again, Nick! So I'll no longer be bugging you for those disk drive cables you lost me no more! nyar har har, yes I still believe you have them! lol).

So! As of yesterday, my PC is *COMPLETE!*

Almost. (Hahaha) Well it is, really. But it's missing 2 important things...

COMFORTABILITY, and the POWER OF INTERNETS.

Using my old Belkin adapter, the wireless internet isn't working in my room - This is a 3-floor house, and my room is at the very top, while the router is at the very bottom. So the net is hooked up via ethernet down here in the living room. It's not the quietest room in the house, I'll have to wait until payday to get a better adapter.

But hey, most of this has gone really well, I can't complain.

I managed to use my old copy of Windows XP (that broke down with my notebook all those years a go), activated it, downloaded all the high-priority updates for it. Got my graphics card working, and the speed of my computer bumped up considerably when opening and closing windows! Videos run at a great speed. Sound drivers were messed up for a little while, but I stayed up until 3am to fix them - With the Power of Internets, I figured it out from others just as frustrated, it was just a simple driver conflict.

Ah it feels great to have my PC done! But it's just not in the comfort of my own room! (WHY IS THERE ALWAYS SOMETHING!!??!) lol

Well, I do have other things I have to do in the meantime anyway, like my 5 page comic.

And a job interview tomorrow. :O

I also updated my MP3 player for the first time in about 3 years. At least I think that's how long it's been since my PC died completely. Might have been 2. 2 and a half. I deleted everything on it except a few key creative or feel good tracks I've become too attached to, for feeling good, or just for animating full stop. I filled the rest up with various tracks from Marky's laptop and work's PC - Bonnie Pink, Apocalyptica, Rammstein, Puff Daddy, Utada Hikaru, Placebo, Foo Fighters... Stuff I know I like.

PICTURE SOON! (Must look up on how to get Bluetooth on this PC...)

Twenty One Fun!

2008-07-05T21:10:00.047+01:00

Look closely...

(That’s my bro’s 21st birthday present - the huger than

expected, new DGX 630 — Which is funnily enough, hiding

behind my very own 21st b’day present from my awesome

baby sis of a mate Louise “L.O.L.” - which is that big photo

frame in the corner. Which was also a bigger present than

expected for myself… The DGX is standing upright, from the

floor up to the top of the photo frame, and is also as wide as.

HOOGE SURPY! Behind thar be the 21st b’day trahsure for

me sibling'z knock on adultlife's door, next Sundayeeh…)

Too bad you can't see it, blah!

I'm not so happy with the cover I bought for it though. Wasn't as impressive as the picture. But I have a cunning plan! Giftwrap the shitty cover then hand it to Max (my turning-21 bro), then let him work out what it's for, before presenting the real present. (Mwahahar.) Aren't I a good sister?? This will make up for all the ~~broken~~ delayed promises I've made to him in the past, right? Fucking ditto. He is so not getting another present like this until his 40th, or something.

A really huge thanks to Musicland in Bromley for their wonderful service! Not only did they makesure I had this gorgeous keyboard (which only came out this month - perfect timing for my bro's bday huh^^), but a good man there was happy to price match the web shops (a rare thing), AND deliver it to the house as well. I was extremely happy! And I hope to return there to say thanks again to get a pianist chair. I highly recommend them to anyone in need of musical instruments!

BUILDING MY ANIMATOR PC! - PART 2b: PC done! Oh wait, monitor doesn’t work. Unit done!!

2008-07-04T14:03:00.004+01:00

My ex-housemate's old monitor is VGA, while mine is DVI only. Dan, my mate who sold me the graphics card, didn't include the VGA to DVI converter, oh well. More reason to hold out for a real monitor really, and remind me that I that I still have a few checks to do:

- ~~What kind of power cable should I use?~~ Free PC Help's forums just told me to use any 13 amp kettle lead, cool! (Thank you Wolfeymole!)

- Have I put the Aspire PSU's cable into the right places? (Many of them were a guess, but I'm hoping it doesn't matter). Mark says I should just turn it on and see..!

-My graphics card, and how it should be powered - there was a 6-pin port at the back of it, yet my motherboard's instructions say to power it via the motherboard.... Should I power the card from both ports?? Need to check up instructions online somewhere.

- I still need to get Vista.

I think I'll get my own VGA-DVI converter after all!

Ultimately though, I'm "meh" about all of this, because I'm relieved I got the more important thing done.

BUILDING MY ANIMATOR PC! - PART 2a: Piecing Together the Jargon Jigsaw!

2008-07-03T01:09:00.002+01:00

So, I finally got the case a couple days a go! (and my bro's birthday present on the same Tuesday!) All in a matter of days!

Saving and spending like this hasn't happened for me since my Uni days, when my student grant was miraculous (and cheekily short-lived).

So, I got me the anti-static wrist and cable ties from PC World up the road and had a go.

Woohoo! it's actually been quite fun putting my first PC together!

~~Okay, so the P182 is missing parts, which is fine as there's nothing blood-worthingly vital missing. With the power of internets, I should be able to track down the parts I need.~~ Actually, I found the missing screws (and then some!) inside the scrawnier corners of the case itself, and how to really fit the HDD into the P182's lower cage (via the Power of Internets once again!). I was reading the wrong part of the instructions, silly me. What I am still missing are two front panels and side racks for the upper section. Where the DVD drive goes, lookie:

I am gonna look out for the front bits, but I can always just keep the door closed until I do. No biggie!

I'm exhausted. Both mentally and physically! Loads of information to take in, and my mentality won't let me stop until the job is done! As long as I don't have work early in the morning, late hours fiddling abound! (I can see how/why PC modding can be quite a hobby - I think I could join them...) Though somehow, the more I express the fact I'm working so hard on it, the more I realise I should take a break and relax. Not gonna though.

Woohoo, put it all together in just two days! It's as easy as everyone said. :)

Post was edited 22:17, 04/07/08 with text and pics added.

Aaannnd!! 2nd, followed by a close 3rd...

2008-06-23T15:26:00.002+01:00

My expansion slot cooler and my Thermaltake fan arrived this morning! All in all (including the HDD)...

(Bad quality picture off my trusty purple Samsung flip phone...)

Just waiting for the case now, really. (C'mon!!)

...Aah, f**k it.

2008-06-22T04:41:00.002+01:00

Anyway, as a result, I’ve now cancelled the Vista/cable ties/wristband order. I think I can get Vista cheaper elsewhere, as well as the rest, plus I’ve just realised my little brother’s 21st birthday is coming up soooooooooo… I need to hold onto as much money as possible!

The main thing is, I’ve already got the main things (Case, PSU, HDD, Ram, DVD-Rom, Motherboard...).

So my slightly NEW PLAN IS:

While waiting for case to arrive I'm gonna...

Buy the cable ties, wristband (and possibly Vista) at the Computer Fair/Currys/PC World/wherever.

Delay upon delay...

2008-06-22T03:29:00.001+01:00

So there's a slight delay with my Antec case and the Thermaltake fan. (Because, you know, it's eBay)

And the order didn't go through with Amazon (the Windows Vista, cable ties, and the anti-static wristband) because of a temporary issue with my card.

Lalalalala la laa...

At least the Expansion Slot Cooler has gone through okay?! D:

"Opportunity Favours the Prepared Mind"

2008-06-20T12:04:00.013+01:00

- ...Saw it on a billboard a long Old Kent Road, back in May 2008.

Can't remember what company was branding this quote. But a quick tour de Google tells me it was apparently famously quoted by Louis Pasteur, the fearless French microbiologist who founded many a vaccine back in the 17th Century.

In Second Place...

This month's quote is followed closely by "Difficult is worth doing", as advertised by a Honda
billboard a couple days a go.

Ebuyer wins the delivery race!!

2008-06-19T10:21:00.001+01:00

My 750gb Samsung HDD arrived this morning! :D

Sketch of the Day!!

2008-06-18T19:47:00.012+01:00

I had a hyper day at work today. I got a little bored, hence the sketch.

(Hahahaha...) My trusty colleagues, you to me belong! On paper!

BUILDING MY ANIMATOR PC! - PART 1c: Waiting for the Postman

2008-06-17T17:16:00.001+01:00

Okay, I've ordered all the ingredients necessary for my little animation power chowder...

Case CHECK! - Antec P182 SE (2nd hand, eBay) PSU CHECK! - Aspire 550w Chameleon PSU (comes with the P182)
I did aim for a 600w, but from what I remember Dan (my PC whizz friend) saying, 550w is the minimum. The PSU is pretty much free, I guess if I have problems I will have to get another one. Hopefully it will do for now! Hard Drive CHECK! - Samsung 750gb SATAII 7200rpm 32mb cache (£60, Ebuyer) Windows Vista Home Premium CHECK! (£145, Amazon)

And a few extras I've learnt about a long the way, and to ensure my PC's cool:

Fan - Thermaltake A2460 120mm Cyclo w/ LCD Logo (£10, eBay) Anti-static wristband - by Belkin (£5, Amazon) Black hooks & cabie ties - by Akasa (£4, Amazon) Expansion slot cooler - Antec Super Cyclone Dual Expansion slot cooler (£8, Amazon)

As for the rest... They can friggin' wait.

For now, the Monitor is going to have to be one borrowed from a friend.

And the Adobe CS3 Master Collection will DEFINITELY have to wait (£600!?). I guess there's always MS Paint...

Geeettting closer...!!

For now, TIME IS MY ONLY ENEMY! :)

I won the bid! :D

2008-06-16T15:31:00.003+01:00

That's the pic offa eBay (I haven't got it yet)

It does look dusty and like about a million people have been caressing it, but I'm hoping it'll do. I'm not going to purchase anything else until I've got it, and cleaned it - PC components' price changes don't ever hold still!

I'mmmmaaa getting closer...

JAPAN FILES: An ear to the underground!

2008-06-16T12:10:00.014+01:00

Even a hint.

Yes, this is a message to any of my online friends with even a *hint*
of interest in Japanese culture (and hopefully the wonderful music
that comes with it).

Japan Files is fucking awes'. They offer little people like me and
you a musical insight into the underground for as little as approx.
£5 for TEN credits... (1 credit = 1 song download).

They've also FINALLY upgraded their website/forum
software, so now is the perfect time to join up and support them!

MAIN WEBBY:
https://www.japanfiles.com

OR, IF YOU'RE LAZY, sample their MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/japanfiles

They are not getting the attention they deserve.
But they have enlightened me with deities such
as Budo Grape and Mix Market.

Yes, I am sharing the love.

You're welcome! ¦)

Cheers for reading.
Now make use of
it by joining!!!

One-Time Showing of a Stage Play I helped with a bit!

2008-06-16T02:31:00.009+01:00

It's called: Brief Encounters
When: Saturday 21st June 2008!
Where: Central School of Speech and Drama, North London
Organised by: Fringe Benefits, Gendered Intelligence/CSSD
Significant links: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=15826342341

In May 2008, I attended a five-day voluntary drama workshop aimed at the LGBTQ audience (participating as or for). Basically 30+ people sitting in a circle brainstorming a 30 minute play intended for secondary school pupils. As I'm writing a book on related issues, and as my storytelling needs more light, I knew it'd be a good idea to take part. And it was!

I didn't contribute so much in the workshop itself, as much as I helped the group's directors, the Fringe Benefits team with the script outside of it, in their over-heated, air-conditionless hotel room at the Swiss fucking Cottage (that rant was for you, Norma! ^^). I helped with general script edits and re-edits, as I'm from London, and the Fringe Benefits team were from N.America! Converting dialogue, the slang, the way a joke drops, everything, from US to UK English... It was funfun wordy game.

So as much as everyone else, there are a few drops of me in the creative puddle that is, this stage play showing at ths CSSD this coming Saturday, called Brief Encounters! - Great name, it used to be called Shifting Gears, but Brief Encounters is beating around the bush in a funnier way, thanks to one of the scenes in the play involving the character Chris (a transgender, female-to-male, pre-operation) and a pair of briefs...

They have already performed the play to schools throughout June, and on the 21st will be their only PUBLIC performance! So, if you're someone interested in LGBTQ (that's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and/or queer) issues in terms of creativity, you'd hassle them to do another show!

Other links:
Fringe Benefits
Gendered Intelligence

Readying for Adventure!

2008-06-16T02:22:00.000+01:00

So I decided to finally set up blog here ready for anything that I suddenly want to say to people in terms of wide-scale opinion. That's how most of them happen. Suddenly. So just in case, here it is.

testy posty

2008-06-16T01:59:00.000+01:00

arjahihvaw
sfvsaawa
erse........?

BUILDING MY ANIMATOR PC! - PART 1b: Getting On My Freakin' Case

2008-06-15T11:00:00.002+01:00

So... I went to Tottenham Court Road's Computer Fair yesterday with my friend AK (was totally lost in technology). I went in looking for a case. There was a blue Alienware-style case that caught my eye for a mere £22, but it looked a little too toy-like and cheap to me. Must've been a copy of this one, I don't remember it looking that drooly. The rest of the hardware was lots, but nothing caught my eye that would beat the web's prices/quality.

CASE I AM WANTING: I was recommended the Antec P182 by my PC whizz friend Joe, however it is a bit of a price at around £90 (just for the case!). But shopping around, I find special editions of this one case (basically a mirror for a case, yay), great reviews as well as a major fanbase. My decision was settled! So I checked eBay, and, well, I found a rare P182 case on there, in so-so condition, starting at 99p, no reserve...AND it comes with a 550w PSU. I hope to have won it by this time tomorrow. There's no way I'm getting hold of the SE, and the alternative editions are the gun metal black, and not so easy to get gun metal grey ones. Great names for an anime series they are, but they look yawnsome! So, fingers crossed I win this auction!!

If I do win, the rest of my bits would be bumped up! Dabs.com are great, they have a Seagate 1TB HDD for about £120, and they sell Vista Home Premium £5 cheaper than Amazon! Shame on you Amazon! You're usually great for prices!

Am I jumping the gun by posting all of this unnecessary, unrealistic information? It is window shopper folly after all.

We shall see!

-This was copy/pasted from my old blog on the 2nd February 2010-

BUILDING My ANIMATOR PC! - PART 1a: Last Half of the Jargon Jigsaw

2008-05-23T16:03:00.003+01:00

WHY aren't there any PC cases made for WOMEN?!

I thought the PC industry would have been around long enough to have more f**king cases aimed at women out there!

Sorry for any swearing, I have been scrolling through this, that and the other for 3-4 hours now. Steam... release-aahh....

The only case I could find that was directly aimed at women was In-Win's Allure mATX (lovingly reviewed by gporgie at the Hardware Canucks, thanks!) which is beautiful. It has f**king Swarovski crystals and everything. It's just too small for the likes of the power I'm aiming for (it's a mini tower, really). I need room, I need ventilation, and I need something that doesn't look so masculine, brutal, intimidating or like a vehicle or just boring! And the amount of pink cases out there suck big, fat donkey oranges - they look so... plastic. So yeah, none of the thousands of cases I browsed through with even a hint of femininity (apart from the Allure) had "good taste" in mind. Really, all they could do is change the lights on some designs from blue/red/green to pink/purple. And the cases themselves, the majority are black, white, and well, black. How about other colours? A selection of, perhaps? Just imagine the popular X-Blade case with a dark shade of grey, with pink & purple lights = kinda hawt! I'm thinking a nice, long email is in order. To various case-making companies! Yesh...

Anyway, that's all wishful thinking. Maybe I'll just keep checking eBay for luck or something. Maybe one day I could become like some of these cool people and airbrush or model my own. Probably, possibly with someone else more technical/mechanical/architectural-minded. I suppose that's where the reason for the gap lies. Computers are dominated by the male. And the male/female ratio when it comes to inventing things, pfft, the male wins huuuggge. Aww well, perhaps one day, I could act as ambitious designer to a cracking inventor. Not now though, I have to stick to taking life one step at a time, and right now my PC is needed to exhaust my creative whim, my qualms, myself...

Or, "maybe not" to all that last paragraph. Perhaps I've been surfing the search waayy too long at this point. Or! Perhaps, I'm just being cynical and spoilt, like a child (which is my own personal theory on what effect the internet has had on the city human today). Or maybe I'm once again, just in a thoughtful rut of mind - Sheeiit, it's just a f**king case.

Nah. I am such a girl with expensive/important things! It must be pretty!

My search for a suitable case goes on. I am going to try Tottenham Court Road's computer fair tomorrow morning. If I don't find anything there, then I will be going for the Coolermaster Ammo 533. It has this retro feel to it. Kinda reminds me of an iPod's chassis/dancefloor tiles.

Anyway, The Story Thus Farrrr............

INGREDIENTS ACQUIRED FOR THE ANIMATION POWERCHOWDER:

A Pioneer DVR-112BK DVD-R/RW WRITER

An Asus 8800 GTS 320MB graphics card

2gb DDR Ram (though my friend said it was "special" - has the power of 4gb? Will have to ask him again)

A MSI P35 Platinum FSB I333, eSATA, Circu-pipe motherboard

An Intel Core 2 Duo processor (- thanks for all this Dan_^ I'm missing you and Evan muchly!)

A Hitachi 750gb SATA, 7200rpm, 32mb buffer harddrive (which I bought today and returning to PC World tomorrow morning. I found better/cheaper! The Hitachi one cost £120, extricated boooo to in-store prices!)

A wired Belkin optical mouse

A Fanatec PC/PS2 Gameboard (- thank you to Tom for this_^ Still owe you!)

STILL TO GET...

A case

A 600W+ PSU (Recommended: Enermax or Corsair)

A harddrive (Recommended: 320gb+ SATA/SATA-II 32mb cache 7200rpm)

A monitor (Aim: The Samsung 226CW 22" LCD one.)

Windows Vista Home Premium

Adobe CS3 Master Collection (The final nail?!)

And Microsoft Office 2007 - Just for the hassle-freeness of being able to do any ~~wordpressing~~ wordprocessing (dammit) or presentations "properly" for work.

Will keep things on track here, not just so people can see magic happen and draw ideas from them (hurrah!). But for consistency in battling my own procrastination. Summer's coming, and I'm just having too much fun to care about f**king computers. I need to remind myself that being careful, having patience, and watching prices and products, will eventually lead to an even richer creative lifestyle than the one where I am restricted to my sketchbook and using other peoples' things. And that things don't have to be so f**king complicated either! Grarrgh, sleep a must. [/monologue]

Song that matters right now: Hometown Glory, Adele

This post was edited - in both correction and addition - about one hundred times in the last three hours since it was originally posted.

-This was copy/pasted my old blog on the 2nd February 2010-

2007-05-07T03:27:00.001+01:00

All We Are

Introducing Myself & The Blog

Hi, my name is Rhoda Villegas, I’m a 20-something living in London, who feels like a beggar of an artist who is trying to forge her way through herself, and hoping to one day, finally be an animator to her own self-righteous, foolishly set standard of what is “good enough”.

I have an everlasting love for animation, character design and comic books.

Animation I’m still learning, I’m still a budding animator using a lightbox and Flash. I am looking to use other animation software, like DigiCel and Plastic Animation Paper. Unfortunately, I don’t have a computer at home of which to work and indulge in in my spare time. This hurts me, and disables me somewhat.

Character design is something I’ve been doing ever since reading Sonic the Comic and X-Men comics as a budding teen. I have realised, over the recent years, I have a penchant for cute or contemporary characters that convey emotions of confidence, justice, depression or even just tacky bigheadedness.

And comics are a given, who can’t love comic books? Stories with pictures. And mastering the subsequent beauty of them both? Haha.

I just graduated from Thames Valley University last year, with a degree in Digital Arts Major and Digital Animation Minor.

However, I still don’t believe I am at all ready to apply for a job at a studio yet… I am currently working as freelance creative mind, while working part time at a videogames retail store. I enjoy both jobs, but sometimes, I’m reminded that there is capacity for, oh, so much more.

That’s it for now, the most basic of written intros, I think. I hope my future posts will continue to tell you more about me.

-This was copy/pasted from my old blog on the 2nd February 2010-