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It's kind of strange I've never written about this considering that I am a very active artist. Well, until recently because of school, but now I'm back on business and the site's back. So, this is going to be my essay of the history of my graphics.
It all started actually when I was about thirteen/fourteen years old. Of course, it was Neopets that got me into it because I had gotten into Neopets when I was around twelve, and then around age thirteen I became a much avid Neopian. At age fourteen however I really got into making profiles for people and learned how to do basic coding and basic pictures. Most of the time, I'd just use premade wallpapers and coded them for my personal profile. But then Neopets changed their coding policies because the new deranged codes were running up and about, so it put an end to my profile making passion.
However, in all the chaos of finding wallpapers and decent looking pictures, I stumbled onto sites like Animeshare, owned by Dark Lady, and Aethereality, among others such as Anime Requiem. I was so fascinated by their beautiful work and was informed that they used a program called Photoshop. Most of the time I would be lurking around sites looking for other various wallpapers, and would constantly wonder why people kept using the same image but different background. At the time, I'd often ask, "HOW DID THEY DO THAT?!" It didn't take long for me to find out the meaning of PNGS.
The quest for Photoshop began almost instantly once I discovered the magical program. Luckily, my uncle is an art student and had been enrolled into a new art school. One of his requirements was to learn how to use Photoshop, and thus the school provided him with the actual program to use on his home computer. He found my Neopets online one day when I came to visit, and he then offered to give me Photoshop for me to make my own wallpapers. However, he didn't teach me much. He gave me Photoshop CS2 at age fifteen, and strangely, the actual program didn't work. The Imageready worked, but I didn't do much with it. I got a kick out of messing with a few pictures, but I didn't use it very much. I didn't know what each tool did, so I experimented with filters and effects, but still was quite amateur.
One of my fellow shcoolmates was Photoshop savvy and helped me a tiny bit, but they had their schoolwork and things to do so they didn't give out tutorial either. Finally, I decided to get rid of CS2 and my uncle then gave me Photoshop 7.0. It was like instant magic, but of course, I was still a little greenhorn. On the very first day I got my Photoshop, I made my very first wallpaper, which was cute, but of course, it showed a long, long road for growth.
Each week I'd make a new wallpaper, and I would constantly play around with various tools. Most of my skills were self taught, even though once in a while I'd go look up a tutorial or so. But I never depended on them. My mind would always have a plan on the go and I'd play around with the effects until I made it happen. other times, my works of art were born from very surprising accidents. But they were lovely. My friends really liked my work, and they were very encouraging. Many of them gave good remarks and even though I look back and say, "Those wallpapers were horrible," they still do show remnants of real talent. I don't mean to sound vain, but I am proud that my wallpapers were decent looking.
One thing I heavily depended upon were brushes, which are elements in digital art that are both celebrated and condemned. Some people title others as "Brush Whores", which I am afraid to be called that even though I do support the use of brushes. I usually just use them when I want to, more that I use textures, effects, and brushes and see what I can make out of them. I don't have policies and I jsut my passion do the talking. If brushes are required, so let it be.
In time I was heavily encouraged by my best friend, whom I would always make graphics for. Even though sometimes they would ask for the most itneresting of requests, they allowed me to also place my passion on other things that I never dreamed I could do. One thing that I learned was that I have to have the passion to create something presentable, and especially when it's a challenge or something different, encouragement is the best inspiration. My best friend always told me they knew I could do it, and saw the potential in me and gave me the strength and courage to actually want to try new things. They encouraged me to experiment and go crazy, even if it'd look bad the first time. And with that, I felt the urge to journey to new territories. That helped me become a much more skilled designer.
Once I realized I was much better than I had been within the year, I applied for my very first site, which was Enchanted Kiss Designs, owned by the lovely, amazing, Angel. She is such a sweetheart, a very gifted designer, and a dedeicated and lovable person. Angel and her staff warmly welcomed me to their site and I immediately got working and many of them really appreciated my talent. I felt very flattered that people enjoyed what I did. I developed a particular style, namely one with bold colors, vectors, and heavily loaded brushes. But many seemed to like the style and it fit really nicely since all the other designershad their own styles. The entire site was just filled with various levels and types of artwork. Even now I am still part of Enchanted Kiss and Angel has now even become a staff of mine for my own developing site, Excalibur Overture Designs.
There were times I admit I had issues with EK, mainly because there were lags and lack of updates and motivation, so I decided to apply to another site. Around the time, I met Miyumi of Crisp Breeze. She used to own another previous site she closed and she and I got to talking and became fast friends. She was working on a new site named Ryokucha and needed some help, so I decided to help out in the mean time. Mimi is just a pleasure to work with and now is also my staff member as I am her staff member as well. She makes designing enjoyable and is simply one of the most wonderful people in the designing world. Mimi was the first person who taught me how to design real layouts. She was so patient and was so helpful that thanks to her I can make layouts. x3
Ryokucha came to a pause and I decided to apply to one of the most prestigous designer sites, named Allianora Designs. This site, owned by Maya, was one of my most favorite sites in the entire world and my inspiration. When I noticed they had applications, I decided to take the risk and apply and before I knew it, I received a reply saying that they were extremely impressed at my work and were willing to give me a job. I was their very last staff member they took in before Maya closed the site and decided to go solo. However, for the mean time, I was so proud to become part of my dream site. I only lasted for a short time however because all the staff members on Allianora were removed because Maya felt as if the staff members ran the site because she hadn't been updating as much. Therefore, she decided to run the site for herself but it was just a pleasure being part of their team.
With Allianora part of resume, I realized I had a good chance of becoming part of any other site I wanted to be, with the exception of the top notch sites that could never be beaten. I was looking for work and went to the forums at Komet Tails Designs and noticed that a designer named Hondai was looking for a staff memebr and I emailed her regarding the job placement and we got to talking. She had been working on a site called Chinatsune.net, and she needed another staff member. She accpeted my application and I began to help on that. Chinatsune never saw opening day because it was moved back to her former site True Magic, a site that I am working on still as well.
Then, with Chinatsune and EK in progress, I also applied on the same day for Fading Dreams. However, it was a surprise I had gotten accepted because I had already been accpeted onto Chinatsune. But, Sanami of Fading Dreams was such a sweetheart I just couldn't resist. Fading Dreams is now under revamp and I am still active with them as well.
With all this, I also got to meet Sana of Serene Illusion Designs on Gaia. She and I met actually because of a similar anime fandom, and she and I then realized we were both designers and she was one of the most helpful people. She is supportive, such a friendly girl, and is also a wonderful girl to talk to as a friend.
It then turned out that a rumor was flying that Angel was going to shut down EK. I was devastated, as well as the other staff members. Meanwhile then, my friend Katty of Arisu.org, at the time called Drop-Dead Fridays, and let me join her blog. So I became accustomed to her wonderful artwork. But then she closed and moved to Arisu.org. With the rumors flying, I decided to finally step up to the placte and get my site started. Sana then reccomended me actually to her hostess Rain of Essenxa.net, and in January I got a chance to finally speak with her and passed my interview. I presented my layout, my work, and all other items she asked for, and I received my site: http://excalibur.serene-illusion.net/. The site is called Excalibur Overture Designs, named after one of my prized stories since I do writing on the side.
I got my layout up, but of course, I was still learning so I learned how to actually work with my control panel thanks to Sana. Mimi helped me out with the layout, adding CSS and other images and teaching me how to make spiffy effects on the website. Thanks to them, I really improved my site and I'm constantly adding more to it.
Thankfully though, through this entire time I managed to make a business out of my work when I'm not doing anime graphics. I make logos and other designs for various companies, including a small game company that employed me in the area to do logos and promos. I'm almost always constantly working in the evenings, and on other days, I keep my requests and demands open and many people send sketches of what they want and I make them. Others ask me to surprise them. It's so much fun however because I am always passionate and constantly working.
Working both out of passion and for actual money and a job also helps me really develop the skills I wanted to work with people. While with my friends I am typically a very energetic and outgoing person, I can be very shy with people. Online I can be much more assertive, as other people can be different online as well, but I've been able to meet both nice people and rude people through business. Being a person whoc annot understand unkindness and the concept of mean, and also being a person who is looking into a career in fashion design, it's important to understand that there will be people in the world that either love you or hate you. And there are, of course, some in between. Thankfully I work with many coworkers who are just amazing, talented, and very friendly and personable. But we often deal with many kind people and other rude people. It's insane to believe that there are rude people, but you develop the skills to provide good customer service, and you also learn the true meaning of the right to "refuse service to someone" when they are being truly mean. Being a passive person, I really am learning about it.
I am very fortunate to have met several mentors throughout my entire experience. Many of them are simply the greatest people ever, and all of them vary by age, talents, years of experience, and styles. They demonstrate the greatest talents, and being a girl who self taught herself all she knew, these people are always willing to help out and include me in their activities, making me feel part of a family. We're always willing to help give critique, and ask for help, making my experience the most enjoyable ever.
And I continue to make graphics, all through my motivation from special people, from my mentors, fellow people, designers, family, friends, everyone. Also passion and the ability to create art and to express myself and my love for anime is really important to me. That way, I see a major hobby in my life unfolding before my very eyes.
Here is my little thank you list of my loved:
Angel ~ <3 [Enchanted Kiss Designs]
Ash ~ <3 [Silver Bells Designs]
Miyumi ~ <3 [Crisp Breeze]
Katty ~ <3 [Arisu.org]
Maya ~ <3 [Allianora Designs]
Sana ~ <3 [Serene Illusion Designs]
Rain ~ <3 [Essenxa Designs]
Hondai ~ <3 [True Magic Designs]
Sanami ~ <3 [Fading Dreams Designs]
Mari ~ <3 [Gaia Profile Amazing Lovie and Coworker]
Shadow ~ <3 [My motivator, best friend, and inspiration]
Steve Perry ~ <3 [Because playing your songs make me wanna do graphics. xD
I love you all! x33333
Ohtori Kagura · Sun Jun 15, 2008 @ 04:02am · 0 Comments |
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