I have been trying to compile an art FAQ for my website. I have come up with these questions - am I missing something you think people might be interested in asking me that I could answer in advance with a FAQ?
What kinds of drawing tools do you use/prefer?
Where do you draw?
How old were you when you began doing art?
How long have you been doing art?
What classic/fan artists inspire you?
How did you learn how to draw hair like that?
What kinds of music do you listen to when you do art?
I am on my 'creative' vacation this week so I will not be around here much. I am purposely avoiding the web so I can concentrate on either art or writing or both.
I plan on popping in once a day to check email and see what everyone is up to.
Saturday's photos from the 16th annual A-Kon are posted in Travels/Adventures section at my website. If you recognize any characters labeled as 'unknown', please contact me with the answers and you will be credited!
(x) smoked a cigarette ( ) smoked a cigar (I used to smoke tobacco in a pipe - the bowl was suggestive of a circumcized penis) (x) made out with a member of the same sex ( ) crashed a friend's car ( ) stolen a car (x) been in love (x) been dumped (x) shoplifted (x) been fired ( ) been in a fist fight ( ) snuck out of my parent's house (x) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back ( ) been arrested (x) made out with a stranger ( ) gone on a blind date (x) lied to a friend (x) had a crush on a teacher (x) skipped school (x) slept with a co-worker (x) seen someone die (does my cat count? I think it does!) (x) had a crush on one of your friends (x) been to Canada (x) been to Mexico (x) been on a plane ( ) thrown up in a bar ( ) purposely set a part of myself on fire (x) eaten Sushi ( ) been snowboarding (x) met someone in person from lj ( ) been moshing at a concert (x) been in an abusive relationship (x) taken painkillers (x) love someone or miss someone right now (x) laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by (x) made a snow angel (x) had a tea party (x) flown a kite (x) built a sand castle (x) gone puddle jumping (x) played dress up (x) jumped into a pile of leaves (x) gone sledding (x) cheated while playing a game (x) been lonely (x) fallen asleep at work/school (x) used a fake id (x) watched the sun set ( ) felt an earthquake (x) touched a snake (x) slept beneath the stars (x) been tickled (x) been robbed (x) been misunderstood (x) pet a reindeer/goat (x) won a contest (x) run a red light ( ) been suspended from school (x) been in a car accident ( ) had braces (x) felt like an outcast ( ) eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night (x) had deja vu (x) danced in the moonlight (x) hated the way you look (x) witnessed a crime (x) pole danced (x) questioned your heart ( ) been obsessed with post-it notes ( ) squished barefoot through the mud (x) been lost (x) been to the opposite side of the country (x) swam in the ocean (x) felt like dying (x) cried yourself to sleep ( ) played cops and robbers ( ) recently colored with crayons/colored pencils/markers ( ) sung karaoke (x) paid for a meal with only coins (x) done something you told yourself you wouldn't (x) made prank phone calls (x) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose (x) caught a snowflake on your tongue (x) danced in the rain (x) written a letter to Santa Claus (x) been kissed under a mistletoe (x) watched the sun set with someone you care about (x) blown bubbles ( ) made a bonfire on the beach (x) crashed a party (x) gone rollerskating (x) had a wish come true ( ) humped a monkey (x) worn pearls ( ) jumped off a bridge ( ) screamed penis in class ( ) ate dog/cat food ( ) told a complete stranger you loved them (x) kissed a mirror (to leave a lipstick print) (x) sang in the shower (x) had a dream that you married someone (it was more like I was already married and preggers) (x) glued your hand to something ( ) got your tongue stuck to a flag pole ( ) kissed a fish (x) worn the opposite sexes' clothes ( ) been a cheerleader (x) sat on a roof top (x) screamed at the top of your lungs ( ) done a one-handed cartwheel ( ) talked on the phone for more than 6 hours (x) stayed up all night (x) didn't take a shower for a week (more like four days of slumming while sick as a dog) ( ) picked and ate an apple right off the tree (x) climbed a tree ( ) had a tree house ( ) are scared to watch scary movies alone (x) believe in ghosts (x) have more then 30 pairs of shoes ( ) worn a really ugly outfit to school just to see what others say ( ) gone streaking ( ) played ding-dong-ditch ( ) played chicken (x) been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on (x) been told you're hot by a complete stranger (x) broken a bone (x) been easily amused ( ) caught a fish then ate it (x) made porn (does drawing dirty drawings or writing fic count?) (X) caught a butterfly (actually, I did not have to catch it; it landed on me!) (x) laughed so hard you cried (x) cried so hard you laughed (x) mooned/flashed someone (x) had someone moon/flash you (x) cheated on a test ( ) have a Britany Spears CD (x) forgotten someone's name (x) slept naked (x) French braided someones hair (x) gone skinny dippin' in a pool ( ) been kicked out of your house ( ) I see a therapist. ( ) I'm the youngest child ( ) I am drawn to things associated with sadness. ( ) I love my gauged earrings (x) I wear black eyeliner every day. ( ) I am extremely influenced by kindness (x) I love to write, even though I think I suck at it (x) I can't live without lipgloss (it is really lip balm - I don't do lipstick) (x) I'm probably emotionally scarred. ( ) I lived in Tahoe. (x) I spend money I have. ( ) I'll be in college for over 4 years. (It took 9.5 years to complete my BA - I worked the whole
time) ( ) I love designer handbags (x) I've had a concussion before (x) I'm not good with confrontation (I think it all depends on the situation and whether or not ( ) I loved the Backstreet Boys (x) I have more than a couple horrible memories. ( ) My first kiss was unexpected (x) I'm not a fan of rap (x) I love taking pictures (x) I hate people who are fake. (x) I can be mean when I want to (x) When I allow myself to get close to people, I get very attached ( ) I am bisexual (X) I have way too many pairs of shoes (x) I was into Hot Wheels as a child (x) I dress how I feel that day ( ) My room is painted a color other than white ( ) I cry very easily. ( ) I'm always early ( ) I barely ever study for tests ( ) My birthday is my favorite holiday (x) I have too many clothes for my closet/dresser ( ) I am a morning person (x) I wish I was smarter ( ) I believe that it is wrong to be gay (x) No one really knows me (x) I don't have many bad hair days (all days are bad hair days!) (x) I sometimes fight with my parents (x) I am passionate about my interests (x) I have had the chicken pox (x) I feel empty sometimes ( ) I am/was most likely clinically depressed at a point in my life. ( ) I am very outgoing. ( ) Christmas is my favorite holiday. (x) I can be very insecure. ( ) I don't notice it, but I'm told I'm very softspoken. (x) I hate ignorant people. ( ) I love the color yellow ( ) I love guys that play the guitar ( ) I state the obvious ( ) I'm a happy person ( ) I have absolutely no self-confidence (x) I've contemplated suicide. ( ) I tend to get jealous (I would have checked this at one time. I got over it.) (x) I like to play video games. ( ) I love like John Mayer does (x) I get more upset when I see an animal hurt than a person ( ) I'm a vegetarian/vegan/don't eat beef. ( ) I am too forgiving (x) I have a good sense of direction ( ) I've never had a boyfriend/girlfriend before. (x) I've played a musical instrument for more than 5 years ( ) I love kisses on the forehead ( ) I love the color blue ( ) I don't sew (x) I am not addicted to drugs (x) I wear contacts (once in a great while) ( ) I hate it when people say they hate Bush because he is a moron (x) I don't really follow the Political world ( ) I don't take criticism well. (x) Conformity is stupid. ( ) Chris Carrabba is one of the sexiest men alive ( ) So is Conor from Bright Eyes ( ) I love my family (x) I don't mind getting shots (x) I am a perfectionist when it comes to certain things (x) I always wanted to learn to play the drums (x) I can be too hard on myself (x) I'm probably/if not already had going to have premarital sex (x) I don't like my nose (x) I am very religious (in a practical way - not in a Bible-thumping way - ugh!) (x) I still act like a little kid (but only at Disneyland) ( ) I am ridiculously indecisive (x) I believe in a higher power or some form of an afterlife (x) I love music. ( ) Jesse Lacey writes the most amazing lyrics ever ( ) I don't really like ice cream (x) I think the government is wrong
The guy came out and pinged our area and said we are too far away from them. They are willing to lay down fiber optics to our door for a lot more money. rat said no.
Now he has to go hunting for another company, after us suffering without call forward for almost a week because they cut everything off. Why they cut various services prior to us getting the new services does not make any sense to me, but the company is definitely an idiot.
This means the DSL box that was supposed to also have the Y5 connection is not in our possession. I did not order a wireless box for the new laptop because it was supposed to come with the DSL.
Gonna have to discuss this with the rat tech later, after he returns from the hunt.
This is the second day of a Red Alert (unhealthy) air pollution watch. Monday we had a Yellow Alert.
I just want to stay home and nurse my headache I have had since Monday but I have to go to work and get a lot done this week before taking off next week for a creative vacation. Yesterday, the outside air made my entire lungs ache in my chest and I was short of breath. When I got back inside, the dull pain through my chest would last at least a half-hour before clearing up. I was also coughing, trying to expel the bad air I could not escape when walking from the parking lot to the building. My body should not cough because it rips up my permanent costochondritus (inflamed cartilage all along my ribcage). It has been a pleasant week so far, not. No weather is predicted to come through to help blow the bad air away temporarily so I will be suffering more before it gets better. I wonder if I should look into getting a surgical mask to help filter the air.
I have been doing some facial expressions and body posing photo work for a project the president of the college has given our dept. to do. I will probably be doing a lot of voice work, too, since I can do some Monty Python-like character voices.
Can I go back to sleep now? Hmm... maybe I will go to work early today so I can get off early. Better stop now before I start babbling.
I am typing this on my new Dell, using a Y5 connection in the neighborhood. The temporary name for this notebook is otaku, until I can figure out its personality.
I really hate forced holidays like Father's Day. I do not claim any man as my 'father' but I still have to jump through the hoop with my mother's husband. *sigh* He is getting an hour of Photoshop tips and tricks training from me this year.
rat has to work Sunday this week. Tis the season for Blockbuster to push for Xmas stock so it is not like it is unexpected, but he has to work because the team who comes in Mon-Wed did a sloppy job and now everyone has to clean up the mess.
Aja! We finished up Samurai Champloo! It was great! THANK YOU for sending the rest of those eps so we would know how it ended! Did you warn me you did not have ep 21? Well, we figured out what was going on and it got much more twisty-turny as the eps progressed.
rat has ordered DSL for us. It is only $2 more a month than our dialup connection so he decided we needed to finally invest in it. It is not the fastest connection but it will be eight times faster than what he have now, he says. I say, I will believe it when I see it be consistently fast for a while.
We should get the stuff to connect it next week. For the time being, if we are online, we no longer have the call forwarding option on our phone.
This decision was made for a variety of reasons. The most pressing one was the fact the new network modem we have likes to cut off without warning and sometimes it has to be unplugged and replugged to get it going again. Annoying, especially if I am in the middle of an oekaki or something else online.
The new laptop will be delivered next week at some point and rat says he will add the DSL capability to it as well.
I will not get my Eiri and Shuichi plushies for another eight to ten weeks, wah.
I should get the new RightStuf teeshirts by Animefest. I need to pre-order my ticket for that... I will not be staying at the hotel this time because there is nothing I will be wanting to stay late for at this con.
The two artists at A-Kon, who told me to contact them about getting Gravi artwork, have finally responded to my emails but they still have not told me how to get them money. You would think they would WANT some dollars. They both have nice, unique styles and their work is real fanart, not copies of official artwork.
I need to get back to working on Saturday's cosplay pic labels now, or go to sleep...
I have finally posted Friday's pics from A-Kon on my website. (www.ourwitzend.com)
If you recognize any characters labeled as 'unknown', please comment with the answers and you will be credited on the website!
mel_mel_chan, I know you are not very available right now because of the wedding, but I need the character/anime names of your two cosplays so I can label you correctly.
One thing I would like to note here: I knew a lot of the Friday characters and labeled them. In the past I had a lot of 'unknown character' labels for my cosplay pics. I know more anime/manga now, yay!
My overall plan for the summer is to spend more time doing creative stuff, either handwork or cg/website work, and less time actually connected online.
This is just FYI, so everyone knows I am not purposely ignoring you.
I will try to check email daily but I cannot guarantee it.
I will be taking a week's vacation in two weeks to do some creative things. Hopefully I will not get dog-assed sick like I did last vacation.
Today I ordered a brand-new Dell laptop with internal wireless, and a CD-RW/DVD combo drive. I got a mailer at work with a special offer for education customers, so I decided to bite the bullet on the last day I could order one. I got about $400 off the regular price. This will be much, much better than craptop ni, although I believe it will not have the 'eraser' mouse I am used to using. I will have to pull out the regular mouse for a while because I find the touch-pad mouse clumsy for a gimp like me. With a 30gig hard drive and 512 memory, I will be able to load Photoshop without it falling over.
Another photo from the Con - my students know I will be threatening them with this the first day of the Anime Club come Fall...
I went back to bed with a headache after the pain got worse as I stayed up. Even the steam from the shower did not help.
I am much better today. My head finally opened up about 7pm last night. My head still aches, but I have dealt with this kind of pain before while working.
I was out for the count yesterday with a terrible sinus headache. I finally woke up about 6pm last night, after spending 12 hours being unconscious,trying to sleep it off. My head still hurts some today but I think I will be able to live with it enough to go to work.
I am ready for the doc to give me high blood pressure medication so I can take decongestants again. The antihistamines alone don't cut it at all.
mel mel chan, I need the names of your cosplay charas so I can label you correctly.
The TOPS of my feet hurt, along with the bottoms of my feet, my legs, my hips, my back, my neck, my shoulders and everything else. It was worth it, though.
Saw quite a few Shuichis (at least six), a few Eiris, a few Ryuichis and one Tohma. Talked to two adorable girls dressed as Shuichi and Eiri I hope will be hooking up with me here.
I will be writing up the weekend adventure and slowly posting pics at the website soon.
Right now I am running on not enough sleep, so I am going to finish unpacking and go to bed. I have to go to work bright and early tomorrow, whee!
Okay, I got the modem working here at the hotel through the regular phone. I am not paying $10 a day for high-speed internet.
Each local call is 54 cents so I have decided after this entry I will not be online for the rest of the con.
Sorry, I cannot read about everything - I need to get some emails out, then I am signing off for weekend.
If I am lucky, I will be on Sunday night, unless I am dead - which is likely because my body hurts, my feet hurt, my head hurts - but I am having a blast!
babyzerochica and kitzira - hope I run into you at the con!
narniaknight - you are working security again, yes? I hope to see you!
mel_mel_chan and togabitoion - I am looking forward to seeing your latest cosplay!
chibikame, I hope your health will be good enough to meet you at the con!
angrybee, I wish you could make it. Saiyuki's "Son Goku" will be there and you two could hang out and smoke some more.
I know I am missing some people. Just look for the short, large, myopic, curly-haired broad wearing the Gravitation teeshirt, waving a tiny digital camera around, trying to catch good and bad (mostly bad) cosplay.
Saw a teaser for a game called DragonQuest VIII. It showed a lot of the characters. One guy looked vaguely familiar. He had chin-length hair, parted in the middle. He carried a big sword. When he got powered up, his hair stood straight up from his scalp. Looked suspiciously liked Mirai Trunks.
Thanks: --> to Lia, my sensei, who has inspired me to draw again. I
wouldn't be doing this without your support, Domo Arigato!
--> to Talon, for sending me her fabulous fics, inspiring me with her writing to draw my first
illustration for a story and actually liking what I drew.
--> to Dasia, for her words of encouragement when drawing her original chara.
--> to Joules, a wonderful epic fic writer, for liking my art enough to want to post them with Talon's
and her own stories.
--> to Lutra, the other half of the epic team, for being so supportive.
--> to Jacque' & Becca Raddittzu, we met on eBay as bidder and sellers and now we are face-to-face
friends. You showed us the real DBZ with your fansubs. It's all your fault the house is full of
doujinshi! *LOL*
:: welcome to bakayaro onna's mindless ramblings, rants & raves :: 
