I know people are doing these "hug" chains, and while I don't do chains, I don't want to be seen as a bad friend. So... *HUGS EVERYONE!!!11!!!!1!*
In other news, I'm editing my voice meme. I cut out about 10 minutes of awkward pauses, stutters, and bad phrasing and I'm not even halfway through the meme. Let's just say that I'm a lot more eloquent when I type.
I'm also working on 30DOA. Only 12 left to go! I figured that if I don't get all 30 done and posted by September, I'm going to stop posting them in the Fan Art section and make a Fan Comic. That way, I can post Challenge entries without having to submit them in between 30DOA sketches.
I have a very n00bish question, too. Since I have never posted a multi-page Fan Comic, is it possible to edit/revise the pages? I'm thinking of posting the answers to "Get to Know an OC" as sketches just to get them out there. Then I'd work on them digitally to make them look good and replace the sketches. Is that possible? If not, I'll have to work on touching them up before I post.
By the way, the OC meme is still open for questions. Ask as many or few as you like.
Also, I learned that pretty much the only thing different between Manga Studio 5 and Manga Studio EX 5 is that EX lets you organize stories. I don't think that the one difference is worth $100 more. So I'm going to go for the regular version. Hopefully I won't have a financial setback last next month like I did this month. (Ignore the word last. That was a typo that I fixed.)
Hmm, this turned from a hugging post into another one of my updates. Sorry 'bout that.
Is it just me, or are more of my posts becoming about me and my art rather than anime commentary?
Anyway, I haven't made any progress with 30DOA since my last Fan Art posts. I've tried to use Manga Studio, but it's too big a leap to draw without a rough sketch first. I have been practicing, with it, though. And there are three problems that I've found: my screen is a bit too small, I'm learning a program with an obsolete version of this program, and Manga Studio EX 5 cannot read EX 3 files. I wanna upgrade so bad, but I don't have the money.
I'm almost there with investing in a scanner. I've made money on eBay that I'm going to use to buy one. Only $70 more to go. Yay? In the meantime, I'm just going to draw on physical paper and wait until either I can buy my scanner or my dad unpacks his.
That is, if I can get myself to draw.
I feel kind of overwhelmed. When I get that way, I tend to shut down rather than attack the overwhelming-ness-itude. Not only do I have half of 30DOA to go, I promised a drawing to everyone who did my voice meme. Then there are a bunch of Challenges I want to enter. I hope I make them in time. I'm just glad that I got the cosplay one done way before the deadline. So, that's like 30 drawings right there. I may not have been able to get 30 drawings in one month, but can I do it in three?
Then there's the voice meme itself. I'm going to record it tomorrow. I hope. I'm afraid the guitar part will have to be separate. I talked with my guitar teacher and he wants me to turn the track into a full-blown song. And I like that idea. I even used a bass guitar for the first time. So it's going to sound a lot more polished than I had intended. That takes work, but I'm willing to do it.
As for the big post I said I was going to make in July, that's going to be delayed until my voice meme is posted. So expect it soon. "Soon" being defined as "whenever I feel like writing it". As I said, I sometimes get overwhelmed by big things.
Speaking of writing, it seems that the only times I want to write stories, I can't. Like when I'm driving. Or buying groceries. Or when I'm at my parents' and I forgot my laptop. It's quite maddening. But "Rebels" chapter 3 is half typed out. Though I haven't edited Survival Instincts in, like, forever. There are two more little stories that I scribbled down to later be typed and posted. I think I'm going to call them "Hectico el Manifico" and "The Magic Sandwich".
I want to do one of those "ask an OC" things SO BAD. But I don't have a scanner! And I have so many other art projects to do! All of this is driving me crazy!! Should I just start it up anyway? You people don't mind waiting, do you? I'll probably compile all the questions into one big fan comic. After all, that's kind of what the answers will be like.
I'm also coming up with all kinds of OCs that have no stories or partial stories. Not good. I've got enough to deal with already. But just so I don't forget, I'm kicking around this idea in which a fairy's soul gets sealed in the body of a werewolf in order to tame him. It's kind of like Naruto's situation in reverse.
If that's not enough, I'm kicking around this idea about forming a group to make a story, draw it, put it into a movie and add sound and voice work. Kind of like a fan-dubbed manga. Only with original artwork. I have a vague idea of what I want to do, but the idea is so vague that I wouldn't mind if it was vetoed.
OK, I'm done rambling. Comments? Concerns? Cookies?
I'm getting ready to record my voice meme. So this drawing giveaway is closed. If you REALLY want a drawing from me, you can beg and plead, and I'll see what I can do for you.
So it's come to this....
You know how people around theO are taking requests and giving out surprise gifts? Well, I'm feeling crazy enough to do something like that. So, comment and I'll draw a picture for you. It'll be a surprise, but I'll do research to make sure it's something you like.
There is a catch, however.
You have to ask questions for my voice meme. I know I said that I wanted you to answer your own questions to get to know you better, but you don't even have to do that. Just click the link and ask some questions in my voice meme post (not this one).
Since MangaKid, Allie Elric, and alphonse13 already asked questions, they will automatically get drawings from me. Other participants will be listed below.
Let's see if this works.
Edit: Apparently, not too well. Actually, it's getting there.
1. elricbrothersfan
2. Moka
3. Klassic
4. pandaman
5. kita mikichi
6. izuzu15
7. gerychan
If you've been wondering, "WHERE THE HECK IS MY DRAWING???" don't worry. I fully intend to keep my promise. I'm just trying to figure out what surprises to give everybody. I'll start on the drawings when my meme is recorded.
How's that for alphabet soup? *Shot.*
I'm seeing a lot of original character crossovers lately. Same with RPs. From time to time, I actually lurk in the OC Universe RP World and check out character profiles. I've also noticed a recent trend where people are interviewing OCs. Personally, I find this very intriguing.
I'd love to join in on the fun, but there are a few things holding me back. For one, I'm not great at RPing. In all my life, I've only been involved with one RP in which the objective is to be as silly as possible. So I've never done a serious RP with an OC. And if my OCs were to meet anyone else's, they might be freaked out by characters. I mean, I've got people with powers, people that aren't people, demons that somewhat look like people, inhabitants of other planets that hardly look like people, and a stick figure.
Second, I'm not familiar with everyone's stories. In fact, the only original story that I've read on theO is Kita Mikichi's So Distant (which I enjoyed despite the fact that I cried puddles). I'd like to read more, but I don't know who has stories and who wants me to read what. So, who's got a story they want me to read? I don't know how long it'll take me to read it, but I'll read it.
Then there are the interviews. Do you have to be a part of the OC Universe to ask questions? Also, do you have to be a part of it to have your OCs ask questions? What I'm trying to say is that I'd like to participate in asking questions, even though I'm not a very good RPer. I also think it would be fun if my OCs could be interviewed since I want to develop them better.
Thank you for your replies, everyone! I'd comment individually, but I'd be saying the same thing over multiple times. I think I'll join OCU if someone would be patient enough to show me the ropes. And don't be surprised if I spam everyone's comment boxes with questions.
Here are my goals that I set at the end of 2012. This is just a check-in post to see how many I did so far.
1. Draw more. I want to get in at least one picture per month. That way, I can do an end-of-the-year art meme. I think this goal is going to have a lot of sub-goals.
So far so good.
1-A. Draw fan art from series that I've never drawn from before. Self explanatory.
Done!
1-B. Practice drawing my characters. They need some development.
I'm working on it.
1-C. Enter more Challenges. This year, there weren't a lot of Challenges that I was interested in. Heck, there weren't a lot of Challenges, period.
I entered a couple. Didn't win any, though. It's kind of a blow to my confidence that I almost never win (although I think I lost one due to the host showing sympathy to someone else). I've been shying away from the ones where really talented/popular people are entering.
2. Start my web comic. It's going to be about me and my OCs. There will be much craziness. This goal can be broken down further.
This could take some time. I re-read some of the parts that I wrote out. Many need elaborating. And I gotta work on the humor. And I have to figure out how to make conversations dynamic.
2-A. Learn to use my tablet. I want this comic to be as computer-centered as possible.
I'm working on it. My drawing isn't so smooth, though.
2-B. Learn to use Manga Studio. I've had it for quite some time, but never figured it out. And when I mean "quite some time", I mean the version I have is no longer current.
Again, I'm working on it. I might make some kind of short comic with it.
3. Crack the Fan Art Top 25. Yeah, like that'll happen.
I can't believe it, but I did it. Note to self: posting four drawings in 24 hours helps. Now I want to either make #1 on the One Week list, crack another Top 25, or make it onto the front page. Yeah, I want it all, but will it happen?
4. Buy a scanner. I don't want to have to go to my parents' to scan anymore. It's a waste of gas to drive just for that purpose. I'll have to do a lot of shopping. Large scanners are expensive.
I have my eyes set on a certain scanner on Amazon. It's about $200. Ouch. Haven't bought it yet.
5. Write more. Poor "Rebels" is neglected. "Survival Instincts" needs an update. I have to figure out what else to add to my library as well.
Destination has been added. I've rewritten part of Survival Instincts. "Rebels" chapter 3 underway!
6. Make a wallpaper. I know the Wallpaper section is kind of dead. But I want to try my hand at one anyway.
Not yet. I need inspiration. And a place to get anime screenshots without infecting my computer with a Trojan. Thanks, Anime Galleries. It may have been a year, but I haven't forgotten what you put my poor laptop through.
7. Do my voice meme. It's still open. Ask me anything, so long as it's appropriate.
Gonna close it soon and start recording. I also have to get going on those drawings I promised everyone. I was thinking of using Manga Studio and my tablet to draw them. It'll be a learning experience. I hope no one objects.
8. Start a Challenge. I have SO many ideas. I just can't think of any of them when I get on theO.
I've been typing out Challenge ideas. I'll start one once I get 30 Days of Art and my voice meme gifts out of the way.
