Doukeshi

[SIZE=1]Hey BB, looks like someone reads their e-mail ^_~. Prehaps we should start a hunt to get all the old members back on the boards lol. I sometimes find it confusing to recognise members that I have known from a while back after they have changed their names. For instance, I never realised that Lrb was in fact Scorpio, though I knew that Sakura used to be known as Ohkami...it really is quite strange.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I kind of see Boo's point here. I can't really say that I would go so far as to ban these threads its just that the same argument appears time and time again even if it is some as simple and apparently none digressional as 'What is your religion?' It just ends up being a bloody mess of mangled views. Prehaps we should limit it to one gore-filled religious debate per month ^_~. I do also feel that the 'Nerds, Goths, Punks...' thread is dumb too but that is just my opinion and I would not expect action to be taken just because I think its pointless. P.S Retri, would you stop lacing into people who have a valid and constructive point as if they were a constant whining nuisance. You seem to have a very low tolerance for criticism, even when it isn't directed at you.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][quote name='Geist']I feel like a newbie all over again, though. This place has changed so much. I'm not going to come back though, unless Braidless Baka still posts around here.[/quote] Hey Geist, long time no see! I haven't seen any posts from BB on here in a while, though she usually hangs out at Gaiaonline if you can find her ^_~. I remember posting profiles of that quality in RP threads, what worthless sign-ups they were heh. I don't really post much in the Arena nowadays but I remember taking part in a couple of crackers back in the day.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Oh if I put up here everything that annoyed me we'd be here all day, so I'll limit it to five: 1. People who abuse the judicial system and the human rights act. 2. Customers who treat sales assistants like dirt. 3. The crap that accumulates underneith the keys on your keyboard. 4. Tall people who stand in front of you at concerts despite the fact that they know you can't see. 5. Political activists. I may post more later.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Prehaps a little darker than necessary and sponged with my usual lighting effects, I decided to give it a try. [img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24538&stc=1[/img] [img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24539&stc=1[/img][/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][QUOTE=Delta][COLOR=#656448][SIZE=1] though talent counts, it's pretty useless when you don't have the skills, yeah? [/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE] I don't really think you need an immediate talent to become good at something. I firmly believe that anyone can learn to do anything, even if they have a talent for it or not. You just might need to work harder than someone who is talented is all. Anyone can do anything if they work hard enough at it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Ayokano is right, you [I]can[/I] teach yourself to draw. All you need is practice and reference. Make sure that you pay attention to what you are drawing. You can't just draw something without a reference, especially people, since everyone is different. So, Get yourself some references pay close attention to what you are drawing and take your time. It can take me at least 10 hours to complete a drawing, and thats just in pencil. If you take your time you will not make as many mistakes and you will be more aware of the detail. Also remember that less is more. Don't try to include every single detail, just the important ones that define the image. Use shading instead of lines to create a solid and realistic image. Ya know what, why don't post something you've done here and then we'll tell you where to go from there, since I don't really know how much of what I'm telling you you already know ^_~.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well, first off you don't really need to know how to draw straight lines. Very few people can draw straight lines without the aid of some kind up ruler. Drawings don't need to be made up of perfect bold lines. Draw being sketchy with quick strokes of the pencil in the vague shape you want. A square is made up off several quick lines joined together not a pencil being dragged around the page in that shape without being lifted. I hope that makes some kind of sense.[/SIZE]

Here's my go, sorry for the wait ^_~ [img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24489&stc=1[/img] [img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24490&stc=1[/img]

[SIZE=1][QUOTE=Aaryanna]Nice pictures, both of you. ^_^ [B]Doukeshi[/B]: I like your picture, as it seems to be an abstract representation of a rose.[/QUOTE] There is a person in the foreground you know, its not just a rose. I don't know if I'm allowed to address the meaning behind it, lest it detract from the actual graphic nature of the competition. There is meaning though.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][b]Negatives:[/b] Urm...hmm...ohhh...nope, can't think of anything. Not very useful, I know, but its the truth. [b]Favourites:[/b] I love the extent of debate that can often turn up from odd little threads in the Lounge. The population of OB is wide and varied, and I love community events...even though I don't get picked for most of them ¬_¬.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][b]Baron Samedi:[/b] Its well crafted and clearly sticks to the subject of 'pop art' but I do feel it lacks something of originality in it. I think that you could have done something more dramatic with it than simply change the colour and wording on an existing piece of work. I don't get what 'Lime' has to do with anything, whether it is a pun of some sort or if its just random. I do like the inclusion of Warhol's 'Marylin Monroe' artwork, or "the chick" as Retri so politely put it ¬_¬, but thats about it really. All in all, its not a bad piece I just don't really like it... [b]rokas:[/b] More cubist than pop art I'd say, though it leans towards the British Pop Art movement which progressed from its origins in the States in the 60s. I really do like this. I like how you've taken a picture of something so mundane as your own room (no offense ^_~) and then fragmented it with a more cartoony, vibrant take on it. I'm familiar with the quote and i love the message that you're portraying. Unlike Retri I don't think it looks rushed or like you threw it together in 5 mins. I think its very elegantly done. It reminds me of Tracy Emin's 'Unmade Bed' even though I detest her take on 'art'. Nicely done ^_~ [b]rokas[/b] gets my vote.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Bad times for all baby! We should have a support group or something heh. I would tell you about the worst year I've ever had, pretty much started when I was 17 then ended when I was 18, but I don't really see the educational value in just splurging out my problems when you have your own. I don't believe in the whole "oh you think you've got it bad, what about me" sort of thing, so here's the deal, I'll give you my little pearly pearls of infathomable wisdom and you can cheer up some kay? In my experience, when things are tough they're tough, no doubt about that. Sometimes you can have things that last for a few months, some last for years. Everyone has their traumas, and anyone who trys to detract any kind of worth from anyone elses trauma is just callous. What I'm trying to say is, yes bad things happen, to everyone and anyone, however, there is a light at the end of the tunnel no matter how dim looking it may be right now, it is there. I'm not saying everything will work out instantly, but it will get better. Just work through things one day at a time, one task at a time and you'll make it. Find something you like doing, as you're doing now, and focus on that for a while. Prehaps, since all this **** is happening now, it means that the rest of your life will be trouble free, since its all been gotten rid of now ^_~. [B]P.S[/B] Suicide is never justifiable, you kill yourself and you will be a coward. I don't think you're a coward CHW so don't prove me wrong okay. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I haven't been in any sort of 'fear for my life' sort of situation and I haven't been afraid of anything that requires any physical exertion. I fear a great many things that lots of people take for granted, however. A panicky, phobic sort of fear that makes you want to curl up into a tight ball and hide somewhere close and dark. I get afraid of social situations, particularly relationships. I'm afraid I'm not a good enough friend, that I'm wasting my life. I get afriad for other people rather easily, especially my little sister and my friends. Sometimes its hard to control, but its something some people just have to deal with. On the other hand you can't just say 'suck it up' because it honestly doesn't work like that[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well here we go, here's my entry. [b]Desire Makes Me Weak[/b] [img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24469&stc=1[/img] I would have added text but I think it would have detracted from the image. As it is I think the title above the image sums it up quite nicely ^_~. Most of this is all my own work however: The background rose is from [URL=http://www.spookyart.com/downloads/charlisiebert/Blood_Roses_Wallpaper_800x600.jpg][I]spookyart.com[/I][/URL] And the figure in the front is a manipulation of [URL=http://www.mostbeautifulman.com/models/marc/pic5.shtml][I]this image[/I][/URL] The rest of it was made with PSP 7 [B]P.S[/B] Those flecks across the image are supposed to be there ^_~[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]One of the downs sides of using messenger bags, however, is the fact that if you put anything heavy in them they don't half hurt your shoulder. I do however, use a converse one for my uni stuff. Very easy access.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I think Animal Farm is a very intelligent look at history and politics. It is remeniscent of the fairytale genre, telling a seemingly childlike and innocent story until one delves deeper into the world of metaphor. It has been many years since I have read Animal Farm, though I do recall a certain character, prehaps a crow or raven or some such, which I think represents the church though I cannot be certain.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I'm sure you'll find quite a few people on the boards who enjoy non-manga related comics. I myself am a great fan of most DC based comics and several Marvel ones. I just recently won the whole series of Sin City by Frank Miller from my local Travelling Man so I'm reading those at the moment also. I'm really enjoying the Infinite Crisis countdown thats overtaking DC at the moment, it's going to be one heck of a series ^_~[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I have noticed also that some entrants don't really seem to be trying. I mean whats the point in entering a graphics contest and posting something a complete novice could do in two minutes, it doesn't make sense and is just pure laziness. I know some people have had trouble getting on and such, but still thats no excuse for a lapse in the quality of your work. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I don't really think much of either of your entrants, however... [b]Retribution:[/b] It is very plain, very minimalistic. It would have worked on a smaller surface area, but on this there is just too much white, its very stark. Graphically the text is good and its easy to see you have spent some time on the interaction of each line. The quote could, prehaps, be linked more with the subject. [b]Domon:[/b] This looks so amaturish I'm surprised it came from you Domon. The idea is there and the text is funny, but on a whole it has been executed rather poorly. Little work has gone into the text asthetics and you haven't done much to the image either. All very 'beginners guide to graphic manipulation' I'm sorry to say. I choose [b]Retribution[/b] as the graphically superior of the two. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Excellent work guys, both of you. [b]Katana:[/b] I do like the dark feel of this piece, with the main focus of the image not being centralized as one would imagine but rather off to the bottom as if slipping away from the viewer. I won't re-iterate what everyone else has said about the text. I like it, I do, however I feel that it does not grab the attention of the view quite as much as it ought to. [b]Revue:[/b] I absolutely adore the whimsical feel of this piece as Ozy put it, it works perfectly. It truly is an original piece and very abstract. It isn't something you would automatically think of when imagining the theme and I love it. The fact that you also made most of it yourself is also very impressive. I think its safe to say my vote goes to [b]Revue[/b] also. Sorry Katana :( [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Do the voters get to know about the theme of each match before the banners are posted?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Thats I good, I'm not going crazy. I was trying to find the [b]Past Lives[/b] thread, trying to tell myself that I didn't dream it I actually did write a post in a thread of this name. Wonder what happened.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I gave it a shot with kakashi, hope you like it ^_^[/SIZE] [img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24409&stc=1[/img]

[SIZE=1]Is it specifically naruto you want on it, or some other character?[/SIZE]