New art comm

[bluespirit]

I had such a good experience with the sga_art_santa exchange last year that I've decided to sign up for paintedspires. This isn't an exchange but more of a prompt driven event. Check out the details (& sign up!) here.

Thanks to summertea for hosting the banner.



I know that PS manips like mine aren't everybody's cup of tea but there seem to be a few other manip-artists signing up so I hope it'll be okay. At least no one's stating that they don't want 'any of those horrible heads-on-bodies manips' like I saw once before. Well, not yet anyway - 'cus that sort of thing does wonders for my self-confidence, I can say. *g*

Hmmm, I've also been asked to take part as an artist in this year's sgabigbang. (Which is really sweet & pretty flattering, I have to admit.)
I'd love to be involved but the dates are really awkward for our summer holidays (ie pretty much right in the middle of it!)
Do I regretfully decline or do I accept & have to push myself to get my piece submitted in a very short period of time before we fly off? I need to have a think about this.
*wibble*

Comments

[neevebrody.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear you signed up. I am in awe of the artists - real and virtual media. Can't wait to see your entry. I love your manips actually, and might be looking for someone to do a cover for a couple of pieces of mine. If you would be interested, let me know.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Thank you - that's so sweet of you to say. I know that hand drawn & digital media are very different animals but I love seeing both.

I'm never very good at representing an exact scene from a story - I tend to go with an image that (for me) gives more of a feel of the emotion of a fic. I'm not sure if that's something you'd be interested in? Do email me if you want to have a chat about it. I'd also need to know if you had any deadlines too... *g*

[neevebrody.livejournal.com]

I'm never very good at representing an exact scene from a story - I tend to go with an image that (for me) gives more of a feel of the emotion of a fic.

Actually that is what I'm looking for as I'd love to see someone's perception of the story. There is only one part of the story complete. I have plans to write a sequel and there is another that is a challenge fic (that's only in outline stage), so there would be no real rush. I will email you with more details. Thanks!!

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sounds very cool! :-)

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

And I meant to add - so please do email me! *g*

[neevebrody.livejournal.com]

I know you think I forgot, but I've just been offline with internet issues. Working on the email now. ;D

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

No probs - I've just emailed you back. :-)

[zooz.livejournal.com]

I'll be with you all the way. The world need artists and especially McShep ones :-)

Love your art !!

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much (I wasn't wheedling for praise, honestly!)
*hugs*

[oran.livejournal.com]

Well I always love seeing yout stuff as you know.

SGABigBang... hmmm it's a toughie. I really can't decide whether to do it again this year or not. I have to admit it wasn't the most positive and fun experience I had last year but I know I loved the art that was submitted for Fey with an absolute passion and I know how much I appreciated the effort and what a thrill it was to have something that so matched the story. I also know that so many of the other authors felt exactly the same as I did. If I was sure I was going to write I'd beg you to do mine. Last year the art part didn't start until all the stories were in so the artists had a hard job of having to read and then draw/paint/vid to a pretty tight deadline.

Dunno if that helps you decide or not.

And while I'm here I was so pleased to read about Rascal. *hugs* Love O. xx

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think the artists have a three week window from seeing the fic to the art being submitted/posted. Unfortunately I'm away for part of that & so would have even less time. :-( I do want to contribute but on the other hand I do always try to be as much of a perfectionist as my talent will allow & so do spend a long time on my pieces. So I wonder if I'll have the time I need without stressing myself out right before I go on holiday? Hmmmm. I'll have to think some more. Thanks for the insight - that's really useful.

Yes, Rask is doing fine, thanks - I'm so relieved I can hardly even express it!

[ionaonie.livejournal.com]

Bigbang? Definitely a toughy

I mean, it's be great to have you doing it, but at the same time, you should enjoy it and if you're going to be more than usually stressed...

I don't know.

I had the same thing while thinking about doing a fic (I may or maynot be on holiday, or busy - who knows), but my ability to resist these things once i know about them is crap.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't want to be so stressed that it becomes a chore rather than a pleasure & a challenge.

[txdville.livejournal.com]

Think about whether you sign up and "rush" to get something submitted if you'll obsess about "if you'd had time, it could have been better". That would make me crazy.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think you've hit the nail on the head there, sweetheart! I do always want to make the very best piece that I'm capable of & wouldn't want to submit anything less than that.
Hmmm... :-(

[the-cephalopod.livejournal.com]

I absolutely love your manips. They are always so realistic and the love and deep connection between the boys really shines through! Seriously, you pack so much emotion into each one that looking at them is like reading a whole long wonderful story! cep xxx PS In case I wasn't clear enough, do it!!

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, Cep (I really wasn't fishing for compliments, honestly!) That really is lovely of you to say.
*hugs*
I know that manips aren't everyone's thing (which is totally okay!) but I do try to make them look as seamless as possible (I know that 'pasted on heads' are easy to do badly!) But I really do have to love the characters to want to spend that amount of time working on something (that's why I can't do 'requests' out of my fandom) & I'm so happy that some of that shows through in the finished image. :-)

Unfortunately I probably won't be able to commit to the big bang - purely because of timing - it's right when we go on holiday in the summer. :-( But I am looking forward to paintedspires. :-)

[the-cephalopod.livejournal.com]

I can totally understand you not wanting to sign up if the timing doesn't work out - you don't want to have to rush and submit something you're not 100% happy with. It's just unfortunate for the rest of us!! Still, I am also looking forward to seeing your piece for paintedspires *g*. cep xxx

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Well, I've hegded my bets with the bigbang & said 'maybe' - I'll see what the finalised deadlines are in relation to our holiday dates. *g*

I have no idea what the prompts will be for paintedspires & am quite excited about it. Sometimes I need something like this to get myself kick-started. I definitely feel like I've been in a creative slump for a few weeks. (Though I was also in a bit of a slump generally which explians it.) I'm feeling much brighter now though & so hopefully I can get some more writing, etc done! :-)

[the-cephalopod.livejournal.com]

Saying maybe sounds perfect - 'cause if the timing works you can still take part!! I signed up yesterday to write and then was immediately beset with worries... however I have some vague plot ideas now so am starting to feel a bit happier! cep xxx

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Yay for you writing!!!! That's excellent news.
*hugs*
And I'm always here if you need cheer-leading, moral support or betaing, okay? :-)

[the-cephalopod.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :) Hmm, I may take you up on the beta-ing offer... I have a couple of people who I'm discussing my plot with who'll beta for me, but I'd also really like someone to read it who has no idea beforehand what my plot actually is. Are you sure you don't mind? cep xxxx

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

That sounds wonderful & I often do that myself - it's good to have a fresh pair of eyes, someone who has no idea about the plot at all (& so no preconceived ideas.) So yes - I'd be very happy (& honoured) to beta! :-)

[the-cephalopod.livejournal.com]

Perfect *g* Thank you so much!! cep xxx

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. ♥

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

I've seen really bad manips, when the head on body is just so obviously fake and I really don't like those. I don't think they do anyone justice, and sadly they are the ones that too many people think about when they think about manips. They don't stop and think about the kind you do.

I can say in all honesty that I have never seen a manip of yours that I haven't liked, that hasn't seemed so real, so genuine, so actual (i.e. not a manip, but a real shot). And that's coming from someone who with few exceptions (I still remember your stunning Hunter Hunted one) isn't into the pairing you manip.

Your work is stunning, it really is. I'm in awe of it and how right it is.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

I think you're right - badly done manips do tend to stay in the memory & a lot of people seem to be against all manips (perhaps because of this kind of thing.) But it's funny how people don't seem to have the same reaction to badly hand draw art - though I've seen a lot of that around too. I suppose I'm just a bit sensitive as you often read blanket statements lumping all manips in with the bad.

You really are so kind & supportive, thank you. All I can say is that I always try to produce something that looks realistic & that allows the boys (whichever pairing it is) to be close & showing their emotions for each other. It may not always work (& I do shudder at some of my early attempts - before Pros - but I like to think I've learned a lot/something since then *g*)

*hugs*

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's just manips, I think the bad always stays in the mind. Sadly, I can recall really vividly scenes from stories or stories that I really dislike, that really trouble me, far more easily than some I've loved *wry grin*

My guess would indeed be that some people are blinkered to manips because of the awful ones. I can understand why you're sensitive about it.

You're welcome. And you do succeed, you really do. Long may you continue to please and amaze.

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

You're so right - for some strange reason it's always easier to remember the bad. It's like with feedback - you can get 10 lovely responses but it's that 1 negative one that preys on your mind! (Well, it does with my crazy mind. *g*)

Thank you again for your support - it really does mean so much to me.
*hugs*

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

It's not your crazy mind at all. I've had the same conversation with many fanfic writer/artist friends and they all say the same.

You are very welcome, P.

*Hugs you*