Artz! Can she do them?! (also, call for input)

For whatever reason, my opinion of my own visual art skills varies far more wildly than my opinion of my music or writing skills. It's like the "You are an awful judge of your own work" taken up to 11. I usually manage to go back and forth between "YOU CANNOT ART. STOP. GIVE UP!" and "I am an ART GOD" "Hey, I may actually be getting somewhere!" within the space of half an hour. Repeatedly.

Er, that's not really apropos of anything, just a general warning/disclaimer.

EXCITING:
I just received payment for a lil' graphic design job I did for Amy Zilk, Piano Technician, a good friend of mine and my first branding client when I was straight outta school. On the same day, I received the downpayment on a Sheep In Space commission (THAT one'll be a trick -- first time I've ever painted sheep ON THE GROUND!).

Upshot?

I can has graphics tablet! For home! For me! YAY!

I'll probably get a wacom Intuos4 unless I hear something convincing otherwise. The medium is the same size as the 3 I use at work, which may be good in terms of hand-eye training (not having to jump sizes). It's also aprox. the same working area as most of my sketchbooks. :P

It's very exciting, as it means I can work on improving my direct-to-digital skills in large windows at home instead of fifteen minute chunks at work.

Speaking of which, things I did in fifteen minute chunks at work. I had this plan of carefully testing out different coloring methods and timing them and comparing the results. It lasted about five minutes before it turned into SCRIBBLE ALL THE THINGS.



And then later...



My monitor at work is pretty much crap, so I was hesitant to adjust color and darkness there, but now I think the skintones are all over-saturated and the darks'll have to go darker. She's too gold. As usual, I moved the lightsource once and went back and forth on what color it is. One day, I will learn to make up my damn mind.

(I say this all the time).

(hint: it never happens).

EDIT: Grrr, I know what I want to do to fix it and I can't 'cause it's at work. :P

Writer's Block: Starstruck

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This is interesting because it brings up the question of defining fame.

I play fiddle music, which means I'm part of a community that at once spans the globe and is also very small and close-knit. The people who are the pinnacle of fame in the trad community are often unknown outside it, and within it they're not usually distant.

EG: Remember the awesome fiddle section in the opening ceremonies for the Olympics in Vancouver? Six famous Canadian fiddlers, and I've met three of them, including at least one count of jamming together until three a.m. And that's not really weird or special in our circles. A total BLAST, but not weird or special. I've also played with and taken workshops from the great fiddler Liz Carroll, who performed for Obama at a St. Patrick's day thing at the White House.

Forget Kevin Bacon. The trad community can play this game with far fewer than six degrees. :)

The whole idea of distant idols and star power really changes when your idols are people who say "Oh, you! From Olympia, right? Still drawing? Want to play some tunes?" and greet you with a hug.

TL;DR: My community is full of love and music and pure awesome.

In other known names... lezzee... I've had dinner with author Elizabeth Anne Scarborough a few times. And of course I know westrider's mom!