Ann's Art Rants

New Skin.

2010-06-10T07:12:00.001-07:00

Who likes the new skin? (:

Damn I need to sleep (2AM fuuuck).

Night! I mean uh, morning.

-The Visual Man

Castles, landscapes, fiction & Dakryus.

2010-06-07T04:43:00.000-07:00

Source: "Some kind of castle" by user Kothis, from www.deviantart.com

I've suddenly grown fond of castles. They're magnificent pieces of architectural work, if you think about it. They may contain very annoying creations of the most unnecessary rooms and the weirdest heights, etc...but as a whole, it's breathtaking to look at. Daniel, whom is a friend of mine known through a RP(Role Playing) forum, has created a fantasy world full of planets, wars, mischiefs, dangers & obviously, fictional characters/creatures for his fictional book: The Wolds Series. It is supposedly based on the RP story us forum members take part in occasionally, playing our own personal, fictional roles based on the story plot set in a similar context. There are seven worlds existing in this fictional solar system (I think...well, around 7). Among one of them I have taken an interest of personally. It is called Dakryus. It is the most useless, mysterious, dangerous and darkest world as compared to the other ones. This is the summary of its status:

"Dakryus has barely any position in the World Alliance. Ever since the war nearly a century ago, Dakryus has been kept out of all meetings, gatherings, councils, etc. In fact Dakryus is under moderate control of the Alliance itself. Trade is restricted, Dakryus is not permitted to have an army over a certain number of personnel, their fleet must not exceed a certain number of ships, and the like. Essentially Dakryus has no role in the Alliance; it simply exists."

Source - http://fantasyaurora.com/index.php?action=Dakryus

I really like how Dakryus is completely excluded. Like, it's the black sheep, except it was due to its own fault (as they had lost in a previous universal war, led by the evil Lord Zayen). It provides many possibilities for creativity in storyline, characters and designs.

One particular design I have suddenly taken a liking to is landscape designing. Landscapes, I realized, are what makes the world a beauty as a whole. Character/creature designs are awesome too. I've always loved the amount of diversities many creatures can come to be in fictional designs. You got your common dragons, knights, warriors and the like, probably inspired by English Medieval history. Or there might be others coming from Greek mythological influences (which I might add, I have also grown quite fond of; God of War III anyone?!). But all in all, landscapes are great to look at because it feels like you're looking outside of the box for a moment, to evaluate what resides within. Take a look at Avatar's landscape designs for example:

Source: www.spiritualexcellence.com

That was the best image I could find. There are plenty other better ones, but I suppose you would have to scan the published Art books for them (I will scan them later). Oh and this one too:

Source: http://crashlanden.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/landscape3.png

Amazing. Aren't they? By looking at these images, what can you evaluate or sum up with about the Na'Vi culture? Plenty, I tell you. Obviously they love the nature a lot. In fact, they probably worship/treasure it. Clearly, there is a whole heap of flora and fauna, of which take up a huge part of the Na'Vi culture. They glow in the dark, so it tells you that Na'Vi navigate around the forest different to us humans (i.e. no artificial lighting). I read somewhere in a guide book that the only fire they have is the ongoing bonfire used for cooking their hunted preys. And supposedly? It never, ever dies. From the huge trees seen above it could possibly tell you that they have very efficient survival skills. Banshees, one of the popular Pandoran flying creatures, live high up in the trees. The Hometree (the one that was ruined by the humans) of the Omaticaya clan (the one Jake Sully is in), for example, was the home of the hunters' banshees; they live at the very top for shelter.

Banshees flying above human shooters in Pandora, probably from the Avatar game for PS3.

Source: http://www.makingof.com/files/000/004/383/avtr_screen_ng_rda_vs_banshee.png

Landscape designs can really tell you many things. Salvador Dali evidently used plenty of landscape based designs to showcase his distinctive dreams and thoughts (the melted clock one, anyone?) in his Surrealism works. Art is truly magnificent in that sense, because just by one picture: you can receive a beautiful, rich story from within.

Source: "landscape" by user Ourlak, from www.deviantart.com

That is why I have started to sketch some ideas for Dakyrus. Supposedly, deep inside the ruins of the dangerous, foggy areas of this particular world, resides the Spire, a residence of the previous ruler. I picture this place as extremely old and abandoned, as it has been many, many decades since Lord Zayen has conquered these lands. By the sound of its summary, as mentioned before, it seems this world is very much abandoned, even though some form of life evidently still lives. By creating the castle, I hope I can further explore other available areas regarding creatures, buildings and characters. Maybe this world is not as abandoned as we thought, after all? Maybe it was all a trap? Or maybe...Lord Zayen is secretly planning his revenge?

Who knows? I guess I'm going to have to draw up his previously ruled castle of dictatorship to start it off.

-The Visual Man.

p/s I'm not sure if this should be an official project yet. Daniel's interpretation of Dakyrus is probably different to mine, I think. And I have not collaborated with any of the forum staff before (though I might plan to in future). Maybe they've already created a completely different context for Dakyrus? Maybe not?
All in all, I am only exploring these worlds for creativity's sake. Something to focus my artistic practises in. Nothing more. All copyright of the Worlds Series storyline goes to Daniel Koeker.

On hiatus.

2010-05-26T03:54:00.000-07:00

I realized that I obviously have not been doing much (much emphasis on that word) work on Art lately.
Even Music!

I'm quite disappointed with myself regarding these areas.

But the long hiatus is for a good cause.
A good future.
A possible hopeful outcome.
In the far far future.
IF the world doesn't end in 2012, that is (:

You know you've heard it a thousand times from your beloved most read blogs or simply blogs you read for the sake of all there is:

I apologise for the long hiatus. Busy schedules call for sacrifices. There will be a post coming soon enough, don't you worry!

These posts sound all too familiar.
But it's how it is. We do have to make sacrifices. And not just on blog posting, obviously. Everything else. And we humans, seeing as today's society depends much on entertainment needs, roll our eyes on these things.
Because it all sounds much to familiar.
Way, wayyy too familiar.

We relate it to our grumbles and rants on "procrastination", the most utterly evil bitch in the whole of universe, which is evidently most present in adolescence. Hah!

But as corny as I hate to sound (and yet, I can be the most corny u'll ever meet), readers who claim to be my fans of my various blogs or just this Art blog, I post this corny post every once in a while because I care for you.
I do not wish for another of the more negative thinkings of a corny situation where my supposed "fans" or readers will think I am dead or in jail due to my absence in posting.
Though this is probably a far-fetched and exaggerated expectation. Heh.

So don't worry. I'm not dead. I'm not in jail, as my various little members of my extended families seem to think so,funnily enough, after discovering my total tremendous absence in Facebook.

I am simply trying to take on the test of Time against my Life.

Love you all - Ann the Visual Man on Hiatus.

Not really a portfolio....but still cool (:

2009-10-26T01:17:00.000-07:00

NEW!

Photography works! (:

Yayyyyyyy Ann finally publishes SOMETHING in this ART WEBBIE.

LOL.

http://www.aznriku.daportfolio.com/

Have fun! Look around! "Oooh" and "ahhh" or "booo" (please try not to xD).

This was originally supposed to be just for my friend DJ to see..for some project reasons...

but hey, what the heck, if you've got shit to show, hell with it!

Please note I'm not a pro; having a 7.2 megapixel camera doesn't do justice sometimes...

so keep having the word "noob" in your head from time to time...but still, appreciate it? xD

I'm gonna have to find another program host for my other Art works tho :(

I'm definitely going to post some sketches and photoshop work soon...

so look out for them too!

Ahhhhh Art Design due next week!!!!!!! :(

Artist Ann

Mind blank.

2009-05-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

Ever had those times when your mind is just...totally blank?
Yeah well I'm having one of those now.
It's really annoying.
Cuz I really wanna do work.
And I really wanna get it goin.
But creativity can be so cruel sometimes.
It doesn't turn on when you want to 1/4 of the time.
Usually it does(especially if you're constantly on the Art and Music block in school).
But today, it's just saying.

"blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah ........................................................................................."

The Blah of Nothingness perhaps.

GAH!
And it's fustrating because Miss DN just gave me a condescending(REALLY condescending) look and laughed at me as if to say "my god she's a failure" and told me to work.
I'm TRYING god damn it.
It's not very easy to just BE creative at one go.
And obviously she has no idea how much I'm suffering in this Art struggle.
-_-"
Not bitching bout her...but I honestly think she needs to improve her teaching and communicating skills first before judging her students by their actions.
I've been bumming in Ar t yes.
But that doesn't mean I've been totally bumming.
I'm trying my best!
And FYI, HALF (or even 3/4) of the students in the class dont even DO work relating to their assignment!! They're all sketching...but they're NOT doing their assignment. HELLLO!?

Lol ok i've released some rage....hahaha sorry mates. Didn't mean to be intimidating.
Guess I just need to take a breather and clear that blank screen mind of mine to get some creative ideas working..

I'm struggling with Artist Models =\
It's harder for Art Design because it's not just...ONE media..

anyways toodles.

Busted.

2009-05-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Teacher came up to me today and asked me how I was going on the project.

...oh god.
It was almost like a life and death situation.
I could NOT answer her properly.

Tbh. I've got real good ideas.
But I haven't been dealing with them lately and properly developing them.
They've just been lying there hopeless...ready to join in to other little tiny leftover ideas...stuck in that jar....
...and yeah.

Thank goodness she's not one of those to pry for long.
So she ended up giving me 3 books of logo examples to look at, finally leaving me be to hide my face in the books.
(I'm up to logo design....my FIRST format. Not very up to date am I?)

...Art Design is not the only thing in my mind...but it's one of my top priorities...
o and I just found out my progress for Music Contemporary is not very up to date either...
I mean...NA for group performances and A for solo...
wtf?
Considering how much effort I fitted in(had some slips with the amount of performances I was doing and homework etc but it was exceptionally good imo)...it's pretty scary.
Either he's marking it to scare us...
or he's a real Simon Cowell...
or I'm a real...
noob?
sigh.
what's a stressed little girl to do?
Will post in some scans of pages from logo books.
Till then.

ideas

2009-05-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

new ideas for the story theme:
Rhye had a deal with me about how I should do my project using the words "OMG" as the main title or something. LOL.
Cuz we were doing sum kwl as Photoshop trick DN thought us and I typed in the words OMG for the trick and Rhye typed in CBF
ahahaha
She came up wit random stuff like "Crime Bean Federation" or sumting like that LOL. But the "F" pretty much helps cuz it can be like FOUNDATION etc etc
I had a hard time doing mine at first...I was like "oh my goodness? on my girl? (LOL) on my gang? oh melody girl? >_>"

...but I think I just might have the best title ever now

"On Mount G---- (not sure yet...but it's about a mountain!)"

Soooo exciting.
And it would be pretty ironic and everyone will be like ahahaha omg cbf cool cool!
LOL.
I guess I was quite inspired by the 1st episode of book 3 in Avatar : The Last Airbender.
Pretty cool anime I must say =]...they have really simple ideas that seem to appeal to you so well!
So I started thinking about what I should put in the "G"...
and then I was thinking..."Grey"....hmmmm
its a colour...
what can I do with a colour?
So I wikipedia-ed
And then it clicked...

"...ranging from white to black"

OMG.
Genius!

Brainwaves of how I could create a story about evil and good using the colours all came to my mind!
Isn't that AWESOME?!
Can't wait to sketch my ideas and really finalize it and stuff!
I'm so behind for my art design tho...
LOL.
I'm screwed.
(I lied that I'm up to Development for Logo...when I actually haven't even finished my...research -_-" oh god.)
Prob going to have to ask for an extension. Eeks.
Ideas are fresh and good in my mind tho!

update on ideas:
1. "OMG"
2. On My G...?
3. Colour + magic + fantasy-ish?
4. Based on Eye magic?(will explain in future)

yayz!
off to sleep now...
haha
(signed off @ 1AM)
xx

No progress.

2009-05-02T05:08:00.000-07:00

No progress lately.
Life's been a real mess.
Sigh~

Will start 2mr once I finished Stravisnky/Bach report for Music Studies.
...and catch up with History homework.
....aaaaand then finish Art Mordern History essay
(and read 10 pages of textbook and jot down 10 important bullet points)
Oh god.
I have an essay due.
that's right.
FUCK.

...okay Ann calm down.
Lmao^^;

Sorry for the momentary fustration.

Best of luck to my busy homework list.
-_-"
xx

Catch up.

2009-04-30T02:54:00.000-07:00

Been getting lots of brain storm//freezes lately.
Possible themes:
1. Dragons...inspired by Eragon and Eragon's book cover designer(John Jude Palencar)
2. Eyes...eye stealer...eye powers all focused from the eye...?

Possible elements of board:
1. Bookmark
2. Pages of mag(not magazine layout, that's compulsory)
3. Pages of book
4. Website
5. Poster
6. Phone(holy shit I just thought of that lol)
7. Assescories? (prob not...)
8. Bag
9. Character design
10. Monster design

new artist discovered from DeviantArt:
www.nell-f.com
or nell-fallcard in deviantart

Note:
This is an art journal. Not a blog. So it's meant to like, not make sense n stuff most of the time. lolol. Don't worry. Works will come soon to link to these journals. =]

well that's it so far.
Art Design will be on a break as got music and history work to catch up.
Until then!
xx

Welcome to dee blog! (:

2009-04-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

So I was working through some research for Art Design...
and I had a LOT of pictures and research notes piled up in front of me.
So I thought; damn. I'm never going to remember where I am in this.

And then it came to me.

An online journal!

yay :D

12AM-4.09AM
Artists looked @
1.Yoshitaka Amano(artist)
2.Toshiyaki(character designer and scenery)
3.Tetsuya Nomura(director,animator,artist,character designer)
4.Darren Waterston(painter)
5.Hayao Miyazaki(animator,artist,director)
6.Albrecht Fuchts(photographer)
7.Tim Burton(animator and artist)
8.Chris Butler(scientific artist)

Movies looked @
1.Advent Children(Nomura)
2.Pocahontas(Disney)
3.Atlantis(Disney)
4.Corpse Bride(Tim Burton)
5.Spirited Away(Miyazaki)
6.Princess Mononoke(Miyazaki)
7.Howl's Moving Castle(Miyazaki)

Influences @
1.Music
2.Final Fantasy
3.Miyazaki movies
4.Mangas - Princess Ai,Hot Gimmick,FMA,Angel Sanctuary
5.Photography

Questions to ponder @
Which of the artists appeal and are more relevant to my style and my liking?
(I'm thinking Nomura,Amano & Miyazaki
But I'm not sure as to how to describe their distinctive styles)
What style am I aiming for???
What form/theme choices are available to choose according to what I want to do?
(I'm liking the idea of character designing & storyline. Maybe a movie? A book?)
Something that can really improve the art skills I'm interested in and involves lots of designing and sketching?
A shop or concert are not broad enough themes for me...
Something that involves in-depth creating.
But it can't be cliche either?
(many students have chosen game...and failed)

sleepy...
but need to work.
so much catching up to do.
...meh.

signing out
4.31AM