Verene's Collection of Arts
Verene
Not really anything special, but the view out my front door this morning. The little black car across the street is my brother's, the silver one behind it is mine. 20+ inches of snow, with drifts up to 6 feet high in areas. Chicago got its ass kicked yesterday and this morning (there's not much in terms of bad weather that will actually shut down the city - this did it).
Happy birthday to me!
Thistle Xandra
Happy Birthday!!!
Wow, all that snow would be so much fun to play in :O In Seattle, all we need is about 2 inches to make everyone work from home and the city shut down D:
Wow, all that snow would be so much fun to play in :O In Seattle, all we need is about 2 inches to make everyone work from home and the city shut down D:
Verene
It took four hours to dig out our cars and shovel out parking spots on the other side of the street D: I hate snow, so yeah 
Thanks
Thanks
Charlie Dayman
Holy hell that is a lot of snow. Euch, don't think I'd be able to handle that cold weather.
Anywho, Happy Birthday, V.
Anywho, Happy Birthday, V.
Ravenhawk
I've had the same day today. And Happy Birthday Verene!
Tommy's
Happy birthday Verene!
Perynne
Happy Birthday! 
And yeah, that much snow in one night is a bit overkill. It's always nasty to wake up in the mornings and realize that you have to spend an hour or two digging out your car.
Still, here it won't shut down the city, it'll just get people excused for being a couple hours late for work. :/
And yeah, that much snow in one night is a bit overkill. It's always nasty to wake up in the mornings and realize that you have to spend an hour or two digging out your car.
Still, here it won't shut down the city, it'll just get people excused for being a couple hours late for work. :/
Verene
Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone
And yeah, it's rare that snow shuts down anything here. We got just shy of two feet (60cm) overnight, though, so that was a bit overkill even for us.
Anyway, sketch for an idea I had earlier today. Ubisoft is making an Assassin's Creed artbook/encyclopedia, and was taking submissions for fanart for it. I have no idea when the deadline is, but there's been some concepts for Assassins of other ethnicities and/or time periods submitted. Which gave me the idea of a geisha Assassin.
And yeah, it's rare that snow shuts down anything here. We got just shy of two feet (60cm) overnight, though, so that was a bit overkill even for us.
Anyway, sketch for an idea I had earlier today. Ubisoft is making an Assassin's Creed artbook/encyclopedia, and was taking submissions for fanart for it. I have no idea when the deadline is, but there's been some concepts for Assassins of other ethnicities and/or time periods submitted. Which gave me the idea of a geisha Assassin.
Trying to decide how I'm going to color/detail it - I'm thinking a stylized vector look could be neat for that. I'll be doing the kimono in white with a red pattern, red obi, and the Assassin crest will be a brooch or charm hanging from the obi, I think.
My boyfriend is designing a French Revolutionary Assassin, I think, too
Verene
Finished my Assassin concept ^^
Thistle Xandra
Awesome, Verene She looks really great although I've never played AC so I don't really know much about the chars in it D:
I really like the patterns that you used, especially the dragon on the fan That's a stilletto weapon on her left wrist, right? Good luck on getting picked for their artbook/encyclopedia!
She looks really great although I've never played AC so I don't really know much about the chars in it D:I really like the patterns that you used, especially the dragon on the fan
That's a stilletto weapon on her left wrist, right? Good luck on getting picked for their artbook/encyclopedia!
Ravenhawk
This turned out great! I like the cut out paper style to it.
Perynne
Very nice! I'll second Raven's comment, I really like the cut out paper style to it. All the textures are lovely too.
Just out of curiosity, where is Ubisoft looking for submissions? I'd like to check out the AC artbook/encyclopedia. :3
Just out of curiosity, where is Ubisoft looking for submissions? I'd like to check out the AC artbook/encyclopedia. :3
Verene
Thanks! I love the pen tool
As far as I can tell they stopped taking submissions in the fall >.> This is the site it's going to be available on (I am also waiting for them to restock the Courtesan shirt so I can buy one). And I found this with some of the pieces that were submitted but not selected. Looks like I wasn't the only one to have the geisha Assassin idea XD
As far as I can tell they stopped taking submissions in the fall >.> This is the site it's going to be available on (I am also waiting for them to restock the Courtesan shirt so I can buy one). And I found this with some of the pieces that were submitted but not selected. Looks like I wasn't the only one to have the geisha Assassin idea XD
Verene
A photomanip that I did the other day...I'm not entirely sure I'm happy with it; seems that no matter what I tried it was just a bit off.
And then for something completely different, progress photo of a lace shawl I'm knitting. A friend of mine started her own business doing hand-dyed yarns, and as I was a preorder customer, I got to choose the colors and name the colorway. A bit pricey and more than I'd normally pay for yarn, but we've been friends for a long time and the colors turned out gorgeous, so it was worth the extra money.
Charlie Dayman
The sin concept came out nice. I always liked that sort of cut-out style that defined shapes and color, rather than using actual lines or the sort.
I also like the contrasting colors on the clouds for that photo manip.
I also like the contrasting colors on the clouds for that photo manip.
Verene
Thanks ^^
Here's my shawl last week, after I finished the actual knitting but before I blocked it (blocking = getting the finished knitting wet, stretching it out on something large like foam blocks or a mattress, and pinning it into shape to dry; good idea for anything knit, essential for anything that's lace). I need to get some good pictures of it completely finished already.
Here's my shawl last week, after I finished the actual knitting but before I blocked it (blocking = getting the finished knitting wet, stretching it out on something large like foam blocks or a mattress, and pinning it into shape to dry; good idea for anything knit, essential for anything that's lace). I need to get some good pictures of it completely finished already.
I also have a gaming/arts/general geeky stuff blog with a slight feminist slant that I run (what can I say, this is me here), located at thatnerdygirl.com. If you follow the official Guild Wars twitter account, you may have seen a link to it on there yesterday ^^ <3
Aeronwen
Verene, great blog. I am not aware of Penny arcade but I was interested in what you had to say. However I am not seeing any links but your text indicates there should be some. Am I missing something obvious?
Verene
I still need to go back and edit that theme a bit - the one I was using before got ruined when I updated wordpress. The links were in a bluish-grey, but I'll go and adjust the colors to make them stand out a bit more.
Edit: There, they should be a bit more obvious now.
Also, thank you ^^
Edit: There, they should be a bit more obvious now.
Also, thank you ^^
Thistle Xandra
nice blog I lol'ed at that internet bf convo. I haven't had anything like that happen to me in GW, but that happened quite a few times when I played WoW.
I lol'ed at that internet bf convo. I haven't had anything like that happen to me in GW, but that happened quite a few times when I played WoW.
Verene
Haha, thanks. It's only happened once, thankfully.
Woo, drawing. Hehe. This is going to be the badge art for my department at ACen.
Woo, drawing. Hehe. This is going to be the badge art for my department at ACen.
Even Chibi Cthulhus can't get a break when it comes to the roll of the dice.
Ravenhawk
That looks awesome Verene! Aww they look like they are having fun.
Love the 3d effect on the dice and the paperwork too
Love the 3d effect on the dice and the paperwork too
Verene
Haha, thank you Everyone's pretty happy with it, and that means our old badge art (Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha with "Man Woman Moon on Face" written on it...long story) has finally been retired.
Everyone's pretty happy with it, and that means our old badge art (Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha with "Man Woman Moon on Face" written on it...long story) has finally been retired.
Thistle Xandra
Silly question, but what's badge art? That pic you did is so cute, but when I think of badge, I think of like those name tags you wear at conferences, so I don't think you mean that? What did the Sesshy one look like? He's one of my fave anime chars! I'm sure you can guess who my kitty, Rin, is named after 
Verene
Wooo, late response XD
That is actually exactly what I mean by badge art! They have our name and department on them; each department has a different color and different artwork. Used to be that everyone could do their own custom art, but the staff has grown so much that they stopped doing that a few years ago.
Anyway, something new! I was originally looking for images for a vague idea I had, found the stock photo of the model, and kind of went "OH MY GOD MUST USE THIS".
That is actually exactly what I mean by badge art! They have our name and department on them; each department has a different color and different artwork. Used to be that everyone could do their own custom art, but the staff has grown so much that they stopped doing that a few years ago.
Anyway, something new! I was originally looking for images for a vague idea I had, found the stock photo of the model, and kind of went "OH MY GOD MUST USE THIS".
Thistle Xandra
haha, no prob! Today's the first time in a week or two that I've been checking Nolani threads XD, so perfect timing I guess!
That is a very cool pic :O
That is a very cool pic :O
Verene
So, some photos from my mini-vacation I took a couple of weeks ago - my boyfriend came up to visit, we stayed at my aunt's house on the north side of Chicago, and spent two days in downtown Chicago. We went to Navy Pier, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Field Museum.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pointyo...7626341387584/
That's only a small number of the pictures I took - I'm a bit disheartened by the fact that a lot of the ones I took at AI have glass reflections visible in them. Sucks, because I had a bunch that otherwise turned out nice (and since I was shooting in a low-light environment with no flash...yeah).
And yes, there's also a picture of us in there
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pointyo...7626341387584/
That's only a small number of the pictures I took - I'm a bit disheartened by the fact that a lot of the ones I took at AI have glass reflections visible in them. Sucks, because I had a bunch that otherwise turned out nice (and since I was shooting in a low-light environment with no flash...yeah).
And yes, there's also a picture of us in there
Verene
Experimenting with a photography effect known as tilt-shift. I would like an actual tilt-shift lens, but they run for about $1,500-$2,000 from what I can find, so that's not happening. However, it is possible to mimic the effect in Photoshop, assuming that the composition is one that's ideal for it (usually best done with cityscapes taken from high up). The effect makes it look like instead of it being a photo of actual buildings and other objects, it looks like miniatures of those objects.
So this is a photo I took while we were on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier, and then tried out the 'fake' tilt-shift on it in Photoshop. Experiment was a success
So this is a photo I took while we were on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier, and then tried out the 'fake' tilt-shift on it in Photoshop. Experiment was a success
KiyaKoreena
Oooh thats a neat effect. I need to find something to try that on.
Charlie Dayman
That is a pretty neat effect - looks like a lego set.
Looks a little bit like the bloom effect, right?
Looks a little bit like the bloom effect, right?
Verene
Well, bloom is more to do with lighting, this effect more mimics a very shallow depth-of-field. Little bit different but still pretty simple effects that can change the way something looks a lot.
Thanks, though
And it's really easy, Kiya - this explains how to do it pretty well. Of course experimenting around to get the best results is always important, but the base steps are dead easy. An elevated viewpoint in the photo itself is the most important thing in the main photo you want to play with. I should pull out the original files for some photos I took from an airplane last year, see how well it works on those.
but still pretty simple effects that can change the way something looks a lot.Thanks, though
And it's really easy, Kiya - this explains how to do it pretty well. Of course experimenting around to get the best results is always important, but the base steps are dead easy. An elevated viewpoint in the photo itself is the most important thing in the main photo you want to play with. I should pull out the original files for some photos I took from an airplane last year, see how well it works on those.
Charlie Dayman
Yeah, it seemed a bit similar. I dunno if it would still be considered bloom, but I remember trying that effect and switching the blending modes. It gave that weird effect where it basically re-outlines whatever layer you've just duplicated.
Some spiffy effects, though I have yet to find an opportunity to use it in a final piece :x
Some spiffy effects, though I have yet to find an opportunity to use it in a final piece :x
Verene
Oh, yeah, basically making a new layer, blurring it, and then setting it to soft light or overlay? Yeah, that can give a sort of bloom effect sometimes. This actually uses lens blur, which I've never used before (usually I just stick with standard gaussian blur). It does give something of a bloom look to some of the blurred areas, though, yeah.
Verene
Decided I needed to draw/paint something...so doing a painting of my Monk. Going with the "greyscale first, color later" method...it's definitely helping me get the shading more realistic, so yay ^^ Obviously I am not yet done
Charlie Dayman
Bah, I was actually going for that same armor for my new monk toon last week. Ended up getting the Granite Citadel version instead.
Anyways, she's got a nice gesture to her. I think you can accentuate the S-curve on the left side of her stomach/hips to match up with how far her right right hip is pushing out. At the moment, her hips look a bit wide.
Also, you can bring down the curve underneath her right breast because of that tilt in her shoulder.
Anyways, she's got a nice gesture to her. I think you can accentuate the S-curve on the left side of her stomach/hips to match up with how far her right right hip is pushing out. At the moment, her hips look a bit wide.
Also, you can bring down the curve underneath her right breast because of that tilt in her shoulder.
Thistle Xandra
ooh, what dye combo are you using there? That's not just purple is it? I'm using a lime-green combo right now, but I don't really like how it looks anymore. I want to change it to something dark, but I don't know what :/
Verene
Haha, Charlie I love that armor, it's adorable. I want to get the Elite Woven as well, I think those two are my favorite Monk sets.
And thanks! I'll keep that advice in mind; I'm probably going to slim down her hips a bit and lengthen out her torso some more, which should help make her look less awkward..
Thistle - I can't remember exactly, but I believe it was purple+green. Which is like one of my favorite dye combos ever, I use it a lot. Labyrinthine is a pain in the ass to dye, though, I've noticed. Stupid pretty armor.
Meant to work on the painting more today, but my guild leader and I wound up venturing into Fissure of Woe, so that sucked up more time than intended (we kept getting lost and did not do the quests in anything remotely resembling an efficient order. Whoops. I also started raging at spiders at one point). However, on the other hand, I now have Obsidian armor for my Dervish, something I thought I would never have. So yay ^^
I love that armor, it's adorable. I want to get the Elite Woven as well, I think those two are my favorite Monk sets. And thanks! I'll keep that advice in mind; I'm probably going to slim down her hips a bit and lengthen out her torso some more, which should help make her look less awkward..
Thistle - I can't remember exactly, but I believe it was purple+green. Which is like one of my favorite dye combos ever, I use it a lot. Labyrinthine is a pain in the ass to dye, though, I've noticed. Stupid pretty armor.
Meant to work on the painting more today, but my guild leader and I wound up venturing into Fissure of Woe, so that sucked up more time than intended (we kept getting lost and did not do the quests in anything remotely resembling an efficient order. Whoops. I also started raging at spiders at one point). However, on the other hand, I now have Obsidian armor for my Dervish, something I thought I would never have. So yay ^^
Thistle Xandra
Verene
Thanks! And hehe, yeeeaaah. At one point I typed "EFFING SPIDERS STOP APPEARING" into guild chat XD Except I, ya know, didn't censor myself at all.
Did a bit more work - slimmed down her hips some and made her torso a bit longer, blobbed in the armor and her hair, and did a bit of work on the face. Her one ponytail seems a bit too high, but I think I'm gonna leave it that way, since getting those even in real life is nearly impossible Still have done next to no work on her arms and hands and need to blob in her frog scepter.
Did a bit more work - slimmed down her hips some and made her torso a bit longer, blobbed in the armor and her hair, and did a bit of work on the face. Her one ponytail seems a bit too high, but I think I'm gonna leave it that way, since getting those even in real life is nearly impossible
Still have done next to no work on her arms and hands and need to blob in her frog scepter.
Charlie Dayman
Nice, though I miss that curve you see in the previous sketch on her right hip. Maybe you can angle her right leg closer to the left to help exaggerate that curving shape. I think that angled stance could help make the pose more interesting in comparison to how vertical that leg currently feels.
Verene
I tried angling her leg like you suggested, but couldn't get it to look right, so I left it as it was, and instead accentuated her waist a bit more and making her hip a bit wider on that side to make up for it.
Jewels and tattoos next...this will take a while. I like how the froggie turned out though ^^
Jewels and tattoos next...this will take a while. I like how the froggie turned out though ^^