My Drawings - My Photomanips - FeedbackHub

So the challenge held by `EmberRoseArt (aka. Tolkienmaster) came to an end and here're the winners:

First place

by ~kaaaay

other works by this artist:



Second place

by =MorriganArt

other works by this artist:



Third place

by ~okissop


other works by this artist:



Honorable mentions

My Drawings - My Photomanips - FeedbackHub

=iisjah



=kimsol



~MarahScott

My Drawings - My Photomanips - FeedbackHub

Here's the video of the drawing, with a bit of my hilarious narration... Don't laugh too hard



3rd place winner:,

~MarahScott

prizes:
A commision by me
A full month journal feature

2nd place winner:

=kimsol

prizes
A commision by me
1 month of premium subscription or it's equivalent in points
A full month journal feature

1st place winner:

=iisjah

prizes:
A commision by me
3 months of premium subscription or it's equivalent in points
A full month journal feature
A link to your gallery or a gallery of your choice in my DA signature for a year

Congratulations to the winners! I will note each one of you with the results as well, but it will take a while.

My Drawings - My Photomanips - FeedbackHub

Sorry for the delay, I was far away form any reasonable internet connection for a week.

Thanks to all who participated, here's a list of you who made it to the second stage:

1 ~MarahScott

2 =Yobtaf

3 =iisjah

4 =kimsol

5 ~xBluepearlx

6 ~NocturnalButterfly

The drawing will take place within the next few hours (which means "as soon as I find a computer that can handle some video capture software", because apparently my netbook can't).

My Drawings - My Photomanips - FeedbackHub

Only few hours left till the deadline!

If you haven't participated, you still have the chance to do it here: [link] !

My Drawings - My Photomanips - FeedbackHub

It's now on! 5 more days to go.

Just a reminder, in case you missed it.

You can still participate

here: [link]:

My Drawings - My Photomanips - FeedbackHub

As you may or may not be aware, I've been going through some severe mood swings last few days. I've spilled some of my thought here in my journal because I needed it out of my head. But I haven't expected such a positive feedback. Many of you messaged me and commented, that was really what I needed then

I'm both gracious and surprised of how much kind words you had for me. So I decided I want to share give you something back in return

So I announce that Second Edition of Watchers Lottery is now ON!

If you remember the previous edition you know how it works. If you don't, the rules are pretty simple:

All people who are watching my account in the time of publication of this announcement are authorized to take part in the lottery.

To take part – simply post a comment under this journal entry. The comment must contain the keyword blue.

The deadline is set a week from now, 23th April 2011 of course I mean 2012 23:59 GMT (UCT/Zulu or whatever else it's called). For global clocks, go to: timeanddate.com

Anyone who managed to meet there conditions is eligible to win one of the prices. After the time is up I'll give each one of the participants a number (in order of posting) and then randomly pick three persons (using random.org) and they will get the prizes. Easy, isn't it?

The prizes are:

3rd place (the 1st number generated)
A commision by me
A full month journal feature

2nd place (the 2nd number generated)
A commision by me
1 month of premium subscription or it's equivalent in points
A full month journal feature

1st place (the 3rd number generated)
A commision by me
3 months of premium subscription or it's equivalent in points
A full month journal feature
A link to your gallery or a gallery of your choice in my DA signature for a year

The commisions in question could be either a digital drawing/painting or a photomanipulation. The winner can choose between:

fully coloured digital drawing/painting: characters, landscape/scenery or any other subjects of your liking
or
photomanipulated piece, featuring winner's personal photo/set of photos or his stock photo of choice (must be a valid stock). The theme of the photomanipulation is up to your choice too.

The commissions will be transferred digitally.

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE.

My Drawings - My Photomanips - FeedbackHub

The super-emo journal entry I posted yesterday was an outcome of my rage, sadness and disappointment. And some things need to be cleared out I believe.

My post may have suggested otherwise, but I CAN stand people not liking my art or "art" (or whatever you want to call it, since I'm not sure any more). I was not born yesterday, I realise there are people who will not like what I do, it's more than natural, because every person has his own idea of art and it differs from individual to an individual and there's not a single style that would fit everyone. I get that. I also get that people like to express their dislike form time to time, even if I don't do it personally. If I see a piece of art that does not fit my idea of art I just move on. If I critique, I do so on pieces that I like, the ones I think could benefit from what I said and are also within my area of expertise. But I get that there must be people who view this concept differently. I could not say that does not bother me sometimes but I learned to get over it in most cases. What really cause my disappointment is a way people tend to display their disapproval.

I get that a world is a cruel place. I've been living in here for almost three decades and that's actually one of the first things the life teaches you. But I also believe that it's we who make it what it is. It doesn't hurt to be kind, but some people must decided that being nice and kind is too much for them somehow. And that their sole purpose must be to show that, to pour their discontent on everyone who is currently in sight.

I know it's how internet works. It gives you enough anonymity to be whoever you want to be and act however you want to act without any real consequences. I used to create myself online, I used to pretend someone I not really am. My alter ego was confident, witty, educated person with a quick response to anything. But that's not who I am and as soon as I got familiar with any community the real me started to peek out back from behind the cover I created. And it was embarrassing for me and probably surprising for everyone else. And I gave it up. And it felt nice to be who I really am even if I can't do that in my real life.

Every person who posts art on DA is a part of the community here. our actions and our words decide what this community is. And I totally can't understand why there are people who want it to be a cruel place.

In the comments to my previous post one of my watchers *cazcastalla brought up the case of her DD [link] . I urge you to go and see what this was awarded for and then go and see all the ugly comments people posted there. Just because some people are vile, ugly, jealous creatures that cannot stand someone else being rewarded. And then come back here and tell me I didn't make a point here.  

I would also like to thank you all, who messaged me and commented, for your kind words, you're the reasons I'm still here! Thank you!

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

My Drawings - My Photomanips - FeedbackHub

Yesterday I started a forum thread here on DA. It was somewhat random, I must admit, and somewhat pointless. But I started it anyway. It was a thread in Complaints section of the forum and I believe it was rightfully placed here, since it consisted mostly of my rant about the lack of "extract filter" feature in PhotoShop CS5, which I noticed almost immediately after buying the software. It really got on my nerves and I was quite furious for a moment. I wasn't really looking for anything but to vent some of my rage through a few swear words posted at a public forum. And it worked. And the story should end there.

But it didn't. Of course, every time you post on a forum you have to expect people answering to your post. Even if your post didn't contain any question. That's normal and I believe everyone who has internet connection for more than five minutes knows that. And I've been around for a bit more than that. And I thought I was ready for the feedback I was going to get.

But the flood of hate I faced after I checked my inbox few hour later was so unexpected it left me depressed for the end of the day.

Most of the answers were somewhere along the "you should check before you bought" line. I already figured that out, and that was the reason I was angry in the first place: I got caught off guard.

There were some posts suggesting I should have pirated PhotoShop instead of buying it. That's also understandable, even if I don't agree I understand the reasoning to some extent. I'm not wealthy, rather the opposite. I started my own enterprise not so long ago ad I'm still struggling. But as long as I'm earning my living with my own wits and my own hands I like the idea of being paid for your effort. If I like a band I buy their music and go to a concert, if I like a movie I go to the cinema to see it, if I like an author, I buy his books. I guess it's not that different with software. I use it and I like what it offers me so it feels just fair to pay for it, even if I'm not going to benefit from it in any way, is it so hard to understand?

Some answers suggested that PhotoShop is a program for professionals and I'm not one. I'm fine with that statement, I'm not a pro and that cannot be denied, even if I wanted to. Which I don't.

But then there were a few answers that went beyond the cold neutrality people usually display in comments here. Unjustified, unwarranted and overly personal reproaches considering the very essence of me being here, my passion, my way of spending my money and time. I somehow got over the suggestion that I should better start taking better photos than making the crappy ones look decent with PS, mainly because the person seemed to have no idea about what photomanipulation is and what it isn't. The ones questioning my abilities and pointing lack of practise were much harder.

I'm not an overly confident person. Frankly, I'm quite the opposite. I'm also more than awkward in social situations. Sometimes I think I'm nothing more I'm just a sum of my countless complexes and excuses. I don't have many friends because I'm not very good with starting and maintaining relationships, even with my relatives. I try hard to be more sociable, but posting a mere post on facebook is a challenge. I'm pretty sure I will read this journal entry before I post it at least two times and then again immediately after posting, looking for any blunder, typo or other awkwardness I might have committed. And tomorrow I would feel bad about exposing myself just like that. If I ever got the courage to go through some therapy I would probably be diagnosed with some severe social inability. But I would not be, since I would rather die than speak to some stranger about my life and the secrets of the past (and there're too many of those). The language barrier is another issue, it's even harder to interact with people who may not understand you because you're not speaking their language good enough. And I must admit my English is a bit rusty from disuse.

And yet I'm able to be a part in this community. To interact, to comment, to appreciate. Because I feel my sorry attempts at giving life to something creative help to build it as a whole. Every time my picture is added to someone's favs, every time I get a nice comment or constructive critique I feel a bit better, because I realise that there's someone who cares about what I do enough to express it. And it makes me feel a bit less useless for a moment. And makes me want to give back to the community that made me feel better, so I comment back, fave and interact, and so it goes.

And so words like I can't comprehend why someone with such an untalented bag of piss for a "gallery" would go out and buy an overly priced program aimed at professionals do hurt me. Not my confidence, because there isn't any, not really. Not my self-esteem, because deep down inside I'm very aware how worthless this all is. But it undermines the very reason I create, the reason I'm here in the first place.

Oh yes, I'm aware it's just some rude words aimed to troll me. But in every lie there's a bit of truth. And that's enough to make me feel bad.

Oh god, I'm mental, am I not?

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

Digital Drawings - Photomanipulations - Photography - Wallpapers