Previous | Memories | Tell Someone | Next
 
Outou
outou
17 October 2009 @ 08:41 pm
Personal Entry No. 23  
『the STRONG and weak point icon-meme』


All told, I managed to walk away with 45 initial comments and 58 watchers with this first icon post--that's good enough, considering that I'm probably the least-known iconmaker in the fandom! I'd appreciate it if you could give me some criticism with suggestions on the above thread.

There's an original sketch I'm working on, as well as three music recommendations, behind the cut.



Since I'm getting better at reading 100-plus pages of academic texts a day, and since I like to put off writing my papers until at least five days before their due dates, I've been working on an illustration of my own. This poor girl seems as though she's about to fall off the pier into the uncanny sea.


As you can see, I need to refine the sky, finish working on the sea, and paint the whole of her tsubo-shozoku, the rest of her veiled hat (mushi no tareginu, literally "bug veil"), her hands, and the pier. She's wearing a Kamakura-period traveling outfit, and the landscape is referenced from Salomon van Ruysdael's View of Deventer Seen from the North-West. (No, I had no idea who Salomon van Ruysdael was before I looked up "Dutch Masters" for references.)

Setting that aside, have some more purple!






Unfortunately, Suga Shikao is releasing the full version of Hajimari no Hi in November.

Meanwhile, I've been listening to more of Joe Hisaishi's works while working on the above illustration, including this one:



I apologize for the lack of real content in this post, but my reading really has been getting the better of me--we've moved on at last to the articles and essays concerning the atomic bombings in my "War and Memory: Japan in World War II" course, and it's painful to read. It's my chosen subject for my main research project this semester, though, so I need to dedicate myself to it more than ever. (I've been feeling generally tired and hungry these past few days, as well, but that's my fault. The cold showers, though--I have nothing to do with those! Th-they finally got the hot water back on last night, and I'm hoping it's here to stay. If not, then I'm just going to have to build my character and pretend that I'm in the armed forces, or undergoing purification, or something like that.)

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
 
19 | +
 
( Post a new comment )
[identity profile] herinia.livejournal.com on October 18th, 2009 03:25 am (UTC)
50+ watchers in just one post is amazing. Sooner or later you'll become the number one icon maker in the fandom, I can foresee the future! xD;

Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari ♥ I have been so addicted to that song lately - in fact, I will be putting up a new layout in a few days with the theme of the song. The lyrics are especially endearing after watching episode 12.

Oh my, it really sounds like a lot of reading to do...I wish the best on your studies! Now I regret going into Sciences, suddenly Art seems so much more interesting...or at least I would rather be reading about history than physics right now.

Finally, the illustration is amazing. Your style works really nicely on realistic portrays. Can't wait to see the finished product!
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] outou.livejournal.com on October 18th, 2009 06:00 pm (UTC)
AGH AGH THIS LAYOUT IS TOO BRIGHT
Pffft! You have almost 1,000 watchers--I think we know who the most preeminent icon-maker in the fandom is! :D

The song's lyrics are definitely more moving after the last television broadcast. By the way, are you going to be using the cover art for Supercell's album as part of your layout? I'm not sure if you're familiar with his work, but Shirow Mira did an amazing job on it.

The reading isn't that bad--I was exaggerating with the "100-pages-a-day" part. XD I had to read about 160 pages yesterday, will be reading about 50 or so pages a day during the weekdays for the rest of this semester, and about 200 pages during the weekends. The writing is much more of a problem for me, and is one of the reasons why I wish I went into the fine arts or astronomy (the only science I have any gift for).

Thank you! It's going to be a while until it's finished, but I hope it turns out well.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] herinia.livejournal.com on October 18th, 2009 06:48 pm (UTC)
Just change the font color \o/
Yeah, but you forgot one important fact: Crysella is almost two years old (not to mention I used to x-cross to everywhere) and your icon journal is only two weeks old. xD; If you keep making icons, more people would soon recognize your talent. It's strange, when no matter how shiny a batch is not everybody will watch you immediately |D; By the way, you should post to [livejournal.com profile] manga_colors or participate in [livejournal.com profile] m_c_contest sometime! Let more people see and scream at your colouring skills, not just the CLAMP fandom. xD;

Nope - here's a preview of my new layout, but I still need to customize many things (I have been using Flexible squares for too long and Smooth Sailing is coded with complete Martian lanuage to me - plus I lack time right now as I got assigned another two sudden group projects this weekend D':). I really wish I can use a picture from the last episode, but none of the screencaps I've found fit nicely with it.

That's still a lot of reading to do, I guess college really kills your free time (Although I'm no one to say this. I probably should be reading at least 50 pages a day too but I'm skipping anything this is not mandatory...such as review material that I already have a background knowledge of lol). If I can read textbooks like how I can read fanfics then I might have become the next Einstein in the world! *laughs*
I'm surprised to hear that you have problems with writing though. All your sentences are constructed in such a well-thought and educated manner that I've always thought it's something you are proud of or at least enjoy. (I envy people who can write well, as I have no talent in that area at all =w=;;)

Edited 2009-10-18 06:49 pm (UTC)
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] outou.livejournal.com on October 18th, 2009 07:14 pm (UTC)
Re: Just change the font color \o/
You're forgetting that you're awesome. OДO I-I just put a post up at [livejournal.com profile] manga_colors, so let's see how it works out.

The layout looks amazing thus far. I'm terrible at coding, myself--I spent over an hour trying to fix this one.

Well, it's more the subjects I have to write about rather than the actual writing process (which is still a pain for me). As an example: I have to write a 5 - 10 page historiographical essay by November 5th, which will basically be an overview of how the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been studied. It's definitely an interesting subject, but for the love of Montresor I don't want to write about it! (On another note, I think you write very well. I worry about sounding artificial, myself. -_-)
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] mina-akira.livejournal.com on October 18th, 2009 06:01 am (UTC)
Congratulations on the 58 watchers! you deserve them! ~

the drawing you're working on looks great so far!! ~~~ you paint so well @u@ ~~~ I'm sure it'll look gorgeous when you finish! Please post it when it's done *u*

As soon as Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari came out I became addicted to it @___@ and I don't know why but youtube won't let me watch the other two...but I love Joe Hisaishi so I'm sure it's a good song.

Wish you the best of luck with your research project! ~ just give it your all! ~
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] outou.livejournal.com on October 18th, 2009 06:03 pm (UTC)
Thanks! :` )

I'll definitely be posting it when it's done, but the most realistic date I can expect to finish it would be in January. -_- I'll have much more free time during the Winter Break.

I love the full version of the song! I wish Staple Stable turned out so well, but I actually prefer the looped version to the full version of it. Hopefully the other OP themes will turn out better.

I'll be doing my best, thank you!
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] kencana-kencana.livejournal.com on October 18th, 2009 09:12 am (UTC)
58 watchers? Wow, that's fast. Congratulations ^^

Thanks for the video. I love "A Chinese Tall Story". What's anime in video no. 1?

About your drawing, that's very pretty. What's her name?
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] outou.livejournal.com on October 18th, 2009 06:12 pm (UTC)
I hope it's a good number to reach. :`D Thank you.

The first video is the ending theme for Bakemonogatari (http://randomc.animeblogger.net/category/bakemonogatari/). It's a very witty and well-animated series, and the art direction is simply amazing.

I haven't thought of a final name for her yet, but I was thinking something along the lines of Samoto no Yoshiko (桜木 義子). The thing is, it wouldn't have been strange for someone in the Kamakura period to have several names, so I'm not sure what a young girl in that time would typically have been called.

Also, I'll be filling out the meme you tagged me for! I'm sorry I forgot to do it in this post.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] kencana-kencana.livejournal.com on October 19th, 2009 04:06 am (UTC)
That's okay. And about your new layout, hmmm.... I think the font size is too small.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] outou.livejournal.com on October 19th, 2009 04:53 pm (UTC)
I was able to switch the font from 9px to 11px, so hopefully this should work out better. :)
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] grprsa.livejournal.com on October 18th, 2009 09:54 pm (UTC)
I have a feeling that you'll have an increase of watchers over time, because in my personal opinion, you make beautiful icons. Yes, I've said this to you about a million times (sorry if it's sounding redundant).

It's okay if you feel as though your posts seem to lack "real content" abecause it's understandable. College/school work does come first. I'm in college too, so I understand how some things take up a lot of time. I also can relate to procrasination! I'm working on my physiology study guide at the moment... :(
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] outou.livejournal.com on October 19th, 2009 02:21 am (UTC)
I always appreciate your compliments.--thank you! I think I'm whining too much, here.

Good luck on the study guide! Physiology is a difficult subject--I could never get a handle of it in high school.
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] lavender88.livejournal.com on October 19th, 2009 04:22 am (UTC)
Well, 50+ watchers in one post is very impressive. So if you churn out post after post steadily , that makes around 200+ watchers in four post, and judging by your speed in iconing, you look set to be a huge hit in the iconing community (not that you aren't now) ♥ I think your only flaw is lack of fandoms, but you ARE going to remedy that soon, with your new post.

I can't wait till November for the full version of Hajimari no Hi, or closer to home, until October 28th for the 13th episode of Bakemonogatari. After that powerful scene at the end, I think Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari ranks high in my list of favourite songs, ever. And Tegami Bachi can do no wrong in my eyes, for now.

Wow, that's a lot of reading to do. But I'm pretty sure you won't have any problems writing your papers -- your posts are usually so interesting and I'm guessing that could translate well on paper.

On a side note, I wrote a short essay concerning and the atomic bombings for my English class (free topic) and centered it around this article -- Cranes for peace. Haha, I wouldn't mind taking my bath in cold water, since it's so hot around here right now! Hot water baths make me feel humid and sticky all over :D
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] outou.livejournal.com on October 19th, 2009 05:00 pm (UTC)
I hope I can keep up a steady pace like that! Thank you for the encouraging words. I really do want to expand beyond CLAMP, even if I'm going to have more trouble finding bases.

Thank you for the link--I remember seeing that last year, but I wasn't able to participate due to my not having an LJ account. Since I'm planning on posting again soon, I'll definitely post a crane on this journal.

I wish we could trade climates for a day! I think I've already forgotten what summer feels like.
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] lady-kikyou.livejournal.com on October 19th, 2009 01:42 pm (UTC)
I wish I could give you some criticism on your icons, but I hardly know enough about iconing to go there. All I can say is that I really do love them, and your coloring is so gorgeously unique that it makes up for any weak points you think you may have.

That said, I have no doubt you'll reach 100 watchers within your next couple of posts. I don't know about your other fandoms, but with CLAMP? You've only recently showed up, and yet I see your icons everywhere; you're quite well-known already, IMHO.

Also, that art piece is looking so pretty! *A* Do make sure to share once it's finished!
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] outou.livejournal.com on October 19th, 2009 05:12 pm (UTC)
M-my f-list is awesome. ; _ ; Thank you.

And thank you! I've made a little progress on it since I posted this entry.
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] grass-angel.livejournal.com on October 21st, 2009 01:45 pm (UTC)
Suga Shikao is one of the few artists I can tell pretty much straight away if a song is their's. And it doesn't matter when the new release is, it still makes me flaily.

And you are so not the least-known icon maker in the fandom. You're just the newest. (And probably not even that.)
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] outou.livejournal.com on October 23rd, 2009 12:48 am (UTC)
Suga Shikao does have a very distinctive style, doesn't he? I've never heard a voice exactly like his.

You're definitely right, and I think part of the problem with my perception here is that I know so many well-established icon makers.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] grass-angel.livejournal.com on October 24th, 2009 03:13 am (UTC)
His instrumentation is also fairly distinct too. I was watching one of the Death Note movies and before the lyrics became loud enough that I could hear them, I already had a suspicion it was Suga Shikao.

Well established really means nothing aside from the fact there are more icons of theirs floating around. Okay, and generally more experienced and have improved since they've started making icons, but iconning is very fickle. People change their icons every other week or just every year.
And just because people like your icons doesn't mean they'll use them... *peripherally keeps tabs on icons that she sees around the place*
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)