It's been nearly two and a half months since I first started painting for the NeonMob card series, and finally I finished the last leg of paintings just last night! :) I'm happy to share that I have submitted the series for NeonMob administrators' final checking and approval. Since it is on approval queue, I do hope that the administrators get to review it before the first month of 2017 ends :) (Wow, I never realized how quick January of 2017 was. Like it just flew out the window!)
I wanted to share why the experience of really doing an artwork series is point-blank a really beautiful and memorable one. When my good friend introduced me to NeonMob, (shoutout, thanks Soph!!! You the best!), I was immediately fascinated by the idea. Trading cards? Collection? Artwork Submission? Sounded good to me. Having just recently gotten back into drawing and painting, I think part of me thirsted for the challenge. I read the Creator Handbook right after I joined the NeonMob community, and was really ecstatic to start sharing my re-discovery and passion for art. The creating process of this card series started out as my personal brainchild in the making. I've always loved cottages for one--the ambiance of serenity, the simple and naturalistic lifestyle--these are only some of the reasons on why cottages are so appealing to me. Plus, it's always been a dream of mine to someday retire in a Hobbit house like in Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit, so you can pretty much guess how the concept for the card series came about. The first few months into the creative process were pretty giddy. I enjoyed researching, sketching, and watching digital painting tutorials. I learned a lot simply watching other artists' processes, as digital painting basics are pretty much the span of my knowledge. Special mention to Matt Kohr, whose Photoshop Rendering Basics taught me a new way of seeing the whole process. I love how clearly Matt is able to explain and redirect your focus towards certain topics as he is discussing them. He has a special way of instructing that directs one towards the logic and science behind the process of digital art, which makes the process all the more relatable for most beginners. I started out with this habit of sketching my ideas and posting them on Instagram and Twitter for a start. The response and encouragement/support has been overwhelming. It's been a whirlwind. The process of learning and re-learning, applying concepts and principles to the art and composition were the biggest challenges I had to face while doing the artworks. Some didn't always turn out the way I wanted them to, but perseverance and patience does wonders. I learned that it is so important to be patient and gentle with yourself, especially when committing unintentional errors, or realizing that you could have done things a different way. I also realized and appreciated the valuable support and guidance of the people I am surrounded with. I am eternally, from the bottom of my heart, grateful for the encouragement and motivation that every single one of them has given me. It's unbelievably overwhelming and inspiring to realize that there are friends and family who can love and support you all the way through. Shout out to my ever-supportive and loving parents! As well as to all my great friends, and the friends whom I have met along the journey and gave me support in countless numbers of ways. I cannot even begin to tell you how much it's meant to me. :) You know who you are!! From my inspired heart to yours, a heartfelt thank you! You guys are the best :) After completing the paintings, I immediately felt a sense of absolute relief at finishing, a bit of a hangover (Wow! I completed a whole set!) and a sense of accomplishment. Though I realize there are always points for improvement, I'm pretty happy with the overall result, and am proud to say that I've really made an effort to unite the concept through the coherence of the paintings as well as the style of digital painting that I've developed as time went along. I can undoubtedly attest to how I'm improving art-wise, though more importantly, I am a big believer in the significance of the journey. The journey, aka the totality of the experiences and the system in which you apply your knowledge and skills, is one of the most beautiful experiences you can ever go through. The journey--it just changes you. You definitely cannot change overnight, but the journey gives you a multitude of chances to start developing habits and adapting to smaller changes. In all honesty, that's what this journey meant to me. It is simply an affirmation of a beautiful truth: that I am now allowing myself to become devoted to my soul's purpose and passion.
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2016 was a memorable year for me—in the sense that the stagnant stage in the life I have known for the past few years has finally gotten the engine up and running. It’s been this unpredictable 366-day carriage ride through the rough/bumpy and the smooth roads, twists and turns, and unexpected bends in the road.
On the rough roads, there were those unavoidable potholes that got in the way. Learning to get over and past them at first is the most difficult part of all. Then again, making your way through the obstacle course lets you discover something you didn’t really know you had. There were also those smooth roads—the ones wherein you just had to stop to admire and enjoy the view. These are the straight paths that are classically happy and wonderful, and easy on the wheels. The whole ride made me realize that: When taken as a whole, journeying on both the smooth and rough roads is such a beautiful experience. And even more importantly—that your own perspective on the experience will allow you to make that important choice: either to move forward with courage, or to take the reverse course in fear. There can essentially be just one situation or circumstance that can happen, and literally thousands of ways to really see or perceive it. As a great friend of mine always tells me: We are creators of our own realities. What we create, we believe; and what we believe determines our attitudes and our actions. We are empowered by choice. 2016 was a year of both good and bad choices. It’s been filled with potholes like self-doubt, judgments and biases, fears, unhealthy beliefs, uneasy times, hardships, stressful moments—but on the other hand, it’s also been filled with wonderful new beginnings, old and new passions, old and new relationships, clarity, awareness, and profound memories and moments to be carried on. I look back at 2016 and see it as the year I chose to embrace the power of my choices. Back in 2015 and in the early months of 2016, I found myself driving towards dead ends. There were a few victories to be had for sure, but the other choices I made reflected either fear or self-doubt. The latter part of 2016 was all about looking past the drama and learning to love and accept myself, bit by bit. It was all about choosing to let go of negative energy, beliefs and emotions, while constantly choosing to believe in the power and spirit of positivity. Because choosing to believe in positivity did bring about change. Slowly, but surely. And change, as cliche as it does sound, always starts from within. And so another year begins. This 2017 is a year to give and spread love and positivity. It is a year to create the realities we strive towards. It is a year to be open to change, growth, and learning. And most importantly, it is a journey towards growing more in trust, hope, and love. We are who we choose to be. Welcome, Year 2017! :) |
Nonsensical whimHi, I'm Ashley. This is my blog on journey towards discovering art and documenting my learning experiences. (Particularly Photoshop, Digital Painting, Sketchup/V-ray, Interior Design, fun tutorials I've discovered and the like). wordpress:TUMBLR:Archives
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