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Art is more than skill, style, and expression

by =anokorok, 10 hours, 42 minutes ago
Journals / Personal

I've been closely analyzing professional illustrators' and contemporary artists' works and I often see them intentionally ignoring the mechanics of reality, sometimes outright doing the opposite. Allowing light to subtly pass through an opaque wall as if it is transparent creates a jarring surreal effect and otherworldly feeling that challenges the senses. It's also interesting seeing rendering that gradually transitions from realistic into a fantastical subjective interpretation of the subject. Some artists are profoundly complicated in their decisions such as switching the colour gradients caused by subsurface scattering to their own choices. They are clearly knowledgeable in properties of light and materials yet are consistent and logical in the ways they subvert them.

These are not merely stylistic choices either since their style remains the same. What they choose to represent or change and how they do that is unique in each work they do. Certainly they are working with a sense of purpose but what is that purpose? I feel I'm beginning to understand now each piece of artwork is a glimpse into an entire life of someone living the best way they know how. Although some artists hold more knowledge and are better at expressing themselves, the impact their lives have on their artwork is no less and thus each asserts a statement of who they are and the society that surrounds them. When I look at artwork now I ask: What has happened in this artist's life? What is their place and role in society? Why did they create their work this way? What does their expression say about themselves and society? What impact and potential does this work have? The answers elude me though because I have a superficial understanding of history and anthropology and short life experience, but I feel driven now to learn how to answer these questions.

But having said that it's probably not a revelation to many as the artists I study clearly already get what I'm trying to figure out. Being young and self-taught is a painful, shameful journey.

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Listening to: Frenzy Frenzy
Eating: Oats
Drinking: Tea

Miku Expressions 99% completed

by *Digitrevx, 16 hours, 29 minutes ago
Journals / Personal

I say 99% because I have a few I have to fix like the little eyelid marks are going into the eye lid when I don't want them too. Also still need to do >.< but ALL the rest of them are done. I think there are 50. New ones are the tongue ones which can be fun and wacky lol. Some TDA doesn't have like left and right look eyebrows and of course vein. Next time I need to do rain drop and the blue forehead one lol!

Anyways lots of other fixes have been done but heres some face combos I did. Not all are there. I'd like to try to get her done by this time tomorrow but still a few things left to fix!

12 Comments

Mood: Satisfied
Listening to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbFaAXjjPzU
Reading: reply's & questions
Watching: My cat eat my Miku check list....
Eating: Kuroyu for breakfast
Drinking: Mt.Dew

EXPRESS PRINT SALE AND COMMISSIONS OPEN!!!!

by ~dragnixcatc, 23 hours, 47 minutes ago
Journals / Culture / Art Shows & Events

I am now offering commissions for low rates. I am a bit strapped for cash, and by then end of the month I need a small sum to pay some old bills with. This is the toughest month because I have the hours, but not until the middle of the month because of school.

One Character: $ 2.00 US
*Each additional character is $0.50 US

EXAMPLES OF MY WORK:

PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE! Each Print is signed and dated by me. Free shipping worldwide*
Example:

This is an example of what one of my friends did with their print they purchased.

FEATURED HIGH QUALITY PRINT:

Other High Quality Prints Available to purchase: (these are guaranteed to print at any size)

More are available in my gallery

Note me for details like prices and such

* Extended sizes are subject to a small shipping fee.
CatC

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Mood: dA Love
Listening to: the Peeper frogs outside

I'm going to express an unpopular opinion

Journal Entry: Mon May 20, 2013, 10:23 AM

I am fucking bored with The Sheild.

I am just so fucking bored with them.

Wooooo, the sheild just won the tag team championships and the united states championship. WHO DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING? THIS is why they had Kofi win the US title, so that he could hand it to Ambrose. And Hell No... I'm disappointed. Sure, they'd been tag team champions for several months but I LIKED them as the champions, okay?

The sheild are boring. If you see them in a match, you know that they're going to win. Whoop de doo, why should I bother watching?

Yes, you could probably say the same thing about other things I actually do like. But they are just boring right now.

It's like first victory they have they disband.

But here I say the unpopular opinion.

The sooner, the better.

Sorry but the three of them feel like a bunch of Gary-Stues to me. WOW, we're unbeatable! We're the best! Blah blah blah, I've heard this all before. New record please, this one is boring! Some flaws, please. The shield are both annoying and boring.

And I'll tell you what else I find annoying. JBL full of "It's thier yard... blah blah blah..." NO. It will be THEIR yard when they are 21-0 at wrestlemania. No, I don't believe in the shield. They haven't given me a fucking reason to.

I'm just a little annoyed that everyone is talking like they're the best thing that's ever happened. They're fucking boring. So flipping predictable. Let them take a fall and suck it up, and carry on. What kind of a tag team would disband after a first loss, this is the impression that I get of The Shield. Let them be big boys and have a loss and then get over it, then they won't be so boring!

I'm probably just having this mini rant because I've got a tension or caffiene headache that isn't shifting and I'm using this to let it out, I'm a little stressed about the job interview tomorrow, I'm tired... yeah I'll stop now before the entire world decides to hate me for expressing an opinion.

12 Comments

Mood: Hope

Expression = OH Fuuuu XD

Sun May 19, 2013, 11:18 PM

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Listening to: Last moment
Reading: Tumblr things
Watching: Sailor moon S
Playing: Soul Calibur
Drinking: Tea

Pure expressions

Journal Entry: Sun May 19, 2013, 10:06 PM

"Cuando yo era un niño pequeño –señala el fotógrafo portugués José Calheros - empecé a hacer fotos, y la gente me dijo que eran diferentes, que yo era capaz de captar sentimientos... y desde entonces no he dejado de hacerlo.

José Calheros, arquitecto de profesión, fotógrafo de vocación, nació un 23 de septiembre en Lisboa y es un fotógrafo con muchísima experiencia. Tanto que considero válido apuntar que vive, come y duerme junto a su cámara, porque hasta en sueños puede aparecer una imagen que seduzca su fino instinto.

"Mi primera cámara fue una pequeña Kodak, que usé un par de veces –prosigue José, nostálgico de la infancia en que fue tocado por esa magia -No había dinero para comprar la película, no es tan fácil como ahora. Mi primera foto, lo recuerdo bien, se la hice a dos amigos de mi edad. La conservo aún y considero que es una foto dulce y…dramática. Así la veo yo. Creo que captura en forma muy pura lo que significa la verdadera amistad.

Aunque Calheros se ha aficionado a fotografiar paisajes y escenas espontáneas –él mismo se denomina "fotógrafo de la calle"-hay "algo" en cada una de sus imágenes que haría suponer que esas imágenes estaban puestas ahí, aguardándolo. No importa si son parejas besándose en un rincón tranquilo, transeúntes contemplando anuncios o escaparates con expresión absorta o pensando en algo que no tiene que ver con lo que observan; niños prestos a la sonrisa o peregrinos fatigados. Quienes apreciaron aquellas primeras fotos de Calheros no exageraron: sus fotos son diferentes, tienen alma…proyectan más al propio fotógrafo que a los sujetos de interés.

Calheros ha recorrido el continente europeo en su totalidad y algunos otros países, armado de su amiga del alma, es decir, sus cámaras, una Nikon D800 con 14/24 (2.8), 24/70 (2.8) y 70/200 (2,8) y una pequeña Fujifilm X10 que ganó en un concurso de fotografía convocado por una revista francesa.

Foto con Fujifilm:

"España, Francia, Reino Unido, Italia, Alemania, Bélgica, Países Bajos, República Checa, Hungría, Islandia, Austria, Dinamarca, Noruega, Suecia, Finlandia, Irlanda, Suiza, Turquía, Marruecos, Angola y EE.UU… Las capitales europeas son muy interesantes en cuanto a fotografía de calle, y no podría citar solo una por encima de las demás. Si hablamos de un país que me haya cautivado en términos fotográficos, ése sería Islandia

"Me gusta caminar en las ciudades y sentir las calles y las personas; sus olores, sus luces, sus colores…sus historias imaginarias… y trato de atraparlas en mis fotos. Me gusta contar historias, y mi forma de contarlas es a través de imágenes.

"Hay gente a la que no le gusta ser retratada, se voltean para otro lado, pero son las menos. Recuerdo en particular a una chica que de inmediato posó para mí. Después me preguntó si trabajaba en una revista y si planeaba ponerla en la portada (risas) De cualquier manera quedó contenta con la toma.

"Las caras de la gente llaman poderosamente mi atención –prosigue- No es tanto la belleza, sino las expresiones. Lo que esas expresiones me dicen a mí. Veo belleza, tristeza, admiración y así sucesivamente. Hay todo tipo de caras increíbles en las calles y tantos sentimientos…y algunas caras son un verdadero catálogo de sentimientos.

La mayoría de las fotografías de José están en blanco y negro, aunque la ausencia de color, en su caso, es relativa… ¿Cómo logra José Calheros hacernos ver los colores ausentes?

"Creo que en blanco y negro se es más preciso para atrapar sentimientos. Hay que jugar con la luz para conseguir más o menos contraste y si la foto es buena, es mucho más atractivo para mí. El color distrae un poco, puede llegar a ser muy protagónico.

A este artista no le gusta retocar sus fotografías: "Solo realizo algunos ajustes. No me gusta para retocarlas, considero que deben conservar la esencia de lo que me llevó a obtenerlas. Hago la composición en fracciones de segundo en mi mente mientras mi dedos ajustan lo que quiero y casi siempre sólo hago una foto del sujeto, que es ése momento. Un segundo después de que no es la misma. Hablo, claro, de mi trabajo personal, porque si estoy trabajando para una revista o publicidad debo retocar mucho para hacerlos perfectos y alcanzar los intereses de mis clientes.

Respecto a esta faceta, José Calheros también tiene mucho que contar:

"Generalmente una publicación me contrata y yo hago todo el trabajo. Llamo a la agencia de modelos con la que normalmente trabajo y les indico qué tipo de modelo requiero. Después hago una pequeña entrevista con el modelo y hago dos o tres fotos para ver cómo reaccionan ante mí. Durante las sesiones de fotos siempre estoy hablando con los modelos, tratando de que se sientan cómodos antes de pedirles expresiones. 1, 2, 3 de expresión, ¡dispara!, 1,2,3, expresión ¡disparar!... Y puedo decir que les gusta trabajar conmigo a pesar de que soy muy exigente, porque también tengo mucha paciencia y estar en el estudio es como estar en casa.

Pese a la crisis que ataca actualmente a su país, José Calheros está por publicar su primer libro de fotografía titulado "Advertising", donde muestra la conexión entre publicidad y peatón, el tema más frecuentado en sus fotos:

"Soy arquitecto y se supone que lo de las fotos es un hobby… pero los proyectos arquitectónicos están muriendo lentamente, de modo que tengo que mantener mi mente en la fotografía. Me encantaría viajar a más países para disparar y hacer más editoriales de moda. También me gustaría hacer otro libro con mi fotografía de calle. Espero aprender más. Nunca se deja de aprender.

ENGLISH

"When I was a little child –says portuguese photographer Jose Calheros - I started taking pictures, and people told me that they were different, that I was able to catch feelings ... and since then I have not stopped.

José Calheros, architect by profession, photographer by vocation, was born on September 23 in Lisbon and is a photographer with lots of experience. Both I consider valid point that lives, eats and sleeps with his camera, because even in dreams may appear an image that seduces his fine instinct.

"My first camera was a little Kodak, I used a couple of times-continues Jose, nostalgic by childhood that was touched by the magic-There was no money to buy the film, not as easy as now. My first photo, I remember well, was made to a couple of friends of my same age. I keep it still and I think that is a sweet picture ... dramatic. So I see it. I think that I in could capture the pure meaning of true friendship.

Although Calheros has taken to photographing landscapes and spontaneous-he called to himself "street photographer"-there is "something" in each of the images that would suggest that these images were put there, waiting for him. Whether you are couples kissing in a quiet corner, watching passersby or window ads with rapt expression or thinking about something that has nothing to do with what they see, children ready to smile or weary pilgrims. Who appreciated those first photos of Calheros not exaggerated: his photos are different, they have more soul ... projected photographer himself the subject of interest.

Calheros has traveled the entire European continent and some other countries, armed with her soul, namely, cameras, a Nikon D800 with 14/24 (2.8) 24/70 (2.8) and 70/200 (2, 8) and a small Fujifilm X10 he won in a photo contest organized by a French magazine.

Photos with Fujifilm:

"Spain, France, UK, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Switzerland, Turkey, Morocco, Angola and the U.S. ... The Capitals Europe are very interesting in terms of street photography, and I could not name just one above the other. If we talk about a country that has captivated me in photographic terms, that would be Iceland

"I like walking in the cities and feel the streets and people, its smells, its lights, its colors ... their imaginary stories ... and I try to catch them in my photos. I like to tell stories, and my way of telling them is through photos.

"There are people who do not like to be photographed, they turn the other way, but are the least. I particularly remember to a girl who posed for me right away. Then she asked me if I worked in a magazine and if I planned to put her on the cover (laughs).

"The faces of the people call my attention -he continues-, is not only beauty, but the expressions. What those expressions say to me. I see beauty, sadness, admiration, and so on. There are all kinds of amazing faces in the streets and so many feelings ... and some faces are a catalog of feelings.

Most of the photographs of Joseph are in black and white, but the absence of color, if any, is relative ... How does Joseph Calheros us see absent colors?

"I think in black and white is more accurate to catch feelings. You have to play with the light to get more or less contrast and if the photo is good, it is much more appealing to me. The color distracts a little, can be very leading.

This artist does not like to retouch his personal photographs: "I just performed some adjustments. I do not like to retouch, I think that should retain the essence of what drove me to get them. I make split-second composition in my mind as my fingers fit what I want and I almost always only a photo of the subject, it is that time. A second later it's not the same. I speak, of course, my personal work, because if I'm working for a magazine or advertising I retouched to make them perfect and achieve the interests of my clients.

Regarding this aspect, José Calheros also has much to say:

"Generally a publication hire me and I do all the work. I call modeling agency with which they normally work and what kind of model indicated require. Then I do a little interview with the model and make two or three pictures to see how they react to me. During the photo shoots I'm always talking to the models, trying to feel comfortable before asking expressions. 1, 2, 3 expression, shoot!, 1,2,3, expression shoot! ... And I can tell they enjoy working with me even though I am very picky because I have too much patience and being in the studio is like home.

Despite the crisis currently attacking his country, Joseph Calheros is about to publish his first book of photography titled "Advertising", which shows the connection between advertising and pedestrian, the most visited theme in your photos:

"I'm an architect and it is assumed that the photos is a hobby ... but the architectural projects are slowly dying, so I have to keep my mind in the photograph. I love to travel to more countries to shoot and make fashion editorials. I also like to do another book with my street photography. I hope to learn more. Never stop learning.

JOSÉ CALHEROS' SEVEN DAILY DEVIATIONS

Other DA great photographers interviewed:

[link]
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[link]

6 Comments

Mood: Artistic

Expressing My Sadness

by ~Stameris, 2 days, 7 hours ago
Journals / Personal

Well, Photoshop crashed while I was drawing. No save file. No warning. Just like that.
And it was turning out so nicely...
Well, here I go! Boohoo! I am so sad! Wueeeh!

Now that it's out of my system, I'll just go and start over. Farewell.

/Vilgot

2 Comments

Freedom of Expression Contest

Journal Entry: Sun May 19, 2013, 7:25 AM

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Hello and welcome to our new contest
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

As all of you can see, the theme of our contest is pretty clear and straight forward.It's all about Freedom of Expression. In this contest members will have to create artthat supports the human right to express ideas and opinions freely but always without deliberately causing harm to other's character and/or reputation by false or misleading statements. To artists,freedom of Expression is most imporant. Excellent examples that represent the power of freedom of Expression through art are : Ai WeiWei,Bansky,Andres Serrano,Andy Warhol,Freddie Mercury, the Monty Python and the list goes on...

The contest will be open for submissions from May 20th 2013 up to July 20th 2013.Every type of art will be accepted,no quality limits applied except unfinished art. There will be only one submission per member so please make it your best. Also, remember to Read the Rules and Guidelines that explain how to submit and the specific requriements for your submission in order to be accepted in our contest. If you chose to ignore the rules, you are in danger of being declined or even blacklisted in our contests, please pay attention!

READ THE RULES ANG GUIDELINES

CONTEST PRIZES

1000 points by *Sc1r0n,1 month Premium Membership by =mashkina,Fully Animated icon by =r0se-designs,2 Chibis fullbody or 2 characters waist-up by ~CandiiLovex33,1 animated chibi/page doll by =allyalltheway,Journal Feature by *Sc1r0n,~StupidFae,=r0se-designs,=SimplySilent and =mashkina

500 points by *Sc1r0n,1 Chibi fullbody or 1 character waist-up by ~CandiiLovex33,1 chibi by =allyalltheway, Art upon request by =mashkina,Journal Feature by *Sc1r0n,~StupidFae,=r0se-designs,=SimplySilent and =mashkina

250 points by *Sc1r0n,,1 animated icon by =allyalltheway,Art upon request by =mashkina,Journal Feature by *Sc1r0n,~StupidFae,=r0se-designs,=SimplySilent and =mashkina

All winning entries will take their position in the group featured folder! Premium Memberships can be given in points instead. Donators are responsible to give out the prizes when the contest is over.

GROUPS SPONSORING OUR CONTEST

#GiveAWatchGetAWatch will feature all three winners on the group homepage with a special journal.

If you want to donate prizes to our contest, please send us a note so we can add you here! Everything helps, points, journal features, free commissions, anything!Also, if you have a group and want to help us out by either donating prizes to our contest or just advertize it somewhere in the group, we will feature your group in our sponsors list in this contest blog!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY!

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Freedom of Expression Contest RULES

Journal Entry: Sun May 19, 2013, 7:24 AM

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Freedom of Expression Contest Rules and Guidelines

These are the "Freedom of Expression" rules and guidelines. Please read them before you submit anything.If you submit something that doesn't follow the rules you are going to be declined (and in some cases blocked).

1.) You must submit your art to our contest folder named "Freedom of Expression Contest" and you must do so within the time limit.

2.) Every type of art is accepted and will be judged on equal terms.

3.) Your art must follow the contest theme and also it should be obvious that it relates to Freedom of Expression. A good idea would be to describe the relation
in you art description. If you don't do that and there's no obvious relation of your art and the theme you might get declined.

4.) In your art description you must add this tag -> Made for #ArtMeltingPot Freedom of Expression Contest. If you don't do so your submission will be declined.

5.) Your submission must be created for our contest only. Anything created prior to our contest announcement date or for any other contest or project will be declined.Also, bare in mind that we are not oblivious and we can tell if something is created for this contest or not even if it's created within the time limit.

6.) Your submission must be your own and original. Photomanipulations are accepted as long as you use proper stocks and credit their providers. Fan art is allowed but traced art, colourings, art trades and collaborations are not accepted.

7.) Every type of art is accepted as long as it is considered finished. Scribbles, doodles, scraps and screenshots will be declined.

8.) If you feel you are not sure about your submission and have questions if it is acceptable you are more than welcome to send us a note asking us anything. Remember, if you submit anything that is not following the contest rules you will have your submission declined.

9.) Mature content deviations are allowed as long as they follow deviantART rules.

10.) Only one submission per Member is allowed.

11.) Entries to our contest can not be withdrawn, replaced, or edited.

12.) Our group holds the right to modify the contest rules at any time, but will always do so in the best interest of our members.

13.) People who choose to ignore the rules of our contest and re-submit something that was declined for breaking the contest rules are going to be BLACKLISTED for all our upcoming contests. We're sorry, but ignoring the rules equals to ignoring us and the reason our group was created, and we just won't accept that. Thank you for understanding.

14.) Our group admins are not responsible for giving a reason why your art was declined. If you get declined, you're more than welcome to ask us about it in the correspondence area and we will reply. Any questions asked in public or in any other way will not be answered, so be advised; Keep your submission message in your inbox until it gets accepted or declined.

Updated rule #3 on May 20th

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Express Myself!!

Journal Entry: Sat May 18, 2013, 9:07 PM

I don't know why, but I feel so CRAZY!!!!
There are times when we can get to crazy and enegetic that you feel like explode, I think it's the paint I got from
my art teacher or some thing, busy painting my project!

Love you guys, and have a safe night!

7 Comments

Listening to: So What-P!NK
Eating: Hot Dog
Drinking: Grape Juice

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