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The Ex-RPG Character

Guest posting continues at Hayley’s blog, Eventide Unmasked! Today’s topic: How do you transplant a character from an RPG setting to a novel setting? What to watch out for, advice, and discussion. Come share your ex-RPG characters with us!

The Ex-RPG Character

Ah, those were the days.

Giggling friends gathered around a table, your very life dependent on the next roll of the dice, the sly smile on your game master’s face as he plots your downfall! Creating a character was as easy as picking a class and race and your standard fantasy character back story (ie. family killed by evil bad guys, leaving home to find your fortune, etc.)

Sometimes, though, there are just those characters that adhere themselves to us, become more than just pre-rolled stats, character sheets, or vicarious reflections of our inner selves. A character begs to be something more than what they are and we find ourselves attempting to pluck that character out of their pre-existing world and put them into one of our own making.

Sounds fun until you realize your character just screams “I come right out of a Dungeons and Dragons game!” when you’re trying to rewrite them!

(Read on at the full blog post)

Limited Mini-Calendar + Sketch Sale!

If you missed this on my DeviantART journal, here it is again!


If you’ve had your eye on my calendar of classic work, then this is a chance you can’t miss!

I’ve gotten my hands on four miniature 2010 calendars with a shiny metallic gold wire spine. These are roughly 5×7 in. when closed and open up to a full size for display on your wall at 7×11 in. They’re the perfect size to fit in any corner of your room, dorm, or otherwise!

In addition, I’ll be sending these with an original 5×7 in. ink sketch of a subject of your choice! (generic suggestions and no fanart only, please. Sketches will have a minimalistic background) Calendars will also be autographed on each page by the artist. When you’re done with it at the end of the year, tear out the pages for framing. A calendar should never go to waste!

Example Ink Sketch:

Dance of Parted Flame by =ladydove7 on deviantART

How much is this fine thing, you ask? For an autographed mini-calendar AND original sketch, the price is $25 with FREE shipping within the US. For international shipping, we’ll sort things out via note.

I only have 4 total. Get em while they’re hot! Note me on DA or comment here to secure your calendar and sketch.

1. n/a
2. n/a
3. n/a
4. (Reserved for Sonettie. Awaiting payment)

A Halo and an Attitude WIP

Continuing my pattern of more art sharing, here’s the progress on the sketch I showed you last entry. Ms. Tude is coming along nicely and despite her small size at 5×7 inches, she’s holding her own.

For this image I’m testing out the new illustration board from Strathmore called the 500 Series Wet Media Board, which has been sized specifically to suit the needs of wet media. I’ve always had a problem with the paint drying too fast or the surface not absorbing enough hue to make such effects like salt blooms work consistently on regular cold press illustration board. I’ve also had issues with the vibrancy of colors being somewhat less brilliant than watercolor paper. I’m happy to report this new board seems more absorbent-friendly. I’ve been abusing it with wet-in-wet techniques and salt crystals without much sign of buckling or problems with color vibrancy.

The layering continues and I’ll be back next entry with the completed painting and the final verdict on the wet media board.

Painting the Music


In the thrall of a mournful voice braided with the heartbeat of Persian instruments and the thrum of strings, the Prince took form in a swirl of desert sands and whirling spirits. Ramah moved in my mind despite his inanimate representation taking shape in watercolor. Painting Song of Exile is a perfect example of how strongly music can act as an inspiration for my work. Something in the beat, the mood, and the haunting voice conjured an image so strong that I just had to put it on paper after hearing Feraghi Song of Exile by Niyaz.

I’ve recently discovered the ability to create playlists on YouTube which has prompted me to share a little bit of the music I listen to while I paint. Upon building this list, I realized my inspirational music seems to lean towards a strange mix of techno, baritone voices, chant, and strings these days. I am not quite sure why this is other than my muse seems most pleased when the music has a narrative quality about it, either in vocals or in the ability of a key note or rhythm that weaves its own path throughout a song.

One of my favorite exercises in art class was when our teacher would put on classical music, make us close our eyes, and then draw what it was we saw while we were listening. I was always tickled by the surprising images my subconscious would conjure up from something as ‘simple’ as sound.

These days I seem to have a playlist for everything, including individual characters who cry out for their own musical inspirations outside of my generic art list. I hope to share some of these lists later now that I know how to create them.

Without further ado, here is my playlist of inspirational painting music. Enjoy my odd mix of influences. I’ve left off most of my Disney favorites just to keep some of my badassness intact.

Angela’s Art & Inspiration Music

So you other musically inspired artists, what do you listen to when you’re in the mood to create?

The Jumping Off Point

So here I am…doing that thing that I swore I’d never do.   You know…that horrible, trendy thing they call ‘blogging’.  It never occurred to me till recently that perhaps blogging isn’t just a trend, but a viable way to reach someone who I may never have reached if I just sat at home trying to communicate with you all via magical mind rays (which are easily blocked by foil caps). So, I’m writing this, sitting on my couch, in the living room, using my brand new amazon weighted blanket that I just ordered a few days ago hoping it will help me with me anxiety and my insomnia. I was surprised to read that those blankets have helped children and adults sleep better, deeper and longer.

 
This blog is what I hope will become a record of a journey to success (or at least to self-satisfaction).  You can find it at farandaway.co if you want to check it out. For those who don’t know me, I am an emerging artist with aspirations of writing, illustrating, and publishing my own books alongside meager plans to start my own art studio.  In my younger days, I was one of those morbid children writing creepy little stories about dead prom queens accompanied by creepy little illustrations.  I gobbled up the sordid tales of the Brothers Grimm before I reached the age of 10.   And yet despite my love for the darker side of things, you’ll find a Disney song or two on my playlist.  I am a lover of contrasts and twisted archetypes, of raw tension and otherworldly delights.   Of hamburgers with just ketchup.
 
These days, I’m coming off of graduation from the Savannah College of Art & Design with a Masters degree in Arts Administration, a lint ball in my pocket, and a glint in my eye to start weaving the grand design of my fate.  I’ve had my fill of doing dime character portraits and tattoo designs and have finally decided to start treating myself like a professional.  This is my declaration of indepence from the stereotype of the tin cup artist.
 
So here I am.  I will try to spare you my rambling on existence (which you can find at my forum or on my livejournal instead) and stick to the good stuff.  IE. Previews of new artwork & writings, advice for other artists, convention stories, and whatever else you’d like to know!  I will try to post weekly, or at the very least when I have something interesting to say or new to share.  Stay tuned for the video blogs that will link from these posts as well once I figure out the finer points of video editing.
 
Let the madness begin!  I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds.