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Laitma — Improvement Meme 2013
Published: 2013-12-25 01:53:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 907; Favourites: 20; Downloads: 5
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I always end up making a new upload for this instead of updating previous versions, because there's just so much to talk about, and this time it's no exception!
2012 was a pretty big year for me, as is probably evident. That Spring was my last semester at engineering school, and also when I took Intro to Animation and Narrative at MICA. Being at an art school really made me realize how much I loved it, and that it was even a possible thing for me to do. I wavered, then took the plunge and changed gears in my life. I spent that Summer and Fall feverishly preparing new portfolio-worthy pieces and applying to art school, as well as actually just trying to draw illustrations and not simply portraits or people pulling pretty poses.
2013 has been absolutely massive, too--I don't even know where to begin. The Cartooning and Figure Sculpture CE classes I took at DCAD while working were instrumental in getting me to think in 3D rather than 2D, and pushed me to really construct the bodies that I was drawing, rather than simply copying the shapes and lines that I was seeing. Also started school at MCAD, and fell in love with bronze casting/sculpture.
I also lost a lot of patience, though--I set my goal of a storyboard/preproduction artist, so I didn't really have much of a desire to produce finished pieces of work much anymore--it was all about getting down the right sense for an image, and then moving on.
I've never been so inspired or productive before, and I'm absolutely loving it. Maybe I'm foolish, maybe I'm silly and selfish. I'm a late bloomer and a idealist and terrified for what the future holds, but I figure, something that makes me this happy can't be all wrong.
Here's to ten more years-!!!
Blank: kamaniki.deviantart.com/art/03…
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Comments: 51
Hahahaha, d'aaawwwwww thaaaank you so much for the encouragement man, you're the nicestttt~
And hahahaha, "trying different techniques" is mostly just because I'm stupid and get bored of any one technique after a length of time, it's awful, I'm no master of anything because of it, hahahahahah!! But thaaaank you man, and happy belated Christmas and New Year's to you, too!!!
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WOW, really impressive! Since 2006 you never cease to improve dramatically in different aspects of your art! It is really inspiring! I should really pick up the pace like that myself, I'm so slow.
Thank you for sharing, it's really inspiring!
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Awwwwwwww, thank you so much, I'm super-happy to hear that! I feel like I can't even define 2013 or 2014, I've just been improving even faster since I'm taking art seriously and dedicating my all to it, so thank you!!!
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So fun to see your progress!!! I'm so proud of you. Please promise me you will never stop making comics.
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Hahahahaah, it's a promise, man~! More Shantih pages are in progress-!!
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It's really cool to see your style evolve - and also the range of styles you developed between digital and watercolor!
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Hahahahah, yeah, I feel a lil funky 'cuz every medium I use I feel like I draw a lil different for it... but I'm so glad to hear that, I'm gonna keep going-! <3
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Oh my lady...Do you not know how much talent you have. . .
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NNNNnnnoooooOOOOOOOOooooOOOOO th-th-thank you, you're overestimating me though, seriously~ ;-; ;-; ;-;
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YOU SHOOSH NOW! I WILL NOT TAKE YOUR SQUABBLING. You do watercolors and Digital and traditional and....MANY THINGS!!!
Reasons:
AND...Between you and me...You're coloring just holds such beauty it... Ooohh....It just shows I have a long way to go. And aging lol
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I-I-I'm an old fart, wahahahah, I didn't figure myself out until waay late in the game, so here I am back at school with a bunch of 18-year-olds... XD
But waaaahhhh, th-th-thank you, man!! I'm really happy to hear that you like my colors, I've been working hard on those so that's rewarding to hear~ ;-; <3<3<3
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Hehe just means ya gotta make sure you show those little rascals whose the old geezer here!
You're welcome...my lady -bows and then hugs-
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Pahahahah, d'aaaaw, thank you!
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I am excited for your new works, oh man! * u * It's been a bumpy ride but I'm glad you're in a place where you're happy!!
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Aaaahhhhhh thank you so much, I really am quite happy with where I am now (so far, we'll see how next semester treats me XD), and I'm glad to hear that! Gonna get a lot better, man!!
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....wow I remember some of those 2006ish pieces ._.
and your traditional paintings have become so gorgeous, they're always a treat to see ;v;
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Ah, ahahahaha, official proof you've known me too long, let's not go into 2006.... xD;;;;;
But waah, thank you so much!!! I want to kick my ass into doing more watercolor paintings, to be honest I do them too infrequently (aka pretty much just for peoples' birthdays) XDDD
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yeah man that was back on fac xD;;; SO LONG AGO.
also let us not forget that I read the entire original iris.....
yes yes dooooo
(I can understand the feeling though, there's just something about doing art for others that's easier somehow.)
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SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH L-L-LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT THAT...;;;
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OMG........... your comments... I laughed so hard (especially "NO PATIENCE"/"NO STYLE"... sounds like what I would say while looking at my art for this year)
Anyway, you DID improve, that's wonderful... your art is becoming finer, and it's aaaah so motivating, I'd love to say that I've improved as much as you have...
Congratulations, I wish you all the best, especially inspiration (because that's all we want, isn't it?) and personal achievement in all you do! ♥
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Ahhhhhhh, thank you so much, dearie, hahahahah!! It's so true though, I've no idea what the heck I'm doing, I'm bouncing between styles and mediums so badly, I'm too lazy to even do fine inks anymore I'm inking with a fine-tipped sharpie pen.. xD (tbh it's a great inking pen, seriously xD)
But thank you so much, dear!! I'm trying my hardest!! XC
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The "few finished pieces" from 2013 are still gorgeous, and show an obvious amount of improvement from your 2012 work...
God. You've come so far, and now that you've decided on a path to pursue, you're going to do great things. Here's to another ten years of amazing art!
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Yeah, th-thank you!! I still feel so late and slow on it all, but waaahhh I've never been happier, I hope that this holds out~ ;-;
And I just hope that it's even obvious I've changed from 2012-2013?? Hahahah, I feel like so much of what I've been doing lately has only been in sketch form that it's hard to see all the things that I've been working on... but at least, I'm finally drawing more fullbodies-!! xDD;;
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I like that with each year you manage to find something new to be unhappy about. 
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B-But isn't that a good thing to be striving for, perfection? <:'D It keeps me working, that's for sure, and I'm glad for that!!
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Thanks for sharing!! I think you're already a bit above average, since 16 is usually the earliest when many artists "stop sucking".
I didn't stop sucking until I was 26?? So, chew on that~ `v`
But like was said earlier, I'm proud of you for sticking it through, being ever ready to learn and grow and making those Big Life Decisions. Onwards!
Haha, also, SO MANY REPLICAS.
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So many replicas indeed-! I sure miss drawing Luke sometimes, pahahahah! XD Little bugger's still close to my heart, but I just, I haven't had much time for video games at all... Xillia came out half a year ago and I've still yet to beat it.... 8D;;;;;;;;;
And, pahahah, I don't feel like I "stopped sucking" until like 2011, so.... 21??? ;-;
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There's that part of me who looks back on my ten years on dA and is like "whoa you wasted so much of your time and energy on fanart and look where it got you...!" but I guess it'll always be a weird, complicated relationship I have with wanting to create fanart (and cosplay). I'll just wait for my girlfriend to finish Xillia so I can bum it off her. XD;
So, still way better than me!
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Pssshhhh, time on fanart is never wasted, at least, I don't feel so!! And particularly not with Tales, the community for that is honestly like no other and I love the time I spent on Tales of Oekaki~ <:'D
But dude, I thought Xillia is fairly decent (though I'm not that big a fan on the battle system, sigh), so do hope that you enjoy-!!
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YES. That's the best answer!
So I've heard. XD (I think my favorite battle system in recent memory has been Eternal Sonata. Flanking enemies!!! )
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Hahah, wait, have you played Graces?? flanking up the wazoo! (Tbh that one very well might have been one of the best battle systems to date in Tales... ...though imo Abyss's FOF system is still my absolute fav. c: )
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I played a bit of Graces. I do like how the guard system works. (though Eternal Sonata gives you the most incentive for blocking attacks) :Þ
Haha, I almost never got the FOFs to work for me. It's like chasing phantoms ~
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Hahahah!! I guess I loved Abyss so much 'cuz I absolutely mastered that battle system (granted, it took me like 2 playthroughs to fully figure out, but. WORTH IT.) Nothing like using sunlight chambers on white FOFs so I could FOF-chain single-handedly as Luke or Anise~ c:
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I... I totally forget about sunlight chambers. ﴾͡๏̯͡๏﴿
(Eternal Sonata uses sunlight/shadows on the battlefield to alter character/monster abilities ~ I know, I know... I keep going back to that. I can stop. Anytime.) 
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Hahahahah!! It's okay, I've been meaning to check out that game, I've heard so many good things about it, but... I... don't... have time to play games... anymore... ;-; ;-; ;-;
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Massive jumps in improvement over short periods of time o_o sheesh
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asfgflkdhndlfndk I still feel like I've been fairly slow in my progression, pahah! Gotta try harder~ DX
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You're full of cray.
You were slow in your early progression and then like, did a crazy leap in a very short three year span.
Bah, I doubt I can tell you otherwise though. Artists are so self-critical~
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I think that pretty closely corresponds to my starting classes at MICA actually, and suddenly learning How To Do Art like a real art student.... xD
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Hay, can't say MICA wasn't good for some things, man.
I will not deny that.
It's just you know... really good at also putting you into lifelong debt and being a pretentious uncaring fuck.
/excusemylanguage/sorrynotsorry/
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hhhhhhhhghhhhhhhhh y-yeaahhh, there is... that.... ; - ;
But just, man, in general I never realized how absolutely incredible it is to suddenly be immersed in an art school environment, it's just like nothing else and so useful in motivating me~ if I can't keep going to MCAD I've got plans to live very close by and somehow mooch off of that feeling, hahahaah! (And, y'know, use the foundry...)
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Sounds fantastic...! Plus you can continue to network and keep your friends which is important.
I'll just miss you that's all D:, Sofarawayyyyy
It is true though. Artschool motivates you in a way that's hard to do yourself. Plus there are certain basics and professional conduct that are just better taught and learned.
In the meantime while you're out of school, I remember reading an article about how you can take professional online courses or join an atelier... suggestions that were a lot cheaper than actual artschool but can beef up your experience.
If I find it again I will share it with you. :>
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Uuuuooohhh yes, an atelier or another art school, that'd work too-! I'm sure I'll find something wherever I go, too...
I'll come visit you-!! For suree~! <3<3<3
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This may not mean much, but it always looks (looked) like you put a lot of effort into your art, even in the earlier years, and I think that's important, because giving it your all is the best way to improve 
All in all, I'd say awesome progression! Keep up the great work~
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Ahhhhhhh, thank you so much for the super-kind comment!! 
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I always love looking at these improvement memes, but yours is wonderful! You've improved so much, and it's neat to see what you've been inspired/influenced by, and how you've experimented with styles and materials. Best of luck with your art in the future!
Oh, and merry Christmas~
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Awwwww, thanks so much dear, and merry Christmas to you as well!! I'm hopelessly impatient like that, I always end up experimenting and playing around with stuff so much, it's both a gift and a curse I suppose (since I never really stick long enough to any one thing to get super-good at it) xD
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Heheh, I know how that is. xD
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