Uploaded a new theme for Unfettered, one far more to my liking than the previous one. Come to think of it, most of my network is shades of green at the moment. Just one more reason I've been toying around with more redesigns for the main network...considering I've had this layout for several years, I'd say it's in dire need of a redesign.

The problem is that I'm currently rather busy with the Art of the Graphic Novel class I'm taking to help me along in the development of our new project as well as work on said project and training our apprentice. Needless to say, maintaining my personal site has fallen by the wayside.

What I'll likely be doing is retooling the site to run on PHP and tailor the page itself using CSS, so that it'll be easier to update the network when necessary.

Labels: Network, Unfettered

I made a major upgrade to Unfettered: the last version of Coppermine I had previously been using was 1.4.1, and I just finished upgrading the 1.4.8 files. Since I prefer to go through Globat's web FTP interface, (because that's one less programme to clog up Darklight with) that means uploading takes a good long while. But enough with the technical stuffage.

I've also uploaded the first fan art of my latest obsession: Ouran High School Host Club. It very much rocks, so I recommend checking it out if you haven't done so. (It's fast gaining in popularity) In fact, I might just use the fan art for the next network layout instead of as a header for my LJ. (Which I really need to get around to changing sometime)

Labels: Unfettered

I've finally installed the PHP gallery for Unfettered that I've been meaning to, so I can finally give my DeviantArt gallery the boot. Truthfully, I'll probably still use it for promotional reasons, but jumping through that many hoops just to place a file in the proper category (not to mention complete lack of control over visitor comments) for older and inferior work just isn't worth it.

On the other hand, the new Coppermine gallery works like a dream. It was actually rather easy to upload and install -- if you can install a PHP BBS, installing a Coppermine gallery is a cakewalk. And not only can I upload up to five files at a time, but once I do I can change whatever sub-gallery I place them in. I have complete control over visitor comments, so if someone decides he/she wants to flame me, I can simply delete the comment and ban the IP. Let's see DA do that!

For the moment, the layout looks rather generic, but no more so than DA, plus it's a lot easier on the eyes. (That grey on grey without the sleek modern look that the Coppermine's grey-toned themes have just does not do it for me) I'll probably tweak the theme once I have the time, but for the moment I'm just happy to have a gallery that's tidy and easy to upload to. Coppermine is definitely getting a donation from me once I have the money...I'd pay for a gallery this good.

Labels: Unfettered

Added another picture to the fanart section of Unfettered. Huzzah for fanart! It's a recent piece...in fact, I just finished the digital clean-up a few minutes ago. Drawing the picture took a while, however -- had to find just the right poses for Ed and Roy (it's a Fullmetal Alchemist piece) and figure out how I was going to manipulate them, draw the individual sketches, then trace them together on the same paper. I have carpal tunnel and a painful elbow nerve pinch that extends down my forearm and refuses to go away.

Mind you, I wouldn't have done that piece for just anybody. No, this is my gift to the Risembool Rangers, wonderful people that they are. You deserve it, lads and lasses.

Labels: Unfettered

I'm certainly on a roll this month...added another picture to Unfettered. It's an ancient one: an 18x24 pencil, watercolour, and oil pastel poster I submitted for a contest back in 1998. Although it was early into my fanart career, the fact that it was one of my first forays into fanart (as well as the fact that it won me the aforementioned contest) and one of the largest projects I've ever done, it's one of the pieces I value most.

However, due to its large size, I was unable to scan it until recently. Once again, my new vertical scanner opens up new options that have not previously been available. So for those of you who eagerly await seeing more of my art, remember to thank my husband for giving me that wonderful Christmas present.

Labels: Unfettered

Just finished adding two pictures to Unfettered. Don't get me wrong, they're old pictures, just ones I haven't added to the gallery until now. Even then, one of the pictures -- the watercolour of Kakyou -- is actually replacing a picture already there -- the black and white charcoal version -- which I really didn't like very much. In fact, if any of you have followed MythNet since its inception, you might recognise it: it's the same picture I used for MythNet's first layout.

The second picture is one I used for a layout on my ex-blog, Hell's Belles, back when it was hosted on Pitas. It's that old. Still, the beautiful new vertical scanner I was given for Christmas hasn't seen much use, so scanning new pictures for Unfettered is as good a use as any.

Enjoy!

Labels: Unfettered

Unfettered has finally received its long-needed face-lift. It should be more user-friendly now, (frames have been removed) so it should work with any resolution. Now that I have it organised in a way that's easy to navigate, I likely won't be changing it save the banner, background, and colours. Even then, I'm not likely to change the scheme all that often. I probably should, though...I notice it has almost the same earth-tone scheme as Radio Myth.

The final page I need to update is Hy-Brasil, and that's only for the same reasons I needed to update Unfettered: user practicality. In fact, I should probably have the essays open up into print-friendly separate pages for viewing ease or something similar.

No matter what it is, I keep getting distracted from finishing my Hana Road work...

Labels: Hy-Brasil, Unfettered

It's been a two-year hiatus, but behold! Brand-new layout. Unfortunately, this also means a very long time indeed until the next one, given all the work I'm doing on Hana Road. In fact, all this week I've been either working on the manga, updating MythNet, or practising in Photoshop to get the feel of the new tablet. *stomps on the dead XP-Pen*

Unfortunately, I'll also need to update Unfettered. Not so much update as make it 800 X 600-friendly, now that I know the menu can't be accessed with a screen resolution less than 1024 X 768. That's a problem.

So...the layout. I've been listening to nothing but the Waterboys for the past few days, so we can consider this sort of a pre-Saint Paddy's layout. (Never you mind that Mike Scott is actually from Edinburgh and I'm "from" Glasgow...) "The Whole of the Moon" has long been one of my favourite songs from the band, and this picture of Sakura in an Irish step dance costume that I did on a lark gave me as good an excuse as any to use it.

For the time being, however, I think I've earned my sleep.

Labels: Network, Unfettered

We've reached the halfway point through the new chapter of Hana Road! Unfortunately, it means I'll have to play catch-up to complete the entire chapter by March, but I'm a fast learner and adapt quickly. What used to take me weeks now takes me a few days. Except for page 8, but there were some unique problems on that particular page that took a while to work out. (I created three cars out of screentone...that alone took me a day for each car) But the more I work, the better I get at it. The Lord is really guiding me in this endeavour.

But speaking of improvements, I really need to put some new art over on Unfettered, or at least rework the ones already there. My work's improved almost 100% since then, or at least enough that I look back on what's there and wince at how bad it is. All those were done years ago before I got my hands on Photoshop, and let me tell you, Corel Photo-Paint 8 and Micrografx Picture Publisher 7 do not cut it. Sanford Green told me I should work on more with watercolour because of the many subtle values I can draw out, so when I'm not working on the manga, I'll have to crank out some artbook pictures in the meantime. I'm going to be busy for a while.

Labels: Unfettered

After spending a good deal of yesterday and all of today labouring over graphics, code, and html that just would not co-operate, I have updated Hy-Brasil. I still have Unfettered and the main site to update (not to mention Radio Mythecaria, which should probably be killed outright), and then I'll have to forget about being able to work on anything at all as Rob and I start production on Hana Road Fruit Party. Which is one more reason that, though both of us are capable programmers, neither of us will be the Megami Studios' webmonkey. We need someone who can commit to it full-time.

In any case, go take a look at Hy-Brasil version 2 when you have the chance...I'm quite proud of it.

Labels: Hy-Brasil, Unfettered

Added a Kenshin pencil sketch a few days ago. It's not bad...I'll have to do more of them. I've also been working on some original art for Megami Studio's first manga project, Real-Time Digital Girlfriend Maya. Since I've decided to start small, (RTDGM is going to be something of a short story) Shibuya Beats is going to be developed more slowly over the summer while I learn some proper manga skills and get some more photos of the Kamakura area.

In the meantime, our new project will be something to submit that, hopefully, someone like I.C. Entertainment's AmeriManga will pick up. Because right now, they only have one series that's any good. (That being Kouseki. Story-wise, Soul Union rather interesting, but the art needs a lot of work) After that, the only way I can go is up.

Labels: Unfettered

I've gone and added another picture to Unfettered, though this time it's not an anime/manga-oriented portrait. Lately I've been interested in the 1986 movie Labyrinth for some reason, going so far as to sign up on a mailing list. (Though that last is mainly for news on what Neil Gaiman is going to do in regards to it.) After looking around on the mailing list's site, I've been hitting around the idea of doing more photorealistic fantasy/faerie portraits. This picture was a sort of quick and dirty portrait to see what I could do. (Mostly the latter: I was working with charcoal, and that stuff gets everywhere.) I couldn't resist the lure of Photoshop effects, and this was the result.

Also, I can't remember when I signed up, but I joined a few anime fanlistings so that visitors get an idea of what kind of influences I have. Joining these is addicting...

Labels: Unfettered

Tweaked the frames of Unfettered and By the Book a wee bit, though in the case of the former, the background still looks a bit weird. I'll mess with it more when I have more time, and hopefully I won't screw it up per Murphy's Law.

I mess with this network far more than I really should.

Labels: Unfettered

After a long night during which I should have been getting some sleep, I finished uploading the second version of Unfettered. It's about time, I know. No new pictures added to the gallery as of yet, but there should be some soon, especially since I will have gone through two layouts by the time I get them up.

I also finished setting up Hy-Brasil, the Celtic site I had been putting off. See, I do get around to things eventually! But because I am currently busting my rear on the new network graphic alone, it may be a while before I get around to adding it to the official site list. The links section needs a serious facelift as well, and I'll be moving certain links to different sites, i.e., all the Celtic links will be going to Hy-Brasil, music links to Radio Mythecaria, etc. Needless to say, MythNet ver. 3 may be a while in coming.

Labels: Hy-Brasil, Unfettered

Did some tweaking to the graphic and size of the gbook, though I really should have gone to sleep by now. Eh.

I've been needing to make those same kinds of adjustments to the main site, but I'm currently working on a new layout, so I won't bother with that. Finally, Unfettered will be the recipient of a facelift, and I am also adding to the network my long-awaited essay and Celtic sites. At least, that's the plan.

Labels: Network, Unfettered

Wow, two updates within a week! This might become a regular habit. At any rate, I've added a new pic to the Unfettered fan art section and added a few more links to the Links section. The Gothic section seems to be growing more by the day, so the next site to be opened may be TLDTCotS rather than OPC. Which is just as well, since the MKR essay I had been writing has been split in two, and one of them doesn't necessarily have to do with the series other than the fact that I used one character as a case study for my thesis. So now I have TWO essays to complete rather than just one to rework. You would think I got enough of this at uni...

Labels: Network, Unfettered

Radio Myth has developed - in part thanks to my tendency to procrastinate on assignments - into an actual site in the network. Not any graphics yet, but music is available for download, as are all the lyrics I was able to grab. A few songs are directly from my CD collection, but most of the links go directly to MP3.com. I swear, this site is the best thing since self-adhesive postage stamps. Oh, and more pictures are up on Unfettered.

Labels: Radio Mythercaria, Unfettered

First update of 2002! Aren't you just thrilled? And all I did was add the Original Art section over on Unfettered, plus some new pics. Sorry. When I should have been sleeping, I was slaving away into the wee hours to Radio Mythecaria. I don't consider that an actual addition to Myth.net...it's just something for my own personal amusement.

Labels: Unfettered