Hello, everyone:

I woke up this morning and saw a stuffed message center. After a while, the Planet Tutorial got a Daily Deviation. I think that out of everything in my gallery, it's probably the one that should've gotten it the most. I made that so that people could learn something and even though it made its rounds around the internet, it's good that it's getting the spotlight yet again so that even more people can learn something. It should go without saying, but dont hesitate to ask me any question that you have regarding to it.

Also, for more learning and to accessorize your planet, I also made a rings tutorial (even though, technically, planets made of rock do not have rings).

I know I don't interact much anymore here in dA, but I lurk a heck of a lot. Answer notes, reply to some messages, etc, etc.

In other news...

2009 is here (well, it's been for a few days) and it sucks. It just sounds so puny. I long for 2010 because it's when we can start saying years with the word "twenty." It sounds extremely cool. You tell me what sounds better "two thousand (and) nine" or "twenty ten." Hell, even "two thousand ten" sounds cooler than wimpy "nine." Screw the new year resolutions, too. I do those on my birthday.

See ya around

I haven't been as active here, but I do browse regularly and read all the comments. It's kind of hard opening photoshop and bust out a space scene (or anything else for that matter) after using photoshop at work all day. Something's really gotta grab me if I want to produce something.

Still, the point of this journal was to say that I'm pretty impressed by the average quality of space art that I've come across lately. I'd like to think that I've been there in the very early stages when there were only a handful of us here at dA making space art. This allowed us to see some newcomers' art and now I've seen how far they've come.

I have personally developed a bit of a different taste for space art and mere scenes don't do it for me anymore, but some of the stuff I've come across in the "scenes" realm is good stuff! Good colors, good texturing, sharp stuff. Nebulae are still a bit shaky in general and there are only a few people who dont pull of exclusively the ones with the overly bright (white) center that looks like nothing i've seen in astronomy imagery unless i crank up the contrast.

I've always made a point of making things believable rather than strictly realistic, which applies to pretty much all space art at this point. It's funny how some of my early works now look like shit compared to the average artwork, even though it wasn't shabby at all back then (I'm talking about 5 years ago or so). So that says something about the current state of technique. Unless there's some sort of planet-generating program that I'm not aware of....in that case you can all fuck off

Speaking of generation, I still don't like the whole terragen thing. This is because I don't like the perspectives, mere space scenes don't do it for me (anymore) and because, quite frankly, they all look the same to me at this point. Yea they look nice but bleh. Plus the whole thing that attracted me to space scenes was the idea of flying around in space and not touching down somewhere. Low-orbit is as low as I'll go But still, if you like it, then more power to ya.

I haven't come across many galaxies, though...I've seen less than 5 that I kinda liked but everyone else just sticks to nebulae and planets. Do you guys find them that hard to make? It's like a frigging nebula with a twirl, come on! I know that I keep mentioning a guide/tutorial, but galaxies arent like planets, where you follow a certain order. Galaxies are paintings that take a bit of shape and you end up with something that you like. I'll see what I can do, though. Any suggestions on how to go about it?

So yea, basically this entry is to congratulate the lot of you on doing a hell of a nice job. Your techniques are good and have certainly improvement. Still, there's a lot of room for expansion, and remember that idea will always matter more than technique. Space art offers the possibility fo making something that may seem wild but it makes sense in a weird way. Since we're a species that is just starting to explore space, nothing seems too far-fetched at this point.

Hello everyone,

I'd like to make a simple entry about this subject. Prior to my dive into the art world, the only art theft I knew of was of people physically stealing artwork from places. Oh how things have changed since then.

I'm lucky enough to have my art stolen just a few times; I could count them with both hands and wouldnt use all 10 fingers. And I say "lucky" because 1) people have asked me to use the artwork, which I generally agree to, and 2) It's been very few and far between, and 3) it means that someone was good enough to be stolen!

I would like to personally thank everyone who has given me a heads-up whenever my artwork has been "stolen." However, the main reason why I'm writing this journal lies within this. I have been contacted numerous times about "space lane" being posted on many many sites. Typically, it is under the "coolest picture ever" random image websites. While I am flattered, I disagree. If you don't disagree, I'll show you!

So yea, these kind people send me a note to let me know that my art is being stolen by some site. They couldve easily ignored it and thought "hey i know who did that....well I'm gonna have a Mt. Dew," but they actually took a few minutes to let me know. Thank you, really!

But the thing is that...I don't consider it theft! Art theft to me is when someone uses my work as stock imagery, doesnt credit me, or erases my signature from the artwork. More extreme cases involve making money off it. But in this case, it's just a showcase. I see no difference between what these sites do and you printint it out and showing it to your friends, or saving the image on your computer and show them without even printing. After all, we do take pictures of artwork at museums and show them to our friends, but that's not considered art theft, is it?

Also, I don't see my art as my own personal thing that I dont want everyone to see. If it gets shown to more people, then great! I do this stuff to get reactions out of people. Them knowing who did it is secondary to that. Secondary, but still important.

Still, I appreciate all the heads-up. Even if you're not sure, I'd like to judge the scenario myself and call the shots. I wrote his journal to let you know where I stand on this.

So, modification of my artwork in any way (except resizing, of course), I consider theft. Let me know if you come across this.
If you'd like to use my work for a website or something: let me know.
If you'd like to use my work as a base for a manipulation or other artwork: I don't aprove.

I hope that's clear enough. I'll use the "it's late and I'm sleepy" excuse

Thank you, and keep on rocking

Okay, relatively quick dilemma that I face here, so I need the opinion of some motorheads.

Scenario: You want a specific car in a very specific color (factory color)

You look around and there is one that you want, with 8k miles on it. Cost: 40 grand

You also find a car of the same year and specifications, but a different color and 20k miles (still new, by no means shabby). Cost: 25 grand.

So what do you do? Spend 40 grand more on the exact same color and 12k miles less, or do you get the other one and paint it which, tops, would cost 5 grand, thus saving you 10 grand.

If you're not a gearhead, I am willing to say that you are gonna vote for the second option. Right now, I'm leaning towards that. HOWEVER, I am being influenced otherwise and I want to hear the opinion of people who are knowledgeable.

CHOICES, CHOICES!

Logic is taking up a lot of my brain lately, especially when I try to see how logical (or illogical) stuff that I do and think really is. I realized that something may seem logic, but I'm missing a part of it that makes it not-so logical (for example, being a hardcore vegan.....but not realizing that you're wearing a leather belt that took like 600 geckos to make).

So, in that train of thought, I wrote a bunch of scenarios, and they came out to be 5. Just enough to make a top-5 list and make it sound more official

1) Why can't I dislike a good movie and like a bad one? I sure as hell can. I can recognize a good movie based on directing, dialogue, and so on, but I may still dislike it, and vice-versa. Cases in point: I like "Kung Pow: Enter the fist" and I don't like Kill Bill. Think of it like food. I'm sure there's good food like gourmet super buffet, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't prefer some mashed potatoes instead. I'm sure the Honda Civic is a terrific car that lasts for decades, but I just don't like them that much.

2) Why can't I voice a contrary opinion about something that I can't do? This is a typical fanboy flame here. Lets say there's a guy playing guitar and someone says he doesn't think he's that good. Then everyone goes "well shit man you're no better! " Well then I must go back to a movie analogy. Lets say you don't like a movie. Would you be able to do it better? If you don't like the dialogue, would you write it better? How about directing and operating the camera? Acting, perhaps? Chances are, you'd flip out the second you were given the task, but no one's saying anything. Most of us don't like President Bush, but how good a president would we be? Seriously. So you see, just because you're no expert at something, it doesn't take away your right to have a contrary opinion, no matter how absurd it is and how many people oppose it.

3) Why can't I asses a problem, fix it, and get over it quickly and smoothly without stressing out? Unless I don't know how to proceed and I'm under a hell of a tight deadline or the world is going to explode, then I find no reason to freak out.

4)Why can't I look a song like 30 times if I'm so obsessed with it? And this happens with movies, too. Back in the VCR days, I used to burn the shit out of its heads by rewinding so much because I wanted to watch a specific part over and over (like the headbanging to "Bohemian Rhapsody" scene in Wayne's World." Rarely do I watch movies entirely again, just the cool parts.

5) Why can't I, as a designer, favor function over form? Apparently the stereotype for designers is that its looks must trump its function every time. Not here, nope. Hell thats my designer conflict, as I call it.

a) Why cant I, as a designer, give more weight to quality and use than the name brand? $2,000 jacket? $600 shirt? $500 sunglasses? Hell no.

b)And for that matter.....why cant I, as a designer, fall completely in love with something absolutely impractical just based on its looks?

Actually, I can (and do) all those things. Can you? Do you?

Speaking of "can," you can make your own list and post it here or make your own journal so that we get the ball rolling a bit (link me to it if you do). Feel absolutely free to point out faults in my top-5, and I'll be sure to point out yours.......if I find any