Yuliya’s Blog

I finished! It took three days but I did it. I don’t think the coloring turned out so badly, either. I see mistakes but those can be avoided on the next thing I work on.

 –Yuliya

I’m not much of a poet. And I’ve definitely never been a mathematical genius. But one thing I’ve always enjoyed doing and others seem to enjoy is my art.

 I wonder what I’m going to do with myself and this “talent”, as some may call it. I’m getting closer and closer to the point where I have to find a career, a purpose in society. People try to reassure me with things like “oh don’t worry you’ll figure it out soon enough”, but the intimidating dilemma is still there, breathing down my neck like a monster that’s been hiding under my bed all these years. I have too many interests and cannot possibly choose between them and figure out what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life.

Frankly, I don’t have much faith in making a living as an artist. Still, as I was one day sitting around the house, jobless because of the suffering job market in the US, a thought came to me. I have several friends who sell their art and do commissions. Why can’t I do the same? Then another thought came to me: I’m not that good. Who would want to buy my art?

 I need to get much better. Not only that, I need a style. I lack an individual style with my art. I used to draw a lot of anime, but then I realized that I was tired of having my drawings look like everyone else’s, so I went on a search for individuality. The result is that I have tons of drawings that all look like they’ve been drawn by different people. I also need to figure out a technique when it comes to drawing on the computer. 

 This is what I have been currently working on:

Obviously it’s not finished. I finished the line work yesterday and the base colors, and the skin shading I finished today. I am wondering if I should do the same kind of skin shading or continue doing the standard clean-color-shading-thing where I don’t mix colors like I would in paint. I think I’ll push forward with what I’ve tried, though.

 I think I’ve developed a strategy for starting this whole art business of mine. It’s probably silly but I’ll try it anyway. In the mean time I shall sit and wait for my destiny or fate (if you believe in that kind of stuff) to come to me.

–Yuliya

Recently I went to a Harry and the Potters concert. It was really a spur-of-the-moment thing, my friend mentioned that she was going and I was sick of lazing around the house watching Law and Order so I invited myself. Another one of my friends decided to go, so we met up and I drove us to the city.

Before the main event, Harry and the Potters, three bands performed. The first band was named Uncle Monsterhead (or something) and…was really loud. The lead singer of the band was really energetic, but it didn’t mean that he could sing. The next band was better, and had a rock/techno sound. It was fun to dance to and had potential, but I felt that they could have done better with the lead singer. The third band, led by Jason Anderson, was even better. For one thing, he could actually sing. The band’s style was a lot more relaxed so it gave us a chance to rest a little. Before I had been jumping up and down nonstop like the fool I am. After Jason’s performance my friend bought a CD and I was able to talk to him for a little bit. Anderson is from New Hampshire, and I told him that I’d be moving to the East for college. So who knows, I might see him perform again.

When Harry and the Potters came onto stage, I didn’t really know what to expect because I had never heard their music before. I ended up laughing the whole time because I felt like such a nerd for jumping up and down to lyrics worshipping Harry Potter. Amazingly, everyone around me knew all the words to the songs, except me. So I just opened and closed my mouth in a clever pretense and enjoyed the ride.

Hagrid is fun to hug

Hagrid is full of love

Just don’t get stuck in Hagrid’s beard

Ahhhhh!

Hey!    

 This arrangement of words, accompanied by a series of hand motions related to hearts and beards, would be repeated periodically throughout the concert. In fact, they were really training us. Monkey see, monkey do. We would blindly mimic the actions and sing joyfully along as cult members would hail their leader at a daily meeting. At one point they laughed and told the crowd that it was strange that they were being paid to entertain us, because we are the ones who are entertaining. I think I would feel the same way if I were on stage and saw that I had a whole crowd of willing followers. The power must be intoxicating.

The band’s popularity is not based off of talent or skill, but from enthusiasm and charisma. The whole concept of going to a concert that is based around Harry Potter is amusing and thrilling. Those guys have it made. They get to dress up like Harry Potter and prance about on the stage while tons of fans worship them for what they stand for.

 Needless to say, my friends and I were exhausted. We went to IHOP at one in the morning looking like complete messes but grinning from ear to ear.

–Yuliya

I’ve decided to have my own blog.

It’s all the rage these days, really, to have a blog. It used to be that journalists and reporters would reach out to the public in print, so there was perhaps a more narrow scope of information. But then the internet came along, and so did Google and You Tube and forums and blogs. Suddenly the public had a voice (as cheesy and cliche as it sounds) and normal people could exercise their freedom of speech. I’ve been pretty much sucked into this chaotic whirlwind of living online. That’s how cool I am.

Here’s a list of the internet services I have signed up for thus far (that I remember):

This blog, Livejournal, my website, Deviant Art, You Tube, MSN Messenger, Facebook, Myspace, Xanga, AIM, WindowsLiveSpace(thingmabobber), a forum dedicated to college stuff, some other random forum for online comics, another random forum my friend started, Crunchyroll.com, several emails

Well that’s all I really remember signing up for, but I do know that it is way too much. Yet I keep going, signing up for more free online services and participating in more online social fads.  Still I can’t help it, I think I shall give this a go. I shall establish some rules for myself: 

1. Do not use real names.

2. Keep the personal details out and leave this blog to opinions on issues

As #2 stated, I shall limit this blog to my opinions on current events, issues, politics, art…I’d like to have my own personal outlet, my own niche on the internet. My website (catsushiart.com) is the main component to my niche that brings everything together….my You Tube/Deviant Art/this blog. The Face Book and Livejournal I am keeping to myself, though. I shall give myself a brief introduction later. 

–Yuliya