Joe > Average

Yeah, that guy's cuteness is definitely overwhelming .

In terms of music & art, my voice and singing abilities were also noticeably above-average.... but also totally undeveloped. Growing up, I was literally forced. against my will, to spend huge amounts of time training on the Violin. But I neither enjoyed it nor had much native skill in it. I was probably only 'average' in native skill, but pure blunt force in training & private instruction made me one of the best ones in the my full orchestra & chamber strings.

I didn't draw very often, but I generally drew 3 things: Cartoon characters as a kid and soldiers or models as an adolescent. I would rip out pages from magazines- usually women's advertisements and draw their faces. I admired a beautiful woman's face and figure very early on in my life. I could copy photographs somewhat well, but in a very blunt way...I had no training so my shading was usually awkward. My free-hand drawing was very 'comic book'- a mixture of American-style drawing/Japanese style/and realism.

I drew these stuff like this more often though: To most people, it doesn't mean much, but to me, it was history come alive. My urges to draw were generally during my readings of military history:

Samples (not mine, of course).

I would only draw the people, and I would focus on the faces. There would be, of course, a mixture of source material and modifications if need be. I loved the 'osprey' series and the illustrations. They were very descriptive source material and I learned to have full understanding of all related military equipment and its function in battle.

I focused on the 20th century, and all wars. Favorite subjects: US Army & Marines WW1-WW2-Korea-Vietnam, German Army WW1-WW2, Soviet Army WW2.

Yeah, I can see how being forced into things can take away some of the joy of it. Are there hobbies you discovered later in live that you enjoy?

Is it like looking in a mirror for you ?

I had a feeling that was the case.. that's why I used the word 'admirer' rather than 'fan'

I must admit though that even though with Aguilera on the other hand, I can't even say I'm an admirer even though I think she has a very good voice (strong tone, good range and a lot of power even though on the control end she can't execute those runs as well as the people she's imitating) because to me she doesn't convey much genuine emotion and her style is so affected to me. I should definitely drop by the music threads again though. It was run by some unbearable members when I first visited but that doesn't seem to be the case now.

Good to know too. I just remember you being down on the Blasko cover of Outkast that time, and couldn't remember exactly why.. but that explains things

Interested in your thoughts anyway, especially with the first - I think I've posted Anna Calvi in your thread before and you didn't like her, but we shall see <_<

It probably also didn't help matters much that it was one of the most overplayed songs of the decade at that point . I'm sure I would have liked her version of this song called "Prototoype" (about an alien looking for love . The video is pretty funny) that bombed by contrast. *edit* finding the music video... *edit* Its not on Youtube apparently.

Song 1 - One things for sure (for me at least) no one can say the word "naughty" like a British woman . I like the use of the instruments there and though I never liked the song in general, they did what could be done, so props to them on that. I'll have to look up more from her.

Song 2 - I liked the arrangement and how she started off although it kindof lost me when it got to the falsetto in the middle. I clicked on a link beside it that said Black Car Sessions or something like that and I liked that one a lot more.

Looks like we need 2 helicopters with spotlights to shine them on as they walk down the street eating there frozen yogurt

Joe, learn to use that scanner please!! I want to see scans, the quality is incomparable!! And the best way to learn to use graphite or carbon pencils is to actually use them you just have to try, that

^ Pretty much Joseph, kinda sad isn't it?

I posted this in the wtf?!!? thread, but I thought I'd share my day with you so far.

WTF! :anger: :anger: Why is it my mother can drive me to rage in just a couple of minutes of talking to her? Seriously the most ignorant cunt I've known in a long time. Grow the hell up mother, not everything is about you.

9:14am (Phone rings, it's MOM. btw I have the flu and I wasn't able to sleep, I was up all night getting sick to my stomach.)

Me: Hello?

Mom: Hi hunny!

Me: Mom I just went to bed at 8 am

Mom: Oh hunny you sound bad, you ok?

Me: No mom, not feeling well... bed good ... talkie bad, phone bad, bad.... sleep good *sigh*

Mom: What you don't want to talk to me?

Me: Mom I really want to go back to bed, I just went to sleep

Mom: But I want to talk to you!

Me: MOM just went to sleep

Mom: So your going to ignore you mother? You don't want to talk to me?

Me: No mom, sleep, sleep good. I'll talk to you later.

Mom: Whatever!! Just ignore you mother (Hangs up the phone)

5 hours later I call her back and it goes a little something like this.

Me: Mom if you had only had one or two hours of sleep and I had called and woken you up the proper thing would of been to say "Hey sorry I woke you up, call me later"

Mom: You! need to stop dwelling on this

Me: MOM it was rude. Stop with the guilt trips

Mom: Hunny your father's looking down on you from Heaven and he's upset with you!!

Me: MOM you were in the wrong, stop turning this around on me

Mom: Yvette let it go, stop it

Me: MOM!!!!! stop with the self entitled behavior and say your sorry, and this time try and seem like you mean it.

Mom: Why?!! ... fine I'm sorry

Mom: Hunny what's going on with you, you aren't the nice girl I raised

Me: Mom I was beyond tired when you called and now you're pissing me off... badly, can we please drop it?

Mom: Oh darling stop being so angry, I didn't do anything wrong, all I wanted to do was talk to my daughter, is that to much to ask?

Me: After I've only had an hour of sleep... yes, it's too much to ask for

Mom: (quick change of subject) Hunny I'm coming to visit you next month

Me: Mom it's Chris' birthday and I have no idea what days he's getting off.. I may not be home, and if I am chances are Chris and I aren't going to be answering the door.

Mom: You'll answer that door for me or I'll bang on it till you do.

Mom: I'm your mother and I have rights.

Me: (In a full rage) Mom stop! just stop!

Mom: NO I'M YOUR MOTHER AND YOU NEED TO STOP TREATING ME LIKE THIS. I GAVE BIRTH TO YOU, I HAVE RIGHTS

Me: Yes so does my husband and I... yanno the husband I see maybe 4-5 days every three months? Excuse me if I'd like to spend time with him.

Mom: Your husband doesn't love you if he's going to take a job like that.... I can't imagine my husband leaving me home alone like that for that long.

Me: MOM! STOP

She continues to nag/scream at me for 20 seconds

Me: Mom I love you... bye!

WTF WTF WTF WTF WTF! <insert seething rage and a few tears here>

:| Yeah, that's really something. You should probably get caller ID though and at least not answer when in that condition. Of course, it went the same way when you had gotten sleep anyway . Good job cutting her off on the husband dissing anyway. I guess that puts things into perspective in that it makes the exchange I was about to complain about not seem as bad.

Childhood Friend: Hey Joe, tell ____ (female childhood friend) that I said, "your mouth isn't that big, but you sure as f*** make up for it." She'll know what that means.

Yeah, I guess you're right on both ends there . I've started to use the Hs and now I'm learning the Bs .

*edit* Wow, I just realized how that sounds .

*edit* I just tried some out. The top is B2 and the bottom is H2. I must admit they kindof glide across the paper and even though its still shot with a camera is easier to see at least.

Great!! You´re getting better, these two are much better than the last pic you showed me (It was Marloes I think) - just more and more practice I´ll tell you one trick - when you draw with pencil, and draw an eye, firstly draw a circle (imagine the whole eyeball)

and then try to draw the lids around it

it´s finely showed here - link

Put a little more pressure in both corners of the eye... here are many examples

link 2 eye

Of course I did and I never though about combining the two of them. I must admit that I'll have to get some of their names down first

, but I'll post them when I do.

Do you want to see how does it look in practice? That combination?

I will wait

That's definitely a worthwhile tip since I've always drawn the lid first I think . Its makes sense though since it is called an eye ball and the skin around it gives it its shape. Of course, we know that subconsciously but I never thought about it in those terms. Its probably a good example of so close you missed it. One thing that confuses me about tutorials though is where they draw a line in step one and the line is gone in the last step whereas I'm not sure how to totally get rid of it. Maybe they mean draw it really lightly. I'll try that out with the 2B one. Glad to know you see improvement since the model pic and yes I would love to see how the mixture looks . I love classical paintings in general, but some of my modern (that's not to say the genre modern) artists who I know by name...

One things for sure (for me at least) no one can say the word "naughty" like a British woman

Ain't that the truth

I had a listen to the Black Cab Session song.. I like that one too

Do you know Amy Sol, Joe? She does these pretty nice soft, dream-like fantasy paintings on wood. http://www.amysol.com

^ WTF

Oh, and now we need a Top 10 Big Butt Misconceptions list

They're not as popular as the big bosom, so its hard to say. Most black and African males I know like booties more than boobs of any kind,

At home it's said that 'it's nice to have a lady approach you, but it's even nicer to watch her walking away'...

Gosh Baron, I've never heard anybody use the word Anodyne in my life :!

Gosh Baron, I've never heard anybody use the word Anodyne in my life :!

^Stick with me kid, I'll take you to the linguistic hinterland!

You know, I've seen these hyper-adjectives being used in art & fashion writing and it makes me scratch my head. They are often short forms of the mundane, yet they are often clustered together into combinations that make no apparent sense to an outsider. Like a code for something. What do you make of this?

Yeah, I can see how being forced into things can take away some of the joy of it. Are there hobbies you discovered later in live that you enjoy?

As of right now, my only hobby is BZ. I don't have time for anything else.

You know, I've seen these hyper-adjectives being used in art & fashion writing and it makes me scratch my head. They are often short forms of the mundane, yet they are often clustered together into combinations that make no apparent sense to an outsider. Like a code for something. What do you make of this?

You know, I've seen these hyper-adjectives being used in art & fashion writing and it makes me scratch my head. They are often short forms of the mundane, yet they are often clustered together into combinations that make no apparent sense to an outsider. Like a code for something. What do you make of this?

^As with many things in these fields, I'm sure they are just another way to show off!

You know, like describing a piece of art or a piece of clothing with a lot of superlatives and literary, artistic, inside or obscure references.....:-D It's code for something..

*edit* Here's a shot at that tutorial with a 2B and lol at the Girls Gone Wild avatar right under it .

One things for sure (for me at least) no one can say the word "naughty" like a British woman

Ain't that the truth

Actually a grown person in any other accent it sounds silly saying it now that I think about it . Another note I forgot to add is that a woman playing the electric guitar or bass is a huge plus for me.

Do you know Amy Sol, Joe? She does these pretty nice soft, dream-like fantasy paintings on wood. http://www.amysol.com

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/f...ysol_retune.jpg

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/f...tringsofdew.jpg

Not by name, but that's definitely great stuff ! I'll definitely add her to the group.

^ WTF

Oh, and now we need a Top 10 Big Butt Misconceptions list

They're not as popular as the big bosom, so its hard to say. Most black and African males I know like booties more than boobs of any kind,

^Same in Argentina, and I'd say South America in general (and I mean in general, I'm not Theron!)... All men's magazine covers will be of the 'back shot, looking over the shoulder' kind (pose #1 of the Candice Swanepoel Big Book of VS Poses); and all our homegrown model/actress/whatevers are renowned for their backsides rather than chests - Carolina Pampita Ardohain being, perhaps, the best example.

At home it's said that 'it's nice to have a lady approach you, but it's even nicer to watch her walking away'...

I'm not surprised to hear that about Argentina since there seems to be so many women with medium round bottoms there . The fact that he hates big boobs is also an interresting irony to the fact that he's your example of a guy that speaks for guys . Though I say that bottoms aren't as popular overall, a big part of that is probably moreso due to exposure than innate preference. With equal exposure, the tables might turn somewhat. Leg love (regardless of the type one prefers) is probably the most common overall though. Nice legs aren't less common by any means, but at least in my experience its harder to find somone that doesn't appreciate legs compared to the other two. That's not to say the degree of love is greater necessarily. I must say though, it seems I love arms, backs and stomachs as much as some love those things .

Joe! Chances are noone else on this forum will bat an eye at this, so let me flip out here

Sarah Blasko has told triple j she'll start work on album number four in just a few weeks.

Chatting to Dom Alessio from Sweden, where she recorded her last album As Day Follows Night, Blasko said she plans on teaming up with the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra on the new record.

"I'm here and just getting ready to start recording in March," Blasko revealed.

"I've got a few weeks recording here in Stockholm and then it looks like I'm going to do some recording in Bulgaria as well, in May. So I'm really excited about doing that."

"About 5 years ago I read an article in the Sydney Morning Herald about the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra and I've got family history in Bulgaria and I was just reading about what a great orchestra they are and how a lot of people were using them for soundtracks and things like that.

They record in the old radio hall and there's something about it that really clicked with me and I thought I would really love to do that one day. So I've decided to do it on this record."

During the chat, Blasko also mentioned that she'll be taking over production duties on the new record. Bjorn Yttling from Peter, Bjorn & John manned the desks on her last solo release As Day Follows Night but Blasko said he "couldn't make it happen... time wise" for the new album.

"That was pretty disappointing for both of us. But I've just decided to go forward and do it myself. It's always been an element in what I've done - on a couple of records I co-produced or however you want to describe it. But I just really wasn't feeling the vibe of trying to establish a relationship with someone new in terms of a producer and then when Bjorn couldn't do it I just thought well maybe it's time to take up the challenge of doing it myself.

I don't think I would have the confidence to do it if I didn't feel like I had the right people around me. I want it to have a connection to the last record so it's good to have some of the same people on it. But it's a shame not to do it with Bjorn but it just felt like the right time to do something different."

Fingers crossed we'll have new music from Sarah Blasko to play for you by the end of the year.

That's definitely big news if I hear correctly about her being around since the 90s and only having three albums. Sounds great .

Joe, answer these please!

That's definitely a worthwhile tip since I've always drawn the lid first I think . Its makes sense though since it is called an eye ball and the skin around it gives it its shape. Of course, we know that subconsciously but I never thought about it in those terms. Its probably a good example of so close you missed it. One thing that confuses me about tutorials though is where they draw a line in step one and the line is gone in the last step whereas I'm not sure how to totally get rid of it. Maybe they mean draw it really lightly. I'll try that out with the 2B one. Glad to know you see improvement since the model pic and yes I would love to see how the mixture looks . I love classical paintings in general, but some of my modern (that's not to say the genre modern) artists who I know by name...

Linda Bergavitz

She seems to focus on female characters in fantasy scenes. I'd love to know more about all of their stories. This ones called "Don't Whisper into the Wind." I haven't seen her, but they say she's not bad to look at either as a side note.

Adam Anderson

"Floating Bazaar"

Tomaz Maronski

Everything he does looks like something out of a dream to me .

These all seems to be geniuses in their own world I love it! Pure fantasy, it makes you dream about these places

And when you´re insecure, it´s better to draw lightly than to press too much... at least when you´re drawing the basics of the face or body - just sketching. Learn your hand to "fly lighty" over the paper when drawing, at least that´s what my teacher taught me

One things for sure (for me at least) no one can say the word "naughty" like a British woman

Ain't that the truth

I had a listen to the Black Cab Session song.. I like that one too

Do you know Amy Sol, Joe? She does these pretty nice soft, dream-like fantasy paintings on wood. http://www.amysol.com

I love such style really wonderful!

*edit* Here's a shot at that tutorial with a 2B and lol at the Girls Gone Wild avatar right under it .

Try to put less pressure on the outer lines of the eye ball (draw it lightly) - it´s just a help to make the eye look 3 dimensional - and focus then on the eyelids, watch your own eye and learn from the shape of it - you´ll see that it´s not squarish at all, so avoid drawing things too square (only when you want to emphasize something, like some anime characters are drawn in more square way, including their eyes) and put some softness in it... and draw, draw and draw

Here are some samples when I was experimenting with highlighters, coloured pencils and markers.. hope you´ll like at least one

This was a shere experiment with only highlighters and black marker - I was curious how many colours you can get by combinating 5.

These are small format - combination of coloured pencils and markers

same for this one - markers with coloured pencils, with Laszloooo everywhere (my fav piggy) the anatomy sucks, but I still like the colours

Hope you enjoyed it a little at least