FREAKS!
The online world, as it turns out, is full of freaks. I know. I’m shocked too.
Given the universe’s fondness of me, it decided that, as I’d completed building my storage space behind my desk, and as Seth and I were trying to organise a trip to the USA, now would be an ideal time to drop a real stinkeroonie on us and force us to move.
Our landlord wishes to renovate, beginning with the removal of us.
Them’s the brakes.
We start packing.
Now, this has been an ideal time for me to realise that, actually, we don’t really need most of the stuff we have.
Thus I do my bit to keep an excellent community moving and earn myself some karma points (to be redeemed upon death – I’m going to swap mine for a book voucher I think) and log into my local chapter of freecycle to offer a tv.
Now, it seems there are some lovely people there. They sent my emails asking politely if they may collect it. I said yes to the first, and friendly ‘sorry, but it’s already been claimed’ emails to the others.
But some emails? Some people?
FREAKS!
“I wunt ur tv plz give me”.
Yes, that was an email in it’s entirety. Sure mate, I’m real keen on giving YOU my home address.
And another, that came in at 11.30pm as I was just about to switch off for bed:
“HELLO THIS IS (NAME).
Would like TV u r ridding of please. Would like to collect TODAY. In car with iphone. Need ur addy. Will pick up NOW. BRT. ADDRESS PLEASE.”
Are you from Syria? Are you serious?
WHAT THE HELL, PEOPLE?
What. The. Hell.
The moral of this story?
Beware, people!
For freaks walk amongst us.
April 26, 2010 3 Comments
Storage!
Before I donked by head, I redid some storage behind my desk, in my little work area thingy.
Previously, I had left over old desk bits on cinder blocks and speakers.
But now!
Now I have left over old desk bits on cinder blocks and speakers with random reject shop mini book cases!
And the effect isn’t too bad, surprisingly.
It’s hard to get a good photo, because my desk and the lounge is in the way (half the loungeroom is a loungeroom, the other half my desk area)
and
and me, clearly insane and enjoying the new storage space:
April 15, 2010 2 Comments
More to life
A lot of shitty things have happened to me in 2010.
A lot.
2010′s latest gift to me (a concussion and a cracked cheekbone) caused a friend to suggest that this is the universe telling me I need to slow down.
That I’m working too much, and I need to look after myself.
I thought about this for a bit.
I actually don’t think, as far as illustrators go, I DO work that hard. Do I?
I mean, usually get up and am at my computer by 9. And I’m usually there at 6pm. 7pm. 8pm.
But I DO take breaks. I check the PO Box. I go for a walk. I go out for coffee.
I even spend some time every evening watching some DVDs or documentaries with Seth.
I mean, sure, there’s never a day I DON’T fire up the computer and at least check that no clients have sent me urgent messages. Or maybe just tweak a painting for 15 minutes or so.
And a few weeks ago, when I had a whole weekend away from my computer and work, I almost had a panic attack about it.
I know that’s not healthy, but hey, I’m an illustrator. I’m freelance.
It’s hard!!
It comes with the territory. Suck it up princess and get to work.
Still, it’s been on my mind. So today I asked Seth:
“Do you think I work too much?”
“Yes”
“I…oh. Yes? You don’t even need to think about it?”
“No. Yes. I told you that before. I keep saying you’re spending too much time at the computer.”
“But it’s where my work is!!!”
“I know.”
My initial response was to feel anger.
Don’t people understand what my job is? That I’m a freelance illustrator and designer? Don’t people know how hard that is? Don’t people know what odds I’m up against? Don’t they understand that there are more neurosurgeons about than full time illustrators? Do they know what that means, and how much time it takes to be able to reach that level?
Don’t they care?
And you know, I realise, the answer is no.
No, they don’t care about that.
They care about me.
They couldn’t give a rat’s if I make it into this competition, or that one. But they sure as hell do care when they see somebody they care about hell bent on obsessively working themselves to death.
And while it might not be a heavy workload by ‘industry’ (I despise that term) standards, it is by sane people standards.
I guess I would do well to remember that.
And I guess it might not actually hurt me to unplug my computer one day a week for some rest and recovery and…dare I say it…relaxation?
I’m going to give it a go.
April 14, 2010 3 Comments
Beware the SCOPE CREEP!!
Scope creep can be the bane of the freelancer’s (any freelancer’s) existance.
What is it?
[Read more →]
March 25, 2010 2 Comments
How a web design goes straight to hell
A link worth checking out.
How a web design goes straight to hell
I can related both as a web designer and as an illustrator.
March 24, 2010 Comments Off
And now – Painting In Real Time!
It seems I’m going nuts with the video software I downloaded.
This is my first go at uploading a video of me painting in real time, and talking as I go.
Don’t get to excited – the conversational content is pretty bad.
But!
It does give fantastic insight into how boring painting all day can be.
I had to upload it in two parts, as apparently time got away from me once I started.
Part 1
Part 2
If people actually find these interesting or useful, I’ll make sure to do more. The software I’ve gotten makes this ridiculously easy, and I’m never short on stupid tedious shit to say!
And hopefully the quality will improve as I go too. The audio quality leaves a LOT to be desired, but to be fair, I was using a roll of toilet paper as a mic stand…so….that.
March 17, 2010 2 Comments
Time Lapse!
I recorded my first time lapse painting video today, and thought I’d share.
Unfortunately it took me a few minutes to realise I could adjust the settings to better suit what I was doing, so the start is a bit skewed and poor quality.
Still! I’ll know what to fix for next time, and I figured I’d share it anyway, since I can hardly go back and repaint for a second take.
As usual, I’m working in photoshop. Actual painting for this segment took about 30-45 minutes. I estimate hours being left to do. Hmm.
More (and better quality) videos coming soon!
March 17, 2010 Comments Off
