So it has been yet another year between journal entries...
I must say now, that at age 21, looking at some of the art I posted so long ago is pretty funny / embarassing, but its especially interesting to look back and see my development through my years on DeviantArt. I can almost mark my exploration of this amazing community as much by my art as by my memories...
-- befriending Taryn and throwing myself into the world of anime, I started first playing around in Photoshop after seeing some very cool anime fan art coloured on the computer. Inspired by my friend, and fellow Deviant, I created : [link]

-- Then, uh oh, the high school student with so much less than a college degree in graphic design discovered, by playing around and looking online, how to ACTUALLY use photoshop as a tool. I discovered how cool and dynamic it could be. Using the layer display "multiply", I could now colour my pathetic scanned sketches inside the lines without showing white gaps/risk colouring over the black outline! [link]

I maintain, as mentioned by :dev~bionic7: in his recent journal, that the best and only real method to learn how to make art using something else--be it a design program or musical instrument or a new traditional art medium-- is by trial and error, experimentation, and exploration. We are witnessing a generation of "artists" aka: kids taking art in school, that lack experience, drive, and ultimately passion. PASSION IS KEY!!!

Lack of passion, and in turn, talent (let's say talent = an interest that translates into experimentation that becomes practice that becomes nice art!) results in a "art industry" full of status-quo'ers pumping out templates, 'sourced' rights-free stock designs and recycled college projects. I see this in the "creative people" I meet in the workplace, and I see it in those future employees, people my age, that decide to go into design and art programs in college on a whim when they graduate high school. Just because you have a piece of paper and 6 pieces of art that you did over three years in some step-by-step class instructional setting does not mean you are an artist.

This is such a rant, wow. i certainly didn't start out on this path, trust me.

Take me as a musician for example -- ha! Yes, I have Royal Conservatory papers saying that I have reached a level of proficiency that enables me to teach piano all over the world, and yes the entire concert band (and often the jazz as well) relied on me to keep the beat for four years worth of practices and concerts. I have played Mozart, Bach, Beethoven on piano, and everything from jazz to rock on drums, but would I call myself a drummer? Maybe yes, to sound like a rockstar, but really claim myself to be a musical artist? No. Would I apply for a job as a drummer? No. Will i EVER work as a piano teacher? Definitely not. Why? Lack. Of. Passion. I know I don't have it, musically-- I know this and accept it. I have rarely if ever practiced songs outside of my exam-driven repertoire...

woww.... anyway, I guess that ends my little tour-de-deviantart because I'm tired (kind of pathetic--what was that? like two links from 2004? haha) and I have to work tomorrow for 12 hourssssss (Audi Marketing Internship PLUS Costco Night Merch! daily! brutal!) I hope university leading into a full time job doesn't kill my artistic passion... but I'll try to keep it alive if I can!

Until next time,

- Kyla