Art First Pieces

[Riku]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma]I've seen a lot of good art pieces around in the Art Thread by people who are very commendable and loved by many.

Which is why I've wondered: what were their very first GFX pieces like? I mean, I'm sure not all of us were damn good at making beautiful banners and such; we had to grow and learn upon the many mistakes that we have crossed through life.

So, in this thread, I'm wanting all you awesome artists out here in the OB to post some of your very first pieces of work (yes, even if they actually suck in your opinion) and some of your most recent and beautiful pieces so we can see how much you've grown all this time. Also so that you can receive some compliments from others, 'mkay? ;D

[CENTER][U][B]Rules of the game are:[/B][/U]

1.) Post a couple of your old art pieces and some of your recent ones.
2.) Explain a little about what things you did to make it that way and how long ago it was.
3.) Talk about how hard it was to come this far and how happy you are sticking with GFX. Also, tell us how long you've been GFXing.
4.) Give others compliments and start all over again! Though, don't over do it or else it'll just get boring. :/

Well, here we go... let's it get this road on the show! I'll go first.[/CENTER]

[CENTER][U][B]Past[/B][/U]

[IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c307/CloudsOnly189/Banners/CCBanner.gif[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c307/CloudsOnly189/Banners/BlueKenshinBanner.jpg[/IMG]

Basically, all I really did was add a few filters that I actually knew of and some text. I didn't really know about the saturation options of colours or stamps, really, and I also loved the fact that the banners could be really big. It is a bit boring, but I thought it was awesome way back when. Made about half a year ago.

[U][B]Present[/B][/U]

[IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c307/CloudsOnly189/Banners/LightBKW.png[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c307/CloudsOnly189/Banners/RikuB-2.png[/IMG]

Now, I add different saturations of colours, add a lot more filters, use different stamps, use a smaller banner canvas and actually do really awesome things. It took me awhile to get this far (using tutorials and looking at others things... like Jamie because I love her graphics ;D), but I am so glad to be mentioned by others and having requests on banners. I was about to give up awhile back, but I'm happy I didn't.

Total time of GFXing: About a year and a half.[/CENTER]

Now, let's see what everyone else has to show us. ;][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Ellerby]

[COLOR=DimGray][FONT=Tahoma]Cool thread! :)

[b]Past:[/b]

[img]http://www.freewebs.com/ellerby/Splat!.JPG[/img]

[IMG]http://www.freewebs.com/ellerby/SOS%20Banner.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.freewebs.com/ellerby/Cloud%20and%20Girl.GIF[/IMG]

All of that was done with MS Paint (surprised? Didn't think so). At the time I thought they were [i]so[/i] good. You can tell that I resized pictures using the tool provided in MSPaint as the pictures are really pixelated. They're also all GIFs for some reason.

[b]Present:[/b]

[img]http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/7600/simplyputcopylm8.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7696/mi2u2copygr0.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1641/ebacopynp4.jpg[/img]

All my new pieces are less complex then my first ones. Simple is the way to go in my mind, not complex. This probably comes from looking at a lot of Rising Sun and Retribution's work since they are both artists I look up to. For instance, I really enjoy Sandy's logo for OBS4 since it's just so... simple. I don't know... it's artsy, I guess.

I could make one of them there fancy banners if I really tried (click [url=http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/38689263/][U]here[/U][/url]), I think. I'm just way too lazy and I don't like downloading other peoples work to make my own look better (i.e. brushes) though I don't frown upon it, either. When making my own set, I usually end up just cropping a picture and throwing on a border.

I've been photoshopping for about a year. I first got Photoshop in January '06... so yeah. A year and a bit. For the past 6 months I haven't improved at all. I don't make graphics enough since I really only like making logos and headers, not banners. That's why N50 was a blessing. 10 original headers? Yes, please.

I also don't like anime. And yes, it actually [i]is[/i] harder to make a complex banner like Zekes, KWs and Deltas without any images.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[right][size=1][color=#ededed]You found an invitation to my secret club! PM me.[/size][/right][/color]

[Retribution]

[size=1]Nice thread, KW.

[SIZE=4][FONT=Arial][B]OLD[/B][/FONT][/SIZE]
I was never really a huge fan of filters, but I used a few of them here and there. I can't outline a specific way I made my older pieces, mostly because I explored quite a bit and read a bunch of tutorials. I tried to mimic artists I liked, styles I liked, but I got tired of looking like every other sig artist out there. The abstract backgrounds with glowing text and an anime stock on top really didn't satisfy me. I searched for something better, some way to improve without looking like everyone else.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/mechinfinity/retribattle.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/mechinfinity/sunburst.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/mechinfinity/shinnbanner.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/mechinfinity/sfbanner.jpg[/IMG]


[SIZE=4][FONT=Arial][B]NEW[/B][/FONT][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/retriava.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/set.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/naruto2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/etikrevol.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/enao.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/2.jpg[/IMG]

I ended up just looking at what separated a good forum signature artist from a good magazine/television ad artist. The answer was simplicity. So I cut out as much of the crap as I possibly could, distilled my style, and cut out even more. There was no filters, no special effects present. There was simply text and color. Everything I did for quite a while was utilizing only text. If there were dotted lines in the piece, it was from hyphens. If a splash of color went across the piece, it was a super-enlarged letter. I became a minimalist, almost to a fault, and decided to incorporate more elements into it, the most prominent of which were colored bars and lines.

It was ridiculously frustrating to get to this point. I once showed my work to an online acquaintance to get brutally honest feedback, and he told me I "was nothing special" and looked like everyone else, except worse. I am truly pleased with how I did not give up, how I ate the bitter words and used it all to better myself. I worked like a dog for my skill, spending hours just toying with Photoshop, learning the ins and outs, and not really seeking outside help. I suppose it would've been easier with a mentor to guide me, but those I sought help from were either too brutal and distant or about as good as I was. In total, I've been at GFX for about 3 years. The summer before last was probably when I made my jump from "old" to "new" style.

And it always makes me smile when I impact other artists. And White, you've come a loooooooong way since your olden days.[/size]

[eleanor]

[color=dimgray] *head/desk*[/color]

[Retribution]

[quote name='Lunox][color=dimgray'] *head/desk*[/color][/quote]
[size=1]Yeah, I thought of you when this thread was posted. I guess since we're all too lazy to redo our old pieces, this was more appealing. Sorry. :\[/size]

[Boo]

[size=1]Yeah, let's act like the Art Studio is alive. I'd say this thread will be pretty image heavy.

Okay, the first graphics I ever made. I'm pretty sure that the first graphics I ever made were sprites. Mainly recolours, to be more precise. Original examples lost in time, but just imagine megaman sprites with different pieces of armour.

Well, I'll just continue on to banners and the likes. My first banner [i]ever[/i] was this banner over here. The time I made this, I was a giant newbie and had no idea whatsoever how to handle graphics programs and I didn't know about size restrictions either.

[center][b]Request by Juno[/b]
[URL=http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4076/banner1steverfx0.jpg]Linked because it stretched the lay-out[/URL][/center]

After this one it took some time before I got into making banners. First I was roaming around the writing section and the Newbie Lounge a lot. When the Art By Request forum appeared, I tried making banners for people. All I used was MS Paint. With MS Paint it's a real pain to clean pictures (ex. getting rid of pixel edges), but I did my best and continued on improving my pixel skills. Some examples:

[center][b]Request by Sarsy[/b]
[img]http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1552/bannersarsy2eo9.gif[/img]

[b]Request by SSJ_Willie[/b]
[IMG]http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1866/ssjwilliefq8.gif[/IMG]

[B]Request by yet another Vincent Valentine fan[/b]
[IMG]http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7048/vinc1stnl6.gif[/IMG][/center]

As you can see, they are horrid and you may understand that I now feel very bad for the people I gave them too, who even ended up using them. The last one actually earned myself a fan. Some guy that, until this day, still considers me as a great graphics artist ever since he saw that banner. No idea why, as even back then, I thought it was quite bad. Ever since he has asked me to make graphics for things.

Once I understood PSP a bit more than before, I started off with some odd little banners. I think I have one of them somewhere... *hour later* Nope, can't find it. When I find it, I'll update my post.

Okay, I got the hang of PSP and pasted pictures on my banners now.

[center][b]Mental[/b]
[iMG]http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/9513/10qj8.png[/IMG]

[b]Palmtrees[/b]
.featuring Saiyanprincessx (she did the text).
[IMG]http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6894/dabannergf2.png[/IMG][/center]

The banners weren?t too flashy or anything, but I considered them cool. I still do, as they serve their purpose and the stock is still cleaned with MS Paint. (I was a youngster and had no idea PSP had better tools to clean images)

Later on text became a part of my life once more. Also, swirls and wind became my friend. I still love how slightly swirly and windy graphics look. First I never used layers, so I ended up with graphics like the following:

[center][b]Some thing meant for a digimon site[/b]
[IMG]http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9268/01editpf4.png[/img]

[b]Random swirly banner[/b]
[IMG]http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7738/02er0.png[/IMG]

[b]Black Ram[/b]
.I was so proud to use text again.
[IMG]http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6571/04uz0.png[/IMG][/center]

Around this period I finally gained a bit control over PSP, and I wasn?t only just clicking my way around at random, which saved me a lot of ?undo?s.

[center][b]Pixel+Abstract+Sprite=Banner[/b]
[IMG]http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/413/13pixelspriteha5.png[/IMG]

[b]Squares and corners[/b]
[IMG]http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7980/12pz5.png[/IMG][/center]

After getting bored of just swirls, wind and pixels. I stopped using pixel art in my graphics as a whole. It was then that I started using honeycombs. I loved honeycombs. Honeycombs are the bomb.

[center][b]Request by Taylor Hewitt[/b]
[IMG]http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/7167/thbannerkx6.png[/IMG]

[b]Sandmaester wall[/b]
[URL=http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sandmaester14oc9.png][IMG]http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8081/sandmaester14oc9.th.png[/IMG][/URL][/center]

I guess that there was a big break and I made some graphics for my graphics thread. Trying to get back in the game.

[center][b]Gurt is the Shizz[/b]
.a tribute to Ezekiel/Gurt.
[IMG]http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5152/gurttehshizzboz6.png[/iMG]

[b]5×Eternal[/b]
[IMG]http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/571/muchosja6.png[/IMG]

[b]Boo?s in the eye of the Beholder[/b]
[IMG]http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/64/banner03ao8.png[/IMG]

[b]The Orange Ozy Rocks[/b]
.banner as a tribute to Orange/Ozy.
[IMG]http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3576/orangepinkozywgb1.png[/IMG]

[b]Sean?s Happeh Birthdeh[/b]
.he became fifteens! D: .
[IMG]http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8128/001pinkish6yo3.png[/IMG][/center]

Well, no idea what was in between. Not much. I think I just made some banners and graphics at random. So? I?ll just start rounding up now and add the last graphics to the party. Most of them are from games or contests on OtakuBoards, I suppose.

[center][b]Relive[/b]
[img]http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8194/relivetz2.png[/img]

[b]Freedom.prototype003[/b]
[IMG]http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5617/freedomept003ls9.png[/IMG]

[b]Gaara or something[/b]
[IMG]http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/3272/round2black1pxnegative4hv9.png[/IMG]

[b]Clockwork[/b]
[IMG]http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1898/clockworkquestionmarkcu5.png[/IMG]

[b]Chaos[/b]
[IMG]http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7245/chaostb4.png[/IMG][/center]

Ok that?s enough for now. =P Hopefully this was educative to people who haven?t witnessed this all happen (? all of you as far as I can see). And now, even though I had such a lengthy history, I am still not really improving. But I like what I do and I do what I like. That?s what matters to me.

And now some OtakuBoards headers for contests. They?ve never been at the top of the forums, and I can?t blame James for never picking mine. I actually enjoy my first two the most as they?re more colourful and all and I put more time and effort in them.

[center][b]OtakuBoards banner, 2003[/b]
[URL=http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9250/obbanner01uz9.png]Linked, because it stretched the lay-out.[/URL]

[b]OtakuBoards Season Greetings banner, 2003[/b]
[URL=http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7200/obsg2ee8.png]Linked, because all the other OB banners stretched the lay-out and this one felt left out.[/URL]

[b]OtakuBoards Winter banner, 2005[/b]
[URL=http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1691/001standardou6.png]Linked, because it stretched the lay-out.[/URL]

[b]OtakuBoards Winter banner, 2006[/b]
[URL=http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/844/obheaderxmaspv1.png]Linked, because it stretched the lay-out.[/URL][/center]

[b]EDIT:[/b] Okay, now I've got time to continue my post.

As you see, I started out as a big n00b. Bad thing was, the only place I was visiting and posting graphics was on OtakuBoards. And OtakuBoards members have never really been good critiques in the past. Thus, that I improved wasn't because people suggested [i]this[/i], or telling what I did wrong in [i]that[/i] (except that I never used text or stock, which I still refuse most of the time), but because I just found fancy things in my PSP (though a bunch of the members helped me out through time). It was still that period where there were tons of artists on OtakuBoards and everyone, good or horrible, just posted whatever they had just made. Often they just made graphics so that they had something to post here. And there were always people who replied to them.

As time past, I did less and less with graphics. After the big OB update, most of the Otaku artists had left (about the whole Otaku Artists Elite, at least) and they were replaced with slightly greener people. If this offends some people: ha. Anyway, the people who I had always looked up to and who I used as an example, they were all gone. My motivation, my muses, they were all gone.

The new wave of artists brought forth the silly vectoring thing that was immediately way overused by people who weren't able to really control it. The fun wore of within days for me and I made even less graphics. Not like many were interested in my graphics, anyway. Stupid Retribution took all the attention from the boards. Grr.

There were good and bad times for me in the graphics thing. All in all, my time - over four years now? Wow. - with graphics have earned me quite a bunch of experience, at least. This experience is also the cause for my rather strong opinion when it comes to critiquing, especially when pieces of art are overrated (by others who often also have experience), in my eyes.

All in all, I've not improved a lot over the past year or more, technically. Though then again, I haven't tried my skills a lot over the past year, either. :P [/size]