http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Katriona-Seallach&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Katriona-Seallach en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:38:58 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/21170879/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/21170879/ Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:17:17 PDT
My life is just too jam-packed at the moment, but I do miss the time when I could finish a new piece of art to post every weekend and had big long conversations with folks on dA. But life changes, and there's a lot on my plate at the moment. For those curious (or reading this because they are bored):

--full-time job (provided I don't get laid-off any time soon--quick, knock on wood!)

--Japanese language class, weekly, including homework

--martial arts class, weekly (but I'll be quitting at the end of this year, it's the wrong style for me, I'm going back to my original style)

--making plans for my trip to Japan! I'm going in February of 2009

--regular chore stuff, paying bills, apartment upkeep, laundry, cleaning...

--editing, designing, and illustrating my second book, and writing my third book

--rebuilding my website (which is DONE! Finally, except for updating and touching up, anyone curious, go here [link]

--fun stuff, as possible: hanging out with my pals, watching anime, movies, Jdramas, reading, keeping up with dA

--sleeping

And that pretty much takes up 190 hours a week.

Whew. I'm tired already. Actually, today is the first day in a long time that I have had totally to myself, so I'm very happy about that. Of course I won't be spending the whole day doing purely fun stuff. There is a part of me that always insists on being productive. I don't know how I got it, exactly, and it hasn't always been there. When I was a teen I could waste whole days and not care, but now, sheesh, there's this feeling of obligation, like "my time is counting down. In fifty years I'll be dead, probably, so hurry up and make use of the time!"

Actually, I hope to live to be a hundred, at least, so fifty years is inaccurate. My great grandmother, for whom I was named, lived to 98, so I had better at least make it that far, so she'll be proud of me, but both my parents have had major health problems as young as fifty, so that makes me scared. When I truly realize that I could die at any moment, it makes me want to use my time meaningfully. And I always recall that saying "if you're still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven't done anything today."

Okay okay, enough rambling.

A few folks have asked about my book. It's fiction, fantasy-adventure with a love-story that is integral to the plot but not erotica, rated about PG-13 I'd estimate. Folks most likely to like it, I expect, are girls and open-minded guys (the lead is female, and for whatever reason, the majority of guys don't tend to read books where the lead is female, for those of you who do--thanks for recognizing women/girls/females as actual people and not just "the love interest") who like intelligent fantasy. I guess that means I'm calling my book intelligent...though a friend who read the book also said it was intelligent, specifically that the love-story was for girls who were inteligent, like she and I...but that's just her opinion. I know not everyone will like my book--that's impossible--but I hope some people might.

If anyone has questions about my book, feel free to leave them, or there's more info on my website, link above, including sample pages.

While I'm here, I've been wanting to do some fan art, and hope maybe I can find the time some time soon. Does anyone have any suggestions or requests? If so, feel free to leave them below and I'll look at them next time I'm on dA and see if anything spurs me to action.

I hope everyone's doing well!

Ja, ne,
--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/19882035/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/19882035/ Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:14:58 PDT
I've been away for a long time...

Thank you to everyone who left comments encouraging me not to leave. I haven't left really... I feel kinda guilty, just going away for so long. I'm sorry to everyone who missed me! Please forgive me.

I guess the Orphan Works bills have not passed yet. I've been keeping up on it as much as I can, and I wrote my legislators, and it looks like a lot of groups and organizations are condemning the bills. I hope I hope they won't pass. I've gotten so tired of worrying about it that I really can't anymore. I'm just waiting to see what happens now.

So, you wonder what I've been up to these past three months?

*psst" I published my first book. Yeee! I'm afraid it's terrible and everyone will hate it, but I did it. It took a whole lot of time to get it all ready and submit it. I self-published so I could have total control over it, but that means that no publishing house has vouched for it and said it's good. So it could be awful... Here's a link in case anyone wants to find out more about it.

[link]

I haven't done hardly any new art except for my book, so I have nothing new to post. I am considering taking my fan-art out of storage and putting it back on my page since no one can really rip that off and make money off it.

Anyway, I'm pretty exhausted right now, and kinda stressed, but I may be sticking my head in here a bit more often. I do feel bad about just abandoning everything and everyone. I wouldn't say I'm really "back" but...

I have over 300 deviations and messages. I will try to get to some, but... I will at least try to respond to one of everyone's comments, deviations, or journals to say hi.

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/18186171/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/18186171/ Mon, 05 May 2008 18:28:10 PDT
I will be closing my dA account if the current bill in congress, H.R. 5889, is passed.

In the meantime, I am trying to Store all my deviations (dA isn't being very good about allowing me to), so they will no longer be public, until congress arrives at a decision on the above bill. I appologize to all the deviants who like looking at my work. As long as HR 5889 is defeated, my account will reopen in all its former (debateable) glory.

If you are not aware of bill HR 5889 (and its sister-bill in the senate), I suggest you look it up and write your representatives immediately.

Please go look at it yourself, but as I understand it, the bill will strip artists of their copyrights, allowing anyone to use your art in any application without asking your permission or compensating you unless you pay to have your art registered with several digital registries. This bill may also have an impact on international copyright law and international artists. Everyone who does not pay to register their art will be vulnerable to having their art used without their permission or compensation, without credit of any kind. Automatic, exclusive copyright (which you currently get simply by making a piece of art) will vanish, for everyone, even if you've registered your art with the Library of Congress. Basically, it will allow wholesale theft of art from every artist in the United States. To protect your art, you'll have to pay, and even then it's not guaranteed. Rip-off-ers can just say "oh, it wasn't in the digital registry I checked."

If you would like to learn more, please visit [link]

There you can read the bill itself and write your representatives (including from international locations).

I am hopeful the bill will not pass and I'll be able to return to creating art to share. If the bill should pass I will do my best to delete my entire art presence from the internet, since I cannot afford to register my hundreds of pieces of art with 5-10 registries (no idea yet what it will cost), and do not want someone else taking credit for art I created or making money off of me. I guess I'm just an arrogant American that way.

I appologize again to everyone who likes my art. Unfortunately, my art is also my work and my income, but I am a struggling artist. This new bill leaves me two choices--retract all my art from distribution, or allow it to be eternally ripped off.

If you have downloaded any of my art, please keep it for personal enjoyment only. Please do not distribute it in any form. I can't stop you, but I can ask you nicely, artist to artist, to be a decent human being and respect me, as I respect other artists.

I really can't believe it's come to this in this country. I can't believe what the government might do to artists. It will destroy my way of life (even my 9 to 5 job could be in danger), and the lives of thousands of other artists if this bill passes. It is such a wholly ridiculous bill that I hope it will be shot down, but I'm still afraid, and caught between panicked tears and being majorily pissed off.

I love sharing my art, but the idea that I will no longer have any right to call it mine or take credit for it, or get paid for it, is absolutely intolerable.

If you feel the same, please learn more about the bill, and write your representatives as soon as possible.

Best to all,
--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/18014348/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/18014348/ Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:54:38 PDT
My friend and I went to the Sakura Festival as Bleach characters (she was Renji, I was Byakuya) last Sunday! It was fun but really crowded and rather tiring. I must say, we had the best shinigami outfits there (in my opinion, and ours were made by hand--our hands! No store-bought costumes for us!), although we were not the most spectacular cosplayers overall. The judges tended to like the sexy girls instead.

There were tons of people taking photos of all the cosplayers (over 100 cosplayers). It was like one big photo shoot, especially where--after being judged--you walk to a mark on the floor in front of a bank of about 30-40 photographers with fancy cameras, tripods, and long lenses and got a minute to pose and be photoed. I thought that was fun, and my martial arts training stood me in good stead for taking some nifty poses with my Senbonzakura (sword, Byakuya's sword is named Senbonzakura).

I brought my camera and have a few photos of both me and my friend. They aren't cleaned up yet, though. They need some color correction and lighting adjustments, all that, but if I can make one look like art instead of a snapshot I will post it on dA. After all, the costumes are art--fabric art, since we made them.

There was a big Bleach crowd at the fest, too, which was awesome. I got to ask Rukia what she was doing there and scold her for hanging out with Ichigo, banter with Aizen (traitor), and even have a little chat with Ukitake who was luckily healthy enough to put in an appearance--healthy enough to even kick me at one point... I think most of the divisions were represented, too... 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13... yep, most of them. There were also two other Byakuyas there, and the three of us entertained the crowd by having a few (cautious, since we all had swords) fights. No one got hurt. It was pretty cool.

Other news: did I mention I'm busy? Well, the sak fest is over now, so I won't be sewing my every waking moment anymore. So just class and work and my other huge list of things to do. My parents are visiting this weekend, though, so I won't have free time until Monday, but it will be good to see them.

Oh, here's a question. Authors can self-publish books on Amazon.com. I have a trilogy (okay, it's not a trilogy yet, the first two books are done pending editing, but I've only just started the third). I've been working on the books for about three or four years now. I'm thinking of self-publishing with Amazon. As far as I can tell it looks like a good deal (though I won't make much money, maybe a few cents a book after Amazon's cut) but I haven't read all the fine print yet. If I published, would anybody be interested in the book? I'm not in it to make money--I know I won't--so I'll price the books as low as I can. I just want, if my story is good, for people to be able to read it, while I retain my rights to it.

Obviously, it is not Harry Potter fan-fic; it's my own characters and own story. I've gotten one good review on the first two books. It's a fantasy-adventure, with some romance that is integral to the story-line, rated PG. The lead is a twenty-something female, and there are main characters who are guys, too. I've been inspired by Mercedes Lackey, JKR, RA Salvator, Tad Williams--those sorts of authors. I'm contemplating putting the first chapter up on my personal website (to hopefully get folks hooked and give a preview) and then publishing on Amazon.

What do you think?

Later,
--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/17657683/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/17657683/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:33:24 PDT

I haven't been on for a while because of a number of things:

1. work (40 hours a week, and all that)

2. class (my Japanese classes)

3. I moved! Into a new apt. The best I've ever had (and most expensive). I love it, but man it's taken a load of effort to get the whole thing to happen.

4. A friend and I are working feverishly on our cosplay outfits for the Sakura Festival--April 20. I will put up photos when we finish the costumes (we're starting from scratch: fabric and thread, no store-bought costumes for us) but I'm going to do it on my own website, so I can make a sort of journal about all the pieces I had to make, build, sew, sculpt, paint, and wrap, and how I did it and all that. So stand by. I'll put up a new journal with a link once the mini-site is done if anyone's interested.

5. the usual errands: laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, making meals. Sheesh, if you're still a kid--enjoy it! (Everyone always told me that, and I never believed them)

Alrighty, I must dash, but if you've left me a comment or something, I will get back to it--eventually. If it's something urgent, Note me. I may stick my head in here again on Sunday or something.

Best of everything to all!
--katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16946753/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16946753/ Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:40:06 PST
I'm over being sick! Hurray! I've been sick for the past 12 days, been a bit rough really, finally had to go to the doc and get put on antibiotics. Thank goodness I have insurance so I can (US healthcare system sucks).

New art in the works! I feel inspired to do a piece of Bleach fan-art and a piece of Maxiumum Ride fan-art... at least that's how I feel right now.

I hope I will get to work on both of them soon--the ideas are bubbling--but I don't know when it will happen. Since I'm not sick anymore I feel like "I want to do stuff!!!" so I will probably start the line art for one of them today... but it's always possible my muse will lose interest and wander off... I hate it when that happens.

I had around 200 comments and 150 deviations again... I know I haven't gotten to all of them... when they pile up like that it takes so long to get through them!

Thank you to everyone who has faved my stuff--that's so sweet of you, faving even when the art isn't so great... ah well. I won't complain. Practice makes perfect. I hope my art keeps getting better.

And I know there's kinda a debate about faving vs commenting or doing both or something... well, I don't care if folks comment, fav, either, both or neither. If you like my stuff, that makes me feel good, but I am definitely not going to "demand" that if people like my stuff they have to tell me about it, or explain it or anything... the only thing I don't like is if people like my stuff so much they steal it. That makes me rather mad... I just like sharing my stuff... but I don't like sharing it THAT much...

Anyway, rambling, I'm rambling...

I think that's all I've got to say for now. Off to do art!

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16806536/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16806536/ Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:57:24 PST
Really, tell me.

Communicating via writing, like in emails, in comments, etc, really is an art because you can't see the other person's expression or body language or hear their tone of voice, so things that you write with all the sensitivity and affection in the world can look rude, crude, or insensitive to the person on the other end.

Ever gotten an email or comment that you thought: this person is really angry, or this person HATES me, or this person is totally clueless, or this person is...I'm not sure. But then it turned out--once you replied and began communicating--that the other person did not mean any of those things at all?

I dislike people who flame or write just to say someone else's work is poor or that they are a bad person, and I try to never write such things myself. I know I'm not really a cute and cuddly person (though looking through my gallery could reveal that I have many sides to myself). I do tend to be more analytical than effusive, but I try to articulate clearly and write un-ambiguously. Am I not managing it?

The last thing I ever want to do in the world is hurt another person--though granted, if somebody flames at me, my immediate tendency is to shout right back, especially if what they've written hurts, but I try not to, and instead to be polite if I can... sometimes I can ignore what a person said, but if I do reply, I try not to get nasty about it... though, like all mortals, I can screw up.

So tell me. Tell me anything you want. I'm open.

In real life I am one of the most nonconfrontational people I know. I don't think I've ever shouted at anyone, ever. I avoid outright fights. I hate making a scene. If I'm upset, I talk frankly and honestly, try to consider the other person's feelings, and if I'm too upset, I go away for a while until I've calmed down.

Of course, I do have my inner leopardess that says "please let there be an emergency so I can show off" and "can I have a samurai sword, too? And some nasty vile-evil people to fight?" But she doesn't get out much, except in my fiction-writing and art, so...

Am I tactless? Do I need to work on my comment-communication skills? If I'm offending people, I need to know, so I can stop it. And/or people can just ignore me, which works, too, and not taking things too personally is part of everyone's job (I think).

But folks, if it appears that my text has negative energies--tell me! I don't mean it that way and don't want to be seen as that kind of person on dA. So I'm asking for feedback. Please feed back.

Thanks.

Humbly,
--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16665807/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16665807/ Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:47:26 PST
I'm still here, just all busy again, between work and J-class, and I'm trying in my free time (hah! what free time?) to keep working on my cosplay costume and I hope get it done by the Sakura Festival (April). But there are so many parts to make!

I've also been doing a bit of writing lately, rather than art.

And I have to move (as in, change to a new home)

And the weather sucks, but at least it's not snow. Getting soaked to the skin walking home doesn't sound so bad when I consider that I could be trudging through knee-deep snow in a snow storm at zero degrees F (did that about this time last year). That wasn't too bad, though because the snow doesn't really get you wet until you get indoors and whatever you brought inside on your clothing melts. It's just cold, with minimal visibility, and a lot of work to struggle through the snow, and (in my case, I was walking home through a nature preserve every day) hoping I was on the trail, not lost, and not about to accidentally detour onto the pond and break through the ice--then I really would have been wet.

Sorry, rambling.

Anyway, more art will come, some time, and I will, eventually get to replying to comments and commenting and faving the new deviations of the folks I watch... just don't hold your breath. I'm working on keeping my head above water, here.

Ja, mata ne,
--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16289919/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16289919/ Sun, 06 Jan 2008 16:49:47 PST
I generally don't make New Year's Resolutions. I have a mental list of "should do"s and "should be able to"s to which I am constantly adding entries, never deleting any. But I can think up some current ones for this list.

THE RULES
1. Copy this in your journal.
2. Write at least 5 things you'd like to do or achieve in next year and at least 3 things you would like to change or let go of. You can also write more.
3. Tag people who you'd like to do this

In the coming New Year I will:
1. figure out my finances and plan for retirement. You're never too young to start. I want to be able to eat and live somewhere when I'm 80. Provided I survive that long.
2. get a Physical Exam! I haven't had one since 1998 because I didn't have health insurance for ten years. US health care system SUCKS.
3. get my book published. It's just hard because it's rather like forcing myself to walk up in front of some one who's probably going to smack me with a 2x4--and I must pay for the privelege.
4. finish my 3rd book in that series. If any one sees my writing muse, do tell her I miss her.
5. return physical activity to my life. I used to take dance classes all the time but where I live now it isn't convenient, so I need to up my personal yoga and pilates practice.
6. get rid of my acne. I dont know how yet, but I'm 28 years old; this is getting ridiculous.

In the coming New Year I won't:
1. bite my nails. I am a flawed person. I've almost managed to quit biting my nails. Only my right index finger and thumb still fall prey. This year I'll stop entirely. The only bad thing about not biting my nails is that then I have to trim them, and they break and tear. Damned annoying.
2. obsess about my lonliness (that'll be a hard one to keep) or let it make me pressure my friend into spending more time with me than she wants to.
3. get a car. I won't! I won't! I won't! You can't make me! Not until there's an ecconomical one that doesn't use fossil fuels! (that includes tires)

I don't tag people. I know I broke THE RULES. わるい

Sheesh, life can be annoying. I just found out last night that I have to move ... again. In the past 10 years I've lived in 11 places. I am really getting to hate moving. This time I hope I'll get my own apartment and get locked into a lease for a year, so I'll at least know I'll be in one spot for a year. Maybe I can even start using the word "home" again. And maybe the new place I find will be wonderful and better than my current spot. I should try to be optimistic, right? I'm sure it'll be fine. It's just such a pain, and a bummer; I thought I could stay in my current place for much longer, and I really like it, but looks like I'll need to be scooting out by this spring. Well, at least I have time to plan.

Good news: I just ordered new RAM for my desktop computer! Yahoo! No more bogging down. I hope. I had to order online because the local Circuit City store failed me for the first time: they didn't have the type of RAM I need in stock.

My 日本ご classes start up again next Saturday! Yay!

-Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16168213/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16168213/ Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:42:33 PST
It's got fantasy-related digital Photoshop art only, that I've done in the past couple years, including the following pieces:

-Blue Sorrow
-What lies below the heavens
-Bartimaeus
-Striped Catbird
-Two Gryphons
-Just Playing
-Fang in Flight (though it's not called that in the calendar because of copyright issues)
-Weatherworker
-My Book

Plus three more pieces I've not posted on DA because of copyright reasons

If anyone wants it, please first leave a comment here on the journal saying that you've claimed it, and then send me a note with an address to send it to. First person to ask gets it. I'll pay for mailing it because that's just easier, and it won't cost that much. USA address only please.

PLEASE leave a comment here first, if you don't, I may get a bunch of notes with people trying to give me their addresses, which I don't want.

Also, please don't send me your home address, if you can avoid it. It's never a good idea to tell online strangers where you live. I'd rather mail it to your place of work or your parents' place of work, or a PO box, but whatever you're comfortable with. If you're not comfortable (or you're under 18 years of age, and your parents aren't comfortable), don't ask for the calendar.

And no, I'm sorry, but I cannot print up more to give away or sell. First of all, they cost about $20USD to print, not including tax and shipping, so I can't afford it. Second, I don't sell stuff on DA (that's what my personal website is for, eventually, it's in its infancy). And, I believe there's some legalese that could prevent me from selling to folks I've met on DA if I don't sell through DA and cut DA in on a share of the profits. I haven't actually checked this out, but it's my suspicion. It's how real galleries work. I doubt virtual ones (especially free ones) would be any different. But this could be my ignorance talking. I'm sure that if I'm wrong (or even if I'm not) I'll get corrected since people like showing how much smarter than other people they are.

Anyway...

Also, two art pieces in the works:
1. a new piece of Harry Potter fan art (been a while since I did HP art, but the sketches are going well, and it'll be my usual style, not my incompetent attempts at anime/manga, so it might even been good!)
2. a winged wolf (as suggested by Mel-at-ne, great idea, why didn't I think of that?)

That's all.

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16114638/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/16114638/ Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:38:29 PST
What would you like to see?

Drop it in a comment and maybe something will inspire me.

I hope everyone had good holidays! Happy new year!

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/15924043/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/15924043/ Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:25:13 PST
Sheesh, I've been busy, but I'm just wrapping up a freelance project that's been sucking up my time, so I'm hopeful for more spare time soon. Plus, my Fall Quarter Japanese classes have finished. I passed with 98.6% and 98.7% Happy Dance! On we go to Intermediate Conversation and Beginning 2, but they don't start until mid-January.

I really want to make some more art! I hope I will soon.

I'm also getting ready (already) for the Sakura Festival here in SF in April. There's a cosplay festival so you know that that means -- costumes! My friend and I are thinking of going as Kuchiki Byakuya and Abarai Renji (from Bleach). I'm actually tall enough and un-shapely enough to be able to pull off Byakuya, though I'll have to dye my hair. The funny thing is that my personality matches Byakuya so well, and my friend matches Renji pretty well, too. It'll be pretty funny. We'll probably make fools of ourselves, but that's the idea I suppose. We'll have a lot of fun as I stand looking perpetually unimpressed except for occassional sarcastic/ironic comments that are delivered so deadpan that everyone believes me until I subtly raise my eyebrows ("come on people, it was a joke, seriously")--and she goes ballistic every few minutes. At any rate, we have kimono and hakama to make, among other things, so that'll keep me a little busy. Sewing machines and I usualy do not get along well together.

Also of note: it's time to clean my gallery. So a bunch of stuff will get moved to scraps, if:
--pretty much no one has faved it, or
--I think it sucks

...

...no, that does not mean I will be moving EVERYTHING into scraps (I know some of you know me well enough to be giving me worried/skeptical looks). Relax, I don't think ALL my stuff sucks. Really, I don't. And certainly all my popular stuff will stay in my Gallery, whether I think it sucks or not.

Alright. That's all.

Everybody enjoy a good holiday season!

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/15511675/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/15511675/ Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:42:38 PST
A big thank you to everyone who has commented or faved my stuff! I really like knowing that folks enjoy what I make. I will try to respond to comments as much as I can.

New art in the works...? ...well, nothing on the drawing board right at this instant, but I've just started watching Bleach (an anime, for those who don't know/care) and it's getting me inspired, so there's a possibility of some Bleach fan-art in the near future. To that end, if there are other Bleach fanatics out there and you'd like to see some fan-art of any particular character, lemme know, and it might influence who I choose to draw ... at this moment, Renji, Rukia, or Hitsugaya seem likely... but I've not decided yet...

Through work I've gotten an account with an online tutorials library for all kinds of software, including Photoshop, so I'm learning all kinds of cool knew things I never knew, which opens up new possibilities in what I can do with the program. So that's really exciting as far as future art hopes go! I also want to get more skills with my new tablet so I might be doing some sketches with it just to practice, and maybe toss them on dA, though they might not be too good at first...

I guess that's all...

Ja mina-san,
--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/15193864/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/15193864/ Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:53:36 PDT
I've been AWOL for a few weeks, but--as is becoming usual--my life is busy and crazy. I did finally finish the art I promised to ~Sgeia. I have a freelance project that is sucking up my time still, and homework. 40 hours of work, 7 hours of class, plus hours of homework... it eats up the week.

I appologize for my absence and that since I have a couple hundred faves, comments, journals, and deviations it will take me a while to get through them again and reply and thank everyone, but I'll do my best. Thanks to everyone who has commented and faved! I really appreciate everyone's support. Hugs all around (except for anyone who doesn't like hugs, in which case I'll just wave jauntily).

No new art in the works just at this moment, but hopefully I'll be inspired to do some more art or writing soon. If anyone sees my muse...

Ja,
Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14832829/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14832829/ Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:26:34 PDT
I missed my 3,000th page view, and am on my way to my 4,000.
I need to show my appreciation, so here we go.

The FIRST person to leave a comment on this journal will get to dictate what my next piece of art will be--from the choices below.

Any character(s)/scene from the following options:

********

BOOKS
Harry Potter (JK Rowling)
Maxiumum Ride (James Patterson)
Watership Down (Richard Adams)
Tailchaser's Song (Tad Williams)
The Heralds of Valdemar book series (Mercedes Lackey)

ANIME
Fushigi Yuugi
Full Moon wo Sagashite
Fruits Basket
Gravitation

MANGA
Hanazakari wo Kimitachi e (aka "Hana-Kimi")

OR
Any furred, scaled, or feathered critter, real or imaginary, extant or extinct

**********

I will get to work on it asap, but can't guarantee when I'll get it done.

The more details you give me, the more likely that I'll produce something similar to what you're thinking of.

Let's keep it PG or PG-13. I don't mind doing a little fan service, but I don't do extensive nudity. I'm fine with yaoi.

It'll probably be a Photoshop piece, but if you really want graphite or pen-and-ink, say so, and I'll try to make it work (especially if you want something Hana-Kimi related).

You can leave your request in your comment, or note me.

Thank you everyone for visiting my page and liking my work!

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14814377/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14814377/ Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:03:47 PDT
A TO Z QUIZ:

A
• Are you available?: Dunno, I'm pretty bust pillaging. I just love seeing those knights running away from my fiery breath.
• What is your age?: The Bronze Age
• What annoys you?: people who repeat themselves people who repeat themselves

B
• Do you know anyone named Billy?: No… uh, officer… never heard of him
• Who are your best friend(s)?: ~wyrdgrendel, *MelissaDawn, and ~cassiopaeia

C
• What's your favorite candy?: chocolate, anything chocolate
• Do you have a crush?: I've realized crushes are pointless, so I quit
• When was the last time you cried: mmm…August

D
• Do you daydream?: on trains and buses when I have nothing else to do
• Anyone close to you ever die?: no

E
• Have you ever been in the emergency room?: yes
• Ever pet an elephant?: "elephant" is "zoo" in Japanese
• What color are your eyes?: hazel green

F
• Do you use fly swatters?: I used to, but my reputation as a fabulous fly swatter got around, so now all the flies stay away in fear and I no longer need fly swatters
• Have you ever used a foghorn?: no, but I've heard one a lot in my home town
• Is there a fan in your room?: yes, but I keep him in the closet except for when I need some encouragement and to be told how great I am

G
• Do you chew gum?: rarely
• Do you like gummy candies?: yeah
• Do you like gory movies?: no

H
• How are you?: uhh… I don't know?
• What's your height?: six feet, 182 cm
•What color is your hair?: kinda brown

I
• What's your favorite ice cream?: chocolate, caramel
• Have you ever ice skated?: no, except accidentally while living in NY, but without ice skates, and it usually ended with me bruising something
• Ever been in an igloo?: no, but I have been in a snow cave

J
• What's your favorite Jelly Beans?: don't have a favorite
• Have you ever heard a really hilarious joke?: sure, but can't exactly remember any right now
• Do you wear jewelry?: rarely

K
• Who do you want to kill?: I'd like to keep my soul intact, thanks
• Have you ever flown a kite?: yes! It's fun.
• Do you think kangaroos are cute?: until they kick me

L
• Love at first sight?: no, walk past again
• Lions or tigers?: both, but not together
• Do you like black licorice: no

M
• Favorite movie as a kid?: The Last Unicorn
• Ever shopped at Moosejaw?: huh?
• Favorite store at the mall?: bookstores!!

N
• Do you have a nickname?: have had lots, but currently, not really…
• What's your favorite number?: not telling, cause it's in all my passwords

O
• What's your one wish: I only get one?? I thought the standard was three? What's up with that?
• Do you like the color orange?: yes

P
• What are you most paranoid about?: the president of my country doing something stupid—I mean REALLY stupid, like, more stupid than usual. See why I worry?
• Do you know anyone named Penelope?: nope

Q
• Are you quick to judge people?: yes, but then I catch myself at it, give myself a firm talking to, and withhold judgment for a while instead
• Do you like Quaker Oats?: never had them
• Quilts?: they're okay

R
• Do you think you're always right?: duh
• Do you watch reality TV?: no, I do not own a TV
• Reason to cry?: something in my eye…
• Do you prefer sun or rain?: depends on whether or not where I am is having a drought
• Do you like snow?: in small amounts, that melt soon
• What's your favorite season?: like 'em all

T
• What time is it?: 1:55 pm
• What time did you wake up?: 7:00am
• Any Tattoos?: none of my own, but I've designed several for other folks

U
• Can you ride a unicycle?: never have
• Umbrellas?: I wear a rain coat instead

V
• What’s the worst vegetable?: anything with lots of tannins, I'm tannin-intolerant
• Did you ever watch Veggie Tales?: no

W
• What's your worst habit?: being too hard on myself
• Do you like water rides?: YES!

X
• Have you ever had an x-ray?: yes
• Ever used a Xerox machine?: yes

Y
• Do you like the color yellow?: sure
• What year were you born in?: 1980 (I'm a Metal Monkey!)

Z
• Do you believe in the zodiac?: well, after seeing Fruits Basket I must say…
• When was the last time you went to... ]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14760361/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14760361/ Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:30:49 PDT
I'm working on a new art piece! I hope to finish it and post it today! We'll see...

I appologize, but I just can't get to thanking everyone who favs my work anymore. I can't keep up... it's just too many! I really want to thank everyone personally, and I do make a great effort to respond to comments, but I'm still so strapped for time that I just can't get to all the favs. (I never really thought I'd be this popular; there's certainly no precedent.) I really appreciate every single one, but it's a bit overwhelming. So to everyone who has faved my stuff --THANK YOU!

どうも　ありがとう　ございます　!!

I'm glad I make art and fic that people enjoy.
I just figure folks might rather I spend my hours on making more art...

I start a new job and Japanese classes in a week--so I'm very excited.

I shall now scamper off to make some art.

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14649371/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14649371/ Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:14:44 PDT

I decided to make it hurt as much as possible, by submitting my manuscript to DAW (my favorite fantasy-genre publisher). Well, they sent back the manuscript. Big surprise. (No one gets published on the first try, I don't think.) I actually don't have it in my hands yet. Since my life has been crazy and I've moved recently it was returned back to my parents' house, so I don't have to face the actual rejection letter until they forward the package.

So now I can submit it to another publishing house so I can get rejected again. Sounds fun, ne? (Sorry, my bad, I must try to stop mixing Japanese words into my English. "ne?" as a terminal particle can be translated as "right?") I'm just starting this process and it already feels like I'm slamming myself repeatedly against a brick wall (see my chosen "Mood" emoticon, how perfect...). What I might have better success at is finding myself a literary agent and letting him/her take care of the submitting-to-publishers task...

I wonder if DAW had anything constructive to say in the rejection letter, or if it was a stock "thank you for submitting, but we don't want it." I'll get to read it in a few days I suppose.

Other news: I found a job! A real job! A permanent job! At a nice company, doing interesting work, and making more than twice the income I can possibly use...hmm, maybe use extra income to self-publish..? But then there's marketing, distribution--ack.

It's a bummer (getting rejected) because there are so many awful writers that get published (really, I go pick up a so-called bestseller, read a few pages, and it's just cr%p), but I think I'm a decent writer and I get rejected. *pout* Ah well, I must remember that I haven't *lost* anything by getting rejected. I've still got a great story that the people who have read it love. I know it's good, and I enjoy working on it. Book 2 is written also, and I'm working on book 3 now--I LOVE my characters

An appology: I know I haven't submitted any art recently, even though I have said I would. I'm sorry! My current, temp job eats up my days with 8 hours of work and 3 hours of commuting, and then I have to try to get everything else done on the weekend, and I'm trying to rebuild my website, and I just have so little time and energy. My appologies. My new, permanent, job (which I start Oct 1) is much closer to where I live, giving me about 10 more hours a week of free time (formerly commute time) so I hope to have more time and energy soon.

A note re: my books: In case anyone wonders, I'm sorry, but I will not post my books on dA. Since I am trying to publish I cannot risk anyone stealing my story. Plus, the terms of dA for submitting art is kinda sticky when it comes to what rights I give up by posting my art on dA, and I don't want to compromise AT ALL my absolute ownership of my story, so--no matter how I am begged--I will not post my story on dA. Plus, it's just WAY too long of a story to put up here (over 140,000 words).

Sorry, long journal... I seem to be appologizing a lot... to quote Sano Izumi (from the manga Hakazakari no kimitachi e, more commonly called Hana-Kimi) "must be a discount on 'sorry'." (book 3, page 180 for anyone keeping track)

Speaking of Hana-Kimi-- only books 1-19 are translated and released in the US, and book 20 won't be released until October. Well, I'm the impatient sort, so when I was in Japantown the other day, I searched for and found HK books 20 and 21 in the original Japanese, and since I'm learning Japanese, I bought them, and am now translating them myself. It's really hard, but getting easier, and VERY rewarding. It really enriches the experience and how long I can enjoy the books for. English is just too easy now, but I'll still buy the English version when it comes out. Must compare translations.

I also start Japanese classes (so far, I'm self-taught) on Sept 29! In Japantown! And hopefully a good friend of mine will be joining me. I'm so excited!!

Speaking more about Hana-Kimi, the Jdorama version (that's a live-action TV show, released in Japan) is really fabulous! (rather silly in some bits, but also has serious bits, and overall quite charming, includes a number of bishounen as well) You can download the episodes from [link... ]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14443957/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14443957/ Sat, 01 Sep 2007 16:19:01 PDT
It's been an exhausting month--no, make that two months.

I now have:

[X] Job
[X] Place to live
[X] Income
[X] High-speed internet
[X] Good friend nearby
[X] All current episodes of Hana-Kimi (it's a Jdorama)
[X] A three day weekend
[X] Chocolate
[X] Cell phone (yes, I've joined the masses officially now)

Wow. It's actually coming together. Oh, and one more thing:

[X] 208 messages

I haven't logged onto dA for over a week. It'll take me a while to wade through all the comments, journals, and favs, but I will do my best to get through them.

The creative energy is returning and I hope to make some art this weekend! Any requests? I'll consider them. I did just move and am still not totally settled in, but maybe in a week or so, I'll celebrate my 4,000 page views (am I really that popular? I guess things have changed since high school...) by posting a journal and the first person to comment on it will get to place a request for art that I will follow as exactly as I am able. (At this point, if you request something and it inspires me I might do it, but I can't make any guarantees.)

Alright, I am off to answer comments, like a good girl, and I hope then I'll get to work on some art and maybe have it posted by the end of this weekend.

Ja!
--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14214008/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14214008/ Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:20:30 PDT
Stage 1 of mission is accomplished. I'm hired! Finally got another job. Unfortunately, it's Temp... again. Why does this always happen to me? So I get to work for about a month, and then have to job hunt AGAIN.

But it means I'm moving! Hopefully, I'm moving this weekend. With a little luck, some of this craziness in my life will vanish once I have a new place and a job. One can hope. I may even get around to making some new art again! I really hope. There's so much post-HP7 art I want to do!

So that's the update. Things are beginning to indicate that they will be heading in a more optimistic direction soon... how's that for ambiguity? I will have more time for dA coming up soon, but maybe not for a few more days.

Other thing I wanted to write about, which you can skip if you don't care, is copyright. Sometimes I see folks writing things like "I don't know if this was copyrighted" so I want to share what I know about copyright (learned this from an art lawyer).

Once you create something concrete that exists, you have copyright to it. You get it automatically, for EVERY piece of art of ANY kind you make, as long as it has some kind of physical manifestation (can be seen, heard, read, etc. by others).

You do not have to register your art with the Library of Congress (or its equivalent in your country, I only know this for the US) for it to be protected by law, but if you anticipate taking someone to court over copyright violation, it's a good idea.

This means everyone's art is protected. Copying it, duplicating it, or mimicking it closely, is illegal. This includes photos you find on Google, unless it is explicitly stated that the images are free stock images or you have permission.

Here's the crux. *Things* can be copyrighted. *Ideas* can NOT be copyrighted. I have an idea to draw a fairy riding a unicorn. That idea cannot be copyrighted. Anybody can have that idea. However, the art I make of the fairy riding the unicorn is copyrighted and no one can copy it directly.

Maybe I remember incorrectly, but this is what I learned about copyright, and I try to keep it in mind since my business is being an artist.

So if anyone out there isn't sure about copyright, that's the basic idea. I don't know all the picky details, if you ask me questions I'll try to answer, but I'm sure there are websites and books that know more than I do.

I hope I didn't open the proverbial can of worms by putting this in a journal, it just seemed to me like some folks aren't sure about copyright, so I wanted to mention it.

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14166192/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14166192/ Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:06:22 PDT
HIGH CLASS:
[ ] You go/have gone tanning.
[x] You own an iPod/mp3 player.
[ ] You love Starbucks.
[ ] You have been called a brat.
[ ] You have tons of shoes.
[ ] You hate buying things that are on sale.
[x] You have/had a laptop.
[ ] You love shopping
TOTAL: 2

GOTHIC:
[x] Black is one of your favorite colors.
[ ] You wear chains.
[ ] You like heavy metal.
[ ] You've shopped at hot topic
[ ] You have worn black lipstick.
[x] You have/had/or wanted piercings.
[ ] You own a pair of Tripp pants
[ ] You have at least one unnaturally colored haired friend.
TOTAL: 2

PUNK:
[ ] You can skateboard.
[ ] You like plaid.
[ ] You have Converse.
[x] You hate MTV.
[ ] You have/had/want blue, pink, red, purple, or green hair.
[ ] You love mohawks
[x] You LOVE Music.
[x] Hate people who pretend to be something they are not
TOTAL: 3

EMO:
[x] You are sad sometimes
[ ] You have dark colored glasses.
[ ] You cry easily.
[ ] You like emo music
[x] You've kept a journal/diary. (is THIS not a journal?)
[x] You have written a sad poem.
[x] You have dyed your hair (not recently)
[ ] You're sad when you're drunk (I wouldn’t know)
TOTAL: 4

GHETTO:
[ ] You like rap.
[ ] have said "Fo Sho, Fo Shizzle, Fo Sheezy, etc."
[ ] You have worn/wanted a grill.
[ ] You have had a freestyling contest.
[ ] You have worn your shoes with the tongue flipped out.
[ ] You know most of the lines from Boyz N Da Hood
[ ] You own a huge gold chain with a giant gold pendant
TOTAL: 0

HARDCORE:
[ ] You like loud music.
[ ] You love/like the Ninja Turtles.
[ ] You have slip-on shoes.
[ ] You like Norma Jean.
[x] People have called you a freak and meant it lovingly (people call me crazy)
[ ] You love to "hardcore" dance
[ ] Your hair has been dyed more than one color.
[x] You wear jeans a lot.
TOTAL: 2

PREP:
[ ] You LOVE The OC.
[ ] You had/have/want a tiny/small sized dog.
[ ] Your usual outfits consist of pink.
[ ] You like buying shoes A LOT.
[ ] You have clothes from Hollister/AE, and/or Abercrombie.
[ ] Getting your nails done is a fun thing.
[ ] You have/had big sunglasses.
[ ] You can't go anywhere without your hair perfect.
TOTAL: 0

ATHLETIC:
[ ] You watch/watched the Superbowl.
[ ] You own track shoes or cleats other sports related shoes.
[ ] You collect jerseys.
[x] You have/ had a special shelf for trophies and awards.
[ ] Your garage/shed consists of sports equipment.
[x] You belong/belonged to a team. (middle school)
[x] You have a specific number preferred for your jersey.
TOTAL: 3

SCENE:
[ ] You like putting little bows in your hair.
[ ] You have mini-skirts.
[x] You have parted your hair to the side. (that’s where it parts on its own, really)
[ ] You think polka-dots are way cute.
[x] You have done a peace sign while you pose for a picture. (frequently)
[ ] You've been called scene before.
[ ] You wear/wore long, colorful socks with your skirts.
TOTAL: 2

REDNECK:
[ ] Gone four wheeling.
[ ] Went hunting.
[ ] Owned a four/three-wheeler or dirt bike...etc.
[ ] Like to go fishing.
[x] Eat beef jerky. (used to)
[ ] Ever said GIT-R-DONE.
[ ] Listened to the song Redneck Woman.
[ ] Know who Bocephus is (I’ve heard of him)
TOTAL: 1

METALHEAD:
[ ] You wear band shirts a lot.
[ ] If people down talk metal you down talk their favorite music.
[ ] You like bands like As I Lay Dying, Lamb Of God, and All That Remains.
[ ] You HATE emos.
[ ] You like Black Sabbath.
[ ] You have gone to Ozzfest.
[ ] You have headbanged.
[x] You don't like rap.
[x] You have a taste for classic rock as well.
TOTAL: 2

Also, I see I am on the verge of 3,000 page views. I'd love to do some art to comemorate (sp?) it, but right now I just don't have the time. Unfortunately, my work take priority, but later I'll do something. Appologies.

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14092690/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/14092690/ Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:28:01 PDT
I can't rply to comments or favs right now, I just have way to much to do, but I do appreciate everyone who's been enjoying my art and writing.

I will be back, my life is just too hectic right now.

Thanks all,
--Katriona

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13732924/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13732924/ Sat, 14 Jul 2007 13:02:03 PDT
This is just a quick update. I know I've been dA AWOL, but I've moved across country (I'm back in California) and currently staying with my parents before deciding where I go next. At my parent's house I only have dial-up internet, which takes forever, (I've been spoiled by high-speed DSL) so I tend to be impatient with doing anything online. I go to the library to get high-speed, but that's still kinda a hassle... I'm job hunting, doing stuff with my parents, and all kinds of stuff, so I'm pretty busy right now.

Which means I may not get back to replying to comments and journals and deviations, and thanking fav-ers. I'm sorry! When I get settled into a new home SOMEWHERE and get high-speed internet again I'll be more active on dA again. I do have some art to post soon, though, so I may get that up within the week... and I do have a few pieces of art I want to do also.

And there's HP7 to look forward to! I also addicted to a manga "Hana-Kimi." I highly recommend it if you like shojo manga, but it's 21 books and growing... so don't say I didn't warn you, if you read it, like it, and get addicted, too.

That's all. I appologize again for my absence! I hope everyone's well!

--Katriona

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13624291/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13624291/ Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:34:20 PDT
It is, in my opinion, an atrocious practice with no purpose at all, but this article announces that it has been banned in Egypt, which, in my opinion, is a reason for rejoicing. Unfortunately, a young girl had to die for the practice to be banned, and banning it is apparently not the same as making it a law, but I feel it is an important step.

[link]

All women (and men, too) should be aware of this practice and stand up to have it stopped. I count myself very lucky to live in a country where this never happened to me, and I find it so hard to believe that it happens to girls just like me and my friends in other parts of the world, and people think it's good for them. In my opinion, it is appalling, but to read this article is very encouraging that one day soon it might be stopped.

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13528007/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13528007/ Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:23:31 PDT
I do have two job interviews lined up now, so it's not like it's the end of the world--it just feels like it. I'm going way back home to visit my family, who I haven't seen in about a year. Mixed feelings about that. Going "home" always feels like returning to childhood, which I really don't like. Also am getting to meet an online friend in person on that trip (you know who you are) which will be FABULOUS! And reunite with another friend (you know who you are, too) which will absolutely also be FABULOUS! And there's all the HP excitement to get involved with...

And I just went out an bought CS3!!! (Photoshop folks will know what I mean) I'm so excited to get it home and load it on my beloved desktop computer that I haven't seen in a year!! I got the big Web set, so now I get to learn Dreamweaver and Flash and Fireworks and Continuity. Very exciting. I'm just bummed I couldn't find a set that also included InDesign (though I have the CS2 version, of course) and AfterEffects (which I REALLY want to learn)... stupid Adobe/Mac finding any way possible to make you spend more money on programs that weren't included in the set... sigh...

I also got myself a new book to help me learn Japanese, which is (and will be forever) an ongoing process, and a book about Japanese culture, which I think will be pretty fascinating. (yeah, today I spent half a pay check at the campus store before I lose my staff/faculty status). But it bummed me out that the campus store didn't carry Cadmium Light Medium Yellow acrylic. Baka. That's the color I need! Dick Blick, I guess...

But all that exciting stuff gets kinda swamped out by the fact that a major chapter of my life is ending. It's rough, no da?

Anyway, I'm going to be busy with all this transition stuff, so I may not be able to get to replying to comments and faves or uploading new art until the dust settles, but I will be back!

--Katri

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13470970/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13470970/ Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:15:27 PDT 3) Were you named after anyone?: My great-grandmother (mother of my father’s father)
6) What do you think you look like?: really tall, skinny… sorta like a long stick
8) Place of Birth and Current Location: did you not read the “identity theft” thing in #1?
10) Astrology Sign: Aries! (Moon Libra, rising Cancer)
11) Chinese Astrology Sign: Monkey (inner Ox, secret Rabbit)
12) Religion: my own, mine, go away and get your own
13) What’s your favorite smell?: fresh paperback book
14) Political Position?: as far away as I can get, Liberal
15) What do you prefer to drink in the morning?: water, and soy milk in my cereal
20) Righty, Lefty, or Ambidextrous?: righty, but I brush my teeth with my left
21) Gay, Straight, Bi, or Other: straight, but biologically, we’re all at least a little bi
24) What are your favorite art materials to work with?: acrylic, pen and ink, Photoshop
25) What kind of materials would you like to work with?: AfterEffects, Flash, Maya or other 3D program
27) Boyfriend/Girlfriend: I am neither and I have neither
32) Favorite place to be?: on stage, on a dance floor, or in a theatre
33) Least favorite place to be?: on a plane or in a hospital
34) Do you burn or tan?: burn--sunblock is a daily thing...
35) Ever break a bone?: three toes, at different times

Do You Have...
38) Any sisters: no biological ones, but a few in spirit
39) Any brothers: one, younger
40) Any pets: none currently

Describe Your...
48) Personality: insensitive, overly-confident bitch with a morbid sense of humor
50) Your clothing style: whatever is at hand, usually t-shirt and jeans
56) Do you believe in yourself: I believe I exist…
57) Do you believe in love at first sight?: no, walk past again

Do you….
59) Have a future dream that you would like to share?: I wanna dance in “Cats”!
62) Pray: every breath is a prayer, but in thanks and peace, not begging
63) Believe in reincarnation: I’ll let you know in my next life
64) Brush your teeth twice a day?: yes
65) Like to talk on the phone: no
66) Like to eat?: as needed
67) Like to exercise?: if it’s dance
68) Like to watch sports?: no
69) Sing in the car?: if I’m alone in the car, singing while other people are with you is very rude
71) Dream in color: always
72) Do you have nightmares?: yes, though fewer as I get older
73) Sleep with a stuffed animal: after a nightmare
75) On your favorite coffee cup?: I don’t drink coffee
76) On your mouse pad: it isn’t my mouse pad, but an ad for a manga website
77) Your favorite flavor of gum?: I used to love watermelon, but nowadays I do cinnamon
79) Your dream honeymoon spot: I don’t anticipate having a honeymoon
80) Your dream husband/wife: I don’t think I’ll get one of those either
81) Hiding in your closet?: only when I’m really scared
82) Under your bed: only to avoid people I don’t want to see
84) Your bad time of the day: there are no bad times, just different kinds of good times
85) Your worst fear(s): incapacitation, losing loved ones, severe pain
88) Your favorite holiday?: Halloween!
89) A material weakness?: DVDs and music
92) The hardest thing about growing up: physical maturity
93) A pet peeve?: people who play loud music (wear headphones!!!!!) And smokers
94) Your scariest moment: both times I was told each of my parents had been rushed to the hospital
96) The funniest or most desperate thing you’ve done to get the attention of the opposite sex?: I don’t stoop. I may be lonely, but I am not desperate
97) The worst feeling in the world: knowing you’ve destroyed a precious relationship beyond repair and you’ll never have it again
98) The best feeling in the world: a perfectly completed dance solo
99) Who sent this to you?: I stole it from Corvigryph
103) What is the first thing you think of in the morning?: “What day is it?”
104) Favorite color: deep, rich purple
105) Least favorite color: pink
107) Future child’s name: not applicable
108) Chocolate or Vanilla?: Either, both…
110) Do you like thunderstorms?: Yes!!
112) Do you eat the stems of broccoli?: Yes, if they are properly cooked.
113) If you could have any job what would it be?: Novelist and freelance artist
115) Is the glass half full or half empty?: It contains 50% fluid and 50% air.
117) Do you type with your fingers on the right keys?: No.
120) Your single biggest intense pain?: When I had sciatica—awful!
123) Ketchup or mustard?: Depends on wha... ]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13436006/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13436006/ Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:03:31 PDT
I think Quiverclaw said that to Tailchaser, (in Tailchaser’s Song) but it might be a line from “Watership Down” and I’m just not remembering right. And by the way, if you’ve read one or the other of those books, you should read the one you haven’t. I think you’ll like it.

That line felt very appropriate today. A huge thunderstorm came through, with dime-sized hail and tornado warnings. It didn’t last very long, only a few hours, and then traveled on. Storms themselves are exciting to me. I love the storms here in upstate New York, but I think I love even more the way the world looks after the storm has moved on, and the skies start to clear, but the air is still full of moisture and all the plants are drenched, and then the sunlight comes down through it all. It’s just really beautiful.

I walked home from work today, as usual, and took my camera because I get to go to Niagra Falls tomorrow and wanted to be sure to bring it. I’m glad I took it with me on the walk. I saw sunbeams coming down through the dense forest, like rays of light. I’d never seen so many and such strong rays of light like that. I took a bunch of pictures, and if any come out good I’ll post them on dA. But of course photos can’t quite capture what it’s like to stand in a forest like that, and taste the air and hear all the sounds and be able to look around and just feel the presence of life. It makes me again and again aware of how precious and vital the natural areas of this Earth are.

Standing in a place like that, I just feel like everything is right. The world is doing what it naturally does, what it’s meant to do, being how it’s supposed to be, and my cares and concerns feel very insignificant and unimportant. Those trees were growing there before I was born, and will hopefully be there still after I have died. But for a moment I stood among them, passing through the same way the birds and deer and all the other animals and humans pass through. For a moment I was a part of their majesty. It’s in places like that where I can feel most connected to the life spirit of the world. Whether it’s the Divine or not, I’ve no authority to say, but there’s something there, something people are out of touch with, something special.

I’ve been listening to a lot of Jpop lately, and really loving it, but there’s one song kinda stuck in my head that resonates with a lot of my feelings today. It’s called “Daydreamin’” and it plays over the closing credits of the anime “Sukisho!” (which I like, but can’t recommend to anyone who has problems with yaoi). Somehow it puts me in a very strange mood, even without knowing more than a few of the words. It’s one of those beautiful but vaguely unsettling songs that get into my subconscious and show up in my dreams.

I think there’s a Mysterious part to life, some part that we can’t see clearly and can’t usually touch, an undercurrent of energy or feeling that is strange and untamed, foreign and vital. But we only get glimpses of it, maybe in that moment between true dreams and wakefulness, or on long, late drives or plane flights when we’re a little too tired but can’t sleep, when we become detached from our daily life for a moment and see ourselves in our life as an observer instead of through our own eyes, when we get lost in our psyche or stare off into space and truly think of nothing at all.

Whoever wrote that song, “Daydreamin,’” has been to that place. I wonder what they saw there. For some reason I saw Wood Thrushes, lots of Wood Thrushes but no Robins, on my way home today. I’ve never seen Wood Thrushes before. And why so many, and why the sunbeams, and the strange feelings: strong impressions.

I’m in a strange place, myself, mentally, enduring a major life change as my job here ends and I prepare to move on to a brand new place where everything will be foreign. I suppose I’m slightly melancholy, distracted, unable to focus, unable to think. Maybe I’m drifting partly into that Mysterious part of life. Perhaps the storm thinned the barrier between that Mystery and the waking world, or perhaps it’s only thinned in my head, due to all the pressures I’m under. I feel like I brushed by it, or caught a glimpse of that Mystery.

This is a strange journal, and I can’t describe everything well enough. It’s like the words I need don’t exist. I’m going to sign off, before I start writing even stranger things, and maybe next time I write, my head will be in a better place.

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13381700/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13381700/ Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:59:16 PDT
Little update: life goes on. I am still job hunting, but may have a lead on a job for when I finish here, which is exciting. Plenty of work still to do, trying to get to art and fan-art when I can. Also doing some writing, watching some new anime... other various stuff... plenty busy... more art will come as I get to it. Matene!

1) Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4 :
“-quently seen in Fla.; 32-36 inch, long; wingspread;” (referring to Anhingas)

2) Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
The cubicle wall, with a Miyazaki calendar, currently showing a scene from “rincess Mononoke”

3) What was the last thing you watched on TV?
Don’t have a TV! TVs are evil. Throw yours out the window, you’ll get much more accomplished.

6) With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
Seki Tomokazu singing “Yuugao,” and my tapping on the keyboard

7) When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Walked to work this morning--pretty very warm day

8) Nationality:
Born in the USA. Not my fault… I don’t think… did I request this?

15) What is the last film you saw?
Full Moon wo Sagashite (an anime series, does that count?)

17) What marks do you have?
I got a big freckly birthmark on my back, which I like, I just wish I could see it easily

19) Do you like to dance?
Love to dance. Itsumo odotteidai dake!
“To sing well and to dance well is to be well educated.” --Plato

20) George Bush:
Oooh, don’t get me started.

23) Would you ever consider living abroad?
Definitely. Are you offering?

24) What do you want God/dess to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
“That was very well done. Ready for round two?”

27) Do you think that you are crazy?
Oh yeah, but in a good way... I hope.

35) Favorite Song:
“In a Different Light” by Doug Stone: not because it’s the best song in the world, but it has a lot of meaning and personal significance to me.

45) Do you want to be a singer?
Song/music = life. (also see quote by Plato #19)
But I don’t think I’ll ever be a professional recording artist.

46) Book:
My own

61) Do you drink alcohol?
Nope. After taking chemistry classes, that scent totally turns me off.

62) Do you smoke?
Absolutely not, and neither should anyone else.

64) What do you adore to wear?
Halloween costumes, unfortunately my boss frowns on that.

66) What languages do you speak?
English (1st language), some Spanish, learning Japanese

80) Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
Not me, too wierd. I scare the guys. I think I should try a different country.

83) When was your Very First Kiss?
NA

84) How was it?
(see #83)

94) Who do you want to go on a deserted island with?
Someone who can get me OFF the deserted island: I have things to do, you know?

96) What would you do if you were invisible for one hour?
Dance through work and freak people out by doing things like moving their stapler just before they reach for it.

99) If the world goes to apocalypse, and you can save only one person, who will that be?
Um, me? Is that a wrong answer?

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13200023/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13200023/ Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:14:56 PDT
If you're a fan, and haven't read it yet, I highly recommend you go out and get it (or borrow it from a library. I'd loan you my copy but... well). I got mine yesterday (about $13USD at Borders, yeah, I hate chain stores, but I was given a gift card) and finished it in one 3.5 hour sitting. I kept telling myself "okay, I'll stop at the next chapter and go to sleep" but did that happen? Nope. Even when it got around to 2am? Nope. Alright, I admit, my fault for starting what I KNEW would be a can't-put-it-down book at 11pm.

So go out and get it and read it because I want to do fan-art from it, but don't want to spoil it for anyone. Here's a few of my thoughts on the book. I will try very hard not to include any spoilers here.

Q: Is it any good?
A: Yes. I liked it more than 1 and 2, both of which I loved.

Q: What happens at the end?
A: I'm not telling, but for me, the ending was about 90% satisfying. That's an A- in US school grades, so that's pretty good, right? I wasn't jumping and cheering and going through the roof, but I was satisfied...

Q: Do all the mysteries get answered?
A: Um...should I answer this? Well...they were not all answered to my satisfaction. As an author, you have to trust the reader to be able to put the pieces together, but in this case either 1: I am stupider than the average reader and couldn't figure it all out, 2: James Patterson trusts people too much, or 3: James Patterson is a slacker who can't tie up his own loose ends decisively enough. Granted, I ask lots of questions and question everything, so maybe I'm more demanding than some... but if you want a book where all the events are summarized and explained at the end except for a few mysteries that you KNOW are mysteries that will get explained later, stick with Harry Potter.

Q: Does #3 leave it open for sequels?
A: I think it does, but the main plot line is pretty much finished in 3, so a new plot would be needed.

Q: Who dies?
A: Come on now, I can't tell you that.

So, some MR fan-art is in the works. I might even get a piece posted today... but I'll try not to include any spoilers in it.

Wind to thy wings,
Katriona

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13189183/ http://Katriona-Seallach.deviantart.com/journal/13189183/ Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:23:23 PDT
Here's the deal: I will create a piece of art (using Photoshop) to your general specifications using characters/scenes from one of the below options--you choose:

--Harry Potter
--Maximum Ride
--Watership Down (book version, art I create will NOT mimic the style of the film animation)
--The Last Unicorn (book version, art I create will NOT mimic the style of the film animation)
--The following Animes ONLY (these are the only ones I've seen and am interested in drawing from, sorry): Fushigi Yuugi, Cowboy Bebop, Fruits Basket, Weiss Kruez, Gravitation
--The following Mercedes Lackey books/trilogies: Last Herald Mage, Mage Wars, Mage Winds, The Fire Rose, Arrow's of the Queen/Flight/Fall)
--Well-known fantasy creatures or furred/feathered animals

Tell me: what source, what scene or characters, and anything else you want to tell me about poses, attitude, lighting--anything you want (but let's keep it PG-13 or less folks). If it's not clear to me I'll reply asking for more details.

Even if you're not the first person to comment, you can still suggest/request art, and if I like the idea I may go ahead and do it, just don't hold your breath. I'm really busy with job hunting right now.

Thanks so much to everyone who has visited my page and liked my art! Your support and encouragement has kept me inspired!

]]> ~Katriona-Seallach