deviantART: by:ro-chan

All About Me

I wanted to come back in here for a bit and restate something: This is good for DA. Granted this new favoriting system is currently like trying to navigate through white water rapids, it is much better than the old system we had prior. Again, this is a good direction for DA although admittedly a bumpy one.

In reading up more on how the actual system works, ÂFair ExposureÂ is more catered to the underdog categories. There is also some sort of working in of comments and views that makes no sense to me but factor into the overall ' popularity ' of a piece. Regardless, I have come to the understanding that Anime Art is being discriminated in a sense. That's not fair either, IÂll admit that.

What is actually quite ironic is the idea that the old system had a sort of ÂdemocraticÂ vote theory to it. I find that this system actually represents that idea better by brining in a ratio sort of issue. Just like states that have a larger population than lower populated areas their votes become a more weighted and equally as important. DA trying to apply the same concept here, that while no art is created equal, every artist is.

I realize that a large part of the community here is in Anime/Fanart (I mean that is where I am right?) and they feel that since they are larger they should have more impute, but this is DeviantART not DeviantANIME ART. What DA is trying to put back into place is the ART aspect of this site. A lot of what is in the popular is one conformist idea. Artists are supposed to break the boundaries that they live in and move beyond the limits that we are given so why when the challenge is issued do so many cower?

Another large problem lies in what we (the community) are going to do about it. So many people are whining/griping about it others are actually coming up with valuable suggestions. Still it looks like DA isnÂt moving on this and frankly I can see why. They want to see what is really going to happen here. Will there be more problems with miss-categorization (Lord knows that is a mess)? Or is this going to propel a lot of artists to grow exponentially? Will artists that had left come back now that they too have a chance against the ever growing commercialism or are we going to lose the standards that people reach for? In either case, the situation is this: We are not to accept the idea of ÂONE ART THOUGHT.Â

When I had first complained about this was because the popular only promoted one idea instead of promoting a multitude of ideas. That is why I love this new system (even though the issues are starting to become apparent) because there is diversity and shows that an artist is limited only by their imagination.

IÂm on the goal to grow so I plan to stick around at watch what happens.

To read more about how the system works, what itÂs about please view this link: [link]

Petition against the new system: [link]

Conventions

I'm sticking to the East Coast cons this year because of financial and work situations.

MegaCon 08: Orlando, FL March 7-9th CONFIRMED
MetroCon 08 Tampa, FL July 18-20th
Otakon 08 Baltimore, MD August 8-10th
AWA 08: Atlanta, GA September 19-20th

To Do Art List

MegaCon Art List *throws out list* @__@;;; halp....

Links

LullabyStudios.Net
Sketch Blog
Xiao Hwen Artists

Stamps

~ro-chan DA Popularity is Crap II http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/16837864/ http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/16837864/ Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:16:36 PST
[| Christian | FAQ | Commissions |]

All About Me

Ok, I really am not the type to battle it out and stuff but I think I need to put my foot down on where I stand on this new system.

Personally, I love it. Thank you DA for actually listening to your community of artists! For showing that you don't have to a cookie cutter artist and actually be featured on the front page! For not narrowing down the possibilities that an artist can be wellÂ an artist! I LOVE YOU!

Ok, so in the beginning of this the front page was kind of wacky and what was showing up was technically a bunch of garbage but now that the foundation is starting to settle we are actually seeing what the Utopia of this system is trying to be. Yes, there is still a lot of fan art, yes there are some categories that are making you raise an eyebrow, but the thing that I love about it is that it is not limited!

There are photographs, poetry, digital works, comics, and omg real paintings!! And not all of it is crappy either, thereÂs a lot of stuff that is refreshing and new and justÂ just beautiful!

What makes laugh is that the overused, over dramatic, commercialized artists are the ones making the loudest noise about the "unfairness" of this system! I want to laugh so very hard right now because of the irony of this. XD They are complaining that they have to start over and reach a new goal! HA HA HA! Finally! You got it through your brain that there is no such thing as reaching a plateau of art talent; you need to grow and get better! Hopefully this will force them in that direction because honestly some of them really need to do so. If they are not grabbing the attention of all their watchers then that means that their works really aren't as "great" as they thought they were!

True that every section is not exactly putting up something great in the front but it's significantly less than what REALLY is up there! Plus in the long run there is the possibility of something GREAT actually appearing there! Finally, you don't have to worry about the fact that you're competing with a category that has nothing to do with yours in the first place!

I really... I really just don't know what to say because part of me in euphoric the other part is dying of laughter at the complaints. XD DA pretty much just shoved a bit of humble pie to a lot of artists and this makes me eager to get better. I want to capture everyone's attention that watches me. I want them all to like what I do enough to make them press that little button

, because inevitably that is our goal right?

To read more about how the system works, what itÂs about please view this link: [link]

Conventions

To Do Art List

MegaCon Art List *throws out list* @__@;;; halp....

Links

LullabyStudios.Net
Sketch Blog
Xiao Hwen Artists

Stamps

~ro-chan DA Popularity is Crap http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/16707882/ http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/16707882/ Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:36:01 PST
[| Christian | FAQ | Commissions |]

All About Me

I rarely ever make a journal in response to another journal, but I've been keeping my mouth shut about a lot of DA Drama for a while so it's sort of built up. I'm not going to be naming names because I don't want to start wars or anything, but I can't keep quiet anymore.

Deviant Art can be pretty frustrating to a lot of artists and unfortunately it's hard to "live" here. There are so many artists that are wonderfully unique, have a better grasp of art elements, and just tend to have a freshness about them... but they are silently hidden away within the labyrinth that is DA. We can blame it on the ignorant (not dumb just not knowing) masses that can't tell the difference between what is good art or what is bad art or we can blame it on DA's horrible system. Either way there isn't much that can be changed at this point.

It is sad that the popular is nothing but repetitive and dull, but that it's also shows how much the younger generation is perversely twisted. Whenever I take a gander at the front page popular I am always in sort of... shock. Not that I am horribly old or narrow minded, mind you, but that half the time I wonder what is mentally wrong with people. Fetish portraits is just soft core Porn, Yaoi prevails as a super norm making heterosexuals a dying breed, and don't even get me started with inflated art! Whatever "safe," (in the terms that it's PG-13 safe) art gets there is a string of shiny head shots that feels like a copy/paste cop-out to do anything else. DA has become a stagnant pond instead of promoting growth as an artist and because of this a lot of good artists are leaving DA seeking places where they can become greater than what they are.

The problem lies in the definition of what is or makes art. It's not really something that we can define, but DA only helps to promote one sort of mentality. Drones are really not what people are looking for, popularity doesn't mean a thing to an artists, but what it does do is show that what we're thinking, doing, experimenting isn't total fail either. I don't want people to get the wrong idea there's nothing wrong with liking something or not liking something. That is a measure of art too just that there are too many people that lack knowledge to make a good decision between something that is "shiny" and something that is executed well. Currently there are too many "I like it" and not enough "This is done well." It's annoying and disappointing.

Yes, it's nice to be popular and be on the front pages of DA popular. Yes, it's nice that we get a bunch of favorites and watches and page views... that's important to us because truthfully, as a good friend stated: "secretly every artist is an insecure, self-doubting, closet attention whore." We love it! We love to know that you love what we do! But are insanely jealous of the people that don't put in half the thought that we do and reach it so easily. We won't conform even if it kills us because if that was the case then nothing would ever change and the world would be a very boring and stagnant place.

Conventions

To Do Art List

MegaCon Art List
o1. Marvel Marvels
o2. Comic Women Illustrations [2/6]
o3. Avatar Art: Bookmarks, Buttons
o4. Bleach: Grimmjow, Ulriquaklsda, IchiHime (5 life times)
o5. Video Game Art: Phoenix Wright, Guilty Gear, Street Fighter, King of Fighters

Links

LullabyStudios.Net
Sketch Blog
Xiao Hwen Artists

Stamps

http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/16191824/ Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:17:14 PST
[| Christian | FAQ | Commissions |]

All About Me

iBueno! Vamos a empeciar el ano con mi Espanol horrible. D: Perdona me mis chicos pero todavia no empeso ha viver. @A@;;; Buenoque... para taras ha Engles... iQue tritesa! T^T

Ok! Let's start the year off with my horrible Spanish. D: Sorry my dears, but I haven't started drinking yet. @A@;;; In any case, back to English... How sad! T^T

NEW YEARS GOALS!
Everyone has resolutions that they wish to achieve within the year, but resolutions make them sound like the stuff one wishes to achieve but never do... so I am making them my goals. They're not unattainable, they take time, and hopefully I can make it all the way through the year. :3 So here are my top 10 goals for this year!

1o. I will draw more action poses and deal with backgrounds instead of ignoring them
o9. I will paint more and get my portfolio together instead of pretending to do so.
o8. I will look at more art tutorials so I can get better.
o7. I will not compare myself, my work, my style with others and depress myself.
o6. I will not procrastinate... as much so that I don't miss out on things or stress over stuff.
o5. I will clean my room dang it! DDD:<
o4. I will not let video games continue to suck up all my time and consume my sleeping moments. D:<
o3. I will start my comic Crimson Fang instead of talking into a tape recorder about it.
o2. I will live more taking risks instead of looking for the safer path.
o1. I will pray more and set aside time for me and God to talk more.

There you have it folks! 8D Have a great and safe New Year~! But before I let you all go! Here is my prayer for you! <3

I pray that the shadows of last year stay there, that loves grow stronger, deeper, and that we are able to let go of them when the time comes. I pray that old loves give birth to new loves, that lost loves find their way home, and that weak loves grow stronger. I pray that for every tear you shed last year two smiles replace it this year, that ever lost penny breeds two, that every disappoint becomes a new hope. I pray that you work hard and are rewarded, that your en devours reach their end, that your dreams become a reality. I pray the you give more of your time, love, and respect and that you receive them as well. I pray reconcile with those fought with, that grudges get buried, and that new bridges are built. I pray that love love, joy, and happiness find you and that greed, sadness, and despise lose sight of you. I pray you meet new faces, see new places, and experience new things. I pray that the New Year brings to you all these things and more, but I also pray that you never walk alone without Him.

I love you guys! Happy New Year! <3

Conventions

I've narrowed down my choices to these. If there is a con you would like to suggest let me know!

MegaCon 08: Orlando, FL March 7-9th CONFIRMED
Anime Expo 08:Los Angeles, CA July 3rd - 6th - Wish list con
MetroCon 08 Tampa, FL July 18-20th - If I can't go to AX. There is no way I am doing back to back cons! D:
Otakon 08 Baltimore, MD August 8-10th - I want to go just so I can ride a train! 8D
AWA 08: Atlanta, GA September 19-20th

To Do Art List

*pulls out a fresh new paper*
...
*copies old list to new list* TTATT

Links

LullabyStudios.Net
Sketch Blog
Xiao Hwen Artists

Stamps

~ro-chan Art is not a race... http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/4877764/ http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/4877764/ Tue, 22 Mar 2005 00:30:51 PST
[| Christian | FAQ | Commissions |]

...but why does it always feel like one? We're all competing, jealous bastards and 99.9% of the time we're fighting with ourselves. Always trying to out due the last drawing or our best drawing. It's an un-ending cycle that can drive us insane to the point that we're panting and heaving towards a finish line that doesn't exist. And what for? Because we enjoy doing art?

As my art professor once said, "Art is not fun. It's painful, unrelating, and destroys an sense of calm. Whoever says that art is soothing to the soul isn't trying hard enough."

So the question is why do we put ourselves through this torture?

We've go through those 'droughts' where nothing seems to come out right or where there really is no ambition to do anything but scribble crap onto wandering sheets of paper; which is always, ironically, the best things we've ever done. We let it consume our minds day in and day out to the point were we lose sense and touch with reality as ideas run around behind our eyes taunting us relentlessly as our hands struggle to grasp whatever it is our brain is trying to communicate. We pour out half our soul into these things letting them come to life and become our children that we jealously protect from others' harsh comments and words only to realize that they are merely an extension of our thoughts and cannot bleed. We fear rejection, standing naked as we display ourselves before others, and fear acceptance by those who like to swim with the tides of society belittling the effort and heartache we placed into each drawing. Our frustration mounting until at last we enter a state of total insanity and bi-polar tendencies attacking everything from our art to ourselves with an anger that can only be surpassed by God. We scream and cry tears of bitterness letting it blur or vision as we enslave ourselves to this painful task of producing art and creating, within our Zen-like state, an art that has us sighing in relief that everything we had just gone through was for the sake of this one picture... only to begin the cycle all over again.

Art is not a race but a struggle to express and capture our minds within a flickering moment and meant only for those who can endure such things with a spirit of steel.

-Just pissed so don't mind me. *grumbles* I don't even have a reason to be angry but I just am.

_{Journal CSS by `ClaireJones}

]]> ~ro-chan FAQ http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/4404564/ http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/4404564/ Wed, 23 May 2007 18:47:22 PDT
[| Christian | FAQ | Commissions |]

Is Ro-Chan/RoChan your real name? What does the "Ro" stand for?
Ro-Chan/RoChan is just my handle/pseudonym that I have been using for ages. I use it everywhere, so if you see a Ro-Chan/RoChan chances are that it's me! 8D Ro does not mean anything though. D:

What's your real name then?
Ari, it's Hebrew for Lion (Rawr, I'm a lion. >:3) which is why there a lot of lion jokes when referring to myself.

Speaking of names... what's with that kanji as your signature?
It is not kanji it is kana and more specifically it is hiragana. It reads Ari. >:3

Where do you live?
Jacksonville, Florida home of the Jacksonville Jaguars! >:3

How old are you?
Older than most people think.

What is your sign?

What do you draw/color your art with?
Whatever is handy/I feel like/lying around. I have no real preferences. I doodle and draw everywhere with just about everything traditional and digital.

Digitally, I mainly like Corel Painter, Open Canvas, and Oekaki. Also, most often than not, I'm using my Wacom Intuos 2 tablet.

Traditionally, I draw with mechanical pencils ((anywhere from .3mm to .7mm lead)) or prep for a color drawing with a Prisma Non-Photo Blue color pencil. I also use Micron ink pens mostly to do inking, but I also use variety of other pens too. To color I prefer Copic Markers.

What inspires you? Do you use references?
Everything inspires me! I'm a highly visual person so everything I see somehow tries to incorporate itself to what I create (music helps me to focus on the moods). But mostly I'm inspired by the greatest artist of all time. God.

Oh I love using references! 8D I reference backgrounds/poses/colors/styles at anytime that I need them! It's not a bad thing to use them because art is a visual thing and it's really hard to get your brain to work with your hand. Mainly, however, I rely on myself as the reference and sometimes I drag my sister to pose for me! >:3

When did you start drawing?
I've been drawing since I was a kid. I have proof! Finger painting was very fun. xD Truthfully I've always been drawing and my art teachers in elementary school used to teach me all kinds of neat and interesting things. Also in 2nd grade I decided I wanted to be an animator and of course forgot about it. It wasn't until I was in 8th grade that I decided art was for me.

How did you learn to draw/color so good? Can you teach me/do you have/do tutorials?
Well, part of it is because I studied art for a really long time and the other part is because I take what I like from other artists and use it. I went to a magnet high school where I learned to draw for 4 years and then I studied art in College and have a Bachelors of Fine Art in Drawing and Painting. In those 9 years I was always taking figure classes and learned to draw the figure. Mainly it's not an instant type of thing. There is talent involved too but it's really a matter of practice.

I have a total of 2 tutorials currently in my gallery. I do hope to do more in the future but they are time consuming so please be patient.

If you're so into 'art' why don't you have more in your gallery?
One day I will actually work on my portfolio. D:

What's with all the anime/fanart? Why don't you draw American Comic or Disney fanart?
I do not read American comics as much as I used to so while I am still a huge fan of Superman and Wonder Woman, I am not too fanatical to draw them. As for Disney art, I have no excuse except I have not thought up any drawings for them.

And another thing! Why don't you draw Yaoi/Pr0n?
Because I believe that homosexual relations and pornography are immoral in the eyes of God. I will not draw Yaoi/Yuri because I neither like it nor support it. I will not draw explicit art bec... ]]> ~ro-chan Commision Information http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/4378966/ http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/4378966/ Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:22:03 PST
[| Christian | FAQ | Commissions |]

Drawing Information
I can draw just about anything (males, females, children), however, I am a little shaky on anything animalistic (furries, animals). If they are humanoid with animal attributes then I have no problem. Also please do not ask me to draw anything explicit or anything shonen ai/shoujo ai. It goes against a lot of my own personal beliefs so please do not request it. I can however draw two characters together in the same scene and the interpretation will be up to you. I will also draw fan art from any anime/comic/video game that you choose.

Base Prices (for one character)
Pencil Bust:
Pencil Waist-up:
Colored Bust:
Colored Waist-up:
CG Bust:
CG Waist-up:
Extra people:
Prices are subject to change according on the complexity and size of the drawing.

Payment

~~I highly recommend using PayPal as the first choice of payment.~~ Due to issues with PayPal, it is not recommended nor accepted at this moment.

I take Money orders through snail mail. If you wish to use a Money order as payment you must let me know ahead of time.

Payment must be given first before drawing is to be started, exceptions to this is only if the piece is very complex and then a thumbnail sketch shall be produced.

What you receive
You will receive a high quality, 600dpi file of your choice. You can then, of course, use the drawing in any manor you choose (icons, web layouts, avatars, etc.) for personal purposes only.

Questions
If you have any questions as to content, prices, or anything else that is not listed or explain here, you can direct them to me via note.

Requesting Commissions
Please only ask for commissions when I open them.

_{Journal CSS by `ClaireJones}

]]> ~ro-chan I'm A Christian... Still With Me? http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/1504770/ http://ro-chan.deviantart.com/journal/1504770/ Thu, 12 Feb 2004 04:54:49 PST
[| Christian | FAQ | Commissions |]

I'm a Christian.

What does that mean? Well... that means that I'm a Christian. I'm not here to judge you, your work, or your life styles. I'm not here to tell you what to do, what not to do, or what you should or shouldn't be drawing, talking about, blah blah blah. I'm not even here to tell you what to believe in. I am here to do art and see other art, just like everyone else that comes to DA.

I like to think that I'm pretty open minded and tolerate a lot of things that other Christians wouldn't. But even I have my limitations and a place where I draw the line. I will not comment on things that I feel compromise my beliefs (in other words I will not support something I don't believe in) and I don't expect others to do so as well. We're all here gathered together from different places with different backgrounds, cultures and relgions. All I ask is that you please respect mine and I'll respect yours. Thank you.

_{Journal CSS by `ClaireJones}

]]> ~ro-chan