Just talked to a professional I hired to tune my piano... The mechanics are completely off. I'll have to pay for a much more expensive repair than I thought, and will not be able to play for at least 20 days while it's being fixed. Nice.

But, I think it's worth it. It's a fine piano after all, I definitely want it back to pristine condition. And my husband paid a higher price for a cell phone. The 20 days of forced stop annoy me a little, though.


**Maybe someone could ask "Why don't you buy a digital piano then?". Yeah. No need to tune it, I could play with headphones.... NO WAY!
I listened to samples out of curiosity and I think even the best ones sound like crap compared to a real piano. And they are nearly as expensive.

****Update: my piano is being fixed and tuned right now. At last. Meanwhile, there are some beautiful David Garrett fanarts by other artists. Check their galleries!



This man really inspires me!

Just talked to a professional I hired to tune my piano... The mechanics are completely off. I'll have to pay for a much more expensive repair than I thought, and will not be able to play for at least 20 days while it's being fixed. Nice.

But, I think it's worth it. It's a fine piano after all, I definitely want it back to pristine condition. And my husband paid a higher price for a cell phone. The 20 days forced stop annoys me a little, though.

...Not even two weeks since I started playing the piano again after years, and SOMEONE reminded me of why I stopped. I didn't want to bother other people - my parents, my neighbours, my husband. Apparently no one can stand the Hanon exercises for more than 5 minutes, huh? So I had to drop something I really love because nobody tolerates the annoyance of me practising properly, not even with mute and soft-pedal. And I stopped. For. 30. Years. That's enough.
...
...
Update: he actually started to think about it and realized I was right. I WON! I can play as much as I like now.
Thank you for the support to the dabbler pianists' cause!!!! You're great, guys.

Lately I went back to listening to a lot of classical music (it's a first love, you know how it works!). And somehow I discovered I always had a liking for the most controversial performers in the field. Browsing record reviews and classical "fanatics" forums (and believe me, I chose that word for a reason), I found that nearly all of them had been hammered by critics or highbrow "elite" listeners. My beloved Backhaus was "too romantic" and sometimes his live performances weren't flawless. Herbert von Karajan was vain and "too self-centered" (sorry if I fail to understand how that could have a bad influence on his conduction). Maria Callas "lacked subtlety" and her voice "wasn't beautiful". Even Beethoven is "overrated" and all tonal music is "cheap".

...No, really?

The one who got the worst treatment is violinist David Garrett*. That guy stirred the stagnant waters of classical world quite a lot. Purists hear about his occasional stunts, see some rockstar-like photos, watch a pair of videos on youtube (maybe just one where he was having a bad day - happens to everyone, guys) and blast him without giving a second chance, despite his stunning pedigree. They don't listen to his classical records, or if they do they're already biased. So, everyone keeps finding flaws in his playing style, but they have all kinds of different beliefs on what those flaws actually might be. He's either "too expressive" or "lacks expressiveness". Too precise or too sloppy. Too *insert something* or not enough. The funniest review I read concerning his Beethoven Concerto: technically flawless, but "lacks insight".
Excuse me? That's music, not philosophy. You're climbing mirrors here, aren't you?
So, since they all think he's bad but don't seem to agree on the actual reason, I came to the conclusion that his unforgivable sin is just one: he has sex appeal. You're not allowed to, in the purists' world. As everyone knows, sex appeal leads to fangirls. Those fangirls will eventually start attending classical recitals and festivals**, and the highbrows don't want to mix with them. In their naive newcomer enthusiasm, fangirls could speak some truth they don't want to listen to: Beethoven is NOT overrated, a catchy melody isn't necessarily cheap, Maria Callas was actually better than Renata Tebaldi, dodecaphony is boring like hell, and that atonal piano piece you worship sounds like two cats fighting on the keyboard.***
Most of all, those "elite" listeners forgot that music has to be enjoyed, not dissected. Really, guys, lighten up.

I will side with fangirls. Garrett's approach to music reminded me of why I wanted to play the piano. That's because I actually LOVE playing, not because I wanted to turn into some high priestess channelling the Holy Spirit of Mozart for his believers.

So... Maybe it's true I don't have the finest taste in classical music, but know what? I don't give a damn anymore.



*Applies to Richard Kruspe, too. Classical and metal fanatics sometimes share the same thought patterns.
**Actually, they already do... And some old legends got angry about that.
***I swear, I heard something like that once. Played by a highly praised lady pianist, too.

As you can see, I'm doing trades again. But just one at a time, because I have a job, a husband,  a dozen of cats and four comic series to deal with, so if I'm already planning one I can't take another.
If you're interested, please follow those guidelines:
- I will decline if I think my characters would not look right in your style (that doesn't mean I don't like it at all, just that it's more suited to other subjects), or if I have the feeling you're just trying to get a free commission.
- Please don't do just the bare minimum. Put some effort in it and try to have fun, because that's what I'll do for my part. I ALWAYS do my best, regardless of being paid or not. So, ask me only if you really like some of my characters and want to try your hand on them. Or if you are a huge fan of either Rammstein or Criminal Minds and want to draw one of those people. Having fun is the key here.
- Things I won't draw: anything blatantly tasteless, real people yaoi/yuri, anything related to fandoms I can't stand (Twilight) or anime series I especially dislike (like One Piece or Dragonball). Not a big fan of furries either. And NO FRIGGIN' PONIES, please.
- My part will always be a drawing or a digital painting, your part could be something else. Photomanipulation or 3D. Even literature, as long as it's somewhat based on my sci-fi characters and setting.
- My long time watchers and friends have precedence over people appearing out of nothing. Just because I know they appreciate my style, and aren't just trying to snatch a free drawing from anyone.

Still interested? Sheets are here [link] and here [link].
Moreover, I will hold an Altarion contest in September. If you're interested to help me in some way, note me. ^^




-Alien sheet 02: inking
-Altarion Saga pg 21: since the perspective was an epic fail, I'm trying to fix it.
-Altarion Saga pg 27: drawing
-Altarion Saga pg 28-45: sketched (3 more to go to finish first episode )
-Atlantis pg 14-16: sketched
-Atlantis page 13: drawing

-Art trade with ~Igloinor: finished   
-Marnen for *raka-raka: finished! Her part:
-Art trade with ~Ilweran: drawing -  Her part:
-Ooops... I totally forgot I already had a trade going with *SicilianValkyrie when I left because of my job! Oo Anyway, sketching!
- Attempting a digital painting of captain Kemeny... I discovered that a slightly warped Jason Lewis as reference model works just fine. Basically, I just need to reshape his eyebrows, erase the chin dimple and make his lips thinner. Jeez, he even has the goddamn smirk.
**Not so happy about it anyway. Sigh.
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So, after Altarion I'm resuming the Atlantis prequel too, and I'm in need of a lot of extras for background events. I could just draw random people, but it's rather boring. So, I had an idea that would be much more fun: do you have an OC? Would you like him/her to be involved in the upcoming big brawl at Heinlein's? Comment here and leave a link or a description!  I will pick the characters that could better fit my setting (passing off as aliens, for example), dress them in Altarion fashion, and draw them somewhere. They will kick some asses (or have theirs kicked, by my whim ) and I will credit you for the concept and design. Deal? ^^
...And, of course, if YOU want to be cartoonized and involved in the brawl too, you can. (See page below - that's how it starts ^^)



**Since apparently it wasn't all that clear: I don't need "real" characters, I have more than enough, but instead of drawing random people in the background or in the bar fight scenes, it think it would be more fun to do a mass tribute to fellow DA artists inserting some of their OCs here and there. I could just draw the ones I like most and tell you afterwards, but I prefer to ask first. They will NOT become recurring characters, I will NOT steal them and I am NOT making money from Atlantis, since it's a free webcomic I draw just for fun.



-Alien sheet 02: inking
-Altarion Saga pg 21: since the perspective was an epic fail, I'm trying to fix it.
-Altarion Saga pg 26: drawing
-Altarion Saga pg 27-45: sketched (3 more to go to finish first episode )
-Atlantis pg 13-16: sketched
-Atlantis page 12: drawing

-Kiriban for ~Kvlticon: coloring
-Art trade with ~Igloinor : finished   

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...And now I dream of a Criminal Minds/Rammstein crossover fanfic. Someone plese write THAT. It would be pretty awesome.


Meanwhile... It's about time to resume working on my webcomics. Hiatus has been too long, Jan was definitely going to kick my ass.
So...

-Alien sheet 02: inking
-Altarion Saga pg 25: translating
-Altarion Saga pg 25-45: sketched (3 more to go to finish first episode )
-Atlantis pg 12-16: sketched

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Time to feature the winners of #CriminalMindsLovers first contest. The theme was "Who'd make the best villain?"
and it was open to literature too. It would have been fun to enter, but this time I chose to give prizes instead. Well, actually I'll stick to giving prizes for next contest too. I'll let you know.

1st place:

(Please remember to send me a note about the drawing you want!)

2nd place: A killing Thing
Fandom – Criminal Minds
PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS!

Darkness.  It surrounded him physically and emotionally.  All that embraced his entire being at that precise moment was the darkness.  How many times would he do this to himself he wondered as he wandered the streets in a part of the US Capital city that he had absolutely no business setting foot in.

He tried to forget the first time he had killed a man with his bare hands.  But he couldn't forget the horrifying fact that despite the desperate situation he had been in at the time, despite the terror, it had actually felt good.  He had been just angry enough that he had enjoyed the nece
Next Time You Judge Someone
Fandom: Criminal Minds

"Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something."
H. Jackson Brown Jr.

The shopping center was loud and crowded that Saturday afternoon.  The halls bustled with busy employees, shoppers with their arms full of bags from various stores, and groups of cattery teenagers with no better way to spend a weekend than to meander through the halls.

In all of this commotion it was the conversation of one group of regular patrons sitting on a bench surrounded by artificial bushes under the large skylight overhead that managed to draw some unexpected attention.

Marley, Taylor, an And That's Why He Couldn't
"As many live because they are afraid to die as die because they are afraid to live."
-Charles Caleb Colton

THURSDAY.

The north wind blew harsh and bitter on that Thursday afternoon.  It had taken two months.  Two months after the young "Jon Doe" died in that secluded vacant lot, he was finally being laid to rest under a gravestone marked only with a date.  He would have just been another wooden bow in a field of forgotten corpses had it not been for the compassion of one boy; fifteen year old Derek Morgan.

Standing there in the cemetery surrounded by his mother and sisters dressed in the best church cloths his lower-middle-class family c
(I love your fanfics and that Rossi pic is epic!)

3rd place: :thumb255484913:
:thumb260912727: :thumb252026295:
(Girl, you really need to upload more drawings, this is your WHOLE gallery!)