Inspiration and Contemplations

Inspiration and contemplations… A few small events have happened in the past few days that has caused my mind to think of how I am to improve myself in things I have started or done. All this has caused me to contemplate some things after I had my inspiration.

Photoshop

In my previous entry, Escapist Fairy’s New Look? I had expressed my frustrations with my abilities with Photoshop. Well… I know quite well (thanks to Glaize and Alexiel) that it takes time. It took Alexiel five years to develop his own style. It may take me a few more years than him, but I want to be able to do this for multiple reasons. Mainly for my own work. So my stories have a way to shine other than my words. I have great people to follow. Dark, the creator of Akarui Japan, is one of them. His work is absolutely fantastic with his own flare of style.

He had recently created this background and I have to tell you the effects for this is stunning. Makes me green with envy, but it gives me a goal to strive for. But his work isn’t the only I look at for inspiration. Alexiel’s work is nothing to laugh at. That man has talent.

This is his avatar on Akarui Japan. I read the little profile Alexiel wrote up. Changing a facial expression and then adding animation to it. But yet another goal to strive for. I will eventually have my own style, but for now I will just have to be satisfied with what I can do and aim to be better. Now… I looked at my future schedule and I was disheartened with only 13 credit hours my second semester, but I could take a class to help…I’m still contemplating that idea. Hopefully, I am going to be able visit Alexiel. So maybe while I’m there he could show me a thing or two. First things first… getting the funds to go.

Music

While back, I use to take piano lessons, but I had quit them. While I was at the mall last week…my sister and I had walked by the music store and we had found someone playing the piano. I recognized it immediately. “My Immortal” by Evanescence. While that was playing in the background I had decided to give it a look around inside. Music books upon music books of sheet music of various artists. I had found of few that had Evanescence’s music pieces. I’ve always had the desire to place my hands once again on the piano’s keys and read the sheet music measure by measure creating the song note by note, key by key. Sound for sound. I have to find my old piano books, pull out the keyboard, and practice once again. I might take lessons back up again, but one thing at a time. I have to review what I did and review what my choir teacher had taught me. I also am going to have to find a way to play with weighted keys. My lessons were with a keyboard versus an upright or a baby grand piano. It makes a difference in your ability to play.

Also, I had started teaching myself how to play the guitar. It was fairly easy, but I want to be able to continue with it. Fortunately, my father had order a backpack guitar. Makes it easy for me to practice instead of the larger acoustic guitar. Once I get the hang of the guitar maybe I’ll progress to the electric guitar. Maybe this will lead me to other instruments like the shamisen… Who knows?

Foreign Languages

Well, recently I had been going through my old notes from my French class and amazingly I still remember most of the words and the pronunciations. Now throughout my friendship with Alexiel I’ve taught him a few things here and there in French. I remember him mentioning something about following up on what I did in high school with it. Good thing is my college offers classes in French. So I can immerse myself once again in the French world.

Thing is my interest doesn’t really lie within France… they lie within Japan. I’m an eager fanatic that desires to learn more about its history and culture, everything. I’ve always wanted to learn the Japanese language…but I have no way to until a later time. I’ve only learned a few words here and there from Alexiel. Maybe someday in the future I’ll learn it and I will definitely visit Japan.

Writing

I’ve been told that what I write is great and fantastic, but I’m not entirely satisfied. I have figured out my dissatisfaction comes from the way I write it. My literary project of turning the game Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core into a reading format for those who will never play it for one reason or another is the only one I’m mildly satisfied with. My reasons, it actually looks like how you would see a book formatted as. I have been considering reformatting all my work except CC and go along the lines of CC.

I have been hoping that my Composition class will help me become a better writer… to develop my skill even further. That reason is exactly why I write the different types of literary entries to develop my skill even further.

That goes for everything… I do all this to test myself and bring up my ability level because who knows one day I will be able to put all this to good use. That is my desire and my goal. I will continue to aim for the goal until I succeed, but I will continue raising the bar.