Aaaaaaaghhh good evening everypony!
Finally, after what has probably been a month of no new art updates (maybe even longer, I haven't double-checked), I have at last finished my latest pony commission, and with the owner's permission I am now able to share it with you all!
This piece was commissioned by ILoveFluttershy, who asked for a scene of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy walking together beside a lake beneath a beautiful night sky. Hopefully I was able to do his vision proper justice, and I certainly did work pretty hard on this one (hopefully now, also, you can all understand why I refer to most of my fanarts as doodles; this is an actual effort by me!). This picture is different from most if not all of the pony-pictures I've done to date, I think, because it actually was a full digital painting... most of my pieces so far I think have been done with SAI Painter's marker/pencil tools.
Anyway though, hopefully this makes up for my lack of recent artworks at least a little bit. It does have its flaws which I can't help noticing, but for the most part I'm content. And, as I've finally had a little free time outside of work, I was able to finish one of the fun little winter/holiday pictures I've had in mind for weeks, featuring my two favorite ponies once again. As I've been under a lot of stress lately though, and was going through withdrawals I'm not going to apologize for it!
Anyhow though! There's probably a whole lot more I can add, and I actually thought about a few things but I suppose this post is long enough as-is, and there are always further updates after all. In any case, I wish you all the happiest of holidays, and a very Happy New Year as well! Until next time my dears, stay fabulous~!
WD
98 comments:
Welcome back, WhiteDiamonds! It was getting a bit grave around here without you.
This is after all you've said about lighting? It looks great. I see the attention to detail in the bright glow on their backs. Usually, artists would put the light on the front. The grass is even casting a shadow over the water, and the stars are pleasantly dreamlike. I notice how Fluttershy's wing is over Dash. That's something I personally have imagined before and have wished that more people would think to include. The darkness over the red part of Dash's tail cuts out all of the red color, which is really what happens in the early morning. Dark things look grey. I wish I could be awake at that time of day more often. Especially if I lived in an area were there was a nice place to walk around with a friend. It seems in this case, though, the pairing is more than friendship. Still, in many ways, this is attuned to my own interests. Even the expressions represent the feelings that different types of people would have about that scene. This is why I want to move to a nicer looking place. Ah, midnight...
I mentioned this in the past entry, but...scarves. I'll admit, I like the look of warm clothing. Long sleeves and pants. You can imagine how I feel about living in a state that gets in the low 90s in extreme Summer and wearing T-shirts and shorts at all times. Oh well, I'll get my chance. Even Rarity's fluffy, er, gown is regal and grand. Do we just have the same tastes?
Another question; If Rarity used magic to throw the snowball, was it really thrown? Unicorns can be so lazy.
Anyhow, your work reminds me why I want to do this, as always. I trust that the thrill of a busy schedule is wearing off by now, so hopefully you will have some time for yourself pretty soon. We're only happy when you are.
Good evening my dears! Long time no see!
@Anon
Thank you very much for the enthusiastic "welcome back". I know I've been absent for a few days but I've been pretty busy, or moreso than usual I guess I should say. I actually planned and should have had these artworks done and online Thursday as I had that day off, but unbeknownst to me my mother took that day off too and insisted that we bake cookies and make cranberry sauce together, and she wasn't above using guilt to get me to acquiesce. So yes, here I am, three days later. But at least they're done, such a huge relief!
Anyway though I'm glad you like the pictures, thank you! I've always loved nighttime and nighttime pictures as well, though I haven't really taken the time to make any (or anything with much of a background really; it's a lot of work and I don't generally have so much free time to devote to my fanarts). And in response to your question, I'm not really sure if it would still be considered "throwing" either, but feel free to substitute whatever verb you think is more appropriate. I guess it does seem lazy or like cheating, though I imagine using telekinesis or other magic powers would be something of a mental effort. Or a 'magical' effort that we can't really relate to or understand, but you get the idea.
Anyway though, thanks so much again for the lovely comment; I really do appreciate it! ^_^ Hopefully I'll be able to get caught up with all the other comments again soon, as well!
@Favo
Well, if it's any consolation to you dear I don't think the first one is really intended to be a FlutterdDash pic... more like just a friend trying to comfort another friend. Of course I could be wrong as I didn't ask but the commissioner didn't specifically request a shipping pic, so I guess interpret it however you see fit?
And as far as the flaws, well... it's mostly little things that I notice when going from one computer to another (I draw all my artworks on my widescreen desktop computer, and the colors definitely do look different on my laptop. For better or for worse). Mostly on this picture the use of shadows doesn't look balanced to me when I look at the entire image scaled down, but it's a minor concern and honestly, I can probably always find something to nitpick on when it comes to my own artworks. Such is the fate of a scrutinizing, perfectionist artist, I suppose.
I haven't seen your gun drawings yet, but I'm slowly making my way through my other comments so I imagine I'll find it soon! And yes, your artwork will be forthcoming shortly as well... as I said I know I bit off a bit more than I could chew as far as taking on commissions recently (or at least, with everything else that's been going on too) but I am slowly getting caught up.
Thanks so much for the reply, I'm glad you like the pictures!
I was starting to worry you weren't going to post again, glad your back. I love the commisioned piece and the snowball made me laugh. I might be getting a bamboo tablet for Christmas, so that will be fun.
Welcome back WD! It's nice to see you again. ^_^
I'm actually in the same stance as Favo, not a very big fan of Flutterdash. ^^;
But as you say, I shall interpret it as I see fit. :P
Aside from subject, it really is an excellent piece of artwork; The moon's reflection off of the water, the wide grassy field, the overlaying trees, distant mountains, hazy, star ridden night sky...I could go on, but the attention to detail is simply magnificent.
About the second one, I must say, I really like "playful" Rarity. ;P
Ack, some loyal supporter I am, coming in this late...
Anyways, marvelous pieces. I am positively in love with the second one in particular---AJ's expression is beyond priceless! ^^
This is a (VERY) realistic reminder that I still have a long way to go before I can actually reach your standard. There's this Chinese proverb that goes:
学不可以已。青，取之于蓝，而青于蓝。
Technically it means that with effort, even a pupil can overcome the teacher in caliber... Not remotely so in this case.
That said, kudos, mate!
@TomTheRock
I know, it really has been a terrible long time since I've been back with new pictures hasn't it? I really must apologize for that, but hopefully now that my move, the busy season at my job and (soon enough, anyway) the holidays will be behind me, I'll be able to get back on track again. I do have several more commissioned pieces in the works for different people so there will be those, at least.
But anyway, thank you so much for the nice comments; I'm so glad you like both pictures! ^.^ And wow, I guess everyone really is getting a tablet of their own, how extraordinary but terribly exciting! Well, you'll have to let me know how it goes for you too, dearie, I'm very interested!
@BND
Yaaay, thank you so much my dear! I'm very happy to *be* back.
I'm really glad you like both pictures, and even the 'FlutterDashy' one included (I'm pretty indifferent to the pairing myself, but I guess if I did have to choose a pairing for Rainbow it would be PinkieDash/RainbowPie. Not like it really matters either way). I really appreciate all the kind words on what you liked about that one even if the subject matter wasn't your favorite, and especially the compliment about the attention to detail; I never tire of receiving that praise when it's justified. =^.^=
And heehee... as I think I said somewhere on this blog before, I'd like to think Rarity does have a playful side underneath all of her usual refined manners, and as Applejack seems to enjoy teasing her all the time I'm sure she'd welcome an opportunity to get back once in a while.
Anyway though, thanks so much once again for the lovely reply, I really do appreciate it!
@CaineScroll
Oh no not at all darling! Silly... I had only just put this picture up a few hours previously after all!
I'm so glad you like them though, thank you! I admit, hilarious expressions are one of my favorite things about drawing Applejack and Rarity together, as they seem to consistently bring out amusing reactions in one another (this is still one of my favorite examples; one of Applejack's best faces ever I think ^.^). And please don't sell yourself short, dearest; you have really come such a long way already, and I don't doubt that if you really wanted to, and worked hard at it you could overtake me easily someday at digital painting. Which is certainly not a bad thing.
However, I am very much curious as to what the... err, English-alphabet (in Japanese they call it Romaji--Roman letters--I'm not sure what the Chinese equivalent is) transcribing of that phrase is. I do so love language.
Thanks so much again, my friend! ^^
Some truly lovely work on display in both images. I think you did an outstanding job on the Pegasi backlit by the light of the moon. Dash looks thoughtful and troubled, Fluttershy looks warm and encouraging. The lighting and shading on them is wonderful... as is their subtle coloring under the wash of the pale moon and the deep blue night sky. The very solid, centered and symmetrical composition (both top to bottom and left to right) helps add to the stillness of the image and anchors a very active pony in a long, drawn out moment of peaceful reflection. You certainly don't fool around when you go all out on the effort.
Of course, when you do fool around the results are delightful as well. I'm a fan of yours because of your playful, expressive images just like this snowball fight. Well, calling it a fight seems somewhat unfair, as it seems to be a TKO at this point, at least until AJ gets over her shock. I do so love Rarity's cape ensemble and grin.
It was a very nice surprise to find this update waiting Christmas morning (well, technically its still night out here in the east as I write this.) I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends... Merry Christmas!
@Those who are actually reading this
New post up on my blog! Check it out here.
@WhiteDiamonds "And wow, I guess everyone really is getting a tablet of their own, how extraordinary but terribly exciting!"
Heh, I actually got a tablet towards the beginning of this month. :P
I've drawn a few things, but nothing noteworthy. ^^;
"I certainly did work pretty hard on this one"
Finally! You've stopped being so cynical about your amazing artwo-
"It does have its flaws which I can't help noticing"
...
*facehoof*
Look at that expression on Applejack. You can totally tell where in the Rarijack process this picture takes place. She's like 'It ain't proper ta throw snowballs at a filly ah kissed last night!'
Us? Surpass you? Nonsense.
I don't have a problem with FlutterDash, because I don't have any preferred pairing with either of them. This just goes to show how much of a difference it can make to people if it so much as implies that one or more of their shipping characters have a relationship with someone other than what they like.
@DJB123
This is exactly what I was trying to explain earlier. It doesn't matter how polished or high-quality the picture is, what really determines its charm is what it depicts. WhiteDiamonds can make a quick "doodle" that will be better received than another professional artist that spend days on a shiny wallpaper with no originality or substance. The ideas she has of scenes really are what is memorable, not how much time she put into making it or how well it displays her artistic talent. Which is not to be understated, either.
@Harwick
Meep! <3 Thank you so very much for that generous, glowing bit of commentary dear Harwick... as I have said before I really do value your feedback immensely. It's especially gratifying to me to read your comments on my commissioned piece because everything you mentioned, in regards to the symmetrical composition and whatnot, is exactly what I was going for. Originally I thought a closer, more cropped and intimate scene might have conveyed the ponies' emotions a bit better, but I really wanted to portray a moment of quiet thought and reflection so I drew the "camera" back a little. So yes, the comments are very much appreciated.
I am of course glad that you like my sillier picture as well, because I know I did have a lot of fun making it. ^.^ And the compliment about Rarity's cape is lovely because I did so want to design something that hopefully suited her to a tee, color, style and all! Really, thank you so much.
I hope you enjoyed your holiday also! ^^
@CaineScroll
I just went and posted on it, thanks for letting us all know!
@BND
Really, you too!? That makes, what? Four, five, SIX people now that post regularly on my blog who have all gotten tablets in the past month or so! A pretty amazing coincidence, if you ask me.
Well, "noteworthy" pieces or not, if you ever get around to sharing any of your works I'd like to see them! Hopefully you've been enjoying your tablet experience thus far. ^.^
@sellyme
I apologize if I have exasperated you again dear. As I said, looking at things with a critical eye (and things that I have created myself to share with the world, especially) is just something I do and have always done. I didn't say I didn't like it, just that there are things that I know could have been even better. Holding oneself to such standards is the only way we can ever really improve, I think.
But I'll try to be nicer to myself, if it would make you feel better. "Lovely work, Diamonds dear!" Why thank you darling. "You really should have another Christmas cookie to go with your cup of coffee; you worked very hard and you deserve it you know." You really shouldn't have, but don't mind if I do and thank you so much for asking~! <3
It's a good thing it isn't Christmas all year long. I suppose no celebrity diet in the world would be able to save me.
Hi again WD!
(I'm that guy who made that Rarity-kicking-AJ's-flank-JapaneseRPG-style picture some month ago)
I'm impressed by that Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy picture. What I'm really looking at is the shadowing. Everything looks so... soft and cuddly - even the water seems to be fluffy!
And the sense of detail. Like the moonlight on their manes and stuff like that. I like it!
--
Self-advertisement in all dishonor(?), but I made a second painting in the same "theme" as the previous one. You said you enjoyed it first one so I thought you maybe would want to have a look at the new one. I could not find any place to email you (or any kind of PM) so I'm posting it here :-P
Can you do links here? Otherwise just search for "Shinha Gou Shousen" on dA.
Link: http://angerelic.deviantart.com/art/Shinha-Gou-Shousen-275649553
@Angerelic
Personally, I don't mind the self-promotion. She does have an e-mail address that some of us here use, but now I can't find it...
If you click the Reply button, then you will get an example of a link. The part in quotations is the space for the URL and the part between the arrows is the text that it will show up as.
@Angerelic
Oh, and I forgot to mention; I don't have a dA account, but that is a great scenery.
@Anon
Oh, I know about html hyperlinking alright. Was thinking that if there was some kind of auto-blocking/censor of any urls or something. And there's no edit button. Oh well.
Yeah, thanks a lot! I spent a whole lot of time on it. I'm proud of it!
@Frankensteinbeck
Applejack's face in this picture = My usual expression when I start reading your comments on my artworks...
Rarity expression therein = Me again immediately after reading them. And I think you get way too much enjoyment out of it, too!
@DJB123
Oh dearest there you are~!! I really have missed seeing you around so terribly, I'm so glad you came to leave a comment on my latest, thank you! I do appreciate it; I was hoping you'd like that second one if you saw it. ^.^
And really, that is a fantastic bit of feedback you have left me... when you put it that way, I do think I understand what you all mean when you say such nice things about my quick and fun fanarts. Oftentimes, when I look at a daily Drawfriend my favorite pictures will be some of the silly ones too, in addition to the pieces that are arguably superior from a technical standpoint. They really can be equally lovely in their own right, and it is a pleasure for me to hear that when you phrase it so beautifully... thanks for that.
I hope you've been having a wonderful holiday season too, and thank you for the well-wishes! Hopefully there will indeed be more coming soon, including some things that I can only hope you will enjoy. ^_~
@Anon
Well honestly dear, why not? If it was something that you, or anyone wanted to accomplish badly enough in life, and if you applied yourself hard enough I really don't see why you couldn't be a better artist than me someday. But maybe that's just me; I've always had that attitude about life and human potential, I suppose.
You bring up a valid point in regards to the whole shipping thing. I always try to look at all artworks objectively, but maybe a little bias does tend to slip in there from time to time, unfortunately. I try though.
And yes, he really did do a lovely job of phrasing that, and I appreciate your kind words as well. I really think I do get it now. Thank you so much, dear!
@Angerelic
Oh, yes I absolutely do remember you as well as your picture (it's saved in my folders!); how are you doing?
Thanks so much for sharing the link! That really is a great picture, and you're right, I like it very much as well! More Rarity is always welcome by me of course, and I love her stance, makeup and mane... in addition, the background really is lovely. The scenery is nice and well-balanced, and I also love the job you did with the lighting, very nice!
Thanks much again for sharing... I'd leave my comment on dA but I don't currently have an account there, I'm afraid. Oh, and thank you for the kind words about my artwork as well, I'm so happy you enjoyed it! ^.^
Well, you made me evaluate how a Rarijack match-up could work, and the dynamics are, shall we say, 'fun'. It's all a matter of keeping Applejack confused so that she never has a chance to tell herself she shouldn't be interested. It's the kind of game Rarity would love to play, and isn't Applejack her most appealing and, well, *Applejack* when she's acting on her gut feelings, not logic?
@WhiteDiamonds
It's good to see some more art from you, Di, and these are both lovely pieces; I feel like I've received another Christmas present.
The commissioned drawing does a wonderful job of conveying mood, in the scenery, lighting, and expressions on the characters' faces. Most of what I could praise about this drawing has already been said and better than I could put it, but there are a couple of details I just have to comment on. The first is the grass; I'm impressed with how much it looks like a lush field with just a few subtle, well-placed details. The second is the starry night sky; it's so common to see nighttime scenes drawing with a huge moon and a sea of stars, but when I see what you've drawn here, I feel like I'm viewing a nighttime sky from my driveway. It's lovely without being unrealistic.
Your Rarity/Applejack doodle is also lovely, in its own way. A simpler drawing really allows for a focus on the characters themselves, and their expressions and body language are spot-on; Rarity looks so much like a prim-and-proper schoolgirl getting away with something naughty that it's positively delightful. Like others, I love Rarity's cape, and Applejack's scarf suits her well. And while the dictionary definition of 'throw' may specify the use of an arm or hand, I think that's just because there are no telekinetic beings around to muddy the issue; I certainly have no problem saying Rarity threw the snowball with her magic.
And it's not entirely coincidence that so many people commenting here have gotten a tablet recently; I'd been toying with the idea, off and on, for a couple of years, but it was seeing what you could produce with a simple $50 entry-level tablet that convinced me it was a good (or at least an interesting) gamble. Probably one or two others were motivated to get a tablet by you as well.
As for the shipping angle, well, to be honest, I wouldn't have considered either picture "shipping" without some external information: for the former, the comments above, and for the latter, your love of Rarijack. On a more general level, while I'm probably in the minority, whether or not a portrayed couple agrees with or clashes with a couple I personally prefer doesn't seem to have an effect on how much I appreciate a drawing. I say "seem" because there are so few shipping couples that I accept and enjoy, but I have seen art that conflicts with MacinDerp and LyraBon without being bothered by it. On the other hand, there are a few pairings that just rub me the wrong way, and in those cases I have a negative initial reaction when seeing a drawing of one of them, regardless of how well it's done or how tame it is.
@BND
Yes, please let us know when you do draw some Noteworthy art; he's been sorely underrepresented in fan art.
In general, I don't really buy into shipping so I can't say it affects my impressions of a picture either. I don't have any knee-jerk negative reaction to it (although, like Jody, there are a few shipping ideas that seem "wrong" to me, such as Twilight-Celestia, for a variety of sociological reasons) and I suppose those might hamper my enjoyment of some work. Background pony shipping doesn't phase me in the slightest, and I've probably bought into the Lyra/BonBon thing myself by now.
I will say, however, that in regards to Applejack/Rarity I can at least see where it's coming from. There's a definite "Moonlighting" vibe to their interplay that gives a spark to their scenes together.
I read somewhere an argument (one that I found myself agreeing with) which stated that FIM was good at portraying a realistic circle of friends, especially in that some of the circle wouldn't likely associate with others without the common friend linking them. Some fans apparently see the other five as already being close before Twilight came to town, but I tend to think that (aside from established prior relaionships, like RD and Fluttershy) they weren't any closer than the current cast is with any background ponies. Rarity and Applejack especially don't seem like they would have spent time together before the whole Nightmare Moon incident, and likely don't spend much time together apart from the group.
Which actually reinforces the shipping angle, as I see it. If the two have chemistry but aren't close friends, it could easily suggest another type of relationship. So yeah, I can see where that one is coming from much more than other shipping pairs.
@WhiteDiamonds Well, if you want to see what I've drawn thus far, you can find it over here.
And yes, I have quite enjoyed owning my tablet; Regardless of how slow I may be at it, drawing is actually more fun than I had expected. ^^;
@jodyjm13 ...I see what you did there. ;P
This is really one of my favorite fan arts I have seen! Do you mind if I use it in a video with a song I made? While I was making a song, I was picturing some sort of beautiful night scene and this is the best representation I had in my mind. This piece also inspired me to finish my song. I also will give you credit if you let me use it.
Happy holidays WD! Really glad to see another update from you, always love your drawings and updates. That commissioned piece is really lovely, seems to set a great mood through the lighting and scenery. It's excellent, and I'm sure that whoever commissioned you will enjoy it a lot! (reminds me to send you an email eventually! holidays are so busy and stressful, I'm sure you understand)
The second picture, well, I don't even think I need to say it at this point. I absolutely love it! The expressions are wonderful, they definitely add to the piece and my enjoyment of it. Rarity and Applejack are great when they're being "themselves", but I think I like it even more when Rarity switches it up and gets a little mischievous with her. Such a great dynamic.
Thanks again for updating! Can't wait to see more stuff from you. Hope you had a great time and enjoyed the holiday season, and if I don't talk to you before then, I hope you have a wonderful New Years! Happy holidays again!
WOW. Who knew so many comments could take place during a road trip?
@Angerelic
Very well done piece indeed! The scenery of the picture reminds me of something from...Kung Fu Panda, I suppose? And the fact that I can actually read it just makes it all the more awesome.
@Frankensteinbeck
Oh my lord. You, my friend, take shipping to a whole new level. I feel the temperature rising around me by at least three degrees whenever I read your comments...and that's a good thing, believe it or not.
@WhiteDiamonds
Forget what I said about the next piece of art coming in late. It surprises even me that work has already started on this end. However, I took the time off to draw something non-pony related for once; here it is.
@jodyjm13
I wholeheartedly agree with you. The toning of the moonlight was spot on, and the two ponies look so peaceful that I feel like turning on Stand By Me by Ben E. King just to build up the mood.^^
The second piece is just Di working her usual magic, also the style which I'm to replicate. Usually when you attempt shadings like those, the contrast between the light and dark disorients you so that you erase it before you get an idea of what the end product would look like...I'm still trying to get over that hurdle.
In actuality, I'd been planning to buy a tablet since June. Di helped me adjust to it more quickly than usual so that I wouldn't look like a total nong while trying to use it. In other words, she didn't actually inspire me to get one, but she did help me on using it. Among other things.
@Frankensteinbeck
"Fun" really is an understatement, or at least if you ask me. I'm pretty sure that's why I've come to enjoy the pairing so much. Goddess I need to get a new hobby... I would have thought I had enough of them already but apparently not.
And yes, Applejack is... absolutely charming. She doesn't seem like the type who would want anything to do with any romance at all (I'd imagine she'd tell the whole world, including herself that she's far too busy for it anyhow), and while I'd like to think Rarity wouldn't be too inclined to play with her, or anypony else's feelings for that matter (romantically or otherwise) it is rather amusing at the same time. I do think Applejack is smart, arguably the most logical of all of them, but something tells me she'd be quite unsure of what to do if she found herself in a situation like that. ^_~
@jodyjm13
Meep! <3 Thank you so very much dear Jody, I'm glad you like both pictures so much! =^.^= In response to your comments on the first piece, I am not going to lie; I was SO incredibly tired of grass by the time I finished with it that I didn't even want to look at the stuff anymore! I had to keep going and working on other aspects of the drawing because I was getting burned out on painting all those delicate little moonlit blades. And as far as the night sky goes, that is a lovely compliment that also made me smile (you feel like you could be viewing it from your driveway, I love it ^.^). Thank you!
And yes, as I'm sure you can imagine I had a lot of fun with the second picture, and I really appreciate your feedback on that one as well. Your analysis of Rarity's pose/expression made me laugh, and I'm very glad you liked both ponies' winter garb (originally I'd thought of putting Applejack in one of those ridiculous shearling-lumberjack hats with the earflaps, as I can totally see her thinking of that as something appropriate to wear, along with a plaid scarf but the mental image was far too ridiculously, laughably distracting from the snowball concept that I thought better of it). It would probably make for an amusing companion-piece though.
You know you really do bring up an interesting point about the tablet. Seeing as how this is the only one I've ever used, I have to wonder what a difference a better make/model could offer me (I'd like to think there would be some things, given the price difference!). For me, this truly does work perfectly fine... I have to wonder what I'm missing out on.
And honestly, I don't think I would have classified either one of these pictures as being 'shippy' either, as it wasn't really my blatant intent with either of them. With the commission, again, I have no idea what ILoveFluttershy had in mind when he described what he wanted to me, though I can see how people would jump to the conclusion considering the starry, moonlit, lakeside setting (automatically romantic in the popular conscious, seemingly, and I guess for good reason). For the second, yes, obviously I love the pairing but I wouldn't really consider it to be a shipping picture either (in my own opinion I've done only two Rarijack pictures that I'd consider to be overtly portraying a pairing), though of course if people choose to interpret it that way that's fine with me, too!
Otherwise, yes, I pretty much agree with you about shipping fanart on every account.
@Harwick
I have to wonder, who doesn't seem to support Lyra/Bon Bon these days? Even the series' crew almost seems to have bought into it at this point, or at least it seems they've taken to putting the two of them together in scenes again recently. While it's as likely to be a coincidence as much as it is the crew being influenced by the fan community, it's still funny to think about in my opinion.
And "Moonlighting" vibe, ha! I may have been very young when that show was on TV, though I've heard enough about it that the comparison is amusing. ^.^ All of you have certainly been making me laugh recently.
I tend to agree with you and that article, or at least insofar as I don't think the original-Ponyville members of the Mane 6 knew each other particularly well before Twilight and the events of the first episode. And yes, it's hard to imagine some of them hanging out with each other on a one-on-one basis. I do think they're all close friends though, including Rarity and Applejack and I can imagine they'd all spend time together without Twilight or as a full group at times (like when we see Rainbow Dash at Carousel Boutique with Rarity when Twilight arrives there in Swarm of the Century, and those two are about as different as any of them get. I know I have a hard time imagining them spending much one-on-one time with each other). But yes. When it comes to shipping, though, I tend to value strong friendshipping first and foremost, and then prefer to build up anything else from there. That's probably just me though.
@BND
Oh, my, those are both really quite good; I had no idea that you were so inclined to drawing my dear! While I don't know how long you've been creating art, I do think they're both very nice... I'm going to have to keep an eye on your gallery I guess. Thanks for sharing!
@payphone101
Well, hello there! Thanks so much for dropping by my page, and I'm happy to hear you like the picture, thank you! In regards to using it in a video, I'd love to say yes (and honestly *I* wouldn't have a problem with it), but seeing as how the picture was commissioned by ILoveFluttershy as I said you'd really have to ask him. He paid for it and as such, it belongs to him so I'm afraid I'm not the person who can grant you permission at this point...
I do appreciate the very kind sentiments though, thank you! If you can't find a way to ask him about using it, I could probably get in touch with him for you and then let you know.
@BossCrab
Happy Holidays to you too! I apologize that it's taken me a little longer than usual to get back to you but as you said, things are busier than ever this time of year. Certainly I know and can empathize with that!
And thank you very much, I'm so glad to hear that you like both pictures. ^.^ I really strove to create a nice sense of atmosphere with the first one (hopefully, mission accomplished), and the second of course was something I had a lot of fun in making. While I dearly love both Rarity and Applejack on their own, for entirely different reasons, I agree that I think they have a great dynamic together, too.
Anyway though I hope you had a lovely holiday as well, and hopefully there will be some more art updates from me again soon enough. Thanks so much for commenting~!
@CaineScroll
Oh, wow, something different most definitely... that's very nice dear! While I've never played Kingdom Hearts before I am at least somewhat familiar with the games, and I have to say your guy reminds me quite a lot of the art style. I'm not sure if that was in any way intentional or not, but hopefully it's not a bad comparison as far as you're concerned (certainly, I mean it in a good way). Thanks for sharing that with me, it's looking good!
@WhiteDiamonds
One thing I love about the possible fan influence on Lyra and BonBon is that there is 100% plausible deniability on Studio B's part. After all, as I understand it the whole reason they were paired as a couple by fans is that they were already appearing together quite often in the show. For all we know some animator had the unscripted idea that those two were best friends or a couple just to make filling in background action more interesting, and never imagined there would be voracious enough fans to pick up on it. With all future pairings of the two in show, is it a fan shout out or more of what's always been there?
In regards to the mane six's various friendships, I do agree that now they are all bonded very tightly, and don't need Twilight as an excuse to get together. After what they've been through, any one of them would do most anything for any other. Pinkie and Rarity have had some of the least interaction, for instance, and Rarity still dunked her head in garbage just to keep her surprise party a surprise. That's commitment.
I just feel that there are some pairings that need a reason to hang out together, and some that naturally would. The characters that are often together seem like pretty natural friendships in one way or another...Rarity and Fluttershy share a certain femininity, Rarity and Twilight share a kind of urban sophistication, Twilight and Applejack share a sense of responsibility, Applejack and Dash share a rough-and-tumble athleticism, Dash and Pinkie share a fun-loving attitude, and so on.
These are the characters that often casually drop in on each other or are often paired up. I don't want to say that familiarity breeds contempt, exactly, but when it comes to fan shipping these are often the least believable pairings to me. The reason is that everything about the draw between the characters already is logically explained as simple friendship. I don't really see many openings left for fans to say "that's because they're attracted to each other!"
Of course, since all shipping is tacked on fantasy by fans anyway, (nothing wrong with that), I'm pretty clearly over-analyzing it.
I will say, in addition to your artwork, I do enjoy using your blog to trade comments about aspects of the show itself. I don't do much more than post pictures on my own site, and EQD is very fast moving and drowning in posters, making general discussion too dependent on good timing. Here you have a friendly and thoughtful batch of your own fans with some good conversation. It's like mingling at a fine dinner party... If only you could serve some hors d'oeuvres.
And, as hostess, it's only fair that your guests should entertain you and make you laugh. Although personally, I believe the goal should be to have you make more of those little roadrunner "meep!"s. That's just adorable.
@CaineScroll
I like that character sketch quite a bit... Is that an original creation, or so done from an existing show, game or comic? In any event, it's an appealing style, and I like the light texture work you've done with the jeans and such.
@WhiteDiamonds
Thank for responding! If you don't mind could you get in touch with ILoveFluttershy? I would appreciate it greatly as I am not sure how to contact him myself. :P The reason I like this picture so much is that if I used my picture I made, it would kill the mood of the song. Thanks again!
@WhiteDiamonds
Thanks for the compliments. ^_^
And to be honest, I've never drawn anything before Fluttershy, so you could say I'm still new at this. ^^;
@WhiteDiamonds
Thanks so much for the kind sentiments! This took only two hours to complete, which isn't that much of a surprise since it's merely a doodle. I'm surprised you would know about Kingdom Hearts, it was only created around...what, 2002? It was also the first Square Enix game I played, and I have to admit Tetsuya Nomura's art style differs from traditional manga, which is pretty impressive.
One of my favorite pairings out there in the fandom is probably Octavia/Vinyl Scratch. At first, they didn't exactly appeal to me as a pairing, but a quick read through The Vinyl Scratch Tapes immediately changed my mind. They remind me of polar opposites who click whenever they're in the same room; in this case, Octavia as the classy, elegant one and Vinyl as the practical joker who doesn't take anything seriously. Though cliched, these pairing types often produce some entertaining results! (When in doubt, look at Rarijack)
@Harwick
I reckon you've covered everything about the relationship between the mane six, and if I ever need a thesis written about FiM, I know I have someone to turn to! =P
On a more serious note though, I strongly agree that Di has managed to create her own mini-community here in this blog. Most of her followers drop in a comment whenever a new doodle gets posted, and these users are probably just jumping onto the band wagon here. However, there are the folks who stay around to chat such as yourself and Jody. I know I haven't been here as long as most of you mates but I'd like to think of myself as a part of this online community. At the end of the day, it's still Di's charisma that manages to bring us all together here.
I'm also glad you like the sketch, mate!^^ This is an original character, yes. His name's Connor (hence my dA username), he's American, and he does have something to do with the name CaineScroll...again, I'm not sure if I'll ever reveal the details, so I apologize here beforehand.
PS: I second the "meep!" movement. =D
@BND
You say you're a beginner, mate? In that case, I think what you've done so far is pretty impressive in my opinion. The only qualm I have, perhaps, is that Fluttershy's legs are a bit too spindly...try reducing the length of the legs and see what happens.
That said, the pictures are well done, and with a little effort I'm sure you can definitely improve. Thanks for sharing it with us as well! =)
I think Christmas had a lot to do with the tablets, but it is surprising that so many common viewers with different or no interest in art would pile into this blog ordering tablets. Could WhiteDiamonds actually be a marketer for Wacom?
@Harwick
I read that (Either an animator said so online or Jayson Thiesson did in an interview transcript) the two are put often together for the color contrast.
It seems like everypony is compatible with everypony in one way or another. Maybe that's why so much fanfiction is shipping, because the only thing you have to do to develop a new story concept is pick out a new pairing and find some reason why they would be interested in each other.
When I went to the dA page for your artwork "One Last Parade", I realised the sort of fame you have outside this group. If you type "harwick o" into Google, "harwick one last parade" will be in the suggestions. If you enter "one last p", you will get "one last parade mlp". The image is spread across many tumblr blogs, reblogged and commented on with amazement. I wonder, do you like us more because we don't treat you like a higher being?
@CaineScroll
Wow, I can't say I was expecting that. I guess I should have, considering how you're majoring in Art. I have to admit, the circle on his shoulder amused me, but the parts that matter certainly look professional. You would find that in any comic. I do believe this blows anything I have planned to make out of the water. I suspect your art course has probably taught you how to draw people rather than ponies, which is probably why the style difference came as a bit of a shock. Either that, or just the fact that it's non-pony. Anyway, you are clearly at least a tier above.
I have to admit, Octavia/Vinyl is one of the most interesting pairings to me, but not so much for their romance in my case but because I see them both as interesting characters for different reasons.
I think the difference between the two types of followers is that, with the exception of Harwick, we have all been inspired by WhiteDiamonds to try it for ourselves at the sight of her art style. We want to hear the words of the master, the author of the book. Also, we can appreciate her mannerisms as something that makes her special rather than consider her the same as any other fanartist in this fan community. After all, was it she who brought us all here, not eachother.
PS: Meeps or bust?
@CaineScroll
I can ramble aimlessly through the most trivial subject near endlessly. I'm not sure if it's a gift or a curse. Well, okay... I'm pretty sure which one it is even if I don't want to admit it.
@Anon
The color contrast certainly makes sense, but I think people like Jayson and Lauren both underestimate the kind of thinking that can go into those background details, which are admittedly minor in the scope of what they have to deal with. They probably haven't the time to spare a thought beyond the broad strokes when it comes to background ponies. Yet for some person lower down the production staff it's the kind of task that completely fills their work week. I'd be shocked if they don't have their own ideas about the personalities of some commonly used background ponies without ever seeing fandom's take on them.
Or I might just be projecting. Lord knows I have spent a lot of time working out the details of how a fantastic vehicle or weapon would work when designing it, despite those details never mattering in the least to anyone playing the game.
As for being a higher being, I have yet to ascend "Highlander" style after completing a pony picture, and I got a paper cut trying to break up all the packaging left over from Christmas morning, so I'm thinking it doesn't really apply. I posted here because, like anyone else, I admire WD's artwork quite a bit and always enjoyed the comments by her and Jody over on EQD, so I knew it was a crowd I liked. Everyone else has proven to be friendly and interesting, and I've enjoyed seeing the discussion and progression of other artists as well as the opportunity to drone on endlessly about random pony topics.
@Harwick
I think my last message may have seemed harsher than was intended. Your pony pictures are among the best that have ever been featured on EQD, and I greatly admire your skill. I was just thinking, since we don't act like paparazzi around you, maybe that makes us a bit easier to talk to than your common DeviantArt commentator. But aside from that, WhiteDiamonds said that rambling is encouraged, and so it shall be. You are a shining example for us all.
@Anon
I didn't take any offense from your comments. In truth, it comes down to the fact that hosting a site is a lot of work, as can be seen by WD's gracious efforts to respond to everyone on her blog. I feel guilty for not doing the same over on my own page, but my schedule is too erratic. However, since nobody is here to find out what I think about any particular subject, I can join in on a topic or not and nobody feels slighted.
And, of course it goes without saying that WD should not feel obligated to respond to every random thing I post here. I'm not looking to build a daunting backlog of messages for her to deal with, and I'm sure that goes for others as well.
Oh my, you're all beginning to make me blush now. =^^;= You really are far too kind...
And aheh, ah yes... "meep". I tend to type that when I get too terribly excited I suppose; it sums up how I'm feeling better than I might be able to word it otherwise (or at least it's much easier). I guess I don't usually think about it when I do write it... I tend to type in streams just as quickly as the thoughts come into my head, so yes, there you are. ^^;
And too bad this blog isn't actually a place where we could all mingle like at a fine dinner party! Wouldn't that be delightful!
@Harwick
Yes, it was my understanding that was how/why the fan community started pairing Lyra and Bon Bon up together, as well, which makes sense though I still find it pretty funny. And yes, the beauty of it all is that we can never really be sure of the reasoning behind it, so the fan speculation/shipping/etc. can continue on unheeded as people see fit. Good stuff~
Very valid point about Rarity ducking her head into a (definitely full) garbage can for Pinkie's sake. I'd like to think I'd be willing to do something like that for one of my friends too if the situation really called for it, but it's... agonizing to really put too much thought into. ^.^;
I guess I've never really felt the need to justify a shipping pairing too much just by what we see on the show (or at least in regards to main character pairings; obviously with background characters everything is fair game as they have no real established personalities/backstories). I mean, obviously the way that the characters interact with each other is entirely relevant and crucial to the subject, but I don't feel that every little, random moment we see on-screen should really have too much bearing, as people can argue that we only are shown little snippets of a much larger whole anyway. For me, a better way of how to judge a successful pairing is to see how well one can put the characters together in more than just a friend context, while still keeping them true to character. Whether that's in fanart, fanfiction, or whatever. Obviously, looking at it this way some pairs are going to work much better because the natural chemistry between the two is better to begin with, and regardless of how convincing a fanfiction author might be, but that probably goes without saying anyway...
Hopefully that all made sense. I think I actually just rambled quite a lot but I'm simultaneously agonizing over this cup of tea I'm trying to get just right and keeping an eye on the jewelry channel (and waiting for the cable guy to get here), so it's a bit harder than usual for me to keep my thoughts straight, my apologies. ^.^;
Ascend 'Highlander style'... oh dear, I do believe I just lost it again...
@payphone101
Of course dear (I hope you don't mind if I call you dear), not a trouble at all. I'll ask him about it and let you know what he had to say as soon as I hear back from him. My pleasure.
@BND
Oh wow, so that really is your first time drawing anything! Well, color me impressed then dear, you obviously have a natural inclination to this sort of thing! In that case I am very excited to see what you come up with as you continue to practice and work at it... I think you can do some very nice things if you feel the desire to pursue that end!
@CaineScroll
Well, as I've said before *I* am obviously not much of a gamer, but I do have several friends I met in college who are really into that sort of thing. One of them loaned me his copy of Kingdom Hearts several years ago in hopes I might be interested in giving it a go, but I never actually played it. But yes, I am somewhat familiar with the overall premise and certainly with the art style... it's pretty distinctive.
In any case, you're very welcome! I enjoy seeing any of your works really, pony-related or otherwise.
And yes, I guess I am a sucker for many of the "opposites attract" pairings, or at least when they're handled properly. With stronger-willed characters especially, they often make for some hilarious results, and it's a fun challenge to come up with a way they could actually work out in a believable sense. I'm not a huge fan of Vinyltavia, but I don't dislike it either, I've just never really put too much thought into it. I will say, however, that thanks to the fan community I now have a difficult time imagining either of them being paired with anyone but each other!
@Anon
You bring up an interesting point about Lyra and Bon Bon possibly being put together in scenes because of their color contrast. I know I read something similar about how Rarity and Applejack, and Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash are likewise often placed next to each other in assembled group scenes, as some people apparently thought it was evidence of some animators sneakily slipping shippy hints into the show. Of course, I suppose it could actually be the latter too, though the color contrast at least makes for a believable explanation/cover story.
And no, I am most certainly not working secretly for Wacom, though perhaps I should be. That could arguably be a nice little boost to my income, if current tablet sales are any indication!
Oh, yes, I also finally remembered a picture that I'd wanted to share with all of you, that I found when surfing Pinterest one day. It absolutely reminded me of Twilight Sparkle (and consequently, of you Jody and Harwick, as I tend to think of Twilight when talking to both of you for some reason). But yes it's cute, do check it out~
@Harwick
This blog really can be a terrible lot to keep up with at times, though I do genuinely enjoy the conversation of course. Usually, when I'm posting here or on EqD I am on my laptop multitasking as I'm working at home, watching TV when I get home from work or something like that, so at least that makes it easier for me to fit it into my schedule. But yes, I never do like to disappoint people or leave anyone hanging, and it is fun to have people to discuss these often silly, delightfully frivolous things with! I genuinely do enjoy it.
@WhiteDiamonds
I see your tree and raise you...
Rainbow has one too.
@DJB123
I think that was probably poor word choice. I took it to mean that, as a bandwagon carries a single travelling group containing many people, WD's new art entries often create a large influx of her followers as they follow an e-mail notification and will give their commentary on the newly published art before continuing their usual activity until the next set is released. In contrast, there is another group of her followers, of which CaineScroll is a member, that choose to spend more time in this small discussion area for their casual conversation among the fans. I don't believe that it makes them any more or less dedicated or any better or worse off that they have adopted this comment section as their message board for such discussion, and as the words of some of the first commentators show, they are only just as appreciative of her effort for all of our enjoyment. I don't integrate myself in EQD's community, but I still view its content to see the work of fans of the show. It sounds like you have experience with some of the worst of its community, so it only makes sense that you would have a worse impression on it as a whole. Maybe that's part of the charm of a place like this, where we can get away from the wide fanbase and speak one-on-one to people that we can better trust to be polite and thoughtful to others, because we have WhiteDiamonds mostly in control of what happens here. If you choose to distance yourself from this blog then I cannot force your decision, but I don't believe that CaineScroll ever meant any elitism or harm when he defined the different types of this blog's followers, and as you are a supporter of the artist, I hope that you will choose to continue to do so. How you will express your support is entirely your own decision, and I am sure that WhiteDiamonds will always be grateful for it.
@CaineScroll
Yeah, the legs were definitely the hardest part for me; no matter what I tried, I couldn't get them to look quite right. XP
I'll work on it. ^^;
Thanks for the kind words. ^_^
@WhiteDiamonds
Ah, now you're making me blush. =^^=
Believe me, I shall continue practicing; Thanks for the encouragement. ^_^
@DJB123
Oh dear, I really don't think CaineScroll meant that in any sort of elitist way or that he thought the people who post actively on here for conversation were better than those who come mainly for the art... after all, art was the entire reason I started this blog and the reason that I will continue to maintain it, bottom line. And yes, you're quite correct in that you were one of the very first people who ever offered me your support when I first started drawing pony art, and were indeed largely responsible for me starting this blog in the first place, and I am eternally grateful for that... it always did and still does mean a great deal to me and I won't forget it.
That having been said, I really hope you don't decide to stop posting here altogether my friend, as that would definitely make me very sad. =( I hope you believe me when I say that.
@Anon
Oh, well, what do you know... I guess I wasn't the only person who saw that picture and immediately thought of Twilight. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, considering the way this fandom moves...
@Favo
Well, yes dear, I imagine I would have to be there, and especially if I was hosting! I do enjoy a nice soiree, there's no doubt about that.
@BND
You're very welcome; it really *is* good, and especially for a first attempt as I said. I'll try and make an effort to check up on your page from time to time but as you know, I stay pretty busy and tend to forget things easily. If you like, do feel free to let me know whenever you get something new up and it will be my pleasure to go and take a look.
First off, Congrats to CaineScroll for his two pieces in tonight's Drawfriend!
@WhiteDiamonds
I love the book tree! And since Twilight lives in a book tree (of sorts), it makes perfect sense to link the two. Plus, since she's my favorite character from the show (Sorry) I'm not going to complain about her reminding you of me. Besides, I'm sure I can be totally adorkable with practice.
@DJB123
First and foremost, I apologize if my comment sounded offensive. I suppose what I was trying to say is that some people drop in to leave a comment whenever something new gets posted (I mean, who wouldn't?) and there are those who prefer to stay and chat about...well, anything. It's not a matter of criticism; it's a matter of choice. As Anon said above: How you will express your support is entirely your own decision. Just because you don't comment much doesn't mean you don't support the artist. And as for the term bandwagon, I was simply referring to the usual increase in comments and pageviews on any blog after something new gets posted. Maybe some people don't comment much after the initial post because they simply don't have the time, or the conversation merely reached a topic they can't relate to. I myself don't comment on EqD, mainly because the users there are not those whom I want to interact with. But there are people in the fan community that are truly good people, such as most people here on this blog.
Again, I sincerely hope you accept my apology, and let bygones be bygones. Also, please don't stop commenting on Di's blog on my account even if you don't forgive me, because I'd rather she lose me than lose a friend who has been her loyal supporter throughout her time as a fan artist.
@Anon
I realize that my comment may have been a little offensive now that I look back on it, and I apologize again to those who think so. But more importantly, thanks for standing up for me. You're a true mate! =)
@BND
You're welcome, mate. Do let me know if you ever come up with anything new; I can't wait to see what you come up with next!
@Harwick
Thanks very much, Harwick~! I have seen pictures of the book trees on Memebase some time ago, and I somehow related it to the picture of Twilight hiding in a fort made of books. That one really got me smiling.
@WhiteDiamonds
I don't mind being called dear. Its nice too be called dear actually. And thank you again for asking him! I appreciate it greatly!
I don't want to "lose" anybody! I really, truly hope it doesn't come to that for anyone here... I started this blog with the hope that everyone would feel welcome to post here, and that remains the case just as much now. I would very much hate for anyone to feel otherwise. =(
@Harwick
There's no need to apologize for that... even though I don't think I've ever read you saying that Twilight was your favorite pony, somehow I kind of figured it all the same. I'm glad if the picture brought you a smile in any case.
@payphone101
Oh well, that is a good thing then. It's become a habit of mine but I realize that some people might not be so fond of it, I guess.
And you're welcome, it really was no trouble at all. I did ask him for you and heard back from him, and he said he doesn't have a problem with it at all as long as he can see the finished product when you're done. For that matter, I'm sure I'd enjoy seeing it as well. So go for it, and thank you again for your interest and kind words. ^_^
@WhiteDiamonds
I know that, it's just...I want to make up for any misunderstandings I may have caused and I prefer to end it in a more peaceful manner. As I mentioned to Anon and Favo (who might have been involved in something similar on my blog for a brief moment; sorry I had to mention this, guys~!=S), online arguments NEVER end well. Furthermore, DJB123 seems to be a dear friend of yours and I didn't want to risk any potential damage to your relationship...=(
@DJB123
Once again, I'm REALLY sorry! ="(
Thanks again for letting me use this picture! Here is a link to the video if you wish to see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7koaSpSA6A
@DJB123
Thanks, mate. I'll make it a necessity to watch what comes out of my mouth (fingers?) in future just to avoid any more conflicts. I reckon our love for ponies and Di herself keep us all together on this blog. But I hope you don't mind me saying this: The people I've interacted with on this blog so far appear to make tolerance and respect a priority in their conversations, and I'm pretty sure they differ from the EqD crowd in some manner. So maybe you could give this crowd a chance and see how it goes? =P Hopefully things'll change for the better.
@Favo
As in, watch what I type on the keyboard (hence, fingers =P), since there's no talking involved, really~
@CaineScroll
I understand dear, and I appreciate the sentiments. ^_^ Thank you.
@DJB123
I'm happy to hear you find my personality charming, dearest... I'm very fond of you myself. ^_~ I understand why you're not really inclined to post these days, but I can assure you that when you do, I welcome your comments wholeheartedly!
@payphone101
Oh, dearest it's beautiful! Such a nice, peaceful relaxing melody that's nevertheless upbeat... this is the sort of thing I'd like to listen to while working at my sewing machine or putting on my makeup or something. Very pretty, and you are SO welcome for letting you use the picture; it really was my pleasure!
Thanks so much for sharing it with me! ^.^
@Favo
You are such a silly goober. And your YouTube username is "GoodFabric"!?! Wah I love it! <3
Eeeep!! It doesn't have anything to do with anything, but The Holiday is on TV right now, one of my favorite movies ever!! <3 <3 And if that wasn't enough, I have chips and salsa and fake herbal coffee... yes, this is a good night. <3
@CaineScroll
That's an excellent drawing; thanks for sharing! I'm sure a more experienced artist can give a much better critique than I can dream of, but I do want to mention that I'm impressed with the pose, relaxed without seeming unnatural or stiff.
@WhiteDiamonds
I have run across a few fans who don't care for the idea of Lyra and Bon Bon having a romantic relationship, but in general it does seem to be the one shipping that's accepted and enjoyed by most bronies. And it does seem that there are some animators who enjoy encouraging that fanon, as is most evident in their brief scene in "The Secret of My Excess"; however, there are others who either don't know or don't care about any relationship between the two, as shown in "Sisterhooves Social" where Lyra and Bon Bon each appear twice in the stands in one shot, but not seated next to each other.
I also support a strong friendshipping before anything romantic, even for LyraBon, so don't feel alone in that regard!
@WhiteDiamonds, @Anon
Those are a couple of very creative book trees; my reaction to them is very similar to Twilight Sparkle's. :) I'm almost tempted to try something like that next year...
@Favo
5am? Oh dear, that can't be healthy for you.
@jodyjm13
Oh, I know not everyone supports the pairing, or any pony pairings for that matter. I wasn't being entirely serious when I said that, though funnily enough it does seem that the majority of the community has accepted it. I remember when I first got involved in the fandom, I was truly baffled as to who those two ponies were and why they were getting so much fanart and such devoted to them, especially since I'd never seen them at all in the actual series. It took me a while to really understand it all, pretty funny.
I'm also glad you enjoyed the book tree, since as I said it made me think of you immediately. ^_^
@WhiteDiamonds
I don't know that I've ever made a big deal over favorite pony, but I have stated in various "best pony" arguments on EQD that I find the title a separate one from favorite pony. It probably comes from the fact that few of my favorite sports teams are actually the best ones. I have a soft spot for the underdog, and loyalty to some lost causes. Besides, what fun is it to always root for the winner?
Probably a lot of fun, actually. I wouldn't know.
Anyway, I can relate to Twilight's awkward, introverted nature. Plus I find the amount of undeserved abuse she takes endearing.
For sheer scene-stealing entertainment value, I tend to think that Rarity is best pony. A huge part of that is voice actress Tabitha St. Germaine, who I think give the greatest line readings on the show.
My goodness! The amount I had to scroll to reach the comment box! Nice to see so many people appreciating your fabulous artwork!
Both pieces are really fantastic! I'm glad you had some free time to do them and share with us. ^_^
@Harwick
I don't know that I've ever come across your saying that about best/favorite pony, and as I said I don't think I remember you naming Twilight in your favorites but somehow, I just figured. It's funny to hear that I guessed correctly after all. ^.^
I've already gone on at length about why I love Rarity most of all, both here and on EqD I'm sure, as well as tried to explain why I'm also so fond of Applejack even though that one is less clear to me. I will absolutely agree with you about Tabitha St. Germaine, in any case... that woman is a phenomenally entertaining actress and a very large part of why I am so fond of Rarity, I believe.
@Kateasaurus
*blushy* Oh, well, I think most of all of that was just a bunch of us chatting it up about various unrelated topics and not so much people commenting on my artwork, but I appreciate the generous sentiments all the same, thank you so very much my dear! I'm so happy you enjoyed both pictures, and it really was my pleasure to finally finish something I could share with you all!
Also, I wanted to say that as usual, I find myself unable to comment on your latest blog post! Ridiculous Blogger. But I did want to let you know that I'd read it, and hope that you'll prioritize your health and taking care of yourself over everything else. Whenever you do get around to finishing your next project, I am looking forward to seeing it. ^.^
It's already 2012 here in Malaysia, so I thought I'd wish everyone here a Happy New Year...here's to a prosperous new year, with all-new beginnings and happiness, and I wish y'all the best. I love you, all~!=D
If the discussion has now turned to the subject of appreciation (and I finally have something to input):
WhiteDiamonds and her blog convinced me for the first time in several years that art is something worth pursuing beyond the mundane, grueling work that is often how I choose to spend my time, simply to produce a visual result. That not all artwork must be game art, and that there can be a pleasure in creating some of the components that make up the final product rather than an all-consuming feeling of chore. The people here at this blog have given me another thing to anticipate and cherish, and from what I recognize, a skill to apply to both the process of creation and the purpose of recreation. This blog serves not only as a source of casual, communal discussion but as an encouraging entry to a creative and productive ability that is, personally to myself, unfounded in any other place that I have been.
If the experience has changed anyone here the most, I am apt to believe that it has been me. While many of you have had years of active practice and interest in the general subject of graphic art, I had yet to find a reason to attempt it until now. When I watched painters and cartoonists produce and display their work, I was impressed by and valued their skill. But it was never something that I felt was worth attempting due to the fact that the paintings I would see were usually of empty beaches that did not hold my attention and the cartoons that I am used to were not ones that I felt interest in replicating. MLP is one of the very few animated television shows that I really enjoy, and of all of the fanart available in its community, it was in WhiteDiamonds' that I saw a certain worth and it that I had a sudden desire to replicate. If it all continues to go the way that it seems, then I have obtained access to a new and enjoyable ability that could be useful to me in the future both for the purpose of work and the pleasure of creation.
It is thanks to the people here at this blog that such an opportunity could arise for me, due in no small part to their support of the existence and growth of this source of inspiration, and I hope to express my appreciation for the attentive and caring help and encouragement that surrounds everything of which this blog is composed. I can hope, if not expect, that I will make use of this new creative ability and prove it all to be true, and the resulting product will direct back to the reason for this all to occur.
Also, yay.
This will be a quick note, as I'm tired, am currently in demand and have probably had too much wine besides, but Happy New Year, everyone! I'll try and post back to everyone I owe replies to whenever I can.
Wishing you all the best~!
@WhiteDiamonds
Happy New Year once again, Di! But I should probably remind you: Given recent events, you might want to take it easy on the alcohol...
Which is ironic, because I'll probably get my share of madness this Chinese New Year~~
Wow, does everyone here drink except me?
We didn't have any sort of celebration, as usual. When you move an America-sized distance away from your family, it gets pretty quiet around here. At least there are no pictures of lampshades on Facebook, right?
Though, if this stands to prove anything, then alcohol is how Equestria was made and Pinkie had tasted something prior to the gathering in Cutie Mark Chronicles...
@Favo
Yes, that sounds like me with Applejack. I really love that pony and I'm not even entirely sure why, but I guess I just find her personality refreshing somehow. It's funny to think about.
And I appreciate that my dear, really I do, but it's not like I'm going to just leave everyone hanging when they write to me either... that would be exceedingly rude of me. Especially as this is my blog! But again, I appreciate your understanding... sometimes it is hard to juggle all these replies along with everything else that's going on in my life.
And you are young, so I feel as though I can get away with saying this even though I only know you online: please do take care of yourself and drink responsibly! I've known far too many people (including some of my nieces) who have gotten in big trouble and had some serious scares because of alcohol and other substances... do take care.
@Anon
That was beautifully stated dear, and I thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts with us, as I still find it immensely flattering and inspiring to think that I may have had anything to do with your discovering these new interests and passions in your life. That's why I love to create things... I enjoy the process and the results myself, but it's only when others get something out of my work as well that I really feel any sort of gratification. Here's hoping you will continue to grow and be inspired in your new artistic pursuits! ^_^
@CaineScroll
Oh it's quite alright, really. I was advised to avoid caffeine as it's a stimulant, not alcohol which is a depressant. Red wine is actually known for helping to lower blood pressure as well, if you don't know. So yes, while I appreciate your concern I am a big girl, I can take care of myself. No worries!
And Chinese New Year... I celebrated that a few years in a row, with friends I'd made in college. It was a lot of fun, I miss it!
@DJB123
Yes, I'm a bit of a lightweight myself (both literally and figuratively) so it doesn't take much to get me tipsy, I'll confess. As I said I don't really drink all that often though, so...
I just hope you stay safe, dear, is all!
Oh yes, and thank you all very much for the well-wishes, as I almost forgot to say! Once again, I wish all of you the best... here's to making the most out of this fresh new year!
I feel like I should comment here more often. XP
Happy (late) New Year everyone. ^_^
Anyways, a couple of you wanted to see when I finished my next drawing, so here it is: Link
@BND
Well, I can say you do better than most out there; the picture's a beaut. Again, some issues with the body proportions, but nothing too serious. Perhaps you could try a background sometime soon?
And oh yes: Happy New Year to you too, mate~!
@Favo
I hope I didn't come across as implying that maybe you were/did indulge in other substances, because that certainly wasn't my intent. Mostly I just want you to be safe in whatever it is that you do, so I'm happy to hear that that is the case.
And you know, I was actually thinking about this further yesterday when I was getting ready for work. I think I like Applejack so much because she is the type of individual who I really think I'd love to know in my real life... she seems like she would just be a great friend to have. Somebody, err, somepony one could always rely on no matter what, you know what I mean? Far too few people in this world seem to possess that quality, and it's a shame.
@BND
Haha that's quite alright. ^.^ Certainly never feel obligated my dear. And Happy (late) New Year to you as well!
And ooh, I'm glad that you said something because, as I had indeed predicted, I totally forgot about keeping an eye on your gallery! You really are very good for someone who is so new at drawing... looking at your picture, I don't see anything in the proportions or anything that seem off, other than maybe the front legs being a little thin at the top but it's a minor issue, hardly noticeable. Other than that it's very nice and clean, looking good!
I will say I'm a bit surprised at the subject matter though, considering that you've told me you're such an avid Rarishy shipper. ^_~ But in any case, thanks for sharing!
@DJB123
She really, truly is. I don't know if it's just those freckles, or that simple, open honesty that imparts what can almost be described as a certain naivete, but if given half the chance I think I would probably glomp her.
Happy New Year everyone, and congrats on the day off to our host. The post-holiday grind restarts for me tomorrow, assuming the client gets things together in on schedule. If I'm left twiddling my thumbs all day, I might actually find the time to start some new pony art.
Personally, I like Applejack because she is such a great supporting character. She's the ideal second-in-command, and I've noted before that she's usually the first one Twilight goes to for help (and vice-versa). You can drop her in any pony's story and she doesn't have a lot of baggage that makes it hard to find an angle where she'll be useful. Add in the accent and her unique lines and she's just a welcome addition at any point.
@WhiteDiamonds
Looking over things, I guess I have drawn Twilight far more than the others, including both young and old versions... so I suppose the evidence of my fondness for her was there. In any event, she and Rarity took the top spots on my answer to the "5 favorite ponies" poll over on EQD.
@Harwick
Ah, so you read my post on the Drawfriend did you? ^.^ I was just so terribly excited; I haven't had a day off from the studio since last Thursday I believe (and don't ask me why a ceramics studio would be open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, but it was. Your guess is as good as mine..).
In any case, yes, I will agree that I've developed something of a soft spot for Applejack's accent as well as time has gone on... there's something about that country vernacular of hers that is just so... charming I suppose. I think that's actually part of the reason that I was largely rooting for Laura on this past season of America's Next Top Model... that accent combined with her bubbly personality was just way too endearing.
And yes, perhaps that is why I assumed that Twilight was your favorite... I hadn't thought about that until you mentioned it but it does make sense. Also, I saw that post on EqD but thought better of offering my two cents on the topic... after Rarity and Applejack, best/favorite pony tends to get a little fuzzy for me. I like a lot of them quite a bit but my "ranking" tends to vary depending on the day and my mood, so it's hard for me to say... they're all quite charming in their own way though.
@WhiteDiamonds
Yes, I caught your glee at having the luxury of a day off. (I'm always happy to see you pop up in the Drawfriend, either as a contributing artist or a commenter.) I tend to work pretty grueling schedules myself, although I set my own hours. Honest days off, where I don't have anything hanging over my head that I should be doing sometimes come weeks apart and I often squander them doing absolutely nothing just because I finally can. I usually need a few days off in a row before I can become productive on my own projects again, or turn to a hobby.
I had a pretty lengthy vacation for the holidays, but it was with a full house of extended relatives who finally cleared out this last weekend, so I was somewhat shell-shocked from them alone. (5 and 6 year old nephews and cousins are exhausting. However, I would never have seen the cartoon without them, so there is that to thank them for. Many pony episodes were viewed when I was called upon to watch over the little ones.)
I ended up cheating on the 5 favorite pony poll anyway. After Twilight and Rarity, I put all of the rest of the mane six in spot #3, on the grounds that I couldn't put any other ponies above them and I loved them all too much to leave one off as #6. I then finished off the rest of the list with Celestia and Sweetie Belle and added some "honorable mentions" as well. I'm not good at cutting them down to a select few.
@CaineScroll
Thanks. ^_^
And yeah, proportions have always been my primary issue. XP
I've made attempts at adding a background before, but I could never get it to look quite right; I'll get it soon enough, I suppose.
@WhiteDiamonds
Thanks WD. ^_^
Yeah, I always have trouble with the legs; I'm still trying to completely figure it out. ^^;
And just because Rarishy is my primary pairing, it doesn't mean I don't like any others involving Fluttershy. ;P
(I'll admit, my opinion may have been influenced by a couple of outside sources. ^^;)
The reason for it would be this. I thought he didn't even view EQD anymore? You can still tell what the conversation was about from the context, but Jody would know better than I would. (He really seems to get into that discussion in the comments a lot, doesn't he?)
I don't think we necessarily need to be affiliated with the EQD community, since what matter are the individuals rather than the community in general, but WhiteDiamonds seems to have not lost a supporter.
Oh, dear... I didn't even read my horoscope today, but if I had something tells me it wouldn't have been a pleasant forecast... TT_TT
@Harwick
Well, now I feel rather childish getting so excited over a day off when you say that you frequently go weeks between them, though I suppose in my own defense I usually am working in some fashion (hee, "fashion"; it's only funny because it's true also) even when I am not at my "day job". But yes, I really was terrifically excited; I don't seem to have much opportunity for commenting in Drawfriends or on EqD in general these days, I suppose because much of the free time in which I used to do so is now devoted to managing this blog (not that that is necessarily a bad thing, but it does take time). But yes...
I know what you mean about the younger relatives; I have a great deal of nieces and nephews myself, and even a couple of grand-nephews at this point. They're fun for a while, but I know I am assuredly not ready to be a mother at this point in my life, if indeed I ever will be.
Now why didn't I think of cheating in a similar fashion on that poll? Though I suppose even if I had, I'm still not sure which ponies I would have chosen and how I would have ranked them... ah well.
@BND
Well just keep it up with the practicing dear; I've no doubt you'll get there eventually.
And I suppose that makes sense, though I have a hard time relating as I really only have one pairing that I actually care about. Most others I am steadfastly neutral on, though I will admit there are a few that just rub me the wrong way no matter what.
@Anon
I believe he said only that he didn't comment anymore, not that he still didn't visit the site. Not that it's really any of my business either way. While I think I would have preferred you not posting the link, I suppose it doesn't really matter seeing as how most, if indeed not everyone here already visits that site on a regular basis... oh well, I'm not even sure what to think anymore.
Otherwise, yes, I quite agree with you.
@WhiteDiamonds
Sorry, I just didn't want everyone here to blame themselves for it. That's certainly what I did at first.
@Anon
It's okay; I understand. It certainly makes sense when you put it that way.
I really need to learn to check back every couple of days, at most, to avoid falling this far behind again...
@Anon
I'm a teetotaler as well, just as a personal choice rather than any deep moral conviction or anything.
@BND
Thanks for sharing your art; both Blinkie and Fluttershy look cute. I wish I could give you some constructive criticism, but I suspect you're better off listening to the more accomplished artists here in that regard. ;)
@WhiteDiamonds
While Twilight Sparkle's always been my favorite, I'm never very comfortable doing any sort of hard-and-fast ranking after her; just as you say, that ranking varies with day, mood, and whoever was featured in the most recent episodes I've watched. Taking into account the mane 6, the princesses, Derpy, and my three favorite non-ponies (Spike, Discord, and Zecora), if I peg Twilight at 100 out of 100, the other would generally score somewhere between 98 and 91, which makes for a rather crowded group to try to rank in order...
@Anon
I don't really want to go into what happened in the comments on EqD yesterday (largely because I'd also have to go over what happened over a month ago for proper context), but no one else here needs to worry about whether they might be at fault.
DJB123, if you're still bothering to read these comments, I just want to say that I'm still sincerely hoping for the best for you.
@BND
Sorry, I visited your site and forgot to comment on the picture! I quite like it! Science may say that ponies can't blush, but since doing so makes them unarguably cuter I choose to reject the data and just believe. Besides, I'm already going along with them talking, flying, building complex societies...
I do wonder if we'll ever see more of Pinkie's family in the show. She's the only one that we know has siblings who aren't recurring cast members. Dash and Fluttershy's families now rank as the most mysterious.
Minus, of course, the mystery of what happened to AJ's parents which still bugs me. They've been missing since she was a little filly, and yet somehow Apple Bloom showed up years later... I don't suppose we'll get any better answer from tomorrow's episode, as it sounded like the crew making the show never worked out where they're at themselves.
@WhiteDiamonds
Oh, don't be too impressed by my work schedule. It's easy to pile on the hours when you have no commute and set your own schedule. I'll be working this weekend, but that's mostly because after my holiday vacation I'm finding it very hard to get back into a fully productive groove. (It doesn't help that I'm so many days out from the deadline, even though I know I need those days. I find pressure to be too good of a motivator.)
So the big (well, relatively) BroNYcon thing is this weekend, apparently. Has anyone here ever been to a fan convention before? I've been tempted to visit the San Diego Comicon before, but never really made it. I'm honestly not sure if I'd enjoy such a thing or not. I've been to E3 in Los Angeles before for work, but that was mostly meetings and such with some time wandering the convention center in-between. I'm kind of curious to hear from someone who has attended these kinds of things as a fan.
@jodyjm13
I've said it before I know, but it truly is amazing how incredibly fast these comments can pile up at times. Sometimes I have trouble keeping up with all of them myself, though the past several days seem to have slowed considerably now that I think about it (on that note, I have noticed a conspicuous of Anon recently. I do hope he's alright, wherever he is).
But anyhow yes, that's about how it goes for me too, for better or for worse. It's too hard to rank them all. Somehow though, as with Harwick I always had an inkling that Twilight was your favorite, even though I don't believe I've ever read your explicitly stating that. Intuition, I suppose. ^_~
@Harwick
Well, I suppose that's all true enough, and honestly if I was able to set my own schedule entirely I expect that I would give myself similar hours. Once I get into a project or task, after all, I generally find it's easier to keep going as opposed when I'm constantly stopping and starting and being distracted by other things, so yes it makes sense.
And ahh yes Bronycon; the place to be or so I've heard! In answer to your question I have been to only one convention before in my life: Comicon several years ago. I was friends at the time with someone who got passes every year and he was kind enough to share one with me... it was fun even though it was only for a relatively short time and despite the fact that I don't know very much about comic books or most of the series that were evidently popular there. I think my favorite part of the experience was seeing all of the different fans in costume; I've never cosplayed before myself but I think, if I could ever find the time to create the outfit and attend a convention in turn, I would very much enjoy doing so. ^.^
@Harwick
As you predicted, "Family Appreciation Day" completely avoided any reference to Applejack's parents. From what Lauren Faust has written, it sounds like the writers and producers are leaning towards the explanation that they have, indeed, "passed away", but there's no way they'd be able to address that on the show itself. So there's always a chance someone will come up with a great story that requires AJ's parents, and they'll find a way to explain their prolonged absence...
Oddly, I'm not terribly curious about Fluttershy's family, though it would be nice to see them sometime. I am desperately curious about Rainbow Dash's family and childhood, though; there've been a couple of hints that she was something of a problem filly, and I really want to know the full story.
As for conventions, I've been to exactly one Comicon, way back in '98 when it was considerably smaller and less movie-and-tv-centric. I've also been to several furry and anime conventions a while back, though only one in the past 10 years. I do not do well in crowds, but in general I've enjoyed the cons I've been to; if you have any specific questions or want more info on my experiences, I'll do my best to help out.
@WhiteDiamonds
As a child, I would sometimes daydream about being locked in the local library overnight and having a chance to read all the books I wanted all night long; how could Twilight Sparkle not be my favorite? ;) They're all such wonderfully appealing characters, though, that I'm usually not comfortable singling one out.
Oh dear, here I am responding to this almost a week later! Bad Diamonds, bad! TT_TT My apologies, Jody-dear~
@jodyjm13
Now that you mentioned it, I suppose I have wondered about Fluttershy's parent's the least... I wonder why that may be. And I wouldn't mind seeing Rainbow's either, if only to put to rest all of those angsty-emo orphan fanfictions on her fillyhood that I seem to stumble across all over the place. And I don't even read all that much fanfiction...
And oh my, that daydream... I hope you don't mind my saying so but now I'm picturing you as one of the cutest little bookworm-children ever. ^.^ And it really does make sense to me that that would be the case, both for the bibliophilism as well as for other things I've seen you mention before. Again, I just had a pretty good inkling that she must be your favorite... it's nice to know I guessed correctly. ^_~
Hooray for commenting on a two-month old post!
Anyways... I've had your Fluttershy/RD painting as my background since you first published it... it's beautiful. Seriously. Just absolutely stunning. This is currently tied for my favorite piece of fanart ever, which is saying a lot considering how much time I spend on EQD and /r/mylittlepony. So I just wanted to go back and thank you for putting out this incredible piece of work. I mean... wow.
@Legion2190
Good evening!
Oh, late or no thank you so very much for coming onto my blog to post and to leave me such a lovely little bit of feedback... it really is so incredibly kind of you to say! I'm truly happy to hear that you enjoyed the picture so much, and yes as one who frequents EqD myself I realize what incredibly high praise that is to list my artwork as one of your top favorites... this fandom really has been blessed with a surplus of very talented artists.
Once again, I'm only glad to hear that you like the picture... being able to potentially brighten a person's day with my artwork is one of the biggest reasons that I make it, to be honest. I genuinely appreciate the words, and once again thanks so much for taking the time to post~!
Post a Comment