tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39772850950697328592024-03-06T12:33:06.855+07:00The Fifth BlogRandom musings of a part-time manga artist.Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-10467867848886486582012-03-22T23:15:00.008+07:002012-03-22T23:26:20.276+07:00Full-time freelancing is... tricky!<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Hello everyone! :D </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Been ages since I last wrote anything on here u__u Hope life's treating you all right and everything is easy breezy in the home/work/hobby department! ^^</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As for me, since I've been back from Shanghai and South Korea last month, I haven't quite found that right job to settle into yet -- maybe I should start looking for eligible bachelors (and eventually get married)? X)<br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Anyhow, for the time being I've decided to offer my copywriting services through <b>word•smith</b>, which has been taking on projects since mid-March this year. Should anyone you know need any copywriting work done, or if they just want to consult on things related to writing, kindly refer them to <a href="http://wordsmithme.com/">wordsmithme.com</a> :D<br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Tomorrow is a Nyepi holiday, so I hope everyone gets to have a super fun long weekend!<br />
<i>*signing off from this blog now to do some more tweaking on the other*</i> <br />
See you soon~~!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wordsmithme.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_iWXkb8QSdWxGmLuGwhdBjLXORyobRPmSsXSBAYA1WjUe-BNTTSXllbnA1XOr-WkQzdVMChqYBJ2pj_fWsukeaSIc3YbPYzHFQz8dLYt5zGtoJpJFEtNfALvv3xlG4Ka0JcM-78t_fT9/s320/smithheads.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: white;">s</span></div>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-65493222068752427692010-09-06T12:12:00.016+07:002011-07-12T22:52:10.406+07:00End of days :D<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Finally~~ the 30-day drawing challenge is finished! \^o^/</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'd thought to be more experimental for the last 10 days of the challenge, hopefully that much is obvious from the more solid inking as well as introduction of some colours ^^;; </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All drawings for this challenge were done manually, hope you enjoy them as much as I had fun making them! :D</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 21: Something you want</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzbuo-D1y8U4IvVecgxmtI6K0rTbfTJC_5x8f3J1yoVlUWL81GZpmkAJ9IuqRzVCy8ca2J2ll-xNYjD9wtMVaOwm1Z6SpHiCNmYFg-MNcGHHm4sjHOpZr0VfAF3tveaM5H_6NhHcaFfyh/s512/day21want.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzbuo-D1y8U4IvVecgxmtI6K0rTbfTJC_5x8f3J1yoVlUWL81GZpmkAJ9IuqRzVCy8ca2J2ll-xNYjD9wtMVaOwm1Z6SpHiCNmYFg-MNcGHHm4sjHOpZr0VfAF3tveaM5H_6NhHcaFfyh/s512/day21want.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513664772349310498" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Wanna help clean my sword, wench?"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Ohohoho</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >! ^///^ </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >*Viking fetish mode on*</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /><br />Day 22: Something you miss</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcLbILGPwANmPGhUXjCWV6x_NRS7Qbnet11mSqjQ1wrFIS8cIQPZum8ND3VulFN1pwUmCAWrTG3nfl_xRzECCZY3TxOmsa4jnxKpqcQn02fjOVpy98nwgZkCebSh0xJnoi3k-eyhpFcIN/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcLbILGPwANmPGhUXjCWV6x_NRS7Qbnet11mSqjQ1wrFIS8cIQPZum8ND3VulFN1pwUmCAWrTG3nfl_xRzECCZY3TxOmsa4jnxKpqcQn02fjOVpy98nwgZkCebSh0xJnoi3k-eyhpFcIN/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513664773658296418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >*sniffles* It's been a while indeed... T__T"</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 23: Something you need</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkegp1smNe3qP7oOaAd9FbGgb7zbvYIHMx_sP7J_D27ro-kTCfDsErEaMmOWhC4-EJgabig4rhowWU-PpfI-FjfWR43jolvN1wz1X8sFttsrjIWp5Tkz4E8TemMYaSMXnRHI5qjsrcxJR/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkegp1smNe3qP7oOaAd9FbGgb7zbvYIHMx_sP7J_D27ro-kTCfDsErEaMmOWhC4-EJgabig4rhowWU-PpfI-FjfWR43jolvN1wz1X8sFttsrjIWp5Tkz4E8TemMYaSMXnRHI5qjsrcxJR/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513664785411813314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >It's not an easy task juggling the many things happening in your life at once. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >But maybe I'm just terrible at time management. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >...Or spoiled. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Or lazy :P</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 24: A couple</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ilr4iZ9OcMhFCHECSE6tPkJfJNJF51UxP6EXe52peaMRJ7_V8ozF4G-e48_aIeYI7lUxFwtNQzqrA9p-J6qyY7UIJE5nYnxit9UNqshXBJPebGe03osTbz6S-CYtpCziI1ZEeVK540hq/s512/day24couple.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ilr4iZ9OcMhFCHECSE6tPkJfJNJF51UxP6EXe52peaMRJ7_V8ozF4G-e48_aIeYI7lUxFwtNQzqrA9p-J6qyY7UIJE5nYnxit9UNqshXBJPebGe03osTbz6S-CYtpCziI1ZEeVK540hq/s512/day24couple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513664788183673474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Ladies and gentlemen, meet brother and sister Julian and Jillian Soh! :DDD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Jill is nine years older than Julian (the mysterious 'Agent Soh' from </span><a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Fifth Columnist</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >) and the two were born of different mothers. This scene is taken from Soh's past when he was just a troubled adolescent living in Chicago :)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />(I hope to turn this into a doujinshi somehow, but with the current lack of cohesive plotline and premise... it probably won't happen anytime soon ;____;)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 25: Scenery</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDgJKWSqjiUVcUFHyVYqW67WAJysQPCicJnyrNaGqqKCVzyBylW1RMh5-eufClKM7Nc5TZIWvTtVLeQQx9stmhL8mCbE-21bXk72BzNnXyFMYSh6iFfS3Veyw383J0oKcwCzz6l0BYVCG/s576/day25scenery.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDgJKWSqjiUVcUFHyVYqW67WAJysQPCicJnyrNaGqqKCVzyBylW1RMh5-eufClKM7Nc5TZIWvTtVLeQQx9stmhL8mCbE-21bXk72BzNnXyFMYSh6iFfS3Veyw383J0oKcwCzz6l0BYVCG/s640/day25scenery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513664790706042370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This is a watercolour painting of Glen Etive in Scotland, though it's supposed to represent a glen my ex-boyfriend and I passed en route to Inverness from Edinburgh in 2004.<br /><br />Despite the lack of vegetation and its rather unpredictable weather, Scotland commands a breathtaking landscape combining layers of brownish, terracota, greenish and bluish hues.<br /><br />I regretted not taking any pictures during the car trip -- all I have are pictures of 'Nessie' taken aboard a ferry cruise across Loch Ness (and we didn't see Nessie for real anyway, he was just a half-floating sticker glued onto the ferry's windows to take picture -- and fool people -- with! XD).</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 26: Something you don't like</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLD1B9s6k9d0MkuQjVRlkEi77n7Cz4DmL8ulqAe0Kgw3YHRlIgwhwvIUcFkuBZqiMccsapLdEKseYs6jSHkJ3xVG2-2i4bl-f4NjisLtuAwm6ERSVtrJbfaRnqTPbxNP_yMZ8HQLEJaqMi/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLD1B9s6k9d0MkuQjVRlkEi77n7Cz4DmL8ulqAe0Kgw3YHRlIgwhwvIUcFkuBZqiMccsapLdEKseYs6jSHkJ3xVG2-2i4bl-f4NjisLtuAwm6ERSVtrJbfaRnqTPbxNP_yMZ8HQLEJaqMi/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513665246645441138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Many apologies to Team Azzurri and their fans, but that greasy hair is just legendary! (to me at least) XD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Italy's no. 6 as pictured above is based on Francesco Totti -- though Totti's real hair isn't probably that greasy :P</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 27: Someone you love</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7HOFg08B9WDUJJ9uCUNbSJgL7nA7g-54DsFHSp5HIdUqu5OxfzPn1y5eRhcyLEt1sJAvfKck6FzItoZBAi3E7t783AWvaPFk8yCG25kg3DcN7xu-prSKY5HYxsL3hZP1XAjhIn8bfD7U/s512/day27love.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7HOFg08B9WDUJJ9uCUNbSJgL7nA7g-54DsFHSp5HIdUqu5OxfzPn1y5eRhcyLEt1sJAvfKck6FzItoZBAi3E7t783AWvaPFk8yCG25kg3DcN7xu-prSKY5HYxsL3hZP1XAjhIn8bfD7U/s512/day27love.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513665253030912242" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >A quick pencil sketch of my mother, based on a recent photograph.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >When I showed this to her, she went: "Can't you take out the wrinkles a bit?" XD</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 28: Anything you'd like</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3VejomPv9qPOuC0JhYhNaA3Rqq078b-ZUISYPb9LwAQCFKBAKZRUctAsXtyeKC8Z5OOyILQUaMDcb16fiXhphNbIAoJauH5oWJeWzbiQBy3UNwlIYKE46ilmZeD27DdhLRCQzziSXbIl/s512/day28anything.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3VejomPv9qPOuC0JhYhNaA3Rqq078b-ZUISYPb9LwAQCFKBAKZRUctAsXtyeKC8Z5OOyILQUaMDcb16fiXhphNbIAoJauH5oWJeWzbiQBy3UNwlIYKE46ilmZeD27DdhLRCQzziSXbIl/s512/day28anything.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513665255906208194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Sen: "What, there's a hole on the wall?"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Sword: (smirks) "Shall we make our escape?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Awww, don't they look so cute together? X3 </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Unlikely couple Sword Fish and Sen Owari met inside </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=2583">Under 'Grand' Hotel</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > (</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">UGH</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >), a fictional underground prison and the title of one of Mika Sadahiro's most renowned yaoi works. (Yes it's YAOI, people! You've been warned! XD)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I was recommended the title by a friend and upon reading it, wasn't exactly sure how to feel... it started off very dark and grim -- as a prison yaoi would -- but ultimately revealed a very touching lesson: that hope springs eternal! :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">UGH </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >is fast becoming my second favourite yaoi series (just after </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ai no Kusabi</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >), thanks to its relatively original premise, beautiful art, and brilliant plot twists. Once again, this is YAOI, people, so deal with it! X3</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Coloured with Copic markers on paper. I love how Sword's braids turned out :)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 29: A place you want to go</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLeMU27pTW34qykuyIOpComDe43760TdMvT7yRGyooicqqgB0RLXYEAJy4hk2i7wdPav1Fda46UPJuIpJE9vqQ6MyEQvjn_abxnXFTaXfh0sdZQeSmwLz8PbCCoeUsCT6-uU4RaYMlDdx/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLeMU27pTW34qykuyIOpComDe43760TdMvT7yRGyooicqqgB0RLXYEAJy4hk2i7wdPav1Fda46UPJuIpJE9vqQ6MyEQvjn_abxnXFTaXfh0sdZQeSmwLz8PbCCoeUsCT6-uU4RaYMlDdx/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513665262195145138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I've developed a fondness for outer space since kindergarten, and at one point in my childhood I really aspired to become an astronaut. Hopefully space tourism will start to take off in the next few decades or so, cos I truly wanted to go out there before I die ;_;</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 30: A congrats banner for finishing the challenge</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQH0wSpVSEUnr0sLzItZplDP7skF45avmcyUZTutIbLg4AYnJ712OckYZwEDLxlxh9v6GxLMyyTHemNvoqouBuQWl684nHlg5__a3wwpGkpwr0Lu2Xcbs72UNBZ-R7j7WKjQEVkosl46S6/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQH0wSpVSEUnr0sLzItZplDP7skF45avmcyUZTutIbLg4AYnJ712OckYZwEDLxlxh9v6GxLMyyTHemNvoqouBuQWl684nHlg5__a3wwpGkpwr0Lu2Xcbs72UNBZ-R7j7WKjQEVkosl46S6/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513665268081511058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Had no idea left for this one :P</span> </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Phfew, so that's about it!! How are you progressing in the challenge? Would you like to recommend other drawing challenges we can embark on next? </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Feel free to do so </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >;)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">To sign this post off, lemme wish my Muslim friends a very Happy Lebaran this year! \^o^/<br />See youuu</span>!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-83290293634810350602010-08-26T13:30:00.025+07:002011-07-12T23:51:22.135+07:00Ten days later<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Phfew! Another 10 days done in response to the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5ge0efLyK1qax2aqo1_500.jpg">30-day drawing challenge</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> that I embarked on </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://tezumo.blogspot.com/2010/08/back-to-drawing-board-o.html">earlier</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What's interesting about the challenge is that not only do you get to exercise drawing (or in my case, sketching randomly with pen on paper at work!) regularly, the process also gets you to know yourself as a person better ^^</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That being said, here goes!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 11: Turning point in your life</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzEEjSfZPd4t6Ygnn-gL8kfifv9WY5sotz4J7arruE9eTyLG-dP4A5-geRRjFrNNZl6J3yyQUxk3Pf2R9bA5tBK_ZA75Kg7SKA8EzJwOZLwW6oWEg1arHGR5qUlEEqVeN6IU3acanqo3w/s512/day11turning.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzEEjSfZPd4t6Ygnn-gL8kfifv9WY5sotz4J7arruE9eTyLG-dP4A5-geRRjFrNNZl6J3yyQUxk3Pf2R9bA5tBK_ZA75Kg7SKA8EzJwOZLwW6oWEg1arHGR5qUlEEqVeN6IU3acanqo3w/s512/day11turning.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509604254902333378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Reference pic used for Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament ^^</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 12: Most recent accomplishment</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGVTMG2kUSmLKGk3XoOsQJjP8FKAFKsb7EzKetks1YZohXDJXPrzSAtStA2oIFJhQ3xWIL7ZGr-5nDR3HtxdgEEgrTJP4fBJmQlHu-XthUPg9UDUw9VyN9OnMxRnYXjfoiustyysBvztz/s512/day12recent.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGVTMG2kUSmLKGk3XoOsQJjP8FKAFKsb7EzKetks1YZohXDJXPrzSAtStA2oIFJhQ3xWIL7ZGr-5nDR3HtxdgEEgrTJP4fBJmQlHu-XthUPg9UDUw9VyN9OnMxRnYXjfoiustyysBvztz/s512/day12recent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509604674452856994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I can only hope they won't be the last, either! T__T</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 13: Comic</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKohMiDUMB-GoG_2ZVpJ506H1Ex2r3LeX1KYrZiA5_5654BSdL8uKFmV61YrTM42UtWN-ey_EvCK9LBsV-oO7OCz2a44v1jviV-1IpDE167lYIi17_EXSZg94dWeS19tIpxy8Kem259vn/s512/day13comic.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKohMiDUMB-GoG_2ZVpJ506H1Ex2r3LeX1KYrZiA5_5654BSdL8uKFmV61YrTM42UtWN-ey_EvCK9LBsV-oO7OCz2a44v1jviV-1IpDE167lYIi17_EXSZg94dWeS19tIpxy8Kem259vn/s512/day13comic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509604676820803730" border="0" height="724" width="240" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Based on a true story. Those fail whales are so annoying, especially when you wanted to tweet something important, or even change your avatar! XDD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >(I'd </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">never </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >put a real photo on Twitter tho o.O)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 14: Fave fairytale</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fnXLTl6Enwx3HDtQk_FkcAWRSnCk1fJnNAuvK-N1BAbaMTEbL6s1ytSoK33eUeXJKh8kYQbBSuJZ6dxHZXbWdzfiVhQAFLmG0W9xHsaL6JYS639CAqzwvWT6M73bLyEEeipGm13fIhvi/s512/day14fairy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fnXLTl6Enwx3HDtQk_FkcAWRSnCk1fJnNAuvK-N1BAbaMTEbL6s1ytSoK33eUeXJKh8kYQbBSuJZ6dxHZXbWdzfiVhQAFLmG0W9xHsaL6JYS639CAqzwvWT6M73bLyEEeipGm13fIhvi/s512/day14fairy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509604684337484226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This one was drawn following </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;" href="http://images.pictureshunt.com/pics/s/snow_white-4986.jpg">Snow's famous pose</a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > by Disney ^^</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Still not too sure why I like Snow White the most. It's mostly to do with her appearance I suppose, which is exactly what Disney fairy tales are all about: beautiful airhead princesses being rescued by shallow princes -__-"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Is there even a moral lesson there? Never mind XD</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 15: Family picture</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yNJnmk-5YGlzNcQgSeHZkK3QPWwWhgWAC78M7-l5r4F57ksgMntcd4-PqKMPAo60KmdmLWyY6vq7_UNVOaM3hc_GM1SdtuPKx-E7cevKt_zInOvSvVCLx7kJUK0QHlQcEGv12XIWUPpG/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yNJnmk-5YGlzNcQgSeHZkK3QPWwWhgWAC78M7-l5r4F57ksgMntcd4-PqKMPAo60KmdmLWyY6vq7_UNVOaM3hc_GM1SdtuPKx-E7cevKt_zInOvSvVCLx7kJUK0QHlQcEGv12XIWUPpG/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509604687346089234" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Weee :D</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Clockwise from top left: Me, my younger bro Alvin, mum and dad :)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >(this drawing hardly does me dad any justice -- he mostly wears batik and Hawaiian floral shirts these days LOL)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 16: Inspiration</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMtHDGF_IbHCSE7WF3wqa_m7vh_ml3vDTrAJXBRiUoKi-lFKe5BA7iVLnQTZ63wYATChhntZCjt1rrrp3RqlcVVQBROQcD_3M5WDvw1j08BS4ba6k21KzIvU3UdMDRTM4oLD-k1jUQV3u/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMtHDGF_IbHCSE7WF3wqa_m7vh_ml3vDTrAJXBRiUoKi-lFKe5BA7iVLnQTZ63wYATChhntZCjt1rrrp3RqlcVVQBROQcD_3M5WDvw1j08BS4ba6k21KzIvU3UdMDRTM4oLD-k1jUQV3u/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509604696600319474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Being fangirls, of course we are constanstly inspired by all the beauty that surrounds us ^o^/</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Do tell me, is it just me or do you also think the randomly drawn bishounen above give off a certain River Phoenix vibe? XDDD</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 17: Fave plant</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVqMxWCl4_339yWdJytYUz3qiuzLBb_sSk_qdv7kLyojW8KUywhDwgOSsWPE6K8L-pjtJrgdiYdYRN-JkqFrNRzGyjIFi5zHBlyYautJJPTfeHgC9vgUh-Jvsp5RVUzimdvuoyTecfefI/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVqMxWCl4_339yWdJytYUz3qiuzLBb_sSk_qdv7kLyojW8KUywhDwgOSsWPE6K8L-pjtJrgdiYdYRN-JkqFrNRzGyjIFi5zHBlyYautJJPTfeHgC9vgUh-Jvsp5RVUzimdvuoyTecfefI/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509605411950987634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I've had this plant a number of times ever since I started working, but never managed to keep one alive for more than a few months each time. </span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Apparently they make the ideal breeding ground for </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=005cKh">Asian tiger mosquitoes</a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > too, noooo ;__;</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 18: Just a doodle</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTIKPExNZddqdnFoqzheF2vRNXSYm-jNnkjinhc_ygUZUDF7LoGyK5Xk6qwfFk_U7sOtvw9g6pmtfHe5xwNkamBtcTvhP5vqiX6m8WOuic4lE974umhJi8iHbadCu9ukvX7B1e0D8wuiu/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTIKPExNZddqdnFoqzheF2vRNXSYm-jNnkjinhc_ygUZUDF7LoGyK5Xk6qwfFk_U7sOtvw9g6pmtfHe5xwNkamBtcTvhP5vqiX6m8WOuic4lE974umhJi8iHbadCu9ukvX7B1e0D8wuiu/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509605415438432562" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Facebook's Poupee Boutique application, which complements the original Poupee Girl dressup game. This, by the way, is my poupee <a href="http://tinyurl.com/jumjum5">Jumjum</a> :)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 19: Something new</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9cCQPsMaXrw8LmLOMYSSnDUMHd22NY2pBr1KSDxIY8jUHx1gDfr8sq6loVelxP8nowOp0IK-Wa-j2psXa6iJlPpajgZerxu4xySC4lF5rFHdDZg8veTF3Bq7cQI63dbS7p4hEl7IVBBg/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9cCQPsMaXrw8LmLOMYSSnDUMHd22NY2pBr1KSDxIY8jUHx1gDfr8sq6loVelxP8nowOp0IK-Wa-j2psXa6iJlPpajgZerxu4xySC4lF5rFHdDZg8veTF3Bq7cQI63dbS7p4hEl7IVBBg/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509605419081390786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I need a new mp3 cassette!!! T___T</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >For some reason these (cheap) cassettes keep on breaking down after some time, so I can no longer play my mp3 files through the car stereo -__-"</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 20: Something orange</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKWccltuUtXXoR6ne_V4U921km4LZNHsnziFZNcHfv7TPrKiXznIxDac_RoH2ZQgDxd9xGi-YtnSuzUp6wULoMLoFrfckJLHyxjts-orPvDMUvDxZ0IughvYQZ44kIr_8H8be2CPFw6Hd/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKWccltuUtXXoR6ne_V4U921km4LZNHsnziFZNcHfv7TPrKiXznIxDac_RoH2ZQgDxd9xGi-YtnSuzUp6wULoMLoFrfckJLHyxjts-orPvDMUvDxZ0IughvYQZ44kIr_8H8be2CPFw6Hd/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509605428973058706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Since an orange would have just been too predictable, here's a carrot for you ^^;;</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Supposedly my dad 'invented' our family's signature stir-fry minced meat with carrot, green peppers and onion in oyster sauce dish... until I found out the dish is called </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://thyme2.typepad.com/thyme_for_cooking_/images/2008/02/12/orientalbeef.jpg">Oriental Beef</a><span><span style="font-style: italic;"> and is actually pretty common -_-"</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">See you at the next and last installment! :D :D</span><br /><br />Meanwhile, check out the 30-day drawing attempts made by <a href="http://astrenoir.blogspot.com/2010/08/30-days-drawing-challenge.html">Raven</a>, <a href="http://icers.blogspot.com/2010/08/30-days-doodle-meme.html">Archie</a> and <a href="http://paraparapluie.blogspot.com/">Rou</a>! ^^<br />If you're doing one too, feel free to share them here! :D :D<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></span><br /></span></span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-74386239361114496202010-08-18T18:12:00.017+07:002011-07-12T22:53:57.000+07:0025 Essential Expressions meme!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(...say, can we make it 20 instead? -__-"</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've had this thing for a while but haven't got round to finishing it, so I figured I should just give up now and cut my losses XD<br /><br />Here's my response to the <a href="http://napalmnacey.deviantart.com/art/25-Essential-Expressions-55523083">25 Essential Expressions</a> challenge by Nancy Lorenz:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpm8rKZUVGjKkXewvoBww-sd0Sb6tlMlM3NBpnk3EgWeevdvQosgMuy5A1aS9On2mhVNj_AknqHqwOvztRcmBdGXl6RB0z-bev8QZ4qvIdbvGEL-4bwcrnt1HrpPKqi9HYsFlB7rIm4vqB/s512/25.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpm8rKZUVGjKkXewvoBww-sd0Sb6tlMlM3NBpnk3EgWeevdvQosgMuy5A1aS9On2mhVNj_AknqHqwOvztRcmBdGXl6RB0z-bev8QZ4qvIdbvGEL-4bwcrnt1HrpPKqi9HYsFlB7rIm4vqB/s512/25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506714607869909938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >A little note on some of the expressions:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pleased: </span>I had a hard time distinguishing between 'happy' and 'pleased' so I settled for 'cheerful' instead, complete with the flapping fringe (which in Indonesian is normally called 'polem' or <span style="font-style: italic;">poni lempar </span>XD)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Angry</span>: Had I realised this list would contain a number of similarly 'angry' expressions, I would have softened this one a little... it feels rather heavy-handed for a simple angry face -.-"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shocked/surprised</span>: Those fists are just too cute! X3 </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Irritated</span>: A valid excuse to draw the middle finger! Yay! :D</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WTF?</span>!: I didn't know how to draw this face without being redundant so... =.=" (ditto for 'fear', 'bereft', 'fierce' and 'sarcastic')</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Triumph</span>: A friend actually came up with </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://fav.me/d2krbd4">a fun alternative</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> for this one! XDDD</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bereft</span>: What is bereft, exactly? *still confused* +.+</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Flirty</span>: I find this one brilliant, but you can't seriously be flirting with THAT </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">face :P</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Serious</span>: Come to think of it, this one's probably more 'contemplative' than 'serious'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Silly</span>: Silly enough for ya? XD</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hollow/blank</span>: Not sure why but I sort of associated 'blank' with 'taking up the whole drawing space'...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Incredulous</span>: Had to check the dictionary for this one, followed by some time in front of the mirror mimicking disbelief ^^;;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rage</span>: More CUTE than full of rage! XD</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Final i</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span><span style="font-style: italic;">mpression:</span><br /></span>This is a great exercise for practising your prowess in mimics and expression. It's certainly not easy as it looks and I've yet to take up the challenge on utilizing a more realistic drawing style here! :D</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-72530095391279898602010-08-16T23:10:00.004+07:002011-07-12T23:48:13.315+07:00Back to the drawing board ^o^<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, it's </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">finally </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">time to face my inner demons and start drawing again! XD Taking cue from my beloved girl friends, I'm currently following a <a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5ge0efLyK1qax2aqo1_500.jpg">30-day drawing meme</a> that's been circulating over the net lately.<br /><br />(Unfortunately I haven't got the time nor the patience to do one drawing per day, so... I'm just doing these with no strings attached ^^;;)<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 1: Y</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ourself</span></span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1Ok0nitjh6gFTIZCNNWfiisf4OYXQ6oyrV9LfXEgviXrQ9LpH8iKJyF1KpwKJBlB0w8ekzwhLURAfB79W8XBQlFMWI_b61hzXHkyw_QakdPpDfaGSZYCrl4CcrmX7iMZ9QoYzMV3yj5K/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1Ok0nitjh6gFTIZCNNWfiisf4OYXQ6oyrV9LfXEgviXrQ9LpH8iKJyF1KpwKJBlB0w8ekzwhLURAfB79W8XBQlFMWI_b61hzXHkyw_QakdPpDfaGSZYCrl4CcrmX7iMZ9QoYzMV3yj5K/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506032425458269778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >No comment! XD</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 2: Fave</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > animal</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bkq0FoD_7dpDwwAsTBLVJQiEyCj273ZshNQ0Hy4Vo0Fxu_VR27u1HMP8NcRLE5ofLQwSpx1sYuFthIV23b-46awdHjy7S_Mq0yY7wgA_jxxG1oHJB3IwkKJQQwlNVZ2UqTO6aZfGoXwW/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bkq0FoD_7dpDwwAsTBLVJQiEyCj273ZshNQ0Hy4Vo0Fxu_VR27u1HMP8NcRLE5ofLQwSpx1sYuFthIV23b-46awdHjy7S_Mq0yY7wgA_jxxG1oHJB3IwkKJQQwlNVZ2UqTO6aZfGoXwW/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506033364436189362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Hippos, particularly the ballet-dancing kind, have always been portrayed as cute, cuddly creatures in most cartoons and animations.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Not sure if they're really like that in reality, though -_</span>-"</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 3: Fave food</span><br /></span> <a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV8lQ_PsvXcDh4O5wcWugQxD5I_3JYGpx8D8-4RwvYp4zUvlu-kytQbG1NZflJGhbM362SNwyXlqYCa1wRsGa7cykw2Z-M4gSZIvGzp_ottimhkUxWFjaxqqZJBeZeAYFmArwgWHSzSIn/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV8lQ_PsvXcDh4O5wcWugQxD5I_3JYGpx8D8-4RwvYp4zUvlu-kytQbG1NZflJGhbM362SNwyXlqYCa1wRsGa7cykw2Z-M4gSZIvGzp_ottimhkUxWFjaxqqZJBeZeAYFmArwgWHSzSIn/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506034640994657410" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Forget diamonds, chocolate bars are a girl's best friend! :D</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 4: Fave place</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq185q92jU6lz_56ve6i49WiKiEEUDkG7voTSy7rjtJ53M6rG66X3v2rOPjL5DPbAlYPGNOYLGDaMvqzdWN3Hb3QzGhu9tDpuQQj-NJ428hRfTNR543gbfhAh1vgPHE223O5ccGiVOgufs/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq185q92jU6lz_56ve6i49WiKiEEUDkG7voTSy7rjtJ53M6rG66X3v2rOPjL5DPbAlYPGNOYLGDaMvqzdWN3Hb3QzGhu9tDpuQQj-NJ428hRfTNR543gbfhAh1vgPHE223O5ccGiVOgufs/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506035065691690818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">One of the few remaining book sanctuaries in the heart of Jakarta... too bad the BL selection here can never measure up to that offered at Kinokuniya Sydney T_T (LOL)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 5: Best friends</span></span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUc1jB_u49yQNbuAVgAV4ayr3YvFrSo1QW2IYo-opfXxHos_TDFcnHl1lOoVV5mjZYbwdipw7J6xQLsJd8E6oPY3GMhdbv-4GsBQHWlacPv1paesNvgVLUP_NM6Bc_3_PgD0MbsqQ7C-J5/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUc1jB_u49yQNbuAVgAV4ayr3YvFrSo1QW2IYo-opfXxHos_TDFcnHl1lOoVV5mjZYbwdipw7J6xQLsJd8E6oPY3GMhdbv-4GsBQHWlacPv1paesNvgVLUP_NM6Bc_3_PgD0MbsqQ7C-J5/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506035340921082834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Just a random doodle of Italy and Germany from </span>Hetalia<span style="font-style: italic;">! :D</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 6: Fave book</span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWnAinuhAV0lzwBsSCOzmvgnDrHYynsKFz6nE5N-fmNTnsl7wMzs_tawVxgBxtSV3L_wixzbQzSp8QzW_4YRz8tj1eGNv-580r_xZrSZJdMl6X5d6JBF8-sZyWnVt76tPGuDL-hRHllVa/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWnAinuhAV0lzwBsSCOzmvgnDrHYynsKFz6nE5N-fmNTnsl7wMzs_tawVxgBxtSV3L_wixzbQzSp8QzW_4YRz8tj1eGNv-580r_xZrSZJdMl6X5d6JBF8-sZyWnVt76tPGuDL-hRHllVa/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506035507784628162" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/384589.Galaxies_Like_Grains_of_Sand"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Galaxies Like Grains of Sand</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > is an epic SF chronicle spanning over millennia and aeons that finally lead up to the last days of mankind and our known universe. My favourite bit of the book is the last chapter, where Aldiss intriguingly uses second-person narrative to get readers literally immersed into the story.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /><br />Day 7: Fave movie</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfVeOFMd3Rtp32gRJeQ3xU0NaGTvkxs-Tf7WCwXSPHGB6m35X_X9cCb-6mCIJ4HYy5v5qv1jkFpMeR8e1G5Abx41iFTHynyRvrAbg8cizLME5yvuwWEZm5TjnIUw1EcoNNL0wWcWOPAbh/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfVeOFMd3Rtp32gRJeQ3xU0NaGTvkxs-Tf7WCwXSPHGB6m35X_X9cCb-6mCIJ4HYy5v5qv1jkFpMeR8e1G5Abx41iFTHynyRvrAbg8cizLME5yvuwWEZm5TjnIUw1EcoNNL0wWcWOPAbh/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506035939280253826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Unfortunately, my rendition of Motoko Kusanagi's <a href="http://www.comicbookmovie.com/images/users/uploads/8073/ghost_in_the_shell_004.jpg">iconic pose</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >falls a little short when drawn from memory ^^;;</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 8: Fave animated character</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf7mTGNp7pPfbUy_o0wu_tFFuqS1UhGR-2Mp3sbgK-uSohgKjubXfVQwagy2JutLwpz-ODL7W8pYQdtSMsY482eBxN_t6x1DEKpzeAMhP5neyTk3uWw1DZKL2mxMFHnImtZ4EzdqCcsMB/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf7mTGNp7pPfbUy_o0wu_tFFuqS1UhGR-2Mp3sbgK-uSohgKjubXfVQwagy2JutLwpz-ODL7W8pYQdtSMsY482eBxN_t6x1DEKpzeAMhP5neyTk3uWw1DZKL2mxMFHnImtZ4EzdqCcsMB/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506036373408676754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Much to my delight, Yugo IS a bonafide animated character --</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I almost forgot this master negotiator had his own anime series!! XD</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Day 9: Fave TV show</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuu7kmfty7YihnkyE2R5t1gkyUK9toUa8Y53Cwa0_OD_01TWk3QqdHaz4zoIZ6BupG0aqZzF3Ycn-sL7oGhsv_h1sRzTx16Gr5XpgsFB5R5v_DVaFTWq2NvuD_RvxDCT4JOhQuESI_AGC/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuu7kmfty7YihnkyE2R5t1gkyUK9toUa8Y53Cwa0_OD_01TWk3QqdHaz4zoIZ6BupG0aqZzF3Ycn-sL7oGhsv_h1sRzTx16Gr5XpgsFB5R5v_DVaFTWq2NvuD_RvxDCT4JOhQuESI_AGC/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506036627095373250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I can't believe my mum still thinks</span> The Simpsons<span style="font-style: italic;"> is a kids' show! XD</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 10: Fave candy</span><br /></span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8838qtY_FaSzWwYg-XvJ4_E_D7vGvKhRr3N1GvNiXRyp2EaEA9qpx1xQEEFm0Iy4y7YmG9K6VnLlN0yzfWyiFH2twqOo30TetM6bX_ZKAbkktJV1kJVkkzjNCNkDmRsOTq2Pfq-t9NZy/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8838qtY_FaSzWwYg-XvJ4_E_D7vGvKhRr3N1GvNiXRyp2EaEA9qpx1xQEEFm0Iy4y7YmG9K6VnLlN0yzfWyiFH2twqOo30TetM6bX_ZKAbkktJV1kJVkkzjNCNkDmRsOTq2Pfq-t9NZy/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506036866451796978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >After all the terrible things that had happened to my teeth, I know I should be cutting back on sweets and the like.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This is definitely easier said than done (_ _)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >More to come soon! :3</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-20942792620427254002010-05-20T13:24:00.017+07:002011-07-12T23:15:58.485+07:00The Fifth Columnist finale is out out OUT! \(^.^)/<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYGnC5l7-2QGR28Q-lCJXuCDjddvfqAIDt0_AWBBOEDgDqxx7_xIwaT422cLsxaewcK-9fzGE9PyEnmlUR_XSTe94lyhxqYLOp6spastBhKf_jKdjNfZz2K2fW1UEYccxth4VlOqaiSlx/s512/fifth2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYGnC5l7-2QGR28Q-lCJXuCDjddvfqAIDt0_AWBBOEDgDqxx7_xIwaT422cLsxaewcK-9fzGE9PyEnmlUR_XSTe94lyhxqYLOp6spastBhKf_jKdjNfZz2K2fW1UEYccxth4VlOqaiSlx/s512/fifth2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473235063105556802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >...Well, it's been out since last week, but... :3</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The Fifth Columnist 2</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Elex Media </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">May 2010</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />114 x 172 mm, 216 pages</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />ISBN: 978-979-27-7329-3</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />The synopsis on the back read:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><blockquote>"A series of unfortunate events finally led Bishop to confront her partner, Helix.<br />But their much-anticipated duel would have to wait as a team of Soviet agents showed up to spray their apartment with bullets..." </blockquote></span><br />(Thank you <a href="http://huamulan03.blogspot.com/">Niki-chan</a> for 'helping out' with the translation! ^^)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Fifth 2</span> is the final volume in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Fifth </span>series, which sees Helix's true identity revealed and Bishop's persistence/courage put to the real test. While the ending still left a few things unanswered </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (albeit NOT intentionally! T.T), it marks the closure of the Helix and Bishop story 'arc' first concocted back in 2004.<br /><br />It goes without saying that the past few months have been such a joyride for yours truly, especially with the horde of new life-long friends made both in real life and online. I never seem to say this enough but thank you, thank you, THANK YOU again for all your support and for being such great fun! XD<br /><br />And... though these are not parting gifts but... enjoy them all the same :3<br /><br /><span>Image 1: A really old manga page, ca. 2006</span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQDaOjae6R7ePTME8PjWsKL_DVGBhtB7HvKSnkPHYcfToR0Ty2sSvWLWyfmoXYIt1OpstvQ6reJr-_OHIgeT3dUrW2GEm0GINChOf2jcGLFg3SN7hpBavBdbU5l0vMgOyYmTbztngfBC2/s512/manga2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQDaOjae6R7ePTME8PjWsKL_DVGBhtB7HvKSnkPHYcfToR0Ty2sSvWLWyfmoXYIt1OpstvQ6reJr-_OHIgeT3dUrW2GEm0GINChOf2jcGLFg3SN7hpBavBdbU5l0vMgOyYmTbztngfBC2/s512/manga2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473247781883799682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">All done with manual tones! O.O</span><br /><br /><span>Image 2: An old sketch of the first scene in <span style="font-style: italic;">Fifth 1</span>, ca. 2007</span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJP1AecNp9h5BBg-URTg25DxFlsHMjJmZOeCCM9uuIwuxsulIXnBmttk0WKcxrIJFK9GuHnSHE3YtOthc7Jg4YyPCdGjvvnan2oAfMAOC87uKwfrQ7r0u65_5OfesaJQk52Rz4HQIYuBK/s512/stairs.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJP1AecNp9h5BBg-URTg25DxFlsHMjJmZOeCCM9uuIwuxsulIXnBmttk0WKcxrIJFK9GuHnSHE3YtOthc7Jg4YyPCdGjvvnan2oAfMAOC87uKwfrQ7r0u65_5OfesaJQk52Rz4HQIYuBK/s512/stairs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473247782190290258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Image 3: Study of Helix in short hair, ca. 2006 </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v5CIAGDv6bJz7P7fpVypW-bqcjuRdh10uLWTPh8AKlF0z5PkOUxXO94m2Wzn0h4Km3Jb53a4eizuj33gPBOf2nRcQZ6KXCufvSVx5lxNMxd0myANWDbaOowljPrEFAVxVEe6lreUyAkN/s512/rolf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v5CIAGDv6bJz7P7fpVypW-bqcjuRdh10uLWTPh8AKlF0z5PkOUxXO94m2Wzn0h4Km3Jb53a4eizuj33gPBOf2nRcQZ6KXCufvSVx5lxNMxd0myANWDbaOowljPrEFAVxVEe6lreUyAkN/s512/rolf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473247790384469138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >His character design has changed somewhat since the beginning of the project ^^;<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Image 4</span><span>: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of the pages pitched to Elex editor in May 2007</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDo7LcA6rOZkeXdVKJNLQlYA04JTbXm1ORO2uJ-zaeI3VatHylwFtK6rBHCne7KXWL-vub5lxhHcweO_8CeGa-3k9kI_LAFAmN2ZjMo2Avy7fxNf6i1AiFSNZalqrxFwBRWKk3UEI3krJx/s512/drag1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDo7LcA6rOZkeXdVKJNLQlYA04JTbXm1ORO2uJ-zaeI3VatHylwFtK6rBHCne7KXWL-vub5lxhHcweO_8CeGa-3k9kI_LAFAmN2ZjMo2Avy7fxNf6i1AiFSNZalqrxFwBRWKk3UEI3krJx/s512/drag1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473247796111932546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This came from the scene when Bishop took Helix to safety after he was shot,<br />but limited space prompted me to omit this scene from volume 2 -_-" Digital tones were used.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span>Image 5: Light drawing of Bishop, Helix and Snatch :D</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxOc6lKjVzKmp4NTlXftH7O0LTJeQMT08Cv8_i8AXjXbtNTm53csJ6bII07Z_fOOKkY4y3knRv1Gpmn4bVXu3dXoyzeXAY4M5VwBmNNVP-oWWO4cQIJxxX4fSmsYw36s4-ZBluMj4HyDL/s512/copic_group.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxOc6lKjVzKmp4NTlXftH7O0LTJeQMT08Cv8_i8AXjXbtNTm53csJ6bII07Z_fOOKkY4y3knRv1Gpmn4bVXu3dXoyzeXAY4M5VwBmNNVP-oWWO4cQIJxxX4fSmsYw36s4-ZBluMj4HyDL/s512/copic_group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473247806922530514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Hehehe...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span>Image 6, 7 and 8: Just for fun!</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> :3</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CLXnumYdUTrZxtKJ0vce3YicoJ5sY58zJLP0S5q6Mdv-lRt856LAgPG-5_3kPxsGZ3L4a1fmuVPoydPXj8eh6f6qEE93REC1v51jV_uqoWl08nqCi6mAa_3Ur_acO53fQQj7J7LtGaQo/s512/73-R.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CLXnumYdUTrZxtKJ0vce3YicoJ5sY58zJLP0S5q6Mdv-lRt856LAgPG-5_3kPxsGZ3L4a1fmuVPoydPXj8eh6f6qEE93REC1v51jV_uqoWl08nqCi6mAa_3Ur_acO53fQQj7J7LtGaQo/s512/73-R.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473248140994196674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMCoFEXhlceNvvYu2S2f_yfS4eNywFCGRLi_0eXgH1ZYkL9Qp0KTWyTZs3isnnysuf1JRWyY2cPCVjzUW19IbuKxdm9ZHHw_TfnDwESnXSPEsdZCv-qy-9ZNgNA2LbYd_bXodKEMwHXF0/s720/139-R-copy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMCoFEXhlceNvvYu2S2f_yfS4eNywFCGRLi_0eXgH1ZYkL9Qp0KTWyTZs3isnnysuf1JRWyY2cPCVjzUW19IbuKxdm9ZHHw_TfnDwESnXSPEsdZCv-qy-9ZNgNA2LbYd_bXodKEMwHXF0/s720/139-R-copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473248137201790226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7L2W_ObT_WXAKl4aDGTh9AD9ytaer_-0XaAJOe0bq1FUALrdCe8-sMB6T8XR8VU4I7gqgBko0uQ2Riy_RImCUlwCN3dMFRQ2DgXVrwWzlrSCjORGvCiLdOTZd9ihfBh_fVL52yYZfBvB/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7L2W_ObT_WXAKl4aDGTh9AD9ytaer_-0XaAJOe0bq1FUALrdCe8-sMB6T8XR8VU4I7gqgBko0uQ2Riy_RImCUlwCN3dMFRQ2DgXVrwWzlrSCjORGvCiLdOTZd9ihfBh_fVL52yYZfBvB/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473248143422098754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">See you around! :D :D</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">NB: Some 18 of us had a <span style="font-style: italic;">Fifth 2 </span>mini-launching/friend's </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">belated </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> birthday party event last week in Jakarta, and <a href="http://anhourpickingnameforblog.blogspot.com/">Cyan-san</a> has kindly uploaded the video online! Check it out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0VKPCm23GM&feature=youtu.be">HERE</a>! ^^ </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*huggles*</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-4550908394771249482010-04-06T14:17:00.039+07:002011-07-12T23:11:29.424+07:00REVIEW: Yugo the Negotiator - The Endless War<span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWua00pMNPz0TB3FuxsUQBJAABCxlsz3GQxPYYF-jBepihlX1TIWvXI0dVyGA6_eA8uznDDx0xBGroE7Y-uPaPEPXHiFP-VGNEQw_sJelf9n1Ze1xUKj9cvxSNvNIAis8jog6uH0BCXujb/s512/yugo7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456923711779982978" style="width: 230px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWua00pMNPz0TB3FuxsUQBJAABCxlsz3GQxPYYF-jBepihlX1TIWvXI0dVyGA6_eA8uznDDx0xBGroE7Y-uPaPEPXHiFP-VGNEQw_sJelf9n1Ze1xUKj9cvxSNvNIAis8jog6uH0BCXujb/s512/yugo7.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Yugo the Negotiator 21 (of 22)</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Shinji Makari and Shu Akana</span><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Kodansha 2003, Elex Media (Level Comics) 2010</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><blockquote>"Yugo Beppu is a master negotiator and mediator. Fluency in five languages, Socratic wit, and a deep understanding of human nature combined with top-level international connections make him a formidable operator." <span style="font-style: italic;">-- Manga Updates</span><br /><br />"Yugo doesn’t kill people, nor does he threaten them with brute violence. He uses his extensive knowledge and calm judgment, and believes in the person’s true self." <span style="font-style: italic;">-- Wikipedia<br /></span></blockquote></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Yugo, Yugo, Yugo...</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Which self-respecting, intelligent and refined woman--<br />would not want to throw herself at you?</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*rite, enough fangirling now -_-*</span><br /><br />Admittedly, I am a hardcore fangirl of this series -- and not just because Yugo's recent incarnations have become more and more bishie in looks ^^; (blame Shu Akana!) For me, Yugo simply represents the best that seinen manga has to offer.<br /><br />Throughout his manga serialisation (which ran for a decade in Kodansha's <span style="font-style: italic;">Afternoon Magazine</span> beginning in 1994), the negotiator has saved the lives of many friends and foes, won the hearts of many a great man (from Pakistani Dacoits to Hong Kong triad leaders), all the while outwitting cunning juntas and politicians in a set of story arcs much grounded in reality.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The series also proved to be quite popular in Japan, as seen from the release of its animated TV version (2004) and publication of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunkobon">bunko</a> volumes straight after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank%C3%85%EF%BF%BDbon">tankous</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> concluded in volume 22. Several Yugo 'side stories' (or <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=29734">"Yugo II"</a>) have since appeared in Kodansha's <span style="font-style: italic;">Eveni</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">ng</span>,<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>in which Yugo acquired a new haircut(!) and encountered negotiations relatively closer to home. Eight books of this new serialization have been published to date.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now, as a loyal Yugo follower, I sometimes wondered why creators of the series chose to end <span style="font-style: italic;">Yugo I</span> in volume 22. I also wondered why they decided to start a new installment -- and deliberately gave Yugo a somewhat 'different' feel and persona -- when Yugo was doing just fine as he was.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Yugo the Negotiator 21</span> over the long Easter holiday last week had now made me realise: The second last arc of <span style="font-style: italic;">Yugo I</span> -- taking place in Paris and subtitled 'The Endless War' -- may have just marked the end of Yugo's beginning.<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Synopsis so far: </span>(<span style="font-style: italic;">compiling </span><span style="font-style: italic;">volumes 20 and 21</span>)<br />Yugo becomes involved in the Palestininian conflict in Paris when he joins a terrorist cell headed by Urji, member of the Palestine Liberation Movement who had lost his family in the conflict.<br /><br />Hounded by a team of sharp-thinking Mossad agents and the cell's extremely suicidal inclinations, what is Yugo's true intention and how can he get Urji and his Palestinian friends out of trouble?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arc characters:<br /></span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixAVGthWIRV_eIx0eTFbXDQG8i_JnS2qfVJwY-uxPAy57n53C71ykTP21Px3ut_YibM4DoaLEez-jzEZsmNHfsoupA0QxvvH7PgtIPBYrAJSoyBcy2Iw5SFokgnZf2ENzU-cg-diGBVXJ/s512/yugo6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456951543549614306" style="width: 222px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixAVGthWIRV_eIx0eTFbXDQG8i_JnS2qfVJwY-uxPAy57n53C71ykTP21Px3ut_YibM4DoaLEez-jzEZsmNHfsoupA0QxvvH7PgtIPBYrAJSoyBcy2Iw5SFokgnZf2ENzU-cg-diGBVXJ/s512/yugo6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* Palestinian cell members <span style="font-weight: bold;">Urji</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zagala </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Abdul</span><br />(in discussion with Yugo following a close call with Mossad agents)<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeTBFPMl3jTRH6Z89kBti6M3r1D_mS-nhBgAevNX8DNyd8v_SzG2mpT2Ql5vAOscsQ96xcNaSrcWWa8pzLnq0sfgc18jWk-Ok0SEkFPSWyvvlsCjQk1-MoAk1Um-v4YTJxVTaj82TcPbi/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456951533196688978" style="width: 167px; cursor: pointer; height: 241px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeTBFPMl3jTRH6Z89kBti6M3r1D_mS-nhBgAevNX8DNyd8v_SzG2mpT2Ql5vAOscsQ96xcNaSrcWWa8pzLnq0sfgc18jWk-Ok0SEkFPSWyvvlsCjQk1-MoAk1Um-v4YTJxVTaj82TcPbi/" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mustafa</span>, an orphaned Palestinian boy living with Urji and his friends in Paris</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RDf1xRwVCF3k7zgDay9YcjZDUZvpWiYYYt1P75klLirXFkr4i_Oa_7RBApydgRXYBVo9AzWohAJ4VIB2q78fPNdWQTPKN3lVSFUbtY4QBIpqIHw0_J8gmrqUXvJ7XdTO9rG2z4_aOwGx/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456951541243026482" style="width: 294px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RDf1xRwVCF3k7zgDay9YcjZDUZvpWiYYYt1P75klLirXFkr4i_Oa_7RBApydgRXYBVo9AzWohAJ4VIB2q78fPNdWQTPKN3lVSFUbtY4QBIpqIHw0_J8gmrqUXvJ7XdTO9rG2z4_aOwGx/" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aisha</span>, Mustafa's aunt and an apparent member of Urji's terrorist cell</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXoxlHOSq-aT03xQiXZmgaHqUTs88HOeUEqsBDT8xSJXCEmkZevcZgF7H1GZ3RM0u_3_DBw9FNJI72UABDBiHHDSUlf9zIZIvutabvuhtiZ55m8tpjBuLH7P9ZG9GNztpEE9Ri8fdexID/s512/yugo3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456923738531812226" style="width: 218px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXoxlHOSq-aT03xQiXZmgaHqUTs88HOeUEqsBDT8xSJXCEmkZevcZgF7H1GZ3RM0u_3_DBw9FNJI72UABDBiHHDSUlf9zIZIvutabvuhtiZ55m8tpjBuLH7P9ZG9GNztpEE9Ri8fdexID/s512/yugo3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ben</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Solomon </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gigi</span>: three Mossad agents stationed in Paris<br />(Though their roles aren't clearly specified in the book, Gigi is the team's de facto leader with Solomon acting as </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">fellow field operative</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Ben is the team's analyst and driver)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMgR429Lt3G65L1F_-YUzZvwonnKt6LQy8k_ErU4Ig8hxxlJS0dPBF4Cowfap0lMPBKNFLJ6oFMeQX6lV1XvC5oemva3i9ozRjuL-MnWBo9Cig82xvDCMBuhoAZaf9C_WzFD34QpTXqCt/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456923735826723986" style="width: 194px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMgR429Lt3G65L1F_-YUzZvwonnKt6LQy8k_ErU4Ig8hxxlJS0dPBF4Cowfap0lMPBKNFLJ6oFMeQX6lV1XvC5oemva3i9ozRjuL-MnWBo9Cig82xvDCMBuhoAZaf9C_WzFD34QpTXqCt/" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* A very <span style="font-style: italic;">emotional</span>, out-of-character <span style="font-weight: bold;">Yugo </span>>,<"</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Personal reactions a.k.a the fun part: </span>(<span style="font-style: italic;">spoiler alert!</span>)<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />There is a good reason why this final arc has been subtitled <span style="font-style: italic;">The Endless War</span>. With relatively more hard-boiled action, explosions and gasp-eliciting twists (that only became more apparent in volume 21), it was equally interesting to see Yugo feel <span style="font-style: italic;">defenceless</span> dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, dubbed as <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/v3_ip_timeline/html/default.stm">one of the most enduring and explosive in the world</a>.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Another plus point would be the arc's well-developed cast of supporting characters, particularly the three Mossad agents Gigi, Solomon and Ben. While Gigi becomes more sympathetic as the story progresses, Solomon establishes himself like an all-round nice guy and Ben... well, he only looks more intelligent and charming... like <a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/snatch.htm">another analyst I know</a>! XDD<br /><br />The creators also did well by steering clear of religious debates by attributing the Palestinians' extreme methods largely as a desperate plight over losing their home and everyone/everything they've loved. What's really touching is the overall notion the arc seems to suggest: that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can never be solved by one man alone -- even if that one man is the master negotiator.<br /><br />Last but not least, this story brings out Yugo's humane side more than ever before. Though misjudging/miscalculation of situations happens to the best of us at times, Yugo's gravest mistake is </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">to </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">apparently </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">underestimate the power of indoctrination (both religious and military) over those who feel like they have nothing else to lose in life.<br /><br />Personally, I'm guessing the whole episode would have left Yugo slightly 'traumatised' by the end that he'd decide to take a 'break' before returning as a slightly more mature Yugo in the new installment!! -- let's wait for that in volume 22, shall we!<br /><br /><br />For now, however, pardon me as I get back to drooling over Yugo and his rampant emotions ^^; After all, it's not everyday that you get to see Yugo so worked up like this:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH_Vg4Ow2hqyhlPabZQ5C5UxlABdcPC58Z-XP3InUIdBbx7ZVAdFet2_soRKlybjGuRYFSmorYGtrMqY9i-U0Gl5t5Pmo4YPtJ7ZKkWsC9qiNhC8LS17oyp-1IgYJG7wVPk_nG8-1Araw/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456923730696133442" style="width: 298px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH_Vg4Ow2hqyhlPabZQ5C5UxlABdcPC58Z-XP3InUIdBbx7ZVAdFet2_soRKlybjGuRYFSmorYGtrMqY9i-U0Gl5t5Pmo4YPtJ7ZKkWsC9qiNhC8LS17oyp-1IgYJG7wVPk_nG8-1Araw/" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">KYAA KYAAAA XDDD (poor Gigi always chasing after Yugo)</span><br /><br /><br />Thank you for reading my very long review! (^^;)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">-- Images scanned from </span>Yugo the Negotiator 20 & 21<span style="font-style: italic;">, Level Comics 2010</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">s</span><br /><br /></span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-38469190264267499372010-03-19T13:42:00.007+07:002011-07-12T23:06:01.489+07:00The Fifth Columnist 2 print previews ^^<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hello again and hope you're all alright this blissful (and scorching! -_-) Friday afternoon :D</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Just picked up the first proof print of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Fifth 2 </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">from my editor's office next door and am now trying to get it ready for an April release ^^; *darn those moire patterns!*</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enjoy! xD</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j3PSnUOAGbpiCf-OxS-Btuy4fNMbdJbujhe78KZXXWu0TIHJ0M4cJNjPxKGagK4EF2kPmT4JxII2UNE5Tzc_E9D4rDsEux1zXKEAKMmSaUdtk4wjXkxswEcv2oy67MpTxV9Feml7QNPW/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j3PSnUOAGbpiCf-OxS-Btuy4fNMbdJbujhe78KZXXWu0TIHJ0M4cJNjPxKGagK4EF2kPmT4JxII2UNE5Tzc_E9D4rDsEux1zXKEAKMmSaUdtk4wjXkxswEcv2oy67MpTxV9Feml7QNPW/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450233355631504930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Inside front cover -- am currently lobbying to get this printed in colour on art paper! ^^</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMYs_MmsqtBUYGc-wqnHPFSSzWWdB4wkus9j4OhQ1p6ppFeb1oHrJLJOlRuhqms8mG9zFDjnW-ce7Yh0UFe8ULEi7_2KN6rQaV6CmI_AiZ5sdp3jEydtRj8NDFZIHu0AYTcxYCFXwYjfD/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMYs_MmsqtBUYGc-wqnHPFSSzWWdB4wkus9j4OhQ1p6ppFeb1oHrJLJOlRuhqms8mG9zFDjnW-ce7Yh0UFe8ULEi7_2KN6rQaV6CmI_AiZ5sdp3jEydtRj8NDFZIHu0AYTcxYCFXwYjfD/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450233362623674082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/helix.htm">Helix</a> looking wet... and willing? xP (No, nothing that provocative actually...</span>)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That's about ALL I can spare unfortunately T_T</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For more fun activities and whatnots, check out the recent <a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/helix.htm">Helix</a> and <a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/snatch.htm">Snatch</a> alternative hairstyle parade, courtesy of comediennes <a href="http://twitpic.com/photos/raina_lie">@raina_lie</a> and </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://twitpic.com/photos/failedravenclaw">@failedravenclaw</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. I WAS supposed to craft a post about this amusing 'parade' but haven't got round to doing it yet, so sorry about that... +,+</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Until next time, folks! :)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-59016845190354390812010-02-05T13:11:00.010+07:002011-07-12T23:16:50.431+07:00Verdict and new poll ;)<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Happy Friday and a humble thank you for all the feedbacks received in recent weeks ^^ Hopefully everyone's alright and not too caught up with work (or lack thereof) this weekend!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My gratitude also to participating voters of the previous <strong>Favourite Character</strong> poll, which had finally come down to this:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXhQPc3PIIX8A33dY6JHEUfGun8eQ59VuwKVmeY6CYu0HVU7X7n8ax7x5nO39HNrQHZYVvycYY17Ojq8fadiv2n9Q8HlYoEbjAbppALVtb_XqLgC-OvL386MUpbflHohrBRlBEinRQ01J/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434640582889927234" style="WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXhQPc3PIIX8A33dY6JHEUfGun8eQ59VuwKVmeY6CYu0HVU7X7n8ax7x5nO39HNrQHZYVvycYY17Ojq8fadiv2n9Q8HlYoEbjAbppALVtb_XqLgC-OvL386MUpbflHohrBRlBEinRQ01J/" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em>That was pretty close, phfew! :)<br /></em></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em>(The 'Other' vote was most probably given to the <a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/china.htm">Dragon Lady</a> ^^)</em></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></em><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Meanwhile, a new poll has been fitted to the right-hand frame of this page (Blogspot viewers only) -- feel free to have your say so that yours truly could aim to please you better in the future :D</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Much love from andie :D<br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">*signing off and getting back to work*<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">s</span></span> </span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-70540888010869293132010-01-22T16:42:00.026+07:002011-07-12T23:17:49.693+07:00The Fifth Columnist 1 half-time assessment :)<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429497911511301282" style="WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVlnlBh2Wu1os7aS0Bt03bTAmhEw9MpDK55vE3AbwMlzADVtONk2jyRJr55ao2H_BpJDgMAnNTzePzAgynHWzi2jiluK4A2fY3oZceoanU7hJrPYWNHDioc1VpXyb_DJWQjJ1uAD2y-pX/s512/cover1f.jpg" border="0" /><br /><em><br />FINALLY, IT'S OUT! *tears of joy*</em><br /></span><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After several months of waiting (which felt like forever!), the release of <em><a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/books.htm">Fifth 1</a></em> in the Indonesian manga market on Jan 13, 2010 came like a huge relief for yours truly. This has been my first manga release and to be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Admittedly, one of the best things about having your work out in the open (ie. displayed in the bookstores right next to Masashi Asaki/Yuma Ando's </span><a href="http://komikelex.blogspot.com/2009/02/kunimitsu-yuma-ando-masashi-asaki.html"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kunimitsu</span></em></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and Jun Mochizuki's </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora_Hearts"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pandora Hearts</span></em></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">! >,<) is the feedback you can expect from readers -- both the negative and the positive. These precious opinions are exactly what a manga artist needs in the quest for producing better and greater things.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, without further ado, here's a <em>very</em> brief summary of the real-time and real-life feedbacks on <em>Fifth 1 </em>hitherto (as per Jan 22):</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong>Plus points:</strong> </em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />* Attractive cover<br />* Interesting, enticing storyline<br />* 'Fresh' espionage theme<br />* Distinct drawing style, not necessarily manga-esque but not typically Indonesian<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Minus points:</em><br /></strong><br />* Finishing: inking is often <a href="http://tezumo.blogspot.com/2009/03/mad-about-inking-part-1.html">sketchy, distracting and confusing</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* Story is built up to take a clichéd romantic direction</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">* Puzzling backstory due to large number of non-present characters</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">* Content does not closely resemble cover<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong><em>Then, on to some</em> interesting <em>points:<br /></em></strong><br />* A majority of readers consider <a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/helix.htm">Helix</a> their favourite character because he's "cool" and "gentlemanly"</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">* One reader expressed fascination to <a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/bishop.htm">Bishop</a>'s bust size X3</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">* One reader questioned artist's motive for using a Japanese-sounding last name (how observant! ^^)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* A couple of readers thought the cover drawing is reminiscent of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhwa">Manhwa</a>-style art<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Response to feedbacks:<br /><br /></em></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I will definitely try my best to consider all the above points when editing <em>Fifth 2</em> -- which was originally scheduled for release in February but could now come out as late as March or April! One emphasis would be on making sure that all loose ends are tied and another could be on patching up/redoing some pages to improve drawing quality (oh nooooo...)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />That's it for now, my humblest gratitude to everyone who has read/bought/borrowed the book and given their comments! ^^ Feel free to add your personal opinions below; constructive criticism is always welcome :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;"><br />s</span></div>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-23288706780657814672009-12-22T12:35:00.013+07:002011-07-12T23:19:00.592+07:00Teaser from The Fifth Columnist Hong Kong act<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The holidays are lurking just around the corner, so here's an early season's greetings to all :)</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoryBm5ZP9DYQMl8Vb_mu9_qGybTWwV_ic_YkZBIBbSEHJmkYjH_greEkXKRlaEXflHj1pjCLcZvaga-4ieMTe29NUj8O768kqat0WqPJ8sOgj9GBpZYqWghuHa6YHS5Ct_VDwp-fpcLL/s512/108%252520L%252520copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417931519706016306" style="WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoryBm5ZP9DYQMl8Vb_mu9_qGybTWwV_ic_YkZBIBbSEHJmkYjH_greEkXKRlaEXflHj1pjCLcZvaga-4ieMTe29NUj8O768kqat0WqPJ8sOgj9GBpZYqWghuHa6YHS5Ct_VDwp-fpcLL/s512/108%252520L%252520copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Hong Kong, People's Republic of China<br />A place where old junks / meet glistening skyscrapers<br />A place where millions go to make their living /<br />whether they make it / or not</em></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLgfAhm2qCuwlALleWwFHsxP44RWittQS30KwcAhEVJn0GkLmddnChUudiVf7E4Eb1OyVGq0DAZBug8euwf_N_nSkU2NT4v7k9L74y0P5h9LR-ql4wKbsXotLFJADqZ5mZr0Mdm4iK9s4/s512/109%252520R%252520copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417931882321459922" style="WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLgfAhm2qCuwlALleWwFHsxP44RWittQS30KwcAhEVJn0GkLmddnChUudiVf7E4Eb1OyVGq0DAZBug8euwf_N_nSkU2NT4v7k9L74y0P5h9LR-ql4wKbsXotLFJADqZ5mZr0Mdm4iK9s4/s512/109%252520R%252520copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Underneath the hustle and bustle of the metropolis /<br />the struggle over fame and power endures<br />And / we're / all / but / pawns<br />In this game of spies and men</em></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-84671385244612891672009-12-21T11:51:00.016+07:002011-07-12T23:21:29.134+07:00Interview with Machiko Maeyama-san<span style="color:#ffffff;">s</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil62WsATO7uxld5BZN067ZAlgqkFROd4iQUPRBpbNHzmkUE0L2aiFZuWMITKuF5bUSYL9Lfi63EKEL0mvtJTGwTus3WUhYxb6PyRY8v_-lwryrheHoJ0RX6O8pWDas-ml2lYr131-PfpNm/s512/machiko-copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417552706777582434" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil62WsATO7uxld5BZN067ZAlgqkFROd4iQUPRBpbNHzmkUE0L2aiFZuWMITKuF5bUSYL9Lfi63EKEL0mvtJTGwTus3WUhYxb6PyRY8v_-lwryrheHoJ0RX6O8pWDas-ml2lYr131-PfpNm/s512/machiko-copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of the reasons for liking my day job: most of the time, we get to meet new interesting people and learn new things about the world we live in! :) That was definitely the case when I had the chance to meet and interview Machiko Maeyama, manga teacher and founder of the <a href="http://www.sabeso.com/manga">Machiko Manga School</a> in Kemang, south Jakarta earlier this month.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In all, the <em>sensei</em> was a delight to interview: her Indonesian was expressive (local slangs and all); she had answers for nearly everything; and -- perhaps the best part of all -- she delivered plenty of quotable remarks ie. words of wisdom to help put both fun and depth into an article (not to mention inspire the part-time <em>mangaka</em> in yours truly!).<br /><br />Here is what she had to say about the state of today's global manga market as well as insights to a life of manga-making, as published in <em><a href="http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/20/the-race-aspiring-mangaka.html">The Jakarta Post</a></em> on Dec 20, 2009:</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The race is on for aspiring mangaka</span><br /></strong>Andrea Tejokusumo</span></div><div>The Jakarta Post/Jakarta<span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br /><em>Part of a generation growing up on steady supplies of Japanese comic books, many young Indonesians today aspire to become professional manga artists for a living. Their challenge, as pointed out by manga teacher Machiko Maeyama, lies foremost in putting their hearts and minds into the profession.</em><br /><br />There’s something to be said about Japan’s impeccable pace for progress. Ever since Western ships docked its harbors in the latter half of 19th century, the remote island nation has catapulted at full throttle to becoming one of the world's largest economies and exporter of cultural products from cars to cuisine and comic books.<br /><br />The modern traditions of Japanese comic book (manga) and animation (anime) could be traced to as recently as 1940s post-war Japan, with </span><a href="http://tezukaosamu.net/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Osamu Tezuka</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">'s <em>Mighty Atom</em> (<em>Astro Boy</em>) and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machiko_Hasegawa"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Machiko Hasegawa</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">’s <em>Sazae-san</em> leading the pack as pioneer works influencing all genres and styles to come.<br /><br />Far from being mere fantasies of beautiful characters with large eyes and long legs, manga has today gained a cult status taking a whole global generation’s lifestyles and aspirations by storm.<br /><br />“A decade or so ago, [the comic markets of] US and Europe were a lot more skeptical of the Japanese manga style - perhaps due to its [stereotypically] lanky male character design. Now they see it as a fresh alternative to the macho superhero genre,” said Machiko Maeyama, manga artist and founder of the Machiko Manga School in Kemang, south Jakarta.<br /><br />Machiko-<em>sensei</em>, as she is normally addressed by students, migrated to Indonesia with her Japanese journalist husband in 1996. Her manga school first opened doors in 2002 after seeing the public’s enthusiastic response when she was leading a series of manga seminars and workshops with the </span><a href="http://www.jpf.or.id/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Japan Foundation</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">.<br /><br />She has witnessed first-hand the development of “manga mania” in Indonesia over the years. Her three published manga volumes to date had even been worked on while living in the country, with all editorial assistance and brainstorming done via telephone, fax or (later) emails.<br /><br />“Technology has made work more convenient nowadays. Back in the New Order era, I’ve had to go to a telecommunication kiosk (<em>wartel</em>) to fax my editor in Japan,” she reminisced.<br /><br />Of all the students she has taught, many have finished the course and are now treading the path of the professional manga artist. Machiko mentioned a particularly capable Dr. Vivian, a woman in her 30s who had been working as a plastic surgeon in Ireland before moving back to Indonesia.<br /><br />“Vivian attended manga classes in between her work here. She had since moved to Japan and traded her scalpel for [manga tools like] G-pen and <em>maru</em>-pen,” said Machiko. “She is extremely serious about pursuing her manga career.”<br /><br />Aside from Vivian, who is now assistant to a famous professional Japanese <em>mangaka</em> and looking to release her debut comic in Japan, Machiko’s other students have also been published either locally or in the US.<br /><br />The latter proves a popular market for Indonesian artists to break into, thanks to its wide readership network and relative acceptance of works sporting liberal themes such as homosexuality and fetishes.<br /><br />When speaking about the quality of Indonesia’s home-grown manga artists, Machiko reckoned the current generation has succeeded in bringing forth originality in their works. Nevertheless, she found it regrettable that many have not been able to pursue their manga career professionally.<br /><br />“As a professional, you're not just producing manga for yourself. You’d need to consider the market,” she said, adding that Japanese <em>mangaka</em> have come to understand this “make or break” motto very well.<br /><br />Japan’s popular manga market represents a fast changing mix of trends and demographics, requiring artists to contribute pages to “comic magazines” published at intervals before they could compile all published chapters in a full manga volume or <em>tankobon</em>.<br /><br />One of the current hit manga comic series in Japan, <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakuman">Bakuman</a></em>, details the story of two teenagers trying to make a manga debut while still in school. Readers receive a questionnaire postcard at the end of each issue with a rating system, which puts readers in direct control of deciding which artists should or should not feature in the next issue.<br /><br />Putting aside the issue of tough competition among artists, other problems have rapidly risen in the wake of advanced computing and imbalance of manga supply and demand leading to piracy and unauthorized distribution.<br /><br />All over the Internet today, scanlation (scanned translation) groups are offering free or paid comic reading that have been scanned, translated and edited by and for members. Historically, it was considered “safe” to scanlate series that had not been commercially released in the country of distribution, but there have been some mixed views from publishers and copyright holders alike.<br /><br />As Machiko pointed out, Japanese publishers have also begun taking action to hold their share of the market. One way is to </span><a href="http://www.the-games-blog.com/shueisha-microsoft-team-up-to-spread-manga-to-mobile-phones/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">directly sell comics in digital format</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> (to ease distribution) while planting anti-piracy features on the product.<br /><br />Still in the topic of copyrights, Machiko noted that the Japanese <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C5%8Djinshi">doujinshi</a></em> market had grown extensively from its modest beginnings a couple of decades ago, to the point that it has become “a formidable business for both creators and fans.”<br /><br /><em>Doujinshi</em> are self-published works created by amateurs and professionals that can be broadly divided into original works or <em>aniparo</em> (parody of existing anime and manga series). By publishing outside the regular industry, artists retain full rights to sales as well as other profits.<br /><br />Machiko said: “In the past, the usual route for a manga series was to appear firstly in comic magazines, compiled into a full volume, then made into an animation or live-action movie if it popular. The process is much variable now.<br /><br />“Even before a series makes it into a magazine, editors can already stage meetings with animators, merchandisers and other industry players to assess the story’s potential.”<br /><br />She considered this the way forward as projects involving teams would most likely yield more effective results than those created single-handedly. She also believed comic books still had their own merit despite advances in digital media or 3D animation, thanks to their ability to bring stories and characters to life while still leaving room for readers’ imagination.<br /><br />Her message to aspiring Indonesian <em>mangaka</em> is this: “So long as you’re happy, do it. Have a message to tell your readers while keeping your distinct way of life and characteristics. This is how you can improve your level as a manga artist.”<br /><br /><em>Arigatou</em>, Machiko-<em>sensei</em>! </span><br /><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...And thank you everyone for reading! :)<br /><br />Some more pictures from the visit to the manga school:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeco-SnH3i9L5mgeRP9BX3uCLMjqBdQtP67gCLPHjaqbLmB6muIU7kWZB1GhbWoxyYJ81guYn5ddkqd_RmBuw_ygZyuJVrl3RsJZ5MNxLc6V3Qu7br4KWuc0pl3gEya8_eZLj5KAIQ4d5L/s512/drawing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417565359180695314" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeco-SnH3i9L5mgeRP9BX3uCLMjqBdQtP67gCLPHjaqbLmB6muIU7kWZB1GhbWoxyYJ81guYn5ddkqd_RmBuw_ygZyuJVrl3RsJZ5MNxLc6V3Qu7br4KWuc0pl3gEya8_eZLj5KAIQ4d5L/s512/drawing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Impromptu colouring by the </em>sensei<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuGFrJsQRtpGrPMTpV8uvRFj4-OfmzC1COyASBzIkDpt0-lmlQ5BJiQhk2tpA6_u4pJXiEIfkCcf4yA-UdwzXO6sWVVla2H-dt57d23ekOeW0kmkMr-nSBNBZy5y03YYvIY1731oP-0v6/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417565837976757906" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuGFrJsQRtpGrPMTpV8uvRFj4-OfmzC1COyASBzIkDpt0-lmlQ5BJiQhk2tpA6_u4pJXiEIfkCcf4yA-UdwzXO6sWVVla2H-dt57d23ekOeW0kmkMr-nSBNBZy5y03YYvIY1731oP-0v6/" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Occupied young teenagers in colouring class</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MaGMUdP515IBrPOM51yUg1GmmQzL4gw0BOlpEVtQxOn6zRyG-N2pLwxvToei2F5xSsqnrnF__xylsroSr3edWlIZB5AOIatubSEIdOyfZd7_7DLSzbaZwuMFe2GAb0HTsy-O4GWX6Y7h/s512/koji.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417566117650175986" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MaGMUdP515IBrPOM51yUg1GmmQzL4gw0BOlpEVtQxOn6zRyG-N2pLwxvToei2F5xSsqnrnF__xylsroSr3edWlIZB5AOIatubSEIdOyfZd7_7DLSzbaZwuMFe2GAb0HTsy-O4GWX6Y7h/s512/koji.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_40-YaTVi57Y/Sy8OghvZbcI/AAAAAAAAAP8/25BjcTR7DMk/s1600-h/drawing.jpg"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_40-YaTVi57Y/Sy8OghvZbcI/AAAAAAAAAP8/25BjcTR7DMk/s1600-h/drawing.jpg"></a><em>Machiko-</em>sensei<em>, a fangirl?? This, apparently, is her Copic rendition of darling hearthrob </em><a href="http://www.watanabepro.co.jp/mypage/artist/setokouji.html"><em>Kouji Seto</em></a><em>.<br /><br />(Upon being asked who my favourite J-celeb was, I lamely answered "</em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsuo_Kurata"><em>Tetsuo Kurata</em></a><em>"; but then quickly added: "Actually </em>sensei<em>,</em> saya lebih suka <em>(I prefer) </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaijin">gaijin</a><em>.") ^^<br /></em></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">s</span></div></span></div></div></div></div></div>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-65920502914090330642009-12-14T15:35:00.012+07:002009-12-14T17:25:37.830+07:00Fifth 1 release date slated to January 2010<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Somewhat expectedly, the release of <em>The Fifth Columnist vol.1</em> has been postponed to the first week of January 2010. I remember feeling more relieved than disappointed when hearing the news -- especially after seeing the drastic font changes made to the book's front and back covers! :P<br /><br />Hopefully the second volume can directly follow suit and be out by first week February 2010 (still keeping all those fingers and toes crossed!) x{>.<}x</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-87315444036242884142009-12-10T01:14:00.020+07:002011-07-12T23:25:49.071+07:00The Copic experiment, part 1<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After a brief visit to <a href="http://www.sabeso.com/manga/">Machiko Manga School</a> in Kemang for work last week, I realised nothing was ever too late to begin exploring new manga techniques -- even if it meant spending hard-earned money on seemingly frivolous art materials!<br /><br />I am, of course, talking about the famous <a href="http://copicmarker.com/">Copic</a> markers and their impossibly wide spectrum of colours (334 upon last count!), eight of which I managed to reluctantly purchase the other day:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOjOZDasNPciT3Frmbs7NcSkd1kXexw7tmgxm5LuAEoEXzBvk5jCStpNTBIYJwo3zYdzVXJM_GCMEq02CqtbJt6GeB4Ry4L0OROnHQKq7cilQbDwnX-WMnDqw8OWvaPlPyKyFmaD4azif/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413305533920668530" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 288px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOjOZDasNPciT3Frmbs7NcSkd1kXexw7tmgxm5LuAEoEXzBvk5jCStpNTBIYJwo3zYdzVXJM_GCMEq02CqtbJt6GeB4Ry4L0OROnHQKq7cilQbDwnX-WMnDqw8OWvaPlPyKyFmaD4azif/" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><br /></span>In an effort to convince oneself that this new 'investment' had been worth the while, I've been using the markers on various experimental drawings that have only confirmed my suspicion that <em>a manga artist can never have too many Copics...</em> just as a girl can't have too many shoes -__-<br /><br />As much as I find Copic's waterproof quality convenient, the fact also means you cannot </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">effectively </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">blend colours unless using the brand's <a href="http://ilikemarkers.blogspot.com/2008/06/more-about-colorless-blender.html">Colourless Blender</a>, which is yet another marker to buy! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was particularly difficult to render shadows and values given the limited colour choices, as can be seen from t</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">hese drawings -- sketched using the eight-colour set </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">above:<br /><br />Image 1</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnx6vWNIXPzpYPWjwl2FHeyocZn5zNXPWBQwnTJU6fPo158gv7jh9M_shZIm98dfNQ2FiAtSRQYv5wIiHYEvH6WWtz9ZmBmONaCTBWJUzXVD4lTL1KuRsom9mFdnQD9Ir8vsRH9TdDKlc/s512/missb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413314989719115106" style="WIDTH: 164px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnx6vWNIXPzpYPWjwl2FHeyocZn5zNXPWBQwnTJU6fPo158gv7jh9M_shZIm98dfNQ2FiAtSRQYv5wIiHYEvH6WWtz9ZmBmONaCTBWJUzXVD4lTL1KuRsom9mFdnQD9Ir8vsRH9TdDKlc/s512/missb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong>Plus point(s):</strong> The thighs and hair @,@</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong>Minus point(s):</strong> Creases on the blouse and the painfully 'sprained' neck ;P</em><br /><br />Image 2</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9c9VnsF8ylP3N0J9eAHRGXbxZskjT2JcAOIIFIDLsg-GY4AifgVeY5jd4Z1JEjNl46-Ea3HcJUcIC0rpf7e15jiMJt1hDf6bvS8TQJIV7_eMrGWz2kM-K_LZlMIXwXeWsFevecrKYm15/s512/mares.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413316382301960754" style="WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9c9VnsF8ylP3N0J9eAHRGXbxZskjT2JcAOIIFIDLsg-GY4AifgVeY5jd4Z1JEjNl46-Ea3HcJUcIC0rpf7e15jiMJt1hDf6bvS8TQJIV7_eMrGWz2kM-K_LZlMIXwXeWsFevecrKYm15/s512/mares.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Plus point(s):</strong> That leg looks divine! ;P<br /><strong>Minus point(s):</strong> Could do with some background and more precise hand positioning/angling. Also, his head looks a little large?<br /></span></em><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Thoughts/comments so far: </strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Copic's relative ease of control and precise colouring prove very flattering indeed, even when applied on plain sketches! ;P Give it some practice and more colour variants, and I'll be happy to do more manual colouring for that distinctively manga look ^^</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-56005838090979597812009-12-03T01:45:00.019+07:002011-07-12T23:24:21.873+07:00Preview in Elex Komikologi for December 2009<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span>Finally, the long-awaited moment of truth is nearly come! The last time I heard from my hardworking comic editor (bless her heart!)<span style="font-style: italic;">,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Fifth 1 </span>is scheduled for release in the fourth</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span>week of December. I can't tell you how giddy/anxious/nervous I am counting the days... if only those proof prints could get done in time!! >,< </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1H2oHI6QGlPgl-DpwFsCncQY6eBlSPmf2HEbIfH1uGAk3tEjthSX_YEVfW1V6FBUgB0Yce7P7XYp3pV5Q8AWPuEfRYnhTCCXZOw3VUUl_s4nbJvltb16HTuJH-38FF4TzBR9F4xYLatC/s720/komikologi1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1H2oHI6QGlPgl-DpwFsCncQY6eBlSPmf2HEbIfH1uGAk3tEjthSX_YEVfW1V6FBUgB0Yce7P7XYp3pV5Q8AWPuEfRYnhTCCXZOw3VUUl_s4nbJvltb16HTuJH-38FF4TzBR9F4xYLatC/s720/komikologi1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410712171679153346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.elexmedia.co.id/">Elex Media</a>'s 'Komikologi', December 2009</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlw9arBo7nmXYLqj6L52KkMa97gF2iobLXwtcCVX42uzmCQIx3qh4O3bylOko5mPO3sSIdzrRryqsCbZklThgYEkYwSpQL_K1LTcN7MSlb-oHgoX4fxG-I0koRDSFx5UBrPYMgMoI4p6z/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlw9arBo7nmXYLqj6L52KkMa97gF2iobLXwtcCVX42uzmCQIx3qh4O3bylOko5mPO3sSIdzrRryqsCbZklThgYEkYwSpQL_K1LTcN7MSlb-oHgoX4fxG-I0koRDSFx5UBrPYMgMoI4p6z/" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410712879781091474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span> <span style="font-style: italic;">A simple statement was all it took to be doubtful of my </span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">new alpha-agent of a partner. How did a former German army recruit end up as a British spy? More importantly, why couldn't our unit chief stop bragging about how good this man was?<br /></span><span>(Sorry, some things inevitably got lost in translation... T__T)<br /><br /><br />Thank you for the preview, Elex! ^^<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">s</span><br /></span></span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-16868146228837152042009-12-01T11:16:00.024+07:002009-12-03T01:45:25.364+07:00Manga marketing for dummies @_@<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Being a full-time writer/journalist whose life revolves around words (or struggling over lack thereof!), I consider myself the exact opposite of a sales/marketing guru.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this does not grant me immunity from the golden 'curse' of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing_mix"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Marketing Mix,</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> which basically states that in order for a product to succeed in the market, you'd need to address the four issues of <strong>Product</strong>, <strong>Pricing</strong>, <strong>Placement</strong> and <strong>Promotion</strong> effectively.<br /><br />Out of the four Ps above, <strong>Product</strong> is visibly the only element that a typical manga artist has control of. <strong>Pricing</strong> and <strong>Placement</strong>, on the other hand, can get a bit tricky since they are largely owed to each publisher's discernments -- though you can always try lobbying!<br /><br />Last but not least there is <strong>Promotion</strong>, which to me represents something else entirely... <em>(to be continued)</em></span><em><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></em><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-12770296360993214022009-10-01T16:55:00.012+07:002011-07-12T23:38:46.847+07:00Done! (but not quite dusted)<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hurrah! Thanks to several days off work and a highly-appreciated-yet-unexpected help from my mother(!), <em>The Fifth Columnist</em> manga project has finally wrapped up! Here's a toast to family bonds and all those sleepless nights spent working in front of the computer, not to mention the pounds I've managed to unhealthily shed over the past few weeks! (well at least that's ONE good news :D :D)</span> <div><div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">So tonight I'll be doing some last-minute touch ups, saving and burning image and text files and readying them for shipping tomorrow (by 'shipping' I mean 'delivering the dummy and CD to my editor's office right next to mine' in Palmerah^^)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">However, as the end looms for the project, a newfound concern has just sprung up. I was talking with the comic editor this afternoon and was reminded of the 'meagre' amount of exemplars that will be published of my comic (a few thousand only? buhuhu).</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">After thinking it through, though, this is probably not so much of a bad news. I heard that from second printing onwards the process would be less bureucratic and that the publisher would generally be quite alert when it comes to recognising market demands. So I should just leave it to them to decide what's best for me!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Still, I can't help being a little disappointed... especially since the comic's publication date would be slightly delayed too! Oh well, it doesn't hurt to wait just a couple more months I suppose... ^^</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Despite these two setbacks (and a horrid PMS that leaves me feeling down), I am otherwise feeling ECSTATIC! Frankly, I can't even believe this could well be the end of my 2.5-year ordeal to get <em>Fifth </em>done. To show how relieved I am, I'd like to share a few glimpses from <em>Fifth </em>here. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Oh, and to wrap the post up, I'd like to express my condolences regarding the death of mangaka Yoshito Usui. His work will be missed by many :~~( </span></div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQzdI2pbMRPPm2gNHQFXEiY60mnLtnIqtOjUUgEpN9ipPExeUo1l_p8K_NjBMstsaD7i8QkX33cOHB9TUlNAhNjnpyCBy7KQXLoyaeFhW0-WnmCUAlZBFMXoZ8i0tEVo808xFZvIFGxc6/"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrmtha_HDP8iJubi0IGqT4CM6jOqz15CV9pNL4X7CeWmsqIoMwMOlDFvyCVOfrJ7JSv83wZCothX5ZPgtqCWPFx4XHzzQMqWYOC6yiQ8GStwyfbaqKm1NUjVnjDPo46pvcc_IdY7QAurU/s512/212%252520L%252520copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387576261327661074" style="width: 212px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrmtha_HDP8iJubi0IGqT4CM6jOqz15CV9pNL4X7CeWmsqIoMwMOlDFvyCVOfrJ7JSv83wZCothX5ZPgtqCWPFx4XHzzQMqWYOC6yiQ8GStwyfbaqKm1NUjVnjDPo46pvcc_IdY7QAurU/s512/212%252520L%252520copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqTk74eGfhdkVXA8OD-DlrugzVPwdwdOgkCLh7Q7Fmwd7QuBdtov4IAU6VB6lclV7QD_j-r0mimEjrrGKm2_YTP6ScRuI8uHKjb5zkUzpCmw7kk6L8Yo-Y8NiKyCb6rciN7HSlsmX4xlK/s512/3-R-copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387577247994479490" style="width: 212px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqTk74eGfhdkVXA8OD-DlrugzVPwdwdOgkCLh7Q7Fmwd7QuBdtov4IAU6VB6lclV7QD_j-r0mimEjrrGKm2_YTP6ScRuI8uHKjb5zkUzpCmw7kk6L8Yo-Y8NiKyCb6rciN7HSlsmX4xlK/s512/3-R-copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tonight, everything will end.</span></em></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQzdI2pbMRPPm2gNHQFXEiY60mnLtnIqtOjUUgEpN9ipPExeUo1l_p8K_NjBMstsaD7i8QkX33cOHB9TUlNAhNjnpyCBy7KQXLoyaeFhW0-WnmCUAlZBFMXoZ8i0tEVo808xFZvIFGxc6/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387577429498219282" style="width: 320px; height: 242px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQzdI2pbMRPPm2gNHQFXEiY60mnLtnIqtOjUUgEpN9ipPExeUo1l_p8K_NjBMstsaD7i8QkX33cOHB9TUlNAhNjnpyCBy7KQXLoyaeFhW0-WnmCUAlZBFMXoZ8i0tEVo808xFZvIFGxc6/" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">s</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div></div></div>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-47283204411228363402009-06-02T16:43:00.015+07:002009-12-01T12:27:15.306+07:00The deadline draws nearer...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's mind-blowing to think that <em>The Fifth Columnist</em> manga project was first kicked off in May 2007, and is still not finished now come June 2009. It is also a bit scary. </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Among the aspects that make it necessarily so is the fact that I've set October 2009 as the release date for volume 1, and that prospect seems very bleak right now. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">As of now, there are two more chapters in <em>Fifth</em> for me to sketch, ink and tone -- and it really doesn't help that they are both the story's climax and denouement. Chapters 11 ('Verdict') and 12 ('Endgame') would have to be thoroughly worked on so they could reveal all the truths, motives and sub-texts only briefly glimpsed in previous chapters.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">With that in mind, here is what I envision these two last chapters to do</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>1. Tie up all loose ends</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">These chapters will provide solution to all conflicts introduced in chapters 1 through 10</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>2. Build a sense of imminent, inescapable conclusion (particularly in chapter 11)</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I'm still a bit concerned about this, since contrary to some of the past chapters, there will be no bloodshed/all-out action scene of that sort in the climax. It worries me because I still want a bit of a bang in the climax instead of a fizz (seeing how much I hate flat Coke!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>3. Make more logical twists and solve them right there and then</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This can be hard to do within 70 pages, but so far it's looking promising</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>4. Maintain and increase tension despite lack of straight-forward action scene</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">One way to do this is by using stark black and white contrast and strategically placed tone work</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>5. Evoke reader's sympathy</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If possible, I want the reader to sympathise with other characters and not just the main lead -- as that is what the script requires!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Phfew! Will it be possible to incorporate all this in one go? I certainly hope so. However, it seems that I won't be able to reach these objectives with my current level of artistic skill. I'll need to brush up a lot (and fast!) to meet the August deadline in order to get the script and pages ready for October release ;___;</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">It's not impossible, but very tricky! And I'm keeping my fingers crossed as always!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-29103685257601937672009-03-19T16:40:00.015+07:002011-07-12T23:39:46.191+07:00Of personalities and looks, part 1<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When designing new characters these days, I always refer to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers_briggs">Myers and Briggs' 16 classic human temperaments</a>, which I find to have been remarkably accurate to date. Basically the whole point is to categorise your character's personality based on these four distinct groups:<br /><br />1. Extraverted (E) or Introverted (I)?<br />2. Intuitive (N) or Sensoric (S)?<br />3. Thinker (T) or Feeler (F)?</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">4. Judger (J) or Perceiver (P)?<br /><br />As a result you get 16 possible types such as ESFP ("The Performer") or INTJ ("The Scientist"), whereby each type can have sets of wildly different interests, skills and motivations. I myself happen to be an ENFP ("The Inspirer"), or so I think -__-, which I discovered after taking <a href="http://personalitytype.com/quiz.asp">this really simple test</a>.<br /><br />Now, though information on these 16 types are widely available on the net, variations are abound. Personally, I've always been coming back to the analyses found on </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://typelogic.com/">typelogic.com</a>, because not only does it describe to you what each of the 16 types is all about, it also offers some kind of type-relationship logic to help you determine how the types interact with one another in a corresponding manner.<br /><br />For example, the ENFJ and ESTP types are considered to be "Supplemental" to each other. According to typelogic, this means "each can add to the other's strengths". The ISTJ and the ESTJ types, similarly, have a "Pal" relationship, meaning that they "work and play well together with a minimal natural type conflict".<br /><br />But pair up an ENFP and an INFJ and you'll have a "Contrast", which will have these two types "pointing and counterpointing on each function" -- a great tool for setting your heroes and villains apart!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">What's fascinating about this logic is that it seems to work for most of my created characters and even for myself. Let's derive an example from two characters in <em>The Fifth Columnist</em>, <a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/bishop.htm">Bishop</a> and <a href="http://thefifthcolumnist.com/snatch.htm">Snatch</a>.<br /><br /></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Image 1: Bishop giving Snatch a friendly kiss<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mR8me8ScxNlBgWV4VCMwJTLLsgxAkCZhPHIlHtwGMXfy_6cphB8Y5AAieUeo0EPegFxX6Ap7K5cp_chCQ8brkcP1CjfZZBqs03jjWob0OpUhHxilpCgC_BeNrtJ-i7YjtP7SujylQe6C/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314842283018176402" style="width: 250px; height: 277px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mR8me8ScxNlBgWV4VCMwJTLLsgxAkCZhPHIlHtwGMXfy_6cphB8Y5AAieUeo0EPegFxX6Ap7K5cp_chCQ8brkcP1CjfZZBqs03jjWob0OpUhHxilpCgC_BeNrtJ-i7YjtP7SujylQe6C/" border="0" /></a><br /><em>"Hello, Snatch. Long time no see!"<br /></em><br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Needless to say, these two look like good friends and seem to have a good chemistry going on between them, though not necessarily a sexual one (for Bishop, at least ^^). After running some personality tests, I found out that Bishop is an ENFJ while Snatch is an ESTP... so "Supplemental" it is!<br /><br />When you consider that these characters were created years before I started learning about the 16 personality types, no wonder it had me chuffed!<br /><br />Since I was so excited about the premise of applying this type logic on all my characters and making their interaction more believable, I made the following graph in Excel based on the information found on the typelogic website:<br /><br /><br />Image 2: 'THE' graph </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9DJ_iv4D2RJZmSNVzCwo1hzQ-ZSJNJOylg3iEXVmtuIiM2LuqMNhKzVZEjfkx4IdlSnMAjxDftEsOcYvrGd8AjbAu94TpMQOKpz1RhkQXXeLJ6d5lSEl9jdaDKX0kTeisIet-ApfFy2B/s800/types.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314847338027471058" style="width: 320px; height: 202px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9DJ_iv4D2RJZmSNVzCwo1hzQ-ZSJNJOylg3iEXVmtuIiM2LuqMNhKzVZEjfkx4IdlSnMAjxDftEsOcYvrGd8AjbAu94TpMQOKpz1RhkQXXeLJ6d5lSEl9jdaDKX0kTeisIet-ApfFy2B/s800/types.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />If this does not look geeky to you, I don't know what does! :P<br /><br />Now, here is a subsequent question which will be addressed on part 2: <strong>Does your character's personality type affect the way he/she looks?<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">s</span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div></div></span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-86869858873490363422009-03-18T12:15:00.033+07:002011-07-12T23:40:48.086+07:00Mad about inking<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Each manga artist has his/her own demons, and for me that's got to be INKING. This particular process takes up the largest portion of my drawing time and even if I've been doing it for nearly two years now, for some reason I still can't get it right!<br /><br />I've tried using 'real' manga pens before -- the G-pens, maru pens and saji-pens -- but being a 'Wood Rat' by birth (mind you, I don't normally believe in horoscopes, either Chinese or Western ^^), I'm bound to have my fair share of jinxes when dealing with water-based elements. So I switched to mechanical inked pens, those cheaper versions of Rotring you can normally find in any bookstore in Jakarta. Yet this still hasn't salvaged me of my inking hell.<br /><br />For one, I will almost always make erronous strokes in each panel and end up having to use up bottle after bottle of Pentel's blue metal-tipped white-out, which almost certainly runs out after a chapter of 32-36 pages or so (or up to two chapters if I'm lucky).<br /><br />Not only does it bug me to have to wait for the white-out to dry before continuing to ink, some pen brands SMUDGE VERY EASILY when applied on white-out, which deserves its own rant (read: blog post) some time in the future.<br /><br />Also, the build-up of thick white-out layer on the drawing paper makes it difficult to create smooth lines afterwards. Of course, you can always clean it up digitally on Photoshop, but this takes up valuable time which could have been used for rendering dialogues and speech balloons (yet another manga artist demon).<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">An example is as follows:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Image 1: Raw scan converted to grayscale</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzyvBsqcxQkGIfWXv5k8PhFX0gAKAYY_vebEYi0v0_DWvFD5yC2pTIqXN8_e-GmMYK_CZ-SjrLpPkQZ_YafIz5uH58FNFsTqCCFzCcgxE3qv6RaHiam-NRz7geQAtll0s9elcuisZhwk0/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314404703926526434" style="WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzyvBsqcxQkGIfWXv5k8PhFX0gAKAYY_vebEYi0v0_DWvFD5yC2pTIqXN8_e-GmMYK_CZ-SjrLpPkQZ_YafIz5uH58FNFsTqCCFzCcgxE3qv6RaHiam-NRz7geQAtll0s9elcuisZhwk0/" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />As you can see, plenty of 'defects' here, even when the image is scaled down to fit standard pocket manga dimensions.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Image 2: Cleaned up in Photoshop<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgVIsaHcNk0WTDmSKFBjnZ53u00VSalxpI-kJHiUKEZPDpzBkMfgaLtrlVFXXK3hNRCXnf7HkNKbLuk9gLaLRnkVUme4ArUbFo57bh22gs0Bn-tCVUTs6SaDROoklTFTluus0OOATLrtZ/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315140502380585122" style="WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgVIsaHcNk0WTDmSKFBjnZ53u00VSalxpI-kJHiUKEZPDpzBkMfgaLtrlVFXXK3hNRCXnf7HkNKbLuk9gLaLRnkVUme4ArUbFo57bh22gs0Bn-tCVUTs6SaDROoklTFTluus0OOATLrtZ/" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">See the uneven strokes on his eyebrows? Those were inked on thick build-ups of white-out. So were the two strands of fringe on the right, which resulted in those rather greyish pseudo-strokes (don't know what to call them!) If you guessed that the neck and shoulder part were also inked on white-out... you guessed right! Cleaning up has taken its toll on my patience :(<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...All this, and we haven't even touched on the problem of transparent blue underdrawings? Oh well, there's always another post.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977285095069732859.post-84192620398371159702009-03-17T13:00:00.007+07:002009-03-19T17:47:10.077+07:00First post<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hello everyone and welcome to The Fifth Blog! To be quite honest I've never written on a blog before and don't even know what kinds of things are worth posting here, so this may take some getting used to buhuhu -__-"<br /><br />In any case, I wish to use this blog as a platform for expressing my art and thoughts, some of which will be random but most will supposedly have to do with the progress of <em>The Fifth Columnist</em> manga. Feel free to leave your comments and such!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">s</span>Andrea Tezumohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02154710008836663678noreply@blogger.com0