As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.

He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.

Moral:

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.

Your attempt may fail, but never fail to make an attempt

&

CHOOSE not to accept the false boundaries and limitations created by the past.

[Facebook link to picture click here]

Here’s the slur http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Contagion/201/104/990

The website: www.contagionrp.com/

And he Forum: www.forum.contagionrp.com/index.php

I play a scientist there but surely you guys want to know more than that, it’s quiet funny because the life of humanity in my hands is not a good idea if yall know me well enough. I know most of you are probably rolling your eyes at this but it requires an open mind and a bit of creative writing is purely something better than just sitting there clicking one link after another. I know it helps me draw if it isn’t music it’s a good story to make me think how better it can get, hopefully I can lift the story telling from this and turn it in to a script.

More information and the first page post on my character go to this direct link here…

www.linuhamid.wordpress.com/roleplay/contagion/

It’s been ages, I have to admit but hopefully it’ll get better each time i post and I’m so glad it hasn’t lasted forever for my next attempt of a post. The last few days I’ve been doing a few pictures, not illustrated by my own hand but more of the computer generated art. It’s helped me try and find that creative nerve that’s been hiding in the back of my mind, and well bascially it’s been avoiding it like the plague, but I shall insist it comes back out with a vengeance.

I’ve mentioned the online community I’m in called Second Life, yes it sounds just as cheesy but i  like going on there and making my Avatar look pretty. But all in all i just wanted to share with you guys some of the artwork that I have managed to create, and this is what I have been doing for the last week or so….

These two pictures I did them for friends

Okay now thats my rant for today, drop me a message on uncannycollector@hotmail.co.uk for anything you want to see this year more specially I would like to encourage you gorgeouse people on challenging me and my bamboo (i need to challenge myself to upgrade to an intuos tablet OR if anyone wants to give me like a cintiq 24HD I would seriously love you forever), (ahhh the bracket love). If you want to see anything new unnatural just please feel free to say hello or ask for a cup of sugar.

Like my facebook page to get updates and follow us on twitter, if anyone is on SL you can also be part of my Pandabot group with regular updates and stuffage. Just drop me an e-mail of your avatar name and I’ll scutter along an invite. Also biggest highly recommend you to comment even if it’s just a smiley face, infact the readers that do put a smiley face on their comments will recieve a illustration for their eyes only.

Yours Truly

Linu

This year for me has been full of several emotions and experiences that I have witnessed and goals that have become much clearer, bars have been set and many truths revealed. I go in to the New Year with hope and much progression with The Uncanny Collector and dreams that encapsulate a trend to its peek.

I have a couple of resolution in the pipe line and some much more thought provoking then otherwise, one of them includes buying a straw hat and others stand on going to New York to see a dear friend that I’ve knowing for like 50 years (yeh think about that one). Also another one is not to cry when my birthday comes round 24 is a big number you know [wells up], just silly things like that hopefully some of it will get done ^^

I cant wait for the challenge and today I will be signing off with a quick year sketch and the 100^th post for the year, hopefully next year I can count another 365 to this blog.

I’ve been working on a couple of narratives that I wanted to share it deeply with you guys and wanted to give a little opening chapter for you guys to mull over, advice is always welcome so leave a comment or drop me an e-mail at the uncannycollector@hotmail.com

 BINDING

She was running through the forest, her feet thumping heavy as she skittered across the pavement in to the woods. What ever she was running from was right behind her with a ferocious and relentless need to eat, and possibly a little drunk since it kept crashing in to everything on its way.

Turning her head back to see where he was she ended up throwing herself in to the woods tumbling down as she did so, the branches scraping her skin and bruising the surface, almost gasping for air to keep her limbs moving, she dashed down to the river hoping that the water would subdue her scent.

The Beast growled heavily and loudly “where are you” it paused a moment, the girl closed her eyes and dashed on the brim of the river, this was ridiculous what was chasing her what was it.

“I can smell you,” it whispered under its tone

It now marched down the river bank as it’s eyes narrowed on the dodging victim, it creped slow then picked it’s pace it rushed across the wood, it’s shoulders ramming in to the trees denting, breaking and collapsed as it toppled over the river bank and on to the forest muddy ledge.

It caught up with her swaying from side to side as it did so trying to fix it’s gaze to grab her in the right moment. The girl trying frantically to push past trying to force her legs to keep going, thinking this was going to be the last time she would ever go for a midnight walk EVER…in this case it may even be her last.

Feeling the beast just right behind her she dashed trying to dodge its tracks and headed up the muddy leafy hill, which was clearly a bad move. He final caught up to her and grabbed her leg dragging her down from the top and throwing her across the surface, she hit a rock falling in to a ball on the floor as she gripped her head. Her eyes blurry the darkness and the shimmer from the water making the illusion of several shapes that loomed in front of her. She scrambled a moment trying to feel around for something as she gripped a tennis size rock and swung it forward to his head.

Her clothes torn in place as she rolled up and stumbled back a little watching the beast clamber to make the pain dissipate, it was hungry it needed it’s feed, it needed it’s thirst quenched as he dashed to her direction gripping her neck as they stumbled in front of pure moonlight. She tried to scream but her voice blocked from the grip that had wrapped her throat like a fabricated ribbon. His face chiseled and looked so human, his eyes another world of question, his teeth clawed and etched, his muscles taught and toned and fixed with powered, a rush of violence.

Her feet just dangled as he pulled her face closer to his, he looked her over the softness of her eyes, her lips and nose, the fail safe of distraught that wrapped over her expression was a clear picture that you would see amongst a hunter and his prey.

He threw her against the tree almost knocking her out, it was much easier that way to him and to him it would almost be like she’s sleeping and he would have his fill, she was clearly not out as she watched him push across the forestation. The river bank now shimmering the dark liquid that reflected the situation, whimpering back against the tree she closed her eyes as she averted his gaze, pushing her neck in exposure to reveal the pumping artery the vein with the blood lust that licked at his face. So far taken with fear the creature amused by the scared fluctuation in his prey he decide to linger a little with the raw etched hunger now across his face so clear.

He stumbled forward, however clearly drunk by his action already, filled with so much happiness that he was to feast now, the roots and leaves and mud covering his path towards her had other ideas, the light then shone down on them both as he stumbled tripped and managed to topple forward on a brittle tree stump that pierced his chest. It was so clumsy, the clumsiest any of his kind had ever, the drunk sunken in to him to loose his thoughts and steady just raptured over, that beast that could sustain the alcohol had relaxed back whilst the most distraught human surfaced.

Heheh hope you liked that I’m thinking whimsical when your read that but least it’s in effect to be modified, but nonetheless it’s in construction any help ideas and thoughts on the entire thing like I said they are always welcome.

Have a Lovely New Year you guys thank you all so much for supporting me and listening to me talk like there’s no tomorrow. Comments are ALWAYS ALWAYS welcome and I will respond to each and every single one of them, wouldn’t have made it this far with out you and I am truly grateful for the audience I’ve been bestowed with. I have something special coming up in my first New Year Post so keep a very sharp eye out, also I might take up video blogging because sometimes it’s just a lot easier ;p

It’s now 23:34 so it’s crunch time and i need to go hunt me some fire works, once again A VERY Happy New Year and see you on the bright and shiny Other Side.

Yours Truly

Linu

p.s i think one of my resolution should be to write less….maybe >.>

Hiya guys, my most sincere apology for not posting enough this year, a lot has been happening and conforming but I’m making it my New Year resolution to be a better blogger and put my work up as soon as I possibly can. I’m still under the weather and just recovering just got that irritating cough so getting there yey, but I wanted to wish all my followers, subscribers, Facebook likers, twitter followers, and my very amazing friends A Very Merry Christmas and the Most Wonderful New Year, hope all your wishes and dreams are for filled.

Yours Truly Linu [aka The Uncanny Collector]

Subscribe to the blog or even follow

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Happy Hunting!

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I’m sorry I haven’t been updating this blog as I have promised, I know some of yous are probably waiting for the next two cracked spin synopsis, I’ve had a couple of e-mails wondering when their going to be up and out. Currently I’m nursing a cold, it was so weird it litrally hit me out of nowhere and at the same me been soooooooooooo smart i decided to clean up my entire room don’t ask it was an urge and somethng thats been piling up for a while. I also haven’t sorted out my work space since I finished my internship about a month ago now, and just needed my table back and I’ve been working from my couch for so long now, that it just doesn’t seem right anymore, it was bothersom and did a bad move on my back.

Apart from that i’ve just been carrying on reading a few articles and researching a few things, as you can tell I’ve put a new tab up (I say new but old now it’s been while, but it’s new in any case), “Inspiration Talks!” it’s one of the first official page sections that i wanted to include in this blog and writing about artist that inspire me and the direction I hope and pray to follow through but alas it’s an eventual process with everything so it’s alright….getting there. I expect it to get a lot of love because the guys that are ticked off in my books they must be mega amazing and believe me the new artist that I want to spread the word about is ahhhhh-maaaazzzinngggg.

Well thats enough of me talking so much I shall leave you with a couple of things I’ve found lying about on my camera, and thought you might like to take a gander at these as well. (Mind you this is what I did A LOT of  the time when i was in uni, hence why they maybe a little crappyy)

Be safe out there with what you’re doing and finally….

Happy Hunting folks and good night!

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The magazine I have bought the most over the past two years would be this one, I’m also a member on their website and uploaded some of the face portraits that I did at the beginning of this year. It’s a good little extension from the magazine for avid fans, for those interested check out this link to upload some of your stuff and to the least get attention ready for the pros to prowl over.

http://www.digitalartistdaily.com/

This issue that I grip so heavily is mostly because of the cover design and what it stands for (yes I know “Linu thou shall not judge a book by it’s cover”), the editors note in the first page holds all the purpose of this main embodiment and the understanding of what this issue means. I know this issue however is relatively old but that doesn’t mean the information isn’t at all unnecessary, this issue mainly directed at youngsters and graduates from the creative degrees such as art and illustration. The competition running in the magazine however is over but I’m sure your healthy bookstores are able to pull up a copy of the Illustration 101 by Max Scratchmann.

I was always told that a little confession is usually good for the soul and that it’ll help me conquer my bad habits and relatively help me achieve my goal that is set on the horizon. Well here goes I know I will regret this, I confess I don’t actually read much of the article composition at first when I’m reading the creative magazines hence why I am ashamed to say I missed out on the competition and hopefully the ones that did read the snippets and the ones that wont the book are having a brilliant time creating and making new things.

Back on topic, so yeh I don’t really read the articles which is the worst thing to do I tend to look at the amazing pictures, I mean come on I see something shiny I will get distracted and in this case it’ll be the pictures and how amazing they look. Then I feel a tad suicidal when I’m trying to figure out how to do it myself, BUT even so I do get my head round it after a while and I do read through the articles specially at these points in time when I have to make sure I’m writing up the right things.

The first article I want to uncover is on page 10, pictures you can simply create with just about anything, the artist that is been interviews is the young Sam Pierpoint, who’s fun illustration and collages are what moves her to create the beautiful images she creates.

“She loves adventures, collecting paper and eating party rings, and her canvases consist of anything from teapots to three-dimensional paper and everything else in-between.”

It’s really great to see a wholesome artist that allows the world around her to be so creative and just let that be her drive, rather then make a meaning to her work and define pigments and understanding. Her style is original and colourful, it’s fun and quirky to look at because you never really know what she’ll come up with, until she’s finished. This extraordinary article covers at least three double spread pages in the magazine with some stunning artwork to rifle through as you read through an uplifting article.

To see more of Sam here is a link to her website http://www.sampierpoint.com/

Just going through the magazine at this point a little more and picking out parts that I really enjoy are absolutely awesome and honestly I don’t think I can express to you enough how shiny these pictures are I’m already getting distracted again rather then typing this article. I got swamped in the Digital Artist Daily website, it really is a worth while magazine and some of the stuff that comes out of this magazine just makes you think “wow now that’s pretty good” even if it isn’t so much of your style and context least it’s inspiring enough and for me it mentality helps me sort out a colour pallet for my work.

Currently I’m fashioning two types of computer however they are both in the category of a laptop and are smaller screen 14” or less, but even so right now they are pretty alright in the job they have to do. One day I shall break away from the compact system, should really invest in an iMac or something <.<

Anyway back on target the next target that has caught my camera eye is “Illustrate a Monster Character” the tutorial is ran through by Jason Allsebrook, who teaches us a little about vector painting and understand colour and quirky monster designs to make for brilliant concept designs.

Resource files are on the disc and it is pretty much a tutorial for all it’s purpose. I like the character play and the design scheme he looking in to this artwork and it does make me want to break out of the brush stroked in to something that has aged more nicely in to the coming era.  Mr. Allsebrook look at DrawPlus it’s pretty much the first time I’m hearing about (see that not really reading the article part comes in), but I’m sure in the vector world it’s pretty well known. The article goes through giving tips and ideas on how to create your final drawing and the preliminary stages of how well simply Jason Allsebrook works. It’s relatively a short tutorial that covers two double page spreads, which in all honesty isn’t so bad, it looks really helpful I might just need to try out this Drawplus.

To check out more of Jason Allsebrook’s work check out his website at http://newgiraffecity.com

Going through more pages of the magazine I had my camera in hand and I just flicked over a few things, I was conflicted, I was stunted and quivering in thought to what to plaster you guys with and I just well had to.

“Shade your vector” leaped from it’s pages and set itself a corner in my mind, the ideas and inspirations stuff that is in this tutorial really does help with the design theme and conceptual art to really make it look amazing.

It’s not really hard at all once you got the workflow strict and targeted, because lets face it we all have a beating point, my downfall is making what’s in my head look like what it’s meant to on the paper. This tutorial is really stunning the whole process is livid anyone can do it and that’s what’s so great about it loads of screen shots everything from style board to final artwork it’s really amazing. I really just want to make my own feathered little buddy, I may just when I’m done with this, it’s a great three and half double spread tutorial with stuff on the disc to help you out along the way to have an equally as stunning owl. Megamunden who narrates this tutorial, uses a combination of Photoshop and Illustrator to complete this stunning piece, narrates the tutorial itself.

Currently the website has a coming soon sign hanging over it but have preservation fellow illustrators and artist I’m sure we will be graced with much loving artwork, however it’s good to have the link in hand at times such as these http://www.megamunden.com/

Okay I cant really honestly go on about this magazine enough but you should buy the Digital Artist if you already are not a fan enough, but it gives some helpful hints and tips and you do get a lot for your money. Even if your already a pro it’s a great way to keep yourself in tuned with what’s happening in the creative industry, and pick new styles and techniques which could be really playful to adopt. The magazine also comes with a free CD packed full of stuff to make use of, also the handy tutorial files and pictures that are part of all the tutorials in the magazine.

Look out for Part 3 and 4 where I’ll be looking at Advanced Photoshop and Fanatasy+ one of my new recents book I’ve managed to get my fingers on

HIYAAAA everyone hope your weekend is going well, mines a little more quiet then my regular weekends. I’m currently residing with a hot chocolate fudge cake, Warpaint and their album “The fool” and whilst that plays, I wait for Veronica Mars to buffer on an adjacent webpage on my beloved HP Widescreen PC Laptop.

I mentioned like stone ages ago that I wanted to blog about the creative magazines that I buy and spend a mini fortune on every month, I should really order the monthly magazine but honest there are some moments that I feel it doesn’t give enough for what I’m expecting. Having said that I wanted to perk up a post that I’ve meaning to do all week and it’s based on the resources and tutorial tips and styles I wanted to explore with you guys. Tell you the stuff that I think is absolutely brilliant and the ones that are exceptionally worth looking out, Digital Arts, Advanced Photoshop and ImaginFX.

There are however other magazines such as Digital Arts and computer arts but hopefully I’ll poke in to them a little more, especially the catalogue editions of Fantasy Art and Sci-Fi fantasy which is highly recommend to purchase.  Any who back on track Linu focus…

Today I’m blogging about three magazines and a book that I have come to encounter in my healthy living state, some compromising with many starving lunches in order to cradle these precious glossy pages in my hands. The subjects in question are as follows:

Fantasy & Sci-Fi Digital Art ImagineFX issue 75 November 2011 edition

Advance Photoshop Issue 88

Digital Artist issue 23

Book: Fantasy +  1 Best Artwork of Chinese CG Artist

IMAGINEFX

Starting from the top, I’m in love with ImagineFX currently some of yous must be thinking, “yeh aren’t we all” okay I know I’m a late in to admitting this but I’ve just become more absorbed in the artwork, and time well it slipped out of my hands. This specific issue really handles the topic on Game art and how to do good in them, as usual the topic explores popular games and some interesting tips and tutorial methods that get a more refined character and the most crucial the most believable persona across the screen. I love this magazine even though one of the newest magazines, I still haven’t felt the need to by the next issue which is relatively bad (but having said that I’m getting some withdrawal and need to get the newest edition of this month). Some of the stuff that has caught my eye are general little mini tutorials on facial structure and colour advice, yall know how bad I am with colour, BUT this tutorial is for secrets on drawing a female face. It’s a really good tutorial if you know your way around Photoshop in general, you’ll be able to get a handle on this relatively quick and possibly learn a few things along the way. This more specific it’s a question from a viewer asking “What is the best way to paint a female face?”

The question was answered by Lauren part of the Imaginefx team answers this query which I’m sure is on plenty of people’s minds, and been a biased female portrait drawer it’s simple as it stands I cannot draw anything other than that of which is a girl. It just simply won’t happen! This tutorial can be found on page 40 of this issue and is pretty much a stripped down basic build up structure that you can play around relatively nicely.

The next section is what the cover speaks of game art and how it’s becoming more crucial to create such a stunning piece of work that’s jaw dropping, the next is the spread of “The Art of Guild Wars”, it’s a 3 double spread of pages of glorified artwork + interviews +article that makes the game itself more than just a piece of game. Reading the article it admits that it did slope a little on the gaming side but it makes up for exploration and allows the players to have a more breath taking experience.

The article covers a general beginning to present of Guild Wars, and how the art has moved forward, the people that have been with the game since its inception and process it has taken to its creative team. The structure it’s leaping with GW 2 which sounds even more interesting, with character designs and developments underway and a lot to come of Guild Wars itself. A little cheeky interview with Kekai Kotaki, with some quick fire questions that he gladly answered his website (http://www.kekaiart.com/) if you haven’t seen it at all has some amazing art pieces that are totally worth checking out.

I have to admit that I’m not so much of a gamer apart from The Sims, I also play some Second Life which I use purely for role-play bases. Even that is a short coming compared to the large MMORPG like WoW and…[pause for dramatic effect]…. (argh this is were I sound smart and do my research and tell you there’s another one that’s been released, and it’s been about two years since its first merchandise release I cannot remember it for the life of me. All I can remember is wings when you’ve reached a level and at the time of its release it was about £50 plus membership fee or something weird like that).

Hopefully one day, I know slowly but surely, this article alone has got me wanting to download that the version of Guild Wars to see what it’s all about.  Find this rampage on 46 to 53 in the ImagineFx Issue 75.

Next section to cover is “SketchBook” of the magazine which I find truly inspirational, preliminary sketches and ideas and conceptual drawings the raw fleshed out pieces of what the end product will be close to looking like and some just in general consumptions of idea that look pretty snazzy if you ask me. I love this section this is like my first page for the whole magazine and it requires attention to detail the smudges the marks the pencil and ink collaboration and the atmosphere that the little doodles that aren’t to convey…okay that’s enough of me trying to ramble on with this, but do check it out, page 56 awaits your arrival.

Skimming through this magazine I wanted to document so many of the pages that are in this magazine but if I did that, I would surely get done for downloadable copy right or something like but I shall just let you on the snippets and the best bits for the magazine that I find highly likable, and just amazingly stunning. The FXpose is just amazing to look through the new talent and style artwork that are in here is so varied and have such an inspirational foundation to build from.

There are some amazing tutorials that are in this edition and the one tutorial that has made my copy of the magazine so dogged in edges is this single tutorial, “Design a Space Opera Princess”…I love Sci-Fi art, BUT I’m not so much of a fan of things like Star Wars but I loveeeee Sci-Fi art, stuff based majority on like The matrix, Ghost in a Shell but not so much of the creature characters. Having said that I like Star Wars 4,5 and 6 they were great

…any who going off topic, I found this particular tutorial a little more interesting than a few I’ve encountered. If you know me at all I’m having trouble with posture drawing, trying to get the body to look right and add a certain dynamism to my drawings. I’m almost getting the face pat down and been able to specialise in making up portraits in general, but drawing action or pose in general it’s been a tough battle but alas I shall not be beat. My rampage will have more fuel before you can finish singing the nursery song about Difficulty from Matilda, I vow you that much. But this beauty of a tutorial covers different backgrounds options and lighting possibilities the general Photoshop construct that I didn’t know was available. It gives the reasonability factor, the reason to do this pose in such a way and it’s not just another long wind direction, so this isn’t for someone who is tackling Photoshop on their own…best to have someone nearby to be a dim shadow lurking about….fyi I’m a pretty good lurker just ask my vicct….i mean friends. Follow it up with your own ideas and conception from page 80 and let me know what else you think about it.

The imagineFX comes with a CD full of stuff to use in the tutorials that are provide in the magazine and some more concept art and other extra goodies that might tickle your taste buds, this is one of the worthwhile issues to have I love it and I can’t wait to run out and get the newest edition.

Cracked Spine Part two coming soon…aka tomorow ;o

To buy previouse editions of the magazine just click on the following links

Single editions: www.zinio.com/imaginefx-single

Subscription editions (you save a 31%): www.zinio.com/imaginefx

Good evening you guys hope your well and hope your Thursday has been well and truly been fulfilling, currently right now it’s 01:01am on a Friday in London, and I’m just finishing an episode of the lovely Veronica Mars, and a wireframe sketch up of my previous post that I just had to put up. I ended up going through development and it’s been heavily inspiring to work on this current project, it seems like it’s going to take a while to get done but I honestly am tempted to do more to this picture then what I’ve come up with, with just a bit pencil pushing.

Really quiet happy with this so far and I like the direction this is going in HOWEVER it’s still subtle even if this picture was coloured up to it’s full glory, it still wouldn’t show the fierce passion that’s in this picture. So hopefully the coming morning hours on a Friday will defeat that obstacle that’s coming my way.

Hope you guys are intrigued if not just wish me well on this because I’m almost putting 10% more effort then I usually am which is concentration.

(oh and if anyone has a remedies that might be useful for eye twitching syndrome, more specifically the right lower eyelid twitching syndrome, then please give me a hint or 10….and for those who are aware yes I know I was meant to be resting but it’s like telling a bird you cant fly, I mean really)

Anyway enough with the jokes, down to serious business, I’ve taken in to account how I don’t use references in my drawings till now, I regret not been able to use them since they give me a much better dynamism in angle and how to avoid contortion (believe me), in many syndrome-nomic situations of using reference on my part I ended up caving and only referred to such delights in pieces where it was necessary. Such as making the eyes look less cross eyed and lips to look less risen.

In this fuzzy picture as you may have witness my delectate-tiouse outcome it’s coming out roughly okay, it’s a hb, 2b and 4b pencil on a A4 120gsm paper (possibly a little heavier), same paper I had used to draw my ‘Koi or Coy” drawing.

EVEN SO it’s still a working in progress and as per usual it’ll be an extension of a digital outcome if it maybe this exact piece or something very much like it.

Also on a side note, thank god Veronica Mars for helping me draw today I knew I could count on you…. my older fans will remember her from my many many many many many blog post ago, will see the young madam gracing my inspiration thought tracker mindset

Have a Happy December you guys and hopefully we’ll get some magical snow this year…and another year less likely to go so fast

Be good now x