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Sketchy!
Look! A new "user picture" (a.k.a. icon, a.k.a. avatar, etc.)! Now for the story behind it.
You remember that I was planning to donate blood yesterday, correct? As it turns out, I did, and it went well. However, in my preparations for proceeding to the American Red Cross center where the blood drive was happening, I happened to get out my old sketchbook. Why? I needed a map from the bus stop to the donation center, and I didn't feel like using the printer.
Fortunately for me, however, the extended presence of a sketchbook in my general location inspired the urge to draw. Thus, after returning from the blood drive (and eating some Chinese food), I picked up the sketchbook and deliberated on what to draw. Afterinnumerable a few flights of fancy in which I imagined that I'd miraculously become able to draw from imagination, I decided to try a self-portrait. After checking the mirror in my parents' bedroom and finding the lighting unsatisfactory, I proceeded to the bathroom.
Looking in the bathroom mirror, before turning on the light, I noticed that half my face was in shadow. I was suddenly inspired to try the 'noir'-y thing, and sketch only those features that were illuminated by the light from the window.
This was the result.
I actually intended to sketch more than this, but the involuntary quivering associated with standing still for so long got too severe, and I had to go sit down.
On the bright side, however, when I was converting the scanned image to GIF format, I tried an experiment which worked out pretty well (or at least interestingly): a 2-color GIF rendering.
And the same rendering, converted to black-and-white:
You know, it's probably very telling that I spent (probably) more time scanning and manipulating the picture than I did sketching. And that I spend so little time sketching, period. Nevertheless, I'm kinda proud of this one.
You remember that I was planning to donate blood yesterday, correct? As it turns out, I did, and it went well. However, in my preparations for proceeding to the American Red Cross center where the blood drive was happening, I happened to get out my old sketchbook. Why? I needed a map from the bus stop to the donation center, and I didn't feel like using the printer.
Fortunately for me, however, the extended presence of a sketchbook in my general location inspired the urge to draw. Thus, after returning from the blood drive (and eating some Chinese food), I picked up the sketchbook and deliberated on what to draw. After
Looking in the bathroom mirror, before turning on the light, I noticed that half my face was in shadow. I was suddenly inspired to try the 'noir'-y thing, and sketch only those features that were illuminated by the light from the window.
This was the result.
I actually intended to sketch more than this, but the involuntary quivering associated with standing still for so long got too severe, and I had to go sit down.
On the bright side, however, when I was converting the scanned image to GIF format, I tried an experiment which worked out pretty well (or at least interestingly): a 2-color GIF rendering.
And the same rendering, converted to black-and-white:
You know, it's probably very telling that I spent (probably) more time scanning and manipulating the picture than I did sketching. And that I spend so little time sketching, period. Nevertheless, I'm kinda proud of this one.