Move Like You've Got a Purpose
Painter 7 with no reference
Painted and posted this just so people know that this - and not people, daily life, or scenery - is what I'm used to painting most.
I don't understand what's wrong with having an interest in a subject matter such as war or armies or soldiers, it is what I grew up drawing, I enjoy doing it, and I'm not stopping just because your idea of art is different from mine.
Some people will say, "you know, how can you make a game about war?" Well, war unfortunately is part of the human condition and we have to be able to understand all the aspects of the human condition. And if you can read books about it and if you can see movies about it, then it's important also I think, to interact with it. And so what we're doing is we're creating this interactive experience that allows you to see something in a safe manner, that you wouldn't see, or I hope you'll never see.Colonel John Antal, Military and Historical Director for "Brothers in Arms: The Road to Hill 30", on realism in the game.
I guess that pretty much sums up why realistic and accurate war games are made - albeit in an informal way. I think it's also one of the reasons why I work on game modifications (mod henceforth) like True War 2, others being the enjoyment and satisfaction it brings, as well as the opportunity to use my skills in a productive manner.
Of course, the above quote would do nothing to justify violence in games like the infamous Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, but looking at it closer, the same idea actually applies; that this is really just a reflection of the human condition. So isn't it better that such actions, even though wrong to some extent, are carried out in a controlled and artificial environment instead of the real world? I strongly believe that computer and video games do not directly incite or encourage violence in children or gamers, because whether or not that happens depends on the child's education and more importantly, upbringing. But of course, this also calls upon game developers to be much more mindful of their audience and aware of the powers of influence that games today carry, they will have to keep their ethics in check while creating games to the extent of educating where parents may have failed. Whatever it is, games of today are simply getting better and better in all aspects, be it immersion and storytelling, sound and graphics, gameplay and interaction, or anything else, I just want to say that I am not going to stop buying and playing them any time soon.
And oh yea, I am getting Brothers in Arms, A levels or not.
scaff: u dont even look the type who listens to music.
Yes Fawwaz, incessant screaming is not music. But for your (anyone who reads this) info, included is a non-exhaustive representative list of the kind of stuff I usually listen to these days.
Unsound Silence
Oil on Canvas, 180x82cm
Somewhere in the NYJC storeroom
Last year's entry to the UOB Painting of the Year competition.
I'm showing off? Heh, whatever.
I realised that my entries are rather disorganised, in the sense that I jump from one topic to another with no warning, very... random.
I'm probably just new to this thing and haven't developed a coherent style of writing yet. Sorry if things leave you lost, but usually they shouldn't.
I'm blogging from school, the art room in specific. Hate this place, really. Damned cheena and childish. I know my own peers read this blog, but suck it up if you find my opinion displeasing; it is the truth anyway, maybe I should quote my first entry?
I own this space; go away if you don't like what I have to say.
So there. Insensitive? Speak for yourself. Arrogant? Not quite at all, given the circumstances I find myself in.
The kind of things talked about; The way they are talked about; The frequency in which they are; the variety, or rather, lack of variety of the topics touched upon, just turns me off.
Totally.
The digital illustrations I post up are more of studies of people, objects, environments, colours and material properties and carry no particular meaning, thus they're not very "expressive" in terms of subject matter and personal input. It's also to get practice from Painter 7, which is a really versatile program but its interface isn't exactly the best around, but I'm getting there, might try out Painter IX if I get the time because it has improved a lot from what I've read. Will also be posting up more stuff when I am free.
Speaking of which, I really should get my main site and gallery up, but I'm trying to figure out a navigation design that wouldn't leave visitors lost.
Ride
Painter 7 with photographic reference
Bad composition I know, but I don't care because I'm having a headache right now.
Someone rested his full weight upon my right foot today it as the bus screeched to a sudden halt. A "sorry" would've been good for the pain.
General Paper lectures are an official waste of time.
Get your facts straight and stop weaving opinionated undertones into your speech as if it makes you or the students seem smart to discover your "true" meaning. You are a teacher, teach.
Don't think I'm going to school tomorrow.
Gaze
Painter 7 with photographic reference
Blame it upon a rush of blood to the head.
Some of you may have seen this before, decided to completely repaint it because the PS version, on hindsight, looked like crap. Guess I can proudly say that I've improved in the past year or so, though I still have a long way to go with lots to learn.
The picture doesn't mean anything, don't start asking me why I keep drawing her (twice only?), if you'd like me to draw or paint you, please give me photos, I get bored sometimes (schoolwork aside) and find that I have nothing to draw from (apart from military and war scenes, which come from memory). I need the practice.
Sense of urgency? I ought to be panicking from not having completed my homework, I guess I'm just weird, so don't tell me to set my priorities right.
Extended entry for replies to shouts.
KAMAZ, Somewhere in Cambodia
Painter 7 with photographic reference from my trip last November.
Some people have told me that I have too much time, well, I think I just use my time on things other than school work. Why would that constitute to having "too much time"? Is it really fair that when after 50% or so of my waking time is spent in school, I should too devote what's left to doing things for school? Call me a slacker, I don't really care or mind.
Although the page header says, "where you get to hear me whine" it's put there more for poking fun at generic blogs - generic in this context would obviously refer to the blogs that are filled with incessant whining - than to say that you're really going to visit this page just to hear me whine.
That though doesn't mean that whining will not be present in future posts, they just wouldn't be heavily focused on things like...hmmm, school.
That's right, this blog would not be an online diary, it's more of a space where I can say what I want to about anything that comes to my mind. So if you're interested in knowing what happened in each day of my life (which you probably aren't) from my blog, you'd be disappointed.
Extended Entry for replies to shouts.
While thinking about what better entry titles you could suggest, you may also want to help me out by telling me what I can do with a purple coloured Gameboy Advance SP when I have no games for it. Thank you SPRING Singapore, now I just hope I get to keep at least 50% of the $300.
So I've finally gotten this blog page up, Movable Type is a really cool piece of software (it's actually all run online), and for a person who knows just about zero HTML it was really easy to set up, save for the few obstacles that had to be overcome with simple trial and error.
Now I actually don't know what blogging is all about, but knowing myself this would probably turn into the epitome of randomness (and for the reason presented in the header), the main reason I made this blog was really just because everyone else had one (yes yes, succumbing to social pressures), and to convince my host and friends that I'm still alive while the rest of my site (gallery and all) gets created.
How's that for a first entry? Feel free to comment below (when I get it to work) and shout (on the right), but please be reminded, this is my blog; this isn't blogger; I own this space; go away if you don't like what I have to say.