Cyfa's art challenges and other bits & bobs

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

That's neat.

 

[Sibyl]

Thanks @gazomg and @BorgMan I keep meaning to have a go at SketchUp or Photoshop (as you suggested, BorgMan), but I never seem to find (or make) the time.

This morning, I obscured myself and surreptitiously followed Lieutenant Commander Koromandis (the Chandir) and Lieutenant th'Thanticar (the Andorian) down the cliff to the beach where they were attempting to use the appropriated crystal ball and divining rod (as well as a staff that they must have picked up on the way) to find a way off this planet. I took some photos as evidence:

Are those actually in the scenes? They almost look like they were inserted in Photoshop or something!

 

[Cyfa]

always good to be near the coast.
what part of the world you in ?

- I'm on the North Norfolk coast. I took it for granted until I moved inland, away from home, but a few years ago, I moved back and spend a *lot* of time on the beach! Are you a coastal dweller too, gazomg?

That's neat.

- Thanks, Laura.

Are those actually in the scenes? They almost look like they were inserted in Photoshop or something!

- Heh! Yes. I haven't been lying all this time about being rubbish with computer art manipulation programs They really are bits of coloured card dotted around the English countryside (well, cliffside, anyway)!

 

[gazomg]

- I'm on the North Norfolk coast. I took it for granted until I moved inland, away from home, but a few years ago, I moved back and spend a *lot* of time on the beach! Are you a coastal dweller too, gazomg?

no, am inland , i am in the outskirts of cork city,.
only a ten minute walk to the river and harbour, or a 20 minute drive to the beaches and coast

 

[Cyfa]

Cork looks like a beautiful city, @gazomg. The different coloured buildings surrounding the harbour, with the cathedral behind, them reminds me of my home town of Cromer as seen from the pier. We don't have anything like Blackrock Castle, though!

While I work on my final entry for August's art challenge, here are a few more photos of Koromandis and th'Thanticar:

In this last image, the two Occult Operations Officers are so intent on their work that they miss the shuttle back to their ship!

 

[BorgMan]

That last one is awesome. Even though it's less obvious that we're dealing with Trek there, the distance to the lense creates a more immersive atmosphere.

 

[Cyfa]

Thanks @BorgMan. I've taken loads of photos of poor Koromandis and th'Thanticar (they're so patient), and I prefer the ones taken at a distance. But, as you say, with the two of them little more than smudges of colour amidst the scenery, the Star Trekness is a bit lost. Although, at least my hasty workmanship and poor positioning isn't so obvious!

Anyway, here's my entry for the August Art Challenge:

 

[BorgMan]

I really like this as you entry! Is that a Timefleet costume they're wearing? I would suggest, by the way, to adhere to a base resolution for your creations. 1920 x 1080 pixels, for example, is a base HD format. Makes for a better looking wallpaper on my computer screen ;-)

 

[Cyfa]

Ha! Thanks, @BorgMan! I'll bear the size issue in mind for next time
The uniforms are actually a slight variation on my alternate universe 2373 uniform, of which the wonky shoulder yoke was inspired by the Timefleet ones.

 

[Cyfa]

I have been goaded into action by @Scribble's "tick tock" comments and @Michael's efforts, but haven't come up with very much at the mo. I took some photos of my small selection of Eaglemoss starships last night in the hopes that they might inspire me somehow (as well as the pictured Norway and Akira classes, I also have the Vesta, Olympic, Oberth and Excelsior refit, but the photos of them weren't quite as striking as these).

I'm still awaiting that inspiration to strike...

 

[Cyfa]

Inspiration has struck, but procrastination got in there too, hence this:

Counsellor Deanna 'Lying Cat' Troi saves a lot of bother for the crew of the Enterprise, leaving them free to wallow in self-indulgent holodeck programs for the next 44 minutes.

[TNG screencaps from TrekCore.com and "Lying" from Saga, by Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples]

 

[Cyfa]

This is the first Deanna 'Lying Cat' Troi comic panel I came up with:

Deanna's face in this screencap just screams Lying Cat!
[This is from TNG4 The Host]

 

[Cyfa]

Sunshine and procrastination has put paid to my original rather time-consuming idea for September's art Challenge, so I've been messing about with one of those photos of my Eaglemoss USS Budapest model instead. I have finally joined the 21st century and employed an image manipulation program - FotoSketcher - in an attempt to turn my hastily shot model into something approaching art. Here are some of my very early attempts:

 

[Sibyl]

OMG!



Of those, I prefer #1 and #4.

The first has more of an impressionist feel to it and the third, while being obviously digital, has a "cartoon-rendered 3d" look to it.

 

[Cyfa]

Thanks, @Scribble - #1 is my favourite, too. I'm going to take a better photo and try and do a better job in paint of removing the stand and adding the lights and glows before fiddling around with it in FotoSketcher. I might actually have something to enter after all

 

[Sibyl]

In all fairness, I'm not offended by what I would label as "features" of your first image. Helps to sell the impressionistic--um--impression of it.

 

[gazomg]

cyfa, have you tried download photoshop.?

 

[Cyfa]

Thanks, @gazomg, I haven't tried Photoshop (or downloaded it) yet, but Borgman suggested it to me a while ago, too - I just haven't got around to doing anything about it. He (and Scribble) mentioned CS2 - an earlier version which may be free to download - as a starting point to dabble in. It's something I want to try, but probably won't get around to for a few months as I'm in the early stages of moving house.

 

[Cyfa]

After dozens more photos, some mucking about in MSPaint, and a couple of hours or so fiddling with FotoSketcher, I have an entry for this month's Art Challenge:

I think. I may have another go between now and the deadline.

 

[gazomg]

I had cs6, lightroom and was offered the whole package suite as well but turned it down.

I now only use cs3 and nothing else. Its old and probably classed as outdated but it does not only what I need, but most likely has far more options I am too thick to know how to use. ..lol