Disanthus.Com Blog

New wordpress blog!

2010-11-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

Disanthus has a new blog, and I completely forgot to mention it here! I know this one was barely updated, but we'll do our best with the new one.

Click here for our new blogging home!

Cheers!

Melting in the sun ... even indoors

2010-06-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

So ... I'm not happy with the long rant I have for a tutorial, so I've been experimenting with a different way of presenting one that is easier to follow. Much easier. But first the Disanthus site needs to be redone.

Yes. Again.

The current version (no.9) is a bit of a pain (for me), so it needs to go. The v.10 layout is pretty much done, but we're still contemplating on codes. It used to be easy and fun for me; slicing up the images, opening notepad and writing the codes, sending it to Annette for approval and improvements. But now it just takes time away from what I really want to concentrate on, which is painting. See, I like to keep the layout fresh, because I often get bored with it after a while, which means a new site design and doing the process all over again. I know it's a pain, but I'm like a kid that wants to get it done now.

In the meantime, Italy has been booted out of the World Cup (after France's demise), so it's not all bad >:)

Of 'net woes & zombies

2010-06-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

I've been having major 'net connection problems lately, so I haven't been online as much as I used to, so updates have been incredibly sporadic. Although I do have stuff I can upload on the site, it will have to wait until the new design is ready.

Also, my order for Resident Evil 5 has finally arrived. Good grief! This thing was sold out everywhere! I will definitely work some more on the site design this weekend, but I must prioritize: RE5 comes first. Oh yes, Steroid Chris and Shevalicious will be mine to play with all day ^___^

Yep, it is as I have foreseen ...

2010-03-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

Assassin's Creed II owns my soul.

As I've been telling Annette: this is the most fun I've had with a game since Metal Gear Solid 3, and I was obsessed with that game!

---------S P O I L E R---------

I think I'm making pretty good time in AC2; Ezio's arrived in Venice with Leonardo, and I had to save this brutally ungrateful chick. So far, I've acquired four of the six assassin's seal and completed the renovations at Monteraggio villa (which means I have money to burn). I've been able to buy the best armour and weapons that I could get at this point in the game, but I've actually found it more enjoyable and rewarding to fight my enemies barehanded, simply because it takes less time to disarm them then to defeat them with the weapons I have at my disposal.

The only time I was actually stuck in the game was during the Altaïr sequence. I was at it for nearly an hour before giving up and looking for answers on Youtube (yeah, what?!). Fortunately, that was the only time I was frustrated about the game, although looking for the assassin's seal in Forli had me cursing quite a bit.

Other than a few hiccups, I've been amazed with this game. It looks superb, the controls aren't bothering me a bit and exploring nearly every nook and cranny in each town has definitely been rewarding. I fear that Venice may be Ezio's last stop in the game, so I'll definitely be taking my time because I don't want it to end :(

---------E N D -- S P O I L E R---------

Oh, and this is my current desktop wallpaper, edited with my own brushes because I don't like white backgrounds in my wallpapers. I think it's pretty cool. I've re-sized the image, because with my original screen size it's rather large.

I've also started writing (and re-writing) the tutorial I promised, so I'll upload that (hopefully) before the weekend. I probably won't publish everything at once, though ...

♣ Doris

Digital Painter 2 available for pre-order

2010-03-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

And guess who's one of the artists?

I admit I completely forgot about the book until I saw ArtSquared's tweet this morning. Anyway, I wrote a tutorial which was published in the first Digital Painters book, and I wanted to write another one for the latest release, but I kept postponing it until there was little time left and I still had to do some last-minute stuff for the paintings I wanted to submit for publishing.

Also, I've been talking about writing tutorials for ages now, but I will post several here. To start with, I'll be posting the edited version of the tutorial I wrote for the first Digital Painters book. I hope that will help me get over my tutorial-writing nerves :p

The iPad and the in-betweener

2010-01-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

So, the iPad.

Number one, it looks delish, not unusual as it's an Apple device. Although the iBook service won't be available for people outside the U.S., at least in the beginning, I think it might well be worth the wait. (The iBook app is also be available for the iPhone and the iPod Touch.)

Surprisingly, the price of the iPad isn't as shocking as I thought it was: $499 -- though it's only the starting price (16GB, Wi-Fi only).

The silly name: I still remember the jokes about Nintendo's Wii when it was about to launch. Nowadays, no one really cares. But I still foresee a number of people Googling 'ipad' to get some interesting results. If you like that kind of humour ...

Anyway, the iPad is an in-between kind of device. While it's most interesting to me as an ebook reader, you can watch movies (even in HD, though not for widescreen), play games and some thing called iWorks, which I don't find interesting at all.

This 'in-between thing' will probably leave a lot of people cold about the iPad. It isn't likely that ebook readers will enjoy the experience of staring at a LED screen for hours, let alone in a darkened room, or even in bright sunshine. The iPad isn't any fancier for ebook readers than a netbook, and it's about the same size as one. In that case, ebook readers are better off buying a 'pure' ebook reader like the Kindle.

It isn't for most gamers, either. For one, it's a touchscreen, and if there's one thing I like about gaming is the I-need-to-vent-my-frustration with the all holy button-mashing a la HULK SMASH. Plus, what's the actual need if you have much better (portable) gaming devices?

And then there's iWorks. Um ... yeah.

I'm looking for an ereading device, and while I personally feel that it should look nice (the iPad gets points based on looks alone), it doesn't need to be ultra fancy. Of course the iPad is more than an ereader, but is watching movies on a handheld device really that revolutionary? It uses the Safari browser for surfing the web, but nothing what your iPhone can't already do. The iPad can't multitask. It's portable, but not really; it doesn't exactly fit inside your coat's pocket. And no USB and touchscreen 'gaming'. FAIL.

In short, the iPad loses major points for me because I've categorized it as an in-betweener. It's the mutant offspring of the iPod Touch. And at its cheapest ($499), is it really worth the money? Of course, if you have money to burn, it's a gorgeous device to have. But if you have to watch your spending (like me) and looking for a good multitask device about the size of a netbook -- I might actually be better off with an actual netbook that doesn't cost as much but can do a whole lot more.

Edit: added a bit more to close it off :)

HULK SMASH!!

2010-01-24T15:44:00.000-08:00

I have just updated Disanthus with new art, but it has resulted in my wanting to do a serious HULK SMASH!! *fumes* As I was saying to Annette this weekend, the gallery codes really need to be redone. Hopefully this will happen in the near future, and I believe Annette has a few ideas. Oh, yes, Annette does exist. She is not a figment of my imagination. It's just that I'm the Drama Queen in the Disanthus realm.

Anyway, the portrait is another character from Deanna Raybourn's Silent series. So for those who haven't read the book, Valerius March is the youngest brother of the main character who appears in the first book (Silent in the Grave) and the third (Silent on the Moor). Hope you guys like it :)

O, Engrish ... how I have missed you

2010-01-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

Years ago, this site was one of my favourite places to visit. I found them on Twitter recently and I'm so happy that I did. So whenever I need a good laugh, this will be the place to go for some hilarity. Go and check out Engrish . Com

Here are a few examples:

Nokia ... Asian style

Need to escape the office? Here's a way

The things you can buy these days ...

This lunch just might be your last meal

And many more LOL's to be found at Engrish.

I'm a little Tweeped

2010-01-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

I have recently made a Twitter account, so I'm a total n00b. It's typing micro-messages and sending them into the void. I feel like I'm trying to establish contact with the paranormal. Weird, but fun.

Also, Bengals were quite soundly beaten by the Jets, which makes me want to smash my head against the wall.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T16:03:00.000-08:00

Be safe, and go easy on the bubbly and finger food ^_^

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

2009-12-19T07:02:00.000-08:00

It suddenly got very cold this week in The Netherlands. I woke up last Thursday morning seeing a thick layer of snow outside. Wow. We had a bit of snow last year, but since the temperature was relatively mild for that time of year, the snow turned into slush and we all know what a mess that is.

They've predicted a white Christmas this year (last year's was miserable and no snow), so I'm looking forward to that. In the meantime, two pictures I took a few days ago: It was freezing. I wasn't wearing gloves so my hands were almost numb with cold, which is why the pics are blurry.

What can I say, I'm a happy panda: Christmas around the corner, snow on the ground. Time for tea with a wee bit of honey ^__^

Christmas painting & wallpaper

2009-12-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

I badly wanted a good Christmas wallpaper for my desktop, but I couldn't find one that I liked. Plus, I have a full-screen, and that made my choices even more limited. So I decided to paint a speedy one in Photoshop for my wallpaper, and it turned out nicer than I thought ... if I do say so myself, of course.

Also, I've never done a Christmas-related painting, not even a doodle. It's Holiday-themed, but nothing blatant :p

About the wallpapers: plug them all you like, but please do not redistribute them elsewhere. Thanks :)

Wallpaper preview:

Happy Christmas!

♣ Doris

It's been dead for a while ...

2009-12-09T07:27:00.000-08:00

... but now Disanthus.Com has been resurrected. There are new paintings in the gallery, of course, including a few that have been posted here, then disappeared, but now they've finally made it to their new home ^_^

The ninth version of Disanthus is relatively simple, and we've truly trimmed down on all the excess stuff we've had with the previous designs, and this includes all the codes we didn't really need. In fact, I think this is actually the first time that we are managing with a single CSS file O_O Amazing.

I would like to create some kind of mini site for all our old stuff eventually. But that's for another time. It's December, you know.

That is so not win

2009-10-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

*sigh*

*sigh*

*sigh*

Bengals lose against the Texans
They lose at home
This makes me cry

Hammer Time with the Cardiac Crew

2009-10-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

Yes! The Cardiac Crew did it again! Final quarter TD (No.9, I love ya!) with 22 seconds left to go. Something stupendously freaky would have to happen right now for the Ravens to win this ballgame.

As it is: 17-14 Cincy, baby! Division leaders.

Edit: 4 seconds to, Flacco's pass intercepted by Leon Hall. That's it :D I cannot say enough about this improved Bengals team. They may give their fans some cardiac problems (primarily because of their tendency to fall asleep during a game), but when they badly need to--they go on all cylinders until the final second ticks away.

And I still can't take the suspense O_O

♣ Doris

New painting ...

2009-10-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

But only a wee preview ^_^;

It's about 90% done. The original isn't in black and white, though, but after saving the WiP image, I desaturated the file to check on light, shadow and midtones (something I really should do more often). But now I like the B&W image a lot more than the coloured version!

Anyway, Annette and I have been working on version 9 of Disanthus, so the current site won't be updated until 9 is ready to go. I reckon it won't be that long before it goes online :)

♣ Doris

sniff

2009-09-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

My 'net connection was at Turtle Speed yesterday, so I didn't even bother going online. But my Bengals won from the Steelers. Of course, it was another on-the-edge-of-your-seat game. My boys have finally grown up a bit, they've found a way to finish a game. Yay!

Still ... I could do without the suspense, kthnxbai.

Sometimes I hate gameday

2009-09-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

The Bengals have won from the Packers today. I can't tell you how many times these guys have made my heart palpitate during this game.

These are the two things that make me sweat as a Bengals fan: converting 3rd down and playing from behind. Obviously, the latter really made me sweat today. Fortunately, my boys came through during the Packers game, but I was on the edge of my seat and praying for that final whistle in the fourth. It's the kind of game that could have made the Bengals self-destruct, but they've finally shown some spirit just by fighting until the bitter end.

Dramatic, yes, but being a Bengals fan is all about the drama, y'all.

Also, the Bengals D getting five sacks in a single game is rare *cough*, but one man still did it today. Yes. one man. Mr. Odom, please stand up.

P.s. I'm always pleased seeing Tom Brady's loser face >:) That, and seeing Hines Ward cry over The Bus, always makes my day!

♣ Doris

Huge sigh

2009-09-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

So, the Bengals lose the season opener against the Broncos, not because they self-destruct (their usual nemesis) but because of a freakish, blooper-like moment in the 4th (with 11 seconds to go).

I can't decide whether this loss is a good thing or a bad thing. The good thing is that they have plenty of time to unscrew themselves, the bad thing is ... well, losing is always bad (especially when it comes to the Bengals).

♣ Doris

Wow! That fish is smelly!

2009-09-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

I wanted to blog about this because it's something that really gets my goat.

So, there's this author who has published her fourth book, an author I've been very loyal to. I have three of her books (one paperback, two hardcovers), with the fourth on its way. Apart from these, I also have three digital editions of the same books, which I bought because it takes about a week for my orders to arrive from Amazon and I simply could not wait.

Now, her first two books were great reads, especially the first. But then comes the third book and something about it seemed off. After reading the book several times, I had to be honest with myself and admit that the quality of writing wasn't the same as the previous ones.

Then came the fourth book and this one was even worse than the third: I can never enjoy a book with an unlikeable main character. And I rarely, if ever, review books, even ones that I like! Mostly because I'm shy that way and I'm not very good with words. But since I enjoyed the first and second book so much, I had to write something about this decline of quality. My review of the third book could be taken either way (good/bad) because it takes a LOT for me to turn my back on an author that I like. (If you are JKR, it took me five books before I realised that there was no light at the end of the tunnel.)

But I couldn't bring myself to give the fourth book the same treatment, this time I was critical of the main character, which can be summed up in a few words: Honey, get off your high horse.

That done, I take a look at the other reviews, and there was something about it that I couldn't put my finger on. There's always something suspicious about too many 5-star reviews that contain little variety in its praise. But I just shrug it off because these things do happen.

Then I come across one of the critical reviews, a review which sums up most of my feelings about the book (though my review focused on a different aspect). I saw that there were a lot of comments on this particular review, so I click on the link ... and , wow, this reviewer takes an awful beating! And from no one rational, mind you.

If there is one thing I hate about these kinds of attacks, it's the irrational behaviour of a group of people who are not at all open for discussion--they simply want you to agree with them. They may claim otherwise, but who are they fooling?

There was someone else who thought that there was something suspect about this rabid mob, and after digging around, found some interesting links. It turns out that one of the pack is a published author, who happens to be on friendly terms with the author of the books I just reviewed (though I've had no nasty comments on my review so far).

It's safe to assume who the rest of the rabid bunch are: the author's BFF.

Now, the author whose book I reviewed may not have joined the pack in this case, but the links that one poster provided shows that she is about as blindly loyal (which differs from just being loyal!) as the rest of the pack of bullies she runs with.

So it doesn't take me long to add my comment, too, saying in no uncertain terms that I will not spend my hard-earned cash on this author's future books. One can only hope the author is wise enough to call off her dogs before she loses more of her readers.

Edit: This is a good read about an author going apeshit on an Amazon reviewer.

Brisbane is a wallpaper. No, really.

2009-08-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

**November, 2009______Edit: Wallpapers are no longer available**

Before I move on to other stuff, I'd like to post these wallpapers I made, featuring the lovely Brisbane.

Below is the original version. A bit boring, but I like my wallpapers with a 'clean' look :)

Note: The wallpapers we post on this blog will be uploaded to Disanthus, but only for a limited time (because we don't like leechers). These wallpapers belong to Disanthus.com and they are for personal use only. Thank ye.

P.s. You might want to listen to Antonín Dvořák's Měsíčku Na Nebi Hlubokém (no, don't even attempt to pronounce it) while you're at it ^^

♣ Doris

Digital Painters book

2009-08-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, Annette and I are crappy bloggers, but we're working on our blogging skills. Honest! Anyway, I wanted to post this link to the Art Squared Digital Painters book by Rage Publishing.

There is a book previewer so you can browse the content, and below is a screencap of mine ;) The second image is a tutorial I wrote, which I didn't think they'd publish, so it was a nice surprise for me. They've made a nice layout for it, so I'm really happy.

♣ Doris

Heathcliff, I am come home ♥

2009-08-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

Well, a new home, at least ^o^ We (as in, Annette and I) were completely disenchanted by LJ forcing fugly ads in our journal ... unless we paid, of course. So, it was time to find ourselves a new blogging home (because we're cheapo's at heart), and what better place than the original blogging platform right here.

It's been very quiet at Disanthus.Com as of late, and we're leaving the site as it is for now, but we hope to update regularly on this blog. There are a few paintings I have finished since the last update on Disanthus, and below is one of them.

The painting is one of the main characters in Deanna Raybourn's Silent On The Moor book (the final one in the Silent trilogy); I'll not wax lyrical about Nicholas Brisbane because there simply aren't enough words to do him justice. So I've painted him instead. This was originally a speed painting I did based on Richard Armitage in North & South (The BBC mini-series), but Brisbane kept nudging poor Richard aside until he completely took over the canvas. He is a force of nature, my lovely Brisbane is.

It's also been posted at Deanna Raybourn's blog, and there have been some lovely comments there :)

More to come soon!

♣ Doris