Dare to be different and learn to be lonely

Yay, lots of improvements on my shoulder mobility since my last update. I was able to get on my bicycle again and after trying it carefully in the weekend to do groceries, I also cycled to the office again every weekday.
I started on my 'senior citizen' bike, which has a low step and saddle, so I didn't need to put my full weight on my arms when getting on and off. On Wednesday evening I decided to try my regular (high) bike to cycle to my mom; this route includes a steep bridge, so it's good exercise;) It feels very good to have my independence back and to no longer need public transport or a ride from my mom to move around.
I'm still going to physical therapy; my left shoulder still needs kneeding and I've been getting new exercises to further improve mobility and strength in my arms. We'll see how much time I need to full recovery, but I'm already feeling like myself again. (Now not to have this happen again and learn to take regular breaks in between fiddling on the computer, both professionally and privately;)

Speaking of fiddling on a computer: here are the final graphics I made for landofart.

( Ch16_PH18 - What's Behind Door... )

( Ch17_PH18 - So That's Who You Like )

( Ch18PH18 - LGBT )

( Ch19PH18 - 4 Elements )

( Ch20PH18 - I Will Go Down With This Ship )

( Ch21PH18 - My Favorite )

( Ch22PH18 - Screencaps as Textures, What?? )

( Ch23PH18 - Mystery Bags of Loot )

( Ch24PH18 - Letter Association )

Previous Land of Art Phase 18 challenges: Ph18Ch1+3 | Ph18Ch2 | Ph18Ch4+5+7+8 | Ph18Ch6+7,10-15

I'm currently playing in the Land of Art Summerphase for Team Deep Sea! I'm also working on my (Paper!)art for the spn_j2_bigbang, which will be shared at the end of the month! How's everyone doing with their collaborations?

J.

DW: X-posted to https://beelikej.livejournal.com/575368.html

Last time the panorama was one of my favorite types of graphics, yet for landofart Phase 14 Challenge 4 we had to use a different method of creating it and that initially threw me off. I even contemplated handing in one of my Golden Tickets so I could skip this challenge. But buying points always feels too easy for me and I decided to at least make an effort.

To get in the mood I started the old fashioned way, which is to find an image and frame it within the 500x100 pixel format to then cut it up into five icons of 100x100 that work as stand alones. I love figuring out how to capture the best cuts of the image and the scene I used from The Breakfast Club is perfect for this method:)

( I made two of these panoramas, one with text and one without )

After making these, I thought I was ready to start on designs following the "new" method, where you must use multiple images to create a 500x100 piece of art and then split that panorama design into five individual icons.
I really struggled, because to me it seemed like I was supposed to just clunk five individual icons together to then split them up again. As you can clearly see from my first set-up, that's how I approached the design with five portraits of Christopher Walken, blended together.

But then I looked at my original BreakfastClub scene I used for the panorama graphics up above and I noticed the faces of each of the characters would make excellent close up icons. So I started playing with that image to make a composition that would work in a Panorama and then I got the hang of it!
By the time I got to my last design, I actually had fun with this graphic type again, so I'm really glad I gave it a go:)

( Here are the panoramas I handed in for this challenge )

What do you think? Do you prefer the first or second method of making Panoramas? Which one is your favourite?

J.


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Once again I managed to break a meme. It's a miracle I'm not struck by lightning yet for always getting those chain-things broken :-p I'm finally catching up with all the promises I made back in January when I was on a jetlag-high. Here is my response to the icon-meme that was doing its rounds...
1. Reply to this post and I will pick five of your icons.
2. Make a post (including the meme info) and talk about the icons I chose.
3. Other people can then comment to you and make their own posts.
4. This will create a never-ending cycle of icon glee.
(Except of course when you are me and you leave the meme unanswered in your mailbox for months.)

cassiopeia7 picked these:
01. 02. 03. 04. 05.

firesign10 chose these for me to talk about:
06. 07. 08. 09. 10.

( So now I talk. And talk. And talk some more... )

Well, if that wasn't a disturbing peek into my mind. Bet you're happy you asked.

Yes, I don't have to work this week. Which means I'll pop up on your flist more often than usual. After I wrote my bookreviews, I spent a lot of time on the couch watching tv. I plan to continue working on my to-do-list tomorrow, but I'm not making any promises...

If I ever needed to prove to anyone how good I am at stalling, I would point them to this meme. Early November I practically begged cali_cowgirl08 to let me play and even though she picked icons for me right away, I've been making her wait all this time for my response. I suck.

Icon Meme

Reply to this post (specifically saying you wish to play) and I will pick five of your icons.

Make a post (including this info) and talk about the icons I chose.

Other people can then comment to you and make their own posts.

This will create a never ending cycle of icon glee.*

( Selected icons )

OOoh, now I want to make more icons. I have so many slots left!

*Anyone wants to get this meme going again? I promise I'll hand out icons within a day;)
You're also welcome to scold me for being a bad flister or being in a fandom of a show I know nothing about. *hangs head*

Additional pictures to this week's adventures.

First: The CupCakeExperiment
When I posted from work last Monday, I couldn't include pictures of artistic_sillie and me making HoneyCupCakes. After sharing my own failed attempts of battling this recipe, I will now proudly show you what those cupcakes are supposed to look like:
( they tasted awesome too! )

In addition to my new userpics, I'm hereby posting the source pictures. Just because I like these women so much and I'm quite proud of this batch of icons, actually:)

( I'd like to snog all of them )

Want to see pretty men? I posted a bunch of them earlier this week

And for those of you who were wondering where my CupCake/Stephen Colbert userpic comes from, here's the video (I also recommend the tip of the hat, wag of the finger: Man-words & Movits!)

Happy birthday to my sweet Tanni. You have been such an awesome friend and I wish you the very best. If only I could write you the perfect fantasy-fic. Alas, icons of innuendo will have to do. In honour of the guys who are responsible for us getting together (just good friends, I swear) I give you the best scene of CSI Season 8:



And now on to the party: ( I'm not having you turn my nice house into the Playboy mansion. )

:-) Have a great day, my dahling. *hugs*

I don't know why these icons couldn't be posted earlier, it's not like the guys are completely naked... ( but I'll put them behind a cut anyway, because the pictures might not be worksafe )
Also: I promised tanisafan I would sing to her for her birthday, but I decided I better let the professionals take care of it. It's not necessarily a birthday-song, but it's appropriate for celebrating anything: Chocola!* Yum. Enjoy!

*lyrics here No translation needed:)

Lately I've been having some trouble with text in my icons. It's hard to think of good words to go with the pictures. But I'm also struggling with the look of the text. The letters keep getting blurry. It's frustrating. Maybe I just need glasses...



Grumble, Livejournal won't let me post more than two pictures... but you can check out the other works in progress in my iconcorner...

Suggestions? Comments? Both are much appreciated.

Well, I finally had a few days off to spend some time with the guys. Sigh. Ehm never mind... This is what happens when I try to clean up my collection of CSI-pictures.

Teasers:


And here's more...

x-posted here and there