Marzy's Blog

There is Nothing Else I Can Do

Literally... I can't do maths, meaning retail jobs I'll suck at and although I think I'm quite good at English, I don't think I'll ever be Shakespeare 2.0. I do like the idea of being a writer though. Pretty much most things I've never taken too, I just get to a point and give up or when I do, I just forget what I learnt, it just seems to go straight through me. I think the only thing that I've really taken too in life and have any sort of potential in is being an artist.

I started drawing when I was quite young (around 8, I believe). I was terrible, but I did it because my mum inspired me and I also enjoyed it. She used to draw Nintendo characters for me and my brother and when we came home from school, there would be a new drawing to put on our bedroom wall. At this stage, I wasn't really getting anywhere and pretty much gave up. After this, it wouldn't be till I was around 14 I'd take up drawing again and take it more seriously.

At that age I picked up drawing again and I have no idea why. I started getting seriously into it and enjoying it. I'd just drew Pokémon at first, because those were simple to draw. There were more complex designs too, if I wanted more of a challenge. Once I saw they started coming out better than expected, I think that drove me to do more.

For a few years I kept this up, more so in the later years. I'd literally just spend all day drawing, instead of going on my computer for most of the day (like I do now). I think the time spent doing it paid off, as some of my artwork I felt was really great. I remember people in my graphics class at school being amazed by some of it. To have someone say I was good at something was a nice feeling, it's not very often I'd receive compliments. Back then, I had even less going for me too. I was dreadful at English for a start (check my old C3 posts).

Then came the downfall... around the later half of 2007 and the past few years (though the last 3 years have been much better), I felt low due to certain reasons and I lost a lot of confidence, motivation and generally have thought negatively about myself (I still do at times). I lost my belief in myself, basically. I did start drawing again though, but it was only occasionally and by that, every couple of months maybe. It wasn't really enough to improve again though and it's only been in this last year, I've taken it more seriously again.

Around mid 2011 is where I wanted to get really serious about doing art again though. My biggest project was my work on a Wind Waker drawing for my friends birthday, Bart (former member of C3 forums). Coincidently, it was during that time I started speaking to another member of the C3 forums, onikafei. I found out she was a talented artist when she posted her work on the site and in the C3 chatroom and after seeing that it just got me inspired all over again. I also received some advice and help from her, so that was very kind - a big thanks for that, I appreciate it. Since then, I've been drawing more often, though still not as much as I used too. I've worked on some of my best artwork though and put in a lot of time on some of them. Recently I also picked up Colors 3D for the 3DS, as well (review coming soon!) and that's also driven me to draw more.

Think of that as a diary though, a historic look at my past of learning to draw. At the moment, I'm in such a state where I just feel upset if I think about working in any other job that doesn't involve art. It's the only thing I have any sort of potential in, everything else I suck at.

I just hope I can keep this up and get good. In a way, it's just a shame it's taken me this long to really get back into art again, but at this moment in time I feel determined and actually enjoying it again in the same way I used too.

Damn! A wall of text... If you've got this far, thank you for taking time out your day to read my latest blog.

In other news:

- Kid Icarus: Uprising is really great, go and buy it!
- I'm hoping to do a Cubed3 comic for the site.
- I might be going to MCM Manchester in July, if others from C3 are going.
- I'm really excited about E3 next month, expect major excitement overload in the IRC chat when Pikmin 3 gets shown for the first time.
- Lastly, I love you all! JB I love slightly more though...

I leave you with a pencil sketch of Rayman I did yesterday.



Hope you enjoy!

The Mouse Waker!

The Mouse Waker by ~Marzy16 on deviantART

Happy Christmas Cubed3, it's been a while since my last blog and now I have something worthwhile to show and talk about, I thought I'd update you all on it. Above, you can see my latest piece of artwork, which I made for a friends birthday present. He was once a regular member on here actually (Bart). This one took me many hours to get right and it actually had a background behind it which I spent a while on. In the end though I got rid of it, as it wasn't working out and ruined the overall artwork. It's a character piece, so I wanted to focus on them.

I also want to spend more time working on my art again and hopefully I can post it here more often in the future. Many thanks to onlykafei, as well, since she gave me some very helpful advice and that will get put to use in my future work. In fact, I used two of her tips in this drawing.

Gaming has actually been taking over my life recently. I've spent over 40 hours on Mario Kart 7 already and I recently got the Humble Bundle 4, with the amazing NightSky and BIT.TRIP Runner - both are fantastic. I'll certainly try the others out too, but those were the games that really persuaded me to by the bundle. Then there's Christmas coming up and I'll be getting even more games... will I ever get a rest from them? (Never thought I'd say that)

I never have New Year resolutions (since I do things whenever I want to or need to), but next year I'd like to focus more on my art again and I was thinking of doing a drawing a day challenge for the whole year. At the end I'd have 365 drawings and I could look back and see if I've progressed and learnt new techniques. Obviously that will take a lot of commitment to do, but I don't plan on doing any masterpieces, just quick drawings to help me keep up practise.

Hope you all have a good Christmas and thanks for reading.

It's Quiet, Too Quiet.

Don't you just love staying up late? When it's so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. There's something pleasurable I find about it and it's that time when I can just think more clearly about things. Whilst I was thinking, I thought about writing a new blog post, so... here it is!

Have I been doing anything interesting lately? I have in fact. I've been assigned as the new Editor/Host of Cubed 3's podcast. A job that involves exactly what it's called. Basically guiding the podcast as we present it and also editing the podcast into the final show by arranging the audio so it all sounds good. It a time consuming job, but it's something I'm very passionate about and enjoy. Mike (Mason) also does a lot of work with interviews and planning, which I'm very grateful for. I'm also writing a new monthly column for Cubed 3, called Critical Hit! This will be going up later today, so I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the article.

Other than Cubed 3 work, I also did a four week work placement at a stage theatre. This went very well and I enjoyed it a lot. I was sad when I left, though I might consider doing some voluntary work there in the future. Hopefully this will also help me get a job too and also make my CV look more impressive to employers.

Gaming hasn't been a big part of my life lately, but I did play through Half-Life 2 and completed it last Sunday. It was definitely the best first-person shooter I've played in a while. The story and puzzle elements made it interesting and the vehicle parts where pretty fun too. I've also been playing Machinarium, which is just superb in every way. A point-and-click puzzle adventure, with the most charming characters and beautiful visuals. If you haven't played it, please purchase it, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Upcoming games I'm looking forward to are Lylat Wars 3D and Skyward Sword, mostly. I'm still saddened by the the worse voice acting and music in Lylat Wars 3D, but the rest of the game looks much the same (apart from the visual upgrade) so it should still be just as addictive. I'm also really excited for Journey too.

I'd like to start driving lessons soon, but my neck and back have been bad for months. I went to the doctors about it and he gave me tablets for it. I have managed to take some, but my problem is, I struggle to swallow tablets. Even when I have managed to take more, I still can't turn my head fully left and right. I'll probably end up going back and then I think I'll have to go through some physiotherapy.

Well, it's getting late now and I'm going to head to bed. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading.

Work Placement

I've gone back to worrying again this week. Last month I got told I need to ask for some work placements (work experience) at places of my choice, but I've been putting it off, due to me getting nervous about it. I need to apply for some by Monday or I'll likely get told off by TNG (they help you get a job).

All the placements I chose were retailers, like Gamestation, GAME, WHSmith and Halfords. My main concern is that I'm terrible at maths and I'm really worried I will mess up on the tills and completely fail at it or something. The woman at TNG said that she was bad at maths as well, but she found till work fine, so that convinced me it would be okay, but now I've just started worrying about it again, because I know how bad at maths I am and probably more so than her.

I was just wondering if anyone else on C3 had any retail experience on tills and if you found it hard? Also, what can I expect doing retail work?

Wisdom Tooth Worries

Later today I felt a little pain in my bottom left-side of my mouth, right at the back. It feels like my first bottom wisdom tooth is coming through. I'm worried though, it hurts at the moment and it's got worse through the evening, though it's not unbearable yet. It's uncomfortable when I'm eating or even swallowing though.

It just under the gum at the moment and I can feel it underneath it (quite a weird sensation). I can't tell yet, but but it feels like it's growing in a facing forward.

I'm incredibly worried I'll have to get it taken out though. I already get scared of going to the dentist as it is, but having a tooth pulled out will probably make me cry. It's my worst nightmare, especially after hearing about Echoes experience. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next