Tags: January Now And Later

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Tags: Now And Later Drawing Improvement Fiery How To Draw

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So what is the Now and Later program?

Good question… imaginary site member… Yeah, I’ve got to stop talking to myself in these blogs. Anyway, the program is really simple. Most of what we need for it is already on the site. However, there is a little prep work to be done.

You’ll need:

1. Space in your gallery.
2. Pencil and paper
3. A way to upload your artwork- don’t quit reading if you can’t upload your artwork!

Since you will be drawing things from tutorials, it’s best that you have a way to look at the tutorial and draw at the same time, and then get that drawing onto the computer. If all you can get is a disposable camera, ask for the pictures to be put on a disk when you get the film developed.

Alternatively you can try the tutorials on paper and then again using the Drawing feature on DrawingNow.com if you do not have a way to get your pencil drawing onto the site.

If you can’t get your artwork onto your computer but you still want to participate then just forget uploading your artwork. Read the comments left for other members and look at your own art with a critical eye and see if the feedback applies to you as well.

So, what are we doing and how? Well, there isn’t really a new addition to the site at this point in time because we have everything we need. Instead, we’re going to use what already exists to its full potential.

Oh, I hear you. Yes, you.
The one complaining.

Stop that.

The more we learn about what the site needs and what people want, the more we can do, but for now just chill out.

Ahem…

In my monthly blogs and forum posts and in the newsletter I’m going to list some tutorials, one scribble, and some advice and instructions.

To clarify: The tutorials I list will be for different things so people can choose what will help them. Realism, Manga, or Animal. There will also be tutorials for backgrounds.

Every three months we will have a check point- so four checkpoints in total. These will help you see improvement. How, well in January you will be drawing an original picture, and in March you will draw that same thing again, and then again in June, September, and December.

Confusing? Probably, I’m a scatterbrain and I tend to be annoyingly hard to understand. It’ll make sense as we go along.

For now, gather your material and start thinking about what your very first drawing will be. Do not use a turorial for this drawing, it needs to showcase what you already know. Please try to make that drawing full body with a background. Human or animal is up to you, but let me know.  The pose can be simple or complex but please try to make it something you’re interested in as otherwise you will be very bored with the checkpoints. I’d also suggest you try an original character as tastes change and you may not want to draw Naruto for a whole year.

So to recap you need:

1. Paper
2. Pencil
3. Idea for a drawing
4. to reply to this and tell me your drawing idea.

Please let me know your drawing idea by December 20^th!

Need an example?

Two human original characters. One male, one female. Simple straight-forward pose. Outside under a tree. Anime/realism style.

Oh yeah, styles… well for styles you can try whatever. Anime is easier, and realism is more intricate. I like to mix them. In this we will focus on both so you can pick and choose.

Alright? Questions?

I’d also like to take this time to showcase DrawingNow.com’s art lessons. These are step-by-step lessons in drawing your own Manga characters and buying it once will give you access to any and all future updates. Check it out: http://www.drawingnow.com/manga-lessons.html

So, hint hint, in this season of gift giving a receiving, hint hint, you may want to add something to your wish list… hint hint.

Tags: Now And Later Drawing Improvement Fiery How To Draw

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Hey there!

I hope everyone’s been having fun this month. Sorry for the lack of updates! I’ve been going through some things and I appreciate all the patience you guys have granted me. But enough depressing talk, it’s time for action!

You may be wondering about the title of this blog, or you are just rolling your eyes and hoping desperately that I’ll get to the point already. Either way, let me explain… You see, a new year is coming up fast and I believe it’s time I acted upon the question I always get asked: How do I become a better artist?

Well, my answer is always “practice, study references, get advice on your artwork…” and I think I’ve had just about enough of telling you all the same boring and vaguely helpful answer. Instead, we’re going to embark on a yearlong quest to actually become better artists.

A year may seem like a really horribly awfully long time, but I have faith in you! I know you guys can do this and I know you will all improve. Yep. No question about it.

So, HOW are we going to do this? I’m working on that… Hey, I never claimed to be anything other than a slacker. I’m working on the steps and reviewing tutorials and… well, it’s a lot of work, okay?

I wanted to give you guys a heads up about this so you have time to prepare and decide if this is the year you improve your artwork. This program will be designed for beginners and intermediate artists who want to improve, but even pros can use it to look at their own artwork and think about how they can improve.

The NAL program will start in January, and I will offer a prize to the members who can get the most people to join and participate. There may be many winners and prizes, but for now let’s say there will be a first and second prize. Keep a look out for more information about that coming up next week. The NAL program itself will offer prizes as well- which will not be based on artistic skills, so don’t worry.

Interested? Reply to this so I’ll know.

Tags: Draw Drawing Improve Tips Suggestions How To Pictures Pics Pic Fiery

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Greetings,

I'm starting the festivities early this year to give the maximum amount of time to those who wish to participate.  There will be more contests popping up along the way, but if you want the most amount of time them it's best to start with the early ones.

Okay, for this contest the rules are slightly different so listen up! The more people the better, and don't try to discourage others from joining just because you're afraid you'll lose.

For this first contest you are going to get a sentence that I want you to use for the setting for your entry. The idea is to make a picture that illustrates that sentence in a way that fits your artistic style. If you hear it as creepy then so be it, but your artwork does not have to be blood splattered gore just because this is a halloween contest. You can have a cute entry, a dark entry, a crazy entry, anything (pg13). Here is your sentence:

Carve a face, wear a mask, for a treat is all you ask. 

Rules:
1. Do not post your entries on the site until the contest end date (October 31st)- that way we don't get the 'he/she stole my idea' complaints. To do this, make an entry and keep it until the due date, if you draw it on the site you'll SAVE it to your computer and LOAD it later instead of clicking Publish to Website.
2. You can refer people and gain activity points which will be awarded at the end of the contest (you refer someone by telling them about the contest and having them send me a PM that says they are interested in joining and heard about the contets from you).
3. I'll judge the entries with two third-party judges.
4.Anyone can enter.
5. You submit your entry by posting it to this website. Your entry does not have to be created on this website. Do not steal, recolor, modify, alter, or borrow anyone elses work. This is grounds for having your account deleted as art thieves are not allowed on DrawingNow.com

Tags: Halloween Staff Contest Scary Horror Prize Fiery Nightmare

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How people get banned:

Step 1. Either someone clicked the report member button on someone’s page, or sent me a message reporting someone. In either case, the admin or I will check for proof. This can be given by the victim in the form of a screen shot- you make a screen shot by pressing the Prt Scr button on your keyboard, which will make a copy of a portion of your screen, which you can open using MS paint or other graphic editing programs such a photoshop, paint shop pro, or painter. You upload the image to photobucket.com or imageshack.org and send it to me.


Step 2. If we find proof or are sent proof we will give the reported user a warning. Why? Because some people just make mistakes, are dim towards the site’s etiquette standards, or simply need the warning in order to behave in a way that allows this site to remain open to all ages. Anyway, we give the warning UNLESS the user has posted pornographic images, is making a member feel extremely unsafe- including asking that member for sex, a photo, a full name, a phone number, or an address-, has threatened to kill someone, or is attacking someone based on race, religion, gender preference, or age.

Any and all members doing such things will have their accounts deleted permanently.

Step 3. If the reported user has been issued a warning and continues to break rules then they will be banned. If they were just using foul language then the banning may be short for a first offense. If they continue their behavior the banning period won’t get longer… they’ll simply lose their accounts forever. The end. No pleas from friends and family, no rallies against the staff member who banned that person.

In fact, harassing staff members is just a good way to get that person in even MORE trouble. Why invite a member back when they’ve encouraged their friends to disrespect a staff member? The staff is here to make this site as great as we can, while keeping it as safe as we can. It’s hard work to moderate this site and even harder work to admin it, and thus we deserve appreciation. If you don’t like us or our rules, then kindly leave the site we work so hard to maintain.

We’re not a corporation. So before you start yelling “WHY WAS MY FRIEND BANNED FOR NO REASON” and calling names and saying you want staff members to die or that they are scary, think about the fact that we are just people like you. And even consider what you would do if a member who had always followed the rules and was praised as such a kind person was suddenly messaging you saying their mom or dad or legal guardian was not going to allow them to be on the site any more.

When you ask why, you get to hear their guardian yell at you about the language on the site, or the bullying, the death threats, the constant chatter about suicide that makes it sooo common it’s like you’re insane not to kill yourself when you miss the bus on a rainy day and have to walk. So that member who has done absolutely nothing wrong has to leave. What would you do? What would you do if you got messages like that EVERY DAY?

--Eve. Your friendly Drawing Now moderator

Tags: Ban Banning Banned Rules Warnings

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Hello and Welcome to Did You Know #1.

Did you know:

• 1876

First African American to earn a doctorate degree: Edward Alexander Bouchet (Yale College Ph.D., physics; also first African American to graduate from Yale, 1874)

• 1885

First African-American woman to hold a patent: Sarah E. Goode, for the cabinet bed, Chicago, Illinois

• 1901

First African American invited to dine at the White House: Booker T. Washington

Washington in 1901 was the first African-American ever invited to the White House as the guest of President Theodore Roosevelt.

• 1903

First Broadway musical written by African Americans, and the first to star African Americans: In Dahomey

First woman to found and become president of a bank: Maggie L. Walker, St. Luke Penny Savings Bank (since 1930 the Consolidated Bank & Trust Company), Richmond, Virginia

• 1926

First African-American woman to receive a degree (Ph.D.) from Yale University: Otelia Cromwell, who had previously been the first African-American graduate of Smith College.

· 1950

First African-American star of a network television show: Ethel Waters, Beulah

· 1956

First African-American male star of a network television show: Nat King Cole, The Nat King Cole Show

• 1960

First African-American US presidential candidate: Rev. Clennon King, on the Independent Afro-American party

• 1990

First elected African-American governor: Douglas Wilder (Democrat; Virginia)

• 1917

First African-American woman to win a major sports title: Lucy Diggs Slowe, American Tennis Association

• 1956

First African-American Wimbledon tennis champion: Althea Gibson (doubles, with Englishwoman Angela Buxton); also first African American to win a Grand Slam event (French Open).

· 2009

Disney is adding its first African-American princess to the Disney Princess franchise.
"USA Today" reports Princess Tiana is slated to make her big screen debut later this year in the animated musical "The Princess and the Frog."
She will be the first princess introduced by Disney since 1998's Mulan

Tags: Black History Month

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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages! Listen closely for I have something important to tell you all, concerning concerns that have been brought up recently. Read through it, it won't take too long. Please know that I will not just list precautions, I explain why those precautions exist, so if you are under 13 years or age it is a good idea to have a parent read this with you.

Question: Are there pedophiles (otherwise known as child predators) on the internet?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Even here?

Answer: Maybe.

Question: Why aren't you freaking out?

Answer: Listen carefully. There are and always have been predators. This is why your photos get deleted when you upload them, and why you have screen names instead of using your real name on the internet. Now, you SHOULD NOT freak out and start hating or fearing everyone over 18 who joins this site.

Question: Why not?

Answer: First of all, predators can be any age. I grew up in a neighborhood where two grade-school girls kidnapped a little boy and dressed him up like a baby. It almost sounds innocent, but those elementary students held someone against that person's will and forced that person to dress and undress as they wanted.

There are predators at ALL ages and all genders. However, you can't freak out and not trust anyone because that’s no way to live. You just need to know how to keep yourself safe.

Question: So... what should we do?

Answer: First of all, you should follow a few basic rules if you're under 18. Here they are:

1. Never give your name to anyone. If you want people to call you something other than your screen name then you should tell them a nickname. (For example, my name is listed here as Eve, but that's not my name. It's a short version of my name, and does not include my middle or last name.)

Why? Because some people are crazy, and if they have a name to attach to your online identity they feel much closer and might single you out as someone willing to trust them. So really, just nicknames and NEVER EVER tell anyone your last name.

2. Never EVER give out your phone number. Why? Well, anyone can get your address from your phone number. Do not post your number ANYWHERE. No name, phone number, address, or school. If you talk about stores near you, speak only about chain stores.

Let me tell you why. If you post your number somewhere, it can and will be seen by anyone- even invisible hackers lurking around. Predators can talk to people and develop a relationship in their minds, meaning they start to believe they know you in real life. They'll remember any details you give them. If you only tell them what state you live in you're pretty safe, but no one online should need to know what school you go to, your street address, or even your city.

3. No pictures. Ever. For the same reason as above. If you want to put a picture up, and your parents say it is okay, then only a headshot and use it as your User Icon (otherwise known as your Profile Picture) instead of posting it everywhere on your profile and in your gallery. If someone asks for your picture, always tell them NO, and report them.

4. Do not meet people you only know online. Trust me. Predators can stalk hundreds of victims at a time so they're fine with spending a few years getting to earn your trust. Even if they show you pictures- which could be of friends' kids, past victims, their own family, or just random pics stolen off the internet- even if you call them (though that'd break rule number 1), do not trust them. You can often trust site owners of child-safe sites, but be extremely cautious. Child-safe sites will not ask you for personal information such as your name, school, phone number, address, or picture.

If you win one of my contests I sometimes have physical prized that need to be shipped. I'll ask for an address, but I do not want your address. I want you to find any address where I can send the prize and it can be delivered to you by someone you trust. A teacher, grandparent, P.O. Box, office building, or even a police station willing to cooperate.

5: If you ever do want to meet someone you met on the internet, then you must have an adult with you. And I mean a legal guardian or parent, not older sibling. Do not think that you can just meet in a public place and be safe. Most parents are not going to embarrass you while you meet your friends, they've got their own lives after all, and most friends totally understand how parents can be. Never meet someone you met online alone. And if they tell you not to have your parents with you, report them immediately.

That's it. 5 rules. If you're in a chat room and you see someone break these rules, warn them, and if they do not listen then report them. I'd much rather they get banned instead of attacked. I had a friend once who subconsciously (meaning she wasn't fully aware of it all the time) had the desire to be a victim. She loved drama ad I'm telling you now that it's 100% not worth it.

It's not what you think it'll be like, it's not something you can just brush off, it's not going to get you treated the way you think it will, it will just hurt you and after a few month you'll have everyone telling you to get over it, though most likely you will be too ashamed to tell anyone. Your entire world will become terrifying and you'll never be able to get close to people the same way again. So be safe!

Statement/question: Yeah, but I'm not afraid!

Answer: Good for you... except the predators are still there and by breaking the rules you're telling them to come here and see who else will break the rules. So you're creating victims.

Annoying question: Why should we listen to you?

Answer: Why should you listen to me? Because some very bad things happened to me while I was growing up. Even when I reached my tween years and thought I was strong enough to never let it happen again. Now as an adult, I've vowed to do everything in my power to make sure that what happened to me never happens to any kid under my protection. When you're on this site, I consider you under my protection as far as this site goes and hopefully you'll take my advice with you to your real life and to other sites.

And really, you don't have to listen to me. Read through this with your parents and ask what they think is right.

Be safe, play nice, have fun.

-Eve

Moderator

DrawingNow.com

Tags: Predators Pedobear Child Danger Internet Security Warning Tips Advice

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In 2001 a horrible attack happened. Where were you?

There are those out there who are very young and do not know much about this day, besides what they read or hear, but many of us remember the incident seven years ago and cringe. Most of us sat in school, eyes glued to the TV, horror struck. We hoped, prayed, even cheered as rescue workers entered the buildings. Our hearts stopped as desperate men and women leapt from the burning towers, and our hearts broke as they fell. We screamed and cried as the first tower crumbled and so many were lost, and trembled as attention turned to the second tower.

A Nation wept and swore to NEVER forget. So here, my friends, is that promise again. Take a moment and remember.

~*~*~**~*~*~

I stare in total disbelief,
heart torn with instant grief.
Plumes of black smoke fill the air,
marking a building no longer there.
I close my eyes, I want to pray,
but my mind doesn't know what to say.
Much like Pearl harbor, so many years ago,
so many gone with one fatal blow.
There are no words to explain,
there are no words to ease the pain.
To those who gave their lives,
Mothers, Fathers, Husbands and Wives,
to all who's lives today did cease,
may your soul find instant peace.
We will honor you and the life you gave,
as a Patriot of "The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave."

~*~*~**~*~*~

Calling All Angels! Calling All Angels!" Went out his thunderous plea.
"I am thy Lord beseeching my horde to assemble in front of me!"
In a flash the angels did dash to gather at His feet,
And hear His plan to help all man by use of Heaven's elite.

"The Devil's made a play this September day to hurt the ones I love,
He's loosed upon earth his demonic worth now push has come to shove.
I'll not stand by and have good men die without awareness in their heart,
So this day in my plan-full way a battle I'm going to start."

"Gabriel old friend to this end welcome every woman and man,
That'll come our way this fateful day who died by Satan's hand.
And before you go you need to know a few you'll bring straight to me,
Firefighters all now standing tall known as The Three-Forty-Three."

With Gabriel gone and quiet the throng they wondered at His plan,
To send and quell the flames of hell by use of mortal man.
All manner of doubt filled the strongest and stout of Heaven's holy array,
And fear fell upon the heavenly throng at the plan the Lord set this day.

"I can sense in thy hearts hesitation to start a battle you don't understand,
But confused as you Satan is too and that is the heart of my plan.
Fear yea not for what I've wrought I'll ask none here to face his fork,
But I'll send into hell those who fell the firefighters from New York!"

Then Lord raised his staff and began to laugh in roaring thunderous glee,
And in a booming blaze they stepped from a haze The Angelic Three-Forty-Three.
They fell into line in very short time making perfect formations of rows,
And the Lord caused to slip onto every man's hip a golden heavenly hose.

"The gravest mistake Satan did make when he struck down these men so brave,
Thinking idle I'd stand not extending my hand and their souls I would not save.
Have no fear for the men standing here the way to his place they know well,
For verily each day they've collected their pay by stepping into hell.

These men know their task now angels I ask that you hasten straight to earth,
Then comfort their friends when the tally begins and they start to question their worth.
Console them with wings and all heavenly things on their shoulder your head is to rest,
Send whispers of thanks from our heavenly ranks, say: 'God knows you did your best.'"

Calling All Angels
Written by Lea MacDonald
SFFD-Captain-227
For those who would like more information, there is actually a comicbook you can get which describes the event.

Found here.

Tags: September 11th 91101

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