Post a Picture - Something You Created!

This may be a stretch, since he's not our kid biologically, but Kit and I had a big hand in forming who he is, now, so I guess he's kind of something we "made".

This is my nephew Shane. He's on leave between Marine Basic and Marine Combat Training. Today is his 21st birthday.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/fYqun32.jpg)

My step-sister was very sick for a long time, with the same rare lung disease her mother died from. She and Shane moved here in May of 2012 and bought our house and we bought another close by. She passed away 5.5 years ago and Shane moved in with us. He changed a lot from who he was at 15.5 yrs old to who he is now.

We're so damned proud of him and proud to call him our kid and our Marine.

-BEP

ps. Try to ignore my ghost taking a picture in the reflection...

Congratulations!

Demosthenes wrote:

I dunno if this is really the right place on the forums to do this, but I have a creative question/need assistance!

I'm working on a video project to upload during some downtime after getting laid off/adopting a dog who has some health needs we're sorting out/helping mom figure out a car situation post-grandma passing (yeah, it's been a weird few months)...

ANYWAY, I want to make some Lore video series... basically prepping myself but helping others as well with games I'm interested in that are coming up. So I've got kind of a project list, but... part of this is learning a new skill as well...

So, I'm looking for a decent, but not like 400+ dollar piece of software for video editing. Something that will allow me to put up images, clips from games, etc. that I can use as a backdrop for some narration... or occasionally as the focus.

Someone upthread reference SonyVEGAS for cheap in Humble Bundles. Timely timely as it’s in a current bundle now!

staygold wrote:
Demosthenes wrote:

I dunno if this is really the right place on the forums to do this, but I have a creative question/need assistance!

I'm working on a video project to upload during some downtime after getting laid off/adopting a dog who has some health needs we're sorting out/helping mom figure out a car situation post-grandma passing (yeah, it's been a weird few months)...

ANYWAY, I want to make some Lore video series... basically prepping myself but helping others as well with games I'm interested in that are coming up. So I've got kind of a project list, but... part of this is learning a new skill as well...

So, I'm looking for a decent, but not like 400+ dollar piece of software for video editing. Something that will allow me to put up images, clips from games, etc. that I can use as a backdrop for some narration... or occasionally as the focus.

Someone upthread reference SonyVEGAS for cheap in Humble Bundles. Timely timely as it’s in a current bundle now!

Thank you! I looked back through a dozen threads to see who asked about this the first time and failed.

Delbin wrote:
staygold wrote:
Demosthenes wrote:

I dunno if this is really the right place on the forums to do this, but I have a creative question/need assistance!

I'm working on a video project to upload during some downtime after getting laid off/adopting a dog who has some health needs we're sorting out/helping mom figure out a car situation post-grandma passing (yeah, it's been a weird few months)...

ANYWAY, I want to make some Lore video series... basically prepping myself but helping others as well with games I'm interested in that are coming up. So I've got kind of a project list, but... part of this is learning a new skill as well...

So, I'm looking for a decent, but not like 400+ dollar piece of software for video editing. Something that will allow me to put up images, clips from games, etc. that I can use as a backdrop for some narration... or occasionally as the focus.

Someone upthread reference SonyVEGAS for cheap in Humble Bundles. Timely timely as it’s in a current bundle now!

Thank you! I looked back through a dozen threads to see who asked about this the first time and failed.

Woo! Thank you both!

Update on Project, nothing concrete to show yet, I'm working on the video capture from part of Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines 1. First script (and part of the second one) are all done and ready for recording... amusingly I am not instead.

Came down with a gum infection (thank you soft teeth and ridiculously high costs of pulling/dentures), so part of my face and mouth is swollen and hurts like hell. Already on meds for it, just waiting for it to die down then I can move ahead.

Looking forward to seeing the results

I am officially finished with uni now (just waiting for results) so I need to look st some method of actually earning some income now

While I’m looking for some local freelance stuff I’m thinking about creating some mini modules for the dms guild. I’ve got one I was making for my Patreon page which is almost done (just needs illustrations) , and I’m working on a separate quicker mini side dungeon which I’ll probably do as part of a series. (I’m thinking of doing a set of mini dungeon encounters that can be used for the “mystery map” players find at the end of the phandelver campaign).

Will post more about both soon, but for now you can check out my Patreon page (see link below) for updates!

and here's the front cover for my mini dungeon encounters project!

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/mormesk1-colour.jpg)

Mini spoilers for the Phandelver intro campaign...

Spoiler:

Mormesk is a crotchety Wraith in the final dungeon of the campaign, who guards the aforementioned map to [blank]. The Flameskull is also a (repeat) antagonist in the final dungeon - ESPECIALLY if certain players decide to put it in their backpack as a trophy without first checking to see if it was REALLY dead, and not just temporarily dead. (They did, they didn't, and it definitely wasn't ).

I'll not post anything about this first dungeon as of yet because i want to run my Euro GWJ group through it first, but i'll post a preview of it afterwards and hopefully it'll be available once I write it up, either on my Patreon page or maybe the DMs Guild if I can figure out how that all works!

Love it. I really like the style, the details, and the "?" banner under the heron.

Good stuff!

New art project (now that I have time to actually DO my own stuff...even if nobody is paying me for it*)

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/the-devil-linework.jpg)

...and a map for a mini puzzle dungeon in my online D&D campaign...

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/preview-heron-map2.jpg)

(both best viewed in a new window)

(*speaking of which, people can totally pay me for cool art things if they want! I'm open to commissions, or my patreon is in my sig )

Oh that's awesome! The first one, with all the monitors, reminds me of an old anime called Serial Experiments Lain.

Someday I’ll pay you for a tattoo design.

RawkGWJ wrote:

Someday I’ll pay you for a tattoo design.

I strongly support this. Her line and dot work is killer!

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/eUk94yO.jpg)

My daughter made me this for Father's day.

Amoebic wrote:
RawkGWJ wrote:

Someday I’ll pay you for a tattoo design.

I strongly support this. Her line and dot work is killer!

Aw thanks

The threat was followed through with recently
Always open to more commissions though!

* Your image is broken there, Everythings!

pyxistyx wrote:

* Your image is broken there, Everythings!

Fixed. Thanks.

EverythingsTentative wrote:
pyxistyx wrote:

* Your image is broken there, Everythings!

Fixed. Thanks.

Oh hey, that's neat!

pyxistyx wrote:
Amoebic wrote:
RawkGWJ wrote:

Someday I’ll pay you for a tattoo design.

I strongly support this. Her line and dot work is killer!

Aw thanks

The threat was followed through with recently
Always open to more commissions though!

* Your image is broken there, Everythings!

Yep. Worth every penny. I love the design that Pyx made for me. My hope was to post a photo of the finished tattoo in this thread, but this story has a sad ending to it. I will hide the rest in a spoiler tag.

Spoiler:

The tattoo was going to be my son’s name done in the Lego font with a few Lego bricks scattered around it. As a family we’ve spent great amounts of time and money building Lego, playing Lego video games, and and enjoying Legoland theme park. The tattoo would be an homage to all of those fun memories.

After Pyx sent me the final version of the tattoo art, I drove to my local tatt shop and put down a cash deposit, shook hands with the artist, and drove back home. I hadn’t shown my son the tattoo design yet. I kind of wanted to surprise him. I thought he would really get a kick out of it, but instead he was horrified. I was completely shocked by his reaction. And hurt, obviously. I decided to let us both sleep on it, but in the morning he made it clear that he did not want me to get that tattoo.

So obviously I couldn’t go through with it. I decided that I would get a Lego brick on the under of my wrist instead. It wouldn’t have his name but it would still be a vague symbol of the original idea.

I called the artist as soon as their shop opened to let him know about the unfortunate change of plan. “Spider” made it clear to me how put out he was. He would be getting a considerably smaller payment for the smaller tattoo. I told him, “Hey, man, I’m sorry about that, but there’s no way that you can be more disappointed than me. I mean, my kid hates the idea of me tattooing his name on myself.” Spider was apparently incapable of showing even the smallest bit of empathy. In the end I decided I wouldn’t be getting any work done at that shop. I feel bad for Spider. It must be hard being him, and I imagine even harder being around him.

This is what the tattoo was going to look like. Having Benny popping out from behind is freaking awesome!

IMAGE(https://i.postimg.cc/tJkYYsWs/3-C8-E9-BC1-2-AB7-4-DEB-AEA3-B74-A28-DD7-EF9.png)

I’ve been working on some stencil art. This is the first time I’ve ever tried it. It’s really nothing more than glorified paint-by-number but I’m pretty happy with the results. I took a photo of a koi fish a few days ago. This is my first attempt at stencil art:

IMAGE(https://i.postimg.cc/K8H3P3VL/39-EC521-C-7-DBE-4-AE0-83-B0-24-D151-F75-FDB.jpg)

After Jam Master Jay was murdered a friend of mine made a stencil style painting of Jay. I was super impressed. I decided I would try to do something similar. I feel like I have a long way to go before this is finished, but I’m loving how it’s coming along.

IMAGE(https://i.postimg.cc/RFc3xs0Q/6-A05-B5-D0-1-C44-4747-9-D21-7-DD8-E5-B5-D954.jpg)

I haven’t gotten to their arms yet, obviously. They look like three Venus DeMilo b-boys. Haha.

I meant to say - have you considered Getting the design made in to a pin/badge instead? Not the same, obviously but your welcome to go ahead and do that with it if you want.

Also the stencil art is cool

RawkGWJ wrote:

After Jam Master Jay was murdered a friend of mine made a stencil style painting of Jay. I was super impressed. I decided I would try to do something similar. I feel like I have a long way to go before this is finished, but I’m loving how it’s coming along.
IMAGE(https://i.postimg.cc/RFc3xs0Q/6-A05-B5-D0-1-C44-4747-9-D21-7-DD8-E5-B5-D954.jpg)
I haven’t gotten to their arms yet, obviously. They look like three Venus DeMilo b-boys. Haha.

I cannot "like" this enough. I'm not a big rap fan, but I wore the Hell out of my DMC and Beastie Boys tapes.

When I lived in Fort Wayne, I went to a mall in the area and saw a print an artist did of John Lennon, but it was just his glasses on a white background. I was a poor, broke dude back then and couldn't afford it. I think it was $30 or $90, can't quite remember. I think that artist does a lot of celebs like that, where he just does the feature that makes people think of the celeb as the art - like Lennon's glasses and Jagger's lips.

With your permission, when you're finished, I'd like to print off something like this and hang it on the wall in my game room:

Spoiler:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/toThx0q.jpg)

or maybe even buy a signed print of it from you. Definitely post it here when you're finished.

Edit: I'm not sure what the legalities would be on selling one, since it's a "copy" of the Greatest Hits cover. Maybe if it's a reimagining like this, it's OK.

-BEP

EverythingsTentative wrote:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/eUk94yO.jpg)

My daughter made me this for Father's day.

This made me smile, nice one ET.

bepnewt wrote:

I'm not sure what the legalities would be on selling one, since it's a "copy" of the Greatest Hits cover. Maybe if it's a reimagining like this, it's OK.

-BEP

Oh wow! I’m sure I’m not at all deserving of your praise. But thank you. When I’m done I will post it here. I will probably post a few updates as I continue to make progress. I would not feel comfortable selling it to you, but you are more than welcome to have a copy and do whatever you want with it. I’m most likely going to put it on a t-shirt.

Thanks to ADHD it’s rare that I continue on the same path for too long. But I would like to do this same thing with an image of Adam Youch. If I could pull that off, I would probably get it printed on canvas.

Off topic: The Beastie Boys Book is really great. The audiobook is as well, maybe even better. Beasties and DMC were a very prominent part of the soundtrack of my youth. Hearing those old songs is like stepping into a nostalgia time machine.

RawkGWJ wrote:

Off topic: The Beastie Boys Book is really great. The audiobook is as well, maybe even better. Beasties and DMC were a very prominent part of the soundtrack of my youth. Hearing those old songs is like stepping into a nostalgia time machine.

Agreed. Loved the audio book.

Rykin wrote:
RawkGWJ wrote:

Off topic: The Beastie Boys Book is really great. The audiobook is as well, maybe even better. Beasties and DMC were a very prominent part of the soundtrack of my youth. Hearing those old songs is like stepping into a nostalgia time machine.

Agreed. Loved the audio book.

They're still part of my weekly soundtrack on my playlists. Love it. Dang, never heard of the book! I'm putting it on the list.

-BEP

bepnewt wrote:
Rykin wrote:
RawkGWJ wrote:

Off topic: The Beastie Boys Book is really great. The audiobook is as well, maybe even better. Beasties and DMC were a very prominent part of the soundtrack of my youth. Hearing those old songs is like stepping into a nostalgia time machine.

Agreed. Loved the audio book.

They're still part of my weekly soundtrack on my playlists. Love it. Dang, never heard of the book! I'm putting it on the list.

-BEP

Continuing off topic: Mike D has a Beats1 show on Apple Music called the echo chamber. I love it. He stopped doing it when he started the book tour. Not sure if he’ll ever do it again. But there is a sizable back catalogue.

Did a new thing! as a bit of a trial. See how i get on.

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/heron-final.jpg)

“Mormesk’s Diversions” are what I hope will be a series of quick mini-dungeons and encounters, all based around the “mysterious map” discovered in the lair of Mormesk the wraith, during the finale of The Mines of Phandelver, although it would work just as well in any other location or forest-adjacent setting with very little effort.

"Locked within a series of trials in a hidden underground shrine, a weapon blessed by the forest goddess Mielikki lies waiting for someone worthy enough to claim it. "

Trial of the Heron’s Gaze is a short puzzle dungeon with a handful of smaller combat encounters, which should act as a short palate cleanser between “Mines of Phandelver” and the players next big adventure.

As such it is balanced for a group of four level 5 characters, but should be easy to modify for groups of higher or lower level as required simply by upping the danger in combat.

The dungeon should be playable in a single 3 hour session, depending on how easily and quickly the players solve the various puzzles.

Wow, Pyx. I wish I had a drop of your incredible creativity. So good!

aw thanks

It's gotten a good hundred or so downloads so far over the last couple of days too, which is vaguely terrifying . Need to do an update with a couple of tweaks / grammar fixes but then i'll have to see about working on the next one!