matchboximpala

Land of Art provides a safe and fun space for you to create graphics, find inspiration, and build your skills. As part of a team you complete challenges to make different artworks and earn points for the graphics you make. The challenge deadlines and low-key competition help keep you motivated!

Most challenges provide you with the freedom to work with images from any fandom you like, or to use your own photographs or stock images. During the current round I have created wallpapers, moodboards, icons, gifs, postcards, coloring pages, tumblr graphics, lovebars, and picspams.

If you are interested in joining, you don't have to wait for a new round to begin.

FAQ: https://landofart.livejournal.com/324667.html

Apply for a team: https://landofart.livejournal.com/324552.html

IF you do sign up, mention that matchboximpala sent you. I get points for that!

Schedule, Rules & FAQ
Sign Ups: Artist | Writer | Beta

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/258666.html

This challenge was to find coloring pages and color them, either by hand or an art program. I chose to use Photoshop since it was a new technique for me. I got some great tips from this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zleBGbwZjqU

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/254368.html

Here's my image:

Original image:

1. In Photoshop, to brighten the base I duplicated the image twice and set the first layer to soft light and the top layer to screen.

2. Then I cut out BB-8 using the PS select and mask function. I output BB-8 on a new layer and then created a layer below that which I filled with blue.

3. I created a new empty layer above BB-8 and on this layer I used the color picker tool to select the most prominent color of different sections of the image. I adjusted the color by changing it brightness to 100 (That is B in the HSB section of the colorpicker). In some cases I also increased the saturation (S).

4. I used the magnetic lasso tool to select that part of the image, and then I filled the selection with that color. I repeated these steps until I had selected and colored each part of the image.

5. I blurred the layer using gaussian blur set to a radius of about 2.5.

6. Then I set the layer to soft light at 100% opacity. I duplicated the layer again and set also set it to soft light at 72% opacity.

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/252238.html

It's all about Arthur this time!

The household item inspiration was this lamp, which was made for me by my aunt. Nice work, isn't it?

I used this promo picture of Arthur:

See beneath the cut for the result and my step by step:
( Read more... )

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/253490.html

This challenge asks you to use something in your home as inspiration for a tumblr graphic. My first attempt uses stamps as inspiration.

Initially I tried following a tutorial (How to turn yourself into a stamp) from an issue of Photoshop Creative. My image was turning out nothing like the final image in the tutorial, so I improvised quite a bit.

I started out with this image of Arthur and the stamp template from the magazine's website.

My steps and final images are under the cut
( Read more... )

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/253201.html

Seeing that really cute picture of Jared and one of his kids at the Alamo Drafthouse reminded that I haven't posted about my trip to Austin last month. My friends in north Austin don't live far from Dripping Springs, so we went to the Family Business Beer Company to check it out. We liked the atmosphere and the setting, but the beer... not so much. We tried a variety and The Fox was pretty good, but the rest were just okay.

Turns out that one of the people working there used to be a bartender at a place my friends used to regularly frequent, so he came out to the deck and chatted with us for a while about the place and the plans for the house next door (it's going to be a restaurant).

Photos under the cut
( Read more... )

While there I saw "Ready Player One" at one of the Alamo Drafthouse locations and the theater put together a really cool compilation of ads from the 80s to show instead of those awful ads you usually see before the previews start. This was interspersed with interviews with Ernest Cline, who clearly is as big as a geek as his character in the book. And speaking of the book, I read it and LOVED it when it first came out. I was pretty excited to see the movie and I did enjoy it (except the super cheesy ending), but last week I listened to the audiobook read by Wil Wheaton and I was surprised at how little I remembered from the book and how different it is from the movie. I know my memory is going with age, but really, it was shocking.

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/253035.html

Nothing really special about how I put these together, except I tried to unify them somewhat by applying the same muted coloring scheme. For the challenge I made an icon, picspam, and sigtag

click for larger:

The fonts are Network and NetworkScript by Yasir Ekinci

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/252669.html

My entry for week 3 of

landofart's Hide & Seek Challenge.

I used a lot of different textures for this. Perhaps more than necessary.

Font is Bravelove by Artisans.

Note to self: You have way too many fonts.

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/251985.html

I am taking a page from

beelikej's journal and will aim to consistently post before-and-after descriptions of the art I am creating for landofart.

Land of Art is a team community specifically focused on graphics only. If writing isn't your thing, this is the community for you. There are two teams: Team Renaissance and Team Steampunk. If you are interested in joining, take a look at the FAQ and then go sign up.

If you do sign up, let them know that matchboximpala of Team Steampunk sent you.

A number of challenges are running simultaneously right now. The one ending next week is the Lead to a Win challenge, where members create headers that are posted to indicate which team received the most points in a tallied challenge.

Here are mine, before and after, under the cut. I use Photoshop 2016 for all my graphics.
( Read more... )

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/251589.html

The raffle is for a copy of the September 2016 Rogue magazine with the 8-page article/photoshoot with Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, and Misha Collins. The magazine has been signed by all three.

See the details here: https://goo.gl/Fx6W2L

Please share widely with your Supernatural peeps!

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/251173.html

My only new year's resolution was to go for a year without buying anything (as modeled by Ann Patchett), but I've broken that resolution already because a friend pointed me to this:

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/249404.html

On December 11 I posted my final list from the Goodreads Around the World in 52 books challenge. I read even more than that: 81 books in 2017 as compared to 6 in 2016. And in the first few weeks of 2018 I've already finished 8. I'm well on my way to my goal of 120 for the year.

I've been squeezing in some fanfiction as well and a few of these stories are well worth recommending. Two of them I posted on

merlin-hotrecs:

Title: Forging Destiny
Author: barbitone
Reviewer:

matchboximpala
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, Percival, Lancelot, Merlin, Cenred, Elyan, Cedric, Freya, Gaius, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Gwaine, Nimueh
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 35776
Warnings: None
Summary: Nimueh told him to make a sword, so he made a sword, all right? Though that’s strong words for stealing a sword from a nearby smithy and asking Kilgharrah to breathe fire on it. And then Camelot was sacked and the Pendragon line ended and he’d had to hide the sword away and – well Merlin really didn’t like to think about the whole thing.
Time passed, things happened, and Merlin was not at all prepared for a young knight named Arthur to come asking about the blasted sword. He’s a bit of a clot, sure, but there’s something about him. Merlin can’t quite put his finger on it.
Why I loved it: I feel like this story has somehow slipped under the radar because it doesn't have a lot of hits. It definitely deserves a look because it is a well-constructed and beautifully written story. It's an action adventure with drama, humor, danger, and romance. The characterizations are terrific and even woman!Gwaine is spot-on.

Title: Fried Chicken for Christmas
Author: BlueSimplicty
Reviewer:

matchboximpala
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Morgana, Gwen, Uther, Vivian
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 27790
Warnings: Here are the author's warnings: "This story contains an exploded microwave, opaque blob, a blorp, and mentions of inappropriate sexual acts performed on turkeys. But also, a little bit of holiday cheer and a whole lot of love."
Summary: When Vivian makes a comment to their friends, insinuating that Arthur is not the most passionate of people, hurt and embarrassed, Arthur decides to make her a homemade Christmas feast to prove that he can be romantic. After he almost sets the building on fire three times, help comes to him in the form of his neighbour from 514, a tall lanky fellow named Merlin, with two of the worst behaved dogs Arthur has ever encountered, who offers to teach him how to cook.
Except, as their lessons progress, Arthur slowly comes to realise that Vivian may not be the one he really wants to cook for. But only if he has the courage to let go of all of his fears, and reach for the one thing he truly wants for Christmas.
Why I loved it: The notes say that the author is a "relative newbie to the fandom as well as writing," and I have to say, WELCOME. This story was brilliant -- funny, touching, sad, happy, sweet, and did I say funny already? I loved the structure, the central premise, the build-up of the relationship, and the truly quality writing. Now I can't wait to read this author's other Merlin stories.

Over here on DW I've been following the

fancake comm, and while I'm not jumping into new fandoms, I do appreciate the recs of really good fanfic. Dragon Verse by lupinus is well worth a read if you are a Sterek fan, or even if you are not. The characterizations are just excellent, especially Stiles.

More recs to come...

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/248978.html

Around the Year in 52 Books Goodreads challenge: COMPLETED!

(Favorites are bolded)

1. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016 (link) The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

2. A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view) Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

3. A book you meant to read in 2016 The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

4. A title that doesn't contain the letter "E" Us by David Nicholls

5. A historical fiction The Convictions of John Delahunt by Andrew Hughes

6. A book being released as a movie in 2017 The City of Shifting Waters (Valerian) by Christin Pierre et al.

7. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title Goldfish: A Novel by Nat Luurtsema

8. A book written by a person of color The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

9. A book in the middle of your To Be Read list Armada by Ernest Cline

10. A dual-timeline novel Life after Life by Kate Atkinson

11. A category from another challenge The Last Kingdom (popsugar challenge - the first book in a series you haven't read before)

12. A book based on a myth The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

13. A book recommended by one of your favorite authors What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum (recommended by Charlotte Huang)

14. A book with a strong female character Uprooted by Naomi Novik

15. A book written or set in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) The Half-Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker

16. A mystery And then there Were Four by Nancy Werlin

17. A book with illustrations Mary Astor's Purple Diary

18. A really long book (600+ pages) 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster (880 pgs)

19. A New York Times best-seller Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling

20. A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film

21. A book that is a continuation of a book you've already read Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore

22. A book by an author you haven't read before The Wingman by Natasha Anders

23. A book from the BBC "The Big Read" list 1984 by George Orwell

24. A book written by at least two authors The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

25. A book about a famous historical figure Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

26. An adventure book Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel by Robin Sloan

27. A book by one of your favorite authors A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

28. A non-fiction The Other Half: The Life of Jacob Riis and the World of Immigrant America by Tom Buk-Swienty

29. A book published outside the 4 major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster; HarperCollins; Penguin Random House; Hachette Livre) Caught Inside by Jamie Deacon

30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

31. A book from a sub-genre of your favorite genre (SciFi - Hackers) Warcross by Marie Lu

32. A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding subtitle) Scarlett Epstein Hates it Here by Anna Breslaw

33. A magical realism novel Sourdough by Robin Sloan

34. A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

35. A book where one of the main characters is royalty The Selection by Kiera Cass

36. A Hugo Award winner or nominee (link) The Martian by Andy Weir

37. A book you choose randomly Home is Where You Are by Alex Jane

38. A novel inspired by a work of classic literature Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

39. An epistolary fiction I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

40. A book published in 2017 Geekerella: A Fangirl Fairy Tale by Ashley Poston

41. A book with an unreliable narrator In the Woods by Tana French

42. A best book of the 21st century (so far) Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

43. A book with a chilling atmosphere (scary, unsettling, cold) The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis

44. A recommendation from "What Should I Read Next" (link) Graceling by Kristin Cashore

45. A book with a one-word title Pompeii by Robert Harris

46. A time travel novel Lightning by Dean Koontz

47. A past suggestion that didn't win (link) American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (a book with a family member word in the title)

48. A banned book Unwind by Neal Shusterman

49. A book from someone else's bookshelf Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves

50. A Penguin Modern Classic Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

51. A collection (e.g. essays, short stories, poetry, plays) Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman

52. A book set in a fictional location Fire by Kristin Cashore

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/247858.html

https://howsecureismypassword.net/

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/247519.html

I have been trying my best to keep my outrage over the Trump administration's actions out of my journal, but I have to post about this latest attempt to overturn the Affordable Care Act. This latest bill appears to be the worst so far and must be stopped. I live in a state with two Democrat senators and my representative is a Democrat. There's not much I can do at a local level to influence Republican voting. But if you have Republican representatives, and care at all about the future of Medicare, then please reach out to them and urge them not to support this bill.

Call your Senators 1-888-981-9704

Suggested call script:

My name is ______. I live in TOWN, STATE and I’m a constituent of the Senator’s.

I’m calling to urge the Senator to vote NO on the newest version of Trumpcare, known as Graham-Cassidy. This bill still destroys Medicare and devastates Medicaid.

Tens of millions of Americans will lose their health insurance.

Health care legislation should leave people better off. This bill doesn't. Please share my thoughts with the Senator and urge them to vote against the Graham-Cassidy health care bill.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/this-republican-health-care-bill-is-the-most-monstrous-yet/2017/09/21/cfd1a54e-9f0f-11e7-8ea1-ed975285475e_story.html?utm_term=.dcc9bd92c115

Letter from 10 Governors opposing the bill: https://www.colorado.gov/governor/sites/default/files/bipartisan_governors_letter_re_graham-cassidy_9-19-17.pdf

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/247175.html

Download PDF of cover and article.

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/247025.html


The Bunker door	The Bunker door in RL

Crossposts: https://matchboximpala.livejournal.com/246621.html

The Living and the Dead Caps: https://ln.sync.com/dl/0b34236c0#dzw8skyw-w3ukuahk-dc3syp98-nqgui5wg
Zip files are located at: https://ln.sync.com/dl/421c6a110#ncinp65u-pn99wuhz-u2cr8sck-run7ugdh

Here are some samples from episode 5

( Read more... )

Which I find confounding, since I am not a fan of her writing.

Posting this because I thought her mention of Dean Winchester was amusing. Click to see larger version.

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matchboximpala

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