Editing Suite is Up and Running!!!

Finally finally finally!!! I picked up my PC editing suite yesterday. I ordered half of the components from Newegg and the other bits and pieces from Microcenter. Here are the specs in case you're interested:

+ i7 2600 K
+ GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3P
+ G-Skill Ripjaw Series 4 GB x 4
+ PNY NVIDIA Quadro 4000
+ SSD 120GB INTEL 320 Series
+ WD 2TB BLACK SATA 6.0 GBS x 2
+ CORSAIR H70 Liquid Cooling
+ Corsair 1000W Bronze Certified Power Supply
+ Windows 7 Home Premium
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Since I picked it up yesterday I have just been installing software. Adobe Production Suite CS5, Adobe Lightroom 2 and various Digital Juice products. B&H Photo Video has a 24 hour sale on Lightroom 3 - it's 50% off and on sale for $149.99 right now. If you don't already have it, I highly recommend this program. Especially when processing large amounts of images this will save you lots and lots of time compared to processing images in Photoshop (one at a time) or other RAW editing programs.

After all of the software is installed - I will be getting back into the swing of things and posting tutorials, tips, tricks and other bits and pieces. It's great to be back after nearly a one year hiatus.

Cheers

Recent Work - Sketches and Watercolor

Hello -

I finally purchased all of my computer components and dropped them off for my system build. I'm hoping by early next week I'll have a new work station. I have been waiting, planning and saving for literally a year. In the meanwhile, I've gotten back into my fine arts. I'm applying for graduate school and I need to build my portfolio so here are some recent fine art pieces. I've signed up for a couple continuing education drawing classes at a local community college. Here are my recent pieces:







...and my watercolor...



The first three are just some sketches. I'm particularly fond of my watercolor. I have been working on it on and off for the past three weeks. How do you know when you're work is done? For me, I just know. You mull it over a bit and when you haven't touched your brush or pencil to the paper - it's finished.

Funds Received

Well, I finally got my tax return and as soon as I finish shopping for parts at www.newegg.com I'm hopefully going to have my editing suite back! Gosh, I have been waiting so long for this it's beyond ridiculous. Thanks for your patience, I know I've nearly run out.
Another big change I failed to mention - I've relocated from Melbourne, Australia to Detroit, MI. It's good to be back in the D.

Service Interruption

Hello All -

If anyone is following this blog - I just wanted to let you know that due to personal home circumstances that it will be some time before I'm able to post anything new. I no longer have an editing/graphics computer and haven't had one since November, so until I purchase a new system I'm afraid this blog will be very sleepy. I look forward to coming back online with new tutorials.

Thanks,
NK

My latest Illustrator drawings

Hello -

Just because I haven't posted anything on here, as of late, doesn't mean that I haven't been busy drawing. I've recently entered a competition for an online game that I play - the theme was to create Halloween items. Here are the items that I drew and submitted. I've generally used a reference photo to get the perspective and shading correct but all drawings are my original creations all drawn in Illustrator.

Heart in a Jar



- I tried to animate this one in Flash, but it didn't look to great - will need to start getting into Flash, too.

Brain in a Jar



Iron Frame Gothic Bed



Strand of Garlic



Coffin Bookcase



Gothic Picture Frame

Easy Vase with Illustrator

I've been disappointed with myself for not making time for this blog and posting more tutorials - real life gets in the way too often.

I sat down in front of the computer searching for an easy Illustrator tutorial (video tutorials and way more time consuming) just to create a new post and I found this very easy one. I learned a new tool (by new I mean I it's new to me, not to the program) called the 3D Revolve. This tutorial took less than five minutes which means I have enough time for some house chores before I go to work.

This 3D Vase Tutorial takes less than five minutes and is presumably aimed at beginners.

Tied up...

In between working full time and installing a heap of new software on my computer - the PC has been a bit tied up as well as myself.
After my last software installation and a free day, I plan on coming back with new tutorials. This is embarrassing and I can't believe three weeks have already passed since my last tutorial.
Be back soon...ish.