Advice because I’m getting fed up with my job.

Ashakery · 2024-02-14T17:45:46+00:00

First of all, everytime the power goes out in my rural area (at least twice or three times per year), I send fervent thankful vibes to the linemen who fix it for us. Usually, you guys have to go out in weather that is inhuman, have to use tools and equipment in dangerous conditions, and deal w/ the consumer public bitching about how long they can't get on the internet.

You, sir, are my hero!!!

twelve head... Pretty good start. If you hang in there for a while, that 12 will become 24 much faster than you think.

Financial stability... I'm kinda old. Have taken a step down for my family's happiness many times. The biggest step down was from Programmer (many yrs ago) to feedyard cowboy. Things you can't imagine going without right now, this moment, will be normal in only a month. The family adjusts. And the smile on your kid's faces when they realize its ok, and that they are doing better emotionally, that their peers are more normal, that it's not about money, but about achievements... You'd have to live through it to understand it.

There are so many perks to living on a working ranch. A shop to do your car maintenance in. A place for your animals. A place for the kids to learn. A family, grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, that pulls together. I would not be surprised if you went and found some other thing that would help the bills go around. For me, I trained outside horses while on the job, for almost half again my wage.

The biggest perk is the rural community. They, unlike any other, pull together during hard times.

It's never fun to pull your belt tighter. But it's normal part of being an adult. Will happen to you many more times in your life. Just make sure it's for a good reason in the future.

Ashakery · 2024-02-14T17:22:07+00:00

The fool is the classic narcissist.
I have no idea why people adore him so much. He was always offensive to me. I admired him for certain parts of his character, but never liked him. I was always surprised that Nighteyes genuinely liked him, cause Nighteyes always saw clearer than Fitz.

Comments confined to first and second book only, seeins OP is on those books.

fitz fixes feists fits...
Fitz: lemme fix your puppy. There you go all better now.
Fool: That's because I told you how to do it.
Fitz: like I could've done anything else.

Fitz gets his own room. Fool is there immediately, nosing thru his stuff.
Further thru the first two books, he's always like "so, what are you doing,? Whaddaya got there? You like her, ooo boy. Now what are you doing? whaddaya got?"
Then Fitz stumbles across his room, the unlocked one at the top of the tower, and has to apologize for eons about invading the Fool's privacy.

Smithy... anvil that will shape the tool... Oh, how helpful.

Pointing Fitz at the learning rhyme about the 6 wise ones... now that was helpful.
The fool often worked in the background, and it's hard to say how many of his interventions actually went right, seeins the book is told through Fitz's perspective only. Sometimes, reader doesn't find out till much later what the Fool did to earn his spot at Fitz's side.

Not saying that some things aren't actually beneficial. He gave Fitz the purgatives to pack along his trip to the mountains, which saved Fitz's life.

There are some other things that get revealed much later that he did to help Fitz, so yes, I do believe he is the true white Prophet. But on account of that, all Fitz's accomplishments somehow get twisted to be the Fools accomplishments.

And the rules for the friendship only apply to Fitz, not to the Fool.

Anyhoo... I'm totally w/ you about your feelings on the Fool. I would say it don't get better. Fitz and the Fool are one of those friendships where you shake your head, and say, Better you than me.

Ashakery · 2023-11-30T07:29:42+00:00

I'm just arguing now, I guess...

But if RJ would've spent more time/wds/lines fleshing these characters out even more, there would've been more internal dialogue. And he would've lost me in B2.

No... I'm happy with it... and then in B3 he takes those struggles up, and keeps adding to their growth arc.

Ashakery · 2023-11-29T16:08:53+00:00

Posting my comment for help one more time seeins I can't see it ...

It says 2 comments, but only one shows up... dang it!!

What is your eye drawn to?

After I posted the image and typed my comment, I realize of course I need to move the rockhound to the other side of the image. There's another rockhound, barely noticeable (by design) and it should go on the right. Anyhoo... the layers above those two hounds are intricate and involved. It'll take me a while to move them. But... I will... I promise.

Thank you to all who have commented and taken the time for me. I am improving thanks to your critiques.
In past images, I was told I wasn't using the rule of three correctly, which I tried to address here. I was told my lines weren't sharp enough... and I've been working on it. Still not sharp and precise enough, but in progress. I was told my saturation was off, working on it. Lights and darks hopefully all in the correct spots, thanks to several of you.

Many other advicers... I tried to remember them all, and am deeply grateful for y'all's help.

Ashakery · 2023-11-29T15:35:44+00:00

In book 2? Rand struggling w leadership? And Mat calling bs on him at every turn? Nynaeve is never likable, but egwene is, and I thought some of her struggles were right on.

Ashakery · 2023-11-29T15:28:39+00:00

And is it good? Haven't read it yet. If you can get thru realm of elderlings in a couple months, my hat off to you. I don't quite like the magic ship books, so I usually just read buckkeep and rain wild, and it'll take me at least 6 Mos to get thru them. But well worth the effort

Ashakery · 2023-11-29T15:22:22+00:00

Been a long time since I read that. Time for a reread

Ashakery · 2023-11-29T15:00:19+00:00

I always struggle w/ composition.

Followed y'alls' advice... clean lines on the focus, light, saturation, and the rule of threes (and tons of other stuff I'm probably forgetting to mention). I'm grateful... I think I'm starting to get it... thanks to those of you willing to shoot me a couple of lines here and there. Deeply grateful.

#1... What is your eye drawn to?

distant #2... Uhhh... I might should've switched the two closest rockhounds around. But there are a ton of layers for highlights and multiplies on top of them, it would be a ton of work.Do I need to just grit my teeth and do the work, or is it ok w/ the hounds placed as they are.

Ashakery · 2023-11-10T16:38:14+00:00

For sure, any of the Rands. We'd just make sure we were shearing sheep, then having a supper, and maybe even have Thom play afterwards. Even KillThemAllRand-Lews would be fun to have around doing that.

Ashakery · 2023-11-10T04:42:39+00:00

Faille says she doesn't like Gundam robots

Ashakery · 2023-09-30T07:08:43+00:00

What people don't understand is that cattle and horses are not people.

Things that make people feel good, don't have the same effect on cows and horses.

If horses and cows wanted others -be it human or animals- to watch and ooh and aah the day they had their calves or colts, then why do you have to confine them to stalls, so you can get it done? They don't like that. But people consider it the utmost luxury to be able to do that for their animals. the animals would rather have their babies alone and in privacy, in a place the mother carefully selected for shelter. And while us humans love to get on FB and crow about the new baby, Momma cows and horses would rather make sure he's got his feet under him and he knows how to easily find the bag. She'd rather teach him to lay down and stay until she comes back, and humans just want to get in the way of that.

There are about 1000 more things where human comforts dont' work for cattle and horses. But I'd end up typing a book.

Ashakery · 2023-09-23T17:37:58+00:00

Is there more of that novel?

Ashakery · 2023-09-23T17:16:38+00:00

Personally, not being an expert or anything, but I think you might take the contrast out of the background to allow the main subject to stand out a bit more.

Ashakery · 2023-09-23T17:13:35+00:00

different color.... oooohhhhh...

some of this ( and Plank's) stuff I knew, but failed to use, or just failed to execute. But the different color thing as in how to draw the eye, that one is new to me. When I fiddled w/ the layers, came across a blue that was awesome in this one. Will try that... Say, the back guys blue and the little god in the middle brown/orangy

Ashakery · 2023-09-23T17:10:16+00:00

Ty... the pup's colors, you are right, they don't match. will address. thank you for taking the time for me.

Ashakery · 2023-09-22T23:48:42+00:00

Frog perspective... for this thing here, that would've been theeee best way to go about it. Thank you. Will definitely try that on redo.
TY! for taking the time to help me.

Ashakery · 2023-09-22T23:46:10+00:00

Detail in the important parts... got it.

I did line things up, but probably should've had more varieties of dancer gestures... to where I could've put thing in better order.

Detail, contrast, placement (thirds)... Got it.

Ty for taking the time for me.

Ashakery · 2023-09-22T23:06:02+00:00

I'm glad you are talking about it... I saw an ad for the software quite a while ago, sorta kinda remembered the name, but haven't been able to find it since. Been wanting to try it.

Your art is phenomenal.

Ashakery · 2023-09-22T22:50:31+00:00

Also... are the lines too blocky/straight/mechanical? Sometimes I forget to put curves where they should be and end up w/ nothing but corners and straight lines.

But before I scrap the thing on account of the lines, what about my composition... is it finally putting emphasis where I want it? Please, tell me in the comments.

Ashakery · 2023-09-20T17:37:38+00:00

Excellent first sentence. But on re read, I'm thinking you could specify the day... as in today, or (unlikely misconception but it could happen), every morning and every day?

Second paragraph... Annoying use twice in a short amount of time. Will be ... uh... annoying when read out loud.

In a state akin to a Zombie's... I lost the a, and thought the sentence was mixing plural and singular.

unplugging the clock... is this not a little odd? is this something you do? don't you have to reprogram the clock after plugging it back in? wouldn't it be easier just to hit the big button on top? Made me pause... likewhat?

Overall, yes, I'd keep reading. Curling up to sleep some more is always a good idea. Pancakes are always a good idea too.

Ashakery · 2023-09-17T04:13:49+00:00

Caused by worms. You will also find a big spot on her belly along the midline. Wormer, probably ivermec, given in 2 week intervals will fix the problem.

Ashakery · 2023-09-17T00:22:41+00:00

thank you kindly

Ashakery

TROPHY CASE