Retrospective

[hsapiens]

I joined ugly_icons today and took a few minutes to look over the locked entries. There are some massively ugly icons there...and there are also some icons that look to me like typical beginners' efforts. Every one of us started out as a nOOb. I shudder every time someone digs out an ancient icon of mine, adopts it, and tells me that she'll be certain to

Comments

[hsapiens]

LOL! I didn't mean for this to be a "tell me why I'm awesome" kind of post. :) Seriously, icon makers get LOTS of positive feedback. Way more than, say, the majority of fic writers. I get plenty to feed my ego -- but I thank you all the same for your kind words. *g*

Funny that you mention the sharp focus aspect because that is *critical* to me. Maybe it's my long history of bad vision but a picture that isn't crisp drives me bananas. I won't even think of using a slightly fuzzy cap. I think it's one of the reasons I was oversharpening so heavily before but didn't see it as such and remains the motivating factor in my choices of caps and crops. You can't get the image too small without losing all identifying detail. And I do love detail. I want to see it ALL. I still weep that icons aren't 150x150 because you could cram in so much more detail.

But then I see an icon like these:

[memento1]

SQUEE!!!

I am ALL OVER any discussion on graphic design and technique. This made me so happy, Mish. I should do a "retrospective" look at my own work, although I'm terrified of looking back at some of the crap I made.

But I agree, everyone needs that guiding hand, that expert artist to hold your hand and offer you tips and encourage your efforts. I still miss Creative terribly because it was that to me. I was lucky to have several "masters" to learn from - Tere and Vered especially, and a whole community of supporters. I haven't found anything like that since, and I miss it.

I am horrified to say that I didn't learn the wonders of sharpening and color correction until the last few years, but I developed a lot of other useful skills in that time that are not so common nowadays. We are all a product of our times, I guess.

[hsapiens]

I'm not certain this qualifies as a discussion of graphic design and technique but I don't think that my "style" has changed that much to have a true discussion. I'm glad it pleases you. :) It's humbling, indeed, to look at icons that I once was extremely proud to have made -- and cringe. Ah well.

We are, indeed, all a product of our time. Thus those selective color horrors up there. *points*

[sasusc]

I just came to this post to mention that I nominated one of your icons over at sg_awards and couldn't help to read this. It's always funny to look at one's older icons and say "WTF was I thinking?" Someone once told me that icons didn't look "finish" without a border and I listened to them. There was a period of my icons all with some sort of borders before I realized borders don't always work. lol, and then joining icon challenges only served to help make me branch out and improved.

I just one to say that I love most of your icons, and looking through yours always seems to make me go "Oh, I want to try something like that!". So thanks so much for inspiring me and some of my icons! ^_^

[hsapiens]

Sorry to have been out of touch; we were dealing with a terminally ill family member. Thank you for nominating one of my icons; it's always a thrill. I'll have to go see which one it was.

I know that border issue, too. Nobody told me icons needed borders but I decided on my own that they did. I collected an astonishing number of border brushes and was fearless in using them. Icon challenges DEFINITELY make one a better icon maker.

I'm stunned that you get inspiration from me. If you ever want to know how I did anything or where I got a cap or texture or whatever, please feel welcome to ask. I'm always happy to talk icons.

[sg_betty]

I adore that black and white icon of Teal'c in the bottom group. Textures, huh? I'll have to try that...

[hsapiens]

:) Textures are very cool. If you *ever* want to know how I do something, made an icon, or just want to "talk shop" then please feel free to ask me. I love to share anything I might know.

[sg_betty]

I will absolutely be taking you up on that! : )

[hsapiens]

I look forward to it. :D