I have not failed

Not sure what I think about my new MacBook...

2009-07-07T23:20:43Z

My MacBook Pro Aluminium arrived yesterday and I have been religiously fiddling with it ever since. It looks great, although I'm yet to become used to the keypad, but because I haven't had the chance to transfer everything from my old windows laptop (iTunes library transfer, such a hassle omg), it feels more like 'a laptop' rather than 'my laptop' at the moment. For me a laptop is a very personal thing and my previous one had my personality stamped all over it, so the new Mac is feeling very alien to me. Plus, trying to work out all the Mac-equivalent commands is a pain.

I don't know why (nor do my hard-core Mac friend) but its taking me a while to warm towards it, especially since there was nothing really wrong with my old laptop (other than the fact that a Mac is more flexible to use for when I'm in Japan). I guess I'm mostly gutted by the fact that I won't have Photoshop CS4 anymore, since I don't own the original copy. I don't know how I'm going to get hold of another copy, other than fishing out some £100+ to buy one, which isn't really going to happen any time soon. If only I could transfer programs between PCs...

Okay, I really didn't mean to sound so negative about it. All things considered, it's a pretty damn cool laptop that my parents just bought for me, and I feel a bit guilty for not really gushing over it. I think I will feel much better once I familiarize myself to it and once more programs have been installed so that it's actually functionable.

It's now less than a month before I head out for Japan. I keep going through cyclical phases of being very excited and oh, it's going to be a blast and an adventure, to freaking-out about the kids and/or staffs not liking me, or unintentionally breaking some etiquette and offending people because I crossed my legs when I sat, and other tiny things like that.

I swear I had more things to write but my brain is crying out for sleep.

elspethelf @ 2009-06-14T23:46:00

2009-06-14T22:48:36Z

Jetting off to sunny Greece (Crete & Santorini) for a week. See you all soon!

Massive Hetalia fanart post

2009-06-10T22:41:00Z

Huurah! Now that I'm free from finals, I can draw as much as I want. Here are some Hetalia character drawings that I've done over the past week.

Characters include (in order): Prussia, Italy, China, England, Germany, Austria, Russia

Prussia

Italy

China



England

Germany

Austria

Russia

elspethelf @ 2009-04-30T20:06:00

2009-04-30T19:11:01Z

Aaaah, my oral examination is tomorrow. I think I will feel like a right idiot standing in front of the panel in my sub fusc. It just occured to me that I may need a carnation, but I don't think I will bother.
Let's hope I don't panic and forget what my grant proposal is about!

Living in Japan

2009-04-06T11:46:30Z

I got the acceptance letter from JET yesterday so it looks like I will be living in Japan for the next year!
After initial excitement, I am now trying to weigh out the pros and cons of accepting the offer. On the one hand, I will have employment with good pay straight after I graduate for the next year, which gives me more time to think about careers options, develope as a person, and improve my Japanese. On the other hand, I will be technically doing something unrelated to what I want to do in life (which, currently, is science), so I'm worried that taking this year out will affect my chances of getting on a PhD course/grad school when I come back. But then again whilst I'm in Japan I may discover that I want to do something totally unrelated to science after all, so all in all things look more favourable in going.

I keep daydreaming of the food that I can eat in Japan! And shopping! And I'm amused by the fact that now I can follow shows on tv in Japan, instead of a day later on the internet.

The departure date doesn't give me much time to enjoy summer after my finals exam. Since I live in Oxford and go to Oxford uni, I've never really been away from home before. It'll be a big adventure/challenge, I think :)

Hetalia character song

2009-04-04T23:04:03Z

For Hetalia fans, I am ridiculously fixated with South Italy's character song: 'The Delicious Tomato Song'
The tune is hilarious and irritating and I can't seem to stop playing it over and over! (which, by the way, is terrible for revision)

I've uploaded it here, for anyone interested. The Delicious Tomato Song

Warning: other people in your household may hate you. My poor suffering mum...

elspethelf @ 2009-01-31T14:18:00

2009-01-31T14:24:56Z

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Three things that make Elspeth happy:

1. Her project is finished and bound and sent off to Exam School
2. Her interview at the Embassy of Japan is OVER!!!
3. Someone nominated her picture of Ron for the Ron and Harry Best Mate Award. Thank you so very much <3

Welcome to the Year of the Ox

2009-01-25T17:26:05Z

In the spirit of Chinese New Year's Eve, here's a Chinese-themed (ish) picture I drew.

The dragon was photo-manipulated then painted over. Should really have drawn a cow at the back but that didn't sound very majestic....

Happy New Year to those who celebrate it <3

Glum

2009-01-09T15:59:57Z

Sometimes I really think I caught the wrong time-bus for life. The year I finished middle school they renovated the whole site, the year I left sixth form our common room got brand new sofas, the year I started uni there was the increase in tuition fee, and now - 2009, what a lovely time to be graduating.

*sigh*

Mind Fuck (rec and fanart)

2009-01-08T19:11:12Z

Here's something I drew after reading Mind Fuck by Manna Francis, which is an excellent story, has a great plot, kinky as hell, and can be found online here.

NSFW: semi-nakedness, collars and manacles

Toreth and Warrick

I don't normally rec things but I thought I ought to for this story because I thoroughly enjoyed it and think more people should read it too.
To quote the summary:

"There are no bad guys. There are no good guys. There are only better guys, and worse guys.

One of the worse guys is Val Toreth. In a world where torture is a legitimate part of the investigative process, he works for the Investigation and Interrogation Division.

One of the better guys is Kier Warrick, a corporate director. His small coporation, SimTech, is developing a 'sim' system which places users in a fully-immersive vitual reality.

Their world is the dark future dystopia of New London, where Europe is controlled by a totalitarian bureaucracy, which shares political power with powerful corporations.The oppressive government uses torture, violence and the various Divisions of the feared Department of Internal Security to maintain power. The corporations fight amongst themselves, using lethal force under the euphemism of 'corporate sabotage', uniting only to resist attempts by the Administration to extend its control over them.

The series follows Warrick and Toreth, and their families, friends and enemies as they struggle to survive and hope to prosper.

Oh, yes—and there is sex, and violence, and other things that upset the people who rate films.."

elspethelf @ 2009-01-06T13:14:00

2009-01-06T13:20:49Z

Clearly the transition from 2008 to 2009 is not something my electrical appliances agree with. First our boiler breaks down (at the end of December), then it was our fridge-freezer, and now the toaster and kettle have also decided to snuff it. Lame, guys. LAME!

2008 Art Meme

2009-01-04T17:53:35Z

This meme is always so much fun to do! I haven't drawn much in 2008 compared to 2007, but I have started drawing art from a variety of new fandoms: Vampire Knight, Prince of Tennis, Fullmetal Alchemist to name a few.

IMAGE HEAVY!

1. My favourite:
In terms of technique and effort, this picture doesn't amount to much, but I love it to bits! I love Sanzo's expression and the atmosphere of the piece

2. My Best

Hands down, it has to be this commissioned piece from Shari. I was quite nervous because this was my first art commission using natural media but I'm really pleased with the way it turned out, and SO thrilled that Shari liked it <3

3. Art most underappreciated
I guess maybe this one, although truthfully I wasn't expecting much attention for this piece because he's a character from a relatively unknown fandom (Len Tsukimori, Kiniro no Corda) Personally I'm quite attached to this one, mainly because in most of my art I barely give much attention to details of the clothing and I specially made an effort with this one.

Also perhaps this picture of Kiryuu Ichiru from Vamprie knight

4. Most fun to draw
This one is easy! It has to be this picture of Kuran Kaname from Vampire Knight. I drew this during my 6-week project in Salisbury this summer, and I remember I was going slightly crazy from lack of social contact (I lived in a youth hostel in the middle of nowhere and there was no internect connection) so I really needed to de-stress. I did feel so much better after I drew this (although I suspect my roommate was slightly disturbed) Thank God I had a roommate, or I really would have gone mad!

5. Biggest disappointment
It's funny how my favourite piece and my biggest disappointment piece has the same subject (Sanzo from Saiyuki) I don't' like this one because it didn't turn out the way I had it laid out in my head. I don't like the composition of this piece, and the colouring looks like I had lost interest in it half way (which I kind of did)

6. Sexiest art
I haven't really done many of these this year. I'm tempted to chose one of my Prince of Tennis pairings, but I think I'm going to stick with good old Sirius/Remus OTP <3

I also found this one I did for Christmas kinda sexy. Heehee, Sanzo stars again. I'm not obsessed with the bad-mouthed, gun-wielding monk, really!

Goals for 2009? If I can find the energy and time, I'd love to draw some Goku/Sanzo art, Ciel and Sebastian from Kuroshitsuji, Albus and/or Scorpius from HP.

Meh, the lj-cut system is annoying. I prefer the older version :(

Kin'iro no Corda, anyone?

2008-12-27T23:26:49Z

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Is anyone familiar with Kin'iro no Corda?
Because I was re-watching the series yesterday and was (once again) sucked in to all of its bishie, shoujo glory. I had quite forgotten how much I fangirled Tsukimori the last time I watched. As always when I get into an anime, I want to draw someone from it.

Happy Holidays everyone!

2008-12-24T19:49:55Z

I hope everyone will have a merry and festive time!

Yay!

2008-12-24T14:03:06Z

Eeeee! More Christmas cards for me :D Thank you so much remeciel</lj> , ubiquitous_girl</lj> , treanz</lj> , and aidara</lj> for your lovely cards that I received in my post yesterday.
And thank you sam_by_night</lj> (durian cream candies!! I ate them. It was interesting ;)) and noneedofcrepe</lj> (Aieeee! Your card is adorable and your message so lovely, THANK YOU!!!) for your cards, which I got this morning.

Fanart: Ichiru Kiryuu

2008-12-21T23:50:02Z

Oh tablet and Photoshop how I missed you <3

Ichiru, contemplating what he is about to do when he visits Zero. I am so ridiculously excited about the next episode tomorrow! *jumps up and down*

In other news: our boiler broke down today so there's no heating! *cries* Why? WHYY? Right before frigging Christmas as well when everyone will be off on holiday.

Reasons why I shouldn't bother getting up early in mornings...

2008-12-18T23:17:52Z

.

1. I am not a morning person. Getting up early (I count anything before 10am as early) makes me cranky

2. Getting up early requires me to set alarm at least an hour before the time I need to get up. Hitting the snooze continually for an hour is tiring, and pisses off household members

3. Getting up early does not guarantee that I will do more work/be more productive. For example I got up at 9.30am but did not work till 3pm

4. I am more alert during evening time and I think/write much better

Sooo, a nice long lie-in tomorrow?

elspethelf @ 2008-12-18T14:18:00

2008-12-18T14:24:08Z

Instead of working on my discussion I watched half of the docu-film, 'Nanking', which wasn't a clever idea because now I feel too distressed to concentrate on anything.

On a much lighter note, I received christmas cards today, hooray! Thank you so much star54kar and argentum_luna for your lovely cards :)

Gah!

2008-12-10T13:11:14Z

Please, someone, tell me the secret to motivating oneself to work. Looming deadline is apparantly not enough.

Busy

2008-11-05T23:54:03Z

Term is crazy at the moment - I feel like I don't even have time to breathe. It's awful because I keep getting strong urges to pick up my tablet and draw but I know I can't. Apologies to everyone who friended me recently - you may not see new art for a while :(

Things to do:
-Decide titles for major couse assignment essays by week 7
-Finish completing grad applications
-Start project write-up
-Prepare for 6 tutorials in the coming weeks
-Decide if I'm applying for Welcome Trust PhD and/or NHS clinical science

P.S. Anyone know when Totally Captivated chapter 41 comes out?

elspethelf @ 2008-10-26T21:19:00

2008-10-26T21:32:03Z

Am currently analysing data that has 3000+ rows in Excel. My brain is going to explode from numbers soon.

*pulls out hair*

(which is kinda funny since my project is analysing abnormal hair-pulling in macaques)

Two commissioned pieces

2008-10-11T22:09:10Z

Please do not use these for any purpose without the permission of the commissioner :)

Commissioned by star54kar

Tablet on Photoshop

Commissioned by oncelikeshari

Acrylics on canvas

Ron Weasley - nominated for the rhr_awards

Thank you so much for commissioning me! I had great fun drawing these two pictures <3

elspethelf @ 2008-10-02T12:04:00

2008-10-02T11:06:11Z

It's that horrible time of the month again. *crawls into bed like a dying cat*

elspethelf @ 2008-09-30T20:50:00

2008-09-30T19:52:28Z

Oooh my gosh, the RAW for Totally Captivated chapter is out?! *gnashes teeth* I want the English translation now dammit!

Chinese tenipuri drama

2008-09-29T10:13:26Z

My oh my! The Chinese drama series for Prince of Tennis is looking to be really good! Just saw half of the first episode but am saving it because my mum wants to watch it with me XD
I'm really suprised that it's a mainland China production as opposed to Taiwan or HongKong as many of these dramas usually are. But I'm not complaining! Lot's of EYECANDY, and it's a nice change to hear the actors speak without shuddering at their awful Putonghua.