Hello, my name is WillowRaven

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Let me see if I can respond to all in one post, lol.

I created a signature banner. That was a good idea, especially since I can use it for other forums I occasionally participate in. Thanks for the link to the dimensions, Jeem :D

Although I did draw my avatar/logo, the majority of my work is not in that medium or style, but more like my banner. I added a link to my website in my signature, too, for any who may want to look around. :D

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Shake me? Shadowborn! Always looking to start trouble, lol.

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I work with most mainstream genres, but my first love, and why I went to art school, is fantasy. I am also finding a twinkling of sci-fi entering my personal work. Although I don't read sci-fi a lot, I like watching it, both tv and movies.

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Have you ever read Brooks' Landover series, Faerious? I have that, too. Oh, and what's this 'free time' you speak of? ;P
 

Shaerlyn Storna

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You pick your own- everyone seems to have their own way. Some folks use handles they've used on other forums, some use something close to their own name, some dream up names based on whatever. :) I'm in the last category, I combined the names of my closest family members to make this one.

What is your favorite nation, maybe that's a starting point? I feel a pull with Andor, so I tried to flavor my name that way. It can't be the same as a current member or a character in the books, so I recommend looking through the "Who's who" in the library to make sure the name you come up with isn't somehow already taken. It also might inspire you.

Hope that helps.

I love your sig banner- you have an engaging style!

ETA, check out the classroom- there's currently a class on watercolors being taught by one of our senior members, and it isn't so far in you couldn't jump in if you wanted to. (Not saying you need help, but might be fun to dabble) I'm hopeless with art but I'm having fun watching them work. :)
 
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Roheryn ni Galghandhrei t'al'Djinn

SylphrenRoh
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Have you ever read Brooks' Landover series, Faerious? I have that, too. Oh, and what's this 'free time' you speak of? ;P

I love Shannara and I've been meaning to read Landover for a while now... I really should do so.
 

Jeem Al'Cazar

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Isn't the Landover series the one with the "Paladin"? That rings a bell, but if I am right, it has been quite a few years since I've read any of that series.
 
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Have you ever read Brooks' Landover series, Faerious? I have that, too. Oh, and what's this 'free time' you speak of? ;P

Ha, free time... It's approximately the 1 hour at the end of the day I get to decide which of my tv shows or games or books to enjoy and fall asleep during. No, I didn't read the Landover series, just the first few Shannara books and that was YEARS ago. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't even know he had another series!
 
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In that case, being Spanish Gypsy by blood, I've always associated with the Wise Ones. And since my name IS based on my heritage (full name is Aidana WillowRaven), I guess I'll stick with WillowRaven :D

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Yes, Landover has a Paladin, but so does a few of the Shannara books. I always thought this interworld land could be my path to Oz ... I just need to find the right door ... lol. Why not? I have all six books :D I almost didn't read the first one because the cover art made it look comical, but it really is a good book. Actually, it was Brook's book 'Running with the Demon' (Word & Void series) that provoked me to do my first book cover art revamp ... lol. I felt the artist could have chosen a much more engaging image. This is how addiction starts. lol

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I think because my art IS my work, my free time IS sleeping and eating, lol.

9628671_orig.jpg
 

Onis O'Leia

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Welcome to Tar Valon!
 

Imzadi Hopewind

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Welcome to Tar Valon :D What about splitting up your name to Willow Raven? Then it'll be first and last name? Or do you want a new first name? It's few name generators out there... And I love your art!
 

Raeviendha al'Toma

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Welcome!! :welcome So glad you've found us! Your art is amazing!
 

Kitan Tataru

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Welcome! I love your art! And I'm glad Asalyn brought you here - I went to her wedding a couple days ago, she's an amazing person :D

I just Liked you on Facebook :D How did you get into art?
 
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Thank you :D

How I evolved into an artist differs from how most artists 'find' themselves.

Avoiding all of the long and personal stuff, I noticed a lot of the fantasy books I read were not accurately portrayed on the cover. Sometimes wrong hair color, other times, bad proportions, etc.

I found myself copying my favorite covers and redesigning ones I felt could have been represented better. Of course, I sucked at it ... lol.

I decided to go to college after my second divorce and had to choose a major. Nothing occurred to me except for art. So I took my lame drawing to the department head and asked him if there was any potential ... If I should choose another major ... lol.

He told me he saw a lot of common errors untrained artists tend to do, but he saw just as many things I did right ... which told him, if I were trained, I'd make a decent artist.

Six years of fine art school, design, animation, and a gaggle of unusual electives, plus a 10 year hiatus after school, a marketing class gave me the push I needed to start illustrating books for a living.

So unlike most artists, who usually start drawing out of the womb, I was a late bloomer. I'm also a cover artist AND a designer (ordinarily not the same person), but that's another story, lol.
 
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That's a tough one ... I took anthropology, anatomy, world religions, astronomy ... anything I thought may give my work that little edge ... They were all so cool, I really couldn't choose a favorite.

My advisor had a fun time trying to fit them into credit toward a degree. He just could not accept that a degree wasn't my goal. In a fine art department, wanting to be a book cover artist was anathema, lol.
 

Kitan Tataru

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I love how you got into art, Willow :D That's definitely a different story than I've heard from other artists. And those electives sound awesome too!

So did you end up getting a degree or did you just take classes that would help your art?
 

Rhed al'Tere

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Willow, you kind of remind me of me. I took botany as my basic biology class because 'I like plants.' The professor thought I was odd. :laugh:
 

Raevyn Tsornin

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That's a tough one ... I took anthropology, anatomy, world religions, astronomy ... anything I thought may give my work that little edge ... They were all so cool, I really couldn't choose a favorite.
I have taken a little of everything too - although some of it was a couple decades ago :look: but I have tried to stay up on current trends and research and changes (in everything but math)
 
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