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Wow, time goes by real quick 'round these parts. I'm now in my third year of the Computer Graphics program at LTU Skellefteå, and it feels good. I'll probably stay another year after this one, to finish up some stuff I've got left, but man, these years have gone by faster than expected. They've certainly been as full of life-changing experiences as one could hope for, though.

I've been slacking a bit on my digital painting, instead focusing on traditional art and 3D. This past summer was spent on one of Europe's (possibly the world's) toughest art courses, a course in écorché, sculpture and artistic anatomy, and it was probably the greatest learning experience I've had art wise.

Lessee... what else? I'll try to get going a bit with the digital painting again. I want to try making some money on the side by doing illustrations for RPG books, indie games etc., and possibly doing private commissions. I just need to get my portfolio together a bit.

Oh, and I've been working on a bit of a game design project as well. It ties in with my CG specialization project this coming spring. It'll be fantastic, and focus on problem solving through conversation and social mechanics and rhetoric. Currently pretty early in the design process though, still working out the mechanics of the thing. Might post more details if anyone expresses interest.

Hope y'all are doing fine, I know I am (feeling much better after spending a month or so totally burnt out). Szia.

Since I got my new screen, I haven't been able to paint digitally due to a few Wacom driver fuckups that confounded me for a while. Yesterday, however, I sat down and mucked around a bit with .xsetwacom.sh, and I have now finally been able to restrict my Intuos to using one screen at a time, and switch when I get to the edge of the tablet. It's nice to be able to paint digitally again, it's definitely my favourite medium.

Aside from that, school's been coming along nicely. We've been building models, drawing and painting a lot, since our only courses at the moment are Dramaturgy and Artistic Training, which we're taking together with the prop makers and set designers. I've been playing tabletop RPGs a lot more since moving here, too, which is also very nice, and a few of my classmates and I have started having weekly movie nights, in addition to the Wednesday evenings we spend watching movies as part of the Dramaturgy course. In conclusion, everything is pretty awesome right now.

Something I started painting yesterday to celebrate being able to paint digitally again:
fillchiam.deviantart.com/art/B…

So, I've moved away from Sundsvall. I now live in Skellefteå, way up in the north of Sweden, where I'll be studying at Luleå University of Technology. I'll be pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer graphics, and I really look forward to the school start.

So far, all I've managed to do is move my stuff in, get everything out of the boxes, fill up my bookcase and meet a few of the people who live in the same building as I. I'll be checking around town to get my hands on some stuff I need, like nails (to put stuff on the walls), a nice computer chair and a new computer screen (which will also be used for my PS3). It's a shame that good IPS monitors cost a lot more money than TN screens of the same size and resolution are pretty cheap, but I've found a Dell monitor that looks pretty great for a good price, about €250 (which is €200 cheaper than buying it directly from Dell!)

FINALLY!

I now have my Intuos4 M. I am a happy camper. After a bit of fiddling, I got it working nicely reversed (I'm left handed) under Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid. At first I managed to mess up the .conf file and make Ubuntu unbootable, but thanks to the magic of LiveCDs it now works as good as before again.

I also have a Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch Medium in my bookshelf, which I'll have to sell. I've got a few interested buyers, so far.

Friday was my birthday, Sunday was my father's birthday. Got me some presents both days. Among others, Steven Wilson's solo album "Insurgentes", which is mind-blowingly awesome. I love it. Check out the song Harmony Korine at youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BClzBQ…

Got a lot of other stuff too, among others the Shadowrun 20th Anniversary Edition Core Rulebook, a bit of cash and a year's ImagineFX subscription.

I've been working a bit on my website, which will be the home of my portfolio. Hadn't touched it for a long time, and now I've done some nice design changes. Might upload a teaser pic later.
With any luck, my new Wacom Intuos4 M will arrive within the week (knock on wood). It's been, what, two months now without a tablet? Acrylics are messy, damn it.

Hm, what else. Not much time in school left. In Graphic Design class, the teacher gave us an assignment where we are supposed to illustrate whatever we want. I'm currently working on thumbnails for my concept, I'll upload the finished piece when it's done.

Off to bed now. Night.