Journals37
Newest
Hey.
1 min read
You people probably don't even remember me. That's okay, I haven't been around in so long, I don't expect anyone to remember me and welcome me back and stuff. I'm not really sure what to say here, but I'll try to get back into the whole emoticon and pixel art community. I haven't tried that in years and I'm going through a hard time (really bad breakup that I'll probably never get over and poor mental health) so I'm not really expecting any good art from myself.
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
I'm... Back?
1 min read
Whoa. I've been away for quite a long time.
But I missed everyone so much. I mean it. All the great people, the beautiful art, the friendly community.
Well, I'm back now and I hope everything is the same - or improved.
(how the hell did I get a DD though? I'll never get over that, I am so happy *-*)
Let's get the art flowing ^-^
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Interview with emoticonist :devKath602:!
13 min read
March is dedicated to the customization gallery here in ArtHistoryProject! I had the chance to interview five lovely emoticonists and present you their thoughts and sayings about emoticons.
Sadly, this is the last interview! I had an amazing month talking to all those awesome people and showing you the interviews! I had a really great time!
So, today we will be interviewing Katuend!
Hello there, =Kath602! Tell us one or two words about yourself!
I'm known as Kath (if it is not obvious) and have been on dA for roughly 3 and a half years, and making emotes for almost the same amount of time. Recently I've dabbled in various forms of art, but you can always find an emote nearby. I'm not so great as these introductions so next question it is 
How did you find DeviantART?
Ah geez, I honestly don't remember, I think I was just mass-joining various sites I found, and lingering on them for a week. For some reason I stayed here, and I've been on dA since. 
How did you end up making emoticons? What do you love more in those lovely pixel balls?
It was a mixture of seeing some pixel boards on iScribble (back when I was active there) which were just some little circles and a face thrown on.
And also seeing some of `Synfull's emotes which made me decide to jump right into it.
As for what I love is how they can be so expressive in such a small space but also be a whole new type of art, varying from static, animated, full-on detailed scenes as well as chat emotes
And also seeing some of `Synfull's emotes which made me decide to jump right into it.
As for what I love is how they can be so expressive in such a small space but also be a whole new type of art, varying from static, animated, full-on detailed scenes as well as chat emotes
Can you show us your first ever emoticon? Tell us something about it!
I can never find any trace of an earlier emote, I perhaps made a circle outline and classed it as 'my first emote' but either way this would be the first official one;
Before this I had already been pixelling basic blocks and animating for about a year, perhaps more, so for the most part I could handle it without a problem, although the sudden need of smooth animation was something I found quite a surprise to do.
Before this I had already been pixelling basic blocks and animating for about a year, perhaps more, so for the most part I could handle it without a problem, although the sudden need of smooth animation was something I found quite a surprise to do.
What is your favorite part in the creation of an emoticon?
I have to say.. creating the expressions and the different types of faces. How a single pixel can change it completely and change an emote from one emotion to the next can be the key. I find can vary an expression multiple times before I settle with something I am happy with completely which fits what I need it too, various times I have changed a whole animation to add in a single pixel to make it work better.
What would you suggest to someone who wants to become an emoticonist?
Give it a try! If you are stuck to where to start you can have a look at #Emotication which gives many tutorials, supplies and all you need to know and you can always ask for advice from various emoticonists including myself. Pixel art in general can be more of a challenge than can be first expected, but emotes are just as much and yet perhaps more, so don't be sad if your first attempts don't work out 100% to what you wanted. 
Where do you get your inspiration?
My inspiration can seemingly come from anywhere, sometimes I can gain it while watching a movie, whereas other times I find I get an idea from a chat, or a situation I'm in. Although most of the time when I put how I feel into an emote I seem to have more success. 
Lastly, will you introduce us your lovely OC?
This is Kat!
She is a tealish emote cat, who is typically spends timebeing dragged around by me sleeping, being mischievous etc.
Kat originally started as two separate emotes to depict me and my cat-friends I seem to gain where ever I go. Eventually I combined the two emotes, changed the colour to my favourite colours and has now become the little ball of cute it is now.
Which Kat still acts very cat like, on that note have you ever seen a fuzzy-cat?
And a quick thing to say thank you for letting me be interviewed
She is a tealish emote cat, who is typically spends time
Kat originally started as two separate emotes to depict me and my cat-friends I seem to gain where ever I go. Eventually I combined the two emotes, changed the colour to my favourite colours and has now become the little ball of cute it is now.
Which Kat still acts very cat like, on that note have you ever seen a fuzzy-cat?
And a quick thing to say thank you for letting me be interviewed
Thank you for this interview Katuend, it was really great to talk with you!
This is all, folks! It was a nice time, and the month passed quickly!
Enjoy some other pieces from Katuend's gallery!
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Interview with emoticonist :devSynfull:!
17 min read
March is dedicated to the Customization Gallery here in ArtHistoryProject! I had the chance to meet and interview great emoticonists of our community!
Today, we will be interviewing Synfull, a well known artist! (This was supposed to be posted on Saturday, but I had connection problems, sorry for the incovenience. Also, I am sorry but my Membership ended and I can't use the group's skin).
Hello and welcome to this interview `Synfull! Introduce us yourself.
You are a successful emoticonist. Can you show us your first ever emoticon and talk a little about it?
I made this emote back in around 2006 in an IT class where we were tasked to make an animation. At the time I didn't really understand how to make pixelated images so drew each circle using the circle tool resulting in the variety of circle shapes you see. I also used this style to create a number of 'Syn' avatarswhich I used for my account.
During 2007 I then went on to make a few emote piece using the standard 15x15 circle. However, I still didn't count myself as an emoticonist at this stage as emoticons weren't a huge focus and just something I did once in a while, mainly for avatars.
This is the emote I always credit as being my first 'real' emoticon. It was made in June 2008 and by this stage I had decided to wanted to become an emoticonist and really committed to the art form and paid close attention to what I was doing with the aim to improve.
These were an amazing start! So, you have a nice series of tutorials. How and why did you start making them?
I got into making tutorials as people started to ask me how to do various things, both when making emotes and around the deviantART site/community. Whilst I don't mind explaining things, it can be rather time consuming and hard to explain things in such a small space. Therefore I find it easier to explain things in a tutorial, and simply link people to the deviation when they ask how to do something.
I've equally found that if 2 or 3 people ask me the same question, there are often many more deviants out there wondering the same thing. So by posting a tutorial it allows them to hunt out the knowledge using deviantART search instead of trying to find the right person to ask.
Do you believe there is the perfect emote shading? How did you develop your shading style?
I don't think there is such thing as perfect emote shading. Whilst I have a preference for some styles over others, I like ability to be unique such that art pieces can be easily recognisable.
For the first year I used a gradient shading, and when I became friends with ~nillemotes she convinced me to switch to hand-shaded bases. I found this a really good decision as it lowers the number of colours used, helping with creating longer/more complex avatars and using more colours in .gif files.
I developed my shading by looking at a couple of tutorials and then just having a go. I made sure not to copy the tutorials exactly so I got a more unique style, but they did help me get the general concept and develop something myself. I can't say I am completely happy with my style, but I feel I have more important areas of my emotes to improve. It has also kinda grown on me, and I think I would have a hard time giving it up after so long.
Many people find emoticons amazing and want to make some themselves. What would you suggest them?
In the emote community we have a really useful tutorial and resource group called #Emotication. It hosts a wide range of things including tutorials on shading, animation, specific motions etc along with useful knowledge such as recommended programs and general FAQs.
I would also recommend finding some emotes that you like and zooming in on them to see how they have been made. you can learn a lot from other people's work, and provided you only take away inspiration and not copy specific parts, there is nothing wrong with it. It is also a good idea to get involved in community projects and contests. Even if you are only starting out, they can be good ways to challenge yourself and integrate with other emoticonists.
My last piece of advice is not to be scared to ask questions or talk to 'well known' emoticonists. The emote community is friendly environment and if you ask for some help, most people will be willing to lend a hand, leave feedback or direct you to a more appropriate place. Just because someone is well known doesn't mean they wont be interested in helping you out. Just remember to be polite.
So, why do you like emotes so much?
I also enjoy the fact that you can walk in to the emote community knowing nothing and pick up all the skills from deviantART. You don't have to be an already skilled artist or have fancy equipment to become an emoticonist. Many of our best known emoticonists are home grown with no prior experience.
What's your favorite piece of emote art?
When it is opened up to the wider community it is impossible to pick one. However, a few of them are:
Great choice! Finally, what or who inspires you most?
The emote community is what inspires me most. Seeing others make awesome emotes and leave feedback on my own encourages me to carry on doing what I do.
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
DAFUQ IS GOING ON?
1 min read
Hello dear friends 
Once again, I am inactive. I haven't made an emoticon for days.
But my life comes first now.
And everyting is messed up.
So many things are going on right now and I just don't have time to create.
I love you all <3
I will be active soon (I hope)!
Once again, I am inactive. I haven't made an emoticon for days.
But my life comes first now.
And everyting is messed up.
So many things are going on right now and I just don't have time to create.
I love you all <3
I will be active soon (I hope)!
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In