Thank You

[alanwh]

Hi Everyone

I would like to start this by saying what is probably obvious to most of you. I am not an artist.

Thanks to Xara Xtreme I have discovered some hidden artistic talent but I have a long way yet to go before I will consider myself even close to being as talented as most of those here.

My original goal with Xara Extreme was to be able to create my own web graphics. I used the Gimp before discovering Xtreme and although I had some success with it, it took a long time to get anything accomplished. I found using Xara Xtreme, I could create the same things, only better, in a fraction of the time.

Last week I purchased a graphics tablet and have been using it for everything just as I would use a mouse. I absolutely love it!

Yesterday evening I was playing around with ellipse drawing using Slegers "Cat" example found in this thread :
http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=33752
Last night I awoke at 2:00am as I often do, and created something using ellipses' that closely resemble a human figure.

I am reluctant to mention names here for fear I will miss someone. Hopefully, if I do miss someone they will see their teachings shine through in the coming months and years within the things I post here, and be satisfied to have made a difference in my work.

Due to all of the many fantastically talented people here at Talkgraphics, and their contributions to this forum, I may yet become an artist. You have opened a whole new world to me previously beyond my reach.

I want to thank you all.

My new avitar and this example however humble it may be, shows that even someone with very little artistic talent, in only one months time, can create with Xara Xtreme. I feel this is not only because of great software, but all of you here at Talkgraphics.

I will never reach the level that RUSS-USSR is at with 458 ellipses found here:
http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=22693

I will keep trying none-the-less, and maybe with my meager offerings I can help someone else realize they can acheive much more than they thought they could, as all of you have shown me I can do more than I ever imagined before.

Thank you!

[Big Frank]

You have opened a whole new world to me previously beyond my reach.

I don't think there's a more worthwhile thing anybody can say about anybody else.

That makes you really cool yourself .

We all have a lot to learn from each other.

[Soquili]

Alanwh your avatar and blended shapes make an excellent poseable figure.

[gwpriester]

Steve Ledger (sledger) did a post some time ago in which he drew a cat, I think it was, using only ellipses.

My comment then and now is even the most complex drawing is really nothing more than a series of simple shapes. The trick is getting all those simple shapes in the right order.

[Odat]

Yep, it was a cat. alanwh mentioned (and linked to it) in the OP as the inspiration of the figure...

[Spinny]

... even the most complex drawing is really nothing more than a series of simple shapes. The trick is getting all those simple shapes in the right order.

My eyes were (somewhat) opened when I tried to do a simple banner. It honestly never occurred to me that to "fill" the back areas with shadow you just made shadow shapes over the areas. Talk about a paradigm shift!

[alanwh]

Yep, it was a cat. alanwh mentioned (and linked to it) in the OP as the inspiration of the figure...

Exactly!
Hope Steve doesn't mind:

[alanwh]

There is a bit of a story behind my avitar. Looks pregnant huh? It is a caricature of my blond haired, blue-eyed daughter, who is very pregnant.

Another example. I did this at work yesterday. (Slow economy).

[Big Frank]

Ooooooh, I like that - very good

[Soquili]

I second Frank's comment.

I always have problems drawing horses. Your example will help me greatly.