Ray-K

Dear friends,

It's been a while, but I occasionally come to dA and reminisce about all the good times I had. I'm a pretty nostalgic person -that's why I couldn't delete this account- so I often revisit my old haunts. These days I'm most active on tumblr and soundcloud but it's not the same as here, I feel! I guess I'll start coming back here more and try to be more active and build up my own mini-community again. 

I made my dA profile in 2009 (WHOA, six years ago!), but wayback machine only went as far back as 2011 to view my little profile and I choked up a little when I saw it. So much change in these years, and I felt for so long that nothing has changed in my life. And the website too! Let's see...
- I signed up in 2009, so the site was still on version 6. We're on v8 now!
- there's a status update feature now 
- I could've sworn the devious info widget was removed and the text simply appeared along with the deviant id, but now there appears to be an 'interests' portion beneath the id.
- the footer was removed, the dA logo's changed
-the introduction of groups, llama badges, muro, sta.sh... also, journals and other write-ups integrated or something, can't remember properly.
- the removal of the deviant gear shop.... I so badly wanted the artist bag, but never could afford it. (Still can't)  
- my icon was a blue-tinted Joker from The Dark Knight, now it's a purple block.
- Overall, the site feels like it's gotten more cluttered. Hmm.
- seriously, I think we should bring the footer back. it was like a little hub for cool stuff. 

I guess I missed stuff, but I noted things that stood out to me. Now for changes in my life:

-I passed my intermediate (that's what we call 11th and 12th grade here), got a bachelors degree in Zoology, started on my masters. 
- instead of losing weight, I gained weight. Ugh.
- I managed to drag my depressed, self-harming self on to a better path of life. I'm still learning to use my emotions again. 
- I haven't drawn in a while, but I've been writing crappy poetry.
- I used to photograph in black and white, now I'm more into colours.
- I'm less of a musical snob now. I listen to a greater variety of music. Still love Garbage and Blue foundation though.
- I watch less tv, but spend more time on the internet.
- I read more about current issues and so on, but in the past I would proudly declare that I hated politics.
- I made some really, really good friends. At the beginning of intermediate, I was very lonely and socially awkward. Now, I've learned to hug people, talk more, laugh more and enjoy myself.
- I wish I had broken more rules as a teenager. I should've hung out more with my friends and explored the world more. Not too late for that.
- Now that I am a little older, I can certainly understand my parents better. I can look back at the past and see things I never noticed before, little revelations.
- I'm a calmer person now.
- Clothes and fashion have started to interest me for the first time in my life.
- The classic Tomb Raider series are still my favourite games

That's it so far. I might not be a great achiever, but not bad, eh? I have kinda sorta been busy all these years.

Until next time, folks! (if anyone is out there reading this, that is.)

Today, I was considering deactivating my dA account. I really wanted to reduce the number of online accounts I have. So, I thought I'd save all my deviations and delete them all from here, and then deactivate the account. I started with the 'Sky' folder. But as I went along, reading comments and smiling at them, I realized I don't really want to deactivate it. I've had this account for four years... and even though I am not active at all these days here besides checking messages, I feel a pull to this place. I remember what I like about this place - the community. I was quite active at the start, talking to tons of people and commenting on pictures I liked. So I guess I will be keeping this account. I'll probably come back to it in a while. I haven't left off art entirely, just have not been drawn to it in quite a while. I do upload photographs to my Flicker account, and some music to my Soundcloud account.

So here I am at my Deviantart account which has been gathering dust for a while, I should say. I haven't touched drawing for months - or a year I think -, and everything just pretty much grinded to a halt for me. But today I was backing up all my DA pictures on my harddrive, and well I just got that creative tug on my gut.... I can feel that need a get a pen or pencil, and get lost in the whole process of drawing...
Well, I have realized a few things, that first I need to put my art pads and stuff in a place that doesn't require me to dig under a pile of books, and to check out the drawings that need completion, and second, I love photography. I need to invest in a good (cheap) camera and do some hard work to improve the quality of my pictures. I miss making art. I felt lost during these months :/

Thanks to everyone who has been fav'ing my stuff and become my watcher. I haven't been browsing the art on this site either. Loads of catching up to do! Happy new year!

Today was an awesome day. The weather was so beautiful! It started to rain at about 5 in the morning, continued (with breaks in between) till 10:00 am or so. I had to get up early as I am doing community service at a hospital, which I'm really looking forward to and went all "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!" at the rain outside. It was an utmost joy to stand with my friend in all that pouring rain in the parking of that hospital under my little umbrella, with our ankles soaking in a puddle! It was amazing! Then in the evening we had a hailstorm, and I decided to try (again) for some pictures of lightening.
I stood under my faithful umbrella, holding my phone in the  air and pressing the button at every little spark. And about 30-40 minutes and series of various blank horrible quality pictures and a variety of muttered curses later.... I got two photographs of lightening bolts. I was so happy I went skipping around the house showing them to everyone!
So here's a couple of lessons for me: Yes, you only have a camera phone, but don't let it hold you back. You'll get an actual camera when you are ready.
No pain, no gain (my arm agrees with that.)
And never give up! This is my third or fourth attempt at catching shots of lightening. Patience and luck are need in a ratio of 3:1. You start recognising lightening patterns, and that helps you to be ready for that big bolt that might make it in your picture. Like today, the pattern was small flash- small flash- small flash-big flash on repeat. I missed several opportunities, but I knew I would get it eventually. I won't upload those photos here - they are slightly blurred and not of such good quality.

Anyhow, I'm working on more, hopefully better traditional art. Thank you so much to my new watchers - I really appreciate everyone watching, faving or commenting on my work.


Song of the Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaFFgf…
......I've been singing it all day. EA's songs are so addictive.

I have recently developed a love for abstract and surreal drawings... I had some ideas and am working on them. I like it, it's really absorbing work! I hope the finished drawings are good!