Sillyness, werd

I’m impressed with your maturity on these matters. Your reasoning is beyond question, and I couldn’t agree more.

But knowing what is right, and doing it, are two different things.

I myself have tried the last few years of simplifying things, cutting back on the time I spend, and focus that time. I have made many improvements, but it is not easy let me tell you that.

So good luck, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this decision in the long run.

Oh, and I’m beamingly proud my Fauna design might play a part in this!

Congratulations and best wishes with the switch!

Am I missing something here? I’m sorry if this comment is misplaced (and especially remorseful if this comment offends Joen - as it probably will) - but you are choosing the Fauna design over either your own previous (and magnificient) design or waiting for K2??

Like I said, i’m already sorry to Joen for saying this publically, but Fauna looks like an amatuer rip of Kubric, even K2 looks more finished than this design. I mean, the oversized and hanging header image, the short sidebar etc. I haven’t even seen a valid Fauna design yet either…sheesh, I better stop there.

Maybe it’s a ‘friends’ thing and you guys are trying to support the efforts of someone else. I dunno - I MUST be missing something…

Seriocomic,

Firstly, no - I’m not offended. You are completely entitled to have your opinion on the visuals of this theme. Opinion differs and if it didn’t, this world would be a boring place.

Secondly, I’m pretty sure this is not a “friends” thing. I do consider Chris to be a friend, but I cannot imagine him picking “Fauna” as his temporary theme plainly to make me happy, or to advertise the theme even.

Thirdly, it is my impression that Chris will stitch together his own theme, where part of it MIGHT be “Fauna” code.

but Fauna looks like an amatuer rip of Kubric, even K2 looks more finished than this design.

Well. Hmm. I’ll start by saying that it is indeed far less polished than K2. It’s been a one-person-job, while K2 has been a community effort with much more work put into it. I don’t even like to compare the two because they’re entirely different in structure and goals.

Amateur, yes: I don’t make a living off of it.

As for ripoff, I’ll personally have to disagree with you. Fauna is simply the design I’ve been using for my homepage for the last one and a half year. It might contain aspects that were inspired by Michael and his previous and/or current graphical efforts, but what decent wordpresser hasn’t been inspired by that guy?

I’m hoping this comment ends this line of thought, so the focus can return to Chris’ post.

Thanks Joen. I appreciate your level-headed reply to my on-the-face-of-it disrespectful comment. You have cleared a number of my concerns. Just a few things that needed to be mentioned:
- I used the word ‘Rip’ not ‘ripoff’ - they have slightly different meanings in my part of the world, where a rip is a derivative and a ripoff is a blatant copy…
- I already see Chris’s flavouring coming through - maybe I should have bit my tongue before commenting.
- Yes, when I was WordPress’ing I was getting a lot of inspiration from Mr Bonsai.

Lastly, I hope that Chris continues to mould this design into his own, and hope also you have success with Fauna.

Wow, that was some pretty powerful self-expression. Even just in the writing on this post, your passion for creativity is evident. Best of luck with the painting and rediscovering your roots. If this “life seasons” thing is true, when/if I have my first kid, I’ll probably take up comic book drawing again. :)

We must live in our hearts, or not at all.

I would love to join you, but there’s just _one_ more line of code I need to edit. Just one; I promise… Oh, and this one… and this one… and this one…

I’m extremely jealous reading this post. You have found your passion, you have found your focus. I am still searching for mine.

Chris, I have been admiring your online life for the better part of a year now and this post comes at an interesting time for me.

I am on the brink of a transitional period in my life as well, however, unlike the sea-change type thing you describe, I imagine that my life will be in a constant state of change for the next few years. I have just finished my university study (at least the first round) and plan to start my own business early next year. As well as that, marriage is on the horizon and I’ve no doubt a family isn’t too far away either.

Being able to read about people and places (in life) I’ve never met or been is something I most thoroughly enjoy. So, for that, thank you very much. I hope these pages continue to be filled with the thought provoking, interesting and entertaining words. I would, of course, be quite disappointed if some of this new art work didn’t make it onto the site.

Finding a way to live of what you love isn’t always the easiest thing to do. I wish you the best of luck with this new season and hope you keep us all informed.

S.

I’m happy for you, there are so many us who are still searching for our passion in life. So it is always good to hear someone who has found it. I sincerely hope that the path ahead of you is full of fun and surprises.

Hey man, you and I have discussed “returning to our roots” before, so I applaud you for publically sharing your thoughts, as well as concerns.

I feel adament that I too will return to more traditional methods of artistical expression someday and really can’t wait until that day arrives since I too have longed to actually pick up a paintbrush and create landscapes, seascapes, etc.

Something more tangible, whereas digital work is fine and dandy, but to actually run your finger along the texture of dried paint, yeah, can’t compare.

Good luck and more power to you.

I’m not going to get into the seriocomic/joen arguement since Joen handled that well (my mediterannean temperament wouldn’t have been so calm and collected, even though I like Mike, you are SOOOOO wrong dude, so so wrong).

Back to Chris, I seriously hope that you can do it, because we both know just how hard that would be. The internet is a strange beast. You try and get yourself away but there’s always something to do, always another thing to lead you away from the crazy world of illustration. I really really hope you can keep your promise to yourself, I’m sure the results will be something to watch for.

I am not sure I can express this as well as I’d like to - but all you folks are so incredibly blessed!

One thought Chris, keep it in the day, each day. Today is a gift, that’s why they call it the “present.”

Mark

Thanks for all the kind words guys, I really appreciate it.

And make not mistake I will be sharing anything and everything I create with everyone through this site, or possibly another one.

Chris, good luck with the new directions. It sounds like you are being sensible and listening to your self. It sound right.

I was going to ask a “silly” question about K2. I have scoured the css for the color setting for the “number” for the comments. I’m using the vadar skin, and the gray is barely visible. I swear I’ve changed every color in the css to something lighter, and the only thing which hasn’t been affected is the one I want to change. If you know of hand, please email me. If not, that’s fine. I’ll figure it out eventually.

sincerely,
David

Bit late to the game here, but I am noticing a similar trend in my activities. I’m making more music than ever, writing again, both poetry and prose, drawing and painting… I hope you’ll enjoy this all, I know I do!

I too am starting a transition, from a Blog based site to a Portfolio/Experimental design. Here’s hoping I stick with it. I think it’s a case of not enjoying what you’re doing, and taking a new direction.

“or possibly another one.”
I ponder.

Chris, it’s amazing how you make people think, and reflect upon their own lives, as in this wonderful thread of comments.

I recognize the season of life thing; I’ve been through many seasons in my own life. Once you’re into technology, it’s hard to find time for writing, painting and sculpture. You long for it, and you try to do some painting or writing in your spare time, but you realize you have to be in a certain mode to really make it.
You must have the time and the mind set. It’s another world really - another approach on life.
You can’t live two lives simultaneously, so you have to choose. The good thing is that you can change direction many times, even if I’ll admit it’s not always easy to stick with decision.

In my life, I have the time now to scan all my photos and write and paint, but the there is this Internet thing occupying my mind.

I wish you good luck with fatherhood and with your artistic work, and may your walls be filled with form and color!