Hello, I’m going to introduce myself as Liv, however I have
been called everything under the sun that a girl named Olivia could be referred
to as, and I have to say the only one I object to is Olive (mainly because I
don’t like olives. I mean why anyone would want something that tastes like a
savory grape is beyond me).
Anyway, this blog is dedicated to the Game Art Design course
I have just started at De Montfort University in Leicester and am thoroughly
keen to get started on, even though the prospect of having to get SO good SO
quickly seems way out of the estimate of my capabilities. I guess that’s why I’m
here though, to show that I can do it, that I can prove everyone’s judgement
wrong, even my own sometimes.
Before I start, you’re probably wondering why the blog title
is ‘Free Waffles’ and yet there is not even a morsel of syrup covered waffle in
sight. That’s because I’m actually referring to my own waffling which I find is
often a nuisance when I've been told to be concise, so a warning to you now that
my blog may end up seeming like a bit of a novel…or three. Also, this absolute
Garden of Eden you've stumbled upon is all here for you to feast your eyes upon
whenever you feel like it, so feel ‘Free’ to come back and check anytime.
So who am I? What’s my background? And all that jazz that I’m
sure you’re so delightfully keen to know about. I come from Chelmsford, which
is a recently dubbed city in Essex, and sadly is full of all the so-called
Essex guys and girls you’re all probably so familiar with. I can safely say
that I don’t sound or act anything like the stereotype that is thrust upon me as
my mum would probably throw me out if I ever said ‘brup’. I have two siblings;
a brother and a sister, and neither of them are anything like me at all, and
both are worryingly uninterested in art. I do think having siblings gives you a
certain tolerance for other people, and can give you a chance to be a team
player sometimes, so I feel like I can get along with people even if they seem
like they've been personally sent by the devil to wind me up, which is a good
thing right? As for hobbies, I like climbing, skiing, cooking (I've been dubbed
the Ramsey of my flat), and well basically, I like games. I could have spent an
entire weekend trying to come up with a better way to accentuate what I feel
about games but, let’s be honest, is there really much point? People like
games. It’s why I’m here, it’s why you’re reading this, and it’s why everyone
else on my course is sitting at home racking their brains whilst trying to
figure out 3ds Max and shouting very unprofessional words at the screen as if
it can respond.
The moment I was bought my first console I was quite obsessed
with games. I grew up playing Crash Bandicoot at 7 in the morning before I went
to school and leaving the console on the whole day until I got back to start
right where I left off, shooting my parent’s electricity bills through the
roof. My parents never really understood why I liked them so much, and I don’t
really know whether they still do to this day, but they support me with all
their hearts and would have done no matter what I had chosen to pursue. I know
you probably don’t need to know, but my favourite game of all time is Jak and
Daxter. I don’t really think I’ll ever be able to quite put it into words why I
love it so much, but it was one of the first games I ever completed from start
to finish, the no loading screen between areas was like a gift from God at the
time, and it just holds a very special place in my heart because it was so
incredibly fun. Also, I think it’s good to mention that games and art weren't
always completely separate in my head when I was a lot younger, and that the
passion for making them hasn't just come into play recently. As a child I tried
to make my own games but with paper, which kind of sounds weird but they were
like a board game only a bit more elaborate with levels etc. They were
obviously all absolutely rubbish, but I’d spend ages making them as well as my
own comic books and magazines, and I’d get my friends to play them or read
them. That was all what probably started my love for art as a way of expressing
myself, and before then I never really felt very good at anything but my
friends loved my drawings so I got a bit of confidence for the first time. Then
I went through school studying forms of fine art and by doing that I lost sight
of my passion for games for a while and focused on traditional art. Up came the
decision of what to do at Uni and then games suddenly came back into the
equation. I considered Illustration, but I felt I didn’t really have as many
motives to do the course as I do for Game Art. It just felt right in the end.
Which is how I ended up here, I was just a girl who liked art, played games,
and thought the idea of doing a course in Game Art was the most exciting
prospect in the entire world.
I feel like it’s also important to mention that the girl who
had her heart set on designing games was at one point told that she basically
would not succeed. I won’t name names, I won’t even go into detail on the
matter, but an interview that I had for a university went horribly wrong when
they told me I wasn't good enough and that if any other university took me then
they were making a huge mistake. As you can imagine, I was devastated and, with
it being my first interview out of all my options, I lost all confidence and
hope that I would manage to get anywhere. However, this isn't a sob story
because I grew a lot of sturdiness that day, and went to all my other
interviews and got offers from every other place. So even though I obviously
want to do this course for me and my future, I also have that person at the
back of my head telling me I’m not good enough, and that continues to push me
forward and try to prove them wrong.
Now that I've finally managed to get myself here I’m going
to enjoy myself, improve my skills to match the insane level some of my classmates have reached, and learn how to use a computer because I
must admit I have practically the smallest amount of experience with PCs I have
found out of any person who was accepted onto this course (I mean I’m not
completely useless but I spent a long time trying to remember how to crop on
Photoshop the other day…really). So basically, if you’d like to keep up-to-date
with my work and just my life for the next few years in general, read on.
Breaker breaker, over and out.
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