Subject: Warm Fuzzy Feeling to Share Time! Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 00:01:11 -0500 From: Rindimo Reply-To: TLK-L@lionking.org Organization: L.O.S.T.-- C.A.U.S.E To: tlk-l@lionking.org Well, this isn't exactly TLK based, but I just wanted to share something neat. Being I love to blab, and I want to see if I can do this when my contacts are drying out to the point of pain.... arr! Anyway, for the many of you out there, I'll let you know I can draw. I have drawn ever since I was five, and have been drawing almost nonstop ever since. just recently, I've started a webpage (shameless self-promotion alert!) If you want to see a couple cheesy pics, go to http://www.geocities.com/soho/museum/9957/index.html . I still haven't really gotten the chance to figure out my scanner, and haven't the time to further the construction of the thing, but oh well, I'm going off on a tangent again. Back to the subject. I have been drawing all this time. I originally strove to do realistic art work, then was heavily influenced by cartoons (Darn you, tv!), and now, exhibit a semi-real/surrealistic furry world of mine. In seventh grade, I started to draw three characters... I never knew that they'd become my alter ego(s?). For all my years of drawing, the most anyone's ever seen of my work was the outside coverof an art pad. there was the time that a friend of mine stole my art pad, and passed it around class- which elicited laughter from everybody. Not the good kind of laughter, mind you. That only vindicated my belief of hiding anything I've ever done. I felt that for people to view my work would be the most utter humiliation/dehumanizing thing to ever happen to a guy. So for over five years- perhaps more, I forget- the work of Charles Barta was totally unknown. Then there was the TLK mailing list. I remember the joy of having a nice person propose that I send him a scan of one of my tlk drawings to post on his webpage. I have never had this sort of chance to ever happen. I was thrilled. Too bad, I never got too much feedback on it. Many thanks go out to Born Free (Greg Ludwick), and Saint Sauve. =) But all that I have so far written, was nothing but background, for what I'm about to joyously tell you. At college, on Monday, Wednessday, and Friday, I have a free whole hour to myself between English and chemistry. Lucky me, The chem. classroom is vacant for that time, all the way up until the class starts. There was no way in hell that I'm going to do homework in that time!! So I dredged out one of my near empty artpads, and began just to doodle. I've always doodled on my notes... so I tried to make these a little better. Usually, I would come up with a scene that dealt with my three characters. Well, most of the time, if someone walked into the classroom when it was becoming time for the class to start, I would close that art pad quicker than the blink of an eye. But one day, I was totally engrossed in this one pic.... I was on a roll, and just had to finish it. There were two nice girls that I helped occasionally with their chem. problems. they sit directly behind me, and since I sit in the front of the row, they therefore had to pass me by. I nearly jumped out of my seat, when I heard "My GOD you draw good!!!" They saw I was uncomfortable, and apologized. I told them it wasn't necessary, I was just under so much concentration that I didn't know they were peering. It was perfectly allright to watch, I lied. One of them pressed to look at the whole artpad. Begrudgingly, I handed it over to her... expecting a horribly embarrasing situation like the last time. I kinda wish I heard angels singing, or something. Not only did the two girls liked the drawings in there, they LOVED them! The art pad passed to a couple of islamic guys. I thought that they'd have a different opinion... being a different ethnicity, and religion. They raved over the pics even more than the girls! If anyone could have ever gotten so much positive feed back in their life, this was it. I was on the verge of tears. For once, the reason people laughed, was because the pics were intended for that. They cooed over how well detailed they were, and the wonderful use of shading, and on, and on, and on. I even had art students ask me why they never seen me coming to the classes. I told them, the latest art class I ever went to, was in grade school. About five people told me I should change careers from Mechanical Engineer, to a career in artistry-- specifically in animation, or comic books. Something I have considerred myself. To tell the truth, I don't know what they see. It's just a small grey cat, a dog, and a half-crazed Mountain Lion that happen to have "Misadventures" thrust upon them. I don't think I even draw that good, either. I haven't had an art lesson in years... let alone one in technique. The pics aren't half as good as the images in my head. But still, they understood exactly what I was drawing, and even got a kick out of Carl's (the Mountain Lion) truck. So I literally had de-jah-vu .... only this time, it was one I want to remember instead of forget. I'm proud and bragging now. Gee, as if all that mess I just wrote wasn't. One nice girl asked me to draw her a pic. I consider it to be my first comission. After all, it's the first time I was ever asked to draw something for someone since art class in grade school. She loves it, by the way. Another girl wanted to see more of my pics. We agreed to share eachother's work at a certain date. I figured I'd pull out all the stops, and see what kind of reaction she'd take if I were to show her the pics I would never want ANYONE to see. we're talking deep stuff. So I went home, and opened the back of a picture frame to reveal-- the art pad of Taboo. Only my eyes have seen what I've done on the pages of this pad... and normally, it was done at around midnight. the funny thing is.. the pages on this pad were horribly faded for something never seeing sunlight. I even decided to take some poems wiht me too-- horribly sad, yet beautiful pieces... that yet again, no one has ever seen... except for one person... but I won't say this person's name. =) Welp, the day came for our showcases. it was after all our classes, and we had a couple of hours inbetween important things... like dinner. She asked for my opinion of some of her work. She has her own beautiful style... which I like. After going through her work, it was my turn. I was sure she was going to look at me, and wonder what perverted mind would draw stuff like that. (What it was, was when I'd feel horribly lonely-- opposite sex wise-- I'd put my feelings onto paper... thereby transeferring the emotions away... and to stop the tears that'd sometimes well up. We're talking my soul on paper here.) She looked at me, then at the pictures, then back at me, then back at the pictures. (oh, BTW, I don't do nudity... only suggestive material is as far as I'll go.... even for myself.) She began to cry a little. apparently, it was beautiful to her. I was relieved. She wondered how such a happy guy could ever feel like this-- though she felt this way herself. It's simple. When everybody leaves, I have the chance to collect my thoughts... and feel horribly alone. Apparently I've struck a chord with her. We've begun to dig through piles of our old stuff to bring for the other to read/look at the next time we meet. She brought poems that now one else has ever seen... much like me with my drawings. We are suddenly great friends... and we're a little happier, too. It was very eye-opening, and therapudic. I'm finally becoming proud of what I've been doing, instead of ashamed. another "could-be" artist has officially stepped out of the closet. =) I intend to not only put more pics on my webpage, but to put my characters' entire life stories on there, too! Fair warning: The beginning of the story is NOT totally hilarious. It's actually very serious, and sad. I want everyone to see what they've been missing for some time. something that i have treasured for so long. And I've got two curious girls to thank for it all. That, and a grey cat, a mountain lion, and a dog. =) Thank you all! -Rindimo --  The Tiger is made to kill and hunt, The Lion too, but more towards fight. The Leopards and Jaguars were made to climb, And Cheetahs made for earthly flight. But there is one creature of forgotten lore: Shrouded in mystery, be that it's trade, Of other virtues, it has all four- Respect the Puma, and what God made. -Rindimo E-mail Address: Rindimo@bellsouth.net *If you can read this, then I am still an eligible bachelor!*  Founder (and only member) of: The L.O.S.T.- C.A.U.S.E. (League Of Simplistic Technology- Causing All Unforseen Solutions Evident) K.I.S.S.: Keep It Simple, Stupid. (Long neglected scientific principle)