October 13 2006: Interview: Skye of Skyefairy
Filed under Online
Interviewing: Skye of Skyefairy
Explanation: the purpose of these interviews was to get to know certain webmasters in my little ‘blog circle’ a little better - to see what inspired them to create the designs and sites that they did. They would be given ten questions via email - five of these were standard questions that were asked of all the interviewees, while the other five were tailored to fit them as an individual.
How old were you when you first discovered the joys of webdesign? How did you discover it?
I didn’t have a computer until I was 15 and that was also the first internet-access-in-the-home that I had. We first got that in August of ‘02, my friend Sarah dragged me into Neopets in September or October, and I created my first Angelfire site (Skye’s Own Little World) in October or November (again because of the same friend). It was the usual “she has one, I want one” thing but for some reason I got hooked. Sarah and Effie (another friend) taught me basic HTML and I kept learning on my own, basically through going through coding and seeing what it did. SOLW started out as just my poetry because that was my current obsession; it grew to accept submissions because a visitor asked if I would post hers. What would have happened if she hadn’t? I have no idea how I discovered the graphics community as we know it. All I know is that I began using premade designs and editing them to my needs; I remember Darkmis 29, Aethereality, Enchanted, and a site that had a perpetual layout featuring Stitch. In January of 2004 I made my first layout that was mine (complete with CSS copied from some premade; though many look down on it, that is how many people start out before learning) featuring Amy Lee. Picture maroon red content area on a black background with black text. Uh-huh; that bad.
Do your friends/family know of your activities online? Why/why not? If so, do they approve? What do they think of it?
Absolutely. Some are ashamed or feel they will appear nerdy but I have always been the nerd: huge glasses up until 9th grade, always reading, teacher’s pet, etc. I’m proud of my website and tell as many people in real life as possible without being an advertisement. SF and webdesigning are my main hobbies and I don’t see why I should hide it. I’ve never been good at keeping a journal/blog, but when I do have one that is private from anybody in real life except my boyfriend. My mom was proud of me and my site before she died. My dad is approving pretty much. My stepmom uses it as an excuse to yell at me, insisting I need fresh air once in a while (I used this as a reason to justify my plans of getting a laptop soon — with my own money — but she doesn’t believe that I’ll take it outside *shrugs*). My boyfriend is also proud and approving, though he gets tired of me asking what I can do to improve upon it. haha!
Who would you name as your biggest influence?
I’m not quite sure. So many people have inspired and influenced me but I’m not sure I can pinpoint any one person as the biggest. I love the classy-ness of Arden’s designs, I love Angel’s funkiness, Shadow’s from-scratch imaging astounds me, and I’m always amazed by what Jelena can do, just to name a few. There are so many designers that are good at what they do and they all inspire me.
How would you describe your style of layout design?
Classic. I’m not really sure how to explain it but I have discussed this with my online friends that design in the past, trying to describe everyone’s styles; “classic” is what they always came up with for me. Folklore and legend greatly influence my designs. I try to stick to simplicity whenever possible. I guess everyone can draw their own conclusions?
Where, in web terms, do you envision yourself in ten years time?
I have no clue, to be honest. Currently I’m working on revamping my site, bringing the coding up to date and changing the style. I’m in the process of adding tutorials to the site because, along with creative arts, I want to have a “web design” section though not in the typical “web design site” interpretation. I want to learn PHP and MySQL. So, possibly after I learn those I will add a feature where I can set keywords to submissions so that visitors can search. Perhaps add accounts so that people can login and gain access to added features: submit through there, commenting on pieces, discussion on tutorials for helping new designers learn, etc. When it comes to the site, I am a control freak so even if people could submit through the site, it would have to be approved. Though I hope for the site to grow and become more interactive, I don’t want it to become like DeviantART. I like being a part of it and I never see myself stopping and not continuing to improve upon it and keep it growing.
I want web design to become my career, so I also plan on starting a site for that, though I believe that SF will always be my main focus. So, I guess all I can say for now is that I do plan on still being in the web designing world in 10 years, continuing to learn and grow.
If the graphics community was a virtual family, which family member do you see yourself as and why?
Probably the nerdy sister that everyone thinks is a bit weird. haha! Well, I’m not quite sure. I like to help others in the community when I can and that is motherly but I don’t see myself as playing that role in the community.
You seem to be the whipping boy of a few other designers. I’ve visited a site (I don’t think I need to mention which one) where their main objective seems to be to denigrate you at every opportunity. How do you feel when you visit a site like that?
Yes, I know who you are speaking of. I actually came to their attention because of their first post, when I stuck up for a friend of mine who they decided to “speak” about. For a while there it really and truly upset me, as I believe was apparent; it even got to the point where I had all but decided to leave this “community” and find another when they seemed to have a new post about me daily, each worse and worse. Other sites began ranting about me and one person even posted my personal information they got from a domain search, including my name, home address, and phone number. I was furious. I don’t feel that any person has the right to do that to a person; yes, in this free country, we have the right to free speech (which they claim at every turn), however there are restrictions to that including slander, libel, and speech to the point of harming someone. They did that. After that I was so upset and hurt that I finally just gave up. Since then I don’t visit unless I see them showing on my referrers list, at which point I see what they have to say, reply if it is warranted (to give my perspective), and then leave without returning. They have a talent at taking an issue and twisting it to whatever point they try to make even if what they say is not true and they have done that over and over with me; the basis will be truth but they decide what they want to and assume and jump to conclusions. You know what they say about assuming…
What is it exactly about fairies that fascinates you so much?
Haha! I’m not really sure. When I was small, I lived in a small town and played by myself most of the time: I daydreamed and made up stories and fantasies. When my older cousin was around, we played Barbies like most little girls but they didn’t go to the mall or to the movies or anything like that; they were fairies or elves or pirates or angels. I think she was my basis in my love for magical (not mythical) creatures and folklore. Fairies have just always been my favorite magical creature. My favorite movie of all time is Fairy Tale: A True Story which came out when I was but a wee lass and, along with Barbies, we began to play with the figures that came out because of that movie. Recently I’ve also become interested with Ireland, both history and folklore. Fairies, of course, are part of that folklore. Did you know that fairies used to be the gods of Ireland, back when they were still pagan (before St. Patrick brought them Christianity)? In legend, they were actually large beings, much like we see God, but when belief dwindled, they shrunk in size (reminds you of Peter Pan, doesn’t it?). I love the legends.
How often do you get submissions that aren’t up to standards? How do you turn these submissions down without hurting the feelings of those artists?
Well, I’m not sure of any statistics as I don’t keep track of that, but I accept most submissions. Poetry and Stories are the most accepted sections. As long as it is decent, I’m pretty open about the Art section, as well, though I do have higher standards than with the two writing categories. The digital art categories are probably the most rejected, but usually only if the piece is too small, low quality, or if it just isn’t good. I don’t get many layout submissions because if someone is able to make a layout, they usually have their own site, but it is the section I’m the most particular about. Like the other sections, I consider it as an art, and not just a service. I know it is the cowards way out, but I usually just don’t respond to those submissions. With hosting and affiliation/daoine, I always send a reply, though rejections are a simple standard message. I’m horrible with these things. I should probably start responding to submissions that I don’t accept, but it would probably continue to be the standard simple responses. I do respond if someone asks why? but it is always hard because I don’t want to hurt their feelings — I just can’t accept everything because of basic standards I hold for the site.
Which art form are you personally most comfortable with? Blending, colourization, photo manipulations….what?
I’m pretty comfortable with blending because out of the three, that is the one I’ve done for the longest. I’m ok with photo manipulations, though not as experienced; I only do these every once in a while. Colorizations are my least favorites just because it is very difficult to have it turn out how you plan; most of the time mine end up faded like the old hand touched photos. Out of all art forms on my site, though not digital like those you referenced, I would have to say Art, or more specifically, drawing. I’ve been doing that for about six years, though I have begun to do it less than before; I really do need to get back into that. I also enjoy writing, but I never seem to be able to finish anything. I guess the site itself can sort of answer your question: I like to dabble in a bit of everything. :)
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:)
Skye on July 17 2007 #