icecheetah

Sunshine Challenge 7: Forsythia (Sunshine Jasper)

2023-01-10T23:48:44Z

Prompt

Deviantart Post.

"A stone with a banded appearance, Sunshine Jasper is often used to keep negative energies at bay and keep your outlook positive so you can realize your dreams. It's also called Bumblebee Jasper and is often a warm sunshine yellow. Interestingly, it's an agate and not a jasper as the name implies. It is a new stone, first discovered in an Indonesian volcano in the 1990's. As it has not yet been found anywhere else in the world, the consensus is that this rare stone helps to attempt the impossible."

Another character from my Nanowrimo. This Royal Heir is one to keep a positive outlook and is attempting the impossible. Though there is another one in the story who this fits even more... except that person's design is a huge spoiler. So Forsythia it was!

Unfortunately, I couldn't finish this in 2022 itself because I caught a heck of a cold early on in december. I'm pretty much better now.

comments

Sunshine Challenge 6: Arugula (Amethyst)

2022-12-02T22:55:17Z

Prompt

Deviantart Post.

"In the ancient world, Amethysts were believed to hold the power to purify the body, especially from drunkenness. It was also thought that they could help cure disease, and so Amethysts were used to draw any illness out. They have been associated with royalty, nobility and spirituality because of their purple colour. In modern times, they’re used as popular semi-precious stones and are either cut into faceted gems or carved. Amethysts are also the birthstone for February. "

A character I used in my nanowrimo project. Her name is Arugula, and she is a Royal Heir. I came up with her concept first, out of all the Royal Heirs in the story. Which is how she wound up being Amethyst, when there's other Royal Heirs that fit the other aspects of Amethyst better. She is possibly the most noble, as a character trait rather than being of the noble class.

comments

Sunshine Challenge 5: Bloodstone (Sparrow)

2022-09-23T22:41:13Z

Prompt

Deviantart Post

"Typically dark green with red inclusions, Bloodstone is often used to increase one’s courage, motivation, and creative energy. It’s also beneficial for endurance and physical strength. The Ancient Greeks held the Bloodstone as a gem with glorious powers and referred to it as Heliotrope, which directly translates to Sunstone. If your birthday lies in the month of March (or if you are an Aries), you can count Bloodstone as one of your birthstones as a means of action and vitality.
"

Ooops I have been very tried lately, working hard on studying my korean and... having more work.

This is Sparrow, a squire to a character who already has a design. I chose him for bloodstone mainly because the traits of it are those he sees in his mentor, and wishes to emulate.

comments

Sunshine Challenge 4: Kyanite (Dyeonlan)

2022-08-16T21:39:56Z

Prompt

Deviantart Post

Kyanite typically ranges from light to dark blue (which gives it its name, from the Greek kyanos) and usually appears in sprays of bladed crystals. It is usually associated with calming, grounding energy, and sometimes linked to clarity and logic as well. It's a lesser-known gemstone that you won't often see in jewelry stores, but can be a beautiful, steadying presence among flashier stones.

And for this one, I chose to design a Queen. I don't really know her character that much yet, but what I know so far fits.
I kinda fell behind, in as much as you can given the Sunshine Challenge's openendedness. ooops. To be fair, figuring out her clothes was kinda difficult.

comments

Sunshine Challenge 3: Moonstone (***)

2022-07-30T20:53:27Z

Deviantart Post

Prompt

"Prized for its blue to white adularescence—a billowy, moonlight-like sheen—Moonstone has been closely associated with the Moon. The ancient Romans believed it was frozen moonlight, a gift from the goddess, Luna. Therefore, some consider it an alternative birthstone for those born on Monday, the “Moon’s day”. Due to this lunar association, as well as its calming influence, this gem is considered an excellent aid for those with trouble sleeping. Moonstone is a stone of inner growth and strength; it soothes emotional instability and stress and stabilizes the emotions, providing calmness. Because of all this, Moonstone is often associated with wisdom and dreams."

For this one, I chose this character, who will remain unnamed for reasons related to their story, because they often are both a calming influence on their friends, and rely on their friends to calm them down when need be. This character is autistic, and based on the many wonderful autistic people I know and care about, and rely on and help. And we all have trouble sleeping. Maybe I should buy us all moonstones XD.

comments

Sunshine Challenge 2: Rose Quartz (Don)

2022-07-22T21:41:44Z

Deviantart Post

Prompt
"Soft pink in color, Rose Quartz has been a popular stone since as far back as 800-600 BCE. Today, as in the past, it’s most associated with love, compassion, and healing in all its forms both towards oneself and others. In the Greek myths it’s mentioned at least twice: once where Eros is said to have brought it to man to inspire love, and again in the story of Aphrodite and Adonis where it came to represent love triumphant. It’s a stone of beauty and sentiment and will likely be favored for years to come."

I chose this guy because... well healing is a big theme for him. Both for himself and others.

comments

Sunshine Challenge 1: Amber (Redacted)

2022-07-14T22:03:49Z

Image on Deviantart

Prompt

So for this year's sunshine challenge I decided what I wanted to do was:
take characters from story ideas of mine that fit the theme
actually DESIGN them.

So first here is ■■■■, and I'm not gonna reveal why I chose him for Amber, but it will probably be pretty obvious if I ever get around to actually making his story. I wanted him to have 90s hair.

And yea I've been a bit slow. It's been a busy and tiring year for me. And I donated blood yesterday.

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Over?

2021-09-01T16:00:31Z

When I started this, I worked four to six hours a week, spread over two days. It was winter, and I didn't have much to do as a gardener.
Now I've taken on more jobs, and it looks like I might take on even more, and I work up to six days a week, and it's been getting harder and harder to get through those Anki sessions. I haven't been watching anime at all.
At first, it was a great way to set goals, and it was pleasing to get through it and then find that I had plenty time to do other stuff. The stuff I'd learned was interesting.

And now I think I will rest from it. Many, many months later than I expected do.

I do plan to keep stuff up, just... a more casual pace.

And maybe finally I can watch Steven Universe.

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 35

2021-08-28T19:55:58Z

For more information Go Here

I was right in saying I wouldn't get much done. Between fatigue from the vaccination, needing to drive around a cat, and work, I didn't have time.

Anyway, this week I reccomend the completed Podcast The Message.. Note that this podcast is called "life after" in the title, that's the sequel to "The Message", but while I liked The Message a lot, I found Life After... tedious.

A warning: The Message contains some elements of "The Fourth Wall Will Not Protect You" early on in the story.

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 34

2021-08-22T08:01:30Z

For more information Go Here

Well, this week's PLANNED classes were Anki, Art, Immersion, Reading and Gardening. Of those three, I didn't get up to any Immersion or Gardening. That's because the weather allowed me to work more than I thought I would and then I took a sick day. Next week I get my second dose of my Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday, so I am going to assume that I'm going to be fucked up for the second half of the week. I have a friend who had her second dose last wednesday, and she was really hit bad.

This Week's Reccomendation is Ghost Stories of Canada, which is exactly what it says on the tin. A podcast where each episode has several ghost stories from different parts of Canada. The series is complete, with 13 episodes.

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 33

2021-08-14T19:18:20Z

For more information Go Here

This week was disorganised, with art, reading a texbook and anki being the most stable, and the other two slots being misc. including shopping, taxes, calling the bank and... sleep. On friday, I decided to add korean immersion back into the mix, with me starting up a game of Stardew Valley in Korean. I am not ready.

I had more time to work on classes because it was raining, but it didn't cool down much.

I'll try to be more organised next week.

This week's thing I listen to is: Creepypastas Read by The Dark Somnium. And a bonus, I've really been enjoying Ghost Stories of Canada but it's only got 13 episodes.

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 32

2021-08-08T17:55:21Z

For More Information Go Here

So this week the classes that I did do included: Taxes, art, Anki. I started a new job doing drystone walling, so my week is now VERY PACKED. But I certainly have done a LOT more studying than I would have if it wasn't for new year's resolution.

And I had the thought that maybe the reason that I haven't fallen to the usual thing of giving up on your new year's resolution is that, even when I failed at it, I just picked it right back up the next week or after a rest. Since it's not a resolution that has a specific end goal, more a "spend more time on these activities", perhaps that also helps. I don't get to a point where I realise that my end goal is unobtainable in the time I set, there IS no end goal.

Also I realised I'd forgotten to provide the things I've been listening to so, uh... Have a bunch of Blaseball Music. A good chunk of the early stuff is free, and there's a bundle of all the music so far (40 albums, but including the free ones) 55% off! There some real great music in here, such as (Don't) Stay Null,Fight Gods (Ska Version> and The Tug. There's even an album of
Blaseball Themed Sea Shanties.

I have a LOT of music I listen too, enough that it takes my music player a few minutes to load it all, but The Garages' music is on my mind because I bought the entire discography on friday and I still haven't listened to it all.

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 31

2021-07-31T19:06:02Z

For more information Go Here

With me having finished the Sunshine Challenge for this year, I found myself with a little time to make a quick art, and I returned to a classic for this year: Blaseball Fanart.
And just in time for... the end of the current era of Blaseball, and as far as I know, no date of return.
It was my birthday yesterday. Blaseball ended on my birthday. My team went into a black hole.
I also did Anki, and things will be returning to normal for next month. I haven't signed up for any challenges.
Doing the translations for Sunshine challenge was... helpful, and difficult.

comments

Sunshine Challenge 2021 1:7 Zephyrus

2021-07-28T12:09:53Z

From Sunshine Challenge Prompt Seven:
"The child of Dawn (Eos) and the Titan Astraeus, Zephyrus represents the West wind. Zephyrus was considered to be the gentlest of the Anemoi (wind gods representing the cardinal points of the compass), and the beneficial bringer of Spring. The gentle springtime winds of the West indicated an end to Winter and the new growth of plants and flowers."

Now, I didn't know of any songs offhand that related to the theme of Spring, so I tried searching "봄의 노래" (bome norae, "Spring's Song") on youtube, just to see if it would hit something, and one of the suggestions was "봄의 나라 이야기", (bome nara iyagi, "Story of the Country of Spring"), and it got me a kpop song with official english subtitles, and an official english name: April Story.

I thought it would be interesting to make a translation of something that already actually HAS a translation, so I grabbed the korean lyrics from elsewhere and got to it.
And comparing my translation to the official one, well I can see exactly WHY the differences that are there are there. Korean is a language where the subject is optional, and working out exactly who a line is referring to has been a repeated problem of mine, there are metaphors I translated literally, and I suspect the lyrics I copied had linebreaks in odd places. Still, I'm quite proud of how well I did for how little experience I have.

( Read more... )

comments

Sunshine Challenge 2021 1:6 Amphitrite

2021-07-27T16:37:34Z

From Sunshine Challenge Prompt 6:
"Amphitrite is the goddess of the sea, wife of Poseidon, and eldest of the fifty Nereides. She is the female personification of the ocean: the mother of fish, seals and dolphins. Poseidon chose Amphitrite from among her sisters as the Nereids performed a dance on the isle of Naxos. Refusing his offer of marriage, she fled to Atlas. The dolphin-god Delphin eventually tracked her down and persuaded her to return to wed the sea-king. She also bred sea monsters, and her great waves crashed against the rocks, putting sailors at risk."

For this one, I chose the song I chose because the music video (warning: flashing lights, implied suicide) uses a LOT of sea related motifs. I haven't translated any of the talking bits.
If you don't want to watch that one, here's A Video of a Live Performance (note, there are some additional lyrics near the end I also didn't translate. On translating the song itself, there were a lot of words I already knew in it, but it still managed to be difficult to do.

I used to love this song, I won the album it's on in a pop quiz. I remember one of the peopple I was competing with was trying REALLY hard to win, because she wanted one of the other prizes, and must've been very surprised when I chose this album over the popular k-pop band album she wanted. But I had no real interest in that band and had heard of Lee Sooyoung because she did the korean version of Suteki Da Ne from Final Fantasy X.

( Read more... )

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 30

2021-07-25T17:00:11Z

For More Information Go Here.

More translation, more Anki. I only did a little art. I also worked a lot, and my car's back!

comments

Sunshine Challenge 2021 1:5 Pan

2021-07-25T16:53:54Z

From Sunshine Challenge Prompt 5
"Part man and part goat, Pan is a nature god well known in many mythologies. Born in Arcadia to Hermes and a dryad, Pan was a precocious child whose goat’s feet and horned head delighted the gods, but startled the mortals he lived nearer to; Pan did not live on Mount Olympus, but rather in the forests and wilds of Arcadia. Pan famously invented a musical instrument: the syrinx, or pan pipes as they are more commonly known. He is known for his haunting melodies, and music was often a central part to his worship."

Well, this one was basically a free space for me, with music being part of the prompt, so I chose to do a song I really wanted an excuse to translate ever since I first heard it.
Joe Pang's Korean Cover of "Welcome to the Black Parade".

Because when I first heard this song I noticed the "We'll Carry On" parts were translated as "함께가자", which translatest to "Let's Go Together".

Making this the first song I've translated that WASN'T originally japanese or made as a replacement for an anime song.

This was a difficult one, there's a couple bits where I had to actually use google translate's services to get a reasonable sounding translation, and I have no idea why this translation has a word that, as far as I can tell, exclusively translates to "author(s)". But I managed!

( Read more... )

comments

Sunshine Challenge 2021 1:4 The Furies

2021-07-19T21:54:26Z

From Sunshine Challenge Prompt 4
"The Furies, also known as the Erinyes, are a trio of vengeance deities whose immortal task is to hear complaints of insolence from mortals—and to punish those crimes by hounding the culprits relentlessly. They are said to focus on punishment for lying, killing, or sinning against the gods, but any lawbreaking was indeed punishable by them.

“Alecto was the oldest, unceasing in anger. Megaera was next, retaliator of jealousy, and Tisiphone, the last, regarded as the avenger of murder.”
― Elisabeth Naughton, Stolen Fury

Maybe you are inspired by Alecto (“the implacable one”, incites war), or perhaps Megaera (“the envious one”, vengeance) speaks to you, or maybe even Tisiphone (“avenger of murder”, guards the gates to Tartarus) – however you want to interpret the prompt, we’d love to hear from you!"

The line that stuck out to me is: "They are said to focus on punishment for lying..." . That line made me think of a certain song in which the singer is asking for punishment for being a liar who does nothing BUT lie.
( Read more... )

comments

Sunshine Challenge 2021 1:3 Hecate

2021-07-18T21:06:50Z

From Sunshine Challenge Prompt 3:

"Otherworldly and mysterious, Hecate is best known for her association with magic, ghosts, and the night. If you hear the baying of hounds in the dark, she's likely near as they were ever at her side. She is traditionally depicted as bearing two torches to light her way or as a triple goddess of the crossroads. In mythology she is known for helping Demeter search for her daughter Persephone, a theme that ties her even more to the Underworld and spirits she is associated with. Today she is often considered a representative of those liminal places where reality bends and all manner of events may unfold..."

Considering the sort of stuff I like, I had a SURPRISINGLY hard time finding a song for this. I even discovered some potential songs, and then just as I started to translate one, I remembered Pita Ten.
Pita Ten was the first manga I had ever read, and I had heard the ending theme for the anime adaptation both in the original japanese and in korean. The japanese theme was called "Chiisana Mahou", which means "Little Magic", and I wondered if the korean version might be appropriate.

Presenting "Chageun Mabeob", which also means Little Magic!

I couldn't find a version of the original "Chiisana Mahou" with english subtitles, so I won't be posting that for comparison.

Oh, also translating "Chageun Mabeob" was really easy. Once I finished the first "verse and chorus" the translation was basically two lines away from being done because they just repeated that bit again. I guess they didn't want to record anything more than they had to for the ending of the korean dub.

( Read more... )

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 29

2021-07-18T16:13:36Z

For more information Go Here

This week I realised I wasn't going to get my art for the Sunshine Challenge done fast enough for me, so I incorporated my korean studies into it! I'm amateurishly translating korean songs and korean versions of songs into english and you can see the ones I've done here.
I also did art and Anki. I still don't have my car back.

comments

Sunshine Challenge 2021 1:2 Eos

2021-07-15T11:03:11Z

From Sunshine Challenge Part 2

"The dawn goddess Eos was almost always described with rosy fingers or rosy forearms as she opened the gates of heaven for the Sun to rise. Eos had a team of divine horses to pull her chariot, providing daylight as they climbed the arc of heaven scattering sparks of fire across the sky (she was also sometimes depicted aloft by the power of her own wings). Eos is known for having had many lovers, which has led to Eos being known by some as a goddess of joy and pleasure in addition to being the goddess of the dawn."

This one highlighted "Joy" and "Pleasure" in its description, and after some thinking, I thought "What better than a song that brings me joy whenever I hear it?"

Presenting the ending to the korean dub of Digimon Adventure: Annyeong! Digimon

It was a LOT easier to translate than "Hated by Life Itself". Well, that makes sense as it's the ending for a Kid's show. Still, there are bits where I was uncertain.

I had no guarantees that the song itself would be joyful because I had never seen a translation of the song itself before (and it's different from the equivalent ending in the original Japanese dub) and indeed it doesn't really start it, but I still think this song carries joy in it in it, especially to the end.

( Read more... )

comments

Sunshine Challenge 2021 1:1 Hades.

2021-07-14T21:29:09Z

As I mentioned in my recent posts on my "School Timetable Experiment", I intend to take part in the Sunshine Challenge again this year.
Now, the first thing I thought was that I'd draw, but... the first image for the challange is taking longer than I wanted, and then I had an idea. One that will help me get more immersion in korean.

So I'm basically doing the challange twice.
One will be a fitting translation of a korean version of a song I like, even if the korean version isn't the original/my favourite. My translations are NOT going to be the highest quality, I'm going to be using dictionaries a LOT during this and missing subtleties, grammar things and idioms left and right.
And the second will be a fitting art.
And now for my first filling in of Hades

"Prompt 1: Hades
Hades is the god of the dead and the king of the Underworld with which his name became synonymous. Despite modern connotations of death as evil, Hades was actually more altruistically inclined in mythology; his role was often maintaining relative balance between the realms. He was often depicted as cold and stern in his judgement, and he held all of his subjects equally accountable to his laws. Above all else, Hades ensured the finality of death and that none of his subjects ever left the Underworld."

The song I have chosen is "Hated By Life Itself" by Kanzaki Iori.
Listen to my favourite version (in the original Japanese) with english subtitles here (suicide cw, also the singer of this cover has an official video but I don't like the translation of it as much). I do recommend watching this version first to see it unbutchered by me.
( And now my translation of a translation. )

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 28

2021-07-11T11:09:51Z

For more Information Go Here
Life happened a lot but I still got drawing and korean study done. Not as much as intended, but a lot.
I spent more and less time at work than expected, due in part to my car being repaired so I can't actually drive to work and having to walk to work again, which means I spend more time actually on the move but less time getting paid.
And I won't get my car back until next thursday. :/

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 27

2021-07-04T22:49:20Z

For More Information Go Here

This week was better, but with all my work and things such as trying to get my car booked into the garage for fixing, and needing to rest when I could because it's been getting hot here, I found it really difficult to do my classes. As such, I wound up only doing Art, Anki and Gardening.
( Read more... )

comments

"School Timetable" Experiment: Week 26

2021-06-26T20:35:38Z

For More Information Go Here

Well, I was very right. I got my vaccination and it really, really did make me tired. Though I had two nights of insomnia so THAT didn't help.
Art, Immersion, Anki... I was working on the days before my vaccination so I just didn't have spoons.
And even now I feel very, very tired.

Now for another thing I listen to while working: The Iilluminaughtii, who makes videos and podasts at a frankly frightening pace (Blare, Please Don't Burn Out) about the awful things businesses do and historical tragedies.

comments