Long time no see.
Don't worry, I don't plan on writing a new post every day. I'll probably try to make one every week, or maybe every couple days, showcasing what I've been doing (finished or not). I'll just get started:
Built these columns with my bare hands
If you haven't seen the new gallery, go check it out!
Obviously, it couldn't stay like how it looked. gray text on an extreme gradient, just randomly scattered pictures... I can do better!
I really want to create pages that yes, link into each other, but they have their own vibe, they live in their own world - even the page that just links to all the other ones has to feel like it exists. In fact, it might be the most important one, since it's the page people will see the most, right?
I made the archway image by googling "marble" and "archway" and photoshopping some pictures together (specifically, I used Gimp). I'll probably change it again down the line, but I'm happy with how it looks for making it so quickly. Just don't look too closely, or you'll notice none of the edges line up.
It turns out that HTML is really great at making vertical websites. It just handles spacing automatically, since most websites are designed to be scrolled up and down. In order to make horizontally stacking elements, you have to make new instructions for each arch telling it to place itself further and further to the right. The result is some really messy code, especially if I wind up adding more archways.
Maybe it doesn't need to scroll horizontally? I also like the idea of creating static rooms with custom entrances to different pieces, and maybe the viewer can travel to different sections of the gallery, but that'd need some pretty strong planning, and I wouldn't even know how to go about designing the assets for something like that. I'd probably want to bring on somebody with more visual art skills than myself... eh, that's later down the line.
This is the image that became the column
The Wraith
Eeee! I just finished this poem in the past couple days, and I hope you enjoy it, because I'm really proud of it!
Of course, it had to have its own page. The theming was pretty easy, since the focus is on the text I didn't want a lot of distracting visuals. The poem is heavily inspired by (and features in full) the flavor text for a MTG card called "Bog Wraith", so I made sure to add the wonderful painting by Jeff Menges at the top.
It's getting spooooky in here
The next page on my list is "Paranormal Accounts", which you can read the beginnings of, but you'll notice is incomplete. The conceit of the piece is you're listening in on different people as they have conversations about surreal experiences and spooky encounters they've had. So, I'm currently planning out some button controls that mimic a radio dial, and I really want to make a logo that mimics the face of those 1940s radios that lit up when they were switched on. It needs its own .CSS file, then I need to make a couple more stories that you can switch between.
Holding on, looking forward
I have a couple other page ideas, but I'm taking things one at a time.
I want to feature more comedic or lighter pieces I make, too.
I should really revamp the main .CSS file to look a little more polished.
Making more music!
I really want to figure out something viewer submitted, so it's not all about me 100% of the time. Community stuff sounds really cool to me. If you have any ideas, or something of yours you'd want to share, maybe we can figure something out? You know where to find me.
Okay, see you in a few days!