New Homepage is UP, UP, UP!

www.trenchmaker.com

ist finally relaunched. It feel a bit weird to have the video online but I hope some people will find it usefull. We're fixing minor bugs and correct some things but basically it's done.

Regarding the video: I know the japanese one is out of space awesome but at some points me and my colleagues discussed if it's even possible. I think it is possible (to achieve those results with AA) but again, for me the DS is mostly a thing for total beginners, sketching on the road and color concepts (again it comes in handy to have something that's small and uncomplicated).

Therefore the tutorials will show only the basics and images you can do in half an hour. Not more. I spend around 1 1/2 on a paprika, which is fine and I like the result but it's not the main point using it as a pro- in my opinion.

There will be a little contest in some months- so if anyboy is keen on getting a DS and Art Academy for free keep an eye on the blog. :)

Regarding my gallery and the more than honest words on the homepage: It sucks a lot if people steal your art. Really. No matter how much I'd like to be cool and stay above... it doesn't work. I get angry every time somebody sells my artwork for 200 bucks upwards and I can't accept answers like "I found it on Google images, what's the problem?!"
The problem is that it's illegal and the bigger problem is that it's my stuff.

So until we find a solution I have to keep the homepage gallery like it is. I am totally sorry (I already had all images ready :/ ). IF anybody knows how to technically prevent those rips let me know. Maike and me are trying to find a solution and every help is totally appreciated.

If you have any questions- let me know. I'll try to repost the text in German language later.

Please keep in mind that you need to have an account to post something here- it's the only solution to prevent massive spam posts from companies offering stuff you don't want to buy.

Christmas.... still unfinished

If the animation doesn't start click on the image ;)

... this will take ages to finish. I have to admit I'm having trouble with the colors but maybe it's good to know that my color schemes aren't always perfect. I suggest that whenever you have the feeling the one you chose doesn't work: Try to change it instead of finishing without trying out other combination and ending up with a result you're not 100%ly pleased with.
I changed the whole composition as well since the original one in my Moleskine didn't look very good on the new format.

I'll post a gif with the complete process when I'm done. Maybe it helps somebody... ;) It's the best attempt of something close to a tutorial I can do.

Hell yes! New board-game coming soon...

More information in English can be found >>HERE<<

Available in October this year. :D

Meadow-ing... takes ages

Still far far away from where I wanna go with it. I'm frustrated with game manual graphics. Perspective-photoshopping is one of the things I find really annoying and it doesn't do any good if you have a game with like 1 gazillion parts and all have to look "at least 90% correct".

Anyways, I hope I can finish my Hippo next week- somehow. Though I doubt it... but till now it looks like I'm gonna like it. I just have no idea why I decided for a medaow with a lot of flowers.

OMFG!

Die Grafik darf ich jetzt ganz offiziell verwenden und rumprahlen.Hach ja :D Nein, ganz ehrlich ich bin stolz wie Bolle. Vor allem, weil das Spielbrett fast meinen PC ermordet und mich einige schlaflose Nächte gekostet hat. Von den ersten Erfahrungen mit "wie wird eine Holzfigur gefräst" mal ganz abgesehen.

Wenn ich bedenke, dass ich vor einem Jahr noch null Plan hatte und heute bei einer Besprechung mich vor lauter Enthusiasmus über "Werewolf" (auf alle Fälle mal angucken!) und anderen awesome Brettspielen nicht mehr eingekriegt habe... Wahnsinn.
Die finale Nominierung freut mich total, auch wenn es natürlich nur zur Hälfte meine Arbeit war. Im Oktober kommt das nächste raus und es ist nicht das letzte.;) Ich nerde weiterhin fröhlich herum.

Auch nominiert ist "Eselsbrücke", was ich immer noch allen wärmstens ans Herz legen kann, die gerne in größerer Runde spielen.Ich habe es jetzt schon einige Male durch und das "Transvestitenhuhn Herbert, das eine Kokosnuss über die Mauer warf" ist mir noch genau in Erinnerung.
Grundsätzlich geht es darum, Eselbrücken aus einzelnen Begriffen zu bilden. Belohnt wird man für besonders gute und wenn man auch noch ein Elefantengedächtnis hat.
Die Spielregeln sind einfach und spätestens ab der zweiten Runde bin ich jedes Mal am Feiern, da einige Begriffe durchaus bizarre Geschichten ergeben (siehe Herbert, das arme Huhn).
Zu finden bei Amazon  >HIER<

Fancyhippo

it's actually funny how much the color concept resembles a three-years-old painting.
Something still flying around on my desk. I hope I can finish *some* of those things I wanna do within the next two weeks. Unfortunately I had some sad happenings in my family and all those things went back into prio list.

And Hantje didn't take our vacation well and started scratching herself till she got some ugly wounds. Now she's wearing one of those odd "lampshades" and wallows in self-pity. =.=

Forever - quite never

I gave up... 100 pages and I simply gave up. I couldn't read the totally emo story anymore. Back, forth, back, forth... after book 2 I wondered if Ms Stiefvater had a clue where the story should head but honestly: I doubtit was meant to end and she'd rather let the characters chase fate forever.

It's not satisfying, it's depressing and gets worse with every page you flip and if you loved book 1 (and maybe book 2) keep your hands off book 3. Because there won't be any problem solving and the title is kinda off since I didn't see any forever. Except chasing forever.

Unhappy =.= Otherwise no news since I catched the flue and wobble around in the appartment.