Extending the possibilities
Jan. 11th, 2005 06:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
okami_huWow, I finally did it! I’ve come up with my own special array!
I really wanted to start a discussion about arrays a while ago but I guess, I got a little distracted. But just today, I found a wonderful reference to FMA arrays here: http://www.livejournal.com/community/fullmetallist/ And I couldn’t stop myself from finally completing my own.
The drawing is under the cut.
Symbolism: Every array uses one or more circles as a basic shape. Circles symbolize the universe, the endlessly repeating processes such as the seasons or birth-life-death. They’re also the sign of completeness.
I added the star too; this is similar to Al’s blood soul-seal. This particular shape represents creation, making new things, coming up with new ideas. It’s quite fitting in my case, because I’m an artist, always on the way to improve and discover new possibilities. (Read: slash pairings ^^)
There are three smaller circles as well with astrological signs. On the top, that’s the symbol of the Virgo, since I was born in September.
On the lower right, that’s the sign of the planet Mercury. Mercury is the thief God in Greek mythology; he was the messenger of the gods and also a great inventor. Virgo stands under the influence of this planet and this grants all Virgos with intelligence, a critical eye and, well, Virgos require a lot of attention (See, Sockren? It’s not me, it’s in the stars!!)
Finally, on the lower right, that’s the moon; my chosen planet. I like the moon much. ^^ Plus, in alchemy, this sign refers to the metal silver, which I adore and surprise-surprise, one of Virgo’s assigned colors is silver too.
And finally, to make the array really unique, I added a kanji to the middle. It’s my name actually, because I’m “okami” and this word means “wolf” (Japanese-speaking people, don’t flame, I KNOW, that it’s written with a long o).
I could have added the sign of the earth too, because Virgo is an Earth sign and I love nature but I decided not to do it.
Design your own: on the abovementioned community, there’s plenty of data to decide, which symbols should you use, when you want an array for yourself. You can also refer to the arrays in the series; many of them were published on fm_alchemist. If you want to have something really unique, look at the Ishbal arrays (I believe, Psyren’s array was an Ishbal or Xing array, since it could transmute medicines too.) Ishbal arrays look more like non-figurative tattoos.
A plea: If you have any information about Ishbal, Xing or Drachma arrays, please, share. I just skimmed through the mangas and I only have them up to 32.
Technical data: The array was done in Photoshop; and I hunted down the signs from the Net, as transparent gifs. Resize, move, done. It’s actually very easy to draw these accurate circles and triangles: draw every single one of them on a separate layer, with the custom shape tool; just be careful enough to set the tool on Paths (In PSP 7, there are three icons on the toolbar: Shape Layers, Paths and Fill Pixels). This will produce a strange-looking line. Now set the brush on a 3-5 pixel solid brush and black (that’s traditional ^^) and click the Pen tool. Right-click with it on the line and select “Stroke path”. On the menu, choose the Brush and voila: done! As the last step, right-click again and choose “Delete Path”.
GOOD LUCK & ENJOY!
I really wanted to start a discussion about arrays a while ago but I guess, I got a little distracted. But just today, I found a wonderful reference to FMA arrays here: http://www.livejournal.com/community/fullmetallist/ And I couldn’t stop myself from finally completing my own.
The drawing is under the cut.
Symbolism: Every array uses one or more circles as a basic shape. Circles symbolize the universe, the endlessly repeating processes such as the seasons or birth-life-death. They’re also the sign of completeness.
I added the star too; this is similar to Al’s blood soul-seal. This particular shape represents creation, making new things, coming up with new ideas. It’s quite fitting in my case, because I’m an artist, always on the way to improve and discover new possibilities. (Read: slash pairings ^^)
There are three smaller circles as well with astrological signs. On the top, that’s the symbol of the Virgo, since I was born in September.
On the lower right, that’s the sign of the planet Mercury. Mercury is the thief God in Greek mythology; he was the messenger of the gods and also a great inventor. Virgo stands under the influence of this planet and this grants all Virgos with intelligence, a critical eye and, well, Virgos require a lot of attention (See, Sockren? It’s not me, it’s in the stars!!)
Finally, on the lower right, that’s the moon; my chosen planet. I like the moon much. ^^ Plus, in alchemy, this sign refers to the metal silver, which I adore and surprise-surprise, one of Virgo’s assigned colors is silver too.
And finally, to make the array really unique, I added a kanji to the middle. It’s my name actually, because I’m “okami” and this word means “wolf” (Japanese-speaking people, don’t flame, I KNOW, that it’s written with a long o).
I could have added the sign of the earth too, because Virgo is an Earth sign and I love nature but I decided not to do it.
Design your own: on the abovementioned community, there’s plenty of data to decide, which symbols should you use, when you want an array for yourself. You can also refer to the arrays in the series; many of them were published on fm_alchemist. If you want to have something really unique, look at the Ishbal arrays (I believe, Psyren’s array was an Ishbal or Xing array, since it could transmute medicines too.) Ishbal arrays look more like non-figurative tattoos.
A plea: If you have any information about Ishbal, Xing or Drachma arrays, please, share. I just skimmed through the mangas and I only have them up to 32.
Technical data: The array was done in Photoshop; and I hunted down the signs from the Net, as transparent gifs. Resize, move, done. It’s actually very easy to draw these accurate circles and triangles: draw every single one of them on a separate layer, with the custom shape tool; just be careful enough to set the tool on Paths (In PSP 7, there are three icons on the toolbar: Shape Layers, Paths and Fill Pixels). This will produce a strange-looking line. Now set the brush on a 3-5 pixel solid brush and black (that’s traditional ^^) and click the Pen tool. Right-click with it on the line and select “Stroke path”. On the menu, choose the Brush and voila: done! As the last step, right-click again and choose “Delete Path”.
GOOD LUCK & ENJOY!
no subject
Date: 2005-01-11 10:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-11 08:38 pm (UTC)Eheheh. I wasn't going to flame you, believe me; I hate being flamed and thus don't flame others. However, I was going to bring it to your attention, especially since 'okami' does have a different meaning from 'ookami'.
In any case, that's a very beautiful array! ^_^
no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 12:04 am (UTC)However, you can call me great god(dess).
no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 02:19 pm (UTC)But in any case, it's a very pretty array. :D (Too bad I'm too lazy to design my own...)
~Mufurc
no subject
Date: 2005-01-13 08:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-13 01:56 pm (UTC)BTW... should I take that last line as a comment...? ^^
Er.... what? Oo;; I just said it was a pretty array and I'd try to make my own after I could get off my lazy ass and finish that bloody CG I should be working on right now. *kicks Photoshop*
~Mufurc
no subject
Date: 2005-01-13 02:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 06:06 pm (UTC)*grin* I'll remember that. ^_~
The most common use for 'okami' I've seen actually translates to 'mistress', but I don't have my Japanese dictionary handy to check for multiple meanings.
no subject
Date: 2005-01-13 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-13 05:20 pm (UTC)I think I know what you're getting at. The Japanese word for god/gods is 'kami'. You can add an 'o' in front of that to show honour or respect and the result is 'o-kami'. However, because the 'o' is added and is not part of the original word, I'm not sure if it counts as a word in and of itself. For example, some people refer to sushi as 'o-sushi', but the actual word is still 'sushi'.
In any case, my Langenscheidt Japanese Dictionary isn't any help; 'okami' isn't listed. I do have a better furigana dictionary, but it's in my dorm room . . .
no subject
Date: 2005-01-14 08:42 am (UTC)In Fushigi Yuugi, in the ep when (SPOILERS!!) Nuriko dies, he and Miaka are attacked by Ashitare. As wolf-boy appeares and launches at them, Nuriko pushes Miaka behind and exclaims "Okami!" (with long o). Ever since that, I'm pretty sure concerning my name XD. And I actually took it up some 4-5 years ago, on an anime meet, when somebody had a Japanese dictionary at hand. First I wanted to be "silver", but it's "gin" and it sounds like the beverage, so I settled for taking the name of my fave animal. It WAS there in the dictionary, so it HAS to be... um, true...? ^^
no subject
Date: 2005-01-19 09:16 pm (UTC)｢おおかみ｣ [ookami] - wolf
｢おかみ｣ [okami] - not in the dictionary
X_X I guess it's not used much in everyday speech. Either that, or they don't think it's a necessary word to know.
(This is from Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary.)