ASSIGNMENT 2: 10 PIECE PORTFOLIO

              Now I've finally handed in the last creative thinking task of the year, it's time to collect all of my best work and present a 10 piece portfolio that demonstrates by talents - it is this, and only this that I will be marked on. Considering many of the tasks required two pieces of work, I decided to scrap some of my earlier work in favor for the new. I've progressed a lot in the last year so by doing this, I demonstrate by current ability more effectively whilst also avoiding unnecessary re-work that at this point in time, could cause more stress than it's worth.

All 10 pieces are below.

PIECE ONE - COLOUR AND LIGHTING
by Christian Whelan

PIECE TWO - IANTHE CHARACTER DESIGN
by Christian Whelan

PIECE THREE - ARMOUR DESIGN
by Christian Whelan

PIECE FOUR - WEAPON DESIGNS
by Christian Whelan

PIECE FIVE - DRIVER DESIGN
by Christian Whelan

PIECE SIX - VEHICLE DEISNG
by Christian Whelan

PIECE SEVEN - ENVIROMENT CONCEPT
by Christian Whelan

PIECE EIGHT - SEAN GALLOWAY MIMIC
by Christian Whelan

PIECE NINE - ASHLEY WOOD MIMIC
by Christian Whelan

PIECE ONE - MAREK OKON MIMIC
by Christian Whelan

      I really started to progress in my work by the environment concept. From that point on, I really tried to push myself when it came to rendering my art, and I think there'a been an incredible payoff. This is not to say my work cannot be improved however. The Ianthe, Armour, Sean Galloway and Marek Okon pieces are good, but not brilliant - each of them are a few stages off being at the level they 'could' be. Unfortunately, I do not have the time in this academic year to make such improvements.

     However, in all, I'm incredibly happy with my portfolio. Considering the standard of my work at the beginning of the year when compared to now, I can truly say I've progressed a long way, and that digital art is a new hobby of mine, where as at one point, it was a huge challenge.

NEXT POST: YEAR CONCLUSION

TASK 9: VEHICLE AND DRIVER DESIGNS

         Long overdue blog post. But after developing the original silhouette designs for the vehicles, I asked friends and family which of the designs they preferred. Surprisingly, they chose the one I preferred, but the one I didn't think anyone would of liked. So fortunately for me I began to design that silhouette.

     Now, this vehicle was inspired by an early 40's car with the idea that when developed, it would be extremely patriotic in design (flags, american colours etc) and the driver would be am androgynous female american hero figure. However, as I started to develop the idea, I realised, that although it looked functional, it just wasn't an interesting. The top down view, of which I began with, inspired a new idea - a intimidating dragonfly design.

     However, this would render my patriotic concept useless. So, as I developed the vehicle I started to see a dragonfly and an eagle within the same silhouette. From that point, I had in mind a vertical police force vehicle (it's intimidating and patriotic) - one which can switch between a close quarters upright hover craft and a normal fighter jet. 

Note: the design below is it's upright position.

     With this police force idea in mind, the colours blue, white and red came to me (naturally), but considering its futuristic look, I decided to go with the robotic look which in turn, inspired the driver - a mass produced law enforcer that shared the same visual and physical characteristics as it's vehicle.

     In all, I'm really happy with the vehicle and character  I think the concept itself could be a little clearer on its orientation, but other than that, I like the concept behind it and the designs execution. I still have a lot of room to improve though. I'm trying.

COMMENTS AND CRITICISMS APPRECIATED!

THE ODREAGLE - VEHICLE DESIGN
by Christian Whelan

THE COMMANDMENT OFFICER - CHARACTER DESIGN
By Christian Whelan

       My next goals are to really plan out characters before I design them. I seem to just go with the flow when it comes to characters, resulting in a mixed bag that's just above average for the level I should be at. When vehicle designs are considered, I need to learn perspective because to be perfectly honest, the only reason there isn't a perspective view of the vehicle, is because I was too intimidated by the idea. Maybe next time.

    

 Most importantly, I need to practice at grey scaling, I've seen other student's vehicle designs and you can really see the jump in quality when it's used effectively to develop shape. Again, next time.

NEXT POST: TASK 10 - LANDSCAPE CONCEPT - PROGRESS 01/03/2013

TASK 9: FINAL VEHICLE SILHOUETTES

       Spent the last hour conjuring up some mindless silhouettes and developing them into inspired vehicle designs. So far I'm absolutely chuffed with the results, I've even started brainstorming some functionality ideas and even accompanying characters. Yes, a couple of the silhouettes are laughably horrific (the flying bird killing machine), but have a look at them anyway.

COMMENTS AND CRITICISMS APPRECIATED!

VEHICLE SILHOUETTES / DESIGNS
by Christian Whelan

     I tried my best to come up with a wide variety of ideas here, and as it turned out, most of them are inspired by some form of animal or insect. To me, this allows for some really wacky characters designs for the drivers that have to go along with the final vehicle. 
  
     My absolute favourite is hard to decide upon. My 'favourites' are the top right mole design, which is a cross between a bike, a tank and a construction vehicle; the top right fly inspired aircraft; the bottom right spider inspired chopper; the bottom left space ship inspired by a dolphin; the left hover drone and finally, the top left hovering 360 combat ball. So really, its a question of what I don't like (I tend to like my own stuff...).

I'll attend university tomorrow and get some further criticism or praise and make a judgment on that. It's really a question of which is the vehicle that is the most interesting, but the most plausible (at least that's what I believe). Of course, the character who drives it is also an important factor, but that can come afterwards.

NEXT POST: TASK 9: VEHICLE AND DRIVER DESIGNS

TASK 9: INITIAL VEHICLE IDEAS

     Never, have I drawn a vehicle in my life. Unless you count the firetrucks I designed when i was 3 years old, I can't say I'm that experienced. So, considering my next challenge is to design a selection of vehicles and choose one to polish, I can imagine this is going to be the hardest. So hard in fact, I had a 3 hour mind block and only came up with the basic (very basic) designs below.

VEHICLE DESIGNS - BASIC
by Christian Whelan

      Surprisingly, I only designs that use references, are the large construction vehicle and the red hover craft. The construction vehicle was inspired by a monster truck and a spider (Yes, I know it doesn't look like a spider, but it hasn't been finished) and the hovercraft was inspired by a the 40's vehicle (by the way, its backwards, because that how the shape came out).

These where drawn with my mind block not my mind, after 3 hours, I overcame it, and developed the rest of the design in the last 5 minutes. Funnily enough, these are my favourite. Generated through random shape blocking, I think they are varied, interesting and most importantly, really quick! I can't wait to get a few more ideas down!

NEXT POST: TASK 9: FINAL VEHICLE SILHOUETTES

SEA OF GHOSTS: CHAPTERS 3 - 5

           No post yesterday. My fault - had way too many blogs to post (17 to be exact). Anyway, today, I had the time to read the next three chapters of Sea of Ghosts by Alan Campbell, and I have to say, I'm hooked! Fictional, farfetched, fantasy worlds like this have never interested me. The first few chapters where fine to read, but I wasn't invested. Now however, the twists and turns have brought up a story arc I wasn't expecting - now I'm invested in the characters, especially Ianthe!

WARNING: (SPOILER ALERT. IF YOU WANT TO UNCOVER THE STORY 

BY YOURSELF, DO NOT READ ON!)

     This is important to me as I have to be passionate about something in order endure it. Considering I will eventually have to design one of these characters, I need to care about them to develop an understanding of the characters. I can't have details going into one eye and out the other, otherwise my attempts at designing them will just be lazy - I can't be lazy if I'm being marked! (It would also be painful...)

     Similar to last post, I will write and save character notes and chapter summaries here for myself. Something new that I shall start from this post onwards, is having all the previous character notes on each following blog post page, including the new and replacing notes in each time. This way, my notes become a living pool of character information that I can reference efficiently. I must note, there are not many character notes this time around, although there are hints at physical appearances changing in the coming chapters.

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3 SUMMARY

• Granger brings Hana and Ianthe back to the garrett to evaluate situation.
• Hana brings up Weaverbrooks war with Emporer Hu.
• Granger realises Ianthe is actually his daughter conceived at same time.
• Ianthe reveals Granger's past without being told - Granger is the birth child of a Drowned.
• Granger calls Ianthe a psychic, Hana denies this - Ianthe is dragged downstairs. 
• Granger lays in bed pondering how to test her denied abilities. 
• Granger devises plan to poison Hana, Ianthe doesn't react so reconsiders.
• Iantha and Hana arrested working with mercenary Marcus Law - Ianthe can see Trove.
• Ned delivers letter addressed to Swinekicker, has 400 gilder inside.
• Granger feeds prisoners. She mentions gilders and knows Granger is father - Hana lied.

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY

• Granger spends next 6 days working and feeding all prisoners.
• Hana offers to work for him hunting trove on 7th day.
• Creedy (skeptical), Granger (cautious) and Ianthe go on Creedy's boat and find lots of Trove.
• Drowned steal a potential Sea Bottle - splashes almost burnt Ianthe.
• Granger offers Creedy the Unmar doll - he refuses Granger founds it stolen later.
• Granger ponders how Ianthe has powers - it may be Umnar sorcery (artifact).
• Searches her in anger causing fight  - Granger VS Ianthe and Hana.
• Hana reveals Ianthe can see and hear through other people, but Ianthe is blind and deaf.

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY

• Creedy wakes Granger. He sold the Trove for 500 gilders each.
• Creedy and Granger hunt for Sea Bottle, find nothing, have argument and head back.
• Grangers attempts to repair old skiff.
• Granger speak to Ianthe and Hana - they want fish.
• Granger, Ianthe and Hana catch huge fish, take it back boil it and eat it.
• Ianthe mentions Creedy's current actions using gift, hinting at betrayal. 

CHARACTER NOTES

NOTE: UPDATED AND NEW INFORMATION IS HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - COLONEL THOMAS GRANGER aka. SWINEKICKER

• Middle aged man.
• Father of Ianthe.
• Once an Imperial, now a Prison owner.
• Dependable, strong build - worn over year (exposure to grime)
• Long dark hair, Chiseled face.
• Burn on his right shoulder - Sea Bottle water exposure.
• Weapon: Hand Cannons, Leadership
• Clothing: Imperial (Braces, Buckles, Dragon Bone). Whaleskin cloaks, goggles and gloves. Galoshes.
• Carries a Gem Lantern (Green, Blue?)

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - HANA (MOTHER)

• Middle aged woman.
• Mother of Ianthe.
• Long, jet black hair - covers most of face.
• Olive skin, pale blue eyes.
• Once beautiful. Now worn, aged, battered, bruised and cut. 
• Dried bloodied bottom lip. 
• Clothing: Boots. Peasant wear - torn and filthy. Shackles.
• Selfless, independent, strong, proud, hopeful.

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - IANTHE (DAUGHTER)

• 16 Years Old
• Daughter of Hana.
• Beautiful girl - slender
• Jet black hair, dark eyebrows - tapered to point.
• Olive skin, pale blue eyes, full lips, slender nose, tiny bump on nose.
• Stunted height.
• Clothing: Boots. Peasant wear ripped over shoulder, hanging loosely over breasts. Shackles.
• Weapons: Heightened senses. 
• Angry, judgmental, resentful, strong, resilient.

IDA (PEDESTRIAN) 

• Middle-aged woman.
• Independent, imaginative, curious, kind, brave, selfless.
• Upper class, elegant, traveler.
• Tall and slender.
• Clothing: Wears extravagant dresses.

UMNAR GIRL  

• Young, timid Umnar girl.
• Lives in Umnar Ghettho.
• Owns a metal doll.
• Dark mysterious eyes.
• Tattered and dirty.
• Clothing: Wears filthy blood red tress and shes.

ARGUSTO (BOWMAN)

• Middle aged Umnar.
• Weapons: Bow, Arrows, Magic and Potions.
• Tied back white hair, sharp facial features.
• Wears soft makeup.
• Clothing: Jewel studied attire, black breaches, sandals.
• Has dragon named Yva.

YVA (DRAGON)

• Extravagant dragon (once human).
• Umnar magic unveiled beastery form.
• Sixty feet long.
• White and silver plated suit of Armour.
  
• Wings glisten like a rainbow, burning red eyes, bared white teeth.
• Unhealthy addiction to sharkskin and sea water.

SERGEANT WILLIAM PATRICK CREEDY

• Middle aged man.
• Bruitish, big and brawny - has Boxers face
• Has war wounds - sharkskin jaw, missing/ fake eye and missing ear.
• Has Gravedigger tattoo on back of neck.
• Cocky, confrontational and berserk. Possible traitor?
• Weapons: Large Hand Cannon.
• Clothing: Imperial Outfit, Whaleskin cloaks, goggles and gloves.

PRIVATE MERRAD BANKS

• Young adult male.
• Short, dark hair.
• Least chiseled in his looks - slender.
• The 'Scout' of the group.
• Independent, observant and intelligent.
• Colonel Granger's favourite.

 
ABLE SEAMAS GERHARD/SAWN TUMMEL

• Young adult males.
• Brothers - almost identical.
• Thin bodies and faces.
• Scruffy black hair.
• The comedy due of the Gravediggers.
• 'Snipers' of the group.

ANTAGONIST? - EMPORER JILAK HU

• Elderly man.
• Emperor of Losott.
• Ghoulish in his looks - long, white face, powdery blue cheeks and a pointy chin.
• Thin, straw like, long silver hair.
• Relentless, cold and vengeful. 
• Misogynist.
• Weapons: The Haurstaf

SISTER BRIANA MARKS (THE WITCH)

• Young adult female.
• Haurstaf witch (psychic) - Hu's top adviser.
• Slender and attractive - "striking".
• Dominating, ffriendly, selfless.

 
THE DROWNED:  

• All ages.
• Once humans - drowned by Trovers (more than likely).
• Exposed to poisoned and rising waters - bodies die, then personalities.
• Wander and follow eternally.
• Copse like features -  skeletal, white skinned, withered skin and rotten

Sea of Ghosts (Gravedigger Chronicles 1) (2012) by Alan Campbell - £5.62 

    To prevent myself from rambling on for a few more paragraph, I'm gonna get back to reading the book.

 NEXT POST: SEA OF GHOSTS: CHAPTERS 6 - 8

SEA OF GHOSTS: CHAPTERS PROLOGUE - 2

    These chapter by chapter blog posts will serve as a bank of notes and summaries, so that when it comes to designing a character, I can simply come here and do so. Each post will cover three chapters. Primarily, I have decided to focus on Sea of Ghosts by Alan Campbell. Starting from the prologue, (which is always a good starting point) my notes are below of both the chapter overviews and concluding character notes.

THE PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE SUMMARY

• Ida buys artefacts and potions from store.
• Imperial City of Losoto and underground Trove market introduced.
• Commotion in Trove Market leaves an aftermath and a girl.
• Imperial Troop appears highlighting the lonely girl is a dangerous Unmar.
• Ida attempts to prevent her killing.
• Unmar girl evades fire from troop.
• Argusto appear with dragon to protect girl and collect Yva’s addiction.
• Argusto fires arrow at Creedy, taking out his eye and nose and throws a sea bottle and escapes.
• Colonel is burnt and takes cover behind stall.
• Dragon takes sharkskin woman and attempt to attack troop.
• Colonel kills Dragon with a bullet in the mouth.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1 SUMMARY

• The Sea Bottle is taken to Emporer Jilak Hu in the Great Halls.
• Warlords watch and guards separate - it is a huge event.
• Sister Mark and Hu have an ego battle - Hu looses an turns attention onto Granger,
• Granger defends his past, motives and ego - Hu loses again.
• Gravediggers leave to tend to Creedy, who is being treated to be welcomed with bad news
• Apprentice brings Mark's message, stating they are disbanded and face charges
• Granger, Creedy, Banks and Tummels plan escape.
• Stealing a boat, they see guards so they sneak around the coast - the sunken town.
• Granger finds "The Drowned!" in the water.
• Granger find canoes. they paddle their through buildings into open water
• Creedy spots a Trover and his boats. Attempts to rob him until Granger intervenes.
• Gravediggers reach the Dragon Hunter in the new boat and witness a dead dragon being loaded.
• Davy greets them, who is shocked by the party number
• Granger and Creedy take the suits available and set sea for Ethugra.  
• Banks and Swan stay to find the Trovers stash to make money for more suits.

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY

• Granger and Creedy live in Prison City Ethugra 6 years later, with own prison.
• Sturggle ensues when funding stops and prisoners start to die,
• Granger opens floorboards and crawls into a storeroom and find a box.
• Creedy helps him back up when Granger loses breath due to exposure.
• Granger opens the tin box, inside is a book for prisoners and the doll the Unmar carried.
• Conversation between Granger and Creedy about how it speak and it's market value.
• Set off on stolen ship to collect new prisoner shipment.
• Creedy considers reuniting the Gravedigger to treasure hunt.
• Granger docks at Averley Plaza - lined with hardened Sharkskin corpses.
• Albaster Sound, the largest Hu commission prison ship arrives at dock.
• Creedy gets free tickets for two prisoners off the Albaster Sound.
• Hana and Ianthe appear. Hana recognises Granger, Ianthe is dragged away.
• Granger trades his prisoners for Hana and Ianthe and sale back to the prison.

CHARACTER NOTES

IDA (PEDESTRIAN): A very independent and imaginative woman. Elegant and curious, she enjoys soaking up the culture around her but in doing so, cannot resist temptation. Not much is mentioned about her attire other than a long skirt which is scuffled and burnt as a battle reaches its apex. Her traveling tendencies insinuates the upper class and riches - extravagant dresses? Slender? She is kind, brave and selfless.

UMNAR GIRL: A very small and timid looking Umnar GIrl. Wearing a flowing and extravagant blood red dress, she holds a bronze doll. With dark, mysterious eyes, living in the Umnar Ghetto in the foundation of the Imperial City, she is tattered and dirty - scuffed clothing and tattered hair and shoes?

ARGUSTO (BOWMAN): A magical and threatening foe for the Gravediggers. Elvish in his looks and attire, he uses a bow and arrow along with potions, magic and an accompanying dragon Yva to dispatch of his obstacles. With an elegant and flowing jewel studied attire, black breaches, sandles and well kept, tied back, white hair. Argusto has sharp features hidden by soft, complimetary make-up. He's glossy and misunderstood. He's a protector and a killer.

YVA (DRAGON): Clocking in at sixty feet long, Yva was once human, until magic manifested her beast form. Wearing an enormous white and silver plated suit of armour, Yva's wings span and glisten like a rainbow as her burning red eyes contrast with her elegant but powerful biological architecture. This dragon does not do things in halves with its bared white teeth that have succumbed to an unhealthy addiction to sharkskin and sea water.

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - COLONEL THOMAS GRANGER: Granger has a large, dependable build that has worn over the years due to exposure to Brime. With a burn wound on his righ shoulder from a Sea Bottle, he has long dark hair and a chiseled face. Hes the leader of the pack, packing a Hand Cannon and a suit that must weigh a tone with the braces a buckles in such high quantities.

SERGEANT WILLIAM PATRICK CREEDY: Big and brauny, he is the bruit of the Gravediggers. His boxers face homes war wounds - a sharkskin jaw, a missing or fake eye and a missing ear. He has a Gravedigger tattoo on his hand which he proudly flashes with his overly cocky and confrontational ego. Top this off with the fact he has a large "Hand cannon" to match his brutish build and you have a Imperial that is berserk, but dependable.

PRIVATE MERRAD BANKS: The youngest of the Gravediggers. Banks, is least chiseled but the most observant. He can lead his way trough a wreckage blindfolded. He's the scout of the group and always has an answer to a difficult situation. With short dark hair, he's the obvious favourite of Colonel Granger.

ABLE SEAMAS GERHARD/SAWN TUMMEL: Practically identical in their features with their hook like noses and thin bodies, these two brothers are the long ranged teamplayers of the Gravediggers. Always bantering and acting the comedy duo, the Tummel Brothers seem expendable. They both have long, black and scruffy hair.

EMPORER JILAK HU: A relentless, cold and vengeful Emperor that is almost ghoulish in his looks. With a long, white face, powdery blue cheeks and a pointy chin. Hu is an old ruler with bitter motives.

SISTER BRIANA MARKS (THE WITCH): Young, blue eyed, slender and psychic. This witch is the top hired adviser of Hu. Independent in her ways, she a striking young woman with a strikingly dominating personally. Although a witch opposing the Unmars, she is friendly and warns the Gravediggers of the pending arrest.

THE DROWNED: Once humans, these underwater poltergeists more than likely were drowned by Trovers. Once exposed to the poisoned and rising waters. Their bodies die, then their personalities, until they wander aimlessly and eternally following those who trespass. Where they go, evil goes. Corpse like in their featues (skeletal, white skinned, withered skin and rotten), the glide underwater staring dead into the eyes of those who dare stare back.

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - HANA (MOTHER): Battered and warn from the exile of the Albaster Sound Prison Ship. Hana is mother to Ianthe. With silky, long, jet black hair that covers most (but not enough) of the bruising and the dried bloody lip only resultant from a severe beating, or multiple there of. Hana wears torn and filthy peasant clothes - those fit for a prisoner. Her pale skin doesn't help her badly aged appearance either. Regardless, she's a strong souled woman who would take many more bruises to protect Ianthe.

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - IANTHE (DAUGHTER): 16 years of age, Ianthe is a strikingly beautiful young girl that although adopts the same tired peasant-wear as her mother Hana, seems to wear the black hair, the olive skin and the pale blue eyes with more success. Her individual traits such as the full-lips, slender nose and the tiny bump on the bridge of her nose only offer a pleasant distraction from her stunted height and suspiciously well conditioned boots.

Sea of Ghosts (Gravedigger Chronicles 1) (2012) by Alan Campbell - £5.62

NEXT POST: SEA OF GHOSTS: CHAPTERS 3 - 5

THE CHOSEN BOOK

          After a Christmas of relentless Borderlands 2, Far Cry 3 and Black Ops II gaming (most notably Borderlands 2). Long deliberation settled me on not one, but two books to read for this pending task, both of which are penned by the same author - Scar Night and Sea of Ghosts by Alan Campbell. 

Scar Night (2007) and Sea of Ghosts (2012) by Alan Campbell

      Why two? I'm not going to lie, I'm just greedy. The two books are in their own right compelling - too compelling for neglect. So, why refuse myself the added visual vocabulary of reading both books rather than one. And to be honest, his writing style and visual direction appeal to me more than any other option anyway.

 So, somehow over Christmas, I've managed to land myself in the situation of reading five books - Catching Fire, Gone, Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design and these two recent additions that I must add, have great covers! (who say's don't judge a book by its cover?)

Here to hoping I haven't set too much reading for myself!

NEXT POST: SEA OF GHOSTS: CHAPTERS PROLOGUE - 2

FURTHER READING FOR IDEAS

          Ok, so I thought I'd have no work to do over Christmas besides the further reading for other modules. As it turns out, I have some homework to do over the Christmas holidays - further reading. 

     My tutor has given me a selection of books to choose from. The one I choose, I must read in its entirety. Whilst making notes and posting them on my blog, my tutor will look at my notes and make a decision for after the holiday - what we should design and draw from the book we have chosen. 

     So, be expecting a few more posts from me covering my initial ideas and notes. Before I even choose the book, I'm going to ensure that every 3 chapters I read, I will post a 3 chapter overview  and review of ideas and notes - nothing to lengthy though, just so I can reference it in the coming weeks.

NEXT POST: THE CHOSEN BOOK

ASSIGNMENT 1: FIVE PIECE PORTFOLIO

        So far, I had learned the proportions of every part of the human body, practised perspectives, practised drawing the individual characteristics and clothing, learned how colour can be used to texture and light a piece of work, learned how line theory can be effective and how finally, shapes and silhouettes can be used to create a great character design. Through all of this, I was set the task of developing and handing in a five piece portfolio. To me, this means a chance to showcase everything I have learned so far and eventually, get marked on my work this semester (hopefully a first).

   My intention was to take all that I had done (besides the terrible onion), polish out the imperfections and present it as professionally as I could. The five pieces (that I completed in 1 day including the villain design by the way) are below.

          Well that's the first semester all done. All I have to do is hand this in an enjoy Christmas with a bit of further reading for other modules. However, I will be posting throughout the holidays if I read something in Edge magazine or on Gamasutra.com that is relevant to this blog. 

Oh, and feel free to comment. I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

NEXT POST: FURTHER READING FOR IDEAS