I Have NO Idea What to Call This.

(Moved from GoDaddy)

I do, however, want to direct your attention to a new set of about a half dozen images that are new.

One thing I do with images I render on NightCafe is make sure they appear the way I want them to.  Which means I'm not done with them once I save them.

I do some of my own stuff with them.

There was a particular series of images that I came to love as they follow the theme of the frames entwined with flowers I love to make.  I tried out some new setting and the result...

...gave me an idea.

One thing I find utterly fascinating is trying to envision what a fiction character would actually look like when following the author's own description.  My fascination with actual locations used as settings in fiction novels (or shows, or movies) goes a long way back.  It means no, it did not start with Anne Rice.  I will say, though, that Anne Rice gave me a whole new appreciation of this fascination because of how she was able to blend these places into her novels the way she did.

Recently, some previews of the artwork going into an illustrated version of The Witching Hour have been shared on Anne's social media.  As I saw each one of them, I was totally mesmerized.  This illustration project was commissioned by Anne's estate, which is administered by Christopher Rice, her son, and Eric Shaw Quinn.  

Who would have a better idea of how Anne envisioned her Mayfair Witches' physical appearances than her son?

When I got this result from trying out a new feature, it gave me an idea.  The result?  It was what appears to be an old portrait of a woman wearing an emerald pendant necklace.  While the portrait is pale, like it faded over time, the necklace was shown in vivid color and even detail.  Along with many depictions over the years of what the Mayfair Witches might have looked like, there are also many depictions of what the Mayfair emerald necklace might have looked like.

This led to my making a flurry of different images, all in my usual theme of an antique portrait frame with vines of flowers winding all around it with lit candles and floating particles.  These all were portraits of women wearing one version or another of an emerald necklace.  Each emerald necklace appears a bit different, and I thought of how many versions of the necklace I've seen over the years, including my own.  Even I have more than one version.

Since I'm not a fan of just using whatever face pops out, and for legal and ethical reasons, yep, I blended my own likeness into the faces.  In this way, I decided that instead of depicting a specific Mayfair Witch wearing the necklace, it would be more like putting the necklace on a model.  The emphasis is on the necklace, though.

And that is what the Gallery of the Mayfair Emerald is about.

I've also decided to add some of the 3D models I made or modified that I've shared on 3D Warehouse.  There are more of them, and more I've never shared.  The 3D model of the house, though, is an ENORMOUS file.  Too big to upload.  

What you see on this page is the Web Viewer.  It should let you turn the model about with basic controls.  I only have a few shared here since too many would bog things down to impossible levels.

Yes, I've added watermarks to images here on this site.  Now, I realize there are plenty of people who look down on AI as a rule.  But for someone who writes their own texts, builds 3D models, designed their own website and--well, you get the picture, I think I can indulge in some flotsam for funsies for a little atmosphere.

If CGI had not existed in 1996, the movie Titanic (20th Century Fox/Paramount 1997) would not have been possible.  Well, not the way it was made.

I've not really had much time to follow whatever is going on leading up to Talamasca, the new AMC series.  It sounds interesting.  I might still discuss it, but I want to make something clear first.

I understand there are many fans of Anne Rice who absolutely despise the Mayfair Witches show and to an extent, Interview With the Vampire.  The major differences between page and screen do irk a lot of people.  I've even seen comments where Mayfair Witches is described as "bad fanfiction" or coming across that way.  And I am well aware of how Anne Rice herself felt about fanfiction.

When I talk about the shows, I try to be fair to both sides of the page vs. screen debates.  I prefer to do commentary without unnecessary personal attacks on cast, crew, producers, etc.  Even when pointing out goofs, it's still possible to be diplomatic without being inflammatory.  

Cameo of Quinn Blackwood, NightCafe

The best example of mine that I can offer is perhaps The Mayfair Vampire Chronicles, where I talk about timelines and continuity in Blackwood Farm and Blood Canticle as relates to the Lives of the Mayfair Witches series.  It's been several years since I wrote that particular page of the Parlor, but it's one way I try to address things that might or might not matter to others.  At the same time, I don't think it makes either novel terrible or that it calls into question Anne's talents as an author.  It doesn't do either one.

What bothers me might not necessarily bother others.  What bothers some fans of the novels might not necessarily bother other fans.  Are there things that bother me about the series?  Of course.  I still think it's possible to have discourse without it getting abusive.

And now if you'll excuse me, both kidneys are yowling that it's bedtime--for the third time today.