TEKNIDERMY - ISSUE 7: November/December 2001

Editors Notes

Y'know,

I was watching this documentary about J.R.R. Tolkien last night. He was a man of the thirties. Both in his age and in his day. Back in Tolkien's day, it was not so easy to be part of a "creative community", most especially if you were in a "niche art", like, let's say, writing fiction.

In fact, back in Tolkien's day, it was so hard to be part of a "creative community", that, if it just so happened that there were two or more artists of "like mind" within shouting range, they would take a "name" like, "The Inklings", and they would wind up in the next generations history books.

It was just that hard.

Two more generations down the line, it is frightfully easy to be part of a "creative community", and there are so many of these "creative communities" around us, that no one really notices a lot of it.

Thanks, Internet.

Look at us, skinners.

Surely, there have been some "masterworks" in the art of skinning. Art that should be recognized, noted and remembered. Surely there are artists whose names should be included in the books, and whose work deserves the attention of the world.

How does that "aqua" button become a "universal symbol", and just how far reaching is the "ripple" that emerges from the "daily user" being exposed to a design?

And what of it? Who cares?

Well, we do. All of us. Whether it is the first time tweaker, the novice skinner or the master artist, we are a "creative community", much akin to Tolkien's "Inklings" in many ways.

Like the Inklings we share our work, take advice and comfort from each other, and derive from our community a sense of appreciation for our labors.

And like the Inklings, there will certainly be well paid celebrities emerging from this "creative community". We have our Tolkiens, our C.S. Lewises, and more.

This past month, we have witnessed open drafting within the little community of skinners. Not those well known occasions of developers seeking artists, but a new paradigm: a Company, seeking artists for paying jobs....skinning jobs.
Welcome to the present.

It has been foretold that the coming of Windows XP will bring a horde of new people into "awareness" of this art, this capability, this option that we have long shared in a little "niche", unbothered and unrecognized by most of the world at large.

If this truly happens on a grand scale, as has been predicted, then the community you know and love will face new challenges, and will be afforded new opportunities.

The "b" word, bandwidth, is sure to become even more of a problem for skin sites than it already is. And on the other side of the equation, one has to believe that, if skinning is going to "broaden it's base" by a large number, then surely there will be more companies willing to pay talented artists to do their skinning.

And there's nothing wrong with that...

So, all you old-timers, you Venerated Elders of Skinning, please remember a few things as we move forward into the "next phase":

Be patient with the new kids. You were once a new kid, too.

Be supportive of your favorite sites. A skinning site is not a goldmine.

Be proud of your fellow skinner who manages to make a buck. Skinning is not easy, especially not under the pressures of an ad agency, or a marketing rep.

Try not to involve yourself in "flame wars". The best way to get rid of the idiot in the corner is to ignore him. Let the new kids see our positive side whenever possible.

See the beauty in effort. A little constructive criticism can be the impetus that drives a hobbyist to become a true master. Your experience is invaluable, and your advice will be appreciated.

And remember this:

No matter how big a "creative community" gets, as long as it still has the elements it started with, it will remain a "community".


Thanks for reading,

Kenray
Editor-in-Chief

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