novemberkris

Updates

12/15/2012:

I graduated and started a new job. I think, after the holidays, I'm going to take up a swap or two. In the meantime, I launched my webcomic, Infinite Spiral. I'd love if you would check it out in the link above!

Recent Art for Swaps

Please note that all of my work is © All Rights Reserved - No Usage Allowed in Any Form Without the Written Consent of Kristina Cunningham/ Novemberkris.

Bio

I majored in English and Linguistics at Ohio University with a minor in Japanese. Then I went on to join Teach for America, spending two years in a high need school in New Haven, CT. My middle schoolers taught me more about the powers of games and experience in education than I could have imagined. I am now working on my M.A. in Serious Games with an deep interest in the concept of Meaningful Play. I believe play is important to us as learners for three reasons:

1. Play invites exploration.
2. Play builds relationships.
3. Play motivates achievement.

My work tends to be highly narrative, employing fictional worlds as a space for play. They are meant to be explored with a sense of curiosity and whimsy.

After all, Einstein stated:

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

Currently Hosting

None, check back. :)

Previously Hosted

Otherworld Hades ATC NFT Group Swap, Deadline May 28, 2011.

Otherworlds Tir Na Nog ATC NFT Group Swap, Deadline June 17,2011.

Gloomy Doomy Monster ATC NFT Group Swap, Deadline June 30th, 2011.

Spirit Animal ATC IaPA Group Swap, Deadline July 8th, 2011.

3 Panel Comic Public Swap, Deadline is July 23, 2011.

My Swap-bot Code of Honor

There are some important things that you should know about me, expectations, etc.

1) I pledge to rate. If you have met the requirements for the swap, I will be fair. Ratings are important here. If there is an emergency where I cannot rate in a timely manner, I will leave that info on my profile and/or attempt to contact those I am swapping with.

2) I will put my best effort in any swap. I read profiles and attempt to make creations tailored to to who I am swapping with. If you are not pleased or something has not arrived in a timely fashion, please PM me. I work very hard to create art that I really want to keep myself (and believe me, it is hard to let the little pieces go!).

3) Along with the above, please put effort into swaps with me (and why wouldn't you?). I know we are all at different levels, with different styles when it comes to art swaps, but take the time. Know that I will admire the work and keep it in a safe place.

4) I will mail on time or early. However, please know I am at a small town apartment and my mail man does not return to the post office until after closing at 4:30. That means postmarks will often be the day after I have physically mailed (unless they are type 3 swaps that I must send from the Post Office).

5) If I contact you about a swap I have sent, it is not in pressure for a rating. I actually get paranoid about the swaps arriving to their destination after typical mail times have passed. This is just me being proactive about my swaps in the event they don't arrive and I need to resend to you! I always fulfill my swap obligations.

Angels

Captured Fairy Swap: @Kelsey8

Thank you! It is always nice to have someone make-up for a flaked swap.

Special thanks to WTA Angels and Demons senders

@boriquaz @misscorbeau @Izohgore @pandessa @daydrifter @Runebound @KizzyMama and @ElizabethObviously for their amazing sends and patience with my slow and horrible communication. If I could give WTA hearts I would!

I enjoy a mix of drama and cartoons. The number one show for me right now is Fringe. I love the world created in the show. I also enjoy Monk, Firefly, Futurama, Fullmetal Alchemist, Criminal Minds, CSI, X-files, Inspector Gadget, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (I'm sure I've forgotten some).

Most of my favorite novels and stories have an element of myth and magic or again world-creation. I just love well developed fictional worlds. Hamlet, The Child Thief, His Dark Materials, Ender's Game, The Last Unicorn, Beowulf Seamus Heaney side-by-side translation, Lukanyenko's Nightwatch books, Peter Pan are just some of my favorite stories.

I adore Miyazaki and PIXAR films, such as Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, WALL-E, The Incredibles, UP!, etc. Pirates of the Caribbean, The Last Unicorn, Finding Neverland, Nightwatch, and Inception also make the list. I also enjoy Tim Burton's films, especially The Nightmare Before Christmas. Romero films. I used to watch the Unico movies as a kid, but you can't find them anywhere now, so sad.

I am really that person who carries a sketchbook everywhere (I have a purse sized one). I am addicted to drawing and all of my other crafts are just bonus. I love to work in pastel and marker over paint (that could be because it is easier to keep them away from my pet ferret). I make an exception for watercolor pencils. Watch out when I get working with charcoal (I black out my paper and work backwards, so much messy fun). Oils and acrylics happen on my balcony in good weather (no ferrets allowed out there). I've dabbled in crochet. I enjoy papercrafting--scrapbooking and card making (I'm trying to share some of those works on my blog). I am always up for the challenge of trying something new, so long as it is within my budget (after all, I am a poor graduate student). If you have a media to suggest to me, please share!

I love drawing anime/manga style characters, angels, people, horses, dolphins, ferrets, cats (actually many animals). Mythical beasts are fun as well. I am not such a fan of still life drawing, but sometimes indulge for the practice. Usually, I draw flowers or other things from nature. My own characters tend to have a manga/Victorian feel to them--though I make exceptions when a world I've created calls for it.

Final Fantasy VII, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, Chronotrigger, Zelda: Twilight Princess, Ookami, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, Resident Evil series, Skies of Arcadia, Akrasia, Prince of Persia (Sands of Time series).

I have an eclectic taste in music, but tend to enjoying thematic, dramatic music. Some of my favorites from my playlist right now include: Within Temptation, Nightwish, We Are The Fallen, Rammstein, E Nomine, Shakira, Mozart, Prince of Persia (game soundtrack), Fullmetal Alchemist Soundtracks.

Art and Artists

Kimono and kitsuke (wearing kimono), kimekomi dolls, juni hitoe (Heian 12 layer kimono), Victorian stylings, Art Nouveau, Alphonse Mucha illustrations, Gustave Dore, William Blake, Steam Punk art, Ukiyo-e, Hokusai, Hori Ryujo (Japanese art doll craftswoman), Kawaii/San-X style art (its addictively cute), gothic style art

Colors

jewel tones, spice orange, autumn colors, chocolate brown, deep purple, heather gray, olive and hunter green, lilac/lavender purple, soft rose pink and dusty rose (not bright pinks!), silver, copper, aged metallics

Animals

dragons, unicorns, dolphins, orcas, horses, tigers, cats, ferrets, cheetahs, bettas, sea dragons, sea horses

Plants

gardening, wisteria, irises, chrysanthemums, momiji, autumn leaves (especially maple), lavender, lilacs, fuschias, angel-wing begonias

Myths and Mystic

angels, Arthurian legend, mythology (Norse, Greek, Japanese, Celtic, whatever), Otherworld and Underworld myths, classic fantasy (elves, fairies, mages, and the like)

Food and Beverages

dark chocolate, popcorn, Earl Grey Tea, Earl Grey melon pan (seriously, I could only get that in Japan and miss it), Earl Grey stick chocolate, matcha (and matcha flavored treats), the tea ceremony, Guzhang mao Jian green tea, tea in general (green, white, black, and yes, I brew loose leaf), Meiji "bitter" chocolate bars, Black Sesame treats stick candy, adzuki bean flavored goodness, mochi, lavender (and Tisanes and teas with lavender in it), Southeast Asian coffees (dry processed too!),Willoughby's Coffee and Tea (in CT--used to walk to that shop!) and craft beer-everages (I collect Magic Hat bottle caps to use on cards).

Other NaNoWriMo, the Cleveland Browns, maneki neko,