One year later...

[strangetomato]

Hey, I just realized that yesterday was the one year anniversary of the day I posted the prologue to Strangetown, Here we Come. If I was more on the ball, I could have made an effort to post the next update on that day, but I completely forgot about it instead. I have been making baby steps towards the next update, though, so that's good. Looking back, I remember my initial burst of activity, where I was posting a new chapter every week, and sometimes more than that (I think I even did three in one week, at one point). Of course, the chapters were much shorter then, and I was working from photos I had already shot from playing the hood Prosperity Challenge style. I still play it like that, but much more slowly, and scenes are more posed and planned out.

To celebrate the ocassion, I thought I'd share a couple of painting recolours that I created using some of those great JRO drawings by beyondheroism__ and my SO. I'm working on more of these too, so I'll eventually do a bigger download post.





Drawing of Johnny, Ripp, and Ophelia by my SO, recoloured on the mesh for "Two Dogs and an Olive" by Mixt Hupp from Nightlife (the nod to Picasso).

Download






Drawing of Johnny, Ripp, and Ophelia by beyondheroism__, recoloured on the mesh for A Stroke from Nightlife (which doesn't reference anything specific, that I know of... correct me if I'm wrong).

I love how you can still see the touch of red on the side of the canvas in this one. It makes it look like this was painted over a different painting, and I like that. It makes it seem like it was bought at a student show for a bargain (you can find some great stuff that way). The staples are a nice detail too, even if they should be on the back of the canvas.

Download






That's a little glimpse of some renovations I've been making at the Specter estate. This is, of course, Ophelia's room. The dogs love the bay window.




Just like Nervous loves his new fish tank.

You'll see more of the new look in the next update.

Comments

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

*gasp* Nervous! I seriously have so much love for him and all he did was look in a fish tank. XD I think I almost ~fan girl squeed~

I missed the puppy, too. I forgot all about it.

I love the paintings(the winter one is so cute), I actually had the original J/R/O painting in one of my sims' dorms:



~oooo~

[smjoshsims.livejournal.com]

The pictures are wonderful! Your SO and beyond_heroism are amazing artists, so it's always fun to have some new art in the game.

Nervous looks adorable with his hair growing out! And the Estate looks amazing! Will the Trio be living there if when they graduate? Either way, the house is stunning. ^_^

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

Woohoo I got 'em both!

I like the Specter makeover - I think Olive is rolling in her grave though. So many flowers.

I love Nervous' new hair. he looks so cute!

[simgarooop.livejournal.com]

I downloaded the paintings too. Thank you very much for sharing them with us! :) (I already have the big one, but sometimes it's hard to find a wall big enough for it, so I'm glad there are smaller versions available now).

The house looks adorable too. And I love the fish animation too. I'd completely forgotten how the puppy looked as an adult. Such a big change!

Congrats on the anniversary! Time sure goes by quickly, right?

[ikichi.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary!

[showercapfrog.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary! I love how you show us little previews of what you're doing leading up to each chapter... it puts off the tedium of waiting ;)

[tanathir.livejournal.com]

That's really an accomplishment. Happy anniversary, Strangetown, Here We Come! Just think about all the work that's gone into making it this far. Great job!

I'm not sure where would be best to ask, so
I'll just ask here. It's a huge favor and you can say no without me getting all butthurt. Um, would it be possible to get the shorter male ponytail you made? The Sim I have in mind needs it in white, but I would just have a duck fit (as my granddad used to say) if I could get all the hair colors. Of course you don't have to upload it just for lil old me.

Yeah, it's pretty lame to request custom content like this, but it never hurts to ask. :)

[catladymeow.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary

[cl-legacy.livejournal.com]

Happy Aniversary!
These are fantastic... I speshully love the second one with Johnny :D Looks like he's been listening to Jaxy and buying them girly pants :D

[missgan.livejournal.com]

Happy anniversary! :D
I've not been catching up with your posts for some time (Though I'm fully caught up with Strangetown, Here We Come) and it's great to see these new painting recolours!

Nervous is adorable, and the fish tank reminds me of Buck!
I'm really looking forward to the next chapter, can't wait to see all the characters again. :)

[a-gates.livejournal.com]

Dear Strangetomato... Has it been a year already? Time has passed, Happy Anniversary!! I remember the prologue and I remember completely falling in love with JRO, so much to the point that I was a bit disappointed with my own JRO (Johhny is a very successful sim in my hood, yet very lonely (I can't seem him to be able to keep a girlfriend) and adopted his parents adopted daughter Ella Smith who prove too much to handle to Jenny after four other kids... *That's another story!* Anyhow, Ophelia married an offspring of CAS sim and has the perfect suburban life complete with the 2.5 kids and the perfectly mowed lawn. And is for Ripp... What a womanizer. He had a little too much fun with the Tristen Tan garderner who became pregnant and move in with him and even a ring was involved although Ripp was not so sneaky and got caught with his stepmother no less, so miss garderner left him, took her half and the kids. (she had boy and girl twins, no cheats) The twins who are name Scotch and Caramel Tan, are now teenagers. Scotch, the male looks exactly like Ripp and Caramel is a complete babydoll look and at their birthday party who should show up *I didn't invite him, he was walking and apparently Scotch wanted to meet his dad, * but Ripp and tries flirting with his ex, the mother of his kids. It's strange when I play. I keep wanting to see the three of them together. I love your story that much. It's heartbreaking and yet too close to home because I was in a relationship similar to that, hopefully your ending is better. As always, great job and can't wait for the next update.

[petite-sim.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary! I love those paintings, and the Specter estate looks really cool. Does Nervous' hair come with free time? It looks so cute on him.

[simmerina.livejournal.com]

So I'm gonna go ahead and say Happy Anniversary! I didn't pay attention to the Maxis hoods or pre-made characters, but thanks to people like you, now I must confess, I love them. I don't get time to play seriously, but I enjoy to come here and read this lovely stories of yours -that I discovered recently- you put so much effort and heart in them, such imagination you have! you make me laugh so much and I have such a great time that I thought you need to know it. Thank you for giving me the chance to fall in love with The Sim 2 -again- and your sim stories. Now, I should go and keep reading, I'm not through with all the Strangetown, Here We Come chapters yet!. Happy Anniversary again.

PS: nice paintings, thanx.

[ugly-kitties.livejournal.com]

*snags paintings* :D :D :D

I like Nervous's new hair growth!

[80sfiend.livejournal.com]

Awww these are great :D *snags them* :D

Love seeing pics of the characters in any way I can *waves to Nervous* :D

[selenecorvino.livejournal.com]

Beyondheroism, has some real interesting artwork in tribute to S,HWC; and your comments to some of that artwork has helped fill in the blanks.

Thanks for the pics.