I’ve now had a chance to try out both KDE and Gnome under openSUSE on my home computers. Both KDE and Gnome are extremely easy to use for a newbie user and the openSUSE team integrates both desktops into openSUSE so they’re slightly different from the default desktops in other distributions of Linux using Gnome and KDE. For an experienced user the choice is simply a matter of preference but there are a large number of features each desktop does better than the other.

I originally started with Gnome under openSUSE 10.2 about a year ago. Subsequently I tried Ubuntu’s Gnome and eventually installed openSUSE’s KDE as I built my new system and was shocked at how complete KDE is. For a user familiar with Windows I think KDE is clearly the easier desktop to get used to. Overall I give KDE the nod for being much more feature rich than Gnome and simply more polished. However, after playing around with KDE (the 3.5 version) I installed Gnome on the new system and have now went back to using it rather than KDE.

I’m honestly not sure why Gnome appeals more to me. Maybe it’s the stupid footprint logo or something which I like so much about Gnome but either way I prefer using it even though I see how much more polished KDE is. If someone can give me a rational explanation for this I would really like to hear it.

There is one thing which I wish openSUSE had implemented better in Gnome though – the Software Management window under YaST. Take a look:

While this window is functional and has given me little problems now that I know what it’s purpose is I am frustrated knowing how much better it is under KDE. I’m almost tempted to log out of Gnome and switch over to KDE just to do software updates. Under Gnome I really miss seeing the info the KDE version of the same window provides.

Anyways, I’m just venting, I’m looking forward to openSUSE 11 with KDE 4.0. The wonderful thing about Linux is that you can make such decisions anytime you want, and it’s free! While I am using Gnome because I am strange I really think KDE is awesome. If only all the choices I had to make in life were such as this one…

This is my first drawing for conceptart.org’s Character of the Week event. Even though the topic was calling for a pinup of a hot male vampire I couldn’t resist putting a female victim in the painting. Women are always victims anyways … yeah, I said it! If you disagree leave a comment below.

You can check out the main thread here: CHOW #108 – Hot Male Vampire Pinup

The drawing was 100% digital, I was inspired by Boris Vallejo’s piece titled “Vampire’s Kiss” for the wings. No references were used besides Boris’ work for the wings and it clearly also inspired the lighting. This is one of the first images I’ve done when I wanted to bleed the different light sources into the skin of the characters and I think it worked well.

Understanding the creatures who have come from the depths of Hell is not a simple task. Many of the creatures were once vastly different from their current physical appearance and mental state, especially the majority of the devils. While most humans have historically used devil interchangeably with demon the two types of creatures have nothing to do with one another. Devils are former angels, who were once creatures of great beauty and radiance. After thousands of years twisted by the tortures of Hell for their betrayal of the one God, they are now deranged and thirsting for nothing but violence upon the flesh.

Most devils are not inherently evil, but also most devils are not in control of themselves and their souls have been completely corrupted by the powers of Hell. In essence these creatures are well beyond salvation and forgiveness…

The devil depicted above is a low ranking torturer from the fourth circle prior to the collapse.

Notes about this drawing: This is a pencil sketch which was painted over and colored in Photoshop.

The demonic empire which reigns over the Freelands demands an almost constant supply of slaves and food, here dinner is served.

This is a pencil+charcoal drawing I invested about 10 hours of work into, it was motivated by another artist’s work but I didn’t use any references.

This is an updated version of a digital painting I made a few months ago inspired by Luba Shumeyko. In case you’ve never heard of her… just use google! If all women looked like her men would not go to war!

The image is 100% digital, I used a photograph as a reference.

Also if you like this check out the new Luba Shumeyko Digital Sculpt I made in November 2008.

Demons and devils have openly ruled the world for over forty thousand years. Surprisingly the society within Hell was extremely structured even before the collapse which forced the fiends to seek refuge in our world. This depiction is of a demon guardian, the unique side of these creatures is that they are compelled to guard the one thing in the universe which holds value to them… unlike most other demons whose only valuables include their own lives, the raping and torture of innocents, and wreaking chaos within the “civilized” worlds.

Demon guardians are highly sought after bodyguards. There are many ways to obtain their service, most frequently they willingly enter into contract, though there are ways to ensnare and enslave them into servitude. These demons are physical monstrosities full of great strength and speed and skill with their weapons of choice. While they are weak in the use of magic they tend to be completely immune to the direct effects of magic.

Notes about the drawing: The image is 100% digital. I used photos of a couple of bodybuilders as references for the back muscles.