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Welcome to this fortnights issue of Icon Interlude, A fortnightly iconists’ newsletter written by =E-motive & =TheTrueDanteSparda

As common as Icons are, many people put little thought into who made them, or where they came from; Icon Interlude aims to showcase the best parts of the icons gallery and highlight iconists who deserve the spotlight.

Every fortnight each of us will showcase one Avatar and one Emoticon we feel really shines. We will also be featuring four other pieces from two of the other icons sub-galleries, so keep an eye out for what sections have been featured this time!

Our goal is to give the icons gallery the recognition it deserves.
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This issue we interview possibly one of the crazier members of the icon community.
When she first joined deviantART in January 2005 she focused more on photography and traditional art forms, in this interview we find out why she changed to icons and get an insight into the mind of =brokenboulevard

1. The early section of your gallery contains poetry, photography and more traditional art forms, what prompted your move to icons?

I was looking through some random deviants' galleries and came across Zikes' tutorial for Fireworks. I thought seeing as though any poetry or traditional art was few or far between, and they looked like fun, I'd give making an emoticon a shot.

2. What program(s) do you use to make your icons? Is there a reason for this particular choice?

I use Fireworks. Two reasons; one, Zikes' aformentioned tutorial was for Fireworks; two, my computer's too rubbish to load Photoshop without crashing. I hadn't heard about programmes such as Ulead etc. I have given Imageready a shot, but there's a whole bunch of things I don't like about it. Fireworks FTW!

3. Do you feel you have a certain theme/style that is carried through your work? Or do you try to change it up with each piece?

Most of them are just plain random icons you'd probably have no use for. My shading style's definitely changed, from flat and rather harsh to softer and more detailed, with a wider range of colours. I have the odd series, such as my exploding emotes, pickets and crazy things with o____O eyes running round for no apparent reason.

4. Do you set yourself a timescale in which to complete a piece of work? How long does a piece of your work normally take?

I tend not to set myself a timescale unless there's some kind of deadline I have to complete in it. Most of the time, it's more about quality than speed, so most emotes take as long as they take. Although I have been known to churn out 5 emotes in as many minutes... When it comes to things like commissions, I tend to finish pretty quickly or I start feeling slightly "omg, omg, omg this should be done by now, dangnabbit..!"

5. Where do your ideas come from? Do you sit and plan them out?

Plan? Me? Bah! My sources are as random as the ideas. MSN conversations, things I see in the street, stuff on TV... when I feel like I need an emote to show something, I'll make it. But I don't sit down and plan them out. That's too normal for me.

6. What do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses? Is there anything you've consciously worked to improve? If so, how?

I like to think I've got pretty original (or at least no one's done them having thought about them) ideas. But I can sometimes be influenced by another emote to a point where it doesn't seem like it's mine anymore. I ditch those ones. Along with the ones I give up on, another weak point, not just in emotes. God knows how many WIPs or completely forgotten about ideas and files I have on my computer...

7. Do you have a favourite icon from your gallery? If so, why is it your favourite?

Compleeeetely ignoring the fact that it's more an animation about emoticons than an icon itself *cough, cough*... I think it would be The Evil Fireworks User. It took ages to complete. I had to record myself, copy and paste like I never have before, resize things, figure out how to get round the annoying difference in file resolutions... and in the end, it turned out even better than I expected. It got a great response, it was fun to make (honest!), and I think I may have got a "KAWAIII!!!" comment (or something along those lines) somewhere. I also got to find out how quite a lot of other emoticonists work. What more could you ask for?

8. Do you often get critique of your work? If not would you prefer more?

I quite often get lil' tips and pointers on how I can improve an icon, most frequently timings because dA renders quicker than other programmes or something like that. I'm glad to get it because otherwise, I wouldn't get any better. However, I may choose not to act upon it for a while if I've just spent a couple hours making the first "draft"...

9. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

<strike>WORLD DOMINATION!!!</strike> I don't know to be honest. I do this for fun mostly. I suppose I'd like to be recognised for something somewhere, and if that's emotes on dA, so be it.

10. Do other art forms affect your icons? If so, how and why?

Occasionally, I'll see a photo or something and a situation and I'll think "that could look good as an emote...". I'll then find out it doesn't or not know how to do it and leave it. But yeah, other art affects me, even if ever so slightly. Colours and things.

11. Are you a deviantART addict? What is it that appeals to you about the site?

Oh God, yes. I get all jittery when dA's down for maintainance... I think it's the community aspect more than anything. Yeah, there have been all these "problems" that people keep bringing up as something that have "changed dA forever", but it hasn't; the people are still there. There're still clubs for things and groups of friends, and no amount of comments and mishaps can change that. I've met some of the bestestest people ever on dA. So poo to all you doubters-of-dA's-community with knobs on.

12. What artists inspire you and why? deviantART based or otherwise

It's hard to pinpoint some artists, because quite a lot inspires me, and some people, situations etc. inspire me for certain things. And being the Dory clone I am, I can't remember any of them. Some of the main ones would have to beee... *melonhead-emotion, =E-motive, =Adsero, =zacthetoad, *sml-e, =darkmoon3636, *livius, ^rocksicle... and about a million other people, bits of furniture and animals. None of which were harmed in the making of these icons.

13. Are there any words of wisdom you wish to give to budding iconists?

Get some kind of style. *melonhead-emotion has a style, =darkmoon3636 has a style, so does =camelhijackation, *dutchie17, *sml-e... the generic "look ive made an emote zomg!!11!" style works up til a point. That point being when other people get bored. If you haven't got a style, your gallery could look like a hundred other new emotists' galleries, and no one stick around to watch a clone. Well. Some people do, but they're silly.

14. Is there anything you would like to see change within the icon community?

One thing I would like to see, and if only for the benefit of my and others health, is a total nuking of icons that I call "seizurcons". You know, the icons that will blink several different colours at you in a millisecond, repeat several hundred times with an "OMZG0RZ!!!11!" thrown in for good measure. headacheplz. It was funny once. It has its place, and can look good when done right. But when it's done to a point where you're just ROFL...

That and the same anime character or band member in a 100x100 square with some script or lyrics and a heart. But that's just me.

15. What's next for you? Does =brokenboulevard take over the world with her hoard of icons?

Oooh, definitely. Shameless plug time, #emotiverse has already done a pretty good job of kick starting the emote take over of life, the universe and everything... it's only a matter of time.... mwaha.

We'd like to thank =brokenboulevard for taking time for our interview, And recommend you to take a look at these picks from her gallery:

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This Issues features in the Avatars Gallery are:

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Avatar: Snake Crossing Sign by ~FantasyStockAvatars</div>

Here in jolly old England, Friday 18th August dawns the release of "Snakes On A Plane" I couldn't help but have to feature this pick as the head of the set

~FantasyStockAvatars contains a whole set of these roadsign avatars, And I have no doubt that most people will find something they like in this set!

Overall, Clean and Smart, These roadsign avatars were a joy to find, Containing such signs as "Rockstar Crossing" and "Llama Crossing"

Featured by =TheTrueDanteSparda

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Miniature City II & Mini deviantART Logo by ~zoggles</div>

No it’s not a mistake I truly have selected two features, ~zoggles gallery just had to be displayed. Honestly I’d show them all if I could but it wouldn’t be fair.

I really love the detail shown in Miniature City II, the little features that could easily be over-looked such as the cooling ducts on the roof. The cars on the roads loop so seamlessly that I’d swear it never did, it truly does look like a miniature city.

Mini deviantART Logo not only shows this deviants skill but it also shows a community love. The animation in this piece is breathtaking and I really do love this image, I could just watch it go round and round.

Featured by =E-motive

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This Issue in Avatars, we also liked:

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This Issues features in the Emoticons Gallery are:

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offtopic by =Smidy</div>

offtopic by =Smidy Is something many of us have probably experienced, whether it be online or off.

The colour choices are appealing and engage the viewer, while the expressions and actions keep them entertained. I think it shows a step forward in the artists unique gallery.

The only critique I can offer which I had previously is some of the timing is slow but over-all an excellent emote

Featured by =E-motive

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PunchBag by *melonhead-emotion</div>

PunchBag by *melonhead-emotion is one of the best emotes i've seen produced by this deviant.

The animation is fluent, And I love the speed marks left by the punchbag, It really adds to the feeling of speed in the emote.

Not forgetting as well, One of the key parts in the emote, The facial animation, I have to mention the little concentration tounge that's been included. Overall, I love this emote.

Featured by =TheTrueDanteSparda

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This Issue in Emoticons, we also liked:

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Callisto Humping Slate by `jackdirt</div>

Callisto Humping Slate by `jackdirt is the official jackdirt buddy icon!

Long ago, before time began, `jackdirt was one of the senior members of deviantART. He still is today, And although inactive, Jackdirt will live on throughout dA.

jackdirt is known more for the emote: , However, This Buddy Icon is just as fun!

Featured by =TheTrueDanteSparda

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Mage Walks by =neko-mangaka</div>

Mage Walks may not be the best made animation I’ve ever seen, but it has something about it.

Maybe it’s just Mage working his magic on me but I finding this little guy pretty damn cool.

The fire is well done, as is the detail on the wall and floor, mage has now earned himself a place in my heart. The little freak lol!

Featured by =E-motive

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Azenis PNG by *yingjunjiu</div>

I could simple say I loved these icons and leave it at that, but that’s exactly what you’d expect me to do.

Instead I am going to attempt some form of rational thought, a tricky process indeed especially in this sometimes confusing world.

These icons make life a bit easier by being firstly visually attractive, the contrast of the bright blue against the black just really appeals to me but not only that they are very informative and thus fulfilling their purpose.

Featured by =E-motive

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Firefox 2005 icons by ~weboso</div>

We all know that Firefox is better than Internet Explorer. Okay, Now thats out of the way, I'd like to say, Please, no FF v. IE discussion here, Its not the place, Take it to the forums.

These Icons are smooth, and sleek, and would complement any Blue/Orange desktop layout, As well as anything FF related!

Featured by =TheTrueDanteSparda

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August 18.

Snakes on a Plane.

Snakes on a Plane is quite possibly, Genius. It's probably also the most talked about film on deviantART. To do our part for the Snakes on a Plane campaign, We want to show you our favourite Snakes on a Plane icons:

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