Artsmith23 Author's page | World Anvil

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Artsmith23

Chase Bond | Member Since 27 Nov, 2023
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A little about me, I was born in Maryland, but I have lived in plenty of areas around the U.S.; I now reside in Texas. I will say that Virginia, with its rich history and quaint culture (that definitely appears to be more Georgian English in some parts) has been my favorite. Though I grew up with strong interests in History, Literature, and Writing, I had a very powerful inclination and talent for Art as well. However, my schooling choices led me to pursue Political Science and Military History while in University. During my last year of school and upon graduation, I had to overcome a serious medical adversity through the removal of a neck tumor on my spinal cord. This could have killed me, as it needed to be removed immediately within a week before one of several death scenarios occurred. Within the same surgery, I needed to also have my neck reconstructed with instrumentation. It took about two years to fully recover. As I recollect this memory, I have always liked bestowing people with hope through the retelling of that story. I always aim to inspire people to overcome and triumph over their trials and tribulations, never to lose hope or faith.   After that side adventure and time of self improvement, I spent time in Washington, D.C., pursing ventures to build a career through Political Science and Military History. However, I found it all very unfulfilling and depressing, amongst a myriad of other reasons. So I decided to get out, burn bridges, and pursue a new healthy and long desired career change; as a self-employed Artist, Writer, and Entrepreneur burning with passion and creativity for the crafts. I look forward with positive anticipation to the adventure ahead!

Interests & Hobbies

I used to be engaged in Fencing and was really good at it. I started a club in college and it almost became a NCAA D2 sport at the college. Now I just watch others in competition or olympics online. I have an interest in HEMA as well and used to practice martial arts. Now I watch others like Shadiveristy and Skalligrim. I like reading old manuals on HEMA too.   I enjoy Chess, but have to play online or in apps as its hard to find players where I am. I occasionally peruse Chess tube parts of Youtube and Chess books.   I am now exploring all facets of art; including my own innate talents and teaching myself the core components, techniques, styles, and mediums, particularly within digital painting/drawing. I am hoping to take my art to new places including but not limited to; showcase, sell, develop a multi-use portfolio, and utilize within other projects like books I seek to publish, or in video game design. However, I mostly practice art for myself.   Speaking of publishing, I am now picking up fiction writing, and seek to produce several series concerning fantasy as well as sub-genres within fantasy, and World Anvil is a Godsend. I see a lot of great series, but I think there is much lacking in some modern literature that people have a longing for discovering and enjoying. I would like to present ancient/classical concepts and virtues that were prevalent in older literature, just repackaged in the modern age within the fantasy genre and connect people to that. Hopefully, my writing takes off and I can get published.   Lastly, I have an interest in program design, center around video game design. I have Godot and Unreal 5, in the midst of exploring the potential in them and learning how to program as well as code, albeit slowly. This is a side project for me, so I am checking to see if I am comfortable with programming/coding and other aspects of Godot + Unreal and other programs before doing something with them. Anything advanced will be a project or series saved for future endeavors.

Favorite Books

I would describe myself as a voracious reader. A connoisseur of Fantasy genres, High Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Grimdark, and other unique sub-offshoots. The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion first got me into fantasy, and from there I was diving into series such as Mistborn, The First Law, Godblind, Malazan, Warhammer Fantasy Lore, and others. I also like historical fiction and am currently reading the Conquerer series by Conn Iggulden.   I also enjoy Mythology of many kinds, particularly Norse mythology, but diving into Greek, Celtic, Slavic, and others. Currently, I am also reading the Prose and Poetic Eddas while having the Saga of Hrolf Kraki and the Saga of the Volsungs next on my docket.   I sometimes dabble in Manga/Comics, but mostly stuff from Darkhorse publishing and Warhammer Fantasy. I have engaged in Beserk, Rurouni Kenshin, and a few others. I always got my eye open for anything that piques my interest.   Other books of Non-fiction that I like pertain to history, military history, and military strategy/tactics, half personally aquired and half are left overs from college days and work. I'm also into books about the Roman Empire, the Mongols, Medieval Kingdoms and the Medieval era as well as the Crusades, European history, Vikings, Nordic/Scandinavian history, Islamic conquests, Renaissance, Napoleon and Napoleonic France, and much more. I like reading about the conquests of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Ghenghis Kahn, Gustavus, Napoleon, and others.

Favorite Writers

J.R.R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, Anna Stephens, Conn Iggulden, Poul Anderson, and Steven Erikson, are some of my favorite inspirations to read from. I like writing that is descriptive, visceral, bone cutting, and epic, as well as poetically flowing in a natural way that feels familiar. I like cerebral multifaceted plots that the reader is tasked with parsing through to try to put together, all before certain mile stones are achieved within a story. I really enjoy rich worlds packed with deep lore.

Favorite Games

Some favorite games that I absolutely enjoy are the original Soulsbornes, with emphasis on Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Dark Souls 1 and 3. Sekiro and DS3 are my favorites of the genre. I like anything that is challenging, especially when one has to think on the fly or strategize well before hand while finding the weakness to a boss. I am also a huge fan of story driven action-adventure RPG's like Witcher and the God of War series. They can be just as captivating as novels.   I also love turn-based strategy real-time tactics games like the Total War series and Warhammer Fantasy (High Elves, Wood Elves, Britonnia, Dwarves if I play good guys, WoChaos or any Chaos primary like Khorne-Tzeentch-Nurgle factions, Chaos Dwarfs, Dark Elves, as well as Greenskins, Beastmen, and Vampire Counts/Von Carstein if an evil faction. Other Total Wars include Attila, Shogun 2, Rome 2 and Thrones of Britannia.   Finally, I am really into Metroidvanias, particularly the classics like Symphony of the Night, Circle of the Moon, Portrait of Ruin, Metroid Fusion, but also enjoy the new indie-games of the genre like Hollow Knight and Blasphemous.