SWAG Early History
You wont find this on the History Channel:
I was looking at my old posts on the Holonet when I came across these threads. The earliest discussions pertaining to the creation of the Star Wars Artists' Guild. They provide some insight as to the how and why SWAG came into being.
And as a historical bonus, here are some outstanding artwork from a poster named "Grey Area" who never joined SWAG, but went on to illustrate some awesome books.
Submitted by Asok on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 02:46.
Wow... I remember when Drig first stumbled onto SWAG, when it first incarnated as an actual, separate website. I don't remember how he found it - maybe he was browsing SWRPG network or summet - but we were hooked from the start. I think that was July 2002? Wow.
Boshuda
Submitted by Hisham on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 03:15.
Dude, you were one of my earliest requests.
Time flies when you're having funk, eh?
Submitted by Casca1967 on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 05:50.
That is some fascinating reading. Now if some one would have suggested have the artist picture in their profile...lol
Submitted by Eclipse on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 07:51.
If you want artist avatars I'm cool with doing that. I'll put it on the list for the upgrade.
Eclipse
Submitted by Drig on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 20:14.
I was one of those that typed star wars art in google and found a piture of a jedi that I thought was pretty nifty. It was linked to SWAG and from then I had my mind blown.. I swore fealty to the almighty Baron and had his wife draw me my first request of the Drig and Asok had his first request taken of the Asok by Hish. It's amazing how strong this website is and how it's gone through several passings of SWAGGERS, many even going on to bigger and better art professions. It's weird to be so actively involved in a website where very few of it's original members remain and many others have grown up here and find it as home. Here's to 8 more SWAG years! Hopefully things will only get brighter and brighter.
And rest in peace Dibs the SWAG monkey...
And Keep on SWAGGIN'!
Submitted by Seghast on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 16:51.
I remember the old days, when we made requests through the SWRPG Holonet itself...I think my first 2 requests got done that way, actually. Also remember it feeling like Nafai was attacking me just about every time I posted anything. >.<
SWAG has come a long ways since then, and while I'm no artist (couldn't draw a stick man to save my life), I'm glad to have been here with everyone to see it go from simple threads on the Holonet to it's own site, still going strong all these years later, and hopefully, going strong for many years to come.
Submitted by Mercy on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 02:27.
OMG this is so cool!!!
Plus - totally didn't know that ReverendStrone was a fellow Kiwi...
Random!
Submitted by Xanamiar on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 02:50.
Somehow, I think ReverendStrone's birth date is wrong...
it says Nov 30th of 1999 ... that makes him 9 years old... ((Scratches head)) don't think that's right. if it is, he's probably working for some huge company right now with that kind of talent at 9 years of age.
Submitted by Hisham on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 03:37.
Both Reverend Strone and Gray Area are Kiwis, and not just they work together, but they played the same Star Wars d20 campaign together. Funny story: Gray Area joined the Holonet without telling the good Rev who he was, but the Rev suspected because of his artwork.
Submitted by Asok on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 04:34.
Speaking of Rev, Xan, he does work for a big company called Weta, last I heard, and he did a fair amount of concept art for the Lord of the Rings movies. Drig and I bought the concept art book, so we have proof.
Boshuda
Submitted by Mercy on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 04:54.
I do sometimes wonder if there are only really a few thousand people in this country and they just lie about the numbers...
Submitted by I. J. Thompson on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 22:01.
Understand, Mercy, that I'm so desperately trying to refrain from asking you if you know Bret and Jemaine from 'Flight of the Conchords'. The fact that Bret himself was in 'The Lord of the Rings' doesn't help matters.
I've really gotta get down there and see your beautiful country for myself! :)
Submitted by Mercy on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 23:05.
Ha ha!! That's so funny!
As it happens, I haven't even seen more than 1 of their episodes. Nor have I watched more than the first film of the LotR trilogy...
I think I should have my Kiwi card revoked...
Submitted by Asok on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 12:16.
But you have seen the World's Fastest Indian, right? lol
Boshuda
Submitted by Just_Pete on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 21:39.
Wow, I really have been out of the loop a long time. This thread made me finally make a post (that and the fact that I saw a post from I.J., who I completed my very first request for so long ago... EDIT: pre-SWAG actually, now that I revisit the history). Nice to see SWAG is still breathing and amassing fine SW art. Kris, you've done a fine job reinventing this place. And hi to all my old pals.
Used to go by Shadowdeep. Now just Pete.
Submitted by Hisham on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 21:45.
Pete! Been a while. Where you been, man? Any new stuff you been up to?
Your Shadowdeep login should still be on here, btw.
Submitted by Asok on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 21:55.
Whoa, wait - you're Shadowdeep?!
Boshuda
Submitted by Just_Pete on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 21:59.
Hiya Hish! =)
I'm sticking with just Pete. I dropped the old Shadowdeep thing across the spectrum. Haven't done any art for several years now. Just a working stiff again.
Submitted by Hisham on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 22:22.
Yeah. I mourned when I realized your Shadowdeep.com galleries was gone for good. Hope you stick around for a bit. We have cake.
Submitted by Mercy on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 23:30.
CAKE!!!
Dude, I know I wasn't around when you were producing, but you're still up in the member galleries!
http://www.swagonline.com/user/353
P.S. Asok.
Nope, ain't seen 'The World's Fastest Indian' either... Man, I suck. I understand Sir Anthony Hopkins does a very passable South Island accent though!
Also, keep meaning to see 'Black Sheep' which, I'm told, is very funny.
Yep, that Kiwi card is gone, huh?
Submitted by Just_Pete on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 05:02.
Since I'm walking down memory lane, anybody know the whereabouts of Chris and Derek?
Submitted by Hisham on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 10:29.
One's in Texas and the other is at border of Illinois & Kentucky.
;)
Submitted by Asok on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 14:34.
Whatever happened to Baron Bob and Elfgirl?
Boshuda
Submitted by I. J. Thompson on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 16:19.
Oh my god... Pete/Shadowdeep? It is a pleasure to see (read?) you again, sir! You know, your painting of 'The Battle of Derilyn' is hanging on my little boy's bedroom wall as we speak!
You're not illustrating anymore? This must change. You know, Rodney (Moridin/King of the HoloNet) Thompson is the head honcho for Star Wars at WotC now... just sayin'... ;)
Submitted by Drig on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 16:26.
I sense a great disturbance in the swag, as if hundreds of former swag members all arrived at once and sketched...
Submitted by Just_Pete on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 16:46.
@ Hish: Har dee har! ;) Ever see either of them around the internets?
@ IJ: Nice to see you. I'm really glad the painting continues to earn its keep. And Rodney is the big Ewok chief now, huh? I'm glad he's had things work out well. Nice to hear success stories.
@ Drig: Heh. Kinda feels like an old folks reunion. I wonder who else will show up.
Submitted by Xanamiar on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 16:56.
*crosses fingers that JawaStu and ShadowWalker both show up*
Submitted by Hisham on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 19:20.
I catch up with Derek once in awhile when he's on AIM and I'm on Gmail. Chris not so much, except in e-mails.
Submitted by Eclipse on Wed, 08/12/2009 - 06:41.
PETE!
Technical stuff first:
your old shadowdeep login still works, you should be able to take it back over and change the user name. If you can't change the user name, I'd happily change it for you. :-)
Derek and Chris are still "around" but not SWAG so much... I think they both just got REALLY burnt out, and while I'm glad I could take over and continue the madness, it's sad to me that we don't ever really see them anymore.
I just started a dialog with Bob last week, just sort of saying "hi". Maybe he'll grace us with his presence :-)
At any rate, it's great to see you around again man. I tried to contact you when the site went back up, but I think I failed, so I'm glad to see you found us again. :-) Sorry to hear you aren't doing art anymore. That's really rough, but I get it.
Good to see you again man, I hope you can stick around!
Eclipse
Submitted by Just_Pete on Wed, 08/12/2009 - 07:13.
Hi Kris,
Good to see you. Thanks for the info. Sorry to hear Chris and Derek are still so far removed, but hey, I've been the same, so I can't fault that. Would be fun to reconnect with some more of the old gang again though.
I'll keep the login switch in mind if I decide I want to realign myself with that profile, name-change or otherwise. I have really mixed feelings about my previous art period, so right now I'm just content to prowl the forum as-is. =)
Cheers