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So, what is SykoGrafix, you may ask? Hmm, what indeed. That's a good question. Hope you like reading.
Let's get the obvious out of the way first. SykoGrafix is Ninjatron's personal webpage, which would mean that I am Ninjatron. But that, of course, is another matter entirely.
SykoGrafix first began its life in the Spring of 1997 by way of a very basic website featuring very basic artwork. You can read more about that here and here.
The name "SykoGrafix" comes from the marketing term Psychographics, which is akin to Demographics. Websters dictionary defines the psychographic as a means of studying the attitudes, values, lifestyles, and opinions of people. I'm not about that. I just thought it sounded cool. And thus begins a great paradox, for I am an anomoly that has never really fit in with what the standards that psychographics and demographics dictate. I pretty much just do my own thing no matter what.
I see the Internet as one of humanity's great achievements. It's an amazing invention and we should all know why by now. But I also see the Internet drowning in an ocean of corporate pop-up banner ad millionaire affiliate contract SSI CGI bottom line business marketing stock market strategy garbage. Too many people think that the Internet is just a good place to make money or a good place to get porn.
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I say that there has got to be more to it than that. I say that the potential of the Internet is going to waste. I say that the Internet is a prime place for personal expression, and that's really what the heart of SykoGrafix is about. It's a real personal website with individual creativity and style.
You may want to call this an "art site", and I am indeed an "artist" of sorts, but don't go thinking that this is some kind of bizarre artsy thing like you'd see in a "real" art gallery. I'm not about that either. I like animation and comics and video games. I like cute girls and big monsters and cool robots. I draw what I like, and I think all of that is valid subject matter for art. I've got originals, fan art, and some weird stuff. Neither are exactly "art" in the traditional sense, but I don't really care. Like I said, personal expression.
When I say personal expression, however, I have no intention of boring anyone to tears. What I'm trying to do here is create a site that has personal expression through meaningful content. That's why I've got articles, a weblog, and explanations behind each peice of artwork. I do my best to present material that people might actually want to see, or at least the kinds of things that I would enjoy seeing myself. In other words, this is supposed to be fun.
I'm probably biting off more than I can chew with these ambitions. That's fine. I have no problems with fighting a battle that I'm destined to lose. I don't expect everything to change just because a freak like me tried to make a difference. That's not the point. The point is to try and fight anyway, because I think it's worth it. And hopefully I'll have inspired a few of you to do the same.
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On the Internet, you are seen as nothing more than a hit. A click-through. A cookie. Well I'm not a hit. I'm not a click-through. I'm damn sure not a cookie. And I'm not going to let myself simply be counted and sorted and filed away as another of the nameless, faceless, voiceless masses in cyberspace. My name is Ninjatron, my face is SykoGrafix, and my voice says Beautiful Digital Chaos! You can take it or you can leave it, but you can't ignore it.
I suppose in a way I haven't really answered the question. SG isn't about the whole marketing thing, nor is it really about the whole "art" thing. It's about a lot of things. Hard to put a label on that. Whatever. I hate labels anyway. I suppose all of this is really just what SykoGrafix means to me specifically. Perhaps the real question here is what does SykoGrafix mean to you?
And thus we've come full circle to that great paradox I was talking about. While the essence of SG is not caring about the attitudes, values, lifestyles, and opinions of the general populous, I do want to know what *you* think. I challenge and highly encourage everyone to contact me, sign the guestbook, and visit the message board. Make your proverbial voice heard, no matter what you have to say. Don't be a cookie. Talk to me.
So, with all of that out of the way, go look around and see where the Beautiful Digital Chaos takes you.
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About the Site Areas.
Home Page: Links to everything the site has to offer. The weblog in the middle updates independently of everything else. On the right side of your screen are various quick links to entries from the artwork and articles sections, usually brand new ones. The title images on the right and left of the very top of the screen appear randomly, and there are some on the right side that appear more frequently than others. See if you can spot the rare ones!
Latest Updates: Keep track of the newest stuff added to the site and other major updates.
What is SykoGrafix?: You're here already so you've probably figured out this much by now.
Artwork: Various drawings and paintings divided into 3 sections, then further organized by category or subject matter with older entires at the top and the newest additions at the bottom. Each piece of art is accompanied by a text explanation with information regarding how and when it was completed.
Articles: Potentially amusing things I wrote for whatever reason. Topics include anime, comics, toys, DVD reviews, video games, convention reports, making fun of stupid people, and so on.
Music: Listen to selected tunes on Ninja Radio while you surf. Contains music from movies, anime theme songs, Japanese rock and pop, and more. Updated periodically with new music.
Message Board: Sign up and talk to me as well as other folks from around the world. Discuss this website, talk about the stuff you like, post your artwork, whatever. Don't be shy, join in.
Webcam: A random picture updated every once in awhile for no reason in particular.
Who is Ninjatron?: A little bit about the man behind the madness, me.
Frequently Asked Questions: Answers to questions I either get asked a lot or don't really feel like responding to all the time, plus other stuff you should know. Please read it.
Contact: A really easy way to get ahold of me. So there's really no excuse not to.
Guestbook: Leave your feedback about this website and read what other folks have to say.
Mailing List: Enter your e-mail address to receive a newsletter every time SykoGrafix updates. That way you'll never miss a thing.
Links: A big collection of websites I like, plus webrings, links to other artists' sites, and buttons and banners to link to SykoGrafix.
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The SykoGirls.
Amber, Cyan, and Magenta are 3 characters I created, each named after the 3 process colours or the secondary colours of light. They don't really have any jobs right now, so I use them as the mascots for SykoGrafix. In addition to appearing in various pieces of artwork in the Originals gallery, they'll also appear throughout different sections of the site to guide you on your way and add some colour to the surroundings. Magenta likes to think of herself as the leader of the bunch. Cyan is the cynical one who doesn't talk much or smile very often. Amber is the bubbly, happy-go-lucky, and thus more annoying member of the team. They are already developing somewhat of a fan base. Maybe someday they'll be part of something bigger, but for now they seem happy being the eye candy around here. |
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The At-Skull
This is the SykoGrafix Logo. It's a combination of the traditional at-sign (@) found in e-mail addresses and a stylized skull design with a crack. It represents going against all that is boring and stuffy about the Internet and using it to make something dark and cool. You'll see this logo appear all over the place with many different variations. |
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