Smiles & Swords was originally Pret With Me, a fansite exclusive to Pretear.  As I added various other works and wanted to expand it, I had to change the name.  Well, I was planning on buying my own domain, but it wasn't worth it for such a small site and I have my wonderful friend PHH hosting it for me XD.  So Pretear domination is noticeable on the site.  It'll diminish as time goes by, but it'll always have a place in my fanart world.

I don't know when exactly I started a website, but I started with fanart first.  I had Photoshop 5.5 and learned some of the basics in my Infotech course back in high school.  It was interesting.

Here's the history of my art background/influence from earliest to most recent.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
I was in grade 1 and liked drawing this classic cartoon.  Those pics probably sucked back then, but people recognized the shapes and faces of turtles...

Sailor Moon
I'm guessing I was in grade 5, 1993?  Anyhow, there was a Sailor Moon craze amongst the young female population.  I can't remember much except I think Sailor Moon was the only thing I drew in Art class.  I stopped drawing 'anime' characters in grade 6 - 9 when my life was overtaken by math and science.

Pokemon
Eh...wha?  By God, my 'maturity' level was lower compared to everyone else in high school.  Grade 10 and I was a TCG player and avid fan of the series.  I only drew the pokemon.  Pikachu, Charmander and Eevee were favorites.  I won't even mention the pics in my locker or agenda XD...all I can say is that they were not of hollywood stars and boy pop bands.

Cardcaptor Sakura
A friend lent me the second half of the series (Star Cards), including the movie (Secret of the Sealed Card).  Grade 11 hit and I was still interested in 'cartoons'.  I drew a heck of a lot of CCS in G11.  Never scanned or coloured any of them except for this one Christmas assignment in Infotech class (hence the start of it all).  Need I say much more except it started my love for 4-eyed Bishounens (Yukito-kun!).  CLAMP is my greatest inspiration and probably the main reason why I'm still drawing.

Final Fantasy VII & VIII
Grade 12 and I played these games.  Needless to say, I crammed my homework just to play it.  Consisted mostly of sketches of Cloud, Aeris and Tifa (I should do Vincent ^^ sometime). For FF8, there were a few of Squall, Rinoa and Selfie.  Right now, I have little clue as to where any of these sketches are located.

Anime in General
Whatever I watched I sketched something.  This is in university where I should be keenly studying...especially in engineering.  First year engineering is where I 'reunited' with Piggyhoho.  We met sometime in early elementary school and she moved somewhere else.  Needless to say, we engaged into a very lively conversation in anime and manga.  I don't think I was a dedicated photoshop user yet, but that changed when she taught me.  I attempted to start a site with just some sketches only to have my comp die and lose everything.

Pretear
Second year university hit and I damn well nearly died (mentally and physically).  I rarely had the chance to photoshop and sketching anything was a priviledge.  Sometime near the end of second year, I was browsing online manga and I stumbled onto Pretear.  I vaguely recalled hearing it from PHH and decided to check it out.
Me being a fairytale freak (I like all the twisted variations out there), I literally fell in love at first sight after the first chapter of the manga.  I got the anime from someone and ordered the DVD boxset when it came out.  Hunted out the official ADV manga release too. 
It's still rather a mystery to many as to why this is my favourite series.  I could write an essay about why, but I won't.

Fate Stay/Night
Nothing like a female swordsman to grab my attention.  Especially one that actually dresses like one (fully body armor).  Saber was too cool--I had to draw her.

Gundam Wing
ZOMG.  Anime Legends released the boxset collection.  After watching it when I was 14, I finally own it at 21.  I loved the series back then, but I couldn't draw the kick@$$ looking mecha (Wing Zero Custom!) ToT.  I was a Quatre-centric back I was 14 and gave little thought to the 'romance' between Heero and Relena.  Now that I've somewhat matured...I enjoy the series even more now.  It has taken over the title of all time favourite anime away from Pretear.  I think about it now, I really want to draw Deathscythe and Heavy Arms Custom ^_^.

Back to Smiles&Swords.  I like to smile and the sword weapon.  It doesn't really mean anything except they sound kind of nice together ^_^.  S&S is my fansite for what I like.  Mind you the artwork does date back a few years back and not all the pics look nice.  I cringe at the thought of 'it looked good back then...' 

Art is something I enjoy.  And I'll share my works through Smiles&Swords.  Hope you'll find something you like.

~KeyQuis