tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52528249914887203212024-03-12T21:45:06.857-07:00GeminautPMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-87784975035770091182013-04-23T14:32:00.001-07:002013-04-23T14:32:32.040-07:00Rock the Horns this summer (and forever after...)Hey All,<br />
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Cross posted on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PaulMarquisIllustration?hc_location=stream" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, here is a new design I've put into my <a href="http://society6.com/PaulMarquisIllustration" target="_blank">Society 6 products page</a>. Variants include tshirts, skins, hoodies, even canvas bags. Rock these shirts at your summer music fest this year!<br />
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<img alt="Zombie Horns on Black - No Pick Art Print" src="http://a1.s6img.com/cdn/0013/p/4196607_16567129_b.jpg" /><br />
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<img alt="Zombie Horns TV parody edition - Red Art Print" src="http://a1.s6img.com/cdn/0013/p/4196254_10756522_b.jpg" /><br />
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See more here: <a href="http://society6.com/PaulMarquisIllustration">http://society6.com/PaulMarquisIllustration</a>PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-57313210702241644802013-04-20T15:29:00.002-07:002013-04-20T15:29:56.857-07:00Review of 'Oblivion': More than the sum of its Sci Fi parts...<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">So, I know many many of you have been asking what I thought of the new Tom Cruise movie 'Oblivion'. Ahem.</span></div>
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There's a large group of critics who really seemed to be disappointed by it, claiming it was nothing more than a sad pastiche of science fiction tropes, with a valiant effort by Cruise to hold them together. And that, with the exception of some neat plot turns, it wasn't worth seeing.</div>
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I agree with them.</div>
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On the part about Tom Cruise putting in a valiant effort, I agree wholeheartedly. On the other stuff, I have to disagree. Completely.</div>
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Many of my friends are well-read science fiction junkies, moreso than I am, probably. But even as I recognized many of the references and familiar science fiction themes in the film, I did enjoy them more than the sum of their parts, which unfortunately was not the case with those in more lofty internet thrones.</div>
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What is the sin in using ideas that have been used before? I know for a fact that the same ideas have been 'invented' over and over again at parties, writer's meetings, and late-night bars for decades; to say that it isn't possible for a familiar idea to be used again without it being 'stolen' is disingenuous at best, especially coming from those who would call themselves writers.</div>
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In fact, the only thing anyone can accuse 'Oblivion' of being is a little deliberately paced in the second act, which was noticeable but didn't affect the rest of the film for me.</div>
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One critic, at first dismissive of this film when walking out afterwards, woke up the next day to realize that while this film had its influences, it raised a lot of ideas that go beyond the film's running time. I'm only about an hour out of the theater myself, and I can already feel my imagination asking 'what if?' moreso now than when I'd walked out of, say, Prometheus (a film I enjoyed as well).</div>
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Yes, Oblivion wears its influences, but not on the sleeve. I'm sure this film will grow on people as time goes on, and I'm happy to have caught it today.</div>
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(by the way, be careful of reviews that list this film's influences; one film name told me exactly what to expect with regards to one character's origins. This is why I can't name the influences - why ruin it?)</div>
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Catch this movie in the theater if you can, and leave your cynicism behind.</div>
</span></span>PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-76827288878234216502013-03-29T17:35:00.000-07:002013-03-29T17:35:58.578-07:00Frank Kelly Freas: The Dean of Science Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvttm1MqkSYVxvNoguCvDxhul9BWDf9GSnOxDZ3vTndeHZtkg1wpMPjqlpzTdc5mEOh6gBJoD4fkck88WFYIuEIes7DWS9m7nHTSRflSunMxkoNbEsQztd_wXCd0DH1n11kVoiRNdbg/s1600/music-queen-news-of-the-world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvttm1MqkSYVxvNoguCvDxhul9BWDf9GSnOxDZ3vTndeHZtkg1wpMPjqlpzTdc5mEOh6gBJoD4fkck88WFYIuEIes7DWS9m7nHTSRflSunMxkoNbEsQztd_wXCd0DH1n11kVoiRNdbg/s400/music-queen-news-of-the-world.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="userContent">Today's Featured Artist is known as the Dean
of Science Fiction: Frank Kelly Freas (b. 1922 - d. 2004), his last name
pronounced 'Freeze', was probably the artist most beloved by SF fans,
and indeed his artwork is filled with the strong cur<span class="text_exposed_show">rent of heart and strangeness that envelops Science Fiction.<br /> <br />
Raised by two photographers in Canada (he was actually born in Hornell,
New York), Freas joined the United States Army Air Forces right out of
high school, and flew as camera man for recon in the South Pacific,
often taking the time to paint bomber noses during WWII. Afterwards, he
went to study at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, beginning his career
in advertising.<br /> <br /> His most notable work was done for Astounding
Science Fiction (later renamed Analog) under the eye of SF editing giant
John W. Campbell, and he went on to become a giant himself in the SF
publishing field, illustrating for over 50 years. Twice honored as a
Guest of Honor at the Worldcon (1982 and 2003), he often played with
different subjects and styles, and at one time even painted over 500
saints' portraits for the Franciscans while doing portraits of Alfred E.
Neuman for Mad magazine. <br /> <br /> He won the Hugo for best artist ten
times (nominated 20 times; after that many, he asked to be withdrawn
from future nominations to give other artists a chance) and had left an
indelible mark on the SF world decades before his passing in 2004.<br /> <br />
One of his most iconic images is used twice, first for Tom Godwin's
'The Gulf Between' and again, slightly altered, for Queen's album 'News
of the World'. At the top it is seen in its use for the latter.</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> Read much, much more about Frank Kelly Freas here: <a href="http://io9.com/5987723/why-kelly-freas-was-possibly-the-greatest-science-fiction-artist-who-ever-lived" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://io9.com/5987723/why-kelly-freas-was-possibly-the-greatest-science-fiction-artist-who-ever-lived</a></span></span><br />
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(cross posted on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulMarquisIllustration)</div>
<span class="userContent"><br /></span>PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-73082469265637096562013-03-12T19:50:00.004-07:002013-03-12T22:44:14.263-07:00ZILF Lives! (in all of us)A few years ago a good friend (<a href="http://mikecalahan.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Michael Calahan, his website is awesome)</a> who is a writer was passing some comedy article ideas past me (because I'm kind of a big deal, dontcha know) and one of them stood out for its potential for comedy stardom.<br />
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The idea of course was the ZILF. A Zombie of the MILF variety. Or flavor, if you will.<br />
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Too gruesome to pass up, these are some of the ideas we came up with.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BM2VgZFmNjhrNqkBifLwh5WmNkYgvy_NNY2iywTN7x50sOOaLWCsKkGM3GyFwml9FCfg9L4D9pRVGuT2Ekyb8jEGMJd9ICTn7eIPfR9o2RWunYnHCxglI-G8k_VOfXmgY0y1x904uw/s1600/audrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BM2VgZFmNjhrNqkBifLwh5WmNkYgvy_NNY2iywTN7x50sOOaLWCsKkGM3GyFwml9FCfg9L4D9pRVGuT2Ekyb8jEGMJd9ICTn7eIPfR9o2RWunYnHCxglI-G8k_VOfXmgY0y1x904uw/s640/audrey.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb26FHabBiM31p0nRcvjlUG2nu-0GDMZSm2cx98CJurNXG9FOtvxjWAEaCc86FTrQx6ErD-r38mISf5fo_qCZqrYOpM84jb3aHP4iFOz4H6zlx2yncid1CXkGTnoZVNJHqfM3wbwJBQ/s1600/dean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb26FHabBiM31p0nRcvjlUG2nu-0GDMZSm2cx98CJurNXG9FOtvxjWAEaCc86FTrQx6ErD-r38mISf5fo_qCZqrYOpM84jb3aHP4iFOz4H6zlx2yncid1CXkGTnoZVNJHqfM3wbwJBQ/s640/dean.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFDBwxBgsDwN140IMBf4u1jK626QBtaL9PZj9VrN-LG-PrjqAo6Ra3l8WIByCaSyT_QJKLmhAKNCUqQEKYD-oqJggeNVGHsBCLpVmO3ZgR8uygdLI7LVJ-OEFosjLnbwwMJZo54bkOQ/s1600/gentlemenzilfs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFDBwxBgsDwN140IMBf4u1jK626QBtaL9PZj9VrN-LG-PrjqAo6Ra3l8WIByCaSyT_QJKLmhAKNCUqQEKYD-oqJggeNVGHsBCLpVmO3ZgR8uygdLI7LVJ-OEFosjLnbwwMJZo54bkOQ/s640/gentlemenzilfs2.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfGKVpnIuYXon0aQjvIGjAnPr5x1sV3jlFTXrSgxI_H6SjHyGHOrwnwcVwIdvQcW25ryzBYoOsmTqs6NJJ2I5wO3vUvxuqbx6_Ktsva6W9cOCunOOwQV230KSyDcURpzladxflUFC8A/s1600/elvis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfGKVpnIuYXon0aQjvIGjAnPr5x1sV3jlFTXrSgxI_H6SjHyGHOrwnwcVwIdvQcW25ryzBYoOsmTqs6NJJ2I5wO3vUvxuqbx6_Ktsva6W9cOCunOOwQV230KSyDcURpzladxflUFC8A/s640/elvis.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3Az-hATB3S-diWzANeRQrRxOR86kSiqOgQcWJgs5feFH8tsb6aVhSiy3nrKhUiJ8kcuXvc3-69LkjgqlYBTJjaJIoAjq2c5m5SvYFv3mru6e_l7n-xSJkq7HQ1Vy6TCgk-PYaeD4PQ/s1600/marilynface2-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3Az-hATB3S-diWzANeRQrRxOR86kSiqOgQcWJgs5feFH8tsb6aVhSiy3nrKhUiJ8kcuXvc3-69LkjgqlYBTJjaJIoAjq2c5m5SvYFv3mru6e_l7n-xSJkq7HQ1Vy6TCgk-PYaeD4PQ/s640/marilynface2-b.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAf1Nw4x7qsoGTKJA9zD2aHcncd55wDjXHmBQcuxY4ZgxVTve2KOk5wYHpseDnipKt07mv2AxX2LwpnFFQwpwOSKTuY0HOKLhtqxLWIFtC2aNZ0Z22JJL1SvDNasF0UAg8sjBQy3X1g/s1600/marilyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAf1Nw4x7qsoGTKJA9zD2aHcncd55wDjXHmBQcuxY4ZgxVTve2KOk5wYHpseDnipKt07mv2AxX2LwpnFFQwpwOSKTuY0HOKLhtqxLWIFtC2aNZ0Z22JJL1SvDNasF0UAg8sjBQy3X1g/s640/marilyn.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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Here's the logo we put as the tag less label inside the collar:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbs1QULV8iGeMNMv46r3Mc5e7GII_6NCB12Ww81Hr92eIA3Z18DmkDtannDGdb_JE7Ae7vcp0bGYelsZJRcCtH5efzkRH1M43SabGEl4CN3c7COXUhZ2nGc0vPBP259QBI12fm9f92GA/s1600/logo-tight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbs1QULV8iGeMNMv46r3Mc5e7GII_6NCB12Ww81Hr92eIA3Z18DmkDtannDGdb_JE7Ae7vcp0bGYelsZJRcCtH5efzkRH1M43SabGEl4CN3c7COXUhZ2nGc0vPBP259QBI12fm9f92GA/s320/logo-tight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's the 'children's shirt' design:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1jRunuc1Btr9_6USAj3GRX-Ne51qeB-xC-zud9avYUSOSEDkU77PfEUPovPA6Qi2Y_41CZsruZXVhezp2mi1FLOBUDTglsahlC5UFQXK_qyEJwhoAj-Us7pHIHcA0KnB0OPSE9xsWw/s1600/barricades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1jRunuc1Btr9_6USAj3GRX-Ne51qeB-xC-zud9avYUSOSEDkU77PfEUPovPA6Qi2Y_41CZsruZXVhezp2mi1FLOBUDTglsahlC5UFQXK_qyEJwhoAj-Us7pHIHcA0KnB0OPSE9xsWw/s400/barricades.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's a shirt that never materialized:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gea8LeBixpEe9wAcXjJVUZ1Aila-9xXIumierM0zD61G9jInwqVaKAHkDq5kF2InEU_XjdyFpTz63IqxZdfLNbo5ndCwZUHYNe-9j4yuVGnSJVnT_7jEmwMY6TJxgjhQityigozk-Q/s1600/zilhouette-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gea8LeBixpEe9wAcXjJVUZ1Aila-9xXIumierM0zD61G9jInwqVaKAHkDq5kF2InEU_XjdyFpTz63IqxZdfLNbo5ndCwZUHYNe-9j4yuVGnSJVnT_7jEmwMY6TJxgjhQityigozk-Q/s400/zilhouette-b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And finally here's a one-off poster I threw together:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pA4dK6eKUIPgZOoGpnKIqAohcLsZOhKX9iFGYAwYysGyZMA0RinRSokxxwmPJliqJloiLBGeUcQ1RRXuM5RcgnULZ2-gs14aPYECng48t0aUXhyphenhyphen-MKCuWDOmtHwpknVphkhoXYn5ew/s1600/bab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pA4dK6eKUIPgZOoGpnKIqAohcLsZOhKX9iFGYAwYysGyZMA0RinRSokxxwmPJliqJloiLBGeUcQ1RRXuM5RcgnULZ2-gs14aPYECng48t0aUXhyphenhyphen-MKCuWDOmtHwpknVphkhoXYn5ew/s400/bab.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Oh, and did I mention? We made a website: <a href="http://www.zilfage.com/">http://www.zilfage.com</a><br />
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Enjoy!</div>
PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-43871747339724261542013-03-05T21:27:00.001-08:002013-03-05T21:27:09.918-08:00Three new piecesI've been away for a bit, but I've been productive. It's amazing how much doing a simple blog post every now and then takes out of your day.<br />
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Here are the three I've finished since early January:<br />
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Singularity (or Ghost):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFbbCSqdNE0uXaHQZkINFijACdgVwdcHB3hfSG5tq6B2oNZ96roxOsTZzh3B3VEnAh_UYHpOhf3W-hxq0R5yhTjewry5HJsTVLrQ8yVdZJXZdw4ot0lVhg7GwiXpnl5l5Qe-TR8Wl6w/s1600/spectrum-md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFbbCSqdNE0uXaHQZkINFijACdgVwdcHB3hfSG5tq6B2oNZ96roxOsTZzh3B3VEnAh_UYHpOhf3W-hxq0R5yhTjewry5HJsTVLrQ8yVdZJXZdw4ot0lVhg7GwiXpnl5l5Qe-TR8Wl6w/s1600/spectrum-md.jpg" /></a></div>
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Wait it Out:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMxO1eOwmFA3FUK4Dsp4XqxHseYnfL7ENbQyfZcoX9wU5JYuing-e1X89djc9oBQNH__A6iZGZtlf1JUaozcouW9xUi_PmIbGBVQg5QnPy32EfkpoWjlN8Bw3lvQBC16_IforCfm4Ag/s1600/waititout3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMxO1eOwmFA3FUK4Dsp4XqxHseYnfL7ENbQyfZcoX9wU5JYuing-e1X89djc9oBQNH__A6iZGZtlf1JUaozcouW9xUi_PmIbGBVQg5QnPy32EfkpoWjlN8Bw3lvQBC16_IforCfm4Ag/s1600/waititout3.jpg" /></a></div>
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And this one, Furnace:</div>
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Each piece is 4500 x 6000px, digital art ala Photoshop. They will be available on Etsy soon, stay tuned.</div>
<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-15930366419456326942013-02-15T11:13:00.003-08:002013-02-15T11:15:15.313-08:00Busy busy busy!I've been rawther busy lately, what with the illustration for my story, and the Winter Dragon challenge deadline coming up.<br />
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But I thought I'd throw this out to you, a sample of the work in progress:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyMPKIMjZEXn3n04Diri7Lj7d4jNelbIJGuR4D7ox2UUj84hOYFQM58NzCuLunOw-fP_VcF7b_ExTbvbAfhm0GTXBukq4yjrp8qWi0NYBF3gB7t32WOG2b7MmiKBZNsODdlrWDD46BA/s1600/noel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyMPKIMjZEXn3n04Diri7Lj7d4jNelbIJGuR4D7ox2UUj84hOYFQM58NzCuLunOw-fP_VcF7b_ExTbvbAfhm0GTXBukq4yjrp8qWi0NYBF3gB7t32WOG2b7MmiKBZNsODdlrWDD46BA/s400/noel.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
That's our friend Noel, seen below in the earlier post. Coming along!<br />
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Also, for those of you on Facebook, you can see daily posts from my page there, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PaulMarquisIllustration?fref=ts" target="_blank">Paul Marquis Illustration</a>. I have posts on master artists both new and old, highlights from my portfolio, and the occasional update on my new pieces.<br />
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Talk to you soon!PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-31657926522688825132013-02-01T13:28:00.005-08:002013-02-01T13:33:57.213-08:00Was this a good idea?I've done this before, starting a blog and then abandoning it. The fact is though, I want to be able to keep a good record of the early times, because of course I'm going to be famous!<br />
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But I kid. I think it's a good way of keeping me on track. Anyone watching this is gravy, I suppose, but dammit I LIKE gravy. :-)<br />
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Here's a screen shot of my latest reference for the new illo:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtAy0_5omHjr81PDq16FihGmyV8kbRWoWtkUt7jSgYQKi8NbdNT0seKFOYhyphenhypheniEMiw9cE3iitBEqVG5yTeYQPPDENU_Mj-paD7P_w3AoF9vb_tyOEr0owgs7ojuA5JXEF5ax4-x4A85Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-01+at+10.44.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtAy0_5omHjr81PDq16FihGmyV8kbRWoWtkUt7jSgYQKi8NbdNT0seKFOYhyphenhypheniEMiw9cE3iitBEqVG5yTeYQPPDENU_Mj-paD7P_w3AoF9vb_tyOEr0owgs7ojuA5JXEF5ax4-x4A85Q/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-02-01+at+10.44.58+AM.png" width="261" /></a></div>
That is my friend Noel, a local actor (and a very good one, at that). He wore a bow tie to the session and so therefore has turned my project into a potential Dr Who homage! Thanks Noel!<br />
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Here's another, just for fun:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IMIZt0ZCAhqUgEbaj7-r4py_G0RY0fUW0irfZQfVLJ6gTMIp8fEHhhsyS2_qZT3XfKL0H-729teGsFd24LGcRPUgAqCywVs8lA5WOD6BeY6X2DyDCkjbWBDpsfrgyV_ykXL-jLahLA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-01+at+11.13.27+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IMIZt0ZCAhqUgEbaj7-r4py_G0RY0fUW0irfZQfVLJ6gTMIp8fEHhhsyS2_qZT3XfKL0H-729teGsFd24LGcRPUgAqCywVs8lA5WOD6BeY6X2DyDCkjbWBDpsfrgyV_ykXL-jLahLA/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-02-01+at+11.13.27+AM.png" width="223" /></a></div>
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Some of you may notice the low resolution of the photos. I don't mind that, there is enough definition for me. These are, in fact, screen grabs from the HD video I shot of Noel doing various poses, faces and general hilarity. Yes, I'm using HD video because in the past my photos lack a quality of motion to them, they looked too tense and rigid. This way I'm able to allow my models to move naturally and I can always go through the video one frame at a time to find the exact moment I was looking for.</div>
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But don't you worry! I took some still photos as well, for the details. But now I can do the general pose using a video grab and fill in the details with the still photos. Win-win for me and the image.</div>
<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-388057159733734622013-01-26T22:50:00.003-08:002013-01-26T22:50:39.327-08:00Wow, I made it.Still alive after the past couple weeks. The amazing thing is, in logging my hours, I learned that the whole project took about 27-30 hours total. It just felt a lot longer, what with paid work sneaking in now and then.<br />
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I'm prepping a post about the how (including the final result) in a bit. But in the meantime, here's a little nugget of fun I put together on my first day off since I started this whole endeavor. See you soon!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZwRdf1M0gt9BK8Z5UdtVmhrCG6Ha7f0abMSrMUBLfrbdpdvgd9eKLIcxAw4EOwcke6dIljWSEO0lXbKmERnWCaY8S7jJcdA2QUpNFQKKdXvL4HdDhyo2CkXg925PlmcRdjF4hHFblw/s1600/peanuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZwRdf1M0gt9BK8Z5UdtVmhrCG6Ha7f0abMSrMUBLfrbdpdvgd9eKLIcxAw4EOwcke6dIljWSEO0lXbKmERnWCaY8S7jJcdA2QUpNFQKKdXvL4HdDhyo2CkXg925PlmcRdjF4hHFblw/s400/peanuts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-5328312529752265932013-01-22T19:59:00.002-08:002013-01-22T20:01:16.864-08:00Building a Cathedral to show a ruinThis past few days I've been relearning how to draw.<br />
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Not paint, but draw.<br />
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Most digital painting is really just drawing. Sure, you have color, tones, you can 'mix' colors and apply 'wet paint' etc, but in the end you are drawing. There are some guys out there who realize this, <a href="http://muddycolors.blogspot.com/2013/01/wizards-apprentice.html" target="_blank">like Justin Gerard here</a>, and begin a piece of work by painting the undertones and then digitizing the rest. And you know what, it still looks like a painting!<br />
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This past few days... yeah, I told you already. I'm loopy. I'm drawing EVERY. SINGLE. DETAIL. for me to later obliterate it for that 'naturalistic painting' effect. Eventually I'll get to that second step without the first step, but it's important to note that even Picasso had to draw photorealistically before he could know which corners to cut. I'm re-learning where the corners are this week.<br />
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Oak trees and chrome plating were invented to punish illustrators, I'm almost sure of it. No amount of photoshop brushes and layer effects will effectively fake a realistic oak trunk. Leaves, maybe. But not the trunk and branches. Same goes for chrome; try as you like, there is no function key for effective reflective surfaces. And I have both in my latest painting.<br />
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Anyhow, I'm loopy from the radiation coming out of my monitors, and all the staring. There WILL be a resolution, I assure you. The hard part is over, now is time for details, which is the bestest most funnest part of any painting, and I speak for the entirety of painterdom when I say that. Excepting the words that don't exist.<br />
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Sigh... Can you imagine all this WITH linseed oil and turpentine?PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-74885463992232388922013-01-20T19:27:00.000-08:002013-01-20T19:27:43.928-08:00Crunch week!This past week has been spent trying to finish an illustration to send to the Spectrum annual call for entries. Thus far I've been wrestling with moss, ferns, slacks, raincoats, rigid poses and brushes brushes brushes. It's amazing what you can learn when your back is against the wall.<br />
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At some point I'm going to have to post some progress shots, but honestly I'm too slammed to do it right now. I will have a full accounting of the whole horrid experience! ;-)PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-83588590592058916302013-01-15T17:02:00.000-08:002013-01-15T17:02:29.019-08:00The Lady or the Tiger, publication versionResearching online mags for story submissions, the rule seems to be that if you have an epub available for not-free, you can still submit to them for reprint status. As far as original work is concerned, if the story is available, anywhere, for free or pay, then it is published.<br />
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Good to know!<br />
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The plan now appears to be to send the story to a few online publications (not at the same time, of course) and those stories that fall through the cracks can be made available for free or not-free as an epub on ibookstore or amazon, etc. It's worth the wait to try for publications to buy it, for the exposure (not the money, max for a story seems to be around $350 or thereabouts).<br />
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On the art side, today I went to grab some reference shots for the illustration I'm working on (see thumbs below), it was good to see the great outdoors again. More updates soon!PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-31830276407026272892013-01-13T09:53:00.001-08:002013-01-13T09:53:26.153-08:00Find your posse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning I'm off to a writing group I've been a part of for a few years now (really? Wow, time flies) and we're all starting to move on from what we're doing to do to HOW we're going to deliver it to the world at large. One of us has a novel, one of us has a graphic novel, and I have my collection. For the latter two of us, we're thinking epublishing is the way to go, at least until a large enough following has been built to warrant a printing. Our novelist is on his way (in the other's eyes) to getting his novel noticed by a large publishing house, just have to see how it works for them.<br />
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But the thing is, even though there were stretches of several months in between meetings for a bit there, we always tried to produce for each other, to show progress. Like having a workout buddy, it helps to be held accountable to some type of deadline, and nobody does that better than your peers. Go find a writer's group that matches your genre. If you can't find one, start one up. Facebook, Twitter, Craigslist; go gather your posse.PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-39636349192380012042013-01-11T09:34:00.000-08:002013-01-11T09:35:44.850-08:00'Enhanced' thumbnailsToday's post is a look at some of the thumbnails shown previously, all grown up. They aren't pencils, per se, but they are rather thumbnails developed within an inch of their lives.<br />
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I wanted to see what my favorite little scribbles would bring once I added lighting and a little more thought into the composition. What I found was that while I enjoyed some more than others, sometimes there are roadblocks that don't come into view until after you've done a little development and exploration. A couple of my favorites in the group just fell apart when the light of day (no pun intended) was brought in. This is going to help me immensely when the time comes to put this baby together.<br />
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Also, it is kind of fun to look at as a whole, in a storyboard kind of way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMdsQHJEhvSRsr_AnkqWxFEEOMsgk7lx50hEtu4hRR89-UAp8dn6ldFlAQn6Ybx2eQlMlyNUlbEs6QeQ0SqhyIrcgNVnJz8CZNOb3N4hPpi2wfHQpQ-4SYeDHnMUeHdlXU32pIJeU0g/s1600/thumbs_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMdsQHJEhvSRsr_AnkqWxFEEOMsgk7lx50hEtu4hRR89-UAp8dn6ldFlAQn6Ybx2eQlMlyNUlbEs6QeQ0SqhyIrcgNVnJz8CZNOb3N4hPpi2wfHQpQ-4SYeDHnMUeHdlXU32pIJeU0g/s400/thumbs_sm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-55140134877812357822013-01-09T22:15:00.001-08:002013-01-09T22:15:06.386-08:00This week I'm all thumbsIn school at SJSU I was required to produce a couple hundred thumbnails for each new piece. Here is 100 give or take, and it took me at least five hours to do. I'm definitely out of shape.<br />
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BUT the piece is shaping up nicely. I already have several from here I'm going to want to elaborate on, and ideas from others that will fold nicely into the best ones.<br />
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Onward and upward!<br />
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<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-41637092750205172072013-01-08T11:14:00.001-08:002013-01-08T11:22:03.259-08:00Switch Hitting for your VisionOne of the most dangerous things for a writer / illustrator who is going to be releasing a product that includes both of their talents is the inevitable comparison of one to the other.<br />
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"I liked his artwork, he's a much better artist than a writer; he should just stick with that."<br />
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"While I enjoyed his story, the illustrations were amateurish and better left to a professional."<br />
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Etc, etc.<br />
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If my releases do produce such criticism, I'll be happy. I'd be even happier if it produced conflicting criticism like above, as that would mean I'm doing both right.<br />
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But if it is one-sided, what can you do? All I can imagine is that you take the criticism with a grain of salt, like all artists should, and continue on your merry way. There really isn't any way around the opinions of others, you just have to make the choice on whose advice you're going to listen to, if anyone's.<br />
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Last night I finished my first story to the point that I'd be ready for the public to view it, but I'm still going to send it to an editor before I finalize it for release. Those oxford commas aren't going to just correct themselves, you know.PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-23013952967690564152013-01-06T22:43:00.003-08:002013-01-06T22:44:22.224-08:00Prepping the thumbnailsIn putting together a piece for the Spectrum Annual competition (<a href="http://geminaut.blogspot.com/2013/01/spectrum-call-for-entries.html" target="_blank">see here</a>), I'm postponing my Drawing a Day for the next couple weeks (and the foreseeable future, if I continue to do new pieces).<br />
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This evening I sat down to throw some thumbnail sketches together. Eventually I want to have a couple hundred, but for this first round I didn't even know what I wanted to focus on for the story I'm illustrating (also one of my own), so I noodled a bit. I did know what I didn't want, though, so I had to walk the knife's edge between internally editing my thought process (bad) and putting down ink just for the sake of putting down ink (also bad).<br />
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Anyhow, these are prudently shrunken thumbs to prove I've been working, haha. More tomorrow!<br />
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<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-37826678251232842422013-01-05T11:32:00.002-08:002013-01-05T11:32:36.229-08:00SPECTRUM Call for EntriesHere is a reminder that the great Science Fiction and Fantasy Art Annual SPECTRUM has a Call for Entries due January 25th. I believe I'll be postponing my Drawing-A-Day in exchange for doing a piece for the competition. I'll be posting progress reports on the piece here daily.<br />
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Here's the link: <a href="http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/entry_info.php">http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/entry_info.php</a><br />
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<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-32807075639966763182013-01-04T12:07:00.000-08:002013-01-04T12:07:05.824-08:00Cartoons are drawings too!I've been clogging up the Drawing a Day with more developed pics, but this is just bare bones drawing here. Almost all are from random photos on the web. Sometimes it's easier to do that than to explain to the person at Starbucks why you were making fun of their nose in your sketchbook.<br />
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<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-6088798317426625802013-01-03T15:46:00.002-08:002013-01-03T15:46:42.306-08:00Newest drawing of the day AND SPECIAL BONUS Article that says what I tried to say.<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's today's drawing (which was actually yesterday's... the real world keeps creeping in), one of Larry Niven's Kzin war cats. Lesson from this excursion: Always have reference available when you need it. In this case, the gun is woefully inadequate and looks like something not-gunnish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XpRTycqw_9LL_kBtfQFxTsPdoBNjwx5aKEa8KNFUn7eojqkWgi937GMvKbC0L7rgzlLUrpLio3uJFiBCroRgZQQ_pd0aIwwRqgWydUMxFESGREFq2L3C2aKTDQcGdNyPCdyIZFkhDQ/s1600/tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XpRTycqw_9LL_kBtfQFxTsPdoBNjwx5aKEa8KNFUn7eojqkWgi937GMvKbC0L7rgzlLUrpLio3uJFiBCroRgZQQ_pd0aIwwRqgWydUMxFESGREFq2L3C2aKTDQcGdNyPCdyIZFkhDQ/s400/tiger.jpg" width="322" /></a></div>
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More importantly, a friend of mine pointed me to this great article by illustrator John Hendrix. <a href="http://johnhendrix.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-find-your-voice.html" target="_blank">How to Find Your Voice</a>: </div>
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<i><b>1. Learn to solve problems on your terms: </b></i></blockquote>
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<i>Illustrators and commercial artists often make the mistake of being too good at solving the problem. Meaning they let the limitations of the project overly influence how they solve the problem. When I give my student's an assignment I always tell them the same thing."At any point in this assignment, if you are unhappy with what you are drawing, it is your fault. Not mine." Illustrators, not art directors, are in charge of designing content that they will love to create. You can start simply: make a list of things you like drawing. My list looks something like this...<br />Bridges collapsing</i></blockquote>
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<i>Foxes having tea </i></blockquote>
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<i>Goofy hats and beards </i></blockquote>
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<i>Ray guns </i></blockquote>
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<i>Cute robots </i></blockquote>
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<i>Ugly robots </i></blockquote>
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<i>Boats sinking </i></blockquote>
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<i>WW I gear </i></blockquote>
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<i>Animals with swords </i></blockquote>
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<i>Magic fish </i></blockquote>
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<i>Unmanicured trees </i></blockquote>
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<i>Holy things </i></blockquote>
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<i>Old presidents and kings </i></blockquote>
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<i>19th Century misunderstood abolitionists </i></blockquote>
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<i>on and on... </i></blockquote>
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<i>Make a list that has 100 things on it- and pin it up in your studio. Make a habit of inserting these subjects into your drawings and, even better, into your illustration solutions. Learning to solve a project in a world that you enjoy is a huge part of finding your voice. The reason why is so simple it almost escapes notice: When we make things we enjoy, our work gets better.</i></blockquote>
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Read the rest at the link. It is well worth it.<br />
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PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-33134812998180009652013-01-02T00:18:00.000-08:002013-01-02T00:18:10.830-08:00Happy New Year!This year is going to be big. Colossal, even.<br />
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Inspired by this year's huge film, Pacific Rim, I thought that it'd be nice to see one of those Jaegers a little lost. Where's that ocean, now?<br />
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This was a speed drawing, done in about 90 minutes. What I'm learning from this is that I really really need to observe more machinery because I don't know squat about details.<br />
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Oh, and don't be afraid to use non-conventional colors for sky and other objects. Local color can sometimes flatten or sap interest from a piece.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQURq2vwog9cm4BiX6OnTx7Gn9rRztmoHJS3JvJXsA2IefSuJxHyqlO-zA8uz7iMkZfR-H2TVtZvLoHB2H134IL4dK66VPamf5amGCJfdS8l4bMYHRCVXxfeJbfPkSyD2z2Qqa3MqtLQ/s1600/bot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQURq2vwog9cm4BiX6OnTx7Gn9rRztmoHJS3JvJXsA2IefSuJxHyqlO-zA8uz7iMkZfR-H2TVtZvLoHB2H134IL4dK66VPamf5amGCJfdS8l4bMYHRCVXxfeJbfPkSyD2z2Qqa3MqtLQ/s400/bot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-12262247556117820232012-12-30T22:57:00.000-08:002012-12-30T22:57:12.394-08:00Goblins for the breakI don't know what these guys are saying to each other, but I don't think the guy in the back cares much about anything.<br />
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No color, in fact this was just about 50 mins of blissful carefree doodling. Sometimes you need a break for a palette cleanser.<br />
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<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-56783626483579963502012-12-30T18:42:00.002-08:002012-12-30T18:42:42.999-08:00Now with colorTaken to a more dedicated color comp level. I'm hesitant to continue for fear of tying myself down with one image rather than exploring with many others. Maybe I'll return to it soon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIQrlpOWQESmZseqYcqJSnCD0bktsGGsSwl8p8vuR_ripkkx5yyXIIoD2tsYweZD70QOSdsPLE2NDva4YRUbwUN2315VOS1x63pJwX5O1EQtWiIjBnzGHRwMg54ZT1FkG4tL-a65N9g/s1600/fantasy2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIQrlpOWQESmZseqYcqJSnCD0bktsGGsSwl8p8vuR_ripkkx5yyXIIoD2tsYweZD70QOSdsPLE2NDva4YRUbwUN2315VOS1x63pJwX5O1EQtWiIjBnzGHRwMg54ZT1FkG4tL-a65N9g/s640/fantasy2a.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-10653514450236791452012-12-29T13:59:00.001-08:002012-12-29T13:59:26.365-08:00Last night's DrawingWhile nowhere near the level of finish one should have to begin a painting with, I'm going to be using this to do a color comp later today. I like the feel of this, want to see what I can do with it.<br />
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Inspiration was from the film 'The Name of the Rose' which was playing as I was tinkering in Photoshop.<br />
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<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-31343707146133839342012-12-28T14:52:00.003-08:002012-12-28T14:52:53.037-08:00A short note on finding the handle on a pieceSometimes the hardest thing in creating a piece is in finding your love for it. Are you working on something that you couldn't care less about? Is it a personal project that you just can't seem to find the love for.<br />
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If you are, take a step back. What was it about this piece that made you start it in the first place? Was it an assignment from a client? If so, why did they ask you? Was it something about your ability that made them choose you? You need to remember why they asked you, why they felt you had that something the others didn't. If it was purely financial that they went with you, then move on to the next step...<br />
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What is it about drawing / writing that excites you? Is it the creation, the craft? Is it the final image that you get to show others and feel proud of? Is it the learning aspect, the chance to be exposed to new challenges that take you further up the ladder?<br />
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Take that excitement, that carrot, and PUT that BACK in your piece, because you have lost it for some reason. If you are drawing a car, and your favorite part is the craft, and you are using a method that abbreviates that part of the process, stop immediately and go back and start looking for the way to put that back in. Take note of what tools you are using, how you are using them. Are you bored? What extra flourish can you add to the task that would make it more exciting?<br />
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If you are drawing a portrait, try remembering who that person is. If you don't know anything about them, try adding a story to their life that is 100% fake but interesting enough to add some spice to your project. Make it exciting, or creepy, or raunchy, or just downright silly, but ADD a story and find that carrot again.<br />
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If you are writing an article about something boring, stop for a bit and ask questions from the standpoint of the reader; what would they really like to know about the subject? What kind of a person would be interested in this subject? Why? How can you make the article so completely shine in their eyes that their mind explodes? Dig a little deeper, and you might find a way out of the swamp.<br />
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None of these are for everyone; the point is to explore your motivations and your skill set for the right answer to boring assignments. You might have to change how you see the piece before you can find the way to love it again.PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252824991488720321.post-80469473839660888742012-12-27T23:12:00.003-08:002012-12-27T23:12:58.554-08:00A little world-buildingOy vay, this was a learning experience.<br />
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Next time, I'm going to remember to find ways to make abbreviating forms work for me. You don't have to draw every inch, every window. There are lots of tutorials, lots of books to see just how little they need to fool you into thinking you're seeing a city. Hell, I have oodles of art books with this kind of work in it.<br />
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Also, find some great brushes for decay and destruction; that can help age a new city up real quick.<br />
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Here's tonight experiment. See you tomorrow!<br />
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<br />PMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810881819814989093noreply@blogger.com0