01.31.08
Festivus time
Been busy with other endeavors, but also have been keeping an eye on ‘Sovereignty’ - if you just so happen to be in CA the end of February, do check it out:
http://www.laurelfilmsinc.com/
01.29.08
Keeping fingers crossed
So I’m waiting to hear about a gig I saw on Craigslist - a graphic novel job. After seeing the phenomenal success of ‘Sin City’, I’m all for trying my hand at this venue. Especially when they asked for something ‘dark & gothic’.
So, after sending them the link for my Illustration portfolio, they sent back that they liked what they saw and wanted a sample page to see how I interpret their story.
I whipped up a few panels, sent it to them and now I wait to hear what they think…
I hate waiting…
01.27.08
Yeah, but is it subliminal?
So, at the day job, I was fueled by too much coffee and after a few hours, had to hit the lil’ wranglers room with a vengeance. As I was relieving some hydraulic pressure I had damn little to occupy my thoughts and the only thing really in the stall with me was one of those ’sanitary seat cover’ dispensers.
Now mind you, this was an epic piss - much along the lines of when Austin Powers was thawed out - so as I am waiting and waiting I was looking at the logo for said dispenser:
Of course, I got a chuckle out of the fact that they used the word, ‘Ass’ in it - as that is precisely what makes contact with their product - but as I stared at the logo something hit me.
I was compelled to bring a camera the very next day and shoot the logo to confirm my suspicions.
After I uploaded the pic to my computer I fired up photoshop and did some carefully erasing and found out I was right - they carefully hid an ass in their logo:
Think it was intentional?
01.24.08
Illustrating my Point
So, I’m trying to devise a way of separating the blog from the ‘bad ol days’ of tomcat forays at the pub, cussing like a sailor and grousing about being slave wage - from the newer slicker and more professional blog of artistic exploration and noble pursuits of a career in art and indie filmmaking.
@E%$!#!@ %@ !#$@^%!#$!!!!!!!
Anyway - if anyone knows how to make an archive in a Wordpress blog without having to code a ton of PHP (or code anything for that matter) do let me know. Otherwise I’m just gonna delete stuff from the bad old days. And have a beer. Or twelve.
I got an email - a response to a Craigslist ad I saw looking for an illustrator for a graphic novel. Its always tough to pursue these kinds of jobs, because more often than not, the person hiring the illustrator will either flake, or waffle on payment or sometimes flat out not pay at all. While its rare that people who do such practices go on to illustrious careers - it does happen.
A word of advice: Pay the artist. I could totally soapbox it right here and say that our current lack of decent television (a remake of ‘American Gladiator’, hello??) stems from the writers strike - but then again, this is the closest I’ve seen people ever get to shutting off the tv and actually going out and doing stuff…
Anyway - back to me grousing about ripoffs. My last gig like this was for a magazine that wanted a monthly comic strip based on a short story they had - I did a couple of pages, with the expectation of seeing my stuff in print and $50. Well, that was the last anyone heard of them, they disappeared like cockroaches caught in the light. And they still have my artwork.
Bastards.
01.22.08
Wrapping up
As always - I find it hard to finish things - usually its one last imperfection that I resist, hey the journey is the destination, right?
But - in order to move, grow and better oneself, it is necessary to push. To finish, to wrap up and begin anew. I needed to finish this portrait of Shannon the Baker, so I might focus on the next one: a commission from Sara, the girl I re-did an old painting for.
I have one more pose from this series that I’d like to paint - as well as many a photo of this lovely lady, and the only way I can get to them is to finish this one. I think I’m there.
01.21.08
Weekly Texture Map
Today’s offering: Ubiquitous
Dictionary.com defines ubiquitous as:
‘Being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time’ - Todays offering is the quintessential New York texture map. It is everywhere. If you have any mid-range business or deli it is mandatory that this metal exterior is put up.
As always, click on the thumbnail below, then right-click the large version to save it.
The Hunt Is ON
Since my time is waning here in the ol’ City - I’ve been looking at jobs in the Midwest…
It ain’t as easy as it looks. Does ANY of this get easier with age? You’d think that the plethora of jobs I’ve done - I should be an old pro at writing the ol’ resume…
In thinking about it - I have been, at one point or another:
A slave in a pizza shop on the boardwalk of Atlantic City
A dough slinging jockey in a donut shop
A dishwasher in a seafood restaurant
A telephone operator in a casino
A reservation agent in another casino
A sales rep in the same casino
A sales clerk in an art supply store
A construction worker
A temp at a medical magazine
A photo retoucher for a newspaper
A photo editor for a newspaper
A photo editor for a wire service
And these are just the big ones, there are far more that I did for a short amount of time - like my 1st year at collage, how I tried to be a telemarketer (ok, I did surveys; NOT SALES - so I didn’t sway totally towards the dark side!) - All these things, which make up the majority of how I’ve paid my bills, kept myself fed - they’re certainly not the most elegant of C.V.’s out there. But then again, there are far too many people on the planet who still have the job they got as a very young person - and that is all they do for their entire lives.
Think about that for a moment… You’re 13. You just wanna go play with yer buds in the woods and some stern faced adult say you have to plug these metal plates with a rivet. Here is the machine to do it. Its heavy. Its hot. You don’t want to do this. But the elders tell you its your job. You don’t want to let them down - so you do it. Day in - Day out.
Next thing you know - 20 years have passed. You’ve done a lot of rivets, gotten yer share of scars. But you still keep plugging away - waiting for that moment you can put down the machine, and finally get back to playing with your friend in the woods… But it will never happen, you do your job - because that is what is expected of you - you do it until you’re too old, and then you die.
I think I’m very grateful for being born into a society where I have at least a small amount of choice in dictating where I am heading, and that the people in my life are willing to help me get where I’m going…
01.18.08
I know, I know!
Haven’t been keeping up here!
With good cause - I’ve got a job - preserving the wealth of human knowledge for future generations to use.
It fits in with my ideals, and I’m sure you’d approve.
More this weekend…
01.11.08
Damn
Looks like the one thing I swore NEVER to do again…
I hate to admit it…
I’m going back to work. Monday.
Nothing as corporate minded as what I’ve done in the past - but still, its a job - with a boss, and regular hours.
Looks like the vacation is over kids…
In the meantime; I’ve got a handful of small projects for Laurel Films, a bit of voiceover work for the Powers Studios and paintings to wrap up. I also got a very creative letter from Ninjascott, detailing his 2007 and the adventures he had last year. Have to admit, the man is funny and wildly creative. Maybe I can do something in the same vein - comic book style.
Also - must catch up with The Director - looks like ‘Sovereignty’ got into the Cinequest Film Festival - the first of many, no doubt.
