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I just had to post the wonderful news!! Will is home!!! We received news they were awaiting flights home (providing sandstorm free weather) and would arrive in the U.S. this week. Monday they landed on American soil, and yesterday evening we joyfully held him!!!! His very pregnant wife (with their first) quickly was in his arms!! and is probably still there as I write this! I have said this before, but each time I say farewell to a loved one, I have come to this conclusion: To me, Heaven need be nothing more than being with those you love, and never having to bid those goodbyes. My heart just wasn't designed for them.
Toronto artist Craig D. Adams goes by the name Superbrothers. His portfolio has plenty of impressive 3D game art, but it’s his unique take on pixel art that I find interesting.
The illustrated covers for the O’Reilly series of books on software and technology are so iconic that the series is often referred to simply as “the animal books”. You can read about the history of the books’ branding over at O’Reilly’s site, and discover that many of them are illustrated by Lorrie LeJeune, an employee first hired to do corporate sales.
(Thanks, Eva!)
0 Comments on The Making of an O’Reilly Animal as of 5/2/2008 1:45:00 PM
Hi Alicia...cool film...you're so right about the scenery and mood...
Hope you're feeling better today!
Tom Barrett said, on 5/2/2008 12:00:00 PM
Nice. Reminds me of the other short animation you had up previously.
roz said, on 5/2/2008 12:52:00 PM
Ali, you probably won this already but I'm awarding you with the pico award for your inspiring blog. Please check out mine for details. xoxoxo
lil kim said, on 5/2/2008 6:56:00 PM
wow, wonderful Ali - truly beautiful, dark, heartwarming, chilling, inspiring, uplifting.... I'm ready to start my creative day now, thank you :)
Alicia Padrón said, on 5/2/2008 8:25:00 PM
Thanks Diana!
Yes, Tom, it reminded me too of that film. What is it with people going off ways on little boats to die... I'm not getting into any little boat if I bump into one! Seriously though, it is so beautifully illustrated I had to show you guys.
Rozzie Roz!!! Thank you!! I'm so happy... I'll post about soon :o)
Hi sweet Kim, I'm glad you feel like a great start for the day :o)
Cindy DiBlasi said, on 5/5/2008 3:25:00 PM
Wow, that was beautiful. It really touched me. . . I haven't mentioned in my blog but I lost my Father just about a year ago and my Mother is terminally ill. Both from lung cancer. That animation has a special place in my heart.
Alicia Padrón said, on 5/6/2008 5:51:00 PM
Oh Cindy, I'm so sorry to hear that... really. Cancer is very tough on both the people that are ill and the loved ones around them. I hope the best for your mom. The movie is very beautiful indeed, I do think it does work out that way, love ones come to pick us up :o)
Oh Alicia! This was wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful little film! I loved it! That was so cool when all the birds came, the effect was marvelous. I agree, the lighting, the sounds were really well done!
From my travel journal(April 11,2008) I'm sitting in a coffee shop next to the Boudler Book Store. Most of you will know what that is and where it is, but if you don't I will tell you where first- Boudler, Colorado- a mecca for those free thinking, insanely rich, environmental movers and shakers- who also like to be within a minutes run up into some of the most awe inspiring mountains on God's green earth, guarded by the Flat Irons- red rock formations nestled in green foothills that resemble several irons- like the kind you iron clothes with- you want to see them go to www.moonflowerstudio.biz/gogreen and you can see them in the back of the illustration. Boulder is the home of the affuinate Colorado University, where student live out the hippie life ( now called granolas) with their parents trust funds- it is also one of the top environmental schools in the country. I was born in Boulder, but grew up about an hour away in a more conservative community- but Boulder influenced my soul, so I love to come back to it as often as possible and wander the streets and watch the people. And so here I sit, at a coffee cafe on the Pearl Street Mall, a walking only section of the old downtown, where musicians, mix with Yuppies and Granolas, CU students and Society People and the Homeless and as a Cornerstone in the Northwest corner is the Boulder Bookstore, the antithesis of the Starbucks-es yes I am making that plural on purpose. Where nothing matches, not the mugs, the plates or the chairs. Where a sign hangs reminding everyone to make a new friend by sharing your table during their busy times or let someone else use your table when you are done eating, and states the Golden rule, "to remember that next time it might by you who is in need of a little kindness." And as I come in this lovely coffee shop there is a homeless man, with the bluest eyes in a weather worn face,covered mostly with a scraggle beard and a head of black thick hair under a blue knit cap and for whatever reason, he finds it necessary to raise his hand expressively in the air every few moments and snap, sometimes once, with several seconds or minutes in between, sometimes he snaps several times in a row. He is not getting in anyone's face, he is not acting agressive to anyone and obviously the owners of the coffee shop have an understanding with him and have no desire to tell him to leave. I have no problem with him either and didn't turn on my heels and head back out the door when he made his first chorus of snapping. I did debate using the open honey container, and wondered if that was wise, since he was the person fixing his coffee at the counter before me, but hey, I really like my tea with honey so I took my chances. I think in his mind he is protecting us, he has a very soft mannerism about him, has not said one word and somehow I think he thinks he is warding off evil from this corner of the Pearl Street Mall. I have seen other homeless people behave in a way they are protecting themselves, shooing imaginary things away, this is not what he is doing, he is protecting this spot, that for whatever reason is special to him and because I am sitting here, in his zone he is responsible for, he is protecting me! Now he is outside, and must have decided that the evil is coming from all sides and is walking the prerimiter and shooing things away. And this morning, because I sm dealing with a situation beyond my control, that I have no other choice but to just wait and see how it will play out, that made me lay awake most of the night, and pour out tears and this morning has given me a sunken heart about- I actually would love to jump up and start snapping away the evil spirits with him, or a least ask him if he would do some extra snapping around me cause frankly I need it this morning- a really big dose of snapping and protection from evil spirits that will rip apart my tender soul. But then I look up at the sign asking people to please treat others, in offering a table- the way you would want to be treated and I remember who authored that- who said that first- who is the creator of the idea, to be kind to others because you don't know when you will be on the recieving end of the kindness. Jesus- who is always walking my perimeter and not snapping the evil spirits away, but declaring in the power of God that I am His and any "evil-ness" that tries to hurt me and discourage me will be answering to Him. That if I have any thing in me, any sin in me, He will be taking care of it and He is the only one that can change me-and bottom line is- He thinks I'm pretty okay right now, dare I saw great, that He loves me as one of his children eveb though He sees my flaws. So even though I would really like to jump up and joining my homeless friend, do a little snapping of my own to ward off those evil spirits, in reality, I don't have to because my perimeter is covered, the Lord of the Universe loves me, owns me, protects me and is constantly walking my perimeter and watching over me.
0 Comments on Thankfully-my perimeter is covered! as of 1/1/1900
I'm doing another trunk show at the workroom (in Toronto, 1340 Queen St. West, 12-5pm) this Sunday. It's a craft sale where everyone shows their wares in a suitcase. One new thing I've made for this show is a messenger bag with barkcloth on the flap. If I have any extra time I may try to finish a couple of needle books. And I have to tell you, my craft "studio" was featured on Apartment Therapy! I was thrilled because I am a big fan of that site. I find it particularly inspiring because of the focus on small space decor, something I'm always working on. The quotes got lost in translation, so just a reminder I haven't suddenly acquired a craft's studio.. it's still the same front room that has our living room stuff (couch, tv) our dining room table and chairs, all the crafts storage and my two secretary desks with more crafts storage in one and all my illustration supplies in the other. And two rambunctious but lovable sock monkeys.
0 Comments on Workroom trunk sale as of 5/2/2008 1:47:00 PM
Ok, I know what you must be thinking... What's this??? Right?
Well believe or not I can always see more clearly when I squint. He, he.. I know.. that doen's make any sense.. but it does actually.
See, what happens is when you squint, you are able to focus more on 2 really important elements of an illustration.
1. Balance in a composition
2. Balance in color
Something kind of magical happens when I squint that all the distraction fades away and I am able to see more clearly those important elements.
So if you see me working, you'll see me squinting every now and then. Ha! Ha.. I even squint while putting all the lights on the christmas tree! Makes those little white lights pop and I can make it all nice and balanced :o)
Go ahead, try it for yourself and see....
5 Comments on Now, I see clearly, last added: 5/5/2008
Me, too. Ever see "Little Big Man" with Dustin Hoffman? I always think of him when I do the squint thing.
P.S. I love your blog!
Alicia Padrón said, on 5/2/2008 8:10:00 PM
Hi Dallan! No haven't seen that movie, must check it out though. I love Dustin Hoffman, such a great actor. I'm glad you are like me.. a squinter :o)
Thanks for visiting us!
roz said, on 5/3/2008 10:06:00 AM
I'm going to have to try that!
patrice said, on 5/5/2008 9:09:00 AM
Great tip, Alicia! Thanks!
Alicia Padrón said, on 5/5/2008 9:38:00 AM
Yes Roz, try it, you'll see. My husband makes fun of me... he says I put up this funny face when I work. :o)
Your welcome Patty :o)
Kathy Weller said, on 5/5/2008 6:34:00 PM
This is so cool -- GREAT POST!!! You so rarely hear about this but you are so right.
My first design teacher taught us to squint as a creative tool. She said "See my wrinkles?? If you're an artist, you're going to have these too whether you like it or not, because you have to SQUINT!". Paraphrasing there, but you understand!! She was BIG on squinting :) She was also a very tough teacher, so I knew she wasn't joking around. ;) Now, I squint all the time.
Alicia Padrón said, on 5/6/2008 8:29:00 PM
Hi Kathy!! I'm so glad you are also a squinter!! He, he... :o)
We are not alone then! Loved your story of your teachers.. There is always that special teacher that really gets to us, and we seem to always remember what they used to say. I had some myself.
It's been quite a while since my last post to this hallowed hall of illustration luminaries, so I thought I'd share a few bits and pieces of mine from the new Know magazine that hits the stands this week. Above and ( in detail ) below you'll see the cover for this issue's Robot theme. This came together fairly quickly so I don't think it turned out too bad. Combination of gouache ( the blue background ) and Photoshop colouring.
Next up are a couple of details ( sorry, you'll have to pick up a copy to see the whole thing! ) from the regular puzzles and fun feature that I write and illustrate, "Know Fun". I went with a orange / yellow colour scheme on this one. The clients weren't incredibly happy but I think it worked. That's all for Know ( I mean now! )
8 Comments on Robots, Robots, Robots!, last added: 5/6/2008
Happy Friday to all, hope you had a productive week.
1.
We found out a couple of weeks ago that we will be moving in October. The military is sending us to New Mexico. Can you believe we will be living minutes away from my parents?? This is wonderful! Of all the places that we could have been sent...
2.
I'm nervous and excited. The client I'm working for right now really likes the digital felt style and wants me to use it for this current project. Yes! I will be buying an external hard drive this weekend for extra back up.
3.
Spongebob is still my fave-rave but Amy Poehler's, Mighty B is running a close second.
4.
I want David Cook to win. Jason, honey, you need to step it up.
5.
Thank youKathyfor the honor of the pico award. You are so sweet! My turn to pay it forward.
Rules: 1) Pick 5 blogs that you feel are deserving of this award based on their creativity, design, interesting material and their contribution to the blogging community, no matter what language. 2) For each award giver, include the name and the link to the blogger so they can be visited. 3) Include the names of the recipients and a link to their blogs so they can be visited. 4) For both giver and receiver, show the link http://studiololo.blogspot.com/ (Studio Lolo) 5) Publish these rules
Most intriguing! trypanocorax just e-mailed to say there's an in-depth discussion of the upcoming DFC, or David Fickling Comic, on today's BBC Radio 4 'You and Yours' programme. (Listen Again here to the Friday broadcast, between the 14.30 and 27 minute markers.) Includes interviews with Philip Pullman, publisher David Fickling and comics artist John Aggs.
I also notice the DFC have posted some sneak preview strips. Garen Ewing also has a few words to say about it. Don't for one moment imagine my own continued close scrutiny of everything DFC means I have a vested interest in all this. In the words of the BBC's great Francis Urquhart: You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment. ...Let's see what happens!
It's good to have people within contact distance who are interested in the same things as I am. A big thanks to Stacia and Lil Kim for all the work in keeping us up and operating. Hopefully, with everyone's input, we will all improve and be successful in the next year. All the best to everyone.
From the SEEDS of DESTRUCTION sprung the DOOM BRINGER ULTRA ULTRA.
* * *
At its original inception, Project X-18999 was designed to be a domestic household robot -- a construction of limited artificial intelligence specifically engineered to help old people get around.
Marketed as "The Friendly-Bot" to an aging "Baby Boomer" generation, X-18999, was intended to replace the Personal Emergency Response Services provided by Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc. Unofficially, it was designed to render obsolete "those little necklace things with the button."
Focus groups reported to feel, with regards to X-18999, "like it was my best friend. " -- Sandy Evans, Ohio.
"I like it better than my children!" raved Andrea Burkowski, Indiana.
AARP declared X-18999 to be "the best thing since lobbying for Medicare!"
However, an unfortunate aesthetic design flaw, specifically with the addition of the shoulder mounted cannons (which were arguably unnecessary in the first place as X-18999 was designed for finding medicines dropped in the kitchen) X-18999 scrambled simple commands and interpreted "cross the street" and "buy a bagel" with "UNLEASH THE WAR-HAMMER OF THE APOCALYPSE. THE TRAVELER HAS COME. CHOOSE AND PERISH." -- Much to the dismay of the understandably confused early adopters. The resulting lawsuits crippled the parent company who had up to that point worked feverishly on a patch for x-18999 (dubbed "the kitten patch") intended to address certain "admitted instabilities" in the speech recognition region of X-18999's CPU.
Unfortunately, the parent company went bankrupt and the kitten patch was never put into production. Thankfully, most robots were hunted down and destroyed by the U.S. Military.
The lesson we are all left with is frustratingly simple: Do not design your robots to even look like that could blow up a city. It will give them ideas. It is that simple.
9 Comments on Illustration Friday: "Seeds", last added: 5/5/2008
Sweet design! - The mood fits him (her?) perfectly!
Brine Blank said, on 5/2/2008 10:12:00 AM
Nice effects with this! Great comp...
Connie said, on 5/2/2008 11:07:00 AM
That's one whale of a destructive seed but love the colours anyway.
rbaird said, on 5/2/2008 2:15:00 PM
This is a really clever idea for this theme!
atomicvelvetsigh said, on 5/3/2008 1:34:00 AM
ohh lol reminds me of the 80's superhit cartoon Voltes V.. btw that was a funny clever line.. Do not design your robots to even look like that could blow up a city. It will give them ideas
Jeremy Cardarelli said, on 5/3/2008 10:03:00 PM
That is Awesome! Great design.
Anonymous said, on 5/4/2008 9:03:00 PM
Me like Robots. Yes, me do!
thefridayfrog said, on 5/5/2008 9:06:00 AM
great color, fx, oh everything, cory! wonderful bot! :))
I'm on a roll here with Christopher Walken. Talk about the perfect voice to read The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe. So... turn off all the lights... close your eyes... and listen....
Or maybe you want to keep the lights on. I wouldn't want anyone getting frightened now...
Read the rest of this post
1 Comments on Friday Fun: Or Should I Say, Friday Fright?, last added: 5/2/2008
The release of new books is an exciting day for book lovers all over especially when it’s a book by an author that you love. With the news that the number of books by African American authors was down in 2007 compared to 2008, it is with pleasure that I present to you a list of young adult titles published from March to May.
March 1
Keeping Secrets (Kimani TRU) by Kendra Lee
16 Isn’t Always Sweet (Kimani TRU) by Cassandra Carter
For a thorough list of YA titles and authors, please visit our Brown Bookshelf Library. We’ll update it throughout the year as we keep everyone in the know about the books available for young adult readers. Stay tuned!
I teach a part time high school art class at a private school here. One of my favorite things to do is sit around with them and just draw whatever comes to mind. This is a sketchbook doodle started in class and "refined" on the bus ride home. She's a cowgirl because Bernstein's theme from the Magnificent Seven is on the radio, although I think it's a katana on her back. Can't stop drawing lately. Drawing's always been my strong point. My second year painting teacher said to me once, with more than a little frustration, "Just draw with the paint!" Hmm... How about I just draw. Funny thing, sometimes I think I've learned more about drawing from painting than I've learned about painting from drawing.
27 Comments on Dinosaur Cowgirl, last added: 5/9/2008
Eric, i am the same. i love to draw. and i also draw with my paint.....speaking of drawing. be happy for me, i think i am going to order myself an etching press today! (a small table top one) something i have waited a long time to do. :0) any advise ? i think this drawing is wonderful, your drawings always show how much you enjoy what you do.
Anonymous said, on 5/2/2008 9:31:00 AM
You were listening to 'cage match' too! How am I going to get Magnificent 7 out of my head? what ridiculous music to have in your head at work!
For anyone into classical music with humourous and interesting commentary, please check out host Tom Allen on CBC:
http://www.cbc.ca/musicandcompany
-Julie
Anthony VanArsdale said, on 5/2/2008 1:19:00 PM
Really cool! I'd love to be in one of your classes... sounds like so much fun
and great dinosaur! my mom used to tell me when I was little... can't you draw something other than dinosaurs... Id say I don't know I never tried
love the piece, I'm going back to look at it again
-Anthony
Mirella said, on 5/2/2008 2:53:00 PM
Oh, I love the dinosaur!!! It's so pretty^^
Eric Orchard said, on 5/2/2008 3:50:00 PM
Congrats Amy, that's really cool! I wouldn't know where to point you for etcing press advice. I did some print making in school but not a lot.
It's a pretty silly song, Julie. I should've told people about music and co. in this post.
Thanks Anthony! You'd be a bit tall in my jr, high class I think, tho' some of those guys are suprisingly tall. I'd like to get an art lesson from you!
Thanks Mirella!
-J.Meyer said, on 5/2/2008 5:07:00 PM
I LOVE the energy in this piece!! And the dino has such a nice friendly/soft feeling to him.
Jennifer-
Eric Orchard said, on 5/2/2008 6:17:00 PM
Thank you so much Jennifer!
Ambera said, on 5/2/2008 6:59:00 PM
Nice dino eye. I've heard it's particularly difficult to capture their sensitivity, but you did it well. (I'm kidding)
Eric Orchard said, on 5/2/2008 7:17:00 PM
Ha ha! Thanks?
Alicia Padrón said, on 5/2/2008 7:30:00 PM
Oh my.. this is the most beautiful sketch ever!! Really! Not kidding.. beautiful. Love the dinosaur and those eyes and the girl and the dark lines around them... I wan to see this every day. You ROCK Eric!!!
Eric Orchard said, on 5/2/2008 7:54:00 PM
Gosh! Thanks Alicia! Your words mean a lot to me. I think I'll post more sketches...
sdzsmith said, on 5/3/2008 2:24:00 AM
I'm with you - drawing is more second nature to me. Even though I majored in drawing AND painting, I feel like there's still A LOT I have to learn about painting. It's outside of my comfort zone...working on it, though.
How do you like teaching the high schoolers? I've taught Kindergarten-8th grade, and I think I prefer the older kids. You can get more in-depth with them.
tlc illustration said, on 5/3/2008 4:33:00 AM
I'm always inspired by how much you seem to sketch (and they are always engaging to see). After this last crazy work schedule, I'm on a bit of a hiatus while I catch up on the rest of life, but SOON I want to start sketching and painting again for *me*, and for fun...
Eric Orchard said, on 5/3/2008 5:29:00 AM
Thanks Diane! Teaching older grades is a greater challenge for me because younger grades aren't as afraid to make mistakes.
Thanks Tara! This was a Fairy book right? I love it when you are doing your own work because it means that your posting pictures.
Paz said, on 5/3/2008 6:58:00 AM
Cool drawing!
Paz
Eric Orchard said, on 5/3/2008 7:28:00 AM
Thanks Paz!
Viviane Schwarz said, on 5/3/2008 9:00:00 AM
Yayy! That's a good way of drawing... I've started trying to do that too because I was inspired by your blog, now, doing quick sketches and then working a bit more on them and even colouring them in.
Riding around on a Dinosaur with a Katana dtrapped to my back, that would be how I'd like to spend my holiday in a parallel universe...
Mark Reep said, on 5/3/2008 11:56:00 AM
Eric, thanks for stopping by, and for the kind words. Your comments on drawing and painting were interesting. I've never been a painter, always been attracted to the precision of pens and pencils; but I've learned a lot from looking at the work of painters, and I like to think I'm learning to loosen up, get a little more painterly myself. Sometimes. Occasionally. Okay, so it's hard :)
All the best!
JP said, on 5/4/2008 1:45:00 AM
hey Eric, love the energy of this piece. I personally never stop battling with drawing vs. painting...I love both too much- however, I love it when you seen bold and dynamic hand movements in the artwork, 'Drawing with paint' as your teacher said.
armel said, on 5/4/2008 3:37:00 AM
Wow! I love this sketch. It's fresh and the composition of tonal arrangement is beautiful. The way most directions point toward the round shape of the face, surrounded by the also round shape of the hair is powerful, yet still delicate. Generally speaking, I love the way you treat faces, they remind me of old Noh Japanese masks, elegant and pure.
Cécile said, on 5/4/2008 5:39:00 AM
Hi Eric, I love your drawings. They're full of life and energy - and very inspiring to people like me who wish they would not be so afraid of drawing! I hardly touch a sketchbook.
I've been wanting to tell you, too, that I really enjoy the colors and the style of your illustrations - we lack people with your talent and sensitivity around here in France(a very good friend of mine would agree with me, wouldn't you, Armel?) Thanks for showing your work on this blog!
Eric Orchard said, on 5/4/2008 6:57:00 AM
Wow! Thanks so much Viviane! I'm inspired by your work too. In fact I'm really inspired by the way you're inspired. I've never known anyone who's eyes are so open to all the funny, amazing things in the world.
Thanks Mark! It was a bit of a casual comment but it is really interesting. In art school there was a real difference of opinion about the relationship between drawing and painting. One teacher, Leya, was convinced there is a vast gulf between drawing and painting and Alex, a painting teacher felt they were linked. Ingres would say a painting is 99% drawing.
Thanks J.P.! That's exacly the dilemma for me, the energy is often lost in an overworked painting. I can see no way out of painting the way I do: carefully and with lots of preliminary work. My pencil studies are often better because they capture all the excitement of the original idea, like a little piece of performance. Your work retains an incredible sense of spontaneity and energy and they still manage to be perfect little legible drawings.Is that something you have to train yourself for in animation?
Thanks Armel! I find when sketching with pencil there's a sense of spontaneous composition that never translates to my finished paintings, not fully anyway. I grew up with 2 Kathe Kollowitz prints on the wall and she drew with pencil and charcoal with great energy and sensitivity and I believe those pictures have had a great impact on me. And the Noh comment is interesting and nice, I have a very fond memory from Jr. High school of seeing a Noh performance at a puppet theatre in the country.
Thanks Cecil! Goodness! Don't be afraid of drawing! You draw beautifully, you have great range and a wonderful eye. Well France is lucky to have people like you and Armel and Dautremer and Lacombe (it seems to me you're doing OK there!)
Koldo Barroso said, on 5/5/2008 3:02:00 AM
Hi Eric! Just found your blog, your works are excellent! I love this drawing particularly. I think it's very important for an artists to recognize the skills and focus on them. It takes maturity to accept who we are. Me, I'm in the oposite side, I see myself more like a painter rather than a drawer so I try to take the best of it and not to fool people pretending to be something I'm not. An important lesson that was hard for me to learn...
Eric Orchard said, on 5/5/2008 5:02:00 AM
Thanks Koldo! Your work is fantastic! Do you work in animation?
Koldo Barroso said, on 5/5/2008 10:49:00 AM
@ Eric: mutual admiration :) No, I don't work in animation, I run a Web consultation firm with my wife and do web illustration. I'm currently moving into the fields of book and editorial illustration, moving soon from Spain to Seattle, let's see what happens...
Curiously I have never consider myself as a type of cartoon/animation artist but I guess it has an influence on my work. Nice to talk to you.
PerfectLand is an oddly appealing series of Flash-animated shorts created for MTV by Ben Meinhardt. I’ve embedded the first one below and the other three episodes can be viewed on MTV Overdrive. The shorts have an undeniable “green” theme—peaceful nature-loving creatures are constantly attacked by a heavy polluting, industrial villain—but the concept is saved from typical heavy-handed environmentalism because of Meinhardt’s wildly creative imaginary creatures and his skillful animation, which becomes really impressive whenever the cuddly creatures exact revenge. I’m looking forward to seeing more work from Ben.
That’s odd, people used to be much happier when the steel and tire factories were capable of offering full employnent, even though the Cuyahoga River would catch on fire sometimes.
red pill junkie said, on 5/2/2008 11:30:00 AM
I really liked it. Although coming from MTV, it feels kind of hypocrite.
Of course, that’s something Meinhardt cannot control.
Dagan said, on 5/2/2008 12:07:00 PM
GREAT timing in the animation… Flash-done-right, me thinks! ;)
Emily said, on 5/2/2008 1:49:00 PM
His film from Vancouver Film School called “Dancing Animals in Love” is one of my favorite flash shorts of all time. I think you can see it at VFS.com somewhere under Showcase.
Gene Hole said, on 5/2/2008 4:01:00 PM
the design is like something Winsor McCay might have drawn if he had grown up in the 80’s, but you’re right, something oddly fascinating about it, and great flash animation.
Dave said, on 5/3/2008 3:26:00 AM
Pretty good, although the plot to all of them is pretty much the same. Threat to nature changes peaceful species into violent destructive force that destroys boss-robot. The end.
Stephan said, on 5/3/2008 11:24:00 AM
Overkill in morality
doug holverson said, on 5/3/2008 9:37:00 PM
Ironic that there’s a Philips 66 gasoline banner ad above it….
Michael J. Ruocco said, on 5/3/2008 11:24:00 PM
I saw the Egg Factory one in animation class a few months back. Really great animation & concept behind it, but it sure creeped the hell outta me!
I just watched the rest of them. They do have the same plot structure, but that’s OK with me. Besides, it’s nice to know beforehand that the cute little tortured creatures mutate (adapt?) and beat the bejesus outta that Big BossBot & that things turn out OK in the end. It’s kinda like a Road Runner cartoon, except the fact that even though you know what’s gonna happen, but don’t quite know how it’ll get there.
Marty M. said, on 5/3/2008 11:37:00 PM
disturbing yet well done
Jose Saenz said, on 5/4/2008 10:03:00 AM
I absolutely LOVED these! Thanks for the post! They have a sort of Invader Zim vibe. Awesome!
The Gagaman said, on 5/4/2008 10:44:00 AM
I thought the whole point of the internet was it was to allow anyone in the world to see your stuff, without country restrictions. Stupid MTV web videos…
TempleDog said, on 5/4/2008 4:26:00 PM
With ya, Gagaman. Canadian animator, schooled in Vancouver, and we can’t see his stuff here in Beaver-land becuz of those freakin’ post-strike copyright laws. Are ya flippin’ serious?
Christopher has a point. She must have known the Shrek films were never nominated for Best Picture, and knowing the answer to only one trilogy, just submitted Shrek for kicks and giggles.
Barbara said, on 5/2/2008 6:05:00 AM
she also risked her whole pot for kicks and giggles.
Craig Mahoney said, on 5/2/2008 6:44:00 AM
I’m seriously hoping she inserted Shrek as a laugh, but she may have confused Best Animated Feature with Best Film. Come on, though, who wouldn’t know The Godfather? Another interesting bit of trivia: Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro are the only two actors to win Oscars for playing the same character - Vito Corleone.
BJ Wanlund said, on 5/2/2008 8:06:00 AM
That is one BAD answer…
Not quite as bad as some of the Family Feud answers during the Richard Dawson era, but it’s terrible nevertheless.
stephen said, on 5/2/2008 8:22:00 AM
“it’s going to cost you . . . everything”
Lucy said, on 5/2/2008 9:01:00 AM
Ew. I hope ya’ll are right about that.
D. Follower said, on 5/2/2008 9:03:00 AM
She might have been thrown by the fact that Godfather 3 isn’t much better than Shrek 3.
Granny said, on 5/2/2008 9:15:00 AM
She definitely was not kidding - it cost her the entire $9,800. If she was kidding, she would have bet $0.
Mark McDermott said, on 5/2/2008 9:19:00 AM
there’s a YouTube subculture which enjoys posting clips of people blowing big money on game shows or giving bad answers so everyone else (who of course couldn’t qualify for those shows) can post snarky comments.
Believe me, I know.
So let’s go easy on the lady.
red pill junkie said, on 5/2/2008 11:23:00 AM
Maybe God has a simmilar game in the afterlife, ya know?
“It’s going to cost you… YOUR SOUL” :-)
fluffy said, on 5/2/2008 11:46:00 AM
For everyone who thinks her bid is proof that she was serious, the bid is based on the category and/or play strategy - on Final Jeopardy you have to make your bid before the question appears (much like in Double Jeopardy).
Also, when you’re in second place and the first place winner has more than double your money there’s no point in bidding anything less than your full pot, on the off chance that you get it right and the 1st place contestant gets it wrong (while bidding enough to make up the difference); on the other hand, if you’re in 1st place and have more than double the second place contestant, there’s no reason to bid anything even if you’re totally confident in the category. Both 1st and 2nd place bid according to appropriate strategy. (Although the 1st place contestant could have safely bid up to $399 without risking his position.)
So, I really hope she was joking, although I wouldn’t have been able to come up with The Godfather either.
jess said, on 5/2/2008 11:48:00 AM
The best part is their wagers. In jeopardy, first you see the category, then you wager, then you see the question. 2 of the 3 saw that the category was “Movies” and didnt wager anything.
uncle wayne said, on 5/2/2008 12:02:00 PM
i think the funniest answer on a game show was on “Password” (in the 60s!) Password was “deer”. Clue was “doe” Answer: “knob!”
Beckee said, on 5/2/2008 12:13:00 PM
I really do think she was joking - plus i believe they choose how much money to wager first based on the category (and how much they think they know about it) before even seeing the question so that they cant just bet $0 if they happen to not know the answer.
ugh - I never knew godfather 3 was even nominated!
Tom Pope said, on 5/2/2008 12:21:00 PM
Until you personally have had the opportunity to (ahem) blow Final Jeopardy, don’t be too harsh.
It LOOKS liek she knew she was wrong with that little laugh…Still, you wonder why she had to gamble all the money she had.
And yeah…the net has become one big giant “point-and-laugh” repository.
Elliot Cowan said, on 5/2/2008 1:32:00 PM
How did Godfather 3 get nominated for a best picture Oscar?
Mikis Theodorakis-Smith said, on 5/2/2008 3:05:00 PM
The second contestant is without doubt a Hillary voter.
heather said, on 5/2/2008 3:05:00 PM
I PRAY that she copped out and went for the joke answer. Seriously, Shrek? the third one hardly bears mentioning much less an oscar nomination.
Richard said, on 5/2/2008 3:41:00 PM
“Now I know how you think.”
You don’t!
BubbaShelby said, on 5/2/2008 3:56:00 PM
“The second contestant’s answer on this “Final Jeopardy” question is quite possibly one of the worst answers I’ve ever heard on a gameshow”
So I take it you’ve never heard of the Newlywed Game episode where the woman is asked “Where’s the strangest place you’ve made whoopie”
…her answer “The butt”
Ogg said, on 5/2/2008 4:15:00 PM
The same year, Ghost and Awakenings were BP nominated too. It’s like they just needed padding since the only real competition was between Goodfellas and Dances with Wolves.
Paul N said, on 5/2/2008 5:48:00 PM
“I think the funniest answer on a game show was on “Password” (in the 60s!) Password was “deer”. Clue was “doe” Answer: “knob!””
Not even close. On “The Newlywed Game,” the question was “Where is the strangest place you’ve ever made whoopee?” One contestant’s response: “In the b**t”
This one was actually considered an urban legend for years, even by the host, Bob Eubanks. However, videotape surfaced not long ago showing the exchange, and has since played extensively on those blooper-type shows.
Billy Saul Hurock said, on 5/2/2008 6:57:00 PM
How did Shrek get nominated for a best animated feature Oscar, much less win?
Steve Segal said, on 5/2/2008 6:58:00 PM
I’m with Mark McDermott on this one; go easy on her. Have you ever been in a high pressure situation and the simple answer just escaped from your brain? I have a friend who was a contestant on Jeopardy and he tells me it is so different that answering questions in your living room. (he didn’t win because he didn’t give one response in the form of a question)
She wasn’t joking, she did what any sane person would do, just put something, since no answer (or in this case one answer) is an automatic wrong answer. It’s not so easy to come up with trilogies anyway. Need I remind that Shrek did win an Oscar (just not in that category, and not all three)
timmy said, on 5/2/2008 10:37:00 PM
Shrek and Shrek 2 where both nominated for an Oscar for best Animated Feature. Shrek 3 was nominated for a BAFTA, and there was talk about it possibily being on the Oscar nominating list.
If that was the route she was going, then I don’t see it as being much of a stretch.
Steve Gattuso said, on 5/3/2008 9:01:00 AM
It could have been worse. She could have said “Police Academy.”
FP said, on 5/3/2008 10:08:00 AM
RE: “Doe” “Knob”
Never heard that one. It reminds me of a Buddy Hackett joke: A woman of a certain ethnicity asks a pharmacist which type of sanitary product to buy. Pharmacist asks, “What’s your flow like?”. Woman replies, “Linoleum”.
Are these swatches labeled correctly? Of course not. The swatch on the left isn’t black. It’s a mid-range gray, and so is the one on the right. The swatch in the middle isn’t white. It’s darker than the other two.
What if I told you that the swatch on the left is black acrylic paint, the sample on the right is a jet-black dress shirt, and the swatch in the middle is a white newspaper?
The x-factor is sunlight and shadow—and the pesky tricks that our visual systems play on us.
The samples were all lifted straight out of a single photo taken in my sunny front yard yesterday morning. I was sitting in front of a refrigerator carton painted black.
Even when the tones are adjacent (between 2 and 3), our minds tell us that the “white” is lighter. It's good to keep this in mind when we're painting.
The visual cortex uses context cues to override the luminance information from the retinas. Professor Edward Adelson of MIT developed the “checkershadow illusion” to show that the white square (B) in shadow is equal to the black square (A) in light (click to enlarge).
Here’s a rule to remember: In bright sunlight, a newspaper in shadow is darker than a black shirt in the light.
-------------------- For more about the checkershadow illusion, check out Dr. Adelson's website and this interactive demo. More on GJ about that painted backdrop, link. Thanks to Professor Adelson.
Tomorrow: Spokewheeling
7 Comments on Black is Light, White is Dark, last added: 5/3/2008
It's impressive how you keep putting so much effort in many of these post. I'm beginning to realize that your scientific approach to observation of your subject is a key factor for realistic art. That makes for me the basic lesson learned from this blog (so far) twofold : good preparation of and understanding of what you are going to paint.
However, for this topic, rather than conclude with a rule, I think the lesson here is that there is no point for a specific rule. After all it's impossible to memorize the relation between all materials in all colors in all light and atmospheric conditions.
True, our eyes trick us in believing that even the shadow side of the newspaper is 'white'. Although this seems like quite a drawback, in fact it's a big advantage. We are intuitively able to 'know' that that dark patch is in fact pure white ! This 'gift' is vital for us to recognize objects in any given lighting situation. On a canvas this skill will help us to see that a newspaper in the shadow appears too bright or too dark.
So as a rule for this topic, I feel that we should dare to trust our eyes and not our knowledge in the final evaluation of our canvas.
What appears to be proof that we shouldn't trust our eyes is in fact an indication that we should !
Another way to look at it: our eyes are amazing ! That shadow part of the newspaper is dark gray and yet our eyes are not tricked and recognize it as white!
I just realized that the basic lesson learned from this site for me now is now threefold : preparation and understanding but...in the final evaluation, forget all the preparation and knowledge and trust your eyes. Of course, that switch from rationale (we know it is white) to intuition (does it appear as white) is quite a leap to take.
Eric Orchard said, on 5/2/2008 5:51:00 AM
This is something I struggle with all the time. This rule is going to be scratched into my drawing board. Thanks !
Ginger*:)* said, on 5/2/2008 6:31:00 AM
I am not sure how I can ever thank my friend Jenn Morris enough for pointing me in your direction. Your blog is so full of wonderful advice, charming commentary and fascinating artwork, that I am embarrassed not to have found this place by myself.
Thank you for sharing,and thank you for this post in particular. I am not painting dinosaurs, but hippos and rhinos and crocodiles have great similarity.
Your blog will be a daily visit.
James Gurney said, on 5/2/2008 7:56:00 AM
Welcome, Ginger, and thanks, Eric.
Erik, as always your comments get to the very heart of the matter, and they're probably more interesting and insightful than the original post.
Perhaps I should have started with the rule about the black shirt and the newspaper, and explained it. Howard Pyle gave the rule to his students to surprise them and to push them to increase the separation between light and shadow. I wanted to test the rule.
In truth, I discovered that you have to try to block some of the inevitable reflected light on the shadow side for the newspaper to come out equal or darker. As you say, there really is no hard and fast rule, and it all depends on circumstances.
And I agree with your central point: that our perceptual systems are a vital gift--the world would be chaos if we didn't organize it. One reason scientists like Adelson are doing this research is to train robots to see, and it ain't easy. Cameras alone don't see.
But more and more I'm realizing that it's not enough to tell art students who want to paint realistically just to "paint what you see." It does take knowledge and real effort to draw foreshortened forms correctly, to avoid overdefining detail and edges, and to judge values accurately.
craigstephens said, on 5/2/2008 12:37:00 PM
Another fantastic post! This and Erik's insightful comments stirred up a lively discussion in my morning classes. Thank you both.
JasonsBrush said, on 5/2/2008 1:45:00 PM
Hey James,
Great post, Very insightful.
Jason
Munchanka said, on 5/3/2008 2:03:00 AM
enLIGHTening!
Michael Chesley Johnson, PSA, PSNM said, on 5/3/2008 4:53:00 AM
Excellent post, and something I've been looking into lately. ("Great minds," etc.)
I first heard this from Sergei Bongart, and I have heard it repeated by others:
"Nothing in the light is as dark as the shadow. Nothing in the shadow is as light as the light. In other words, you can have all the detail you want in the lights and all the detail you want in the shadows, but the lights should stay light, the shadows dark. The two should never mix."
Like others here, I've observed that this isn't necessarily true, especially if you are comparing different objects in a scene, such as a white house and a red barn. It works better if you're comparing parts of a single object, such as just the white house.
Before you run out to watch Iron Man this weekend, check out this gallery of fun Iron Man fan art hosted at the film’s site. Lots of great illustrations there from professional artists and kids alike.
I just went to see the film and I am already considering going again. It was probably the most fun I’ve had at a superhero film since Richard Donner’s original Superman.
John Favreau should direct every superhero film from now on. (NERDY TIP: Stay till the end of the credits)
0 Comments on Iron Man Fan Art as of 5/2/2008 1:45:00 PM
I made a sculpture of the girl from my children's book. Yay. It accompanied my illustrations at the Senior Illustration show last friday. It was a good year, congrats to our class. We graduate tomorrow night (tear). I'm not sure we are all ready to be adults just yet.
I had so much fun reading the comments about my last creature (thank you everyone!) that I wanted to see what you would make of the next one.
Here's his stats: This guy is friends with Stan (believe it or not). In fact, they've worked in the same building for four years this upcoming tuesday. He enjoys eatting pickled corn and root of huginoba (a dark red fruit found in his land) while listening to his favorite radio show (which features local blues bands and interviews with select groups of human rights activists). He's had a bad day, which explains the rather sad illustration of him right now (he was forced to do the CEO's laundry and it was extra gross this time around)
4 Comments on 21 Day Creative Challenge: Day 2 FRED!, last added: 5/2/2008
Poor guy, I would be grumpy if I had to do the CEO's smelly laundry too. Well since your last creature was named Stan, I think you should name your Fowl friend Fred!
Joan Y said, on 5/2/2008 1:28:00 AM
Hehehe. That nose just cracks me up! Just looking at "Fred" makes me laugh. Very, very cool style!
ginaperry said, on 5/2/2008 8:19:00 AM
Another great character! He reminds me of a Topher I once knew...
crystal driedger said, on 5/2/2008 12:10:00 PM
thank you everyone for your comments. It makes picking up the pencil each day much easier (not that drawing is a "chore" but with a busy schedule it can sometimes be harder to get creatively motivated to do personal work).
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