By: Cinzia,
on 10/22/2010
A sneak peek at my two paintings, almost finished, for the High Falls Exhibit called Our Parks in honor of Christine Sevilla who worked tirelessly to protect our parks, wetlands and native species for the entire communtiy.Opening reception, Sunday December 5th...The finished version of these two paintings are now on my fine art website.
By: Mighty Kwan,
on 10/22/2010
This morning, the song, “Signs,” by Five Man Electrical Band got stuck in my head, which made me think, “I need a ‘Gone Fishing’ sign, only I want it to say, ‘Gone Painting.’” I could put it on my blog for times when I’ve got a lot of artwork to do and won’t be around for a while. Then I wondered if anyone would get a, “Gone Painting,” sign. Or one that says, “Gone Drawing.” Or, “Creative at Work.” Or one that says, “Am Writing.” Then I started to question my sudden need for a sign. I’d never needed a sign before.
ACK!
Since I couldn’t think of which sign to make, Daria the chicken offered to make one for me. This is what she came up with:
Silly chicken!
Nobody would believe that sign. I don’t even know how to surf! Although, with the weather getting colder, maybe I should learn how to surf this winter. I could go some place warm and tropical and … ack! A surfing sign is not going to help me to get my work done. I shook my head to clear out the surf fantasies.
“Meow!” Remus woke up from his catnap and offered to make me a sign, which was weird. Remus likes walking though my paintings when they are still wet and making a trail of colorful kitty tracks, but signs aren’t usually his thing. I went to make lunch. When I came back, Remus was finished with his sign:
Silly kitty!
I started to worry about what Remus was trying to tell me. I gave him a toy mouse to play with/attack, just in case. It looked like I’d have to make my own sign, one that shows people that I’m working, even when it looks like I’m not. I still didn’t know what to put on it, until I remembered the mouse I used to write about and draw pictures of. Here’s my sign:
Plotting out the great mouse novel.
What kind of sign do you wish you had? Or have you already made your sign?
By: Eric Orchard,
on 10/22/2010
By: Ginger Nielson,
on 10/22/2010
By: David Billings,
on 10/22/2010
You may have noticed that I changed my pants. If you read my posts via RSS or email, I invite you to go check out the web site. I even bought new socks and a couple shirts to go with the pants. I think I look more like an illustrator now.
“Oh yeah, I remember now. You have that really wordy site, huh?”
Ouch.
This past May I went to SURTEX, one of the biggest art licensing trade shows around. It was a first baby step into a new business model for me. I was researching what it would be like to exhibit at a show, which I will be doing in 2011 at the Licensing International Expo. At the time, my business was almost completely custom illustration service and consulting. I had (have) a lot to learn.
Like any conference or trade show, I arranged to meet people before I arrived. It would have been kind of sad to have that 3-mojito brunch all by myself. So I chatted up regular Twitter pals and made some connections early on so we could commiserate (and mojito-ate). Some connections were several Bacon-esque degrees of separation away, like one artist I finally caught up with on the show floor.
He’s the one with the aforementioned pithy comment on my website. Seriously, ow. Why did you have to hit me on my delicate side? My social media presence has fewer nerve endings.
His comment wouldn’t have been so painful if he wasn’t so spot on. Beautiful, painful lesson.
I love to write. I like to talk about what I’m working on. I always have. So I’ve got this website with a built-in megaphone and I have certainly not been shy to use it. In fact, I started reading lots of other blogs about blogging so I could do it better. I followed some of the best blogging advice available. I took e-courses and followed the paths of successful bloggers who even manage to make piles of money with their blogs. All great stuff. Amazing, stupendous, [insert more inflated hyperbole here] practical knowledge, right at my fingertips. I put my blog on my landing page and centered all my website activity around said blog.
Only one problem.
I’m not a blogger. I’m an illustrator.
Sure, I blog. Sometimes (okay, a lot) I talk about non-illustration subjects, like business and motivation. Those posts are the more popular ones. The ones where I posted my art? They tend to fall flat.
Seems odd, right? However, in the past year I’ve encountered several people who had been to my site many times and quite literally did not know that I am an illustrator. Seriously. No clue. I’m that blogger guy with the funny Firepants name. Can you imagine? On the illustrator radar, I’m a U2 spy plane. Invisible unless I happen to get shot down.
When I post my art, people don’t know what to do with it. I’ve worked towards identifying as a Blogger. The fact that I’m in the business of creating and selling my art got all fogged up. Muddy. Gaussian blurred.
Look at this fantastically-crafted diagram:
Look at the distance between me and the people who buy art.* Um, yeah. Problem. Ya think?
0 Comments on I’m not a Blogger. as of 1/1/1900
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By: Sean Ashby,
on 10/22/2010
By: Jerry Beck,
on 10/22/2010
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA October 20, 2010 – Tezuka Productions and Chris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment are partnering to bring PLUTO to life as a live- action/CG hybrid film. PLUTO, which has sold over 8.5 million copies in Japan, results from the union of the most beloved character in Japanese culture with the most contemporary Japanese writer, Naoki Urasawa. Meledandri’s international hits have amassed over $2 billion WBO including: Ice Age, Ice Age 2, Robots, Horton Hears a Who and The Simpsons Movie. Most recently, his new banner, Illumination Entertainment, released the film Despicable Me which has become the 10th highest grossing animated film of all time in the US.
Urasawa’s PLUTO, which he collaborated with Takashi Nagasaki, updates the characters from the legendary ASTRO BOY series, created by Osamu Tezuka (known as the“God of Manga”), brings an action-filled saga set in a world populated by giant robots and cybernetic citizens. The manga series is characterized by Urasawa and Nagasaki’s signature brand of storytelling. The combined creative genius of Urasawa, Meledandri and Tezuka guarantees an imaginative, exciting and visually stunning event film executive produced by Macoto Tezka.
Urasawa commented, “I have been a big fan of The Greatest Robot on Earth since I was a child. But I never thought I would remake the episode into PLUTO. It was a tremendous challenge for me. Now another challenge, turning PLUTO into a live action movie, has appeared. As a big fan of Tezuka, I would like to watch it with a lot of expectation.”
Meledandri commented, “With Pluto, Naoki Urasawa has defined an imaginative world full of inventive action and adventure but it was his characters and heartfelt story that compelled me towards acquiring these rights. I am privileged to be working with Tezuka, a company with an illustrious history and with Urasawa, one of our most gifted contemporary writers.”
Nagasaki commented, “In the 20th century, all the boys in Japan hungrily read “Astro boy, The Greatest Robot on Earth” by Osamu Tezuka. And I and Naoki Urasawa brought the legendary work back to the 21st century as PLUTO. It was a big challenge for us since it was considered as a taboo to challenge it in Japanese manga world. It is great pleasure not only for us but also for all movie and manga fans that PLUTO is turned into a movie in Hollywood, though I think Mr. Meledandri has undertaken more adventures than we did. I sincerely hope a great movie will be produced, which all the fans across the world will get satisfied with, excited at and touched by”
Tezka commented, “The collaboration between Osamu Tezuka and Naoki Urasawa was big news in the manga world. It was as if Takeshi Kitano encountered Akira Kurosawa or Lucas remade Stagecoach into Star Wars. If the talents of global film artists are added to the work, surely the excitement will be multiplied. I hope the movie will become an epoch-making masterpiece produced under a good partnership between Japan and Hollywood.”
Urasawa’s previous manga series, MONSTER has sold more than 21 million copies since released in1995.
About Illumination Entertainment
In 2007, Chris Meledandri founded Illumination Entertainment in partnership with Universal Pictures. It serves as the studio’s main supplier of all-audience family films and launched in July 2010 with the blockbuster Despicable Me. Despicable Me is the 11th highest grossing animated film in history and the fourth highest grossing animated film of 2010. Thus far, Despicable Me has opened in 26 international territories, and it has already made more than $360 million worldwide. Illumination is currently in post-production on Hop, which will be released in spring 2011. The company is also developing a new stop-motion version of The Addams Family with Tim Burton directing. Other projects in development include Flanimals, a CG-animated feature comedy based on the bestselling British book series by Ricky Gervais,
Dave and I just got back from NY. What a fantastic trip! We went to hear the Battle of the Bands at the NY Public Library. My editor, Namrata, is the lead singer for the Effin’ G’s. What a blast!! It was a loud, raucous Friday night event in the belly of the library. All three bands (Effin G’s, Mr. McGregor, Tiger Beat) were terrific and did a fantastic job, but you’ll excuse me if I thought Nami was extraordinary. There are a few other recaps of the evening at the Fuse8 blog and here. I’m so lucky to have an editor with so many talents.
The next day, Dave and I did one of my favorite things – went to the Natural History Museum to draw dinosaur skeletons.
I’m working on my new book – How Big Were Dinosaurs? with Roaring Brook Press. The museum was pretty crowded, which is always a mixed blessing as it makes drawing more difficult, but I love seeing all the excited kids and adults exploring the wonders of the museum. So I embraced the crowds, and I did find some quiet corners to draw T-rex towering over all of our heads, tiny Protoceratops that were the size of border collies, the even smaller Psittacosaurus, and all my other favorites dinosaurs. This book is an exciting challenge because I want to break the myth that all dinosaurs were the size of skyscrapers and show how big they really were. There is no better way to learn than to draw the skeletons. A lifetime of daydreaming in front of dinosaurs skeletons has led to this latest project.
By: Paula Pertile,
on 10/22/2010
Vroom vroom!
By: Ginger*:),
on 10/22/2010
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By: froggie,
on 10/22/2010
time's getting close! it's a race to see which ghostie makes it to the dryer first! and please.... no DRYER SHEETS! oooooo they HATE that! well, how did you THINK ghosts got all clean and fabulous for halloween? " - Dalllmost done! just started it this afternoon. got some things i'm still working out.caaaaaackle, caaaaaaackle! HEEE HEEEEE! (burp!)oops! sorry. candy corn overload does that to
By: Melinda,
on 10/22/2010
It's been a very loooong time since I've posted, but better late than never, right?
Here's something new!
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By: Heather Dixon,
on 10/22/2010
Here is a baby shower picture I did for a friend. I wanted to make it really textured and soft.
By: Frances Tyrrell,
on 10/22/2010
In the rediscovered box of rubber stamps are several of my images that were reproduced by Graphistamp some years ago. Here is one of them, the Morning Glory Fairies, a 3" by 3" wood mounted rubber stamp. I haven't played with these in a long time.
The first impression, stamp to paper,
followed by more prints, more fairies.
Scissors and coloured pencils: working with two prints of the same
The first results, fairies seen through a ring of flowers.
In the next version I reversed the assembly, with the fairies
By: Arrolynn,
on 10/22/2010
I feel so ashamed. I've failed as a blogger. Once upon a time I posted many times a week...adding new images and exciting news....well ok, somewhat interesting news...but at least I posted! So for those of you who haven't given up on me I promise to post more regularly.
By: artistaggie,
on 10/22/2010
This is my today.
And this is from one of my favorite poetry books, The Subject Tonight is Love: 60 Wild and Sweet Poems by Hafiz, versions by Daniel Ladinksy.
Out of the Mouths of a Thousand Birds
Listen –
Listen more carefully to what is around you
Right now.
In my world
There are the bells from the clanks
Of the morning milk drums,
And a wagon wheel outside my window
Just hit a bump
Which turned into an ecstatic chorus
Of the Beloved’s Name.
There is the Prayer Call
Rising up like the sun
Out of the mouths of a thousand birds.
There is an astonishing vastness
Of movement and Life
Emanating sound and light
From my folded hands
And my even quieter simple being and heart.
My dear,
Is it true that your mind
Is sometimes like a battering
Ram
Running all through the city,
Shouting so madly inside and out
About the ten thousand things
That do not matter?
Hafiz, too,
For many years beat his head in youth
And thought himself at a great distance,
Far from an armistice
With God.
But that is why this scarred old pilgrim
Has now become such a sweet rare vintage
Who weeps and sings for you.
That is why Hafiz will forever in his verse
Play his cymbal and call to you.
O listen –
Listen more carefully
To what is inside of you right now.
In my world
All that remains is the wondrous call to
Dance and prayer
Rising up like a thousand suns
Out of the mouth of a
Single bird.
By: Ellis Nadler,
on 10/22/2010
The thirteenth card in the current series.
Woodcut 30cm x 20cm. Click to enlarge.
By: Ronni A. Hall,
on 10/22/2010
I’d like to take the time to set some boundaries for your visit here at my blog. I offer my services and what I have learned as a teacher to help others on their path. A large goal in blogging, of course, is to express what I have to share, but, this is also my business with hopes that I will make a good living in return for offering myself and so much of my energy. Keeping that in mind, when you do comment, here are some guidelines.
0 Comments on Boundaries for Blog Comments as of 1/1/1900
By: Kathy Temean,
on 10/22/2010
Cynthia is a traditional artist using acrylic, watercolor and gouache in her painting and illustration. She worked as a museum educator and in public schools, teaching art to children and adults. She is greatly inspired by her student’s work. Cynthia exhibits and sells her paintings in galleries and her poetry has been published in chapbooks.
She aspires to be an author/illustrator and is currently working on several picture book manuscripts.
Cynthia loves animals and gets many story ideas from the antics of her five pets. In her spare time she enjoys horses and riding through the park.
She began her formal art training in England then transferred to Nova Scotia College of Art and Design where she lived with several friends in an old farm house near Peggy’s Cove.
At the kitchen window we could see whales spouting in the ocean, while the deer ate from the apple trees in the yard around the house. Here I also learned about the beauty of the vast sky and billowing cloud formations.
Cynthia shares studio space with her photographer husband.
Underpainting and Final Art
Bird Coming in From Snow Fight Below
Cynthia’s Cat
Graphic Pencil
2 Comments on Illustrator Saturday – Cynthia Iannaccone, last added: 10/23/2010
By: John Nez,
on 10/22/2010
Let's see... I've been here in Seattle more than 25 years and I can only think of one time we had much of a visit from any President. So imagine my surprise to discover that President Obama had spent the morning just a mile away from where I live... in the quiet Seattle neighborhood of View Ridge!
Presidents usually only drop by for quick airport speeches... then they're gone. I'm sure no president has ever been to View Ridge before. I missed him in View Ridge, but at least I got to see the President of the United States yesterday... at the campaign rally at the U.W. It was amazing. I was lucky to even get in... I sat on the aisle steps.
I arrived late and didn't even realize that there was an overflow crowd of 2,000 in the football stadium. Obama was mesmerizing... at times you could hear a pin drop in the crowd of 10,000. He is a dreamweaver and spellbinder... I felt like I'd been hypnotized.
The President also told what has to be the funniest political joke I've ever heard. A sort parable about the broken down car in the ditch that is our present miasmatic economy. The perfectly timed joke was delivered with the moral lesson being - R for reverse - D for drive.
I'm glad he didn't stop at the View Ridge Top Pot donut shop... that would have been too much to miss!
By: Julia,
on 10/22/2010
By: Helene Boudreau,
on 10/22/2010
It only comes out December 1st but I have a sneak sample. Listen! Listen!
2 Comments on Rubber Stamps and Morning Glory Fairies, last added: 10/25/2010
Thank you for sharing!
great banjo pig Wilson
Great illustration!
great illo - very fun
Wow, really great illustration technique; very effective.