New Secret Project!

Except now I am writing about it so I guess it is not completely top secret, but there are still a few surprises around the bend! Here is the project! I enjoy writing and drawing very much, but something I enjoy even more is reading others writings and seeing their drawings! So here is the project (as much as I can tell you right now) I have a book with 95 pages left in it. I want to fill it with stories and drawings, scribblings and whatever other fun stuff I can, but I don't want to do it all myself. This is where you come in. Each person gets 5 pages front and back to fill and add to the book. How this is going to work! 1. The theme will be posted inside the book and you don't get to see it until the book is mailed to you. [No cheating, it ruins the fun!] 2. It can be writing or art or both; I myself prefer colorful things but each five pages belongs to their owners to do with as they please. By no means feel like you have to do something art oriented if you are mostly a writer or vice versa. Whatever you do we just ask that it will fit back into the notebook easily. 3. Please note me your address if you would like to participate. I can take up to 17 people (for a total of 20 which is 100pages). Please only do this if you are serious. 4. I'm not going to dictate a strict timeline but please complete in a timely manner so we can get it to the next person. I'd say somewhere around two weeks (I know we are busy people!) Just send me a message if it is taking a little longer 5. Please send me a note or email when you receive the book and likewise when you are finished with your section and I will give you the address of the next person on the list. You should be able to fit this in a large manilla office envelope and use media mail to mail for under $3.00 I think. The notes and stuff are just so I can track where it is. 6. Please feel free to get family, friends, pets, children, nieces, nephews, goldfish involved the more the merrier! The idea is to get people creating! Just make sure everyone's names are on it! 7. Once I have gotten it back I will scan all the pages so that everyone can see and read! 8. Just send me a message if there are any questions!

Nano Update

17,103 words and still going!!! Even survived tech week for my show with my word count and sanity in tact! Still got a lot more to go but I am feeling good! I probably won't post any of the story until after November just because I tend to jump around and fix things and add stuff and...it would just drive me crazy! Also have two art shows in December fairly back to back December 3rd is the Manuel's Tavern Art Show that I am assistanting with and the second is the Christmas at the Creek. I have a lot of furniture to paint and will hopefully sell it all! Wish me luck!

Updates!

Life is full of new and exciting things!

1. I love pickles. I always seem to forget until I eat them again!

2. October Sketch-a-day with mangaka-serena is going splendidly! We're even challenging each other [well more like she is challenging me! I need to throw down the gauntlet!] and I cannot speak for her but I feel like it is helping me immensely! Making me stretch my drawing muscles and focus on what I know I need to work on. Being a painter mostly I tend to rely on paint to do a lot of things and therefore drawing skills aren't as important for me to work on sometimes. Hooray for getting better!  In December we will be starting our Muse Motivation Challenge, feel free to join! [link]

We will be posting weekly challenges that can be interpreted visually or through written word! But you have just ONE week to do it! It's going to be fun and will be a way to get our artistic butts in gear!

3. NanoWrimo: So Serena and I are doing the art thing in October because come November our butts will be spewing out 500 words a day in hopes of hitting our 50,000 goal! We'll be skyping a lot as we hack out our novels. I may or may not be posting chapters...depending on how bad they are!

4. While that is going on Heather and I are working on the Sketchbook Project at Art House Coop Which I will be posting as I work on it. Once finished it will be part of an archived collection that will tour to various places in the country! More details about it at the website. I think there is still time to sign up as they have extended deadlines and whatnot. I'd tell you the theme, but it will be more fun just to show you!

5. Last but not least, this week is going to be craaaaaazy busy as it is Kalin's birthday, yay! And I am pulling props for a show, a haunted historical walk, and a steampunk photoshoot! Hooray the life of a props master/artisan: nothing....nothing...nothing...BAM!! EVERYTHING ALL IN THE SAME WEEK!!! But that is how life goes. 

Hopefully I'll find some time to upload some more of my sketch-a-day project, and once I get going on the Sketchbook Project I'll be posting that as well. 

Lots of creative juices flowing

100 Themes

I will be trying to incorporate some of these themes into some Children of Destiny artwork.

I. Introduction 
II. Love 
III. Light 
IV. Dark
V. Seeking Solace
VI. Break Away
VII. Heaven
VIII. Innocence
IX. Drive
X. Breathe Again
XI. Memory
XII. Insanity
XIII. Misfortune
XIV. Smile
XV. Silence
XVI. Questioning
XVII. Blood
XVIII. Rainbow
XIX. Gray
XX. Fortitude
XXI. Vacation
XXII. Mother Nature
XXIII. Cat
XXIV. No Time
XXV. Trouble Lurking
XXVI. Tears
XXVII. Foreign
XXVIII. Sorrow
XXIX. Happiness
XXX. Under The Rain
XXXI. Flowers
XXXII. Night
XXXIII. Expectations
XXXIV. Stars
XXXV. Hold My Hand
XXXVI. Precious Treasure
XXXVII. Eyes
XXXVIII. Abandoned
XXXIX. Dreams
XL. Rated
XLI. Teamwork
XLII. Standing Still
XLIII. Dying
XLIV. Two Roads
XLV. Illusion
XLVI. Family
XLVII. Creation
XLVIII. Childhood
XLIX. Stripes
L. Breaking The Rules
LI. Sport
LII. Deep In Thought
LIII. Keeping A Secret
LIV. Tower
LV. Waiting
LVI. Danger Ahead
LVII. Sacrifice
LVIII. Kick In The Head
LIX. No Way Out
LX. Rejection
LXI. Fairy Tale
LXII. Magic
LXIII. Do Not Disturb
LXIV. Multitasking
LXV. Horror
LXVI. Traps
LXVII. Playing The Melody
LXVIII. Hero
LXIV. Annoyance
LXX. 67%
LXXI. Obsession
LXXII. Mischief Managed
LXXIII. I Can't
LXXIV. Are You Challenging Me?
LXXV. Mirror
LXXVI. Broken Pieces
LXXVII. Test
LXXVIII. Drink
LXXIX. Starvation
LXXX. Words
LXXXI. Pencil And Paper
LXXXII. Can You Hear Me?
LXXXIII. Heal
LXXXIV. Out Cold
LXXXV. Spiral
LXXXVI. Seeing Red
LXXXVII. Food
LXXXVIII. Pain
LXXXIX. Through The Fire
XC. Triangle
XCI. Drowning
XCII. All That I Have
XCIII. Give Up
XCIV. Last Hope
XCV. Advertisement
XCVI. In The Storm
XCVII. Safety First
XCVIII. Puzzle
XCIX. Solitude
C. Relaxation

October 1st, 2009

September 30th, 2009

September 27th, 2009

September 26th, 2009

September 25th, 2009

September 24th, 2009

September 23rd, 2009

Another day

So I started early on my Sketch-a-day project for October.  I am trying to get a  routine in place before October comes around.  I am excited about it, but I have to remember to scan the sketches so that I can show everyone the progress!  Serena and I are doing this together [for moral support and general energy, moanings and groanings etc etc]

Woot!

Mortal Kombat Annihilation is a funny movie...hehe!

I love rainy days....

The end.

New Portrait Sketches

For descriptions of each piece [because I don't feel like re-posting!]  can be found HERE 

Thank you!

New Projects...

So I am finishing up my two commission pieces, and have begun to look to the future. Since November is NaNoWriMo I have decided that October [for me anyways] is going to be DaDra DamMo [Daily Drawing, Dammit! Month] in an effort to get my artistic butt in gear. I had a lot of fun doing it as part of my design classes in school and I really need to get into the habit of doing it anyways--otherwise I'll never improve.

However, I need your help. Please look around my gallery and give suggestions for things to draw that you DON'T see in my gallery. If I don't have ideas out of my comfort zone the book will be filled with robots, weird creatures, and archways...which are things that are easy for me to crank out, and I would like to challenge myself a little. Anything will work, an emotion, scene, character idea, creature, idea, fanart, landscape, building etc etc.

Thank you, and if they aren't too crappy I'll post them

My Latest Creation!!

Meet Baxter, The Digger.  My robot creature for a contest on DeviantArt.com.  Please go look at all the other fabulous creations!  

This was a lot of fun because it was my first sculpture [other than stuff done in kindergarten, which doesn't really count any more!]  I am rather please with how it turned out...now back to writing....x_X

Sneak Peak...

This time, this time

Making robots, making robots
Is so fine

It's ours this time
And won't the families be surprised
It's ours this time

Making robots...

Making robots...

Making robots...

Time to give them something fun
They'll talk about for years to come

Let's have a cheer from everyone
It's time to party

Making robots, making robots

Gears and wires get wrapped up so nice
With rubber cement and pretty bows

It's finally time

All together, this and that
With all our tricks we're
Making Robot-time!


Here comes Lainey

[Lainey]
I don't believe what's happening to me
My hopes, my dreams, my fantasies
Hee, hee, hee, hee!!!
Won't they be impressed, I am a genius
See how I transformed this normal gear
Into something strange and weird.

All together, this and that
With all our tricks we're making Robot-time!

This time, this time
Making robots, making robots
La, la, la
It's almost here
And we can't wait
So ring the bells and celebrate

'Cause when the full moon starts to climb
We'll all sing out

[Lainey]
It's Robot Time!!!
Hee, hee, hee

Oh my goodness!!!!

Design a creature from the Movie 9 ?!?!!!!

Hell yeah!  I'm up for it!

And so it begins...

Art Day!

Today my good friend Alex is coming over and we're going to dabble in artsy things.  Some of that may include the boring task of painting the lattice for our screen porch and the rose trellis, but it needs to get done!

I've got some commissions to work on today, and a few picture frames.  I found canvas frames at Wally World for three dollars, so I'm going to do a few and take to InsideOut and see if Sheilah wants to sell them with my stools.

Also have a few ATCs in the works that I may work on today!  Who knows!  It will definitely be a day of adventure!

Cheap Art Sale!

Hey guys! 

I am offering super cheap commissioned art! I know birthdays and Thanksgiving, and Christmas are coming up, so why not get something cool for friends and family now! Go to http://widgetambolia.deviantart.com to see my work so you know what I offer. I work in pen, watercolor, acrylic, colored, pencil and marker! My specialties include papercrafts [cards, bookmarks etc], portraits, costume and character design, furniture painting and landscapes. My artwork is bright, colorful and generally [not always!] geared towards kids. 

PRICES: 

2"x3" ACEO Card..................................$1  

2"x6" Bookmark ..................................$3  

with backing  

and tassel  

4"x6" Postcard.....................................$4  

Card...........................................$4  

5"x7" Painting......................................$5  

Card...........................................$5  

9"x12"Painting.....................................$10 

 

Anything larger than that email me at dread.pirate.lainey@gmail.com and we can discuss price. For anything just black and white knock a dollar off the price [Except for the ACEO cards which are a dollar black and white or color]  

If you are interested please send me an email with the following information:  

Your Name 

Phone Number 

Mailing Address 

Description of what you would like [including size, color choices, subject etc] 

Deadline [If applicable. There may be an extra charge for rush orders]

Quantity  

Most orders will be filled a week after receiving your email request. I will accept cash or check, and we can discuss that upon receiving your email. I can really only accept cash if you live in the Atlanta area and we can meet person to person [which I do not mind at all!] other than that a check will work fine!  

DISCLAIMER: I do not do anything obscene, nude men or women, anything pornographic, naked anime chicks, vulgar language, anything racist, bigoted or pornographic [It's just not my thing!] I reserve the right to refuse service based on the above statement. I hate to have to put this on here, but I've gotten several BIZARRE requests! If you look at my work you will see what I can do! Thanks! Please help pass the word!

Scan Day!!

I am going to scan a lot of artwork today [hopefully!] in progress and finished!  In the mean time please enjoy my update of my various writing projects HERE

Ciao!

Hmm...

As I sit here with my cup of coffee listening to the soft plaintive piano theme of How's Moving Castle I feel myself drifting back towards writing projects...don't worry I still have some artistic things in the works, but gears are shifting.

I met with my good friend and fabulous artist Jared Faust of Empire Generic to discuss some upcoming projects of his, and how I might help.  I will be working on some scripts for him, and at the moment that is all I am at  liberty to say, muhahahahaaaaa!

Still working on getting a few pictures of my latest pieces to share.  One day I'll get off my butt, and stop giving excuses and take the picture...not sure where my camera cord is at the moment...hmm...

For writing scribblies, please visit my other blog: Two Dismensional Ephemera

Ciao!

Need Your Help...

So I am in the midst of creating maps of the world in which my novel Children of Destiny takes place. The first part that I am working on is Achelon City, and is where the bulk of the action of the story takes place. It is a gigantic city [about the size of two-three Atlantas] and is comprised of a mixture of humans from Earth [refugees after Earth was attacked] and indigenous peoples. I am in the process of laying out the city and the streets and such and therefore need A LOT of names! Because it is a mixture of Earth culture and alien cultures I need everything from actual street names from large cities such as L.A. New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, etc; names of famous people, mythological names [Greek, Welsch, Japanese, Aboriginal, Egyptian anything] to random made up names that you think sound pretty. Anything and Everything! Feel free to either leave it as a message here or message or email them to me! Thanks and as soon as I get everything finalized I will post the finished map! And then onto the next! Woot!

Lack of Sleep...

...sucks, and is a good thing at the same time.

Funny how that works....Stuff still in the works.  Coming soon!

New Projects...

I am bursting with creative forces both writing and artistic and it is VERY exciting.  I have been having very inspiring conversations with my good friend and cohort Stephanie, about myths and legends and re-writing stories and fairy tales that have got my imagination spinning.  So coming up are some new art projects I am going to start sketching and doodling and working towards completion based off those conversations. (among other things!)

PROJECTS:

King Arthur legends ala 1920's [and that's all I've got thus far!]

Midsummer Nights Dream portraits [I started this one awhile ago and didn't get very far]

Achelon City maps/history [from my novel]

Peter Pan paintings [say that five times fast!]

And that's probably enough to keep me busy for awhile!  We'll see!

                                                    

               Peaseblossom

New Horizons...

I just finished my largest watercolor painting to date!! 15x20 inches!!!  

Needless to say it turned out well, and I am very excited!!

Pictures will be forthcoming!!

Woot!

The Abyss...

I am about to start painting my largest watercolor ever...15x20"...and to be honest I am a little nervous. I have a whole stack of smaller watercolors that I have drawn but haven't painted yet for the same reason...I don't want to mess them up... I think I just need to slap myself and stop doubting my skills, and GET ON WITH IT!!! Sorry for this rather self indulgent, whiney post...I'm going to kick my butt into gear and the rest of this week I am going to churn out two new paintings and a rocking chair for my cousin!! I am-I'm gonna do it! Just you wait and see!!

Inside Out Sautee

So I spent yesterday working on some projects at my stepmom Sheilah's store InsideOut Sautee.  It is a fabulous store full of great art, home decor, cool lamps and eventually my artwork!  I am doing some custom furniture painting for her and I did the base coats yesterday.  A pretty robin's egg blue and a creamcicle orangey yellow one.  Today, after I go get my paint from Gainesville I am going to go add the details.  

Morning glories on the blue stool, and possibly poppies on the orange stool.  Not so sure about the orange stool yet,  I will need to ponder some more...

                                        

Perhaps I'll just do something funky like this on it...could be interesting!

Hopefully I will get to take pictures today before finishing them!

Ciao!

Brokedown

I am now on Twitter...against my better judgement!  But now you can follow my artistic endeavors [all four of you!] on Twitter.  I warn you, I may forget to update...or possibly get addicted, not sure which one yet!  We'll see how this goes!

Off to shower and face the day!

Onwards and Upwards

So a lot of things have been happening here recently, some art related some not so art related.  The biggest and most interesting probably being STEAM Fest.  You can read all about it HERE as I am feeling lazy and not wanting to regurgitate all the details here.

The biggest success, artistically speaking was the costumes for the characters Caliban and Ariel for the formal staged reading of HMS Tempest that was the highlight of the festival. 

 Caliban was the first theatrical costuming adventure that made it from initial concept sketch to finished product while retaining most of my originalideas.  Allow me to show you, as it will make much more sense than trying to describe it. 

This makes me happy because usually I have a really difficult time moving from a two dimensional idea to a three dimensional idea.  Ariel was equally exciting to work on although I had less concept sketches to work from and more of it was created as I went.

     

My favorite piece to make was the headband.  Someone said she looked like a little butterfly with antennas which in hindsight sounds like a strange compliment for a robot, but it works well for the character.

From these photos I am working on a watercolor rendition of these two characters because they are my favorites.  I am also working on a few more paintings based of HMS Tempest... but those are still top secret!  I am also working on some more furniture painting for my stepmom's store Inside Out Sautee.  Pictures of that will be forthcoming!

And lastly I have been hired by the Sautee Nacoochee Community Center as the scenic artist for their production of Headwaters: Birth, Death, and Places In Between.  This will encompass a lot of woodgraining- I look forward to the challenge!

So, as they say onwards and upwards!  

Hehe!

So I haven't been around in a while because I have been coordinating a festival, working, making robots, AND acting!

I am making the costume/props for the characters Ariel and Caliban in The HMS Tempest: A Steampunk Romance which has been VERY interesting.  Alas, I have not been taking process pictures like I should-but there will be plenty of shots of the actual pieces from the festival!

So I will be disappearing shortly as we are a week out from the festival and there is still TONS of stuff to do, costuming and otherwise, but don't worry I'll surface on the other side with lots of good pictures and good stories!

Ciao!

So...

...my car is dead.  Anyone want to buy any artwork?  

New Art!

Sorry for the random splurge of artwork.  I just wanted to get it up here for people to see.  All of these pieces are for sale.  If interested please drop me an email!

Hello all! I am putting together a steampunk inspired event at The Academy Theatre in Avondale Estates, Georgia and am in need of artists, actors, musicians, and fashionistas to fill out this miniature festival June 12th and 13th. The event will be centered around a formal staged reading of a new specifically steampunk work, by local playwright Stephanie Ferguson, The HMS Tempest: A Steampunk Romance. There will also be a fashion show/ costume contest with prizes, an artists market of all the latest and greatest in local science fiction and fantasy artwork, a high tea, and plenty of good music and dancing time! For more details, please check out www.atlsteamfest.com which will be updated as information becomes available on acts performing. Or you may also email me directly with any questions/comments at lainey_welsch@yahoo.com! Thanks!

No New Things...

There has been a distinct lack of art, because I have been busily writing on various projects.  

The first being that I am taking  playwriting workshop through Working Title Playwrights, which if you are in the Atlanta area and a playwright of any stage, you should check them out because they are seriously good people.

The second project is that I have been requested [or poked rather!] by my friend Stephanie to finish re-writing my adventure play The True History of Henry Rayne and the Airship Pirates 

and I have actually had an idea on how to re-vamp it and make it work better, but you will have to read more about that on my writing blog http://ophelia-crane.livejournal.com   whenever I actually update!  I'm trying to stay away from the blogs because they suck out all of my energy and take up the time I  am supposed to be using for writing, like now for instance.  

I just wanted to post something to let you know why I haven't put up any new art.  May scan some older stuff to show, but we'll see.  Now off to write!!

Alone

From childhood's hour I have not been

As others were-- I have not seen

As others saw-- I could not bring

My passions from a common spring.

From the same source I have not taken

My sorrow; I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone; 

And all I lov'd, I lov'd alone.

Then-- in my childhood-- in the dawn

Of a most stormy life--was drawn

From every depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still:

From the torrent, or the fountain,

From the red cliff of the mountain,

From the sun that 'round me roll'd

In its autumn tint of gold--

From the lightning in the sky

As it pass'd me flying by

From the thunder and the storm,

And the cloud that took the form

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)

Of a demon in my view

-Edgar Allan Poe

Hmm...

Is This a Shakespeare Which I See Before Me?
By JOHN F. BURNS, New York Times
Published: March 9, 2009
LONDON — Nearly 400 years after his death, William Shakespeare 
appeared in a new and more handsome guise on Monday, thanks to a recently discovered portrait that a group of Shakespeare scholars and 
art historians said was the only known likeness to have been painted 
in his lifetime.

The Shakespeare engraving by Martin Droeshout is considered a close 
representation.
Stanley Wells, the chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, 
based in Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-upon- Avon, described 
the portrait at a news conference as a “pinup.” It shows the Bard as 
a far more alluring figure than the solemn-faced, balding image that 
has been conveyed by engravings, busts and portraits that have been 
accepted by scholars as the best available likeness of English 
literature’s most famous figure.

Until now, scholars have deemed the most authentic representations of 
Shakespeare to be a black-and-white woodcut engraving by the Flemish 
artist Martin Droeshout that appeared in the first folio edition of 
Shakespeare’s works in 1623, and a marble bust displayed since the 
1620s in a Stratford church.

In their place, the scholars in London showed reporters a portrait 
taken from the private collection of an aristocratic Anglo-Irish 
family, the Cobbes, who have owned it for nearly 300 years, since 
inheriting it through a family relationship with Shakespeare’s only 
known literary patron, Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd Earl of Southampton.

The earl was a rakish aristocrat who eluded a death sentence passed 
on him after joining a rebellion against Elizabeth I.

But not all Shakespeare scholars are convinced the Cobbe portrait is 
an authentic likeness, or even that it is of Shakespeare at all, 
given the aristocratic dress of the man in the portrait and the 
idealizing tradition of Elizabethan portraiture, which often produced 
images that bore little resemblance to nature.

The Cobbe portrait, as the scholars now call it, shows a head-turner 
of a man. In middle age, this Shakespeare has a fresh-faced 
complexion, a closely trimmed auburn beard, a long straight nose and 
a full, almost bouffant hairstyle. He is dressed in elaborate white 
lace ruff and a gold-trimmed blue doublet of a kind worn only by the 
wealthy and successful men of his age.

Mr. Wells and other experts said they were convinced after three 
years of studying the portrait, and after elaborate scientific tests 
at Cambridge University, that it was, in effect, the holy grail 
Shakespearean scholars had sought for centuries: a portrait done in 
Shakespeare’s lifetime, and the original from which other Shakespeare 
paintings of the period were copied. They said their studies showed 
it probably was painted in 1610, when Shakespeare was 46, and only a 
few years from his death in 1616.

In a brochure for an exhibition opening in Stratford in April, titled 
“Shakespeare Found,” the birthplace trust offered a lyrical 
interpretation.

“His face is open and alive, with a rosy, rather sweet expression, 
perhaps suggestive of modesty,” it said. “There is nothing superior 
or haughty in the subject, which one might well expect to find in a 
face set off by such rich clothing. It is the face of a good 
listener, as well as of someone who exercised a natural restraint.”

In a handout for reporters, the trust said the portrait might open a 
new era in Shakespeare scholarship, giving fresh momentum, among 
other things, to generations of speculation as to whether the 
playwright, a married man with three children, was bisexual. Until 
now, that suggestion has hinged mostly on dedications to the Earl of 
Southampton that Shakespeare wrote with some of his best-loved poems 
and some of the sensual passages in his poems and plays, particularly 
his sonnets, most of which, the London scholars said, are centered on 
expressions of love and desire for men, not women.

“This Shakespeare is handsome and glamorous, so how does this change 
the way we think about him?” the handout said. “And do the painting 
and provenance tell us more about his sexuality, and possibly about 
the person to whom the sonnets are addressed?”

David Scott Kastan, a Yale Shakespeare expert, said by telephone that 
there were reasons to question the Cobbe portrait’s provenance — 
whether it was in fact once owned by the Earl of Southampton or 
commissioned by him, as the trust representatives believe — and to 
doubt whether the richly dressed man in the portrait was Shakespeare.

“If I had to bet I would say it’s not Shakespeare,” Mr. Kastan said. 
But even if it was, he said, the traditions of Elizabethan 
portraiture meant that it would be unwise to conclude that 
Shakespeare actually looked like the figure depicted in the portrait. 
“It might be a portrait of Shakespeare, but not a likeness, because 
the conventions of portraiture at the time were often to idealize the 
subject,” he said.

Scholars searching for a Shakespeare likeness have concentrated on 
four other paintings with strong similarities to the Cobbe portrait, 
one of them the so-called Folger portrait displayed in the Folger 
Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. But the experts in London 
said they were sure from their study of the Cobbe portrait that it 
was the original from which the other portraits were based.

The experts said the portrait came to light when Alec Cobbe, an art 
restorer and heir to the family fortune, visited the National 
Portrait Gallery in London in 2006 to see an exhibition, “Searching 
for Shakespeare,” at which the Folger portrait was displayed. They 
said Mr. Cobbe concluded that the Folger portrait, whose authenticity 
had been doubted for decades, was a copy of the one that had been in 
his family’s art collection since the mid-18th century, with the 
family unaware that the man depicted might be Shakespeare.

Mr. Wells, the Shakespeare scholar, said that compared to the Cobbe 
portrait, the other portraits presented “an inanimate mask” of 
Shakespeare and that they were “dull copies of the original.” He 
added, “No one who has seen the four paintings can doubt that the 
Cobbe portrait is the original. You don’t need an expert to see that.”

Scientific studies at Cambridge showed that the oak panel on which 
the Cobbe portrait was mounted came from trees felled in the last 20 
years of the 16th century, pointing to a date for the painting in the 
early 1600s, experts at the news conference said. They said the paint 
used was also characteristic of that period, as was the intricate and 
costly style of the lace ruff worn by the man in the portrait.

Rupert Featherstone, assistant curator for the university’s 
Fitzwilliam Museum, said another clue pointing to the Cobbe 
portrait’s claim to be the original from which Shakespeare paintings 
of the period were copied came from X-ray studies that showed the 
“pentiments,” or changes made by the painter as he progressed. He 
said these included the inclusion of a small, fleshy bulge at the 
upper corner of Shakespeare’s left eye, a detail typical of the minor 
adjustments made in original portraiture.

Mr. Wells and other experts said the Cobbe painting, if accepted as 
the only original lifetime likeness of the playwright, could be worth 
millions. But they said that pecuniary considerations played no part 
in their scholarship. “It hasn’t been for sale for 400 years, and 
it’s not for sale now,” said Mark Broch, the curator of the Cobbe 
collection.

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Hellboy II A Review...of sorts...

So Hellboy has special memories for me because one of the first things I did when I moved to Gainesville, before I knew anyone was to sit at the Coffee Shop of Horrors [now Inman Perk] and read all of the Hellboy graphic novels they had there.

This was how I got to know my good friend Creed.

That aside, I really like stories that have supernatural elements to them rather than just straight up hero vs. villain sort of comics/graphic novels and therefore Hellboy ranks up there as one of my top favorites.  So I was very excited when the first movie came out, regardless 

of the fact I never got to see it in theatres.

But I saw the first one, and the visuals were simply amazing-but not just that, the story, characters, and actors were good too, which makes all of the difference.  Guillermo Del Toro's finesse at bringing all of those elements together to make a fun, action packed, visually beautiful movie is of the highest calibre.  The second Hellboy film, The Golden Army is on that same level if not surpasses it.  

So rather than just sit here and spout on and on about this movie I so obviously like, I am going to share some images of the parts that I really enjoyed, or thought were particularly amazing.

                            

       

The elves were my favorite part, hand down.  Prince Nuada, and Princess Nuala were 

 beautiful and elegant, but obviously otherwordly.  Just how I have always thought elves should be.  

While eac

h author/artist has their own interpretations, and that is the wonderful thing about art, this comes closest to how I personally feel elves look, and that was just wonderful to find in a movie.

  

Not to mention that the costuming was gorgeous as usual!

Life Update...

So several things are finished...Willy Wonka, with the lovely and wonderful Greenfield Hebrew Academy kids is finished, after four months! I am both happy, and a little sad. You don't realize how much you get to know kids until it's the last day and you realize that you probably won't see some of them any more because they will be off to high school even if you do come back next year. I made each of the kids a little ATC of their characters, that went over GREAT! It was so nice to see their faces light up at the idea that I would make something like that for them. Alas, I had no time to take pictures of them. I am very glad that I took this job. The pay wasn't the greatest, but it was one of the most rewarding, challenging, and fun jobs I have ever had. This just strengthens my commitment to work with children more! And has solidified my resolve to open my own children's theatre one day! By Children for Children [that will be the by-line!] Other than that I am working for my Dad, doing clean up work at the new gallery until I can find a real part time job. Theatre is slow, well more like dead as a dead herring as the Pythons would say, and I keep plugging along. UPCOMING PROJECTS: Captain Hook painting [based on the sketch I have posted!] DnD Character Sketches The Pirate and The Ninja picture [aka me and Serena-chan!] And that's about it for now! Ciao!

Sometimes...

...I suprise myself.  This is a sketch for a larger painting I am working towards getting started on [that's a mouthful!] and it turned out to be a delightful surprise!

This originally was going to be a portrait of Captain Hook as portrayed by Jason Isaacs from the new movie.  I want to do a series of three paintings of Hook as portrayed by different actors that encompass different aspects of Hooks personality.  Mr. Isaacs portrait was going to be lonliness, because after all Hook is "old, alone, and done for"  which would depress me too!

However, in an interesting twist of fate this did not turn out looking anything like Mr. Isaacs.  I'm not very good with likenesses, but I really like my own version of Captain Hook, and it seems better to have my own interpretation instead of doing just a portrait of another actor [that will come later!]

Now the perspective is a little off on the nose and the eyes, but considering I did this while running sound for a spelling bee in a loud smoky bar, I think it is pretty damn good!  We shall see if I can aptly translate this onto canvas with the same emotional content!

And one more thing: I hate, I hate, I hate! Drawing facial hair! Hehe.

Synesthesia...

syn·es·the·sia also syn·aes·the·sia      (sĭn'ĭs-thē'zhə)  Pronunciation Key  
n.  

1. A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a color.
2. A sensation felt in one part of the body as a result of stimulus applied to another, as in referred pain.
3. The description of one kind of sense impression by using words that normally describe another.

Performance Today article

I listened to the segment on Performance Today as I was running around town, and it truly amazes me.  As a non synesthete it fairly blows my mind to be able to see colors as you are listening to a particular piece of music.  However, given my more high strung nature I imagine eventually it would drive me crazy.

I know when I hear certain pieces of classical music I have certain kinds of images that flash through my mind, and that I cannot concentrate on any sort of artistic endeavor if I listen to music with words, but this is completely different...

This post may not make sense as I am still internalizing what it could possibly be like to be a synethete.  I will probably come back and make this more coherent later.  Just wanted to share!

This morning...

...instead of doing what I was supposed to I drew this instead!

You ever have those sudden urges to draw something? That's what this was. He is Finn O'Riann, Ship's Cook under Captain Wintermantel Stormhaven [you can read about her in 'Captain Stormhaven Get's a Beer' one of my ten minute plays I've been working on].

He's the stereotypical Irishman, drinks, is loud, stubborn, but with a strong family tie: namely taking care of his sister who has a bit of a personality problem [in that she has three of them!] He's usually good natured but loves to poke fun at Lucy and her 'morose Frenchness' as he calls it.

That's about as far as I got with his character. I'll actually draw Winter and Lucy soon since technically I created them first, but in typical Irish fashion [no offense!] Finn muscled his way up to the front and let it be known that I needed to draw him.

Movies!

I just found two animated movies that I REALLY want to go see!  The first is The Triplets of Belleville.

Behold a tale of true love (between a boy and a bicycle), of tireless courage (from a bitty grandmother with a clubfoot) and of a shocking new definition of sexy (three wizened matriarchs who ravenously slurp down frogs). Sylvain Chomet's feature debut is an animated extravaganza of Gallic wit and soul that delivers more wild humanity than many of the year's live-action features. The "simple" plot entails a freakish lad who is kidnapped while racing Le Tour de France and must be rescued by his grandma and their obese dog, but go for the atmosphere and music, an orgy of influences including Hayao Miyazaki, gypsy jazz and Jeu

net & Caro. In particular, relish the eponymous trio — it seems safe to say that there haven't been cooler old ladies in cinema in recent tim

es, possibly ever. The movie could well be the finest animated film of 2003, if not one of the best in any category.

— Gregory Weinkauf, SF Weekly

I've watched a few clips of it on YouTube and I believe the dog is my favorite character thus far.  It reminds me heavily of the Russian cartoons I used to watch on IFC. I had forgotten exactly how much I really enjoy foreign animation, and it's nice to see interesting animated movies with stylish animation coming from countries other than Japan.  Don't get me wrong I love a lot of animated movies that come from Japan-it's just nice to see the rest of the world finally catching up!  It was part of the 2003 Cannes Film festival and has a long list of awards AND it's French!! Woot!  Go my French

brethren!!

The second movie that I am very excited about is The Secret of Kells.  It is about a young boy Brenden who must use his new found gift of Illumination in order to defeat Vikings that are closing in on his abbey.  The animation is very reminiscent of Samurai Jack for me, as well as holding it's own flavor.  It looks like the pages of the Book of Kells itself coming to life.  The music is also exquisite.  I can't wait, March 6th!

Beautiful artwork!

Mostly cause...

...I'm tired of my rantiness being up here.  Not much else to report.  I will have pictures from my various art shows, kindly provided by Aicilla aka Just Smooty aka my best friend who allows me to drag her along to these things and merchandises my stuff AND takes pictures!  

There is also a lot of sketchy goodness of Tempest: A Steampunk Romance that I just need to get off my lazy butt and scan!  I'm excited about doing costume designing of sorts!  Woot!  But that exciting adventure garners an entry all to itself!

I have also started on my Captain Hook portrait, and by start I mean I have amassed quite a collection of pictures of said Captain [oh darn!] and done a few preliminary sketches.  More will come after March 8th.  That is the magical date that I am finished stage managing Willy Wonka! Woot!  I wish there wasn't such a need for stage managers, and I wish I wasn't getting such a good reputation as one...I much prefer to paint...we're working on that!  I have a few leads on some painting gigs! Woot!

Grr...

I hate having a bad day...I hate money and how wether or not you need it to be happy [which I don't!]  you have to have it...and I know the economy sucks, and there are a lot of people who are stressed because they DON'T have jobs, but I think it's almost worse to have a job [or three!] and still never have money and go into the negative and be up to your ass in bills all the time when all you want to do is paint....

...sorry I just needed to vent that...

Now back to props making!

More Random Art...

Technalain, the goddess of inspiration.  Each of her seven children watches over a different area of the arts/sciences...more on that later!

Interesting...

Careers for ENFP Personality Types

[Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving]

---

Whether you're a young adult trying to find your place in the world, or a not-so-young adult trying to find out if you're moving along the right path, it's important to understand yourself and the personality traits which will impact your likeliness to succeed or fail at various careers. It's equally important to understand what is really important to you. When armed with an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and an awareness of what you truly value, you are in an excellent position to pick a career which you will find rewarding.

ENFPs generally have the following traits:

• Project-oriented
• Bright and capable
• Warmly, genuinely interested in people; great people skills
• Extremely intuitive and perceptive about people
• Able to relate to people on their own level
• Service-oriented; likely to put the needs of others above their own
• Future-oriented
• Dislike performing routine tasks
• Need approval and appreciation from others
• Cooperative and friendly
• Creative and energetic
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills
• Natural leaders, but do not like to control people
• Resist being controlled by others
• Can work logically and rationally - use their intuition to understand the goal and work backwards towards it
• Usually able to grasp difficult concepts and theories

ENFPs are lucky in that they're good a quite a lot of different things. An ENFP can generally achieve a good degree of success at anything which has interested them. However, ENFPs get bored rather easily and are not naturally good at following things through to completion. Accordingly, they should avoid jobs which require performing a lot of detailed, routine-oriented tasks. They will do best in professions which allow them to creatively generate new ideas and deal closely with people. They will not be happy in positions which are confining and regimented.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ENFP. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ENFP:

• Consultant
• Psychologist
• Entrepreneur
• Actor
• Teacher
• Counselor
• Politician / Diplomat
• Writer / Journalist
• Television Reporter
• Computer Programmer, Systems Analyst, or Computer Specialist
• Scientist
• Engineer

This is very interesting considering my role in Aicilla, & Spencer's and I's Sekret Projekt! [and yes, those are code names, muhahaha!!]  The things in bold are things that I feel REALLY apply to me. This is interesting.  I will hopefully have time to scan sketches from Sekret Projekt, and post some of them!  Woot!

Random Art

These are some new pieces that I did for my art show Saturday. The Robot Love piece actually sold! Right at the end of the night! Woot! I'll post some more artwork as I get a chance to. Ciao!

Aww!

Wasn't I cute?

Success!!

I was part of the Avondale-Estates Rail Arts Distric Art Crawl this past Saturday, and it was a lot of fun! Technically since I work for The Academy Theatre I was in charge of the building and Artists Market and everything, but Heather and Stephanie came and helped set up my booth and watched it for me while I had to run around so it all worked out.

The best part of the whole event was that I actually sold some pieces of my artwork, which made me feel very good. I sold two of my children's rocking chairs [pictures coming soon!], got a commission for a third chair, and a commission for a mural. I also sold several bookmarks, and postcards and random things, and overall it was lots of fun! Tiring...but lots of fun!

Now I am working on getting Jared to split a table with me at AWA...I think I might wait on DragonCon. I want to actually go to the Con and see what things are like and what sort products I should put together [that and it's rather expensive to get a table and I want to make sure I will make money if I spend that much on a table!] but we'll see perhaps that will change in the next month or so.

OTHER PROJECTS:
I'm currently creating props for the Greenfield Hebrew Academy's production of Willy Wonka. Pictures will be forthcoming! They are lots of fun!

I am also working on costume and props design, for my friend Stephanie's play Steampunk Tempest [that's just the working title, real title coming soon!] which will be lots of fun, and will be possibly going up in June. Thirteen pairs of goggles...oi! 0_o

Also, have a Captain Hook painting in the works as well! Hooray! I will post sketches as soon as I can find my camera cord.

That's it for now! I have to go soon and pick up the other two rocking chairs from my mom's house and get those base coated. Yay, for making a living from painting!

Oh yeah, and as soon as my old business cards run out. I'm going to make this my art blog again. It's much easier to upload pictures to.

Your Guardian Angel- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

When I see your smile Tears run down my face I can't replace And now that I'm stronger I've figured out How this world turns cold and breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

  I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven 
 
It's ok. It's ok. It's ok. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one

  I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven 

 Cuz you're my, you're my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away,  Please tell me you'll stay, stay  

Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be ok Though my skies are turning gray 

 I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Hehe!

"People say that Anakin is nothing but a whiney teenager, of course the biggest villain in the universe is going to be a whiney teenager.  He started out as a whiney teenager, an emo kid with issues."

I love Kevin Smith!

[I'm paraphrasing by the way, my memory isn't that good! ^__^]

A New Week, A New...

So I am not feeling as weird/upset/depressed about things at the moment...I think the stupid full moon had something to do with it.  It always does, although I never figure it out until after the fact...anyways!  I am working on getting things ready for the art show at the beginning of February that I'm really excited about.  

I had coffee with Stephanie the other day for her birthday which was a lot of fun, and Kalin and I seemed to have worked things out...so I guess things are getting better...slowly.  I have a few leads on some more job type things which  make me happy.  I at least feel like I'm headed in the right direction...ok, now I'm rambling enough!  Off to run errands and then clean the house!!!