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!