General
October 27th, 2006 | Posted in General
I mentioned in a few posts a while back that, at certain points in the process of a job, I listen to audiobooks in my studio via my iPod. As I also mentioned, I can only listen to audiobooks I have either already read or have listened to before. This is because I cannot devote the kind of attention necessary to follow every word and action in the book… I have to be able to zone in and out just a little or it would be a distraction rather than a way to stay focused and on task. A while back someone in a comment… READ MORE
October 26th, 2006 | Posted in General
It seems like ever since I was in art school, the rumors of the death of commercial illustration as a career and a viable market have been numerous and unending. They still are. Organizations like the Illustrators Partnership and the Graphic Artists Guild have been rallying against various issues that have adversely affected the ability of illustrators to make a living and/or have hurt the illustration market in general. Some things are inevitable and beyond anyone’s control, and some are being thrust upon illustrators and their market… and some are us shooting ourselves in the foot. Even as early as 20 years ago, when I… READ MORE
October 25th, 2006 | Posted in General
In honor of Halloween’s approach, I thought I’d share this story. When ever we have guests at the house they are inevitably shown into my studio for a look around. It’s full of fun and cool stuff, so there’s a lot to look at. The one object that gets their attention initially is always the same, however. No, it’s not the original Al Hirschfeld, nor the original Mort Drucker. It’s not the original Sebastian Krüger, either… not the Twins bobbleheads, or the shelves of old Batman toys, or even the Shakespeare bust with the flip-up head. It’s always: “Where did you get that Batman statue?!”… READ MORE
October 23rd, 2006 | Posted in General
I know… I’m too busy to blog today. I had to post this link to a post on the outstanding blog of writer Mark Evanier. I am envious he was actually on hand Saturday evening at the Comic Art Professional Society‘s dinner honoring Jack Davis, which was the subject of this post of mine last week. I wish I could have been there. Follow the first link above to read Mark’s report on the evening. I knew about the secret plans to also honor Sergio, as CAPS president Chad Frye quietly asked for artists to do their version of Groo for a book to be… READ MORE
October 23rd, 2006 | Posted in General
Vacation over… READ MORE
October 22nd, 2006 | Posted in General
Links to this have been floating around the internet for a while, but I thought it worth another here. This is a brief (7 plus minute) video showing a 99 year old Al Hirschfeld drawing and inking a caricature of Paul Newman from the Broadway play “Our Town”. Hirschfeld literally worked right up to the time of his death just a few months after this video was shot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC1t2DmCeAU I think it’s fascinating watching his scratchy and short-stroked drawing and inking style. For something that ends up reproducing so elegant and with such distinct and clean-looking lines, it’s beginnings and execution are remarkably messy feeling.… READ MORE
October 21st, 2006 | Posted in General
I’m sitting on the airplane back to Minnesota with Anna and our four kids… another annual trip to Orlando in the books. I think I may have worn holes in my sneakers. I need a vacation from my vacation. I’ve been working in the theme park business for over 20 years, in Six Flags and Cedar Fair parks, and have visited parks like Sea World and Universal Studios many times with my family over the past 15 years. For the last decade, our timeshare in Orlando has brought us to sunny central Florida and it’s plethora of theme parks for a week of rides, countless… READ MORE
October 20th, 2006 | Posted in General
I mentioned in an earlier post that I was bringing some work with me on this trip to Orlando. I’ve gotten some of it done but as usual less than I was hoping I would. I might still get some more done on our last two days. It may seem counterproductive to bring work along on a vacation, but I learned long ago that sometimes doing so makes the vacation more relaxing than to leave the work to pile up at home. Yes, it can suck to have work along, but by bringing SOME of it along I avoid two things that can really ruin… READ MORE
