Led Zepplin

As soon as I have free time I have a project for myself. I have been listening to lots of Led Zepplin lately and I really want to do a lip sync of "I Cant Quit You Baby". All I see is my animation when I listen to it now. Its going to be so fun to have a project for myself.  

When I feel you near me little girl,
I know you are my one desire, yeah.
Woaa-a-a-a-h!

Teaser

Some idea sketches for a new project I am starting for the summer, with Rebecca Linthwaite. 

Studying

Studying one of my favorite artists, Norman Rockwell. I'm finished with this now. I wanted to get the expression most of all. I still cant get enough though. There is so much story here. I look at this and see her subtle movements in the mirror and every tilt of her head with a readjusting glance. 

"I talk as I sketch, too, in order to keep their minds off what I'm doing so I'll get the most natural expression I can from them. Also, the talking helps to size up the subject's personality, so I can figure out better how to portray him." 

-Norman Rockwell

Bony Legs

We are supposed to bring our favorite children's book to class next work for "Children's Literature." This class becomes very nostalgic. I haven't thought about this in a long time but I used to always take the same book from the library for a long time. It was called "Bony Legs".

I loved this book. I read it over and over again. No other story was ever as interesting. I remember my mom used to try and persuade me to get other things. We would scout other books in the library before I'd finally say I want "Bony Legs." I also loved "In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories" which was also illustrated by Dirk Zimmer. 

UPDATE: Bony Legs is out of print :(  One day I will buy it from Amazon.

Little House on The Prairie

While discussing "Little House On The Prairie" in class today I remembered something I did when I was little that I completely forgot about. We were talking about what psychological effects books can have on children for better or for worse. I started talking about how I thought a child could read 'Little House...' and go off into there back yard to have adventures on the Prairie and play survival.
I then remembered how I used to run away as a kid. My version of running away was getting a stick and handkerchief, like a hobo, packing snacks and stuff to draw with and going to the backyard. I would go to my mom with my sack over my shoulder, nose in the air and state 'I'm running away'. She would play along and say "Oh no! Really?", I'd say "Yes." She would get me prepared with everything I needed on my own. She would say "I'll miss you and I love you!" Back turned I'd say "I have to go now."
I would head out to the woods behind our house, eat my snacks and color. Shortly after I'd think she was so nice to me when I left. Maybe they are nice. I would look up towards my house. What if they really think I'm gone? I cant be on my own! Will they take me back? I would run up to the house find my mom, "I'm home!". She would make a big fuss and say "I'm so happy your back!". I liked the fuss made over me when I returned.

I ran away a lot. lol

100 Year Old Man

I hope my kid yells at me like this, "Sit your ass down were puttin' on Pooh Bear!"

I'll sit my ass down and watch Pooh Bear, old or new. 

Alice in Wonderland

I think Alice in Wonderland is a good children’s book because it helps prepare children for the cruel people of the world. Children are impressionable, there are many things that teach them what shouldn’t be taught to them.  Kids need stories with a message that can mold their mind for the best. It’s interesting to think, if I was a children’s author what would I want children to know? I think back on my life and think an important lesson is that you can’t trust everyone and not all people are nice. There are many good children’s authors that use ugly characters to show children harsh lessons such as this. One that comes to mind is author Roald Dahl he uses fearful characters such as in “The Witches”, to show that people can be cruel and evil.  Out of all the stories ever written some of the most significant are the Hans Christen Anderson and Brothers Grimm fairy tales and they don’t always end happily ever after. Both of them have incredible dark stories that involve murder and treachery. They’re a success because they are honest and children want honesty. Children are simple and innocent and want guidance. Children books have strong characters that teach children about the cruelty of the world. In Alice in Wonderland the Queen, the rabbit and the caterpillar are all aggressive. The Queen wants to chop off people’s heads. The rabbit is always in a panic and tends to get aggressive with Alice. Interestingly the caterpillar, tells her keep your temper, even though its clear he cannot.

Sometimes we look back on life and think ‘I wish I could be a kid again everything was simple’. Alice is simple, innocent and naïve. She is the only likeable character in the story. The other characters are strong and we are interested in them but there no one we would want to be with. She’s childlike and always wants to do the right thing. One of my favorite things about Alice in Wonderland is the stream of consciousness style of writing. I love how genuine Alice is. She’s very innocent and says what she thinks. I like that things that happen and spur her to think of other things that lead to her tangents. Kids minds wander from one thing to the next.

I think Alice is a good example of our self in a dream. In my dreams my feelings are heightened. I feel like crying at things I normally wouldn’t. I read once that you cannot hide your conscious in dreams. Your ideas and thoughts and feelings just come out. In life we can push certain memories or feelings about things we wish to forget aside. In dreams we can’t hide from our self. When we are children we are open. We don’t know how to not say what we are thinking. It’s when we grow up that we stifle ourselves. In our dreams we are like children, we are like Alice.

Peter Pan (playscript)

Growing up I never read Peter Pan but I did watch the Rogers and Hammerstein version of Peter Pan on tape so I always saw the play version of Peter Pan. As a kid I never realized it was a play that was being filmed. I just thought it was an old movie and that’s why it was a little different.

            The relationship of Mr and Mrs Darling is interesting. I wonder if JM Barrie chose the name Darling, because they are in fact not ‘darling’. JM Barrie portrays Mr Darling as the grown up no one wants to become. He is the grown man of the book but he is nothing for kids to look up to. It makes you not want to grow up and become a stuffy adult. He has no imagination and is uncomfortable with himself. The idea of growing up or to be like Mr. Darling is pushed. The life JM Barrie portrays for one who is to grow up is unappealing.

I think its interesting that Peter and the lost boys even want a mother. Its as if they feel the emptiness of there situation but wont admit it to themselves or each other. They are building a grown up life in a world of innocence. Deep down they need a mother and family. Whats the difference if they have one in the real world or in neverland? Wendy doesn’t want to grow up but she wants to mother everyone, whats more grown up than that? Ultimately you need to grow up. The idea is to grow up and never lose your spirit you had as a child. There must be balance.

Lastly, How cute is this?!

Because of Winn Dixie

I read "Because of Winn Dixie" for my Children's Literature class this week. It was an easy and enjoyable read. Heres some thoughts on it. 

“Because of Winn Dixie” transported me to a summer day in my childhood, unleashing forgotten senses. As I read it I could feel my tiny baby sneakers hit the dirt as I walked home from a friend’s house to the faint glow of my porch light waiting for me. I felt the hot summer sun on the top of my blonde pigtails and the sweet and sticky nectar of a defeated Popsicle slide down my hand. I heard the whiz of children’s bicycles fly past me as I holler after them “Wait for me!”

The hard times when you are learning all alone. Opal is feeling a loss that most kids don’t have to deal with. Opal doesn’t know how to understand what has happened. She just gives love. She gives love to the criminal and the witch and even her mama who abandoned her. Children only know how to love. They love so much that sometimes it hurts them. Gloria Dump tries to teach Opal, “only love what you got while you got it.” People can hurt you but you can’t let them keep hurting you. Opal learns to keep on loving what she does have: her Daddy, her friends, and her dog.

Opal is attracted to animals. The animals are innocent like children, like Opal. Opal feels hurt by her loss and solitude. Winn Dixie is always there to comfort Opal and others. Like when Miss Franny had her attacks, Winn Dixie consoled her with understanding. Preacher is hard for Opal to understand. She needs to really see him but he is always in his shell. One of the things that helped Opal was to see him love Winn Dixie the way she did. Opal loves Winn Dixie because he is apart of their family. Preacher accepts Winn Dixie as a part of their family too. This is an example of how Opal and Preacher feel the same bond with the lost mother.

My favorite part of the book was when they lost Winn Dixie in the thunderstorm. The loss of Winn Dixie to Opal represents the fear and hopelessness of losing her mama. Opal and Preacher were out in the rain searching and Preacher said they had to go home and in that moment Opal refers to him as Daddy. Throughout the whole book she calls him Preacher but in this instant she needs him as her father. Opal starts thinking of ten things about Winn Dixie to put on a poster to help find him but realizes no one could recognize him from those ten things just like ten things about her mama will not help her find her mama. Angrily she confronts the preacher saying that he always gives up and that he must have given up looking for mama too. The next moment Preacher stops being Preacher and becomes her Daddy. He tells Opal how much he misses her mama and how hard he tried to find her. He admits that he thinks she isn’t coming back. He cries to Opal saying how much he misses her. He is no longer demonstrating his nervous tick of scratching his nose or raising his shoulders to push into his turtle shell but is fully embracing himself to Opal. Opal sees her Daddy and not Preacher and comforts him. He was just as heartbroken as Opal. The lozenges tasted like this very sadness, coating his throat with the loss of her mama. As sad as it is that Opal doesn’t find her mama in the end, Opal and her Daddy find healing in each other. 

Teaser

Some idea sketches for a new project I am starting for the summer, with Rebecca Linthwaite. 

Little House on The Prairie

While discussing "Little House On The Prairie" in class today I remembered something I did when I was little that I completely forgot about. We were talking about what psychological effects books can have on children for better or for worse. I started talking about how I thought a child could read 'Little House...' and go off into there back yard to have adventures on the Prairie and play survival.
I then remembered how I used to run away as a kid. My version of running away was getting a stick and handkerchief, like a hobo, packing snacks and stuff to draw with and going to the backyard. I would go to my mom with my sack over my shoulder, nose in the air and state 'I'm running away'. She would play along and say "Oh no! Really?", I'd say "Yes." She would get me prepared with everything I needed on my own. She would say "I'll miss you and I love you!" Back turned I'd say "I have to go now."
I would head out to the woods behind our house, eat my snacks and color. Shortly after I'd think she was so nice to me when I left. Maybe they are nice. I would look up towards my house. What if they really think I'm gone? I cant be on my own! Will they take me back? I would run up to the house find my mom, "I'm home!". She would make a big fuss and say "I'm so happy your back!". I liked the fuss made over me when I returned.

I ran away a lot. lol

Bony Legs

We are supposed to bring our favorite children's book to class next work for "Children's Literature." This class becomes very nostalgic. I haven't thought about this in a long time but I used to always take the same book from the library for a long time. It was called "Bony Legs".

I loved this book. I read it over and over again. No other story was ever as interesting. I remember my mom used to try and persuade me to get other things. We would scout other books in the library before I'd finally say I want "Bony Legs." I also loved "In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories" which was also illustrated by Dirk Zimmer. 

UPDATE: Bony Legs is out of print :(  One day I will buy it from Amazon.

Studying

Studying one of my favorite artists, Norman Rockwell. I'm finished with this now. I wanted to get the expression most of all. I still cant get enough though. There is so much story here. I look at this and see her subtle movements in the mirror and every tilt of her head with a readjusting glance. 

"I talk as I sketch, too, in order to keep their minds off what I'm doing so I'll get the most natural expression I can from them. Also, the talking helps to size up the subject's personality, so I can figure out better how to portray him." 

-Norman Rockwell

Led Zepplin

As soon as I have free time I have a project for myself. I have been listening to lots of Led Zepplin lately and I really want to do a lip sync of "I Cant Quit You Baby". All I see is my animation when I listen to it now. Its going to be so fun to have a project for myself.  

When I feel you near me little girl,
I know you are my one desire, yeah.
Woaa-a-a-a-h!

Peter Pan (playscript)

Growing up I never read Peter Pan but I did watch the Rogers and Hammerstein version of Peter Pan on tape so I always saw the play version of Peter Pan. As a kid I never realized it was a play that was being filmed. I just thought it was an old movie and that’s why it was a little different.

            The relationship of Mr and Mrs Darling is interesting. I wonder if JM Barrie chose the name Darling, because they are in fact not ‘darling’. JM Barrie portrays Mr Darling as the grown up no one wants to become. He is the grown man of the book but he is nothing for kids to look up to. It makes you not want to grow up and become a stuffy adult. He has no imagination and is uncomfortable with himself. The idea of growing up or to be like Mr. Darling is pushed. The life JM Barrie portrays for one who is to grow up is unappealing.

I think its interesting that Peter and the lost boys even want a mother. Its as if they feel the emptiness of there situation but wont admit it to themselves or each other. They are building a grown up life in a world of innocence. Deep down they need a mother and family. Whats the difference if they have one in the real world or in neverland? Wendy doesn’t want to grow up but she wants to mother everyone, whats more grown up than that? Ultimately you need to grow up. The idea is to grow up and never lose your spirit you had as a child. There must be balance.

Lastly, How cute is this?!

Because of Winn Dixie

I read "Because of Winn Dixie" for my Children's Literature class this week. It was an easy and enjoyable read. Heres some thoughts on it. 

“Because of Winn Dixie” transported me to a summer day in my childhood, unleashing forgotten senses. As I read it I could feel my tiny baby sneakers hit the dirt as I walked home from a friend’s house to the faint glow of my porch light waiting for me. I felt the hot summer sun on the top of my blonde pigtails and the sweet and sticky nectar of a defeated Popsicle slide down my hand. I heard the whiz of children’s bicycles fly past me as I holler after them “Wait for me!”

The hard times when you are learning all alone. Opal is feeling a loss that most kids don’t have to deal with. Opal doesn’t know how to understand what has happened. She just gives love. She gives love to the criminal and the witch and even her mama who abandoned her. Children only know how to love. They love so much that sometimes it hurts them. Gloria Dump tries to teach Opal, “only love what you got while you got it.” People can hurt you but you can’t let them keep hurting you. Opal learns to keep on loving what she does have: her Daddy, her friends, and her dog.

Opal is attracted to animals. The animals are innocent like children, like Opal. Opal feels hurt by her loss and solitude. Winn Dixie is always there to comfort Opal and others. Like when Miss Franny had her attacks, Winn Dixie consoled her with understanding. Preacher is hard for Opal to understand. She needs to really see him but he is always in his shell. One of the things that helped Opal was to see him love Winn Dixie the way she did. Opal loves Winn Dixie because he is apart of their family. Preacher accepts Winn Dixie as a part of their family too. This is an example of how Opal and Preacher feel the same bond with the lost mother.

My favorite part of the book was when they lost Winn Dixie in the thunderstorm. The loss of Winn Dixie to Opal represents the fear and hopelessness of losing her mama. Opal and Preacher were out in the rain searching and Preacher said they had to go home and in that moment Opal refers to him as Daddy. Throughout the whole book she calls him Preacher but in this instant she needs him as her father. Opal starts thinking of ten things about Winn Dixie to put on a poster to help find him but realizes no one could recognize him from those ten things just like ten things about her mama will not help her find her mama. Angrily she confronts the preacher saying that he always gives up and that he must have given up looking for mama too. The next moment Preacher stops being Preacher and becomes her Daddy. He tells Opal how much he misses her mama and how hard he tried to find her. He admits that he thinks she isn’t coming back. He cries to Opal saying how much he misses her. He is no longer demonstrating his nervous tick of scratching his nose or raising his shoulders to push into his turtle shell but is fully embracing himself to Opal. Opal sees her Daddy and not Preacher and comforts him. He was just as heartbroken as Opal. The lozenges tasted like this very sadness, coating his throat with the loss of her mama. As sad as it is that Opal doesn’t find her mama in the end, Opal and her Daddy find healing in each other. 

Alice in Wonderland

I think Alice in Wonderland is a good children’s book because it helps prepare children for the cruel people of the world. Children are impressionable, there are many things that teach them what shouldn’t be taught to them.  Kids need stories with a message that can mold their mind for the best. It’s interesting to think, if I was a children’s author what would I want children to know? I think back on my life and think an important lesson is that you can’t trust everyone and not all people are nice. There are many good children’s authors that use ugly characters to show children harsh lessons such as this. One that comes to mind is author Roald Dahl he uses fearful characters such as in “The Witches”, to show that people can be cruel and evil.  Out of all the stories ever written some of the most significant are the Hans Christen Anderson and Brothers Grimm fairy tales and they don’t always end happily ever after. Both of them have incredible dark stories that involve murder and treachery. They’re a success because they are honest and children want honesty. Children are simple and innocent and want guidance. Children books have strong characters that teach children about the cruelty of the world. In Alice in Wonderland the Queen, the rabbit and the caterpillar are all aggressive. The Queen wants to chop off people’s heads. The rabbit is always in a panic and tends to get aggressive with Alice. Interestingly the caterpillar, tells her keep your temper, even though its clear he cannot.

Sometimes we look back on life and think ‘I wish I could be a kid again everything was simple’. Alice is simple, innocent and naïve. She is the only likeable character in the story. The other characters are strong and we are interested in them but there no one we would want to be with. She’s childlike and always wants to do the right thing. One of my favorite things about Alice in Wonderland is the stream of consciousness style of writing. I love how genuine Alice is. She’s very innocent and says what she thinks. I like that things that happen and spur her to think of other things that lead to her tangents. Kids minds wander from one thing to the next.

I think Alice is a good example of our self in a dream. In my dreams my feelings are heightened. I feel like crying at things I normally wouldn’t. I read once that you cannot hide your conscious in dreams. Your ideas and thoughts and feelings just come out. In life we can push certain memories or feelings about things we wish to forget aside. In dreams we can’t hide from our self. When we are children we are open. We don’t know how to not say what we are thinking. It’s when we grow up that we stifle ourselves. In our dreams we are like children, we are like Alice.

Doppelgänger

I finally drew myself as a profile picture for my blog! Here is my final sketch inked.

These are some of my color ideas I made fooling around in photoshop.

So should I keep things more graphic or more colored? I didn't finish any of the colored hair ones are they worth it?

The real me

All this self observation has got me thinking of doppelgängers.

This is the doppelgänger I want to have...

This is my more accurate doppelgänger.

Doppelg änger

I finally drew myself as a profile picture for my blog! Here is my final sketch inked.

These are some of my color ideas I made fooling around in photoshop.

So should I keep things more graphic or more colored? I didn't finish any of the colored hair ones are they worth it?

The real me

All this self observation has got me thinking of doppelgängers.

This is the doppelgänger I want to have...

This is my more accurate doppelgänger.

New Profile Pic

I am working on a new profile picture. I made a bunch of designs. I like the structure of these faces. I dont know how I want to finish them yet. Just playing around with black and white ideas. I feel like it will go well with the look of the blog. Also they look a little vintage, I blame that on the fact that I was watching Mad Men when I did them. I am kind of leaning towards the bottom image. Maybe I will try to focus on the bottom image but re work a few things.

New Profile Pic

I am working on a new profile picture. I made a bunch of designs. I like the structure of these faces. I dont know how I want to finish them yet. Just playing around with black and white ideas. I feel like it will go well with the look of the blog. Also they look a little vintage, I blame that on the fact that I was watching Mad Men when I did them. I am kind of leaning towards the bottom image. Maybe I will try to focus on the bottom image but re work a few things.

My Tumblr

I have started a Tumblr of things that inspire me. Follow me if you use Tumblr.

People

I wrote down a bunch of people who inspire me. I thought it looked pretty as an overall texture. I think I will shoot it with a fish eye lens for my project.

My Tumblr

I have started a Tumblr of things that inspire me. Follow me if you use Tumblr.

People

I wrote down a bunch of people who inspire me. I thought it looked pretty as an overall texture. I think I will shoot it with a fish eye lens for my project.

Life Drawing

I was really enjoying how gestural the ink was forcing me to be. Sadly my pen ran out. Next time I am going to do all ink. My goal is to stay loose! Keeping GPS in mind; gesture, proportion and structure.