Dammit

News From Tom Carrol (sic)

Here is a link to TWITCH!, a comic strip I have wanted to do since BlueSky days (but never did).
I think the title of this posting takes you to the first issue of TWITCH! on the Drunk Duck Web comics portal. This button takes you to the current strip (today's posting... no time yet this week for more than one post).

TWITCH! is also published on a weekly basis at www.computoredge.com. Doesn't pay anything, but it's great coverage for the strip and provides statistics when / if I try for some form of syndication ... So far the Drunk Duck strips get between 150 -350 peeks a day.

Also, one of the songs I wrote for my musical comedy review called "I Survived The Bush Administration (And All I Got Was This #$%^&@ T-Shirt!)" is up for a Golden Kayak award from the Independent Artists Community (IAC) site that hosts the music. Here is a link the the station with all the "I Survived" music (here) and another one to a station that has all the nominated comedy .mp3 songs in residence (here).

My nominated song is called "It Hurts."

More news coming. Lots of stuff to eventually share at Comic Con time.

Have fun.

Tom Carrol(l)

I bought That 12w cintiq

I'll review it when I get it and play with it a bit. 1000 bucks. My IRS refund, bye bye.

Click the headline to go to Aplleseed Ex Machina

For WEEZIE

Spied at ye ol' Starbux this AM and committed to paper later, from memory.

There are so many things worth commenting on lately. Jeff, you're gouache is astounding. The look of a true pro. Rick, you're sick? Tommoon, I LOVE seeing work from you--I haven't read the comments on it yet, but I'm tempted to bet you used that DS Sketchbook (?) program. We know that you are very cutting edge.

Ellis, you're inimitable.

Jim, "inimitable" doesn't even begin to describe the Krayonzilla presence at TAG...

I can't find the Tom Carrol post regarding his comic strip--what gives? Has cyberspace swallowed the announcement of his latest effort? I'd really like to see what he's been working on.

Lastly, Weezie, how the heck are you? I am flattered mightily by yr praise. These drawings are posted in your honor. Hope all is well.

Which reminds me, when are we going to hold our all-points Bluesky reunion? (please note, girl below is NOT Tami Tasker)

Wired loves me!

Wired Bionicle Article

Oh and BYOBW was a blast! Are you all in for next year??? I'll post pics and video when after I finish unpacking....

More BYOBW sillyness

Sorry it took so long to load this up... I was "feelin' mighty low" yesterday. I'm still not totally better, but well enough to load this up. Also, click on the link to see a video I made... Jeff is about midway through...

Xercise Invention

I did the hacksaw work and hired a welder to attach the pedals to channel iron. The bicycle cost 5 bucks at a garage sale. Might have been stolen. It was a slightly rusty but perfectly good bike. Until I decided I needed it's heart. I guess the pedals would be a bicycles heart.





Not shown, the top of this hardware is for chin ups. That way you hold yourself steady and get a mini chinup out of every revolution of the pedals.

Think I saw Jeff on his Big Wheel

Added by Krayonzilla:

He said look for the Shark. Could this be him? (Towards the end of the clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yucGpbKYcl8

It was on Headline news. It was a report that popped up on my thumbnail, picture in picture, "newsmix" channel. I expanded it and there was Jeff. I think. But the change wasn't quick enough to catch it on the TIVO. Drat.

Be alert watching the news today. Jeff looked grim if it was him. Lots of pile ups. They should pulse them out and time the seperate groups. I'd want to be last.

75 Artists You Should Know

Fun Surfing. From a James Gurney link via Yongwoo at work.
Click the headline

I Like Lions Too

Is it digital or real watercolor and pencil??!!

We just got back from vacation yesterday. We were in Maui for a week. I took Patty's laptop and so managed to post a couple of comments from the hotel.

Cats for Tuesday

Tuesday Robot: Scarf Dancer

I see these as my little mental getaways where I don't have to think and just play with shapes, color and paint. This is mosly gouache with a little digital touchup.

Fashion Troubles

From something I'm working on. I haven't quite found the look I'm after.

But they have.

Vaguely Lecter

Dog and Bear

Blair and I went to the Ghetty Villa last Friday, (the recently reopened museum in Malibu), the first time I'd been there since 199...2? This visit followed the one we made to the Ghetty proper (the overlord of the Sepulveda Pass), whence my posting of last week issued. My drawings were only so-so at the Villa. Here's a dog and bear sculpture pairing sketched at the old Ghetty, (cheater!), and part of a man's face from the Villa.

I have to scroll back and check out Tom Carrol's post referring us to his new-born comic strip--way to go, Tom!

Editorial Sketches

I did these in editorial today.

Autodesk Sketchbook free with Maya Book

Click the headline to go to a Maya how-to book that includes a free DVD of Sketchbook Pro ... all for $50 bucks!

I sitll haven't tried Sketchbook myself, but it was discussed on the Blog before, so I thought I would point this out.

HULK 2 trailer is here....

....HULK says Abomination looks like shit!
Click on title to see big dookie.

I can't beleive they thought this was an improvement
on the Abomination's original look. Can you say Resident Evil
throwaway?

Added 3/23/2008 by Krayonzilla

Even if O'l Big Ears has had different

interpretations over the years. He has maintained the same characteristics.

It's a cool design by Gil Kane. Can't stand those who are saying he wouldn't look REAL in CGI or cartoony. I highly disagree.

Cool IE plug in

Click the headline for a nifty IE plug in... once it's in do a google image search on any topic, then mouse over any of the images and click on the arrow. It will bring up a terrific new interface that is a WAY better way to view images from Google... it also works for Flickr, Yahoo and others.

Sam Raimi Buys new DougT Graphic Novel

Before it even hits the stands.

Doug's back. He had a dry patch.

I thought he practically ruined himself with his unintended Blog fame.

Click headline for story

MONSTER ZOO

New Wall-E trailer

I just saw the new Wall-E trailer and this film looks FANTASTIC! I'm getting pumped up for this one.

Dave Stevens passes...

Just saw this on the way out.

Bummer. One of my favorites.

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/comicbooks/archives/134020.asp?from=blog_last3

Artist Matt Haley on USA Networks program

CHARACTER FANTASY show w/Matt Haley segment ...

I recently was introduced to comic book artist Matt Haley via LinkedIn. He's a great guy and just recently he appeared in a USA Networks show called "Character Fantasy," where he got to design a character for the show segment's lead participant.

The show lasts about seven minutes max and Matt is near the end. A quick, fun view.

Here is a link to the Character Fantasy show. Matt's Web site is here.

Best,

Tom Carroll

I Drink Your MILKSHAKE!

Nonsense headline.

On a related note, my Cloverfield concept got 12,000 hits.

Spidermanu Busta Moovah

The Ghetty

The proportions of any head-to-toe figure study I do, esp. with the brush pens, tends to suck. Yesterday at the Getty things went a little better than ever before, and I am grateful.

These are sketched from some of their smaller bronzes. The figure above is a wonderfully Mannerist piece by Adrien de Vries--he's working a bellows with one foot while playing the cymbals, (I know, "Duh...").

Wouldn't it be fun to have a TAG group museum visit? I hear LACMA has re-hung their collection and it's worth a look. In August the Getty is having a Bernini exhibit that will be a must-see. Are they ready to play...TAG?

p.s. I am trying to be a better Blog citizen. Sorry I missed yesterday's get together.

SOE Trip to ImageWorks

Hey Jeff,
I just talked to Joe about our trip up to Imageworks tomorrow. The event lasts from 4:00 to 8:00, and dinner is going to be provided for us. Joe says to come see us in during the dinner break around 6:00 or 6:30 in the training room. Would Ellis and Marty be able to get in too? Love to see all you guys.

Blendy

A doodle I used The photoshop blend brush with. Works pretty well. Thanks for the link Rick.

You know the technique of taking a top level and having the smear tool set to "sample all levels." ???


It's my favorite digital painting trick.

ADDED: By KRAYONZILLA
Heres a link I found to a tutorial blog with more FREE PS brushes.

http://tutorialblog.org/free-photoshop-brushes/

PS Blender brush

Click on the headline to go to a website with a free Photoshop blender brush. Save it here:
Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Presets\Brushes
Then, in Photoshop click on your Smudge tool and then select the last brush in the brush palette... when you use this brush for your Smudge tool it blends the colors you pass it over rather that just pushing the colors around. I haven't had much time to play with it, but it's pretty nifty.

Top 10 Giant Monsters of all time.

This is a riot.

GrandCentral Message Center

I've discovered a fun way to make MP3 files for easy inport into Flash. Call yourself and leave a message. The grand central web site has a download button to send it to your local hard drive.



I haven't figured out how shorten my messages. They all play for a minimum 28 seconds. I can shorten them in flash of course.

Trying out Grand Central

I'm trying out this new feature on Blogger called Grand Central. If you click the button on the upper right you can call me for free from your computer. Actually I'm having all messages sent to voicemail and screening them. Yes Scott that means YOU. So why use this?? I dunno. Making free phone calls I guess. Another feature is that you can post a voicemail. Just click on the player below to hear my golden tones. Gotta work on my announcer voice. Let me know what you think. Weird or what?




Here's Ellis' reply!


Don't know why there's so much dead air after the message.