Radio Update

Second time in two days for "It's Only A Paper Moon." I'll gladly be humming this all night long.

Concept Ships

Holy smokes, if you're all about the hardware, be prepared to spend a lot of time at the ConceptShips blog. The layout is a bit overwhelming but if you settle in, there is tons of great work to see.
TOP: Jae Cheol Park MIDDLE: Sparth BOTTOM: John Wu

Meanwhile, back at stately Wayne Manner...

Over on Tor.com: Julie Bell talks about a tarot set that she, Boris Vallejo, Dave Palumbo and Tony Palumbo have been serializing in Heavy Metal Magazine. Includes quotes from the whole crew.

"Describing Paintings"

This is a lovely read.

Seriously. Go read it.

More Me!

Publishers Weekly's Rose Fox asked me a few questions about the covers for Jay Lake's Escapement and Mainspring

September = Perfect Days

A quick lunchtime picnic in Madison Park with a few local SFnal peeps.

Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell have started a blog.

I believe a "hurray" is in order. Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell have started a blog. They're posting sketches, works in progress, commercial and private paintings, gallery outings, and it's a four-for-two blog, 'cause you're also getting a peak at Dave Palumbo and Tony Palumbo's work.

The radio may be playing Sinatra's "Nice work if you can get it" but my head is hearing Astaire's...and slipping into Feinstein's. OK, so it's a bit schizophrenic in my head right now. But it proves that I am immune to all of Sinatra, except for "One for my baby and one more for the road."

In the "What Rock Have I Been Under?" folder

The Illustrator's Partnership of America has a blog dedicated to the Orphan Works issue. Agree or disagree, if you're an artist, it's your future they are talking about.

(Where have I been to have not seen this until now?!)

Wow. Mandy Patikin on the radio singing the lovely lullaby "Nothing's Gonna Harm You.'" Is it possible to forget the song is supposed to be sung by a serial killer?

Now the radio is on to Audra McDonald. A nice night of rain and radio.

Twitter me this, Batman!

Tor.com tweets now. You can follow the goings at:
Tor.com Twitter

In my limited experience, Twitter has been the only social networking tool that actually works in the real world. Although Myspace, ugly as it is, is a useful mailing list for events. Facebook may look better than Myspace, but after all the doughnuts and vampire bites I quickly found it to be a complete pain in the ass. Twitter sounded like the dumbest idea, like, evar, but with Patrick Nielsen Hayden's encouragement (yes, I blame you, Patrick) I tried it out. After a slow start, I'm now addicted. I just wish there were more artists on it. But then, it's entirely text based so...

Happy Weekending, Everybody!

I admit it. I am jealous that MTV has a pool table and massage chairs in their lunch room...In fact, I'm jealous that they have a lunch room, one with a patio overlooking Times Square, no less.

I haz logoz.

This Unbeige article about the Rolling Stone logo selling for big bucks reminds me that I have Tor.com's "Stubby" taped to my office wall. One day I will be rich! Rich, I tell you! (No one tell Greg I still have it, ok?) And it is, oddly for a 21st Century logo, hand drawn.

Joshua Middleton

Saw this in the bookstore yesterday and thought: Damn, I wish that was a Tor cover! Hats of to Joshua Middleton and his work for Holy Lisle's The Ruby Key

Cathie Bleck, scratchboard on a grand scale.

Cathie Bleck has a new show opening in Ohio.
Butler Institute of American Art
Sep 14, 2008 -- Oct 26, 2008

I love how personal her work is. It's impossible not to come up with some kind of mythology in it, and yet nothing is so overstated that a specific interpretation is forced on the viewer. Like the natural elements she portrays, her paintings are bold and sensual with plants and animals in constant motion, beautiful but rarely placid.

Earlier post on Cathie Bleck.

What the Frak?

Oh, the places Google takes you. Because I posted about a Tor Frak Party, Chris Talbott of the Associated Press called and asked me about the use of the faux slight. Here is the Yahoo News article, "What the Frak."
(Thanks, Claire, for the heads-up.)

And now, CNN has the same frakin' article.
(Thanks, Greg Cox, for the heads-up.)

At Tor.com

The importance of interactivity in a painting, including long quote from Gregory Manchess.

Interview with Steph Laberis.

Michael Whelan and Scott Fischer exhibit, including quote from Scott Fischer.

Pablo Defendini on Chip Kidd's Now I Will Be Invincible.

Michael Whelan on gallery work versus illustration.

Eric Freitas, clockmaker.

Rick Berry demos, three videos.

The making of Eric Fortune's illustration for Shade.

Kevin Dart.

LAST CHANCE: Donato Painted Asus Giveaway

As a promo for Tor.com, we asked Donato to paint an Asus mini computer to give away. The sign-up for this ends tomorrow, August 31, so if you're feeling lucky, click here: Donato Giancola Tor.com Painted Asus

Christoph Niemann's Bathroom

Christoph Niemann, always clever and playful and smart as hell, has recreated art history in bathroom tile. And the New York subway system.

Dear Pablo

Regarding your post: Just what is so wrong about TV Batman!? Hmmm??

Tobias Buckell and Todd Lockwood Talk Cover Art

Suvudu has a series of videos of Toby Buckell and Todd Lockwood talking about their work. Here is this first segment. Check out the Suvudu post to see the others.

Erik Gist beats me to it!

I had just sent art director Jeremy Cranford a bunch of questions over the weekend and now, I see Erik Gist has beaten me to the punch. Erik has an excellent interview with Jeremy on his blog.

(Luckily, our questions don't overlap overly much -- they should make for complimentary interviews.)

John Jude Palencar: Mystery of Grace

It's no secret that John Jude Palencar is one of my favorites. Here is his latest for Charles de Lint's Mystery of Grace, due out next summer. This is one where I got really excited the moment the sketch came in. For a more intimate experience with John's work, check out his book, Origins: The Art of John Jude Palencar.

The Scottish Games

Chucking trees must be harder than it looks 'cause only the guy blue tights and blue sunglasses was able to up-end this log. At least that I saw. No mind, it was a great day of falconeering, SCA fencing, classic cars, garden strolling, dueling Ashley MacIsaac step dancing, and goats! And, very oddly, a taxidermied pet collie in the old Westbury manor house. By the way, it does not appear to have sucked to live in the old Westbury manor house...except for the whole stuffed dog thing.

Saturday

Sunburned shoulders and a glass of wine -- a nice way to end a Saturday in summer.

Greg Manchess and Oregon's Sesquicentennial

Stamp collectors out there, there's a Manchess a-coming. Greg was asked to paint Oregon's 150th birthday stamp. Here is a post he wrote about the unveiling. Funnily enough, the Postal Service had no idea that Greg lives in Oregon when they asked him to do the stamp. Next up, Greg will be painting a Mark Twain stamp.

Does not Mind Meld well with others.

The good folks at SF Signal asked me to participate in a Mind Meld on digital art. I was eager to participate but, nonetheless, waited until the last minute. Then I got a raging migraine and blew the deadline. I have finally responded to their theme within the comments section.

If you want to check out what various artists and I have to say about digital art changing the illustration landscape, click here: SF Signal Digital Mind Meld.

Kinuko Craft's Elfland

Nothing to say, except: Stunning.

Kinuko Craft's latest for Elfland by Freda Warrington, due out next spring.

Ah, New York is just starting to get that perfect late summer light.

Hate Flash. Hate.

I've said it a hundred times before but I can't help saying it again...

Holy freakin' cow, do I hate flash portfolio sites!

I know, it's a losing battle. They are everywhere. But seriously guys, forget trying to sell artwork for a minute and pretend you need to buy artwork. Lots of it. In limited time. Now pretend you'd like to share a number of specific examples from a number of artist. Lets say three samples from 5 artists. Do that five times today.

Tell me you don't want to blow your brains out after the third flash site you come across.

Redirect Monday

The art happenings on Tor.com:

Thumbnail interview with Edwin Madrid.
(And Ewrin Madrid's addition to the Tor.com Gallery.)

Tenticle plushy goodness from Lana Crooks.
(And Lana Crooks' addition to the Tor.com Gallery.)

Thumbnail interview with James Paick.

Steampunking the Hamptons

Weekend

Wall-E is, of course, a wonderful tale of compassion, sacrifice, humor, and love, but what I most identify with: Wall-E is solar powered.

Greg Ruth

Just about every artist I know regrets not having time for "their own" work. Greg Ruth (one awesome drawer) has announced a project to force himself into creating just that. The 52 Weeks Project -- he will make a drawing each week, all at the same proportions and using the same materials. Drawing number 1 seen to the left.

What strikes me the most about the project is his intention to keep it fun and light. A problem I see among many pro and emerging artists is they see each project has overly meaningful and precious. Occasionally just letting yourself fool around with some ideas will lead you somewhere interesting and not fully expected, especially over the course of a year.

Cover Talk

Eric Orchard starts up some cover talk at Tor.com.

World Con Wrap Up

World Con was a blast. The convention itself was a bit sparse -- set in such a large convention center, it didn't feel as if there was much there there. So, it was up to the Hyatt, across the street, to be the meeting place du jour. I got to hang out with a number of writers, a few artists (but surprisingly few,) the smaller/hipper/cooler publishers, and the good folks of io9.

The art show was good -- lots of great talent but nothing I wasn't expecting....except that the 3D work stole the show, particularly Vincent Villafranca's bronze work. Vincent is, without a doubt, one of the coolest artists I've run into (thanks to an intro from John Picacio) in years. A little steampunk, a little western, a bit of humor, and a wonderful sense of character and body language. I was surprised to learn that he launches into a piece, without benefit of a clear drawing.

Shout-outs to my new BFFs: John Joseph Adams -- editor extraordinaire. Writer Paolo Bacigalupi -- who I got to be for 24 hours. I never was so popular. I guess that's what happens when you have three Hugo nomination pins underlining a seemingly random collection of scrabble letters for a name. He, on the other hand, spent the time terrorizing authors with threats of purposefully bad covers. And Blake Charlton -- soonish to be Tor's coolest fantasy writer, if he ever gets that pesky medical degree out of the way. As if saving lives is more important than being a Tor fantasy writer. Whatever.

It was great to see friends, John Picacio, who had a stand-out art show showing, including a new shadowbox. Lou Anders, Alan Beck, Bob Eggleton, Alan Beats. Despite staying up until 3:00am each morning, the days always seemed to end too quickly. Come Sunday, I wished I had more time with them all.

I got to be Stephan Martiniere at the Hugos, which was fun until he won the damn thing and I had to nervously stammer in front of a few thousand people. (Congrats, Stephan! I'm stealing the commemorative pen. Feel lucky you get the rocket back.) Liz Gorinsky was my date for the evening. We got to do the whirl of Pre & Post Hugo parties, along with above mentioned BFF posse.

What else...

I got to meet and spar a bit with Bill Willingham. Ken Scholes was sweet to seek me out just to say how much he loves his cover.

What else...

Well, more than I can remember at the moment. Very much looking forward to Montreal in 09!

PHOTOS
TOP SET: Blake Charlton and JJ Adams. Annaleen Newitz from io9. Annaleen, Blake, John. SECOND SET: Charles Stross. Paolo Bacigalupi. John Scalzi, Jim Minz, Lou Anders. Tom Doherty (yay!). THIRD SET: Bear, a big blue bear. FOURTH SET: Warren Hammond, don't know, Matthew Jarpe. Blake Charlton and Liz Gorinski, all dressed up. Mr. and Mrs. Ken Scholes. FIFTH: Scuplture by Vincent Villafranca. LAST SET: Paolo and I, stolen from stolen John Picacio's blog.

More Cool Animation

Thanks to Todd Lockwood for the heads-up.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

I Love the Olympics

Winter is better, but summer will do.

Off to World Con

I can't honestly say World Con sneaked up on me, but I have been so preoccupied with work and work travel that I am slightly shocked to be sitting in Newark airport right now. I haven't even registered for the convention yet so, of course, I am not on programming, I will, however, go to all the art panels I can and report back. Looking at the list of artists, there are tons of names I do not know -- I'm looking forward to seeing new work. I also get to be Stephan Martiniere at the Hugos. I've had the pleasure of being Donato a few times -- once when he won, in LA. After I gave up explaining that the rocket I was holding wasn't really mine, I had a great time beaming, "Why, thank you! Thank you so much."

See ya in Mountain Time.

When the Day Breaks

John Collier

I realize this is a great big, "Duh", but, isn't John Collier just amazing. I was at the Richard Solomon site for other reasons and got completely hooked into going through John's paintings. I've always enjoyed his work, but this time, it wouldn't let me go. I wish I could see a full show of his work, I imagine I'd have a similar experience as I do when I see Andrew Wyeth's paintings. It's beautiful without being sentimental, otherworldly, and a deeply personal point of view. No matter what the scenes are, they always feel like interior mental spaces -- a memory of an event rather its a depiction.

(The website does not have direct links to the artists - click on artists and then scroll down to get to Collier.)

Wesley Allsbrook and Shaun Tan: Great art and a free comic!

Ok, so I had hoped to only do this once a week but these two are just too good to let sit.

Tor.com just launched it's first free comic, The Leviathan. It's written and drawn by Wesley Allsbrook. Long term readers may remember that she gave one of the most articulate interviews on The Art Department. She is awesome. Go enjoy the story.
And, an interview with Mr. Shaun Tan, who is one of my personal favorites, and is also awesome, and so you should also go and enjoy.

Redirect Monday!

Last week's art related Tor.com posts:

Greg Manchess painting Hellboy video.

Patrick Neilsen Hayden appreciation of Tolkien artist Pauline Baynes.

Jeremy Enecio, including cool video.

Patrick Ballesteros, a quick look.

Peter Reed gives me the coolest present evar.

Chris McGrath on the Dresden Files.

Chris Buzelli, Again

If I were an illustrator, Chris Buzelli would have my dream job. He just posted two more paintings for a natural history museum in Amsterdam. (I mentioned the first here.) He's included shots of the artifacts they are based on, sketches, and the final product in context. Of course anything to do with natural history museums is likely to get the nod from me but, really, he's created such a strong and cohesive identity for museum that immerses you into the life and purpose of these artifacts. So well done.