Saturday Morning Cartoons Episode 5, Halloween Edition

This week on Saturday Morning Cartoons we have three for Halloween:

A beautifully drawn "Tell-Tale Heart" narrated by James Mason.

"The End", a sad and scary scarecrow story.

And, not for the squeamish, "Chainsaw Maid" Zombies, chainsaw, maid outfit, 'nough said.

Now I want a Sony Reader.

Boat loads of Salinger.

(Thank you, anonymous commenter from here.)

Bill Carman and Altoid Tins, together at last.

Sorry, I had to do two Bill Carman posts in a row because, well, Altoid tins. Provoking minty freshness.

Bill Carman on Tor.com

There's an interview with Bill Carman on Tor.com.

I have always enjoyed seeing Bill Carman's work in Spectrum throughout the years. His images suggest some kind of odd narrative but they are never spelled out. Instead, the viewer is left wonder what on earth is going on in there. About a year ago I had the true pleasure of seeing a few of his paintings and drawings in the flesh He had a number of them included in the Society of Illustrator's Annual exhibit, including a medal. I was surprised how tiny they were, often not much than 5x7. It forced the viewer to come up close and focus carefully, increasing the desire to fall right into the wonderfully weird worlds depicted.

"I rarely start with a specific story in mind unless one is given to me as an assignment. Rather a story develops as I work or is revealed when a piece is finished. The figures and images can come from stories, usually autobiographical, but take on a life of their own. Certain images repeat themselves because of my history."

Go check out the rest of what he has to say.

Spaceman Blues is now free!

Brian Francis Slattery's Spaceman Blues, my favorite Tor book, like evar, is now free. Go download it and read. Now. No, really. I'd take off from work, if I were you.

And by the bye, his sophomore book, Liberation, is also most excellent....and, unfortunately, timely.

(Hmmm...I wonder what it would take to make Graham Joyce's Tooth Fairy
next?)

Storm King Art Center

I spent about two hours last Sunday at Storm King Art Center. Immediately I knew the visit would be about 364 days and 22 hours too short. It was the most idyllic Fall day and stepping out onto the five hundred acres of lawns, woods, sculpture, and sunlight was...perfect.

With its rolling hills and large expanses it was easy to forget that anything of the outside world existed at all. I know the lawns must be painstakingly groomed but the landscaping is designed to feel just slightly nudged by man. Its calm and reclusive atmosphere magnified every interaction between the art and nature -- birds flying around the sculpture, wind in the trees scattering sunlight across man made forms, the smell and textures of various grasses under your feet -- this collaboration of so many senses and ever changing conditions becomes the work of art rather than the individual pieces.

If there was a star of the day, it was the sunlight. We stood at Andy Goldsworthy's "Wall" for ages with each passing minute altering the experience as the light changed. This was my first trip and we only had time for a fraction of the collection -- I'm eager to see the place in its entirety and in every weather condition.

Saturday Morning Cartoons Episode 4

This week on Tor.com's Saturday Morning Cartons:

Over Time: A dark but lovely tribute to Jim Henson.

The Raftman's Razor: A man's nostalgic rememberance of his 15yr old existenstail self and an un-superhero. Think "The Wonder Years", only...not.

Don’t go to the bookstore hungry.

Being an impatient and multitasking New Yorker, I ran into Barnes and Nobel to grab a copy of ImagineFX magazine while my take-away lunch was being prepared. I discovered that being in a bookstore with dropping blood sugar incurs pretty much the same result as being in a grocery store hungry — heavy bags and light pockets.

Without thinking I grabbed Watching the Watchman (Yes, I only just read The Watchman and you know what? All those people that have been telling me its brilliant for the past twenty years, they were right.) The Dark Knight Returns, in a feigned attempt to understand my co-workers better (Don't get your hopes up, Pablo. Adam West is the one only Batman, there shall be no others before him.) Exit Wounds, which I know nothing about except the cover has made me pick it up the last five times I stopped into a bookstore. The aforementioned Imagine FX magazine. And, Harry and David peanut butter pretzels, emmmmm...

Now, back in the office with my head clear and my belly full, I’m in a quandary: What do I read first? I already have Sandman (I know, I know, I am so lame) 2666, and Pretty Monsters in mind. I hate having a “to read” pile. It feels too much like a class reading list. I much rather stumble from book to book....Curses to the gods of impulse buying!

Arnie Fenner, writing for Tor.com.

Proof.

2009 Illustration Master Class registration now open.

I will write about this more in depth on Tor.com in the upcoming week but I have a feeling it will sell out fast -- in fact, it's already half filled by from last year's alumni -- so I wanted to mention it quickly here first. Illustration Master Class is a one week intensive class that is i-n-t-e-n-s-e!

Illustration Master Class
June 15-21, 2009
Amherst, MA
$1,850.00 - includes studio class, lectures, room and board.

Full and guest faculty:
Julei Bell
Dan Dos Santos
Scott Fischer
Jon Foster
Irene Gallo
Donato Giancola
Rebecca Guay
Greg Manchess
Boris Vallejo
Charles Vess

Some notes from this year's class here, here,and here.

Message Board.

Flickr set here

Tor.com is the Halloweeniest

Last night, the gears of creativity were fueled by Bridget McGovern’s Halloween enthusiasm and greased with beer. We ran out and bought knives and pumpkins (and beer) and with no other planning (yes, Christmas lights, wax vampire teeth, and black silk-screening paint just happened to be in the office) everyone dug in and created these squashy personalities. I had much more fun than I should admit.

Read Bridget’s much funnier account of the evening here. And then add your own pumpkins, costumes, lawn decorations...

Tor.com Pumpkin Carving Flickr set here.

Sketch Theater

A fun site found via Drawn. Sketch Theater, true to its name, displays time-lapse videos of artists sketching. Shown here: Travis Louie

October is the new August

I's an aunt! Welcome aboard, August V. Gallo!!

Race Brook Lodge, 2008

Vacation, the first part, was spent with great friends hanging around (and in some cases working in) the Race Brook Lodge barn. Great paintings, water falls, hiking, lots and lots of food, dangerously hot campfires, too little time in hammocks, one sucky morning of going back into the city for a near useless Sales meeting (made up for by the fact that I was on top Race Brook Falls mere hours later) more food, good times, and food.
Vacation, the second part: lovely dinner with friends in Amherst followed by just as lovely brekkies, Eric Carle Museum, pumpkins, stumbling into dino tracks, a return to Berkshire area for more food, more great scenery (including an Obama field), intentions of Storm King pleasantly thwarted by a traffic jam of a dozen carriages drawn by teams of horses, and one quick Aerodrome show in Rhinebeck.

I have to say, I hate leaving places like the Berkshires, but I never mind coming back to NY. Work, on the other hand...I could use a few more days away from.

I don't heart Flickr but occasionally I succumb.

Boris and Julie at the barn (including place mat art) here, here, here, and here.

Saturday Morning Cartoons Episode 3

This week, on Tor.com's Saturday Morning Cartoons: "Doll Face" and "One Self: Fish/Girl" - two very different takes on young women attempting to find their place.

"One Self" was created by Emily Hubley, daughter of Faith and John Hubey. The Hubleys are, in large part, responsible for my love of animation. The style of "One Self" will look familiar to anyone that saw the movie version of Hedwig -- Emily Hubley did the animation for "Origins of love" and the title sequences.

Earlier post on Faith and John Hubley here.

On Away

Still on part two of vacation. Boris and Julie have some scenes from part one on their blog.

FYI: Berkshires in October, freakin' awesome.

Away

The Art Department is on vacation. Hurray. I may post occasionally...maybe...but for the moment it's all babbling brooks, the smell of fire places, and all manner of Fall goodliness.

Arnie and Cathy Fenner podcast on SidebarNation

The creators of Spectrum speak!

Love at first sight. Frank Godwin. Or, Why I love museums.

Art dealer Mitch Itkowitz, from Graphic Collectibles, was sweet to send me this Frank Godwin scan as a condolence. I saw the painting from across an isle or two at ComicCon and was immediately and inexplicably drawn to it. I see tons of great artwork and I'm happy to live with them briefly -- in a museum for a few minutes or in my office for a few weeks -- but there was something about this painting, which grabbed me from a distance too far to have appreciated it and didn't let go once I was directly in front of it, that made me deeply regret I would never see it again.

I wish I could express why.

Mitch warned me that a number of people were having the same reaction, it would likely be sold very quickly, but it was out of my price range. (Despite the fact that I work in publishing solely for it' s massive paychecks.) When I went back the next day, just to get another look, it was gone -- nothing but a hole in the fuax convention walls. I'm sure whoever owns it now will enjoy it for a life time, and I hope that they decide to leave the painting to a museum some day where the public can appreciate it for decades to come.

Saturday Morning Cartoons Episode 2

This week on Tor.com's Saturday Morning Cartoons:

"One Rat Short": a more traditionally plotted movie than a lot of what will be shown throughout the weeks. A scifi love and adventure story with rats.

"Tyger": live action, animation, and puppets -- all good things.

Empire State

A quick caffeine run has me standing with a dozen tourists, mesmerized by September's wonderful low light shinning on the Empire State Building.

Free Kelly Link

Exposing myself for your benefit:

I am truly ashamed that I have not read more Kelly Link stories. The few I have read, I’ve loved. So, I'm outing myself to tell you, yes you – smarter and more ambitious than I — that she is offering her stories from Magic for Beginners online.

But wait, it gets better...The giveaway is to promote her new book, Pretty Monsters. When I saw it I thought, "nice cover", and then I read that it has Shaun Tan drawings within. Shaun Tan is awesome. Shaun Tan rocks. All things good, are Shaun Tan. So, download Magic for free and then go buy Pretty Monsters. That’s my big plan for the evening.

Visiting Hours: Erik and Meadow Gist

Erik Gist and his wife, Meadow, were visiting NY and stopped by the office a few days ago. A lovely dinner ensued. (I can't tell you how many times this week I've said, "I'll never eat again!") Safe travels home, guys, see you in CA.

What's This From?

Hey Guys - Many apologies but, one of you good folks tipped me off to a webcomic. I forget if you contacted me through here or my way-too-backed-up email and now I can't find the message. Somehow I didn't bookmark the comic but kept this one image. Anyone know what it's from?

Boris Vallejo, early advertising

Boris Vallejo shows off his early advertising work on his blog, and can I just say, I love that someone of Boris' stature in the field is willing to show that everyone spends time in the trenches.

How Much of a Woman

I've been having a blast watching tons of animation for Tor.com's Saturday Morning Cartoons. Not being SFnal, this one doesn't fall in our science fiction and fantasy mission to play over there, but it softly packs a surprising emotional wallop, so...

How Much of a Woman
Liron Kroll


How much of a Woman from liron kroll on Vimeo.

Radio Update

Joe Williams. I went to a Joe Williams concert at the Blue Note years ago -- sat at the front center table and Mr. Williams sang two songs in a row right to me. *sigh*

.....ah man, now it's Peggy Lee's version of "How Long Has This Been Going On." One of The. Best. Songs. Ever!

Graveyard Book Nonpost

A few of us were going to listen to Neil Gaiman read tonight and we kinda/sorta got distracted. (Although we will get to his Nov 9th event at the 92Street Y.) So, I'm posting this here mainly to remind myself I have something to listen to while at work tomorrow:

The lunch-time scene at Flatiron Beach.

Man, there's just art all around the building today.

There be tree forts in Madison Square Park.

These will look great in a few months when they are covered in snow with black spidery tree branches popping out their tops.

Book Art

I'm sure everyone here is already seen this via Drawn, but it's just too good not to mention:

Go to Dark Roasted Blend to see an amazing collection of sculpture made from books. Some may be horrified at the idea of "defacing" books but I am firmly in the camp that says books are to be used.

On a similar not -- past post on my favorite photographer, Thomas Allen.

Richard Solomon Podcast on ConceptArt.org

ConceptArt.org's Jason Manley interviews artist rep Richard Solomon.

Spectrum Announces Jury

Spectrum 16 jury will be:

• Donato Giancola
  
• Kevin Brimmer
  
• Dave Dorman
  
• Adam Hughes
  
• Bob Self

New York Anime Fest

Usually when I hear the words "manga" and "anime" my eyes gaze over, but if you add "festival", "cosplay", and "in my backyard" to that, then I'm there! I spent about an hour running around New York Anime Fest. I swear, it's like walking into Candyland -- I have never seen so much neon blue, lime green, and baby-doll pink....and a whole lot of flesh. (Should there something slightly disturbing in watching crowd of 12 year-olds shrieking "Fan Service! Fan Service!"?)

For more-better pictures, check out Fanboy.com.

Indulging Obsessions: Animation

I begged the PTB (Powers That Be, in Buffy speak) at Tor.com to let me run a series of cool animations that I have, or will, run into. The actual email said:

Please!PleasecanI???!!!!!

It didn't take much begging - they were all for it. So, the intro to the series is here. Episode one of Saturday Morning Cartoons is here: "Herzog and the Monsters" and "How Wings are Attached to the backs of Angels"

From the Illustrators Partnership of America

From the IPA. Spread the word.
-----
Orphan Works: Risking Our Nation's Copyright Wealth. The Senate has just passed their version of the Orphan Works Bill. Now we must try to stop the House Judiciary Committee from folding their bill and adopting the Senate version. We've supplied a special letter for this purpose.

PLEASE EMAIL CONGRESS TONIGHT.
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11980321
--Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner, for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership

Sandman Exhibit in CA

Sometimes opening email is just depressing. I got a press release for this Sandman exhibit and I am no where near it. Those lucky to be in CA, the exhibitors lit is amazing. Go. And then tel us about it.

Endless Reflections
Alahambra, CA
October 4-20th
Opening Reception, Oct 4, 7:00-11:00

Todd Lockwood, Step by Step

I asked Todd Lockwood if he would be willing to let me show one or two progression shots of his painting for Pyr's The Stormcaller. Instead, he gave me a comprehensive step-by-step. Check out Tor.com to see him go from thumbnail to final.

Todd Lockwood, sketch to final.

It turns out, driving a nail through a book is fun.

Andrew Jones

I did a quick write-up on Andrew/Android Jones on Tor.com, where I say: His use of repetitive patterns and layering creates a skeletal effect, not unlike H. R. Giger's death-obsessed work, but in Jones' hand these elements speak to a life affirming sense of time, movement, and collectivity.

To read the full article, including a trailer animated series, Illuminated, click: Andrew Jones, Live Painting, and The Illuminated.

Raw carrots are very loud.

Animation Panel Discussion

I just got back from a lecture on "The State of New York Animation." It was more on the state of independent feature length animation more than a regional thing, which was fine by me. It was nice to see the place packed, in fact many of us were sitting on the floor in front and up the the aisles.

A few random notes from the evening:

On where to get funding/started:
Like illustration, there does not seem to be any one way to get a career moving. Each panelist had their own story. They all stressed getting yourself out in front of producers. Tatia Rosenthal had the best statement all night, "It's not so much who you go to, but how much you put into your work."

On loving what you are working on:
Emily Hubley stressed creating projects you really care for, "You have to make something that will interest you for the duration." Many of these movies are nearly a decade in the making. Bill Plymton alluded to that sentiment early in the evening when he mentioned spending a lot of time and money creating what, he thought, would be his big break-out success. It got a luke warm reception. After that, he decided to stick to his own darker, more internal, sensibilities and, of course, that movie is receiving great attention.

On following your artistic goals:
Hubley, "You can be the crazy person that talks about the movie you never made, or you can be the crazy person that talks about the movie you did make." Rosenthal, "I had no idea how hard it would be, which made it easy to start."

On building an audience for independent animation:
Plympton, "It's an exploding star. Animation is in a second golden age." He went on to talk about the variety of animation widely accessible nowadays -- Pixar digital, Miyazaki and Peresopolis hand drawn, Nick Park's stop motion, etc. I forget who said it but the conversation went back to creating films that excite you and letting that passion reach out to an audience that will love them. Obviously the Internet broadens accessibility exponentially.

Amid Amidi talked about the simple fact that the more variety people are offered the more they will crave different kinds of films. "If all you have is an apple tree, you're happy eating apples. If you are offered a cornucopia of fruits......" I got a personal chuckle from that, since I have heard my boss give that exact same speech, ohhhh, maybe one thousand times. Except my boss uses ketchup and horseradish (or some other kitchen condiment) as the example.

On magic bullets:
Someone in the audience asked what software is best to use. Michael Sporn said, "Anything. They all work." He then went on to say the only way to make films is to watch movies, and watch movies, and watch them again. Frame by frame. In other words, know your craft and know the history of your craft.

On Censorship:
Plympton, "Blockbuster cut four sex scenes out of one of my movies. None of the violence, of course."

And, that's about all I can remember.

I ran into Bryan Beus on the way in - apparently my tweet lured him in. Always nice to see Twitterettes in the real world.

I haz bloxz!

Christmas in September. I've been sent blocks!
And now, I hereby decree that all book covers be made of foamy letter blocks.

Mr. Potato Head

Having overshot my usual lunch-time deli, I ran into a baked potato store that displays a series of Mr. Potato Head drawings from a 1970s animated commercial.

John Jude Palencar's Christopher Paolini's Brisingr's Tor.com post.

I live right next to one of the larger Barnes & Noble stores, where they tend to do a lot of their events. So, despite the fact that I have never read a Christopher Paolini book, I thought it would be fun to walk by and see the party gathering for the midnight release of his Brisingr. Little did I know the B&N crew would be so well prepared for the would-be chaos that anyone standing near got sucked in, corralled upstairs, seated and told to sit still before you could say, "Hey, I'm not with the band." Alas, I ended up in a sea of appreciative ten year olds and their supportive parents. Truth be told, it was fun seeing so many doey-eyed kids excited about the release of a book.

Best of all, the evening was an excuse to have a near-midnight conversation with John Jude Palencar to talk about the covers. Anyone that knows John, knows what I mean when I say, you can ask him about work and in no time you're talking about chipmunks in the backyard, the state of the family pets, and just about everything else under the sun. Email is wonderful but it has taken many of these lovely meanderings away, which is sad.

Anyway, for thems that care, my report of the evening is over at:
"Christopher Paolini's Brisingr release. Or, I can only talk to artists" on Tor.com.