SOU Comics & Picture Books

Miles To Wisconsin! Work! Also Comic Template, Ames Guide Vids

2010-11-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

I'm headed off to Wisconsin next week (November 8 - 12), so work your @sses off while I'm gone. I'll expect to see fresh new dummies, and at least 4 pages of finished work when I get back on Tuesday, November 16.

Morgan Hickman - Children of God

2010-10-27T00:03:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Morgan for sharing his stuff with us today. Check out the the latest Children of God and keep up with Morgan's mojo over at his site--Drop him a comment and stay in touch!

Banole by Dave Marshall and Luke Kralik

2010-10-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Banole is a cool web comic collaboration by S.O.U. alums Dave Marshall and Luke Kralik. Dig it! Dave will be coming to our class on Thursday, October 28. For all y'all Star Wars types, he's also one of the masterminds behind I.M.P.S. The Relentless.
Hey the links work now!

Free Olde Animation Night This Weekend!

2010-10-21T16:59:00.001-07:00

Come check it out. Good times. Saturday at 7 in the Meese Auditorium.

Week 4: Dummy and Another Finished Page

2010-10-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

This week, we'll be critiquing your first page of finished art. The plan is for you to get some very specific feedback to help hone your individual approach to your work. For next week's critique, Tuesday, October 26, you'll do another page of finished work and bring in an updated dummy of your project.

Talking points for October 19 crit.
1. Clarity. Of action, story, setting, characters.
2. Consistency. Establishing the key visual forms and overall design.
3. Contour. Finishing and varying.
4. Story. Action and tension. Continuity.
5. Flow. Maintaining reader interest.
6. Graphic Power. Composition, composition, composition. Use of black/color. Visual hierarchy.

Here are Miles' videos on the basics of drawing in Flash.

Here's the direct URL if the embedded video doesn't work for you.

Week 3 - Complete a finished page

2010-10-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Jack Kirby, original art from Manhunter.

For Tuesday, October 19. Complete a full page of your book. Make 5 copies of the page. We will critique them at the beginning of class.

Week 2 - Visual Research - Influences and Design Guides

2010-10-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

One of Miles' big influences, Lynda Barry

On your web site, write a reflective essay about one or two of your influences. Describe the work. What drew you to their work? What do you know about their working methods? How do they use composition, line, shape? Is the work precise, sloppy, loose, detailed, free, tight, etc? Be sure to post examples of their work to back up your observations.

Pick a book or two to use as the design touchstone for your book. Discuss margins, gutters, bleeds, typography, lettering, height/width ratio, page measurements etc.

Work up a proposal for your book and post it to your blog. Include working title, short working description (2-3 sentences) and 5-10 images. The images can be thumbnails, character concepts, anything!

All of this is due Tuesday, October 12 at noon.

Fall 2010 Week 1 Comics & Picture Books

2010-09-30T11:19:00.001-07:00

Cover of Volo, by Miles Inada

Your first project is to take the rough breakdowns you brought in on Thursday, September 30, and work them into a roughed out 8-page book by Tuesday, October 5. Make 5 copies of your book for your classmates to read and critique on Tuesday!

Here's a link to a post on Miles' working process.

Finally, be sure to get your blog up and running today, post the URL with your full name as a comment to this post! I recommend blogger as it's easy and free and endorsed by Robert Conrad.

Final for Art 450/496 Special Projects n' Capstonez

2010-05-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

Leavin' a patch at the Art 450/496 Final Critique. Eat my fire, suckahs!

Final Crit for Art 450/496 is Thursday, June 3, 5:30.
Note! This is NOT the final for the Comic/Picture Book class. See the previous post for Art 349 final crit times.

Final Critique for Art 349 Comics et Picture Books!

2010-05-24T13:13:00.000-07:00

Students get freak-ay at last year's Comics n' Picture Books final crit.

Final critique for Comics unt Picture Books is Wednesday, June 2 at 3:00 in MA 101. Bring 5 copies of your work, and we'll have a reading festival. Miles shall bring some snaks.

iPad'in

2010-05-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Catwoman, done by Jim Lee on an iPad using SketchBookPro.

Just got an iPad today, and it's groovy. Here's an interesting bit on Jim Lee of DC breaking his in as a drawing tool.
One of the most exciting things about the iPad is that the SketchBookPro software cost . . . $7.99
That's a difference-maker right there. Compare the costs of the following digital art start-up kits:

bottom-end iPad ($500-800) + SketchBookPro ($7.99) + some kind of stylus ($20.00-30.00) = $527.99

bottom-end Macbook Pro ($1199) + Photoshop (academic vers $200.00) + Wacom Intuos $309) = $1708

The iPad is not a ready replacement for laptop/wacom set up yet. Intuos pressure sensitive, high res, etc. . . But. . . it's looking real interesting, especially because. . .

I think the iPad is a bona fide publishing platform with significant advantages over olde-fashioned books. It's extra-spiffy. The comic-viewing capabilities are down-right spectacular. The main difference I felt was that the contemporary full-blast digital coloring techniques in today's comics look loads better on the screen (where they were created!) than they do in print! I wasn't expecting that, but it blew me away. The mac Book reader also comes with a sweet free ebook of Winnie the Pooh. It's splendid, though I still imagine good old kids BOOKS are here to stay. Anyhow, I will bring this new robot girlfriend in to class on Wednesday for y'all to check out. I think it'll be a major development in the way comics n' picture books are "consumed" and created in "the future."

Assignment for Monday, April 19 - Final Project presentation

2010-04-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

Finished and preliminary drawings from Maurice Sendak's Higglety Pigglety Pop!

Monday, April 19, you'll present your final project idea to the class via your blog. Your presentation should include:
1. 3-5 images of your own work.
2. 5 images from your visual research.
3. A one paragraph written description of your project.
4. A one sentence description of your project.
5. Specific technical issues you'll need to figure out to get this project done.
6. A timeline for what you're going to have done on your project when.
7. What you will have done by Monday, April 26, which will be our next critique.
These Maurice Sendak images are reproduced from an article on a Sendak retrospective in the San Francisco Sentinel.

Early cover concept for Where The Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.

Double-Edged Wednesday

2010-04-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

Stealin' from the best. My shower scene on the left, Clowes' Ghost World on the right.

If the first blade misses yer beard, the second one does the job. . . yes. Here's the to do list for Wednesday, April 14.

1. Bring your FIVE copies.
2. Update your BLOG.
3. Write a one paragraph description of your final project idea.
4. Cite a specific piece of visual research you've used in making your latest and greatest work. Here's a link to a post I made discussing the example above!

Miles' Working Process

2010-04-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

I'm an un-methodical, un-organized person by nature, but I've been forced to get a little more systematic as I've grappled with making comics and animation. Here are some observations that have helped me to carry out a project like a picture book or comic book.
1. Start a folder. When I know that I'm working on a big project, I go through my scrappy drawings, notes and sketchbooks and pull out stuff that might be relevant to the project; Then I stick it in THE FOLDER. I label the folder with a nice working title, and I'm off and running. From now on, ANYTHING even remotely related to the project goes into this folder.

2. After I've started the analogue folder, I scan my stuff in and start a digital folder. I then back this folder up to another drive or disk. Regular back up is the key to survival when you work on a long-term project.

3. Git to work dealing with the nuts and bolts design of your book. Font/lettering ideas, logo designs, panel layouts, etc. Eventually, I work out a template that forms the basis for all of my pages. A key part of this process is settling on a page size.

4. Get on the phone/internet and talk to printers to get turn-around times and submission requirements. Err on the side of too much information. Revisit step 3 as necessary.

Here are some more detailed posts on my processes.
How Miles makes his Arms and Ether web comic.
How Miles made the Arms and Ether comic book.
A link to Miles' Arms and Ether comic book page template.
Link to Miles' Arms and Ether web template.
Link to The Ohio Players, Love Roller Coaster, 1975.

Comic Picture Book Assignment 1 & Blog Expectations

2010-03-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

Image from Woman Wonder by Will Elder, Mad #5, 1952

Hey, here's your first project! You've got two weekends and all next week to cause some mayhem.

1. Create an 8 page comic!
2. Print, staple, and fold 5 copies!
3. Bring 'em to class on Monday, April 12!

Make sure to do yer visual research and post yer progress on yer blog!
I will be checking blogs every Friday morning, starting April 9.
Here's what I expect as a minimum.

1. A Visual Research post. This is a post that contains at least one image and some written analysis of some visual material relevant to your work.

2. A Work post. This post should contain at least one image and some writing about your own work. If you're working with analogue materials plan on at least one scanning session per week!

Click here for examples of visual research and work posts from my own site.

Hey It's My Self-Portrait

2010-03-31T01:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a self-portrait of my day. Mornin' til night.

Art 450 & 496 Special Projects & Capstone

2010-03-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

We'll meet next on Thursday, April 8th at 4:30. I've already talked to you about your projects, so I'll expect you to have the details firmed up as follows:

0. A working title for your project.
1. A one sentence description of your project.
2. A one paragraph description of your project.
3. A one page description of your project.
4. A description of what you're going to actually produce during the course of your project. Make sure you include any preparatory/exploratory sketches, photos, collages, animatics, rough cuts, and interpretive dance you'll be doing.
5. Visual and/or written research for your project. Stuff done by other people.
6. Treatment visuals for your project. Stuff done by you.
7. A written description of specific technical and research issues you will need to address during the course of your project.
8. A timeline of your project. When you will be doing all of this good stuff. You must include specific deadlines (for example: "April 27th", not "some time in April."
9. A blog containing all of the above. You will also keep track of your activity here. If you do something for your project, blog it. I check these things oft, so I expect to see constant brain activity here. POST YOUR NAME & BLOG URL as comment to this post.
10. Your magic sunshine. See you then.

Critique schedule is as follows:
Thursday, April 8, 4:30
Thursday, April 22, 4:30
Thursday, May 6, 4:30
Thursday, May 20, 4:30
Final Critique Thursday, June 3, 5:30 p.m.

Capstone Paper Guidelines

Everyone in Art 496 has the honor of writing The Glorious and Most Noble Capstone Paper. "What are the expectations of such a paper, and how can I write one?" I hear you ask. Well, I'll tell you.

1. Think of the paper as a presentation of your project to an audience of complete strangers. Use your project proposal to help you articulate your project and your process to this audience.

2. What were you trying to achieve with the project? Did you have a clear goal or purpose in mind? Were some aspects of the project more experimental? Discuss influences on the project, and include images and a bibliography.

4. Reflect on your process and give a post-mortem of the project. What went right? What went wrong? Did the project change as you went along? Did obstacles arise? Were they expected or unexpected? How did you overcome these obstacles? What advise would you give others undertaking similar projects?

5. Include images of your project and process. These may be attached as an appendix or integrated into the body of the paper.

6. Print this out, bind it, and bring it to our final critique.

Blogeth Me, Spring 2010 Comix People! Assignment 1

2010-03-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

Hey, leave your blogs urls with your full name as a comment to this post!

Idiotic Guessing Game in ActionScript 3.0

2010-03-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

I've spent time I should have spent contemplating the beauty of the human form or drawing trees creating a computer guessing game. It's sure to thrill. Here's a link to the full code in a .txt file. If you really like to rock to funky beats, you can download the .fla file and the .as file right here. Anyhow, let me know if you manage to break it.

Here's the main code for getting the guessing down. Initially, I came up with many hare-brained formulas that didn't work. Finally I resorted to digging around on the net, saw a post on limits and the light went on at last. Here's the code for the "no" button. The minLimit variable is initialized as 1 and the maxLimit variable is initialized at 101. As the computer guesses, its guess becomes either the new max or the new min limit. The computerPlay function just runs the animation and keeps track of the number of guesses.

function onNoButtonClick(event:MouseEvent):void
{
output_txt.text = interestingMessage;
if (computerGuess < userNumber) { minLimit = computerGuess; computerGuess = computerGuess + (maxLimit-minLimit)/2; computerPlay(); } else if (computerGuess > userNumber)
{
maxLimit = computerGuess;
computerGuess = computerGuess - (maxLimit-minLimit)/2;
computerPlay();
}
else
{
output_txt.text = lieMessage;
}
}

Game Developer's Conference - Career Stuff

2010-03-03T15:53:00.000-08:00

Here are some links about gettin' the ol' game career going. Our very own Ms. Lindsay Peck is off to the GDC (Game Developers Conference) next week, so we look forward to some good stories. These big conferences can be a good opportunity to see the game world in action and make it all a bit more flesh and blood. Often times you can apply to be a student volunteer, or take advantage of a reduced cost student pass.

Gamasutra - GDC Career Pavillion Tips For Success
Game Career Guide - GDC Tips For Students
Siggraph Career Page - includes The Demo Reel From Hell and The Five Minute Career Mentor.

SIGGRAPH Conference Site
Game Developer's Conference Site

NYTimes on Animator William Kentridge

2010-02-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

Art Review | 'William Kentridge: Five Themes'

Anger and Angst, Explored With Animation

By ROBERTA SMITH

Published: February 26, 2010

The Museum of Modern Art’s “William Kentridge: Five Themes” lays out the strengths and weaknesses of this prominent South African artist’s work with a forthrightness that is almost touching.
Click here for full article.

Artiste O' The Day

2010-02-24T17:26:00.000-08:00

Sir Garrett of Eldenhalle sends us this lovely site of Raphael Lacoste's work. Nifty concepts from Assassin's Creed, Prince of Persia, and the like. Also, Raphael's been studying his art history hasn't he? Piranesi, fo' sho'. And check out the Friedrich shout-out below.

Here's Caspar David Friedrich's The Sea of Ice from 1823-24. Friedrich's one of those guys that we should all dig on. Cheers, Caspar!

Lithia Motors Internship - Looking for a FLASH designer

2010-02-24T14:33:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, here's a very cool opportunity. Lithia is looking for a paid intern for 10 hours of work per week. Needless to say, this would be brilliant professional experience: national company, major brands, wide distribution of your work, etc. etc. If you're interested, here are the specs:

Build a flash element for a Lithia store. The winning student
(s) would have an opportunity to present their work here at Lithia, or we
could come there to review.

What we would like to see from the designers as part of the project, is a
flash build that has:

technical elements of:
1. follows IAB standards
2. is under 40K
3. size is 300x250
4. 15 seconds
5. one loop
6. a swf, fla and jpg (the jpg is the final frame used for browsers that do
not have a flash player)
7. if Rich Media can be incorporated, that is an added bonus

Lithia elements of:
1. includes store logo, Reno Subaru, logo attached
2. includes a vehicle
3. the final frame would have a strong call to action
4. uses a circus theme or spring cleaning theme

We would like to see creative by March 8th if possible.

Here's the Reno Subaru logo:

Let me know if you have questions, and get your work to me by Friday, next week! Get that career goin'.

Final Critique Times For Miles' Classes

2010-02-24T09:07:00.000-08:00

Art 351 Interactive Studio: Wednesday, March 10, 7:30-9:30 a.m.(!)
Art 399 Concept Art O' The Rich & Famous: Wednesday, March 10, 3:30 p.m.
Art 353 3D Modelin' & Lightin': Tuesday, March 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Art 450/496 "Special" Projects & Capstone: Wednesday, March 10, 5:30 p.m.

Have all yer work blogged up and ready to present.
All critiques will meet in the regularly scheduled labs.

The Excellent Bill Wray

2010-02-22T17:15:00.000-08:00

Lots of nice stuff at Bill Wray's site. I like the backgrounds he did for Samurai Jack.

Controlling MovieClip Timelines!

2010-02-22T11:37:00.000-08:00

Your event handler will look something like this:

function onYourButtonClick(event:MouseEvent):void
{
startPage.gotoAndStop(2);
}

If you wanted to control a clip within a clip, use dot notation!

startPage.cuteMovie.gotoAndPlay(30);

Mac vs. Adobe: It's Civil War, I Tells Yuh!

2010-02-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

Articles on the Adobe Apple feud. Will Flash survive??? Probably, but hopefully emerging much improved by the struggle.
Wall Street Journal
The Guardian
New York Times
As an artist/animator, I like Flash, I really do. To me, its strength is the integration of drawing, animation, and programming into one nifty flexible environment. Yay, for me. However, that's not why Flash is a dominant web presence. I think Flash has risen because it has serious Adobe market muscle behind it. In its evolution, Flash has become a classic bit of bloat-ware--it can do things like play video and generate slideshows for the web, but it's by no means the best way to do those things. Sure, Flash has a video player, but most people hate it and want it dead. And why the hell should people be forced to use Flash to make a web slide show?

So, what's the point of all this? As an academic teaching studio art and "emerging media," I don't like the idea of perpetuating olde techniques and approaches to doing things just because I know how to do them. Over the past few years, I feel that some complacency has set in, that we're still using a lot of this corporate bloat-ware because that's what us olde perfessers know what to do. There's much more to say on this subject, but I'll end it for now with the thought that I want to make sure I'm not teaching some corporate party line, but rather some basic principles and concepts that my students will be able to adapt and develop into their own approach to things.

Here's How To Start and Stop Sounds (Flash AS 3.0)

2010-02-18T03:09:00.000-08:00

Here's the .fla file for you to download.
Here's the .as file for you to download. (right-click and save as for best results!)

package
{
// here's where you import the Sound and SoundChannel classes
    import flash.display.MovieClip;
    import flash.events.MouseEvent;
    import flash.media.Sound;
    import flash.media.SoundChannel;

    public class Main extends MovieClip
    {
        //these first variables are to hold sounds that have been imported to the Library
        var noo:Noo;
        var waterloo:Waterloo;
        var ooh:Ooh;

        //this creates a variable to contain a SoundChannel. To play a sound, you must have
        //a SoundChannel to play it in.
        var soundChannel:SoundChannel;



        public function Main()
        {
            //here we load up the sound variables with instances of the Library sounds
            noo = new Noo();
            waterloo = new Waterloo();
            ooh = new Ooh();
            //here we load the soundChannel variable with a new SoundChannel.
            soundChannel = new SoundChannel;

            //here are the Event Listeners!
            //buttonRoll is the instance name of the button in my scene.
            buttonRoll.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_OVER, onButtonRollOver);
            buttonRoll.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_OUT, onButtonRollOut);
            buttonRoll.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onButtonRollClick);
        }

            //here are the Event Handlers
        function onButtonRollOver(event:MouseEvent):void
        {
            //this starts the waterloo sunset guitar playing in the soundChannel.
            soundChannel = waterloo.play();

        }
        function onButtonRollOut(event:MouseEvent):void
        {
            //this stops any previous sounds that have been playing in the soundChannel.
            soundChannel.stop();
            //this plays the annoying noo sound
            soundChannel = noo.play();
            trace("out of this world");
        }
        function onButtonRollClick(event:MouseEvent):void
        {
            soundChannel.stop();
            soundChannel = ooh.play();
            trace("clickin and tickin");
        }
    }
}

Here're the Interactive Storybook Files with Button Jumping

2010-02-17T09:50:00.000-08:00

Main.as
InteractiveStorybook.fla

package
{
    import flash.display.MovieClip;
    import flash.events.MouseEvent;

    public class Main extends MovieClip
    {
        var startPage:StartPage;
        var hillPage:HillPage;
        var pondPage:PondPage;

        public function Main()
        {
            startPage = new StartPage();
            hillPage = new HillPage();
            pondPage = new PondPage();
            addChild(startPage);


            //add event listeners
            startPage.hillButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onHillButtonClick);
            startPage.pondButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onPondButtonClick);
            hillPage.backToStartButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onBackButtonClick_Hill);
            pondPage.backToStartButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onBackButtonClick_Pond);
        }
        // here are the event handlers
        function onHillButtonClick(event:MouseEvent):void
        {
            addChild(hillPage);
            removeChild(startPage);
        }
        function onPondButtonClick(event:MouseEvent):void
        {
            addChild(pondPage);
            removeChild(startPage);
        }
        function onBackButtonClick_Hill(event:MouseEvent):void
        {
            addChild(startPage);
            removeChild(hillPage);
        }
        function onBackButtonClick_Pond(event:MouseEvent):void
        {
            addChild(startPage);
            removeChild(pondPage);
        }
    }
}

Useful Movie Clip Properties

2010-02-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

Access these properties with dot notation!

myMovieClipInstance.property

For example:

startPage.alpha

to access the alpha properties of "startPage".

Anyhow, here's a list o' properties.

alpha = transparency Takes a value from 0 -1. Default is 1 (opaque).

height = height in pixels 1 is lowest possible value. Decimals are okay.

width = width in pixels 1 is lowest possible value. Decimals are okay.

rotation = rotation in degrees 0 to180 = clockwise. 0 to -180 = counter clockwise.
scaleX = horizontal scale of an object Default is 1. This is a percentage, so .5 = 50%, 2 = 200%, etc.
scaleY = vertical scale of an object Default is 1. This is a percentage, so .5 = 50%, 2 = 200%, etc.
visible = visibility This is a Boolean value. It is either true or false.

x = x position on the stage In pixels. Up left of stage is x = 0, positive x is to right of stage.
y = y position on the stage In pixels. Upper left corner of stage is y = 0. positive y is down stage.

Whoa Concept People! Whoa! New Critique Date!

2010-02-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

Alack, Professor Miles has to leave class early today and Wednesday, so. . . dramatic music. . . we'll move the full class critique to Monday, Feb 22. We'll have small group critiques today instead. So, present your work and discuss your schemes for the final project. Now stop reading this and git to celebratin' our dang Presidents.

David Hockney

2010-02-08T17:11:00.000-08:00

Check out an alternative to the geek-chic neo-realist approach to concept design. Why, it's good ol' David Hockney!

and a little thing called modernism/post-modernism. . . Mon Dieu. Screw the ambient occlusion and caustics!!! Just bust out the good ol' flat COLOR.

Ryan Church

2010-02-08T15:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Garrett Ross for this link to Ryan Church's site. Make sure to check out his bio, links and working methods section. EEExcellent.

Art 351 - How To Jump Around The Timeline

2010-02-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

Create a new blank layer and call it actions. Select the blank keyframe and open up the Actions palette (Window > Actions).

Here's the basic code for jumping around in your timeline.
To add it, click on a blank keyframe in your actions layer and open up the Actions palette.
In the code below, "button1" is the name of my particular button instance. To give your instance a name, select it on the stage and enter an instance name in the Properties palette.

Also note that the "(10)" after the gotoAndPlay command means I want to jump to frame 10.

stop();

button1.addEventListener(

MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP,

function(evt:MouseEvent):void {

gotoAndPlay(10);

}

);

Here's the same file with a second button added on frame 1

He Came To Rock You

2010-02-03T16:43:00.000-08:00

Samuel Palmer, Cornfield By Moonlight, 1824

Samuel Palmer from his Shoreham period. Hell yes, people.

How To Upload and Embed .swf Files

2010-02-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

1. Open Fugu. It's in your Applications folder.

When opened, it'll look like this:

2. In the"Connect to" box, type: webpages.sou.edu

like so:

3. Follow the login prompts and your network directory

will appear on the right. Double click the public_html folder.

4. Now, you can drag and drop files from your computer to your account. Hoorah.

5. Now, you can access files in your public_html folder by typing the url into any web browser.

Here's the url:

http://webpages.sou.edu/~username/filename.ext

Here's an example using my username and a .swf file.

http://webpages.sou.edu/~minada/framejumpinginAS3.swf

6. To embed the file in your blog, use the code at this link. Just like I done it down below! Make sure you're in "Edit HTML mode," or it's going to look awful funny. Also make sure you enter the height and width properly! I tend to keep my blog .swf embeds to just under 400 px wide. Set and check your height and width in flash before you export your .swf.

Remember, your height and width settings are under Modify > Document. . . in Flash. Here's the click-able embedded .swf

Art 351 Assignment 4 - Jumpin' Jehosaphat!

2010-02-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

This assignment has two parts:

A. Create a library of 10 buttons, just for kicks.

B. Create an interactive timeline-based story the user will navigate using buttons to jump around the timeline.

1. Script and thumbnail out your story. We'll look at these this Monday, Feb 8. Make sure you post your work to your blog.

2. Shawn will be coming in to demo some basic sound recording on Wednesday, Feb. 3!

3. This piece will be due for critique on Wednesday, February 17.

Embed Source Code for Animated Flash Movies

2010-01-27T11:07:00.000-08:00

The above button is an example of an embedded swf file. Here's a link to the source code you'll need to embed your animated flash files. Make sure you are in the EDIT HTML tab of your blog post or, it'll look silly.

Art 399 Concept Art - Assignment 2 - Environment Concepts

2010-01-25T13:41:00.000-08:00

Game Bridge concept by Alex Munn

For your second project, you'll be researching and developing a set of environmental concept drawings. These could be concepts for a game, an animation, a movie, a book, interpretive dance, amusement park, stage set, or none of the above. Here's what you'll do.

1. Write a description about your place. Where is it? What year? What does it look like, smell like? Describe the color palette there. What emotions does the place invoke? Who and/or what lives/lived there? Let your imagination run wild. Wild, I tell you.

2. Do lots and lots of visual research on your place. Architecture, flora, fauna. Mood. Look for images of interesting lighting schemes that fit your vision. And always, always. . . textures. Blog this stuff, baby. Taking your own photos is very helpful too.

3. Do it! Create preparatory drawings/collages as needed!

4. We'll have a work in progress crit on Wednesday, February 3. Final work is due Monday, February15.

Make sure you check out your hero artists to inspire you to new heights of lunacy. Blog about 'em.

Environmental concepts for Fallout 3

Art 351 - Assignment 3: Create 15 Animated Dingbats

2010-01-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

1. Create a library of 15 animated dingbats.
2. Due Monday, February 1.
3. Post your progress as you go!

Here's a quick demo video on getting started with animation in Flash. More to come.

Concept Designs for Left 4 Dead 2, Youtube Vids by Daarken

2010-01-25T01:25:00.000-08:00

Randy Lundeen, Environment Design, Left 4 Dead 2

Here's a link to an interview with a character and environment designer on Left 4 Dead 2. Dig it. CG Society's a useful site. Check it out.

Daarken, Liche King Design

Also, here's a link to Daarken's Warhammer character design demo that Cody McD shared on Wednesday. Loved it. Live it. It's just part 1 of several -so check 'em all out!

Art 351 - Assignment 2: Two more collages and interactive writing

2010-01-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

1. Take one of your collages and double (at least) either the height or the width of the document. Use Modify > Document to accomplish this. Now work on your new canvas.

2. Create a new collage (or start with one of your old ones) and push the scale contrast! Enlarge stuff so it extends way off the canvas. Shrink stuff down. Go to town.

3. Write about 3 satisfying "interactive" experiences you've had in life. Think about sight, smell, sound, atmosphere, color, texture, drama, sensation, emotion, physicality, sensuousness and all that. Post to blog with relevant pictures.

4. Put all of this glory up on your site so we can critique first thing MONDAY, January 25.

image by Ernesto Caivano

Art 496 Capstone Paper Expectations

2010-01-14T09:12:00.000-08:00

Fallout 3 Self-Portrait by Evan Carroll

Everyone in Art 496 has the honor of writing The Glorious and Most Noble Capstone Paper. "What are the expectations of such a paper, and how can I write one?" I hear you ask. Well, I'll tell you.

1. Think of the paper as a presentation of your project to an audience of complete strangers. Use your project proposal to help you articulate your project and your process to this audience.

5. Include images of your project and process. These may be attached as an appendix or integrated into the body of the paper.

6. Print this out, bind it, and bring it to our final critique.

Art 496 Capstone and Art 450 Special Projects - Proposal

2010-01-14T08:56:00.000-08:00

We'll meet next on Wednesday, January 28th at 3:00. I've already talked to you about your projects, so I'll expect you to all have the details firmed up as follows:

0. A working title for your project.
1. A one sentence description of your project.
2. A one paragraph description of your project.
3. A one page description of your project.
4. A description of what you're going to actually produce during the course of your project. Make sure you include any preparatory/exploratory sketches, photos, collages, animatics, rough cuts, and interpretive dance you'll be doing.
5. Visual and/or written research for your project. Stuff done by other people.
6. Treatment visuals for your project. Stuff done by you.
7. A written description of specific technical and research issues you will need to address during the course of your project.
8. A timeline of your project. When you will be doing all of this good stuff. You must include specific DEADLINES (for example: "January 27th", not "some time in January."
9. A blog containing all of the above. You will also keep track of your activity here. If you do something for your project, blog it. I check these things oft, so I expect to see constant brain activity here.
10. Your magic sunshine. See you then.

This Made Me Happy

2010-01-11T16:59:00.000-08:00

It's the Pac Man Skull by Le Gentil Garcon. Three Cheers! Found this via NextNature. Also, a couple of skull references. . .

Exporting A Still Image From Flash

2010-01-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a short video on how to export a blog-ready image from Flash. "I hope you cherish it as much as I."

Bloggerel: Freddie Williams' Perspective Paths!

2010-01-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

Concept and Comic types might want to head over to Freddie Williams' site to download his groovy time-saving Perspective Paths for Photoshop and watch the 5 minute demo on his site.

His book, The DC Comics Guide To Digitally Drawing Comics is a very readable and useful guide to digital drawing.

Bloggerel: Oberlin Student Stuff

2010-01-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

image by Yugean Park

For some nice examples of student blogs, check out the student links on Pipo's Oberlin Photo blog. Scroll down the page a bit and look to the right hand links. . .

Art 399 Concept Art - Assignment 1 - Character Based on Self

2010-01-06T01:26:00.000-08:00

1. Create a set of character designs based on yourself. You can do one or several. Feel free to experiment with styles, approaches, and media.

2. Post 'em on your blog. Include rough sketches and work in progress (WIP!)

Due Date: We'll critique these on Wednesday, January 20.

Art 351 - Assignment 1: Dingbats! and Flash Demo Videos

2010-01-06T00:25:00.000-08:00

Halloween Dingbats by Samuel Casal

1. Choose a theme of some sort and accumulate some related raw visual research on your blog. The theme can be very loose and fun. For example: "abstract pattern designs," "monsters," "random stuff that I've drawn for no good reason," "famous biscuits of the middle ages," "angry old people," "doodles," "pseudopods n' such," "goat referendum," "body parts and organs," etc. Use the theme choice to help you, not hinder you. If you're not one to enjoy thinking up themes ahead of time, just make stuff and think about a theme after you're into the project. Also, don't be afraid to let your theme evolve/change as you create your dingbats!

2. Create a Flash Library of 26 symbols related to your theme!

3. Use your library to create an organized layout of your symbols and export it as .png.

4. Create a set of 3 collages (see example by Samuel Casal, above) using your dingbat symbols and export these as .png's.

5. As usual, post all of this fragrant goodness to your blog.

Due date: Wednesday, January 20, 9:00 a.m.

Here is a link to the demo videos taking you through the basics of drawing and symbol making in Flash. Victory!

Art 399 Concept Art - Blogs n' Syllabus

2010-01-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to the course syllabus. You are required to maintain a blog for this course. Once you establish your URL, post it as a comment to this post.
Each week you will be posting to your blog.
1. Images from an interesting site or artist that you're looking at.
2. Some of your own work. Photos, writing, doodles, sketches, anything.
3. Post samples of whatever you've been working on in this class.

Art 351 Interactive - Blogs n' Syllabus

2010-01-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to the course syllabus. You are required to maintain a blog for this course. Once you establish your URL, post it as a comment to the class blog at: soucomics.blogspot.com
Each week you will be posting to your blog.
1. Images from an interesting site or artist that you're looking at.
2. Some of your own work. Photos, writing, doodles, sketches, anything.
3. Post samples of whatever you've been working on in this class.

Animation Final Format Instructions

2009-12-07T09:36:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I just posted videos showing how to put your final animation into .mov format. Check 'em out.

They include instructions on how to export separate video and audio tracks and edit your final movie together in QuickTime Pro.
Hope it helps!

Animation Final Info

2009-12-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

Animators,
Miles will be lurking about the lab or in his office (AB 111) at 2:00 on Monday, Dec 7 to collect your animation magic for the screening on Tuesday! Bring all of your files in case something goes awry, but I'd like to get a high quality .mov from you.
Cheers,
Miles N' Such

Cripes! Real live comic colorists at SOU Tuesday (tomorrow!) at 9:30 a.m.!

2009-11-30T13:42:00.000-08:00

Comic book-types. Go check this out!!!!

Hi Miles,

The DC Comic Book colorists, Jeremy and John, are going to be at my class this Tuesday, December 1 at 9:30 AM in MA 003.

They'll be showing their work. This will be a good opportunity for students to ask questions about the BIZ, techniques, etc.

Sorry for the short notice. I just got the word. If you can't get word to your classes on time could you send out class emails.

Thanks,
Don

Get "Covered"!

2009-11-28T17:04:00.000-08:00

Check out Covered, a blog that posts covers of classic comic covers alongside "covers" of the originals by contemporary artists. Dan Scanlon's take on Kirby's X-Men no. 1 gets my vote. Thanks to K. Silem Mohammad for the link! Make sure you check Kasey's blog for the best use of blurb-based elipses (. . .) I think I've ever seen.

Final Crit for Art 352 Animation

2009-11-19T17:35:00.000-08:00

Let's put on a show! If you can get your final projects to me by noon, Monday, December 7, I'll put together a compilation DVD we can watch in Meese auditorium for our final. That will be Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. If Meese is booked, we'll come up with an alternate location.

Final Crit for Comics & Picture Books AND Art 450/496

2009-11-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

We're on the home stretch, so we'll basically just be doing studio days from here on out. I'll be around to help with technical junk, therapy, and self-esteem issues as needed. Heck, I can even provide feedback on your actual work too. Why not?

Our final critique will be on Monday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m. in MA 101 (and the lab to look at web stuff). We'll make an unholy Frankenstein mix of Comics/Picture Books and Art 450 Special Projects (and 496 Capstone!) I'll bring the pizza. Plan on having your finished product whatever that may be--web site, final dummy, individual illustrations, etc. As always, keep your blog updated! Electronic existence is good for your stuff.

Good Stuff - 3 Cheers For Phil McAndrew

2009-11-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

I forgot who sent me this, but I think it is wonderful. Go check out Phil McAndrew's work!http://www.philintheblanks.com/comics/manenough.html

Final Project - Art 352 Animation

2009-11-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

Hey, let's do a final project! Come up with a concept or treatment for the project, put it on your blog and we'll look at 'em on Thursday.

Here're some links that might help get you going:

The Blackheart Gang! Make sure to check out Tale of How and The Making of the Tale of How.

Michel Gagne. Some concepts for Ratatouille, really nice post on pre-production work for Iron Giant, and his nifty silhouette animations which I'm pretty sure were done with Flash.

Good Stuff: LeUyen Pham

2009-11-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

I picked up some good stuff from More Fun last week. Including Prince of Persia, illustrated by LeUyen Pham. She's done some beautiful picture book work as well. Those of you considering illustration, ought to take a gander at her website, this interview, and well, uh, this other interview. Good stuff here on college years, getting started in the field, and her technical/creative approach. Read and learn.

How to make a scrolling background! And how to do Swap Symbols!

2009-10-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

Here are Miles' videos for making a scrolling background for your walk cycles. Enjoy.

Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5

Here's a simplified Symbol swap video too -- useful for setting up a character for lip synch.

Jeff File for Animation Class-- lip synch with phonemes and flash symbols

2009-10-23T02:42:00.001-07:00

Animation students, click here to download the Jeff.FLA file (if you dare). It's a 9 mb zip file, so it might take a bit to download. Patience and all that. Anyhow, you can analyze to see how I worked with nested symbols and "swapping" for the phonemes. Quality. Regular folk, can click the picture to see the swf file.

How to loop a SWF

2009-10-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

1. Create a new layer, call it "Actions" and insert a blank keyframe on the last frame. See below--click on the images for higher res.

2. Make sure you are on the timeline on the blank keyframe you just made. Click Window > Actions
and then type:

gotoAndPlay(1);

Yer done.

Enbed Code For Your SWFs

2009-10-20T16:51:00.001-07:00

Here is the embed code for putting up your own swf files:

<object height="230" width="395"> <param value="yourfilename.swf" name="movie">
<embed src="http://yourremotesite.com/yourfilename.swf" height="230" width="395"></embed></object>

DON"T COPY AND PASTE THIS CODE. IT WON'T WORK!!!!

Do download this .rtf that has the code for you to copy and paste!

Enter the correct height and width fit your actual movie size! (look under Modify > Document in Flash to get the dimensions. I've also found it works to make a copy of your movie and make a shrunken version that's under 400 pixels wide.

Walk Assignment

2009-10-20T15:33:00.001-07:00

For Tuesday, October 27 have the following up on your blog.

1. A walk cycle including arms and legs.

2. A walk cycle with a panning background.

Remember:

1) Pans look better on ones (24 fps or 30 fps).

2) Arms tend to hit their extremes at different keys than the feet. For example, feet hit extremes on 1 and arms hit extremes on 3.

“Faster Than a Speeding Bullet: The Art of the Superhero” at U of O!

2009-10-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

Beg, borrow or steal a ride up to Eugene to check out “Faster Than a Speeding Bullet: The Art of the Superhero” up at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon. It's up until January 3rd, so see it; it could change your life. . .

Walk Cycle Demo Videos

2009-10-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here are the step by step videos on creating a 9 frame stick figure walk cycle in Flash. Enjoy.

Video 1: Contact and Passing keys.

Video 2: Up and Down keys.

Video 3: In-Betweens.

Video 4: Converting the step to a cycle.

Click here to download the .fla file of the stick figure walk before it is converted to a cycle.
Click here to download the .fla file of the stick figure walk converted to a cycle.

New Tween Demo Videos

2009-10-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

Classic Architecture, Classic Rock, & Classic Tweens. Here's how to do some ball bouncin' with ease control classic tweens in Flash CS4.

Tween Video 1: How to set up the basic classic tween.

Tween Video 2: Adding easing (adjusting spacing).

Tween Video 3: Adding funky strokes n' blurs. Creating a shadow.

Tween Video 4: Easing the shadow scale tween.

Icycle & A Good Intro To Easing Video

2009-10-14T00:15:00.000-07:00

Icycle by Damp Gnat Games - Excellent-looking nude tricycle riding post-apocalyptic side-scroller! That's entertainment.

Here's a good intro video on using the Flash CS4 Motion Editor to control your easing. Turns out the Flash Motion Editor is different from Maya and Max. Irritating. Irritating. Irritating.

Jill Bruhn Time

2009-10-13T16:35:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to SOU Art Alum Jill Bruhn's stuff she did for the animation class. Nifty! While you're at it, check out her blog too.

Comics & Animation: Look No Further Than Brad Neely

2009-10-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

Brad Neely is fantastic. Absolutely wonderful. Love love love his stuff. Free Love. Short sentence fragments.

Makin' Love with Kenny Winker:

Role Playin' with BABY CAKE!!!!! BE AGGRESSIVE!!!!! Marry me.

Flash Ball Bounce Video How-to!

2009-10-09T14:36:00.001-07:00

I'm posting nine videos that take you through each step of the ball bounce assignment. I'll post as they upload.

Video 1: Setting up a new file and creating a ground layer, how to extend a frame (6 min 8 secs)

Video 2: Onion skinning & setting initial keys for timing, turning off snap, looping playback (5 min 42 sec)

Video 3: Moving frames on the timeline to adjust timing. How to keep the timeline cleaned up by removing unnecessary frames (2 min 49 seconds)

Video 4: Quick review of moving frames on the timeline. Adding keys and initial spacing pass. (6 min 13 sec)

Video 5: Polonius says SAVE YOUR WORK, adding keys and adjusting spacing (6 min 44 sec)

Video 6: Spacing above and beyond (5 min 35 sec)

Video 7: Squash and Stretch!!! (3 min 37 sec)

Video 8: Final inbetweens and spacing (5 min 08 sec)

Video 9: Cleaning up the loop, deleting guides (3 min 41 sec)

Art 352 Animation Assignment 3 - Bouncin'

2009-10-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's time for the infamous bouncing ball. Live it & love it. It's actually pretty fun. Here's the deal.

1. Create a looping animation of a ball bouncing in place.

2. Create an animation of a ball bouncing twice and off stage.

3. Create a looped animation of a character doing some kind of bouncing related activity.

* These will be due on Thursday, October 15
* The first 2 animations must use frame by frame; no copy and paste, and no tweening.
* The third animation can be done however you'd like. Some folks might want to experiment with the IK tool.

Simplify!

2009-10-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

Compare Durer vs. Clowes (above) & Inada vs. Michelangelo (below)

Sleazy Comic Page Template

2009-10-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

Hey kids, get yours today! Click on the picture for the full size version, then right click and download. Loads of laffs! Fool your friends! Also, here's a link to Scott McCloud's pyramid of comic styles which we'll discuss today.

Art 349 Comics Assignments & Schedule

2009-10-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

Let 'em rip. For Wednesday, October 6, do one of the following:

1. A 4 panel strip.
2. A 1 page comic.
3. A free-form narrative drawing (a la Maurice Sendak). This can be multi-page if you want.

For class, we'll discuss developing an approach to the visual side of things (I think the technical term for this is "art"). We'll check out Scott McCloud's pyramid, page templates, and thumbnails.

For Monday, October 11, we'll talk about lettering, typography, page layout, speech bubbles and the like.

For Wednesday, October 13 you'll present your project proposals to the class. Use the guidelines for the Art 450/496 projects. Make sure your proposal is entirely on your blog as that's what I'll be evaluating. Bonus: it'll be much harder for you to lose or forget to bring with you once it's on line. The only thing that could stop us would be some kind of computer/network outage, but that will never happen.

Good Resources on Clowes & Comics Simpsons!

2009-10-04T23:55:00.001-07:00

Eightball fans, head on over to Warren's Wiki for some good links to Dan Clowes interviews and such. Damn, I have to see this Simpsons episode. That's Clowes, Art Spiegelman, and Alan Moore--shirtless!!

Treatment Bound

2009-10-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

For an example of some rough treatment examples (har har), check out Inadaville for a couple of recent posts on the Jefferson project. Here are some specific links:
Writing and Spiritual Fathers
A rough character concept by Miles
A rough concept by Miles

Chris Ware: A spiritual brother (I think he's younger than me). A harder-working, more talented better musician than me brother. Check out this excellent database of his work, The Acme Novelty Archive by Adam Kempa. If you're interested in further Ware reading, dig the lucidly titled book, Chris Ware, by Daniel Raeburn.

Art 352 Assignment 2-Abstract Animation

2009-10-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

Create an abstract animation using tweening, symbols and whatever else you want to use.
100-300 frames.
Think about the films shown by Steven Mayerson. Here are some stills from Oskar Fischinger's work that might help get you going.
Due Thursday, October 8 at beginning of class.

Art 352 Tweening In Flash CS4

2009-10-01T14:02:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to a video tutorial on tweening in Flash CS 4. Dig it.

Art 349 Comics Assignment

2009-10-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

Here's your weekend assignment. Enjoy!
1) Create the folder where you'll be keeping a hold of all your stuff (sketches, notes, source material, research, breakdowns, writing, etc) related to your project. Make it portable so you can bring it to class.

2) Take a first stab at a treatment for your project. What's a treatment? I use the term to refer to any kind of rough first stab at developing your project. A treatment can include some early attempts at the basic components of a book project: writing, illustration, layout and design. It could include a plot sketch or outline. You could write a description of the setting or world your book takes place in. What kind of characters live there? It can also be more abstract--something relating to the feeling or vibe you're trying to achieve, but not yet settled into any kind of final form. One of my favorite treatment examples (possibly apocryphal) is David Lynch being obsessed with a piece of blue velvet (the material) for a long time before making the film Blue Velvet.

3) On your blog, visually analyze a page of a book that you like. Look at type choice and size, use of white space, relation of pictures to images and the like. If you're doing a comic, note the lettering and gutter choices, panel breakdown, etc. Approach this not as a critic, but on a functional "how does this tick?" level.

4) Blog a bit about your creative process. How are you going to get this project done? Some things you might think about: Where do you like to work? Do you have a ritual? A schedule? What distracts you? How can you deal with those distractions?

Git yer blogs going and bring all of this good stuff into class on Monday for show and tell. Looking forward to seeing what's cookin'!

Art 352 Animation is Fresh and Lovely. Hoorah.

2009-09-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hey, go ahead and comment your blog urls here, if you are in the ANIMATION CLASS.

Every week, you'll be posting your class work on your blog along with:

1. Create a post about one of your artistic fathers/mothers. Include images and some reflection on why you like the work.

2. Something new. Create a post about an artist/thing you didn't know about until recently. This can be a piece you found in the Mobile Comics Library (RIF! see above image), a tip from a buddy/pal, something you picked up at More Fun, cultural flotsam from the web, etc etc. Include images and some reflection (deep) on why you were drawn to it.

Welcome Art 349 Comics and Picture Books

2009-09-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

Miles (right) and one of his freaks (left) man the Mobile Comics Library

Howdy folks. Go ahead and post your blog urls as a comment on this post. Please use your real name, so I can set up the class links.

Here's the assignment for Wednesday.

1. Go to a place you've never been before and write about it. Post it on your blog and bring a hard copy of your writing to class on Wednesday.

2. Create a post about one of your artistic fathers/mothers. Include images and some reflection on why you like the work.

3. Something new. Create a post about an artist/thing you didn't know about until recently. This can be a piece you found in the Mobile Comics Library (RIF! see above image), a tip from a buddy/pal, something you picked up at More Fun, cultural flotsam from the web, etc etc. Include images and some reflection (deep) on why you were drawn to it.

Welcome Art 450 & Art 496 Capstone Kids! Y'all are Special!

2009-09-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

Yay. We'll meet every other Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 for critique. Our first crit will be next week, Wednesday, October 7 at 3:00. I'll post our quarter crit schedule later this week. For now, go git the following ready fer Wednesday.

1. Start a blog, and post the url as a comment to this post. Do this immediately.
2. Post links to your classmates' blogs in a sidebar.
3. Use your blog to work out a project proposal that you will present to the class on Monday.

Your project proposal must include the following:

0. A working title for your project
1. Project goals (personal? professional? exploratory?)
2. A project description.
3. Specific products of study or deliverables that you will be creating for your project.
4. Visual and/or written research for your project. Stuff done by other people.
5. Treatment visuals for your project. This is stuff done by you. This can consist of links, a bibliography, images, etc.
6. A written description of specific technical and research issues you will need to address during the course of your project.
7. A timeline of your project. When you will be doing all of this good stuff. You must include specific DEADLINES (for example: "January 27th", not "some time in January."

Capstone folks, you'll be putting all of this into a written paper by the end of the quarter. More on that later. Go forth and conquer!

Phosphorescent Dreams an Evening of Fantastical Shorts!

2009-09-27T21:59:00.001-07:00

Steven Mayerson and the S.O.U. Art Department present: Phosphorescent Dreams an Evening of Fantastical Shorts, this Saturday, October 3rd at 7:00 p.m. in Meese Auditorium,

located in the S.O.U. Arts Building. This is a FREE show. The program will be otherworldly and exotic. It will include some rare vintage animation, a modern science fiction adventure designed in "steam-punk/goth" style, French fantasy shorts from 1900-1908 and a Bollywood production number among other things.

The show is not designed for kids. If they are under ten you be the judge. This is the first show of our sixth season of film programs at Meese Auditorium. Steven introduces each short and welcomes comments from the audience. Come ten minuets early for the best seats.

Meathaus, Lost At E Minor, contemporary creative inspiration sites

2009-09-27T00:37:00.000-07:00

Looks interesting, people. . . Meathaus: "Comics, Cartooning, Art, Inspiration" Dig it!

Also: Lost At E Minor features a huge range of contemporary hip artsy stuff. Here's an image by contemporary illustrator Hope Gangloff to prove it. . .

UGLY DOLLS Interview!

2009-09-23T15:07:00.001-07:00

A Crown Dozen interview with David Horvath creator of the Ugly Dolls. I'm resisting the urge to go buy all of the figures. Better go take a walk.

NYT Interactive on Comics & Clowes PDF

2009-09-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

A very nice interactive feature on comics in the New York Times from way back in 2004(!) featuring Seth, Chris Ware, Joe Sacco, Art Spiegelman, and Chester Brown.

Also in the NYT, a free Daniel Clowes story, Mister Wonderful, in PDF format! Huzzah!

Guest Speaker! Steve Mayerson!

2009-09-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

4:30 Thursday, Oct 1, we'll have a guest lecture on Abstract Animation from Steve Mayerson. Steve will be doing a fabulous free film presentation in the Meese Auditorium on Saturday, Oct 3 at 7:00 p.m.

Dan Clowes

2009-09-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

panels excerpted from Dan Clowes, The Happy Fisherman

Read Dan Clowes' stuff again last night. I'd kind of forgotten how good he is. Jeez. Depressing for me, but good for you. Pick up anything of his you can get your hands on. The more the merrier. "The Happy Fisherman" (see image above) changed me forever and is available in the Twentieth Century Eightball collection. He's just pure quality.

On a stupid note, here he is doing a commercial for Apple that is actually pretty damn funny if you are condemned to making comics.

Three Cheers For Robot Frog

2009-09-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

Sad Sack, Misreading, and The Anxiety of Influence

2009-09-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

After reading Derf's swell Punk Rock and Trailer Parks (here's a link to my post, and another link to a nice interview), I started thinking about why I was drawn to his work. I mentioned the Don Martin vibe, but the more I thought, the more I found myself thinking about the Sad Sack work of Fred Rhoads and George Baker. Derf's work definitely has a 'Sack vibe, and so I got to thinking about how much I loved those Sad Sack comics in the 70's. I haven's seen any since then, as they don't seem to have gotten the glamorous retro love as of yet. I will posit Sad Sack as an eery harbinger of Arms and Ether. Weird military types, and lots of beat-downs. Compare the above strip by Fred Rhoads with my 21st century effort. (I know, Rhoads kicks my ass.)
Anyhow, hooray, and here's a link to a blog that gets into some of the deeper nuances of Sad Sack. Okay, back to work.

Dig Some Derf

2009-09-10T02:13:00.000-07:00

Just finished Derf's Punk Rock and Trailer Parks which I thoroughly enjoyed. Here's Derf's website: derfcity.com. (Hey, kinda like Inadaville!). Thoroughly dig his Don Martin-inspired visual style. The writing is also top notch as is his musical taste. And finally. . . OHIO. Check out his weekly strip, The City.

Milton Bradley--as in the 1860 board game designer

2009-09-09T23:47:00.000-07:00

Interesting article on old school game designer Milton Bradley and "The Checkered Game of Life," written by Jill Lepore in the New Yorker. You have to subscribe to read the article, but you could also track it down in the library for freesies.

Also, an interesting interview with Jill Lepore who turns out to be a Harvard history prof. Some people like working out or fixing up their houses, but me, I like reading about folks who took a while to figure out what they wanted to do.

Miyazaki, folks

2009-09-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

Jen Harlow attended the "you don't get to see this guy every day," Hayao Miyazaki lecture in L.A. this summer. She's posted a transcript of the Q and A on her blog! Read and learn. Catbus ftw!

Graphic Memoir by David Small

2009-09-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

Just out and reviewed in the NYT is picture book illustrator David Small's graphic memoir, Stitches.
Dig it, or at least read about it via the link!

Two Nice Links to Groovy Sites

2009-09-07T22:50:00.000-07:00

tor.com has a really splendid sampling of interesting independent animation.

Vintage Children's Books My Kid Loves focuses on some classic picture books with lots of nice visual samples.

Get inspired. Thanks to Jen Harlow for the links!

Someone Should Go Work Here

2009-06-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

Here are job listings for Bethesda. Makers of Fallout 3 n' Oblivion.