Friday, February 12, 2010

Drawing Animals...

2/17/10- Drawing Animals. 5:15pm-6:15pm.

Getting geared up to teach again! Really looking forward to working with the Infinity Performing Arts Organization. I taught a quick introduction class a week or so ago and it was very cool.

One thing that sets Infinity apart from other teaching situations that I have participated in, is that the students WANT to be there. I can't tell you how much better that makes any class... as an instructor of a teacher. On both side of the "desk" a willing group is a group that learns. The concept of "No Child Left Behind" flies directly in the face of this concept, which is why I have always hated it.

Information and education isn't something given to you. You have to take it. You have to want it. As a teacher, you have to want to share it too. The desire to learn and get better is the real skill everyone must learn to achieve great things, and when the instructor wants to teach, and the students want to learn everything else is awesome!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

My friend Susan

My friend Susan is very nice. She is the kind of person who makes you happy that you ran into her. "Hi Susan!"

Susan is as familiar as the sun every morning, and as mysterious as the moon on a misty night. You feel as if you know her, even though she is just an acquaintance. Susan does the same things just about everyone else does, but there's a strange amazingness to these things when Susan does them. I can't put my finger on it, but it seems like you are watching someone do something for the first time, every time she says, or does something.

She can't be from planet Earth. There's something very real about her... too real sometimes. I think about her and wonder. Then I fall asleep.

Good night, Susan.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

SOMETHING SHINY

Apparently, I am perceived as the type of person who is easily distracted. I don't like this. People who think this don't really know me, so let them think that. I could care less. I find the less I judge other people, the happier I am. Think whatever you want. I have more important things to do with my time, thanks.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Mort Drucker and the advent of technology...


There's a website that's really worth checking out. I've blogged before about artist Bobby Chiu and his digital painting videos. His website (www.schoolism.com) is a real education for artists. I have yet to enroll in any of the classes, but since I have started watching this site and the videos posted there, I've started digital painting myself. I think I am getting the hang of this...

About 3 weeks ago I caught a video on the site and it really started me thinking. Character designer, Stephen Silver posted a video of a visit he had with Mort Drucker in Mort's home and studio. Mort Drucker is one of my heroes from the pages and several covers of MAD Magazine.

Anyway, in watching the video, I saw something that made me think. At one point, as Stephen Silver is interviewing, Mort starts to sketch in pencil. Then he does something that I haven't done in almost 10 years. Mort Drucker takes out a pen to start inking his illustration and dips it in ink. DIPS IT IN ACTUAL INK.

I've been working with computers a lot, and although I still prefer to sketch almost everything in pencil first, it never occured to me to go back to the old quill style ink pen. So tonight, as I was sketching a character for an upcoming animation, I broke out the pen and ink. There is something to be said for this technique. As I prepare to teach a few art classes this early spring, I'm glad Mort Drucker is still teaching me things.

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