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.

Fun...

I have been watching a ton of videos on YouTube on digital painting and decided it was time to relent and try it. If you have ever tried to "paint" in Photoshop with a mouse, the results can be very frustrating and basically bad.

I started watching a lot of Bobby Chiu videos. I have mentioned him in my blog posts before. Bobby is a Toronto artist whose Zen like video narrating style can inspire almost any artist. I am thinking about taking an online course in digital painting from him at schoolism.com... check him out.

However, if you have a graphics tablet I encourage you to give it a try. I was surprised at the very painterly results and played for hours. This is my first stab at a digital painting. Call it a sketch...

Bang and Blame

Life is unfulfilling.

Why is that? What is it? It's you. It's me (actually).

I've blogged about the artist Bobby Chiu before. He's a Toronto artist whose YouTube videos I watch a lot. It's the narration that kills me everytime. Bobby Chiu is an amazing artist, but it's his attitude and philosophy that I envy most.

I know that I have blogged about my job before. I have been doing a lot of very heavy thinking about it lately. I have finally decided that I do not belong here. This job is what it is... and it will never get better. I will never get better working here. Bobby Chiu said something in the video I watched last night about creative jobs. It really struck a nerve.

He talked about having a creative job that you dread. He said he would rather be doing something non-creative than be in a situation that made him dislike art. He's right. This job makes me dislike art. I get home at night and want to draw or paint or work on my own art, and I am creatively drained.

I am talented. I have technical skills too. I don't think the management here appreciate what I offer. I want to work for someone I can respect, that respects me. The circumstances which led to my working here are a bit sketchy... but I know now that it is time to go.

The company-owned hotel down the street is having an Art Exhibition this week. As part of an event this Saturday, I will be doing caricature work all day. They also convinced me to hang some of my illustration work in the show. I produce digital illustrations. The head of my department asked why I hadn't hung any real paintings. It rubbed me the wrong way a little. I'm not saying he is a bad guy or anything, but what I do is beyond his ability to understand and appreciate. You can't get mad at that, really.

This company does not demean me. This job does not demean me. I demean myself every day by coming here to work. I am better than this. I deserve the most blame. Every day I come here to work, is one less day of becoming better and happier. I will be putting in my 2 weeks notice, before the end of August.