Reposted: "How To Steal Like an Artist"

Via Drawn comes a post from writer/artist Austin Kleon's blog: definitely one of the better summations of what it takes to be an artist, succinct observations  and some damn good insights about the creative process. Added to the list of must-reads of sound advice (supplementing Mark Anderson's "Blog Like a Cartoonist," Griffy's "Top 40," and this post).

Peace in Pieces Prize

This morning I took the dog out for our morning constitution (no pun intended), and while I was staring at the piles of crap gradually being uncovered in the yard from the melting snow, I though to myself “wow, what a big mess to clean up.” Then I turned around to see that Bird-Dog had decided to take another fresh dump right in the middle of the damned driveway. Pretty much sums up American foreign policy.

“Obama said he did not feel he deserved "to be in the company" of past Peace Prize winners, but would accept the prize while pushing for a broad range of international objectives...”

No shit? On a related post back in October of 2009 I lampooned the President on getting the Nobel Peace Prize, and in retrospect, it seems I was entirely too nice.
(more below the fold)

Repost: Happy Birthday Ninnah!

Image: David Lee Ingersoll (India ink and Prismacolor markers)

Alaska-born artist David Lee Ingersoll put up this super awesome illustration caricaturing my sister... reposting with permission via his "Skook" blog: creatures, character studies, comics, sketches and process samples to completed multi-media pieces, the archives are a creative cornucopia to browse through.
Plus go check out some samples of his on-line portfolios ("Around the World in Eighty Monsters" + an excellent gallery hosted over on Epilogue) for some impressive and inspirational horror & fantasy work.

Scumblescapes

A warm-up experiment with using different inks along the lines of the earlier post about black-on-black. I learnt a new word the other day: a much better artsy-fartsy-sounding term than what I've been using all these years ("scribbling"). "Scumbling" is usually used in context with painting, as a dry-brush technique similar to glazing. However, in drawing it's used to describe random texture of scribbled marks to achieve a gradient in value. In pen & ink it works along the same principles of hatching, crosshatching or stippling (it's almost as good as stippling for a way to relieve stress, that or developing repetitive motion injury). The contrast between areas can be controlled through a combination of varying pressure and/or by using a range of different nibs for different line weights, plus increasing or decreasing the density of marks.

"R'lyeh Raven"

"Ia! Ia! The Elder Bird Gets the Shub-Niggurath"

"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" is exactly what it would sound like with a mouthful of pale, juicy, obscenely writhing worms. That, along with other reasons that I'm having difficulty staring back at lobsters, are after the fold...

(more nuggetnomicon nom nom nom below)

"GPS"

As a counterpart to yesterday's post, thought this panel is particularly poignant: scanned, tweaked, formatted, uploaded & emailed on the day before leaving Alaska for Maine. 

Geese

They're baaack.

"Redistricting"

Recent panel appearing in the Ester Republic: an attempt at customizing the two tired and lame metaphors of the two primary parties in Alaska. Now there's two new lame ones - one that mindlessly follows a herd around, while the other is supposedly extinct but remains preserved in the permafrost.
(Mo Belo)

Doodle: "Robin & The Not-So-Dark Knight"

Recent backyard bird watching can be a lucrative opportunity for inspiration. Or not.

(minor rant below the fold)

Homeland Insecurity: TSA/Total Sexual Assault

One of the nice things about delaying some material a while so as to let it get printed in a monthly before uploading it here is I get to see if it still holds up after some time has passed. That and if I'm still pissed about it. This panel was in reference to a recent incident where an Alaskan politician, state Representative Sharon Cissna from Juneau, refused to put up with the degrading tactics of an invasive grope by TSA agents in Seattle: 

Feral Beaver

One of the sketches done while on the road at the Hurstville Interpretive Center in Iowa. Deleting the log victim that was originally in the foreground makes for a much more intense image... the last thing a juicy piece of wood sees before getting ground to a pulp. Another amusing moment came while using the men's room, and seeing a flier taped up at eye-level above the urinal that contained a goofy quiz for kids on bird species (answer in link):

"What kind of a bird murdered Bambi?"

And file this under "Best Beaver Headline of the Year":

"Royal Zoological Society of Scotland 

denies 'concealing' beavers"

I found it infinitely amusing to discover the official newspaper for Acadia National Park is called... (wait for it...) "The Beaver Log." If that wasn't enough, in the Park's Visitor Center I checked out a copy of  “Beavers – A Wildlife Handbook” (Kim Long, 2000 Johnson Nature Series) which was a stellar source of new castor canadensis-related quotes.

I am the quick-eared beaver

That gnaws the trees of the forest,

‘Tis I who overthrow them”

- Beaver Song, traditional Pima

 

Iowa Musk Ox

This weekend's panel in the paper: talk about hopelessly obscure with dual regional references that really don't overlap much at all ("hey... you got musk ox in my Holstein"). No worries... nobody down on the farm got it either. Does bring up the point that there's a damn good reason why you can't ever pick up a half-gallon of musk-milk down at the store though. The signature animal behavior in the defensive herd formation of the musk ox is kinda lost on your average bovine, to say nothing of an Iowan. Folks around there are much more polite than most, tending to just ignore the crazy guy out in the pasture laughing to himself while looking at the cows. 

“My cow is not pretty, but it is pretty to me. “ – David Lynch 

“Don't have a cow, man.” – Bart

Ticking Bomb

Double-dipping here again: recycling maximizing usage of an image that started off as another failed experiment with color wash and wound up getting tagged as a Nuggets panel (even if there aren't any bloodsucking parasites ticks in the Interior). Also another example of why it's a good idea to back oneself up by scanning the line art before playing with it, just in case. 

Official Alaska State Firearm

Seems the Alaska Legislature has nothing better to do. While it's nice to have Wasilla regain the epicenter of stupid back from Fairbanks, one would think that there's gotta be something, anything else more serious in state business than codifying obsessive gun fetishism:

JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska would have an official state firearm under a measure introduced by a Wasilla Republican. Sen. Charlie Huggins' bill would reserve that title for the pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle. - Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Bill would name official Alaska firearm

Nevermind the health and welfare of constituents: Sen. Huggins keeps earning his "pro-life" cred and "A+" rating from the NRA, which in Alaska is worth much more.
That said, Alaska still does not have an official state amphibian... I say nominate the political toady.

Demo Reel: "Smokey the Polar Bear"

Here's seven minutes you'll never get back: a short film comprised of all the stages in cranking out a funny. Longtime readers will recognize the ramble - thumbnail doodle > sketchbook rough > pencil > pen & ink > erase > touchup > wash and > digital color. Ta-daa.

Disclaimer: this is what happens when you rely on impressions from memory and don't actually do any dammed reference. That'd be the reason why A) Smokey is wearing boots, and B) is being all gangsta with the baggy pants. See, I couldn't remember if his tail is hanging over, or if there's maybe a little hole cut for it to poke out, or is it just kept shoved down the back of his jeans. That has got to be a bit uncomfortable. Looking on-line afterwards, I noticed you never see any pictures of Smokey from the back anyways - what's up with that? And why the hell is he wearing pants anyways? So why not boots too? Boxers of briefs?

The one thing I did research with painstaking care and attention to detail was on the ranger hat. Visible on the table during the still shot of the studio area you can see some of the sketches I did of a borrowed prop from Park Headquarters. Trivia: the official Stetsons worn by rangers are known as "campaign hats" and were originally fashioned from beaver fur before the modern felt version (see also: the "Montana peak" hat crease worn by the Buffalo Soldiers).

More below the fold...

On Maintaining a Firm Grip

Since cartoonists and artists presumably rank pretty high on the TSA terrorist profile index, I left my trusty pocket-knife at home for the transplant. And so, along with the wit, my pencils have been getting mighty dull around here as of late.
There's a certain satisfaction and skill to sharpening a pencil that's an overlooked detail in drawing. I often joke that the only thing I ever learned about art in high-school was from my 3-D art teacher Mr. Wallowitz, who packed a little pen-knife which he would whip out and use to sharpen his pencil (this would be back in the day when faculty was allowed to carry weapons). Far from being yet another artistic trivial pursuit, it's on par with the slavish attention any handyman would lavish on sharpening tools in the shop, or a competent chef with a knife before doing prepwork in the kitchen.
(More mullings below)

"Frybread"

Don’t Retweet, Reload: The 2nd Amendment Task Farce

Alaska's own Second Amendment Task Force, the Alaska Peacemaker’s Militia and the Liberty Bell Network (not to be confused with former State Legislator Mike Kelly’s "Liberty Caucus”) was broken up a bit on Thursday with the arrest of five “sovereign citizens” in Fairbanks (some backstory posted here and here). Also not to be confused with the Interior Alaska Conservative Coalition, no affiliation at all, none whatsoever.

*More below the fold

Seeing B&W (Off-color)

An, ah, inkling of my future difficulties in art classes would come about after arguing with a teacher about whether or not black and white were really colors, when every kid with a box of Crayolas knows damn well that there are two crayons of those colors. Okay, well…  depending on your particular set, “Baby Powder” or “Coconut” and “Leather Jacket” or “Licorice.” Which brings to mind the bewildering descriptive terminology used for colors: like trying to pick out paints at the hardware store or even a tshirt color from an L.L. Bean catalog.

In all seriousness, the answer (or, depending on the question, the answers) are sometimes confusing, but fun to ponder. Especially for this novice who tends to see the world through a (distorted) lens of grayscale. While black and white are not technically colors per se, being “achromatic” - or hue-less colors - the distinction lies behind additive or subtractive color theory:

"Narcissus"

"Class" Warfare

This one goes out to all the teachers out there: friends, coworkers and peers; past, present and future, if there is one for this career. We are witnessing the implosion of the educational system in America, and the dismantling of the future by the obscenely wealthy and "conservatives" who pride themselves on their ignorance.

As I mentioned in Tuesday's post re: Republicans most politicians seem to have a vested self-interest in keeping folks as functionally stupid as possible, since that increases their voter base (especially handy in Alaska, where even spelling is optional). Our nation's priorities are seriously out of whack when bombing the shit out of other people has a higher priority is at the literal expense of our most important resources. I may have flunked some math in my day, but even an idiot knows this doesn't add up. Case in point, that teachers are now the current straw-man target for cuts is a new low and an old lie for justifying fiscal insanity, especially considering this:

Top 1% owns more than 90% of us combined. "In 2007, the latest year for which figures are available from the Federal Reserve Board, the richest 1% of U.S. households owned 33.8% of the nation’s private wealth. That’s more than the combined wealth of the bottom 90 percent."

400 people have as much wealth as half of our population. The combined net worth of the Forbes 400 wealthiest Americans in 2007: $1.5 trillion. The combined net worth of the poorest 50% of American households: $1.6 trillion. - Dave Johnson/Working Group on Extreme Inequality

from Campaign for America's Future

"Alaskans on Vacation"

Based on a true story... as any Alaskan venturing Outside during the winter would empathize with and understands this perverse acclimation syndrome. From Washington to New York and Georgia to Arizona, I've been trekked around the country severely "underdressed" as far as the locals go, while wallowing in the relative warmth. Yet even in the snow I still manage to be the whitest damn thing in the woods.
This weekend's panel is another experimentation with the colored washes (using Derwent "Inktense" pencils): this time on Bristol board instead of watercolor paper, which was a mistake, but as with most many some mistakes in life, everything still worked out well enough in the end.

Posted below is what the "recycled" print version in all its black & white glory will no doubt end up looking like: but I'm sending the papers full-color versions on the offhand chance the real estate will open up on some issue where they can publish it in RGB. Yet another reason to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase on-line examples of work that normally wouldn't get seen. Too bad no one will ever experience the scratch & sniff version though: an effervescent hint of fresh-hewn pine + toasted vanilla, with a faint undercurrent of lingering unicorn farts.

"The Don of Man"

Another Ink & Snow exclusive, mostly on account of how the obscure references guarantee it won't see print. Okay, it's an excuse to draw yet another wealthy right-wing hypocrite mindlessly bashing things. As opposed to a broke liberal blogger bashing things, which isn't quite as much fun.


For those of our viewers keeping still score at home, a little backstory/deconstruction is in order... starting with the obvious Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke homage from the iconic “Dawn of Man” sequence in “2001: A Space Odyssey” (it might improve the aesthetics to have Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra playing in the background). Substitute the ape with the Congressman for All Alaska brandishing his favorite tool, the infamous oosik. Swap out the tapir skeleton with one of a small child instead. Money is flying everywhere.

(More after the jump)

V-Day Redux

Took out a new nib out for a test-drive. This'll probably get turned into next year's holiday panel, or the idea will be recycled: I actually thought a hairbrush might be better to use instead of a pincushion. Not sure if anybody still uses them anyways, and the one I drew is from memory of my mom's, so I have no idea what a contemporary pincushion looks like. Or if there is such a thing. One hopes that there might still be some old-fashioned holdouts, simple and trusty designs which can't be improved upon through technological advancements (modern sewing machines rank up there with my understanding on how the microwave works). But then again, I recently saw an ad for a revolutionary new needle that solves the problem of threading the eye, excepting camels and rich people.

Anyways, this prickly, cantankerous cartoonist wanted to post it as a belated Valentine's Day card: I'm a little slow. About a lot of things. 

(underneath he's just a baby)

"Biggest's Not Brightest" (or Better) x's 2

Putting up these panels as a post about literally going back to the drawing board. Go ahead and flog it 'til you're finished, and then do it all over again. Taking a different perspective changes everything, sometimes even for the better. And what the hell, throw in some mushrooms. I much prefer this underplayed version instead of the initial pass, which just didn't seem to sit quite right. Edit, edit, edit: reworking the composition to try out another POV improved it (the drawing, not the gag) - sans tongue action, wiggle marks and grunt balloons (now doesn't that sounds kinda fun). Especially prefer the "yeah what ever" expression on the cow, now, which brings up an interesting point to ponder, that of gaze. Breaking that barrier between the reader and a character has always fascinated me: for those keeping score at home, this would be an example of an extradiegetic device, or “direct address” where a figure in the panel directly connects with eye contact to a viewer. That, or you could just call it pole-vaulting over moose nuggets again.

Receeding Hare Line

Even if this deserves the "words fail" category, I probably should make a brief note about what and why the hell this even exists. I was asked to do a quick doodle illustrating the concept of objects receding into space: demonstrating the use of overlapping shapes, foreshortening and atmospheric perspective. It was supposed to be a parade route lined with a crowd: I countered with "well what about a herd of caribou" and the end it came down to bunnies. It always come down to that. 

If I was a 1st grader and given this exercise, don't know if it would inspire, reinforce basic mathematical principles of art, or just instill some serious childhood trauma and a case of Easterphobia.

"The Owl-Signal"

Haven't done a "process-post" in a while, so here's an overview of the steps that went into this one particular panel. Think of it as a visual take on the director's commentary on a DVD. Actually, speaking of, there is an increasing number of spiffy video demos from cartoonists getting exposure on-line: some excellent resources for such geeky voyeurism (+ interviews and profiles) is over at The Comic Archive, Comic Riffs, Comic Book Resources, Comics Comics, and as always, the one-stop clearinghouse over at The Comics Reporter. Hopefully sometime over the next month I'll give recording a short a shot using some of the gear loaded up on the new iMac.

Way More Below the Fold... 

In Passing: John Haines

"Ever" Diane Hunt 2005

And when the morning climbs
the limbs
we'll part without a sound,

fulfilled, floating
homeward as
the cold world awakens. 

- excerpt from "If The Owl Calls Again" by John Haines 

Via Mattie's Pillow this morning I read of the passing of poet John Haines in Fairbanks. Everybody should take a quiet moment and spend time to read something he wrote, maybe look out the window at the trees.

I remembered when I first heard him while sitting on the floor of the old Into The Woods bookshop while he gave a reading. I had only just recently rediscovered the power of poetry and had begun weekly reciting sessions with some friends, and the opportunity to hear his work live and in person was a rare and special experience. It didn't matter the location, he would transfix and transport you away from wherever it was: even far away from Alaska while reading one of his books, a deep connection with a sense of place is always evoked. His many honors aside, it was always a special, memorable moment to fall under his spell either in person or through the page.

 

"Corrosion Cartoons"

Panel in January's issue of The Ester Republic that just arrived in the mail (order your copy here!).

Take everything we've heard about the Gulf spill, all the hand-wringing and finger-pointing, and transpose it to right here, right now, on the declining state of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Now think ahead just a little bit into the foreseeable future, at the feigned shock over what will happen when contingencies fail and a blowout occurs, and replay all the inevitable excuses about how we never saw it coming. 

"This is a kneejerk reaction by the administration to address a problem that doesn't exist." - Pete Olson (R-Texas) on drilling moratorium

 

2011 Ester Library Lallapalooza & Book bash

(pic by Shannan Turner)

Lallapalooza time! Looks like I missed out on another fantastic evening at this year's benefit for the John Trigg Library effort out in Ester. The fine folks had food and festivities raising funds for their library's eventual erection. A color print of the epic "Joan of FOX" cover piece for The Ester Republic garnered some green: thanks to the winning bidder and to all the community supporters for great cause.