tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23721099049103599162024-03-14T06:02:09.171-05:00Matthew2Matthew Sample II, IllustratorAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-53189191332888271292014-11-11T22:31:00.000-06:002014-11-11T22:48:24.879-06:00Etsy Sale of My Farm Paintings<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MatthewSample2">I'm selling paintings on Etsy.</a> Normally, I don't do this, but I've a good reason.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfYbFFNn1W4yXxK_YVq3jUeGMwHeOlLHLYo3Jpc1aKaCj7Z11A3tCDzEJCu5T2V-Ksf461lAr6qI9VfR7xLCabWtQ97lYnQ-NJT2E3Zlgox8yaOoue0E39qvW1TLftoM1FA-tfjOjn8Xu/s1600/Road+to+Grandpas+Sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfYbFFNn1W4yXxK_YVq3jUeGMwHeOlLHLYo3Jpc1aKaCj7Z11A3tCDzEJCu5T2V-Ksf461lAr6qI9VfR7xLCabWtQ97lYnQ-NJT2E3Zlgox8yaOoue0E39qvW1TLftoM1FA-tfjOjn8Xu/s400/Road+to+Grandpas+Sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My grandpa's health is declining. So much so, that each of us are planning out how to get up there and see him, perhaps for the last time. My brother and I are planning to carpool up together, but I have just enough money to get stranded with him.<br />
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So, I'm throwing a one week sale. I'm selling prints and wallpaper from some of my best farm artwork that I've painted in the past 6 months. My intention is to sell enough to get out there and back, and be able to pay for my own food so that I'm not a burden on everybody up there. I've calculated it out and it comes out to somewhere between $300 and $500 depending on what happens.<br />
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So <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MatthewSample2">go see my paintings at my Etsy store!</a> If you like them, buy a farm print or two, or the Midwestern Heritage wallpaper pak! And yes, this is a real <i>SALE!!! </i>Use the promocode "<b>FARMERTREK</b>" for <b>25% off </b>your purchase.<br />
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Thank you. Very much.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-88482373589143470932014-08-04T22:22:00.001-05:002014-08-04T22:23:31.041-05:00Ace Wonder Storyboards<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE4_B2JTgGf_5MyBnQDN_DsWYaPYItOTZRCkApwZUerE8lKr2vKubFEgsWGNrl5pQXLZF8ADhoqp6VFyknWay4HtOSF-jM9IpAFAa_RbfbHtQEy4eDaMiV7MZdC3_iEqeGLuI4p5igt4b/s1600/13-B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE4_B2JTgGf_5MyBnQDN_DsWYaPYItOTZRCkApwZUerE8lKr2vKubFEgsWGNrl5pQXLZF8ADhoqp6VFyknWay4HtOSF-jM9IpAFAa_RbfbHtQEy4eDaMiV7MZdC3_iEqeGLuI4p5igt4b/s1600/13-B.jpg" height="150" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown needs a hero!</td></tr>
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This is the month! I'm getting stoked about seeing the beautiful blue and yellow cover gracing my DVD collection. I can't wait for the19th!<br />
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(If you really want to see it early, like I did, you can stream it through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Wonder-Gatore-More/dp/B00KU9S4I6/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1404788094&sr=1-1">Amazon </a>or <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/37014458">Walmart</a>.)<br />
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* * * </div>
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Storyboards. The promise of the story to come.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLajrWKsIJwuWGfg67eU-_CBFEoo2P-cwD5_JFdPQ_6OvZRaXSjtnHMQYyZjN3hJSIJGpILSFMlwidrcCEAS0F9vHc3JvjiX6CAO9GAs-vJewngxsI9MHR8KO0CczbOf-y-I3pPegLsYM/s1600/roughthumbnails1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLajrWKsIJwuWGfg67eU-_CBFEoo2P-cwD5_JFdPQ_6OvZRaXSjtnHMQYyZjN3hJSIJGpILSFMlwidrcCEAS0F9vHc3JvjiX6CAO9GAs-vJewngxsI9MHR8KO0CczbOf-y-I3pPegLsYM/s1600/roughthumbnails1.jpg" height="400" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mocom 7 rough boards</td></tr>
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Usually storyboards start out very rough, like these that I scrawled down for Motion Comic 7 (awkwardly placed in the actual film between Motion Comics 3 and 4, but that's a different story....). If you can't tell what's going on, that's ok. I have to think hard on a few of them. They represent early quick visual notes, that changed as others worked on them (Johnny Reighard, to name one person).<br />
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However, for this production, because we needed a consistent look, and employed a wide variety of illustrators, I made a series of very detailed, monochromatic storyboards for each of the motion comics.<br />
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Here are some of the boards for the 2nd motion comic... some of which did not make it into the finished film.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2klgDXRhfA_eRgTTeDIK6TZ15rr11uhTgHZ_WusDRt_wu652irH1HZgx3iLD9I-Yg2CUEWgmZRvRZdEmuaMg02vgDfUvneaf9DDSAQINHafqXUIATJMm2VqdN7YsqnshQy8OuJ0gA4b0/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2klgDXRhfA_eRgTTeDIK6TZ15rr11uhTgHZ_WusDRt_wu652irH1HZgx3iLD9I-Yg2CUEWgmZRvRZdEmuaMg02vgDfUvneaf9DDSAQINHafqXUIATJMm2VqdN7YsqnshQy8OuJ0gA4b0/s1600/1.jpg" height="640" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City pan down</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmemnfT4ea9FyyZSEKt68txjhbThYy9w0jkIu8bSpsxNk2woUO4xSE0sRVyPHQz8IyTlRN-tMAF-Msxz2QsNatWYNVNgrpznGSkQpaNCYwsKluMoT8yrysc-wtMO9rpl-V9Vp8OIBslWd/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmemnfT4ea9FyyZSEKt68txjhbThYy9w0jkIu8bSpsxNk2woUO4xSE0sRVyPHQz8IyTlRN-tMAF-Msxz2QsNatWYNVNgrpznGSkQpaNCYwsKluMoT8yrysc-wtMO9rpl-V9Vp8OIBslWd/s1600/2.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the name of the salon...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_djgiMtH4MG6Sn3DZ4Yt3SQdgVWz376Mw-_CnVF8Fbkm705RWKpJCY0wTxVI4b8EVvw0nbEUk7MM72VusVyDx_HH7CkXaUP2dgh-au9QrjrNwPTp4Z8PSmmphVBHxCghKxTamFA4pcqG/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_djgiMtH4MG6Sn3DZ4Yt3SQdgVWz376Mw-_CnVF8Fbkm705RWKpJCY0wTxVI4b8EVvw0nbEUk7MM72VusVyDx_HH7CkXaUP2dgh-au9QrjrNwPTp4Z8PSmmphVBHxCghKxTamFA4pcqG/s1600/4.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why must the lady go to the Salon via the alley? So we could make art like this.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkQGcwTxcGaDUTHt55-z9lTfFScRlPp1yUsfLFfA-QBJ0jH-iclx1OOGG_Iu04W0n3DGUsrWwN9nQy5rUp4d3dEjHl4Aao4yvxT78y53FbVoelP4AoQcNWy3JQYYVS48ht5FvhSX0dbRT/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkQGcwTxcGaDUTHt55-z9lTfFScRlPp1yUsfLFfA-QBJ0jH-iclx1OOGG_Iu04W0n3DGUsrWwN9nQy5rUp4d3dEjHl4Aao4yvxT78y53FbVoelP4AoQcNWy3JQYYVS48ht5FvhSX0dbRT/s1600/6.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Badguy jumps out of shadows. "Drop the bag, Lady!"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClDqdFbJxZOIS-F_LjB5fF-GYAb4483P4l7_lzJhXyDCoLQNNBPzfe35UqWTYter84bmyWriufXjx9-Xo78ON5sj0ngrFvQuklkvzpUotB99GR04-h9Uw7usQwjkNne7BvT4k76c0QpdP/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClDqdFbJxZOIS-F_LjB5fF-GYAb4483P4l7_lzJhXyDCoLQNNBPzfe35UqWTYter84bmyWriufXjx9-Xo78ON5sj0ngrFvQuklkvzpUotB99GR04-h9Uw7usQwjkNne7BvT4k76c0QpdP/s1600/11.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ace Wonder jumps out of the shadows. "Drop the gun!"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrigYajqOHbK6kPgLSntIc0nMQJVeA9mLX38hNB0gqQtIwv3buyyDnz6M3pdRqgj-W0QcdBsK-bPizbRC07xNcfiSQoxtkX-F-gYGiZ07zmYmmEoV-CyJHhF7cL-4v24bEa7E_g9s2az0/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrigYajqOHbK6kPgLSntIc0nMQJVeA9mLX38hNB0gqQtIwv3buyyDnz6M3pdRqgj-W0QcdBsK-bPizbRC07xNcfiSQoxtkX-F-gYGiZ07zmYmmEoV-CyJHhF7cL-4v24bEa7E_g9s2az0/s1600/14.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, fights often go way better in imagination than in reality.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokObKpZVz44Ss-2QniY013rMAVbeV9JsE7ugKL4jboHEDpkgB5bcLx81GZPQ62OY1kLySy9H_4B4PoyhqNmO4vxsYOigr12d_bADi0pa11GUl1z1fjbcRXVE5NnwObRN312W51vQa5vre/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokObKpZVz44Ss-2QniY013rMAVbeV9JsE7ugKL4jboHEDpkgB5bcLx81GZPQ62OY1kLySy9H_4B4PoyhqNmO4vxsYOigr12d_bADi0pa11GUl1z1fjbcRXVE5NnwObRN312W51vQa5vre/s1600/17.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">POW! BIFF!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRMGiyTfTUd3Z4X_sqzx8VRceE91XlkNzhKdqmddsYmGT0qd82vRMkjgW4LTELhgi7U9nD0BOtAOdGSVd4NIRLmm2iUvxiLRJrcFOXPnbobwZL-_-sWwd7x4vcrtfwn8XZtknQcfqSnWJ/s1600/19b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRMGiyTfTUd3Z4X_sqzx8VRceE91XlkNzhKdqmddsYmGT0qd82vRMkjgW4LTELhgi7U9nD0BOtAOdGSVd4NIRLmm2iUvxiLRJrcFOXPnbobwZL-_-sWwd7x4vcrtfwn8XZtknQcfqSnWJ/s1600/19b.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ace Wonder, always the gentleman, retrives the purse.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWDcLkLAU-J-2lRkZn0eCXqDSSs-Qkqg8lHM0YJSKSKPo1UylRSMQyeKTbiLiKieaVxpckwL-Axe3vpfuVSMawu0BTqzPygeD5Wzn2kwAwzNYNLeDEKpd0AX1Tf-CcUDetSaSSGeKsSfq/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWDcLkLAU-J-2lRkZn0eCXqDSSs-Qkqg8lHM0YJSKSKPo1UylRSMQyeKTbiLiKieaVxpckwL-Axe3vpfuVSMawu0BTqzPygeD5Wzn2kwAwzNYNLeDEKpd0AX1Tf-CcUDetSaSSGeKsSfq/s1600/21.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ace phoned ahead for the police</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ1_kN7cWBrtNvOJpAV5b4_Nc5FeZTlwoG0X6WVwVdm5d9kisqTQXc3_QF7NzYSEKsMAn219tybW42UUOwNKCbLmboxVJQsi8-4RBBrPah6mpt86xQ0mGDcpbPeZG9OnnPyVqkf_xBCvK/s1600/21b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ1_kN7cWBrtNvOJpAV5b4_Nc5FeZTlwoG0X6WVwVdm5d9kisqTQXc3_QF7NzYSEKsMAn219tybW42UUOwNKCbLmboxVJQsi8-4RBBrPah6mpt86xQ0mGDcpbPeZG9OnnPyVqkf_xBCvK/s1600/21b.jpg" height="197" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justice</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvxHGUBxptq4LRHGXn79LpWB7XKV17hEN7VBegizXbIwhGd7zhgGPHytfpEVbbrtpatFyhuhMvBf-lfZF3akNtlATa2A1IGozdrhyT2TKUdaHZMNPFEy4FFHmwx9NVmAOZuP4DY37JAGu/s1600/24-B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvxHGUBxptq4LRHGXn79LpWB7XKV17hEN7VBegizXbIwhGd7zhgGPHytfpEVbbrtpatFyhuhMvBf-lfZF3akNtlATa2A1IGozdrhyT2TKUdaHZMNPFEy4FFHmwx9NVmAOZuP4DY37JAGu/s1600/24-B.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ace Wonder ready to vanish into the darkness again, when....</td></tr>
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In case you are wondering, storyboards are mostly about story... telling an interesting story as simply and as visually as possible. The audience should feel the momentum of the story through the boards, tasting what the finished movie will be like.<br />
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Well, if you liked these, I have <a href="http://www.patreon.com/MatthewSample2">the entire first sequence for Mocom 4 in my Sketch Club</a> (after you become a member, look for it in the "Creations" section). Plus a few other really cool boards that didn't make it into the movie. <br />
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Ok, now I'm going to go off and figure out how many hours we have left until Ace Wonder appears on shelves.....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-45715295377669649212014-07-21T10:12:00.000-05:002014-07-21T10:12:44.930-05:00Early Ace Wonder ConceptsEarly in the process of making Ace Wonder, we had little idea how the end product would look. John had an idea, and I think we got close to that idea. But here are some other possibilities for how the motion comics might have turned out:<br />
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In these first three concepts, I tried to feel out how much detail John wanted. I believe I did these before getting the script.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR1PEBLBKJBmHMW_cUK1b8f1YKvNfzIZNIknO1lLZlJx6OROBPGYlOfn_Roy5b5mX99qugQk4JRNRFjQfCrLzO7BApMiylUi_BEHf8p9Y1OGd6V-M5utXXxQiSCzLSQdfsicmrs8WwnSG/s1600/generic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR1PEBLBKJBmHMW_cUK1b8f1YKvNfzIZNIknO1lLZlJx6OROBPGYlOfn_Roy5b5mX99qugQk4JRNRFjQfCrLzO7BApMiylUi_BEHf8p9Y1OGd6V-M5utXXxQiSCzLSQdfsicmrs8WwnSG/s1600/generic1.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></div>
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These next four are variations on line, texture, and level of detail. As you can see, I still had a very comicbooky style in my head. <br />
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After that we decided to make the motion comics in an idealized photograph style. We actually created the first motion comic in this photograph style before realizing that it needed to change. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL23aEGCP9GeRdBirVaE_4YpH6QX9GnVmUl_-JxtgPegA3FN3ZCpBa9x5sTpmQ8nIOisQzLK8aSqOz873CKLEwtBofGHdgOvZ4GF6vXmzIfpgmfrUFxOqkqrE0DRrbgO_IXwks-LsWP6Go/s1600/style-idealphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL23aEGCP9GeRdBirVaE_4YpH6QX9GnVmUl_-JxtgPegA3FN3ZCpBa9x5sTpmQ8nIOisQzLK8aSqOz873CKLEwtBofGHdgOvZ4GF6vXmzIfpgmfrUFxOqkqrE0DRrbgO_IXwks-LsWP6Go/s1600/style-idealphoto.jpg" height="122" width="320" /></a></div>
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It would be an entire year after being brought onto the team before we would land on the current highly-polished painted style, thanks to a suggestion from Isaac Botkin.<br />
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For more concept artwork from Ace Wonder, as well as storyboards and minicomics, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/MatthewSample2?ty=c%20%E2%80%A6">join my Sketch Club!</a> I'm updating it weekly with Ace Wonder art for the next month. Also, be sure to see Ace Wonder if you haven't. It's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Wonder-Gatore-More/dp/B00KU9S4I6/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1405952649">available at Amazon Instant Video to watch now</a>, and to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Wonder-Gator-Moore/dp/B00IE419MW/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1405952679">prepurchase when it comes out on DVD in August.</a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-82560722115759068832014-07-07T22:38:00.000-05:002014-07-07T23:13:40.382-05:00Ace Wonder BlueprintsAs props for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Wonder-Gatore-More/dp/B00KU9S4I6/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1404788094&sr=1-1">the movie Ace Wonder</a>, I created several faux blueprints. I threw them together really quick, so didn't put too much thought into them. I've got concept sketches for all of them--plus a few things that didn't make it to these blueprints--<a href="http://www.patreon.com/MatthewSample2">over at my Sketch Club</a>. Hope y'all enjoy!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9U0EJtpfqIixTr7K43S-4CuHaP34QoscfRLkwClLiSdeeLCYH-fgDXyJZClPtylUH-_I_iyn4s8Kr12RniHhnK64_kzUfFNdwINqF5Gq8bV_wR3bWu68AeE6mokiYFUP9CqoI1wVGpYa/s1600/bread+tanning+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9U0EJtpfqIixTr7K43S-4CuHaP34QoscfRLkwClLiSdeeLCYH-fgDXyJZClPtylUH-_I_iyn4s8Kr12RniHhnK64_kzUfFNdwINqF5Gq8bV_wR3bWu68AeE6mokiYFUP9CqoI1wVGpYa/s1600/bread+tanning+machine.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bread Tanning Machine</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATzekuG98HbaiIUkpVhlCpPajebiglUoeZgtyMQMAaeDleA7wGEt5PkKm0hm-mkQeGE1wyGzNqUrsVlYqtXdxmvc6VwtAzeG4AcvhFpA7XHW0884o37PuTnl3FSmntf1wi6WW-69V8OxJ/s1600/esthetic+faucet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATzekuG98HbaiIUkpVhlCpPajebiglUoeZgtyMQMAaeDleA7wGEt5PkKm0hm-mkQeGE1wyGzNqUrsVlYqtXdxmvc6VwtAzeG4AcvhFpA7XHW0884o37PuTnl3FSmntf1wi6WW-69V8OxJ/s1600/esthetic+faucet.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esthetic Faucette</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymsXo4RLA7XCiLpmO2Km7EEH4pWtX6go5WVmcYClAJQ9w_PyW3b2eU5CkChB1Dq3OPYJp5MROt9AS-qpZk-fYk1qZG1f2osaJq3DD7_8aDJrENleOe6JFMPiCjow9PO5UhPbprCR_5b0q/s1600/geary+hovercraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymsXo4RLA7XCiLpmO2Km7EEH4pWtX6go5WVmcYClAJQ9w_PyW3b2eU5CkChB1Dq3OPYJp5MROt9AS-qpZk-fYk1qZG1f2osaJq3DD7_8aDJrENleOe6JFMPiCjow9PO5UhPbprCR_5b0q/s1600/geary+hovercraft.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geary Hovercraft</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-NJWm1XSmAy5B5yoECBOg60-PmHOl215_z9hRb_5pzjkIuNCnQ2eCVB7qY-I_yH-KjT_36EQw5UUsWHiFHcpcIgOMH2BvcGUgFO0BZUipBUrvXmsY-FXMEPbHpqhyIa4vkKEXe4GO-Yg/s1600/pseudo+lantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-NJWm1XSmAy5B5yoECBOg60-PmHOl215_z9hRb_5pzjkIuNCnQ2eCVB7qY-I_yH-KjT_36EQw5UUsWHiFHcpcIgOMH2BvcGUgFO0BZUipBUrvXmsY-FXMEPbHpqhyIa4vkKEXe4GO-Yg/s1600/pseudo+lantern.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steampunk Psuedolantern</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxbHaPpVObD1NW9eDKKxjJZ2pE1WpOHQU5d3VQGZP8DfhlKej4eEKyN80KrjGqHD7fqAkRcY1EVfZ68o-31W-sEsEly9Pixdgst8RTQExygNqrvDA1RdF_Tra4AB7R7ktPpHP88wlEpBE/s1600/space+wagon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxbHaPpVObD1NW9eDKKxjJZ2pE1WpOHQU5d3VQGZP8DfhlKej4eEKyN80KrjGqHD7fqAkRcY1EVfZ68o-31W-sEsEly9Pixdgst8RTQExygNqrvDA1RdF_Tra4AB7R7ktPpHP88wlEpBE/s1600/space+wagon.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Space Wagon</td></tr>
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<br />
For a refresher of my multifaceted work on the movie Ace Wonder, <a href="http://matthewsample2.blogspot.com/2014/06/ace-wonder.html">check out my original blog post</a>. To pre-order the film (DVD's arrive in August) go to <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/34761078">Walmart </a>or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Wonder-Gator-Moore/dp/B00IE419MW/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1404788887&sr=1-3">Amazon</a>. Again, I've posted sketches for these blueprints, storyboards, other concept art, and whatnot <a href="http://www.patreon.com/MatthewSample2">in my Sketch Club</a>. I hope you check it out!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-40755995109981569242014-06-30T23:39:00.000-05:002014-06-30T23:41:27.075-05:00The Secrets of the Ace Wonder Motion Comics Revealed!<div class="p2">
Secret #1 </div>
<div class="p1">
John Moore wrote the story. </div>
<div class="p1">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOKT71e_oAJZ0VCSotRllgyDY15TkL2NOWQ2kuJptGZgABgD4rVGcz_gB2_OBMUHTi8-j7hz2tsYDUooUz3LLgMW5SizxaK3OOZjp8gDo8hUO0KCLsDic5m_fU8qcxyw6GpHCAAXAI1Zr/s1600/2014-06-06+02.29.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOKT71e_oAJZ0VCSotRllgyDY15TkL2NOWQ2kuJptGZgABgD4rVGcz_gB2_OBMUHTi8-j7hz2tsYDUooUz3LLgMW5SizxaK3OOZjp8gDo8hUO0KCLsDic5m_fU8qcxyw6GpHCAAXAI1Zr/s1600/2014-06-06+02.29.40.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Script fragment from Ace Wonder opening scene</td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
Before you can make any great graphic novel or motion comic, you need a great story. The story inspires the artist to envision the possibilities and creates the limits for the finished graphic novel. The writer is the first visionary in the creative process.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Secret #2</div>
<div class="p1">
Johnny Reighard and others created rough storyboards. </div>
<div class="p1">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e139o9TqN9TcG1fBPF9s7QV3uMQcEUIga4bqYAjAujnfZN38xoxfvyypMrs_wCaVg1M_4QNMOMJmuys1ld1OHCMtQ5Op4mlPWaj9EJIUkPjlQclM7KnYy0qAEd8xHlE79hxAvZbYGI76/s1600/Screen-shot-2010-07-02-at-6.54.41-PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e139o9TqN9TcG1fBPF9s7QV3uMQcEUIga4bqYAjAujnfZN38xoxfvyypMrs_wCaVg1M_4QNMOMJmuys1ld1OHCMtQ5Op4mlPWaj9EJIUkPjlQclM7KnYy0qAEd8xHlE79hxAvZbYGI76/s1600/Screen-shot-2010-07-02-at-6.54.41-PM.jpg" height="151" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An epic watercolor from Johnny's storyboards - Ace Wonder in the rain</td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
Rough sketches are the first step in translating a story into a finished visual. <br />
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<div class="p1">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zEqZLuPbPqrs5EWtMCxwnyoO6Ndcl1JNJOMA6C-RSP_iiQzY0ZWkWnJC_vojp_VtNFW3m9n3GeT8H2SgQEGJ6LQxgMOy5o3kSCRlBGAsNOtaEXGwFZWFrZJK29LHXrNDXNETg4-xpl8K/s1600/Ace+Wonder+Motion+2+A-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zEqZLuPbPqrs5EWtMCxwnyoO6Ndcl1JNJOMA6C-RSP_iiQzY0ZWkWnJC_vojp_VtNFW3m9n3GeT8H2SgQEGJ6LQxgMOy5o3kSCRlBGAsNOtaEXGwFZWFrZJK29LHXrNDXNETg4-xpl8K/s1600/Ace+Wonder+Motion+2+A-5.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early storyboard from introduction to Ace Wonder</td></tr>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJZoIKKupFd7WPx-j_fUWLwzuCjcx2Jlk-76k9guIRBVHpYZXiObDRrkDK81UoU9xEZQ6uyPVtI6gHbV5qaBGr4RopP5BkErIhabiM3uxMruIVIRZx8vOj7QEj1ftwXhHNev6d8iEKHk4/s1600/Ace+Wonder+Intro+Storyboard+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJZoIKKupFd7WPx-j_fUWLwzuCjcx2Jlk-76k9guIRBVHpYZXiObDRrkDK81UoU9xEZQ6uyPVtI6gHbV5qaBGr4RopP5BkErIhabiM3uxMruIVIRZx8vOj7QEj1ftwXhHNev6d8iEKHk4/s1600/Ace+Wonder+Intro+Storyboard+2.jpg" height="320" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final Ace intro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
Often the artist will make several storyboards before finding the right one. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Secret #3</div>
<div class="p1">
I created detailed concept art. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOhkMCosEH7DIe8xaSdB4hgMoXur9gDi0agrZpbGAJBvflNFmGdD0mEhYbEFPshD6f56BuNT68K-xrVLo0laG2DOfrLZxZSzacU0kjQIahy4IiXgTNDXiqra8SGsFC-lTMXOF0yWr4CLY/s1600/3-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOhkMCosEH7DIe8xaSdB4hgMoXur9gDi0agrZpbGAJBvflNFmGdD0mEhYbEFPshD6f56BuNT68K-xrVLo0laG2DOfrLZxZSzacU0kjQIahy4IiXgTNDXiqra8SGsFC-lTMXOF0yWr4CLY/s1600/3-2.jpg" height="121" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refined sketch of Ace Wonder in the rain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
These detailed pictures bridged the gap between the rough visual plan and the finished artwork. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCKt84K0m9drkukEr1D846fKmrUVTa8apV96k4fAEDYbr-M1yqZ-X_sfoToYohX8uBY8a50QlRkGBEkljVErSUjAFC-HNbXugqyvBvH2UmDNLJy85mYF8wVogz8gKDqMIze4-fZ5Tr_7B/s1600/6-extended.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCKt84K0m9drkukEr1D846fKmrUVTa8apV96k4fAEDYbr-M1yqZ-X_sfoToYohX8uBY8a50QlRkGBEkljVErSUjAFC-HNbXugqyvBvH2UmDNLJy85mYF8wVogz8gKDqMIze4-fZ5Tr_7B/s1600/6-extended.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refined sketch of Ace Wonder introduction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
Then I split the artwork into parts to prepare for the next phase.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Secret #4</div>
<div class="p1">
A bunch of artists worked very hard to make each piece a work of art. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOCZ7kaQCOv6peS9jDGAoLCiOcgSywJVxZ61sKbDCj0E0oijctLSqFeWCpdcAGIRJIt4IadI7j4V21qPYmmnF73jn97wL9qgMHj7NMXLrTWfSqB-EUlbkwzFqDJiA-tiirx9uv63EHL9X/s1600/3import.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOCZ7kaQCOv6peS9jDGAoLCiOcgSywJVxZ61sKbDCj0E0oijctLSqFeWCpdcAGIRJIt4IadI7j4V21qPYmmnF73jn97wL9qgMHj7NMXLrTWfSqB-EUlbkwzFqDJiA-tiirx9uv63EHL9X/s1600/3import.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished art for Ace Wonder in the rain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
For instance, in this umbrella shot Jessica Lindsey painted the backgrounds and Louie Royball III painted Ace Wonder. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjf-5fJ5DElkhJI5txVMpRIt6GMTb5s2Rp63YrYDAvpYnaRI7PzL4u6x82Sdxo0lxF00_mwnqvOiwC1_Y1SIw0gOarS3RMja6O6T5jfXv8u6RCFzkYY2mFtG6xYCrMXwgg1Mzbfe7ZZ2EQ/s1600/6c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjf-5fJ5DElkhJI5txVMpRIt6GMTb5s2Rp63YrYDAvpYnaRI7PzL4u6x82Sdxo0lxF00_mwnqvOiwC1_Y1SIw0gOarS3RMja6O6T5jfXv8u6RCFzkYY2mFtG6xYCrMXwgg1Mzbfe7ZZ2EQ/s1600/6c.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished art for Ace Wonder introduction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
In the alley artwork David Nielsen painted the badguy, Breezy Brookshire painted the lady in dire straights, Kelly Reins painted the brickwork, Victor Noordhoek worked on puddles, city lights, and clouds, and Ashley Letizia painted Ace Wonder. Then I pieced and blended the parts together.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Secret #5</div>
<div class="p1">
Finally, the Effects Forge team brought the layered artworks to life. Artists in their own right, David Bowman, Evan Langley, Josiah Einwechter and others transformed our dead visuals into living motion comics. To see their work check out Ace Wonder: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Wonder-Gatore-More/dp/B00KAUD0GQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404185795&sr=8-1&keywords=ace+wonder">VOD is available now</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Wonder-Gator-Moore/dp/B00IE419MW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404185795&sr=8-2&keywords=ace+wonder">DVD's will be available in August.</a></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
So, now that all of our secrets are out, I expect to see amazing Christ-glorifying motion comics in the future! I know there are more creatives out there. Go make something!</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
PS. I've uploaded <a href="http://www.patreon.com/MatthewSample2?ty=c">more art from the opening funeral scene</a> to my Sketch Club! Plus a bunch more sketches and a <a href="http://www.patreon.com/creation?hid=609677">downloadable FREE mini comic book!</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-23703229525179667332014-06-16T22:47:00.003-05:002014-06-16T23:29:30.080-05:00ACE WONDER!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjrSpYOBmswTsKl9hudNmeyW7aaoMSoGICxAXG1Lv40U6iiZW1m4I5YU8AIme0RRmh_hX_LjU7K7ehfIhBaPR53lrgVNSAeNRmw_FequAiPafE9tFgtME76hiRdyqpMuCfLdYo-SDpMOS/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjrSpYOBmswTsKl9hudNmeyW7aaoMSoGICxAXG1Lv40U6iiZW1m4I5YU8AIme0RRmh_hX_LjU7K7ehfIhBaPR53lrgVNSAeNRmw_FequAiPafE9tFgtME76hiRdyqpMuCfLdYo-SDpMOS/s1600/2.jpg" height="150" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storyboard for Mocom 4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
Ace Wonder stands as the single biggest project I have ever worked on. When John Moore contacted me about the possibility in late 2009, I had no idea it would last until late 2012 or that I would help create over 200 finished works of art on the project.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Gator Moore stars in this fun and exciting tale of a young graphic novelist who solves a high stakes crime while on a family vacation. It's a live-action kids film, but includes seven semi-animated "motion comics" (or as we shortened it: "mocoms") to spice up the drama. I worked on the mocoms. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
If you want to skip the rest of this post, you can see it all by <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/37014458">streaming the movie online</a>. Or you can <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/34761078">order the DVD</a> which comes out in August.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
While my teams and I made over 200 finished works of art, a lot more was made or gathered in the course of telling this story. A lot more. Over 10,000 files more. Yeah, that's a lot. I have 500 GB saved of Ace Wonder stuff.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Here is some of the stuff that we made:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yZiSGcitOAFtMOqNiylThjFcjOo0oYw7w9uSA6NNRsX199uelytR4dh3Dw7wN2XSozLwn8DVOg8R1AWIYUpMudK9wuBFS-IM_QsxJamJsPtS4ixAynxajycQBhXCFel6CHogu0JilTX0/s1600/comic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yZiSGcitOAFtMOqNiylThjFcjOo0oYw7w9uSA6NNRsX199uelytR4dh3Dw7wN2XSozLwn8DVOg8R1AWIYUpMudK9wuBFS-IM_QsxJamJsPtS4ixAynxajycQBhXCFel6CHogu0JilTX0/s1600/comic.jpg" height="231" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comic snippet for Mocom 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<i><b>Inspirational Comics</b></i></div>
<div class="p1">
The script called for graphic novel sections of the film, but we didn't know what those would look like. To help us get closer to that finished product, I sketched out some comics. They helped us visualize the end product. I'm really happy how they came out.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNf3uHF6mOmPFiDZrIURM9yRNkXSg3hWoAWhlaEWaQOTD0TqXrA4_U3DWcgStpFno_23VhVR5fIkjGpzYn09_FZgAhmZdpcqt79B4OfPW4xJaRDNgHSiVWp9x6NUFFrp9RS4rhDyflL9Mn/s1600/concept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNf3uHF6mOmPFiDZrIURM9yRNkXSg3hWoAWhlaEWaQOTD0TqXrA4_U3DWcgStpFno_23VhVR5fIkjGpzYn09_FZgAhmZdpcqt79B4OfPW4xJaRDNgHSiVWp9x6NUFFrp9RS4rhDyflL9Mn/s1600/concept.jpg" height="283" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concept for early Ace Wonder office</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<b><i>Concept art</i></b></div>
<div class="p1">
The motion comics took place in a variety of locations and with a variety of different characters. Inspirational comic books take a little bit of work, so I made some average ordinary concept art to flesh out the unknowns.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuVoXbuLTc2n2ikuoBLQ-pilO2CHpzF7RiHNRsIO4COx6rzskJL_x68zWlx9SbqLPGkAISmCrttgqHvwFNT0FQPbWg00wCeHq4-jAkHG_8KJY94c96kmE4H_J_LLA2Ab3VLhRcuIjbEzM/s1600/storyboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuVoXbuLTc2n2ikuoBLQ-pilO2CHpzF7RiHNRsIO4COx6rzskJL_x68zWlx9SbqLPGkAISmCrttgqHvwFNT0FQPbWg00wCeHq4-jAkHG_8KJY94c96kmE4H_J_LLA2Ab3VLhRcuIjbEzM/s1600/storyboard.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alternative ending to Mocom 4 (the one in the movie is way better)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<b><i>Storyboards</i></b></div>
<div class="p1">
Johnny Reighard made most of the storyboards for the motion comics, but I and a few interns worked on others. Nadine Voth interned with me in 2010 and some of her boarding is still in the film.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwybI3FT5ObOfazkgb6Svmgx9HrZkNZlhF1hs_VPiTm7TOlq99tyyXzWoRPoaMISErGkQoVLo3LZMMOB3oB0hQoFZ8izS4BYphYDrUwUhjUXfqsgKAQEyL5nApfGTG8lPxx_oWCcRezM2/s1600/refined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwybI3FT5ObOfazkgb6Svmgx9HrZkNZlhF1hs_VPiTm7TOlq99tyyXzWoRPoaMISErGkQoVLo3LZMMOB3oB0hQoFZ8izS4BYphYDrUwUhjUXfqsgKAQEyL5nApfGTG8lPxx_oWCcRezM2/s1600/refined.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refined storyboard for Mocom 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<b><i>Refined storyboards</i></b></div>
<div class="p1">
We made a rough cut of the movie with some rough art. I translated most of the storyboards into semi-finished monochromatic paintings. They gave the film a more finished look, and allowed us to further define the composition and blocking of the finished motion comics.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s1Ihpi2QLQEggou-NL7nUY2299OILjZPRRPuvjHh_vbxf3JYQ6UwuFQ3RaQAsJvwo5fbRZ8_bgCDcUyLwrjdqhHOAj6kko8A6Ri_Kfl9Dwbf4AXPIKLtzftQbhXXSh_llRE5_XQcC3ME/s1600/animatic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s1Ihpi2QLQEggou-NL7nUY2299OILjZPRRPuvjHh_vbxf3JYQ6UwuFQ3RaQAsJvwo5fbRZ8_bgCDcUyLwrjdqhHOAj6kko8A6Ri_Kfl9Dwbf4AXPIKLtzftQbhXXSh_llRE5_XQcC3ME/s1600/animatic.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diagram to show how the hall elements fit together in Mocom 6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<b><i>Animatics</i></b></div>
<div class="p1">
David Bowman, Evan Langley, and Josiah Einwechter at Effects Forge created the motion of the motion comics. But I did get in some early motion experimentation. None of my After Effects work made it in the film. But it was a good learning experience.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuunY2c2cLJiBgPwTzfO_jod_UC8_nUdDGDDSCR1606rNUrqNmQBr_K3-WYVxzqswSHEGgkowiutXpAE2UuAleWgixfnH4dZ_aPFtNN1is-GZlZHrzgD5Sq7tTnE6aA1FbLlLlbOYWdFt/s1600/educational.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuunY2c2cLJiBgPwTzfO_jod_UC8_nUdDGDDSCR1606rNUrqNmQBr_K3-WYVxzqswSHEGgkowiutXpAE2UuAleWgixfnH4dZ_aPFtNN1is-GZlZHrzgD5Sq7tTnE6aA1FbLlLlbOYWdFt/s1600/educational.jpg" height="151" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The layers allow the effects artists to create depth and motion.<br />
This helped the illustrators understand how we were layering this image from Mocom 1.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<b><i>Educational material</i></b></div>
<div class="p1">
We formed 3 teams of freelance artists (4 if you count the 2010 interns) over the course of the project, and they needed to know exactly what I needed from them. I created tutorials to detail the process for making consistent artwork that could be seamlessly blended together.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-cKnw4Adezc9_vdxzwQFxr1NJYfDuaUECijCgt81K-Pb-uiVAmdO4ZfA3hh0-iJ1yb_NR4uS_R6UOYFePgn-N4vIA_xaVkj-Pg9diWPLqBYxXktVRYYRyLYJIshwlVyjmcfTr4rGI1yL/s1600/prop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-cKnw4Adezc9_vdxzwQFxr1NJYfDuaUECijCgt81K-Pb-uiVAmdO4ZfA3hh0-iJ1yb_NR4uS_R6UOYFePgn-N4vIA_xaVkj-Pg9diWPLqBYxXktVRYYRyLYJIshwlVyjmcfTr4rGI1yL/s1600/prop.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blueprint for an amazing steampunk shower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<b><i>Props for the live action film</i></b></div>
<div class="p1">
Our hero drew graphic novels, so he needed to make artwork. I created art that he could "draw" in the movie. A few artists, including the Alaskan Albert Mauga, and I also created "blueprints" for inventions that are briefly shown in the movie.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH6sXG3YdnsW81bHJxpyzJs77QTXjRCpf3zlYLrwMJX_hLXlPZUUA2nzSrF0vxRDvMRdP09H13hRFZ8VklJsyCB69SAA9TUTfJQwcqMqeMFEi3mHmlUaCl_EPoZHKFn2EnWFYSg_0v0VI/s1600/credits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH6sXG3YdnsW81bHJxpyzJs77QTXjRCpf3zlYLrwMJX_hLXlPZUUA2nzSrF0vxRDvMRdP09H13hRFZ8VklJsyCB69SAA9TUTfJQwcqMqeMFEi3mHmlUaCl_EPoZHKFn2EnWFYSg_0v0VI/s1600/credits.jpg" height="170" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old version of a semi-finished credits image</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<b><i>Credits</i></b></div>
<div class="p1">
An extreme honor, I enjoyed making the end credits artwork. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
A lot of very talented artists helped me make the finished artwork. Here are some of the main artists and where you can see some of their work:<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://www.jessicaellen.com/"><b><i>Jessica Ellen Lindsey</i></b></a> - one of the first artists I dragged onto this project, she's <a href="http://www.sketchfreely.blogspot.com/">always making something fun</a>, including her new line of <a href="http://littlegreetings.tumblr.com/">cute animal greeting cards!</a></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://louieroybal.com/"><b><i>Louis Roybal III</i></b></a> - an illustrator and concept artist, he creates heroic, majestic artwork. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://www.dcnielsen.com/"><b><i>David Nielsen</i></b></a> - with a great sense of style and strong work ethic, he’s since become more than a regular collaborator—he’s become a friend.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://thedreamersimagination.blogspot.com/"><b><i>Ashley Parrow Letizia</i></b></a> - a former schoolmate and intern who creates lovely artwork.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b><i><a href="http://breezytulip.com/portfolio/">Breezy Brookshire</a> </i></b>- creator of whimsical children's books.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Here are a few of the other artists who helped out, a couple who were invaluable!</div>
<div class="p1">
Kelly Reins - if you see any bricks or a fabulous empty cafe in early motion comics, you can thank her!</div>
<div class="p1">
Victor Noordhoek - the doer of many little things that amounted to a great deal</div>
<div class="p1">
Rebecca Sharkey </div>
<div class="p1">
Tony Monk </div>
<div class="p1">
Rigo Sabillon</div>
<div class="p1">
Noah Basle</div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
<br />
In the coming weeks I'll release more concept art and BTS material here on the blog and <a href="http://www.patreon.com/MatthewSample2?ty=c">on my Patreon page</a>. <a href="http://www.patreon.com/creation?hid=585565&u=87339&alert=3">The sketch that started my epic Ace Wonder journey is there</a>, and many more will be posted in the next couple months.</div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
Again, the <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/34761078">DVD arrives in August</a>, but you can watch it now by <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/37014458">streaming it online</a>. Enjoy!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-69496693973608827152014-06-07T09:26:00.000-05:002014-06-07T09:26:53.551-05:00One Month Anniversary for my Sketch Club!I had little idea what to expect when I started on this little journey a month ago. I still don't know, but now I have a nifty little timeline of 30+ paintings and drawings from the past month. I don't know how it happened and I had no idea how much fun I would have drawing these. I recommend it to every artist out there. <br />
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Here is a small sampling of my favorite sketches from this past month.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Patreon First Month Retrospective</b></span><br />
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Here are a few of my favorite sketches and paintings from this last month. Enjoy!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoMMUSGA2uoq8FSI0ZPafLki7Lh-IfqWBxiXP2n9bo3kaG4wScs3q0Pgln-d3fNbAY9GoH7x4Q6BjdnrCRAQmB-At80udPdOi_tmshrB9Y_Rat6K8Y7bmM3kRE9AQTOVJ1JkeF9CHhGx1/s1600/Hanging+Out+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoMMUSGA2uoq8FSI0ZPafLki7Lh-IfqWBxiXP2n9bo3kaG4wScs3q0Pgln-d3fNbAY9GoH7x4Q6BjdnrCRAQmB-At80udPdOi_tmshrB9Y_Rat6K8Y7bmM3kRE9AQTOVJ1JkeF9CHhGx1/s1600/Hanging+Out+2.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hovering and Hanging</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Every once in a while I have a strange idea that just sort of hits me. If it's a plot idea, I have a running idea file where I put these potential plots and now I have over 400. But I didn't have a place for visual ideas. At least, I didn't until a month ago. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>One month ago I created this sketch club on Patreon and I have really enjoyed it. It's been a very busy month with a lot of unusual travel, and some unusual weather conditions. But I've been grateful for this little place that I can carve out these ideas and post them. I don't have brilliant ideas all that often, but when I do, this acts as incentive for me to jot them down before they vanish into the ether of our lives. </i><br />
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<i>So I'm not sure what this is about. Maybe someday I'll have a story attached to it. Right now it's just a fanciful flight of wonder. I hope you enjoy it.</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TkPJGUKjp6IixCp9V0HAzNav1eRfaJk76cSHvWcw91v1n4xtwomHcv-Mpx2kgTgl4gz1RMEe5S_r03taoJ414nudfud6wIEwdsUQ1gVohjBecr-Fdxl1mNoScKvjjwtmU7NnUGTtXigM/s1600/sunset+across+the+fields8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TkPJGUKjp6IixCp9V0HAzNav1eRfaJk76cSHvWcw91v1n4xtwomHcv-Mpx2kgTgl4gz1RMEe5S_r03taoJ414nudfud6wIEwdsUQ1gVohjBecr-Fdxl1mNoScKvjjwtmU7NnUGTtXigM/s1600/sunset+across+the+fields8.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset Across the Fields</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>The other night, I saw the sun set from the upstairs window at my grandparents' dairy farm. It was so gorgeous that I knew I needed to paint it.</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3HSwyethpnGOMp9qeu0BYWGNs1pZnmzUmSpJy8ZGtY8hUHfFf5fzWawiemvGmJz42-yO0IXPQVz6aWpNLqMkednDSqe8s1nKPz8q_-HHsHKE9aaRpbE_Ov4kJv_nxCR-zhAS2VYee-1O/s1600/First+Sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3HSwyethpnGOMp9qeu0BYWGNs1pZnmzUmSpJy8ZGtY8hUHfFf5fzWawiemvGmJz42-yO0IXPQVz6aWpNLqMkednDSqe8s1nKPz8q_-HHsHKE9aaRpbE_Ov4kJv_nxCR-zhAS2VYee-1O/s1600/First+Sketch.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Sketch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>When I was breaking in my tablet last year, this was the first sketch I made. I really like the tree....</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS1OOms45VgblkIg6MvZTeEQbboYRsbbJ0j0lrdC3ccNZAjV58ER7YSLnNpqeM9RFBouv_ZbT8m-HBX_Y3oF62d7fZkFfVp_XDv6s8IfC1oK8IVCta_owSTCd_I3jP9E9__IcsGHCtdiT/s1600/Mousipede+Reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS1OOms45VgblkIg6MvZTeEQbboYRsbbJ0j0lrdC3ccNZAjV58ER7YSLnNpqeM9RFBouv_ZbT8m-HBX_Y3oF62d7fZkFfVp_XDv6s8IfC1oK8IVCta_owSTCd_I3jP9E9__IcsGHCtdiT/s1600/Mousipede+Reads.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mousipede Reads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Based off of the "Rodentipillar" sketch. It was just a fun idea. :)</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqloAh-GLUkrprPllZyPJyf22pG2wqGDMozGJherOoi3Z_o1oFbx21Bqa6ws3Wj7CrHdSB8tiKLNUe1aGRVMd19dJU1-vcJBzj5y4o7xUV0n3yfz43jyUMweRS_zqSIpJUpznIUCVTPgT/s1600/Time+Travel-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqloAh-GLUkrprPllZyPJyf22pG2wqGDMozGJherOoi3Z_o1oFbx21Bqa6ws3Wj7CrHdSB8tiKLNUe1aGRVMd19dJU1-vcJBzj5y4o7xUV0n3yfz43jyUMweRS_zqSIpJUpznIUCVTPgT/s1600/Time+Travel-1.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Given</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>#1 Inspirational Time Travel Poster Idea</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYVUBpXVA1sba6bSFvj_5z9E5d3BPrQy8VSe0bwb94J2btfcpfG2zn2jNOoD2ANrWNmV0n4r-GeUfxaXCU49QquReauDMf_GJkQmYfhX3YNRSQi8uYlmS5fAoZIwyZ2ZkhpKnlnDioFWU/s1600/Geronilope+Herd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYVUBpXVA1sba6bSFvj_5z9E5d3BPrQy8VSe0bwb94J2btfcpfG2zn2jNOoD2ANrWNmV0n4r-GeUfxaXCU49QquReauDMf_GJkQmYfhX3YNRSQi8uYlmS5fAoZIwyZ2ZkhpKnlnDioFWU/s1600/Geronilope+Herd.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geronilope Herd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>I think it hit me early in the morning in the middle of last week, and when I thought of it, I laughed out loud. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX5dJb_DrE_-b16OsuZcAk9NFMCfMJzZdRDt7uFnuxZyvr1CnxBEx7NX1tX570YRJoPVSr27Y201Hs25alM1g0-tazMIZ4QJx7Et2TiRXC1vKzx74wOZjMkFoI1qqp2a5-DtInhcMzhba/s1600/Just+Graduated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX5dJb_DrE_-b16OsuZcAk9NFMCfMJzZdRDt7uFnuxZyvr1CnxBEx7NX1tX570YRJoPVSr27Y201Hs25alM1g0-tazMIZ4QJx7Et2TiRXC1vKzx74wOZjMkFoI1qqp2a5-DtInhcMzhba/s1600/Just+Graduated.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just Graduated</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>My brother just walked across the stage to get his diploma from DTS! Now he's recovering....</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Z-cm4bEbUKi3MrfK9r4xUOffy0TMdyz8zIF-ZqpHSkYs3VYMGqsIntNniKypjVliR2pSe8NWMHeku_D0LYaL7b575lbsu7bxTyl9glbnYOm2cBNaTa9bYURd2ou6I_t4R_1C50zUd5zx/s1600/Destination+Options.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Z-cm4bEbUKi3MrfK9r4xUOffy0TMdyz8zIF-ZqpHSkYs3VYMGqsIntNniKypjVliR2pSe8NWMHeku_D0LYaL7b575lbsu7bxTyl9glbnYOm2cBNaTa9bYURd2ou6I_t4R_1C50zUd5zx/s1600/Destination+Options.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Destination Options</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>WIthout this sketch club, this painting would not exist. Thank you for being there, being my incentive to finish this. </i><br />
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<i>This was one of those ideas that I thought was nice, but had a hard time painting it. Knowing that you guys were out there, I persevered. </i><br />
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<i>I saw this early Friday morning, driving to Pensacola. It was beautiful and arresting seeing the moon sitting there at the top of the hill. </i><br />
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<i>I tried to paint it Saturday night from memory, but it didn't look right. Finally this morning at 3 or 4, it finally came together.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Earnings Analysis</b></span><br />
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Gross Earnings: $22.75<br />
CC Fees: $1.58<br />
Patreon percentage: $1.18<br />
Net: $19.99<br />
Sketches and Paintings: 32<br />
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Which works out to roughly 0.6246875¢ per sketch or painting. As you can see, I'm not doing this for the money!<br />
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Instead, I'm doing this to build a sketching habit. Right now I have an idea file where I put all of my story ideas, and I've got about 400+ good, bad, and ugly plot fragments in there. However, they are all word-based, or relational-based. I want to create a regular habit of making interesting visual ideas. This sketch club helps me do that.<br />
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At $8.75 per week, I'm really close to reaching my first milestone ($15 a week). When we reach that goal, I'm going to be creating a sketch of an exotic animal—possibly something from deep in the jungle... or from deeper in the ocean—and sending it to my patrons. (And I'll get windshield wipers for my car!) <br />
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To help reach that first milestone, I'm introducing a new level of patronage: Zinc Level! Zinc level starts at $5 a week and allows Zinc patrons to suggest sketch ideas. A few times a month, I'll sift through the ideas and pick an interesting idea to draw for y'all.<br />
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Where will we go in the next year? I don't really know.... Join my sketch club to let's find out together! <br />
http://www.patreon.com/MatthewSample2?ty=c<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-33804436958426618692014-04-14T17:17:00.000-05:002014-04-14T17:17:24.286-05:00Memoir of a First Time Film Festival Volunteer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ampB1yqrFwxKcOXY-K4-d-BSC473EELD62D6tPY3_S895fK3QgfTDBD7ByLm86cGEvY-I0reXZifrtL9VUdYgSw2_0dbho1UdwZ9sd37C7sMDNyLo9yoX2hxbtLhIbkCYrvDoV4pyANr/s1600/1016577_642154899186659_246054477_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ampB1yqrFwxKcOXY-K4-d-BSC473EELD62D6tPY3_S895fK3QgfTDBD7ByLm86cGEvY-I0reXZifrtL9VUdYgSw2_0dbho1UdwZ9sd37C7sMDNyLo9yoX2hxbtLhIbkCYrvDoV4pyANr/s1600/1016577_642154899186659_246054477_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©2014 Gabriel Hudelson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As a fan of the now monthly Media Talk 101 podcast, I rejoiced when I heard about their Christian Worldview Film Festival. It conveniently sprung up in the same time and place as a certain well-loved but now-defunct film festival. They didn't take over, they merely stepped into the gap. I can't think of any other group that I'd rather have put on such a unique event. </div>
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However, any first time event on this scale will always test the mettle of the organizers—learning opportunities galore. I knew that they'd need a lot of volunteers. So I cleared my schedule—easy to do for freelancers sometimes—checked my bank accounts, and volunteered to help a few days early. </div>
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I originally planned to wait until after an uncle's visit down here in Florida, but when he suddenly canceled, I threw my clothes hamper into my trunk and hit the road. I had no idea what obstacles lay in my way, or what feats I would be called upon to perform. A friend and I prayed just before I set out, knowing that any long trip like this could be dangerous—perhaps my last. And I did face death along the way. </div>
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First, I drove through an ice storm. I-10 closed at the Mississippi just before I got there. I found a McDonald's, logged into their wifi, and plotted a new course through Baton Rouge. I reached 190 before it closed. As I drove across, ice chunks fell onto the road from the steel girders above. Ice coated the bridge, frozen in smooth washes along the sides. I watched as the countryside froze over, frost growing perceptibly on everything. I faced death that day, and am grateful both to have driven out of that cold country... and to have driven through it. The ice reminded me that I'm merely mortal and I carried that sobriety with me down to San Antonio.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lDiDkaAecxLG6K_N0rc4Xq7fmX7tBQtTMkug3zyLdT-hf6L3GSI5tdrdk_6PL4LkPJbqnkL3seAsR3b3X8RhF08TS1vS5eaAYe9U7YnSFBYmY__QiHNhpQXLdUDwo9K-p2cKYGKFpt3t/s1600/IMG_5789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lDiDkaAecxLG6K_N0rc4Xq7fmX7tBQtTMkug3zyLdT-hf6L3GSI5tdrdk_6PL4LkPJbqnkL3seAsR3b3X8RhF08TS1vS5eaAYe9U7YnSFBYmY__QiHNhpQXLdUDwo9K-p2cKYGKFpt3t/s1600/IMG_5789.JPG" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhett and I in the pre-festival HQ. <br />©2014 http://www.photobygwen.com/</td></tr>
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For the first week, I stayed with the Telfer family. They had quite a few guests from their former church in Illinois, and I enjoyed meeting them all. It's amazing how fast you can get to know people in a relatively short amount of time. Each meal acted as an oasis from the busyness in which the entire family and all the guests congregated. We teased each other, prayed over the festival, discussed the weather up north, shared lessons learned over our short lives, and had some amazing, freshly-ground coffee. One of the fellows brought down some amazing decaf varieties, so even I partook of the bean.</div>
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Other than eating and carrying on polite conversation, my main tasks that first week consisted of film wrangling, taking over the Twitter account, and creating the venue map. The digital files for about 10 films hadn't arrived yet—due to weather bogging down the mail or other stuff—but we needed them to have a film festival! I contacted each of the filmmakers and made sure they sent us a copy of their film either overnight or via an online sharing platform (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.). Film wrangling involves me being as annoying as possible so the filmmakers will send in their work and be done with me. Surprisingly, I connected with a young filmmaker named Brett Varvel, the son of an editorial cartoonist that I visited when I was a teenager—a sort of hero of mine. It's great to hear that they are serving Jesus! I tried not to be so annoying to him. Actually, it was a lot of fun and I was able to connect with some old friends.</div>
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When I took over the Twitter account, a total of 4 tweets sat in it's little archive of tweets tweeted. I set out to rectify that right away. However, I'm used to tweeting my own personal thoughts—I've never done any corporate tweeting. I wanted to make sure that my tweets reflected Media Talk 101's mission and style. I also wanted to make sure I tweeted the correct information. I know I made some mistakes along the way, but I did my best! </div>
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I love making maps, so I loved making the venue map. When I first saw the church's map, I didn't understand what was going on. So I drove down to the venue, found the front door, walked to the info desk, and talked with a worker there. From that brief experience, I changed the map to reflect how the Guild and the Festival would use the space. However, within 10 minutes of walking around after we gained access to the building the Monday night before the Guild started, I knew that the map had issues. But it was done. Should we be at this venue next year, the map shall be tweaked.</div>
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On Sunday I enjoyed the Telfer's church. Phillip pastors with Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler, Al Mendenhall, and another guy who leads worship. I go to a very conservative Reformed Baptist church (KJV only, old hymns, women wearing skirts), and it most definitely was not that, but it was good. I worshipped and sought the Lord with my fellow believers, the body of Christ. At the end of the service, Rich Swingle presented a drama on the ministry of Eric Liddel from the perspective of a Chinese student who hated him. Rich worked hard that Sunday! I didn't see a dry eye at the end of his drama. Later, we all regrouped at the Telfers, enjoyed a quiet evening, held a little prayer time, and held our breaths....</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUDniCZI9zXf_tjBzU3-k1ASpqvm1rPFlE7FjLE5gno5XPaavxmzoWZLq3sSHwWy0pRVPcE-IkA0VUH3FQmCds-92Vx8_FBuaEqtnzwyTuKGCga5-41-rt9Cngea1lMpC7OGTJfpKQcYP/s1600/IMG_6243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUDniCZI9zXf_tjBzU3-k1ASpqvm1rPFlE7FjLE5gno5XPaavxmzoWZLq3sSHwWy0pRVPcE-IkA0VUH3FQmCds-92Vx8_FBuaEqtnzwyTuKGCga5-41-rt9Cngea1lMpC7OGTJfpKQcYP/s1600/IMG_6243.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@2014 http://www.photobygwen.com/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As we entered the venue on Monday evening, we all had adrenaline pumping through our systems. A friend likened it to feeling a wave forming and getting ready to ride that wave. You could taste that thrill like... warm corn chips fresh off the presses. (Not having experience surfing... I <i>do</i> have experience eating fresh potato chips at a Lay's chip factory. It may not be as exciting to y'all, but believe me, my teenage self thought it sheer glory.) Honestly, I did feel an impending doom—I was in over my head. If Phillip doubted, however, I never saw it. Kathleen Fowl (a fellow relocated-IAHE-convention-veteran!), did not seem fazed at all. Juan Rivera and Andrew Koch worked miracles. And Rhett—I really enjoyed getting to know him better and working alongside him.</div>
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During this week my responsibilities shifted. I retained the helm at Twitter, and tried to tweet/favorite/retweet whenever I had the chance, but now I was also in charge of transportation for the speakers (the man in charge of that suddenly needed to go out of state), and I hosted a workshop room and the Loft during the film festival. I also created slides for screens that were out in the halls, but it was Thursday or Friday before I finished those, and I don't think anyone noticed! But that's ok.</div>
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Transportation turned into a lot of work. We had a couple of folks who needed rides from the airport that required me to hop in the car and run to the airport real quick. I got lost in San Antonio with John Fornof and his nephew. Thankfully he had GPS! By the time I picked up Rich Christiano, I looked like I kinda knew what I was doing. By the time everyone left, I had a calendar and had doublechecked everything, and I think they all made their flights. At least... I haven't heard any different!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Knudsen in the Loft. I didn't host this lecture, but I'm sure it was great!<br />©2014 Samuel Crowe</td></tr>
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I hosted the Planning room for the Guild and the Loft for the Festival. I merely needed to greet everyone, tell them to turn their cellphones off or if they must take a call to take it in the hall, and to open in prayer. After that, I tried to take my advice! I think I was the only person who regularly took calls out in the hall. We had a series of little emergencies that began tapering off midmorning on Wednesday. I'm now working my way through the audio files—getting to experience the festival as everyone else did! I could only sit through Nathan Webster's entertaining and enlightening talk—totally worth it. I missed all of the General Sessions, so I'm catching up on those. I've finally gotten caught up on what I missed from Paul Hastings lecture—he also kindly emailed me his notes. </div>
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When we switched from the Guild format to watching films for the Festival, I moved to the Loft and began hosting for films instead of speakers. The emergencies had mostly dissipated, but I had enough on my plate that I didn't get to see an entire film... </div>
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Except for Wednesday night when I invited myself to see the rough cut of Paul Munger's Princess Cut. He has a great film there. Now, it's a romance, so guys, you've been forewarned, but it's a good romance. Paul did a great job at it. I can see the finished product shining through beautifully. I hope it does well at the festival next year! I also enjoyed the exquisite stuffed Texas quail. </div>
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I was prepared to wear multiple hats for the award ceremony, but all I had to do is get the ball rolling on award winner photos and free popcorn for the masses and other people took care of all that stuff. For the award ceremony, I just tweeted the results.</div>
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After the ceremony, that's when the excitement started. We had to be out of the building by a certain time, so we bribed the masses with a meet-and-greet the award winners in the courtyard outside and free popcorn. Then we cleaned up! After we finished clearing everything out, I hung out with a couple friends, and then headed back to my host family...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©2014 Ivy Schexsnayder</td></tr>
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It's been a few weeks since the awards. I feel like something very special has happened that may never happen again, though I wish it would. I plan to help recreate this special event next year, but it can't truly be recreated: it will go on, but it will never by brand new like this. And I saw it from behind the scenes—a rare and priceless privilege.</div>
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Other than a feeling, what have I taken away from this experience?</div>
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First things first... I now have refillable ink cartridges for my printer. Ask Rhett for more details. (Apparently Media Talk 101 saves thousands of dollars every year, just by refilling ink cartridges instead of buying new replacements.)</div>
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Secondly, I have some wonderful new friendships. It's amazing how fast you can get to know someone when you are battling and worshipping with them. Singing "Bless the Lord, oh my soul" with Phillip and Rhett in HQ on the drizzly Saturday morning, knowing that we needed everyone out of the building immediately after the awards that night, still echoes deep in my mind.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriel Hudelson and I discussing faith and an upcoming album cover.</td></tr>
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Third, I loved talking about spiritual things with people. Talking with a younger artist, Samuel Rivera, about art inevitably led to talking about our great Creator—the One in whom innovation truly begins and ends. Rich Christiano challenged me to serve Jesus with all of my heart. I talked about protecting your soul and providing for your family with Nathan Ashton, about the frailty and preciousness of our local churches with Grace Pennington, about iconclasm and aesthetics with Monica Tull, about eschatology and imaging God with Gabriel Huddelson, and about a whole bunch of stuff with Rhett and Phillip.</div>
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Fourth,watching Phillip care for and carve out time for his kids was worth the trip. I've wondered how to manage that as a freelancer, and I really enjoyed seeing it in practice. </div>
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Fifth, ministry is precious. I'm glad I went into the week reminded of my mortality. Dying daily is hard to do, and I failed at it quite a few times over those couple weeks. I got prideful, thoughtless, lazy, sported bad attitudes, and kept having to die to all that. On the trip out to the Festival, I may have almost met my end, but when I came to the end of myself, I needed to actively sacrifice myself and my desires. It's very rewarding to expend myself for others, in the name of Christ. May He increase, and may I decrease.</div>
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A lot of people have thanked me, as if I had done something great. I'm aware that I was helpful, but I'm also aware that others could have easily filled my role. I'm also haunted by the idea that I did not go on this trip accidentally, that it was prepared for me—and that's a humbling thought. I wonder how I did in comparison with the eternal expectations on my trip. But through all of that, I feel a deep sense of gratitude to God who led me through those intense two weeks. I found them filled with hard work, good friends, and the wonder of following a kind Lord.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-77933477269521991312014-03-28T23:46:00.000-05:002014-04-01T09:22:56.691-05:00God's Great Plan<div class="p1">
It's high time I updated my blog. It's not like I've been twiddling my thumbs all these months. I've seen 3 books published, have moved across the country, moved my parents to a new house, and volunteered for half a month for a film festival (more on the #CWVFF in a later post...), plus a few other excitements. But I've wanted to blog this post for quite some time. Today is the day!</div>
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A book always takes it's illustrator on a little journey. About a year ago I set off on the journey that became <i><a href="http://www.shepherdpress.com/product/gods-great-plan/">God's Great Plan</a></i>. During the process I went through times of exhilaration and depression as I worked through the themes and struggled to capture the breadth and depth of the content in the beautiful little poem.</div>
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I first have to say a great thank you to Joe Fogarty. One of these books would not have been illustrated by me if he had not prodded me to contact a Christian rap artist, <a href="http://www.lampmode.com/artists/timothy-brindle/">Timothy Brindle</a>. Timothy saw my work and passed me on to Shepherd Press. SP asked me to illustrate a poem.... So before I get into that, thank you Joe and Timothy. This book would not be what it is today without you guys.</div>
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Rick Irvin from SP worked with me to create the illustrations. I set out to bring out as much meaning from the text as possible. I was surprised as anyone how the book became more than I could have done on my own.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa</td></tr>
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<b><i>Who is the Old Man?</i></b></div>
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A lot of people ask me who the old man is. They guess that it might be me. It's actually my grandpa on my mom's side. But he wasn't always in the book. The poem actually does not call for a narrator. <br />
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I added Grandpa to connect immediately to the children with familiar visuals. The grandfather and his grandkids add a context that children can understand. In our day and age, grandparents often must step in and provide discipline and spiritual guidance to children whose parents relinquish those roles. <br />
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On top of that reality, I also wanted to encourage grandparents to talk about their faith multigenerationally. Godly grandparents are an important part of a family's life.</div>
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By adding the modern-day characters, I could bounce back and forth between the Bible story and the application of it's truths to our modern lives. This story does affect us, and I really liked finding ways to express it's effects.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlL9NUZBvWlFAvdduMUCe9N1Mordg48q98-K7M86MVuby9YM4OzmY80O2vsfwPFDVP7C293VSu_hersma9_y0O82ygT5ZQVyUr2G-1hjIqzPUcozssq6PC3W5uoJ41S0g2tqPkTgvf5wd/s1600/Adamofdust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlL9NUZBvWlFAvdduMUCe9N1Mordg48q98-K7M86MVuby9YM4OzmY80O2vsfwPFDVP7C293VSu_hersma9_y0O82ygT5ZQVyUr2G-1hjIqzPUcozssq6PC3W5uoJ41S0g2tqPkTgvf5wd/s1600/Adamofdust.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam emerging from dust</td></tr>
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<b><i>The Creation of Adam</i></b></div>
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As I set out to make the creation sequence, I wanted to do something different than what I had seen others do with creating man. After throwing around a couple ideas, I pictured God forming Adam from dust as it was pulled up from the ground in a sort of controlled whirlwind. I could try to justify it by referencing God's control over the elements, but mostly I thought it looked cool.</div>
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Fun Fact: At one time Adam had facial hair, but a clean-shaven face won in office ballot! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Variations of serpent</td></tr>
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<b><i>The Evolution of the Serpent</i></b></div>
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We worked really hard on the serpent. We wanted to create something that looks beautiful to look at, but evil. Children needed to understand visually that Eve is doing the wrong thing by listening to the serpent, no matter how beautiful it looked. Finally we got the right look.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An evil world is a dangerous world</td></tr>
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<b><i>Showing Evil and Judgment at a Child's Level</i></b></div>
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When we showed the effects of sin, I wanted to make it clear in ways that children could understand. Part of that lay in choosing what sins to display: I chose meanness, arguing, and stealing. Another part lay in showing the context: sin is shown with danger, fear, and pain. A final part lay in bringing it to the modern day: immediately after showing the surreal ancient court room, I show the grandfather confronting his guilty grandchildren. We each need to understand that the horror of evil is not that others do evil to us, but that we carry evil in our hearts.</div>
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I worry sometimes that I went to far, though. In realizing evil this way, I hope I don't give kids nightmares!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color sketches for the book</td></tr>
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<b><i>The Darkness Before the Dawn </i></b></div>
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After we had mostly finalized the sketches, I put together a color scheme for the book. I tried to make the colors I used interpret the content of the book in an emotional way.</div>
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For instance, we use bright happy colors when talking about creation, but as sin enters, we transition to dark pages with odd color combinations. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original concept for nativity page</td></tr>
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Originally, I gradually lightened the images moving from sin's entry through Jesus' work on earth. However, Rick asked to put in a nativity illustration at the beginning of Jesus' life. I was skeptical at first, but it really worked out beautifully! It created a darkness before the dawn moment, successfully bookending the display of evil section with a hopeful look to God's salvation.</div>
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Lesson: always listen to your editor.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sketch of the crucifixion which didn't make it into the book</td></tr>
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<b><i>The Image of God</i></b></div>
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When I painted Jesus, I intended to make a non-white, middle-eastern version that still looks similar to what we white folks think of when we think of Jesus. I'm honestly not sure I succeeded. </div>
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However, I was not prepared for potentially losing out in a bigger battle: honoring the image of God. After the book was published, some dear Christian brothers talked to me about the issue. I really appreciate it, and I will be handling imaging Christ much differently in the future.</div>
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In the 10 commandments, we are told to not create an image of God, because no man had seen God. That is, nobody did until Jesus came to earth. Just think about the disciples walking with, eating with, talking with the God of the universe! The problem is: none of them sketched him, painted him, sculpted him, or even wrote down a description of him! So we still don't know what God looks like--even in human form.</div>
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We humans have a problem with making and worshipping idols. I tried to handle the images in such a way that the figure that I used to represent Christ pointed to His historicity and message. But I'm contemplating going farther the next time I need to paint a Biblical scene: paint it without showing anyone standing in for Christ, but showing him just off screen or from behind or showing a metaphor... or something. I'm still mulling it over.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNnWZRfVbPZMTIGjAbi31rB_a7r4c9jXk_D-vqxj_mQliSgUmLjbBt46GzSvEviEz6jhqRXoaM4UBqbORVS_vcRcCVdlaoKLs565SEYTtk6FHwuzC1kwmVnEbxA79mZKbi8At9KidBMeq/s1600/visualmetaphors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNnWZRfVbPZMTIGjAbi31rB_a7r4c9jXk_D-vqxj_mQliSgUmLjbBt46GzSvEviEz6jhqRXoaM4UBqbORVS_vcRcCVdlaoKLs565SEYTtk6FHwuzC1kwmVnEbxA79mZKbi8At9KidBMeq/s1600/visualmetaphors.jpg" height="125" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christ's healing power is visually compared with the Holy Spirit's life transforming power in the believer</td></tr>
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<b><i>Building Visual Metaphors Across the Story</i></b></div>
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Metaphors allow us to see things that we don't express in words. As the story goes on, I build a visual palette that I then draw on at the end of the story. For instance, in the section dealing with the effects of sin, I show a man pushing another man; toward the end of the book when showing how our sin put Christ on the cross, I then showing the brother pushing his sister in the exact same pose. I hope that children pick up on those things and find their place in the story.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3oahouEfs7qUwda9rVkQulZa72ey4dhRzeIWuC9wd1q6VoStPp64cna9wmB7SjgW0LKBiISG3UA9ORz7jIOTIk0vEo-Vfd7GaUr-hIyNVQemtg_g_NuMOfImj0kQXIL-MkCG_tqNyzP2/s1600/hopeforbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3oahouEfs7qUwda9rVkQulZa72ey4dhRzeIWuC9wd1q6VoStPp64cna9wmB7SjgW0LKBiISG3UA9ORz7jIOTIk0vEo-Vfd7GaUr-hIyNVQemtg_g_NuMOfImj0kQXIL-MkCG_tqNyzP2/s1600/hopeforbook.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men praying in the first batch of sketches for the book</td></tr>
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<b><i>My Hope for This Book</i></b></div>
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More than anything else I've ever done, I think this book reflects my own personal convictions. It's rare to get to work on something so real to me. </div>
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It also convicted me as I worked on it. I haven't reached perfection yet, and covering the story from sin to redemption will always move me profoundly. </div>
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I hope that the story moves both the reader and those being read to, that the visuals bring out the truth and make it come alive, and that we would be transformed by the truth of Christ.<br />
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<i>P.S. To get a copy, go to: <a href="http://www.shepherdpress.com/product/gods-great-plan/">http://www.shepherdpress.com/product/gods-great-plan/</a></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-75475748879850878572013-08-08T16:09:00.000-05:002013-08-08T16:11:50.138-05:00Sharkasaurus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From what I hear... it's Shark Week.</div>
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So, in honor of the event, here's a nifty shark-o-saurus that I quickly sketched from life, the last time I visited the ZMS (Zoo of Mad Scientists). I highly recommend a visit, if you have the time and are in the area.</div>
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Oh, and don't pet the animals.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgXjrvUaybqdnJtu6p95bVLB35YNRDame-p6M7GUsMep9WNXcqu0bymr951dOo1XTvApieeanbwg3RLiow3Qh9sS1e2ry8KjFwuw19MbyIa_S3VpKISaBpF2oP2AT_MjRd-MBxTTc8tGm/s1600/sharkasaurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgXjrvUaybqdnJtu6p95bVLB35YNRDame-p6M7GUsMep9WNXcqu0bymr951dOo1XTvApieeanbwg3RLiow3Qh9sS1e2ry8KjFwuw19MbyIa_S3VpKISaBpF2oP2AT_MjRd-MBxTTc8tGm/s640/sharkasaurus.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-59873884847768813112013-04-15T09:34:00.001-05:002013-04-15T09:34:04.236-05:00Quick Portrait Sketching!Whew! I tried to get into gear with some quick portrait sketches last week. I'm still pretty slow, but I'll be working harder to get faster.<br />
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At a Wednesday painting group, I sketched Rev. Thomas, very happy to get so much done in only two sessions (approx 40-45 min.):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu57v5egxhMK8VSbStIfbv6NSOjUlmW_To3bFBuqhuqcDUAU3zixzQMqt-sDFYr09KjLHkGtO6c8DwQ6LnFrvS1eCYfZyJayL7GTCYk0G-UOZXbJj16-9imW_oweHVW5FDenmA04HEPtAp/s1600/13-04-10+Rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu57v5egxhMK8VSbStIfbv6NSOjUlmW_To3bFBuqhuqcDUAU3zixzQMqt-sDFYr09KjLHkGtO6c8DwQ6LnFrvS1eCYfZyJayL7GTCYk0G-UOZXbJj16-9imW_oweHVW5FDenmA04HEPtAp/s1600/13-04-10+Rev.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then on Thursday night I went over to John Ball's to paint Brittany with his group. I was surprised to do a quick 20 min sketch!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lKyM2SN_nwyf_AeZ0_oGQi2AO-A8dl7NCuaM1yoZ4ZYxhBb-8ig1gFvgSE1YPIjd2Z6VWxkjxoQTF8_eVgpmQIMYETO3-qMKiasA9I6mL94uxE5ICojC-vAwBeegCHdyQk80pmI-pHZQ/s1600/13-04-11+Brittny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lKyM2SN_nwyf_AeZ0_oGQi2AO-A8dl7NCuaM1yoZ4ZYxhBb-8ig1gFvgSE1YPIjd2Z6VWxkjxoQTF8_eVgpmQIMYETO3-qMKiasA9I6mL94uxE5ICojC-vAwBeegCHdyQk80pmI-pHZQ/s1600/13-04-11+Brittny.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then on Saturday I fought with a very bright day at the Laurel Hill Spring Arts Festival, and sketched a couple of new friends. While I was working on them they looked kind of like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1c4ZWVrkZcy-k2CQ23F-dR1fVepqWVwtSJuBpfzXJE57cC-3nnOlFx4f3KjRQE_aiSOCDGbdjUabmL_Dh82CYj2O576ZEr2WS6CnIlaxCf060IjOUeRcmYYN0FFllRaz3bz1oIlQqKCud/s1600/13-04-13+Monty-dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1c4ZWVrkZcy-k2CQ23F-dR1fVepqWVwtSJuBpfzXJE57cC-3nnOlFx4f3KjRQE_aiSOCDGbdjUabmL_Dh82CYj2O576ZEr2WS6CnIlaxCf060IjOUeRcmYYN0FFllRaz3bz1oIlQqKCud/s1600/13-04-13+Monty-dark.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQM4DKy-FrtnIJIArB3TTcKD4Wanmgkc9fD6uvi4k84huXu0K3dY6ZCDBHjR4stxNP8G7xa1skVH4k9TbkfcZYzyHVcltGXDA1tUjpwmgLAy_lfx012kc3uY8F1ilknA-NZ5Ii3yA93P4Q/s1600/13-04-13+Todd-dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQM4DKy-FrtnIJIArB3TTcKD4Wanmgkc9fD6uvi4k84huXu0K3dY6ZCDBHjR4stxNP8G7xa1skVH4k9TbkfcZYzyHVcltGXDA1tUjpwmgLAy_lfx012kc3uY8F1ilknA-NZ5Ii3yA93P4Q/s1600/13-04-13+Todd-dark.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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But when I was able to get them into the light they looked much better:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflhWN49-hnxHNWzGQJ_d_1s6K6mbJOmT0-LrEZnUGPkZfzzQtFyOMD4Q7aESg_rPWAlZdIuDCuUmli84O6jp8Oro36daQjygHks3SeL35tBVrq9e21OQS7kQtgsuBIh96705fYEEezxoa/s1600/13-04-13+Monty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflhWN49-hnxHNWzGQJ_d_1s6K6mbJOmT0-LrEZnUGPkZfzzQtFyOMD4Q7aESg_rPWAlZdIuDCuUmli84O6jp8Oro36daQjygHks3SeL35tBVrq9e21OQS7kQtgsuBIh96705fYEEezxoa/s1600/13-04-13+Monty.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74eKF9Tl7Lvqlz2WNBAFFT4wUU-ZtCfBIw7JtWbpGXvRlawxtCbRBjTqK_HYvKtz-mDrNTGkyIIGrP-1BZA50qEqFBSOkkpN4HDl5NW0_GHayubbv39twjwdmL5BZnlhgcpNN9_0CE5OW/s1600/13-04-13+Todd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74eKF9Tl7Lvqlz2WNBAFFT4wUU-ZtCfBIw7JtWbpGXvRlawxtCbRBjTqK_HYvKtz-mDrNTGkyIIGrP-1BZA50qEqFBSOkkpN4HDl5NW0_GHayubbv39twjwdmL5BZnlhgcpNN9_0CE5OW/s1600/13-04-13+Todd.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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Both were approx. 15 minutes, and both were talking and moving around, so I think I did good considering. Still I'm still practicing, trying to get better. I have yet to master the quick portrait sketch.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-32343881592232312332013-04-05T13:55:00.001-05:002013-04-05T14:24:24.366-05:00George Washington App BTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Confession: a major reason I worked on <a href="http://foundingfathersproject.com/">this app project</a> was to collaborate with an artist. </div>
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<a href="http://www.dcnielsen.com/">David Nielsen</a> is a like minded artist—also an illustrator—sharing many of my faith and ideals. But at the same time we have major differences. Our styles, for instance, are very different. In fact that was one of the things I was going to see if we could overcome over the course of this project. </div>
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Here's our process:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJ-qcyHZfDzKB8rtMDOsuVfalwWuXzM32W7LnJq5TLLHYfHFBaL1_91k0FCviw8qfm6-E9ZuHfErIaPjZosmQTZ0-wajfV_IQWwDqmX0h9Mn74S764yQs8ll6lbMU2dEzzGBRSZ7Kyydk/s1600/18-sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJ-qcyHZfDzKB8rtMDOsuVfalwWuXzM32W7LnJq5TLLHYfHFBaL1_91k0FCviw8qfm6-E9ZuHfErIaPjZosmQTZ0-wajfV_IQWwDqmX0h9Mn74S764yQs8ll6lbMU2dEzzGBRSZ7Kyydk/s1600/18-sketch.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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After reading the story, I started with a sketch. This is from a moment in young George Washington's life, when he first encountered military combat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAzbN723fncWcB7Ti3lk9sD7DxjW-k63_Ew5wMHYDLSx1Ys1en98b_UpeRC57PSGesp89hSFR3I3lZ4AvmsGUPFZWRjuav5X4pR_rp0mkR3FD4PW27LlQgC74M9utN7dyDkVYiWjBFoB8/s1600/18c-color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAzbN723fncWcB7Ti3lk9sD7DxjW-k63_Ew5wMHYDLSx1Ys1en98b_UpeRC57PSGesp89hSFR3I3lZ4AvmsGUPFZWRjuav5X4pR_rp0mkR3FD4PW27LlQgC74M9utN7dyDkVYiWjBFoB8/s1600/18c-color.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
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Second, David created value and color studies based on my drawings.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u0kmm6O_vjHoIkLd7gd7FiG0qEQQUz8kZ6D5ctWBjQt0dPrk0XZKQyO-38jeMpAQPClrTHobCY6jjCSbBeKsZu_yoCPmNduNtSwwI_MnarTsTNq2mVtSspt-GiGXx2nZX0N_nYxjBGYV/s1600/18c-complicated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u0kmm6O_vjHoIkLd7gd7FiG0qEQQUz8kZ6D5ctWBjQt0dPrk0XZKQyO-38jeMpAQPClrTHobCY6jjCSbBeKsZu_yoCPmNduNtSwwI_MnarTsTNq2mVtSspt-GiGXx2nZX0N_nYxjBGYV/s1600/18c-complicated.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course it's slightly more complicated than paint by number.... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFJ1DGXAHFOFKRcI_AxjmJHBmexNL4024WdnB7Z8e7-nxGcLzZAGJ2lkphMo2sZcAaMnzcf_tlIlGOpIisRv9SrwoNl-RAE5rNlPIhDTIf-9T8Y3bbGe77g9IJOuZ8BjxVxdB70HdfJFz/s1600/18d-finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFJ1DGXAHFOFKRcI_AxjmJHBmexNL4024WdnB7Z8e7-nxGcLzZAGJ2lkphMo2sZcAaMnzcf_tlIlGOpIisRv9SrwoNl-RAE5rNlPIhDTIf-9T8Y3bbGe77g9IJOuZ8BjxVxdB70HdfJFz/s1600/18d-finished.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I took his color study and finished out all the details to make the finished painting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcXKt_wQooFwh5Mxc-_RbQIDGxNqlKF6vZ8SY4wFnRsomKNT6mesjplxZy-D7SDXsRxpUjsLOep-AFh65UUY182qXuQO0RnGOLJvKjUKH0CS4KY3pbcWALFt7zSyFpwiBNS7ojLlX5Pd4/s1600/29-sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcXKt_wQooFwh5Mxc-_RbQIDGxNqlKF6vZ8SY4wFnRsomKNT6mesjplxZy-D7SDXsRxpUjsLOep-AFh65UUY182qXuQO0RnGOLJvKjUKH0CS4KY3pbcWALFt7zSyFpwiBNS7ojLlX5Pd4/s1600/29-sketch.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
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This scene is from the American Revolution as the Colonial forces fought some of the best military powers in the world. In the battle at Trenton, they fought against German mercenary troops in house to house combat on a snowy morning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzdCLmZS7B_LS-p_VsAbnZD5SGUAQaa2FZwwN23SdJDuaEnXSeBVKLy-XZTseRZH2b2LKv6AfCUvNZM2Pkugfklqd35O3m2a7O2vbzppygrcU40z_GZyFGx7N2bZemfEG-MLFc5YThson/s1600/29-source.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzdCLmZS7B_LS-p_VsAbnZD5SGUAQaa2FZwwN23SdJDuaEnXSeBVKLy-XZTseRZH2b2LKv6AfCUvNZM2Pkugfklqd35O3m2a7O2vbzppygrcU40z_GZyFGx7N2bZemfEG-MLFc5YThson/s1600/29-source.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Preston Cone, one of the founders of the Founding Fathers Project, modeled for this shot in colonial garb!</div>
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Daniel worked on this, changing the perspective and creating some cool harmonies. I took it from him before he could really get going though...</div>
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The finished shot. Played with the perspective a lot more. (Yes, I have both the walking and getting-shot Hessians on this pic. It's a little confusing right now, but it's not in the app.)</div>
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At the end of the American War for Independence, Washington gathered his troops together for a very moving dinner together.</div>
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David's value and color study... </div>
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And the finished painted. </div>
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We did a lot more work that didn't make it into the app. Maybe at some anniversary in the future, we can come back and hit some of these really interesting moments in the Washington saga....</div>
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Young George Washington and his Native American allies. Color study for an illustration which did not make the book.</div>
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The Hessians surrendering at Trenton. I'd love to see this finished with the falling snow and all.<br />
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Perhaps at that later date, David and I can go back and touch up some of the artwork. But on the whole, I'm very satisfied with what we got done here.<br />
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I think we were successful, but you be the judge. <a href="http://foundingfathersproject.com/">Try out the app.</a> What do you think? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-29477524899175766132013-03-08T15:43:00.000-06:002013-03-08T15:44:25.963-06:00Step-by-Step Portrait SketchA couple weeks ago, my group painted the same model that we used to do <a href="http://matthewsample2.blogspot.com/2013/03/portrait-sketch-demonstration.html">the demonstration this week</a>. I saved more steps along the way and thought it might be nice to see the evolution of painting her in more detail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzaEOiDqR4y49L8RYVxIf_A_SRRL8slmWVb1NZ55pmUNK5nHikk7LmeXIzZUImKXdTpQBXv8xzKgCkKLA__rbHuz2YvsYRcHhIfNlZg7TMabWPDz8VpZ1TA3-07zNTXPxBnKlxugH5and/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzaEOiDqR4y49L8RYVxIf_A_SRRL8slmWVb1NZ55pmUNK5nHikk7LmeXIzZUImKXdTpQBXv8xzKgCkKLA__rbHuz2YvsYRcHhIfNlZg7TMabWPDz8VpZ1TA3-07zNTXPxBnKlxugH5and/s1600/1.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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First step: laying down the foundation. I want the generally shape of the model's head right away. Usually I can find this by nailing down the dark hair color, and what shape it is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi7nrGXypNYB8rjkCCOVF3wu7IW91UUhyKmTVGrbNi4bPfHOBVHwpanskMI9Dt5-LWUXVybhrG2KSG8vMmrW6HsC3FqJrE7CQ1Ydnbx6N4WYv5Ka8le7qyddUlWtU_flCdkzxOV82JCXx/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi7nrGXypNYB8rjkCCOVF3wu7IW91UUhyKmTVGrbNi4bPfHOBVHwpanskMI9Dt5-LWUXVybhrG2KSG8vMmrW6HsC3FqJrE7CQ1Ydnbx6N4WYv5Ka8le7qyddUlWtU_flCdkzxOV82JCXx/s1600/2.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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Second, I tackle skintones. By this stage, I should see the model on the paper, though probably it will be very blocky.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJw75CDtastHsGT32xc3WL339xqr28XzzTdH-Z90ahECkJMIZu4xKeV2-3W0wIUW6hW82Z40UgSxpiPO_zwKzEp04HZCNaQlkOywSuszeO1X6GU7H7LrLYMf9k89SVvx4IKvXaSgFPKg87/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJw75CDtastHsGT32xc3WL339xqr28XzzTdH-Z90ahECkJMIZu4xKeV2-3W0wIUW6hW82Z40UgSxpiPO_zwKzEp04HZCNaQlkOywSuszeO1X6GU7H7LrLYMf9k89SVvx4IKvXaSgFPKg87/s1600/3.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now I start refining. This is mid first pass of refining. Still very rough, but all of the most important features are there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKd5EtFaNUrrEOsGkb4oy-eB9QuteLbRZFooC6bcGSAd8LQMKdA4eCIGtc6PS6U34gAyxcsBJ78S6ww6XtwuOCTGsCVV6wKWg3N5JYe_5BZGo4sNUqpr9LotMdCe-dCmqXNl6nZ8nhJLM/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKd5EtFaNUrrEOsGkb4oy-eB9QuteLbRZFooC6bcGSAd8LQMKdA4eCIGtc6PS6U34gAyxcsBJ78S6ww6XtwuOCTGsCVV6wKWg3N5JYe_5BZGo4sNUqpr9LotMdCe-dCmqXNl6nZ8nhJLM/s1600/4.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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Most of the time my painting looks like this. It's kinda a good sketch, but the only changes are very small little ones.<br />
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Finally all those little changes build up to make a fairly polished face. At that point I can start working the face into the composition—finding ways to unify the figure and the background.</div>
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At this point, I finish and am mostly satisfied with my work, but I never consider this done. I always need to let it sit overnight.</div>
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After I've slept on the painting (not literally), I tweak the values, the edges, and a few details. Then I consider the piece finished. <br />
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It's good to get back at this. It's been too long.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-3121289078972046472013-03-08T12:49:00.002-06:002013-03-08T15:47:33.600-06:00Portrait Sketch DemonstrationI did a demonstration on Wednesday! A great opportunity to stretch my public speaking skills, which need much stretching.<br />
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I took the opportunity to go over my "7 Essential Skills Artists Use" content. I learned that I probably want to short the skill set, using the seventh as a sort of prologue to the other six skills. I also learned that I probably don't want to go over the skill set while I'm trying to demonstrate painting a portrait. Not unless I figure out a way to unify the two. At times it felt like I was giving two different lectures simultaneously. Lesson learned.<br />
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So here's how the sketch went:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih42ESxIHD64MI8ybejhiKomH8k9JVxjJQFj1hiMKPT0piqvwkYugEwmou2IyV6kouMsnzG8QZb4WBoxGxjjTfpotODjKmwsEt-ldjXxg_AuQWE9KlGiMRs5x8Xk3z0mAB6SahioCIdEA0/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih42ESxIHD64MI8ybejhiKomH8k9JVxjJQFj1hiMKPT0piqvwkYugEwmou2IyV6kouMsnzG8QZb4WBoxGxjjTfpotODjKmwsEt-ldjXxg_AuQWE9KlGiMRs5x8Xk3z0mAB6SahioCIdEA0/s320/1.jpg" /></a><br />
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First I nailed down the general proportions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_HMn4486hMt8dkuIr6I-mTNEduMWUIP1zXHhLJGRrtpUvG-eCQDEE23Pe5Lmlr-JhPZfAURVxplIFfPQOiM1Lex9_lvfWnvLv7Iqn5T_PgHt2AG1Og3hs32vxyed0EJ1dxEG8n4dZCbe/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_HMn4486hMt8dkuIr6I-mTNEduMWUIP1zXHhLJGRrtpUvG-eCQDEE23Pe5Lmlr-JhPZfAURVxplIFfPQOiM1Lex9_lvfWnvLv7Iqn5T_PgHt2AG1Og3hs32vxyed0EJ1dxEG8n4dZCbe/s320/2.jpg" /></a><br />
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Next I worked on creating more detail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODWb6_k0QKQ_KKAPr2DtcUIMCi3-9gadnz201VzRT85RUrxiC1Kq0rCktk_pvBrNqsuWFmIpDYdI1EvClZioamEqzQCaQNRqyLEUsBzPhEmlo32UA04z2oqJMgIz88Wyt2C3zDDczcQ0t/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODWb6_k0QKQ_KKAPr2DtcUIMCi3-9gadnz201VzRT85RUrxiC1Kq0rCktk_pvBrNqsuWFmIpDYdI1EvClZioamEqzQCaQNRqyLEUsBzPhEmlo32UA04z2oqJMgIz88Wyt2C3zDDczcQ0t/s320/3.jpg" /></a><br />
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With the computer I can work on composition late in my painting, allowing me to save this complex subject for later in my talk.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04jMgylyFpaK_2jQco4pNoW9i0yo7QJF_Gx0HIS_nFRyPfEJsbqgTf7mpHhVTAGZdbdJ341AfX5i_6abdKlhfe1paNuu2-fle_tSz3Ih_7cbLZPspS4k8VCwDDixY3fA7Z8_zYgGWt_U_/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04jMgylyFpaK_2jQco4pNoW9i0yo7QJF_Gx0HIS_nFRyPfEJsbqgTf7mpHhVTAGZdbdJ341AfX5i_6abdKlhfe1paNuu2-fle_tSz3Ih_7cbLZPspS4k8VCwDDixY3fA7Z8_zYgGWt_U_/s320/4.jpg" /></a><br />
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Finally, I surprised people by breaking out some old photos from the late 1800's and reformatting the model's hair and dress to look older.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOZR7wk2F06r8x1wcedke7LHnS9Y6SiSblD_o3SveU_eVmfm0Z28Z8ahSnyFuVw__c1pl_Y2Da6Cv8P21FwdKJzTz6FiyES9JyA2BO3VQ3Ls1CheybRI6esD4Y3N9vspytymO04O8eLoi/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOZR7wk2F06r8x1wcedke7LHnS9Y6SiSblD_o3SveU_eVmfm0Z28Z8ahSnyFuVw__c1pl_Y2Da6Cv8P21FwdKJzTz6FiyES9JyA2BO3VQ3Ls1CheybRI6esD4Y3N9vspytymO04O8eLoi/s320/5.jpg" /></a><br />
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I never post a painting as is. I always let it sit a night at least, and then touch it up. This is what I did to the painting just now. The composition needed a little tweaking, and the neck had some muddy color, and some of the edges needed a little something.<br />
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We painted the model a couple weeks ago, so you might want to <a href="http://matthewsample2.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-couple-weeks-ago-my-group-painted.html">check out that step-by-step</a>, too! I've got a few more stages saved.<br />
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I hope you enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-17340305406463418492013-02-11T18:30:00.000-06:002013-02-11T18:32:18.742-06:00George Washington App<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLuKzhqKxstiRP6AdWTOXuEWD25iwD3aqQ5XUpvPd-whtPFuvhKl1-moOGb5j6HqDuTSA5cosKgw_OM7FJOXif_bAxcV0y_Cbr9QlyBPD-7lCukEGV3EGavOIEMD_Siw38gX3T0CM_r2r/s1600/28b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLuKzhqKxstiRP6AdWTOXuEWD25iwD3aqQ5XUpvPd-whtPFuvhKl1-moOGb5j6HqDuTSA5cosKgw_OM7FJOXif_bAxcV0y_Cbr9QlyBPD-7lCukEGV3EGavOIEMD_Siw38gX3T0CM_r2r/s400/28b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A little more than a week ago, I wrapped illustrations for an interactive book app on the military career of founding father, George Washington. <br />
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I'll show more work and some behind the scenes at a future time when the full app is available. Until then, you can get a sneak peak at my work by downloading the free lite version at <a href="http://foundingfathersproject.com/">http://foundingfathersproject.com</a>.<br />
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Enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-83189195483685647702013-02-07T22:16:00.000-06:002013-02-07T22:16:41.980-06:00Agnosticism and Media - 2013 Filmmaker Challenge
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A couple months ago I met a young post-Christian who talked circles around me about creation and evolution and life and all sorts of things. We sat next to each other on a flight from Phoenix to Atlanta—four hours. </div>
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He was excited, informed, and rather evangelistic. He believed and wanted to share his faith—or lack thereof—with me. </div>
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Unfortunately, because of work and last minute packing, I had only slept 3 hours prior to the trip. I tried my best to engage him, but I could only squeak out something about my brief time of agnosticism in my master's degree. I wanted to defend Christianity from this onslaught of ideas, but I couldn't. The quantity of ideas, the clearness and conciseness, I was blown away. </div>
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Finally, at the end of the flight and our conversation, I learned this young man's dark secret. And yes, he does have a secret weapon that he used against me. And it is totally related to media.</div>
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But first, I don't know if you noticed, but I mentioned about my struggle with agnosticism when I was in my masters degree. Yeah, I struggled with it. I won't go into all the hairy details. However it came about, I went through a time of what I call profound irrational doubt. I started from scratch and tried to figure out reality and existence and doubted everything along the way. Evolution made sense, and the Bible did not.</div>
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Oddly, skepticism aided my faith, and tree leaves (and God's grace). I realized that scientists did not have all the answers. In the leaves outside my window, I also saw the amazing machinery of photosynthesis as profoundly designed. God had mercy on me, leading me to believe anew in His hand in creation, and then in His Son, and then in His word. </div>
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I still struggle with faith now and then. Parts of the Bible make me think really hard and ask questions. But those questions are important parts of my faith. They show that I'm really seeking truth, not having given up to the spirit of this age. Not like others who have stopped asking the questions, thinking they have life figured out.</div>
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A good conversation, with give and take on both sides, may have been very healthy for both of us, giving us a greater understanding of our mutual experience in doubt. But I was practically a zombie and he—well, he had a problem.</div>
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As we closed our 4-hour long talk he started jotting names down—not people's names—Youtube channel names. He jotted down 10-12 of them and handed the list to me. They were all atheist sites that constantly pump out material from an evolutionary or post-Christian perspective. </div>
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During our talk, he had not given me carefully researched information, wrestled over for years. He was repeating ideas—ideas crafted to be short, informative, but as is usually the case with the Youtube format, limited in scope. These were propaganda channels. He was reciting his catechism.</div>
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In light of that experience, I challenge Christian Filmmakers in 2013 in three areas:</div>
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1. Media is most powerful when we consume large quantities of it. Are you a product of Youtube? Or of the local multiplex? Or of NPR? Or are you a product of the Bible? In what do you immerse yourself?</div>
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2. Infatuation with media does nothing for us or our world. Hard work in the trade may. We need to engage the media world in significant ways—presenting God-glorifying truths clearly and concisely. We need filmmakers who do not fear their work being called propaganda, but who passionately proclaim God's truth in all areas of their lives. </div>
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3. Listen to those you interact with. Truly listen. They may have deep reasons for not believing what you believe. You may miss an opportunity to minister, because you are talking. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-59682926185063143372012-11-19T12:27:00.000-06:002012-11-20T12:44:54.351-06:00Spectrum of Art Styles<br />
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Every project calls for a unique style of rendering—some simple, some very complex. The following pictures show some of the styles I've worked in over the past few years and how each ranks according to workload. </div>
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Also, I'll show some illustrations for projects that haven't yet made it to the blog! I hope you enjoy....</div>
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<b>The sketch:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_Afm4X8DIwco8PlrWL1RjEaDntcMwh0jyVpgWJON9NIRwXEYjAHgNlWvyIegZpZe9jq2Vm1g-CmEBwAX3eIG7LSG_1Up5-hqdaUFB8mGoGbqT0M8np07r5SU6HV-N7ubQQNTmPWo8Uj1/s1600/1-Jimmy_Valiant_board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_Afm4X8DIwco8PlrWL1RjEaDntcMwh0jyVpgWJON9NIRwXEYjAHgNlWvyIegZpZe9jq2Vm1g-CmEBwAX3eIG7LSG_1Up5-hqdaUFB8mGoGbqT0M8np07r5SU6HV-N7ubQQNTmPWo8Uj1/s320/1-Jimmy_Valiant_board.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Storyboard for <a href="http://vimeo.com/22967708" style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;">Jimmy Valiant: Scions of Danger</a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - less than an hour</span></div>
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The sketch is a basic element of the artistic process. Every work of art starts as a sketch, and sometimes—as is the case of storyboards—it stays in sketch form and is used as inspiration for something else, such as a movie.</div>
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<b>The monochromatic oil sketch:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mCecULaZ2TuogPJeDRHbyumf01FjLEW1NZ737vk2c1e9lgUCm3WUThKRaHwcse_eD9wWGUAiB2rjqbve89BXtyM7EkbW61s5UIxYBSo3WVAHXqRbP1D40uCAEBgPW_U01yjNWM8hmx6c/s1600/2-Ace_Wonder_board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mCecULaZ2TuogPJeDRHbyumf01FjLEW1NZ737vk2c1e9lgUCm3WUThKRaHwcse_eD9wWGUAiB2rjqbve89BXtyM7EkbW61s5UIxYBSo3WVAHXqRbP1D40uCAEBgPW_U01yjNWM8hmx6c/s320/2-Ace_Wonder_board.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Storyboard for <i><a href="http://acewondermovie.com/">Ace Wonder: Message from a Dead Man</a></i> - less than an hour</span></div>
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Sometimes a project calls for something a little bit more than a sketch—a value study. Many works of art also go through the value study stage. Some stay here (though this particular piece went on to be fully rendered in the style of a fine oil painting). I usually use this rendering method to explore lighting, form, and composition. It can give a sneak preview of what the finished work will look like.</div>
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<b>The Promotional Sketch:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIswzzLj2BUZDcVINSTt3G_dLxrtajSXzph9PwBALYmdOS1r_NoC_l8bURitS_T47VQQA5PC_FxESOjHlkVMFDgUY8KBGVdtIh9ElCwoQhIS9VUZwQGuWoliwJJ3cbpGsuhmQwRc34ImuJ/s1600/3-Eleventh_Hour_Concept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIswzzLj2BUZDcVINSTt3G_dLxrtajSXzph9PwBALYmdOS1r_NoC_l8bURitS_T47VQQA5PC_FxESOjHlkVMFDgUY8KBGVdtIh9ElCwoQhIS9VUZwQGuWoliwJJ3cbpGsuhmQwRc34ImuJ/s320/3-Eleventh_Hour_Concept.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Concept art for <i><a href="http://eleventhhourthemovie.com/">Eleventh Hour</a></i> - about an hour</span></div>
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Often a director wants something high quality to show investors, but may not have the funds yet to film a short trailer. The promotional sketch helps fill that need by bringing the story to life in a fast and economical way.</div>
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<b>Line and wash:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PixEy0uOw_YtiRdsHgo8LRUSQTFAEhP2MJuf0mnWhDiF45rm3boDInbTKGgzSxhb8pLZBBjDUc_PyLxMDplqSD0EqKxubowQslkSlH-AAVC-fpx4LE5lPG_4mj4LBs15EI4Gidl44vff/s1600/4-l%2526w-self-promo---sunset-tree-climbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PixEy0uOw_YtiRdsHgo8LRUSQTFAEhP2MJuf0mnWhDiF45rm3boDInbTKGgzSxhb8pLZBBjDUc_PyLxMDplqSD0EqKxubowQslkSlH-AAVC-fpx4LE5lPG_4mj4LBs15EI4Gidl44vff/s320/4-l%2526w-self-promo---sunset-tree-climbing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Read Everywhere</i> - Self-Promotional Piece - a couple to a few hours</span></div>
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I've just developed some new digital watercolor techniques! These allow me to create simple and powerful illustrations in the styles of Carl Larsson, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Arthur Rackham, and other illustrators from the golden age of illustration. I'm really excited about the possibilities with this medium.</div>
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<b>Realistic cartoon:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks15eHBKkqfILqbzd07lcrBzs4Izuhog_blQglvQ4P31dlDhijQwdqhqIo1cIYy3y3hhFnuQwBp6GdZQGR-1d9HRqBq3CjgYBdNExjWbnmF8KI0S3GFuRJBkChwtsgqbWw5Hj04uOEv1b/s1600/5-Snowball_cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks15eHBKkqfILqbzd07lcrBzs4Izuhog_blQglvQ4P31dlDhijQwdqhqIo1cIYy3y3hhFnuQwBp6GdZQGR-1d9HRqBq3CjgYBdNExjWbnmF8KI0S3GFuRJBkChwtsgqbWw5Hj04uOEv1b/s320/5-Snowball_cartoon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Snowball</i> - Self-Promotional Piece - half to full day</span></div>
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The realistic cartoon can really pack a punch. On the surface it appears simple and sometimes funny, but that simplicity hides a deeper, more profound side. A good realistic cartoon brings a depth that other styles cannot.</div>
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<b>Matte Painting:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomvFPtJtXE1BLf5DIJfGq_qVaEweOvhPTI6W2p8d7-E8qtTU3meuqh-Dzr6aerpYCnXsrGYOV3V54LEpjhmG_7uzsvInxgnUAreobc-kBfG2L8hsAVXHwSHL_stGIq3PQkAc3lRfpRiA0/s1600/7-Remember_matte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomvFPtJtXE1BLf5DIJfGq_qVaEweOvhPTI6W2p8d7-E8qtTU3meuqh-Dzr6aerpYCnXsrGYOV3V54LEpjhmG_7uzsvInxgnUAreobc-kBfG2L8hsAVXHwSHL_stGIq3PQkAc3lRfpRiA0/s320/7-Remember_matte.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Matte for <i><a href="http://theremembermovie.com/Remember/home.html">Remember</a></i> - 1-2 days</span></div>
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A matte is a very detailed landscape painting. Often a matte painter relies heavily on photographs, but good artists will paint as much or more than he uses photographs for. </div>
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This matte painting used about 10 photographs, but each photograph was touched up and painted over, with half of the picture being pure paint to tie the images seamlessly together.</div>
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<b>Finished Oil Painting:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUc6_P3MNwX5HJAqbIDrXZbivkCtxUcItqWXuESUMrx-XRfSmAt8Vup9de6pXWiijR7BCRf3Oz7iJIxQEQJ07_PuGIN8aA304mI6V8kNGcAn6WnKoBnY5THVzs81YpPAexcm8vgwQJF_3/s1600/Treasured-in-Her-Heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUc6_P3MNwX5HJAqbIDrXZbivkCtxUcItqWXuESUMrx-XRfSmAt8Vup9de6pXWiijR7BCRf3Oz7iJIxQEQJ07_PuGIN8aA304mI6V8kNGcAn6WnKoBnY5THVzs81YpPAexcm8vgwQJF_3/s320/Treasured-in-Her-Heart.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Illustration for Olive Baptist's 2010 Christmas program<i> </i>- 2-5 days</span></div>
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The highest form of illustration, often a lot of time goes into making all the details just right and bringing out subtleties in color and value. Most of my clients want this rendering style when approaching me for art.</div>
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Of course, none of these time estimations are exact—different projects take different amounts of work. The content of the artwork affects the time it takes to render. Here are some elements which tend to increase the amount of time:</div>
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A large number of characters, such as are in this piece from my masters degree, tends to increase the time. However, these paintings with many figures can be very rewarding after all the work:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEKmcZXAC5yyoBBjsBEdSSh45K4lrx07yUdJFt5gB6KhLeBCM-Yv1_bzO3SzcbBW405hrCicZFq3qeVS1p-Y8fNqKVlJLFUdsRb2zPczFyuImBZLhB-8k6cjJX0DplJrjVYVXZVB-fuCI/s1600/A-He-Who-Hath-Ears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEKmcZXAC5yyoBBjsBEdSSh45K4lrx07yUdJFt5gB6KhLeBCM-Yv1_bzO3SzcbBW405hrCicZFq3qeVS1p-Y8fNqKVlJLFUdsRb2zPczFyuImBZLhB-8k6cjJX0DplJrjVYVXZVB-fuCI/s320/A-He-Who-Hath-Ears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>He Who Hath Ears</i> - MFA painting </span></div>
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When lots of information must be researched and visualized, like in this illustration, more time will be to correctly picture the abstract concepts:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqllyyonAVFH7Ab6FVCxgj05H1dsu-CQnYeKQCpXEOBak-74wbqtvMH-KyQU-DR3PO71NdYEq834RoFO7tpfYMK7wHm_W_vYnkj7oNUpCFs7aHJ2WoPcpGbTqdrsWAT_X6ROPxHOzYeEZh/s1600/B-Thylakoid_Membrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqllyyonAVFH7Ab6FVCxgj05H1dsu-CQnYeKQCpXEOBak-74wbqtvMH-KyQU-DR3PO71NdYEq834RoFO7tpfYMK7wHm_W_vYnkj7oNUpCFs7aHJ2WoPcpGbTqdrsWAT_X6ROPxHOzYeEZh/s320/B-Thylakoid_Membrane.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thylakoid membrane illustration for <i><a href="http://www.abeka.com/">A Beka Book</a></i> science textbook</span></div>
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Historical artwork will always take longer, because of the research into the setting, props, costumes, historical figures, etc. :</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xz1KO60jtX-VRh9icK53Kycexho833Zr4jpfog7zVuWQbImB_giPx75yNhrdfUGLMmCygGfP8cJcafYZVFJMRgROUx6fTNWbkFREe8kVjbCfeOjgB8i8VnTysjmnmofAZ82lW_vqSxu1/s1600/C-ABeka-LibertyTree-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xz1KO60jtX-VRh9icK53Kycexho833Zr4jpfog7zVuWQbImB_giPx75yNhrdfUGLMmCygGfP8cJcafYZVFJMRgROUx6fTNWbkFREe8kVjbCfeOjgB8i8VnTysjmnmofAZ82lW_vqSxu1/s320/C-ABeka-LibertyTree-cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Cover art for <i><a href="http://www.abeka.com/">A Beka Book's</a> </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">4th grade reader</span><i style="font-size: small;"> Liberty Tree</i></div>
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And finally, interactivity will also add to the production time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-HXxS9a3V_8DSUv0yLviwgizbhlEYCptiJdL0hXUqW444EiX-mzMac_KpwI6uohuRynio6CjSl7e8stPp8XNRZRFPyHGHIrmTYsc_ZwaJJaAM5KoeZ4ITltT4tvvUYOWNA-B5fTjXg5M/s1600/D-FFP_interface_concept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-HXxS9a3V_8DSUv0yLviwgizbhlEYCptiJdL0hXUqW444EiX-mzMac_KpwI6uohuRynio6CjSl7e8stPp8XNRZRFPyHGHIrmTYsc_ZwaJJaAM5KoeZ4ITltT4tvvUYOWNA-B5fTjXg5M/s320/D-FFP_interface_concept.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Concept art for <i><a href="http://foundingfathersproject.com/">Founding Fathers Project</a></i> interface</span></div>
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Creating illustrations is one of the most rewarding aspects of story creation, when the words come to life in a new way. <a href="mailto:matthewsample2@gmail.com">Let me know if you need any art.</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-83499974557644194952012-09-03T15:52:00.001-05:002012-09-03T15:52:27.296-05:00Me Painting Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/dmjc8NN3vdQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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I made the mistake of telling someone that I had video of painting this self-portrait. For some reason he wanted to see it. So.... I dug up the video, edited it late on Friday, and just posted it on a break today.<br />
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Hope you enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-55662020059702792502012-07-14T12:52:00.000-05:002012-07-14T12:52:21.216-05:00Matte Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Just recently I finished a matte painting for the movie Remember. You can find out more by visiting <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RememberMovie">their Facebook page</a> or <a href="http://www.TheRememberMovie.com/">their website</a>. I'll post more about making this later. For now, enjoy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41OQA62OtLvHWSkRz1IM3PA972WSiNCGcrsZkeojRzX78b39pP9rcriCH9vhYuey-e3KO6T6G2aDMwS3JwTPqvc7r0bZqQ4zVkP7ky-LZYSpmnT8dhoXzpr48sd9yLKdMANEKIkzPbdS3/s1600/matte-day-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41OQA62OtLvHWSkRz1IM3PA972WSiNCGcrsZkeojRzX78b39pP9rcriCH9vhYuey-e3KO6T6G2aDMwS3JwTPqvc7r0bZqQ4zVkP7ky-LZYSpmnT8dhoXzpr48sd9yLKdMANEKIkzPbdS3/s400/matte-day-sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-19611421353148028232012-06-08T12:59:00.000-05:002012-06-08T13:17:57.512-05:00Direct the Viewer with Faces and Eyes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today we will talk about using faces and eyes in our pictures, or how to....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi277nq2RnKJ2yJhyWIbHKNxm1CFfEdeFPnFfdV35GcW2UJHu_ArAVptw6P6SwB8y4NmB3Vag6QqiGCP7bDvEFeIN4seliQEym8krsbY70sqFyjan7QFnAznDSCNgndz0CKmslqLkEmHtAc/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi277nq2RnKJ2yJhyWIbHKNxm1CFfEdeFPnFfdV35GcW2UJHu_ArAVptw6P6SwB8y4NmB3Vag6QqiGCP7bDvEFeIN4seliQEym8krsbY70sqFyjan7QFnAznDSCNgndz0CKmslqLkEmHtAc/s400/faces-eyes-sketches0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thanks, Mr. Announcer guy!</div>
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Before I get into this, let's remember a couple basic composition principles:</div>
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<b>Basic Composition Principles</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdREppk-PO33G-efqZYAVgQvhQxEaIROakczX5jX1QKGeOHMw0MCwlM7BdQJMr8E_7HW9hmXxuI7Qw0QuyRggN4wyALxnfsLazpdff9jTnx0Q76nU9AK4JVnnCgInQCBzYU20FJ0ZBuDa/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdREppk-PO33G-efqZYAVgQvhQxEaIROakczX5jX1QKGeOHMw0MCwlM7BdQJMr8E_7HW9hmXxuI7Qw0QuyRggN4wyALxnfsLazpdff9jTnx0Q76nU9AK4JVnnCgInQCBzYU20FJ0ZBuDa/s400/faces-eyes-sketches1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We use some objects that act like targets. They attract the eyes of the viewer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9PRBIesF8i-ospbSCXwN4hyS1bWPTDDy6nCb3BpMjuEOd8vYKxB3tGu7LoQ-7F24DuwaINgpV7EbxOo2k4j5JPwy0SCwnANFUPkDdTwuEhcU2hOKjfGXs6VbZuV1coS4yQndT8TP15aM/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9PRBIesF8i-ospbSCXwN4hyS1bWPTDDy6nCb3BpMjuEOd8vYKxB3tGu7LoQ-7F24DuwaINgpV7EbxOo2k4j5JPwy0SCwnANFUPkDdTwuEhcU2hOKjfGXs6VbZuV1coS4yQndT8TP15aM/s400/faces-eyes-sketches2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We use other objects that act like arrows. They point to something (often a target object).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyXqeUJ2Azxw8bzcvKP-gc0NdYeFMGk9rAcMcBNAZOJxM5MXnwI97x0IEc0L8tWbOZ3jVS0Lar8bOKYjFZx4o3Ekgzz64oPkUp3I6ibrR079tPtuO1eOAMoXhWioiLEbXo4JmlQufHV3N/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyXqeUJ2Azxw8bzcvKP-gc0NdYeFMGk9rAcMcBNAZOJxM5MXnwI97x0IEc0L8tWbOZ3jVS0Lar8bOKYjFZx4o3Ekgzz64oPkUp3I6ibrR079tPtuO1eOAMoXhWioiLEbXo4JmlQufHV3N/s400/faces-eyes-sketches3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A good composition should act like this: the arrow object points our eyes to the target and we viewers find our attention riveted on whatever that target is. The goal is to develop a good "balance" in the picture. We put the target in a nice spot for our eyes to rest within the picture. We place arrows so that they point into the picture and not out of it, toward the target and not away from it. </div>
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<b>Principles Applied to Faces and Eyes</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ul1W_eqeIDd2p3Mbv4ItQuXTmMBq0vURd1I4UPDNEIVggecThUKPDchzXFknIId8JqIdxB8d5a2DaGRm3sV2H0cn6iIgCeDlOXl6kUhrc3TqQV7xUU6AKZ1btQM2AVjqmqoF7abYFncj/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ul1W_eqeIDd2p3Mbv4ItQuXTmMBq0vURd1I4UPDNEIVggecThUKPDchzXFknIId8JqIdxB8d5a2DaGRm3sV2H0cn6iIgCeDlOXl6kUhrc3TqQV7xUU6AKZ1btQM2AVjqmqoF7abYFncj/s400/faces-eyes-sketches4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Faces are great example of target objects. Artists and photographers like to use faces to attract attention. We viewers usually don't mind, being partial to our likeness. In fact, even if the artist does not intend for us to look at a face, the viewer will look at it involuntarily. Faces innately attract our attention.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCtTo0TJnrKIvDXriwQvGjFKSEWV0ycjeWTLWPW0lu69uCViZFCNQZ-MM551ynOOyhpulaqrolEGv-rzF4rPXEoICNNe4yDep1YHmHiYRmwDMShMHkoJQIfLncp038sHlG-UiJCsVOBGD/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCtTo0TJnrKIvDXriwQvGjFKSEWV0ycjeWTLWPW0lu69uCViZFCNQZ-MM551ynOOyhpulaqrolEGv-rzF4rPXEoICNNe4yDep1YHmHiYRmwDMShMHkoJQIfLncp038sHlG-UiJCsVOBGD/s400/faces-eyes-sketches5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And yet, while faces always attract, sometimes they also double as arrow objects! A turned head can turn our heads and point us in a direction. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCejhxpV9Iu3ZMF0ZaDjcvhlfKFw0OaeE1XGOXPmneNVDfY5tfe5o6iLrhLQ5Ctmubbbjd9sDI9-NJ-OqxChAdhDe7_6tuo8FN5oLWzBV6USj8V1nTSL0fvPz7YB7OMahyphenhyphen5_EaLNR8sTar/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCejhxpV9Iu3ZMF0ZaDjcvhlfKFw0OaeE1XGOXPmneNVDfY5tfe5o6iLrhLQ5Ctmubbbjd9sDI9-NJ-OqxChAdhDe7_6tuo8FN5oLWzBV6USj8V1nTSL0fvPz7YB7OMahyphenhyphen5_EaLNR8sTar/s400/faces-eyes-sketches6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Perhaps its the nose that does the pointing....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4PG4tSyHYcPP8fCkyL4mxoFIkSFoaNSaoYK6-IPgBVFARqwwFCU79grONNVQnYIR-u_fctOkZjhyphenhyphenafyzVyz36zIcTyuNlTNeAZEMr_2qUCrEk3Euu4ppKbr3DqI-SOps5K5AIMphnguV/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches5c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4PG4tSyHYcPP8fCkyL4mxoFIkSFoaNSaoYK6-IPgBVFARqwwFCU79grONNVQnYIR-u_fctOkZjhyphenhyphenafyzVyz36zIcTyuNlTNeAZEMr_2qUCrEk3Euu4ppKbr3DqI-SOps5K5AIMphnguV/s400/faces-eyes-sketches5c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The trick with faces is to "balance" the targetness and arrowness within the picture. If a face is pointing in one direction, make sure it has space there to make up for the strong directional prompt. If it is too close to the edge of the picture, it will point our eyes out and away!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVBz7AqdyVtQS_WVeJui-KN5lvBZKZ3hyf5MK3H_ehLKzndBqmCwSyMOIgoNCDgaYzkxVRBblv6-brx7LBSy-kNZ8PqucehuHQu6CA1zOrVE9FvgqptdM3KnluGmsU-ahnwnPR0r5Cfcs/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVBz7AqdyVtQS_WVeJui-KN5lvBZKZ3hyf5MK3H_ehLKzndBqmCwSyMOIgoNCDgaYzkxVRBblv6-brx7LBSy-kNZ8PqucehuHQu6CA1zOrVE9FvgqptdM3KnluGmsU-ahnwnPR0r5Cfcs/s400/faces-eyes-sketches7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The eye is a perfect example of a target object. That dark center with the rings around it... It can powerfully attract our attention.</div>
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And yet....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67u7chzPJhpiuc_xu87rbuMA4Xc0x6js3dVJsBnuF1gZs0ERPA3qvnd-wL9g6Qzu-JTMtecrZ7fzSYLuubY1bGf3KhFr0lzBmwknGVsnrmRTbpMZT6d-_OH1e5lAPN1AtUbY1Z7TmmjxB/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67u7chzPJhpiuc_xu87rbuMA4Xc0x6js3dVJsBnuF1gZs0ERPA3qvnd-wL9g6Qzu-JTMtecrZ7fzSYLuubY1bGf3KhFr0lzBmwknGVsnrmRTbpMZT6d-_OH1e5lAPN1AtUbY1Z7TmmjxB/s400/faces-eyes-sketches8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It too can powerfully direct our attention! The eyes act as arrow objects most often in pictures, pointing at the object of interest.</div>
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<b>Combining Face and Eye Directions</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7luRIc_FTrXpTS9mwtsJHXsXKv895HWglYLgUuPqw_KDymrFnLxZqpv7DiirfRyDPWWmppAF0idicNheinHSnrvZYGlZ1jMiC3jLwJlOa_9zKEnnigoawt3f-XMO4DLGzkuSiXGW_Fm2C/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7luRIc_FTrXpTS9mwtsJHXsXKv895HWglYLgUuPqw_KDymrFnLxZqpv7DiirfRyDPWWmppAF0idicNheinHSnrvZYGlZ1jMiC3jLwJlOa_9zKEnnigoawt3f-XMO4DLGzkuSiXGW_Fm2C/s400/faces-eyes-sketches9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When heads and eyes direct the viewer's attention in a picture, they often act in unison.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByoNtbun1Xd3-B0XS5vMzZ68AOzPY3qDuqDycKqj4mqwB7j4aLmKul2ZCeNCJT5DCKg0UJehc-0U7NhsSAD96HUj9g7JfUIxE56Ke4FN5sm-F3hAAL_z03IHClXAG2T0JggEA9H1V2Zim/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByoNtbun1Xd3-B0XS5vMzZ68AOzPY3qDuqDycKqj4mqwB7j4aLmKul2ZCeNCJT5DCKg0UJehc-0U7NhsSAD96HUj9g7JfUIxE56Ke4FN5sm-F3hAAL_z03IHClXAG2T0JggEA9H1V2Zim/s400/faces-eyes-sketches10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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With both pointing in the same direction, the artist does not have to worry about where the viewer will look.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat0Qiuamg4UusOW2vXb_LY70FUqa7Wux9NHKQqXnoyOvsbiWGLXARIEq0zhNX7Ph-sxETnfqqEIqp1kE4GQjAyG9lnP_1h6TmYUqgYCkK48sfAmlVoQ7Lw0ZwLZA-Mc-ySj4ZSdfA28Jo/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat0Qiuamg4UusOW2vXb_LY70FUqa7Wux9NHKQqXnoyOvsbiWGLXARIEq0zhNX7Ph-sxETnfqqEIqp1kE4GQjAyG9lnP_1h6TmYUqgYCkK48sfAmlVoQ7Lw0ZwLZA-Mc-ySj4ZSdfA28Jo/s400/faces-eyes-sketches11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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However, sometimes the face and eyes act independently.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjnuCQimxy_KY70iVLk8ZzX-VKDebNLxIaFNlodNVtIlnjnxu1WbF9KJwjnQbTclAFibKMTAZWin8__9T0V-QVw3xn3fgu_McP9hL0M_ZyHQl96DQ4LmK80UbBg3XqQ0veN8hFQU4Ce6V/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjnuCQimxy_KY70iVLk8ZzX-VKDebNLxIaFNlodNVtIlnjnxu1WbF9KJwjnQbTclAFibKMTAZWin8__9T0V-QVw3xn3fgu_McP9hL0M_ZyHQl96DQ4LmK80UbBg3XqQ0veN8hFQU4Ce6V/s400/faces-eyes-sketches12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you ignore the eyes here, the head is pointing down and to the left (his right).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOclmgWMRIJaIGaWyxPUl-zPzJq6Pelfj-OEZCaBP2VSqB2BgrcU8DUDbKOOUqXilFaZoj_uLBcin-qqTAnVn9yK_9TmB1qjt5z-dxz_NlehxEFZjWphp1DLmatsYqMWAdjXLhk_ONTWB/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOclmgWMRIJaIGaWyxPUl-zPzJq6Pelfj-OEZCaBP2VSqB2BgrcU8DUDbKOOUqXilFaZoj_uLBcin-qqTAnVn9yK_9TmB1qjt5z-dxz_NlehxEFZjWphp1DLmatsYqMWAdjXLhk_ONTWB/s400/faces-eyes-sketches13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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However, his eyes point down and to the right. (His left.)</div>
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A good rule of thumb is to let the eye direction overrule the head direction. While we are interested in a person, we are more interested in what a person is thinking about. When we see someone suddenly look in a direction, we sometimes catch ourselves involuntarily looking to see what caught their attention.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsltz2yLHcNxUDonXA_Cf0n0PhV1kIggHdJvJJmxLP68srpOt89DsRMlL8MGUagBfZ3I1Rz8gEZ1wRqcT-OLxOzm9dawgDKu1bhyphenhyphenStzOCRowHSdjftCoY6y2jua8a85YY-QAxsMVBFYGQU/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsltz2yLHcNxUDonXA_Cf0n0PhV1kIggHdJvJJmxLP68srpOt89DsRMlL8MGUagBfZ3I1Rz8gEZ1wRqcT-OLxOzm9dawgDKu1bhyphenhyphenStzOCRowHSdjftCoY6y2jua8a85YY-QAxsMVBFYGQU/s400/faces-eyes-sketches14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Again, this pose could confuse the artist. Where is a good place to put this head in the picture?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxR9yNrydvZ-0EInQfHGZq2MzxfQQGPe2a6zlo4yhacvzjTcUgacKySF1jJxLOHG12tN5HtTVCGQVjbiZwmuBoZ1Of8Rfk1-U1l3q2DG05q3_oTyypUmJo5OzM_9qqacLgJHtmuUxa1kb3/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxR9yNrydvZ-0EInQfHGZq2MzxfQQGPe2a6zlo4yhacvzjTcUgacKySF1jJxLOHG12tN5HtTVCGQVjbiZwmuBoZ1Of8Rfk1-U1l3q2DG05q3_oTyypUmJo5OzM_9qqacLgJHtmuUxa1kb3/s400/faces-eyes-sketches15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The head is pointing down and right in the picture, almost away from us...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxwgfbiafcrM_hGMwkZFA9oFldiluLIGSZ-EcRkD1g7YnL3jHILoSbm3jMqeo6kqoqE5jSAb6P5D6HL1AiBbcYY0NhajWdi_OOlJ0VLsZpTbaL25B8QUQgTMJTRR0HFjmUFAyIX7VsTUc/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxwgfbiafcrM_hGMwkZFA9oFldiluLIGSZ-EcRkD1g7YnL3jHILoSbm3jMqeo6kqoqE5jSAb6P5D6HL1AiBbcYY0NhajWdi_OOlJ0VLsZpTbaL25B8QUQgTMJTRR0HFjmUFAyIX7VsTUc/s400/faces-eyes-sketches16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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...but the eyes are pointing toward us and to the left.</div>
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Remember: <i>eyes overrule faces</i>. Just wanted to make sure that you got that.</div>
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<b>Practical Problem: Something's Stirring Out There</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXoXOUPMyQ6hlyrBWz_gi6KtYIyZ1QMO1F_oKoNLGYskyUhISSsyAorKBeLT7E_bPiPrNX8C6MQDpEWRaebc6dhEESAOWUiQk1OHSRaYDT7_Gya0O4K92jysL3ypf6Bhlpbs4Vj_BDUql/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXoXOUPMyQ6hlyrBWz_gi6KtYIyZ1QMO1F_oKoNLGYskyUhISSsyAorKBeLT7E_bPiPrNX8C6MQDpEWRaebc6dhEESAOWUiQk1OHSRaYDT7_Gya0O4K92jysL3ypf6Bhlpbs4Vj_BDUql/s400/faces-eyes-sketches30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This picture has major problems. It almost looks like random sketches—like the people are not really interacting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuZCVDkqHfnrzAjm_mglwxoUsIFOkUZplbFXsbYgSfEdJRHtuvtwTjUjDVwsnvacb0oipLYXTVfsJvO4yg183LJebqTdTM2tUNOJimT0yUjNSkDzjK8PK73rSqCs-j-xQpvF82XqjZZ5b/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuZCVDkqHfnrzAjm_mglwxoUsIFOkUZplbFXsbYgSfEdJRHtuvtwTjUjDVwsnvacb0oipLYXTVfsJvO4yg183LJebqTdTM2tUNOJimT0yUjNSkDzjK8PK73rSqCs-j-xQpvF82XqjZZ5b/s400/faces-eyes-sketches31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The only reason that it somehow works is that the directional gaze of the two characters on the left is counteracted by the stirring woman's gaze. Other than her self-consumed part of the picture, the two men on the left gaze strongly out of the picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3XmpD_j-XWBXYlIiT65EE5plVNjGx0-bLt4FZpxp4rvUJ7SY9j2_A3WU6pi2Fg2QixAFwShiPbJoBdD2iv4RfdCDOJAuykGR1bUEXKOhERzHHINUvFxNvuyr4wQzDh3EL_6fv-avS4_E/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3XmpD_j-XWBXYlIiT65EE5plVNjGx0-bLt4FZpxp4rvUJ7SY9j2_A3WU6pi2Fg2QixAFwShiPbJoBdD2iv4RfdCDOJAuykGR1bUEXKOhERzHHINUvFxNvuyr4wQzDh3EL_6fv-avS4_E/s400/faces-eyes-sketches32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A better picture might look like this.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIwU42hyphenhyphenC5Pc1TbA4b-XkoU2MOXTh4on3Js1ZVQyJmKEislGNRLcK0Vu1-QW01c488Jo7vC4YjoSt2-STmWKj-KWxGnSbaO18d3XUUB-xba8WfJ8SDdixyGo3jIbcY4VRoYHL5gpihM05/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIwU42hyphenhyphenC5Pc1TbA4b-XkoU2MOXTh4on3Js1ZVQyJmKEislGNRLcK0Vu1-QW01c488Jo7vC4YjoSt2-STmWKj-KWxGnSbaO18d3XUUB-xba8WfJ8SDdixyGo3jIbcY4VRoYHL5gpihM05/s400/faces-eyes-sketches33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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By using the young man as the center of interest, and having both characters looking at him, the composition get better instantly. All of a sudden the characters are interacting meaningfully within the picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqNaUiUMPUnL8YA23me4L89QqlF7QGig4RpVrJxqb4Z0TuU9WDpFuynDsbhDTCvTMF6FDm8D0uqC1TGoiUauEo-B0TdLiuUaONMp6WNtR-xo6WJzutxwCM304oiUMLNZUXGdkxR6Hx6lu/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqNaUiUMPUnL8YA23me4L89QqlF7QGig4RpVrJxqb4Z0TuU9WDpFuynDsbhDTCvTMF6FDm8D0uqC1TGoiUauEo-B0TdLiuUaONMp6WNtR-xo6WJzutxwCM304oiUMLNZUXGdkxR6Hx6lu/s400/faces-eyes-sketches34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If we turned the man's head a little, it helps even more...</div>
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<b>Practical Problem: It's Alive!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM24-4BwaKJ4GBGnnhHZ5CtkJ6WnoI_PODSld_-TB2W1TsnXh3D85NBpQixEQ5fSSnRHDKgxejk-M1YYwm2JL-HrzA7E69p_iOkXcx7rZHa-thBsS14FVqMcGlMdKbBOjputcMt46qhfJ/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM24-4BwaKJ4GBGnnhHZ5CtkJ6WnoI_PODSld_-TB2W1TsnXh3D85NBpQixEQ5fSSnRHDKgxejk-M1YYwm2JL-HrzA7E69p_iOkXcx7rZHa-thBsS14FVqMcGlMdKbBOjputcMt46qhfJ/s400/faces-eyes-sketches20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Other than having a creepy mad scientist (or whatever he is), this picture also has compositional issues. While both of the men are looking at the object of interest, that object is too far over in the picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjL7Oxj6Z7lX61zSucRhcBhqumOdpH8gr1qG1JjxXxQIq3PiaEJC0pxyIOBG-z0lXFlPtAvS1NxwtD1KmCdlgsu-6g4xd45Y0jKg1oh9Io_3nMu5kBPH4XMGALbyuB4qAi3yCa1lhmdKV/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjL7Oxj6Z7lX61zSucRhcBhqumOdpH8gr1qG1JjxXxQIq3PiaEJC0pxyIOBG-z0lXFlPtAvS1NxwtD1KmCdlgsu-6g4xd45Y0jKg1oh9Io_3nMu5kBPH4XMGALbyuB4qAi3yCa1lhmdKV/s400/faces-eyes-sketches21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The test tube that the assistant is holding acts as the target. (It doesn't look like one... but don't think about that, right now.) Unfortunately for this picture, the test tube is too close to the left edge. With the strong directional gaze from both of the characters, the effect is very powerful. The test tube is not a strong enough target, and the strength of their look carries the compositional force out of the picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyKrwKFbTHky5mLWxHBRxwV9gWMSecavlY5MW0bg82oUN_IFRp8fiJKbcn2N1sriNreNfqHYJzK3ONyYhMQi1JN5xJm5UjPEB43k645fDq9w52GPqNVMgVKhrazJoGI73rNENYYB1Yruu/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyKrwKFbTHky5mLWxHBRxwV9gWMSecavlY5MW0bg82oUN_IFRp8fiJKbcn2N1sriNreNfqHYJzK3ONyYhMQi1JN5xJm5UjPEB43k645fDq9w52GPqNVMgVKhrazJoGI73rNENYYB1Yruu/s400/faces-eyes-sketches22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If we merely flip our lab assistant around, the composition instantly gets much better.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETgM27MeNXzDK3diXmUP953oudtDxZoFhGSHsyxKnHwvET0vDAXe785SUrtw8zGJCi24qTbe63s-2gVYy7nFr8ttFYAX8BRbCWCh2pkb5ZO8pl7YQfQfyUBh4UBUI-ztZ5ybj_ZdY9IPe/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETgM27MeNXzDK3diXmUP953oudtDxZoFhGSHsyxKnHwvET0vDAXe785SUrtw8zGJCi24qTbe63s-2gVYy7nFr8ttFYAX8BRbCWCh2pkb5ZO8pl7YQfQfyUBh4UBUI-ztZ5ybj_ZdY9IPe/s400/faces-eyes-sketches23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The test tube is in a much better spot, compositionally. Both gazes now intersect on it, creating a much better picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbxZJj5kzMbKs3jqIeXb-V7InQK28Jk5w2ikfveAzgU5VLQcN4ZPqt9n6XzzKGitPk9uldyB7oGz_qf_RjSR9jK26mAHG-C4lJtzXGch_MLt60EPTmwiHF_xKQmFJ1apoXIWVlvWwd8Hw/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbxZJj5kzMbKs3jqIeXb-V7InQK28Jk5w2ikfveAzgU5VLQcN4ZPqt9n6XzzKGitPk9uldyB7oGz_qf_RjSR9jK26mAHG-C4lJtzXGch_MLt60EPTmwiHF_xKQmFJ1apoXIWVlvWwd8Hw/s400/faces-eyes-sketches24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Also note: if we change the assistant's gaze just a little bit, the composition changes. The assistant becomes the center of interest, and the picture now becomes a story not of a laboratory surprise but of the character differences between the mad scientist and his assistant! Always look for ways for the people to interact in your compositions.</div>
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<b>Practical Problem: Off Center</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8OYzBzJeIkuNhX3XBkbBRr9tFzngZt9sApYZJjFt4mZQkHtZsLxSt1yIrRdQdQozeWnFhxV97w5RjpIAUMsQOhv_M60tj1CZt646TTmSMiAbBSE05OrTaZ1JsVeNnUtSiNFvZe9sKYp-/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8OYzBzJeIkuNhX3XBkbBRr9tFzngZt9sApYZJjFt4mZQkHtZsLxSt1yIrRdQdQozeWnFhxV97w5RjpIAUMsQOhv_M60tj1CZt646TTmSMiAbBSE05OrTaZ1JsVeNnUtSiNFvZe9sKYp-/s400/faces-eyes-sketches25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ok, one last compositional problem.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6jHrraRDgAB0sxQKLz9gxbiKQnAsez8xady0GWZTN8bN-r4pU1b5xBdhNtfjg8638bgTZQ01r4s-8WVvPwz216RODMoBl1grCigLHL7YgMKGfMVC96DgHviipZjyb-sb8hCA-nB-bH8F/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6jHrraRDgAB0sxQKLz9gxbiKQnAsez8xady0GWZTN8bN-r4pU1b5xBdhNtfjg8638bgTZQ01r4s-8WVvPwz216RODMoBl1grCigLHL7YgMKGfMVC96DgHviipZjyb-sb8hCA-nB-bH8F/s400/faces-eyes-sketches26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This one is interesting because each of the faces acts as targets. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58yEtft8hO92tQEj5POdf4ka8r0sk3ccN0YWXADit04bIrU5eYPFEsLHHf9lu9El0Nr4Qhwkku5tUHqEgU7EKyhPvo00D8bnbOLFTQ8DVfnVYCklY2Oi-F-YceDwmkXSTO5XCWY02pbqj/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58yEtft8hO92tQEj5POdf4ka8r0sk3ccN0YWXADit04bIrU5eYPFEsLHHf9lu9El0Nr4Qhwkku5tUHqEgU7EKyhPvo00D8bnbOLFTQ8DVfnVYCklY2Oi-F-YceDwmkXSTO5XCWY02pbqj/s400/faces-eyes-sketches27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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However, the eyelines create problems, leading eventually out of the picture to the left.</div>
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If we move a couple of the eyes, we can make a different dynamic in this picture. Almost a circular pattern... around and around...</div>
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By doing this, the little guy who is trying to play basketball becomes the compositional center, creating a fun dynamic of personalities.</div>
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<b>Addendum</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhJDwGhIQReji87RwgSKz-6tH6k9O-YFbXtTxNc03nZon77CSboK-y7PtMhb776cZeZm31rLZvzD74pkGqFxldYNGXNYNJVhPeYU6QpFffltLhq6gyArwUa6XwhbOxO8EJyKauqfPdanz/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhJDwGhIQReji87RwgSKz-6tH6k9O-YFbXtTxNc03nZon77CSboK-y7PtMhb776cZeZm31rLZvzD74pkGqFxldYNGXNYNJVhPeYU6QpFffltLhq6gyArwUa6XwhbOxO8EJyKauqfPdanz/s400/faces-eyes-sketches00.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Of course, the artist can break the rules. You just can't find an inscribed stone proclaiming, "<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thou shalt balance the eye and face directional forces within your picture's composition.</span></i>" </div>
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Especially in sequential art (comics or animation), movement over time allows artists to experiment with misdirection and other compositional tricks.</div>
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However, break the rules at your own peril. Your picture may suffer the consequences....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4zmCmD4v0S4fiBs10Oo1ytWq5mTMhgDSrT47HneuSSOMx4P-BKlHwdecWt2qidQFTn20RTwvYai6jeLBmcIQf2L7LCec0g2u39JVuXFRTlsIVaGEri8i0B0hXewSqZjv_bJJuv3ZFeUt/s1600/faces-eyes-sketches35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4zmCmD4v0S4fiBs10Oo1ytWq5mTMhgDSrT47HneuSSOMx4P-BKlHwdecWt2qidQFTn20RTwvYai6jeLBmcIQf2L7LCec0g2u39JVuXFRTlsIVaGEri8i0B0hXewSqZjv_bJJuv3ZFeUt/s400/faces-eyes-sketches35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Beware.... beware!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-88023947561818682732012-04-20T10:34:00.001-05:002012-04-20T10:34:14.221-05:00Early Fog Imaginair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj160XynBVSeQfdn1SARYGx7Ce2twuTtMzxuOBOI4QHFrRIa02jQZ-TckVQUsP4ow3VL0P_-EMvVrOTv8l-PQu6qi7iE-TQCT8YUmEUNHqtDImCmTPhLi2b6KXezvwFWp2RuTUT0pdrGEwn/s1600/imaginair-foggydark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj160XynBVSeQfdn1SARYGx7Ce2twuTtMzxuOBOI4QHFrRIa02jQZ-TckVQUsP4ow3VL0P_-EMvVrOTv8l-PQu6qi7iE-TQCT8YUmEUNHqtDImCmTPhLi2b6KXezvwFWp2RuTUT0pdrGEwn/s400/imaginair-foggydark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm in Illinois visiting my grandparents and helping out a little on the Sample family farm. But on my way to the airport on Tuesday, my dad and I drove through some beautiful fog. I couldn't feeling awed at the beauty and painted this during a layover in Atlanta. Dawn is one of the best times to observe and remember, just because of all the interesting lighting effects that happen. Here's a dark one. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-38963521011608961102012-03-23T14:59:00.005-05:002012-03-23T15:03:37.921-05:00Imaginair: Sunrise Over a Florida Bridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv86Y4hyphenhyphenuVQsNzWJcZej5O5TVyXxG7tFwAZhMprH0Ndb7PskDE-TCTqeAqOu3N2x4th8Z6SRJ6TbeCWMBRx6AYW2essKrCeyeug1VcvbD33YHULDQ7Rg9gtrZBZrUe0baYZfl-K4msz1XH/s1600/imaginair-%E2%80%94-sunrise-over-Florida-bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv86Y4hyphenhyphenuVQsNzWJcZej5O5TVyXxG7tFwAZhMprH0Ndb7PskDE-TCTqeAqOu3N2x4th8Z6SRJ6TbeCWMBRx6AYW2essKrCeyeug1VcvbD33YHULDQ7Rg9gtrZBZrUe0baYZfl-K4msz1XH/s400/imaginair-%E2%80%94-sunrise-over-Florida-bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As I was driving from my grandparents condo in Orange Beach to the Blue Angels' practice session at the Pensacola Naval Air Museum on base, I saw this lovely sunrise behind an interesting bridge. I couldn't paint it, because I was behind the wheel at the time. So I memorized the colors, the lighting, the general composition, and as many of the details as I could, and painted it later. <br />
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I enjoy painting many of my artworks. This one stands out above many of them as being even more enjoyable than normal.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-2619526182068387402012-03-07T22:52:00.002-06:002012-03-07T22:52:29.924-06:00Eating Dirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJBn9d2b0Iv_ymXVMGO6tBLr_3vpqucSWxcm7Ee3sgnIc4M19glanAuyyP4O7pIo6bMVXh19Tv_5p615Sj7ZEuZEo1kqxxoeqRC0nSCYzwJEQmosp7TuwoQ9miC3Oxw-XlX-3llYCEf7n/s1600/gritty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJBn9d2b0Iv_ymXVMGO6tBLr_3vpqucSWxcm7Ee3sgnIc4M19glanAuyyP4O7pIo6bMVXh19Tv_5p615Sj7ZEuZEo1kqxxoeqRC0nSCYzwJEQmosp7TuwoQ9miC3Oxw-XlX-3llYCEf7n/s320/gritty.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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Here's a little sketch with a bit of Sample family lore behind it. A true story from when my brother and sister were a bit smaller. Great example of my sister being helpful, feeding my very young brother dirt. My mom thought it was cute, and made sure it didn't happen any more!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-51716115128156774802012-02-18T08:00:00.000-06:002012-02-18T08:00:07.642-06:00Challenge from an Artist to Christian Filmmakers, part 3<b>Challenge 3: Leave the story behind.</b><br />
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We in the film industry can find ourselves increasingly drawn into the world of the imagination. As exciting as creating imaginary world's can seem, it's best to regularly leave the excitement behind in favor for the real world.</div>
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We strengthen our stories by living in the real world. Have you ever watched a movie or read a book only to encounter plot points which seemed unauthentic? We all do it. We get blinded by the story we are making and tell handicapped stories. However, some people keep a good grasp on reality, and their stories carry the added weight of experience. </div>
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We strengthen our families by living in the real world. The elements of strong families have not changed with this influx of media. Wise Christian families only consume a little media, opting to spend their family bonding time in work, service, worship, reading aloud, or pleasant conversation. To consume media, even Christian media, may be a shared experience, but it does not naturally lead to a healthy family culture. Someday we may find our children leaving us for a modern pied piper, having grown up listening to his song during our watch. Our families are healthiest when we leave the contrived world behind and embrace the real world.</div>
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We understand God better through His real creation than through our own. The mad man does not have a problem with his imagination; he has a problem with his perception of reality. In similar ways, we can believe lies about God, lies backed by some powerful mental imagery. However, the created world offers a check on those ideas, and in that check we can recognize the evidence of a God of order, meaning, and power. The wise will also delve into the truth contained in His scripture to understand God more specifically.</div>
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Sometimes inventing worlds in our heads allows us a limited amount of insight into this real world. G. K. Chesterton once wrote, "<span class="s1">All my mental doors open outwards into a world that I have not made.</span>" While we live in a made world, every time that we imagine something we testify that we could not make a world this complex, both stable and surprising. Thankfully, as interesting as our shallow imaginations are, we cannot stay there. Such a life is unsustainable. The real world will eventually break in, rudely awakening us from our dreams.</div>
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And when it does, may we recognize the glory around us and leave our imaginations for the greater role we play in the real story of life.</div>
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<i>Digging deeper: Colossians 2:8, II Corinthians 10:5, I Thessalonians 4:11</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372109904910359916.post-63675131569770129322012-02-17T08:00:00.000-06:002012-02-17T08:00:08.415-06:00Challenge from an Artist to Christian Filmmakers, part 2<br />
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<b>Challenge 2: Tell a good story.</b></div>
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What story are we serving? Is the story worth our service?</div>
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It's easy when the adrenaline courses through our veins to pursue whatever story comes into our lives. However, these stories take a while to tell, and involve a lot of energy. It's not a bad idea to ask whether or not this story is worth all that effort.</div>
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Telling a good story means that it is well told. Does it open in an engaging way? Does the story lead us into a believable world with meaningful characters? Does it follow correct plot structure for movies? Does it move us by the emotion bottled up inside? If it does, it's probably well told. I had the wonderful privilege of working with John Moore on a remake of an earlier film. He created <i>Heartstrings</i>, which was fairly popular, but he knew that he could tell it better. And so he's created <a href="http://acewondermovie.com/" style="font-style: italic;">Ace Wonder: Message from a Dead Man</a> as a total retake on the concept. It carries its message with power and eloquence.</div>
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Telling a good story also means that we remember where reality is. Stories aren't real, but they remind us of what is real. Even the most bizarre story, if it is a good one, it reminds us of something that is not bizarre. Men from mars are still men, deep down inside. They are generally intelligent beings who live by some universal moral code. The stories we tell are not reality, but deep down inside, do they reflect reality? </div>
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Telling a good story lastly means that we tell God's story. We humans often act completely oblivious to the good work that God is doing in this world. Do the stories we tell reflect God's work, or are they, too, oblivious? The fool says in his heart there is no God. A foolish Christian lives like it. And foolish Christian filmmakers do not acknowledge God or His work in their stories. As Michael Dornbirer once encouraged me, "Write something that'll turn your audiences' eyes heavenward!!" The market is already filled with films which do not acknowledge God. By discussing the ignored spiritual reality, we tell a worthwhile story.</div>
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And if we tell our stories well, our audience may be the better for the listening.</div>
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Digging deeper: James 3:2, Romans 14:19, I Corinthians 10:31</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17327836217194010755noreply@blogger.com0