Dissemination and Deviation

Heya! How y'all doin?

I haven't been the best lately, but more on that later. First, let me explain how excited I am to be reaching my 2000th hit on DA so soon and so quickly. If you haven't checked out that page yet, you must definitely go and take a look. And if you like what you see, why not tell some others? Cheer their day with some aesthetic candy. ;) For the record, a large view of today's image can be viewed on the sight, as well as the amusing anecdote that accompanies it.

Anyways, haven't been in the best of health lately. Had to go to the ER yesterday, almost went back today. It's an odd thing to wish, but hopefully everything is just viral. :S Still, even if it were viral, the symptoms prevent adequate treatment, i.e. sleep. Wouldn't be a big deal if the body didn't need rest. I'm no foreigner to sleeplessness.

I should add a big thank-you to my lil bro Kev, my best friend Dan, and overall cool guy Joel for helping me out. It is all very appreciated.

Did some scriptwriting last night that I'm proud of. It's not even close to finished, but to have it out there and to feel it come so easily is really a splendid experience. A few quick edits and it will be tight, I feel. It hasn't come this easily since last summer. But that is another story...literally.

Don't know what else to say. Christmas is coming soon, apparently. Hope you all enjoy that time. Also, best of luck to everyone enduring the storm that precedes it.

(PS. I'll say it once again, go spread the word and work of Mark. People will be glad you did!)

***

Ostre Muse 03

TRICK OR TREAT COMPLETED

First off, I would like to apologize for neglecting this blog. Usually, it is my intent to post on Tuesdays. However, I have been working on a project since mid-October that was meant to be finished in time for Halloween. Due to a number of detours, both expected and unexpected, the project was not completed until RIGHT NOW. This week became the final push necessary to complete the project, hence the delay in posting.

The project is called TRICK OR TREAT. It is a fourteen page mini-comic telling the "origin" of Dom Bones and Jacko. It is both my story with Dom and Jacko, as well as my first mini-comic. Based on the experience, I can promise you that it will not be the last of either experience. :)

The plan from here on out is to print up a number of hard copies to pass out to friends as well as post the pages online. As for now, however, I'm going to bed. This big final push was exhausting. I am both glad to be done, and excited to move on to another project, so I can utilize all the techniques learned more effectively.

Have a great week, y'all.

***

The Return of Dominic Bones BW

MOVED!

Well, the move is over, unpacking is almost complete, and and halloween was enjoyable.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me out this last week. Everything was very much appreciated.

And now, this:

"Who’s got the sweetest disposition?
One guess, that’s who?
Who’d never, ever start an argument?
Who never shows a bit of temperament?
Who's never wrong but always right?
Who'd never dream of starting a fight?
Who get stuck with all the bad luck?
No one but Donald Duck!"


Donald Duck is the property of the Walt Disney Corporation, or some such entity.

I hope you all have a great week!

***

Portrait of a Duck

Moving (BARF)

Sorry for the late post. Moving has decided to occupy the entirety of my time. Where I would much rather spend my days at the drafting table, drawin' up a storm, relocating has become number one priority.

Hrrm...

I did find time to make this before all the hullabaloo started, however. I hope you find the quote as inspiring as I did.

One last word...I did find time to see "Ghostbusters" on the big screen last night. Boy, if that isn't a great film, I don't know what is. Why is it that so many movies from the 80's (Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, the Goonies) are so great? It almost seems like there was a film-making pinnacle where special effects and screenwriting were both on equal ground, and since then, special effects and CG animation have just taken the place of a good story. Can anybody point me towards a modern exception?

Time to pack up! Hope you all have a Happy Halloween! :D

***

The Flame 102808

The Forest of Solitude - Part 3

For hours, Dirk walked. Given his lack of destination, and the lack of any sentient life around, Dirk didn't care which direction he was walking. Odds were, he figured, there had to be something found in the Forest of Solitude that could help him escape the timeless trap. For the duration of his walk, Dirk would shift his shades amongst the variety of scanning functions it possessed.

Tired from the monotonous trail he was traversing, Dirk decided a higher perspective could give him a better layout of what was in front of him. Picking the tallest tree in his vicinity, Dirk attempted to climb above the tree line. A few failed attempts to climb later, and Dirk decided to use the third of his three marvelous devices, the Golden Rod.

The Golden Rod, in its original capacity, was a general issue weapon found amongst soldiers in the alternate timeline where Dirk had his first mission. The Golden Rod had the ability to transform itself into any armament imagined by its wielder, as well as enhances the wielder's athleticism. In the hands of Dirk, however, it became far more dangerous and incredible. By interfacing the Chronoton Dynamo's central core with the digital sentience of the Golden Rod, Dirk was able to unlock abilities possessed in the rod that would have been prohibited from the typical foot soldier's use, including full biological boosting capabilities.

Utilizing the Golden Rod, Dirk leapt upward from branch to bough until reaching a thick mist that lingered in the forest ceiling and obstructed the sun. Determining the mist as being non-toxic via a forensic scan from his shades, he pushed his way through the vaporous curtain to look upon the sky.

Whereas one would expect to witness a blue cascade hovering over the Forest of Solitude, Dirk discovered that in reality, beyond the mysterious mist, there was nothing. Above the mist, Dirk viewed an ebony sky as ink. Though black, the sky was still illuminated. A crimson son shone over the bed of mist that blanketed the Forest of Solitude. Dirk scanned the red sun to see if it was the temporal anomaly he was sent to repair. With reports reading negative on the sun's involvement in the era's aberration of time, Dirk descended back into the Forest of Solitude.

Dirk decided to rest in one the tree's boughs before returning to the forest floor. He sat there and thought about his options. With the rod boosting brain functions and the Dynamo providing probability scenario feedback, Dirk had theorized and tested over a hundred escape scenarios in under an hour without finding anything that could provide him respite.

Dirk groaned. "Maybe if I found a way to upgrade the rod again, then I could think of a probable way to escape." With that thought, the Dynamo began processing upgrade scenarios for the Golden Rod, itself, and the Shades.

"No...I need to upgrade the shades!" Dirk realized.

Just as he had unlocked the Golden Rod's full potential using the Dynamo, Dirk created an interface between the Golden Rod and his Shades to boost the scanning power. Connecting the rod to the Shades, Dirk now wore a set of golden, wrap around sunglasses, which allowed him to see the entirety of the world. Equations regarding the descent of individual air molecules in the environment began filling up Dirk's view screen.

"Whoa..." The pure stream of unfiltered information quickly overwhelmed Dirk. "Limit display parameters to basic sentient necessities." The information disappeared, and all Dirk saw was a simple arrow. Flummoxed, he increased search functions. Still, the arrow sat in front of him. "Dammit!"

Before he could remove the rod in frustration, Dirk noticed that the arrow would change direction depending on what direction he was looking. If he looked straight ahead, the arrow pointed down, but if he looked down, the arrow pointed forward. Finally, Dirk found some direction.

Having descended the tree, the arrow urged Dirk to continue forward on the path he had originally been walking. Meandering further into the forest, Dirk was caught unawares when a few equations began popping up again, this time in accordance with the arrow, however. As the arrow lead him along a predetermined path, it occasionally pointed out unusual flowers or fungi, and brought up their basic chemical equations. Dirk's brain, backed by the rod’s continual bio-boost, began reading the equations more as names than as numbers and letters. Long strings of identifying code were soon seen by Dirk as simple as the names "Bob" or "Tim" on a nametag.

Following the arrow with steadfast pace, Dirk soon came across an open grove. Within the grove was a boy. "Why didn't the Shades pick him up earlier?" thought Dirk.

The child in the grove appeared to be only three or four years old. He was dressed in a pair of smooth, creaseless yellow overalls and a long sleeved red shirt. His skin was pale, but his hair glowed blue. Surrounding him were small floating globules of liquid. Every couple of seconds, a new globule would emerge from the boy's eyes.

Dirk stood outside the grove observing the boy. "What is he?" thought Dirk. A deluge of information filled his visor, and Dirk was overwhelmed. His brain felt as if it were a balloon filling too quickly with air. Unable to withstand a moment more of this incredible data flood, Dirk removed his Shades and cradled his burning, tearful eyes with his palms.

"Are you sad too?"

With blinded eyes, Dirk stumbled backwards. "What?"

Floating a few feet away was the boy. "Why are you sad?"

Dirk removed the rod from his Shades before putting the tinted lenses over his eyes again. "I'm not sad."

The boy tilted his head. "Then why were you crying?

Dirk's lips curled to the left. "Heh...so that's what you were doing. Crying?"

The boy nodded.

Dirk's Shades gave him some basic information regarding the boy. "So...you're a child...but you're more than that, aren't you?"

The boy nodded again.

To Dirk, the information provided by his shades looked familiar, but he wasn't sure why. "What is your name?"

"I had many, and now, none."

"What do you mean?" asked Dirk.

"Before," said the boy, "there were many of us. We ran wild amongst the world now covered by these silent woods."

Dirk sat to listen to the story.

"Then, there was a great catastrophe. In order to save ourselves, we learned. We learned how to live on within each other. We learned to consolidate knowledge so it would live on beyond any one person. And by doing that, we learned how to live on ourselves. Now, we are many, but have become one."

"And you are that one?" said Dirk.

"Yes," said the boy, "but even though there are people inside of me, I am lonely."

"I see..." said Dirk.

"Tell me," said the boy, "you are only one, correct?"

"Yup. Just me," Dirk crossed his arms, "No one else."

"Then what is your meaning?"

"What do you mean?"

"What is the purpose of living if you are alone? My purpose is to keep my people alive, so I live. But you...what is your purpose? What does your life mean?"

Dirk thought for a moment. "I think you have it wrong."

"Wrong about what?"

"I don't believe that any one person has any single meaning, or that there is any over-riding purpose to life itself."

The boy smiled "There are many of me, and only one of you. How can all of me be wrong if we are all in agreement?"

"It's happened before," said Dirk.

The boy thought for a while, "True. But if life has no meaning, why don't you just die?"

Dirk stood up. "Just because I don't believe life has a single meaning doesn't mean I can't give my life a meaning. Or multiple meanings for that matter. My theory is, you have to always look forward."

"Oh." The boy was now hovering next to Dirk, looking up at him. "Are you God?"

"No."

"Then who are you?"

Dirk kneeled down to eye level with the boy. "My name is Dirk Mason."

"Thank you Dirk Mason." The boy smiled. "You have answered my questions and made me happy. If you hadn't come along, I would have quit existing."

"Well," said Dirk, "you're welcome. I'm glad I was of some help."

"Is there anything I can do to repay you?"

"I don't suppose you can help me get back home?"

The boy looked quizzically at Dirk. "Hmm...you are from the past, aren't you?"

"Yes," Dirk said, "how did you know?"

"Your coding is very primitive." The boy explored Dirk. He was especially curious about Dirk's watch. "Is that a Chronoton Dynamo?"

Dirk was surprised that the boy correctly identified the secret of his wristwatch. Then, his shades flashed a familiar signal. Dirk had just unwittingly corrected a temporal disturbance. "What..oh, yeah."

"You'll need chronotons to fuel your trip home, then." The boy reached out and touched the watch face.

The dynamo jumped to life, once again brimming with the energy necessary for it to function properly. "How did you know that?"

"Time travel is like breathing to us," said the boy, "eventually, your race will reach its pinnacle and become like us."

Dirk had already prepared the necessities to open the corridor back homeward. "Well, thanks."

"You're welcome"

"So when I get home and fill out my report, what do I call you?" said Dirk.

The boy smiled. "From now on, I think we shall be known as Sprite."

If there had been a smile on Dirk's face, it was gone before the dynamo enveloped him in the sapphire sphere and brought him home.

***

The Birth of the Sprite 03B

The Forest of Solitude - Part 2

Dirk dropped his backpack at the door once entering his apartment. Seated in front of his computer, he did a quick scan of his email, news sites, and conspiracy homepages, checking for anything new, hoping to find something to garner his attention. Dirk was disappointed to discover a lack of any new updates on the websites he frequented. Nor did he have any new email. Leaning back in his desk chair, Dirk surveyed the room, searching for any uncompleted homework, unread book, or unfinished project. Nothing on Dirk's desk or shelves or in the whole of his apartment was left unaccomplished. He had made sure of that a week earlier when he took a static time siesta.

With silver bands reflecting the ambient light of the room, Dirk's wristwatch was the only item he found mildly interesting. It wasn't the time-keeping capacity of the watch that interested him, however. It was the pure scientific majesty that it represented. The tick-tock monotony was only a shell masking a far greater device known as the "Chronoton Dynamo". For Dirk, the Chronoton Dynamo represented more than a personal time machine. It was the key he used to open doors to other eras. It was the tool he utilized to repair broken epochs. Most importantly, it was the ship that rescued him from a timeless purgatory while running from childhood monsters.

To the naked eye, the sapphire face of Dirk's watch was resplendently azure. Behind the shaded lenses of his ever worn sunglasses, Dirk saw something far more majestic. The second of three items in Dirk's possession that teetered on the edge of high tech and high magic, his shades allowed him to see beyond the limitations of the naked eye. With but a thought, Dirk could shift between viewing the world in visual sonar representations, making accurate medical diagnosis on strangers in the street, or witnessing the cross between second, third, and fourth dimensions. The vast catalogue of options in these optical wonders had yet to be fully realized by Dirk. Yet, he had his favorite tricks. Looking upon the Chronoton Dynamo, for example, revealed a visual orchestra of spinning, stretching, snapping light, or the inner workings of the Dynamo itself, whereas a combination of manipulating the spectral range and infrared intensity granted Dirk the ability to see everything as clearly and colorful in the dark as in the day.

Dirk sighed. He crooked his head and looked at the black bag left at the door. "Early bird gets the worm," said Dirk. Combining an x-ray spectrum with a data retrieval option, Dirk collected the necessary coordinates for his mission without opening the mission statement or backpack. Twisting the dial that encircled the watch face, Dirk entered the information into the Chronoton Dynamo. The Dynamo then flashed and spun its own dial. A turquoise sphere surrounded Dirk, who witnessed again the acceleration of time around himself while standing anchored in the glowing aura of the wrist mounted Dynamo. The passage of time slowed down outside of Dirk's bubble. Once it finally stopped, Dirk stood amidst tall, writhing trees, and luminescent spores. A thick mist crawled the forest floor like sea jelly. The wind both carried and caused the only sound within the woods. Dirk stood in the Forest of Solitude.

With his shades, Dirk scanned for potentially dangerous life forms. His lenses showed a lack of life outside of the flora and fungi. "Peaceful," Dirk said. Dirk then scanned the data his shades collected from the mission dossier, searching for goals and prerogatives. Unfortunately, in the haste to occupy his impatient mind, Dirk did not allow his shades the time necessary to collect all the dossier's data. "Ah man," said Dirk. Raising his left wrist, Dirk's right hand spun the dial again. This time, however, nothing happened.

Dirk’s mind raced through numerous possible explanations. He ran a quick diagnostic to determine what caused the malfunction. To his dismay, Dirk discovered it was not a malfunction at all. The Chronoton Dynamo was empty. Its natural collection of ambient chronotons was inhibited by the lack of any chronotons in the environment. "No," said Dirk. Running a quick time scan, Dirk had hoped to disprove what he feared was the case. Unfortunately, the evidence only cemented his suspicions. Dirk was trapped at the end of time.

***

The Forest of Solitude 07

The Forest of Solitude - Part 1

(Note: These next three posts, I'm going to try something new. My plan is to offer up a serialized story complete with illustrations. This experiment will last three posts. Whether you like it or not, tell me. And if you hate this, please bear with me. )

“The Sprites won’t leave me alone,” said Dirk.
“And why should they?” responded Dover, “You’re their hero.”
“I was just fulfilling the task at hand,” Dirk said, “liberating the Sprites from whatever lives of servitude they were living under the imps was solely used as a diversionary tactic. If there was a dragon, I probably would have set that free instead.”
Dover stood up from behind his oaken desk. “Your intentions, whether benevolent or not, are beside the point. You saved an entire race of pan-dimensional beings.”
With five short steps, Dover stood behind Dirk and placed a hand on the young man’s leather coated shoulder. “It would be rude for the Sprites to act in any other fashion.”
Dirk’s sunglasses masked his rolling eyes, but the annoyed sigh was more than audible. “Fine. I get it. Gratitude. But aren’t they breaking some sort of dimensional treaty by following me around everywhere?”
Dover groaned wearily as he took a seat in the chair next to Dirk. “They are following all the rules of extra-dimensional travel. Trust me.”
“Fine,” Dirk’s grasp tightened on his backpack. “Before I leave, any info on my next mission?”
Dover reached across his desk and grabbed a leather-bound folder. “This is the dossier for your next mission. All the information you need is in here.”
The Minuteman insignia on the cover of the dossier caught Dirk’s eye as Dover handed the folder over. “Can’t you just give me an oral synopsis?”
“I can see my predilection towards discussing mission specifics has spoiled you,” Dover stroked his silver moustache, “Unfortunately, I must conclude this conference quickly. There is a very important meeting I must not be late for. Furthermore, this mission requires extra knowledge of your date and surroundings than what I would be able to tell you if we followed the pattern of our previous mission briefings.”
With the backpack unzipped, Dirk slid the dossier into the bag thoughtlessly. “I’ll read it later. Can you give me the basics before I go home?”
“The mission takes place in an era known as the Forest of Solitude,” said Dover, “now if you will excuse me, I must prepare for my meeting.”
“Since when is Father Time worried about being late?” said Dirk, who tried to hide a mischievous smirk.
“Never you mind,” said Dover, who had twisted himself in a most uncomfortable position in order to look Dirk in the eye.
With the grin disappearing into his usual grim façade, Dirk left with a courteous farewell right before a glowing-white sprite blinked into existence on Dr. Dover’s shoulder.
The sprite spoke to Dover. Had anyone else been in the room, all they would have heard was a melodic choir of chimes and bells.
“And that’s why I gave him the dossier,” said Dover as he stood up. “Now, would you care for some tea?”
The sprite chimed cheerfully.

***

Grassy Knoll

Relaxation

            Silence is never silence. To stop and listen is to realize this. Even with the absence of all other sound, silence has a song of its own. A song so beautiful and melodic, that it disarms the most wound-up of tin soldiers.

The song lifts you and holds you in its arms. It cradles you and keeps you warm. The song whispers in your ear…

 

Hear it? The song sings its harmony at all times. But it is silence. And silence is to be overwhelmed.

            To embrace the song is to know a waking sleep. The tingle in your body lets you know that it is there. Hairs stand to attention as the song trumpets its quiet call. Let yourself ascend as the silence empowers you with sound. You have the loudest roar. You are the maestro. It is your orchestra, so conduct it how you must.

Still, the silence is nice. It is there. The quiet, peaceful, relaxing murmur of nothing is always playing in the background. Silence is the serenade, the mellow mood music to existence. Let the static refrain of tranquility embrace you, for it is invigorating. Sit and let the quiet din of silence gently rock you in its arms, and listen to the hum of its breast.

***

Relaxation 08

 

Blood

The theme for today is blood.

Blood is not about violence and gore. Blood is about life. The only purpose it has in the depiction of pain and suffering is the loss of life. Vampires aren’t scary because they are monstrous. On the contrary, most vampires are depicted as quite seductive. The fear that vampires induce is that of giving up ones life to another involuntarily. To have one take your life without permission is true horror.

However, the theme isn’t horror. The theme is blood. As mentioned before, blood is life. So what is life? Life is passion and excitement and adventure. Life is love, and for me, love is family.

Some say you can’t choose family. I beg to differ. Family is those who help and watch you grow, whom you trust and trust you. Family can be a parent or a sibling, but just as often, family is the people around you. Family is friends, and friends are family, for family are the ones you love, and if you love those around you, how can they be any less than a brother or sister, mother or father. Family is love, family is life, hence family is blood and blood is family.

Blood, life, family, love, all similar, all different. Have comfort knowing blood flows through your veins. Give comfort to those who need it. Share your family with those who need it. Live life, love life, and love each other. We all share the same blood, even though it may be different.

***

Blood 04 WIDESCREEN

Fo Sho...

For starters, here is the link for a one step tutorial that can help you draw anything. ANYTHING. And it works too! So if’n you are an illustrator, or possibly just an art appreciator, you must take a look at this.

 

Now that I’ve done my part to help the artistic community, we shall continue to new.

 

            NEWS NEWS NEWS!!!

 

            On October 3^rd, my work is going to be shown in a show out in Portland, Maine. That’s right; watch Mark pwn the east coast. The show will be called Photo-Impressionism and features a number of my works. The selection has yet to be finalized; though it will definitely contain “Girls Like Girls 03,” one of my favorite images as of late.

 

            The opportunity came about as part of the deal made regarding the logo that was displayed in the last post. After the job was completed, the logo was shown around, which sparked interest in the logo’s art brethren. When the art was viewed, it was loved. Soon, I was asked whether it would be okay to show the art out there.

           

            “Sure”

 

            About a week later, word was sent that everything was set up and that the work could be shown. So now, it is my task to decide on the images that will be shown, have them printed, and send them out to Portland along with a variety of freebies to help promote my various works.

 

            And that, my friends, is that. Come back later and I’ll show you how to train a dozen elephants to provide you with all the peanut-butter sandwiches you can eat.

 

***

Girls Like Girls 03

Adventures With Deadlines

So, guess what? The commission based business of my freelance illustration and design is actually going pretty well. Incredibly well. STUPENDOUSLY WELL.

 

Too well?

 

Maybe. Fact of the matter is, my feet are in so many graves right now, Death may as well be my moniker.

 

But I love it. Otherwise I wouldn’t do it.

 

Not too long ago, I finished a logo design. Specifically, the one featured in today’s post. It is for a friend who is starting a business as a yoga/Nia instructor. She wanted the logo to convey the movement of dance as well as the beauty of an amaryllis. In her opinion, the logo captures that perfectly.

 

            In other news, another friend has decided to start the process of scripting a webcomic. He is so awesome that he even lets me help some. Rock on, Jon! Rock rock on!

            Anyways, I have been doing some pro bono illustration for him. It is 100% fun and helpful for both of us.

 

            Today is beautiful outside, so instead of writing more here, it is my duty to experience this bewitching autumn afternoon.

 

            TTYL

 

***

Joy Bliss Wellness Logo

Laborious Labor Day

Sorry for the tardiness in this most recent of posts. The Labor Day weekend walloped me many times over. As well as the week leading up to it. Nevertheless, at the very least I can provide you with some visual goodness. 

Stay well, be good, and do something nice!

***

"The Fools 02"

1000+

    Well…after 2 years, my deviantart site has finally reached over 1000 page views. The morning of the 19^th started off around 980, and by noon it hit over 1000.  I know I’m excited, how about you? Regardless, you should check it out.

            In other news, I have now reached act 3 of my script project. Good news, I really enjoy how act 3 is turning out. Bad news, acts 1 & 2 will require major rewrites for act 3 to make any sense. Grmbl.

            Now, it is time to divulge future plans. Someone asked me the other night “What do you want to do in 10 years?” The only answer I had would be to continue what I am already doing, only bigger and better. Which means, hey, a lot of fun is yet to come. So, prepare…things will be getting real good real fast. Tell your friends, tell your family, and tell your coworkers, because once the hammer falls, everyone will want to be on the ground floor. Don’t leave anyone behind. Become that cool friend/sibling/child/employee that introduces people to the hot new trends in media. Be the person they remember when asked “Where were you when you discovered Mark?” Step up soldier! It’s time to change the world.

***

Today’s illustration is in commemoration of 1000 page views.  I’m still excited about that massive leap.

100 Years and Going Strong

            For any artist or storyteller, today is a holiday that trumps every holiday, whether national or religious, for it is the 100^th anniversary of the first animated cartoon being released to the public.

            Emile Cohl, the father and creator of the first animated cartoon, was born in France while it was under the rule of Napoleon III and was a member of the long forgotten Incoherent Movement in art.

            Fantasmagorie, the title given to Cohl’s creation, is named after a mid-19^th century magic lantern, the fantasmograph. The cartoon is comprised of 700 double exposed images, and totals about two minutes in length. It follows a stream of consciousness narrative that followed in the main tenants of the Incoherent Movement. The individual cells were drawn on white paper with black lines, however Cohn reversed the negative, so the entire animated sequence looked like it was done on a chalkboard. Further, the cartoon combines animation with live action.

            Today, animation is far more sophisticated with the replacement of computers over the traditional cell-based animation. However, knowing the process that went into creating Fantasmagorie makes it even more revolutionary for its time by utilizing techniques that are both common and uncommon in film today.

 

***

The illustration for today is a bit of “fan-art” commemorating Emile Cohl’s achievement.

Bond James Bond

If there is one thing I love, it is a Bond film. Before the days that sunless hair ran my body rampant, Bond gave me a view of what a life could/should/would be like given the proper discipline. Granted, I have never been one for discipline. Still, fantasy is a nice escape, aye?

Anyways, come November 7^th, I will have another taste of the sweet, sweet nectar that Ian Flemming left the world. Given the trailers for “Quantum of Solace”, this could be another great Bond film. However, being the armchair detective that I am, it turns out that “QoS” may not be the most action packed adventure that bond has faced.

            For those of you not floating down the river of trivial knowledge, here is a brief synopsis of “QoS”:

"Quantum of Solace"

"Quantum of Solace" is not a spy story and James Bond appears only in the background. Told in the style of W Somerset Maugham, the tale has Bond attending a boring dinner party at the Government House in Nassau with a group of socialites he can't stand.

Bond makes a remark after dinner when the other guests have left in order to stimulate conversation, about always having thought it would be nice to marry an air hostess. This solicits a careful reply from the elderly Governor of The Bahamas who tells 007 a sad tale about a relationship between a former civil servant he calls Philip Masters, stationed in Bermuda, and air hostess Rhoda Llewellyn. After meeting aboard a flight to London the two eventually married but after a time Rhoda became unhappy with her life as a housewife. She then began a long open affair with the eldest son of a rich Bermudan family. As a result Masters' work deteriorated and he suffered a nervous breakdown. After recovering he was given a break from Bermuda by the governor and sent on an assignment to Washington to negotiate fishing rights with the US. At the same time the governor's wife had a talk with Rhoda just as her affair ended. Masters returned a few months later and decided to end his marriage, although he and Rhoda continued to appear as a happy couple in public. Masters returned alone to the UK, leaving a penniless Rhoda stranded in Bermuda, an act which he'd been incapable of carrying out merely months earlier. But Masters never recovered emotionally, nor recaptured any spark of vitality. The governor goes on to tell Bond how after a time Rhoda married a rich Canadian and seems to be happy. When Bond remarks that she hardly deserved her good fortune, the governor says that Masters had always been rather weak, and that perhaps Fate chose Rhoda as its instrument to teach him a lesson. The governor then reveals that the dinner companions whom Bond found so boring were in fact Rhoda and her rich Canadian husband. Bond then tells the governor Rhoda was much more interesting than he had thought.

While the story does not include action elements, as other Fleming tales do, it attempts to posit that Bond's adventures pale in comparison with real life drama. Bond reflects that the lives of the people he passes somewhat superficial judgements upon can in fact hide poignant episodes.

            -Taken from Wikipedia

            Okay, so in all honesty, that is NOT a true synopsis of the film. Instead, the film, like many of its predecessors, borrows the name from an existing Bond story, and takes liberal liberties in adapting the text. In this case, “liberal liberties” translates to no actual loyalty to the text whatsoever.

            Still, that being the case, there are a couple Bond movies I hope are made which stay true to the source material. For example:

"The Hildebrand Rarity"

In "The Hildebrand Rarity", Bond is on holiday in the Seychelles Islands with his friend, Fidele Barbey. Through Barbey, Bond meets an uncouth American millionaire named Milton Krest who has offered the two the job of aiding him in the search for a rare fish named "The Hildebrand Rarity". After agreeing to help, the three as well as Mrs. Elizabeth Krest set off aboard the Wavekrest in search of the fish. During the journey Bond learns that Milton verbally and physically abuses everyone around him, specifically his wife whom he punishes with the use of a stingray tail he dubs "The Corrector". After finding the Hildebrand Rarity, the party returns to the Wavekrest and sets sail for port. Along the way Krest gets drunk and insults Bond and Barbey and also schedules an appointment for his wife with "The Corrector".

During the same night Bond hears Mr. Krest choking, after which Bond discovers Krest has been murdered and the rare fish was stuffed into his mouth. So as not to be entangled in an investigation for the murder of Krest, Bond throws him overboard and cleans up the scene of the crime. The following day, after the Wavekrest has reached port, no one knows what had happened to Mr. Krest and all presume he fell overboard. Bond investigates both Barbey and Mrs. Krest and finally comes to the conclusion that Mrs. Krest had murdered Milton in an act of revenge for the way in which he had treated her, although she never admits to committing the crime and Bond never asks

            -also taken from Wikipedia.

 

            Really, what is better than a fishing film starring James Bond? Of course, if ichthyologic adventure isn’t your cup of tea, there is always this classic 007 yarn:

 

"007 in New York"

A brief tale in which Bond muses about New York City, and his favourite recipe for scrambled eggs, during a quick mission to the Big Apple to warn a female MI6 employee that her new boyfriend is a KGB agent. It is notable only for including a rare humorous conclusion, and for its mention of Solange, a young lady of Bond's intimate acquaintance who works in a shop, Abercrombie's, "appropriately employed in their Indoor Games Department".

            -yet again, taken from Wikipedia.

 

            So, if you are looking forward to faithful adaptations of already established literature, look no further. Seriously! You will probably never find any. Instead, be GLAD that people take time to make films more interesting than the literature they are meant to represent. I mean, there is honestly some pretty boring stuff out there.

***

Now Viewing: Girls Like Boys 3

The Green (Skinned) Mile and "Impressions of a Tree"

            Of all the odd dreams a person can have, this was in contest for the prime position.

            Have you ever had a dream that makes you feel overly emotional? One where you feel like crying because you sympathize for the plight of the characters involved? Personally, I was just moved by the life of Killer Croc from Batman: TAS.

            Apparently, the dream consisted of working for a nearby prison. It was my responsibility to represent the prisoners. One of my “clients” happened to be infamous Batman villain Killer Croc. The more I got to know him, the more I started to care for him. The guy received a bum rap from life. Everyone misunderstood him. And, a few days before his execution, I had the opportunity to see the soft, creamy center hidden by his tough, calloused hide.

            In the dream, KC was charged with kidnapping and eating children. Except that he never ate meat. Evidenced from my time with him, he was a strict vegetarian who, even for his last meal, chose not to taste the bitter flavor of flesh. Furthermore, in a turn straight from The Green Mile, he tamed and befriended a squirrel whom he named Chipper.

            At the end of his life, I didn’t see the monster shown to the world, but the sorry, repentant man that he had developed into. Literally, instead of waving goodbye to KC after spending time with him on his last day, he looked like a skinny Michael Clarke Duncan. In the end, the experience was moving, yet I’m not sure why.

***

The illustration this week is taken from photos snapped while doing research for a piece of commissioned artwork.  With still images like this, I always have trouble coming up with a name. On my deviantart account, it is called “Tree in the City”. Looking at it again, the name “Impressions of a Street Corner” seems more appropriate. What are your thoughts?

 

Skate Fate

            If it weren’t for the power of the warranty, I would be in the midst of a very expensive habit.

            As some of you may already know, in-line skating is a major escape for me. When I blade, it takes hours upon hours, miles upon miles. It feels great before, during, and after the journey is complete. Unfortunately, my skates can’t handle it.

            Yesterday, I received my third pair of skates in under a year. The first pair was paid for, while the second and third was exchanged due to manufacturer defect. The first defect involved the wheels splitting down the seams. The second pair of skates had the same problem, but instead of replacing the entire skates, the wheels were switched out initially. Later on, though, I had to bring the skates in because half of a front axel had fallen off. They found a replacement part, fixing the problem. Then, they noticed that the boot portion had torn from the skate. Hence, the second exchange under manufacturers defect.

            It is not my intent to disrespect the company that makes the skates I am using. K2’s are the most comfortable, smooth riding skates I have ever used. Theoretically, a less fanatical skater would find the K2’s to be everything they want. Me? The guy at the repair shop summed it up:

            “We should cut some aluminum around your foot and add wheels. That will probably keep you from burning through your skates before the end of summer.”

(BTW: The picture above was taken during a trip to Geneva, MN for Project: Earth. It was edited to emphasize the most dramatic, narrative portions, and describe the overall feel of the event.)

Barely There, Again and Again.

            You know how before, I was alluding to a secret project? Well, it is finished. At least, the first step of the first step is completed.

            Act One of Barely There and Back Again is written. It is going through the steps of being edited, and layouts will soon be polished off, meaning that fully finished pages are right around the corner.

            For anyone unfamiliar with Barely There, it is the comic strip that haunted me throughout college. It was in the college paper, and showed me just how hard it is to be a syndicated cartoonist. BTBA is different from that, however. BTBA stars all the characters from BT, as well as some new ones. It will contain jokes, but will mostly be a journey for Mike. It is the comedy adventure I would like to read. And it will be long.

            In terms of display, each page will be displayed here. I haven’t decided whether I will post a page-a-day, post a group of pages a week, or just post it all at once. If anyone has any suggestions, please share. The first page, however, won’t hit the site for another week at least.

Until then, here is another old illustration from the same period. It is a single, colored panel from the other comic I created during that time. So...Enjoy!

            

A Comic Survey

         Having thought about this for a while, it is my decision to update this at least once a week. From my standpoint, once a week still grants a self-imposed deadline while not interrupting my general creative work.

         With that said, this week is going to be a cop-out of sorts. I’ll be going to help my brother out at camp for the next few days, and I found the following survey while browsing my favorite sites, which eventually lead me to back-link to the original survey. So…enjoy this window into my creative psyche.

 

PART ONE: COMICS PERSONALITY TYPE

 

Name: Mark Elton

 

 

Age: 24

 

 

Sign: Cancer

 

 

Introverted or extroverted?

         Both. During the winter, I am generally more intro. Summer, extro. Overall, it really depends on my mood.

 

What are your top 5 procrastination tools?

1. Research

2. Internet

3. Napping

4. Movies

5. Cleaning (seriously)

 

What gets your juices flowing?

         In order for me to get inspired, there generally needs to be incredibly good art, activity, or some combination of the two.

 

PART TWO: COMICS CONSUMER

 

What kind of comics do you like to read?

         I read most comics, but predominately find more enjoyment within the works of independent creators.

 

What kind of comics do you dislike?

         Superhero books featuring major tier characters (Batman, Spiderman, Superman, etc.) are snorefully dull. Comic books that feature a combination of those major tier heroes are the paramount of stagnating prose.

 

When were you first introduced to comics?

         The Sunday comic strips were present at an early age, but comics go all the way back to third grade, where a classmate passed me a copy of a Pizza-Hut promotional X-Men comic. After that, I would pick up random single issues of various books at gas stations during family vacations that would usually occur over the holidays. The event that pushed me into inescapable fandom, however, was when I received an entire long box filled with an assorted collection of comics, ranging from Avengers to X-Men, Ewoks to Heathcliff.

 

 

What were some of your first comics?

         The first comics that really hooked me were X-Men, probably because of the cartoon that was airing around that period of my youth.

 

 

When did you first get "The spark"?

         I’ve always enjoyed drawing. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting at a café table, asking my mom to draw me dinosaurs, and then trying as hard as possible to imitate the drawing. As years passed, notebook after notebook would be filled with TMNT, X-Men, and various Disney characters. When I realized that people could get paid to draw these characters, I was hooked into reading whatever comic strip or book I could get my hands on, including a foreign collection of Donald Duck in a language I could barely read.

 

What is your favorite animated movie?

         My favorite animated film is actually Fantasia. Every new musical segment presents a fresh animated film. It could possibly be considered as the first animated anthology.

 

What is your favorite anime series?

         I don’t watch much anime. There was a period during my sophomore year in college that included an embarrassingly dedicated addiction to Naruto. Thankfully it was only a phase. Now, however, Futurama never seems to get old, regardless of how many times the episodes are watched, and Venture Bros. is utter genius!

 

PART THREE: COMICS CREATOR

 

What kind of comics do you make?

         My work is best described as an amalgamation of action-adventure stories and philosophical discourse.

 

When did you first start making comics?

         In early high school, the first pathetic seeds of comic-strippery developed. As a freshman in college, the first full-page, full-color creation was made. Sophomore year brought the first multi-page story, while junior year introduced the serious study of page-layout and character design. Finally, senior year was the cherry, where I had the opportunity to draw a weekly comic strip for the college paper and a monthly, multi-page serial for the gaming club newsletter.

 

What are your favorite comic artists right now?

         My fave artists at the moment include Bryan Lee O’Malley, Skottie Young, Darwyn Cooke, Dan Hipp, Mike Mignola, Masashi Kishimoto, and the ever-lovin’, immortal work of Jack “King” Kirby.

 

What are your main influences in comics?

         Jeff Smith’s Bone is an epic size story with Disney-like sensibilities. Mike Mignola’s blend of gothic horror and traditional folklore displayed in his distinctly dark, noir-nouveau style encapsulates the balance of art to story relativity that I strive to achieve. Kirby has an immense divinity on the page; one of the few artists that can actually capture a massive, celestial scene within paper borders.

         Given that comics is probably fifty-percent art, maybe more attention should be given to writing. Grant Morrison is a creative genius within the fences of mainstream work (Seven Soldiers of Victory, All-Star Superman), and an utter savant within the free-ranges of independent books (The Invisibles, We3). Alan Moore, writer of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, stunned me with the brilliance of Black Dossier. Seeing him seamlessly sew the common comic book format with retro pulp prose opens doors to the future possibilities that comics can contain. And, of course, Neil Gaiman, though not nearly as out-there as the two previous poets, has a way with words that harkens back to Shakespeare. He’s tomorrow’s bard in today’s books.

On an international stage, Moebius has a tounge-in-cheek, cross-genre fantasy leaning that is missing very little, if anything. I have probably read Scott Pilgrim Vol. 1 at least ten times in the past two years. O’Malley’s story is completely relatable while still being utterly fantastic. Finally, Osama Tezuka, the Manga-God, is an inspiration because of his mature stories hidden within Disney influenced art.

 

Artistically?

         I really feel like this is the third time this question has been asked, so let’s shake it up a bit. The art of Alphonse Mucha and Norman Rockwell really jazzes me in the traditional sense.  Masashi Kishimoto’s line is realistic without losing any stylistic leanings. Darwyn Cooke’s page layout is reminiscent of the best in cinematography.

 

Who do you admire in comics?

         The guys at Penny Arcade have captured the future in terms of entertainment marketing. Their business model is a sterling example of the future of capitalism - a digital economy.

 

I Took A Brief Hiatus...

           …and now I’m back!

            Last Tuesday was my birthday. Celebration of said birthday consisted of floating down the Ottertail River with some friends, eating BBQ chicken pizza, playing Apples to Apples, and watching a movie, all in that order.

            Wednesday was spent having lunch and cake with family during the mid-day, and Chumley’s Trivia in the evening. PS. WE WON! This is our second time in a year. WE’RE ON A ROLL.

            On Thursday, my internal clock woke me at 5am for no apparent reason. After showering and dressing, I picked up my paycheck and reclaimed my forgotten X-Drive. The eve was spent teasing my mono-infested roommate. Poor guy.

            And now for the important news!  The seeds of commissions past have begun to sprout and flower. Two more works are, well…in the works. Pictured below is a joint test for one of the commissions as well as the “secret” future project.

Also, the roommate issue may be coming to a solution. No details yet, but lets hope for the best, aye?

            I hope you are all having a nice day!

Freedom Freedom Freedom, Oy!

I just received a haircut. As most barbershops or hair salons are apparently closed on July 4^th, it was required for me to drive out to West Acres. Given my annoyance with the length of my hair, it was a relatively small price to pay. However, while there, it came to my attention that the mall may be one of the saddest places to be on the Fourth of July.

            On a typical day, the mall will be crowded, shoulder-to-shoulder, with people rushing to feed the beast of capitalism. Today, however, they are appropriately free from such responsibilities. Practically no one occupied the mall today. There were more people working behind the counters than there were people actually shopping. The woman cutting my hair was especially saddened to be working on the fourth.

            Wandering the lone catacombs of West Acres, I find myself in Software Etc., lost amongst the walls of next-gen consoles, MMORPG’s, and advanced strategy guides.

            “Can I help you find anything?” asked the cashier.

            I wasn’t looking for any merchandise, but apparently conversation was needed. We started a discussion on the pros and cons of the Wii, the best VG’s out there, and the generals of Nintendo’s current business model. It was a nice convo, which ended when a small family came to the till to purchase a new game.

            In other news, Michael Turner died a few days ago. For those of you unfamiliar with his work, I suggest you hit the link. He was a phenomenal artist who rose to appropriate fame quickly and died too soon.

 

Happy Independence Day, all!

Summer Sparrow

Today, I present you the second of my Bird Season portraits, entitled Summer Sparrow.

            Summer is equivalent to the young adulthood of the seasons, the period where people are journeying from youth to find their purpose in life. To represent the journey, the sparrow was chosen for its migratory practices.

The death and rebirth of winter and spring will follow soon. 

(Barely) There and Back Again!

            HALLO, ALL! I just returned from an incredibly enjoyable road-trip with friends. Hopefully tomorrow I will be in the right mindset to tell the story in full format. For now, a turret of current events shot to you at the speed of “read”:

 

            GOOD NEWS:

-Just discovered the greatness of Kupek (aka Bryan Lee O’Malley). He’s great, so check him out.

-Reconnected with one of my best high school friends after an approximate four-year hiatus.

            NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS:

-One of my roommates is moving out, leaving the remaining roommate and me to possibly search for another. Any takers?

-Lost countless rounds of the movie game, reducing my film savant-hood to a mere film aficionado.

            GREAT NEWS:

-I have been working hard on a project. Not enough has been completed to make any definite reveals (BLATENT CLUE: The title to this post is dual in its nature.), but it consists of returning to an old project that seemed to garner some acclaim on it’s own. Overall, I am quite pleased with what exists.

 

            And with that, I bid my adieu. Y’all have a great day and enjoy this small, random illustration.