Mammal Monday #4

"Anthropomorphism, or personification, is attribution of human form or other characteristics to anything other than a human being."

 - Wikipedia                                                  

This is a very common practice within animation. Every animated film you've seen with talking animals is an example of anthropomorphism. Or even with animals that have eyebrows or any characteristics that remind us of human behavior. I think it's really interesting that we, as a species, care in some ways more about other species than our own. Animals are cute and fuzzy, but also mysterious. It' fun to attribute them with human characteristics to imagine what they would do, because we simply don't know what's going on in their heads. 

Yes, I made this. It was fun.

This brings up two important issues to me. 

Oh, btw, "The Fox" by Ylvis started playing on my Spotify as I wrote this. Hah!

First of all, the way we treat animals is absolutely horrifying. I understand it is a matter of the value of their life, which is hard to determine, but who are we to determine? We're not special. But then again, who are we pleasing by treating them right? Is it just for our own conscience? These questions are so hard to answer. I don't want to eat meat that comes from a pig that spent it's entire life in a tiny cage. But I don't really know if that mattered to the pig. Is it not a sort of anthropomorphism (see how I slithered that in?) to attribute my own anger and frustration to an animal without knowing if it's true? Also, how do we determine intelligence within animals and then decide who is smart enough to not die horribly? That sounds awfully macabre. 

The second issue is not that relevant to anthropomorphism, but it's something that has been on my mind lately. Language is very restrictive! I hope, in the future, we are able to transmit thoughts without forcing them into words first. Miscommunication and lack of understanding is so frustrating and the cause of so much harm in our society. Which actually made me think of art. Some art is able to transcend language and communicate thoughts and feelings by it's own being. That truly amazes me! 

Okay, I'll see you later! 

Wonder Wednesday #3

Ugh, I'm sick.

Like, influenza, sick.

So I made some simple stuff for you, and I'm also going to add a new music video I found yesterday by Die Antwoord.

This is what I made:

It's me, laughing at your pathetic life.

Nah, I'm just kidding. Seriously though, this was fun, but kind of annoying. Annoying - because I had to watch myself make this... This is exactly the kind of pretentious crap I tend to moan over when I'm in museums. It's just some filters thrown around randomly... Okay, so the original painting (the one in the bottom left) was actually hard to make. But then it's just 'copy+paste' and GradientFilter and boom, you've got yourself some high-end artsy-partsy piece. "What does it mean???" It means I was bored and had never done this before. Now that I have, I don't want to do it ever again. But I'm probably going to... Damn you, artistic inspiration!

And finally, this:



I love these guys. Their style of music is very... specific. Enjoy!

I'll see you soon!

Mammal Monday #3

I wanted to record me drawing something. I've done it before, and it's very fun! I only managed to finish lining it though, as my computer decided to shut itself off halfway through. It couldn't take the strain of Photoshop and a Screen recorder at the same time. So, Photoshop promptly deleted my drawing, but at least I managed to recover the recording. 

Well, I tried.

Fickle Friday #2

So, I haven't really been writing as much as I could have on this blog. I've mostly let the images speak for themselves. Well I'm changing things up a bit! For this Fickle Friday, I am going to write a little about my experiences as an 'artist'.

I have made paintings and funny stick figures since I was 3 years old, and in elementary school I made my comic debut! The comic, featuring me and being about my life, now hangs proudly in my fathers tiny lavatory. Since then my tools have evolved from a pencil and a sheet of paper, to a tablet and Photoshop on a Mac. I've made countless posters for various productions, mostly because I was in them, and designed for yearbooks, papers, companies, schools and russ.

What happens when you're an artist though, is that you love what you do. And when you love what you do, people expect you to do it for free. For free? Do you know how much time it takes? Or how much time it has taken me to be able to do what you're asking me to do? People expect me to do things pro bono all the time! It seems that to them it doesn't really count as a job if you enjoy doing it! Remember people, if you're miserable when you work, you are doing it right.

It has mostly been enjoyable of course.

I'll leave you with this video about creativity, as I am about to fall asleep on my computer.

Wonder Wednesday #2

Landscapes

As you can see, I am absolutely not good at this whatsoever. I am in dire need of some good reference photos and hours upon hours of practice. So just to redeem myself a little bit, I have included a snippet of a comic I am working on called "Spirit", featuring anthropomorphic characters and a great deal of self-interpretation.

Enjoy!

Mammal Monday #2

So, yeah.

It's been a week without any posts, for the simple reason that there's been a lot of tests, resulting in a lack of time for this blog. Thing is, for every post, I need to draw something! Which takes a fair amount of time! So I think I need to plan these posts a bit more effectively.

Anyway, a new week begins! So here is my second Mammal Monday piece:

I have always feared the deep ocean. I love scuba diving and snorkeling, but if I can't clearly see my surroundings or where the ocean floor is, I freak out! So this time, my theme was the terror that is the vast sea. Poor fishy!

I'm playing around with blue here, as well as some more vibrant hues in the scales reflecting the surface light. 'Bit cartoonish, I'll admit, but sea creature realism is some next level shit!

See you soon!

Fickle Friday #1

So, yeah.

I cut my hair.

I have FRINGE NOW!

It's so unusual. The worst part is people seeing it for the first time and going:

"Wow! You look...different! ...it's nice, though!" 

I haven't had a fringe since I was 8. If I pull it backwards it actually stays up for a bit and instantly takes me back to the 80's. So I guess this Friday will be about that. Hastily done as I am dead tired and supposed to work out right now... 

So here you go, in all it's asymmetrical glory!