While watching Headbangers Ball I thought it was fitting to finally blog/post my albums of 2009. I usually stop buying music around early December to make the Holiday shopping easier but this year I did have a few albums sneak in more towards mid-December, and they are all welcome. So, lets start the close of 2009 with my album picks of the year.
If you have read last years blog/post you'll notice I kept some of the same format but them added some stuff and subtracted some stuff. I may be moving towards a perfect award system or it just may be the year that determines the final list. As last year I don't really talk about each album, I know I should, I will make it a point, time permitting to talk more on each category. But, if you have any questions or want a response feel free to post a reply. Anyway, lets do this.
Music Awards 2009
Sponsored by With Teeth Exposed
This list was compiled from 47 albums purchased or downloaded legally.
Metal/Hardcore Album of the Year
Mastodon “Crack the Skye”
Honorable Mention
The Chariot “Wars and Rumors of Wars”
The Black Dahlia Murder “Deflorate”
Between the Buried and Me “The Great Misdirect”
Rock/Alternative Album of the Year
Murder by Death “Red of Tooth and Claw”
Honorable Mentions
Yeah Yeah Yeahs “It’s Blitz!”
mewithoutYou “It’s All Crazy!, It’s All False!, It’s All A Dream!, It’s Alright!”
Rise Againts “Appeal to Reason”
Folk/Country Album of the Year
Star Anna “Crooked Path”
Honorable Mentions
The Avett Brothers “I And Love And You”
Hip Hop/Rap Album of the Year
The Roots “Rising Down”
New Artist (too me) Album of the Year
Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest”
Honorable Mentions
Okkervil River “The Stage Names / The Stand Ins” (Two Albums)
Grizzly Bear “Yellow House”
Rediscovered Album of the Year
Mastodon “Leviathan”
My brother introduced me to Mastodon in early 2000 right before we left for a Poison the Well show. It was a few year later that I moved away from burned copies or mix cd's with their music and bought their Blood Mountain release and then Remission. Once I got Crack the Skye right when it dropped and loved it I knew I had to complete the collection and get Leviathan. Having their new release plus rediscovering music my bro introduced to me and I fell in love a few years back was the perfect combination that kept Mastodon almost constantly played this year.
Honorable Mention
Ghostface Killah “Ironman”
Most Played Track of the Year
(tie)
Bowie Poison the Well “II/III”
Ghostrider Rollins Band “The Crow”
Album Art of the Year
(tie)
The Chariot “Wars and Rumors of Wars”
Hand printed and numbered, you can 't beat that innovation and craftsmanship and DIY attitude that's been the backbone for hardcore music and what keeps the love for it strong.
The Black Dahlia Murder “Deflorate”
A new album with a metal cover that could hold strong when metal covers were at their best when albums were still on vinyl and the thirteen year old boy that just discovered metal would just stare at the cover while listing to the album. I sat in the Best Buy lot for a good moment just admiring this cover.
Album of the Year
Poison the Well “Tropic Rot”
Honorable Mentions
Mastodon “Crack the Skye”
Murder by Death “Red of Tooth and Claw”
Poison the Well is one of my all-time favorite groups, a title only shared with the Deftones. And as exciting is having one of my favorites putting out some new work and being almost certain it was a shoe-in of my album of the year there is also a lot of room for disappointment. Not because of the work but because of the anticipation and hype placed of the new album. But, Poison the Well delivered and not only meet my crazy notions but blow them away. They are my number one album, if that means anything, not because of my love for the band but because they put out a great album, one that will be listened too and loved like new and old down the road.
Metal of 2009
There were five metal albums nominated or won my silly awards this year.
Mastodon “Crack the Skye”
Poison the Well “Tropic Rot”
The Chariot “Wars and Rumors of Wars”
The Black Dahlia Murder “Deflorate”
Between the Buried and Me “The Great Misdirect”
2009 was a great year for metal. Here are ten albums that should be honored. The other ten, in no real order, metal or hardcore albums that should be listened too, bought and worshiped.
1. Zao “Awake”
2. Dethklok “Dethalbum II”
3. Job for a Cowboy “Ruination”
4. Gwar “Lust in Space”
5. Every Time I Die “New Junk Aesthetic”
6. Despised Icon “Day of Mourning”
7. Bury Your Dead “It’s Nothing Personal”
8. Behemoth “Evangelion”
9. Austrian Death Machine “Double Brutal”
10. The Banner “Frailty”
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
everything...different
It still doesn't feel real. One year of work. I haven't talked much about this here just because I wanted to...I don't really know. Maybe just have a moment like this where I can announce that one year of work with a close friends comes to a end and a beginning. That with today we've not only completed a project with all the writing, drawing, coding and planning but that we've also started a new adventure. Our online comic Side Quest is finished and up today. As of now it's a weekly adventure updated every Monday. I can't say much right now it still feels new and exciting. I just hope all who go there enjoy. Side Quest
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
metal: the universal language
First, summer is over. Bummer. And now we can begin. I've had a love hate relationship with chain stores, Best Buy, and the way they've abandoned physical music. Actual CD's. Only stocking too few copies of good music and braking the bank on crap. And you need four rows and a kiosk of G&R's waist of ten years? Okay? Every week Pop and Hop-Hop (Love lots of Hip-Hop that's not on the radio) dribble gets prime shelve space and supply while actual good music gets barely ten copies. Now I know that everyone thinks their music selection is better than everyone else so I know this argument can be combated by a simple; uh-huh. But, I digress I could bore all with many arguments on modern music and the business but I will end here...
The real post is how of all music genres metal seems to be a universal language among people. Once you find out some is into metal, real metal not that radio-rock-friendly-crap but, real metal. A friendship is formed even if you don't agree on all your discussion topics you know you just meet someone else like you that walks among the world. I met a metal friend today and at a time when I was going to abandon all hope for the yellow tag and start a long trek to find music elsewhere which where I live would cause much headache. Even among my close friends I am alone on talking about metal and my list of metal heads is my brother who lives out of state and my wonderful girlfriends brother. So I am glad to find a new metal friend.
Metal I've grabbed of recent:
Black Dahlia Murder "Deflorate"
Bury Your Dead "Nothing Personal"
Every Time I Die "New Junk Aesthetic"
Job For A Cowboy "Ruination"
The real post is how of all music genres metal seems to be a universal language among people. Once you find out some is into metal, real metal not that radio-rock-friendly-crap but, real metal. A friendship is formed even if you don't agree on all your discussion topics you know you just meet someone else like you that walks among the world. I met a metal friend today and at a time when I was going to abandon all hope for the yellow tag and start a long trek to find music elsewhere which where I live would cause much headache. Even among my close friends I am alone on talking about metal and my list of metal heads is my brother who lives out of state and my wonderful girlfriends brother. So I am glad to find a new metal friend.
Metal I've grabbed of recent:
Black Dahlia Murder "Deflorate"
Bury Your Dead "Nothing Personal"
Every Time I Die "New Junk Aesthetic"
Job For A Cowboy "Ruination"
Thursday, September 17, 2009
the failure and the cowards
During the long and cold winter that we recently lived through and are slowly creeping towards again a close friend and I created a character to live inside a blog. The idea was influenced by the character Darcel and I wanted to do something similar but in a completely different direction. I never want to copy someones ideas. Instead of a hip New York socialite very cleverly and unequally commenting on city, pop culture and contemporary life. Very great very original. My friend and I created a character around the idea of a alien or robot sent from an other galaxy or planet to learn about our culture and life and then destroy us. But, the hitch was that the character would start to be corrupted by our cultures especially pop culture and begin to love us. The idea was sound and the creation of the character was a great experience and even though I am still kicking myself for doing such a thing but with all that is going on I just don't have the time for another side project that would take on a life of his own. So, I am the failure. But, in order to give our character, LADO (Learn, Adapt, Destroy, Objective), the credit he deserves here are the imagery that was posted and ones that where in line.
The First
This was a simple image to announce LADO's arrival.
The Second
This was used for a post about when a study was published that Red States, the faith based family first states were found out to be down loading more porn than the sinful Blue States. And, their only defense was saying that the study is bias because the Red States were legally purchasing their porn not the other way around like the Blue States. Sure. Hypocrisy. This was also the first time I crossed over into a political theme and really wanted to live there. My cohort and I decided that I would speak out against political and social issues and he would soften that edge with pop culture references.
The Third
An instant and emotional response to The Watchmen movie.
The Fourth
Title G0d Con-Plex this post was about the Great Pacific Trash Heap and how religion is stunting any movement into responsibility toward keeping our planet clean for generations.
These last two where not posted but where on deck for more posts.
Although this project is over the ideas and passion are still there. In the future there will be a second round of the ideas and creativity that born LADO. Just not at the moment. I fear that I need to create something moving in the next four years. I fear that these four years with Obama are going to filled with crazies attacking him and then they are going to elect a Palin and our country is going to really go to shit. I feel more of the youth needs to speak out and ideas like LADO need to be planted right now to blossom when ideas and movements are needed most. The world is going to get worse very soon. The cowards, the Glenn Becks, the Ann Coulters, the Rush Limbaughs and the fear mongering crazies have the platform to say their racist and ignorant comments and we have all the right to speak against their bullshit. Which we need more of. Speaking out against the ignorance and stupidity that is rooted in America right now is a great start.
So, I feel a bit of a failure. I gave up. But, not for long.
Sorry, Tim. Love ya, bro.
The First
This was a simple image to announce LADO's arrival.
The Second
This was used for a post about when a study was published that Red States, the faith based family first states were found out to be down loading more porn than the sinful Blue States. And, their only defense was saying that the study is bias because the Red States were legally purchasing their porn not the other way around like the Blue States. Sure. Hypocrisy. This was also the first time I crossed over into a political theme and really wanted to live there. My cohort and I decided that I would speak out against political and social issues and he would soften that edge with pop culture references.
The Third
An instant and emotional response to The Watchmen movie.
The Fourth
Title G0d Con-Plex this post was about the Great Pacific Trash Heap and how religion is stunting any movement into responsibility toward keeping our planet clean for generations.
These last two where not posted but where on deck for more posts.
Although this project is over the ideas and passion are still there. In the future there will be a second round of the ideas and creativity that born LADO. Just not at the moment. I fear that I need to create something moving in the next four years. I fear that these four years with Obama are going to filled with crazies attacking him and then they are going to elect a Palin and our country is going to really go to shit. I feel more of the youth needs to speak out and ideas like LADO need to be planted right now to blossom when ideas and movements are needed most. The world is going to get worse very soon. The cowards, the Glenn Becks, the Ann Coulters, the Rush Limbaughs and the fear mongering crazies have the platform to say their racist and ignorant comments and we have all the right to speak against their bullshit. Which we need more of. Speaking out against the ignorance and stupidity that is rooted in America right now is a great start.
So, I feel a bit of a failure. I gave up. But, not for long.
Sorry, Tim. Love ya, bro.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
holga
I've been trying to explore photography as an outlet for my art for a little over a year. I've made some progress, little, but it's a work in progress. The goals of tackling photography as an artistic growth and a hobby are too; in a short list.
To become...
...more spontaneous with my art.
...more in the moment.
...better with composition.
...strengthen my artistic eye.
...crack out of my shell.*
*The last one is the most important. I become very closed off while working on my art. Not closed off to the world but I am very seclusive. Not that it is a bad thing but to grow as an artist I need to become more open and capture art as I see it. Not lock myself in my room by myself.
So after months of me talking my girlfriends ear off about a crazy plastic camera called a HOLGA. My wonderful girlfriend bought me one for Valentines of '08. I've been using and loving my HOLGA ever since especially after the breaking of my digital I've exclusively been using my green plastic camera.
I have recently updated my Lomo Home, a digital place to post and share my HOLGA and other analog pics taken on the brands of Lomography. So I invite all over and share in my growing as a photographer. My Lomo Home.
It will also be added to my side bar under the My.. heading. Enjoy
To become...
...more spontaneous with my art.
...more in the moment.
...better with composition.
...strengthen my artistic eye.
...crack out of my shell.*
*The last one is the most important. I become very closed off while working on my art. Not closed off to the world but I am very seclusive. Not that it is a bad thing but to grow as an artist I need to become more open and capture art as I see it. Not lock myself in my room by myself.
So after months of me talking my girlfriends ear off about a crazy plastic camera called a HOLGA. My wonderful girlfriend bought me one for Valentines of '08. I've been using and loving my HOLGA ever since especially after the breaking of my digital I've exclusively been using my green plastic camera.
I have recently updated my Lomo Home, a digital place to post and share my HOLGA and other analog pics taken on the brands of Lomography. So I invite all over and share in my growing as a photographer. My Lomo Home.
It will also be added to my side bar under the My.. heading. Enjoy
Monday, September 7, 2009
summer ends
The last few grains of sand fall from this summers hourglass and the same bitter sweet feelings about the dieing of summer and the birth of the frozen winter are all too familiar.
First off, weather wise, this summer in the Midwest was crap. It was cold and rainy, although good for running, bad for enjoying the summer air and swimming. Living in the Midwest and having such a long, cold and snow filled winter having a cold summer is just a slap in the face. We pack so much into our summers to enjoy it as much as possible and by the end we are all just run down. After weddings, trips, relay and summer parties my friends and I are all looking for a good break. Not from each other or fun or even the summer-ish weather but from spending money and time away. From June to September there are seventeen weekends and I was, or will be, gone or had major plans for eleven of them. And, like I lamented in my other summer time posts art and design have suffered greatly from my busy schedule. Not only where my weekends filled but having a non regular schedule my Mondays are really important to get work done. I had a good stretch in July and August where I only had a few Monday to work so in short I am still really behind. I've been working on the same few projects, making progress, but still plugging slowly away.
Another sign, non weather related, that summer is coming to a close is when my friends and I start to gather our fall/winter '09 race schedule. I'll be starting my racing in mid September and will provide some racing reports later.
It was nice to be finishing up summer yesterday with my girlfriend doing a bike pub crawl for charity. The charity was to help American Brain Tumor Association and children fighting life-threatening diseases. We donated some money to a good cause, rode thirty miles on our mountain bikes and had some tall beverages. Great time but my legs hate me today. The real end of summer is coming soon and me and my girlfriend will be closing summer in Chicago this weekend. Going to have a great time and see U2 all at the same time.
Another great summer leaves us. Had an amazing time with my girlfriend and my friends. Made wonderful memories and spent time with the people I love all summer and witnessed wonderful moments and weddings, parties, races and just small moments away.
After this coming weekend no more lamenting about art and design not finished. I managed to get some stuff done in the little moments and will be looking forward to posting some of the great work I've been putting together.
Now I leave summer with this. I remember liking this song at the beginning of summer and feel it's a fitting end. I think The Cold War Kids will be a band I get more involved with in the near future. There is a line in the song that says "How's it going to feel when summer ends. Out of money. Out of friends". Well I am not out of money and never will be but, money is gone. Without reading to much into this songs I dig it and feel it's a great way to close summer.
Enjoy!
First off, weather wise, this summer in the Midwest was crap. It was cold and rainy, although good for running, bad for enjoying the summer air and swimming. Living in the Midwest and having such a long, cold and snow filled winter having a cold summer is just a slap in the face. We pack so much into our summers to enjoy it as much as possible and by the end we are all just run down. After weddings, trips, relay and summer parties my friends and I are all looking for a good break. Not from each other or fun or even the summer-ish weather but from spending money and time away. From June to September there are seventeen weekends and I was, or will be, gone or had major plans for eleven of them. And, like I lamented in my other summer time posts art and design have suffered greatly from my busy schedule. Not only where my weekends filled but having a non regular schedule my Mondays are really important to get work done. I had a good stretch in July and August where I only had a few Monday to work so in short I am still really behind. I've been working on the same few projects, making progress, but still plugging slowly away.
Another sign, non weather related, that summer is coming to a close is when my friends and I start to gather our fall/winter '09 race schedule. I'll be starting my racing in mid September and will provide some racing reports later.
It was nice to be finishing up summer yesterday with my girlfriend doing a bike pub crawl for charity. The charity was to help American Brain Tumor Association and children fighting life-threatening diseases. We donated some money to a good cause, rode thirty miles on our mountain bikes and had some tall beverages. Great time but my legs hate me today. The real end of summer is coming soon and me and my girlfriend will be closing summer in Chicago this weekend. Going to have a great time and see U2 all at the same time.
Another great summer leaves us. Had an amazing time with my girlfriend and my friends. Made wonderful memories and spent time with the people I love all summer and witnessed wonderful moments and weddings, parties, races and just small moments away.
After this coming weekend no more lamenting about art and design not finished. I managed to get some stuff done in the little moments and will be looking forward to posting some of the great work I've been putting together.
Now I leave summer with this. I remember liking this song at the beginning of summer and feel it's a fitting end. I think The Cold War Kids will be a band I get more involved with in the near future. There is a line in the song that says "How's it going to feel when summer ends. Out of money. Out of friends". Well I am not out of money and never will be but, money is gone. Without reading to much into this songs I dig it and feel it's a great way to close summer.
Enjoy!
Monday, July 27, 2009
late race reports
The last 5k, my race of choice, was in April, a local race, and I did okay for how much training I was doing. I ran a 28:44, not great by any means for what I should be running but like I blogged before I am coming off some injuries that made my normal training difficult. My fastest 5k time this year was in March at the Hanson's 5k where I ran a 27:50, some great progress at the time. I'll get back to my 5k later.
Since my last 5k in April I still have been racing: I did a 8k in May, the NCTR was in June, and I did a duathlon and the GLR in July. So I have been doing a fare amount of training and racing. Mid summer is usually the drop off of my 5k racing when the relays and more endurance racing starts. But, now that all the relays are over I am going to concentrate on getting my 5k time down before winter starts and my training slows to maintenance training.
Here is a look back at the past few major races I've completed.
The first was NCTR a drunken weekend with the friends that starts summer off with some adult sodas, good friends and some good running. I've only had one really great NCTR relay three years ago the rest have been hard runs that kick my butt into gear and remind me that GLR is a month away and my training needs to improve. I died on the first leg which was a 7.2 miler trail run. I ran it in about an one hour and forty minutes. Just miserable. After that long run tripping through the woods my back was shot and in pain. I was down for a nap in one of the cars and after that I felt a bit better and finished the day with a 3.5 miler that was slow but not to bad. This was not a great start to my running for the summer.
The next big race was my first duathlon. A first annual local race that was a 5k run, 20k bike and then a 5k run to finish. I ran the first 5k easy and relaxed, I have never done such a race before so I didn't want to die. I ended up running a lady into the ground that was trying to race the first 5k. She kept attacking and because I was running easy it wasn't to hard to control the pace and keep ahead. My first 5k was run in 30:22. Then the bike came up. I rode strong and for such an insane ride with huge uphill climbs I didn't die or get beat down by the ride. I've realized that I am a strong rider just not a brave rider. I could have taken a few down hills with a bit more bravado than I did. But I finished the ride in 01:02:27, which is close to how long it takes me to ride around 14-16 miles with traffic stops so the hills didn't slow me down to bad. The last 5k was hard. I past a few people but the last mile was just me trying to maintain my pace. I was glad to finish the last 5k at 35:45 with a 02:08:34 overall time. I was proud of myself for accomplishing my first duathlon and finished in a realistic time. I am hoping to compete in more duathlons if I can find ones that use Mountain Bikes, not a big Road Biker yet.
The last race report is for the GLR our yearly three-day drunken running fest. Lots of memories and funny stories from this year. A great time. My first run of day one was a 5.2 mile trail run. Good trails and I ran it easy at 01:03. My second run of day one was horrible a 5 mile trail run on overgrown sandy horse trails. Took me 01:17 to suffer through that run. Day two was a bit better I ran my first run a 5.4 mile trail run in 01:04 so I was on the same pace as the day before and it was cool to run the same run again after running it for my first GLR first leg six year ago. Then the mess comes out. I started drinking after my first leg and didn't stop. Ran my second leg a 3.5 mile trail run in 50 minutes of drunken stumbling running through the woods. Don't recommend running distance runs wasted. Day three I only had one run which I killed. It was a 5.5 mile run on two tracks, dirt and country roads. I ran it at a ten-minute pace finished the leg in 57:20. This is when I really realized that trail running sucks for me. I can't stride out like I can on roads. I had a great year this year. Oh, and between five drinks and five little helpers we drank ten cases of beer. So, yea, we had some fun.
So, back to 5k's. After all this crazy running I am really looking forward to running a 5k this Saturday and hopefully setting a new PR (Personal Record) that I am proud of. Got a week of rest last week, new shoes this week and starting to hit some good running. Hopefully I will hit a low 26 min or a high 25 min time. That would make me happy.
Since my last 5k in April I still have been racing: I did a 8k in May, the NCTR was in June, and I did a duathlon and the GLR in July. So I have been doing a fare amount of training and racing. Mid summer is usually the drop off of my 5k racing when the relays and more endurance racing starts. But, now that all the relays are over I am going to concentrate on getting my 5k time down before winter starts and my training slows to maintenance training.
Here is a look back at the past few major races I've completed.
The first was NCTR a drunken weekend with the friends that starts summer off with some adult sodas, good friends and some good running. I've only had one really great NCTR relay three years ago the rest have been hard runs that kick my butt into gear and remind me that GLR is a month away and my training needs to improve. I died on the first leg which was a 7.2 miler trail run. I ran it in about an one hour and forty minutes. Just miserable. After that long run tripping through the woods my back was shot and in pain. I was down for a nap in one of the cars and after that I felt a bit better and finished the day with a 3.5 miler that was slow but not to bad. This was not a great start to my running for the summer.
The next big race was my first duathlon. A first annual local race that was a 5k run, 20k bike and then a 5k run to finish. I ran the first 5k easy and relaxed, I have never done such a race before so I didn't want to die. I ended up running a lady into the ground that was trying to race the first 5k. She kept attacking and because I was running easy it wasn't to hard to control the pace and keep ahead. My first 5k was run in 30:22. Then the bike came up. I rode strong and for such an insane ride with huge uphill climbs I didn't die or get beat down by the ride. I've realized that I am a strong rider just not a brave rider. I could have taken a few down hills with a bit more bravado than I did. But I finished the ride in 01:02:27, which is close to how long it takes me to ride around 14-16 miles with traffic stops so the hills didn't slow me down to bad. The last 5k was hard. I past a few people but the last mile was just me trying to maintain my pace. I was glad to finish the last 5k at 35:45 with a 02:08:34 overall time. I was proud of myself for accomplishing my first duathlon and finished in a realistic time. I am hoping to compete in more duathlons if I can find ones that use Mountain Bikes, not a big Road Biker yet.
The last race report is for the GLR our yearly three-day drunken running fest. Lots of memories and funny stories from this year. A great time. My first run of day one was a 5.2 mile trail run. Good trails and I ran it easy at 01:03. My second run of day one was horrible a 5 mile trail run on overgrown sandy horse trails. Took me 01:17 to suffer through that run. Day two was a bit better I ran my first run a 5.4 mile trail run in 01:04 so I was on the same pace as the day before and it was cool to run the same run again after running it for my first GLR first leg six year ago. Then the mess comes out. I started drinking after my first leg and didn't stop. Ran my second leg a 3.5 mile trail run in 50 minutes of drunken stumbling running through the woods. Don't recommend running distance runs wasted. Day three I only had one run which I killed. It was a 5.5 mile run on two tracks, dirt and country roads. I ran it at a ten-minute pace finished the leg in 57:20. This is when I really realized that trail running sucks for me. I can't stride out like I can on roads. I had a great year this year. Oh, and between five drinks and five little helpers we drank ten cases of beer. So, yea, we had some fun.
So, back to 5k's. After all this crazy running I am really looking forward to running a 5k this Saturday and hopefully setting a new PR (Personal Record) that I am proud of. Got a week of rest last week, new shoes this week and starting to hit some good running. Hopefully I will hit a low 26 min or a high 25 min time. That would make me happy.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
the weirdness: part one
I get really weird about completing projects and outlandish tasks before I leave for a weekend whether it's for a race, wedding or vacation. I noticed this last year when I had a lot of destination weddings and races, among summer time stuff, to leave for I would run around crazy trying to complete weird things before I left. Besides my "five goals" a week I write on a dry-erase board to complete weekly I also write a list of random crap that has no consequence to try and complete before leaving. I think I'll document this behavior for a future post, circa July 16-ish before I leave for the GLR (Great Lakes Relay).
Well, I hit a snag two weeks ago before I left for the North Country Trail Relay. The snag was because not only did I create a random list of crap to complete but I was lamenting the fact that my list of 5 goals to complete have for the most part stayed the same all June. Aside from one goal, clean my studio space, all the artistic goals have stayed the same. So the week before I left for the weekend instead of packing I was trying to catch up on my art. And, this craziness hasn't let up. I've been really trying to clear my list, plus some other projects I am behind on, and get some new goals up before the end of June.
Here is one project I started to knock out. This is something I've tried hard to keep secret until launch but here is a brief taste. These are some finished comic boards of an online weekly comic my friend Paul and myself created. The comic is called Side Quest and is in the vein of pop and nerd culture. I'll post a full report on the comic just before we launch. Hopefully in the next two weeks. But, enjoy the first peek.
The next image is of a painting I knocked out this weekend during a crazy storm. I am happy with the experience of creating and what I learned from painting. But, I did need to separate myself from it. I do enjoy it now but I wasn't really happy with it. But I am excited about my next paintings. I am already planning the next four, yes, four, I am gathering the money right now. I hope to have them started next week. I am going to do multiple painting this time because I am impatient and get board when I have to wait for the paint to dry. So, I am going to knock out four next time. But here is my first of hopefully many paintings.
My last image is of a comp for my new digital portfolio. I told my girlfriend that I would have my design portfolio done by the time she takes the BAR. So I have five weeks to complete my new portfolio. A flash version, a web version and some hand-outs (printed cd holders and business cards). A lot of work and not a lot of time to do it. I'll post the process. Here is the comp.
Well, I hit a snag two weeks ago before I left for the North Country Trail Relay. The snag was because not only did I create a random list of crap to complete but I was lamenting the fact that my list of 5 goals to complete have for the most part stayed the same all June. Aside from one goal, clean my studio space, all the artistic goals have stayed the same. So the week before I left for the weekend instead of packing I was trying to catch up on my art. And, this craziness hasn't let up. I've been really trying to clear my list, plus some other projects I am behind on, and get some new goals up before the end of June.
Here is one project I started to knock out. This is something I've tried hard to keep secret until launch but here is a brief taste. These are some finished comic boards of an online weekly comic my friend Paul and myself created. The comic is called Side Quest and is in the vein of pop and nerd culture. I'll post a full report on the comic just before we launch. Hopefully in the next two weeks. But, enjoy the first peek.
The next image is of a painting I knocked out this weekend during a crazy storm. I am happy with the experience of creating and what I learned from painting. But, I did need to separate myself from it. I do enjoy it now but I wasn't really happy with it. But I am excited about my next paintings. I am already planning the next four, yes, four, I am gathering the money right now. I hope to have them started next week. I am going to do multiple painting this time because I am impatient and get board when I have to wait for the paint to dry. So, I am going to knock out four next time. But here is my first of hopefully many paintings.
My last image is of a comp for my new digital portfolio. I told my girlfriend that I would have my design portfolio done by the time she takes the BAR. So I have five weeks to complete my new portfolio. A flash version, a web version and some hand-outs (printed cd holders and business cards). A lot of work and not a lot of time to do it. I'll post the process. Here is the comp.
Friday, May 29, 2009
music for the masses: 0002 & supplies
In the celebration of my birthday over the passed week I used money and gift cards to feed the beast and snag a major amount of music over the past week or so.
- The appetizer was when I went out a grabbed:
Mastodon Leviathan
Protest the Hero Kezia
- Then from my awesome girlfriends parents:
Ray Lamontagne Trouble
- The main course was yesterday when I snagged four cd's for under $35:
Ray Lamontagne Till The Sun Turns Black
Grizzly Bear Veckatimest
Side Bar: I downloaded Grizzly Bear's Yellow House at the beginning of the year. These guys are moving closer to the top of my favorites list...if I had one that is.
Walls of Jericho Redemption
The crowning jewel one of my favorite bands:
mewithoutYou It's all crazy! It's all false! It's all a dream! It's alright
- For dessert my order from amazon came in with:
Ghostface Killah Ironman
This leads me to the rest of my delivery today and the rest of my post:
I started a side column or side bar...what ever it is, that has the art supplies I use and where I get them from. I've been ordering KRINK inks for a bit now and have found the perfect place to order from. The last place wasn't good at all. They took about a month to get the order to me and when it arrived I had one tube that was smashed and one was the wrong color. But, I found a new great place and put links to all the places I buy from and the supplies I use. Enjoy.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
on the work desk: 0002
"Slow and steady wins the race." A quote common among my group of friends and taken from our long time friend and former cross country coach. A quote that applies to running and drinking and most recently the completion of my comics and other art adventures.
This is page 5 of The Skateboard Diaries and the page that I've given the most and has taken the most from me.
I finished page 6 in the time it took me to simply draw (in pencil) page 5. And though there are tiny mistakes in each panel this page was a hurtle to overcome as much as it was a learning experience.
I still have the first two pages to complete (scenery) that I hope to complete this coming week so I can scan, color (black, white and shades of gray), add text, and design the finished book with cover and back cover. A simple six page mini comic that has taken some time to complete. But it is a learning process and I'll be better for it and a bit closer to make my hobby and passion a career.
Other News:
I picked up The Chariot Wars and Rumors of Wars and have enjoyed listening to it today with a bit of Deadliest Catch (the show) while finishing page 5 (the above image). I am looking forward to listening to The Chariot's new work for a long time to come.
This is page 5 of The Skateboard Diaries and the page that I've given the most and has taken the most from me.
I finished page 6 in the time it took me to simply draw (in pencil) page 5. And though there are tiny mistakes in each panel this page was a hurtle to overcome as much as it was a learning experience.
I still have the first two pages to complete (scenery) that I hope to complete this coming week so I can scan, color (black, white and shades of gray), add text, and design the finished book with cover and back cover. A simple six page mini comic that has taken some time to complete. But it is a learning process and I'll be better for it and a bit closer to make my hobby and passion a career.
Other News:
I picked up The Chariot Wars and Rumors of Wars and have enjoyed listening to it today with a bit of Deadliest Catch (the show) while finishing page 5 (the above image). I am looking forward to listening to The Chariot's new work for a long time to come.
Monday, May 4, 2009
running report: when I think I am back...my back
I have five weeks or actually six, but I am going to relax week six, before this years North Country Trail Relay (NCTR). This is my sixth year running the NCTR and my first that I can actually train for without being interrupted by college. But, my body has been revolting against me for the past year now.
I hit the point last year when my body started to break down because I wasn't training correctly. I have had a few injuries that have set me back over the past three years, non of them major, but all have sidelined my training. Last year I was up and down with my running and would rest one or two weeks and then kill myself at relays or other races. Around August I started to try and drop my times but with poor training and tendinitis in my shins my body had had enough. Most of the winter I ran just to maintain some running ability but never really trained. But, sense the beginning of this year I really started to get my running and my body put back together and be smart about it.
My tendinitis seems to be getting better and I am feeling better while I run but then a month ago my back went out. Great. So I've been dealing with that for the past few weeks now. A minor set back but it's just a reminder that I am not out of woods yet when it comes to putting myself back together and a reminder that I need more core training.
Training for NCTR:
Running
I am just trying to run maintenance mileage right now and run low but consistent mileage each week. I fallow the 10% rule (don't raise your weekly mileage more than 10% per week) and I keep my mileage in a range. So I am going to run between 14 and 16 miles per week for the next four weeks and then raise my mileage between 15 and 17 the week before the relay and then rest the week of the relay because I'll be running over 10 miles that weekend. My main goal is to run more than double the mileage I ran last year before this relay.
I am also happy that I am now ahead of my weekly mileage from last year. I've been keeping track of my year to year running and I am 1 mile ahead of last years mileage.
Cross Training
Cycling was the only reason last year that I was half way decent at running. I rode just under 400 miles last year and cross training is something that all serious runner should do. I rode 109 miles last year before the NCTR and I hope to ride 164 this year (around 1.5 times as much as last year). I rode 10 last week so I am having a slow start but a start non the less.
Core Training
Weights, abs and yoga. I am still working on this but I have had about two days a week of good core training. Hope to add some more to that.
This seems like rambling but I am trying to keep it straight in my head. My encompassing goal is to do more or double than what I did last year. Double the mileage, more cycling and more core training. Then I should be physically and mentally ready. Because just about five weeks after the North Country Trail Relay I have the Great Lakes Relay which is three days long.
I hit the point last year when my body started to break down because I wasn't training correctly. I have had a few injuries that have set me back over the past three years, non of them major, but all have sidelined my training. Last year I was up and down with my running and would rest one or two weeks and then kill myself at relays or other races. Around August I started to try and drop my times but with poor training and tendinitis in my shins my body had had enough. Most of the winter I ran just to maintain some running ability but never really trained. But, sense the beginning of this year I really started to get my running and my body put back together and be smart about it.
My tendinitis seems to be getting better and I am feeling better while I run but then a month ago my back went out. Great. So I've been dealing with that for the past few weeks now. A minor set back but it's just a reminder that I am not out of woods yet when it comes to putting myself back together and a reminder that I need more core training.
Training for NCTR:
Running
I am just trying to run maintenance mileage right now and run low but consistent mileage each week. I fallow the 10% rule (don't raise your weekly mileage more than 10% per week) and I keep my mileage in a range. So I am going to run between 14 and 16 miles per week for the next four weeks and then raise my mileage between 15 and 17 the week before the relay and then rest the week of the relay because I'll be running over 10 miles that weekend. My main goal is to run more than double the mileage I ran last year before this relay.
I am also happy that I am now ahead of my weekly mileage from last year. I've been keeping track of my year to year running and I am 1 mile ahead of last years mileage.
Cross Training
Cycling was the only reason last year that I was half way decent at running. I rode just under 400 miles last year and cross training is something that all serious runner should do. I rode 109 miles last year before the NCTR and I hope to ride 164 this year (around 1.5 times as much as last year). I rode 10 last week so I am having a slow start but a start non the less.
Core Training
Weights, abs and yoga. I am still working on this but I have had about two days a week of good core training. Hope to add some more to that.
This seems like rambling but I am trying to keep it straight in my head. My encompassing goal is to do more or double than what I did last year. Double the mileage, more cycling and more core training. Then I should be physically and mentally ready. Because just about five weeks after the North Country Trail Relay I have the Great Lakes Relay which is three days long.
Monday, April 6, 2009
KRINK and a studio
I finally go out those KRINK markers and inks I was talking about at the first of the year. I am using them for an upcoming project I hope to talk about real soon but whatever. I shook up my new markers and went on discovering. I found an old unfinished painting of mine and went to work making it better...I guess.
Old background new KRINK:
Some other shots taken around the house:
I also really got frustrated with the fact that I have no art studio. I am not asking for much I just don't want my art board in the middle of my room anymore and I hate having to spend so much time cleaning a work space off every time I want to create. It is completely counter productive. And painting is completely impossible. There is far to much setup, cleanup and mess for my little cramped space right now.
So I hope to spend some time this and next week and try to make some more space to create. (Unintentional rhyme.)
Old background new KRINK:
Some other shots taken around the house:
I also really got frustrated with the fact that I have no art studio. I am not asking for much I just don't want my art board in the middle of my room anymore and I hate having to spend so much time cleaning a work space off every time I want to create. It is completely counter productive. And painting is completely impossible. There is far to much setup, cleanup and mess for my little cramped space right now.
So I hope to spend some time this and next week and try to make some more space to create. (Unintentional rhyme.)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
ghost rider...motorcycle...hero...
I haven't posted any art in awhile so I thought it was appropriate to through this up because I was actually quite surprised by this sketch. I've been trying to sketch more and more and I knocked this sketch out at work yesterday. I don't draw many comic heroes but lately I've taken to drawing Ghost Rider. I always sketch in pen so that I see my mistakes and learn to adapt and grow as an artist so nothing is ever perfect but I liked this sketch so much I thought I would use it to practice my coloring in PhotoShop. I've been really pushing the comic art lately and being able to color my work is really important to me so I've been trying to learn and grow as much as possible using digital media (PhotoShop). Enjoy
From the sketch book:
After colors:
From the sketch book:
After colors:
Friday, March 27, 2009
the metal will strike you down with a vicious blow
When my brother and soon-to-be sister in-law where up this way last week I lamented to my bro, another big music junky, that I have yet to buy a metal album this year. I've picked up some great stuff over the past few months like: Okkervil River The Stand Ins and Murder By Death Red of Tooth and Claw. Both amazing albums among other notable albums but it was weird that I had yet to gravitate towards my biggest musical drug; metal.
Sense bringing up the fact that I have yet to purchase a metal album last week the metal has rained in on top of me. And I bask in it. Last week I grabbed a rare gem, or two, Best Buy had a set of the first and second albums by The Sword: Age of Winter and Gods of the Earth for the price of one album (14.99). Then my Amazon order arrived bringing me Ligeia Bad News and The Banner Frailty. And again two nights ago I found out at Ferret Music that one of my favorite bands Poison The Well is dropping their new album June 16th and because I can't get enough of them I downloaded their singles I/III and II/III which I have been really enjoying. And finally today I grabbed Mastodon Crack The Skye, listening to it and loving it as I type this.
Hope to have more in depth review of all this great music later and I have a bunch of design and art to talk about too. I just needed to share.
Sense bringing up the fact that I have yet to purchase a metal album last week the metal has rained in on top of me. And I bask in it. Last week I grabbed a rare gem, or two, Best Buy had a set of the first and second albums by The Sword: Age of Winter and Gods of the Earth for the price of one album (14.99). Then my Amazon order arrived bringing me Ligeia Bad News and The Banner Frailty. And again two nights ago I found out at Ferret Music that one of my favorite bands Poison The Well is dropping their new album June 16th and because I can't get enough of them I downloaded their singles I/III and II/III which I have been really enjoying. And finally today I grabbed Mastodon Crack The Skye, listening to it and loving it as I type this.
Hope to have more in depth review of all this great music later and I have a bunch of design and art to talk about too. I just needed to share.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
back in the black or red...which ever is good.
I am back in the black or red...which ever is good when it comes to my weekly mileage for this year. It's the end of week seven and I hit my highest weekly total mileage of 14 miles and doubled my mileage from last year. I've been injured on and off for the past few years and went from a runner and became a jogger. Or, that's at least how I feel. So I've been really pushing myself to get back into racing shape where I used to be and have a great summer of running and racing. My first big event is the North Country Trail Relay. Every past year I was finishing my winter semester of school and never had time to get into the shape I needed to be in. So I hope to have a great relay this year and finish strong and healthy. My goal for next week will be to hit three days of running and no less than ten miles. It will be hard after hitting a good week to fallow it up but I hope to get at least ten miles.
I had a wonderful Valentine's Day with my wonderful girl friend. We had a relaxed dinner at home where I used my Asian abilities that I learned from years at the Chinese Restaurant and made a shrimp stir-fry and my girlfriend made some great steaks. We had a fabulous evening.
I also up'ed my TBR (to be read) list. My girlfriend and I love the Showtime series Dexter and after this last season I had mentioned reading the books that are the source material for the show. So for Valentine's Day my awesome girlfriend got me the Dexter books amongst other things (The Kings of Kong movie, a must see documentary). I've been really getting into crime and hard boiled stories of late and these books will make a great addition to my collection.
On the art front I've been making a weekly goal list of five projects to complete throughout the week. I've managed to complete about two a week and am make progress with all my projects. I hope to have some more arty pics on the blog this week. My camera is still broken but I can manage.
One last thing: See the new Friday the 13th; awesome movie.
I had a wonderful Valentine's Day with my wonderful girl friend. We had a relaxed dinner at home where I used my Asian abilities that I learned from years at the Chinese Restaurant and made a shrimp stir-fry and my girlfriend made some great steaks. We had a fabulous evening.
I also up'ed my TBR (to be read) list. My girlfriend and I love the Showtime series Dexter and after this last season I had mentioned reading the books that are the source material for the show. So for Valentine's Day my awesome girlfriend got me the Dexter books amongst other things (The Kings of Kong movie, a must see documentary). I've been really getting into crime and hard boiled stories of late and these books will make a great addition to my collection.
On the art front I've been making a weekly goal list of five projects to complete throughout the week. I've managed to complete about two a week and am make progress with all my projects. I hope to have some more arty pics on the blog this week. My camera is still broken but I can manage.
One last thing: See the new Friday the 13th; awesome movie.
Monday, January 5, 2009
busy times: a look at what I've been up to
I've had a crazy and also wonderful holiday. I haven't been able to finish a lot of my project lately, been having to much fun this holiday, so I am looking forward to working over the next few weeks.
Here is an image of an illustration I was commissioned to do for a Christmas gift. I kept it off the blog till after the holidays just in case the intended recipient saw it. Far fetched but still a possibility.
I took some of the money I got from the job and invested it into some new art supplies. I've been checking out KRINK ink markers for a awhile now and I was excited to receive my first shipment of them.
This (the pic above) is also the last shot I took with my digi camera. I now have a fixed frame Canon Power Shot SD500. I've had this camera for a little under 5 years now and have loved it as a fun fast little digital camera that I take all my vacation, running, and drunken party pics with. This was my main digital camera and I am hoping the elitists at the camera shop don't tell me I am better off buying a new camera. Five years just seems too short but in technology standards it's a millennia. I have been shooting a lot lately with film using a HOLGA, trying to get better, and still use a FUJIFILM camera with Advantix film every now and again. But I could talk about cameras and what I think about digital and film for a while so I will end it here.
The last update is about this years New Years Resolution 5K that me and my friends run every year in our home town. We strive to run in the most ridiculous and amazing outfits we can find and have done so for the past six years. This year we reach a new height of insanity with Lucha Libre masks. This will be hard to top next year.
Here is an image of an illustration I was commissioned to do for a Christmas gift. I kept it off the blog till after the holidays just in case the intended recipient saw it. Far fetched but still a possibility.
I took some of the money I got from the job and invested it into some new art supplies. I've been checking out KRINK ink markers for a awhile now and I was excited to receive my first shipment of them.
This (the pic above) is also the last shot I took with my digi camera. I now have a fixed frame Canon Power Shot SD500. I've had this camera for a little under 5 years now and have loved it as a fun fast little digital camera that I take all my vacation, running, and drunken party pics with. This was my main digital camera and I am hoping the elitists at the camera shop don't tell me I am better off buying a new camera. Five years just seems too short but in technology standards it's a millennia. I have been shooting a lot lately with film using a HOLGA, trying to get better, and still use a FUJIFILM camera with Advantix film every now and again. But I could talk about cameras and what I think about digital and film for a while so I will end it here.
The last update is about this years New Years Resolution 5K that me and my friends run every year in our home town. We strive to run in the most ridiculous and amazing outfits we can find and have done so for the past six years. This year we reach a new height of insanity with Lucha Libre masks. This will be hard to top next year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)