Big Sonic Heaven

I've been a huge fan of Darren Revell's choice of music for what seems like eons now.

And like it says on their website...

Big Sonic Heaven is a radio show on Indie 103.1 playing ethereal, dream-pop, electronic, shoegaze, electro-pop, deep alternative, etc… Big Sonic Heaven airs Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday nights from 10p-12m (PST). Hosted, programmed and produced by Darren Revell. Originally broadcast from 1995-2003 in Detroit now makes it’s Los Angeles debut. Listen to Indie 103.1 FM and on-line at indie1031.com.

Again, it's that eclectica that I like. He's not afraid to play an odd mix of old, new, funky, techno and then some. Thank goodness for internet radio so I can at least listen to some of this stuff.

It just makes me wonder with the loss of true eclectic free form radio that it's one of the reasons for the rise in satellite radio services (you guys can check out my sadness about the passing of Detroit's last bastion of that form of free radio on some of my earlier posts).

Mid-June already?

Wow... where has time gone? I could've swore it was just like yesterday that I was helping students hang their senior shows and dealing with all of those graduate insecurities that hit this time of year. Needless to say for those of you that know me, I've been out there hustling up work from every third source. I just got done doing a huge rush project for Microsoft & Ford Motor Company (among other things) and I'm about to dive into another huge Toyota project this week. I'm not one to sit back and relax easily; I thoroughly enjoy what I do for a living and can barely fathom calling it a job at times.

Promos & samples

From time to time I get all sorts of phone calls to submit samples of work to art directors and such. I generally try to ask if there's a particular genre of stuff that they're looking for and I try to send samples of stuff that fit more accurately towards what they're trying to shoot for. To me that's just smart marketing. Above are a few of the samples that I just sent out to an art director in Texas. With any luck I'll hit the mark and start working for them soon. We'll see.

I couldn't be more proud

Earlier tonight was graduation at CCS and I couldn't be more proud of my students. They've stepped across to being peers and alums now. Not only have they refined their visual voices but they've also stepped it up as good human beings. Here are Mike Maher, Kitty Crawford, Annie Tanalski & Jessica Crump (on behalf of the graduating class) presenting our department administrator, Terry with a token of their appreciation. They've done good and I hold the strongest of convictions that these good people will continue to do good, not just in their fields but as human beings. My hats off to this year's graduating class.

Pause & a respite

After weeks upon weeks of just getting pummeled upon with an ungodly amounts of storyboard work, I finally manage to squeeze out a split second to catch my breath. Not only are some of my students graduating in a few hours, but I'm also off to attend a graduation over the weekend as well.

I've been at school most of the evening helping my grads hang their senior shows. While I'm dismayed at their procrastination, I completely understand their reluctance as well. As they hang their show, it's their last obligation to the school. It signals a new unknown chapter of their lives. A few will go off to graduate school whereas the rest will slowly meander out into society and try to make something of their degrees. Some have already found success, some are interviewing, some will take some time to find their niche and I'm sure some will get disillusioned and not go into the Illustration field at all. I wish them all well. I sincerely hope each and everyone of them finds some measure of satisfaction in their lives. And for their brief time in college, I hope they had as much fun as I did when I was there as well.

I hope that I was somehow testimony to them that it can be done. And as hard as I work, I also take the time to kick back from time to time and enjoy life as well. I hope that maybe a few of them will be brave enough to take the eight weeks off to go explore; I've lectured endlessly on this point as it was my only regret after leaving college. For some of these people they've been in the academic cycle for over 17 years (come next Fall when they don't have to go back to school for them will be strange indeed). Most of them have struggled to a certain degree and have reaped the rewards of their hard work.

As I get ready to catch my breath for a split second (and do the meet & greet with their families), I hope that my students will take a chance to catch their breaths and reflect upon their accomplishments as well. As a visual artist, the journey never ends- but it never hurts to slow down, step back just to see what you've accomplished.

Deadline hell

There's just something slightly wrong about being on deadline and it's sunny and gorgeous outside.

The Importance of Ceremony

I just got back from my goddaughter's Comfirmation ceremony today and I couldn't be more proud of her. I've been grinning like a cheshire cat all day thinking about those many years ago that I held her fragile little self in the church as she got baptized. Being a godparent has been one of the highest honors I've ever been bestowed. To see her recognized in her church as a full member is gratifying. Her mother says that technically my duty to her (raising her Catholic in the event something should have happened to her parents) is now done that she's achieved her Confirmation. Fat chance; I'd like to think that my godfatherly duties will never end and she'd be an integral part of my life for as long as I shall live.

I've also been espousing to one of my classes about their impending graduation and how vital it is that they attend. They've earned every bit of pomp, cimcumstance and honor that a graduation ceremony provides. They need to sit through all of those various speakers, see all of the guests get their honorary degrees and ultimately hike across that stage to receive that diploma from our school. My students owe it to their friends, family and loved ones for all the years of support that they've received. Those scant seconds across that stage is one of the most gratifying things a proud parent can see their child do.

Did I need to attend my goddaughter's Confirmation? Did I need to attend my collegiate graduation 20 years ago? Do I really need to attend any event, function or ceremony? Technically no but how unfulfilling would that be? I wouldn't have felt this wave of pride if I didn't see my goddaughter confirmed. My parents would have been saddened to see my diploma arrive in the mail. And even the sad ceremonies- such as funerals... they give credence to our existence here on Earth. Ceremonies are a way to put a timestamp on our lifespan; it's a landmark to which we can all latch onto.

A very wise friend of mine once said that life is but a bunch of good memories. I agree. Why not stop and pay homage to our lives? Even in great sadness people can be proud of where they've come from. And more importantly in moments of great happiness like my goddaughter's ceremony and graduation, we really need to cherish our accomplishments and our very existence.

I've already got some great memories to cherish and plan on making plenty more good memories.

Current project

Here's a current project I'm working on now. Alas since it hasn't been totally approved, I really shouldn't say much about it other than I had a blast drawing goofy moments like this. Not to mention the creative team behind this TV commerical has really nice storytelling techniques to their presentations. I'm hoping to do much more fun stuff like this.

Gorgar pinball game

This was a classic pinball game I played when I was young. I remember the coolest thing about this machine was that not only did it play well (not too many straight drains), it was also the first talking pinball machine. It's primitive by today's standards but those sounds of "Gorgar EATS!" still resonate in my head. The artwork on the backglass was nothing special to write home about either, nor was the playing field a beauty- it was just a good solid game to plunk a few bucks worth of quarters into.

Another sad passing... Kitty Carlisle

She's the lady in the middle towards the lower portion of the picture.

Some of you guys are going "Who?", but she was a lady that was in my TV game show youth. Kitty Carlisle was a regular panelist on shows like "To Tell the Truth" and "What's My Line?". I never really knew of her background until a few years ago; she was always the very elegant lady who wore the pearls and asked the insightful questions on those shows. As quirky as some of those shows were, she always had a regal air about her, had a quiet dignity and exuded class to this young television viewer.

Years later I found out that she also starred in one of my favorite Marx Brothers' movies, "A Night at the Opera" and in several Woody Allen movies. Beyond her success with the movie roles she was also an accomplished singer, actress and active theater performer (she was still performing in 2006). More importantly she was an avid arts advocate (I found that fact out when she was awarded a National Medal of Arts from the White House) for many things in New York City and beyond. She campaigned tirelessly for funding of the arts. She also belonged to the board at the New York State Council on the Arts for 20 years and was a trustee at NYC's MoMA and Metropolitan Museum of Art.

She passed away April 17th, 2007 in the midst of her loved ones at the age of 96.

And to think I only knew her as the dignified lady on a few game shows in my youth. She will be missed.

Don Ho passed away.

I'm so saddened to hear of Don Ho's passing earlier. Talk about a guy who practically embodies Hawaii and that culture to the rest of the world. Reading about how legendary this guy was as far as an entertainer's pretty amazing. The celebrity A-list that came out to Hawaii to see this man perform was something else.

And to think, just a few months back I bought a Tiki Farm commemorative Don Ho tiki mug as well.

Sunrises and work

Don't get me wrong. I love sunrises. They're beautiful, magical and harken a fresh new day for all of us.

But there's just something bordering on painful when one's been up all night working on a project AND the sun's peeking through. As I look over my shoulder now, I can just see the faint glimmers of the morning sun about to burst through the venetian blinds. I'm about half way done with this job and the mojo faded a few hours ago; I'm just working on reflex right about now. I do need a few hours of shut-eye though. Long day ahead... taxes, more work, and then teaching tonight.

And in the immortal words of a great writer that just passed away today, Kurt Vonnegut... "So it goes".

Another great influence

The great Will Elder.

Along with Harvey Kurtzman, this quiet unassuming guy drew some of the most lush, detailed and rip snorting funniest drawings for the ages. I adored his stuff in the early issues of MAD magazine, Goodman Beaver, and later the Little Annie Fanny series in the Playboy. One of the things that most impressed me about his work is his draftsmanship. His linework and cross hatching was god-like in precision. For those of you not familiar with his stuff I would highly encourage you to check out some of his stuff (Fantagraphics Books has a few of his books, see the link to the right)- see how he tells a story, look at the compositions, and how intelligent his stuff is. Will Elder is truly an under appreciated American Master.

Feather Bowling

I've been feather bowling for well over 20 years now. What is feather bowling you might ask? Well, it's an odd esoteric Belgian game that's played locally at the Cadieux Cafe (http://www.cadieuxcafe.com/) on the east side of Detroit. This is one of my favorite local neighborhood haunts that I like dragging out-of-towners to experience something relatively unique to the area.

The two lanes there consist of dirt/ manure packed down into a long groove with a feather at each end. Each player/ team gets to roll six brick/ ball/ wooden wheels down the track and points are determined by who gets closest to the feather- sort of like Bocce. There does require some skill in this game since you can bank the shots by rolling them within the concave track. First team to 10 points wins. Simple in practice but tricky to master.

But what's really great about this place is that it is relatively unassuming. It's an old school neighborhood bar in an established post war Detroit community. The staff has always been top notch friendly. The food is pretty darn good (specializing in mussels, burgers and fish & chips) and the beer selection has always been great. One can go in and watch a ballgame on the big screen, have a family dinner, play some feather bowling, listen to some great live bands and be one with the neighborhood.

Congratulations to Amy Rauner

I've really been stoked for Amy Rauner, one of my students at CCS (not this semester, but still one of my mentoring kids nevertheless) this weekend. We entered her stuff along with a small contingent of some really strong artwork into the Communication Arts Illustration Annual competition this year and wouldn't you know it? She got a piece selected for the Annual! Quite the accomplishment considering some professionals never get chosen and she did it while still in school and in the ultra competitive Unpublished category. I couldn't be more proud of her (not that I'm not proud of ANY of my students when they do well- whether on a national stage or an individual accomplishment).