Ad Space

I'm getting paid in ad space for my "Boa Bitch!" illustration.  Had to mock up something new to fit the specifications.

Pin Curl Magazine Illustration: Sketches

Because I'm determined to keep distracting myself from "Monkey Rag," I sought to illustrate an article for the burlesque periodical "Pin Curl Magazine."  Here are some thumbs and my sketch.  I'll post the final after its published.  The article is entitled "That's My Boa, Bitch!"  Really, how could I resist that?

I Want This Dress 2

I really do have other work to do, but...wheee!  This is fun! 

I Want This Dress

It seems like every few months, I go through a cycle wherein I spend all of my free time scouting eBay for vintage dresses I know I'll never buy.  The idea of wasting so many hours being repugnant to me, I have now decided to justify it as "Research" and begin to draw said dresses.  This particular one was written off because it has a tiny waist.  Honestly, is it that common to have a 24 inch waist? 

Daily Crapbook: Lab Guy

All of my markers are very old and probably should be tossed out, but I can't bring myself to do it until I've used each last chalky drop.  So here's the messy sketch I did trying to clean out my art supplies.  Lab Guy: Defender of SCIENCE!

Daily Crapbook: More Facies

Daily Crapbook

Just some more faces for fun.

The Artist

Let me preface this by saying that my taste in film seems easy to quantify.  "Oh, Jo likes old stuff.  Anything that's old or looks old or smells old, she loves it."  Not so!  For instance, the friend who suggested I'd be loopy for "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" still has an earful coming to him.  I enjoy a quality about old films and music that is very absent from most popular entertainment past 1965.  But I'm not a glutton for nostalgia for its own sake.  So when a friend told me that this film was right up my alley, I was skeptical.  Yesterday I saw it.  And today I have hope for mankind.      

At the film's ending, which had me bawling ("but Jo, it was a happy ending!" "I know!  I cry watching Gene Kelly dance, too!") my husband commented that it was as though the filmmakers made the "The Artist" just for me.  True enough.  The only way they could have made it more "just for me" would be to cast me.  While I have a couple of problems with the script and the female lead, what works in the film is so enchanting I don't want it to take away any time praising it.  The cinematography, the locations, the costumes, the lead actor... The lead actor is so perfect I swear Dr. Who plucked him from the time period.  That grin!  That posture! That breezy tap dance technique!  He's going to bring swooning back in style.  This was a film pure, simple, without the tiniest hint of cynicism.  Derivative, yes, but wasn't that the whole point?  A reminder of things past, but things worth remembering?

And with the Oscar wins, I hope people finally rediscover an aesthetic that has been lost for some time.  Its something I can't sum up into a single word, but whatever it is, this film defines it.  Don't be afraid of black and white and title cards.  If you want to understand the fascination classic movies hold, this film will give you a big grinning clue.

Old Man Cabbage Reworked

Nate worked very hard color grading the movie and made it look magical.  As I was already unhappy with the look of the poster, I used Nate's new grade as an excuse to fiddle with it some more.  Now I think I can let this project alone now.

Daily Crapbook: Bunneee!

Daily Crapbook: Beach Style

Went on a cruise last week!  Here's a sketchbook entry about it.

Monkey Rag Scenes 21-23

Got through the very short scenes this week, tipping the count to UNDER one minute left to animate!  While this may sound the same as my last update where I said I had "about a minute" to go, believe me, to say "under a minute" now I feel bucketloads more accomplished.

Daily Crapbook: New Year's Resolution

Monkey Rag Updated!

Phew! Just in time for me to not hate myself in the New Year, I have an update for Monkey Rag! Scenes 1-20 are now animated, which leaves about one minute left to animate. Piece a cake, right? Happy New Year everyone!

Old Man Cabbage Final

  

It's done!  I also made an animated gif of the stages.  I think it only plays when you click on it.