Sunday, May 29, 2016

Happy Memorial Weekend

Lily stopping by to say hi!

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe memorial weekend.  A very hearty thanks to those that have served or are still actively serving our country.

It's been a busy weekend for me, in the last twenty four hours I have gone for a seven mike bike ride - and walked the last mile as I took a bit of a tumble and snapped my derailleur hanger - dropped off my bike at the bike shop for repairs, attended a three year old's birthday party, cleaned the house, went grocery shopping, cleaned my garage and basement, spent some time painting on my cosmic horror piece and did some human gesture drawings.  Thanks goodness I have one additional day this weekend!  We have a party/cook out tomorrow and I can't wait for burgers!  RED MEAT, nom, nom nom.

Anyway I hope you all enjoy whats left of the weekend, take care!

P.S. I'm thinking about watching Deadpool tomorrow, is it worth the time?

Minutes before the crash

Monday, May 23, 2016

My Favorite Artists - Skinner

 


I'm very excited to introduce today's featured artist!  Known as Skinner he is a full time artist that creates some of the most imaginative, interesting and bizarre art I've ever seen.  He has pieces inspired by Lovecraft and D&D and works in multiple mediums including print, sculpture, painting and many others.  You might have seen his work on Adult Swim or if you live in the San Francisco/Oakland CA areas you may have seen one of his many shows there.  I'm very happy to introduce you my readers to a true original and a very talented man, Skinner! 

  • First of all, thanks for taking some time out of your day to speak with me, please introduce yourself and give us a brief bio:

My name is Skinner and I make art for a living. I do a bunch of different stuff. I write stories and paint and make music videos and conceptualize shit and theorize about life and stuff.

  • When did you first discover your creative talents?

When I was a little ass kid trying to figure out how to draw monsters and dinosaurs. I wasn't conscious of it being anything other then an interest in trying to emulate stuff that a little ass kid likes. You just draw sharks and hulk hogans and enjoy it. No one thinks it's art really.


  • How would you describe your style and where do you draw your inspiration from?

Describing my style is weird because I do so many different kinds. Illustrative comic book style or fantasy paintings but mostly my style is just little kid trying to make something look good. My inspiration comes from fantasy artists and comic book artists and old illustrators. Marvel comics back in the day. Stuff like that. Jack Kirby.

  • Who is your favorite artist? What draws you towards his or her artwork?
One of my favorite artists is Louie Cordero from the Philippines. I love a ton of artists but he's alive and still doing stuff and since my favorite artists are dead I thought I'd mention him. His shit is so fucking weird and great! It's like a surreal Ghana movie poster mixed with Japanese vibes and Satan.


  • Is art a full time occupation for you, if not what do you do for a living?

I do art full time. Always on the grind!
 
  • What projects are you currently working on?
 
Finishing an animated music video for high on fire. Commercials for adult swim and my own illustrations and paintings. I have been writing a lot of stories and show pitches these days. 

  • What type of work do you enjoy doing most?
 
My own weird fantasy paintings or inking. Writing is fun as fuck too but painting lovecraftian fantasy shit is probably the best.


  • You've created art inspired by D&D, are you yourself a gamer and if so what are your favorite games?  How did being a gamer influence your style? 

I wish I had time. I grew up memorizing every little detail of my monster manuals and fiend folios and shit. I loved it so much. Now I just kinda honor it in my work! Old AD&D art was so crazy. Trampier was a standout and Errol Otus. I got to hang with Larry Elmore at comic con! He's great!


  • Who is your favorite musical artist and why?

I'm into Melvins! Always pushing subversive rock and fuck it attitude in the face of a world that wants to contrive everything and make a buck. Melvins make art not products.

  • What was the last book you read?

Alan Moore biography and some Clark Ashton smith. Just finished Mezolith which is an amazing book full of prehistoric folk tale stuff! 


  • What is your favorite place that you have traveled to?
 
Cuba hands down. 

  • What superpower would you have and why?
 
The power to make people shit their pants at my behest. Whenever I want. Any distance. Don't cross me. 

  • Where can the readers go to see your art?



  • Are there any books, videos, or other forms of media that you would recommend to new artists to help them learn? 

Oh shit man everything's so available now. I wouldn't know where to start. Shit I don't know. How bout anatomy by Burne Hogarth, Frazetta paintings and drawings and maybe " How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way".

  • Lastly, any words of advice for aspiring artists?
 
Well, don't get lured in by the validation that comes from people liking your stuff on the Internet. You can't base your growth on that. You have to put in an insane amount of work before you don't even kinda not suck let alone before you've developed an even small level of your own style. Just don't be lazy about putting in work. Put your heart into it ya lazy bum! It's the best!


Thursday, May 12, 2016

Star Wars - Revised, Expanded and Updated

Yaa hoooooooo!
Heya folks!

I'll admit that I am a Star Wars fan.  I'm also a fan of the Star Wars RPG put out by West End Games many moons ago.  I've owned several other Star Wars RPG's since then including SAGA and the trilogy of Fantasy Flight books but my favorite has always been the old WEG version.  I'm a sucker for the D6 system.  I haven't played this game in many, many years and much to my surprise I recently found out that there is an updated version of my beloved old classic!  

Womp Rat Press is a collection of editors that have labored long and hard to put together a new updated version of the classic Star Wars - Revised, Expanded Core Rule Book.  It's shockingly called Star Wars - Revised, Expanded, UPDATED.  See what they did there?  Anyhoo this is a freaking amazing book for anyone that loves the old SW WEG game, the first version was released in 2014 and a second updated version was released last year.  Where the hell have I been?!

Apparently the layout has been adjusted and a number of changes made, here's what boardgamegeek.com has to say:

Star Wars: Revised, Expanded, and Updated features the following:
  • Extensive examples and explanations to make learning and understanding the rules easier;
  • A solitaire adventure “Cantina Breakout,” to let you start playing right away;
  • An index to this volume;
  • Expanded Combat Options and Force powers combining information from various supplements.
  • Expanded Adventuring information, combining all the gems from the original Gamemaster’s Handbook;
  • The beginning adventure “The Pirates of Prexiar”;
  • Aliens, vehicles, starships, and creatures from the Prequel, The Clone Wars, and the recent “Legends”
  • Expanded Universe;
  • Numerous character templates.
Finally, Star Wars: Revised, Expanded, and Updated concentrates on role-playing over rules. The game is faster, easier, and more fun... and more like the original Star Wars movies!

Sound pretty cool?!  It is!  It's a HUGE book, the second edition weighs in at 512 pages of RPG goodness.  The best part is that it's free to download!  I'm not sure of the legality of this as I'm sure Disney has the rights to all things Star Wars and I know Disney has lots of lawyers with sharp pointy pencils. I'm not going to be posting a link here but if you google Star Wars REUP you'll easily find the droid that you are looking for ;)

So if you're like me and had no idea this book exsited, then hit up google and find yourself a copy, its a damn fine book that really expands on the original core rule-book.  If you were already aware of this book, good for you, I bet you feel pretty damn smart.  Next time shoot me an email and let me in on the secret ;)

May the Force be with you.