50 years of Smurfiness

Saw an article in the paper saying that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Smurfs, so I did a little tribute piece to the 80s Saturday morning cartoon.

The basic smurfs are there, along with a few that should have been there.

This is harder than it seems. Customizing each individual smurf is tedious.

Figure I'd submit something on Leap Year Day as well. It'll be another 4 years before I submit something on Feb. 29...

Ripped resolution?

And speaking of the ripped situation, the site owner wrote back saying that he was sold the file by another 'artist' claiming he owned it. He said he would tell the webmaster to take it down immediately...Yeah, we'll see...

Political Views or lack thereof...

Lastly, I should explain my politics, (though I feel I shouldn't have to). There's a couple of you who feel that the messages in my propaganda pieces are totally "un-American." I totally disagree. I'll tell you why: I feel that it's American right to question our own system; To make light of injustices and to call on the government when we feel they've screwed us in some way. Whether it be by writing a news article, or by calling your representative, or doing a measly art piece. We all hope to better our way of life: as Americans; as human beings. As for my soviet propaganda pieces, they do not reflect a love of communism or any such political agenda.

I'm not a political guy, far from it. Politics is the last thing on my mind in whatever I do. But that doesn't mean I don't know when the little guy is getting screwed or when a certain group is given the shaft.

I just love the colors of that era, the blatant imagery and the straight-to the-point message they have, whether obvious or implied. It's graphic design on an urban level. It's art spoken to the man on the street. Hey, just because I like Michael Jackson songs, doesn't mean I like to have sleepovers with little boys, y'know? Same goes with the art of certain eras. Just because I like an art style, doesn't mean I like the fashion, politics, or movies of said time.

Will it change the course of history? Probably not. But I feel it brings something new to the table, and at least it makes you think. If you don't like thinking then skip over me and go to the manga section or to that guy who traces pics of his girlfriend/brother/dog/etc in vectors.

So if you don't believe in what I do, or what I say, then by all means, avoid me and my art. Unwatch me, but don't take a crap in my yard. Post your own journals and post your own deviations about your own beliefs. But don't go writing to me trying to push me into your belief system, and insulting me, especially if you're not one of the disenfranchised I'm standing up for. Makes you look like a jerk. And It'll only strengthen my views. You have a better chance at commenting me on my color theory or composition and content.

Getting ripped off

First, I'm getting ripped off on The Art of the Revolution They're selling canvas prints on a handful of lo-res jpegs taken from either my personal website or DA gallery. Actually they're kinda expensive, and cheaper to get on DeviantArt, really.

When I first hear this kind of news, you think "Oh wow, I'm actually a good enough artist for people to steal from!" which is immediately replaced by "WTF! I'm gonna tear these guys a new one for stealing my sh*t!" I'm not the only artist they're stealing from, so this makes the owner a multiple-douchebag. But thanks to the Deviants for alerting me to this infraction; I'm talking to some attorney friends of mine to weigh my options.

Fu¢kers.

Here's to wishing all of you a non-traumatic, and a non-dramatic 2008. ;) Here's to trying something new and learning from our mistakes and loving our fellow man, even though the mutherf*¢*er cuts you off in traffic. Hope you all see the trees through the forest, and observing the comedy through all the crap in the world today. Yeah I'm talking to your crap, George Dubya...

Here's my last post, at least for 2007. Get out of here, everybody. Turn off the computer and go spend time with your friends and family! I know I am...

Anyway, let's keep it safe out there people.

Just a reminder this Christmas...

A Decent Signing

It was a decent signing yesterday, as far as signings go. I managed to sell a print, which means I broke even as far as gas money ;) But the really cool thing was meeting fellow Spectrum 14 artists. I even got my own free copy signed by the 10 or so artists who were there. Kinda felt weird, since it seemed like I was the only one doing it, but oh well.

Artists are strange lot to begin with. We all kinda keep to ourselves, probably because we're so used to working in a vacuum so to speak. I mean everyone was cordial to each other, but there's an inheirent shyness mixed with looking down upon each other, even though we don't mean to. We try to hoard our secrets, and only give them up when something else is given to us. Catch-22, I know. We all (myself included) seem to look down upon other people's artwork, but also try to salvage the encounter by observing what another artist has done and in our minds try to apply a technique/color scheme/artistic element to something we might be working on. It's hard to explain. If there are any other artists reading this, please let me know if it's just me that notices this. Like I said, Artists are a strange lot to begin with...

It was a sparse crowd, but there were a lot of presales and mail order books sold through Dark Delicacies so it was fun nonetheless, signing a stack of books that were going to be mailed out. I get anxious and self-conscious anyway, when someone is above me waiting for their book to be signed. Wish I had something to submit for Spectrum 15, but I've been so busy with other things that I haven't really thrown anything together yet.