blargity!

Okay, you all know by now that i get infatuated with stuff all the time.

So… right now?
Questionable Content.
I’ve been reading for two weeks from teh first one and I’m just caught up.
I am definitely a Faye kind of person- no touchy!
rawr. fckin awkward hilarousness.

also, yall are invited to my halloween party.
*nods*
I’m going to be Coraline.
And Cash will be Dogzilla.
Gotta modify his costume.
apparently he’s too beefy for an XL and I need to add elastic bands if I want his mostrous legs to fit in the sleeves.

another thought- that thingie in between our top lip?
I bet they get more pronounced as we evolve- it’s so very helpful for drinking out of bottles.
I bet angelina jolie has one hell of a time drinking out of plastic bottles with that huge upper lip.
Naw, I bet she’s all self conscious of it and lways asks for a straw.

Lots of folks around here are gettign all swine flu-ed. I am trying to keep my distance, but meh- it’s probably just a matter of time.

Matt finally posted my Die O Rama! But left out some good pix.
Post um tomorrow. gotta jam!

notld90- last night

so. I said I was going to finish it last night, and by the gods I DID!

I’m proud of myself.
A small part of me is freaking out, of course- it always is.
I worry that it’s not good enough, that people will laugh, that I will lose.
But I’ve committed to it, I put in ten hours and it looks good- really good.
So I’m gonna just suck it up and do it.

get that email together, send it off.
and then… that’s it.
It’s done, no takebacks.

Okay.
I told you I would show you SOME things, but not the completed die-o-rama.

So- let’s go with the props.

i did the cross- but couldn’t attach it to the bolo zombie without wanting to murder someone or destroying him, so i didn’t.
Huge bummer for me. It was so important to me to do it. But alas… am I the only one who really cared?
Perhaps.
But it’s there. so at least it counts for something.
And teh glasses.
Whose is whose?
The black ones I made first, so they have a more delicate curl.
The gold ones… enh, not so much. That wire was just NOT cooperating. Coated wire can be like that.

And the Box!

This was the hardest part, I think.
I started with still images of the Film.
Meaning, I took pitures of the film with my camera while I watched it.
I then had to take measurements of the box, take my still image and break it into three panels to span the back of the box.
Then, I took my lightbox, traced the stills and then colored it.

Rudy says I should have gone and done it in photoshop to give it a comic book feel- and while I do agree, I basically ran out of time.
I was being driven insane, since a variety of my pens have dried out-
i actually sawed my green pen apart to get to the ink tube, to get the last of the ink out for the grass.
That pen was dead anyway, at least now it died for a cause.

So this thing is due tomorrow.

And in the next week, it will be judged.
I feel ill.

I’m such a weirdo.

notld90: night eight.

So now, I’m totally freaking out.

I have Soccer Practice Today.
I have Soccer Practice Thursday.
I have to sometime shop for groceries this week.
And I don’t have my Die-o-Rama Completed. And it needs to be done by SATURDAY.
I don’t even think I was this stressed in Art School.
Go figure, huh?

It might have to do with the concept that I have only a vague idea of what I want to do for the BG and haven’t even begun to flesh out if it’s truly going to work.
I mean- what if it doesn’t? back to square one background-wise. And I don’t have time to do that.

Anyway. I know what i need to do- I just need to make the time to do it.
Maybe I should take it easy at Soccer Practice and not push myself, so I have energy to work tonight.
Even then, I’ll maybe get an hour, hour and a half under my belt tops.
Is that going to be enough?

Maybe for the walls, no way for the ground.

Hm… I wonder how many hours I have spent on this?

I think… at least six already. Two painting. Two to 3 on sculpting. An hour in study.
Gods, I’m not even getting PAID for this.

*shrugs*

But it will be SO AWESOME!

So- I told you I painted them. I did.

Barbara was boring, not interesting at all. I hate that dress. I hate Barbara until she gets all crazy-bitch later in the movie.

Johnny was kind of fun. I guess I just liek painting blood. I can’t wait to make a blood puddle around his head. And on the tombstone… And all over the place…

The Bolo Zombie is just Awesome. I was debating with myself. I already went pretty simple cartoon-like with the characters. Should I go all realisitic on the zombie? or Just enjoy it and go cartoony?

As you can see, I went Cartoony. I love LOVE LOVE! that green. This guy is great. If you look close you can see I’m goign to have to go back and rework some details around his bolo tie. It was so hard to get around those arms-I wound up breaking off a finger, but you can’t tell, so I won’t tell you where or which.

I’ll update you with some background accents before I submit. I won’t show it all, that’s what X-E is for!

NOTLD’90: night 6

So last night i got to do the funnest part.

I GOT TO PAINT!

However, I didn’t have my camera so I couldn’t take pics.
Except i actually DID have my camera and didn’t know it.

So then I started debating if I should show you becuase it’d then be a sneak peak at my die-o-rama and I don’t know if releasing a behind the scenes shoot is really conducive to building the drama that will be my Scene.
I mean, I didn’t even want to TELL you guys about it for fear that someone would see how high I was shooting and aim higher.

That’s been one of my major fears- well, of my whole life.
I never shoot for the best, becuase I always know someone is going to be better.
For gods’ sake there are 9 year olds on the soccer team that I assistant coach that play better than me.
Crushes me sometimes, but hell. Not like I’m freakin’ Pele over here.

So, I try, but don’t go balls out.

But this time…
because I don’t know who my competition is and what they’re doing and I really want to win…
I AM GOING BALLS OUT.

So the idea that a competitor can see what I am doing and go “HA! I can do better!” becuase they’ve seen the competition…
that would totally cripple me.
I would be really damn hurt if I lost.
It does make me try harder, for sure.

But is my best good enough?

So I think maybe… I’ll show you the painted guys.
And some construction details of the diorama box.
but that’s it.

You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
Can you do that?

I knew you could.

notld 90: night 3

So last night I did what was probably the hardest part of my diorama.
I sculpted the Bolo Tie Zombie.

I was dreading it becuase in my design he is the most detailed, copmletely free-standing and the key part of the die-o-rama.
Without the Zombie, it’s not horror!
So I started with scuplting his torso and then adding wire to stregthen his form.I knew it was important to get the right arch of his back, his pigeon-toed zombie stem-the outstretched arms and clawing finger, the blank cadaverous stare…
Wow, I’m really getting into that description.
So I had to get all that down,and the only way to do that was to take my time, take it slow and think think think!

 

But ultimately he came out as well as i wanted. all the details are there.
I did not realize I forgot to make the cross flower arrangement protruding from his left shoulder, so I’ll have to do that and glue it on later.
No problem. Now that the figures are done, the hardest part is over.

I am a bit bummed becuase I don’t get to make the Autopsy zombie. He doesn’t come in until later, and the box I am using isn’t big enough to accomodate him.
That’s kay, though- less work for me!

what’s left?

tombstones ( sculpt or cardboard…)
ground ( grass,dirt…)
diorama walls (i have a great plan for this but am so excited- I don’t want to disclose it until it’s done!)
Placement, anchoring and

PHOTOS!

I have nine days.

notld 90 die-o-rama- night 2.

As I predicted, I didn’t get to work last night.
Didn’t get home from coaching soccer practice ’til 7:30. I made some dinner, watched a bit of TV, made some peach cobbler, ate too much peach cobbler while watching The Colony, and then bombed at about 11. 
yesterday morning I did a bit of painting, but due to my paint color and selection (and the fact that at 6 am I didn’t want to throw myself into the project) I only got a little bit done.
Little bit being Johnny’s hair and pants. Not even worth photographing.
Hopefully tonight I will get a good amount done.

So what is Left?

Sculpt Bolo Zombie.
Paint all three.
Make/paint tombstones.
Make background.
Make ground/grass.
Photograph.

ALL before the end of next week.

So…
I am stressing a little bit.

But hey, I’m having fun too!

NOTLD ‘90 Die-O-Rama: Night One.

So As soon as I got home, I got to cracking. I had a small bit of frustration trying to figure out how to make the figures work.  My puppet-making brain said I needed armature wire, while my doll-making brain said I needed to just sculpt limbs and punch holes for lacing. But as I was doing FIGURES,  I couldn’t really rely on either.

Ultimately, I went with a relief-style sculpture with the base being my table so that I could avoid all the pitfalls of sculpting in the round and trying to properly support the figures. I built the basic bodies first, then clothed them, and finally added details like buttons, pockets and hair.

I spent almost an hour watching the scene I was planning on scluplting to make notes of clothing styles, colors and scenery. I was totally sure I had it memorized- did you know Johnny wore driving gloves? I knew!-  but the color of Barbara’s skirt was driving me insane. Was it Khaki or plaid?!  Spending time with the movie helped me nail down all sorts of minute details I wasn’t aware of.

I also found the perfect box.

Anyway- the figures.

Made of sculpey, I fired them in the oven for 15 minutes and they were done. They’re going to either get painted tonight or tomorrow. I also didn’t have time to make the Zombie so I have to do that too.

I sculpted Johnny first since I had his look pretty nailed down and I didn’t have to worry about supporting his weight. I hadn’t quite researched the movie deep enough so I wound up laying him on his stomach instead of on his back. But at the most integral point- the fall- he is on his stomach so that works out I think. I plan on making his glassses out of wire so they aren’t there.

I did Barbara second, since I had to nail expression, body pose and her clothes are a bit more complicated. Other than the fact that her costume is fucking hideous- seriously, who wears that crap?- it was fun and a bit of a challenge. As for Barbie’s glasses, she loses them almost immediately so I’ve decided -like Johnny’s- to just make them of wire and let them lay on the ground.

So that’s day one. I have my niece’s soccer team to assistant coach tonight, so I’ll cross my fingers that I get to work on it some more.

X- Entertainment’s Halloween Die-o-Rama!

So- Matt at X-E has decided to do a Halloween contest.

 A Shoebox Halloween Die-o-rama.

Having gotten back into arting recently, and no major projects in sight, I am crazy amped to participate.
I also really, REALLY want that Living Dead doll.
I used to have a mini one in a bunny costume, and I think they’re the right combination of cute and creepy- just like me!

As I said over at X-E, I have come up with a sweet idea and I can’t wait to do it.
I also said I would disclose what it was.
And I will.

Night of the Living Dead.
And as I recently watched it, I’m going with the 1990 version- The one directed by Tom Savini and featuring Otis and the Candyman.

I totally love when wimpy pre-butch Barbara skewers that zombie with the cross flower arrangement, and the autopsy zombie is a total mind-fuck. Considering I can barely stay awake for the original, seeing this one makes it easier for me to grasp the story.

My plan is to go with sculpey figures to make it as detail-oriented as possible. They could also double as cake toppers in the future- totally awesome, zombie-themed cake toppers.
Either cardboard or foam tombstones.
I need to make some trees; I may just take some off the bushes in the backyard.
I’d prefer to actually purchase them but money is CRAZY-TIGHT this week so I’m going to have to make-do with the supplies around the house.
That actually makes me nervous.

So I think I will go with the figures first.
That’s going to be both the toughest and the most fun part.
The construction of the scene could wind up being tedious, but I don’t think it will get me down.
I can actually see it coming together in my head and I can’t wait to get started.

I’ll take pictures, okay? Swear up an’ down.

another Phone Photo Post.

I feel so left out not showing off my camera phone pix. While when I got my phone it was really important that I have one- I rarely use it. However, when I do need it, it’s so sweet that it’s right there. Besides, me writing shit down? WITH MY HANDWRITING? Shit. Just take a pic.

So a lot of these photos are ancient. That’s cool, right?

Anyway- off we go!

This one… uhm. Yeah, looks like exactly what it is. Me taking a pic of the store hours of a place we simply can’t seem to get the hours right on. Every time we go, the damn place is closed. It’s actually a pretty neat picture- the mirrored tinting makes for an interesting composition.

Ohman. Uhm. I had to go to a Motivation Seminar. There were some interesting moments, and it was a day out of the office, but everything else was lame. Even my lunch was lackadaisical (I love that word). So yah. I doodled. A picture of Cash, asking for more turkey necks. He likes turkey necks.

Rudy gave his brothers Raiders tickets for Christmas. They went and tailgated for three hours before the game. His younger brother took this picture of him. I really quite like it. And uhm… yeah, that flag hangs in front of our house, seriously. It makes it look like I live with a houseful of goddamn pirates. Well, cause I do. Anyway.

This one- wow. That is old. Okay. Back when I worked at BevMo, we were working Christmas eve, and it was dead slow. My assistant manager is a prankster, and to play a joke on our receiver, he stacked all the empty kegs in front of the receiving door. And… well, it kinda grew. There’s a lot of crap there- lots of empty kegs, keg buckets, packing peanuts and we somehow wound up with a bunch of tinsel. It was probably the best day of work EVER. And then I walked out after closing to find my tires were slashed.

When a moment comes up like this, you can’t pass it up. Edgar- Rudy’s cousin, and my honorary brother- is a mechanic. He got a contract with the Sheriff’s department to work on their cars… and somehow, a Santa Cruz County Sheriff lost his driver’s side door.

And this last one… We pass by a full-scale Stonehenge replica every time we drive to Washington State. This last time we drove, we stopped and finally checked it out. Simply awe-inspiring. There also seems to be a monument erected to Sam Hill there…

There ay go kidlets. Hope the stories were interesting, enjoy das piccies!

i have no idea.

He gave a heaving sigh as he pondered the proposition before him.

He turned to find the arm of the couch and eased himself into the seat, one hand heavily pressed against his forehead as he weighed his options.

It wasn’t a hard decision, logically.

Emotionally, it was a goddamn entanglement.

Logically, he could just sever ties with the family, relinquish his license and slip into obscurity like a black cat on a moonless night. It’s not really hard, or even all that dreadful. It’d be fun to start over, he allowed himself to think- even if only for a moment.

Emotionally- he’d have to cease talking to both Sarah and Hank. That alone made the decision rough. Slap on top the expected decision to throw away 12 years of schooling and a comfortable lifestyle… and essentially every physical possession that he had gathered in his 38 years of life.

He pursed his lips and leaned back into the couch, letting his head dip back. He stared up at the stucco ceiling.

The more he thought, the more his head hurt. But the clearer the decision became.

He was going to have to go.

Like a cat in the night, he thought.

He sat back up, and then leaned forward, setting his elbows on his knees. He glanced across the living room, to his guest who was seated at the kitchen table. His back was turned.

“So. It’s irreversible.” He stated, his eyes glazed over.. It sounded like it should have been a question, but he knew the answer.

“At this moment in time, yes.” His guest confirmed. “Perhaps in the future, you may return- but at this moment in time we are not able to confirm or deny.” His guest stood from his spot in the kitchen, but did not turn. “Have you come to a decision?”

He rose from his spot at the couch. “I don’t think I have a choice.”

His guest turned around, his eyes hidden behind a pair of mirrored aviators.

“No sir, I don’t think you do.”