Tuesday, December 13, 2016

BACK STAGE BOOP

So after a bit of consideration, revaluation, and a healthy dose of courage ... here is my latest shadow box.


Of course it did not hurt that Christmas is right around the corner and this is a present for my friend Walt. Now I'm not worried that he will see this ... sad to say hard times means no internet for the Deanovich household So even though he was a faithful reader of this blog ... I feel pretty safe right now.

This is definitely a step forward from the last one I did for Allison. No Mickey Mousing it this time . No holding it all together with duct tape and a prayer. I found a different premade shadow box at Michael's. It fit all of the layers. I used the new larger printer. I made a border to go along the frame but have not found an adhesive that will glue the paper to the composite material. I am still looking for the proper material of paper. This try,  when I tried to cut there was a tendency to have raggy edges. More experimentation.


You may of noticed that Mickey is in among the Fleischer characters. Bimbo is about to stab the Mouse, who is where he shouldn't be. The wrong place at the wrong time. Koko the Clown stares in horror at what is about to happen. Betty is ... well boop-a-licious. It's actually an inside joke between Walt and myself. On page 260, in the "A History of Underground Comics, there is an ad for Leslie Carbage's "The Fleischer Story." Both of us have BOTH books and have had more than a few discussions about them. As you can see ... they share common themes. 

I hope Walt likes this effort. I am happy up to a point. There is ... always room for improvement. And I'm already on it. 


Thursday, September 1, 2016

THE GIFT FOR ALLISON'S BIRTHDAY

Last Saturday was Allison's birthday. She is a good friend of my wife and her former long time roommate.She very deer to both of us. Yoko and I celebrated her natal day with dinner and presents. My gift to her, I made ... partially at her influence. The two ladies spend a fair amount of time window shopping their way through Disney.

It was they, who found these. Yoko made sure that it was brought to my attention ... all because Allison said, "John could do these!" These remind of shoe box dynoramas  that we made in elementary school.

Do they still do that these days?








I liked what I saw and wondered if Allison was right. Could I do this? So I watched every video I could on YouTube. Started doing plans. But as Allison's birthday drew closer I was reminded that I had planned to make one. So I went to work.

Allison is a big fan of Eeyore and I love Classical Pooh characters ... So that was my subject matter. Worked on it for a couple of days. Learned a lot. You know ... no amount of research can prepare you for actual application of theories. I am currently making changes to this piece and the process I am exploring.

I am starting with doing my artwork digitally. This will allow me to adjust size and do multiple versions. The assembly is very fussy and I seem to ... at this point ... be putting as much time on this end of the job as the artwork. Perhaps I can reduce time by streamlining or just by practice.

I had to make some creative choices to be able to finish. And those who know me know I am never truly happy with the outcome. It can always be better. But I liked the process. I like doing this and have more planned. Hopefully worth while enough to find a market. It's always pleasant for an artist of any kind to have others find worth in their works.




So Allison ... I admit it. You were right. I can do this.






Wednesday, March 30, 2016

LOOK UP IN THE SKY! IT'S A BIRD ... IT'S A PLANE ... IT"S KING ARTHUR???

Alright ... I finally broke down and saw "Batman V Superman." I have to admit I had my doubts. So much so ... that I didn't drag Yoko to it. I'm still not sure if she would of compared this to "Steamboy." I, on the other hand, was pleasantly surprised. I didn't mind the length, but I did think it would of been better if tightened up just a bit. Also, I do agree with some of the criticism that, given the whole controversy of  the devil/savior thing going on, that the timeline is entirely too short to be have monuments of Superman in place. And I have to say the whole plug for The DC Avengers ... er ... I mean Justice League movie was just clumsily shoe horned in. I just hate what is suppose to be candid surveillance footage is obvious set up shots. There has also been mixed reviews concerning Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Lex Luthor. I don't know if it's the script or the actor (though given the quips between Lois and Lex about him being psychotic, I have to lean towards the writing.) Remember Luthor is Machiavellian not manic.

But I do like the red hair. 



For those who don't know Lex Luthor, first appeared in Action Comics #23, April 1940. The odd thing is that he had red hair ... but his assistant had the classic Luthor look. There was even some bit as that the future adversaries were boyhood chums and that an accident
caused the rift and the loss of Luthor's hair. So I like the tip of the tresses. I also dig the Perry White line about it not being 1938 (The year Superman first appears in comic books.) I have to wonder if the more modern take on super heroes and political implications may work better here than it will in Marvel's "Civil War." I also like the Frank Miller/Dark Knight lifts. Finally the pendulum story structure got my respect. 

Kudos Fan Boys!!!   

Now let's get to the meat of what made my day watching this movie. I am now obligated to say:



SPOILER ALERTS!!!

So my ego is not big enough to think that I alone in the audience picked up on this. But for me, this made the movie for me. I checked with my cousin, Benjamin Alexander and the son of my best friend from Jr. High School, Kevin Wilson, both who are well versed in everything geekdom and what is on it's forefront. Neither had heard anything. Nothing popped up in a cursory google of applied search words that was even close, except for a post on Den of Geek.  So if there are others that have mention this ... I tip my cowl and give you a knowing wink.

Here goes ...

So I learned a long time ago about easter eggs. I contend director D.W. Griffith, besides being credited with creating much of the cinematic language, invented this geek indulgence when in 1916, in his film "Intolerance" he posted on a wall in the background of a shot, the phrase, "Today the same as yesterday." Pretty random ... just a bit of background ... blink and you miss it. But it's also the theme of the movie. Well, because of that, I ALWAYS look at movie marquees that appear in movie sets. Zack Snyder gives us two if not three shots of a marquee with "Excalibur Coming Soon," bold as brass. You could say it's to set the time line when Bruce Wayne is orphaned. (1981) Den of Geek proposed that it is a reference to the JLA as the Knights of the Round Table. Or that this film is like the film Excalibur, because it also feels like a very long movie. lol! 

John Boorman's "Excalibur" is the stylized tale of King Arthur and Merlin played wonderfully by Nicol Williamson. The climax comes when Arthur kills Mordred who in turn kills Arthur.



Now in Sir Thomas Malory's  "Morte D'Arthur" (the first written version of the legend) Arthur kills Mordred with a spear and he is killed with Mordred's sword. This as you can see, is flipped in Boorman's film ... but then if you are calling your movie Excalibur, structurally it makes sense and you can forgive the artistic liberty.



Consider this then , Mordred is the offspring of magic and forbidden incestuous  procreation. He is brought forth into this world for one reason only. He is to be Arthur's bane ... his ...dare I say it ... his Doomsday. Luthor's creature is a product of alien science and forbidden creation with a tad of Lex's DNA thrown in for good measure. (Also an unnatural act???) Arthur/Mordred and Superman/Doomsday are each the shining light and devil that their respective culture produces. Arthur, upon death, goes to a magical land where holds the promise that when the need arises, that the "Once and Future King" will come again. Superman is sent to the magical land of ... Kansas??? Is that why there are so many Wizard of Oz references? 

When it comes down to it Snyder tells you up front, in the first three minutes, foreshadowing how it's going down. He references and then corrects Boorman's vision with Superman bearing the Kryptonite spear and Doomsday, a crystal blade replacing his hand, thus turning this film into epic proportions.  The Son of Krypton and it's bastard child.

Homeric.

Therefore, it is as plain as the "S" on your chest ... Superman is Arthur.

All Hail the King!!!! All Hail the Once and Future Superman!!!



  

Friday, February 26, 2016

STILL TROLLIN'

These are two more trolls done completely on the computer. They are just sketches with a little color thrown in. I like how it came together using nothing but the tablet. 

Wish I could do it every day of the week. 





Friday, January 15, 2016

Backstories ...

I love them. 

One of the things I love about DVDs over streaming is the extra features. If there is a commentary, I am going to watch it. I love hearing the backstory, in particularly the thoughts involved with the creative process. 

So when I got this book for Christmas: "Jim Henson, The Works: The Art, the Magic, the Imagination,"





I have been savoring this like a fine wine. It is full of flavors ... not to be gulped, but to be experienced sip ... by slow slip. 

Thank you Yoko.







Friday, January 8, 2016

WE COME IN PEACE ...

For those of you who don't know me ... I have been interested in puppets almost as long as I have been in drawing. I took courses in puppetry at USF under Professor Bill Lorenzen. Worked with the likes of Kim Rivers, Renee Duplechain White, Joe Erwin, and Terry Woods as the Promenade Players. Taught puppetry for the St.Petersburg Recreation Dept. 

At several times during my life I have tried to master ... (don't hate me) ... 

ventriloquism.

The "B"s ... "M"s ... and "P"s are a ditch (vent joke) and I'm still working on it. In fact just before my birthday this year, I will be attending the 40th Annual Vent Haven ConVention. 

At least that's the plan.




I did this two years ago. Cluck Cluck is my main puppet but sometime ago I ordered a green version of this Axtell puppet. 



I opted for green skin and legs ... a little green man ... named Ronco from the planet K-Tell 995. I'm crafting a space suit. I'm started with a toddler fight suit (who knew they let babies fly air planes) and am working to modify it. I am using my art programs to help in the design process. The costume parts are placed on different layers. Below is the beginning of the helmet figuring the size of globe I need to order.


Friday, January 1, 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR ... WELCOME 2016

"There's a new kid in town."

Well ... Happy New Year, one and all. It is my extreme pleasure to report that I met last year's goals. This blog had 52 entries and 60 pictures. It may have been by the skin of my teeth, but I made it.

Wheewh!!!

I want to thank everyone who took the time out your busy day to take a gander and for your support. Again I want to thank my cousins, Eric and Sara, for their generosity. And last but not least my very understanding Yoko for being ... well ... you know ... understanding.

A happy, healthy and prosperous new year to one and all!